Issue 10

TOWER the

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 Volume 88 Issue 10 thetowerpulse.net

A WEEKLY TRADITION SINCE 1928

@thetowerpulse

Paris, Beirut terrorist attacks impact future in regards to national security

Attack on liberty

Gross e Pointe S outh, 11 Gross e Pointe B oule vard, Gross e Pointe Far ms, Michigan 48236

now? Do you suspect everybody?” Moon said. “That’s just so unfair to these people who are fleeing that same violence that we just witnessed from where they are coming from.”

A former French student of Moon’s, Caroline Forster ’14, attends the Superior Institute of Communications & Publicity (ISCOM) in Paris.

“My experience this past weekend was pretty unreal,” Forster said via e-mail. “I was out to dinner with family when we got the first alerts and calls. In the beginning, we assumed it was a small attack in a northern neighborhood and decided to finish our dinner. By dessert, we were receiving more updates and realized the seriousness of the events.”

Because the shootings and bombs were in northern districts, called arrondissements, Forster was geographically removed from the terrorist attacks, she said. Upon arriving safely home to her Western neighborhood of Levallois, she marked herself safe on her Facebook page, and spent the majority of Friday night and early Saturday morning watching the news.

Going into the city for class on Monday made Forster nervous, she said.

“Arriving at school, in the center of the city, we had a moment of silence for the lives that were taken,” Forster said.

“This instant was extremely moving and emotional; my eyes were wet with tears as I realized how lucky I was to be surrounded by classmates and friends during this difficult time.”

See “ATTACK ON LIBERTY” on page 8.

Following a double suicide bombing in southern Beirut that killed at least 43 people on Nov. 12 and a series of attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people on Nov. 13, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder halted the Syrian refugee effort in Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 15, according to a statement released by the governor’s office.

Both terrorist attacks were perpetrated by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), according to “The New York Times.” ISIL’s forces are concentrated in Iraq and Syria, and the violence of civil war and extremist terrorism has prompted the migration of an estimated 9 million refugees, according to syrianrefugees.eu.

For French teacher Amanda Moon, news of the Parisian attack elicited shock, surprise and sadness, she said. With family, friends and students in France, Moon said she is grateful no one she personally knows was involved in the terrorist attacks, although she remains concerned for their welfare, especially in the case of her “adoptive,” half-Muslim family living south of Paris.

“I think about them and how acts like this reflects on them--they are such good people,” Moon said. “I’m sad for them, too, because what does this mean for their population and for their refugees that are coming from Syria that are in real danger and need to flee?”

Moon said she is concerned that Europe, a destination of hope for refugees, will increasingly refuse Syrians.

“What do you do

LAUREN PANKIN ’16 // Supervising Editor

Threat to school safety last week leads to police intervention

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“I am pleased to see the emphasis placed on safety at all levels of administration,” Huebner said.

Hamka said he didn’t believe the student posed a serious threat to South.

“Based on the information I have from our internal investigation as well as the collaboration with the Farms Police Department, I do not believe that there was ever an imminent threat to the safety and well-being of any of our students or staff here on campus,” Hamka said.

South isn’t the only school that has received violence threats on this level. The FBI concluded that K-12 schools are the second most likely areas for public shootings, with 142 school shootings since the Sandy Hook Shooting in 2012 as of June 2015.

Grosse Pointe Farms police declined to comment, although they did grant interviews to The Grosse Pointe News. The city attorney denied The Tower’s request for a police report and Chief Daniel Jensen the report being released to The Grosse Pointe News was an error.

Assistant Principal Steven Wolf who was part of the investigation declined to comment.

“I think this is a great lesson for students,” Hamka said.

“Often times, students don’t realize the power of the words that they choose. The words you say matter, and have a real and significant impact on the people around you. It’s important ... that you should probably never joke about certain subjects.”

THIS WEEK AT SOUTH

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The first show for “It’s Murder in the Wings” takes place this Thursday. <see page 6>

This Friday is the last day to donate to the coat drive. Bring gently-used coats to Cleminson Hall.

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HANNAH CONNORS ’16 & RILEY LYNCH ‘18// Copy pended and will not be returning to the Grosse Pointe Public School System, Hamka said.

Editor & Pulse Section Editor “As always, the police in cooperation with the school rosse Pointe Farms police were notified of responded promptly to both manage the student as well as a student’s verbal threat to South’s safety on ensure the safety of our school community,” Hamka said Thursday, Nov. 5. in an email sent to parents Monday Nov. 9. “Please unThe student initially made the threat on derstand that since this threat was received by the police Wednesday, Oct. 28 in passing time between classes, PrinThursday night, the student was at no point in classes at cipal Moussa Hamka said. The student said to a friend, South and was in fact under police supervision or obser“I’m about to shoot up this school.” vation at all times. ” The following week, the friend who heard the threat The student was arrested on Nov. told another student. This student in9, held for 48 hours and then released, formed their parents about the threat, I am pleased to see although the case is open and the stuwho reported it to the police the evening dent could potentially still face charges, of Thursday Nov. 5. Hamka was immedithe emphasis placed Hamka said. ately made aware of this, he said. on safety at all levels of Mary Petz ‘17, who has attended “(I and the Farms police) discussed administration school with the student for multiple the student, and I reviewed the student’s years, said she was mostly unaware of disciplinary history,” Hamka said. “We LAURA HUEBNER the situation until it came up between also talked about the student who reportMOTHERS’ CLUB PRESIDENT other students in conversation. She ed it, whether they have a history of false believes the situation has been put out reports or any concerns with them.” of proportion in relation to what she heard happened.

The police knocked on the student’s door at 11 p.m.

“I didn’t really put much thought into it because the that evening. Initially, the student denied ever making the school had handled it way before we even were told about threat, Hamka said. it, and it didn’t really seem that serious, ” Petz said.

“However, I advised (the police) that I did not want the Mothers’ Club President Laura Huebner said that while student attending school the next day, and that we would she doesn’t know everything about the threat, she is glad contact the family with next steps,” Hamka said. safety is being emphasized at South.

The student who issued the threat has since been sus-

The girls swim team travels to Oakland University for State Finals this Saturday at noon.

opinion // 2

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

Administrative honesty key to bridging communication gap between faculty, students

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or the past 88 years, “The Tower” has been a public forum for student expression in which the diverse voices of South can be broadcast to the community with unflinching honesty and a dedication to journalistic ethics.

From stories about students recovering from drug abuse to the controversy surrounding Rick Santorum’s 2013 speech, “The Tower” has never shied away from addressing contentious issues with a mature and objective voice.

This commitment to the truth has lead us to many awards and accolades, including the respect and trust of our community.

As a weekly publication, the success and general function of “The Tower” depends on the cooperation and support of our school, especially the administrative team.

South’s staff is comprised of dependable sources with reputable information necessary for us to report the entire, multi-sided truth.

However, throughout the beginning of the school year, “The Tower” encountered frequent opposition and obfuscation from the administration when the news we need to report is not positive.

For example, we encountered many obstacles when trying to report on the detection dogs and struggled to obtain factual information from the administration that was necessary to properly inform the school.

Our objective is and always has been to report news. The detection dog story, just like any story of a controversial nature, allows us to dispel many rumors within the school.

While we understand staff and administrators must protect their credibility and ultimately their jobs, we believe open and honest communication should be something our district rewards instead of discourages.

Sooner or later, negative news bubbles to the surface regardless of our journalistic efforts, as in the case of former principal Al Diver in 2012 who left in the midst of a scandal.

We believe it is more proactive to foster an open forum so our community does not feel as if administrators have something nefarious to hide or avoid, as a printed “no comment” response implies.

Generally, there is no reason for school officials to withhold information from us, especially when it is not legally sensitive or controversial.

For instance, when we tried to cover issues earlier in the year such as the boys’ bathrooms being vandalized, the administration’s initial response should not have been “no comment.”

Recently, the administration has been more considerate when it comes to sharing

sensitive and helpful information, which we greatly appreciate.

For example, when covering the shooting threat last week for this issue, Principal Moussa Hamka went out of his way to collaborate productively with us. He made time for last-minute interviews that were crucial to the validity of an essential article.

This is the type of relationship we want to foster throughout the school year and beyond. In addition, Assistant Principal Terry Flint went above and beyond what we asked of him when finding resources and fact-checking for our sexual harassment feature.

We aim to be a resource for both administrators and students that helps mend the communication gap.

We offer the administration a voice that is more personal than mass e-mails sent to the student body. Not to mention, e-mails are only sent out under extreme circumstances. “The Tower” allows administration to comment on the multitude of other facets of the school.

In addition, covering challenging, controversial stories gives us an advantageous background in journalism that many schools do not offer.

As a school prided on its college preparatory and pre-professional training, South’s journalism program equips its students with the tools necessary to model future careers, not only as journalists, but in

OUR VIEW // EDITORIAL

CARTOON BY ABBY FERRY ’16

COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL: junior reflects

on first ACT experience, feels pressure from siblings The result: a near perfect score on the ACT. With that in mind, I won’t even bother preparing for the SAT. My score on the ACT will serve more Cam than just application purposes, Francis ’17 at least I’m hoping. Now that my brother’s off to college, my dad hasn’t hesitated to voice his opinion.

The combination of, “Cameron, As seniors submit their college you are the smartest in the family” applications and express some signs and my knowledge of my brother’s of relief, juniors start to get a small prestigious score left me exiting the taste for the road that’s ahead of testing location of my first ACT them with the American Colwith my head held high. lege Test, better known as I felt I did better the ACT. on some sections Despite the state’s than others, and I COLLEGE decision to switch certainly knew I CONFIDENTIAL to the SAT as its wouldn’t hit the test of choice, home run on my many juniors are first at bat, constill focusing their sidering it took my attention on the brother four tries.

ACT, considering it’s I was perfectly conbeen a major component tent with waiting the estiof college applications for mated five to eight weeks for my several decades. score; however, I still raced on to That’s how it was for my brother; my ACT online account the second there wasn’t a secondary assessment I got word that the results were out that he felt obligated to stress over. early.

NEWSPAPER

the

TOWER

STAFF

MY VIEW

“View Scores.”

I had no idea that one single click of the mouse could be such a humbling experience.

Although it would’ve been nice to surpass my brother on my first attempt, I figured that was a little bit out of my reach. What I didn’t realize, though, was how short my arms were. Not only did I come up short, I whiffed. I had the target in sight, but I was completely oblivious as to how far away it was.

In reality, though, I matched my brother’s first score, and his great improvement means I’m more than capable of doing the same.

As much as I wanted to be the envied kid who doesn’t need a second (or third... or fourth) chance to get his desired score, I take no shame in asking my parents to sign me up for a tutor.

But there’s one thing that’ll be more of use to me than a tutor.

It’s my competition with my brother -- my tremendous ambition to exceed his score and dub myself the “smartest in the family” -- that’ll give me the motivation to conquer the ACT. For that, I’m thankful.

Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Maiorana* ’16

Photo Editor Jennifer Toenjes* ’16

Associate Editors Brenna Bromwell* ’16 Emily Fleming* ’16

Business Managers Alexis Motschall* ’16 Asst. Mackenzie Harrel* ’17

Supervising Editors Gabi de Coster* ’16 Haley Vercruysse* ’16 Lauren Pankin* ’16 Sydney Simoncini* ’16

Online Editors-in-Chief Allyson Hartz* and Olivia Baratta*, both ’16

Page Editors Maggie Wright* and Zoe Jackson*, both ’16 Claire Yeamans*, Erykah Benson* and Jack Holme*, all ’17 John Francis*, Liz Bigham* and Ray Hasanaj*, all ’18

Online Section Editors Scarlett Constand* ’16, Adam Cervone* and Ariana Chengges*, both ’17 Riley Lynch* ’18

Copy Editors Brendan Cauvel*, Hannah Connors*, Julia Fox*, Juliana Berkowski* and Shannon McGlone*, all ’16 Rachel Harris* ’18

any field that requires critical thinking and an ability to ask difficult questions.

Of course, as all students do, we make mistakes. Sometimes we misspell names or confuse dates.

But when we make critical errors, we do what every newspaper from “The New York Times” to the “Wall Street Journal” does: we apologize, retract and correct.

We have been taught since we first entered the Grosse Pointe Public School System that we, as American citizens, are granted certain liberties and freedoms.

Among those, included in the very First Amendment of the Constitution so proudly hung outside of our school’s library, is freedom of press. While “The Tower” understands our privilege when it comes to not being subjected to prior-review, this advantage is almost rendered pointless when we experience censorship via “the silent treatment.”

As journalists, it is our job to report the truth. We are not trying to stir the pot, nor are we trying to damage the reputation of the South administrative team.

Instead, we value the input administration gives us and appreciate when they take time out of their busy schedules to meet with us.

In order for our students to be the best for the world, we need to be well-informed individuals who foster healthy and open relationships with administration.

Online Associate Editor Preston Fossee* ’16

Online Copy Editors Lindsay Stanek* ’16 Lily Kubek* ’17 Online Social Media Directors Emma Andreasen* and Zoe Evans*, both ’17

Allergies a struggle between mind, body MY VIEW

Sydney Stann ’17

If someone asked me five years ago to stop eating Oreos, Doritos and all types of fast food, I would have said they were crazy. But that’s just what happened.

It was the summer before eighth grade, and I was having awful stomach aches. After every meal, I would feel sick. I had to stop eating out and eating at friends’ houses. Food was not my friend.

My parents could not figure out what the problem was either. In fact, we didn’t have an answer until my mom was talking to one of her friends and discovered her daughter was having some of the same issues. My mom quickly scheduled an appointment with the allergy specialist, and before I knew it, I was having countless needles poked and pricked into my back each one containing a different substance to see if my body reacts negatively. When injected with something like corn, hives and swelling surround the injection.

Corn, soy, peas, almonds, hazelnuts and mustard. Those are all the things that had an effect on my body. According to kidshealth. org, an allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that’s harmless to most people.

Staff Writers Abigail Warren, Blair Shortal, Callie Zingas, Christina Ambrozy, Elizabeth Coyle, Gennie Martin, Griffin Brooks, Hadley Diamond, Hailey Murphy, J.D. Gray, Jessica Whitney, Jon Theros, Katharine Kuhnlein, Lily Patterson, Lindsey Clark, Mac Cimmarrusti, Madeline DesNoyer, Olivia Frederickson, all ’16 Abby Ottenhoff, Anton Mikolowski, Bridget Driscoll, Cam Francis, Charlie Denison, Claire Hubbell, Emma Russell, Gillian Eliot, Jack Froelich, Jack Roma, Mac Welsher, Madeleine Glasser, Mary Grace O’Shea, Michael French, Olivia Sheffer, Sydney Stann and William Muawad, all ’17 Abigail Due, Arianna Paganette, Blair Cullen, Brennan Zihlman, Cameron Smolen, Chase Clark, Elena Rauch, Evan Skaff, Grace Brandon, John Standish, Kaitlin Nemeh, Katherine Bird, Lauren Thom, Maren Roeske, Margot Baer, Mollie DeBrunner and Liam Walsh, all ’18

But in someone with an allergy, the body’s immune system treats the substance (called an allergen) as an invader and overreacts, causing symptoms that can range from annoying to serious or life threatening.

I was in denial. How could I be allergic to corn and soy? It just didn’t seem possible.

Those ingredients are not only in my everyday diet, but in almost every processed food available.

Living with food allergies is hard, but not impossible. It just means being more aware of what I consume. Eating at home is easier and preferred. My parents are on board and know not to include ingredients like corn meal, vegetable oil or mustard in food they prepare at home.

The hard part is eating out. I have to stick with meat-based dishes like hamburgers without a bun or steaks. I also lean more towards eating salads with olive oil and vinegar because almost all of the salad dressings contain soybean oil.

As for treats like Doritos, Cheetos and candy, I have my occasional craving for them, but it’s been four years since I’ve tasted them so I just resist it. As much of a challenge as this sounds, it has molded into a lifestyle.

My diet now compares to certain objectives of people trying to lose weight. The benefits of eating clean and eliminating the majority of processed foods creates a body more prepared for daily activities, and I barely miss the Doritos or Oreos.

Adviser Rod Satterthwaite “The Tower” is the weekly publication of the Advanced Journalism classes at Grosse Pointe South High School. It has always been a designated public form of student expression.

The Tower is located in room 142 in Grosse Pointe South High School. Please contact us at 313-432-3649.

Errors Factual errors will be corrected on the opinion page or in news briefs written upon request and verification.

Letters Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be screened for libel, irresponsibility and obscenity. The Editorial Board may edit or shorten letters as long as the meaning is Opinion Pieces unchanged. All letters must be signed and Editorials represent the majority opinion of include a telephone number for confirmation. the Editorial Board and are left unsigned.

Request to withhold the writer’s name Columns represent the opinions of individual from publication for good reason will be staff members and outside contributors. considered. Letters can be sent to the above email address, or dropped off in “The Tower” Editorial Board Room.

An asterisk * denotes Editorial Board editors.

Advertising Display advertising is sold at a rate of $7 per column inch, with discounts for large or frequent advertisers. Advertising may not advocate illegal activities or contain libelous, irresponsible or obscene material.

Professional Associations Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll, the Society for Newspaper Design and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

news // 3

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

English teacher co-writes book, released this month

Provenzano joins with University of Utah professor to write book “Classroom in the Cloud”

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conferences and speaking. He’s attended my KATHERINE BIRD ’18 // Staff Writer nglish teacher Nicholas Provenzano sessions, I’ve attended his. We grew our friendship and University of Utah professor Jared out of that.”

This is a great book for educators who are staring Covili, who teaches strategies for classroom integration of technology, co- out in the field as well as teachers who are looking wrote a book, “Classroom in the Cloud” for a tech upgrade, Bellow said, so he was excited to preface the work. which was released on Nov. 3.

“Mr. Provenzano asked me to write the foreword “It (“Classroom in the Cloud”) looks at cloudbased tools and a lot of different ways of focusing over an email a while ago,” Bellow said via e-mail. on creation, collaboration, storage and sharing,” “I remember reading it twice and thinking, ‘Really?

Provenzano said. “One of the things we did was He wants me to write the foreword?! Seriously?’ I find teachers that were using these different tools was pretty shocked, and of course, ecstatic.”

Bellow said the tricky part of writing a foreword that we reviewed, and they gave their own personal experience of how they used it and how they can is he not only had to read the book and understand the content but he also had to understand the tone use it. We gave actual instances and the way the authors wanted that they (the tools) can be the reader to think and feel about used.”

The book is helpful their work.

Provenzano said Covili asked but doesn’t take itself This book is less centered him to co-write the book, a too seriously - which is a around the tools itself and rather project the professor had been great treat (especially in more on how educators can use thinking about for several these tools, Bellow said. the education space). months, as a result of advice “I loved working with Mr. from his editor at Corwin Press.

ADAM BELLOW Provenzano,” Covili said. “He is It was an immediate fit for both EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIST an amazing teacher who knows a of them, Covili said. ton about using technology with The editor at Corwin Press was looking for Covili to start a new book while students.”

Covili said despite the hard work, it was a fun looking for a project for Provenzano. Their expertise crossed so they put them together, Provenzano said. project.

“I think writing a book always gets you out of “I definitely had to think about it. It’s a time consuming process that took a little over a year your comfort zone,” Covili said. “You wonder if to put together,” Provenzano said. “As a full-time you’re sharing enough information, or in some classroom teacher, I am already reading and writing cases too much information. You worry about essays and things like that, so to write a book was saying things the right way. I always want to create a tool that will help teachers be effective in working pretty daunting, but it was worthwhile.”

Provenzano was the Michigan Association of Computer Users and Learning teacher of the year in 2013. In the same year he was the International Society of Technology and Education teacher of the year. He is also a Google Certified Innovator, an Evernote Ambassador and a TED-Ed Innovative Educator.

Provenzano asked Educational Technologist Adam Bellow to write the foreword for his book.

Bellow is a good friend of Provenzano who has created his own apps, web tools and speaks at conferences all over the world, Provenzano said. He is viewed as a leader when it comes to educational technology.

“We’ve been friends for 5 or 6 years,” Provenzano said. “We knew each other going to education

with students, so I worry about making sure that happens.”

Along with “Classroom in the Cloud”, Covili has written “Going Google: Powerful Tools for 21st Century Learning”.

Provenzano said writing this book did not go out of his comfort zone. It was tough at first to write with someone else because they have to work on matching tone and style in order for no one to know who wrote what part.

In order to collaborate both authors used tools they described in the book (e.g. Google Hangouts/ Google Docs) to discuss what they wanted to do in each part of the book Covili said.

“The book was really well-written,” Bellow said.

“Which is no surprise since Nick is an English teacher. But the tone was great as well. The book is helpful but doesn’t take itself too seriously - which is a great treat (especially in the education space).”

For Provenzano writing this book was a learning experience. He learned a lot about editing, type setting and the whole process of publishing a book.

“For all the kids out there who want to know why they are writing and working on essays and things like that in class, I never thought I’d be writing a book like this when I was going to school,” Provenzano said. “All of those skills that I learned in school and really helping teach those kids, keeping those fresh in my mind made this type of book when it comes to citations, when it comes to first person, second person and third person writing. If I didn’t have those experiences and work with the kids this could’ve been a very long and painful process.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MR. PROVENZANO

WORK PAID OFF // Mr. Provenzano poses with entrepreneur Hank Green (below).

Provenzano and Adam Bellow, who wrote the foreword to Provenzano’s book (bottom middle). Provenzano and Kid President last school year (bottom left).

Pest infestation: As winter approaches, fruit flies invade the school

Mention this Ad and receive 10% off!

the recyclables. Unfortunately, CAMERON SMOLEN ’18 // due to a lack of members, they Staff Writer Over the past few weeks, fruit are not able of collect all of the reflies have buzzed through the cycling bins every week, which is halls of South. Due to the cold leading to the infestation of more weather, these pests are nesting flies, McNamara said.

The janitorial staff at South is in blue recycling bins to have a constant source of food and only in charge of emptying out warm shelter, science teacher the trash bins on a daily basis.

Lead CustodiJames Adams an Chuck Busaid.

They are really dis- beck said.

“I believe “There is tracting when I am trythat it is (the fruit flies) a liting to do my school nothing that tle worse than work and they are even we can do,” we are used to worse if you have some Bubeck said. just because sort of food or drink on “It is on the students and we are seeing your desk. the staff. I say more around this every year.

KARL KRIEGER ‘18 the school,” If you do not Adams said. want the flies The flies are staying around for so long this in your room, then there should year because Michigan has had be no food and no drinks. The such a warm fall, allowing the problem of the flies gets worse flies to live through the season, when kids take food outside of the student commons, cafeteria Adams said.

“The fruit flies go off and mul- and the girls gym and then bring tiply while they’re in the trash. In it out into the hallways and classother words, I think our biggest rooms.”

South student Karl Krieger ’18 problem is probably our recycling con- has noticed an increase in flies tainers in the around some of the classrooms.

The flies are really annoying in b u i l d i n g ,” Adams said. some of the classrooms this year,” “The clean- Krieger said. “They are really er you can distracting when I am trying to keep things, the do my school work and they are even worse if you have some sort less flies you will have.”

Although the fruit flies are of food or drink on your desk.”

As winter comes flying in, the harmless because of their twoweek life cycle, they are very an- fruit flies will be more desperate to survive. noying, Adams said.

“Make sure that you only eat The Conservation Club cleans out the recycling bins on a weekly in the commons and cafeteria if basis, adviser and science teacher you do not want to track flies into Shawn McNamara said. His club classrooms and all around the meets on Wednesdays to collect school,” Bubeck said.

feature // 4

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

Binaries, Bathrooms and Beyond: How the gender spectrum fits in at South RILEY LYNCH ’18 // Pulse Feature Editor *names have been changed per student request Checking off a box that identifies which gender someone is might be an easy task for some, but for others, the request goes beyond a simple one-or-the-other answer.

It’s a clear-cut request for cisgender students at South-you’re either a boy or you’re a girl. However, the gender binary proves to be too restricting for others who identify as non-binary or genderfluid, according to Alex ’19*, one of such students. Alex was born as a female, but identifies otherwise.

There are numerous genders on the spectrum according to the LGBTQ community, ranging from cisgender to transgender to non-binary. People who are cisgender identify with the gender they were assigned at birth, while transgender people identify as a gender other than the one assigned at birth. Non-binary people do not identify with a gender, and genderfluid people can switch between genders as necessary, according to the International Spectrum of the University of Michigan website.

“When I was really young, I always would hang out with my brothers, and I always wanted to be like them, and I always felt more comfortable. When someone like my mom would kind of joke about how I was the third brother, I liked that a lot,” Alex said.

“Then years went on, and I never felt quite right being a girl, and then I started looking into the gender binary, and it was like ‘woah! This explains me,’ and now I identify as genderfluid, non-binary, because most of the time I feel like a guy, or a-gender, so no gender.”

By providing bathrooms only for students identifying as male or female, Alex said South could potentially be discriminating against students who don’t identify as either.

“Certainly a transgender employee should have access to bathroom facilities that accommodate his/her gender expression/ identity- be that a unisex bathroom or the gender identified bathroom facility.” Jay Kaplan, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, said.

Alex said societal norms are limiting who can identify as which gender and which genders are deemed acceptable by the public.

While the construction of a gender-neutral bathroom could ease confusion for students who aren’t cisgender, it may be out of the question, Assistant Principal Terry Flint said.

“I would say at this point, no, it isn’t financially practical (to construct gender neutral bathrooms) just because the facilities have already been established,” Flint said. “In the main building, we’ve r e d o n e bathrooms just recently at a great expense. It would be very costprohibitive to do something like that at this point.”

If a gender-neutral bathroom were built, it would include alterations to current bathrooms and the architecture of the school in general, Flint said. Due to the historic nature of the school, the expenses would be drastic to install new bathrooms at South.

However, according to Gay-Straight Alliance member Griffin Jones ’18, gender-neutral bathrooms would be worth the extra expenses.

“Well, subjecting people to such a simple-minded system could negatively affect a person’s ability to express their inner self,” Jones said.

According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, 78 percent of transgender kids say they’re harassed, with 35 percent claiming to be physically assaulted due to their identity.

The topic has been addressed by advocates of transgender youth, such as Caitlyn Jenner, who officially transitioned in June.

Nina Caradonna ’16 believes that while gender-neutral bathrooms could be progressive, students may use them improperly.

“I am not necessarily opposed to them, but I would rather have the separation simply for privacy reasons,” Caradonna said. “I think having gender-neutral bathrooms would be great for breaking down gender walls and I would honestly be 100 percent in support of them if I didn’t think some students would completely abuse its purpose and cause problems as far as bullying and harassment goes.”

Kids develop a sense of gender identity by age two or three, Diane Ehrensaft, author of Gender Born, Gender Made, said. Whether they are cis or transgender, children are aware of who they are from a young age, which could potentially cause internal dysphoria.

“I don’t think (students would benefit from gender-neutral bathrooms),” Flint said. “Especially, well, there would be a lot of issues that would have to be overcome, the largest of which is probably cultural. So, you know, that’s a monster conversation and one that would be tricky to navigate in the adult world, much less in the student world.”

Despite having no official gender-neutral bathrooms installed, South has offered resources to transgender students who didn’t feel safe in either male or female bathrooms, according to Courtney McGuire, librarian and GSA adviser.

“In years past, the library’s staff restroom was used by a transgender student,” McGuire said. “The student, female administrator at the time and myself discussed which bathrooms were available and were most comfortable in meeting the student’s needs.”

While this method worked for one particular transgender student, Jones believes more should be done regarding the subject.

“I feel like adults on staff for school systems are paranoid about adolescent hormones going wild if a guy and a girl saw each other in the bathroom,” Jones said. “But having gender neutral bathrooms could held with the internal sexism of youthful society. All genders could be much closer to being equal.

The United States suicide prevention hotline for transgender people can be reached at (877) 565-8860, and is staffed by transgender volunteers who work 24/7.

PHOTOS AND EDITS BY SYDNEY SIMONCINI ’16 EMILY FLEMING ’16 AND RILEY LYNCH ’18

No girls allowed?

South admin deals with lack of women in leadership

Superintendent for Education Services Dean said. “Typically by the SHANNON MCGLONE ’16 // Copy Editor The Gender Gap. Some don’t know it exists. Some swear it doesn’t. superintendent. But I know myself as the Deputy Superintendent for Education Services has significant input in the hiring and placement Others, still, are trying to bridge it.

Whatever anyone believes, however, it has been a topic at the decisions of administrators.”

This lack of women in South’s administration has left some students forefront of global economic and political discussion: mentioned seeing the gap as a chasm. via subtopics in the 2016 United States Presidential election, covered “I think there should be equal representation,” Simon Chen ‘18 by major news sources such as the Huffington Post, and discussed said.

“It doesn’t necessarily matter what their gender is, but I know through socio-cultural websites like LeanIn.org. that women are more highly-educated these days and more qualified Essentially, the gender gap is “the discrepancy in opportunities, for a lot of jobs, so I think that proves there should status, attitudes, etc., between men and women,” be more in the administration. It’s logic.” according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

To me it’s the best Grosse Pointe is a traditional, conservative place, Alternatively, it can mean strictly a difference in person. It’s not based on in Chen’s opinion, and he said representation in the numbers. their sex, their gender community reflect those ideals and beliefs shared For instance, the 144th Congress is 80.6 percent or their age, though it by its citizens. male in the House, and 80 percent male in the comes with experience.

Fellow student, Carson Denis ‘17 isn’t so sure.

Senate. In 2014, only 5.2 percent of Fortune 500 It’s the person.

She said the administration’s hiring practices and CEOs were women. In 2016 there are only three ideas are nondiscriminatory, and that the most women running for President: Jill Stein, Carly CARSON DENIS ‘17 qualified applicants were chosen for positions on Fiorina and Hillary Clinton. The United States South’s administration. ranked 20th in the 2014 Gender Gap Index from “To me it’s the best person. It’s not based on their the World Economic Forum. sex, their gender or their age, though it comes with experience. It’s the Only 50 percent of the world are men, leading many economists, person, ” Denis said.

“And I don’t think it (the administrative dynamic) sociologists, and thinkers of modern times to question why so many is going to change much, because we have a couple of great secretaries of them seem to run the majority of it. who are women and bring that perspective. ” It would appear, locally, that the administration of Grosse Pointe Denis said she thinks there will be more women administrators in South is also suffering from The Gap. the future, however.

In the 2015-2016 school year there are no women in South’s Some teachers are reflecting on The Gap as well. administrative positions, following the reassignment of former Psychology teacher DeEtte Nardone said, “Do I miss a central Assistant Principal Debbie Redlin to Parcells Middle School as an female administrator? I do. I think it’s nice to have a woman in a Assistant Principal. position of authority in the administrative offices.”

“Technically, the board of education hires individuals, but they As the social studies department chair and the only woman do so by the recommendations of the administration,” Deputy

currently a core subjects department chair, some of her responsibilities have an administrative tilt, a “go-between,” with the administration and teaching staff.

“Much of our staff are women,” Nardone said. “They’re mothers, working mothers, a lot of them, and a woman can understand them more than men can.”

However, South’s long-standing reputation of having a mixture of men and women in the administration has assuaged Nardone’s doubts.

“Honestly I can’t think of a time when there wasn’t a woman,” Nardone said. “We’ve always been fairly balanced.”

As well, despite general patterns in female professional employment rate, Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Acts forbids employers from discriminating against employees on account of sex (as well as race, color, national origin, or religion).

“When an organization, whether it’s a school or a business, hires individuals, they have to abide by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. You need to hire the best person. If they happen to be all women, that’s great. If they happen to be all men, that’s great,” Dean said. “We can’t make decisions based on the gender of individuals, we would end up in court.”

There are four great administrators at South High School, however, who can all be very successful, according to Dean.

However, Dean said he recognizes how female students may be affected without a woman as a lead administrator. Because of this he said Principal Moussa Hamka had devised a solution.

“Some students may feel more comfortable talking to someone of the same gender for certain matters,” Dean said. “He’s (Hamka) done this, worked with our counselors, like Mrs. Walsh-Sahutske, have been able to sit-in when necessary if a female student has something they want to talk about with a leader of the school, but they don’t feel comfortable sharing that with a man.”

feature // 5

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

PAWS OFF: PUBLIC PUPPY LOVE SPARKS DEBATE are not just hugs, if that makes sense.”

GABI DE COSTER & HALEY The majority of cases involve a VERCRUYSSE, both ’16 // small number of couples, Adams said.

Supervising Editors “It’s prevalent with some couples, Love is blind--but not for the students and staff who witness couples and they tend to do it all the time,” Adams said. “With the same people, making out in the hallways.

At South, public displays of you’ll see (them) doing all kinds of affection (PDA) are mostly limited to public displays of affection all the kissing, hugging and holding hands, time.”

To an extent, these instances of Science Department Head James Adams said, but all varieties of PDA PDA do not necessarily bother Emma Kniivila ’19. can cause onlookers discomfort.

“I think it’s fine because I understand “You want to walk down the hall together and you’re holding hands. It’s that high school couples are testing boundaries and cute, but it doesn’t stuff, and kissing is go overboard.

With the same fine, but if you’re Sometimes I see people saying people, you’ll see (them) totally making out goodbye to other doing all kinds of publics in the hallway and everybody’s there, people and give displays of affection all that’s kind of gross,” them like a kiss the time.

Kniivila said. goodbye, like a W i t h quick little peck JAMES ADAMS consideration for SCIENCE DEPARTMENT HEAD goodbye,” Adams others, Brian* ’16, said. “Maybe that’s who admittedly fine, but if you’re like making out in the hallway, like engaged in PDA, chose to move literally making out, that’s too far. And his encounters to a more secluded sometimes I see like hugs that I think location.

“I would get to school, put my books Regardless of location, Adams said away, take a walk in the S building he does not think excessive PDA is and display my affection towards my appropriate at school. girlfriend,” Brian* “I don’t see ’16 said, “In the school as the social (PDA) shouldn’t be divots of the second place to do that kind as prevalent in schools floor S-building, of thing,” Adams because it’s very I would make out said. “I really don’t with her.” think you have to personal and people While Adams spend every 20 find it displeasing. said the S-building minutes showing SARAH LIENARD ’16 is a popular some kind of display destination for of affection to student displays of know that the other affection, PDA is not limited to those person really likes you.” covert areas.

However, for students with limited In fact, Sarah Lienard ’ 16, with her free time, school may be the only locker located in the main hallway, opportunity to physically connect with witnesses public displays of affection a significant other, Brian said. often.

“I didn’t want to wait until after “Most times, it’s like hugging and school to make out and I usually didn’t things, which is completely fine, but even have the time to kiss after school, when it gets to people who are in so school was a convenient place to relationships with one another, (they) kiss,” Brian said. “I don’t do it anymore, tend to do kissing and all of that … I though. As time went on, the urge to believe that shouldn’t be as prevalent always engage in PDA went away. I in schools because it’s very personal, also have a car, so we don’t need the and people find that displeasing to school as a place anymore.” look at,” Lienard said.

With cntributions by Hadley Diamond ’16.

Sexual harassment rife, under-reported in high schools male peers.

LAUREN PANKIN ’16 // Supervising Editor However, sexual harassment remains problematic, especially since Sitting in class, Ila Zielke ’16 tried to listen to her teacher lecture boys are societally expected to shrug off the harassment, Jonathan when a male classmate reached out and groped her.

“It made me feel used,” Zielke said. “I was being nice, and I was Martinuzzi ’16 said. After being filmed by a female friend while helping him with work (earlier), but that was not an invitation for him unwittingly making a gesture which appeared sexual out of context, Martinuzzi said he felt embarrassed when the video was uploaded to to grab at me.”

Zielke’s experience makes her part of the 48 percent of students social media and shared with the girl’s friends.

After the student initially deleted the clip from the video-sharing who have been victims of sexual harassment, according to a 2011 study of 2,000 high school students by the American Association of application Vine per Martinuzzi’s request, she persisted by blocking him so he could not see that she had quickly reposted it, Martinuzzi University Women (AAUW).

Sexual or gender harassment constitutes a form of discrimination, said.

“I did feel like I was victimized,” Martinuzzi said. “I think that girls according to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. South defines sexual harassment as “overactivity of a sexual nature, when can be just as nasty on sexual harassment in terms of social media and that activity has an adverse effect on another individual or creates other sources as guys can.”

Neither Zielke nor Martinuzzi reported their harassment to the an intimidating, hostile or offensive learning environment on school premises, in a school-related vehicle or a school-sponsored event,” administration, they said.

“I feel that (sexual harassment) is the most under-reported according to the Student Code of Conduct. situation,” social worker Doug Roby said via e-mail.

Although the punishments for both harassment “I think students downplay that verbal comments and sexual harassment are listed identically in the can be sexual harassment. I have not had any Student Code of Conduct, Assistant Principal Terry I was being nice, and students come to me this year to report it, but I can Flint said he treats them differently.

I was helping him with say that it has come up every year I have been at “For a first offense--a kid spouts out some work, but that was not South.” inappropriate title or term toward another student an invitation for him to Few girls come to the administration with who finds it offensive, and it may have some type of grab at me. complaints of sexual harassment because they fear a sexual connotation in lieu of the vocabulary that a dismissive response, Zielke said. the student has chosen to use--categorically, if that ILA ZIELKE ’16 With a dress code with more restrictions on kid … doesn’t have a big track record, usually our female dress than male attire, Zielke said the basic first step on something like that would be notify rules of South create an environment in which girls are blamed for parents,” Flint said.

However, for a repeated offense, the punishment is more extensive the harassment they receive, she said. Although Zielke said the administration’s punishments can help to curb sexual harassment, she and can lead to suspension or expulsion, Flint said.

“Right out of the gate, anything that gets further than maybe some said parents must intervene to correct a perpetrator’s behavior.

“It really starts like at home with the parents making sure that they verbal stuff, the consequences can go really high, really fast for kids,” (their children) act a certain way,” Zielke said. “I know influence from Flint said.

Having stressed the importance of avoiding sexual harassment friend groups (is a problem)-- they always say boys want to do what at class meetings in September, Flint said he thinks our culture has their friends are doing, which is sometimes when they get a big group eroded barriers, leading to students’ difficulties in understanding catcalling, but they need to be taught that … girls are supposed to be treated kindly and like people, not objects.” appropriate boundaries.

Any form of sexual harassment needs to have administrative “As with all discipline, we want to try to be equitable--we don’t want to destroy the kid’s life for one mistake,” Flint said. “However, there are involvement and follow-through, Roby said. Outside of school an certain mistakes, due to the degree of severity, that could have really individual would need to contact the police.

“There are many reasons people sexually harass—but power and devastating consequences for kids, and this particular category is one control are at the center of it,” Roby said. “Students and the community of them that has the potential to go nuclear if kids aren’t careful.”

While Flint has estimated he has seen five or six cases of sexual need to be educated about the seriousness of sexual harassment and harassment over his 12 years at South, he said that almost categorically, the ramifications for the victim.”

If you are experiencing sexual harassment or assault, talk to a the offended party is female, and the perpetrator is male. This observation is reflected by the AAUW study, which claims that 14 counselor, an assistant principal, any other trusted adult, or call 1-800percent more female students experience sexual harassment than their 656-HOPE, the National Sexual Assault telephone hotline.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT [by the numbers]

48%

of surveyed students were sexually harassed at least once

44%

of surveyed students were sexually harassed in person

56%

of girls were sexually harassed at least once in the past school year

40%

of boys were sexually harassed at least once in the past school year

INFORMATION FROM US NEWS; PHOTO AND FACTBOX BY HALEY VERCRUYSSE ’16

feature // 6

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

South (and North) of the Border

environment was better suited for me,” Puscas said.

LINDSAY STANEK ’16 // Pulse Copy Editor , “One negative would be that before I could drive, I with contributions from MADELINE GLASSER didn’t have as good of a social life because I lived so AND OLIVIA SHEFFER , BOTH ‘17 Every student that comes to South comes here for far away.”

Not all students receive these boundary a reason--for most, it’s simply a matter of geography.

However, those who live outside of South’s exemptions, though. At South, administrators established district can elect to come here through a determine whether or not there are “open seats,” process known as a boundary exemption, Principal based on things such as class capacities and staffing.

If any of these seats do exist, the district will allow Moussa Hamka said.

The Grosse Pointe Public School System students to apply to fill those seats, Hamka said.

“Currently, North and South do not have extra (GPPSS) encompasses all five of the Grosse Pointe Communities, as well as a small portion of Harper capacity. We’re closed,” Hamka said. “If a student Woods. Since the GPPSS is not what is known as a wanted to apply, it would be for extenuating “school of choice” district, people who live outside circumstances.”

These students who wish to apply in spite of of the district boundaries are not allowed to attend.

However, South does have an open enrollment capacity being reached would first fill out a form policy, meaning that while students are expected to on the district webpage Deputy Superintendent of attend their assigned school, they may apply to go Human Relations Jon Dean said. If the application shows “cause,” it would move on to another school if they live within the district, according to Board Most of my friends to be either approved or denied by the Transfer Review Committee, Policy 5111 Section E pertaining to were going here and in which case the family would In-District Student Transfers. This the educational envi- advocate and explain why they applies to elementary, middle and ronment was better want the transfer. The committee high school students, Hamka said. is comprised of central office and suited for me.

“Some students have petitioned building administrators, to come to South, and there are WYATT PUSCAS “We listen to the parents and actually some students from South then make the decision whether the who have petitioned to go to North,” transfer should be granted based on Hamka said. “The process has changed over the years, and students would have to the position that is in the best interest of both the student and the district,” Dean said. go through it for reconsideration.”

In most southeastern Michigan school districts, However, once a student has been approved for one of these transfers, they do not need to re-apply employees’ children are allowed to attend the district the parent teaches in, regardless of where every year, Hamka said.

One such student is Grosse Pointe Woods they live. But in the GPPSS, this isn’t the case, and resident John Bornoty ’16, who lives within the records secretary Kahli Williams doesn’t agree with geographical boundary area for North, applied for a this policy.

“I feel that if you’re an employee, your child transfer to South that the district accepted.

“I made the decision to go to South because I’m should be allowed to come here, only because it’s really familiar with the school due to the fact that hard living in a different district, working in another my mom is a math teacher here, plus it has such a district, and to have your child attend that other district, that back and forth,” Williams said. high reputation,” Bornoty said.

While employees can’t currently bring children The same goes for Michael Lesha ’17 who lives in Grosse Pointe Shores but applied to switch to with them to attend the district, Hamka is an South because of his desire to play lacrosse here and advocate for it. Employees are more likely to remain in the district if they have children invested in the because most of his friends attend here.

Similarly, Grosse Pointe Shores resident Wyatt school, possibly even moving into the district, he Puscas ’16 had many South-attending friends that said.

Hamka said, “I would love for my daughters to motivated him to apply for a transfer.

“I wanted to go to South because most of come to Grosse Pointe Schools.” my friends were going here and the educational

The jury is out: Hall Monitor helps convict murderer

Oh, the places we live...

THE WOODS LINDSAY STANEK ‘16

JOHN BORNOTY ‘16

THE SHORES

MICHAEL LESHA ‘17 WYATT PUSCAS ‘16 GRAPHICS COURTESY OF GABI DE COSTER ‘16

CAM FRANCIS ’17 // Staff Writer Hall monitor and South mother Julie Kolomjec was part of a jury that convicted a 19 year old Detroit man of second degree murder last week.

Out of the 12 jury members, all but one decided on second degree murder, Kolomjec said.

“We were convinced that this guy pulled out a gun and shot a guy he didn’t even know,” Kolomjec said.

An intentional act of killing without advanced planning classifies as second degree murder, according to law.com.

Being a parent, Kolomjec was slightly troubled with the situation.

“It kind of affected me a little bit because the kid was only 19,” Kolomjec said. “As a parent, I’m like

where the heck are his parents to prevent him from being out and just killing someone that he didn’t even know.”

Kolomjec missed a total of six school days for her jury duty, she said. Other hall monitors are glad she’s back. Hall monitor Debbie Dempsey stressed Kolomjec’s importance.

“We need her here at school to work,” Dempsey said.

Hall monitor Andre Williams added that Kolomjec creates a better work environment.

“It’s a lot quieter when she’s not here,” Williams said. “I love that she’s back. She’s one of the best coworkers here.”

With the case behind her, Kolomjec will return to her normal work schedule, she said.

School play offers twist on classic “Whodunnit” killed him (the publisher) at the same time.”

This year’s play is a farce, which is a comedy aimed at entertaining the audience through highly exaggerated situations, Dunham said.

This style is something different than the actors have done before, which ensures students are able to get a variety of acting challenges.

“We try and do something very different so that the students get a different acting challenge,” Dunham said. “So, this year we did a farce because it is so completely different in the timing and the memorization and the pace and the tempo and the skills. It has been zany and fun and a little crazy, but they (the students) are having a really good time.”

Mary Reinman ‘17, who plays Maddie, said that she has enjoyed rehearsing the farce so far, but has had a completely different feel than the plays she has performed before.

“Because the show is a farce, it is really important for our comedic timing, so our lines are even more important, and it is harder to cover when things are forgotten,” Reinman said. “It is kind of a lot more work than a show where if you get something wrong, it is OK.” Rehearsals for the show began in early September about three days a week and increased in October, Dunham said. The cast has practiced four or five days each week this month in preparation for the show next week.

“They (the cast) know it is a commitment,” Dunham said. “These are busy kids who are often in choir or band or have all of these other commitments. This is one of their extracurriculars that is really important to them, MURDER IN THE AUDITORIUM// Members of Pointe Players rehearses a scene from “It’s Murder but they also have to strike a in the Wings”. The cast and crew have been practicing since Early September. balance.”

RACHEL HARRIS ’18 // Copy Editor This weekend, South drama students will set the stage in this year’s production of “It’s Murder in the Wings.”

The play is written by Pat Cook and takes place in a publishing company in New York City, director and English/Theatre/Speech teacher Meaghan Dunham said. The publisher dies at his desk just before a famous author signing, and the company has to try to cover up his death.

“It is kind of a whodunit,” Dunham said. “Circumstances get really crazy and outrageous as they try to host this party and figure out who

PHOTO BY JEN MAIORANA

The cast does blocking rehearsals first to talk about movement and characterization, Dunham said. After, they work on memorization and then move on to timing, tempo, costumes and props.

“We try and start kind of slow and then build up to a little bit crazy this week before we open next week,” Dunham said.

The cast has been working really hard up on stage and putting a lot of effort into rehearsing, Dunham said.

“They are starting to realize that their timing is getting tighter and tighter, and that the few people that have come in to watch are giggling and laughing,” Dunham said. “It is starting to come together.”

Everyone is doing everything possible to make sure that the show is held to its highest potential, Jerome Manning ‘17 said, who plays Lionel Upshaw.

“I definitely believe that everyone is putting in 100 percent and really working hard to make the show the best it can be,” Manning said.

In order to make sure that the show is a success, the cast needs to be focused and have high energy levels, Manning said. Also, students need to participate and buy tickets.

“It is a modern comedy, so I think that a lot of the jokes the kids will get,” Manning said. “I feel like it is just exciting to see your friends on stage and doing something that they like to do.”

The show is geared towards a high school audience, so students will be able to understand the jokes, Reinman said.

“I am really excited about the performances,” Reinman said. “It is going to be pretty fun to see our friends in the audience and get them laughing. They will see the little things that we have put in and think that it is funny.”

Students should see the show to see the hard work that cast members have put in the past three months, as these are students’ friends who are on stage, behind the scenes and designing the show, Dunham said.

“It is a way to support those kids that are participating in an art that is as old as the human race,” Dunham said. “Comedy is so hard, and you don’t realize it until you are doing it. Everything has to be in place, and you have to be totally committed to what you are doing.”

Dunham said she looks forward to the cast realizing that performing the play will be as fun as it is to watch.

“It (the show) is fast, funny and live theatre,” Dunham said. “Live theatre is a participation and melding of the theatre audience and the performer in the same space, and it is just an amazing experience.”

Tickets can either be purchased at Posterity: A Gallery, in the Village, during lunch this week and at the door for $8 per student/ senior, and $10 per adult ticket. Performances are Nov. 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. in the South Auditorium.

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

behind the counter

feature // 7

Q&A We asked the staff at four of the most popular lunch options what it is like from their perspective:

1) What is the hardest thing about working here?

2) How do you prepare for South lunch?

3) What do you like about working here?

4) Are there a lot of regulars who come in?

PHOTOS AND INFORMATION BY MADDIE DESNOYER ’16

Subway

Extreme Pizza

1) Cleaning up after the school lunch. Taking orders and making sure everythings gets done quickly and smoothly.

2) Make sure that everything is stocked. Especially the cookies because tons of people buy them.

3) The coworkers and the kids that come in make the day go by a lot faster. I love the social interaction.

4) I know probably 11-12 subs by heart just by seeing the kids’ faces.

1) Dealing with the kids that don’t clean up after themselves-we’re not your parents.

2) We make slices the day before, stock cups, make sure we have enough cookies and we weigh the wings the night before for our lunch special.

3) It’s convenient to where I live, there’s good hours and good food.

4) Yes, I’ll see kids walk in the door and already have it in the oven because we know exactly what they want.

Fresh Farms Market

Hydrangea Kitchen

Allyson Broyles

Kayla Holliger

1) Trying to keep the receipts in order. When someone pays with a credit card or a home account, two receipts print. We keep one and we either give it to the customer or throw it away. It gets really messed up if you’re not on top of it.

2) Making sure there is enough money to give change, premaking chicken fingers and salads, having enough bags. We really have to make sure that we get everything done in the morning so we’re ready for the school lunch.

3) My coworkers and the customers. It’s fun when you know the people that come in.

4) All the time. Some kids come in every day.

1) The school lunch. We have to make sure that everyone gets their specific order and that everything runs smoothly. Communication between the kitchen and the front is important.

2) We come in early, set up the special menu for the students.

We place ketchup on every table (ketchup is only placed on tables for the school lunch), and I get my number system ready: I give a number to the student which corresponds with the number and order I send back to the kitchen 3) I like the fast-paced environment and interacting with all of the students.

4) Yes, there are students that will come in every day. Some even come in for breakfast and lunch.

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feature // 8

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

Attack on liberty

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Forster’s daily activities will be greatly impacted by the terrorist attacks, she said. While the city is in a state of emergency, Forster plans to avoid large public areas like the metro, shopping centers and tourist areas like the Place de la Republique, Eiffel Tower and Montmartre.

Within Forster’s class, students are constantly updating each other on Facebook to be sure that they all get home safely from school.

“I am not frightened because I am aware that the city is doing everything it can to protect us, there is nothing more that I can do for that,” Forster said. “I know that I must not be scared because that is exactly what these terrorists want- for us to be terrorized. But I am ready to stand with my city and protect our values and culture.”

Rumored or hoaxed bomb alerts have occurred frequently since the attacks, Forster said.

“Getting these updates definitely enables the fight or flight action that does make the hair on my arms stand straight up, and I know that I must make a conscious decision to bring myself to a safe location.”

Forster said. “Although I am doing my best, and I love living in Paris, it is a time like this that I wish I could come home to Grosse Pointe for a day to be surrounded by familiar faces and memories.”

Grappling with the second terrorist attack in Beirut, Carol Handilah ’16 said her family’s decision to move to America was catalyzed by escalating violence in Lebanon thirty years ago.

Fleeing war, the parents of Carol Handilah ’16 immigrated from Lebanon with other family members in the 1980s. An aunt, who lives in Canada, was friends with a woman who died in the Nov. 12 Beirut bombings.

“For them (my parents), news of violence in Beirut is something

that happens regularly, it’s not something that is new,” Handilah said.

Before the 1980s, Beirut was dramatically different because few restrictions were imposed and there was little violence, Handilah said.

Now, her family has grown accustomed to almost daily reports of terrorist attacks in their home city.

“It’s truly tragic,” Handilah said. “My family is praying for the safety of everyone in Beirut.”

Following both terrorist attacks, at a G20 summit on Nov. 16 in Antalya, Turkey, President Barack Obama said, “ISIS is the face of evil. Our goal is to … destroy this barbaric organization.”

Although American politicians are united in the goal to end ISIL’s terrorism, they are divided on how to achieve this result, AP Government teacher Michael Rennell said.

“Obama thinks what they’re doing is working, and it will take a long time, but the policy itself is working,” Rennell said. “For right now, I think they’re going to stick with drone strikes and try to take out the political leaders of ISIS, but we’ll see what the future holds.”

With the 2016 presidential campaign in full swing, both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have been outspoken about their views on America’s role in the struggle against ISIL, Rennell said.

“I take a look at the election and say, ‘since 1950, there have been two issues that have been the top two issues for every single election, and that’s the economy and foreign policy,’” Rennell said . “This is probably one of the most definitive parts of the foreign policy because there’s definitely a decided difference between Republicans and Democrats.”

Rennell said a clear example of the difference between the parties

was the Democrats’ insistence that the terrorists were extremist Jihadists, while the Republicans claimed the perpetrators were Islamic terrorists.

“This brutal and barbaric group (ISIL) is perverting the name of a great world religion,” candidate Martin O’Malley said during the Nov. 14 Democratic debate in Des Moines, Iowa.

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Marco Rubio tweeted on Nov. 13 that America should assist the French government in finding those responsible and bringing them to justice.

“The #ParisAttacks are a wake up call. This is a clash of civilizations. Either they win or we win,” Rubio tweeted on Nov. 14.

While the Republicans are much more about striking out, the Democrats generally agree with Obama’s policy, Rennell said. However, politicians may ultimately have little say in the involvement of American troops.

“If France happens to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Charter, then some NATO troops may be involved, and we’re a big part of NATO troops,” Rennell said. “Who knows where the escalation will be. Only time can tell.”

Following criticism from “The New York Times” on Nov. 15 that the Beirut bombings received less public sympathy and attention than the Paris attacks, Moon said she discussed this controversy with her students.

“Many other attacks have gone unnoticed and undiscussed, and that that’s a serious problem,” Moon said. “Maybe what comes out of this in some sort of a, dare I say positive, is that we are forced to see more how this situation touches people from around the world, and not just in Paris.”

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Koszyk has earned multiple medals from Youth Nationals, which is an eight-man boat.

CHRISTINA AMBROZY ’16 // Staff Writer After practicing for countless hours, racing against other countries and dedicating Also, Koszyk earned four gold National Championship medals this past summer.

“Koszyk was involved in an event called CRASH-B, is the largest indoor rowing renearly all of his time to this sport, Sorin Koszyk ’16 has recently committed to gatta in the world, with the best athletes flying in from all over the country and Europe,” row for Ivy League Cornell University.

U N Macon said. “There are literally thousands of eyes on you and it was a very intimidating “Cornell has had the best lightweight rowing program in the counL IV E EL environment and one in which many skilled, veteran athletes choke due to the pressure. try for the past two years so that is what stuck out to me and that’s Sorin got second in that race, but kept his cool and had a great perforis where I wanted to go, because I want to be the mance and was the fastest American at the event.” best,” Koszyk said.

Recently, Koszyk traveled to the Head of the Hooch regatta. Koszyk Koszyk began his rowing career the fall of his Cornell has had the raced in the youth single, which is a one-person boat, and won by over freshman year at the Detroit Boat Club, he said. best lightweight rowing a minute, earning a time that makes him competitive against the UnitIn addition, Koszyk also rowed for the Pennsylprogram in the country ed States and Canadian National team members. vania Athletic Club for one summer, which is the 1 for the past two years so “You have to go into the race knowing what to do and you just do only official team he has rowed for.

DE .

D A. D it, ” Koszyk said. “On the water, we just kind of focus on applying pow“I do not know why I decided to row,” Koszyk said. that is what stuck out to er as efficiently as possible.”

“But once I found it, I just continued to stick with it.” me and that’s is where I During the Youth Nationals in 2014, Koszyk’s boat was struggling In order to maintain his skill during the offseason, Koszyk wanted to go because I throughout the entire race and started in last place, but with the concontinues to practice on the indoor rowing machines to stay in shape want to be the best. stant perseverance and effort, they earned third overall and earned the and have an advantage in the spring. Many indoor workouts focus on bronze medal.

Races like these are significantly memorable, Koszyk strength and endurance building, Koszyk said.

SORIN KOSZYK ’16 said.

As Koszyk’s coach for the past four years, Dave Macon said an esKoszyk’s family and friends say they are proud of his success and sential element to Koszyk’s success is his passion. hard work, and excited to see what these next few years will bring to Koszyk, said both “Koszyk’s greatest strength is his exceptionally unrelenting drive,” Macon said. “Some Brown and Macon. people work harder, some people work smarter. Koszyk does both and then some more.”

“We were very excited for him because it is such a great opportunity,” Brown said.

Koszyk practices twice a day, once before school and once after. This cycle is repeated “Not only is Cornell a fantastic school, it has a phenomenal rowing program.” every day except on Sundays, when he only practices once. This adds up to at least 20 One of the major reasons why Koszyk’s success is so valued is because of how much hours per week alone in the just off-season, and they steadily rise as the season approachhe has improved in the past few years, Macon said. es.

“Koszyk came to rowing and was not the best athlete,” Macon said. “Today, I would Koszyk is able to stabilize his school work on top of his two-a-day practice schedule. put my neck out there and say that he has got to be one of the fastest lightweight recruits “Balancing my schedule is tough,” Koszyk ’16 said. “All I do is wake up and go pracin the country.

He has really transformed into an amazing athlete.” tice, then go to school, get back from practice around 7:30 and do my homework and go to bed.”

Koszyk is able to thrive under these circumstances because of his determination and dedication, said his mother, Lisa Brown.

“If Sorin is really interested in something, he has the ability to kind of hyper-focus on that thing,” Brown said. “He will commit 110 percent.”

Koszyk has gained a lot of experience in high pressure situations due to his participation in numerous nationally recognized regattas, said Macon.

“Sorin has always had a great attitude, whether racing, training or just messing around. Regardless of the situation, he is ready to perform and he keeps a cool head,” Macon said. “I do not think I can honestly say that I have encountered an athlete that is more focused on their goals, or with a stronger work ethic.”

Sorin’s best rowing time for the ergometer, the indoor rowing machine, is six minutes and 20 seconds for the 2000 meter, but that was almost a year ago, and he has most likely PRACTICE // Sorin Koszyk ‘16 trains twice a day to prepare for this year’s season. He recently improved his time significantly faster since then, Macon said. During the fall, I particreceived four gold National Championship medals. ipate in 6-kilometer races, competing with his best time of 20 minutes and 32 seconds.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SORIN KOSZYK ’16

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Sorin Koszyk commits to Ivy League university, Cornell, for crew

New Detroit sports dome provides convenient athletic opportunities JACK HOLME ’17 // Page Editor The Mack Athletic Complex (MAC) opened its doors on Saturday, Nov. 7 to scores of athletes and teams.

Located at 4300 Marseilles St., just west of Mack Ave. in Detroit and opposite of Rivard Blvd., the MAC is close in proximity to the Grosse Pointes and other eastside communities, and it will provide off-season athletic training for many sports during the cold, dark winter months when outdoor practice is not feasible.

The new dome is 35 by 70 yards, providing space to host a plethora of sports activities: soccer, baseball, softball, football, lacrosse and golf can all be accommodated at the MAC. The complex offers a turf compatible with both cleats and tennis shoes, as well as a state-of-theart workout room with personal training. The weight room is run by Detroit Thrive, a training systems company, and consists of both ma-

UNDER THE DOME // The Anchor Bay softball team practices inside the new sports dome in Detroit. The dome provides athletic off-season training for a variety of sports.

PHOTOS BY JACK HOLME ’17

chines and free weights.

“It’s great for the community being so close,” coach Ken Brubaker, director of 313 Lacrosse said.

Lacrosse is only one of the many sports that will be able to use the MAC complex. Brubaker is taking advantage of this space by moving all of 313 Lacrosse’s training to this location.

“It offers a convenience we have not been able to provide in the past,” Brubaker said.

In addition to indoor training facilities, Detroit Thrive Managing Partner Don Jaeger said another edge over the competition is ease of access.

“We’ve got a great location. Our closest competitor is 20 plus minutes (away),” Jaeger said.

To take advantage of the closeness of the facility, Brubaker is offering off-season training to the South’s boys lacrosse program beginning Nov. 21 and a new high school lacrosse league beginning Jan. 14. Previously, off-season training for lacrosse had been held in Warren and Chesterfield Township due to the lack of a closer facility.

In order to construct the dome, a shuttered Detroit Public School, Hanstein Elementary, had to be razed and the process took six months before the dome was inflated, Jaeger said.

He said it only takes 20 minutes to inflate the dome. Another feature that makes this dome stand out from others is that the dome doesn’t need an excessive amount of air pressure to remain inflated.

Even if the dome were to be punctured, it would not deflate. If the dome were to lose pressure unexpectedly, the fans and heaters would come on automatically to keep it inflated, Jaeger said.

“It takes such little pressure to keep this thing inflated that you

could cut a huge hole in it, and it would still stay inflated,” Jaeger said.

When it comes to heat, it heats itself based on UV rays, Jaeger said.

“There is no structure like this for indoor sports in the whole country,” Jaeger said. “This is the first one of this space age material. You can take a golf ball and drive it right into the side of it.”

The facility can be rented by sports teams and other organizations.

In the “prime season” (October-April) the full field can be rented for $195-250 per hour or $100-175 per half hour.

In the “off season” (May-September) rental prices drop to $95-150 per hour and $50-$75 per half hour.

The MAC is also equipped with 75-foot batting cages which rent for $30 per hour or a 50-foot space for $25 per hour. The field will be used as a golf range from Oct.-April, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. A large bucket of balls cost $9 and it’s $7.50 for a small bucket.