Issue 17

TOWER the

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

A WEEKLY TRADITION SINCE 1928

Volume 88 Issue 17 thetowerpulse.net @thetowerpulse

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA GRAPHIC BY ERYKAH BENSON ’17

Flint’s situation causes concern in the Pointes as well ERYKAH BENSON & ANTON MIKOLOWSKI, BOTH ’17 // Page Editor & Staff Writer wo-hundred seventy-four pages of emails.

That’s what Gov. Rick Snyder’s office released to the public on Jan. 19.

The 274 pages of emails are meant to serve as an explanation for the 9,000 poisoned children, 15,000 damaged homes and an estimated $45 million in damage to the city’s pipe system, according to the Washing Post. And according to CNN sources in Flint, the residents are outraged by the events. One resident, Helena Jones, a homebound senior citizen, told reporters Joseph Netto and Joshua Berlinger that the people of Flint have worked hard and do not deserve a catastrophe such as this.

“We’ve worked hard all our life, and we’ve paid our dues and pay our taxes. And this is what we get,” Jones said.

In short, the state government’s carelessness can be traced back to 2014.

T

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM In 2014, Snyder ordered a state takeover to tackle the financial crisis in struggling Michigan cities. He appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley in Flint to solve the city’s spending problem.

Earley was simultaneously the emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools, but has since resigned.

Claiming it would save the city $6 to $8 million, Earley decided to divert water from the Flint River, rather than continuing to use the Detroit River’s

system. According to Flint Water Study Updates, the city’s river water was found to have a higher concentration of chlorine than the Detroit’s River, which corroded the outdated Flints lead pipes resulting in high levels of lead-to-blood in Flint children.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan investigative reporter Curt Guyette reported about how a previous Snyder emergency manager had considered switching to the Flint River over the long-term in 2012, but rejected the idea after consulting with the state’s Department of Environmental Quality.

On Jan. 19, Snyder took partial responsibility for the crisis. During his State of the State Address, he voluntarily released emails and documents he had exchanged on the subject in an effort to promote transparency between the government and the affected community. However, the emails left people with more questions than answers, as it was redacted for public viewing.

President Obama spoke on the issue when he made a visit to the Detroit Auto Show on Jan. 20. During his speech at the UAW-GM Center, he commented that if he were a parent in Flint, he would be beside himself that his child’s health and well-being were at risk at the hands of the government, according to the Washington Post.

“It is a reminder of why you can’t shortchange basic services that we provide to our people, and that we together provide, as a government, to make sure that public health and safety is preserved,”

Obama said.

For now, the blame game has residents and government officials alike bouncing back and forth, as the city continues to lack safe drinking water, and residents are forced to use plastic water bottles donated by a generous combination of businesses, community service groups, celebrities and foundations, according to the Detroit Free Press.

COULD IT HAPPEN IN GROSSE POINTE? Gary Huvaere, public service director of the city of Grosse Pointe’s Water Department, says no.

“It wouldn’t have happened. We (Grosse Pointe City Water and Sewage) test for lead and copper in the water every three years, as required by Water and Sewage at different sites in the community,” Haere said.

Additionally, phosphate is added to the water at the Grosse Pointe Farms Water Department so that lead and copper can not leach into water, Huvaere said.

There is also more direct communication between the residents of Grosse Pointe and the Water Department, Huvaere said, and that the communication benefits the community.

“A water report is provided to residents on a yearly basis which can be found on each city’s website,” Huvaere said.

Whether it happens in Flint or Grosse Pointe, contamination in public water systems is a tragedy, Jyen-ai Jones ‘17 said.

“Especially in regards to how it was handled,”

Jones said. “It could have been addressed way before it happened, I think. I mean, I would be even angrier if this happened in my own community.”

While some think it unlikely that it could happen in any of the Pointes, community activist Michael Trudel, discussing the potential of moving the water source of Grosse Pointe Park Fox Creek, a nearby canal in the Alter area down towards Jefferson in the park, instead of Detroit Sources. He said this would negatively impact citizens of the Park because of the further expenses for little benefit.

“In terms of water quality, (it would be) the same as the Detroit water downstream,” Trudel said. “But the problem is that nobody in the Park has any experience working a water facility, which would be (a further expense).”

Trudel had said that this was negative, but he has a firm belief as to why it would be so detrimental to Grosse Pointe citizens. “(We have been told) Detroit keeps raising water rates, but the fact of the matter is that that is a very small amount of our water bill, and would only save us $2-3$ each month (on our bill)” Trudel said.

Trudel also said the Park could do better with its water treatment and where the funds are allocated.

“The pipes in the Park are 60-80 years old,” Trudel said.

Trudel said if Grosse Pointe Park were to improve on existing infrastructure, it would work out better for all residents in the end, and that switching to another source “would not be worth it.”

See INSIDE THE WATER CRISIS on Page 3

Kalamazoo Uber driver kills six, hospitalizes two “Many of us didn’t hear of the shooting until just after midnight, ZOE JACKSON ’16 // Page Editor after the event had ended,” Prophit said. “My roommate and I were When Western Michigan University student Lydia Burton ’15 going to head out, but after hearing that the shooter was still at large, learned that six people were gunned down by an Uber driver on decided to stay in.”

Saturday, Feb. 20 in Kalamazoo, she realized that the accused, Jason Kalamazoo College sent students a “K-Alert,” the college’s mass Brian Dalton, had been her Uber driver two weeks earlier. notification system for crisis situations, warning them to stay inside.

“It’s crazy to think that could have been me on that night,” Burton “My roommate and I were very concerned, as were other students, said. especially because it was about two blocks from our campus. We could “I’ll be completely honest, I was really scared,” Burton said. “A hear the sirens very clearly, ” Prophit said.

SWAT team arrived and ordered everyone to get inside, turn off the Western Michigan University, on the other hand, has come under lights, keep our heads low and not to leave any house until we were fire this week after failing to notify students of the violence that was cleared.” occurring so close to campus.

The shooting Burton is referring to is one in “The WMU Student alert system is under a lot of which Dalton is charged with six counts of murder, It’s crazy to think that controversy right now.

Students were not warned of as well as two counts of assault with intent to could have been me on the incident, most found out from outside sources,” commit murder and eight firearm violations after a that night.

Burton said.

“I understand why WMU doesn’t send shooting spree that left six dead and two others in out alerts for off campus situations, but this being the hospital.

LYDIA BURTON ‘15 an extreme circumstance, I do think that we should According to a CNN.com article from Feb. 22, WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY have been warned because the shooter was so close STUDENT scant clues from the five-hour rampage have left to campus. ” officials grasping for a motive.

In response to the concerns of students and The murders and their proximity to both parents, WMU President John M. Dunn released a statement on Feb. Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College has caused 21 . some to question the universities’ policies regarding active shooting After offering his condolences to the families and loved ones situations, Kalamazoo College student Maren Prophit ’15 said. of the victims, Dunn’s statement said that there was a need to “The night of the shooting our school actually was hosting a rather make adjustments in their procedures to respond to extraordinary large event, similar to prom, where students dress in formal attire and circumstances. can ‘gamble’ for fun,” Prophit said.

“We are looking carefully at our guidelines and the possibility of Many students chose to go out afterwards for further partying, developing a public safety advisory covering a broader array of public Prophit said.

THIS WEEK AT SOUTH

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The girls soccer team has a meeting in the Mezzanine of the Bolls Center after school tomorrow.

Cases of water can be donated to Room 184 to help Flint residents until this date.

safety issues. We’re also exploring more effective ways to use social media,” Dunn said.

The university said it failed to provide adequate information and updates to students.

“Bad things are going to happen, and they happen everywhere,” Burton said.

Because of this incident, the safety of popular ride sharing companies like Uber has been Uber driver Jason Brian Dalton called into question, as yet is accused of killing six people another violent situation is and injuring two. associated with a driver.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS “I certainly feel more wary of who might be driving me places, and I think a lot of students are reconsidering their modes of transportation,” Prophit said.

Burton, however, has vowed not to live in fear.

“I’m not going to live in fear of another shooting while on campus or off. May I be a little more cautious at night? Sure, yeah. All in all, WMU is a very safe campus that I am very proud to call home,” Burton said.

Prophit agrees and said while she feels fairly safe on campus, she is much more cautious when she is out walking, both downtown and in the normally quiet surrounding residential areas.

“Honestly, I will probably continue using Uber because of its convenience, and it’s also really cheap in Kalamazoo,” Burton said.

“Last week, those bad things just hit closer to home.”

All registration for AP testing must be turned in online via their website by this Friday.

Sign ups for the North vs. South Dodgeball Marathon end today for the March 12 tournament.

opinion // 2

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Flint water crisis requires long-term action Increased awareness of the 6,000-12,000 children affected by Flint’s water crisis began in April 2014, when media reports of high levels of lead in the water surfaced. Flint was in the process of switching over to its own water treatment plant and, in the interim, disconnected from Detroit’s water supply and began using water from the Flint River which experts said would save the city $5 million in less than two years. However, the aging pipes are the weed to this problem. However, this new water source turned out to be contaminated.

In the middle of this storm is Gov. Rick Snyder. Two of Snyder’s advisers suggested Flint be switched back to Detroit’s water due to high levels of bacteria and lead contamination in the river water and pipe system being used by residents.

Valerie Brader, one of those advisers, said she gave crucial evidence about the Flint River’s high acidity stating that is was making GM’s parts rust.

The other adviser, Michael Gadola, said the thought of drinking Flint river water was “downright scary.”

Both of Snyder’s advisers knew about this problem for almost two years and didn’t make their voices heard. If they had spoken up sooner, this issue wouldn’t be so severe. Snyder isn’t the only person to blame, however. Rather his whole team is at fault for pushing the issue to the side for almost two years.

With 41.5 percent of Flint’s population sitting below the poverty line and a median household income of $25,000, $20,000 below Michigan’s median, it is clear that there is a socioeconomic factor involved in this crisis.

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton recently spoke out on the issue during the Democratic debate in January and said, “I’ll tell you what, if the kids in a rich suburb of Detroit had been drinking contaminated water and being bathed in it, there would have been action.”

Living in one of these rich suburbs, we are lucky enough to receive our water directly from Lake St. Clair through our own treatment plant. Having clean drinking water is something we tend to take for granted. However, the Flint crisis has been a reality check for us, as we see how our neighbors in Flint can’t even take a shower in their own homes.

There are 12,000 residents without clean, accessible water within an hour of our homes.

We could spend all day playing the blame game, but we instead should focus on finding a solution

Environmental impacts of Flint should not be forgotten MY VIEW

Katharine Kuhnlein ’16

OUR VIEW // EDITORIAL

CARTOON BY JEN TOENJES ‘16

to help the people of Flint get clean water back.

One way for students to help Flint citizens immediately is through the Black Awareness Society for Education (BASE) water bottle drive for Flint. Students can drop off cases of water in room 184 before March 4. Interact service club is also collecting jugs of water and personal care products in Cleminson Hall before school or after school in Room 184 also before March 4.

However, there still needs to be a stronger government plan in place for a long-term solution for the problem. Water bottles are a necessary,

immediate solution, yet will not fix the system as a whole.

Residents of Flint deserve a long-term solution to their lack of water, not just a Band-Aid for a gunshot wound. We believe that everything in the state’s power should be done to fix the pipes that are corroded and move Flint back to the Detroit water system. The people of Flint should be a priority to our state government because we would want everyone to do everything they could if it was us in their place.

HUMANS OF SOUTH: Griffin Jones ’18

NEWSPAPER

the

TOWER

STAFF

“My biggest fear is probably disappointing my parents and not living up to their expectations of me. They moved to Grosse Pointe so that my sister and I could get a better education, and I just want to show them that I appreciate it. (To do that), I first off have to get good enough grades so that they’re OK with it, and then trying to build social skills and other types of skills that I’ll need later in life.”

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

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

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

Staff Writers

The simplicity of turning on the faucet has never been a second thought to me. I just figured if the water was coming into my house, it was clean enough to use for anything I needed.

In the process of getting ready in the morning, I take a shower, brush my teeth and fill up my reusable water bottle. The idea of using a disposable plastic water bottle daily upsets me, and I don’t understand how others can use them with the environment in mind.

So when I found out about the Flint water crisis, I immediately thought of my cousin and her fiancée who go to school within the city limits.

I contacted her and found out her college, Mott Community College, has taken matters into their own hands by replacing all the lead contaminated pipes with filtered water fountains and showers, but they are the only ones in Flint to do this.

I was relieved, but I couldn’t stop thinking about all the other unfortunate people who have to live with contaminated water daily and are paying more for it than other US citizens.

According to a study by the Food and Water Watch in Washington, DC, the people of Flint have paid more for their water-$800 a year--than most citizens of the US-about $500 a year. Think about it: paying more for contaminated water? Something doesn’t add up.

My cousin informed me she has friends who live in Flint who now have to seek outside water sources such as their family and friends in order to take a shower, which means having to drive elsewhere and inconvenience others to have access to a clean water source The short term fix? Shipping in water in disposable plastic bottles helps the citizens get cleaner water, but to what extent? The plastic bottles fill up landfills, causing yet another problem.

Flint native and documentary filmmaker, Michael Moore, said, “You would have to send 200 bottles a day, per person. That’s 102,000 citizens times 200 bottles of water - which equals 20.4 million 16oz. bottles of water per day, every day, for the next year or two until this problem is fixed. Oh, and we’ll need to find a landfill in Flint big enough for all those hundreds of millions of plastic water bottles, thus degrading the local environment even further.”

Although, the switch to water bottles is necessary, some research shows disposable water bottles may cause birth defects, such as a low birth weight, when a pregnant woman drinks from them.

The citizens of Michigan may be helping Flint by donating water bottles, but in reality we are just making it easier for our government to prolong coming up with a solution.

We are covering up for the government, spending our money on over-priced water bottles, when it is the State’s job to regulate the amount of lead in the water.

We should stop putting a band-aid on the government’s wounds, as it was their problem when it started and they should have to deal with the repercussions of cleaning it up, including providing clean water for the people of Flint.

Adviser Rod Satterthwaite

Abigail Warren, Blair Shortal, Callie Zingas, Christina Ambrozy, Elizabeth Coyle, Gennie “The Tower” is the weekly publication of the Martin, Griffin Brooks, Hadley Diamond, Advanced Journalism classes at Grosse Pointe Hailey Murphy, JD Gray, Jessica Whitney, Jon South High School. It has always been a Theros, Katharine Kuhnlein, Lily Patterson, designated public form of student expression.

Lindsey Clark, Mac Cimmarrusti, Madeline The Tower is located in room 142 in DesNoyer, Olivia Frederickson, Grosse Pointe South High School. Please all ’16 contact us at 313-432-3649.

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 Pagenette, Brennan Zihlman, Cameron Smolen, Chase Clark, Elena Rauch, Evan Skaff, John Standish, Kaitlin Nemeh, Katherine Bird, Lauren Thom, Maren Roeske, Margot Baer, Mollie DeBrunner and Liam Walsh, all ’18

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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.

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news // 3

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Social media conflicts disturb school climate, necessitate punitive administrative intervention Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source.

Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey finds that 15% of high school students (grades 9-12) were electronically bullied in the past year.

Approximately 9 out of 10 teens have a cell phone, and about 1 in 5 will be victims of a text bully. About 1 in 10 teens engage in text bullying.

Bullying via text messaging has become more common than traditional bullying, especially among girls.

In 12 of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied.

Kids who bully are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs in adolescence and as adults, get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school.

INFORMATION FROM STOPBULLYING.GOV AND BULLYINGSTATISTICS.ORG

Hamka said.

ZOE EVANS ’17 // Social Media Coordinator “Most of the things I follow tend to be around CJ Lemanski ’16 didn’t think a group chat could bring him to the attention of South’s administrators. students activities. The intent of my Twitter is not for that purpose (to catch students),” Hamka said.

But that’s exactly what happened.

Watching student’s online profiles can lead to an “I was just at my friend’s house, hanging out, and I saw on Facebook this girl that a lot of guys had array of problems with interfering with student pridone stuff with,” CJ Lemanski ’16 said. “I made a vacy, Walsh-Sahutske said.

“I don’t think anyone has the time to troll stujoke about it in our group chat about her being a groupie, and another guy screenshotted it and sent dent’s accounts. That could get into a dangerous world that no one wants to get into,” Walsh-Sait to her, and she took it to the administration.”

As in this case, when it comes to behavior that is hutske said.

Kathryn Williamson ’17 said South administradeemed hurtful or inappropriate on social media, often it is students or family members that bring it tors or teachers stepping into what students put out to the attention South’s administration, counselor online is not appropriate.

“I think that teenagers need to be responsible for Beth Walsh-Sahutske said.

Social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, their own actions,” Williamson said. “It’s not anyTumblr, Twitter, and Facebook have become a way one else’s responsibility to monitor their behavior, for teens and young adults to interact and express and it’s important to make good decisions that won’t themselves. For many, it’s how they are able to stay hurt other people.”

However, the cases that come to the administraconnected with their friends outside of school, but what students post outside of school can have an ef- tion through parents or anonymous tips, often have to do with harassment or bullying. Walsh-Sahutske fect on what happens to them in school. said it isn’t always an innocent “When it spills into the school joke. environment because other stuWe try to talk to “I think sometimes they just dents are coming to us, then it students, and when they don’t know(what is or isn’t appromakes sense (for potentially inpriate on social media). To some make a mistake, it’s a appropriate social media usage extent it’s a brave new world and to be brought to the attention of teachable moment. we’re figuring it out, and we just the administration),” Walsh-SaMOUSSA HAMKA need to have these conversahutske said. “In my experience, PRINICPAL tions,” Walsh-Sahutske said. “And when I’ve had to interact with then at other times, it’s where students and social media, it’s people are genuinely being malibeen because they have done things that have affected our students in our school cious. The optimist in me wants to believe it’s just kids not knowing, but by the time you’re 14 and up, day, and you just can’t do that.”

Principal Moussa Hamka defines inappropriate you know what cruel is.”

From Walsh-Sahutske and Hamka’s standpoints, online behavior as any behavior that can disrupt the the bullying that can happen online, if brought to an school day or affect the safety of South students.

“The leads that we receive tend to be around sex- adult’s attention, needs to be dealt with. From Williamson’s perspective though, students can handle ting, bullying or harassment,” Hamka said.

Depending on the degree of severity of reported these situations alone.

“I think it’s very easy to avoid being cyber bullied social media behavior, the repercussions can vary.

“The code of conduct varies and it depends on if you turn off your phone and don’t look at it,” Wilthe degree of the violation,” Hamka said “We try to liamson said.

While harassment or other inappropriate behavtalk to students, and when they make a mistake it’s a ior may seem easy to resolve through student to stuteachable moment.”

In Lemanski’s case, he found his report to be a dent interactions, Lemanski said attention from the administration helped him to realize his mistake. moment he could learn and grow from .

“I can see how it’s weird when they get involved “It was obviously really stupid, and I feel bad about it,” Lemanski said. “I got called down, and in out of school (social media activity)” Lemanski they said it was petty and stupid and to not do it said. “ It was kinda nice getting caught, because I’ve done stuff like that before, and I needed to learn not again.”

South’s administration wants its students to to talk about people behind their backs. I messed up know that their purpose is not to catch students, and I needed to pay the consequences.”

INSIDE THE WATER CRISIS

FLINT’S ISSUES PROVE AS MURKY AS THE WATER, LOW QUALITY AFFECTS TENS OF THOUSANDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Flint. But to imply that there was any malice or anything to do with race would be a little ridiculous.”

IS IT A RACIAL ISSUE? There are many protesters who believe the way WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW? the situation in Flint was handled had to do with Shaw emphasized the state government is doing discrimination based on race and socioeconomic as much as it can to help the affected population in status.

Flint. And several forces, including the state police, Organizations such as the Flint police and surrounding fire National Association for the departments are finding ways to The state of Michigan Advancement of Colored Peoget water to families. and the Michigan ple (NAACP) accuse the state The state police, Shaw said, State Police are doing government of environmental aims to provide security and asracism and the deliberate dissistance to Flint residents. Water everything possible to regard for the needs of the Flint filters are supplied by the police correct the issues there, people, a city where blacks make at fire stations, Shaw said. The filto ensure that there up 56.6 percent of the populaters are installed in homes; state is clean, safe drinking tion and 41.5 percent live below police will install the filters in the water for the citizens of the poverty line, according to the homes of residents if they need Flint. government census. help.

It is unfortunate what has “I think a lot of people don’t MICHAEL SHAW happened in Flint, public inforrealize that the Michigan State PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER mation officer for the Michigan Police has a role in recovery and FOR THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE State Police Michael Shaw said. disaster relief operations. We are However, he said disagrees with responsible for the emergency recent criticisms made by protesting groups. management division of the state,” Shaw said.

“I’ve seen some of that in the media, that there Using a GPS and mapping system, the state pomay be some undertones of race or different things,” lice keep track of which houses they have visited to Shaw said. “The State of Michigan and the Michigan make sure residents have had the opportunity to State Police are doing everything I think they pos- speak with authority. sibly can to correct the issues there, to ensure that “Sometimes they just want to talk to a trooper there is clean, safe drinking water for the citizens of and talk to law enforcement just to maybe feel a lit-

tle bit better about what’s happening. So that is one of the first things we did,” Shaw said.

STAR-STUDDED SUPPORT A steady supply of bottled water has been provided to Flint communities with the help of volunteers and the state government, and the state government has been there, door-to-door, to do what they can for Flint’s citizens, Shaw said.

Celebrities have also joined the cause. The Detroit Free Press reports artists including Big Sean, Snoop Dogg and Meek Mill are supporting Flint by donating money and water bottles to the city. Jimmy Fallon, for example, donated $10,000 in efforts to aid Flint.

Intersecting the ongoing crisis in Flint with the #OscarSoWhite protests, Hollywood celebrities have also organized a benefit in Flint on the night of the Oscars, Buzzfeed news reports. Ryan Coogler, the director of “Creed,” as well as other celebrities such as Ava DuVernay and Janelle Monae worked together to host a free show including performances in hopes to raise awareness and fundraise for the city of Flint.

Some including editors for americanprogress. org Kevin DeGood and Greg Dotson, have said civil penalties should be issued against both local and state authorities who failed to provide civilians with pure drinking water, despite it being recognized as a human right by the United Nations General Assembly.

DeGood and Dotson wrote that Congress should work diligently to punish or fine government officials in a Feb. 17 editorial for americanprogress.org.

In the same article, DeGood and Dotson wrote that Congress should also work to give the Environmental Protection Agency additional power in the area, as well as giving state and local authorities more responsibility to handle the situation.

Meanwhile in Flint, residents continue to stock up on water bottles and other goods through these cold winter days.

Many of the residents still live in constant danger, considering that no official plan has been proposed to handle the water situation. They continue to fear as well, from what has already affected their collective health, that of their fellows and their children.

From the same CNN article, titled “Voices of Flint: How Residents Are Responding”, Terraca Rogers, the mother of a lead-poisoned 11-year-old boy, still does not use tap water, despite its apparent cleanliness, and claims to have lost all faith in the city of Flint.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR FLINT? Snyder has issued an apology to all citizens of Flint and has also sworn to resolve the crisis. He has supplied slightly less than $30 million to help Flint with bottled water, medical care and infrastructural modifications.

SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/watch?v=PPaeLFiwDWs

feature // 4

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

THE RESULTS ARE IN...

The Tower took a poll of 80 seniors to see how they will be voting in the upcoming election

Democrat (28)

Michigan primary elections will take place next week

T

HANNAH CONNORS ’16 // Copy Editor he Michigan presidential primary election will take place next Tuesday, March 8, and for some students it will be their first opportunity to vote.

In order to be eligible to vote in the primary, one must be at least 18 years old on the day of the election, a citizen of the U.S. and a resident of Michigan for at least 30 days. The last day to register to vote was Feb. 8, according to michigan.gov.

Emma Rooney ’16 registered

It was something I wanted to do, something I felt obligated to do as a citizen.

WILL POPLAWSKI ’16 in the fall, soon after her 18th birthday, she said.

“My parents always vote, in all the elections. I can’t remember a time when they didn’t,” Rooney said. “For a while when I was younger, I just assumed that everyone voted, and I always thought that when I turned 18, I would register to vote, too.”

Will Poplawski ’16 also said he’s always known he would register as soon as he was eligible.

“It was something I wanted to do, something I felt obligated to do as a citizen,” Poplawski said.

Both Rooney and Poplawski said taking Advanced Placement (AP) Government educated them more about the registration and voting process, and that registering was fairly easy.

“In January, I went to the courthouse after school,” Poplawski said. “I filled out a paper which took two minutes, and I was registered. I got my voter’s ID card within two weeks.”

Young voters are crucial to this election, Grosse Pointe for Bernie Founder Colton Dale said.

“Now, more than ever, there is so much at stake for young people in this country,” Dale said via e-mail. “Young people are under a lot of pressure right now with rising student debt, an increasingly hostile job market and with ever-present economic and social uncertainty. If young people don’t take a stand, they might see the completion of their future being ripped away from their hands.”

Michigan GOP member Doug Reimel agreed young people should get involved in the political process.

“Sadly, when people do not get involved, we end up with bigger obstacles getting in the way of the American dream,” Reimel said via e-mail.

While Rooney will be voting on the Democrat ballot and Poplawski will vote on the Republican ballot, neither know which candidate they will be voting for, they said. “(To decide who I’ll vote for) I’ve been looking at the news., I’ll read the newspaper or look at news on my phone,” Rooney said.

In order to decide between Marco Rubio and John Kasich, Poplawski watched all the debates, follows the candidates

Not voting (3)

Republican (22)

MEET THE CANDIDATES

featured below are the top candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties HILLARY CLINTON

•68-year-old Democrat with experience as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First Lady •Won the Feb. 1 Iowa Primary and the Feb. 20 Nevada primary.

•One of the issues she feels most strongly about is LGBT rights.

•Significant quote: “We need to break down barriers of race, gender and sexual orientation in America.”

BERNIE SANDERS

•74-year-old Democrat with experience as U.S. Senator, Chairman of Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Member U.S. House of Representatives.

•Won the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary.

•One of the issues he feels most strongly about is breaking up big banks.

•Significant quote: “This is your movement.”

DONALD TRUMP

•69-year-old Republican with experience as a real estate developer, television personality on “The Apprentice,” and Chairman/President of the Trump Organization.

•Won the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary, Feb. 20 South Carolina primary and Feb. 23 Nevada primary.

•One of the topics he feels most strongly about is environmental issues.

•Significant quote: “Make America great again.”

Now, more than ever, there is so much at stake for young people in this country.

MARCO RUBIO

•44-year-old Republican with experience as a U.S. senator and speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

•So far has not won a primary.

•One of the topics he feels most strongly about is tax reform.

•Significant quote: “Do you want a candidate who will beat the Democrats?”

COLTON DALE

GROSSE POINTE FOR BERNIE FOUNDER

on Facebook and Twitter and watches the news, Poplawski said.

Both Rooney and Poplawski agreed high schoolers eligible to vote should take advantage of this opportunity.

“I think young people should realize this has an impact on them,” Poplawski said. “If something is going on that they don’t approve of or they don’t like with our society, they should realize they can change it through their vote.”

Undecided (22)

TED CRUZ

•45-year-old Republican with experience as a U.S. senator and solicitor general of Texas.

•Won the Feb. 1 Iowa primary.

•One of the topics he feels most strongly about is immigration reform.

•Significant quote: “When we faced oppression in Cuba, I had a place to flee to. If we lose our freedom here, where do we go?”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLICKR.COM

Jennifer K. Mertz, DDS, MS

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feature // 5

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG WINNER SCARLETT CONSTAND ’16 // Pulse Section Editor Art student Christine Brinker ’16 earned the most accolades of all South participants on Jan. 21 for the regional southeast Michigan Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (SAWA).

The SAWA is an organization providing participants opportunities to exhibit their art, publish it, be recognized and earn scholarships. About 200 students at South take part in the SAWA every year, art teacher Kit Aro said via e-mail.

Brinker’s Senior Portfolio, awarded a Gold Key and Best in Show, consisted of eight pieces of digital art. She also had three Silver Key individual awards and one Gold Key individual award for a photograph which

also received the American Vision Award.

“I feel really, really blessed-and honestly surprised,” Brinker said.

Aro said she has never had a student win the American Vision Award, let alone the honor of Best in Show.

Winning students’ art is displayed at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit until March 5. Students or teachers then have to pick up the art to take home.

Although the regional SAWA is finished, judging on the national level is taking place.

Art Fest, where students’ art is displayed and for sale, starts March 16 in the South multipurpose room.

ARTWORK COURTESY OF CHRISTINE BRINKER ’16

Senior directed ‘One Acts’ provide entertainment

JENNIFER TOENJES ’16 // Photo Editor Seniors in Pointe Players lifted the curtain on “One Acts,” a series of senior-directed skits, this past Thursday and Friday. The performances took place in South’s auditorium.

Seniors who participate in Pointe Players are able to earn Thespian points as part of One Acts. The four seniors with the highest number of Thespian points assemble a cast and direct a one act, South alumni Eva Doherty ’15 said.

This year’s One Acts consisted of four skits: “Seeing Beyond with Maya Fantasma,” directed by Eva Lianos ’16 “Touchy Subjects,” directed by Alexandra Niforos ’16, “The Universal Language,” directed

by Alissa Martin ’16 and “Boy Meets Girl: A Young Love Story,” directed by Maddie Arkison ’16. “‘Boy Meets Girl, Young Love Story,’” I thought was funny because it was about two 5 year-olds played by high schoolers,” Christa Sicklesteel ’16 said. “The humor was adult humor, but in a child setting.”

Molly Packer ’16 also agreed that “Boy Meets Girl: Young Love Story,” was easy to empathize with.

“While watching it, I could relate to the stupid things that we used to do when we were kids,” Packer said. One Act plays have a reputation of being succinct and amusing, usually satirizing idiosyncratic aspects of society.

“My favorite part about One Acts was probably the humor of it all,” Claire O’Neill ’16 said, “My favorite skit was Maddie Arkison’s, it was really funny and cute.”

“It was worth seeing, especially being able to experience what the people in our grade can do,” Packer said. “For the seniors next year, I would say people should make them funny, those are the ones I enjoyed most.”

SETTING THE STAGE // Students perform “One Acts” this past Thursday and Friday. The short plays are adaptations directed by seniors.

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER TOENJES ’16

Concert band, symphony orchestra Pre-Festival brings new insight ANTON MIKOLOWSKI ’17 // Staff Writer The Concert and Symphony Orchestra held its Pre-Festival Concert in the South Auditorium, accompanied by the grade 7 and 8 Pierce Middle School Orchestra, on Feb. 23.

Valerie Palmieri, violinist and the professor of orchestra from Adrian College was also there to critique and give input to the orchestra as a guest clinician.

She served as director of the Walled Lake Western Orchestras, as well as Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School before that.

“Valerie came in to give us tips and critique. She also gave (the orchestra) polish,” orchestra director James Gross said.

Palmieri told the orchestra they were one of the most prepared groups she had seen out of the musical groups she had critiqued, according to Gross.

Symphony orchestra student Alex Fahle ’18 said the criticism given by Palmieri was greatly appreciated by the orchestra as a whole.

“The judge really helped us out a lot,” Fahle said.

“The critique and all of the tips were really important to us.”

Charlie Cornillie ’17, also had said Palmieri’s criticism served its purpose to better the orchestra.

“Overall we got some helpful criticism, and we know what we need to do before we get to Festival,” Cornillie said.

The festival in mention is the Michigan School and Band Orchestra Festival will take place on March 4 and March 11.

The MSBOA represents more than 1,500 public schools and more than 1,600 instrumental music teachers within Michigan and is led by Executive Director Paul Lichau who has worked over 50 years in concert band.

The Festival works to score the variety of orchestras in the state and evaluate their performance on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the best possible score.

Those ensembles which qualify for the 1 score can win trophies and a qualification for the State Band & Orchestra Festival in late April or early May. Gross remains confident about the results of the Pre-Festival, and anticipates the upcoming MSBOA performance, where he said South’s orchestra has done well in the past.

“The Pre-Festival was primarily a warm-up for the MSBOA, the Festival,” Gross said. “It’s coming up pretty soon, and we seemed to do pretty good (in Pre-Festival).”

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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

KEEPING THE PEACE North America’s largest mosque showcases Islam

LAUREN PANKIN ’16 & LIAM WALSH ’18 // Supervising Editor & Staff Writer t the largest mosque in North America, it is parent-teacher conference day for religious Saturday school. A little after noon, a group of parents enters a green-carpeted sanctuary in stocking feet and empty their pockets of wallets and keys. It is time for the zuhr prayer.

With the men to the left and the women to the right, the assembled group recites the Al-Fatiha, a sung opening prayer that the Islamic Center of America’s tour guide Eide Alawan described as the Muslim Lord’s prayer.

“When the prophet was living, the person that did the first call to prayer asked, ‘Prophet Muhammad, how do we bring Muslims together? The Jews have the shofar. The Christians have the bells.’ And the prophet said, ‘I want you to use your voice,’” Alawan said.

Having a fair voice in the modern world is a major issue for modern Muslims, said Moussa Hamka, the first Muslim principal of South, who worships at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn. Although his story and opinions are but one voice in an international Muslim community of 1.6 billion followers, they explore what it means to be Muslim in modern America.

A

A Personal Story, A Religious History As the son of a Muslim and a Christian, Hamka said he grew up in a family diverse in religion and in ethnic background. He remembers his grandfather’s tales of walking between Lebanon and Palestine and doing business with Christians and Jews.

Islam is a religion of peace, and Hamka’s grandfather’s anecdotes corroborate this, he said.

“Why didn't the Muslims who controlled those lands just eradicate people who they didn't want around?” Hamka said. “If the faith truly preached that, why wouldn't it have been done? In history, we know that the Prophet Muhammad gave shelter to the Jews and to the Christians rather than killing them and oppressing them.”

During the European Dark Ages, Islamic civilization flourished in the Middle East, Africa and Spain, Hamka said. Until World War I, the Muslim Ottomans controlled the Middle East, including Palestine, and all three religions coexisted harmoniously.

We have the ancient Muslim world to thank for coffee, toothbrushes, surgery and universities, according to CNN.com. Love taking algebra courses or making a pin-hole camera in physics?

Both inventions were developed in Islamic cenTour guide Eide Alawan speaks ters of learning. about immigration in a room Although Muslims believe Islam has always typically used for traditional existed and has merely been revealed to prophweddings and funerals. ets, modern Islam began under the leadership of Muhammad, who was born in polytheistic Mecca around 570 A.D., according to the BBC. After working as a merchant, Muhammad was hired by a wealthy widow, and the two were eventually married.

One night in 610 A.D., as Muhammad meditated on Mount Hira, located in modern Saudi Arabia, he was visited by the angel Jibreel, according to the BBC. Muhammad’s revelations, catalyzed by Jibreel’s appearances, form the basis of the Quran. Today, the Quran remains the central text of the Muslim faith.

At the front of the sanctuary, which is large enough to accommodate 800 worshipers, is a golden plaque with prayers taken from the Quran. Written in Arabic, the phrases acknowledge God’s singularity and omnipotence, and underscore a follower’s humility.

Thousands of years after the life of Muhuammad, modern Muslims still follow his religious orders, Alawan said. Muslims pray five times a day toward Mecca, the religious center of the Muslim world. The prayer times change seasonally, since they are determined by the location of the sun in the sky.

All prayers are recited in Arabic, and include prostration before the Creator. The prayer begins with “Allahu akbar” or “God is most great,” and is followed by recitation of the first seven verses of Chapter 1 of the Quran, according to a “Muslim Voices” article by graduate student Rosemary Pennington.

In the sanctuary of the Islamic Center of America, there is little furniture. Decorations on the walls are almost exclusively Arabic calligraphy. Small bookshelves house Qurans, other religious texts and baskets full of colorful prayer beads.

In a corner, there are around two dozen banquet chairs, which Alawan said are reserved for worshipers suffering from injuries which limit mobility.

“There’s no excuse for not praying,” Alawan said. “The only time you can’t is when you don’t have your faculties.”

GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY SIMONCINI ‘16 Because of a recent attack wherein which a local mosque’s sanctu-

ary carpet was doused in kerosene and set ablaze, Alawan asked that Tower reporters not disclose key elements of the Islamic Center of America’s architecture or layout.

A Time of Fear and Courage Intent on bombing the Islamic Center of America, a California man was arrested in the mosque’s parking lot with a trunk full of Class C fireworks, according to a 2011 online article from “The Washington Times.”

This act is reflective of Islamophobia across the nation, Hamka said, pointing to the anti-Muslim protests in Irving, Tex., which occurred in November 2015.

“There have been mosques burned down, mosques vandalized,” Hamka said. “If you look into a mosque in Texas, there are armed militia men who are following Muslims to and from the mosque with AR-15s, and that instills fear in people, and that goes against the very nature of what the land of the free is all about.”

While recent terrorist acts have been committed in the name of Islam, they are in no way indicative of general Muslim The view from a second-story window. It sentiment, nor are they followoverlooks the parking lot where a bomb ing peaceful religious doctrines, threat occurred in 2011.

Hamka said.

While the terror attacks committed by Muslims on 9/11 have become emblematic of a long War on Terror pitting America against Islamic radicals, 94 percent of terror attacks from 1980 to 2005 were perpetrated by non-Muslims, according to the FBI, and five of the last 12 Nobel Peace Prize winners were Muslim.

Hamka said he finds the key to erasing stigmas in the very field in which he is employed: education.

“The number one way to combat ignorance or lack of understanding is through education, reading,” Hamka said. “What are the true tenets of Islam? What does Islam really stand for? Get to know a Muslim.”

Some of this education emanates from the Muslim community, Alawan said. Local Muslims have told the community at large that terrorism has no religion, as seen in the many anti-ISIS posters displayed in the Islamic Center of America, such as one which condemns ISIS’ killing of journalist James Foley in Aug. 2014, who was working for Agence France-Presse and “GlobalPost” at the time.

Terrorists claiming to be Muslim actually violate the pacifist and tolerant basis of the religion, Hamka said.

“These people who are doing this in the name of Islam are not Muslims,” Hamka said. “Just like someone who would do anything similar in the name of Christianity isn't a Christian, someone who would do this in the name of Judaism isn't Jewish. These acts fundamentally go against the tenants of all monotheistic religions.”

A line from the Quran (5:32) both Hamka and Alawan paraphrased was, “Whoever kills a person (unjustly) … it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.”

“That analogy gives us the depth and the gravity of how awful it is to kill a human being,” Hamka said. “I often get the question, ‘How do you feel about the terror attacks committed by ISIS?’ First and foremost, their actions do not represent the two true teachings of Islam. Furthermore, as a Muslim American who has lived his whole life in this country, we are hurt by these terror attacks just as much as anybody else.”

While organizations like ISIS, Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah are based in the Middle East, only 20 percent of the world’s Muslim population lives in Because women sit in a distinct the Middle East and North Africa, according to part of the sanctuary, there is a US News. Furthermore, the Middle East is com- separate entrance for them. prised of many faiths; not all Muslims are Arabs, and not all Arabs are Muslims, Hamka said.

“Overwhelmingly, the victims of ISIS, 99 percent of the victims of ISIS have been Muslim. They have butchered hundreds of thousands in the Middle East in Iraq and Syria,” Hamka said. “They go into villages and are indiscriminately killing people, mainly fellow Muslims. So I think we all live in fear. Humanity lives in fear of ISIS.” ISIS has also publicly killed and persecuted members of the Shia sect of Islam, Hamka said.

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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

“Even at my mosque we are worried that we might potentially become (ISIS) targets,” Hamka said.

However, Hamka added that terror, regardless of religious background, instills fear in the masses. He cited the 2012 Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting where 12 people were killed.

“Whether the attacks are committed by Muslims, or Christians, or an insane person, they shake us, and they instill a sense of fear,” Hamka said. “I remember after the Colorado shootings in the movie theater, I was scared to go to the movies with my daughters, fearful of what might take place.”

As an American who has known no other home than the U.S., Hamka said he feels exactly like any other citizen would: fearful for his family and the security of the nation.

“I think our courage and our optimism has to be greater than our fear,” Hamka said.

Immigration: Land of the Freed?

On Dec. 7, 2015, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump called for a ban on Shoes must be removed upon Muslim immigration to the U.S., according to a entering the sanctuary. campaign press release. He also suggested that Muslims carry a special identification card and register through a specific government database.

Though Trump has adamantly defended his comments and has remained at the front of the GOP race, his words have been condemned by leaders ranging from U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron to the Egyptian religious body Dar al-Ifta.

Instead of being divisive, Trump’s statements were ultimately a source of empathy and solidarity, Hamka said.

“When Donald Trump made those comments, I can't tell you how many people in my social network, in my professional network, in my personal network, reached out to me to tell me they were sorry that was said and to let me know that they love me, and they value me and they care about me,” Hamka said.

Both Hamka and Alawan likened Trump’s views on Muslims to discrimination against the Irish and the unconstitutional Japanese internment camps of World War II. “Do you know who were persecuted like Trump is suggesting? The Jews,” Alawan said. “Jews were told to distinguish themselves, and that led them to (concentration) camps. I can’t imagine Americans thinking about doing that. It’s not what we are founded on.”

Alawan said his father came to America to flee the persecution of other Muslims. Although Hamka can trace his origins back to Lebanon, he can also trace them back to the Mayflower on his mother’s side, he said.

“My family has been in this country for generations,” Hamka said.

“They've served in the armed forces. They've served in the military.

My father was not a refugee. My father was not an immigrant. My father's an educated and professional engineer and contributor to society. We've been in this country for a long time.”

Alawan said that American diversity stems from immigration.

“We’re a country of immigrants,” Alawan said. “Syrians are like any other type of people that have tried to come here. This has been a safe haven for all religions and nationalities.”

An American Dream of Tomorrow Sixty years ago, blacks were forced to use segregated toilets. Forty years ago, women campaigned to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

Last year, the Supreme Court legalized national gay marriage.

Will widespread tolerance, acceptance and understanding of Islam be the next social movement to sweep America?

“I think in the long run, a cooler, calmer head will prevail,” Hamka said. “Voices of reason will drown out a vocal minority who are bigoted and misinformed. I am very confident that whatever the views are now, just like the end of slavery, just like the Civil Rights movement, just like the mainstream inclusion of Jewish Americans, Italian Americans, that Muslim Americans will also have that same benefit.”

Hamka said communication and open dialogue is the best way to combat Islamophobia and prejudice, adding that existing bigotry and racial comments are absolutely unacceptable in a country founded on equality and freedom.

“I have a lot of people say, ‘I'm not scared of you, I'm not fearful of you, and you’re Muslim.’ I said, ‘yeah I know. I'm a human being, just like you,’” Hamka said.

In terms of immigration law and discrimination, Hamka said Americans will unite to extend equality to all people, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

“I think if our rights are violated, you are going to see Muslims and non-Muslims, Americans, band together to uphold human rights and our Constitutional rights,” Hamka said.

To Alawan, the immigration of Syrians and other Middle Eastern will ultimately enrich America, just as Chinese, Jewish and Irish immigrants, among many others, helped develop the country.

“Every nationality that has come here has proven themselves after starting from the bottom,” Alawan said. “They elevated themselves A book store inside the mosque throughout generations.”

For anyone curious, the most effective caters to worshippers. means of learning more about Islam is to visit a place of worship and to talk to followers of the faith, Alawan said.

“If you want to understand any community, you visit it,” Alawan said. “You can read and have a lecture about it, but you need to feel it and find out who (Muslims) are. You need to go there and feel the spirituality.”

To Hamka, there is a simple answer for people who still tell him to “go back home”: “I say, ‘Where's home for a man like me? Who's never been anywhere else and knows no other place and who loves his country and his raising his daughters to be great Americans, great Muslims and great humans.’”

Calligraphy, cuisine elements of new Arabic culture club LAUREN PANKIN ’16// Supervising Editor Which country did hummus originate from? Which ingredient is not in tabbouleh? What is falafel primarily made of?

On a Thursday morning in adviser Danielle Peck’s classroom, around 20 students answered these questions on a Kahoot quiz as part of an Arabic Culture Club meeting.

Founded in December, the club meets weekly to discuss Middle Eastern culture, including language and cuisine, said co-founder Amelia Abouljoud ’18.

“Right now we are on a language section so we are trying to learn how to comprehend Arabic and how to write it out,” Abouljoud said.

When she was asked by Abouljoud and co-founder Isaac Kado ’18 to be the club’s adviser, Peck said she was excited because she found the club to be a great way to promote diversity and awareness of Middle Eastern culture at South.

Peck said she enjoys supervising the club because of two key aspects.

“I have really liked their language lessons, so that’s number one in terms of content,” Peck said. “Number two, I think the other thing that has been really great is the amount of support from students, and not just students that identify as Arabic, but other students that are just interested in learning about the culture that has been very neat.”

On average, the club has 25 regular members, Kado said.

“When we started, my mom was talking about how we should advertise and put posters up, and I was like, ‘Whatever we start out with is going to be fine,’” Kado said. “People are going to be willing to come and be open-minded.”

Although the club does occasionally mention Middle

Eastern politics, it is a subject addressed with fact instead of opinion, Kado said.

“First of all, we are not supporting racists. We are not supporting terrorists groups,” Kado said. “I don’t want to say we have a neutral point of view, but we are just trying to give information. We are not trying to turn you to one side or another. We are just trying to give you information.”

Kado said he thinks the whole world has a skewed perception of Arabs.

“That especially goes out to Muslims because people associate them with terrorist groups like ISIS, and that’s not really an accurate representation of how they are,” Kado said.

Information presented in meetings is intended to dispel common misconceptions, Jack Hensien ’17 said. For example, club members are learning the difference between Persians, Syrians and Turks.

“I think the reason why (Arabic Culture Club) works so well is because going after something multicultural, some people think that’s a little daunting … but when you specify something as relevant as Arab culture right now, with the issue of Islamophobia in the United States, I think more progress can be made with great understanding,” Hensien said.

Because Middle Eastern politics can be depressing, the club focuses on the beauty of customs, Abouljoud said. In the past, the club has brought in baklava to eat and is currently teaching basic Arabic calligraphy.

“We are doing the little Arabic alphabet,” Hensien said.

“It’s not too big, but you write from right to left with your left hand, and I’m right-handed.”

The club meets every Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. in room 248 and welcomes all interested students.

QUICK QUIZ // Co-founder Amelia Abouljoud ’18 explains the answer to a Kahoot quiz about Middle Eastern food, eliciting laughter from students. The club meets Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. in room 248.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN PANKIN ‘16

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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

WRESTLING with victory Team members prepare as they head into the state championship event

CHRISTINA AMBROZY ’16 // Staff Writer

After an overall season record of 18-9, the varsity wrestling team clinched the Macomb Area County I try to remind them (MAC) Silver Championship title on to leave it all out there Feb. 6. Captains Jon Gough ’16 and Tyon the mat, to give it ler Thompson ’17 won in their regional everything they have, meets on Feb. 13 and will compete to to wrestle the same bring home the state championship. way that I believe they This is the first time two South wrestlers have been eligible to compete in should live, which is the state competition at the same time. with no regrets, no “There has only been one person to reserves, and no retreats. place in States that came out of South,” Gough said. “If Thompson and I both TONY CIMMARRUSTI medaled, that would be awesome.”

WRESTLING HEAD COACH Head coach Tony Cimmarrusti was the captain of the wrestling team at Harvard from 1977 to 1981. Cimmarrusti has coached youth, high school and college wrestling for the past 22 out of 35 years all across California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan.

This is his third year coaching at South.

“I was thrilled,” Cimmarrusti said. “It was a great performance of both skill and grit. All the guys really came through.”

These performances were not easy to achieve, Thompson said.

“At the beginning of the season, we thought we had a great chance to win the district with the size of the team, but it backfired on us when four kids quit and then one of our other wrestlers broke his leg,” Thompson said. “But we came back to win that tournament which made our team happy.”

In effort to recover from these setbacks, the boys made sure to practice and prepare as much as possible to perform their best and make every meet count, Gough said.

“We drill pretty hard for about an hour, then learn some moves or learn what we did wrong previously in the week,” Gough said. “Then after that we do a half hour of cardio.”

After the wrestlers are as physically trained as possible for the meet, the coaches also mentally prepare them in order to boost their performance to another level, Cimmarrusti said.

“I try to remind them to leave it all out there on the mat, to give it everything they have, to wrestle the same way that I believe they should live, which is with no regrets, no reserves and no retreats,” Cimmarrusti said.

“And I always remind them that I love them win or lose.”

When it was their time to hit the mats and fight to earn the regional championship title, both Gough and Thompson said they gave full effort and were determined to win

until the referee held up their arm after they were declared winners of that match.

“I was in shock at first, and then all of my coaches hugged me, and I was really excited because I have been knocked out of this round two years straight,” Thompson said.

The Blue Devils’ section in the gym was overwhelmed and ecstatic from all of the proud families, friends, coaches and teammates that witnessed the team making school history, CimmarThere has only been rusti said. one person to place in “It was kind of surreal,” Gough said.

“When I got off the mat, I hugged my States that came out coaches, and it did not really set in until of South. If Thompson I looked up at my dad in the bleachers and I both medaled, that with tears in his eyes, and it hit me. I would be awesome. climbed up the railing and gave him a JON GOUGH ‘16 hug and thought to myself, ‘I actually did it.’”

Gough has been undefeated for over two years wrestling at 189 pounds, and at States he will compete at 171 pounds.

“We were thrilled, but all of our coaches were expecting these guys to make it to States,” Cimmarrusti said. “They have dominated all season long, and Gough headed into the regional meet with a record of 45-3, and Thompson with a record of 43-5.”

High goals for upcoming Track and Field season GILLIAN ELIOT ’17 // Staff Writer The girls track team is running full speed ahead into its new season. The team starts conditioning on March 1 and opens with a meet on April 9 against Farmington Mercy.

“Our primary goal is always team unity. This can be difficult with well over 100 on the team, but we work on it every day, and the team always comes together with honest, supportive and respectful unity,” Coach Steve Zaranek said. “When this support exists, it allows us to focus on going after a league title and a state regional title. I do believe we will also have many qualifiers to the state finals.”

The track team has no cuts, making the team quite large with many different skill levels. Having a big team leads to having many different strengths

and weaknesses.

As for many teams, there are always individuals “I think the biggest strength our team has is uni- who lead the team and stand out. ty,” said Katie Kuhr ’17. “It’s such “We have many standout atha big team with over 100 girls that letes. Our distance will be led by Every year brings a few unity is an important aspect that All-State cross country runner challenges in matching Anna Piccione with strong supour coach really emphasizes. It everyone to their best port from Abbey Hurst, Kamreally helps with things like reevents, but that is a fun ryn Leonard, Reanna Raymond, lays. A weakness we have, and I part of coaching. imagine every other track team Maddie McDonnell and Katie has too, would be the separation Kuhr. Our top sprinters will inSTEVE ZARANEK between the sprinters and disclude sophomore Elizabeth CalTRACK COACH tance runners. We all run differcaterra, Natasha Boelstler and ent events some short and some Hope Adams. Our field events long so we practice separately for these races instead will be led by returning All-Stater Kayli Johnson of like cross country when everyone runs the same along with Hadley Diamond, Chandlar Duff, Mary distance so we practice together.”

Shepard and Becca Adams. Our state finalist hur-

dler Katie Marschner returns as well. We also expect to get some excellent contributions from freshmen Sarah Bellovich and Abbey Guevara,” Zaranek said.

In the past years many individuals have made it to states so the hopes are to continue that for this season. The team is expected to be a large group just as they have had in the past, but that has never stopped team bonding.

“We expect to have another very large team of dedicated young women,” Zaranek said.“Every year brings a few challenges in matching everyone to their best events, but that is a fun part of coaching.

We have high expectations, as always, for our team.

Only time will tell how this season will go, but it is projected to be better than ever.”

SPORTS UPDATE

SPORT // Girls basketball Record: 3-7 Captain’s Quote: “We haven’t won many games this year, but we have a really fun team and we’ve had a lot of fun together on and off the court.”

-Natalia Engel ’16 Expectations for season: To give it their all and see how far they make it in the playoffs.

SPORT // Girls figure skating Record: Finished third in the district Captain’s Quote: “Overall it was a great season.

We had people improve and a few skaters go to states.” -Julia Barnes ’16 Expectations for season: For skaters advancing to states for the third year in a row to perform well.

SPORT // Boys hockey Record: 16-6-3 Captain’s Quote: “We have a very good team with a lot of talent, and I believe we have a shot at winning it all.” -Adam Pitters ’17 Expectations for season: To make a run for the state championship.

INFORMATION COMPILED BY JON THEROS ’16, GRIFFIN BROOKS ’16 AND JESSICA WHITNEY ’16 PHOTOS COURTESY DAVE SIMMET, JULIA BARNES ’16, JON GOUGH ‘16, AND THE BOYS HOCKEY TEAM