Issue 16

the

TOWER Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017

Volume 89

Issue 16

@thetowerpulse

A weekly tradition since 1928 Grosse Pointe South 11 GP Blvd. Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

[DIVERSITY] PHOTOS BY LAUREN THOM ’18

Diversity. Unity. Strength. Flip to page 4 for a special on diversity in South.

Mindful student helps Unique library solve home invasion club in the books JOHN FRANCIS ‘18 | Supervising Editor There’s always an extra spring in one’s step on their way home from a day of final or midterm exams during the very stressful week of half days and all nighters, staying up studying or cramming that math note card.

As soon as I hung up with Add in some headphones and a good 911, I called my dad, and tune and one is in Joey he was in shock. All he said Ambrozy ’18’s shoes.

Walking home down was I’ll be home in a secMcKinley, just about a ond. block from his home, SAM NEHRA ’18 he noticed something unusual unfolding at a neighbor’s house.

“I look over, and I see some odd man walk out of the Nehra’s house, and I’ve known the kid (Sam Nehra ’18) my whole life. I didn’t know about this guy though,” Ambrozy said.

Feeling suspicious about the man, Ambrozy stayed on the other side of the street. He kept the stranger in sight, while noticing an overflowing backpack on the man’s shoulders.

“About 15 seconds later his backpack opened and all this stuff started falling out. The main thing I had seen (falling out) were gift cards,” Ambrozy said. “I’m like ‘OK he’s picking that stuff up, whatever.’ Then at the same time a car pulls up, the white truck, and he leaves in it. He left all the cards on the ground, but he did have the backpack still.”

THE SCENE | Nehra’s house is on McKinley. His house was robbed during midterms week.

PHOTO BY JOHN FRANCIS ’18

Soon after the truck fled the scene, Ambrozy went up to the gift cards on the ground, gathered them and proceeded to contact Nehra.

“I was in Ms. McCulloch’s room getting some help before the midterm and I got a text and he (Ambrozy) said someone robbed my house,” Nehra said. “By 11:41 I was at my house and the robbers had already left. I wasn’t really scared for myself but more for my brother who was sleeping the whole time.”

Luke Nehra ’20-- Sam’s younger brother-- was home

during the entirety of the home invasion. Due to Luke being home for the incident, the two men are being charged with home invasion in the first degree, due to someone being home while the break in occurs.

Luke was in the basement of the house, and simply disregarded the footsteps upstairs, thinking it was probably his dad stopping home.

“I went upstairs and looked and everything was gone,” Sam recalls. “As soon as I hung up with 911, I called my dad, and he was in shock; all he said was ‘I’ll be home in a second.’”

Officer Paul Raygaert of the Farms Police Dept., speaking on behalf of Sergeant John Bruno, the arresting officer, gave insight to the police report regarding the arrest of the thieves.

“As the vehicle passed Sgt. Bruno, he observed that the vehicle was bearing a paper type plate which was duct taped to the rear bumper,” Officer Paul Raygaert said. “The vehicle went northbound on Meriweather at a high rate of speed, then Sgt. Bruno was able to catch up to the vehicle on Mack Ave.” The truck made a final turn into the parking lot of the Riverview Health & Rehab Center located past the McDonald’s.

Sgt. Bruno blocked the only exit with his car and shined his headlight. After running ID checks on both men, he realized the driver had a suspended license and the passenger had an outstanding felony warrant in Clinton Twp. for burglary.

The Grosse Pointe News reported that the two men’s names are Anthony Edward Marino and Brian John Patterson. They both face a trial ahead with punishments ranging from 1 to 20 years in prison, and fines are applicable up to $20,000. These charges are among many others the two men have pending or are now being charged with due to the break in.

According to Sam Nehra, these men had worked on the Nehra home doing work on the windows.

I went upstairs and The thieves managed to locate a hid- everything was gone. As den key just outside soon as I hung up with 911, the door, and made I called my dad, and he was their way through in shock; all he said was the house.

“We ran upstairs ‘I’ll be home in a second.’ and looked at all the rooms. Everything SAM NEHRA’18 had gotten ransacked, sheets on the ground, closets opened. Everything was everywhere,” Ambrozy said.

The family has felt a significant impact from this incident.

“We used to have an alarm system, but we turned it off.

We didn’t think we needed it, but now it’s back on as of two days ago, and the key is gone too,” Sam said.

THIS WEEK AT SOUTH...

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Student Count Day will determine school funding for the 20172018 school year.

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RACHEL HARRIS ‘18 | Supervising Editor In the center of the South library, under the flags and sunlight streaming through the windows, is a table decorated with an array of books, each individually wrapped in Valentine’s Day wrapping paper.

This “Blind Book Date” table was created by the library’s new Teen Advisory Board, a group of students that spend time in the library and wish to use their creative talents, Advisory Board member Morgan McVicar ’18 said.

McVicar said she had been spending a lot of her time in the library helping librarian Courtney McGuire, who suggested starting a library club for students.

According to McGuire, the board’s first project involved donating books to South’s Adopt-a-Family organization during the holiday season.

“We just started at Christmas time gathering different books that were in really good shape or were brand new, and we packaged them up and we delivered them to every Adopt-a-Family room for students,” McGuire said. “They might get nice, wonderful toys, but we still need to promote the love of literacy and reading, and actually many of the kids had put that on their list.”

Students who were on the board helped McGuire bring in books to donate, package them and deliver them to classrooms, McGuire said. After the holidays, the board began transitioning into the idea of the “Blind Book Date” table.

“If students want to, they can take a chance at a blind date of a book, and we’ll have a brief description, like a few adjectives (on the wrapping paper),” McGuire said.

“They can take a chance and see if they might fall in love with it, or they may come back and it might not be the right mix.”

The board will be wrapping books and including the description of the book on the outside, Payton Murray ’17 said. These books will be on the center table in the library, and students are able to pick out a book to read for over mid-winter break.

Along with these two projects, the board will be organizing crafts in the library for students to take a break from their studies and do, McVicar said.

“I set up a table in the library to make ornaments out of reusable books that we have,” McVicar said. “There is a cabinet of books, and it says to use them for art crafts, and no one really knows that you can actually rip pages out and use them for crafts. We’re going to be doing a lot more crafts with those books so that they can get reused.”

For Murray, seeing McVicar and McGuire enjoying a craft prompted her to join and helps to relieve stress from school.

According to McVicar, the board is open to anyone who wants to join during 1st lunch on Mondays in the library computer lab.

“If you want to show up one week and not show up the other, then that is fine too,” McVicar said. “It’s a non-commitment type of thing, and it opens you to not only the books, but other crafty ideas of how to help other people.”

McGuire said students are also able to come spend time in the library during tutorial due to before and after school often being a busy time for students.

“To me, I think sometimes you guys just need a break,” McGuire said. It’s just an open space where you guys can come and hang out. It’s whatever the kids are in the mood for. Whenever you have time or the interest, come hang out.

BLIND BOOK DATE | Students can stop by the library and pick up a “Blind Book Date” mystery gift-wrapped book for the holidays.

PHOTO BY PHOEBE MIRIANI ‘18

The varsity girls hockey team takes on Ann Arbor Skyron at 5:30 p.m. at East Side Arena.

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The class of 2018 is holding a lasertag outing from 4-9 p.m. Tickets are sold during lunch for $10 per game.

OPINION

2

2.8.17

South hopes to integrate more black history throughout the year, not just the month

I

t’s finally February, and you know what that means: it’s Black History Month, otherwise known as our annual attempt to cram more than 400 years of history into 28 short days. Black History Month is an integral fixture in American culture. It is our time to celebrate and recognize the achievements of African-Americans who have helped to shape the country we live in today. At the same time, however, the existence of Black History Month itself serves as a reminder of our lack of recognition in the other eleven months out of the year.

Why celebrate black history for one month when we have the opportunity to discuss it thoroughly all year? Instead, we as a community should foster a more inclusive, more diverse curriculum in order to study the history of our great nation to its fullest extent.

In a recent Twitter poll out of 34 voters, 26 percent of people feel that black history and culture are recognized well in our school, while 50 percent argue that we don’t recognize it nearly enough. This is what Black History Month has, for the most part, served to temporarily remedy. Originally established in 1926 as “Negro History Week” by African American scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson, it was created to celebrate the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, as well as highlight African American history, which was generally excluded from curricula.

Today, we still celebrate Black History Month for the same reasons. Dr. Jay B. Marks is a mentor for the National Urban Alliance, an organization striving to ensure equal opportunity of education for all students.

He argues that Black History Month serves to fill a void that exists eleven months out of the year. The problem with this is, after February 28, we go right back to virtually ignoring black history and culture, when meanwhile, as Dr. Marks put it, “black students are black in March, and they’re black in September,” and therefore are vulnerable to feeling invisible in history class for the remainder of the school year.

The key to long-lasting change in the discussion of black history, as well as the history of other minorities, is to see a change in both the English and the history curriculum.

South’s English curriculum consists of titles largely dominated by white male authors, with the exception of a few women. Shakespeare, Salinger, Dickens, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain, Huxley, and Joyce. These are the brilliant minds that shaped British and American literature, and are required readings from the school’s 2017-18 program of studies. The only two works that are required readings in the program that are written by black males are “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B Dubois and “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison.

That all may change. Currently, the English department is working to review the curriculum, a process that will take several years. “I think every year we make little steps in inclusiveness,” English Department Head Harry Campion said. “Does it happen perfectly? Of course not. I’m hoping that with this curriculum review we can make a few longer strides.” In the future, perhaps we will strike a balance between those great classics like “Adventure of Huckleberry Finn”, while introducing great works like “Up from Slavery”

by Booker T. Washington. It’s one thing to read an excerpt by a prominent black authors. It’s another thing

OUR VIEW// EDITORIAL

Technology in the classroom: useful or distracting?

MY VIEW HENRY AYRAULT’19 SPORTS WEB EDITOR

O

NEWSPAPER

the

TOWER

STAFF

ver the years, technology has drastically become more and more part of every student’s high school experience. Portable computers and devices have become smaller, smarter and more readily available, enabling students to search nearly anything on a tiny box full of memory that can fit in the palm of their hands. But, the benefits of all that technology being a simple finger swipe away is still up for debate.

“They have information at their fingertips, so that they can access research in a matter of seconds,” counselor Troy Glasser said.

While students have been granted the freedom to use electronic devices for research and studying both inside and outside of the classroom, technology has certainly had an effect on how students learn. The use of such devices is not discouraged, but there are limits to some aspects of this part technology.

According to the Grosse Pointe Public School System’s code of conduct, when it comes to the use of cellular or electronic devices, “Telephone calls may not be made or answered, and electronic communications or exchanges of information may not occur.”

Though the devices can be helpful in the classroom, to be truly effective, they cannot substitute for good, old-fashioned instruction.

“We’re privileged at Grosse Pointe South, to have the best teachers in the state and in the country.” Glasser said. “Nothing ever can replace the art of good teaching, but I think the technology will always give the kid enough to do the research at hand and in a matter of seconds. So, I think that’s beneficial.”

Aside from being a great resource, electronic devices in the classroom also serve other purposes for students.

“My phone has helped me learn in the classroom because it is useful for taking pictures of the notes on the board,” Joey Pellerito ’19 said. “Or in math class, if my teacher

puts the book problems on the board, I can just take a picture of them without having to bring my book home from school.”

Striking the right balance is the key to ensuring a device is helpful but not a distraction.

Jack Coyle ’19 said he doesn’t use his phone much in school, aside from research or in-class activities.

“Students should be able to choose if they go on their phones if they aren’t distracting others,” Pellerito said. “If it’s during a lecture and they aren’t paying attention they will have to deal with the consequences of not knowing the information.”

Technology at students’ service could be detrimental if not used for good.

“I think it’s an individual preference, but I do think they add to the distraction but at the end of the day, it’s an individual choice,” Glasser said. “If the student wants to use their technology to disengage or be off task, they have that opportunity. It’s like sports. Some kids practice, some kids don’t.”

Students need to be careful and recognize the potential distraction of accessing their technology in the classroom for non class-related activities. While phone usage is not always prohibited, if not kept in check, it can become a problem for the student and the rest of the class.

“I think sometimes it can interfere with paying attention when you have notifications that you want to respond to, but it’s really up to students if they want to pay attention or not,” Pellerito said. “Usually I just go on my phone when I am bored or there isn’t things being taught so it isn’t that big of a deal for me.”

Arming every student with an electronic device is not currently part of the Grosse Pointe South offering.

“Ideally it’d be nice if every kid had access to that technology within each classroom, but nothing replaces the art of good teaching,” Glasser said. “I know we’re still tinkering with the idea and starting to learn what a ‘technology classroom’ looks like. I think in the future you’ll (students) have the opportunity to have more resources to learn, but that’s after you get the instruction from the teacher.”

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 Lily Kubek* ’17 Alyssa Czech*, Audrey Whitaker*, Sylvia Hodges*, Bianca Pugliesi*, Claire Koeppen*, all ’19 Business Managers Cameron Francis* ’17 Asst. Olivia Sheffer* ’17

to involve oneself and navigate an entire novel, just like one would for PAY ATTENTION, JOHN, YOU ONLY “Catcher in the Rye” or “FrankenHAVE 28 DAYS TO stein”.

LEARN LEARN ABOUT American history teacher James BLACK PEOPLE. Cooper said more can be done to improve the way history courses are covered.

“I feel like we do a pretty good job, but the truth is, I think we can do better,” Cooper said. “To me it seemed like, well it’s kind of good that you’re covering it (black history), but it feels like it’s like an extra credit, or it’s like this is the regular history, then this is like your way of sort of appeasing me and covering a little dab here and a little dab there.”

The fact is, we as a society still need Black History Month. The Black Association for Student Education is continuing the initiative to implement more of a presence of Black History month at South, through trivia activities and posters throughout the school, accord- GRAPHIC BY RILEY LYNCH ’18 ing to club President Imani Sugick.

The future of a fully inclusive curriculum, however, will steer us toward a future where the history of all groups are celebrated year round.

Nothing, however, is accomplished overnight. Developing a more inclusive curriculum requires incremental change.

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need to designate a month to appreciate the history of an entire ethnic group, but rather embrace that group, as well as all groups, year-round. Black history is inseparably woven into the dynamic fabric we call America, and it’s key to celebrate it as so. This issue, we hope to emphasize the importance of providing a diverse set of perspectives, and perhaps incite smarter, more meaningful conversations that will benefit us both as a student body, and the community as a whole.

Betsy DeVos is a threat to education, the nation MY VIEW

ANTON MIKOLOWSKI ’17

T

here has never been a Secretary of Education who has furrowed this many brows on both sides of the isle. There has never been a Secretary of Education this blind-- this truly ignorant-- to the views of both both politicians and the entirety of the American populace.

Betsy DeVos was nominated on Jan. 31 for the cabinet position after Trump’s victory in the election, a notable hometown billionaire from out in Holland, Mich.

She and her husband, Dick DeVos, both worth billions, dug up a track record in Grand Rapids-- just three hours from South-- refusing to send her children to public schools in the area, despite them being some of the highest ranked in the state.

Perhaps this is because DeVos opposes public schooling and promotes the privatization of education. It was her, after all, who, in a 2015 speech moronically entitled “Competition, Creativity, and Choice in the Classroom” said a few choice words about the effectiveness of the government and their public school programs.

Specifically, she said, “Government really sucks.”

Oh, but it didn’t end there-- of course it didn’t end there, DeVos went far enough to say that, while teachers may not be paid enough, they are also not put out of work enough, saying, “We don’t fire teachers enough.”

Of course she says this with her vast experience in didactics, with her leviathanic horde of experience in the field, which consists of exactly zero years as a teacher and no degree to speak of in education whatsoever.

She seems to be intent on making a difference in schooling however, starting with deregulating public education and stripping public programs of government funding.

Wait, wait-- it’s okay! She grew up in a middle class family, as she said in that same 2015 speech-- she’s just like you! Except she isn’t.

She doesn’t know the barest speck of anything when it comes to middle or lower class living.

Probably because she compulsively lied during

both ’18 Staff Writers 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, Madeleine Glasser all ’17

Online Editor-in-Chief Ariana Chengges* ’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

Web Editors Erica Fossee*, Henry Ayrault*, Kathleen Carroll*, all ’19

Allison MacLeod, Amelia Turco, Alyssa Cole, Donald McGlone, Grace Reyes, Jacqueline Mercier, Katherine Costello, Sarah Bellovich, Sarah Stevenson, and Olivia Mlynarek, all ’19

Multimedia/Social Media Editors Emma Andreasen* ’17 Abigail Due*, Brennan Zilhman*

Adviser Kaitlin Edgerton

Photo Editors Lauren Thom* ’18 Phoebe Miriani* ’18

SUPERVISING EDITOR

that speech, seeing as her father, one Edgar Prince died with a company worth $1.4 billion, which still had tens of millions during DeVos’ coming of age. All according to Plastics News.

If none of this has swayed anybody, let it also be known that she said, along with her wolfish husband, that the school has been rudely intruding on the presence of the church of the community.

Her husband stating, “In my opinion, the church has sadly retrenched from its central role in our community, to where now as we look at many communities in our country the church which ought to be in our view far more central to life in our community has been displaced by the public school as the center for activity (in the community).”

This was backed up by DeVos in 2001. Following the statement, she made a point of divulging her longing for a church-centric community.

Since she has been pushing for vouchers and making a concentrated effort to funnel tax payer funds to Christian Schools, according to the PR Watch.

Not only does she seemingly pitch for a United Theocracy of America, but she too is a staunch advocate for charter schools, like the ones which tore a rift of financial and infrastructural destruction throughout Metro Detroit.

In her senate hearing, she cited one particular school, the Nevada Virtual Academy (NVA) for its astounding 100 percent graduation rate, according to the National Public Radio.

Except, there is a minor problem.

She lied.

Again.

The NVA has a 63 percent graduation rate, according the school itself. Some of the other schools she cited for the success of charter academies, included the Ohio and Utah Virtual Academies respectively.

During the conference, she would have skewed statistics, blatantly going against reality with utterly wrong percentages. Though that’s how DeVos rolls, we need to suppose.

Betsy DeVos wants to turn our nation’s education into some Kafkaesque amalgamation of bizarre Talking Heads lyrics. She is a benighted fop and seeks only the deterioration of the good minds of America.

She is not what our country needs, she is not what South needs-- and she is most definitely not what the people need.

“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.

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2.8.17

NEWS

3

Rob Smith moves mountains as he accepts LGBTQ award MARY GRACE O’SHEA ‘17 | Staff Writer sons. As a gay man, it is about giving back to my A homeless 15-year-old New York City boy was community.” beaten and kicked out of his emergency shelter be On Dec. 7, 2016, Smith was awarded the cause he was gay, according to the website for the Hetrick-Martin Emery Award as a result of his Hetrick-Martin Institute. long-standing fundraising and volunteer efforts for Similar stories inspired Rob Smith ’83 to become the organization. Over the past 10 years, Smith has a part of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a safe place raised almost $15 million for the LGBTQ youth of for the LGBTQ youth of the Big Apple. the institute.

“I started a little over 10 years ago when I moved

“The Emery Award is given to leaders, to New York and really wanted to get involved in either organizations or people, who work for the some sort of non-profit charity,” Smith said. “I wasn’t community and the organization,” Smith said. “I sure exactly what I wanted to do, but I had done a was never eligible before this year because I was on lot of work before for a suicide hotline. I worked at the board and chairing the awards, so this was the my church and served food to the homeless, and I first year I was able to receive the award and it was a had done many things in my life, but I had not really huge honor. A lot of people get awards because they been committed to anything.” have a big name, or they sell a lot of tickets, but this Smith said he was introduced to the institute award was really significant because of all the work shortly after his search began when a couple of peo- I have put into the organization.” ple expressed their love for it. He began looking into Always knowing that he volunteered and worked what the organization offered. for this organization, Kathryn Williamson ‘17,

“I went on Smith’s niece, said a tour of the school she knew he deand was so impressed served this award, “There are so many kids, in general, by what was there,” but never fully unSmith said. “The youth derstood the great living on the fringe of society, being that were there and lengths to which marginalized and not having access” the services that the Smith has gone for organization offered these kids until she made me want to get attended the Emery ROB SMITH involved. That was it.

Awards in DecemI was elected to the ber. board of directors and helped chair the annual “I always knew he was a great person, but going fundraiser for about 10 years.” to that event, I think before I never actually realized In 1979, life partners Dr. Damien Martin and what he did for people,” Williamson said. “I know Dr. Emery Hetrick got together a group of adults he volunteers, but I never realized the magnitude of interested in creating a safe place for the LGBTQ what he has done to help people and I think that youth of New York City to find counseling and sup- the event brought a lot of awareness to that when port that they needed in a time of great intolerance, two previous students from the institute got up and according to the website of the Hetrick-Martin In- talked about him and spoke on how much he helped stitute. them. It was incredible to see and it made me more The organization was named the Institute for the proud of him than I thought I could be.”

Protection of Gay and Lesbian Youth (IPLGY), and Smith has not only brought success through renamed in 1988 as the Hetrick-Martin Institute in fundraising to the organization, but also recogniorder to honor the founders. tion and awareness, Biz Williamson, Smith’s sister “Some of the kids at the institute have been said. kicked out of their homes, some have not,” Smith “He has brought in awareness among people of said. “The age group is between 13 and 24. Some influence, so that they are continuing to grow and of the kids still live at home, but many of them are continuing to receive tons of commercial sponsorcouch surfers, so they are not technically home- ships-- Levi and Ketel One vodka have sponsored less, but they are not living in the home they were them and BMW sponsored the event this year,” Biz originally born in, and they sleep on the couches said. “They have had movie stars and performers of friends and family. Many of our kids have been there-- Fergie has performed, Cyndi Lauper, an ackicked out by their parents, so this is where they go. tor from ‘Glee’ and an actress from ‘Orange is the This is how they survive.”

New Black’ was there this year. Rob has brought in The institute has evolved since its original found- a lot of notoriety through wealthy businesses and ing, including the opening of a school for the kids to these stars.” attend and the ability to make the organization their Each time Smith visits the institute, he is inidea of ‘home.’ volved and interacting with the kids, Biz said. It “The Hetrick-Martin Institute is the world’s reminds her of the way in which their family was first-ever all LGBTQ institute,” Smith said. “It is raised to serve the people of our world in comproa program for kids-- a place for them to go after mised situations. school to get counseling, to get services, to get a “In my brothers last speech when he was being warm meal, HIV testing and so many other things. honored, he had mentioned how we were always It has evolved into the largest LGBTQ organization told to serve others,” Biz said. “Part of it is that I in the world, and now it is also the home of the Har- would expect nothing different from him because vey Milk High School, the only LGBTQ high school he is such an amazing person, and the other part in the world.” is that we may not always be passionate about the In New York and the United States, there are same things, but I love that my brother is passionneedy kids of all situations, Smith said. However, he ate about something and works everyday to make said he chose this specific organization because he people’s lives better. The awards were emotional, understands the personal issues the kids of the Het- eye-opening and definitely enlightening.” rick-Martin Institute encounter.

Today, kids are surrounded by role models from “There are so many kids, in general, living on the the LGBTQ community, but Smith said that when fringe of society, being marginalized and not having he was growing up, gays were just expected to be access,” Smith said. Every organization is going to flamboyant and mischievous. help people, but I chose this one for personal rea“It is really different now,” Smith said. “There

were not characters on television shows or movies, gay characters were not a part of the story line.

There were no role models. There were no athletes, politicians or celebrities that were out, it was kind of taboo when I was growing up. People didn’t realize they (gay people) could also be smart, intelligent and somebody you could admire.”

The biggest concern Smith and his parents had when he came out past high school, was how people would treat him, he said.

“It was scary to come out,” Smith said. “We didn’t know how I would be treated and I think that is the same fear young men and women have because kids are already mean enough. It is hard enough being in high school and throwing that on top of it, it almost doesn’t seem worth while. It just seemed almost safer to keep the secret, rather than letting people

fun and was student Class Treasurer.”

For the kids that have gone through the Hetrick-Martin Institute for help, counseling and simply a safe place, Smith said it is incredible to see them grow up, and hear their success stories and what they have done.

“Sometimes you forget when you are raising money, throwing events and all the work that goes into that, that it goes to services and programs for these kids,” Smith said. “Then, when you find these kids and see how well they are doing later, it reminds me that it is about the youth. It is so rewarding finding out they have their master’s degree, they have jobs, they’ve found where they were insecure and had a lot of self-doubt and they have found how to show themselves that they are okay. It just feels so good that I have, in some way, had a positive ef-

LOCAL LGBTQ FIGURE| Kathryn Williamson poses to take a picture with her uncle during the award ceremony.He raised almost $15 million for the LGBTQ institite

K h a PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATHRYN WILLIAMSON

know about it. There were too many risks. I hope and believe that kids these days would be not just tolerant, but welcoming and have the right attitude.”

When Smith was a student at South, there were few people who were open about being gay within the community, he said; the level of tolerance was much lower.

“The community of Grosse Pointe is a great community, but it is pretty conservative,” Smith said.

“There were and are some kids that are so mean and tough. I didn’t think I would lose my family, and if you know my family, you know that is highly unlikely, but I was a Pittsburgh Steeler. I lettered in football and track and I played football and crew for

fect on the world in ways that I know, but also may never know.”

The people that have been helped by Smith are happy, and they are prosperous, Biz said. They are spreading hope in the communities they are in, and showing that there is a way to find a place to call ‘home’.

“Rob’s big idea is that if you are doing what you love and you are passionate about it, you can move mountains,” Biz said. “Just don’t get stuck doing something you don’t care about because it won’t matter.”

Pro-life speaker addresses Students 4 Life club JOHN FRANCIS ‘18 | Supervising Editor As the Michigan winds whipped outside the tall, historic windows of Clemenson Hall, a group no more than 35 people met to discuss one of the most polarized topics of today, being pro-life.

This event was put on with the full dedication of Julia Turnbull ’18 who has been apart of the pro-life movement since middle school. She found Christen Pollo who is the Executive Director of Students 4 Life of Michigan.

This program goes around the state, meeting goals of informing young students on how to defend their position in being pro-life.

“Well I’ve been friends with (Pollo) on Facebook since I joined Students 4 Life in eighth grade,” Turnbull said.

She recalled that Pollo had made a visit to South just once before, that being last year.

“She came and spoke at the school last year but I didn’t get a chance to see her,” Turnbull said.

As well as her speech, Pollo had much to say in particular about the organization’s goals, and the current events shaping the abortion laws.

“We were just at the March for Life in Washington D.C. and for the first time ever a vice president spoke, that being Vice President Mike Pence,” Pollo said.

This remark came with a sense of pride, due in part that the Pro Life movement is gaining momentum.

James Adams is the advisor the the Students 4 Life club, and also was happy about the latest March for Life in Washington.

“That is a very big change that somebody would be there from our elected officials, I think that pretty much reflects the whole, you know, election,” Adams said.

Pollo also gave insight on what she thought her opposition might react like in the coming months, “I do think that they’re going to be a lot of pro-choicers that rise up and become very vocal because there are going to be a lot of pro-life wins,” Pollo said.

One of the main focuses of the event was identifying that when a baby is conceived it then becomes its own entity. Turnbull reflected on what it is like to be proud of her pro-life views, even if that means getting over judgement from others.

“The number one thing I want people to understand

(About pro-life) is that it (the unborn child) is another person,” Turnbull said.

Turnbull also identified the struggle it can be to have passion for this movement at the high school level. She stressed the importance of women’s rights and how they can co-exist with being against abortions.

“I’m for women, I’m a fem-- surprisingly to some people in this school I’m a feminist,” Turnbull said. “I believe that women are equal and that we should have the same rights.”

Declaring her feminist outlook is important to Turnbull, and she sees the common misconception that being pro-life is being anti-women’s rights.

The South staff sponsor of the Students 4 Life club is science teacher James Adams. He has been the advisor for the past seven years and has seen a number of students join the club and have a sense of community with their other pro-life peers.

Adams was pleased to see that Pollo could make her way back to South this year. “It’s a nice relationship to have with the overall Students 4 Life of Michigan,” Adams said.

Along with bringing in guest speakers, Adams talked on club goals and what they strive to be each year.

“To get the conversation going in some way. To bring awareness to the fact that students have the opinion they have in my group, that life is important and all the other aspects that go along with it” Adams said.

LISTENING FOR LIFE| Rob Smith goes onstage to recieve his award, this was the first year that he was able to recieve this award because hes always been on the board and chairing the awards.

PHOTO BY JOHN FRANCIS ’18

DIVERSITY 4

2.8.17

di • ver • si • ty / / n o u n / / t h e s t a t e o f b e i n g d i v e r s e ; v a r i e t y

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A MINORITY AT SOUTH

RACHEL HARRIS ’18 & ALYSSA CZECH ’19| Supervising Editor & Copy Editor here are sixteen hundred and seventy-six students that attend South.

83.56 percent of these students are white, 8.51 percent are African-American, 2.6 percent are Hispanic, 1.53 percent are Asian and 2.73 percent are other races, according to the MiStar Portal.

For LaShun O’Rear ’18, being a minority race student in a predominantly white school often connotes the feeling of swimming against the current.

“It’s kind of hard (being a minority student), especially when you don’t have people who understand it,” O’Rear said.

“There’s a limited amount of people who have the ability to understand what you’re going through, and it is hard for people who haven’t gone through any type of oppression or prejudice because of the color of their skin to understand that.”

For Amy Ellis ’19, who is half-white and half-Asian, experiencing discrimination has not been a prominent aspect of her life, she said, however she believes that a situation cannot fully be understood unless it is experienced.

“You kind of have an idea, but you do not really know (what it’s like to be a different race). I have gone my whole life being this way, and I can’t wake up one day and be like ‘I am going to be white for a day’ and see what the difference is, because that can’t happen,” Ellis said. “I can assume these things…it might be harder if you are a different race or it might be easier if you are a different race, but I cannot actually say it is.”

However, O’Rear notices distinct challenges he faces throughout his school day. Every time racism, sexism or other forms of discrimination are mentioned in his English class, O’Rear said he is constantly reminded that others who are not part of the minority spectrum are unaware of the daily occurrences he, as well as many other minorities, face.

“You kind of feel like your feelings are invalidated,” O’Rear said. “If I say, ‘that comment was racist,’ I’ll have somebody who is white say ‘that wasn’t racist,’ and it kind of invalidates my feelings as a black person…what I didn’t hear or what I felt was not racism or oppression toward me, and that’s kind of hard to me.”

Dr. Jay B. Marks, mentor for the National Urban Alliance, an organization that works to ensure equal opportunity for all students, has noticed through his studies that a challenge for many students who identify as a minority race, is they might walk into their classrooms and feel as though they aren’t positively represented in the curriculum, or even amongst their classmates.

“They don’t feel connected to the school,” Dr. Marks said.

“They don’t feel they belong to the school. They don’t feel valued in the school. They don’t always feel the school is being culturally responsive to who they are and what they need.”

As an effect of disconnection in the classroom, Dr. Marks said he has observed students who are minorities shutting down because they feel as though they are constantly being

T

“

If I say, ‘that comment was racist,’ I’ll have somebody who is white say ‘that wasn’t racist,’ and it kind of invalidates my feelings as a black person…

LASHUN O’REAR ‘18

49.7%

50.3%

6% 9% OTHER BLACK

RACE 85% WHITE

Q&A

stereotyped. Dr. Marks calls this the “stereotype threat.”

“They won’t participate in the first place because the stereotype becomes a self fulfilling prophecy for them. Sometimes, we see students shut down and not participate as much, particularly when you are of few or the only one (of your race) in class,” Dr. Marks said. “Then when they open their mouth, they might feel they are representing their entire racial group. So, if the student gets it wrong, it can create a stereotype, that people who look like me aren’t smart or don’t belong here.”

O’Rear said he wishes society would realize that each individual member of a race is unique, and one person’s intelligence, strengths or weaknesses do not reflect that of the entire race.

“It’s sad that people discriminate you based on the color of your skin,” O’Rear said. “You can be just as smart or just as bad... like I can be bad at math because I’m bad at math, not because I’m black. I can be great at Spanish because I have the ability to learn the language better than most, not because I’m black but because that’s the way my brain works.”

Race has no relation to intelligence or behavior, according to Ellis.

“I think it is a lot of just who I am rather than my skin color,” Ellis said. “There are expectations I hold for myself academically, but that is just because I know I can achieve it, not because I am Asian and people expect me to do well (in school).”

Not only do students tend to misunderstand what it’s like to be a minority, but teachers can have difficulty grasping that concept as well, Dr. Marks said.

“I believe that sometimes teachers and students have a lack of understanding of cultural differences. So, students feel ostracized sometimes for being the way they are or how they exhibit cultural values; they may not be honored by other culture groups,” Dr. Marks said.

Often, there is an expectation for students who are minorities to abandon their own cultural beliefs in order to fit in with the majority, Dr. Marks said. Members of the dominant culture are able to maintain their ways of being without worrying about being excluded.

“That can definitely impact your behavior because there’s a sense that you can’t be yourself in this environment,” Dr. Marks said. “In order to get along and adjust, I have to act like someone else. Can you imagine the emotional toll that would have on someone?”

However, O’Rear feels as though he has the opportunity to raise awareness and educate others-- especially in a school where more than three-fourths of students are white-- about what it is like to be a member of a minority race.

“Treat people kindly and have an open mind,” O’Rear said.

Don’t judge someone and don’t stereotype a group of people based on the color of their skin or their race or their gender or their sexual orientation or religion or anything… we need to realize that we need to respect one another. We can’t categorize people and generalize and stereotype.”

SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS, NOT TEST TUBES: BEING A WOMEN OF COLOR IN SCIENCE

RILEY LYNCH ’18 | Graphics Manager According to a study by Professor Joan Williams, 100 percent of Women of Color (WOC) who work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields have experienced racial or gender bias in the workplace. Ponette Rubio ’18, a Mexican-American female student, shares her opinions on being a WOC in STEM activities.

What scientific activities are you apart of?

I am very involved in Robotics and the Solar Car Team. I’m currently learning how to code, and I’ve been learning how to build things for a while now.

What clubs are you in at South?

I’m in Robotics, Solar Car, French Club, Class Council, and the Cotton Innovation Center (CIC), and the House of ITech classes next to the main gym.

What do you want to do in terms of careers?

I am still trying to figure out my life. I want to keep my possibilities open for different things, different careers. I don’t want to limit myself.

Do you think you have ever faced prejudice in the science community because of your race or gender?

I think when we go to Solar Car competitions, a lot of judges ask me about computers even though I’m not in the section for that subject and don’t work in that division. It’s like they get happy when I answer those questions wrong. It’s mostly white guys at the Solar Car competitions. There’s not outright sexism or racism, but it’s little things that you notice and pick up on if you’re looking at it from a certain angle.

At Robotics, they put more emphasis on business and media, so there are more girls on the teams, because not all of them participate in the science aspect.

Do you feel women of color in the science industry are looked down upon? Why? It’s kind of a strange thing-- not looked down upon, but hidden. I went to a Women of Color expo at Cobo Hall, and the poster for the event was of a white woman, even though it was a WOC event. Many members of the audience were white, and all the people who were leading the expo were white women. I think there was only one lead-

ing woman of color.

How do you think we can comtype of casual racism and sexA lot of it is having to look up to, havmodels as a kid. childhood has a do with the peryou become adulthood.

There needs to be more open d i s c u s s i on s about this subject-- we can’t keep quiet about it.

W h e n you’re the a situaawkward, at least have can talk to. I’m person, so it’s type of buddy someone who back. But we we do have a issue, and be aware In 20 think the S T E M

bat this ism? people ing role Y o u r lot to s o n i n

you think only WOC in tion and feel it’s helpful to a person you a relatively shy helpful to have a system, to have will have your need to know that problem, it’s still an everyone needs to of it. years, how do you demographics of fields will have changed?

A lot of progress has been made in a relatively short time for women’s rights, so I have hope that things will change in the next 20 years and maybe there won’t be such a disparity.

We’re not at the point in society where we can say there’s not a disparity in STEM today. There’s not an equal amount of role models, but that should change.

Do you think girls are discouraged to enter STEM fields?

I think less girls enter because of the pressure.

Let’s say you have a guy who wrestles. It’s a fairly normal thing for guys to do, and it doesn’t really matter to everyone else if he’s good, bad, or somewhere in the middle. It’s just something he does. But if a girl wrestles, it’s a huge deal, because not a lot of women wrestle. So suddenly, everyone cares, and it matters a huge amount. Because now, she’s not just wrestling as a girl, she’s wrestling for ALL girls. It’s not just about her capability, it’s about the capability of all women.

When I’m at competitions, a few girls will come up to me and say things like, “I want to join my school’s team, but I don’t think I’m good enough.” I think with boys, they don’t have to question whether they’re good enough. They don’t wonder if they’re capable. They just want to join.

It’s important to know that just because less girls do something, it doesn’t mean it’s easier for men to do it. Fewer girls apply to STEM industries because it’s a career dominated by guys, and it’s awkward to be the only woman in a job. There’s a huge disparity.

In my family, one of the main goals for girls is to get married. For instance, when my aunt got a job after getting married, a lot of people in my family thought that was kind of weird. The way you grow up and the environment you grow up in has so much to do with who you become.

What are you most passionate about with the science industry?

The thing I am most passionate about is the idea that everyone deserves to have an equal opportunity to education. I’m with Sir Francis Bacon on the notion that knowledge is power.

OF SOUTH GRAPHIC BY RILEY LYNCH ’18

FEATURE

2.8.16

One in Five

A

Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Engineering | Management

LILY KUBEK & EMMA RUSSELL ‘17 | Copy Editor & Staff Writer ccording to the Rape Abuse and In- get hard to be cest National Network (RAINN), an aware of your American is sexually assaulted every surroundings,” 98 seconds.

Panse said. “I One of the most common as- know there’s sumptions is that Greek Life is most responsible obviously some for the high percentages of sexual assault, a place situations where where 44 percent of South seniors are going to be people next year, according to a Tower Twitter Poll taken by 39 people.

“It (sexual assault) can happen anywhere or anytime with any association. It could happen literally anywhere: ski club or Chinese club,” Spenser Panse, a Michigan State University (MSU) student said.

“I think that the people who maybe don’t typically enjoy or look at Greek Life positively, just make quick accusations about them.”

Panse’s older sister is in a sorority, which led him to looking into Greek Life, he said. Panse did pledge to Phi Gamma (Fiji) Fraternity House, a social fraternity for a few weeks, and later realized it wasn’t something that he wanted to pursue; he wanted to be able to adventure more around campus. weren’t under the influence of drugs or alcohol, However, social Greek Life still is a growing but I think a lot of the reports have been, typically, community on most college campuses where stu- where at least one party was under the influence.” dents can pledge to a sorority or fraternity and beWhen at a college party, there’s more alcohol come a part of a legacy. MSU student and South consumption and drug usage going on, making it Alumni, Megan Kramer, recently pledged Gamma easier to get away with sexual assault, Balamucki Phi Beta as a sophomore. said. These social events are more chaotic than a “I think a lot of people, especially in the Greek lot of other things students have previously expecommunity, are really respectful. If you have a one rienced. on one social with a frat, everyone’s super nice to According to RAINN, more than 50 percent of you,” Kramer said. “I think that it (sexual assault) college sexual assaults occur in August through Nocan happen to anyone, I don’t think it’s fair to asso- vember. That means that assaults commonly occur ciate that with just a specific group of people.” during the first semester where students are accliHowever, according to Panse, with social Greek mating themselves to college cultures and freedoms.

Life remaining alive and well, sexual assault can of“I think for a lot of people college is the first real tentimes seem more prevalent. This is because an part of a freedom that they have, and I think some assaulter who’s a part of Greek Life is more likely to people take that and kind of go crazy with it,” Emily get in trouble than an assaulter who’s not. Victims Cooper, an MSU student said. “Also, I think it can are more willing to report assaults from Greek Life be hard in college life for some people, when you get because some people want to blow the situation up so accustomed to ‘I can do whatever I want’ to have and sabotage houses-- like a rivalry. that backfire on you.”

According to “Sexual Assault “The girls will report the rape or on the College Campus: The assault, usually if they have an idea Role of Male Peer Support,” of who it is or even the house the If you are at an event and you fraternity men have a nar(attacker) belongs to,” Panse have a beverage of any sort, row notion of masculinity said. “So if the assaulter was never leave it alone. Even if it’s that is the product of peer from ‘XYZ,’ then they’ll repop or water, you should never pressure and various other port that they were assaulted leave it unattended, because social exchanges. “Brothby an ‘XYZ’ member if they you don’t know what could ers” commonly learn from don’t know the name.” happen to it. their friends that they are Even though the fraterniLAUREN MCCULLOCH supposed to have stereoties host most of college camChemistry Teacher typical masculine attributes, pus events, that does not mean such as a clean-cut, handsome they promote sexual assault, Mariappearance, athletic skills, wealth, sa Balamucki, MSU student said. a high tolerance for alcohol, and most “I think that the party atmosphere in importantly, sexual success with women. Thus, general definitely contributes to sexual assault because it’s probably not necessarily the people who there are multiple pressures present in a fraternity.

“There’s a lot of pressure involved, sexual presare a part of the fraternity promoting that (sexual assault), but it’s just the environment that kind of sure, not so much hazing, but some of them (fraternity members) definitely take advantage of some allows it to happen,” Balamucki said.

According to National College Women Sexual girls,” Nathan Bolis, an MSU student said. “The edVictimization, 43 percent of the sexual victimiza- ucation is there, you know ‘don’t do that’ or ‘that’s tion incidents involve alcohol consumption by vic- not the girls fault,’ so that’s not the issue. But I think tims and 69 percent involve alcohol consumption it just takes time for the behaviors catch up to the by the perpetrators. And according to National teaching.”

According to the National Sexual Violence ReCollegiate Date and Acquaintance Rape Statistics, 90 percent of acquaintance rapes involve alcohol. source Center, one in five women and one in 16 An acquaintance rape is when the crime is commit- men are sexually assaulted while in college.

“I feel like it’s more girls (who are at risk of asted by someone the victim knows.

“If we’re talking Greek Life parties, the victim sault), because that’s just the majority of the stories might not be 100 percent with it, so then it can you hear about; the girls getting assaulted rather than

buddy or be with a group and never set their drink down, she said.

“If you are at an event and you have a beverage of any sort, never leave it alone. Even if it’s pop or water, you should never leave it unattended, because you don’t know what could happen to it,” McCulloch said. “Just surround yourself with people that you trust.”

Greek Life follows a trend of being better for a college environment than worse. One reason being that members must participate in the many charities they raise money for. One sorority at MSU, Gamma Phi Beta, does most of its fundraising work with “Girls on the Run” and “Camp Kesem.”

“It’s (‘Girls on the Run’) a 5K that’s supposed to help build girls’ confidence. So, you can mentor a girl. You meet her and run the race with her,” Kramer said. “For our Greek Week last year, we raised money for this organization called Camp Kesem, it’s an organization that sends kids to camp that lost a family member due to stronger and they can force it (assault) easi- cancer and it’s all free.” er.”

What surprised Kramer was that she also has According to RAINN, college-aged male stu- educational expectations, she said. Her sorority redents (18-24) are 78 percent more likely than quires a certain GPA and a certain amount of study non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape hours in order to participate in social events. Paror sexual assault. With that, women are not the only tying and social events are only a “treat” for all the ones at risk. hard work required of each member, not an exces“Just what I’ve heard, girls are little bit more sus- sive part of Greek Life, Kramer said.. ceptible to be assaulted. But I say, it could happen to “I feel like people just think Greek Life is suguys as well, it’s not just a one-sided thing,” Panse per negative and all we do is party and bad things said. happen, but partying is a small circle compared to

With everyone at risk, a tip to help everything else that Greek Life does,” Kramer decrease one’s chances of being sexusaid. ally assaulted is to always go places It’s typical to jump to the conin groups and never stray away, clusion that sexual assault diJames Arthur, Grosse Pointe rectly stems from Greek Life, There’s a lot of pressure Woods Public Safety OffiEnders said. As she chooses involved, sexual pressure, cer, said. If you are going to between University of Misnot so much hazing, but leave the group, make sure sissippi, Miami University some of them (fraternity to tell a friend exactly where and Indiana Universimembers) definitely take you’re going to be, he said. ty Bloomington, Enders advantage of some girls.

“I think the best examdefinitely plans on pledgple of what I hear is: a girl or ing wherever she decides NATHAN BOLIS group of girls were walking to attend.

Michigan State Student home or down the road to go “I feel like it’s more about to another place and say a group becoming friends with people of guys are walking by the other way. and getting to know people that They try to grab onto some of the girls you really like,” Enders said. and kind of ask them like, ‘are you okay,’ see Greek Life is an interesting community to how they’re doing, but they’re really just trying to be a part of, Balamucki said. get all touchy with them, and then one thing leads “I think it’s (Greek Life) definitely a good way, to another. That’s how it mostly goes down,” Panse especially coming in as a freshman, to be more said. involved on campus, especially if you don’t really

In order to avoid getting caught in mo- know your place yet,” Balamucki said. ments like these, Panse ensures that he has a group College culture and college parties, involving of friends he knows well to stick with. Another step fraternities and sororities or not, is its own cause of he takes is securing a ride home, he said. sexual assault, Panse said. Greek Life isn’t just about “With a group of friends, we’ve walked people partying, or much less the constant result of it. home,” Panse said. “I think what really helps is to “My sister has had a fantastic experience with not take a shortcut that’s in a dark area with not a doing Greek Life, and I would recommend it,” Panse lot of people, that typically is something I would tell said. “I definitely just think that still it’s college, and people to stay away from. Probably be out more in you have to be careful and smart about stuff like the open, even if it means walking a little bit further that. Definitely know what kinds of things can hapor longer.” pen, unfortunately.”

Don’t ever put your drink down, or walk away Panse and Arthur agree: you have to be careful from it, and if you do leave it, don’t touch it again, and aware. Arthur has been an officer for 23 years, Arthur said. So many things can happen, people from working in Detroit to working in Grosse often times tamper with drinks using colorless and Pointe, it’s scary out there. Sexual assault is even odorless drugs, in the form of either a pill or a pow- worse now than ever before, especially through the der, he said. ways people are committing the crimes, he said. His Lauren McCulloch, a chemistry teacher at South, last words of advice are to just be mindful. agrees with Arthur that one should always have a PHOTOS BY KATHERINE BIRD ’18

Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone.

We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow.

Watch LTU students share their college experiences at ltu.edu/StudentStories.

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Possible is everything.

Student/faculty ratio

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Students employed or registered for graduate school at commencement

admissions@ltu.edu

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women will be sexually assaulted while in college

the boys,” Addison Enders ’17 said. “Not to sound sexist, but boys can be

THINKERS, HIPSTERS, AND GAME CHANGERS.

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46

9.6.16 2.8.17

THE FIRST 100 DAYS

Political correspondents on the new administration’s policies, whether those be successes or failures MY VIEW

S

JOHN FRANCIS ’18

SUPERVISING EDITOR

ome months ago, sitting in my fourth hour AP Government class, we were taking a short break from the rigorous note taking to assess current events.

The class had in their hands a copy of “Donald Trump’s Contract with the American Voter”, which listed off Trump’s policies if elected.

Things like withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) or selecting a nominee for the Supreme Court could be seen on this document, with a small photo of the Donald himself in a presidential stance.

I started thinking about that day in class just about every time I would look down at my phone and see a notification from the various news outlets, with headlines like: “Trump Signs Executive Order...” or “Trump Cabinet Pick is Let Through the Congressional Hearings”.

All of these signs show that for the first time in a long time, the executive branch is seeing nonstop work being put in by Trump. Unfortunately, whether it all sits well with the country is a different story.

Once the travel restrictions were enacted by the administration- which was a three month freeze on any immigration or refugee programs to the United States for specific middle-eastern countries- the bulk of protests started at airports around the county. Individuals who were exercising their rights were standing for unity and acceptance of all immigration to this country.

Some went as far to call Trump’s Executive

Order a bigoted offensive against all people who are Muslim. But is this really all Trump’s fault?

After all, it was the Obama Administration that put this list of seven “countries of concern” back in 2015. This was also when the visa programs were changed for people applying from the countries where a significant terrorist body was thriving.

Therefore, Trump’s predecessor had partially identified and denied travel from these countries, and he now has taken a large step further.

But as stated on Trump’s contract with the voter early on in the campaign, “Suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered ‘extreme vetting.’”

As with any major change the first instalment, it isn’t perfect. I see it this way: Trump made promises. He says that he keeps promises and in this first week or so he did just that. Were some people caught in the middle, like if they were in flight when the EA was enforced? Yes. But let’s be real, is there a time when no one’s flying?

In addition, on Jan. 31, Trump announced his Supreme Court nomination. Neil Gorsuch is the next in line to be reviewed and in the president’s hope, be appointed for life. It doesn’t seem like he will have that hard of a time; back in 2006 Gorsuch was appointed under George W. Bush unanimously for the Circuit and District Court nominations.

Within the first two full weeks of the Trump Administration, there has been a steady growing list of accomplishments the president has made to his constituency. If he can channel that citizen satisfaction to those against him, he will have a country fully behind him for the next four years.

MY VIEW

T

ANTON MIKOLOWSKI ’17

SUPERVISING EDITOR

here is a growing rot of ignorance in America, a rot which has been allowed to fester under the Trump Administration.

I say the Trump Administration because it should not be seen from the central location of the figurehead of the new republican presidency-- oh no. Donald Trump is but the man for the posters. It will be his profile silhouette which we see in the history books, his name scrawled beneath crucial bills, far from independent.

His ear is bent by figures such as Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway, his presidential counselors. Many speculate the prevalence of Bannon’s advice-- CEO of Newsmax, Christopher Ruddy, called him the “chief ideological officer (with) a strong point of view.”

With Bannon commanding the once-real estate now political mogul’s ideology, he successfully puppeteers portions of the White House.

It was his advice which led to the signing of Executive Order 13769, which suspends the Syrian refugee program indefinitely and restricts immigration, regardless of a valid visa, from seven Middle Eastern countries for 90 days; amongst them are Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Not only does a declaration such as this work to increase international hostility, but it also impacted 90,000 people with lawful and legal visas seeking transportation back to their stead in the

Student publications fight against censorship

RAY HASANAJ ’18 | Supervising Editor “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” according to the United States Constitution.

In several states, student publications have faced censorship, prior review or prior censorship--and this is not a truth believed to be self-evident in the Constitution. However, South does not face censorship because it is a public forum per district policy.

But, there are several people and organizations that work to make sure that student journalists can combat these restraints and work against them in the best way possible.

Frank LoMonte is one of these people. LoMonte said he is the director of the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) a nonprofit organization that works to defend student journalism at the high school and college level and its values.

“We provide legal research and referrals to volunteer attorneys for people who have any issues regarding their legal rights as journalists,” LoMonte said.

In addition to properly enforcing the laws, LoMonte says the organization helps structure the laws in favor of journalists. LoMonte said the SPLC will receive two types of calls from student journalists in need of help. The first is for assistance in accessing information.

“We help people many times in preparing formal written request for records and even appealing when they get denied, so that’s a service that we offer, just walking people through the way their states laws work and using them to get records,” LoMonte said.

The second most frequent call the SPLC regularly gets is from students undergoing some type of censorship in their publication.

“Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a school principal or superintendent to give the order not to publish controversial material,” LoMonte said. “We think that students can’t learn how to deal with controversial subjects when they’re forbidden from writing or reading about them, so we try our best to get those stories published. Sometimes that means sending a letter to the school board or the school attorney, sometimes that means getting one of our volunteer lawyers in the local community to get personally involved.”

While LoMonte fights censorship at a broader level, Jeremy Steele battles it at the state level, serving as the executive director of the

Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

Michigan is considered a Hazelwood state, which means the ruling of the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier is in effect here, Steele said. The ruling entails that schools could possibly censor certain types of student free speech in the student-run publications.

Steele said that while the state of Michigan does not see massively widespread problems across the state, he still sees censorship issues coming up on a regular basis.

“I would say that there is a need in Michigan for student journalist to have more protection,” Steele said. “I think the standard that we were left with, with Hazelwood, leaves a lot undefined as to how far administrators can go, and it leads to a lot of confusion among administrators and student journalist to first amendment rights.”

Steele said he still believes there is a lot to be done in Michigan to clarify the lurking HazelWe provide legal research and wood problem and make it more clear as to what cirreferrals to volunteer attorneys cumstances censorship can for people who have any issues be applicable. Steele says that regarding their legal rights as pending legislation could have an impact. journalists.

“In Michigan a legislation FRANK LOMONTE Director of SPLC was introduced last session that would achieve those goals (prevent censorship). It died at the end of the legislative session in December, so we’ll have to get it reintroduced into the new legislative session, which I think will happen,” Steele said.

C.E. Sikkenga, director of the Journalism Education Association (JEA), agrees with Steele in that there are places all around Michigan that are not as concerned with students and their first amendment free press rights and this must change.

“Some schools and districts are incredibly supportive, other places are not as supportive, which all depend on a variety of factors,” Sikkenga said. “I think the one thing that would be wonderful in Michigan is if we could get the legislature to pass legislation that would guarantee student’s first amendment rights, and prevent censorship.”

Check out thetowerpulse.net for the full story.

United States. It is this whelm of chaos which crosses the threshold of a stepping stone toward boiling turmoil, and dare I say lunacy.

This program alienates tens of thousands, framing them as a scapegoat. It is fascist tendencies like this which deteriorate a democracy wheezing its last bloody breaths on the steps of the Federal City’s monuments. It promotes a fear of what the malicious individuals in the Trump Administration perceive to be an enemy of the state and the people.

This has not been helped by the suppression and curtailing of the press. Press conferences in the White House have become a joke, with Trump blatantly refusing to answer questions from reporters selectively, such as Univision’s Jorge Ramos, who was escorted out of the room.

Ramos was told to leave the country by those removing him.

If we’re going to speak on dissent, then we might as well touch on this cartoonish wall scheme of Trump’s. It is medieval and an uneducated figure’s solution to a problem which does not exist.

Or maybe it does-- if you’re listening to Kellyanne Conway’s “alternative facts” which stream from the White House daily, like an absurd fecal surge.

Such a torrential outpouring of dishonesty has contributed to that of the American public, forming false identities online to stir up the chaos further as the nation’s credibility continues to plummet in this age of technological enlightenment.

The coming weeks and months must yield in incremental changes. Our country has a degree of strength, such is not to be debated-- but we will not be able to withstand poltiical cataclysm.

A NATION DIVIDED

What is your opinion on America’s political environment?

Elizabeth Acheson ’19 “Personally I feel like this country is a joke now with the Trump administration in charge. If he is makes all of these appointments it will seriously affect the economy and, important here, education.”

David Scupholm ’17 “I think it’s disappointing the country won’t come together around our democratically elected leader.”

FEATURE

2.8.16

CUT & PASTE

7

South students share their experience of going ‘under the knife’

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY RAY HASANAJ ’18

SYDNEY STANN ’17 | Staff Writer According to Siddiqui, a teenager’s decision to go through *Names have been changed to protect students’ identities. with plastic surgery is also influenced by the media. f someone looks into a mirror and hates what they see or “Until you’re 18 you need your parents to sign a consent form, how they look, and there was something they could do but then emotionally there are kids who probably are not ready about it, would they? until they’re 21 or even older than that,” Siddiqui said. “I think For Michelle Murphy* ’17, being given the opportunity teenagers look at what’s around them and say, ‘Well, I want that to change the one thing that made her self-conscious was an easy person’s lifestyle, if I look like them maybe it would help me.’” decision. According to Murphy, she thought anyone in her shoes Hayes acknowledged these negative reasons to pursue coswould do the same thing. metic plastic surgery, and said she Murphy said plastic surgery went through with the rhinoplasty was always a positive change, until for no one else but herself. she realized people do not view it Hayes also refuses to tell people the same way, forcing her to keep about her procedure not because her procedure to herself. she did it for the wrong reasons, but “I knew a couple of students because she feared people would who had plastic surgery before I assume her intentions were not got mine, and I actually went to self-driven. one of their doctors, but they nev“(I don’t tell people) just because er openly talked about it,” Murphy some people would take it as me said. “So when I got mine (nose) trying to please other people with done, I also kept it to myself.” the way I look, but for starters, it did According to plastic surgeon help me breathe and it was also for Dr. Aamir Siddiqui, MD from myself and my own self confidence,” Northwestern who has been pracHayes said. “It doesn’t matter how ticing for 18 years, teenagers do other people look at me because I not talk about their plastic surgery didn’t do it for another person.” procedures because it is frowned Similarly, Murphy said she too DR. AAMIR SIDDIQUI upon in the United States. refused to tell people about her sur“I think that there’s still a stiggery, not just because of the procePlastic Surgeon ma about doing something just dure itself, but more specifically: the for superficial reasons,” Siddiqui price tag. said, “I also think it has a lot to “I’m kind of embarrassed by it do with what their friends might and I wish I wasn’t,” Murphy said. “I think about them.” feel like people would judge me if I Kristine Hayes* ’17 said she broke her nose multiple times said ‘Oh I had a nose job’, I feel like people look at it very negawhen she was younger, and was told to wait until she was older to tively and if they knew I had it they would think I’m spoiled and get a cosmetic procedure done. that I get everything I want.”

“Ever since I was younger they would always tell me I’m going Murphy had already experienced these assumptions toward to get it done, I’m going to get it fixed and having that finalized plastic surgery when her friends started mentioning how she made me feel better, more confident,” Hayes said. could now afford everything.

Siddiqui said it is common in his practice to put off surgery “Some of my friends would make comments about how it was until the patient is a little older. expensive and it was expensive,” Murphy said. “But they would “In plastic surgery we tend not to operate on a lot of younger make comments like, ‘Oh her parents would do this because they kids because things change, their body changes. There’s also peo- paid for her nose job’ or stuff like that.” ple’s minds changing, so something that bothers them today may In a recent Twitter poll, 19 percent out of 43 South students not bother them tomorrow,” Siddiqui said. “We just want to make said they would get cosmetic plastic surgery as a teenager, while sure we talk to people about that.”

38 percent out of 45 students would get reconstructive plastic Even though Murphy said she had wanted the surgery since surgery as a teenager. middle school, she wished she had waited until she could sign the Charlie Francis ’17 has similar views towards cosmetic plastic consent form herself. surgery like Murphy’s friends and the students at South.

“My nose was huge (post-surgery) and I had a full-on panic “I don’t think teenagers should have cosmetic surgery if they attack,” Murphy said, “I was like ‘I shouldn’t have done it, my just don’t like the shape of their nose and want to spend five grand nose was fine before,’ I kind of wish I had waited and thought to change it, that’s just a waste,” Francis said. “But if you have a about it longer.” serious issue where you can’t breathe, sure. There just needs to be Siddiqui said teenagers should use plastic surgery correctly a serious medical reason, but for just cosmetics, absolutely not.” and not as an easy fix to their problems.

According to 2014 statistics from the American Society of “I think it’s important to do it for the right reasons. What I Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), an average rhinoplasty costs $4,694. don’t like to see is someone who really feels that having plastic Siddiqui said compared to suburbs with lower incomes, Grosse surgery will turn their life around,” Siddiqui said. “I think that’s Pointe has more plastic surgery in teenagers than in other areas.

Even with the higher amount of teenagers getting plastic surtoo much pressure on an operation. I think you should do it for yourself because it’s something you want done, not because gery in the area, Siddiqui said there is still a negative connotation toward the practice. someone told you to.”

I

I think in this culture there is a stigma about changing things. A lot of the time these are done because people are self conscious about stuff and they don’t necessarily want to draw attention to themselves regarding this kind of stuff.

“I think in this culture, there is a stigma about changing things,” Siddiqui said. “I think that a lot of times these are done because people are self conscious about stuff and they don’t necessarily want to draw attention to themselves regarding this kind of stuff.”

Murphy said she thinks that with time, this stigma will change.

“I think after college I won’t be embarrassed by it, but in high school it’s kind of different,” Murphy said. “Everyone’s so immature, and instead of being like ‘Oh cool you got a nose job’ they would be like ‘Oh she got a nose job’; they look down on it instead of (seeing it) as being something positive.”

TWITTER POLL @TheTowerPulse

Would you get cosmetic plastic surgery as a teenager?

43 TOTAL VOTES

YES

19% NO

81%

SPORTS

2.8.17

8

Pumping up or over pumping: Why over exercising

can lead to severe injuries, how to prevent these injuries from occuring ABI DUE ‘18 |Social Media Manager According to the American Psychological Association, 53 percent of teens report feeling better about themselves after exercising and 37 percent of teens say they feel less stress after working out. Nearly two thirds of high school students who exercise to help manage stress say the technique has been extremely helpful for them.

“Exercise has many health benefits, but you can exercise so much that your body can’t recover in enough time before the next workout,” Rochelle Mazurek, South’s athletic trainer, said.

This is where the advantages from exercise begin to fade and your immune system becomes compromised, your metabolism slows and you can become injured, she said.

Over exercising is also known as compulsive exercising or obligatory exercising. When someone participates in vigorous physical activity to a point where it’s unsafe is over exercising, Mazurek said.

Grace Gulyas ’17 is a rower at South who practices 10 times a week in the summer and six times in the winter, which results in her having practice at 4:45 am at least few days a week. Gulyas admits that in the past, there have been times where she has probably overdone it, but through all the tough practices, rowing is worth it for her.

Gulyas enjoys being pushed by her teammates who all have the same goal in mind, she said.

“I love being able to leave all my bad days and negativity behind and work towards bettering myself all-around,” Gulyas said.

“Two shorter workouts a day are sometimes seen as more beneficial than one long workout,” Mazurek said.

It’s good for some athletes to work out more than once a day, but they normally split their cardio and weightlifting.

GRAPHIC BY JD STANDISH ’18

Athlete expresses opinion on travel sports versus school sports During my experience as an athlete, one of the biggest transitions can be from the high school seaJOHN SCHULTE ’18 son to club. Depending on STAFF WRITER the caliber of the athlete, high school sports can either be the best competition you will ever play, or it can be a time-filler until the serious competition is faced during the club season.

Overall, club and high school sports are two very different breeds. For the serious athlete, club sports consist of traveling, recruiting and playing against some of the best in the nation.

While playing club, an athlete might spend their time between Chicago, Denver, Richmond, Hartford and Annapolis all within the confines of a single summer. They’ll spend an unnecessary amount of time with their teammates traveling together by bus or plane from tournament to tournament.

This will allow them to become closer than imaginable and lifelong friendships will be formed.

While staying at hotels and in college dorm rooms, shenanigans is a must, and lack of parental supervision leads to the dumbest of ideas coming to fruition. Everything goes while on the road, whether it is something as harmless as ordering a pizza after curfew, to throwing a mattress out the window of a third story dorm room.

Depending on the level of competition, they’ll play against a variety of extremely talented players. There is no better way to improve at a sport than to play against someone who has been committed to a top Division I school since they have been in the eighth grade. The highest level of play and commitment to a sport can rarely be seen without the guidance of club sports bringing athletes from all over with varying skills together to play.

Club sports can provide athletes with exposure to colleges that they may never have considered prior. Without club sports, college coaches would only find athletes by being at the right place at the right time. By having greater exposure, athletes can learn about new and exciting opportunities.

High school sports, while incredibly fun, don’t provide athletes with nearly as much exposure and experiences.

During high school sports, there is rarely any traveling further than a two hour bus ride. Many athletes may meet some of their best friends, but the relationships formed are not as likely to be the result of being on the same team.

The level of competition the average high school athlete will face during their season is much less intense than club.

Most teammates will likely be less skilled and the competition will mostly be far less impressive. While there are multiple high schools and conferences in the country that are host to some of the best athletes in the country, the average high school athlete will never face competition that strong.

Exposure at the high school level is almost nonexistent. If an athlete has the potential to play at the next level, they are unlikely to be recruited by a college coach, because their skill and abilities will never be seen.

While high school sports has its drawbacks when compared to club, it still provides unique and unforgettable moments. It’s allowed me to play in front of all my classmates and friends from other schools. Also, it allows athletes to represent their school doing what they love the most.

High school and club sports provide two unique experiences for athletes. In the end, playing both club and high school sports is the best way to achieve the full sporting experience.

MY VIEW

“My job is to prevent injuries, so of course if I thought a student was “overdoing it,” I would try to speak to them in private and discuss what their workouts consists of and try to understand their goals,” Mazurek said.

“There is a point where exercise can pull you away from your social life, have a negative effect of your grades and lead to other health concerns like eating disorders.”

Rowing is important to Gulyas and she feels uplifted by teammates who go through similar struggles and feel the same pain, but there are times when she feels overwhelmed, she said.

“When I’m tired to the point of constantly having the feeling that I’m coming down with something and I can barely make it through the school day, I know I need to dial it back and maybe get some extra rest,” Gulyas said.

Patrick Nauert ’17 enjoys working out and does it before and after school.

“I work out once in the morning, I have wrestling practice after school, I lift after that, then I do sprints after that and I have yoga at night. So I workout four times a day,” Nauert said.

Nauert is playing football at the Air Force Academy next year and working out a lot is necessary to keep in shape.

“That’s really what drives me, I love the sport and I want to be great at it,” Nauert said.

Working out gives Sayanna Roy ’17 a chance to get some time for herself.

“I think exercising is a habit that you build up and you just want to continue with the healthy lifestyle,” Roy said.

Boys varsity basketball coach, Troy Glasser, agrees that no matter what, health is number one in playing a sport or exercising on your own time.

“When you’re overwhelmed or overheated and you need water, just remove yourself from the drill and take a break. We want to push the kids to play to the best of their ability, but you can’t put their health at risk,” Glasser said.

Everyone should exercise multiple times a week, but it can be different for everyone, Mazurek said. It is recommended by the CDC that adolescents ages six to 17 get one hour of physical activity every day.

“Exercise should never pull you away from being social, spending time with family or doing well in school,” Mazurek said. “If you exercise a lot, don’t forget to stretch, have at least of day of rest each week, stay hydrated, and eat a balanced diet to refuel and rebuild muscles.”

Wheat, Weight and Wrestlers: How they pack their pounds

ALEX ACKER ‘18 |Staff Writer “This hot room helps you Wrestling poses many challenges to the athletes who participate in shed weight and maintain the sport. There are the sores, the bruises and most of all, the challenge weight, but also eating of maintaining weight. healthy helps me maintain Maintaining weight is important to the success of the individu- and shed weight,” Branal wrestler and the wrestling team as a whole. If the wrestler weighs nagan said. in and does not weigh the weight they desire, then they get moved Most wrestlers worry weight classes, which can ultimately hurt the team. about cutting or losing “There are fourteen weights in wrestling and if you do not have a weight to make it into the person at a certain weight, you give up points to the other team with- lower weight class. This is out even having to do anything,” Sterling Herrman, one of the wres- not like second year wrestling coaches, said. “If they have someone there and you do not, they tler Patrick Nauert ’17, who get points for it.” wrestles at the weight of 285 In order to maintain weight, all wrestlers must use techniques such pounds. as exercise, working out and food restrictions. According to Herrman, 285 pounds is the highest weight eating healthy is the most important part. class, according to the Michigan High “Maintaining weight is really about eating healthier stuff; for a lot School Athletics Association (MHSAA). of these kids it's just cutting out sugar and they seem to lose a lot of Most wrestlers worry about how much they eat, but Nauert worries if weight. They are working really hard at practice and are burning a ton he has had enough to eat. of calories,” Herrman said. “You really have to cut out those sugary “I eat a lot, about 7,000 calories each day,” Nauert said. foods.”

Some wrestlers, like Nardone, use the grind of maintaining his Wrestlers often even get close to starving themselves to help make weight in wrestling to help with another sport. sure that they make weight.

“I wrestle to prepare for football. Wrestling al“Before meets, I eat less belows me to get better footwork, work on my speed cause usually what happens is and most of all, to get into better shape. It’s also you weigh in the day before a personal thing to because wrestling is probably the meet, so you have 24 hours the greatest workout I have ever done in my enor 12 hours after to eat a good tire life, just because of how you have to do everymeal and fill yourself up after thing,” Nardone said. you've basically starved yourUnlike some first year wrestlers on the team, self the day before,” first year team captain Tyler Thompson ’17 has been on the wrestler Kal Nardone ’18 said. team all four years and has wrestled since he was To help the wrestler mainsix and is used to the struggles of maintaining his tain weight, the school proweight of 130 pounds. vides a large heater in the “I’ve gotten used to it. I don’t really eat that STERLING HERMAN wrestling room. It is extrememuch and when I do, I eat small amounts of that Wrestling Coach ly hot in the wrestling room meal,” Thompson said. and the wrestlers usually wear When a wrestler is in shape, eats right and sweatshirts and sweatpants maintains their weight, they can wrestle their best. while in that room.

“Wrestling is not easy, but once you get to an “The wrestling room is very warm, so if you come in and you’re two actual tournament because you trained so hard during the week, it's or three pounds overweight you can lose a lot of your water weight a lot easier wrestling matches, you don't get as tired and because we and get into better shape,” Nardone said. “It's easier to lose weight work so hard during the week, we are in a warm room and we are very down there.” disciplined about our diet,” Nardone said. “Most people get to the According to Nardone, the room is about 90 to 100°F. third period, (and) they are exhausted. We own the 3rd period. If a According to first year wrestler Connor Brannagan ’17, he is cur- South wrestler makes it to a 3rd period of a match, it tends to go very rently trying to get down from 171 pounds to 160 pounds. well for us.”

“Maintaining weight is really about eating healthier stuff; for a lot of these kids it’s just cutting out sugar and they seem to lose a lot of weight.

UPCOMING GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL

February 8 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, VS Port Huron High School Location: Main Gym

Boys Varsity Swimming

February 9

6:00 p.m. Thursday, VS UD Jesuit H.S. Location: Boll Center Boys Varsity Wrestling

February 9

Senior Night 5:00 p.m. VS Multiple Opponents Location: Main Gym

SPORTS February 11 Girls Varsity Hockey 5:30 p.m. vs. Ann Arbor Skyron (Senior Night) Saturday, Location: East Side Hockey Ice Arena