Issue 9

the

TOWER

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 Volume 90 Issue 9

A weekly tradition since 1928

@thetowerpulse thetowerpulse.net

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

Racial housing discrimination roundtable visits Cleminson Hall

Tower students achieve high praise KAITLYN PERKINS ’18 Section Editor

EYE OPENER From Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, the racial housing discrimination round table visited South. The exhibit showed multiple ethnic groups present in Detroit.

IMRAN SIDDIQUI ’20 CAITLIN MILLER ‘18 Copy Editor and Staff Writer

EXHIBIT This is one of the posters that was on display during the racial housing discrimination roundtable.

A new exhibit in Cleminson Hall on racial housing discrimination in the Detroit metropolitan area piqued a lot of student and staff interest.

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, the exhibit from Michigan Roundtable was at South, and many teachers, from the social studies and English departments specifically, brought their students to learn more about their city. “(The exhibit) was incredibly informative because it had an immediate impact,” English teacher Elizabeth Lulis said.

“This dealt with our metro Detroit area, and the manner in which some particular groups were not welcomed. Some of the segregation details, the diversity pieces and the ideas we still cover today, the focuses of our conversations, probably developed within the last 300 years regarding some of these very topics.”

According to principal Moussa Hamka, the exhibit was first seen in the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. After viewing it, a decision was made to show the exhibit at the three Grosse Pointe community high schools, University of Liggett, Grosse Pointe North and South.

“We wanted to tie the exhibit into the curriculum, and so we found there were meaningful opportunities to align with the social studies and English curriculum,” Hamka said. “Opportunities were made for teachers who teach those relevant content areas to bring their classes down.”

Lulis, said the exhibit made a very good supplement to her curriculum.

“One of our greatest goals is always to try to diversify the cannon and find relevancy in multiple voices we are learning,” Lulis said. “Going to the exhibit opened up an opportunity for me to have my students start asking me questions regarding particular groups within the United States.”

The exhibit also received a lot of enthusiasm from students, Amy Ellis ’19 said. She found the display to be an eye-opening experience. She was “surprised about how much she didn’t know” about redlining and wants to learn more now. “(The exhibit) Included more than your typical museum,” Ellis said. “It talked about different races I didn’t even know were part of of Detroit’s history, such as Arab and Latin American involvement. The exhibit also talk-

PHOTO BY JULIA AMBROZY ’20

ed about court cases which I had never really heard of. It was really interesting overall.”

Both Lulis and Ellis agreed they would love to see more exhibits like this in the future. Both feel as if they gained a lot from the experience.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to look at ideas that are larger than what we are doing in our classroom,” Lulis said. “It gives us a chance to connect ideas in an interdisciplinary fashion.”

The goal of the display was to educate the students and faculty at South, according to Hamka. He hopes the exhibit enriched the learning of the students who took the time to ex- EXHIBIT A poster that was held on display during the round table plore the showcase.

“It’s a part of our ed- in Cleminson Hall. This exhibit ucation, we do teach the was originally inteded to only be Jim Crow laws, and we do shown at the War Memorial, but have some difficult mat- was decided to be shown at all ters in the text we grapple Grosse Pointe high schools. with, whether it’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, ‘Of Mice and primary source documents and Men’ or ‘(The Adventures of) artifacts that will help us look at Huckleberry Finn,’” Hamka said. things through a historical light.”

“This brings another perspective into the discussion and adds to those narratives. There are many

Annual Pops and Pastries concert helps bring in funds for the band and orchestra Performing its annual Pops and Pastries fall concert in the main gym on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., the band and orchestra displayed its talents and raised money at the same time, according to orchestra director James Gross.

Students performed their prepared pieces; there was food, drinks and a silent auction. Proceeds cover a variety of expense for the band and orchestra. Profits go to the program for clinicians, instruments and repairs, transportation and anything related to the program, according to Gross.

“The concert is an opportunity to show parents all of the work we have accomplished this year and show improvement gained from class work and our weekly rehearsals,” Band President Harry Susalla ’18 said.

Students started preparing for the concert in the beBLAIR CULLEN ’18 Staff Writer

ginning of the school year and have been holding weekly rehearsals on Wednesdays for two hours. After the instruments were figured out, rehearsing began. Unlike choir, summer practices are not held for the fall concert, according to Susalla.

“In addition to class time, the full orchestra which is strings and wind instruments held two hour practices after school on Wednesdays and the Jazz Band held rehearsals Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Susalla said.

Band and Orchestra boosters planned everything including the Auction for Pops and Pastries, and did other volunteer work for the program. Almost all of the boosters have a son or daughter in the program. Silent Auction include items such as a custom fire pit, jewelry, yacht cruise, wine tasting and tickets for graduation.

Smaller items, in the tin can auction consisted of things like themed baskets, a rug and other donated things, ac-

IMPORTANT DATES nov.

11

Staff vs students flag football game will be held on Souths’ field at 12 p.m.

nov.

12

cording to Orchestra President Simon Chen ’18.

“I did not have any specific duties for helping out, but myself along with the other orchestra officers had to gather cash donations from the class and make a basket that was used for the silent auctions” Chen said.

There are five curricular bands and orchestras at South, including the wind ensemble, symphony band and concert band, taught and directed by Christopher Takis. The jazz band, also directed by Takis, performed as well. The orchestras include concert and sympathy orchestra, taught by Gross. Over 235 students participated in this event according to Gross.

“Everyone has been working super hard, and we were prepared going into it, so it was exciting to display all of that,” Chen said.

South will be hosting an open house from 1 to 3 p.m.

Two Grosse Pointe South journalism students, Katherine Bird ’18 and Bianca Pugliesi ’19, have been recognized by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) as well as Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

Bird and Pugliesi are currently nominated for scholastic journalism awards, according to Tower advisor, Kaitlin Edgerton.

“Over the years, there have been multiple Tower students that have won awards for both the NSPA and the CSPA, including Pacemaker awards and individual Crown, awards” Edgerton said. “The Tower publication, as a whole, has a long history of receiving national recognition.”

There is a set criteria that has to be met in order to submit pieces for these awards, and nominations, according to Edgerton.

“There are over 3,000 entries in each award for each association,” Edgerton said. “Essentially, we take what we think is the best in Tower, send it in and see what happens.”

The awards these students have been nominated for are the NSPA sports feature story of the year (Bird), as well as a Columbia Scholastic Press Association individual award for info-graphic writing (Pugliesi).

Bird will find out NSPA’s decision by Nov. 15, but Pugliesi has already won her award.

“I have already won my award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for an infographic I designed last year,” Pugliesi said.

Neither Bird nor Pugliesi have been recognized on the national level for their journalistic abilities before. They have received awards from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) awards in the past.

Both agreed, this is very thrilling.

“I feel excited about being nominated because I didn’t expect to get nominated for something like that,” Bird said. “I won a MIPA award for it, but I didn’t expect it to get recognized at the national level.”

Pugliesi also said she felt excited about winning an award like this.

“I thought winning my award was really awesome,” Pugliesi said. “I didn’t know I was nominated for it until I came to school and Mrs. Edgerton told me that I won, and I thought that was really cool. I loved being able to represent Tower at an awards ceremony like that.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIA AMBROZY ‘20

nov.

14

Panel discussion about a nation free from gun violence at Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church at 6:30 p.m.

2 | OPINION

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 11.8.17

THE LONG HAUL: Amount of school before Thanksgiving break causes stress to students and faculty alike

Our View Editorial

W

eek one: exciting.

New teachers, new classes, new classmates.

Week two: enlightening. Introductions to new, intriguing material (or not so intriguing, as shown by the continuous line of frustrated students weaving out of the counseling center’s doors).

Weeks three and four: a reality check. Teachers start cracking down on grades while students get a dose of the hard truth that summer really is gone and isn’t coming back for eight more months.

Weeks five, six and seven, until finally week eleven rolls by: exasperating. The longest stretch of school days without more than a sparse singular day off sprinkled here and there takes a toll on the student body.

We at the Tower believe this stretch of school is grueling and inefficient. From the first day of school to Thanksgiving break, breaks from the intensity of school are slim to none. Facing the whole first quarter of a school year with barely any time to breathe and

catch up can trouble even the most seasoned upperclassmen.

For freshman, high school is daunting enough. Thrown out of their comfort zones, they need the first few months of school to be an adjustment period, not a time of high stress to trigger premature lack of motivation.

Additionally, these weeks overlap the prime college application period. Between academics, sports and extracurricular activities, time dedicated to supplemental essays is few and far between. Even exhausted seniors cannot afford to slack off on their college applications, so a choice has to be made: your first quarter grade or the rest of your life? The outcome is obvious.

As for the school as a whole, staff and students alike are getting burned out. Week by week, stress and exhaustion levels rise along with the amount of work that inevitably piles up. Loss of sleep causes this pile of incomplete work to enlarge, causing even more fatigue.

According to the American Psychological Association, one in five teens say when they don’t get enough sleep, they’re more stressed. Teens also report their stress levels during the school year far exceeds what they believe to be healthy.

The staff and students need to

work in tandem to solve this issue.

It’s beneficial for neither students nor teachers for grades to suffer because of physical and mental fatigue that’s natural and unavoidable. A break, either from school or at the minimum from a challenging curriculum, could help alleviate this problem.

Some teachers have decided to give their students this break by teaching an easier lesson in the final weeks of this long stretch.

Lightening the workload is the first step to helping students succeed, even when they’re veering off track.

However, sometimes a break is a necessity. Ideally, to make this long haul more bearable, the Tower believes there should be an addition of a short break sometime in October. Not only would this give students the chance to catch up on rest and their workload, but it would give teachers a breather as well.

Of course, there aren’t an unlimited amount of vacation days the school district can hand out.

Current vacation schedules may have to be revisited, but for good reason.

With the opportunity to rejuvenate themselves, staff and students would avoid the negativity that arises in the home stretch of these eleven weeks, and would be able to focus more effectively on their schoolwork and their jobs.

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY GRIFFIN JONES ’18

BRAIN BRUISE:

Sophomore calls for the nation to expand gun control legislation

Rower reflects on the her past concussions and dangers of improper treatment MY VIEW EVIE KUHNLEIN ’20 Staff Writer

M

y

past experiences with closed head injuries have been nothing short of a roller coaster. In sixth grade, I was kicked in the temple while rough housing.

Later that year, while on a friend’s boat in choppy water, I hit my head on the side of the boat, receiving a milder concussion. In September of this year, I was in a rowing accident.

In seventh grade, a persistent history teacher and a longing to make friends led me to join the crew team.

I figured the non-contact sport of rowing would be perfect for someone looking to minimize their future head injuries. After giving four years of my life to a sport I had grown to love, this injury felt like a real stab in the

NEWSPAPER

the

TOWER

STAFF

GRAPHIC BY RILEY LYNCH ’18

Editor-in-Chief

Liz Bigham* ’18 John Francis* ’18 Online Editor-in-Chief

Henry Ayrault* ’19

Print Associate Editor

Alyssa Czech* ’19

Online Associate Editor

Grace Reyes* ’19

Supervising Editors at Large

Ray Hasanaj* ’18 Liam Walsh* ’18

Supervising Editors

Katherine Bird*, Rachel Harris*, Riley Lynch*, Elena Rauch*, all ’18 Bianca Pugliesi* ’19

MY VIEW

back.

Along with receiving a concussion that led to almost (?) capping out my absences for the semester in the first two weeks of school (I still don’t know how absences work), I had sprained my shoulder with some decent whiplash.

In rowing, extreme mental and physical toughness is an expected norm. However, when it comes to teammates getting injured, many brush it off and are bothered boats will have to be rearranged due to a missing member, myself included.

This is a great mindset during a tough practice or a race, however, treating serious injuries as a minor scrape can lead to threatening effects. If an athlete is to get injured and go immediately back to their team’s practices, giving it their all, sooner or later that injury will come back stronger and more painful.

I have witnessed this in countless teammates, eventually forcing them to stop participating in a sport they loved and had a significant future in.

When coaches and teammates equate an (mostly) unavoidable injury to nothing more than an ice pack and a pat on the back as a remedy, it gives the impression if something even more serious were to happen, it would be treated with the same lackluster support.

I don’t intend to blame coaches and teammates, though, as it seems these responses and emotions are all too common and long standing in athletics, women’s rowing in particular. The judgment and stigma in the aftermath of sports injuries is unavoidable and tends to come with the title of being a varsity athlete.

Perseverance has a time and place, although the thin line between safety and ‘toughing it out’ seem to increasingly blur more and more with every season.

Page Editors

Chase Clark*, Kaitlin Nemeh* Cam Smolen*, JD Standish*, all ’18 Adrian Doan* ’19 Anne Muawad*, Lauren Nemeh*, Maura Shine*, Aidan Walsh*, Elizabeth Wolfe*, all ’20 Copy Editors

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

MAURA SHINE ’20 Page Editor

Ninety three Americans are killed each day by guns, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. That’s 93 children without a mother or father; 93 parents without their child; 93 families and friends who have a gaping hole left in their life. And that’s only in one day; there’s 365 days in a year. That’s over 33,000 people killed as a result of something pointless and preventable.

If more gun control laws would save so many lives and save so many families from indescribable pain, then why is our government so hesitant to pass any? Some states go as far to taking away gun control laws; this is something we cannot afford with all the mass shootings and lives lost. How many more people will need to die before the government will wake up and realize their laws are the problem?

Currently, background checks are only required by federal law if you are purchasing a gun from a licensed dealer, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. This lets criminals, convicted domestic abusers and others buy guns without passing a background check.

In Missouri, the government dismantled its permit system and eliminated background checks. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, gun homicides and gun trafficking increased in response to the policy change.

Mass shootings in the U.S. have become so prevalent it doesn’t come as a shock when you hear about one on the news. As I’m writing this column, another mass shooting has occurred in Texas. What does that tell us? If I can’t even write a piece about mass

Multimedia/Social Media Editors

Abigail Due* ’18, Erica Fossee* ’19 Tower Radio

Alex Acker* ’18 Zachary Heimbuch* ’19 Staff Writers

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

Kaitlin Edgerton

shootings and gun control without one occurring, then we need to make some serious changes as a nation.

Mass shootings have always been part of our history, but recently they have skyrocketed. From Sandy Hook to Las Vegas, we have had countless lives lost, including many children, yet Congress still fails to pass any laws to end these senseless tragedies. If not now, then when? When will a mass shooting be big enough or destructive enough for Congress to take action? Is 20 first graders and kindergartners enough?

Is 58 concert goers enough? Not to Congress. Even today the GOP is still trying to pass laws to ease gun control. The GOP will be voting on a bill to make silencers easier to purchase.

This will lead to worse mass shootings.

If there is a silencer on a gun, then it could be harder for people to hear and their response time of fleeing could be delayed, leading to more people being injured or killed. The SHARE act is what’s next for gun advocates. This act would allow gun owners to transport registered firearms across state lines, carry guns in National Parks, and eliminate the 200 dollar transfer tax on silencers. The problem is, gun advocates keep pushing for more and more when really they need to take a step back and realize we have a serious problem going on in this country, a problem taking innocent lives.

I can’t say for sure if we’ll ever have more gun control laws or if a mass shooting will ever reach the point where Congress will take action. All I know right now is people are dying and families are being destroyed all so gun owners can have more rights.

The saddest thing is we live in a world where one day someone I know, or even I, could be one of those 93 who will be killed by gun violence.

“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 and obscenity. The Editorial Board may edit or shorten letters as long as the meaning is Opinion Pieces unchanged. All letters must be signed and Editorials represent the majority opinion of include a telephone number for confirmation. the Editorial Board and are left unsigned.

Request to withhold the writer’s name Columns represent the opinions of individual from publication for good reason will be staff members and outside contributors. considered. Letters can be sent to the above email address, or dropped off in “The Tower” Editorial Board Room.

An asterisk * denotes Editorial Board editors.

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 | 11.8.17

3 | NEWS

South runs red:

Massacre in students give back, donate blood Sugarland, TX kills for the American Red Cross 26, injures dozens BLAIR CULLEN ’18 Staff Writer

South held its annual Red Cross blood drive on Friday, Nov. 3, with help from the National Honor Society (NHS) and their volunteers.

NHS set the date of the event months ago, but planning was minimal with help from Red Cross. Students had been signing up for weeks and posters were hung to let people know about when the event was and how to sign up, according to adviser Lisa Kline.

“It is a really good because it helps with disaster relief and the blood is used to save lives all (over) the country,” Kline said.

Volunteers came throughout the day to give blood, pass out drinks and snacks for those who just donated and help with setup and clean up, according to NHS Vice President Elise Whitney ’18.

“A lot of people dropped in to see if they were eligible because some people didn’t pass the set of questions, so they would get sent away, but other people (filled) their spots so it all worked out,” Whitney said.

The drive consisted of 25 student volunteers and 80 potential donors, with a successful 65 donations. NHS students came during their tutorial hours and the elected NHS board stayed throughout the day, according to NHS President AJ Rizer ’18.

“At times, the drive was pretty backed up, with students having to wait to give blood with such a significant turn out,”

Rizer said.

The drive lasted six hours, starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m. Around 11-12, the drive picked up, with students seeing if they could do a drop-in during their lunch. With half of the workers leaving for lunch, there was a back up, especially with the students without appointments.

“I was surprised with how many restrictions there are in order to pass the test,” Whitney said. “I couldn’t give blood because I was on amoxicillin, and giving blood could have made my immune system weak.”

Before giving blood, volunteers had to pass a prick test, which would test criteria like hemoglobin levels above 12.

Other restrictions would prevent people from giving blood, such as traveling to certain countries in the past year, or ear piercings at Clare’s in the past year because it wasn’t deemed sanitary, according to Whitney.

“Most of the volunteers were students, but our community members came more in the morning,” Whitney said. “We even had a guy who donated his tenth gallon.”

Students over 16 were allowed to donate by making an appointment or dropping in to see if they would qualify.

The drive had people who had never donated before but successfully did for the first time, and had a good amount of type OO negative donors, the universal blood type, according to Whitney.

“It was an easy way to help people,” blood donor Audrey Leo ’19 said. “I was nervous before just because I was unsure of what to expect, but I am really happy I was able to help.”

RILEY LYNCH ’18 Supervising Editor At least 26 people were shot and killed while attending church in Sutherland Springs, Texas around 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, according to Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt. Many more were injured during the attack, including children.

“This will be a long suffering,” Texas governor Greg Abbott said in a press conference Sunday night. “We ask for God’s comfort, for God’s guidance, and for God’s healing for all those who are suffering.”

According to Tackitt, the victims ranged in age from five to 72. At least 50 people were in the church when the gunman opened fire, and the attack has directly impacted hundreds more.

“While the details of this horrific act are still under investigation… I want to send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by this evil act,” Abbott said in a press statement.

“I want to thank law enforcement for their response and ask that all

The Second Amendment is outdated and doesn’t mean the same thing today as when it was first created.

GRACE MUAWAD ’15

DAY TO DONATE Audrey Leo ’19 prepares to give blood with help from Maren Roeske ’18, with Micaela Fraser ’18 watching.

PHOTO BY RAY HASANAJ ’18

District schools hold open houses for the community

ELIZABETH WOLFE ’20 Page Editor

Grosse Pointe South will be hosting an open house for community members on Nov. 12.

According to South secretary Jane Schultz, all schools in the district will be having their open houses on that day.

“It’s a way for a community (member) who maybe doesn’t have kids in school yet, and even more so, those students who are at our private and parochial schools that might be interested in looking at what South and North have to offer, as far as high school goes,” Schultz said.

According to Vice Principal Joseph Spryszak, the purpose of the open

house is for South and the district to put its best foot forward.

“The open house is a chance for people in the community to come and see what Grosse Pointe South is about,” social studies teacher Dennis Pascoe said. “Other schools around the district will be open, and it’s a chance to show off what Grosse Pointe does.”

According to Spryszak, visitors will have a chance to see South’s sports programs, academics, the building, the administration team and different counselors.

According to Schultz, each department will be represented by either the department chair or a teacher.

“Teachers are here to showcase what we can offer their kids,” Schultz said.

Spryszak said he hopes to get to

know new community members, as it is his first year in the district.

“I’d like to meet as many parents as possible, let everybody see who I am, and just make some good contacts, particularly with the incoming freshmen class,” Sprysak said. “I’ll be working with the incoming freshmen next year, so I want them to be able to put a face to the administrators so when they make a call, or have any requests, they can come see me.”

The open house will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. “(The open house) is a way for us to show off just like the private schools do,” Pascoe said, “We get people in our community, we keep people in our community and make sure they know how great of a school we are.”

Texas State University Student

with mental illness.

“This isn’t a guns situation,” Trump said during a conference.

“This is a mental health problem at the highest level. It’s a very, very sad event.”

Mac Cimmarrusti ’16, a student at Baylor University, said he was disheartened by the attack and hopes Texas can eventually overcome the tragedy.

While Cimmarrusti supports the Second Amendment, he also recognizes restricted access to guns could help prevent mass shootings.

“I believe we should not prevent gun reform legislation,” Cimmarusti said. “I am a firm believer in the second amendment….I firmly believe in concealed carry and the right to bear arms. But we need to make it harder for mentally ill and mentally unstable people to get guns. I think with the amount of money we spend on our prisons, we could use that money to put towards keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.”

Cimmarusti also recognized another large component of mass shootings is the culture surrounding it, especially the reactions.

“It seems like it’s become a darker world in the last ten years of our lifetime than the first ten,” Cimmarusti said.

“Maybe it’s our exposure to news and information, but I would argue people are growing more and more numb to these heartbreaking incidents because they are becoming more and more frequent.”

Muawad agrees with Cimmarusti in this regard, believing that because America has seen many mass attacks with guns, the general public has become all-too used to tragedy.

“Unfortunately, I feel because of the volume of shootings that have occurred, the public has become desensitized and is able to move on from each tragedy quicker than the last,” Muawad said. “The families, friends and communities involved are left to pick up the pieces of a senseless act of violence.”

Texans pray for the Sutherland Springs community during this time of mourning and loss.”

The shooter has been identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley. After exiting the church, Kelley was pursued by a local resident with a rifle, according to Freeman Martin, a regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

He was briefly chased by police and was found dead in his vehicle, although it has not been confirmed whether It seems like it he committed suicide or was has become a shot by police. The motive for the shooting is still unknown, darker world Martin said. in the last ten Grace Muawad ’15, a junior years of our at Texas State University, lifetime. lives less than 50 miles from Sutherland Springs.

She believes the aftermath of the MAC CIMMARUSTI ’16 shooting will especially impact schools in Texas, many of which Baylor University have allowed students to carry a student concealed weapon.

“We have ‘Campus Carry’ at my school,” Muawad said. “It is a bill that was passed which permits anyone with either a license or a concealed handgun license to carry a concealed weapon on campus.”

Muawad believes the Second Amendment plays a large part in tragedies such as mass shootings, and the key to preventing further incidents is implementing gun control and putting further restrictions on who can purchase firearms.

“The Second Amendment is outdated and doesn’t mean the same thing today as when it was first created….we need to put restrictions on what types of weapons civilians are allowed to own,” Muawad said.

22205 Greater President Donald Trump, Mack Ave while on a diplomatic trip in (586) 777-2256 Japan, addressed the situation the following Monday at a press conference, saying the issue doesn’t lie with gun control, but

Emily’s Middle Eastern Deli

THE GHOST OF OPEN HOUSE’S PAST Community members meet with Link Crew members during last year’s open house.

PHOTO BY CAM FRANCIS ’17

4 |ENTERTAINMENT

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 11.8.17

What’s happening in Detroit?

UFC 2018 Though tickets aren’t yet available for UFC’s debut at the LCA on Dec. 2, it promises to be an unforgettable night. Tickets will go on sale at a date to be announced. Check the LCA’s website for more information on tickets.

Events taking place at the Little Caesars Arena

Halsey World Tour

Halsey is coming to the LCA on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. along with special guests Charli XCX and PartyNextDoor. Tickets, which range in price from $29 to $69, can be purchased online at www.olympiaentertainment.com, in person at the Fox Theatre box office, or via phone at 800-745-3000.

SYLVIA HODGES ’19 Copy Editor

Jay-Z 4:44 Tour

Katy Perry Witness Tour

On Nov. 18, Jay-Z will perform at the new Little Caesars Arena (LCA) at 8 p.m. Special guest Vic Mensa will also be performing.

Tickets are already on sale on www.olympiaentertainment.com or in person at the Fox Theatre box office. Tickets can also be purchased via phone at 800-745-3000.

Katy Perry will perform at the LCA on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale and range in price from $50 to $200. They can be purchased online at www.olympiaentertainment.com, in person at the Fox Theatre box office, or via phone at 800-745-3000.

The District Detroit College Basketball Showcase

Red Wings Games The Detroit Red Wings call the LCA their new home arena, and several home games in the inaugural season are coming up. The team will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m., the Calgary Flames on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. For the full schedule, check the official Red Wings website at www.nhl.com/redwings. Tickets can be purchased on their website through Ticketmaster. Prices vary.

This showcase at the LCA will feature the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Oakland University and the University of Detroit Mercy on Dec. 16. The University of Michigan will take on Detroit Mercy and Michigan State will be up against Oakland. This event will mark the first college basketball game at the LCA. Tickets can be purchased online at www.olympiaentertainment.com, in person at the Fox Theatre box office, or via phone at 800-745-3000. Ticket prices range from $40 to $75.

Adrenaline-raising movie releases with a bang MY VIEW

D

CHARLIE MATTHEWS ’20 Staff Writer

isney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok”, the third installment of the “Thor” series, is a humorous, colorful, psychedelic experience that features an outstanding soundtrack, yet this was not enough to save the tedious storyline that came with it.

In the third installment of the “Thor” series, Thor, the God of thunder, is imprisoned, forced to fight Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), his fellow Avenger, in a gladiator battle, while Hela (Cate Blanchett), the Goddess of death, threatens to destroy Asgard, Thor’s home planet.

Watching the ever so fierce Thor destroy enemies with his notorious hammer was fun to watch. The vibrant, psychedelic visuals seen in the trailer rang true in the film; watching it was a very fun experience for my eyes. The film’s

soundtrack leaned heavily on 70s rock, primarily Led Zeppelin, and it was terrific.

Despite all of these redeeming factors, I was extremely disappointed the storyline wasn’t nearly as vibrant as everything else seemed to be. The film’s director, Taika Waititi, succeeded in integrating his humorous style into a film where it wasn’t expected, and I’ll give him props for that. However, the storyline was just too much for me.

The film ran for two hours and ten minutes, but I feel as if it should’ve ran for an hour and a half. There were a number of moments during the film that felt unnecessarily boring and complicated, and Waititi decided to fill them with a number of decent jokes the whole theater seemed to think were brilliant.

I too cracked a couple of laughs, but it just became underwhelming at times.

After the first hour of the film, I almost felt like I had no idea what was going on.

Yes, there were a couple of moments

scattered in the film that did almost save the underwhelming plot. Thor fighting the Hulk in an arena battle was by far the highlight of the film. Skurge the Executioner, played by Karl Urban, using a shake weight to impress some ladies was also a successful scene. As great as these scenes and many more were to watch, they still were not enough to save the almost indescribable plot and the bizarre ending.

While “Thor: Ragnarok” seemed to contain almost every aspect a good movie is bound to have, the dull plotline was tedious to sit through and almost canceled out all of the decent humor and the amazing visuals the film had to offer. I strongly disagree with the Rotten Tomatoes assessment of a 93 percent rating, but an exciting plot would’ve easily propelled the film up to that point.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMBD.COM

Making money without leaving the home: student raves about online selling opportunity Maintaining a part-time job while dealing MARGOT BAER ’18 with the stress Staff Writer and workload of being a high school student can be taxing, but if your parents are slowly cutting off your allowance, there is an easi-

MY VIEW

er way to make money from the comfort of your own home. It’s called Poshmark.

Poshmark is an app where you can sell your old or new clothes without having to leave your bedroom.

Here’s how it works: first, go through all the items in your closet and weed out all the clothes you don’t wear or ones that don’t fit anymore. Next, download the Poshmark app and create an account, and now you’re ready to start selling. It’s easy as taking a few nice photos, creating a caption and description and determining how much to sell the item for. After uploading the item, wait and see if someone is buying what you're selling. The more items for sale, the better chance you will get a sale.

Once the first sale happens, all you have to do is print out a shipping label Poshmark emails you, tape it onto a shipping package, put the item into a package and drop it into GRAPHIC BY JD STANDISH’18 a mailbox.

I started poshing in February of 2016. So far, I have 287 listings for sale and I’ve made Poshmark is available for free in the App 1,500 dollars. I found the app when I was look- Store and on Google Play ing to buy a used pair of Kanye West’s famous sneakers, “Yeezys”. I found the app and its whole With all the technology we have today, making community very intriguing. Most Poshers will remoney doesn't have to be complicated. I think using spond to any question you have about the product an app like Poshmark only has positive outcomes and within the same day you ask them. is an excellent way to make some quick easy money.

I was so excited when I made my first sale. It was so simple to ship it out, and within four days, your balance gets updated with your earnings from the sale.

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 11.8.17

5 | FEATURE

Music makers of South Aspiring DJ shares his sory as a performer KARI RONNING ’20 Staff Writer Fritz Worner ’20 is a busy student with classes during the day and sailing after school. However, he is an aspiring DJ at night.

According to Worner, he plays music for many events throughout the year when presented the opportunity.

Worner entertains through his DJing business for many reasons, including financial support and the potential goals it provides for the future.

“I like seeing the reaction of the crowds and my goal is to become the next Hardwell,” Worner said.

DJing appealed to Worner because of its technical side. His setup includes speakers, lights and a computer streaming all the music. Worner has a specific set up for each show, as well as a certain look that attracts the crowd.

“I like having the lights set up so I can see their movement patterns and have the base pound really hard,” Womer said. “The lights can be programmed, but on smaller shows, I don’t normally have them connected to the computer.”

According to Worner, he has a certain style for the type of music streaming through his comput-

er. He plays modern music and popular hits from 2013 prior. Worner attracts many clients through his hobby, such as charitable organizations and clubs.

“I have DJed for the Full Circle Foundation, Bayview Yacht Club, kids’ Halloween parties, a graduation and a few birthday shows, but Bayview is the biggest,” Worner said.

According to Gwen Hudson ’20, a student who attended his shows, the special effects Worner puts into his lights are a crowd pleaser.

“The crowd gets really pumped up and excited,” Hudson said. “They enjoy his music and how he makes it his own. The way he presents his lights moving around in the dark and how he makes the speakers really loud is cool.”

Emma Turner ’19 said Worner puts his heart into DJing and it makes him really happy. Turner agreed Worner’s talent is especially clear in his use of lighting.

“He uses colorful lights and even programs them to the beats in the music,” Turner said. “He takes a lot of pride in them.”

Young musician explains his passion for songwritng ZACH HEIMBUCH ’19 Assistant Tower Radio Producer What started out as a recreational activity only two years ago has become the focus of Jack Hodges ’19 life. Writing and producing music has turned into a passion and possible career for Hodges. With thousands of listeners on Spotify and SoundCloud, Hodges has been able to consistently produce music of all genres.

“When making music, I prefer not to have a set genre, as I listen to basically all types,” Hodges said. “I’m currently working on an alternative song soon, but I also have made pop and R&B songs. I want to make music for all audiences to enjoy.”

Even though Hodges started making music only a couple years back, he is already being viewed by peers as a possible professional musician in the near future. He gained almost immediate popularity at the beginning of his career, and it remains to stick with him to this day.

“I truly enjoy listening to (Hodges’) music,” Jeff Catrambone ’19, longtime friend of Hodges said.

“I think it’s really cool that he’s now working in a professional studio. The music continues to improve, song after song.”

Although Hodges works primarily solo, and does collaborations every now and then, he has always had friends and family at his back. According

to Hodges’ mother, Sara Hodges, she and the rest of the Hodges family is in complete support of his music career.

“I’m thrilled that Jack is continuing his career in music, and I’ll do everything that I can to be behind him,” Sara said. “I think he’s super talented and has a lot to offer.”

According to Hodges, he also plays the guitar and piano, alongside singing, editing and producing music. The ability to play musical instruments has shown to be a positive for Hodges, as most of his songs are hosts to the guitar and/or piano.

“I’ve been playing the guitar since seventh grade, and have recently been dabbling with piano,” Hodges said. “I took about six months worth of guitar lessons, but I mostly taught myself how to play.”

Hodges said that music would definitely be a career that he’d fall in love with, as he’s clearly already ardent about it. He doesn’t know what the future will entail for him, but music looks to be something that sticks with Hodges no matter what paths he’ll take.

“I can’t predict the future, I don’t know how things will end up, but what I can say is that I will continue to make music,” Hodges said. “It’s my passion, so I invest all my heart and soul into it, so I hope that my listeners can hear that effort and love in my songs.”

Fall in Grosse Pointe RED, WHITE, BLUE AND FALL An American flag waves in the wind atop a niche at the St. Paul Catholic Church Columbarium. St. Paul on the Lake is the oldest Catholic parish in the Grosse Pointes, established in the 1790s.

RING THE BELLS The Joy Bells chime every fifteen minutes on Grosse Poine Boulevard. They date back to 1929 when they were commissioned by Henry B. Joy. GRAPHICS BY ADRIAN DOAN ’19

FALL COLORS The leaves burst with new colors as the Grosse Pointe Community prepares for autumn. Grosse Pointe Farms public works crew collect up to 150 tons of leaves, according to the City of Grosse Pointe Farms.

PHOTOS BY JOHN FRANCIS ’18

6 | FEATURE

RELEASED

up to Oswald simply being the shooter.

“I don’t think that Oswald was a lone shooter.

From the trajectory of where I saw where JFK’s head The White House has just released the long await- go in his car to where Oswald was when he fired, I ed files about the assassination of former president don’t think that it was possible for it to go that way,” John F. Kennedy.

Rennell said..

These 2,891 files that can be found Other countries even voiced on archives.gov. The files contain evtheir conspiracies. According “I don’t think that Oswald erything from assassination attempts to a newly released file, Russia was a lone shooter. From on former Cuban President Fidel stated in a letter to the White the trajectory of where I Castro to more information on Lee House that they thought that saw where JFK’s head go Harvey Oswald’s whereabouts before the former Vice President Lynin his car to where Oswald the event. don B. Johnson was the masterwas when he fired, I don’t Even a mysterious phone call is mind behind the assassination think that it was possible recorded in one document that told of Kennedy. for it to go that way.” a British newspaper before the as“Russia has always tried to MICHAEL RENNELL sassination of Kennedy, “there is big meddle with our presidential Social Studies Teacher news in the United States coming process. They could actually soon.” But not a lot of useful or damthink LBJ did it and there’s a aging information was made public. low chance it might be, but it’s “The files that were released are useless. No im- probably not true,” Naparano said. portant information was released or will be released Others, like teacher Peter Palen, aren’t convinced because the CIA and the FBI don’t want it to,” Joseph there is a conspiracy or any secrets that the governNaparano ’18 said. ment is hiding.

Still about 500 of the files remain confidential un“The one true thing about conspiracy theories til they can be further reviewed by the White House are that they are conspiracy theories. I do not buy and other intelligence organizations. President Don- into any sort of conspiracy theories involving the ald Trump said he wants all the files released by April Kennedy Assassination,” Palen said.

26, 2018.

Although like others, Palen is still fascinated by Many like teacher Michael Rennell think more the files. important information is probably hidden in these “The one document that intrigues me discusses files.

Lee Harvey Oswald’s trip to Mexico about a week “There is probably some information hidden in before the assassination,” Palen said.. those files that people don’t want to get out because At the time of the assassination the then FBI Diit may damage their reputation,” rector, J. Edgar Hoover, sent mesRennell said. sages to multiple groups venting The one true thing The declassified information his frustration about the killing of came to the public after President Oswald when he was in police cusabout conspiracy Trump stated in a Tweet that he tody through letters and journal theories are that they would release the “JFK Files” on entries that now are released to the are conspiracy theoOct. 27, 2017. Trump has said the public. He suspected since Oswald ries. I do not buy into reason for making the files public had died, there would be a public any sort of conspiracy outcry and rumors of conspiracy. is for “transparency” and “to put conspiracy theories to rest.” AlHoover wrote in a memo foltheories involving the though some may say the files halowing the death of Oswald, “There Kennedy Assassination ven’t done anything to quiet their is nothing further on the Oswald conspiracy theories. case except that he is dead.”

PETER PALEN “I think that the CIA was inHoover has many other docSocial Studies Teacher volved in killing Kennedy,” Nauments in the archives, but most parano said. “Nobody else has the just vent his frustration and disbeability to do that.” lief that an event like this could have happened, folEver since the assassination in 1963, there have lowed by the shooter getting killed himself. He knew been many conspiracies including another shooter, the public would suspect something, but many quesinvolvement from the mob, the CIA, the FBI. Some tion why weren’t the files released. even think aliens played a part killing Kennedy.

“If the federal government didn’t have anything to Many may be ridiculous, but some point to common hide, why were the files hidden for so long. It doesn’t sense and reason as to why the evidence doesn’t add make sense. So they are definitely hiding something,” ALEX ACKER ’18 Executor Producer of Tower Radio

Veteran’s Day

Q & A With Colonel John Hall JULIA AMBROZY ’20 Staff Writer

Q: A:

What war did you fight in and what was your job?

“I served in the six fifteenth aviation support battalion, which is part of the first cavalry division, and my job at the time I was what’s called an S3, so I was the operations officer for our battalion, so I was coordinating day to day operations our battalion and also doing planning for missions that were upcoming.

I was also responsible for the training of the unit to make sure that they were ready.”

Q: A:

How long did you serve for?

“I am still in active duty. I got commissioned in June 1995, so that’s 22 and a half years of service overall.”

Q: A:

What was the hardest part about serving?

“When you’re in the service, you go where they tell you to go, and I think the hardest part is watching the impact it can have on my family.”

Q:

Who is your biggest influence that helped you during hard times?

A:

“I would say it is my family. They’re obviously the rock that I depend on. If it weren’t for them, I tell people from a very simple, selfish standpoint it would be easy if I only had to worry about myself but I think that would be such an empty and hollow existence. My wife and children mean the world to me and they’re everything to me. As I’ve gone through hard times, when I leave and deploy somewhere, they’re the ones I think about, and I look forward to getting back too. Anytime I have some trouble, I know that I can come back to them and I can talk to them and get their support.”

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 11.8.17

IN UNIFORM John Hall in his Officer’s Uniform upon graduating from War College.

Naparano said.

Although many of the documents were useless and not all the documents have been released, it is still a huge moment for the public. After waiting so long, the people finally have documents they deserved and could have used 54 years ago.

“All historians rely on these documents to construct history,” Palen said. “So it’s very exciting when documents that have been hidden for so long are released.”

Oh, dang it!

GRAPHIC BY GRIFFIN JONES ’18

exploring profanities in school ABI DUE ’18 Social Media Editor “What the f***!”

“Oh s***!”

“God d*****!”

Through the hallways, on the front lawn and in the parking lot, profanities are unconsciously used by the multitude of students at South, Joey Naporano ’18 said.

“I’m actually not sure how many times I do, it just slips out. I don’t even care when I do it now,” Naporano said, “But when I was younger, I used to be like, ‘Oh my god, I swore!’”

Some swear for a sense of relief to get their anger out and for others, it just happens.

As for Keagan Mulcahy ’18, it depends on the situation.

“If I’m fighting with someone, it makes me feel better, but if I’m just like, ‘Oh f*** you,’ I don’t feel any better,” Mulcahy said.

Our society is so nonchalant about swearing, Naporano explained, such as in the music we listen to, so he doesn’t feel it’s that bad if we hear it all around us.

So if our society is nonchalant about it, are people still viewed another way for swearing? English teacher Danielle Peck would say so, and it’s not only students who are looked at differently.

“I think that you need to know adults realize that as well.

I know that a public forum, such as a classroom, or especially if I’m talking to someone who is my superior, or I’m speaking in a strictly professional setting,” Peck said.

According to Peck, in the

past, there have been a student. few students who have Teachers have called Napoused a profanity in front rano out for using profanities in of the class. class before, but he’s never had “If they were giving a pre- any serious punishments for it, sentation in which they were supposed to be professional and they use a swear word, which surprisingly I’m actually not sure has happened in the past, how many times I do, then of course, I would take it just slips out. I don’t points off because they were even care when I do it not being professional,” Peck said. now.

But there are a few inJOEY NAPORANO ’18 stances when swearing is okay, Peck explained, when a student is using a swear word for a meaningful reason. he explained.

“In my AP Lang class, where “I know teachers probably we were writing different exam- think negatively of me for it, ples of how people can use lan- but other people don’t care, it’s guage, I can think of one spe- my personality,” Naporano said.

Most of the time when Naporano swears, he does it unconsciously.

I think that you need “It just comes out probably to know adults realize 80 percent of the time, but the that as well. I know that other 20 percent of the time, I’m actually expressing myself a public forum, such as about the topic,” Naporano a classroom, or espesaid. “If I’m yelling at someone, cially if I’m talking to swearing helps me get my point someone who is my su- across.”

Even though Mulcahy has perior, or I’m speaking started swearing more often, in a strictly professional she said, doesn’t mean she setting. thinks can do it everywhere.

“It depends where you are DANIELLE PECK in the situation that you’re in, I English Teacher guess when I’m with my friends I think it’s a lot more appropriate to swear, rather than when cific example where it actually I’m with a parent or teacher,” kind of worked,” Peck said.

Mulcahy said.

If a student is using the swear word in a derogatory context towards herself or another student in the classroom, Peck said, she will be extremely offended and will correct the

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 11.8.17

7 | FEATURE

The end of a chapter:

WINNING DESIGN

Barnes & Nobles bookstore closes on Mack ADRIAN DOAN ’19 Page Editor

PHOTO BY JULIA AMBROZY ’20

PRETTY PAINTING Muriel Steinke dips her paintbrush into one of the multicolored paint palettes. Her design was chosen for this year’s directory cover.

Hand drawn design selected for directory cover, showcasing a senior’s original work CAITLIN MILLER ’18 Staff Writer The Sparta seniors are represented on the cover of the South’s 2017-18 directory. Muriel Steinke ’18 was chosen not only to have her design placed on the directory, but to illustrate school spirit shown by the seniors.

The artists eligible in this competition have to be seniors, according to Aro. Aro added the design must “reflect the senior theme.”

The directory is being distributed to homes by the Mothers’ Club, and according to Aro, the Mothers’ Club selected the art used. Steinke said over 1,000 copies of the directory are being reproduced with her art.

“I am very grateful they picked me and I keep seeing it in people’s houses, and that’s really exciting,” Steinke said.

Steinke also designed the senior homecoming shirts. She said the helmet in the directory is very similar to the t-shirt. Steinke used Photoshop to create her art.

“My favorite part about my design is how clean it is. I think it covers the senior theme really well without being too tacky,” Steinke said. “I really like that my branches, like the leaves that I drew, I actually hand drew and then scanned them in, so it’s interesting to see that’s actually my hand drawn art.”

Steinke has been taking art classes at South since her freshman year, and she has been doing art her whole life. Steinke has always entered art into the competitions the art department shares with students.

“This information was shared with all art students through our Google Classroom VIBE and ArtSource,” Aro said. “We use those digital bulletin boards to share all competitions, opportunities and

college visits with art students.”

In choosing the design, the Mothers’ Club looks for things they think will work best to represent the school, Aro said.

A friend of Steinke’s, Simon Chen ’18, said he doesn’t know how they choose the art, but he has seen how much work Steinke puts into her design.

According to Chen, all of Steinke’s art is executed very professionally.

“I know Muriel is a great artist with a terrific eye for appealing graphic design compositions,” Chen said.

In the last week of summer, instead of preparing for school, Sean Gates ’19 was walking between the bookshelves of John K. King Used & Rare Books in Detroit. He glanced back and forth waiting for something to draw him in. Maybe it would be the title. Maybe the cover artwork. There is something almost inexplicable about the process of buying books from a physical store Gates loves.

“I love actually going to the bookstore to buy my books,” Gates, president of South’s Book Club, said. “The atmosphere in bookstores is so unique, and you get to discover amazing books that you never would’ve read.”

But for Grosse Pointe residents, such as Gates, the community will lose a nearby bookstore with the closing of the Barnes & Noble on Mack Avenue in January 2018, years after losing another when the Borders on Kercheval closed.

“It definitely concerns and really upsets me,” Gates said. “It just makes it harder for people to have access to a physical bookstore, and I think that it makes people less likely to explore reading.”

Gates has never given up on reading physical books or shopping in bookstores. According to Gates, the experience is much more gratifying.

In the face of closing bookstores, students such as Lucy Burgoyne ’19 have embraced e-book alternatives.

“I prefer physical books, but the convenience of my Kindle is really fantastic,” Burgoyne said.

Although Burgoyne does enjoy the advantages of her Kindle, she has not given up physical books and occasionally shops at the Barnes & Noble that is closing.

“I am super upset Barnes & Noble is closing; it’s the worst news I have received in some time,” Burgoyne said.

Burgoyne gets more enjoyment out of reading physical books and loves the feeling of putting them onto the bookshelf once complete, but that hasn’t been enough to stop her from predominantly using e-books; however, Burgoyne admits to feeling guilty about this.

“What makes me really sad and what I feel really bad about is by using my Kindle I helped destroy bookstores like Barnes & Noble,” Burgoyne said.

Burgoyne’s experience at bookstores echoed that of Gates. Despite the fact that she can acquire books without the stores, she will still miss them.

“I know I can still get books on Amazon or on my Kindle,” Burgoyne said. “But it’s this atmosphere at stores like Barnes & Noble where you are surrounded by all these books.”

English teacher Sandra McCue doesn’t think she will be affected by bookstores closing, as she usually goes to the library, but she believes there are advantages of physical books over e-books.

“For me, physical books are a lot easier on my eyes when I read them, but for my students, I do not think

there is a huge difference,” McCue said. “It is easier to reference sections of a book in class if everyone has a physical copy.”

McCue won’t find her reading affected, but she is saddened by a different effect of bookstores closing.

“The thing I get saddest about when I hear bookstores are closing is that I like to buy books for people as gifts,” McCue said. “I like to browse at an actual store and find books that interest me.”

Despite sadness about the closing, Gates admits the impact is not huge. There are other bookstores for him to shop at and other ways to access books.

“In the end, I guess it isn’t really that big of a deal,” Gates said. “Either way, the information is still the same. You can still read the same story or learn the same thing. There are just those small things like that new book smell, seeing your progress and being able to keep it as a token of accomplishment that I don’t think can be replaced.”

PHOTO BY ANNE MUAWAD ’20

A teacher’s silent hobby: teacher or mime?

SOLANA BRYSON ’18 Staff Writer English department teacher and theater instructor Meaghan Dunham was a mime as a part of her undergraduate studies of theater at Michigan State University. For almost 10 years, Dunham participated in open houses and school events, enlightening various audiences with her skills.

“The mime was part of the children’s theater component, so you learned the rudimentary skills, and as an actor, you can choose to explore mime a little further or you can kind of let it go,” Dunham said.

According to Dunham, the skill included creating a distinctive look with makeup and interacting with people by pretending to be in a box and pulling fake ropes.

“Mime is really fun because it’s not acting; it’s not on stage, there’s no memorizing,” Dunham said. “It’s pretty much reacting and interacting with people.”

According to Dunham, an important part of being a mime was reading the temperament of the audience because some people would

love to interact with the mime and others would hate being mocked.

“This was in an era in Michigan State in the mid 80s, it was okay to be a mime then. Today, mimes (are) like clowns, they’re the butt of jokes, they’re fun and they’re silly and they’re kind of ridiculous,” Dunham said The famous mime, Marcel Marceau, was still performing acts during Dunham’s mime exploration, making the hobby less out of the ordinary.

“Honestly, it was a way to make money. Back then and through my grad school, when I was working at the Hilberry, there would be notices for mime events,” Dunham said.

According to Dunham, when she noticed openings for mimes, it wasn’t hard for her to decide to become one because they centered around independence as a performer and it was a new challenge.

“You might get, for instance, 40 dollars for a two hour gig,” Dunham said. “At least 10 or 12 bucks an hour.”

Dunham got paid more than the average 2017 hourly minimum wage when she was a mime in the 1980s, and according to Dunham, she would be a mime again for the money.

“Whatever she needs to do to pay the bills, to pass the time,” theater student Grayson Kennedy ’19 said. “It’s a form of art and expression.”

According to Dunham, when she taught at the University of Liggett middle school, she would teach a mime unit to her students and they would have to create their own mime makeup and persona.

“I think she is somebody that loves acting and everything that goes along with that; so, taking time to pretend you’re somebody you’re not and the entertainment aspect. She’s got a very bubbly personality, so I think that would go good with that,” English teacher Sandra McCue said.

The job of a mime could only benefit Dunham in her pursuit of acting and contribute to her teachings today, according to Dunham.

“It was a fun way to make money. It was a great way to interact with people, and the physicality of it, the gestures and working with the skill set involved in being a mime could only help me as a director, as an educator,” Dunham said. “As an actor, it was a really easy fit for me.”

8 | FEATURE

Fall Sports Recap

Girls Golf: 6-3

Girls Swim and Dive: 7-13 Boys Soccer: 5-5

Boys Football: 5-5

Girls Volleyball: 14- 13-3

Steps to successfully prepare for sport recruitment Being recruited to play a sport in college is a major step forward in life, but the process of getting to that point can be difficult and time consuming.

Ava Boutrous ’18, is currently going the recruitment process as a swimmer for Grosse Pointe South, she is trying to enroll in multiple high academic and athletic standard colleges.

“For me, the recruiting process started in June, so I’ve been working hard at getting my name out since then,” Boutrous said. “However, all of junior year was tough because I wanted to try to push my times up, that’s about when colleges start to look at your pass times.”

According to Boutrous, the process was more irritating than difficult due to the large amount of paperwork involved with getting recruited. Aspiring recruits must stay in contact with college coaches, continually updating them with new statistics and information regarding their sport.

“You have to send out your athletic resume and times to all of the coaches for colleges you’re looking at,” Boutrous said. “This can be annoying because sometimes, there is multiple coaches per team. It’s a bit tedious at times, but it’s definitely worth it in the long run.”

Girls Field Hockey: 3-14

Boys tennis : 5-5

Preparing for the college recruitment process

ZACH HEIMBUCH ’19 Staff Writer

THETOWERPULSE.NET | 11.8.17

Starting the recruiting process as going the extra mile, attending early as possible is the best thing that practices every day and making hercan be done to decrease stress and self known in hopes of the eventual increase chances of recruitment, ac- college letter in the mail. cording to College Resource Center “[Boutrous] has been talking to Coordinator Liz Naporano. Athletes coaches and going on college visits should try their best to spread their for a long while now,” Liu said. “She name around to different colleges, is obviously passionate about swimthrough showcases and camps. ming, putting work in at practices “If you really want to play a sport every day.” in college, start doing showcases Boutrous added that high school and getting yourself out there as athletes should work hard now, so soon as possible,” Naporano said. they can be proud of their accom“Reaching out to coaches is huge, plishments in the future. Put in find a school that you’d like to not only play a sport at, but also learn at, and begin talking to If you really want to play a them. Personally, I would start sport in college, start doing communicating with college as early as sophomore year.” showcases and getting Boutrous has been receiving yourself out there. guidance from veterans of the recruitment process. According LIZ NAPORANO to her, any source of help will College Resource Center end up being useful and much appreciated.

“I’ve gone to a lot of my older friends who are current col- more effort than needed to be relege swimmers and have gotten cruited, so looking back on it, you advice from them,” Boutrous said. can say that you gave it everything “My coaches have also helped me you had. out with the process, guiding me “Do everything you can to make through everything.” yourself known to college coaches,” According to friend, Reneé Liu, Boutrous said. “There will come a Boutrous has been committed to time that all of your hard work will getting recruited, as well as swim- pay off and you’ll be thankful that ming in general for as long as she you did what you did.” can remember. Boutrous has been

Boys Cross Country: 8-7 Girls Cross Country: 13-2

Swimming for success at South Clarice Fisher ’19 on hard work and achievements in swimming CLAIRE SHEEREN ’20

Copy Editor

Hard work and achievements have gone hand in hand for Clarice Fisher ’19 throughout her high school swimming career so far.

Fisher trains sometimes up to four hours a day during her South season and three hours every day throughout the rest of the year. Besides swimming for South in the fall, she also swims for Grosse Pointe Gators year round and Grosse Pointe Farms in the summer.

She has been swimming for 11 years.

According to South swim and dive head coach Eric Gunderson, Fisher works really hard and is willing to do anything to help herself improve in swimming.

“Clarice is probably consistently day in and day out the hardest worker on the team,” Gunderson said. “She really will choose to do the sets (workouts) that are maybe not the easier ones, but rather the ones that even though she knows they’re going to hurt, will be the sets that will benefit her most as a swimmer.”

Friend and teammate Renee Liu ’19 agrees with Gunderson and thinks Fisher will be well prepared for the future.

“We’ll see where she goes, but if she keeps on working as hard as she does,

she’ll definitely go far,” Liu said.

As a result of her hard work, Fisher has earned awards such as all conference, all state and even placing second at states last year in the 100 meter butterfly. However, Fisher was most proud of dropping a lot of time in the event.

“Dropping time, even if you don’t place high, is always your number one goal in swimming,” Fisher said. “As long as you’re self improving, you’re accomplishing something.”

Fisher hopes to swim division one in college. According to Liu, she is swimming in the right direction.

“She’s (Fisher) done really well,” Liu said. “She is set to swim D1 in college for sure.”

Going into the end of the South swimming season, Gunderson is looking forward to seeing how Fisher competes in the major meets. Fisher hopes to win a state championship.

“She’s (Fisher) seen some amazing results and this year has been no different,” Gunderson said. “It’s going to be really exciting now that we’re getting into championship meets, to see what she can do.”

Most importantly, Gunderson is proud of Fisher’s results from all of her hard work.

“She’s a hard worker and there’s nothing better than seeing success when you work hard,” Gunderson said.