Issue 11

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the

TOWER Wednesday, Nov. 16 , 2016

Volume 89

Issue 11

STRIVING for

@thetowerpulse

Grosse Pointe South 11 GP Blvd. Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

PEACE:

South students march in solidarity with unity

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ERYKAH BENSON ’17 | Editor-in-Chief t 3:05 p.m., the bell rang, and students filed out of the building just like any other day. But what wasn’t per usual was the group of students who met on South’s front lawn, clutching picket signs and flags. The temperature was 50 degrees fahrenheit. Biting wind. A clear blue sky. Students could almost see their breath escaping like ghosts from their teeth as they shouted, “Love not fear”. Two nights earlier, Michael Grady ‘17, the original organizer of the demonstration, began sending out texts late into the night about plans to assemble a rally after school. On Friday, a message was delivered over the PA by several of South’s students during fifth hour. Those who spoke included Principal Moussa Hamka, Riley Lynch ‘18, Liam Walsh ‘18, co-founder of Young Democrats for Freedom, Grady and Charlie Yoo’ 17, Secretary of Young Americans for Freedom. The students spoke to clarify that the demonstration was neither to protest the presidency nor presidentelect Donald Trump himself. “It has been a long, and at times, bitter political season, and its divide has made its way to South,” Walsh said. Yoo emphasized not to come and provoke anyone at the rally. “I’m here to say that all political viewpoints are invited to come. I encourage you to come and discuss ideas,” Yoo said. Hamka clarified the qualifications and rules for a student demonstration. According to the Student Code of Conduct, which can be referred to in the student handbook and calendar, students are prohibited from assembling strikes or demonstrations, which would include refusing to go to class, leaving a class, disobeying a teacher or refusing to leave the school premises. “However,” Hamka said, “demonstrations that occur before or after school that do not disturb the learning environment is permissible. Our number one job is to protect that teaching environment. That is the most important thing that we do here.” Roughly three hours later, students left the building and began to march. Starting on the front lawn, they marched past the athletic building, and then down Kercheval and through The Hill, making a loop back to South. Halfway through the rally, a boy with a Trump flag joined the crowd and walked among the students. Together, LaShun O’Rear ‘18 and the unidentified student walked back down Fisher. O’Rear was wrapped in a pride flag, the other boy, in a Trump flag. Both billowed in the wind. Different people marched in the rally for different reasons. For Samantha Cannon ‘18, it was for better treatment of her friends, who are members of the LGBT community or other minority groups, she said. For Rockim Williamson ‘18, he said he was there because it meant a lot more than staying at home. “Me speaking my mind and having a voice is much more powerful than not showing up at all,” Williamson said. When asked whether or not he felt that the country is currently representing him, he answered no. “In the past year, we have just been having a lot of, what’s the word, ‘interesting’, quote-on-quote events going on, and I feel like America is a lot better than what has been going on recently,” Williamson said. For Molly Cacia ‘19, it was for her family.

COME TOGETHER | Students from all grades gathered in front of South after school on Friday. Ideas from all ends of the spectrum were represented during the walk around the block. PHOTOS BY RILEY LYNCH ’18

In her hands, Cacia held a poster. Written in black marker, the poster read “Ninguna persona es illegal,” which translates to “No one is illegal” in Spanish. “When I was seven years old, my grandfather got deported back to Cuba in the midst of his documentation,” Cacia said. “And I’ve never seen him since, just because it’s really hard to get back to Cuba, and this is just an important issue to me, because I have a lot of family who are immigrants.” Among the signs in the crowd, each one had a different message. “Love trumps hate”. “Girls are not for grabbing”. “Black lives matter”. “You are loved”. Whether it be for women’s rights, LGBT rights, rights for black people, rights for immigrants or just in plain solidarity for peace, Hamka said, based on his comments on unity he made on Wednesday, to see students in action is inspiring. Lara Hoffman ‘19 said the current environment of South is shaky. “Hatred is a snake,” Hoffman said. “And the poison is the hate and discrimination that everybody faces in some point in their lives. And unity and happiness and friendship, is the antidote to that poison. And I believe that if we come together, as a school and as a community, we can make a difference.” Hoffman offered one final piece of advice for South students. “Keep the peace. Ignore hate. If you see someone crying in that hallway, I want you to give that person a hug, and I want you to be their friend,” Hoffman said. [For the full version of the story, go to www.thetowerpulse.net]

GPPS open house draws in potential School-wide dialogue proves effective in raising stigma surrounding suicide students, families CAM FRANCIS ’17 | Business Manager The fifth annual Open House at South was hosted in an effort to attract prospective high school students and their families. A number of South faculty and staff were in attendance to greet and inform families. Among those present was Principal Moussa Hamka. “We want to market our school, let the community know what a fine product we offer,” Hamka said. Several Grosse Pointe families enroll their children in private education until the eighth grade and then evaluate their options for a high school education. “Many parents haven’t toured our buildings or haven’t had a chance to connect with our staff,” Hamka said. “When families come in, we have a representative from each department to help them out.” Harry Campion, the head of South’s English Department, has attended the Open House for the past four years. He hopes families realize and understand the limitless opportunities available at South. “(South has) so many different avenues,” Campion said. “There’s things for everybody, no matter what you’re interested in.” Interacting with the young students and their families and being able to sense their excitement is what Campion enjoys most about the event. “It’s always a treat to see somebody who’s interested in education and interested in picking up what we are learning now,” Campion said. Science teacher Troy Hernandez was another

faculty representative at the Open House. It was Hernandez’s first time in attendance, and he approached visitors in a manner similar to Campion. “South as a school is committed to learning and we have a lot to offer,” Hernandez said. “Everyone’s really happy to be here and excited to see what we’re about.” The Thomas family is one of many local families that took advantage of South’s Open House on Sunday, Nov. 13. South is the family’s top choice for their daughter Christina Thomas, who’s currently an eighth grader at Grosse Pointe Academy. “(Christina) is coming from a small school, so the prospect of a larger school is a little daunting,” Christina’s father, Milton Thomas, said. “(The Open House) is helpful; it gives us more familiarity with the school.” The family found South’s wide variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities appealing. Hamka figured that the opportunity at South would be one of the most attractive qualities on display. “We have so many paths that children can explore, whether it’s the fine arts, the performing arts, or the athletics,” Hamka said. “We offer more opportunities for students than any other comparable high school.” Out of the 45 families that visited South for last year’s Open House, 31 ended up enrolling, Hamka said. The same is expected of this year. “We’re hoping for a great turnout,” Hamka said. “I know there’s a lot of interest in Grosse Pointe South High School.”

EMMA RUSSELL ’17 | Staff Writer Personal, responsibility and hope. Those are some of the words guest speaker, Dennis Liegghio, wanted students to walk away with after his speech he made this past week. “I think it was probably this last presentation where I framed that the best. I said, ‘Wherever you’re at, whatever has happened is not your fault, but it’s now your responsibility.’ I think that’s really important because number one, there is hope. You can get through things, and number two, you have to want to help yourself, because if you don’t want to help yourself, there’s no body in the world that can help you,” Liegghio said. People of the ages 15 to 24 are losing their lives to suicide, he said. After discovering that suicide is the second leading cause for young people, Liegghio gravitated towards speaking primarily to students. “My dad was 42 when he died. I’ve had a number of friends over my lifetime die around the same age; it’s middle age white guys that are at the highest risk for suicide, by the way,” Liegghio said. “So, I think it’s really important, because now is the time that you’re still adapting and learning. You can learn these skills and you can apply these things to the rest of your life, so when bad things happen, and it will, you know how to deal with it.” Liegghio came to realize that high school was the place to begin speaking at because that tends to be when it starts. So, people who kill themselves at forty years old, those feelings and behaviors began when they were very young, he said. “If you can get to people while they’re young and before they’re in the tunnel, then you’re long term

THIS WEEK AT SOUTH... nov.

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Lost in Yonkers will be performed in South’s auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

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nov.

Middle school eighth graders will be visiting South from 8:3010:30 a.m.

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approach is 20 years from now there will be less suicides, because here is a generation of kids that are equipped with knowledge and tools that were not available to other people,” Liegghio said. South Counselor Beth Walsh-Sahutske found herself feeling very impressed with the outcome of each meeting. “I thought that he was outstanding, and I felt that the kids were engaged and invested in what he had to say,” Walsh-Sahutske said. “I mean our students are fantastic, they’re always awesome about being respectful, but beyond being respectful I think they were really engaged in what he had to say. It was a good message and I thought he did a nice job sharing it.” [For the full version of the story, go to www. thetowerpulse.net]

KNOW THE SIGNS | Dennis Liegghio spoke to all grades over the course of Nov. 9 PHOTO BY EMMA RUSSELL ’17 and Nov. 10.

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Thanksgiving break begins. Classes will resume Nov. 28.


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