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
A
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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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.
OPINION
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11.16.16
Planes, trains and autonomous cars
We have had two World Wars, multiple economic recessions and 19 presidents of the United States since the first Model T rolled off the assembly line in 1908. But one thing has stayed consistent throughout time: cars have always been operated by a person, never by a computer. With the recent advancements in technology and self-driving cars, the possibility that driving may be a thing of the past is something that shouldn’t be laughed at. Maybe it’s in the next 20 years. Maybe five. According to crainsdetroit.com, a bill has graced Michigan’s Senate and House of Representatives that could allow self-driving cars to be tested without someone present in the vehicle. We won’t be seeing one of these cars rolling around the Pointes anytime soon; the bill limits the testing to areas surrounding the capitol in Lansing. The bill is waiting on Rick Snyder for it to go into effect. The reason why this bill is being pushed, according to usnews.com, is to not lose out on research and development of self-driving cars. If the bill doesn’t get passed, companies will test in states such as Arizona, which have less restrictions on autonomous cars. As of October 2015, the overwhelming titan in the self-driving car market is Tesla. In all three of their cars, Model X, Model S and soon the Model 3, they all feature ‘Autopilot’ mode. According to tesla.com, “Enhanced Autopilot enables Tesla to match speed to traffic conditions, keep within a lane, automatically change lanes without requiring driver input, exit the freeway when your destination is near, self-park when near a parking spot and be summoned to and from your garage.” It’s important to mention that the ‘Autopilot’ isn’t a true self-driving car, it’s classified as a driver assistance feature. The driver is still responsible for remaining in control at all times. As of right now it’s the closest we have on a commercial scale that is available to the public. We were unable to find an exact number of Tesla crashes that are associated with the ‘Autopilot’ function, but the ones we did find were chalked up to be due to a lack of driver awareness by Tesla. The evolution of cars driving and turning themselves isn’t anything new. Back in 2003, Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan with the ability to parallel park itself. Parking isn’t the only thing cars can do by themselves. Nowadays, cars come with a plethora of safety features: blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, cross traffic alerts and cars that even stop themselves if individuals don’t. With all of these sensors already in place to make sure we don’t swerve out of our lane and making sure we don’t rear-end each other. How far are we from being completely autonomous? According to businessinsider.com, there will be 10 million cars on the road with self-driving features by 2020. As of right now, all the cars on the market are categorized as semi-autonomous due to the inputs the driver still has to make. Fully-autonomous cars would be defined as cars that do all of the work. Recode.net hypothesis that in 2030 if the automotive companies only produced autonomous cars there would still be a mix of normal and self driving cars up until 2045 or later. Which is interesting, most of us will have kids in 2050 and some of us will have kids that will begin to drive. So will they learn like us with two or three pedals and a steering wheel? Or with keyboard and a destination search tab? No one really has the answer to these hypothetical questions. We believe that it is a far stretch to believe that cars will drive themselves, safely and securely by the time our kids are driving. With the explosion of self-driving cars in the near future, the big three in particular are playing catchup
Our View // Editorial
ILLUSTRATION BY GRACE REYES ’19
to try and corner as much of the market as they can. Ford has been testing autonomous vehicles for 12 years, according to Harrison Weber from venturebeat. com. The Ford Fusions that Ford currently has outfitted for autonomous driving are extremely cautious. At a four way stop the car doesn’t move for multiple seconds if another car is approaching. Another example is that if a pedestrian is close to the car it will automatically stop. General Motors (GM) is also investing in autonomous cars. According to wired.com, GM recently bought a San Francisco startup, Cruise Automation, for $600 million to speed along their development. We believe that just because all of technology is available doesn’t mean that we should put all of our eggs in one basket. The only way we will trust this technology fully is if the companies prove beyond a doubt that it is safe and is impossible to hack. Therefore, as of right now, it is perfect as a driving aid and not something that should be relied on at all times. Just because nothing has happened as of right now doesn’t mean that it won’t ever happen. That isn’t a privilege we can take. Especially when we are dealing with 3,000 pound battering rams. We think it’s a big step up for automotive companies to incorporate all of these safety improvements, some of them will save many lives. But it still isn’t enough, people are known to abuse powers and we are concerned that individuals will wreak havoc by putting their trust into something that isn’t completely ready yet. Don’t get us wrong we are all for advancements in technology but we are for advancements that are completely stable and safe.
‘Book of Mormon’ will make you believe I stood outside the Fisher Theater stage door for the sixth time in a week, waiting to see the cast of The Book of Mormon. When the cast members heard it was my SYLVIA HODGES ’19 sixth time seeing the show, they COPY EDITOR were pleasantly surprised and asked me to take pictures with them. The entire night I thought, “Why wouldn’t I want to see this show as many times as humanly possible?” This musical follows Elder Kevin Price and Elder Arnold Cunningham, two polar opposite Mormon missionaries, who are sent to Uganda to try and convert a village to Mormonism using hilarious tactics. When things go wrong, an unlikely hero steps up to try and save the day, with nearly disastrous results. I laughed and cried my way through the show. Although it is filled with humor, there are certain parts that really sucker-punch the audience emotionally. The show does an amazing job of playing with your emotions, however cruel it may be. Although the initial take-away from this show might be that it was “too raunchy” to have a real message, the underlying tones and morals are extremely powerful. The show deals with heavy topics such as AIDS, female genital mutilation, closeted gays and the problems associated with religion in general. The cast is incredible. Each actor’s performance perfectly complemented everyone else’s, and individually each one added another
MY VIEW
element of humor to the show. Gabe Gibbs portrays Elder Price and his performance is stellar. Gibbs perfectly captures Price’s character, and is extremely genuine. His “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream”, “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” and “I Believe” are definitely highlights in the show. Cody Jamison Strand is the perfect Elder Cunningham, making the audience fall in love with the character’s personality quickly. His “Man Up” and “Making Things Up Again” are hysterical. Strand makes people laugh almost effortlessly. He has been with the show for four years. I saw two different Nabulungis: Candace Quarrels four times and Bryce Charles twice. Quarrels was stunning, and although she said she had laryngitis, her performance was beautiful. Her “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” was heartbreakingly gorgeous. Charles’ “Hasa Diga Eebowai (Reprise)” left me in tears, and both she and Strand were wonderfully hilarious in “Baptize Me.” Daxton Bloomquist is simply incredible as Elder McKinley. His “Turn It Off ” is priceless and he gives a stunning performance. Any scene with Bloomquist is a highlight. Sterling Jarvis is exquisite as Mafala Hatimbi, the leader of the tribe and Nabulungi’s father. He is an extremely talented actor and an even nicer person. The rest of the cast is truly amazing. They perfectly capture each individual character and everyone has their moment to shine, and they really do shine. The show was written by Robert Lopez, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and had its Broadway opening in 2011, ultimately winning nine Tony
PHOTO BY SYLVIA HODGES ’19
Awards. It continues to captivate audiences on Broadway five years later. The Book of Mormon is a stunning example of challenges faced in our world today, and serves as a reminder that sometimes we may think we are helping, but it could take something (or someone) incredible to really get through to people. “We’re not quitting anytime soon,” Strand said. “This show will go (perform) forever.” The Book of Mormon national tour recently passed 1600 performances and is currently scheduled to play through August 2017 in cities across America. You can book tickets at bookofmormonbroadway.com/tour.
Redford Theatre is hidden gem in Detroit MY VIEW
OLIVIA MLYNAREK ’19 STAFF WRITER
I knew that my Saturday afternoon trip to the Redford Theatre in Detroit to see the classic film “To Kill a Mockingbird” would be something that would make my weekend. I, being a nerd for old movies and things pertaining it, had been wanting to see the movie since freshman year, when my English teacher mentioned there would be a showing of the book “To Kill a Mockingbird”. I had seen the film before, but never did I know that viewing it on the big screen would be a much more
NEWSPAPER
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TOWER
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enjoyable and positive experience. The Redford Theatre is hidden in the depths of Detroit in an area behind the shadows and not known to all who are familiar with the area. The theatre is located on 17360 Lahser Rd, in Detroit. I love Detroit and all things good about the city, so I was excited when I found out about this cool and exciting place. When looking at the outside of the Redford, it is surrounded by flashing yellow lights that outline the giant Redford sign. This sign is something that people can see from all the way down the street and is the first thing that people see when they come upon the establishment. The multicolored brick building and the entire atmosphere of the movie theatre from the outside with its giant yellow marquis that overhung the sidewalk. This made me feel like I was going back in time to see a movie in the 1930s. Every movie that is shown at the Redford has different show times to fit any schedule. The show times can range from an evening show on a Friday night, a matinee show on a Saturday or even a evening show on a Saturday night. Each show is different, as some have special guest appearances or other special events related to the show. The productions the theatre plays can vary. The Redford shows everything from classic movies to musicals, according to what time of the year it is. Seeing “To Kill a Mockingbird” was really cool because Mary Badham, who played Scout in the film, spoke before it played. This was the highlight of my afternoon. Editor-in-Chief Erykah Benson* ’17 Associate Editor Jack Holme* ’17 Supervising Editors at Large John Francis* ’18 Liz Bigham* ’18 Supervising Editors Ray Hasanaj* ’18, Anton Mikolowski * ’17 Rachel Harris*, Riley Lynch*, all ’18 Page Editors Claire Hubbell* ’17 Cam Smolen*, Chase Clark*, Elena Rauch*, JD Standish*, Katherine Bird*, Liam Walsh*, all ’18 Copy Editors
Madeleine Glasser*, Lily Kubek*, both ’17 Alyssa Czech*, Sylvia Hodges*, Bianca Pugliesi*, all ’19 Business Managers Cameron Francis* ’17 Asst. Olivia Sheffer* ’17 Photo Editors Lauren Thom* ’18 Phoebe Miriani* ’18 Online Editor-in-Chief Ariana Chengges* ’17 Web Editors Erica Fossee*, Henry Ayrault*, Kathleen Carroll*, all ’19 Multimedia/Social Media Editors Emma Andreasen* ’17 Abigail Due*, Brennan Zilhman* both ’18 Staff Writers
The small lobby is always crowded before the show. Packed in every space is something different going on. There are many volunteers collecting tickets as you enter, there’s a small display of old t-shirts that reflect the shows the theater has shown in the past or is showing, and sometimes, if you pick the right show to go to, there is a person from the movie signing autographs and taking pictures. As you take your seat you are entertained and found tapping your foot to the music that surrounds the atmosphere of the room. Before the show begins and during the intermission. The theatre has a live organist playing.The Redford had the organ and the orchestra pit newly restored, making the musical experience bring the show to life. The design of the theatre is Japanese. Parts of the walls are handpainted with beautiful details of Japanese women in flowery and traditional Japanese clothing. There are also several wooden carved windows along the walls that are indescribable and make the theatre have a look of a house or something. To preserve this important historic aspect of the theatre the theatre underwent and is still undergoing a effective restoration effort to preserve the theatre so that it can continue to be enjoyed by all audiences in the years to come. The old but vintage appearance and touch of everything that the theatre has is something that makes it unique and superior to any other average modern day movie theater. Each part of the Redford makes it more special and different as any person can see this when they come to the theatre. With the lovely design, hospitality and features, the Redford Theatre is truly a great place that shows that Detroit truly has hidden Gems that will continue to stun and surprise many people for generations. The Redford is a great place that can turn any normal night out into a wonderful and memorable one. Tickets can be bought on the Redford’s website or upfront at the ticket booth at a price of $5.00. A schedule of upcoming shows such as “The Sound of Music” and “White Christmas” can be found also on the Redfords website at http://redfordtheatre.com/.
Adam Cervone, Charlie Denison, Conner McQueen, Emma Russell, Gillian Eliot, Jack Froelich, Jack Roma, Kelly Gleason, Mac Welsher, Mary Grace O’Shea, Michael French, Sydney Stann, Thomas Sine and William Muawad, all ’17 Arianna Pagenette, Alex Acker, Blair Cullen, Evan Skaff, Evan Theros, Griffin Jones, Ian Dewey, John Schulte, Harper McClellan, Kaitlin Nemeh, Maren Roeske, Margot Baer, Mollie DeBrunner and Piper Eschenburg, all ’18 Allison MacLeod, Amelia Turco, Audrey Whitaker, Alyssa Cole, Donald McGlone, Grace Reyes, Jacqueline Mercier, Katherine Costello, Sarah Bellovich, Sarah Stevenson, and Olivia Mlynarek, all ’19 Adviser Kaitlin Edgerton
“The Tower” is the weekly publication of the Advanced Journalism classes at Grosse Pointe South High School. It has always been a designated public form of student expression. The Tower is located in room 142 in Grosse Pointe South High School. Please contact us at 313-432-3649.
Errors Factual errors will be corrected on the opinion page or in news briefs written upon request and verification.
Letters Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be screened for libel, irresponsibility Opinion Pieces and obscenity. The Editorial Board may edit Editorials represent the majority opinion of or shorten letters as long as the meaning is the Editorial Board and are left unsigned. unchanged. All letters must be signed and Columns represent the opinions of individual include a telephone number for confirmation. staff members and outside contributors. Request to withhold the writer’s name from publication for good reason will be Editorial Board considered. Letters can be sent to the above An asterisk * denotes Editorial Board editors. email address, or dropped off in “The Tower” Room. Advertising Display adverising is sold at a rate of $7 per Professional Associations column inch, with discounts for large or Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press frequent advertisers. Advertising may not Association, National Scholastic Press advocate illegal activities or contain libelous, Association, Quill and Scroll, the Society irresponsible or obscene material. for Newspaper Design and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.
11.16.16
NEWS
S I H N I L F I N E E H TTrump wins “Big League”
ANTON MIKOLOWSKI ’17 & JOHN FRANCIS ’18| Supervising Editors The Golden State Warriors blew a three games to one lead in the recent NBA finals, the Chicago Cubs came back from a two game deficit also of three to one favoring the Cleveland Indians, just so did Trump take an unexpected lead as the election came to a close. Nov. 8 was predicted to be an easy win for Clinton, until 11 days before the election. Trump pulled in some momentum against the Clinton Campaign, but not by much. She had a sizable lead of 5.6 percent in the Real Clear Politics average and then after the letter came out, the GRA average had her leading by only 1.7 points. PHI CB Y JD On election night, matters took a drastic reality check STA NDI the polls could not have predicted, as the key voting deSH &R ILEY mographic that won Trump over in states like Michigan, LYN CH Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. This was the white working ’18 class, primarily people opposed to taxation and the establishment who saw a vote for Trump as a vote for change, and Clinton rather an extension of the Obama Administration. Trump is now the President-elect to be the 45th man to hold office at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Hillary Clinton gave a mournful, though optimistic, speech the following day of the election to her supporters and party. She wanted to continue her message of equality to the brutal end, and she did just that, saying, “We believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone, for people of all races and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people and for people with disabilities. For everyone.” Clinton also reached out to supporters, saying that nothing had made her prouder than the tight ship her campaign had become, and the willingness of the American public to make her their champion, as well as how ecstatic she was to win the popular vote. Her running mate, Tim Kaine, also stated that she would never question “our wonderful democracy” and continue to fight on. Donald Trump went on the night of the election (or the early morning of Nov. 9) to address the press and public about his victory. He had, for once, positive things to say about his opponent, and people he had to go at aggressively during his campaign to bring him victory. “Hillary had worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country,” Trump said. He went on to talk of the first and largest jobs he wants to take on as President, one of these being the country’s needs first. “We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, (...) second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it,” Trump said. On stage with Donald was his running mate, Mike Pence to Trump’s left, and to his right was his youngest son, a bleary-eyed Barron Trump, just 10 years old. Candidates in both parties spoke of unity, but large swathes of people in denial of this election result took to the streets with signs in hand and drive in their eyes. In many of America’s largest cities; such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, these protests would become riotous-- outcry spreading across the nation opposing the electoral college and a Trump presidency. Once Trump was deemed the title president-elect, he met with current president Obama, and they talked over a numerous topics. Though nobody is certain what discussions unfolded behind the closed doors of that pristine office, Obamacare was undoubtedly mentioned.
MY VIEW
For the past few months, Anton and I have been covering this election and it has JOHN FRANCIS ’18 been some of the most intense political news cycles Supervising Editor I’ve seen, and for that matter the history of politics in the US has seen. Not only has this been a long run, but a great one. Being involved in this process of getting the accurate news to you, and not just the one’s old enough to vote, but all the students here at South. It is important that we’re all leading an educated view into this world; it’s the best way to take the fullest and safest route in decision making. As a high school journalist, there’s a standard we all give to you, the reader, and that is to give the news straight and let conclusions and biases be made after the fact. The 2016 election does not end our political updates, rather an end to the chapter of one hellish ride. Not only did it divide this country, but also sought out the masses who called for change in the current status quo. Hopefully through our country’s constitution and branches of government we will remain and exceed the title of a great nation. This election didn’t only decide the now, but rather the future. For some this may not be a future to believe in. For others, quite the opposite. The best thing we can do as Americans is accept the democratic process and give the 45th president a chance. Only then will you the reader be able to make a true decision on Donald Trump.
During the camthe Affordable Care clined to keep some Trump has also he will have in ofly, as well as
paign, Trump made promises of ‘repeal and replace’ of Act. Trump, after talking with Obama, seemed more incomponents already in effect, and replace the rest. put together a comprehensive plan for the first 100 days fice. He wishes to move on immigration almost immediatemass infrastructure improvements. He always wishes to limit foreign aid and strike out on his general crusade against terror in the Middle East, with an emphasis on military spending and troop support, all according to the San Francisco Chronicle. As far as the international front is concerned, Trump is either receiving a standing ovation, or raised eyebrows as he prepares to step into the Oval Office on Jan. 20. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu sent a celebratory message to Trump the day after he was confirmed as the president elect. German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French president, Francois Hollande said they would offer support to the United States during this time of transition, but claimed his leadership would result in a “period of uncertainty”. Australia’s PM, Malcolm Turnbull, has reached out to Trump to discuss trade and regional security-- as well as Middle Eastern military strategy and troop movements, all foreign information, according to The Guardian. Yet not all are as eager to embrace Trump, such as Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who garnered near one percent of the national vote. She told reporters at Al Jazeera that Trump’s election was the result of a predatory” in the political system. on the other end of the system, the oddball Libertarian candidate, Gary Johners on the night of the election that Trump’s election is worthy of celebration,
“toxic and Though, son, told reportaccording to TIME. Though many do not believe this is a time for celebration, but one for speaking out in order to achieve comprehensive change. Many have grown to despise the Electoral College in the past week or so, harkening back to the 2000 election, which held a similar circumstance, where Democratic candidate Al Gore lost the presidency to Republican nominee George W. Bush, despite winning the popular vote. Some say the Electoral College is an outdated concept and an inefficient one at that, considering it does not represent the population as a whole (essentially making votes in larger states count as less in contrast with votes from smaller states). Yet those in defense of it, would say that it prevents big cities from determining the outcome of elections. Recent criticisms have pointed out that, in theoretics, a candidate could win a bare minimum of 22 percent of the popular vote and still walk away with the title of president-elect. This is not close to the actual circumstance, but Clinton did end up winning the popular vote by hundreds of thousands of American hands. Trump continues to ready himself and prepares to step into the White House this winter. Whether any number of Americans hailed the new chief or lamented over a tragic victory, in their eyes, a new president has been chosen-- a new man, a new world power, and history has been made.
TWITTER POLL @thetowerpulse Are you willing to give president-elect Donald Trump a chance in leading the United States of America?
YES
64%
NO
19%
UNSURE
17% 109 Votes
It has certainly been a crazy ride. Whether you’re ready to make American great again or still with her, the country is about to undergo one of its most ANTON salient transitional periods in all MIKOLOWSKI ’17 its years. Supervising Editor We’ve been writing these little weekly political updates since the school year first kicked off, and it has been some of the most consistent and stable work I have had the pleasure of working on in Tower, but, of course, it would never be complete without my fellow writer, JJ. He and I worked each week to bring a credible and comprehensive truth to the eyes and ears of South students. From a surface glance, he and I are polar opposites politically-- he’s more of a Ronny guy where I lean somewhere left of Castro, which is why we were the perfect coupling to churn out these sections each week. So frequently peers are divided based solely on their ideology, we live in a climate where debate with the parallel spectrum seems outlandish, and sensitivity on either side of the compass runs high. To see these barriers dissolved would be wonderful thing-- and how I long to live in an atmosphere with a synonymous willingness to discuss instead of dismiss. JJ and I want to pave the way for such an environment, where, regardless of political affiliation, two like-minded souls can carry out conversation-- and sure, we might have tossed our votes in different directions, but we can still laugh, joke and enjoy life through a mutually enjoyed fellowship.
MY VIEW
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Clinton supporter reflects on experiences, misfortunes from working for her campaign
There is a certain disappointment that comes with losing on something you’ve worked so hard on. Spending hours workLIAM WALSH ’18 ing towards a surefire goal, and then having it completely lost. Page Editor It’s a disappointment of regret and hopelessness. I am never going to get the time back I worked on the Hillary Campaign. I can’t go back and change what I did to reach out to more voters. But that does not mean I am not proud of what we did at the campaign office. I am proud to say I had the privilege to meet some of the people who worked at the office. I am proud of the experience gained, and to now know what the word defeat truly means. I was a Fall Organizing Fellow with the campaign. What I did was organize events in the Grosse Pointe/Harper Woods area. I called people, knocked on doors and trained people to call people and knock on doors. I was the Swiss Army Knife in the office. If my boss needed something done, I would get it done no matter what the scale was. I once returned bottles for change so we could have parking meter money when the cops started to crack down on that. It really opened my eyes to the outside world. I met a diverse group of people that expanded my horizons on who people were. I go to Grosse Pointe South, probably one of the whitest schools in the area, and to interact with so many different people from so many different backgrounds truly helped solidify the belief that all people are inherently good. It was a place that was warm and accepting, always striving to find a new way to open doors for people to help. I do not have the grace to say that I went through the campaign without and battle scars. I once had a guy give me a 15 minute lecture on why the US needs to go back to the gold standard. I also had someone call me and use every swear word and then some against Secretary Clinton. To be fair, I could have hung up on either of these people easily, but it was interesting and at times comical to see the strong emotion out of people. I learned what true grit and work ethic are on the campaign. My boss worked 18 hour days sometimes, and she wasn’t the only one in the office to pull those shifts. These people were a committed and dedicated group of people who genuinely believed in what they were preaching. My colleagues were some of the nicest, and truly greatest people I’ve met, and there were some wonderful stories to come out of them. One volunteer was a lesbian, five time cancer survivor who lived in Windsor. She worked for 48 hours within the last 4 days of the campaign, covering every shift. My boss was a type 1 diabetic who had fought for women’s rights her whole life. She helped me to fully understand some convoluted topics and showed me how to explain things to people who disagree with passion, but not anger or hatred. I worked for two months and 11 days on the Hillary Clinton campaign. I found disappointment on Nov. 8 when Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election; I was at a victory party downtown at the MGM Grand. But I would never trade that experience for the world. I met the best people, learned an incredible amount and gained an experience of what it truly is like to fight for what you believe in. I encourage everyone and anyone to volunteer for a cause they believe in, whether it be Republican or Democrat, just to see through the eye opening lens that I saw through.
MY VIEW
FEATURE
4
11.16.16
South student participates in fulfilling civic activity ERYKAH BENSON ’17 | Editer in Chief India Dinges ‘17 said she has been going to the voting booths with her mother, Je Donna Dinges, ever since she was a little girl. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Dinges volunteered as a poll observer at the Hellenic Center in Westland, Michigan. She shared her experience about what it was like to be a part of the election process.
SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR JOB AT THE VOTING BOOTHS IS, ESSENTIALLY?
As a poll observer, I am responsible for making sure that everyone is eligible to vote, so that meant helping people find their correct precinct, ensuring that they’re not on the roll, which they are then given an affidavit or provisional ballot. It isn’t really a position where you’re not deciding one way or the other. It’s pretty impartial. I’m simply helping people and making sure they have all stuff that they need so that they can vote.
looking up their addresses in case they weren’t sure which precinct they were in. They knew which polling place they were supposed to be at, but they weren’t sure which precinct they were in. So yeah, I just used their ID. I’ve been here since 7:00 a.m., and I’ll be here until 9:00 p.m. The polls close at 8:00 p.m., but if you’re still in the building at 8:00, they still have to let you vote.
WHAT’S YOUR DAY BEEN LIKE SO FAR?
My day has been good. It’s been really busy. I’ve met a lot of nice people so far in Westland. There was a guy dressed like Abraham Lincoln. He looked just like Abraham Lincoln, (with) everything except a top hat. I went over to talk to him and take a picture and then I asked him,“Do you know who you look just like,” and he said, “George Washington.” He was joking and said, “I hope you would say George Washington.” I asked him how he thinks the election went and he told me he would write his own name, Abraham Lincoln, if he could.
HOW DO YOU FEEL BEING A PART OF THE 2016 My mom volunteered through Facebook or email, and we ELECTION PROCESS? HOW DID YOU SIGN UP?
have to check in every hour. At first it was every 30 minutes, now it’s every hour. It all depends on how long the lines are. People come and go at different times. It was really busy this morning, and it’s usually it’s a little bit busier during lunch time, because people are on their lunch breaks, or when people get off work, around 4:30 p.m.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SPECIFICALLY DOING TODAY?
I was helping people check in on my mom’s phone, just
I feel it’s my civic duty to be a part of this election because some of my ancestors weren’t able to vote because of the color of their skin and to watch the entire process is amazing, especially having a female candidate. I think it’s amazing, and it’s really mind-blowing.
AND AS A FUTURE VOTER, HOW HAS BEING A POLL OBSERVER AFFECTED YOU?
It proved to me how important it is to vote, no matter. Voting really does matter.
I VOTED! | India DInges volunteered as a poll observer this Election Day. She helped people find their precincts and stayed all day. PHOTO COURTESY OF Inda Dinges
New club offers students opportunities to relax ABI DUE ‘18 | Social Media Editor oga Club was created last year by a Senior who has now graduated, but is being continued by Lanie Fitzpatrick ‘17, Grace Brandon ‘18 and Hailey Martin ‘18. Yoga Club meets every other Friday in the girls gym, from 7-7:30 a.m. “We didn’t start the club, but the people who were in charge of it last year really got us into it,” Brandon said. After the Seniors left last year, Fitzpatrick, Brandon, and Martin were all interested in keeping it going because they enjoyed having it on their Friday mornings, they said. “Usually a student will run a session for a half an hour, and they just act like a yoga teacher for a half an hour,” McCulloch, Yoga Club adviser, said. McCulloch provides mats, and during the session, yogis put on music and occasionally put on different types of lights. Fitzpatrick works at The Yoga Shelter on Kercheval, and they provide a few different things for
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BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT | South students practice yoga and relax before
school. The club was started by Emily Fleming and Lily Hampton, both ’16. PHOTO BY ABI DUE ’18
BUILT FOR PEOPLE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR WORKOUTS
Rise and shine
Gillian Eliot ‘17 | Staff Writer Whether you’re a morning person or not, we all end up here at school. Mornings vary from person to person with each and every one with a different ritual that they follow to prepare for the day. Some students have an interesting habit that they need to start their day. Allison Graff ‘18 has to wake up at an interval of fives. “If I don’t have to shower in the morning, I wake up at 6:25 If I do shower, I wake up at 5:55,” Graff said. Most students, along with adults in the professional world, need some caffeine to jump start their day. John O’Dell ‘19 and Margret Reilly ‘17 both start their morning with a cup of coffee from their house. “I always have to have coffee in the morning and I grab it on my way out the door,” O’Dell said. Although it’s a common stigma that teenagers wake up in the morning and skip breakfast, most students at South enjoy breakfast in some form before going to school.
Logan Cholody ‘17 enjoys making breakfast in the morning, “I make myself a breakfast on the stove, just something warm; it varies,” Cholody said. However, other students would rather have breakfast on the go. For example, Reilly starts her mornings with a granola bar and an apple from her mom. For a lot of students it can be difficult to wake up in the mornings because they simply aren’t morning people. This can cause students to wake up late and even be tardy to class. “I wake up at 7:00, but I don’t really get out of bed until 7:30, and then I shower and I’m usually late to school,” Harry Todd ‘18 said. People usually either shower at morning or before bed; many of the students at South choose to shower in the morning to boost the start to their day. “My morning routine is I wake up at about 5:50 and then I go straight to the shower every morning,” Cholody said. Whether, you eat breakfast, drink coffee, or shower, every student creates a routine to help them insure that they have the best start to their day.
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people in yoga club, she said. “If we want, I can get a teacher to come in to teach a class for us one day. If we wanted to go before school, we can use their studio space if we needed to,” Fitzpatrick said. Yoga Shelter also provides special packaging for students that are in Yoga Club. The Yoga Shelter is now also offering new classes for just for teens, Fitzpatrick said. “There’s one called ‘Beats by You,’ where teens get to tweet music they want to hear in the class,” Fitzpatrick said. Anyone is welcomed and encouraged to come, McCulloch said. “Yoga Club is a fun thing to do in the morning, and it relaxes you,” Brandon said. “So come to Yoga Club, it’s really fun.” The next Yoga Club meeting will be this Friday, Nov. 18.
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FEATURE
11.16.16
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Poetry club offers a comfortable atmosphere for young students looking for a creative outlet ELLA DIEPEN ‘18 | Staff Writer f you are entering a room filled with a glow of cozy lights, creative and good-humored people, and a comfortable atmosphere, you know that you are at a poetry club meeting. “Poetry club is a great way to learn how to communicate, which is very important for someone’s life,” one of the club advisers, Ian Auftenburge, said. “Being able to express yourself is a very valuable skill.” At the beginning of each meeting, club adviser Harry Campion offers the students a prompt to encourage them to think and write about something they don’t usually deal with, he said. After half an hour, the students sign up to share their writing and to get constructive and honest feedback for improving their poetry. It is a great opportunity to encourage your creativity and improve your writings. But poetry club is also about understanding the world better by getting life lessons from the advisors and the opportunity to philosophize about new concepts. Moreover, it may help you to speak more freely and comfortably in LASHUN O’REAR ’18 front of people. Even if the focus is mainly set on writing, acting is also part of the poetry club. The members practice performances for events like poetry slams. Poetry club is also an outlet for students going through a formative time in their life, Auftenburge said. The most important motivation for many students to join poetry club is the expression of emotions and having a group of people that doesn’t judge them. “Slams are a good way to get your feelings and emotions out in front of a group of people without them assuming anything about you,” club member, Phelan Johnson ’18 said. “Poetry is just beauty to me.” Because of the close relationships with other and the unique community that grows out of it, poetry becomes an important role in the lives of many students. “Poetry means everything to me. I feel like if poetry wouldn’t exist, there would be nothing,” Lashun O’Rear ’18 said. “Society would not exist if people wouldn’t be able to express how they feel.” One of the most important upcoming events is the the Michigan Speech Coaches International (MSCI), Campion said. Years ago, the poetry category was added to the MSCI competition, and Campion has helped run the event for the last few years. Young poets meet in Mackinac Island to compete against each other.
I
Poetry means everything to me. I feel like if poetry wouldn’t exist, there would be nothing.
A DIFFERENT FORM OF EXPRESSION | Charlotte Farrell ’18 read her poem at a poetry club meeting. Poetry club meets every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m.
PHOTO BY ELLA DIEPEN ’18
“I think that having something to work for and having competition is a good motivation for the students,” Auftenburge said. If students are interested in hearing some of the member’s work, they should come to the poetry slams held at the Grosse Pointe Public Library, O’Rear said. “Everybody should join poetry club, whether it is for fun or to express your emotions,” O’Rear said. The Poetry Club meets every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m., in Campion’s Room 293.
App helps locate, gives discounts for nearby restaurants SARAH STEVENSON ‘19 | Staff Writer here is an abundance of restaurants in Metro Detroit, but to some, it may be hard to find the perfect restaurant to dine at based on what they serve and where their produce is coming from. The app-version of Grubbable was released in Spring 2015 to help customers to find local restaurants serving fresh produce while also allowing them to save money, according to Mary Nehra, Grubbable’s acquisition manager. According to Nehra, Eric Russ, cofounder of Grubbable, often found himself eating at fast food restaurants when he was young due to how fast and cheap it was. After his meeting his wife, he realized that there were better ways to be eating. Russ wanted to create an app that allowed people to find local food and decrease the price a customer would have to pay In addition, have an app that people could trust and know exactly where their food is coming from. A year membership with Grubbable is $10.89. According to Nehra, once a customer signs up with Grubbable, the app generates the closest restaurants to them and provides them with discounts such as 10 percent off drinks or appetizers.
T
“Basically, if you buy the app and you’re using it with the discount, you could save your whole membership’s worth in less than a month because people on average save 20 dollars a month through Grubbable if they’re using it,” Nehra said. Overall, according to restaurants such as Morning Glory, Grubbable has been great I love working for Grubbable, t o work I feel like I’m doing something with. that matters. Cal e b MARY NEHRA FletchGrubbable’s acquisition manager er, the manager at Morning Glory Coffee and Pastries, said that recently it’s been good to work with them and after researching Grubbable, he learned a lot more about the company and their incentives. Users of Grubbable enjoy the app as well. Emily Decker, a user and
resident in Grosse Pointe Park, seems to enjoy the app and the usefulness of it as well. “I think it’s a really cool idea. I think it’s a great way to get...information about local farming and it also is a cool way to do something different with our usual food services,” Decker said. Even though Grosse Pointe and Detroit are the bases of Grubbable, the company is expanding to other cities such as Cleveland, Chicago and is currently available in Ann Arbor too,, according to Nehra. They are also trying to develop the app to draw in more users by including more information about local restaurants. “Well one thing we want to do is put a calendar on the app with all of our restaurants’ events that are happening so it can sort of be a reference for people as well in that sense, like what’s going on, like happy hour,” Nehra said. With many options for restaurants and apps to find restaurants, Grubbable is different because of how the company provides information about local restaurants and what they’re serving. “I love working for Grubbable, I feel like I’m doing something that matters. It’s just a really fun job, really great people,” said Nehra.
Reduce your carbon footprint With the news of bumblebees on the endangered list and the Great Barrier Reef dying, people are looking for ways they can help. This can reduce the amount of wasted water and carbon footprint quickly.
Carpool eographic in
onal G d by Nati , the magazine te s e g g u S 15 from 20 n fuel an ar ticle le to cut down o ffor t op ne urged pe y carpooling in a on the b n a of c rs emissio amount e th e c to redu road.
Fix Leaky Sinks
ower Take a sh fa instead o bath
ic says Geograph er a National ov a shower choosing sumpwater con bath cuts cause it takes be tion back f water to take so n o ll 70 ga n 20 d less tha n a a bath r. r a showe gallons fo
A leaky sink’s constant dripping will eventually add up to gallons of water wasted. The Environmental Protection Agency says that a leaky faucet can waste 3,000 gallons of water per year, which is the same as 180 showers.
Join South’s conservatio n club “I am by no means a big environmentalist, but I strongly believe this world is ours to maintain and if everyone contributes at least a little it will make a huge impact,” Brady said. ”Joining and helping with this club is my best way to give back to the planet that gives us so much.” The club meets Tuesdays directly after school in Mr. MacNamara’s room.
Recycle
“Students can do things as si mple as recycl Conservation ing,” Club member Lo usie Brady ‘17 “I know it soun said. ds dumb, but so many peop away bottles or le throw paper when a recycling bin is next to the tras right h. The design ated bins are around the sc all hool, so it real ly is easy. They try to walk to sc can also hool (weather and time perm of course).” itting
Eat local produce By eating locally, food doesn’t have to be flown in, which wastes gas. Michigan State University said in 2013 that local food is not only good for the environment, but for the economy. INFORMATION GATHERED BY PIPER ESCHENBURG ’18 GRAPHICS BY ELENA RAUCH ’18
FEATURE SPORTS
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9.6.16 11.16.16
The era of vintage fashion returns MY VIEW AUDREY WHITAKER ’19 STAFF WRITER
BIANCA PUGLIESI ’19 Wool deerstalker skirt CLAIRE KOEPPEN ’19 Simple vintage gap shift dress
ANTON MIKOLOWSKI ’17 Military style jacket with pins
BIANCA PUGLIESI ’19 70’s quarter zip sweater
PHOTOS BY AUDREY WHITAKER ’19
Nothing beats the initial shock of walking into a Salvation Army. The musty odor of unwashed donations, moth
balls and possibly mold. The fluorescent lights subtly flicker and hangers screech across the packed metal racks. The mannequins decked out in imitation patent leather hats and leopard print coats vogue-ing in the windows. Buried deep in these aisles are treasures of value much greater than they are actually priced. Those who can stomach the grime and the must are rewarded, uncovering the diamonds in the rough. Plenty of trendy stores carry clothes that look old, but for real, authentic vintage pieces, thrift stores are the place to go. The best part about real vintage clothes is how unique they are, as it’s hard to find two of the same or similar pieces. Anyone with eyes can tell you that ‘90s style is coming back into fashion, but it’s not just the ‘90s that are influencing fashion today. Retro pieces from the ‘60s, ‘70s and the 80s are making a comeback as well. Paired with the right shirt, a vintage plaid skirt or bell bottom jeans are a timeless look. A simple shift dress with flats, slip-on shoes or heels is easy to dress up or down for any occasion. “Mom jeans” are just about the comfiest things out there and look great with a tucked in T-shirt or chunky sweater, funky socks, and Adidas Superstars. Pieces with a military flair are great with jeans and some cool buttons or patches on the collar. In the end, the clothes you wear should be a way to express your personality. Yeah, it may be cliche, but the way someone dresses says a lot about them. A bold, vintage style stands out and expresses a wonderful sophisticated, eclectic and creative personality. Putting a twist on the day-to-day jeans and a t-shirt is a way to put some personality into the way you dress. Adding some vintage pieces to your repertoire is the perfect way to make a statement and look good doing it. So don’t hesitate to borrow a shirt your mom or dad has had since 1987, rummage through your grandparents attic, visit the local resale shop, antique store or take a drive out to Value World for some great, inexpensive outfits. Keep an eye out for unique vintage jewelry and pins. Mix what you find there with modern pieces you already have and keep an eye on the vintage-style clothes you see in stores.
FOR THE RECORD:
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KELLY GLEASON ‘17 | Staff Writer Despite being broken up since 2011, vinyl record sales and the White Stripes sales are at an all time high. “The younger generation, the high school generation, has basically picked it back up,” Jamison Mosshart, an employee at Third Man Records in Cass Corridor, said. This sudden interest in vinyl is due to what Mosshart believes to be a “rubber band effect” and the realization that music could come in the form of a tactile object in addition to common streaming services such as iTunes, Spotify and SoundCloud. This effect is what Mosshart believes prompted the high school generation to act as the driving force behind the increase in sales. “I think the big change is in people who didn’t grow up with vinyl records, and figuring out that this is something that they would want,” Mosshart said. A new way to experience music is what prompted Jack Hensein ‘17 to try listening to music on a record rather than digitally. “It forces you to listen to all of the songs on a record and appreciate them more,” Hensein said. In addition to the rise in demand from younger generations, those who grew up listening to music on vinyl have been taking advantage of the reissues of older records. “We’ll get people coming into the store asking for stuff that hasn’t been on vinyl in 30 years,” Mosshart said. With the increase in demand, many manufacturers of the records are having trouble keeping up with the vinyl-buying audience. As one way to attempt to try and keep up with demand, Third Man Records will begin making records. “Many more people want this product than are able to make it. There have
SAM MCLEOD ’19 Adidas superstars & fun socks
SAM MCLEOD ’19 90’s denim on demin style
ALLISON FRAZER ’19 Dress with 70’s flair
vinyl is back in demand and here to stay
been some technological advances in vinyl, the better the technology gets the easier it will be to make it,” Mosshart said. With the opening of Third Man Records, as well as the plating of records on sight, other stores have begun to open across Detroit as a way to produce more music. “There’s a huge tradition of people making their own records in Detroit, Archer (Record Pressing Plant) has been producing them for years,” Sam Hooker, an employee at People’s Records in Detroit, said. According to Hooker, the Detroit music scene is one that is diverse in its artists, and the increase in local recording studios and pressing plants are welcome. “There’s tons of small labels from soul and R&B to techno and house to jazz. There are a whole lot of locally produced records,” Hooker said. It forces you to listen to all As seen in the locally produced records, many labels are producing vinyl of the songs on a record of all different genres of music. and appreciate them more. “The popular artists are the popular JACK HENSEIN ’17 artists,” Mosshart said. “Vinyl sales are usually reflective of what is popular today.” In recent years, Adele and Jack White of the White Stripes have held vinyl sale records, but they are not the only artists popular among the generation experiencing records for the first time. “I mainly listen to alt-rock bands like the Lumineers and Vampire Weekend,” Avery Westfall ‘19 said. Vinyl records have once again made their way into the mainstream, and Mosshart is confident it will be for awhile. “Records have been here, sales have just increased recently,” Mosshart said. “Vinyl is definitely here to stay.”
“Lost in Yonkers” hits the stage Nov. 17 EMMA ANDREASEN ’17 | Multimedia Manager South’s upcoming school play is “Lost in Yonkers” by Neil Simon. The opening day is Thurs., Nov 17. The play’s plot follows two boys who have to move in with their German grandmother and aunt in Yonkers because their father owes a loan shark a lot of money and has to go get a job. “It’s basically like this coming of age story for not only the boys, but for everyone, like their entire family,” Liesel Lagrou ’17 said. Lagrou plays Aunt Gert, another member of the family. “She’s not a big character but she’s interesting because each person in the family has a different thing that makes them weird,” Lagrou said. According to Lagrou, Gert’s quirk is that she breathes in while she talks, making an odd noise. Along with Gert, there is Aunt Bella, who is is practically a child in an adult’s body, Eddie, the boys’ cowardly father, and the grandmother, who is strict and cold. The odd characters are what makes the play interesting, Lagrou said. The cast has been practicing since early October on every Monday through Thursday in the hopes to be totally prepared for their show, opening next week.
“I am really excited with how it’s going so far,” Meaghan Dunham, the director of the production, said. Dunham is accompanied by student director Tony Attard ’17, and several assistant directors: Dani Dulworth ’18, Grayson Kennedy ’19, Sam Hermon ’20 and Jack Campau ’17. Each of the directors have a different job to contribute to the show at practices. “Each practice is a little different,” Dunham said. “They’re working hard. They are making changes and making really interesting choices and different choices every day, so that then that changes somebody else’s choices. The show is really beginning to grow.” However, the show will never be completely finished, Dunham said. “Each performance will be amazing, but each will be different,” Dunham said. Part of these differences come from incorporating not only all the different and unique characters, but all the different technical elements, Dunham said. The play will come together last minute, not allowing the actors much time to adapt. “It will be a huge challenge, but it will also lend that aspect of an event happening for the first time, which is the goal of theater anyway,” Dunham said.
SETTING THE SCENE| Tommy Thams ’19, Andrew Fleming ’19 (above) Mrs. Dunham, Dani Dulworth ’18 (top right), Sean Gates ’19 and Julia Rapai ’18 (bottom right) prepare for the production during a rehearsal. Lost in Yonkers will be performed in the auditorium starting Nov. 17.
PHOTOS BY MIA TURCO ’19
FEATURE
11.16.16
WAYS TO GIVE BACK
MY VIEW:
Should you stay home on Black Friday? ALYSSA COLE & GRACE REYES ‘19 | Staff Writers Black Friday brings about the storm of ers Black Friday can be a great chance to obholiday shopping across America. It is a tain great bargains but for the average shopbooming moneymaker for retailers, a phe- per it probably isn’t worth all the hassle. The nomenon for deal makers, but it also is the best option is to opt for the online shopping most stressful day for shoppers. post Thanksgiving food coma. Through the catastrophic stores, compacted lines, and animalistic shoppers, the idea of staying home just seems to be the brightest idea. Although, you could possibly save a fortune, is it worth your safety? Black Friday consists of an enormous spur of crowds that endanger many every year. The stores try to ensure the best safety possible but they cannot prevent many of the “black friday fights” that occur every year. Staying at home prevents you from any possibility of an injury. Though Black Friday used to be only an in-store sale opportunity many realtors now offer the same deals online. With the rise of technology Cyber Monday is also an opportunity for great deals on software without leaving the comfort of your own home. Adobe's annual holiday shopping forecast report predicts that 51 percent of purchases on Thanksgiving weekend will come from mobile phones. Black Friday can be an exhilarating event for everyone. For die-hard deal find-
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INFO COMPILED BY ARIANNA PAGENETTE ’18
Services for Older Citizens The mission of the Services for Older Citizens (SOC) is dedicated to helping the older citizens of Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods. Volunteers are the key to the success of SOC, since they touch the lives of those they spend their time with. Located on Ridge Rd. in Grosse Pointe Farms, they provide volunteer opportunities all day with a variety to choose from.
TWITTER POLL:
Do you go Black Friday shopping?
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YOUR VIEW:
Mittens for Detroit Mittens of Detroit has the purpose of providing new gloves and mittens to children and adults in Detroit. In their first six years, they collected and purchased more than 168,000 gloves and mittens. Collection for mittens goes from Oct. 1 until Jan. 31, with a goal of collecting 53,000 pairs of new mittens and gloves.
Gleaners Community Food Bank For 40 years, Gleaners Food Bank has been dedicated to helping fight hunger in Southeastern Michigan. Gleaners was one of the first food banks in the country. Gleaners provides a variety of ways for people to volunteer, by either donating time or money. Their next event is “Hunger Free in the D” on Nov. 21.
What are your Thanksgiving traditions?
COMPILED BY OLIVIA SHEFFER ‘‘17
81%
YES
19%
TOTAL VOTES: 54
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COURTNEY MESTDAGH ‘17
DANIEL KUHNLEIN ‘17
I go to the DAC (Detroit Athletic Club) with my Mom's side of the family and we have brunch.”
In my family the day after the day after Thanksgiving is celebrated as kids make the dinner, thanking the parents for their hard work the previous day.”
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
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My family comes to town and we eat Thanksgiving dinner together at my house.”
LOGAN CHOLODY ‘17 INFO COMPILED BY ARIANNA PAGENETTE ’18
This Black Friday, don’t forget about Shop Saturday, and support local small businesses in Grosse Pointe
DISH Open for: 18 years Target audience: Middle-aged adults Most busy: Afternoon, midevening Most popular: Steak and Gorgonzola Salad, Potato encrusted Salmon Upcoming specials: Thanksgiving menu, Christmas horderves
VILLAGE PALM
Open for: Nine years Target audience: Everyone that lives in Grosse Pointe Most busy: April- July Most sold: Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide Free gift wrapping, in-store wish list, gifts with purchase
SWEETIES GREEN ZONE ICE CREAM & CANDY
Open for: Eight months Target audience: Most busy: Friday and Saturday night after dinner, Sunday after lunch Most popular: Salty Turtle New: Sweeties loyalty card, for every $10 a customer receives one punch after 10 punches the customer receives one free adult cone
BLACK FRIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE: There are many ways to describe IAN DEWEY ’18 the stampede STAFF WRITER of consumers on the day after Thanksgiving, better known as Black Friday. Some see it as the beginning of the holiday season, while others view it as a grim reflection of our inane consumer culture. Either way people look at it, Black Friday means one thing: massive sales, and therefore, mass hysteria. If were to go Black Friday shopping, you would undoubtedly meet some of this hysteria. In the past, there have been multiple cases of fights breaking out over highly sought-after products, some fights even involving highly lethal weapons. Therefore, one needs to know how to
MY VIEW
survive, in some cases literally. The best advice I can give to people is to stay home. Most of the time, the massive sales aren’t worth the stress and the chance to get literally trampled by massive throngs of consumers. Internet shopping can bring some good sales on Black Friday, without any of the stress. Unfortunately, the sales online are usually not as good as they are at the store. Also, the instant gratification aspect isn’t there, as people have to pay for shipping and wait for the product to come in the mail a few days later. Thus, if people know what’s going to be out there, and they are willing to go through the pain and struggle to get that 80-inch LED flatscreen TV for $500, they will need to prepare themselves for the oncoming struggle.
Open for: Five years Target audience: Everyone Most busy: Friday and Saturday between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Most popular pizza: Michigan Cherry Barbecue Pizza New: They are closing for good on Wednesday, Nov. 30, so go try it before it’s too late
My advice to you is to just stay home Nov. 25
First, get there early. Everyone else is going to get there early as well, and many may be camping out for the first sale items. It will still be terrible, and there still will be exceptionally large crowds, but unless people get to the store early, there is no chance in hell they’ll ever get anything. Also, people have to make sure they are in peak physical condition. If they are middle-aged, they might want to have younger relatives go in their place. If someone has leg conditions and can’t keep up with hysterical crowds, disaster could ensue. There have been cases in the past of people being trampled. Another scenario that could take place is that a fight could break out. Of course, avoid fights if possible. Weaponry can help: tasers are now legal in Michigan for selfdefense. If someone picks a fight with you
over some under-supplied object, merely stun them. Of course, if you are 6’3” and have 220 pounds of muscle, then don’t bother with any weapons. You can easily scare people off, all without risking a lawsuit of assault. To readers without this body make-up, if you have friends or family like this, see if they are willing to shop for you. At this point, the reader might think that the way I’m going about this, Black Friday might as well be an Olympic event. And you’d be right. I’ve seen the local news. I know what happens in those shopping centers, and standing back here, it sure doesn’t look pretty, I don’t know about you, but on Nov. 25, I’m staying home.
SPORTS
11.16.16
BOYS HOCKEY
WINTER SPORTS
ARIANNA PAGENETTE ‘18 | Staff Writer This year the girls varsity basketball team is off to a fresh start with one senior and three returning varsity players according to captain Margot Baer ‘18. According to Baer, pre-season training had a successful turnout but was tedious. Morning practice was three times a week along with open gym once a week. “My goal would be to improve a lot,” Baer said. By the end of the season Baer said she expects to see a new team compared to the team that started at the beginning.
Head coach Kevin Richards said he expects the girls to improve their game by one percent each day. “The goal is to play the best basketball at the end of the season,” Richards said. Richards is looking forward to working with the girls each day at practice and for them to enjoy the process. Baer expects challenges with the team, but is looking forward to the season ahead. “I look forward to all the young blood and their reactions to what practice is like,” Baer said.
round of playoffs and the team’s goal this year is to win states. The last time Grosse Pointe South’s boys varsity hockey team won states was in 2007. This loss is pushing players to work harder every practice, according to Pitters. “We are determined from last year,” Pitters said. The team is expectPHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM PITTERS ’17 ed to have 12 forwards, ERICA FOSSEE ‘19 | Web Editor three goalies and around Preparation for the upcoming boys var- eight defenders this year. sity hockey season are being made with final The games against Liggett and North cuts this week. bring together many friends for an exciting “Last year we had a great team, but we un- game, according to Pitters. der accomplished. We had all the right parts, “This year, we have a great team again, we just did not get the job done,” Adam Pit- and we are going to accomplish a lot more,” ters ‘17 said. Pitters said. Last year the team lost in the second
GIRLS HOCKEY
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PHOTO BY ARIANNA PAGENETTE ’18
ALLISON MACLEOD ‘19 | Staff Writer With a new coach and a new trainer this year, the girls hockey team at South has high hopes for this season. “We have been working really hard already on the ice and we are really excited for our new workouts,” Co-captain Lauren Kramer ‘18 said. The new head coach for the team is Chris Booth, who is also a history teacher at South. Booth has already been helping to coach the team, but this is his first year as head coach and he has already made adjustments to the team. “I think the changes he has made to the team are good changes and they will help our team be the best we can be,” Kramer said. The hockey team will be competing in Division 1 this year. “This season I am really excited to bond with my
BOYS WRESTLING
PHOTO COURTESY OF TYLER THOMPSON ’17
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LAUREN THOM ‘18 | Photo Editor After receiving the district title last year, the wrestling team is hoping to have an equally successful season this year. Captain Tyler Thompson ‘17 said everyone is looking to at least qualify for states and make sure there is no conflict within the team. “We are hoping to stay healthy as a team and hopefully get one more district title,” Thompson said. In order to achieve these goals, Thompson said there will be team dinners every Friday, when there is no on-site weigh in scheduled, so everyone can bond as a team. Walker Finazzo ‘19 said they are expecting to have a great season with a larger team this year compared to last, and he is looking forward to meeting all the new wrestlers. “This year we plan on winning most of the meets we have,” Finazzo said. “We plan on achieving this goal with hard work and always pushing ourselves.” A challenge the wrestling team will face this year is having a small team compared to other teams in the league. Thompson said there are 16 weight classes and South’s team has about 10 wrestlers. “Wrestling isn’t a very popular sport at South, at least compared to other schools, so a small team may not prove to be in our favor,” Finazzo said. The first wrestling meet is on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m. at Cousino High School.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN KRAMER ’18
teammates and I think it will be an overall fun and competitive season,” Rose Williamson ‘19, a returning varsity player, said. “I think if we work hard enough, we can win States this year.”
COMPETITIVE CHEER
PHOTO BY PIPER ESCHENBURG ’18
PIPER ESCHENBURG ‘18 | Staff Writer As December approaches, Grosse Pointe South’s competitive cheer team is working to stay a Division 1 sports team. “Being a D1 school, having enough girls on the mat is always a challenge,” coach Ashley Gerbi said. “You have to have a certain amount (of girls) or you get penalized.” The team practices five days a week, which is necessary because the varsity team is now required to be able to perform a back handspring, and the junior varsity team is required to be able to perform a back walkover, a first for the JV team, Gerbi said. “Our tumbling is the best I’ve ever seen it and stunting is going really well,” Claire Duncan ‘17 said.
SWIM AND DIVE
BOYS BASKETBALL
PHOTO BY ARIANNA PAGENETTE ’18
ARIANNA PAGENETTE ‘18 | Staff Writer This year the boys varsity basketball has moved up two divisions from the MAC Blue to the MAC Red. After winning both Grosse Pointe North games last year, the team’s goal is to beat North again, coach Troy Glasser said. “I have high expectations every year,” Glasser said. Glasser said the team will be pretty good this year due to three starters returning to the team. Glasser wants the team to be as competitive as possible, beat Grosse Pointe North, win conference championship and to make it as far as possible in the state championship. “I expect us to be competitive in every game,” Glasser said. The team had good summer training, but expect a difficult schedule this season, Glasser said. The team's first two games will take place at Calihan Hall at University of Detroit Mercy.
KELLY GLEASON ‘17 | Staff Writer Despite the loss of several strong swimmers, boys swimming and diving coach Eric Gunderson believes the teams will be successful. “I think we’re going to have to have a mentality where everyone steps up and does their part all season long,” Gunderson said. In addition to building a strong team, Gunderson said another focus is on continuing the winning streak within the MAC Red division.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTEN MALLEGG
“We’re looking to continue our streak of consecutive wins in the MAC,” Gunderson said. “If we win this year it would be our 18th (year) straight.” Along with the continuation of the winning streak, the swimmers have individual goals for the season as well according to Daniel Kuhnlein ‘17. “I want to make it to the county meet this year since I haven’t my other three years here,” Kuhnlein said.