Issue 16

the

TOWER

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018 Volume 90 Issue 16 @thetowerpulse thetowerpulse.net

A weekly tradition since 1928

Grosse Pointe South High School 11 Grosse Pointe Blvd. Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR RESIGNS

Jeremy Hawking resigns amidst board investigation into relationship KATHERINE BIRD ’18 Supervising Editor Former athletic director, Jeremy Hawkins, a member of the Blue Devil community for nearly eight years, submitted his resignation on Jan. 12 to officially resign on Jan. 19. Curiosity sparked surrounding the situation and word spread like wildfire around the Grosse Pointe community. With this came questions as to why Hawkins suddenly resigned.

At the time of Hawkins’ resignation, an investigation was being conducted by the Grosse Pointe Schools. Part of the investigation was to examine an alleged consensual, romantic relationship between Hawkins and a South coach, according to a document obtained by

We (GPPSS) have board policy that strictly governs interactions with supervisors and subordinates.

MOUSSA HAMKA Principal Tower through a FOIA request.

The investigation found Hawkins did not disclose to the administration the essence of his consensual relationship with the coach. In the midst of the investigation, Hawkins agreed to resign for personal reasons, according to a document obtained in the FOIA request.

Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Jon Dean, could not disclose the name of the coach due to confidential personal matters.

“What he did was unprofessional and a bit reckless,” Anthony DerManulian ’18 said. “I’m disappointed because as an administration member, he shouldn’t have done that.”

The reason this relationship was a red flag in the district is because there are certain rules put in place in these types of situations, according to principal Moussa Hamka.

“We (GPPSS) have a board policy that strictly governs interactions with supervisors and subordinates,” Hamka said.

During the investiga-

tion, Hamka said his role was very minimal and as soon as he became aware of the situation, he reported it to HR (human resources), which he added is standard protocol.

It was a smart decision

by Hawkins to resign due to his unfortunate circumstances, according to DerManulian.

In light of Hawkins’ resignation, the district filled the position with interim athletic director and varsity baseball coach Daniel Griesbaum but will be filled soon with a permanent replacement till the end of the year.

“We are currently in the second round of interviews,” Hamka said.

“We will have our second round interviews either tomorrow (Jan. 31) or Thursday (Feb. 1), and we hope to have an interim for the rest of the year by the end of this week.”

Griesbaum said he was asked to step in Jan. 8 when Hawkins was temporarily out of office pending the investigation.

“I am helping out until they can find someone that can take it the rest of the year,” Griesbaum said.

“Then what will happen after that is they will post the position probably in March or April for a permanent replacement who will start next summer.”

Griesbaum has had previous experience with this position when he temporarily filled in for former athletic director Jo Lake in 2000 when he had knee surgery. He said his prior involvement allowed him to have a good understanding of what this position would entail.

“With 33 sports here, there’s always something going on, some issues to take care of, fires to put out and that kind of thing,” Griesbaum said. “It’s a very demanding job time wise.”

The commitment this job poses will make it difficult to find a new athletic director, according to Hamka.

“While I hope we have someone committed to staying here long term, I recognize it’s a very grueling position with high demands,” Hamka said. “It’s hard to maintain a work life balance. So my hope is that person is just as committed to South.”

END OF AN ERA Jeremy Hawkins stands on the sideline during the North vs South Game. Hawkins was the Athletic Director for nearly eight years until his sudden resignation in January.

PHOTO BY MARGOT BAER’18

IMPORTANT DATES Feb.

07

The Shakespeare Club will host a Monologue competition on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Shakespeare Club hosts monologue contest for all South students is excited to see the different perspectives of the same pieces.

“I think it will be interesting Oh Grosse Pointe South, oh to see the different ways differGrosse Pointe South, wherefore ent people interpret the monoart thou? At the Shakespeare logues Shakespeare has done,” Club’s monologue contest toAbundis said. “Shakespeare has night? a unique creative style that can South’s Shakespeare Club is be interpreted many different hosting a monologue contest ways and to see people try that on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the aufor themselves is such a cool ditorium. All students are welprocess to watch.” come to come watch the event.

Abundis thinks students The contest will include stushould get involved in order to dent performances of Shakegain exposure to lesser-known speare monologues and food, Shakespeare works. according to Shakespeare Club “It’s a way for people to learn about different Shakespeare works and to learn different methods of performing the monologues,” Abundis said.

Peck said the contest is a cool way to interact with the language of Shakespeare’s monologues that many often miss in a classroom setting. She said although the monologues are SHAKESPEARE SHENANIGANS The Shakespeare club gathers to challenging, they discuss Shakespearean literature.

PHOTO BY AUDREY WHITAKER ’19 are also a lot of fun. to do the contest because it “Shakespeare is on the president Natalie Boehmer ’20. helps widen their exposure to page, but that is not necessar“We decided to host the the arts and also helps aid in ily how Shakespeare intended contest because it helps bring the understanding of Shake- his works to be ingested,” Peck Shakespeare into the commuspeare, which in itself is com- said. “His plays were meant nity in a fun and interactive plex and confusing,” Boehmer to be performed, to speak the way anyone can enjoy,” Boehsaid. “By acting and reading it words, to become the characmer said. out, it helps clarify and enter- ter. It’s something completeClub advisor Danielle Peck tain students.” ly different because you have said although it is too late for Shakespeare Club member internalized them, you have students to get involved to perAnna Abundis ’20 is perform- made them your own, you form, they should still come ing a monologue from Ben- speak them and make them to the event in order to expevolio in Romeo and Juliet for come alive.” rience Shakespeare’s powerful the contest. Abundis said she VICTORIA GARDEY ’21 Copy Editor

Feb.

09

language.

“You should come to it because you are going to see a side of your classmates and Shakespeare you might not have seen before,” Peck said.

“We did this two years ago, and students thought it was a lot of fun to watch people from their school perform and show off their talents in a way they haven’t seen before.”

Boehmer said it will help students understand the complexity of Shakespeare’s language.

“It’s important for students

Girls varsity hockey senior night is Friday at East Side Hockey Arena at 8:30 p.m.

Feb.

Charity week deemed a sucess

Combined efforts raise $13 throusand dollars ARIANNA PAGENETTE ’18 Web Section Editor This years first ever Charity Week raised $13,346 for the I Love Lucy charity.

“This week was really great because it was the whole community and North and South coming together,” Charity Week Committee Co-chair Evie Kuhnlein ’20 said.

Coming together to work towards a common goal and seeing everything coming together to make an idea reality was the best, Kuhnlein said.

“We raised $13,364, which was really cool. We didn’t have a goal since it was the first year,” Kuhnlein said.

According to Kuhnlein, this is the best case scenario and it can only go up in the future.

“My favorite part would be selling all the T-shirts at lunch and making cards for kids in the hospital,” Kuhnlein said.

The stress was worth it because selling a T-shirt and explaining the I Love Lucy fund meant one more person knew about the cause, Kuhnlein said.

“The best part of the week was during Mr. Blue Devil when we all ran around collecting donations,” Sebastian Simon ’18 said.

The boys in Mr. Blue Devil raised around $400 in just four minutes which was amazing, Simon said.

“A ton of money was raised for a first year event,” Simon said Simon added he was very happy with how well the district was organized throughout the week.

“For next year, I know we have lots of plans we are super excited to try out,” Kuhnlein said.

Kuhnlein said her hopes are for Charity Week next year to be bigger and better.

“Mr. Blue Devil was a great time, but the biggest dub was the $13,000 going to families in Grosse Pointe,” Simon said.

10

Boys varsity hockey plays North at East Side Hockey Arena at 7:45 p.m.

2 | OPINION

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 2.7.18

Administrative changes over the past four years leave My problem with students without constant at the principal level the 2018 Grammys MY VIEW

Kesha was sexually abused by her producer, bravely faced her abuser in court, won, composed an album detailing her emotional struggles and growth and brought millions to tears during her chilling group performance of “Praying” at the Grammys, only to lose her award for Best Pop Solo Performance to Ed Sheeran. Who just sang about how much he loves the shape of women’s bodies.

Logic performed his hit 1-800-273-8255 (named after the suicide prevention hotline) alongside countless suicide survivors and shared a moving speech standing up for immigrants and people suffering from mental illnesses, just to lose to Bruno Mars singing about sex.

Just days following the Larry Nassar sentencing, musicians kicked off the 60th annual Grammy Awards by flaunting white flowers across the red carpet to express unity and support for women everywhere. Amid the #MeToo and “Time’s Up” movements against harassment and professional inequality, I along with many others held high expectations for recognition of female artists, so to say I was disappointed by the countless snubs against female nominees is beyond an understatement.

While watching the show, I was genuinely confused as to why the un-nominated group U2 performed three times and yet according to Billboard, the Grammy President Neil Portnow, claimed he couldn't make room for a performance

by Lorde, the sole female nominee for Album of the Year, during the show.

According to Billboard, when Portnow was confronted after the show about the lack of female representation among Grammy winners, he uttered if women want to succeed in the music industry they have to “step up,” resulting in major public backlash-- including the trending twitter hashtag #GrammysSoMale.

Step it up? Really? Isn’t that exactly what Kesha did when she transformed from an artist notorious for singing about parties into a role model and inspiration for women everywhere? Or when she brought the entire Madison Square Garden arena and viewers across the country to tears with her Grammy performance? Isn’t that exactly what Lady Gaga did when she wrote a deeply personal album and recorded it all in one take? Isn’t that exactly what women all across America are doing as they speak up against the disgusting predators that used, assaulted, abused and raped them?

At a time when women everywhere are more empowered than ever, turning off my TV Sunday night after witnessing only one female individual Grammy victory felt like a slap in the face towards all the progress women have made. But I was ultimately more inspired than ever by the overwhelming social media backlash against the Grammys. With or without miniature golden record trophies, I am proud to be a woman in such a progressive and inspiring point in our history.

JACQUI MERCIER ’19 Staff Writer

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY GRIFFIN JONES ’18

OUR VIEW || EDITORIAL

School life needs constants.

Lockers, courses, teachers and counselors are all things students rely on to stay constant in high school in order to stay on

track and, quite frankly, stay sane.

So we wondered what the effects, if any, are on the student and staff body when something as important as the administrative team of the building has had a revolving-door-type mentality in the past four years. In a Twitter poll conducted by The Tower Pulse, the results were nearly black and white.

In the poll which asked “as a current or past student, how would you classify the current atmosphere (social scene, traditions, and enjoyability) of Grosse Pointe South this year in comparison to past years?”, 78 percent of students said the atmosphere is worse than past years and 13 percent say South’s atmosphere is the same compared to past years. Only nine percent of the 70 people polled said this year’s atmosphere is better than preceding years.

We at The Tower believe everyone at Grosse Pointe South has been enduring the effects of administration changes that cause students to be less in-touch with their administrators. For some seniors, their individual assistant principal has changed a number of times, leaving them tasked with getting to know a new one almost every year.

Just in the past four years, the list of changes is as follows: a new head principal, Moussa Hamka, in the fall of 2014; a new assistant principal, Steven Wolfe, in the fall of 2015; an interim assistant principal brought in this past school year, Cindy Parravano; the hiring of two new official assistant principals this fall, Parravano and Joseph Spryszak; and finally the resignation of athletic director Jeremy Hawkins.

It’s clear to see we have had little to hold on to as a model for a longtime resident of the administrative position at South. This plethora of new faces students are seeing each year begs the question, is this change a good thing? We believe it leaves students without the foundation they deserve

which should have been laid their freshman year, not going into their senior year.

With Hawkins gone, many student athletes preparing for their spring season are left without a known and trusted athletic director. Not to mention all the athletes who are juniors this year, working tirelessly to be seen by recruiters and scouts from colleges who now are scrambling and trying to navigate without someone at the helm.

The truth of the matter is, without Hawkins, the fate of South athletics is somewhat gray.

This is just one factor leading us, the editorial board of The Tower, to believe the longevity of administrators at South, or lack thereof, has a lot to do with the success of the school and the comfort of its student body.

On the other hand, some see these changes as an opportunity. Moussa Hamka, the current building principal, is looking forward to his own fresh team of assistant principals who are equipped with new viewpoints to evaluate the administrative processes at South.

“I look at Mr. Wolfe, I look at Mr. Flint, and they were great and they did wonderful things,” Hamka said. “Ms. Parravano has come in with a different lense and had done things differently.”

Hamka noted Spryszak, the other new assistant principal, has a background enabling him to take things on in a new way.

With that, some of the administration’s goals, looking forward with a fresh team of new principals, include having a check on the longtime traditions the school holds.

“Sometimes you’ll ask someone ‘why do we do something? Why do we do it this way?’ and their response is, ‘because this is the way we’ve always done it’,” Hamka said. “There has to be a better reason. We need to articulate why this decision is best for kids. Why is ‘X’ better than ‘Y’?”

We believe change is something to be taken in with open arms and an unbiased mindset, but also critically. Just as we ask why we have been doing something the same for however many years, it is equally fair and important to question how a new procedure, policy or punishment may affect the wellbeing of the students at South.

Holding my head high during cases of sexual assault MY VIEW

SYLVIA HODGES ’19 Copy Editor

NEWSPAPER

the

TOWER

STAFF

Over 150 young women were finally given the opportunity last week to look their monster in the eye and tell him he did not control them anymore.

For nearly 30 years, Larry Nassar masqueraded as a doctor for female gymnasts, including those on the U.S. Olympic Team, such as Aly Raisman and Simone Biles. In reality, he was a manipulative monster who used his title-- and all the trust that naturally comes with that title-- to sexually abuse girls as young as six, preying on their naiveté.

As someone who has seen the effects of sexual abuse, I give great credit to the courageous young women who came forward and are making it their mission to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.

Over the weekend, I happened to be in East Lansing. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon had just resigned, and students had just marched in support of the survivors and in disgust for Nassar.

It was dark out, but the painted rock-similar to our rock at South-- gleamed a bright white. The names of all 156 women who had testified against Nassar were painted in black against the white background, with “#TimesUpMSU” written across the

bottom.

The eye was drawn, however, to the big blue “THANK YOU” and heart, meant for the young women who for years were ignored when they complained of Nassar’s “treatments.”

I was horrified while following the trial and its verdict, but it was different seeing the physical tribute to the brave young women and the powerful message to all those who enabled Nassar to do what he did.

I felt connected to the survivors on a personal level as I stood there, sick to my stomach with disgust, reminding myself bad things always will happen, but the response to the bad can also be so overwhelmingly good. Although sexual abuse is still prevalent in the world today, cases like these reveal people are becoming increasingly more intolerant of monsters like Nassar and those who stood behind him.

While many people feel hatred and are angry only at Nassar, it must be remembered the people who allowed Nassar to continue to act as a doctor are at an even bigger fault.

Nassar was reported several times, the first incident being noted in 1994, by several people to various USA Gymnastics and MSU athletic authorities, yet nothing was seriously done to stop the foul actions or remove him from his position. People either didn’t believe the girls or didn’t want to confront Nassar.

And thus, the man who repeatedly molested young girls was inadvertently told by his superiors what he was doing was okay.

It is not inaccurate to say these people who enabled Nassar to become the monster he is are the even bigger monsters.

Nassar’s actions, and in turn the actions of those who enabled him, caused Kyle Stephens’ father, who had for years convinced himself his daughter was lying and confused, to kill himself in 2016 over the mounting guilt he felt. One of Nassar’s victims, Chelsea Markham, killed herself in 2009 after turning to drugs following Nassar’s abuse.

“Dr.” Larry Nassar is going to spend the remainder of his sorry life behind bars.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said she had just signed Nassar’s “death warrant” when adding 40 to 175 years to a 60-year sentence he already had been given for possession of child pornography. Judge Aquilina also made her biggest statement using no words at all: she casually dropped a six-page letter from Nassar that begged her to stop the testimony from his victims as it was not good for his mental health, to the floor.

I can only hope the survivors from this case, and the literally countless other cases, continue to hold their heads high and don’t allow the despicable actions of another to define their lives.

I know I will be doing so with them.

Liz Bigham* ’18 John Francis* ’18

Editor-in-Chief

Anne Muawad*, Lauren Nemeh*, Maura Shine*, Aidan Walsh*, Elizabeth Wolfe*, all ’20

Alex Acker* ’18 Zachary Heimbuch* ’19

Online Editor-in-Chief

Copy Editors

Margot Baer, Solana Bryson, Blair Cullen, Griffin Jones, Harper McClellan, Caitlin Miller, John Schulte, Lauren Thom, Brennan Zihlman, all ’18

Henry Aryault* ’19 Associate Editor

Alyssa Czech* ’19 Supervising Editor at Large

Ray Hasanaj* ’18

Supervising Editors

Katherine Bird*, Rachel Harris*, Riley Lynch*, Elena Rauch*, all ’18 Biana Pugliesi* ’19 Page Editors

Chase Clark*, Kaitlin Nemeh* Cam Smolen*, JD Standish*, all ’18 Adrian Doan* ’19

Ian Dewey*, Piper Eschenburg*, Phoebe Miriani*, all ’18 Sylvia Hodges* ’19, Elizabeth Flower*, Victoria Gardey*, Claire Sheeren*, Imran Siddiqui*, all ’20 Business Managers

Evan Skaff* ’18 Web Editors

Arianna Pagenette* ’18, Kaitlyn Perkins* ’18, Kathleen Carroll*, Katherine Costello*, Claire Koeppen*, Jaqui Mercier*, Audrey Whitaker*, all ’19 Dominic Dulac* ’20

Staff Writers

John Bellamy, Sarah Bellovich, Isabella Craparotta, Oliver MacDonald, Allison MacLeod, Olivia Mlynarek, Sarah Stevenson, Arif Ulku, all ’19 Madeleine Allen, Julia Ambrozy, Daniel Klepp, Evelyn Kuhnlein, Charlie Matthews, Kari Ronning, all ’20 Eva McCord ’21 Adviser

Multimedia/Social Media Editors

Kaitlin Edgerton

Tower Radio

“The Tower” is the weekly publication of the

Abigail Due* ’18, Erica Fossee* ’19

PHOTOS BY SYLVIA HODGES ’19

TIME’S UP All 156 names of the women who testified against Nassar are painted on the rock at MSU.

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 or shorten letters as long as the meaning is Editorials represent the majority opinion of unchanged. All letters must be signed and the Editorial Board and are left unsigned.

Columns represent the opinions of individual include a telephone number for confirmation.

Request to withhold the writer’s name staff members and outside contributors. from publication for good reason will be considered. Letters can be sent to the above Editorial Board email address, or dropped off in “The Tower” An asterisk * denotes Editorial Board editors.

Room.

Advertising

Display adverising is sold at a rate of $7 per column inch, with discounts for large or frequent advertisers. Advertising may not advocate illegal activities or contain libelous, irresponsible or obscene material.

Professional Associations

Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll, the Society for Newspaper Design and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 2.7.18

3 | NEWS

Art students win numerous Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Choir to perform in Spain, France over mid-winter break forming in unique venues, including old cathedrals and small towns. He is thrilled to share the choir’s musical talent in a new way he choir is singing, dancing and during the trip. twirling their way to Spain and “I think it’s a really cool way to spread the French Riviera, bringing along our love for music as a whole, while giving their performance skills and a ver- it to an audience that perhaps won’t see it in satile set. the way we do,” Fleming said.

The students will arrive in Barcelona, The choir has been practicing for several then travel up the coast of southern France months by combining and editing sets from along the Mediterranean Sea, as they ex- their competitions to put together their inplore the culture on tours and hold several ternational performance. performances, according to choir instructor “(They) learn the bulk of the music in the Christopher Pratt. Approximately 55 stu- fall, perform it for Fall Follies and take that dents, accompanied by 30 adults, will attend show and re-block and get it ready to take the week-long trip from Feb. 15 to Feb. 24. overseas,” Pratt said. “That way, students will “(The choir) is going to be singing four not have to spend a lot of additional time times throughout the learning the internationtrip,” singer Katie Maral show.” aldo ’21 said. “We are According to Pratt, I think it’s a really cool going to be doing show any choir student is elichoir performance and gible to attend the trip. way to spread our love normal performances.”

They can fundraise to for music as a whole, The group has a very help cover the payment while giving it to an fun and diverse set preby selling program ads or audience that perhaps pared. They are excited bringing sponsors. Pratt won’t see it in the way to showcase their talent said he welcomes all stuand display what they dents to become a memwe do. have been working on in ber of choir for great perthe past several months, formance opportunities ANDREW FLEMING ’20 according to Pratt. such as this trip.

“We perform for and “Our choir has a great with other schools and reputation because we groups in the area,” Pratt said. “It's always perform successfully with the Detroit Symfun because they have never really seen phony Orchestra, are named Grand Chamchoirs perform both classical and show lit- pions annually in Indiana and Ohio and erature that our choirs do throughout the travel internationally,” Pratt said. “There are year.” few schools with this same level of opporSinger Andrew Fleming ’20 awaits with tunity.” excitement his first choir international trip.

As the trip nears, Fleming said his exHe said he is eager to sing and perform for citement is growing. He is very enthusiastic an unfamiliar audience, as well as enjoy the to take the choir’s performance skills to the tours and culture within the trip. next level by bringing it to an international “I’ve never been on one of these (trips) audience. before but I’ve heard that they usually do “Obviously, going on an international draw a good crowd,” Fleming said. “People trip is super exciting, but especially since I are usually interested to see how an Ameri- get to go with the whole choir family and all can choir performs.” of my friends,” Fleming said. “I think it’s a According to Fleming, the shows are once in a lifetime situation.” open to the public and the choir will be perBROOKLYN NORTHCROSS ’20 Staff Writer

T

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE SCHERVISH ’18

must have impressed the judges to be selected out of the few that won.”

Julia Gigante ’19 received an honorable mention his year, 66 South students received awards from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

“I was really surprised when I found out I got any South students won 63 individual awards and sort of award for my photo because I only sent in one had three portfolios that picture, and this is my first time ever won awards, according to art teacher entering in any sort of art contest,” Emily Wolfe.

Gigante said. “It’s a picture of a girl I “Since 1923, the Scholastic Art Panelists look for works put in black and white and it’s a light & Writing Awards have recognized painting, so there is circular motions that best exemplify the vision, ingenuity and talent of of light in the photo.” originality, technical our nation’s youth, and provided opStudents can enter as many phoskill and emergence portunities for creative teens to be tos as they’d like to the Scholastic Art celebrated,” Wolfe said. “Students reand Writing Awards, according to of a personal voice or ceive Gold Keys, Silver Keys, HonorGigante. vision. able Mentions or American Visions “Students enter by uploading & Voices Nominations. Gold Key their work to the Scholastic Art and EMILY WOLFE works are then judged nationally by Writing Awards website with the Art Teacher an impressive panel of creative–inapproval of their teacher. There is a dustry experts to receive National dollar fee and a form with required Medals.” signatures that also need to be submitted,” Wolfe said.

Stephanie Schervish ’18 won a Silver Key for one of “Once the student’s work is submitted online, qualified her photographs. art teachers from different regions view it. Panelists “I was really excited when I won the Silver Key be- look for works that best exemplify originality, technical cause it felt good to get recognized for my artwork,” skill and emergence of a personal voice or vision.”

Schervish said. “Also, there were over 6,000 submissions and only 17 percent of those won, so I felt my work MARGOT BAER ’18 Staff Writer

T

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4 | ENTERTAINMENT

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 2.7.18

10 Books to celebrate Black History Month MY VIEW

CAITLIN MILLER ’18 Staff Writer

1.

Arc of Justice By Kevin Boyle was released in 2005 and is a story about a black dentist moving into a white neighborhood. It takes place in Detroit of 1925 with jazz and speakeasies.

The white people in the neighborhood were unhappy with the new addition to their community. It is a nonfiction book that hits the conflict and troubles this man, and many others, had to deal with.

The Arc of Justice won the 2004 National Book award for nonfiction, according to Barnes and Noble. According to South librarian Courtney McGuire, it is “the bigoted response of a black dentist moving into a white neighborhood.”

3. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly is a newer publica-

tion that looks at the American dream and untold stories of black women in mathematicians, according to McGuire. It shines the light on the women that didn’t get much recognition for some of our greatest space accomplishments. According to Barnes and Noble, it is a great read for younger readers, and it is also a New York Times Bestseller.

This book not only hits the gender equality issues in that time, but also tells the stories of women who lived in the civil rights era.

5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker is about two sisters

who are separated and continue their loyalty to trust each other and love each other through time. One sister is a missionary in Africa and the other a child wife in the South. According to Barnes and Noble, it is “beautifully imagined and deeply compassionate,” showing pain, love of life, and passion.

7. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

has won many awards, such as a National book award, and a Pulitzer prize finalist. This novel talks about the history of our nation, and also points out today’s issues. It talks about racism, segregation and the idea Americans have built an empire off of race.

9. Small Great things by Jodi Picoult is a novel

about an African American nurse who risks her job by saving a baby whose parents are white supremacists. While the nurse goes through facing a serious crime for helping the baby, when instructed not to touch it, she has to work with reality and keep her life normal.

2. The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

is a number one New York Times bestseller released in 2011. It was turned into an HBO film starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne, according to Barnes and Noble. The book takes place in the 1950s. The main character Henrietta has her cells taken and used for medical research without her knowing. Her cells end up being a huge benefit to medicine, and she doesn’t get any credit.

4. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas was just recently

published recently. It is a story about a 16 year-old girl living in a poor community and the contrast of where she lives to the rich prep school she attends.

It shines light on police brutality and racism, when something happens to her childhood best friend. The main character must watch what she says to keep herself out of danger, but also get justice for her and her community.

6. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd takes

place in South Carolina in 1964. The main character’s mother was killed, and her “stand-in mother” insults very racist people in the town they live in she plans their getaway to Tiburon. Tiburon holds the truth of her real mother and the main character is taken into the care of beekeeping sisters.

According to Barnes and Noble, it shows female power that should be shared with women and their daughters.

8. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a story of jus-

tice and redemption. The novel is a about a young lawyer who fights for the less fortunate, or the small guy. It is all about the coming of age of this young lawyer and his journey.

10. American Street by IbI Zoboi is about a young

woman from Haiti immigrating to the US. Her mother is deported back to Haiti and she is alone to live with her American cousins. She soon finds out freedom isn’t very easy to come by and living in Detroit wasn’t exactly her thought of the American dream.

PHOTOS BY CAITLIN MILLER ’18

Music for the Mind

MY VIEW

ERICA FOSSEE ’19 Multimedia Editor

Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day Fancy a restaurant

There are a variety of restaurants that can make great spots for a Valentine’s Day date.

The Hill and Marais are higher-end options that are great for a fancier date. For a more casual option, Luxe, TN Thai Bistro or Antonio’s In The Park offer a less expensive choice. A restaurant date is great for talking and getting to know someone without too many distractions.

Take a stroll

A date at a park is a free and fun choice.

Most parks have ice skating rinks for casual skating or playing hockey. Some parks sell hot chocolate, but bringing homemade drinks or food to enjoy after skating is also a great idea. The lake also creates a perfect backdrop for this entertaining date.

Enjoy a cup of joe

A small coffee shop or bakery is a good first date destination because it is casual and easier to end if the date takes a turn for the worse rather than going to a restaurant.

Starbucks, Morning Glory and Cornwall Bakery are casual shops in Grosse Pointe that offer drinks, bakery items and a casual environment.

Indulge in a scoop

Another option for a quick date is going to an ice cream shop like TCBY, Menchie’s or Sweeties. This can be a date on its own or can follow another activity. This is an inexpensive and easy date idea because there are so many different ice cream shops all around Grosse Pointe.

A review of Glen Hansard’s new album to a blending of instrumentation.

The following few tracks, sadly, denote a low point in the album. “Wreckless Heart” IAN DEWEY ’18 Copy Editor is quite bland in style, making use of a full two chords. “Movin’ On” feels like it’s movin’ nowhere-- until the listener is “rewarded” with Released a couple weeks ago, Glen a disjointed and unorganized jam session.

Hansard’s new LP “Between Two Shores” takes “Setting Forth” is, by contrast, a rather readers through a garden of various musical charming song: it periodically tricks the genres and sounds. It is a work that doesn’t listener into believing that the song is about to offer much new per se, but it is a perfected peak into a grandiose melody, but never quite work of craftsmanship drawing inspiration makes it there; instead, Hansard trudges forth from jazz, folk and rock alike. with his skilled lyricism.

The rest of the album continues to experiment with different music styles-“Lucky Man” takes on a gospel feel, “One Of Must Lose” borrows heavily from mid-2000s alternative rock.

The predominant folk style, however, is Hansard’s main method for his music, and much of the album relies on the softer tunes and narrative lyrics so often employed by the genre.

What makes “Between Two Shores” interesting, however, is Hansard’s tendency to deviate from the norms of folk music-- sometimes the music will launch into a grandiose tirade of heavy rock melodies, but just as often it will do the ALBUM COURTESY OF APPLE MUSIC opposite, touching lightly on In many of the tracks, simple folk melodies the melodies, focusing more on the lyrics. and little ornamentation start off the songs-- Still, when the latter occurs, the folk elements it is Hansard’s style to build up into the more are still mixed with others to keep the music exciting bits progressively. interesting.

The album jumps right into the action with The final two songs, “Your Heart’s Not In the groovy track “Roll on Slow,” which builds It” and “Time Will Be the Healer” are perfect up quickly into a psychedelic climax of blues- examples of this. Unlike “Roll on Slow” or brass boogies, starting off the record with “Wheels of Fire,” there are no overt musical fast-paced excitement which contrasts heavily theatrics employed here. The song culminates with the slower folk tracks which make up the over time, adding instruments and subbase of “Between Two Shores.” melodies as it unfolds itself into something “Why Woman” takes an abrupt turn into more complex. the folkier parts of the album, serving as a I myself am usually not a keen observer release from the previous track. of folk music, but Hansard’s “Between Two A synth beat with drumming work done on Shores” takes a different look at the genre by the off-beats of “Wheels on Fire” sets up the mashing elements from others into the work. song for something a bit more intriguing than It easily earns an 8/10 stars. You can buy it for the preceding track, and it follows through as $8 on Bandcamp or $9.99 on iTunes. the synths take on a supplementary role to the chorus. It has the excitement and pacing of the first track, but with a noticeable lack in substance; the song doesn’t lend itself as well

MY VIEW

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 2.7.18

5 | FEATURE

GRAPHIC BY JD STANDISH ’18

AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Based on the “coat of many colors” story of Joseph from the Bible’s book of Genesis, offers many catchy sing along songs, and a gender-neutral cast that along with being Pharaoh was crazy to me. Now that it Wacker shared a similar first impression, as he was upset has settled in, I am so excited and I think I’ll have a ton of by the casting decision made for him. fun with this role.”

“I felt I had a better audition than that, but I’m just ext’s April 26, the opening night for Joseph and the Martin’s role isn’t the only one that’s getting a gender cited to be part of this show with so many amazing people,” Technicolor Dreamcoat. The musical begins, and switch. According to Wacker, several other roles are switched Wacker said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with (Pratt women enter the stage as brothers and Egyptian around, including some of the brothers and prisoners in jail. and Dunham) over the last three years and it has been great leaders, a special casting decision for South’s pro“It’s different, but I know all of the peo- every time.” duction. ple who got these roles and each of them Martin believes the gender-neutral casting will help imAccording to choir director Chrishave something to bring to the table, and prove the show and make it better for the audience. topher Pratt, Joseph and the Amazing “We tend to have very supporting audiences, so I have no It’ll be a version of I’m excited to see how this turns out,” Technicolor Dreamcoat is a show that Wacker said. doubt that they’ll love it,” Martin said. “It’ll be a version of Joseph they’ve never often uses gender-neutral casting.

According to Pratt, producers of this Joseph they’ve never seen before. The way we are changing seen before. The way “I have directed this show before show keep an open mind when casting and it up will make the show better, as long as we work hard to and I have been in it. In both instances we are changing it up encourage freedom with these roles. pull it off.” we used women in traditionally male will make the show “To keep the show fresh for years to According to Martin, other changes will be made to Joroles,” Pratt said. better, as long as we come requires taking those kind of cre- seph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for South’s The main reason for South’s proative adventures,” Pratt said. purposes. work hard to pull it off. duction having gender-neutral casting Pratt said he chose this show due to its “There are two narrators instead of the traditional one, is the lack of guys who auditioned, acHAILEY MARTIN ’18 uniqueness and deviation from and I think we might add or cording to Thomas Wacker ’19, who past musicals. change some songs to make it was cast as Naphtali, one of Joseph’s “(Joseph and the Amazing We only had 11 boys more current and relevant to brothers.

Technicolor Dreamcoat) is completely different the time.” Martin said. “Othat auditions, which is er than that, you’ll just have to “We only had 11 boys at auditions, which is only enough than anything we have done here at South High to have Joseph’s brother and not Joseph,” Wacker said. only enough to have come to the show and see!”

School in the past ten years,” Pratt said. “The story, According to Hailey Martin ’18, the cast was first told of the fact there is little script and it is mostly all great Joseph’s brother and According to the Grosse switching around roles at auditions earlier this month. music with fun songs, and it’s extremely child Pointe South choir website, the not Joseph. “(Dunham) never said gender-neutral casting, but she friendly and fun for the audience.” musical will be performed at the did say girls might be cast in a traditional boy role,” Martin Despite this, very few people were happy with Christian A. Fenton Performing THOMAS WACKER ’19 said. “At first I was confused because I wasn’t sure how we the choice of musical at first, according to Martin.

Arts Center. The shows begin were going to do it, but I understand why we are doing it, She was originally upset due to the lack of female on April 26 to April 28 starting and I’m not that surprised.” roles and that it isn’t very dance-heavy. Still, she trusts Pratt at 7 p.m., and April 29 at 2 p.m.

According to Martin, she was cast as Pharaoh, a lead role and Dunham’s decision making. which is usually portrayed by a man.

“They obviously know what they’re doing, and no matter, “When I initially found out I was Pharaoh, I was what we will have so much fun putting it together,” Martin shocked,” Martin said. “I’ve never been a lead role before, so said.

ELIZEBETH WOLFE ’20 Page Editor

I

Meet members of the cast:

INFORMATION COMPILED BY EVA MCCORD ’21, CLAIRE SHEEREN AND KARI RONNING BOTH ’20

HAILEY MARTIN ’18 Pharaoh

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE ROLE? “It’s really different, it’s traditionally a male role and they switched it to be a girl role. It’s really wacky and wild, and a just really out there character, so I’m really excited to experiment with that.”

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO JOIN THE CAST? “I’ve always done it since freshman year, it really wasn’t a question whether I was going to do it or not because I’ve always done it.”

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THIS MUSICAL? “I’m excited because it’s senior year, the last musical, it’s always super fun. We always get super close with the cast and I’ve never been a lead before, so that’s exciting.”

GABRIELA MONSIVAIS ’20 The Narrator

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE MUSICAL? “I’m playing one of the narrators in the gold cast.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR ROLE? “I get to tell the story of Joseph, and it’s really cool because I get to break the fourth wall, and I’m excited that I get to take the audience in.”

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO JOIN THE CAST? “I love theater and I would like to do all of the musicals if I have time for it. I’d love to go into musical theater one day, and this is a great way to get experience.”

WHAT DO YOU MOST LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OUT OF THIS EXPERIENCE? “I think I’m going to see it as a learning opportunity and grow from it; I’ll take my instructions and use them to become a better performer. It’s a lot of singing, so I hope that it’ll be able to make my voice stronger.”

SEAN GATES ’19

Jacob and student director of the musical WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE SHOW SO FAR? “I really love the music. Listening and singing, you get into it and vibe with it in weird and unexpected ways I wasn’t really thinking I would. You really feel the music with you and you sort of become that person.”

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE PLAY? “I love acting, I love singing and I like dancing. I’ve been doing theater since seventh grade. I’ve had a lot of great opportunities with Pointe Players, I’m currently their historian as well. I love working with the people, especially, the cast, the crew, the directors, the producers; everyone is fantastic, there's nothing about it I don’t love.”

TIFFANY FURICCHIA ’18 The Narrator

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR ROLE? “My favorite thing about my role is that I’m truly excited because in the past I’ve mostly just danced on stage and sang in the chorus, but this time I have more of a main singing role.”

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO JOIN THE CAST? “I’ve done the musical since sophomore year, and Joseph seemed really fun to be a part of, and I just love to sing and dance.”

WHAT DO YOU MOST LOOK FORWARD TO OUT OF THIS EXPERIENCE? “I’m excited to do this musical with my friends; it’s our last musical at South all together. Also, I love getting more experience; this is my first lead role, and I’m excited.”

6 | FEATURE

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 2.7.18

BOOKWORM:

Reading and writing outside of school leads to student’s success in English courses

sively and clearly, and use evidence to support that point can be used outside of the academic eading is a part of school for everyone, world as well.

“Realize what the AP College Board is like it or not. And, like it or not, making asking for on a free response question is, reading a part of life outside of English are you able to make a point cohesively and class can be extremely beneficial to stuclearly, and use evidence to support that dents academic performance. point?”

Peck said. “And realize that’s what South English teacher and department head we do on a daily basis when we are conversing Danielle Peck said that while she can’t tell just by with other people.” looking at a student, the work they produce reveals Peck noted the same ideas can apply to the how curious they are to explore texts outside of way we interact with people in our day-to-day class assigned reading. lives.

Peck said people who form arguments like “I can’t say I can walk around the classroom and this in real life discussion are the people we are say, ‘Yes, you do, no, you don’t,’ but I have found a most likely to listen to and believe, especially when general correlation between students who are better their opinion is different from your own. She finds writers, students who perform well on their analytthat in her own life, reading has lead to more inical pieces, perform well on the tests that we give, teresting discussions and conversations with other even the standardized tests. Those are generally the people. students who are also reading on their own,” Peck “I read a lot, and I have great friends that read a said. lot.

I enjoy going to dinner with them and having a According to Peck, reading outside of assigned conversation with them that is more than just about course reading helps students whatever the weather is like that write, discuss and analyze betday,” Peck said. “I feel like readter in class. ing more, you are more likely to “Anytime they speak up in “I feel like just reading be a more informed citizen in this class when they are making a world, which I think is really immore, you are more point, they will be able to make portant in this day and age.” more sophisticated points, belikely to be a more Gormley agrees that reading cause they’ve heard more arinformed citizen in this has enhanced conversations and guments, they have heard what world, which I think is made meeting new people easier. other people think about things really important in this “When I meet people who have because they have read more,” the same interests in books as I do, day and age.”

Peck said. “When they’re writor who have read similar books, ing in class, whether that be an we can talk about it and connect.

DANIELLE PECK original argument or analytical It definitely gives you more to talk English Teacher response, they can use what about, ” Gormley said.

“Books they’ve learned from other have definitely positively impacttexts.”

Peck said that while you read, you’re picking up ed the way I interact with people and the types of on conventions of writing like correct uses, or at conversations I have.”

South English teacher Kevin Cox agreed readleast conventional uses, of grammar and English. ing broadens a student’s understanding of the world “If you’re reading books, you are reading examand people around them. ples of good writing constantly. If you’re reading “Reading helps students become more empapublications that are noteworthy and are generally thetic, and it broadens their understanding of the accepted as a credited journalistic publication, then world, because they’re able to think beyond themyou are reading good examples of writing,” Peck selves and consider possible scenarios or experiencsaid. es that add to their understanding, ” Cox said.

Caroline Gormley ’19 said she notices the posiBoth Peck and Cox said it’s important to push tive effect of reading outside of school on her school beyond one’s comfort zone when looking for somework and standardized tests. thing new to read.

“My score has improved with reading. I think “I would also encourage people to push beyond reading helps you with comprehension, because if their comfort zone in what they read, because, you like what you’re reading, you will want to think again, it helps them better understand scenarios, about it and remember it,” Gormely said. “That possibilities, ideas beyond our own and really expehelps when you have to take a test with a reading rience it, ” Cox said. passage you’re not really crazy about.”

Cox said reading all different types of text, from Peck also said reading more improves students graphic novels to non-fiction, to politics or current scores on free response and standardized test quesevents to literature, all add to an understanding of tions. She said the ability to make a point coheAUDREY WHITAKER ’19 Section Editor

R

PHOTO BY AUDREY WHITAKER ’19

BOOKS ON BOOKS Novels are stacked on top of textbooks.

Students are encouraged to find a balance between homework and leisurely reading

what one is reading in different ways.

She said today, relying on only reading for informaGormley said one of the reasons she loves read- tion would cause one to miss out on lots of other ing is because it’s creative, in its own unique way. things.

“I feel like reading lets you be creative because it’s “It’s fine to consume junk. The question is how kind of like watching a movie or seeing a TV show, much junk are you consuming? There’s junky books, only in your head,” Gormley said. “The reader gets there’s junk TV shows, and they’re fine sometimes, to create more and be more but how much?” Peck said. involved in that process than Gormley, who said she typicalif you’re just watching it on ly reads two or three books on her “When I meet people a screen.” own in a month during the school who have the same Cox said one thing readyear said she reads more during interests in books ing does that TV can’t is alsummer vacation. low the reader to create their “I definitely read more over as I do, or who have own image of what’s happenthe summer and during school read similar books, we ing in the story. breaks just because I have more can talk about it and Peck said that while readfree time,” Gormley said. connect. It definitely ing is important, it’s imGormley said she tries to make gives you more to talk portant not to discount the time during the year to read demedia, just be aware of the spite her heavy homework load. about content and whether or not Peck and Cox both acknowlCAROLINE GORMLEY ’19 it is doing something that is edged students have a busy schedStudent positive for you. ule, and do need a break from “I try to ingest something time to time. that is going to challenge me “I know it’s stressful to have in some way,” Peck said. “Sometimes it’s a book, your academic reading, or your required coursesometimes it’s a film, sometimes that’ll be a pod- load of reading,” Cox said. “But whenever people cast, even a Youtube video. I don’t discount any get a chance to read, I hope they find some websites, form of media, and sometimes that thing that chal- some journals, some authors, that they really enjoy lenges me will be a Facebook post.” and that they keep reading for pleasure long after Peck said that sometimes, media that doesn’t their formal education is over.” challenge you is okay too. Things like social media and TV are other fun ways to share, learn and relax.

Binge watching television grows more popular among teenage generation, at risk for anti-social behaviors GRIFFIN JONES ’18 Graphics Manager

INFOMATION FROM SCIENCEDAILY.COM & UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN TEXAS

INFOGRAPHIC BY KAITLIN NEMEH ’18

It’s a weeknight, you’ve been watching a few episodes of your favorite comedy show. You let out a laugh a bit too loud and you hesitate for a moment wondering if that may have woken anyone up.

You spot the time: 2 a.m.

As much as it is a shock, you could’ve sworn you had only watched a couple episodes after dinner for a break before finishing your homework. However, it isn’t until after you’ve gone to bed, woken up, and made your way to school that you might have a problem on your hands. But you can deal with that after taking a nap in a couple of your classes.

Bingeing television has been around for decades as constant innovation in technology has allowed for more and more ways to view motion pictures.

However, within the last decade, the binge has become a phenomenon among multiple generations. This presents a dangerous problem for high school and college students in particular.

“The biggest thing is not accomplishing what you could be accomplishing for the day,” health teacher, Nicole Westfall said. “If you needed to do homework or chores or eat, you just become lazy and sit around for hours. Productivity goes down and you’re wasting time.”

However, as a younger generation becomes more exposed to technology, South students can try to justify their habits.

“I get all of my homework done before prived, they’re not going to focus in I go on Netflix,” Lauren Fleckenstein ’18 school, they might fall asleep in the said. “Once I’m done and ready to wind classroom and their memory gets affectmy brain down a little bit, I’ll watch TV.” ed.”

Concern of anti-social behaviors has Other effects can be a damaged inbeen linked to too much television for ternal clock, missing school and missing developing children and teens. A study assignments, according to Westfall. by the University of Otago in New Zea“Another thing would be avoidance, land found that anti-social and crimi- like not being productive, not doing nal behavior in their 1,000 participants homework,” Westfall said. “I’ve seen kids increased by as much as 30 percent for watching TV shows in my classroom. So every hour of television instead of doing they watched on weektheir homework or nights. listening to me in “I watch sports games The biggest thing is not class, their schoolwith friends or family work and sleep are accomplishing what you and watch movies when affected negativeI’m bored or alone,” Mat- could be accomplishing ly.” thew Calcaterra ’18 said. for the day With access to “I think it’s especially so- NICOLE WESTFALL Netflix and Hulu, cial to watch sports with Health Teacher as well as other TV people because everyone services, people are can discuss or engage in more capable to it together.” binge watch their favorite shows simply However, an even more covered issue because there’s nothing stopping them due to television viewership is the impact now. Before video services became so on a person’s sleep behavior. In particu- popular, people relied on the weekly delar, a study by the University of Michigan livery of the new episode to their favorite published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep show on cable television. But nowadays, Medicine has linked poorer sleep habits for convenience sake, a “week” is more to gadget use and television before bed like a few seconds till the next episode with 420 young adults answering ques- is on. tionnaires that asked about sleep quality, “My friends and I, we’d all sit around fatigue, and insomnia. and watch TV together and wait every “When students are binge-watching, week,” Westfall said. “But now, kids can the big thing is being sleep deprived,” just binge watch on their phones, put Westfall said. “If someone is sleep de- headphones on and block out the world.”

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 2.7.18

7 | FEATURE

SMALL TOWN VS BIG CITY

Seniors choosing between colleges in-state and out-of-state SARAH STEVENSON ’19 Staff Writer As high school students begin to think, apply and decide on which college to attend, they can be influenced to attend an outof-state college due to a lack of opportunity or too much comfort in their hometown, according to Julia Rapai ’18.

“I applied to five schools, and four of them are out of state, so I am really looking at schools in different places other than Michigan,” Rapai said. “I think for me, a lot of it is just about opportunity and what I want the rest of my life to look like. There are a lot of good opportunities here in Michigan, but I am attracted to what bigger cities have to offer.”

According to school guidance counselor Aja Perales, there is a division among South students.

Some would prefer to stay in state after graduation, but others may decide to leave, whether for a mere summer program or a full-time education.

“I would say we have a good

Los Angeles

amount of students in state, but others decide to go to new places and see different things,” Perales said.

According to Perales, many students decide that they want to try something different and have a new experience outside of their comfort zone after graduation.

“It’s nice to try something new; a different life experience outside of the state and something other than things that you know,” Perales said. “Some students enjoy different activities that aren’t provided in Grosse Pointe, and they want to find a school in a community or town that allows them to have both the academic piece and the sort of things they enjoy.”

According to The New York Times, many high school students are attracted to the independence they get from attending college in another state. Another reason is the merit the college or university will provide them if they attend.

Some of South’s freshmen, such as Saylor Kinsley ’21, have thought about leaving Michigan after high

school. Kinsley said she has a desire to go out-of-state for college.

“I want to go to Ohio State because I am too familiar with the (Michigan) area and know everything,” Kinsley said.

According to Kinsley, she believes other students decide to leave Grosse Pointe and Michigan because they want to experience something new.

“Students who want to leave feel like they’ve done everything here, so they probably want to go out on an adventure and see other states,” Kinsley said.

Although a student’s home can be great, Rapai said high school students can have a strong desire to venture out of their comfort zones.

“It feels like there’s so much more of the world than what we see here in our town,” Rapai said.

“I think there is definitely a sense of comfort we have and I think at a certain part of your life you get a little bit of cabin fever and you just want to go out and see things you’ve never experienced before.”

New York City GRAPHIC BY LIZ BIGHAM ’18

In wake of Nassar scandal, students react to the Michigan State University connection causes a huge impact in somebody’s life. And it never goes away.”

According to USA Today, Nassar was sentenced in December to 60 years in prison on three federal child pornography charges.

In January, Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years on seven sexual assault charges.

Although the Nassar court case is now closed, the U.S. Olympics Committee, USA Gymnastics, MSU and the FBI still have questions about whether or not what Nassar did could have been stopped. According to NBC News, victims had previously reported Nassar as far back as 1997, but they were overlooked.

“The girls and the young women who experienced this horrible assault, they weren’t believed for years and years and years and years, and that does a whole other component. Because then you begin to wonder yourself, ‘Did it happen?’, ‘Did it not happen?’, ‘Maybe it’s not so bad,’” Khoury said.

“That causes a whole other layer. There’s that anger that, ‘Nobody believes me,’ so that puts up a whole other layer. It’s a big deal. It’s a really big deal.”

The President of Michigan State University, Lou Anna Simon, has resigned, according to a letter on the Michigan State website.

The four in-house medical professionals who determined Nassar’s procedures of massaging patient’s breasts and vaginal area was a legitimate practice during the 2014 Title IX investigation are no longer university employees, along with whoever saw that report. Nassar’s old boss, Dr. William Strampel, resigned as Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, but he is still on the faculty and is on medical leave, according to the Lansing State Journal.

Sam Sklarski ’18, who committed to MSU her sophomore year to play soccer, said she was shocked and disgusted after hearing about Nassar.

“I think now he’s gone and they are filtering out everyone who is associated with it, like the president… it will be better, but will change Michigan State and some people will choose not to go there,” Sklarski said. “The whole thing scared me because they are filtering out people, but my biggest fear is they don’t get all of them because I don’t want the same things to happen while I’m there.”

According to South graduate and MSU student Katharine Kuhnlein ’16, many students at State have been discussing the Nassar case. According to Kuhnlein, students at MSU have received about two emails a week from administration and deans of var-

ALYSSA CZECH ’19 AND RACHEL HARRIS ’18 Associate Editor and Supervising Editor For close to 30 years, Dr. Larry Nassar dissembled himself as a doctor for female gymnasts. After being accused of molesting 265 girls and women throughout his time practicing as a doctor after receiving his degree from Michigan State University (MSU), Nassar will now serve the rest of his life in prison.

“Sexual assault is about power, somebody having power over another person; it’s not about sex and it’s not about love and it’s not about feelings, it’s about violence,” Grosse Pointe South psychologist Lisa Khoury said.

“That

ious colleges regarding the circumstances.

“There definitely is a negative impact on campus because most students have lost trust in our administration or many authority figures at MSU,” Kuhnlein said. “However, the environment on campus is positive in the aspects of working towards changing the culture of sexual assault.”

Gymnast Erin Morris ’18 had a back injury and went to see Nassar three times in 2015 and 2016 for treatment. During those times she was there, Morris was with her mother, and although Nassar did not make any inappropriate advances toward her, she described him as having an odd demeanor.

“The whole time I could tell he was looking at my butt,” Morris said. “He never molested me, but he did a lot of unnecessary treatments and I could tell he was not looking me in the eyes.”

Morris said her coach referred her and her teammates to Nassar because he was the top sports doctor and had a good reputation. Many of them found his behaviors a bit strange, but did not suspect much.

He never molested me, but he did a lot of unnecessary treatments and I could tell he was not looking me in the eyes.

ERIN MORRIS ’18

“My mom and I were like, ‘That was weird,’ but we would never suspect he was molesting other people. You don’t jump to that conclusion,” Morris said. “We just thought he was a little bit off.”

Morris said she recently found out that one of her teammates who was treated by Nassar was molested by him, and the teammate’s mom talked to him and the jury about the incident.

According to Khoury, being sexually assaulted can impact a person’s academics, mood, trust with people and future relationships.

“It’s important for anybody who has experienced something like that to address it honestly and openly,” Khoury said. “Maybe with the help of a therapist or a trained professional in some type of counseling, it could be a priest or a clergyperson, whomever the person feels comfortable with, but (they have) to address it.”

MSU is working diligently to make significant changes within the university. Sexual assault is not limited to one particular place, Khoury said.

“I don’t think it should impact your college decision,” Khoury said. “I think whatever college you go to, sexual assault can happen, and you have to be mindful and cautious. It can happen at any place. It could happen around here at parties, so it’s not exclusive to Michigan State.”

Clashing viewpoints on affirmative action ARIANNA PAGENETTE ’18 Section Editor Established in 1961, affirmative action is a policy that was created to improve educational and employment opportunities for minority groups, as stated by the National Conference of State Legislature.

Julia Turnbull ’18 argues that today it can be viewed as reverse discrimination in today’s society.

“I believe the best job or an acceptance should go to whoever is the most qualified and puts forth the most effort,” Turnbull said.

Gwyneth Rennell ’18 said public schools in less privileged communities are less funded and less advised, which leads to disadvantages for all those students, so affirmative action can help them get into schools they otherwise would not have and gives them more opportunities.

“Affirmative action, when used correctly, can help break down the barriers placed on students of color and students from a lower socioeconomic standpoint,” Rennell said.

Counselor Nicholas Bernbeck said he hopes society gets to a point in time when affirmative action is not needed to give those opportunities for education and employment.

“Personally, I don’t think we’re at the point in society where everything is equal; racism still exists, and there are unconscious biases out there,” Bernbeck said.

LaShun O’Rear ’18 agrees and argues that, in our lifetime, affirmative action won’t go away, and that it will always be needed, because racism will always exist.

“I think we will always need affirmative action, we just need to talk about what that means more,” O’Rear said. “If we have that healthy dialogue, where we can push people out of their comfort zones but not into a danger zone.”

Rennell said affirmative action is still needed in our society because unequal opportunities and injustice is still present in our education system as well as in the local community.

“If you travel 15 minutes outside of Grosse Pointe and step into a high school, it will not look anything like Grosse Pointe South,” Rennell said.

In order to help with this

problem, people need to talk about intersectionality more and what affirmative action actually is, according to O’Rear.

“People think (affirmative action) is just taking away from white men but that’s not really what it is, it’s giving (minorities) the same opportunities as them,” O’Rear said.

O’Rear believes affirmative action is helpful for him as he applied to schools that are affirmative action schools, but in some cases, if it came down to it, he wasn’t sure how applicants were picked.

“If I do have the same GPA and test scores as a white man but maybe a better personality, I wonder if they will choose me or him,” O’Rear said.

Turnbull said that she applied to colleges she would get into based off of her academics and leadership positions, not based on race. However this was different for some of her peers.

“A few of my friends applied to selective colleges such as Michigan, Georgetown and other Ivy’s. I believe it may be harder for them to receive admissions based off of race,” Turnbull said.

However, Rennell believes her gender or sexual orientation had nothing to do with her acceptance to university.

“I think my essays set me apart from other applicants and not one of them was about being female or bisexual,” Rennell said.

Bernbeck said there is a fear of people who are different because there is a lack of understanding. With honest and open communication, the barrier can be broken.

“The biggest thing has to be putting people in a position of authority who understand this issue, who can put laws in effect to break barriers,” Bernbeck said.

Affirmative action allows people to show and be the best they can be, according to Rennell. She said she unfortunately does not see affirmative action going away in the near future.

“If inequality goes away, affirmative action will go away, it simply wouldn’t be needed anymore,” Rennell said. “If there were no disadvantages in life, there wouldn’t need to be advantages in college applications.”

8 | FEATURE

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 2.7.18

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE CLASSIC: GPS coach temporarily fills in athletic director position an assistant at North, before taking the job for a permanent replacement some- everything is consistent, then I’m good,” job at South in 1984, according to Gries- time this spring.”

Gabrion said. baum.

This is not the first time Griesbaum Gabrion, who played baseball when Long time Grosse Pointe South athThe process of sehas ever held the po- he was younger, attended some of Coach letics coach Dan Griesbaum has filled lecting an interim sition, having substi- Griesbaum’s athletic camps in the role of interim athletic director, director for South’s tuted for then-ath“He’s a very friendly guy from what as the search for a permanent director He’s a very friendly guy letic director Jo Lake I remember, and he ran the camp very athletic program was takes place. from what I remember, in 2000. According well. I hope he brings that same mentalrelatively simple, but Griesbaum reflected on his long hisfinding a full time reto Griesbaum, the ity at his interim athletic director job,” and he ran the camp tory at South as a coach of baseball, footplacement will take person who takes Gabrion said. very well. I hope he ball and girls volleyball via email. some more time, acon the job must be Gabrion hopes for consistency and brings that same “I am still coaching baseball at South. cording to Griesbaum. extremely hard- reliable performance when the new diI did not retire from that. This will be my mentality at his interim working and orga- rector arrives permanently. Tod Hunter, “I was asked by 35th year,” Griesbaum said.“My wife and Athletic Director job Moussa Hamka and nized, due to simply a track coach at South, gave his impresI did retire from teaching about three Dr. Jon Dean if I the vast amount of sions of his time coaching with Griesand a half years ago, but I am still heavily would fill in for a few sports South offers. baum.

BEN GABRION ’20 involved in baseball.” weeks while a more “(The person “I first met Dan the summer of 1995; Griesbaum coached football for 18 permanent replacemust) have a vast 22 years ago while coaching football,” years and four years of girls volleyball, in ment for Mr. Hawkins was found. I was knowledge of high school athletics, must Hunter said. “My first impressions (were addition to 39 years of baseball, four as happy to do it be a great communicator, a good people of) a very knowledgeable, fit, athletic because I love person and posman.”

South and just sess great vision of Hunter described simply want- how to carry this Griesbaum’s work ethic ed to help program into the and personality that he I first met Dan out,” Gries- future,” Griesbaum would get to know as summer of 1995; First baum said. said. they coached together impressions (were of) a for years.

“They will Student athlete very knowledgeable, fit, hire someone Ben Gabrion ’20, “But as I got to know athletic man. within the who plays football him throughout the seaschool dis- and runs track and son and years to come, I TOD HUNTER trict shortly field, discussed his would describe him as South Track Coach who will do expectations and a ‘salt of the earth’ type the job from what he wants to of a man,” Hunter said. approximately see in the new ath“High integrity, and a TOUCHDOWN Dan Griesbaum, bottom row second from late February letic director. consistent message of a winning attitude the left, pictured with the South football team in 1984. through June, “I’ve seen a lot of good things myself, with strong drive and desire all framed then post the in the athletic department. As long as in a law and order atmosphere.”

AIDAN WALSH ’20 Page Editor

HOME RUN Coach Griesbaum observes his team in action during his fourth year of coaching at South.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GPS YEARBOOK

Boys hockey takes on rival at Eastside Arena on Feb. 10 game, so anything can really happen,” Frame said.

Varsity hockey player As the boys hockey season carries John McShane ’20 is looking on, the North vs. South annual rivalforward to the upcoming ry game is approaching. The game game, but believes he and his will be Saturday, Feb. 10 at Eastside team will come out victors.

Hockey Arena at 7:45 p.m. Tickets “I’m feeling a little bit can be bought for $5 at the rink. nervous given the fact there “I’m feeling pretty excited; was a brawl in the first game.

North vs. South is always a big I trust in my boys that we game and rivalry, plus it’s Senior will come out as winners,” Night,” varsity hockey player McShane said.

Will Frame ’18 said.

Roraff hopes many people According to varsity FACE OFF Keegan Spitz ’20 faces the opponent during a will come out and suphockey player Ben game against Trenton High School. port the team.

Roraff ’19, the hockey “I think it team will continue would be to work hard and have everyday practices in the great to see people supporting us, especially because upcoming days before the game. it’s a rivalry game and the stakes are high,” Roraff “We will practice hard this week, have a said. pasta party-- which is always fun-- and According to Frame, people should come support the we’ll just work hard,” Frame said. team because it’s North vs. South and that’s always a big and On Dec. 2, South beat North exciting game to watch, and because it’s Senior Night. in a tournament, with a final “People should come to the game because it should be a physical, scoreline of 4-1. high energy game,” Roraff said.

“The past couple of years, North hasn’t been as good as us, but it’s a rivalry

ANNE MUAWAD ’20 Page Editor

DEKE Conor McKenna ’19 stick handles the puck during a game this season.

SNIPER Brian Mckenna ’20 ready to help assist teammates .

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANDER MILLS ‘20

Swimming with the sharks: Boys swim expected to dominate MAC meet for the 17th year in a row LAUREN THOM ’18 Staff Writer For the past 16 years, the boys varsity swim team has been making a splash at the MAC Red swim meet, competing in the highest conference. South swims against Grosse Pointe North, Dakota, Romeo and Chippewa Valley high schools. The boys have a current 100-0 record against competing teams.

Captain Ethan Briggs ’18 said he believes the team has upheld this record due to remarkable leadership.

All the swimmers train their hardest everyday and it shows when it’s time to race MATTHEW MELICAN’ 19 “The coaches and the captains in the past 16 years have been very strong and have really led the team by example,” Briggs said.

“They’ve made sure that we’ve been prepared for the MAC meet every year.”

Briggs said he uses his role as captain to encourage the team and remind the other swimmers everyday that the MAC meet is what they are training for.

“Starting week one, we told our team that MAC was the goal even though it was 14 weeks away and at MAC all we have to do is execute after training the whole season for it,” Briggs said.

Each year, to prepare for the meet, Briggs said the team competes at a couple large meets such as counties or MISCA to get their fast times, then begin tapering.

“About two weeks before MAC we start tapering, which is when we bring our training down to bring our speed up and have our peak performance at MAC,” Briggs said.

Captain Thomas Jogan ’18 said the team rests anywhere from a few days to a week before the MAC meet, which leaves swimmers in top shape for the meet.

“At MAC the team is very spirited and focused on winning races,” Jogan said. “Our MAC record is a result of the continuous hard work put in by both swimmers and coaches, year after year.”

Matthew Melican ’19 said he believes South has been able to continue their record at MAC because of a culture that has emerged throughout the years.

“All the swimmers train their hardest everyday and it shows when it’s time to race,” Melican said. “Every year when we decimate our competition at our MAC meet, it shows the other teams how much hard work and time we have put into the sport.”

As the most winning team in our conference, I hope to continue our streak of excellence at MAC THOMAS JOGAN ’18

Briggs said he expects to win again this year and bring home another title.

“As the most winning team in our conference I hope to continue our streak of excellence at MAC,” Jogan said. “And I hope to carry that success on to perform well as a team at States.”

The MAC Red Preliminary will be held Feb. 23 at 5:00 p.m. and MAC Red Finals will be held Feb. 24 at 12:00 p.m. at the South pool in the Boll Center.

FREESTYLE Matthew Kouieter ’18 warming up during practice after school. Kouieter is a senior on the swim team.

MAKING A SPLASH South swimmer dives into warm ups at practice. The swim team practices in the Boll Athletic Center.

PHOTOS BY BRENNAN ZIHLMAN ‘18