Issue 16 by The Tower Newspaper

TOWER the

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 Volume 88 Issue 16 thetowerpulse.net

A WEEKLY TRADITION SINCE 1928

@thetowerpulse

FACING THE

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

Use of marijuana, edibles on choir trip leads to disciplinary action, increased awareness about student health

After ingesting the edibles, some students on the trip became ill; ill to the point of possibly passing out,” Principal Moussa Hamka said. Choir Director Chris Pratt said he had no idea these events transpired until he was notified by someone affiliated with choir, not a student, on the following Tuesday, Feb. 2. However, many of the other choir students witnessed the transgressions but chose not to alert any of the 12 parent chaperones or Pratt, Martin said. “It’s really sad that it had to happen, but it doesn’t change my view of any of the people involved,” Martin said. “I feel like a lot of people who aren’t in choir don’t understand that this affects everybody in choir.” However, this illegal drug use may not be a random occurrence, Hamka said.

Through our investigation, we’ve uncovered that this may be a tradition, a very terrible tradition, an inappropriate tradition, with the trip to Findlay,” Hamka said. In regards to disciplinary action, anyone, regardless of age, is

not permitted to use drug or alcohol-related products on school grounds or school-related field trips, according to the Code of Conduct. Additionally, distributing drugs in a school environment must be reported to the police. Beyond contacting the authorities on Feb. 2, there have been a range of consequences implemented by the school to the students involved, Hamka said. This disciplinary action only involves students who consumed, purchased or sold the drugs, not witnesses. “Precedent for the last five years at South ... a first offense is a 10-day suspension with the offer of reducing that to a five-day separation (for drug consumption),” Hamka said. “On their record, it would show as a separation, not as a suspension. That reduction does come with some strings attached -- namely, the student being seen by a certified counselor to get the necessary treatment to make healthy and safe choices moving forward.” This first-offense punishment for drug possession is consistent for all students, Hamka said. In second-offense cases or cases where the student was distributing drugs, the consequences vary. In conjunction with the punishment for this incident, the students involved are no longer allowed to attend any overnight trip this year, including the choir trip to Ireland planned for the district’s week-long February break. “Some students have purchased trip cancellation (insurance) and others have not. We are still early in the stages, working with families and working with the travel agencies,” Hamka said. “We are not sure where we will land yet.” Another choir student, who asked to remain anonymous after receiving a five-day separation for marijuana possession, said not being able to attend the Ireland trip seems too severe of a punishment. “It is my belief that the school

THIS WEEK AT SOUTH

I’m very sad for them, and I wish it could be different, but I understand the decision,” Choir Vice-President Alissa Martin ’16 said. Despite being disappointed and saddened by the event, Pratt said he still has faith in his students as a whole. “What I want everyone to know is that our choir is one of the best in the country,” Pratt said via e-mail. “There were over 80 students on our competition trip who did what they were supposed to and represented Grosse Pointe South admirably. We will continue to ensure that our policies moving forward are enforced and address these issues head-on. I believe that a bad choice does not make a bad person. Everyone makes poor choices and mistakes, but it is how we handle the consequences of our actions in

feb.

The Mr. Blue Devil pageant will take place tonight in the auditorium at 7 p.m. <see page 7>

does have a right to punish us and suspensions (and separations) are very reasonable reactions, but the barring of those involved from the Ireland trip and any overnight trip is an overreaction,” the student said. “This trip had an added significance for me as my grandmother, who immigrated from Ireland in her teens, passed away very suddenly this past May, and this trip was a chance to reconnect to a dearly-missed part of my life.” However, Pratt said he stands by the administration’s disciplinary action. “The consequence matches what the violations were. On any school trip, the rules that are in place for the schools still apply and everybody was well aware of that,” Pratt said. “I support the administration’s decision.” While Martin is disappointed that her some of her peers are excluded from the trip, she said she understands the justification behind it.

moving forward that makes our true character.” In addition, Pratt said these transgressions will hopefully lead to a bigger discussion about any student’s choice to take drugs.

It’s a big deal (the choice to take drugs), and it’s made to feel like it’s not a big deal. We have to change that culture,” Choir Director Chris Pratt said. “With choir, we have the spotlight on us right now; we will be at the forefront of changing that culture through communicating and moving forward in such a way that everybody on the same page and communication is clear.” Overall, the safety of students overall mental and physical health is a major concern that is demonstrated by this specific incident but is representative of the school as a whole, Pratt said. “I just want students to be safe,” Pratt said. “When you’re buying anything, you don’t know what’s in these things. That’s what scares me: the what could have been had this not come to light and where this could have gone, maybe with us or maybe with another activity.” In addition, Vice-President and Chair of the Board of Education Policy Committee Daniel Roeske said the use of drugs create severe health risks. The district strives to provide support for students who are struggling with drug dependency. “Certainly, the district and building administration can and does provide support services, education programs and other outreach to students to educate and inform them of the consequences to the use of alcohol and drug,” Roeske said. “This may and has included partnering with other groups, like the Family Center of Grosse Pointe

This Thursday, the boys wresting team will host its team district tournament at 5 p.m.

and Harper Woods, local law enforcement and other community groups.” This incident provides an opportunity for improved safety precautions for school trips, Hamka said. Moving forward, Hamka said he wants to send the message to all students that it is OK to come forward and ask for help when it comes to drugs and other issues they might be dealing with. “We have a counseling team here dedicated to assisting students with all of their needs--academic and otherwise,” Hamka said. “Sitting in my chair, all too often, I’ve seen the progression of a gateway drug to something more dangerous.” Through past conversations with students, Hamka said he has heard numerous stories about the unknowing purchase of marijuana laced with heroin or other opioids, which creates a dependency.

We all have to be aware that this is a problem. Students need help and this is dangerous,” Hamka said. “It’s certainly dangerous in the sense of whoever you’re purchasing this from, but also the health implications. Some of these students were ingesting marijuana with levels of THC that could be toxic. Some students might have an underlying medical condition that they’re not aware of, and taking an illicit drug can exasperate that which can be deadly. We don’t know what we are dealing with here often, and it could be tragic.” Pratt said continuing the open dialogue about this issue is essential to moving forward.

This is a bad situation, but it’s a good opportunity to have some really good conversations about the culture. It’s an important topic that we need to try to get through to people that is everywhere here at South,” Pratt said.

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JENNIFER MAIORANA ’16 & RILEY LYNCH ’18 // Editor-in-Chief & Pulse Section Editor pproximately 20 students were involved with the use and distribution of marijuana en route to the Findlay Fest Choral Competition the weekend of Jan. 30, sparking consequences and conversations about student safety and drug culture. Several members of Pointe Singers ingested marijuana edibles before and during the bus ride to Findlay, despite parent chaperones being on the bus at the same time, Choir Vice-President Alissa Martin ’16 said.

Mid-winter break starts this Monday and continues through Friday, Feb. 19.

news // 3

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

Classes recognize Black History Month

with mandatory, weekly discussions

ZOE JACKSON ’16 // Page Editor onoring the requests of students, Principal Moussa Hamka announced that Black History Month, which began on Feb. 1, will now be discussed once a week, minimum, in every class during February. Due to mid-winter break, students are only in school for three weeks in February, so that would be three times, Hamka said. Teachers can do this in the form of a warm up, bell ringer, fun fact of the day or a lesson revolving around black history, Hamka said. Many students came “To make this relevant, what I up to me and expressed asked teachers to do was to cona disappointment that nect it back to their curriculum,” our school had not forHamka said. mally recognized Black For example, art teachers could find a famous black artist and celeHistory Month last year. brate them. Music, choir and band MOUSSA HAMKA classes can find a famous composPRINCIPAL er, he said. “Acknowledge, celebrate, sing the song,” Hamka said. “In math, find a famous black mathematician.” Hamka said he was simply responding to students who wanted to see their culture and their history reflected in their everyday lives and be more accepted. “Many students came up to me and expressed a disappointment that our school had not formally recognized Black History Month last year,” Hamka said. “In particular, our black students felt that they were not celebrated publicly, and it led some to feel that they weren’t welcome. I assured them that was not the case.” As a school, Hamka resolved to be more public and intentional with South’s efforts, to ensure a reflection of the diverse tapestry of our student body.” South’s BASE (Black Association for Student Diversity) club was one of the main student groups to approach Hamka about this, he said. “Mr. Hamka has been really helpful in making sure that all of our ideas are being heard, and he tries his best to grant each and every

request,” BASE President Miracle Bailey ’16 said. For each remaining week in February, BASE will go on the announcements and talk about unknown African-Americans who have contributed to American society, Bailey said. At the end of the month, they will be attend a symposium with the BASE club at University of Detroit Jesuit to converse about their experience at their schools. French teacher Amanda Moon said she thinks Hamka’s plan is valuable. “I realized that it would take some planning and creativity to incorporate this into all of our classes, but I immediately began to have ideas, not just for myself, but how this could be accomplished in other disciplines as well,” Moon said. Moon said her French students learn about the important roles that many francophone Africans played in literature, art and science. All classes are learning about France’s role in the transatlantic slave trade to the French West Indies through reading, discussion and an interactive map of the region. “We will be learning about the abolition of slavery in the colonies and how France acknowledges this period in their history today,” Moon said. In January, Hamka also worked with BASE to organize an announcement to celebrate Martin Luther King Day as a kick-start to February’s events. The Grosse Pointe Historical Society notes that South was the site of one of Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches in 1968, only three weeks before he was assassinated, Greg Bowens, president of Grosse Pointe’s chapter of the NAACP, said via e-mail. The Grosse Pointe community takes great pride in the fact that Martin Luther King spoke at South, Hamka said. He said South has a responsibility to tie that historic event into current practices, and Bowens agrees. “The students who attended the packed gym, braved walking through hundreds of protesters and the scorn of some in the community to welcome Dr. King and hear his message of peace, tolerance and justice for all,” Bowens said. “That kind of courage by South students should not be lost to history.”

However, not all teachers have participated in this event to the extent that students would have liked. “Within the last 3-5 minutes of class, one teacher put up a PowerPoint and determined it ‘optional to read,’” Zaria Aikens ‘17 said. “The other put up at Kahoot, but no one logged in because there were only like two minutes left of class. So we did it as a whole, and he just had people who knew the answers shout them out.” Cassie Valice l’17 was also disappointed in what her teachers have done so far. “Every teacher was supposed to discuss Black History Month for only a few minutes, but only a few (of mine) did,” Valice said. “I was appalled, because the teachers’ lack of discussion on Black History Month reflects how a majority does not think the topic is important or simply does not care. It’s not just ‘important’ for black history to be discussed in our community, but it’s necessary. The one teacher of mine who did participate did a Kahoot quiz on how educated students were on the matter. Not one person in my class knew the year Black History Month started, who began the celebration or any other basic information about black history. I am also to blame, for I did not know any of the information as well; but maybe that’s because no one taught it to me.” For Bailey, black history needs to be celebrated simply because it’s a part of American history. Hamka agrees. “The United States of America, and the history of America has never existed without the presence of black Americans,” Hamka said. “If we look back at the contributions of Black Americans to our country, they built the White House, the iconic symbol and beacon of freedom.” South students are diverse in their thinking and in their cultures and in their beliefs, Hamka said, and as principal, he is concerned about how to recognize and appreciate this diversity. “How do we build the ideal utopia where every student feels that their culture, their personality, is reflected in the very fabric of our school?” Hamka said. “Is it come here and be like us or come here and be you? Do we meet students where they’re at, or do they have to conform? I just want our students to be happy, to be comfortable.”

Mid-winter break plans We asked 45 random students where they are going for break. Here are the results:

GOING UP NORTH 7

COLLEGE VISIT 1

staying home

CALIFORNIA 2

MEXICO 2

JAMAICA 1

ENGLAND 2

LAKE TAHOE 1

FLORIDA 4

BAHAMAS 1

COSTA RICA

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feature // 4

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

YOUR VIEW We asked three students what academic merits come from being in an independent study for a language class

ABIGAIL WARREN ’16

Independent study provides next level for language students CLAIRE YEAMENS ’17 // Page Editor to take the following year. This year, there After completing AP Spanish V his junior are 34 freshmen in Spanish III, which means year, Brendan Labadie ’16 wanted to avoid they will run into this problem, according to a gap year between high school and college Morefield-Pinder. and wanted to continue improving his Span“This year I have nine that are in indepenish-speaking skills. Due to the lack of high dent study, so it’s increasing every year and school students taking a foreign language that’s where the need is starting to come,” past this level, however, there aren’t enough Morefield-Pinder said. “Eventually we’ll have students to fill an official class. more and more, and then hopefully there’ll be For students like Labadie, one option is to time to actually have an official level-six class, take classes at Wayne State University, but this but right now we don’t have enough students can be difficult to make work with students’ to offer it, so we offer the independent study schedules. To solve this problem, some for- option.” eign language teachers opt to provide an inSince Latin is only offered as a class dependent study in which students have the through the fourth level, Latin teacher David opportunity to meet with the teacher and re- Smith provides the independent study option view activities and assignments. for students who want to continue with the “The independent study process for Span- language. In addition to Latin V, Smith offers ish is very nice because I’m using everything an independent study for Greek at the introI have learned to now focus on communica- ductory level. tion skills,” Labadie said. “For the independent “There’s less focus on learnstudy, the student thinks ing grammar and much about a particular topic For the independent more emphasis on useful study, the student thinks that they’re interested in,” vocabulary and cultural Smith said. “For example, about a particular topic phrases that you would my current Latin V indethey’re interested in hear if you traveled to a pendent study student is Spanish-speaking country.” very interested in medical DAVID SMITH Latin Teacher Foreign language indescience. So she’s in the pendent study is offered process of learning medwhen the students have ical anatomy since all of topped out of what classes are provided. La- the bones, muscles, tissues and diseases in badie’s Spanish teacher, Cindy Morefield-Pin- the body have Latin names. She’s spending der, offers it for her Spanish students. Inde- the year basically studying Latin anatomy, pendent study is also offered as needed in so when she gets to medical school, she’ll be French, German, Italian, Latin and introduc- ahead of the game.” tory Greek, as well as in other classes outside The option for independent study depends of the foreign language department. on scheduling, according to Smith, because “They don’t want to just learn on their the student can meet during lunchtime, a own. They want to be active and vibrant, so prep period or tutorial, just whenever works it’s really a big conversation type of thing,” for their schedule. When a student wants to Morefield-Pinder said. “For independent do something that’s not in the regular course we’re talking all the time in Spanish, and catalog, or they are interested in a special topthey’re doing literature, reading, speaking, ic, there is a form that their counselor can fill games and all the normal stuff in a class. I just out for an independent study. don’t give them as much homework because “During the semester I go through and I they’ve got enough on their plate, so they do say, well by halfway through this semester, just more active activities.” here’s our goal, so they have a list of things The first level of Spanish and French are they want to have accomplished,” Smith both offered at the seventh grade level, so if said. “Independent study gives the student students in this class continue to progress an opportunity to do something they simply through each level, they will complete the wouldn’t otherwise be able to do at that levfifth level as a junior and thus not have a class el. We don’t have a regular Greek program,

so by doing Greek independent study, they’re getting exposed to Greek as part of classical studies. In the case of Latin V, since we don’t have a Latin V regular class, it gives a chance for people to keep going with their Latin beyond the level four.” Morefield-Pinder has offered Spanish independent study for at least four or five years, ever since the middle schools have had enough interest to offer Spanish I at seventh grade. This year she has nine students in the program, and had one last year and five the year before that. “When I had five a couple of years ago during the same AP hour, they were at the back table, and they would do certain things that we did as a group with the AP, and then they would work together and do other things,” Morefield-Pinder said. “But I would be actively teaching them as well, or I would try to find things within the class that they hadn’t seen before that wouldn’t ruin what I was doing with my AP kids.” Labadie has been taking Spanish classes since sixth grade and initially wanted to learn the language because he loved the idea of traveling to a Spanish-speaking country and communicating on his own. He wants to continue with Spanish after high school but doesn’t know how yet. “In class, we do assignments mainly focused on writing and speaking. We usually start class by answering random ‘what if ’ questions that make us use different vocabulary and be creative,” Labadie said. According to Morefield-Pinder, in independent study she asks the students what they want to study, what they want to talk about and where they want to go with it. The students will tell her, for example, that they aren’t as interested in the literature, that they’d like to learn more slang or do more biology. “The kids obviously have an interest in it, or they wouldn’t have topped out of all the things that we offer here,” Morefield-Pinder said. “So to me you’re having a small group of kids and you’re working with them one-onone or nine-on-one to make that atmosphere because they love the stuff, and they’re good at it, or they wouldn’t do it. It’s nice because you have this captive audience that really wants to learn more, and they are also open about what they want to learn.”

I have to write a schedule plan for what I’m going to be doing each day of the week in class. So if I’m learning from the book one week, I’ll pick a different chapter each day to work on.

OLIVIA WOUTERS ’16 Since there was nothing offered past Spanish 5, I was going to have to go without it for a year, but with the educational study I am still speaking it every day.

BRENDAN LABADIE ’16 Having the extra attention helps me further develop my grammar skills and also work on things that are less important to typical Spanish classes, like your accent.

Under new light: Teacher evaluation standards shift Student achievement will take up only 25 percent of a teachers performance evaluation, down from 50 percent. This number will eventually increase to 40 percent in 2018-2019

ELENA RAUCH ’18 // Staff Writer In early November, a new teacher evaluation law was passed by the Michigan House and Senate and signed into law by the governor, affecting how the teachers at Grosse Pointe South are evaluated. “There were things in the law that said starting this year 50 percent of a teacher’s performance evaluation had to be about the achievement of their students,” Superintendent of Educational Services Jon Dean said. “This law reduced that (to 25 percent).” Part of Dean’s job is to handle human resources, involving teacher evaluations, and he said the new law makes the evaluation process more fair.. “I work to build the process, make sure things are turned in at the right time, that the administrative teachers have the training they need to do the evaluation,” Dean said. Dean said the changes to the law were made because making 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation based on the performance of his/her students was not the right thing to do. Social studies teacher Michael Rennell, vice-president for the Grosse Pointe Education Association, agrees. He said the new law is beneficial to teachers because now, what a teacher actually does in the classroom is looked at more in depth.

“(Teachers) are only one small factor in student’s performance. There’s all kinds of other factors that affect a student’s performance on a standardized test,” Rennell said. “From extracurriculars, to parents, to everybody else, (teachers) see students 49 minutes out of a day. Lowering that standard is beneficial to teachers because now they can look at the other things that really impact the student.” Principal Moussa Hamka agrees that student performance is hard to measure because there are many other things that impact a student’s growth besides their teachers. Also, until this year, there was no consistent exam given to all students. “One of the difficult pieces at the secondary level is the lack of consistent testing and measurement instruments that are objective and can be tied back to student growth,” Hamka said. Starting this school year, the PSAT will be given twice a year as a standardized test that will help measure student growth, Hamka said. In addition to fighting for accurate measurement of student’s growth, Rennell said the teachers’ union works for the rights of teachers and for the betterment of student’s education as well. “We fight for lower class sizes, we fight for being able to have the resources in our classrooms that we

want,” Rennell said. “We work overall for the rights of teachers and for pay, and all those things that are important to us.” Rennell says anytime the legislature is involved in making decisions about education, it is difficult because most legislators haven’t been in a classroom. However, he said it’s good that the legislature has backtracked and made the law a little more reasonable. This new law might be better, but it isn’t necessarily good, according to Dean. “I think it’s an improvement. I think we still have a little ways to go on teacher evaluation,” Dean said. “I’m not saying it’s good, but I’m saying it’s better. There’s a difference between those two things.” Rennell says although not directly, the law could impact students to a certain extent. “With a teacher’s evaluation being tied to students results on the standardized tests, teachers tend to start worrying or spending more time teaching to that test rather than working on things that might be more enriching to the students,” Rennell said. In the 2018-19 school year, the percentage of teacher evaluation that depends on student growth will increase to 40 percent.

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

JU- LSD, school social worker Doug LIA Roby said. A gateway FOX ’16 // drug is a less dangerous Copy Editor *Name has been changed drug that one typically tries before deciding to to protect the student’s move on to other more privacy. The first time Josh Landon* ’16 dangerous drugs. “Based on my expericonsidered trying LSD, he was persuaded by the allure of what his friends ence, if someone is taking told him was a mind-opening experi- LSD, they’ve used other drugs prior to that because ence. “I started hanging out with a couple something got them to that people who were like, ‘This is acid. It’s point,” Roby said. “It’s not like mind-opening, it’s really cool, and it’s first time use of drugs is going an experience that I think you should to be, ‘Hey, let’s take some LSD.’” Landon said he started out have. You’d enjoy it,’” Landon said. “So I was like, alright, I’ll do it in a place that smoking marijuana during his I deem safe. What’s the worst thing that freshman year of high school, before moving onto molly, the purest form of could happen?” Landon has used lysergic acid dieth- the recreational drug ecstasy, Landon ylamide (LSD), more commonly known said. When he began realizing the negas acid, since this past summer, he said. ative effects molly had, he decided to He is part of the 3 percent of high school move on to a different drug. Landon said he was nervous the first seniors participating time. in recreational use of “I had heard a lot LSD, according to the It’s like if you were to of things about it like, 2014 National Surhave a third eye, what you ‘Oh, you might have a vey on Drug Use and would do is you would bad trip. This might Health, and one of transport to your third eye happen. That might 250,000 Americans and look at your current happen. You don’t 12 years or above who life through a different know what you’re goparticipated in it apperspective. ing to see,’” Landon proximately once per said. “But everything month according to JOSH LANDON ’16 that you hear about the same survey conacid ends up just not ducted in 2013. LSD is a Schedule One hallucinogen, being true, like, ‘Every time you do it illegal in the United States, according to you’re going to have a bad trip.’ I’ve never www.drugabuse.gov. Consumption al- had a bad trip, ever.” While Landon has never had a bad ters the user’s neural function, predominantly affecting mood and perception. trip, Roby said they are not as uncomLSD typically causes the user to see, hear mon as they sound. There are significant or feel things that are not there. Experi- risks associated with any drug consumpencing these effects is commonly called tion. “First and foremost, what is it going to tripping. “They (users of LSD) get severe hal- do to you?” Roby said. “That’s always an lucinations,” Dr. Tricia Nouhan inherent risk. Especially if you’ve never of St. John Hospital done it. I’ve heard of people having total and Medical Cen- panic attacks where they have to go to ter said. “Patients the ER because they have no idea what’s will come in and going on with them. It’s kind of beyond get vari- their self-control.” Despite the risks, Landon continues ous vis u a l to use it, he said. Since the first time he a n d tried LSD, he has used it approximately a u - 20 times. When he first began using it, ditor y he took it once each week. Since then he halluci- has slowed to taking it once each month. “When you first start, it’s like when nations. A n d you were little and you got a new toy and some- you wanted to play with it all the time,” t i m e s Landon said. “But then, once you undert h o s e stand that it’s just a toy, you start to only can be play with it once in awhile.” Tripping on LSD is unlike the expefrightening. They can be pleas- rience Landon has had while taking any ant. They can be cre- other recreational drugs, he said. “The first thing that you tend to noative. But there are visual hallucinations that are the tice is that things will start to look a little more vibrant,” Landon said. “Then trademark for LSD.” The drug is usually administered after about 45 minutes, you’ll know that through thin papers that dissolve on the you’re tripping. What will start to haptongue, called tabs, Landon said. How- pen is things will start to look kind of ever, it can also be taken in liquid form wavy, and then everything that moves will have a bit of a trail behind it. It’s or in small gel capsules. It is common for marijuana kind of like looking at different frames to act as a gateway drug to of a video.” The next part, he said, is up to the other harder drugs like molly imagination. It takes practice, but once and one understands how, he said, they can ‘see’ their imagination. “It’s like if you were to have a third eye, what you would do is y ou

feature // 5

believe LSD may damage the brain and change the way it perceives information, or it may be stored in the body or brain after use, only to be released again later, according to LSDaddiction.us. There are serious risks associated does with the use of LSD, Roby said. One of would because the biggest concerns is the effect it has on transmy state of the brain. port to your mind and state of third eye and look at your “There’s a Harvard speaker who has thinking shifted a little bit towards the current life through a different perspecbeen studying marijuana use in kids, and tive,” Landon said. “You suddenly realize positive. It could definitely start to be at- the makeup of the brain for a 16-yearthat we need to be more understanding tributed to psychedelics.” old using marijuana Similarly, he bepeople, or ‘I need to be more kind to my regularly is very simmother’ or ‘when I’m in social situations, lieves it has affected The biggest thing ilar to the makeup of why do I feel like I need to jump in front, his political views in people need to think about the brain of someone why can’t I just sit back?’ You just exam- a positive way, as well, if they’re contemplating with schizophrenia,” ine things that you do, and you have this he said. trying it, is there is no Roby said. “So the “Before this I was very awkward, odd thought process.” real question is what predictability. Along with this abstract way of think- somebody who was is LSD doing to the ing comes a sense of something bigger, very rash with the brain if marijuana is DOUG ROBY SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER the existence of other beings, or some- things that I believed doing that?” thing more than humanity, he said. This in and no matter These are not and other interesting effects are all due what I was going to the only effects that to what he believes to be an expansion of stand up for them,” experimenting with LSD can have. The Landon said. “After I started I was like, possession of LSD is a federal felony in the mind due to the drug. “I remember one of the first times these people have a point. What they’re the United States, possession for personI tripped really, really hard I was at a talking about has a reason and yeah, I al use can result in one to three years in concert, and I was walking around, might think differently but the things prison and a $1000 to $25,000 fine. Posand I thought that I was in a river, but that they say, politically, are right. And session with intent to sell can result in I thought the river was gray,” Landon yeah it might suck for me, it might hurt three to 15 years in prison and a $2000 said. “Everybody around me looked like me, but we have to share. We’re on this to $300,000 fine. they were river water and fish, but they planet together and we can’t just take “The consequences are significantly were gray, too. I turned this corner, and from everyone.” different from marijuana,” Roby said. Despite all the positive effects Landon “The penalties are super harsh. Because on this pathway I saw two of my greatest experiences, LSD can cause a multitude of where it’s classified, it immediately friends in the world, covered in tie dye of negative effects such as psychosis, fear has more consequences related to the and making out. They were just this viand paranoia, loss of depth and time law than say a substance like marijuana. brant sun of awesomeness. Around them perception, trip flashbacks, insomnia, It’s Schedule 1, so it’s a felony. You’re not was this gray water, and then it was just chills and tremors, dry mouth, and rapid dealing with a misdemeanor like if it was them.” emotional shifts, according to the Foun- possession of marijuana.” This specific hallucination may have dation for a Drug Free World. been a visual manifestation of his subDespite his continual use, Landon “When you’re using a drug that gives said he does not believe that LSD should conscious, he said. “Later that night I was talking to my you visual effects, number one you can be legalized, rather it should be considfriend about it, and he was like, ‘Well, have persistent effects of those halluci- ered for medicinal use and lowered from that means something,’ and we were try- nations that are horrible,” Nouhan said. a Schedule One drug. ing to figure out what it meant,” Landon “Those can stay with you even after they “I think if it were completely legalsaid. “What it meant was that I was at a stop using the drug. Number two, when ized, it would be a bad situation,” Landon point in my life where I really wanted you’re having the hallucinations, people said. “We can’t have people tripping on a love. It was what I really needed, what I do very dangerous things. They can walk regular basis, all the time.” really wanted. So it was really something out in traffic and not even know. Or they In addition, Roby said students need that just showed my emotions visually. It could get into a vehicle. Or they will use to evaluate the risk factor of the drug. the drugs in combination with other was really cool.” “The biggest thing people need to One of the most interesting effects drugs and the effects are significant to think about if they’re contemplating trythat LSD has had on him is what he de- their cardiac and respiratory systems. ing it, is there is no predictability,” Roby scribes as an ability to taste color, he said. They can have an abnormal heartbeats said. “There are charts on alcohol where “I remember the first time I ever tast- or stop breathing like with heroin or oth- if you weigh 140 and you consume this ed colors I was drinking a Gatorade,” er narcotic drugs.” amount of alcohol, it’ll tell you what your Effects from LSD can then follow blood alcohol will be. There’s no science Landon said. “It was an orange Gatorade, the user around for the rest of their life, like that at all with LSD. That’s the bigand I swear to God it Nouhan said. The gest risk. What is it going to do to you?” tasted blue. I tasted it user can experience and the thing that just In the end, Nouhan said that LSD is There are other ways, significant issues with came to my mind was risky and can lead to long-term damages. non-drug-related ways to cognitive function inblue. I didn’t know “There are other ways, non-drug-rebe creative. You don’t need cluding memory loss. why. And then I was lated ways, to be creative,” Nouhan said. those drugs and chemicals These “trips” can “Just use your imagination. You don’t eating a bagel, and it outcome. happen once or they need those drugs and chemicals that tasted brown. For the may happen on mul- could have such a bad outcome. It’s not TRICIA NOUHAN rest of the trip and a tiple occasions, even worth doing something that’s potentialDOCTOR bunch of trips after, multiple occasions ly permanent and that could I could taste colors. afper day, causing hal- fect your well-being, your Taste the rainbow was lucinogen-induced persistent perception memory and potential never truer.” Despite all these effects, Landon said disorder, according to LSDaddiction.us. for having a visual hal“I don’t think they actually know what lucination. It’s the most prominent was the change in triggers that. It’s kind of like a memory not somehis outlook on life. Before he started usor some type of electrical or chemical t h i n g ing acid, he was depressed and seeing a circuit that gets triggered in the future w o r t h therapist for help. Now he finds himself after you use the drug,” Nouhan said. risking valuing his life and the lives of people “You could get these flashbacks at any- t h a t around him more than he ever previoustime. Nobody really knows what causes for.” ly did. them to occur or comeback, so again, “I was in kind of a bad place about that’s something that’s very dangerous six months ago and now I’ve never been happier in my entire life,” Landon said. depending on what the actual hallucina“Things are going very well for me. I tion was.” There is no confirmed reason for think that has a lot to do with acid. these flashbacks, but scientists I think it

feature // 6

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

INTRODUCING GRUBBABLE Local eateries offer 10 percent discount with this iOS, Android application

JON THEROS ’16 // Staff Writer ombining daily discounts at local restaurants and charitable donations to the nonprofit organization of the user’s choice, the new app Grubbable promotes the growth of the metro Detroit food economy at the touch of a fingertip. The app, available on Android and iOS, is as simple as downloading and then signing in through Facebook. It tracks a user’s location to find local affiliated restaurants. The user then and then you shows the waiter or cashier their verified member page and the customer can receive a minimum discount of 10 percent. Grubbable can be used every day at the same restaurant and even multiple times I think Grubbable a day. Some local restaurants working is a great way with Grubbable include J House Juice, to know we are Luxe, Morning Glory and Fresh Farms supporting locallyMarket. There are over 100 restaurants grown food while in Michigan that accept the app. As Chief Community Manager saving money on a for Grubbable Brandon Inkles said, variety of restaurants the idea behind it is to allow the in the Grosse Pointe community to “Eat With Purpose,” and Detroit area. and grow the local food movement. “We are building a network JACKSON ROSATI ‘16 of restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and distilleries that are using locally-sourced and grown ingredients in an effort to build awareness of where their food comes from and provide a small incentive for people to choose local businesses,” Inkles said. “When the money is being funneled back into the local economy, there is more of an opportunity to support local farmers and artisans who sell their food to these restaurants.”

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The app also highlights the producers for each restaurant, shows users where exactly their food is coming from and creates food transparency, Inkles said. All the user needs to do is click on the restaurant and a list of their providers is shown. The idea was conceived by three co-founders: Mike Feng, Eric Russ, and Jake Wesorick. Russ’s wife, Sarah, was interested in allnatural products such as toothpaste and deodorant and became interested in where her food was coming from for her family and whether or not she could trust the legitimacy of the food. It was from here that the Grubbable idea began, Inkles said. It was in Beta testing for about a year and went public on the app store in mid August 2015. The app offers a free trial month, following which it is 99 cents a month or a $9.99 for a year. “When you become a member, 100 percent of your first month’s membership fee goes to one of our nine nonprofit partners,” Inkles said. “Everything from Eastern Market to the Riverfront Conservancy which allows us to create an impact socially as well.” Jackson Rosati ’16 is a member of Grubbable and finds the app easy to use and practical. “I think Grubbable is a great way to know we are supporting locally grown food while saving money on a variety of restaurants in the Grosse Pointe and Detroit area,” Rosati said. Inkles said that while the app currently only has partnerships with stores in Michigan, it is looking to grow to the rest of the country in the future.

Want to help out the community? Come to Interact Club tomorrow afterschool! Meeting in Mr. Cox’s Room 297 Yoga, Barre Fitness, Pilates and Cardio Dance 15229 Kercheval Grosse Pointe Park 313.881.2874 www.abovethebarrex.com

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feature // 7

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

MEET THE MEN

MR. BLUE DEVIL | TODAY | 7 P.M. | AUDITORIUM

MATT

Six men will compete for the title of Mr. Blue Devil today in a competition benefiting Empowerment Plan Detroit. Seniors Matt Gross, George Daley, Mac Cimmarrusti, Max Portwood, Gabe Martinez and Josiah Gray are the competitors, chosen by a Student Association committee. 1. What is your favorite after-school activity? Why? 2. What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses? 3. Describe your ideal date. 4. If you had to marry a celebrity, who would it be? Why? 5. What are you most excited for regarding Mr. Blue Devil?

(I would marry) Hayden Panettiere because holy s----.

GEORGE

1. I usually climb trees and observe beetles. 2. My juiced thighs are probably my biggest strength, and I’m just weak in general. 3. A lot of mashed potatoes and we’re good. 4. Stiffler’s mom. 5. If you have ever seen the ending to Mel Brooks’ “Space Balls,” I can say that’s where you can find my answer.

My juiced thighs are probably my biggest strength.

1. Walking back and forth between the fridge and cabinets to see what there is to eat because snacks are great. 2. Biggest strength is probably talking. My biggest weaknesses are Kryptonite and getting motivated. 3. A warm, slightly overcast day on July 7. 4. Hayden Panettiere because holy s---.

MAC MAX

2. My biggest strength is my strength and my biggest weakness is having too many strengths. 3. Outdoors doing something fun and active and then going somewhere out of the way and having a picnic. 4. J-Lo cause she’s phat with a PH. 5. When I take the W.

(I’m excited) for spending time with my beautiful date.

1. Watching “Vampire Diaries” with my puppy Koka Berlin. 2. I love beating Grosse Pointe North too much. Strengths: Sweeping North my senior year. 3. Candlelit dinner, drinking a ’64 Bordeaux and talking Ugandish Literature. 4. Sloan from “Entourage.” She’s fresh off a California dream boat.

(I’d marry) J-Lo ‘cause she’s phat with a PH.

GABE

JOSIAH

2. I find my strength in my loyal friends. I’d say my biggest weakness is my lack of weaknesses. 4. I would for sure choose to marry the Queen of England. It’s my life-long goal to marry into the royal family, and I would love to be the King. 5. Let me answer that by asking you this. “How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?”

(My favorite activity) is poetry; I’m a moody weirdo.

I’d say my biggest weakness is my lack of weaknesses.

1. Poetry because I’m a moody weirdo. 2. I like to think that I’m funny and pretty determined, however I don’t go to the gym, so my weakness is being weak. 3. Sitting at home, ordering a pizza and watching a movie. 4. Kate Micucci because she is quirky and adorable.

sports // 8

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

PHOTO COURTESY OF JON THEROS ‘16

Game over: Hockey team faces two tough shootout losses at the Trenton MIHL Showcase this past weekend

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN MARTIN

IN SYNC: girls synchronized swimming plans on making a splash this season JULIA FOX ’16 // Copy Editor Synchronized swimming began in early November and continues until the beginning of March, coach Lauren Martin said, adding she is excited about the season and is confident the girls will be successful “I think we’re going to do great this season,” Martin said. “I’m very excited about that. It’s a good feeling.” Synchronized swimming is essentially ballet in a pool, she said. It takes an immense amount of strength, endurance and hard work. Routines are accompanied by music and can be performed either individually or in groups. “We split up where we’ll do one (performance) with our whole team and then some of them where there’s a

trio which is just three people and then meets that typically last two to three duets and there’s group numbers with hours as they gear up for the state comfour or more,” captain Brooke Martin petition and their annual show at the ’17 said. end of the season, Brooke said. The This year there are state meet will be new girls joining the in late February and I think we’re going to team as well as many their show will be do great this season. I’m returning members. March 12. very excited about that. There are 12 team “It’s a show for It’s a good feeling. members in total, friends and family Lauren said. and anyone who “My favorite part wishes to come see,” LAUREN MARTIN is definitely meeting Brooke said. “It’s SYNCHRONIZED SWIM COACH new people,” Brooke after all of our comsaid. “There’s always petitions and states, new girls on the team. There’s new and we perform all of our routines.” freshman girls every year, and it’s just The team lost its first meet against fun.” Ann Arbor Huron, starting the season In order to compete, the girls go to 0-1.

South failed to score in the shootout and took their second overtime/shootout loss to their season ending the game 3-2. “They came out harder than we expected. We took a little too long to get going and just couldn’t pull it off in the shootout,” Vyletel said. Saturday’s game ended the same way with the Blue Devils losing in another shootout with score of 4-3. Goals were scored by Vyletel, Pitters, and defenseman Adam Cervone ’17. Also the only goal in the shootout by the Blue Devils was by Mac Cimmarrusti ’16 who snuck between the goalie’s five hole. “We felt like we dominated both games, but couldn’t seem to find the back of the net,” Michael French ’17. Although the Blue Devils couldn’t come out of the Showcase with a win, their record was not hurt because they still receive a point for going into an overtime/shootout.

CAPTAIN’S CORNER:

MAC WELSHER ’17 // Staff Writer This past Thursday and Saturday, the South hockey team took to the ice for the Trenton MIHL Showcase at Kennedy Ice Arena. On Thursday, the Blue Devils played the Division 2, 12th ranked Salem, and on Saturday, they played Calumet Copper Kings who are the second-ranked team in Division 3. The sixth-ranked Blue Devils in Division 2 went into the weekend with an outstanding record of 12-3-1. “Going into the weekend, we knew if we play the way we can, we could come out with two wins,” captain Adam Pitters ’17 said. Thursday’s game was a fast-paced game that ended regulation at 2-2, with goals scored by Pitters and Marshall Vyletel ’16, and eventually went into a shootout.

Featuring boys hockey captain Griffin Brooks ’16, reviewing what exactly happens in a shootout and how it impacted their last two games:

Before the shootout, both of the teams coaches decide who shoots first and select three shooters from each team. Luckily for us, the Trenton Showcase are the only games in the year that do not use overtime and instead go directly into a shootout. Shootouts are not the best determinant of who is the better team because they rely only on three skaters and a goalie instead of the whole team. In both games during the weekend, we out-played our opponent for the majority of the game, and if we had an additional period instead of a shootout, I think we come out of the weekend with two wins.”

SPORTS UPDATE

SPORT // Gymnastics Record: 5-2 Captain’s Quote: “We started off with a rough patch, but lately our scores have been getting higher, and we’re trying to improve before we prepare for the regional championships.” -Brenna Bromwell ’16 Expectations for season: Make it to states.

SPORT // Girls hockey Record: 2-3 Captain’s Quote: “In the beginning, we had trouble getting all 36 girls to work together. As a team altogether we’ve been able to grow, and we hope we’ll be ready for state championships in a month.”- Bella Strickler ’16 Expectations for season: Win states

SPORT // Boys swimming Record: Undefeated in MAC red division Captain’s Quote: ”This year it feels much more like a team than it did last year. We are all supporting each other a lot more, and the team spirit has been good.” - Spencer Rizer ‘16 Expectations for season: To place highly in states INFORMATION COMPILED BY BRENDAN CAUVEL ’16 AND JOHN STANDISH ’18 PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRENNA BROMWELL ’16 AND CLAIRE HUBBELL ’17