4
MAY 2 BOND PROPOSAL
Citizens will soon vote on whether to add and upgrade features around Utica.
5
BAND TEES
Students share opinions on wearing t-shirts of bands they don’t actually listen to.
6-7
FEATURED: SLANG TERMS
A look at our generation’s slang words compared to the slang of the past.
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MR. CHIEFTAIN
Annual event returns, raising over $6,000 for local charity.
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POWERLIFTING
Members of the team share their reasons for joining, and their favorite memories from the season.
ONLINE CHECK THIS OUT FIND EXPANDED COVERAGE FROM EVERY PRINT EDITION, NEW STORIES, RECENT SPORTS SCORES AND MORE AT WWW.UHSARROW.ORG.
thought I did, so that was a big shock. I was sad when I got denied, because I wanted to donate for the cause.”
Utica’s blood drive was held on Feb. 9, and, according to the Red Cross, saved 99 lives. The blood drive also prompted 48 first time donors and collected 33 units.
“I definitely do think holding a blood drive is beneficial,” teacher Sarah Miller said, “not only for the sake of the recipients of the donations, but also for our students to have the opportunity to make a real, impactful difference in their community. To me, this is an ultimate sign of selflessnessthe willingness to share what you have with those who need it.”
Many students committed the selfless act of donating blood; however, not everyone that tried to donate could.
“I tried to donate but they would not let me,” junior Natalie Garwood said. “They told me my heart rate was too high. I had two chances to get it down, but I just couldn’t.”
Garwood was not the only student to get turned away.
“I could not donate because they said I did not weigh enough for my height,” senior Gabby Lockaby said. “I
Some students donated in honor of their loved ones and felt very passionate about the cause.
“I wanted to donate blood because my uncle died from loss of blood in the hospital,” senior Nadeen Rashed said, “so I thought I have blood and I could help so I might as well donate so it does not happen again.”
Other students donated simply because they wanted to help out their community.
“I felt very helpful and really wanted to donate to help out the cause,” junior Madison Moll said. “I am happy I donated and I actually went back a few weeks later and donated platelets.”
Some students said that after giving blood they felt light headed and the whole process took a lot out of them.
“It was a horrible experience because I was dehydrated,” Rashed said. “They had to put the needle at a 90 degree angle. It hurt, but I just kept on donating for the cause.”
Many people have the ability to become a leader, either of a community or a program. Leaders can also help to find other leaders who are determined to build something, anything. On Feb. 8, student council put on an event to collaborate and interact with many young leaders during Leadership Day.
“We got kids from Eppler,” senior Gabbie Boskovich said, “and we got people to teach them to be leaders.”
The purpose of this event was to recognize students from Eppler and Utica for their hard work that teachers picked specifically.
“It allowed people to show characteristics for leaders,” Boskovich said. “It started in second hour and ended in sixth hour.”
Many different student interacted with each other.
“We did icebreakers to make everyone more comfortable,” senior Angela Matthews said. “We also played inspirational videos.”
Speaker Tunji Adebayo was invited to give a speech in the auditorium.
“That was one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard,” principal Tim Youngblood said. “The idea to get him was from a teacher at Eisenhower who recommended him.“
“It was really good and very encouraging,“ senior Irkia Polus said. “He talked about tactics in the ECC.“
The way Adebayo presented his words was considered
The Diversity Summit was held on Monday, March 13. It was a great learning experience for all that went there. This event introduced students to people from all different backgrounds, to work together and work on things to break down systemic barriers.
“There were sessions that dealt with issues including wellness, healthy lifestyles, different cultures and gender identity,” associate principal Deborah Olson said.
This event consisted of different students from different backgrounds about systemic things people go through.
very unique to the students there.
“The speaker was the best part,“ senior Isabella Yatooma said. “He brought out a dead rat and Mountain Dew to explain character.”
The activities were considered fun and they pertained to leadership building and interacting with other students.
“There was a shark tank pitch for one of the activities,“ senior Lana Gamoura said. “You could pitch your own ideas.“
The program contained a diverse set of students.
“We got a group of seniors and organized activities,” senior Ava Cybulski said. “We had some kids from AVID nominated, as well as some kids from 9-12th grade.“
Organizing this event was a fun time for the student council.
“It was fun, and there was a large group of people,” senior Abigail Holland said. “The speaker talked about accountability and the meaning behind the name.”
The program was a way to expand the minds of possible leaders among the students in UCS.
“We did fun little games and watched videos,” junior Tyler Watford said. “It was to acknowledge people with leadership skills.”
Overall, students who were invited to Leadership Day said it was an educational, innovative and a lively way to expand their minds.
“I met new people,” junior Camila Agustin said. “We talked about topics that people wouldn’t normally talk about, like racism and minorities.”
Hardships that can uplift you into being the person you are today. In this event, it included multiple sessions on different topics on the lines of the LGBT community, storytelling, workshop, art and poetry and much more. Many students listened to a speaker named Satori Shakoor and learned many things from her.
In one part Shakoor’s session, she talked about different ethnicities and races, as well how certain things have affected them and how they overcame it.
Students loved how Shakoor used different methods to get her point across.
“I had a great time,” junior Kennadi Hazen said. “Ms. Satori handled storytelling, sharing experiences, workshop and how to tell a love story.”
Shakoor also gave different speeches in other buildings, which students believed were uplifting.
“I could relate to things from her, like coming from a different country,” sophomore Edith Vargas-Nunez said. “It brought me hope in myself. It was sad but in a good way.”
More students who went to Shakoor’s sessions were uplifted in a way. Shakoor also sung a song regarding racism as a part of her storytelling.
“She was amazing,” Agustin said. “I really liked the way she incorporated song in her speech, and she even talked about her own struggles to connect with us.”
“I really liked the show where they introduced storytelling,” sophomore Xinyan Xie said, “though I think they should have incorporated more break out sessions.”
The Diversity Summit was an overall way to connect to students and speakers to understand different points of views. It opened their mind to others’ experiences and allowed them to talk about their own.
School districts in Michigan must have their community vote for extra money to receive their full share of state aid. On May 2, registered voters in the community will vote on the Safety and Success 2023 Election, which includes two proposals: the No Current Tax-Rate Increase Bond Proposal and the Non-Homestead Operating Millage Proposal.
“There’s two parts to the proposal,” principal Tim Youngblood said. “For the first part, the state of Michigan has funding for a ten millage renewal. That means businesses in our area pay a certain percentage, and every certain amount of years you have to renew it. There’s a certain point, up to 18 mills you can get, and that’s what they expect you to do. It gives a couple more million dollars of spending money for the students and for the community.”
The bonds will provide funding for numerous future plans for Utica, such as increased safety and security, remodeling, improvements, and equipment.
“The other part is a $550 million bond, and it’s pretty massive. Most of the schools in this district haven’t really been updated too much, almost all of them were built in the sixties,” Youngblood said. “For Utica High School itself, they’re talking about getting some athletic fields down, new school security, those sorts of things.”
One big aspect of the bond proposal is updating security measures at Utica.
“They’re trying to get shatterproof glass in most of the glass entryways,” Youngblood said. “It’ll offer more protection. If someone comes in and they really want to get in, they could do other things to break through the glass.”
The proposal also plans to improve the locking system on doors and to replace the P.A. system.
The bond proposal isn’t solely about safety, however. The proposal also touches on improvements to the building, such as redesigning the parking lot and replacing its paving.
“Our parking lot is a mess,” Youngblood said. “They’re going to repave all the parking lots, probably better lighting, better security out there.”
To Youngblood, redoing the parking lot is one of the most important parts of the bond proposal.
“I think redesigning the parking lot is very important,” Youngblood said. “I hope we can get some more parking, I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but I think the parking lot itself here is in bad shape. It’s one of the biggest needs for Utica High.”
“I think the improvements to the parking lot would make it a much easier and safer place to navigate and park in,” senior Daniel Olah said. “The redesign will definitely help clear up some of the awkwardness there is with the spots, and fixing the pavement makes it a lot smoother to have to drive on, which is a definite plus considering we use it every day.”
The parking lot isn’t the only thing being repaved. The proposal also plans on replacing the paving at Swinehart Stadium, along with improving the stadium, press box, and bleachers.
senior Alaina Wisswell said. “These enhancements could help make future performances run much smoother and be an overall more pleasant experience for the viewers.”
Wisswell and junior Maia Suggs took it upon themselves to advertise the proposal because of how important they believed it was.
“Maia and I walked around Maia’s neighborhood to put fliers on people’s doors,” Wisswell said. “It was to show what the proposal will do for our school. I wanted to help support the proposal and we were one of the many groups that went around the district, but it was Maia and her mom that suggested the idea to me in the first place.”
Advertising the proposal went well for Wisswell and Suggs.
“It went very well despite it being cold and windy that day,” Wisswell said. “Some of the fliers didn’t want to stay on the doorknobs. I believe doing this may have had an impact on the people who didn’t have information on the proposal or even know about it in the first place.”
SAFETY AND SECURITY
• Create additional layers of security to limit access for exterior entry points at main entrance and corridors, such as shatter-resistant glass
• Replace interior door hardware to integrate improved locking system based on industry-level safety standards*
• Upgrade network infrastructure
• Upgrade security systems (cameras and access control)
• Replace public address system*
SITE IMPROVEMENTS
• Redesign parking lot and replace paving
• Add synthetic turf to the multi-use field
• Add bleachers to the multi-use field
• Add synthetic turf to the infield of the softball and baseball fields
• Add additional tennis courts
• Replace paving at Swinehart Stadium
• Improve the area outside of Swinehart Stadium
• Improve Swinehart Stadium’s press box, home and visitor bleachers
REMODELING
• Improve exterior and landscaping
• Renovate science labs
• Renovate art rooms
• Upgrade Performing Arts Center lighting and sound**
• Upgrade Electronic Collaboration Classroom (ECC)*
• Replace select roofing areas
• Improve gym and fitness rooms
• Upgrade plumbing and HVAC systems
• Upgrade power systems
• Upgrade interior and exterior lighting systems
• Replace select roofing areas at Swinehart Stadium
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
• Purchase instructional technology equipment for classrooms
FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
• Purchase computers for students and staff
• Purchase classroom furniture
• Purchase media center furniture
* Project scheduled for 2023 through 2018 bond issue
** Project funded by 2018 bond issue
The site improvements section of the proposal will also make lots of improvements to the multi-use field, such as adding synthetic turf and bleachers, as well as adding synthetic turf to the infield of the baseball and softball fields and adding more tennis courts.
“They’ll be adding a 100 yard turf field down there for practices,” Youngblood said. “Baseball and softball are in pretty good shape, but the field down there isn’t. The kids from Ford have to go to Stevenson for practices, so this way they won’t have to do that, which will be nice.
The third section of the proposal focuses on remodeling multiple different parts of the school, such as renovating science labs and art rooms, upgrading the lighting and sound of the Performing Arts Center, and replacing some areas of the roof.
“It’s important to support the bond to improve our Performing Arts Center because some of our lighting and sound systems have been here for many years and are not in great shape,”
The ECC will also be upgraded.
“That room was created by a bond from around 2004, maybe a bit later than that,” Youngblood said. “The system 20 years ago was state of the art and now it’s really poor. The audio barely works, if it does work. It’s a projection system, so now they’re going to try to get something brand new so we can actually use it for meeting rooms, classrooms, that sort of thing.”
The proposal will also upgrade plumbing and HVAC systems at Utica.
“How many times have we been closing bathrooms not just because of vaping, but because of flooding?” Youngblood said. “Utica High School has the most floods, I think. This is the oldest high school in the district so a lot of the heating and cooling stuff is still the original pipework. Any time we do a renovation, they have to rip out everything. It’s pretty extensive.”
Some teachers, such as teacher John See, think the improvements to the HVAC systems are especially important.
“I think that that is the best,” See said. “Mine hasn’t been working right for 11 years now, and it’s very frustrating. It makes teaching a lot easier when the temperature isn’t fully hot or fully cold.”
Students also agree that the HVAC systems desperately need to be updated.
“I definitely support upgrading the HVAC systems. I’ll go into one room while wearing shorts and it’ll be freezing, I don’t want to be cold,” sophomore Matt Elechicon said. “It’s distracting. I’m focusing more on being cold than the actual class. Same thing for being hot, it gets way too hot in the classrooms to do any work.”
Youngblood believes that upgrading these systems are also one of the most important aspects of the proposal, along with redesigning the parking lot.
“For Utica High School itself, the HVAC systems and plumbing, as well as the parking lot, are the biggest needs,” Youngblood said. “All the other stuff is going to look nice for sure, but as far as what this building really needs, it’s those two things. If you go in one classroom, it feels 95 degrees and another classroom feels like 45 degrees. I think those are the biggest things we need.”
These changes, if passed by the voters, won’t go into effect for a while, however.
“It’s going to be probably 10 years, you guys will be off into your life before all this stuff is all done,” Youngblood said, “but we will see some of the stuff immediately, and I don’t know what that is.”
Bond proposals typically don’t have trouble gaining support from the community.
“The community usually has been pretty supportive of bond proposals in the past,” Youngblood said. “It’s definitely much needed, students have been around other schools and other districts for certain events, and they see what those schools have. We’re the second largest district in the state of Michigan, so why can’t we have those same things? It’s going to be a pretty big deal, so we’ll see what happens.”
Students choose to express themselves in all sorts of different ways, especially when it comes to fashion. So many different styles of clothing can be found at Utica, from bright and colorful outfits to dark t-shirts and jeans.
Lots of students like wearing shirts that sport the logos of their favorite bands.
“I wear band t-shirts a lot, I think pretty much every day,” senior Zoey Lawrence said. “I love showing off the bands I listen to.”
Sometimes, however, students wear t-shirts of bands they don’t listen to, usually because they like the shirt’s design or the band’s logo.
“I think it’s dumb to wear a shirt of a band you don’t listen to,” Lawrence said. “Sure, a lot of them have cool designs, but why would you buy a shirt of something you don’t know anything about?”
Some students don’t believe this is a good idea. Students who wear shirts of bands they love don’t see the point in wearing something they’re not a fan of.
“I think it’s stupid,” senior Coltrane Monteleone said. “I wouldn’t wear a sports t-shirt or something of a sports team I don’t watch, root for, or that I’m not a fan of.”
Some students understand wearing a shirt solely for the shirt’s design, but still think they should give the band a chance.
“To an extent I get it with some bands if they’re wearing it just for the design, like ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd, that’s an iconic design,” Monteleone said. “Nirvana’s got an iconic design, but just go out and listen to it. It’s good music.”
Mid-winter break typically refers to a school holiday that occurs in the middle of the winter semester. It is a brief period of time when students and teachers are given time off from school to recharge, relax, and rejuvenate.
“Over break, I went to New York. We wanted to go to the city but we have family upstate, I was there for about three days,” senior Joshua Rhodes said. “We did a lot of shopping and just walked around the college town where my family lives and it was really fun. We usually go often, but this was the first time since COVID, so it was really nice to be back.”
The exact timing and length of the break can vary depending on the school district and region, but it usually takes place in February or early March and is typically three to five days long.
“I hung out with my friends Carley Davis, Theo Thomson, Jersey Williams, and Caitlyn Seal. We went to go see Ant-Man in theaters,” sophomore Charlie Dobson said.
Some people, especially teachers, have even begun asking students to name a certain amount of songs or list facts about the band to prove they’re a real fan.
This questioning isn’t appreciated by all students; some finding it irritating to constantly be asked to name songs by the band whose logo they’re wearing.
“I’ve been asked to name songs so many times,” Lawrence said. “It’s really annoying. I do really love the bands I wear, I just suck at remembering names on the spot.”
Not all students share the same mindset as Lawrence, however. Others don’t mind the questioning and even find humor in it.
“I think it’s hilarious that teachers do that,” Monteleone said. “They should do that.”
Monteleone has also been asked to “name songs” on numerous occasions.
“I’ve been asked that by Mr. Haley when I wore a Pink Floyd t-shirt and I named their whole discography,” Monteleone said. “I named all their good albums and all their members.”
Teacher Jeff Lapratt is one of the teachers that asks students to name songs to prove they listen to the band.
“When I see kids walking down the hallway wearing band t-shirts of what I would consider ‘classic rock bands,’ I think ‘fraud’,” LaPratt said. “I’ll ask them what their favorite song from that band is, and they reply ‘oh, I don’t know, I don’t listen to them,’ thumbs down right there, because that’s a great band and a great t-shirt, but you’re only going 50% of the way. Wear the t-shirt, go throw the record on, check out the band, and take that final step, because whatever shirt you’re wearing is probably a pretty good rock band.”
During mid-winter break, students and teachers may use the time to travel, spend time with family and friends, or engage in other activities.
“I went to Amman, Jordan, for a week.” junior Chloe Fashho said. “I went to Petra and hung out with my family there. I don’t go there often, but it was my second time.”
Some families may take the opportunity to go on a vacation, while others may use the break to catch up on schoolwork or prepare for upcoming exams. However, those who use the break to neglect their studies may fall behind when school resumes.
“I went to Indiana during the break for four days,” senior Allison Felice said. “While I was there, I learned how to drive a stick shift. I’ve been there a few times to visit family but haven’t been there in several years.”
There are many fun activities that you can do during mid-winter break, whether you are looking to relax at home or go out and explore.
“I went to Florida for a week over break,” junior Morgan Gibson said. “While there I split my head open at our Airbnb. We go to Florida every year around this time.”
Overall, mid-winter break is seen as a welcome respite from the academic demands of the school year and a chance to unwind before the busy spring semester begins.
“For mid-winter break, I was here even though you guys weren’t. I was even here when we had that bad snowstorm and the power went out. It got a little cold in the office while I was here,” officer Gabe Aceti said. “A part of what I was doing here was just going over some policies and whatnot. Officer Leslie left me a lot of material and a lot of threat assessments to go through. A lot of plans for the building, so I tried to make sure that I’m familiar with all this stuff in the building.”
Teachers, students share opinions on band tees, and whether or not you should be a fan to wear oneSenior Zoey Lawrence shows off her collection of band tees. photo by zoey lawrence Senior Zoey Lawrence wears a t-shirt of one of her favorite bands. photo by zoey lawrence
Definition: Informal terms that stand for or means something else than its literal meaning: a shorter way to say a word or phrase.
Definition: A girl who puts down other girls to gain attention from guys.
Definition: How good you are at pulling or getting others to be attracted to you.
Definition: A person who does way too much for another person they like.
Definition: Holding something back. Teacher
Jennifer Pollum is “gatekeeping” the test answers to the
Definition: Adjective used to describe something that is really good, usually food.
Definition: To no longer support a public figure.
Definition: A person who is obnoxious, entitled, and demanding.
“I grew things ‘cosmic,’ and we ‘totally the movie slang Teacher
ASHLIN HURRY REPORTEROver the past couple of years, slang words have been used between friends and on social media. Slang is a type of language that is too creative to use in certain situations that close groups of people use when communicating. Slang words are like code words that are held to an informal nonstandard that have a meaning for the common things that are relevant to today. Teenagers use slang the most as short cuts or a way to talk about things without certain people understanding.
Most parents, elders, and even some teachers don’t understand what the slang words mean, or more importantly why we even use them.
“It bothers me when they use it in their writing,” teacher Melissa Kevonian said. “They use a lot of abbreviations as if they’re texting, or they use informal language.”
Since vocabulary is always growing and school, especially English class, is important, some teachers can find slang annoying or difficult to work around.
Regardless of slang being looked down upon by some, teens will still be using and creating new words. “I think every generation has their own thing and that’s okay,” Kevonian said, “just keep it out of job interviews and formal essays.”
We asked Utica staff members what these slang words mean. Check out their responses on our YouTube channel.
“First, ‘phat’ p-h. It ‘that’s So if you ‘Oh so-andso is phat’ it means they’re ‘Totes’ be another one. For example, someone asks, you watch you answer,
Definition: People use this word when something is very true or they agree with something.
Definition: Meaning “let him do his thing.”
grew up in the 80s, so we used to say things like ‘rad’ or ‘radical.’ We used to say ‘cosmic,’ too. ‘Cool’ was always popular, we also used to say things were ‘totally awesome.’ If you’ve ever seen movie ‘Valley Girl’ there’s a lot of 80’s in it.”
“You guys talk weird. I wasn’t much of a slang person.”
Teacher Clinton Davis that’s with a means ‘that’s cool.’ you say, so-andphat’ means they’re cool. ‘Totes’ would another For example, someone ‘Did watch the game last night?’ Then answer, ‘Totes.”
Teacher Michael Zalewski
Definition: Being very good at something or being the ‘Greatest Of All Time’.
Definition: Getting caught doing something you shouldn’t be doing on camera.
Definition: When something is really good or enjoyable.
Definition: Simply means if you know, you know.
Definition: When something lives rent-free in a person’s head, that person is spending way too much time thinking about it.
Definition: Used to describe something amazing, or when something goes your way.
Definition: Used to insult an opposing opinion, or labeling it as just being average.
Mr. Chieftain was a competitive event for boys where they competed against each other to win the crown. It took place on Feb. 15, 2023, and many people went, including students, teachers, siblings and parents. Consisting of entirely seniors, the contestants showed off their skills for the audience, both individually and as a group.
The charity event benefited the Macomb Charitable Foundation, which exists to help children living at or below poverty level in Macomb County.
“The charity provides children with benefits and services that meet their basic needs,” event sponsor Erin Derk said, “while offering kindness, humility and respect to them.”
Their goal is to alleviate the suffering of children and their families by providing financial assistance, and this year’s Mr. Chieftain event donated $6,404.33 to the foundation.
The show had a choreographed dance in the beginning, featuring all of the contestants. Afterwards, the contestants individually showed off their talents.
“Words can’t describe what I saw, there were a lot of talented and untalented acts,” principal Tim Youngblood said.“It was nothing like I’ve seen before.”
Honorable mentions for performances include eating a ghost pepper while singing, a guitar solo, throwing pies, Elsa from “Frozen” singing, and juggling.
The winner of Mr. Chieftain was senior Carson Konczalski. After impressing the crowd with his entertaining act, a parody about Utica, the judges thought he’d be fit for the crown.
“I thought it would be a fun thing to do,” Konczalski said. “A lot of my friends were doing it so we all did it together. Being on stage was kind of cool, the lights kind of blinded me so I couldn’t really see much, but it was definitely a different experience. It was fun.”
Daniel Olah was another one of the contestants during the event.
“I tried out because I thought it would be fun to partic-
ipate in such an event,” Olah said, “and I liked that all the proceeds went to a charity.”
Senior Doug Gettleson won the titles of Mr. Popular and Mr. Personality.
“I tried out for Mr. Chieftain because it is something I knew I would never forget and was a fun thing to do with my friends who also participated,” Gettleson said. “It was really cool, but since I already do theater it wasn’t any different. It was such a great experience. My favorite part of the competition was the group dance with the other contestants and, of course, winning Mr. Popular and Mr. Personality.”
You might be wondering why anyone would participate in Mr. Chieftain other than for charity, or why would anyone get up on stage in front of hundreds of people.
“There wasn’t really any reason to do it other than why not. On stage it was cool seeing everyone stand up and support me. It was nice,” senior James Johnson said. “I was not nervous because I’ve been on stage before, so it doesn’t really bother me.”
It was a very good experience for the contestants. It was even one contestant’s birthday when they performed.
“It was my birthday so I thought it would be fun to do,” senior Nathan Silver said. “Yes, I was nervous, but when we got on stage I started to get used to it. It was a very enjoyable experience and I had a lot of fun with all the contestants, especially when we made the dance.”
The event was popular among the students who attended.
“I went to Mr. Chieftain because I thought it would be a fun opportunity that I wouldn’t want to miss out on,” sophomore Amy Williams said. “I thought it was very entertaining and fun to see. The dance the contestants did at the start was pretty fun.”
Mr. Chieftain left a good impression on the audience, with certain acts standing out to the viewers
“I’d probably go again next year,” Williams said.
Mr. Chieftain was a very fun event where the contestants could let loose and impress the crowd with their talents, all while raising money and supporting a good cause.
“Raising money in general for families and people below the poverty line is a great thing, so everyone who raised money should have been with me for Mr. Charity.”
Mr. Charity James Johnson, senior, dancing with senior Trevor Essenmacher
“It great to win something that I will remember, but what’s more important is the money we raised and how much fun we had doing it. Mr. Personality is a teacher-given award; it means a lot to know that I was being supported by teachers, too.”
Mr. Personality & Mr. Popularity Douglas Gettleson, senior
“I was honestly surprised when I was crowned Mr. Chieftain. I didn’t know if I was going to win or not, but it was cool. I had a lot of fun with my friends, both backstage and on stage. We all had a great time.”
Blood. Sweat. Tears. Failure. Victory. These words all describe powerlifting, a sport where the heavier you lift, the shinier your medal, but there is more done behind the scenes.
Powerlifting is a tough sport both mentally and physically, so joining the team can be a tough decision. However, with the right support, powerlifing is very rewarding.
“I just took the weight lifting class,” senior Mary Adams said, “and got more into it from there.”
Other students were encouraged by coaches, family, and friends.
“I just did it because I was asked to,” junior Andy Carlson said. “The football coaches told me I was strong, so I joined.”
Similar to Carlson, junior Lucas Donovan was encouraged to join by others.
“One of my friends told me I have great potential,” Donovan said, “so it gave me the push to join the team.”
Other students opted to join for their personal growth.
“I just wanted to get stronger,” junior Blake Larsen said, “and, for my weight, I’m pretty strong so I thought I could do great things.”
Some students joined for both reasons, encouragement and personal growth.
“I was told to join this sport by coach Hines,” junior Jefferey Cleaver said, “but I also know I’m strong so I joined.”
It was a great season for the power lifters, and there many high placements and personal records throughout the team.
Mary Adams’ season best placement was second: PR in the squat is 225lbs. Bench 115lbs. Deadlift 315 lbs.
Carlson, even just going to one meet, best placed seventh, his PR in squat is 425 lbs. Bench 275 lbs. Deadlift 385 lbs.
Donovan’s best placement was sixth. His PR in squat is 295 lbs, his bench is 210 lbs, and his deadlift is 355 lbs.
Cleaver placed third, only appearing in one meet, his PR in squat is 350 lb, his bench is 215lbs, his deadlift is 375 lbs, and had been seventh in the state.
Many of the athletes were very proud of how their season played out.
“It was alright for being my first season on the team,” Donovan said.
Cleaver was feeling about the same after all was said and done.
“My season was good,” Cleaver said. “I got 3rd place in one meet, which was a win for me.”
Some students went to just try it out and see how they would compete.
“I just went to one meet to see how I’d do,” Carlson said, “but it was pretty chill and I had a good time.”
A lot of students found that even with lack of experience, they met personal goals and did well in the sport.
“It was my first year lifting, so I’m happy with where I was,” Larsen said. “I am thinking back to a year ago and I never could imagine lifting for a sport.”
Some students found meets more rewarding than nationals, despite nationals being a bigger deal.
“The meets were good, but states was terrible,” Adams said. “I remember driving through the snow going to states at Adrian University and having a rough time.”
Thankfully, most students ended the season proud, with a memorable moment.
“I remember going to Croslex, Michigan, for the last meet of the year,” Larsen said,“and hitting my all time deadlift PR.”
The powerlifters end the season strong. They all met personal goals and exceeded expectations, making the coaches of their growing program proud.
New Balance nationals was hosted in Boston, Massachusetts on March 9. Junior Addison Johnson participated in the two mile.
“To get into indoor nationals,” Johnson said, “I ran a 11:22 full two mile and then 11:18 3200 meter to qualify.”
Senior Trent McFarland competed in nationals’ 800 meter race.
“I qualified for nationals by running a sub 1:58 time,” McFarland said.
Nationals has a very different feel than a regular race.
“When I got to the starting line I was nervous,” Johnson said, “but I just tried to remind myself to enjoy the atmosphere and try to be excited about it.”
“At the line I was nervous,” McFarland said. McFarland was in a different atmosphere than usual.
“I was very uncomfortable with the fact that I didn’t recognize anyone,” McFarland said, “and I wasn’t sure how the race would pan out.”
Johnson raced well, considering it was her first national race.
“During my race I didn’t really think anything,” Johnson
said. “I just knew it was time to go.”
McFarland had an unusual start.
I moved up very well after being tripped up in the start,” McFarland said, “and I finished well, passing a couple runners in the last 100 meters.
McFarland placed very well in the 800 meter.
“I ran the championship 800 meter and got fifth in my heat,” McFarland said, “34th out of all the 800 meter runners with a time of 1:55.”
Johnson also placed well in the 3200 meter.
“I was third in my heat out of four,” Johnson said, “and I ran 11:31 for the full 2 mile.”
Johnson was really thankful to have supportive teammates.
“Everyone on my team supported me and made time to text me or tell me good luck,” Johnson said. “Everyone supporting me just makes me really happy.”
Before the race, coach Chris Scott gave some advice.
“He told me that I deserve to be there,” Johnson said, “and to have fun and to take it one step at a time and just go for it.”
Scott also made sure to be there for Johnson.
“One of my proudest moments was just that she got to travel and compete at this national competition,” Scott said, “and held her own.”
Citizens will be voting on whether to pass the 2023 UCS Safety and Success bond proposal on May 2. If we were registered voters, most of our staff would vote in favor of the bond.
The bond proposal, consisting of two parts, would add numerous new features to schools in the Utica Community Schools district, including Utica High. The future plans are broken up into five categories: safety and security, site improvements, remodeling, furniture and equipment, and instructional technology.
One reason a majority of our staff supports the bond proposal is because of safety and security. New features, such as shatterproof glass and upgraded security systems, will benefit school security. Safety at school is extremely important, especially in recent times. Supporters of the proposal believe this is a major reason as to why the bond should be approved.
learn in, so upgrades to the HVAC systems would be a major improvement.
Redesigning the parking lot is also a huge reason as to why most of our staff would vote in favor of the proposal. A lot of our staff drives to and from school and are almost entirely in agreement that the parking lot is a mess and definitely needs to be redesigned. The bond proposal plans on replacing the paving and entirely redoing the parking lot’s layout, as well as potentially improve lighting and security. Most of our staff wholeheartedly supports this decision, as they believe practically no one is a fan of the parking lot’s current setup.
IF YOU COULD, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL?
YES 13 NO 3
Utica is the oldest high school in the district, and some of our staff believes it’s desperately in need of renovations. The bond proposal would renovate science labs and art rooms, improve plumbing and HVAC systems, upgrade the power system, and replace some of the roofing. Improvements would also be made to Swinehart Stadium, such as improving the press box and bleachers. Some of us think improvements like this are both vital and long overdue, and will greatly benefit students in the future.
Utica is extremely unpredictable when it comes to the temperatures inside the classrooms. One classroom could be insanely hot, while another could be freezing cold. These conditions are beyond irritating and are difficult to
A small portion of our staff, however, would not vote to pass the bond proposal. They argue that while it’s nice to get new things for our school, they believe not everything we’d be getting money for is a necessity, and the proposal should have focused on improving other aspects of Utica. They suggest that money should be going toward supplies, for example, rather than making teachers buy their own. Some staff members mentioned that the art program could use some funding, as supplies rely on donations or making the teachers buy them.
All of our staff agrees that Utica needs to be upgraded in some sort of way. Technology and expectations for how schools should be are rapidly changing, and features that were considered “state of the art” years ago are now very outdated. Despite all being in agreement that Utica needs to be improved, we have conflicting views on what those changes should focus on, ranging from a better parking lot to more supplies for teachers.
ILLUSTRATION BY ZOEY LAWRENCE“I like the site improvements around Swinehart and the parking lot, and I like the upgrade to the plumbing and the HVAC systems because that’s what’s needed most.”
“Improving the area outside Swinehart, because it would look better.”
“I believe creating additional layers of security would be good because I think it’s very important, and it’s a big staple in the world we live in today.”
Brycen Ealy Dominic Paladino Drew Fromm
“I think what would benefit Utica the most would be the safety, security, and site improvements. When you go to events, you notice that we could use serious improvement.”
“From my standpoint, the safety and security factors are going to be the most important.”
Erin Derk Gabriel Aceti
In what ways does Utica need to be upgraded? Although most of us cannot vote yet, a majority would say ‘yes” on May 2.
STAFF EDITORIAL
We all love that 5 a.m. call. Superintendent Robert Monroe on the phone announcing a snow day. It’s not that common, but when it does happen everyone is so excited. Snow days are so important, not just because students can sleep in, but for the safety of all students and staff.
More than half of the seniors and juniors drive to and from school with many students walking to school, and with snow storms, it makes it harder for them to get to school. It is not worth risking students lives for one day of school.
We have seen how slippery and dangerous the roads get, students and parents deserve more confidence in their school district.
The Utica Community Schools Board of Education is who decides if we stay home or go to school during bad weather. They look at how many snow days we’ve had over the school year, the severity of the weather, and how safe the roads and streets are for students.
Snow days allow for kids to be kids, just for one day and, with all the stress of school, we need that once in a while.
Students playing in the snow, enjoying the white scenery all around them should encourage school officials to consider a day off.
Extreme cold temperatures is also another factor and a good reason for a day off. Little kids shouldn’t have to be in the cold temperatures just to go to school. Instead, they should be cuddled up in their blankets by the fire.
Students are waiting longer at their bus stops because of bus driver shortages, and on cold days, they are freezing waiting for a ride. That is something else the district should take into consideration.
Icy conditions on the sidewalks and streets is something else to look at when calling off. Students could slip walking to their bus stop and even walking into their school. That is very dangerous and can cause some serious injuries.
With high school drivers, students shouldn’t have their
first experience in the snow at 7 a.m., going to school when they could be home.
When parents see the dangerous weather, and the district didn’t call school off, many don’t send their children to school, causing low attendance for the day. There are a lot of factors that go into calling a snow day and the school district should be more considerate of them.
If the safety of students and staff is ever questioned, that most likely means having a snow day is the safest bet. Many may argue that having too many snow days would take away from instructional time and cause students to be behind on their learning.
Contact information
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phone: 586.797.2305
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Arrow is published monthly by the newspaper class of Utica High School and is funded by advertising. Our main purpose is to (1) inform the students, faculty and community of school-related news; (2) broaden the range of thinking of staff members and readers; (3) provide a forum for readers; (4) train the students in the functions of the press in a democratic society; and (5) provide entertaining features of interest to the students. All editorials without a byline reflect at least two-thirds opinion of the Arrow staff but are not necessarily the opinion of the administration.
I would argue that the safety of students and staff should be the number one priority of the school district.
If it comes to having extra days at the end of the year to make up for the time lost, so be it. I would rather come to school when the weather is safe than come in a blizzard.
After speaking with many students around the school, I think we can all agree on having more snow days when the weather is bad.
As long as the students and staff feel safe coming to school, extra days shouldn’t be a problem.
In conclusion, factors like students driving and walking to school, freezing temperatures, and longer waiting times at the bus stops should all contribute to school closing and making sure students and staff are safe.
Utica Arrow Newspaper @uhs_arrow
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Editor In Chief
Abby Williams
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Cover by Abby Williams Photo by Natalie Garwood at the Humane Society of MacombWe deserve more snow days. Bad weather, icy roads, bus delays should be considered in safety decisions.
Michigan weather is unpredictable and the well-being and safety of students and staff should be a top priority for the school district.
A new Chieftain was added to our tribe, as students and staff welcomed our new resource officer, Gabriel Aceti.
Aceti is new to Utica, but is definitely not new to the police force.
“I have been with the Shelby Township Police Department since 2005,” Aceti said.
He immediately fell in love with the work he was doing.
“Working [at Shelby PD] was my first police job,” Aceti said. “I’ve been with the department ever since.”
While growing up, being a police officer wasn’t his original plan.
“I didn’t even consider becoming a police officer until my junior year of college,” Aceti said. “One of my roommates at the time, his father was a state trooper in Michigan and he was planning to go into the criminal justice route, and it sounded interesting to me.”
Another reason adding to Aceti’s interest of criminal justice was a tragedy.
“I don’t know if you guys have heard about the Columbine High School tragedy that happened my freshman year of college,” Aceti said. “That was the first one I remembered to make national news and national head lines. That kind of got me thinking maybe if someone was there for those kids, that things would have been different and the outcome could’ve been better than it was.”
This is Aceti’s second time as a school resource officer.
“I did the school resource position at Eisenhower High School from 2006 to 2009,” Aceti said, “and I just really loved it. It was a nice change of pace.”
Before Aceti became a school resource officer, he did road patrol.
“It was different from doing road patrol all the time,” Aceti said, “and dealing with all the activities that go along with that.”
Aceti enjoyed his previous work at Ike.
“I really enjoyed the interaction with the students,” Aceti said, “getting to know the kids at Eisenhower and answering any questions they had.”
Officer Aceti was hired after Officer Leslie retired.
“When this position became available,” Aceti said, “the department put out a bulletin that it was available and anyone that was interested could apply for it. I was one of the ones that applied for it because I like the work and I enjoy doing it. I had to do an interview as well as the police department to see who they wanted to fill that job, and I was just lucky enough to get it.”
Aceti seems to enjoy his new environment.
“I’m very impressed with this building, from the facility to the students,” Aceti said. “There is a real sense of community you guys have here. The facility is very professional and very knowledgeable.”
Principal Tim Youngblood thinks Aceti is perfect for the job.
“I want to make sure he gets out there and meet the kids as much as he can,” Youngblood said.
Aceti especially likes Utica’s tight-knit feel.
“I think the thing that impresses me the most so far is the students,” Aceti said. “You guys seem to get along. It’s like a big happy family here and I really like that.”
Before Aceti started the job, he had to go through a little bit of training.
“Officer Leslie went through her day-today operations and what she did at the school: the way she handled certain situations and certain encounters, the spots to keep an eye on like the exterior doors around the school that tend to be left open, it could be a security breach where people could gain access to the school.”
Aceti has made his way around to meet most teachers and talk to students.
“I’m really getting to know the teachers, faculty, and students. I talked to Mr. Zalewski’s class the other day. I answered questions from the kids about rights, laws, and things of that nature,” Aceti said. “I was glad I was able to give a little unique insight from the laws portion of the perspective. I just plan to carry that on, and be able to help you guys on and enhance your education here, and answer any questions you may have.”
Officer Gabriel Aceti can be found in his office for any questions or problems student might have, and he encourages everyone to stop in and say hello.
What’s your favorite color?
“My favorite color is blue, it’s always has been.”
What are your favorite subjects?
“I like history, geography, and I’ve always enjoyed math.”
What type of music do you listen to?
“I like a little bit of everything, like jazz, classic rock, country, and rap.”
What’s your favorite band?
“Guns and Roses.”
Where did you go to high school?
“Roseville High School.”
Where did you go to college?
“Grand Valley State University.”
What sports have you played?
“In high school I ran track and I swam. In college, I
swam all four years on the varsity swim team.”
What’s your favorite sports team?
“I’m a hometown type of guy, so I like the Pistons, Tigers, and Lions.”
Are you married, and do you have any kids or pets?
“I am married and I have two kids: a daughter who is 12 and my son is eight years old. I also I have three pets.”
