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BHS students participate in Make a Difference Day See A5 November 2010
See C4 Vol. XLVIII Issue II
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Friendship Club New club formed to help fund charity
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Solar Panels Orchestra teacher David Reed installs green technology
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NOW
PBS promotes school unity BHS brings Positive Behavior Systems to district high schools
WHAT?
Zack Neff Guest Writer
Split vote denies Bloomfield Hills Schools a win in November
Carrying in papers from his teacher’s car, Junior Cameron Billes receives a strange white card. “When I first received the SOS (Self Others School) card, I did not really know what it was,” says Billes, who received his first card on Thursday, September 16. “Once my teacher [Barbara Brownson] explained it to me, I felt good because I knew I did a good thing.” “Cameron deserved an SOS card because he contributed to the ‘helping culture’ of the art I felt program. SOS cards are given when a stugood bedent goes beyond every day expectations,” cause I explains Brownson as knew I did a to why she gave Billes good thing. the card. Brownson and Billes are examples of Bloom- Cameron Billes Junior field Hills School District’s Positive Behavior System [PBS] which is being implemented throughout the four elementary, three middle, and two high schools. “[PBS] really changed the focus of school by making a more positive student climate,” explains District PBS Coordinator Wendy Olah who is finishing her two-year term at the end of this school year. “Teachers say that the kids are all acting better. It has really improved the student behavior and all the kids know what to expect. Instead of treating behavior in a punitive way, PBS makes good behavior a much bigger deal. At Eastover, [for example,] you can ask any student what are [the school’s] behavior rules.” Media Specialist and member of Andover’s PBS team Stephanie Bevier says, “Across the country, studies actually show that PBS has reduced bullying and also improved student behavior. Hopefully that is what will happen at Andover.” Social Worker and member of the PBS team Cassandra Jones adds, “The focus of PBS is to improve the atmosphere of our school by teaching and recognizing positive behaviors displayed by students who are showing respect for self others and school [SOS].” According to Jones, for every PBS card earned, students receive fifty cents off in the cafeteria snack line or the Baron Shop. As well as the fifty cents, students are entered into a raffle to See win a VIP luncheon, PBS A3 a two-week parking spot, and other special prizes.
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Exploring different turkey preperations
See C9
School Board Robert Herner is appointed to vacant School Board seat
See A2 Election 2010
James Feuereisen Co Editor-In-Chief
The path to a new Bloomfield Hills High School may have hit a ditch on Election Day, though the District’s plans are not changing. “A very good portion [of our plan] remains as it did prior to Election Day,” says School Board President Ingrid Day. “In any school [construction] there is a design phase. We have hired a firm [Fielding Nair] to go through a visioning process, which should last six months. This will give is time to address our concerns facility wise and school wise.” A key component of the visioning phase is community collaboration. “I hope to have common discussion for the vision of the high school,” continues Day. “Fielding Nair, led by Randy Field and Prakash Nair, have a history of working with staff and community for an educational vision, and delve deeper than a traditional
architect would. Their [$800,000] fee includes coming up with a schematic design. We are planning on having community input sessions and meetings with teachers to examine what 21st century education looks like.” Day mentions that the district must also hire an architectural firm (AE) to draft the firm details of the school, and a construction manager (CM), both of which would collaborate with Fielding Nair. Day does not know when the district would hold another election to raise the necessary funds to construct the school, though state law permits elections only in February, May, August, and November. If the district holds an election when Bloomfield Township isn’t holding an election, the district bears the full cost of an election, almost $100,000. “Right now, the cost of construction is low and companies aren’t as busy. It is possible running an election on our own may save money. Though we don’t want to go back [to an election] just because; we want to have community consensus going into a vote,” concludes Day.”
GOP wins House and Snyder wins governor race
See A6
Quick Facts - The Building and Site Proposal passed by a margin of 53%-47% - The Bonding Proposal was defeated by a 55% No vote - There is a possibility of another vote on a similar bonding proposal in May - For more information, visit www.bloomfield. org
Photo by: Sophia Garfinkel
Iraqi Kurds share story of escape and return to Iraq Quick Facts - The Shukris left Iraq in 1974 - Nigaar Shukri retired from BHS in May 2010
Index ► News A2 ► Sports B1 ► Opinion B6 ► Life Section C
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- Diar Shukri practiced medicine in the Detroit area for 45 years until his retirement in May 2010
After retiring from BHS, Nigaar Shukri recounts her family’s journey Gabe Menchaca Co Editor-In-Chief
Nigaar Shukri, who worked in the Bloomfield Hills School District for 20 years before retiring in May 2010, speaks of her home country, Iraq which she and her husband, Diar Shukri, left in 1975, fleeing a crackdown on the Kurdish peoples in northern Iraq. Prior to leaving, the couple both spent months in hiding; Nigaar moving around staying with friends and relatives, while Diar worked hid in the mountains as a physician supplying medical
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Nigaar. The messenger led her to the mountains, where there were Iraqi troops laying in wait, forcing them to proceed cautiously. “We walked for two days and two nights. We had no food. We were walking and just passing huts and villages,” she continues. “When I saw [Diar] I passed out. I was so tired and hungry.” While staying with a Kurdish family just inside the Iranian border, an American journalist taking photographs in the region was hit by a bomb and was badly wounded. “They brought him to the cave where I See was doing surgery,” MAKING THE recalls Diar, “and I was ESCAPE A2 able to save him.”
Aspiring artists recieve feedback from college admissions National Portfolio Day offers art students polishing for portfolios Rachel Gerendasy Guest Writer
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care to wounded Kurds, an Indo-European ethnic group centered in eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and western Iran. “If they couldn’t get the husband, they would go after the wife and children,” says Nigaar, who speaks Kurdish, an Indo-European language, and comprise a significant minority in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Married in 1972, Diar joined the Kurdish resistance in 1974. Having been a doctor in his civilian life, he aided by supplying medical care to wounded Kurds only to communicate by messanger to his wife. “On the 24th of June, 1974, a man came and said I needed to go with him. My mother was apprehensive [about my leaving], but I told her ‘I need to go, I cannot live like this,’” says
“In some way, it feels like you are spreading yourself open for somebody else to look at and comment on. That is a tough thing to get used to. But, it is the nature of the beast,” says College for Creative Studies Craft Chair Thomas Madden of National Portfolio Day, an annual event held to give art students a chance to have their portfolio reviewed by representatives from colleges across the country. The October 31 event held at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies is annually attended by ap-
proximately 500 students and 35 colleges of art and design. Each year, art students congregate with portfolios in hand, anxiously waiting to talk with representatives from various colleges across the United States and Canada. National Portfolio Day, explains Madden, is a day where students take advantage of the advice and opinions of college representatives from schools these future college freshman hope to attend in order to improve their portfolio, increasing their chance of acceptance. “Portfolio Day is primarily just a review and a conversation,” he says. “Most schools, if not all, have the expectation that students will refine their portfolio and then submit it formally. This is an opportunity to have representatives from schools that [the students] are interested in, that they may admire and have high hopes of attending, look at their portfolio and give some direc-
tion on what they can do to make it better.” Senior Advanced Placement (AP) Art Student Meaghan Greaves has been working extremely hard on her portfolio over the summer and throughout the year. “I am hoping to get into an Art school next year,” she explains. “I [attended] Portfolio Day [to know] if my portfolio [was] strong enough to apply yet.” Created in 1978, National Portfolio Day is organized by The National Portfolio Day See Association. Composed of represenART A4 tatives from various universities, members also belong to the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Shield News
A2
After David Lubin’s resignation, Rob Herner takes over his position. Mara Stein Guest Writer
After seven years of service, David Lubin’s fellow board members say goodbye. “The only reason why he resigned his position on the board is because he was moving out of the district. By default, it is a district policy and a law,” explains Ingrid Day, current Bloomfield Hills Board President, “You must be 18 yearsof-age, a full time resident in the state of Michigan, [and] a registered voter in the Bloomfield Hills School District. When Mr. Lubin’s residence moved, he was no longer eligible to be a board member.” Resident of Bloomfield Hills Schools and parent of two children at Andover, Marci Bloom-Vettese explains why he resigned so suddenly. “I understand that he has been trying to sell his house for a while and it just sold. Now that he is rellocating, he has to resign, he does not have a choice.” Mr. Lubin officially notified the board on October 15, with two years left in his six year term. Because this board position was unassigned, board members then were given a maximum of 30 days to fill this position according to policy. During this time, 26 interested Bloomfield Hills residents submitted letters of interest to the board to fill the open position. According to Board Secretary Kate Pettersen, “Mr. Lubin was just like many board members: he had a point of view and he did have architectural expertise. That doesn’t mean that we were necessarily looking for someone to replace him who say is an architect. We have a variety of people with a variety of opinions and life experiences on our board. I think that it is The fact diversity that is that evmakes the board strong. David eryone is a would bring his part of our opinion to the community table and state where he stood. here. [Also,] he would Ingrid Day work towards Board President consensus as many of us on the board do.” Bloom-Vettese shares her support for Mr. Lubin and is sorry to see him go. “It makes me sad because I think he was an excellent board member. He was a very calming influence on the board. Mr. Lubin is very intelligent and brought a great deal of incite to various issues on the board. He also has a great sense of humor which sometimes helped with some of the issues that the board was dealing with. For all those reasons, I think he will be greatly missed.” “Initially they just had to submit before a deadline with a little bit of information about themselves. The next step was sending them out a questionnaire to return by November the fifth,” explains Trustee Mary Ellen Miller, “We took a look at all those [applicants] in a meeting when were are all together. Depending on how many we got back, Mrs. Day [was] considering the number of interviews.” Seventeen of the application packets were returned, and from there the number of applicants was narrowed down to nine. The nine applicants were then interviewed on November 9. The board members took to consideration some criteria which together they formulated involving a variety of subject matters such as experience. After much consideration and effort put forth by the board members, on November 11 Rob Herner was chosen to serve the remaining two years of Lubin’s term and was sworn in to office on November 12. After serving on the board with Mr. Lubin, Day shares, “He was a professional in our community. He was committed to us [and] bettering the education of children. I think that this is what he ran on way back when, and it is pretty obvious by his board work. Much like the superintendent search, we wanted to keep this a positive experience for everyone. The fact is that everyone is a part of our community here. These are our neighbors and our friends, and at the end of the day we are one community. It is very valuable to us that this many people wanted to be apart of the board team.”
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making the From A1
Retired BHS Paraprofessional shares her family’s story of survival and flight from Kurdistan
escape
Dr. Shukri (far right, glasses), interviewing Kurdish refugees in a camp in Turkey (1988).
Nigaar adds that the journalist told her husband, ‘You saved my life, now I’ll save yours” and after recovering from his wounds, the journalist, brought the Shukris to the American ambassador to Iran, Ronald E. Neumann, who secured visas for them to travel to the United States. “My main thought was that I was dead. This was heaven,” she says of her arrival in the US. “[I]n those countries the most important thing is the money. Human beings aren’t worth anything,” her husband adds. “When we came here; we realized how important human life is.” Arriving in New York in 1975, they were tasked with starting a new life in a new country, which eventually included the Bloomfield Hills community. “We had no jobs. We stayed [in Buffalo with some friends] for a while. From there, I had a girlfriend I knew [from] middle school, [who] called me and said ‘There’s a doctor here [and] , if you want, your husband can come and just volunteer.’ So we came here, and he volunteered for a while, and he passed all of his tests [for an American medical license]” explains Diar. After moving to the Bloomfield Hills District, Nigaar volunteered until she was asked to work at Conant Elementary in the media center.” However, Nigaar explains they were not divorced completely from their life in Kurdistan. Because Saddam Hussein was using chemical weapons against the Kurdish people, killing over 500,000 Kurdish men, women, and children, Diar and two other physicians were asked in 1988 by Physicians for Human Rights to return to Kurdistan and investigate the
use of mustard and sarin gas against the Kurds. “I was very happy to go, because I knew [that] I could reveal Saddam’s actions,” Diar says. Working in refugee camps on Turkey’s border with Iraq, Diar’s team found evidence of war crimes ordered by Saddam Hussein. After submitting his report to the UN, the State Department, and the Pentagon, Diar returned to Michigan. Several years and two AmericanAmerican backed wars with Iraq, and Diar was kids should on again: be very proud called “When the that they live g o v e r n m e n t changed, the in a country justice department that is free. sent someone from Washington and Diar Shukris they said ‘Well, we Kurdish-American contacted the other two physicians, and they’re scared to go to Baghdad to testify.’ They said ‘Are you willing?’ and I said ‘Of course I am willing,’ [and] so I flew out Thanksgiving Day,” he explains. “I was very scared, and I was proud too,” says Nigaar, who was in Michigan with her three sons, all of whom went through the Bloomfield Hills School District. In recognition for his service to the Kurdish people of Iraq they were invited, along with their eldest son Brian, to Iraq as guests of the current President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani (who is also a Kurd). “This time when we went back, they
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[rolled out] the red carpet. We stayed in the guest castle, where Condoleezza Rice had been when she was there,” notes Nigaar. Sean Shukri, their youngest son, explains: “Growing up, I wasn’t as aware of the actual situation. It wasn’t as interesting at the time. [As an adult], to be able to have my parents go through that, and compare it to the [problems] we have? It’s whole different ball game. It’s always made me more appreciative of the freedoms we have here. We never have to worry about how we’re going to eat. Or if we will be safe.” Diar believes, “American kids should be very proud that they live in a country that is free, that they can speak, [and] that they can express themselves. They should learn that they should be proud of the country where they’re born.” Nigaar adds, “This journey made me stronger and more personally independent.” In February 2011 for four weeks, Nigaar is going to go and volunteer to teach Kurds English. “[I am going] to teach them English, and also the traditions and freedoms of this country (the United States). And that they know how important it is to learn English,” she says. “I think it’s great. Especially since she’s been here for so long,” says Sean, “It will be good for her, because we still have family in Iraq.” In the meantime, Nigaar and Diar are also in the process of chronicling their journey from Baghdad to Bloomfield in a forthcoming book. “We don’t know when it will be finished, but we are writing one.”
Photo provided by: Shukri family
Filling Lubin’s board seat
November 2010
Creating teen cancer center Cancer survivor works with the DMC to make the children’s stay better Tessa LeWitt Guest Writer
Emily Lisner is returning the favor. After winning the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award from Crain’s Business Magazine, the Ronald McDonald House Foundation awarded Senior Emily Lisner with a $20,000 grant to help complete her project. “Raising money for the [Detroit Medical Center] (DMC) is a way of thanking them for everything they’ve done for me and it’s a way of giving back to the place that gave me my life back,” says the Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor, who was a cancer patient at the DMC Children’s Hospital during her Sophomore year. For a year and half, Emily has been raising small amounts of money, but now, with the generous grant from the Ronald McDonald House, the project is beginning to take off. She has a goal of $50,000 to complete a teen center for patients undergoing cancer treatment in the Children’s Hospital building. “My initial reaction [when Emily came to me about raising money] was [that it is] a great idea because Emily, having gone through the cancer experience, knows
what teenagers will want to better their experience at the hospital. I thought to make something positive out of a negative experience is a great idea,” explains Lisner’s father, Dov Lisner. “Overall, Emily is very grateful for what the DMC did for her and I think this is her giving back to improve other kids’ experience there.” Tracey Lisner, Emily’s mother adds, “honestly [the center] was all Emily. We have supported her and tried to give her advice but that’s it.” While her family and friends have supported her, Emily explains that not everyone initially had faith in the project. “At first, the hospital didn’t take me very seriously,” the senior explains. “I’m this sixteen-year-old kid who they didn’t think was capable or serious about doing what I wanted to do. It took time to show them I was serious and dedicated and really passionate.” “My sister has wanted to do something to help other patients feel more welcome while undergoing their treatment,” says Freshman Allie Lisner, Emily’s fifteen-year-old sister. “I think Lisner it is important for her personally because she had such long, hard days at the hospital.” Emily remembers, “There was nothing for teens to do all day. Keeping patients in their rooms all day makes them feel more isolated than they would if they had a place strictly to themselves. If I had a teen center when I was a patient at the DMC, I think I would’ve felt connected to other patients and I could’ve formed friendships. The days
wouldn’t have been so long and I would’ve been less scared of what was actually going on.” Special Events Coordinator at the Children’s Hospital Sarah McCallum agrees, explaining, “[The DMC] has always wanted somewhere children could feel at home and welcomed. The atmosphere at the Children’s Hospital will be much improved; patients will be much more comfortable.” According to Emily, her goal for the teen center is to have a place where patients have access to laptop carts, Mac computers, televisions, video games, and ping-pong tables, which she hopes to complete before going to college in the fall of 2011. “I’ve had help from my friends, who have given me insight and advice and from my family who has supported me but mostly it’s something I feel is important to do for myself,” elaborates Emily. “I have also had help with the connections I’ve made at the hospital.” McCallum adds, “I have been helping Emily with accepting the $20,000 grant, and also with other fundraisers. We are also trying to figure out where in the hospital the new center would be.” “I think [the center] will be a good place for the patients and the hospital,” describes Emily. “It’s a good marketing tool for them to say that they have a center for teens because not many hospitals have that. It is beneficial for the hospital’s atmosphere to have a place where teens feel welcome.” As for herself, Emily believes she “simply [owes] it to the hospital and patients who deserve it.”
Quick Facts -Lisner has a goal of $50,000 to complete a teen center -The Ronald McDonald House awarded Lisner with a $20,000 grant -Lisner is a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor -Lisner has been woking on this project for a year and a half
Shield News
November 2010
TRANSITIONER’S
TWO -YEAR BATTLE Guest Writer
Transition Coordinator Kerry Kerby lives with an unpredictable form of cancer
Walking into the hospital that day, she never suspected it would change her life forever. “At first I felt shocked [when I was diagnosed],” Andover Transitioner Kerry Kerby explains. [The doctors] told me that [patients] can just do chemotherapy and [be] done in six months and never have to deal with it again. So I felt really hopeful in my situation. I just thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to have to push through this and get to the end, just so I can move on with my life.’” Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma two years ago in September, Kerby explains that the disease starts in the lymph nodes and spreads throughout the body. In most cases, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is very curable, but according to Kerby, she was diagnosed with a rare case that is “unpredictable.” “[When my family found out,] they had a very difficult time, my sister especially, [who] lived out of town,” Kerby says. “[My sister] would come back and forth for all my chemotherapies, but being out of town I think she had a hard time feeling she supported me. I think my mom thought, ‘Oh, we’ll get through it, it’ll be fine.’ My dad was pretty much in total shock. And I have an older sister [who] took [the news] a lot like my mom.” “Initially, when [Kerry} found out it was Hodgkin’s lymphoma I was pretty hopeful she would recover without any complications,” co-worker and friend Lisa Brown shares. “I was sad she had to go through that process, because it’s a painful process, but I was also hopeful.” Since she was diagnosed, Kerby has undergone chemotherapies, transplant, oral chemotherapies, and three experimental clinical trials. “[Chemotherapy] is a lot on your body; it
does a lot to your organs,” says Kerby, who not only was required to remain in isolation because her immune system was so low after her transplant, but also did not have hair for a year and a half due to all of the chemotherapies. “[But] of course you do it because you are hoping to be cured, but at the same time it’s hard to wake up and go to chemotherapy again and again when you felt so sick.” After being a Baron for five years and a Lahser Knight for one, Kerby says she “wanted to work as much as I could through all my treatment, but when I was in isolation I wasn’t allowed out of the house because of germs. It’s like I couldn’t wait to I’m going to get back to work have to push to have a routine. I through this wanted to get back and get to the to normal because I end, just so I think the more you can get yourself can move on back to normal with my life. the more you can remember that Kerry Kerby Transition Coordinator your whole life isn’t about cancer. It is a part of your life and you have to deal with it, but it’s not your whole life. I think work helps to keep that focus away from constantly thinking about having cancer.” Open about her cancer with her students, Kerby says they not only kept her mind off her disease, but also helped keep her room clean by constantly washing their hands, cleaning tables, and using Purell. Kerby shares that one of her students, who has since graduated, helped with her disease. “[Because he has Autism] he had a hard time understanding what it meant when I was sick. It was really cute because
Jaclyn Nagel
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he was like, ‘We need to get you a clown wig’ [when my hair fell out]. Some of the other people who work with him would tell me he would go on the Internet and would try to find a cure so that I would get better.” In the past two years, Kerby has undergone multiple treatments which have all failed. “[After a treatment fails] I feel like just giving up,” she explains. “It’s just a lot of disappointment and frustration because you hope so much that what you were doing and so many people told you was going to work would work. I just want to go back to a totally normal life. You go through it and then nothing changes. You’re just back where you started except you feel sicker and your body’s been through more, but you still aren’t cured. It’s just very frustrating.” Kerby says that sometimes at the end of a treatment, when she is extremely ill, she becomes less hopeful. “I will say, ‘This is the last time I’m doing this. I’ll never do chemotherapy again.’ I have said that like a million times. But then I’ll go back and do it.” “I would say my darkest days are the days when I have a scan and I get the results [finding] out my cancer has grown and gotten worse. Those are the days when I take it kind of personally,” she says. “But the thing is you can’t take it personally and it really has nothing to do with me. It’s a disease and it’s going to do what it’s going to do. “It’s hard figuring out what to do [next]. I’m just trying to figure out what would be the best [thing to do next] so I can still have a life as much as I can, like working and being with my friends and family,” Kerby concludes. “Right now I’m just kind of confused and pensive thinking about what I should do next.”
Photo by Zach Wolfe
Kerby works with a student in her office. She worked at Lahser last year, but has worked at Andover in previous years.
from A1
PBS: Rewards The raffle winners are announced on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. “It was pretty cool when I found out I won. I was really excited because I thought it would be much more difficult to win,” says Billes, who won a privilege parking spot in the first raffle on September 30. Junior Darren Weiss adds that he does not think as highly of the reward system as others. However, he agrees with It was Billes in saying really cool that it felt good when I found because he did a good deed. He out I won. wishes there were no limitations on I was really the prizes such as excited. only being able to have one piece of Cameron Billes pizza and only beJunior ing able to bring one friend to the VIP luncheon. “At the start of the year meetings, the staff thought [PBS] was going to have the biggest impact this year,” says Math Teacher Derek Imboden. “Everything I have read says that if you implement school-wide things and all of the teachers are involved, then it is a good thing. I think it should work for us.”
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A3
Paying tuition for public high school Out-of-district students pay annual tuition of up to $11,227 for education Ashley DuBois
News Section Editor Getting an education just got a little more expensive. “[My family] moved literally a halfmile,” Junior Sam Gordon explains. “I was coming [to Bloomfield Hills Schools] for free until ninth grade and had already started here, so when my parents asked if I wanted to finish here, I said ‘Yes.’ [But now] I’m zoned for Pontiac schools, so [we’ll] be paying for all three years [of high school].” According to Student Services Manager JoAnne Messina, Gordon is not alone as 114 students pay tuition to attend school within the Bloomfield Hills School District (BHSD). Families living outside of BHSD lines are charged an annual tuition of $11,227. “A tuition student is a student who is not in our attendance area, but has satisfied an entry requirement of maintaining an academic record of 2.0 GPA or My dad’s higher and no discipline issues company coming into the said we had district,” principal to move, Rob Durecka says. Seeing the impact because of the cost on her [tuition] was family, Junior Lise so much. Devits’ family moved within the Lise Devits Junior district borders. “My dad’s company [who initially covered the tuition] said we had to move, because it was so much,” Devits says. “So we were sort of forced to move into the district, and now we no longer pay.” “Having to move was another big load on my shoulders,” says Ilse De Pooter, Devit’s mother. “But I love the small size of the school, the great people, and of course the International Baccalaureate program.” Durecka understands the reasons prospective parents, like the Devits, have to go to a school outside of their district. “Most often, people have moved into southeast Michigan, and may not be in our attendance area. Perhaps they’ve come from [a private school] and are looking for options for high school, and they see Andover as a good candidate,” he says. “The reasons include the fact that we do have a good reputation, our kids get into good schools, and we have a good staff.” Durecka explains that students commute from West Bloomfield, Farmington, and even as far as Detroit to be students at Bloomfield Schools. “I think it’s pretty affirming when we have great private schools in the area when they could pay a like amount here and they choose to come here and it’s pretty affirming that people are willing to pay money to come here. I’m very pleased with that and very proud of that, really. It’s a reflection of the district, the people who work here and the kids who go here,” he concludes.
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Coats for the Cold Coat Collection: Monday, November 1 through Tuesday, November 30 •Please bring in coats to donate to people who are less fortunate • Donate new or used coats • Money donations are welcome •Boxes that are collecting the coats will be located in the Main office and in Room 228 Please see Sarah Harris or a Student Leadership representative in room 228 with any additional questions
Bring in your coats to help out the cold!
Shield News
A4
Funding Friendship The Friendship Circle Foundation inspires a new club Rachel LeFevre Guest Writer
Friendship has come to Andover. “[Our main goal is] to raise money for The Friendship Circle, [bringing] attention to the organization,” says Co-Friendship Club President Alanna Sucher. “We want people to better understand people with special needs…[while] doing something good for the community and good for the school.” Along with Co-President Junior Lindsay Rosenbaum, Sucher established The Friendship Club which supports The Friendship Circle, an organization that works to assist parents and children affected by disabilities. “We thought it was important that the school got involved in the Friendship Circle and we thought it was a good idea if not only the kids in the school got involved, but also if we started to raise money,” says Rosenbaum. According to Sucher and Rosenbaum, the club already has plans for fundraising. “Our main [idea] is to do a sport fundraiser,” says Rosenbaum. “We’re probably going to have it at The Friendship Circle because kids with disabilities like autism are more comfortin the area. It’s It [tackles] able more their comfort something zone. We thought that’s really we would charge people to come and important watch the game and [because] we we’d have all the volunteers come have special- and participate.” Club Advisor needs kids Andrew Hulbert here. shares the girls’ high hopes for not Alanna Sucher only the fundraisJunior ers but for the club as a whole. “Hopefully [The Friendship Club] will not only be financially beneficial [to The Friendship Circle], but [we hope to] create long-term members of The Friendship Circle as well. Hopefully, after all these students graduate high school they’ll continue to be members and actively involved.” According to Rosenbaum, Friendship Club hopes to transcend more boundaries than just the one between special needs kids and high school students. “[The club is] supposed to be a Jewish organization, but we want to get all different cultures involved and we want to [attract] all different [types of] people,” Rosenbaum says. “We wanted it to be a diverse crowd; we had all different people come, not just our friends.” Hulbert, who is also a Biology and Pages teacher, believes there are many reasons to join. “[Students] can be involved not only with getting their community service hours but they can really get involved with their community.” Hulbert also has faith that the direct attachment to the local community will be the driving force for creating new memberships. “We’re actually going to be involved with the individuals of the community, whereas not all of the other organizations are really regional. They may all raise money but they might not interact with the community itself.” “It [tackles] something that’s really important [because] we have special needs kids here,” concludes Sucher.“It’s a really great charity and organization.”
November 2010
Preparing Their Portfolios Senior Andrew Roth works on his AP artwork. This is Andrew’s second year in AP Studio Art.
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From A1:
ART: Portfolio
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Quick Facts -The idea of the Foundation came from the school district itself -Extra-curricular activities cost BHSD about $2,000,000 a year -The Foundation has successfully raised $100,000 from donations -It is estimated that it will take five to ten years for the Foundation to reach its goal of $12,000,000
Upcoming Events 11/24-28 Thanksgiving Break thru 11/30 Coats for the Cold 12/4 SAT Test 12/11 Battle of the Bands 12/11 ACT Test 12/14 Collage Concert 12/19 Start Holiday Break 01/02 Back to School Blood Challenge Results: Thanks to the generosity of the Bloomfield Hills Schools community, 160 total units of blood were collected on Monday, Nov. 1: 84 at Lahser and 76 at Andover. Once the Red Cross divides the blood into three components, 480 lives will be impacted. In the past three years we have collected over 540 pints of blood at BHS Blood Challenges. Thank you!! The Lahser Marching Knights performed in the 5th annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 6 on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. The Lahser Band was invited to perform by the Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition and was one of only four
they rub off on each other. All the excitement and enthusiasm and energy -- It’s contagious.” Kendall College of Art And Design Admissions Officer of four years Megan Sloat expresses a similar opinion. “I really enjoy seeing students work and hearing what they have to say about their work,” she explains. “I find it to be really inspirational, it gives me a lot of energy, and it helps me do my own work, actually, because I get excited.” AP Art Teacher Tessa Basirico also feels a sense of importance behind Portfolio Day. “It’s fun because I get to meet college representatives and talk to them about what
their expectations are for the first year students so that I make sure that what I am doing here with my AP students is going to get them into college,” she says. “I also get to talk to a lot of students and meet a lot of new people, and [Portfolio Day] has a sort of fun, energetic atmosphere.” Maxwell Davis, Head of the Interdisciplinary Track in the College for Creative Studies Crafts Department, explains what he is looking for as a college representative. “The only thing [I am] looking for is interest. If you have some direction, if you have some drive, if you say, ‘I want to be an artist. I want to make things.’ That is the basis for everything.”
Design by Andrew Pan
According to College for Creative Studies Admissions Events Manager Sue Enright, the atmosphere during Portfolio day is a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The large rooms are crowded with high school students and college admissions counselor deep in conversation. The voices of each person rise over each other in an attempt to be heard above the excited discussions. “Portfolio Day is a creative experience, and it’s inspiring because you are around a lot of other artists and it has a feeling of enthusiasm,” says Enright. “It fosters excitement, being under the same roof as 500 students with their portfolios, 500 other artists, and art instructors. I think
Fundraising through the Foundation Bloomfield Hills Foundation raises money to directly benefit BHSD Calvin Williams Guest Writer
Bloomfield Hills Schools are in trouble and the Bloomfield Hills Foundation is ready to help. According to the Foundation’s website, the Bloomfield Hills Foundation is a private organization established to provide district parents, students, businesses, and community members with a way to positively impact public education. Its main goal is to help pay for co-curricular activities such as clubs, the school newspaper, and fine arts. “The idea [of the foundation] originally came from the school district,” says Robert Stone, the Bloomfield Hills Foundation president. “About two years ago, I was approached by the previous superintendent
to be the president of the foundation. I was honored, and of course I accepted.” According to Principal Rob Durecka, “annually, it costs two million dollars to pay for extra co-curricular activities. Endowments from the Foundation will help us directly and ensure that we get to keep our co-curricular activities. The money comes from parents, alumni, and businesses in Bloomfield Hills.” So far, the Foundation has been pretty successful and has raised about $100,000 from donations. “Although that is a great deal of money, we still have a long way to go,” explains Stone. “It is expected to take five to ten years before reaching their goal of $12 million.” As of now, the earnings are banked, but the Foundation plans on donating $100,000 to the 2011 school year budget. The Foundation also plans to hold multiple fundraisers in the spring. They hope for the fundraisers to turn into annual events. “You can’t blame [low funding] all on a faltering economy,” explains Stone, a Telemus
aron Briefs bands represented in the parade and the only band from Oakland County. (Other participants included Cass Technical High School from Detroit and Fitzgerald High School from Warren as well as one military band.) The Lahser Knights were honored to be able to pay tribute and respect to our veterans through this very special community event. More information is available at: http://metrodetvetcoalition.t35.com/ Race to Nowhere: As part of the continuing Community Engagement series, Model High School will be showing the documentary film Race to Nowhere on Jan. 12, 2011 at 7 pm in the Model High School Commons. Admission is free. More about the film: http://www.racetonowhere.com/ Biff radio students won five first place awards, three second place awards and one third place award at the John Drury High School Radio Awards held at North Central College in Naper-
ville, Illinois on Saturday. Josh Loney won four national awards: 1st Place, Best Talk Show; 2nd Place, Best Newscast; 2nd Place, Best Promo, and 3rd Place, Best Sportscast. Alex Scharg won two national awards: 1st Place, Best Promo and 1st Place, Best Radio Drama. Alex Osten won 1st Place, Best Newscast. Ryan Bloom won 1st Place, Best Sports Play-By-Play and Chad Shepard won 2nd Place, Best PSA. The Biff won 1st Place, Best High School Station. This was the fourth time in the last five years that WBFH won for Best High School Station in the nation. Andover is currently in the midst of the annual Coats for the Cold clothing drive, organized by Student Leadership. The drive will run through November 30, and all donated items will go to those who are less fortunate and cannot afford winter clothing. Those interested may drop off coats into the designated boxes in the main hallway or in room 228. Any additional questions may be directed to Sarah Harris or another Student Leadership representative.
Capital Partners Senior Advisor and Executive Board Member for the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. “It’s a result of a bad economy and flawed state funding.” According to Stone, one of the Foundation’s goals is to make Pay to Play (a process where students must pay to participate in co-curricular activities) cheaper for the student body. Senior Lauren Reeves is in support of this goal. “I think that Pay to Play is an unnecessary expense, because we already have to pay additional fees for things like uniforms and equipment,” says Reeves. “I’d definitely be willing to help out the Foundation.” “There are many ways kids can help progress the Foundation’s initiative,” shares Stone, “the biggest being simply spreading the word.” “Ultimately, we just want to get rid of [Pay to Play]. If the Foundation can get enough people to support it, they will be able to get rid of it for good,” concludes Stone.
Andover Cross Country runners ran in State Finals at the Michigan International Speedway the first weekend of November. All of the Baron runners ran their fastest times ever, setting new personal records (PRs). Junior Jarred Bratley and sophomore Joey Kemeny finished 73rd and 81st out of over 250 runners. The Andover Girl’s Cross Country team had their best finish ever in the history of the team at State Finals. They went into the meet in 20th position and finished 12th out of the top 27 teams in Division 2 in the state of Michigan. Every single girl set new personal records. Junior Lexi Sinclair led finishing 32nd and was the top Division II finisher for all of Oakland County, moving from 6th on the top ten Andover record board to 2nd. Junior Lise Devits also had great achievement, moving from 10th to the 5th position on the record board. Freshman Mackenzie Gammons improved her time by 1 minute and 8 seconds and moved to the 6th position on the record board. Freshman Isabella Lackner had a 33 second improvement, and senior Anna Kemeny came through with an amazing 1 minute and 21 second improvement.
November 2010
Shield News
(Below): Junior Max Elder helps put sleeping kit boxes inside a truck to send them to Sweet Dreamzzz. Andover collected a total of 267 items and raised a total of $1969..4 8. Andover had 30 volunteers assisting at BHMS on Saturday, October 23. The volunteers consisted of leadership students and others from the school.
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(Below): Elementary students from Lone Pine, Way, Hickory Grove, and Eastover helped out during Make a Differnce Day. They helped make sleeping kits that are filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, a pair of white tube socks, a Sweet Dreamzzz shirt, a beanie baby, an activity book, crayons, a reading book, and a sleeping bag.
(Below): A studentfrom Lone Pine Elementary School is helping sort beanie babies. There were a total of 400 beanie babies collected that day.
Making A Difference
Andover’s Student leadership turned their efforts towards Sweet Dreamzzz Incorporated in honor of Make a Difference Day.
(Left): Senior Alana Karbal helps sort crayon boxes. Throughout all of October, Andover’s Student Leadership coordinated the collection. They promoted the program through daily announcements, listserv, and posters.
(Left): New Superintendent Robert Glass came to the event in the early morning to help fold t-shirts. This program was held to help schools where at least 75 percent of the student population is below poverty level.
Photos, text, and design by: Sarah Harris
Shield News
LOCAL
52 years old Grew up in Battle Creek, MI Graduated high school a semester early Has Bachelor’s, MBA and JD degrees
national
Sinking Fund Renewal
STATE
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Mark Bank Cynthia von Oeyen Jacqueline El- Sayed
propsed to fund a new combined high school
will be on the Board for the next six years
from 2014 to 2018
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votes 2010
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keep control
Bloomfield Bond Proposal
school board elections
$2.5 million annually
take control
November 2010
are
in
Voters around the nation went to the polls to have their voices heard 20 years in Congress 61 years old 8th Congressional Ohio District Won with 65.9%
680 60 Republican seats gained in state legislatures
Republican seats gained in US House of Representatives
Democrats keep control of Senate Reppublicans win over House
JOHN boehner
house speaker
Design by: Ashley DuBois
pictures: crooksandliars.com, annarbor.com // sources: govenorreelectricksnyder.com, johnboehner.house.gov
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Shield News
November 2010
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From our globally-acclaimed International Baccalaureate programmes to our technology integration to our Advanced Placement and honors courses, Bloomfield Hills Schools offers students comprehensive education at its finest. Visit www.Bloomfield.org to learn more about what makes BHS outstanding. Do other schools measure up? Use this checklist to find out.
Top TesT scores (meAp) smAll clAss sizes:
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world lAnguAges Begin BAnd And sTrings Begin progrAm Assuring every sTudenT is chAllenged nATure cenTer fArm gifTed services Elementary schools, Middle schools High schools
comprehensive Technology in All clAssrooms % of fAculTy wiTh AdvAnced degrees ncA AccrediTATion
8 4 1 Preschool Fourth grade Maximizing Academic Potential (MAP)
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7-clAss semesTer schedules in high school Block schedules in True middle school
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Model High School Reading recovery teachers, resource teachers, speech teachers, ELL teachers, social workers, psychologists
For more information contact an enrollment specialist: t JOGP!CMPPNGJFME PSH
Shield News
Going S lar
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November 2010
Faculty member decides to go green with purchase of home solar panel system
James Feuereisen Co-Editor-in-Chief
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For Teacher David Reed, it’s easy being green. “We started the process last spring, though it took all summer to deal with the permits. Originally, we investigated getting wind turbines because my wife noticed the West Bloomfield Office had a wind turbine,” says Orchestra Director David Reed, whose home, as of October 15, has an active solar power system. “Michigan Solar Solutions informed us that solar panels were actually a better economic choice. We investigated as much as we could and decided to do it.” “Ultimately I will get free electricity as a result of my purchase,” says Reed. “I think for a lot of green technology, it has to work both ways in that it is good for the consumer and is environmentally friendly.” According to Reed, Michigan Solar Solutions guided Reed through the entire process. “When a customer inquires about panels, the first thing we do is look at their property on Google Maps and determine the potential for solar,” says CEO of Michigan Solar Solutions Mark Hagerty. “Around 80 percent of interested customers do not follow through due to the requirements.”
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According to Hagerty, whose company installed 23 systems last year, the Reeds’ system cost $33,000, which included his 16 panels, installation, and permits. “DTE will pay me $9,000 and I should get $10,000 back in federal tax credits,” explains Reed, who feels that the financial incentive was the biggest factor. “I will get the [federal] money back over the course of several years. [The system] will cost me around $12,000 to $14,000, which is less than a car.” According to the SolarCurrents program at DTE Energy, a local energy company, homeowners will receive a monthly $0.11/ kWh (a measure of electricity use) credit on their monthly electric bill along with $2.40 per Watt installed. “I would like to possibly retire in four or five years and financially it’s to my advantage to minimize my living expenses, plus solar panels were a good fit for my property,” says Reed. “If this works the way it is supposed to, in five to eight years, it will pay for itself. Beyond that, we should break even or even make money. It should be good for the environment and for me.” Amy Reed, David Reed’s wife, adds that, “Based on my daily checks of the meters, I believe our monthly electric bill will be significantly lower than it was in the past. DTE installed special meters that allow me to determine our energy bill. Electricity we make goes into grid, not house. Then they measure difference between input and output. We get credited or charged based on difference.” Reed elected to have ground-mounted panels as opposed to a roof-mounted system as his property is large enough to handle the arrays, which is actually beneficial to Reed. “Ground-mounted arrays are more efficient than roof-mounted systems,” continues Hagerty who
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founded his company in 2008. “Peoples’ says Andover Students for Environmental roofs aren’t necessarily at the right Quality President Melanie Greenspan. “Stuangle, while ground-mounted systems dents should be inspired by his actions and receive sunlight 95 percent of the time. take note how to be more environmentally However, most properties are not as large conscious in life.” According to Hagerty, popularity for solar as the Reeds’ [two acres], so they have to panels has grown exponentially. use roof-mounted panels.” “Demand has increased due to people According to the West Bloomfield Township Community Development Depart- being more environmentally conscious ment, ordinances for wind and solar were as well the financial benefits. Right now a established last year and allow residents to huge problem for my company is product put panels on their roofs, provided they ob- procurement; there are lots of backorders. tain the right permits. If a resident wants to In the future though, when the supply chain install a ground-mounted system, they must issue is solved and price competition kicks in, the price will come down.” appeal to the zoning board of appeals. In addition to the solar panels, the Reeds Being the first resident to install groundbased solar panels in West Bloomfield, Reed explain that they have always made a conscientious effort to be environmentally faced an arduous process. friendly. ”The permit process took two months and cost $200 to “If this works “My wife and I save energy and/ or are ‘green’ by controlling our $600,” mentions Reed. “We the way it house temperature year-round had to go through the planwith a programmable thermostat,” ning commission then to a is supposed Reed elaborates. “In the summer, hearing. I feel as much as the we use our AC very little. I drive a state and township wants us to to, in five to hybrid car and use energy savinggo green, there are many hin- eight years light bulbs. We recycle everything dering regulations. It would’ve been faster with roof-mounted it will pay for possible, use reusable grocery bags, have a compost pile, and line panels, [although] I would’ve itself.” dry about 50 percent of our launhad to replace my roof putting David Reed dry. It’s amazing how much one these up and I didn’t have ad- Orchestra Director can save just by doing little things ditional money to re-roof my here and there. It really doesn’t take a lot of house.” Reed explains that “it was a hassle but I’m thought or effort.” “My pet peeve is when people litter as it very happy I did it. The start-up was expensive and we had to take out a loan. It made shows so little respect for Earth,” adds Amy. things tight financially this summer. We “Earth is hurting, but I do my small part. I almost bailed due to hassle from the town- was committed to installing these panels; I ship. You have to be willing to be dedicated think we would have gotten them even without the credits.” to install it.” Reed and Kwasny stress the importance Many show enthusiasm towards Reed’s of making environmentally conscious deciactions. “I applaud what he did and wish more sions. would do it. I personally like technology “We are getting to the point where resourcand try to be environmentally friendly,” es are running out and many actions are not says Science Teacher Dennis Kwasny. “My being done with a lot of forethought,” Kwashouse is well-shaded which lowers my air ny comments. “From a socially responsible conditioning use, yet the large number of point of view, we must reduce our impact on trees prevents me from getting solar pan- the planet. Individual actions won’t save the els. However, someone down the street planet, but they do add up.” “Everyone must be aware, and as a nation from me got them this year.” Likewise, students share interest about we can’t survive on outside energy sources. My panels won’t change the situation, but the panels. “It was a really good initiative; not that it’s the one little thing I can do,” concludes many would make such a big committment Reed. to do something like that in their house,
Programmable Thermostat: Saves
energy in a home by allowing homeowners to set desired temperatures at pre-determined times throughout the day. They can save a home 10% a year in energy cost.
CFL: Compact fluo-
rescent lamps use only 25% of the energy of a regular incandescent light bulb and last 10 times as long. The light comes from mercury vapor that is excited by the flow of electricity.
Electrical Box:
Electric Company: All energy created by the
system is sent directly into the grid. Utility companies pay homeowners a set compensation for every Kw of energy they put into the grid. Many companies offer incentices for homeowners to send power into the grid. Sending power into the grid is more efficient than an off-grid system.
Energy flowing to and from the electric company passes through this electrical box to filter the energy created by the solar panels and the energy sent from the electric company, also preventing backflow and reverse current to the solar panel.
Inverter: Energy
Where does our energy come from? Solar, Wind, and Geothermic 3.7% Hydroelectric 6.0%
Power Meter:
created by panels is in Direct Current form (DC). The inverter converts the energy into Alternating Current (AC) which can be used by the electrical grid. AC is safer and is more efficient.
The meter records the power produced by the solar panels as well as energy usage in the home. Homeowners are charged or credited based on the net difference.
Natural Gas 21.4% Solar Panels:
Photons from sunlight strike panels composed primarily of silicon. Electricity is created when photons excite electrons through the Photoelectric Effect. Panels are angled to maximize sunlight absorption.
Nuclear 19.6%
Oil 1.1%
Coal 48.2%
Source information from: U.S. Energy Information Administration (eia.deo.gov), DTE (dteenergy.com), and Michigan Solar Solutions (michigansolarsolutions.com)
Graphic and Design by: Brian Margosian
Students help with athletic training
See B2
Senior receives full ride scholarship
See B2
Shield Sports Joining the dual world Varsity Coach makes decision to be coach of Girls Basketball Team Rachel Gorosh Guest Writer
He once was a Baron by day and a Knight by night. However, Coach Jeff Rubin is trading in his sword for a permanent shield. “It was a difficult decision for me to leave Lahser,” says Rubin. “Switching from one school to another wasn’t very challenging as much as it was a difficult to say goodbye to Prior to tryouts, Coach Rubin a group of playheld clinics for interested bask- ers that were very loyal and betball players. put in a lot of work and did things I asked, but I am very excited to be at Andover. Hopefully the girls are excited to we have me as well.” After coaching both Andover’s Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team and Lahser’s Girls’ Varsity BasketSee ball Team, Rubin is now coaching BASKETBALL both the boys B3 and girls teams at Andover.
Being the Coach of Year After successful season, golf team leader receives recognition from peers
Running
Girls Cross Country team achieves numerous milestones in record setting year
The Distance
Meet the Lady Barons
Cross Country
Mackenzie Gammons
Tim Zobl
Guest Writer
Emily Langnas owes Coach Barrett everything. “Coming onto the team as a freshman, I knew nothing about golf,” the four-yearvarsity senior says. “Now, it is something I will do for the rest of my life and I owe that directly to him.” After an undefeated season and qualifying to states for the first time in school history, Coach Dave Barrett was named Regional Coach of the Year, chosen by his fellow golf coaches. “It felt great winning the award, but it felt even better knowing it happened during this season,” explains Barrett, who finished his twelfth season as head coach. “The girls were really driven to succeed and were the best team I have ever had and winning this after a great season was just the icing on the cake.” “I think this year meant more to him than any other year in the past. Only a handful of athletes experience the feeling of going to states, Dave Barret and we did it to- Girls Varsity Golf Coach gether as a team,” says Langnas. According to Barrett, the thought of a possible state title was planted during their annual preseason practice. “We take a golf trip every year up to Oscoda, Michigan,” says Barrett, “But this year we also took a visit to the state finals course at Michigan State. That kind of planted the seed.” According to Senior Captain Emily Schottenfels, from day one the goal was to make it to the state finals. “[Because] the girls had so much potential we wanted to be first or second in the Oakland County tournament, we wanted to go undefeated, we wanted to win OAA white division, and we wanted to get to the state finals,” he says. “We accomplished all of our goals.” According to Barrett, a contributing factor to both his accolade and the team’s success was the “special chemistry that I don’t know can ever be repeated.” Schottenfels explains that the girls and Barrett bonded more this year than in years past; the girls’ relationship with their coach got them through difficult situations in the season. “[Barrett] always believed in us. Before we would start a tournament or play a match, it wasn’t, ‘We want to win this.’ It was, ‘We will win this,’” adds See Langnas.
GOLF B2
Ryan Rosenberg Guest Writer
Above: Junior Lise Devits, Lexi Sinclair, and Coach Beth Sinclair embrace each other after their top 15 finishes in the regional meet. Beth has been the Girls Cross Country Coach since 2009.
Top: The girls team starts together in the regional final. There were over 100 female runners in the meet held in Argentine Township. Above: The girls got together before the state meet and decorated this van to show their spirit. The meet was held at the Michigan International Speedway.
“Being a freshman and having the chance to go to states was really exhilarating,” says Freshman Mackenzie Gammons, one of Guest Writers the two freshmen on the state team. “[Even In the heat of the race, Lexi did not realize though] I felt a lot of pressure at states, how well she was doing until the crowd I wanted to get a great time and end the started to cheer her name. season on a good note. I was shooting for “About halfway through the 20:30, but finished at 19:34; I wanted race, people were yelling [that] I to drop 15 seconds, but dropped 90.” Being a freshwas in 34th so at that point, I was man and having “There was great energy everykind of nervous because that’s where. People in the stands were the chance to a really hard position to hold,” go to states was cheering my name. It was a really says Junior Lexi Sinclair, whose really exhilarat- good atmosphere to be in,” adds final time at states was 19:04 and ing. Sophomore Eve Sherbin, who ran put her in second place on the Mackenzie Gammons 22:19 in the five-kilometer (3.1 mile) Freshman school’s record board. course. “When I left, I felt so accomSinclair, along with six other plished.” girls on the Varsity Girls Cross Country Prior to the race, the team’s coach Beth team, competed on November 8 in the Sinclair indicated what each girl had to Michigan High School Athletic Association do at each mile; Sherbin says this really state-wide competition held at the Michigan helped her focus on reducing her time in International Speedway where the Barons each race. See placed 12 out of the 27 schools.
Ryan Rosenberg and Noah Newman
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XC B2
-Freshman -5k time: 19:34 -Mile Time: 6:05 -Been running for 5 years -44th place at States -11th at Regionals -Favorite Shoe: Assics
Lise Devits
-Junior -5k time: 19:26 -Mile time: 5:59 -Been running for 6 years -54th place at States -6th at Regionals -Favorite Shoe: New Balance
Lexi Sinclair -Junior -5k time: 19:04 -Mile time: 5:26 -Been running for 6 years -32nd place at States -3rd at Regionals -Favorite Shoe: Assics
Anna Kemeny -Senior -5k time: 20:45 -Mile time: 5:52 -Been running for 2 years -189th place at States -30th at Regionals -Favorite Shoe: Assics Also running at states were Isabella Lackner. Kyla Milberger, and Eve Sherbin. Photos provided by: Beth Sinclair
Managing sports outside of school Student athletes share stories of handling academics and athletics Eve Sherbin Guest Writer
Lacing up her skates, Tessa realizes she is once again missing something. “[Because] I am committed to my skating, missing school is a sacrifice I have to make, even when the workload is heavy,” explains Sophomore Tessa LeWitt, a competitive ice skater for nine years, who has already missed five days of school so far this semester. LeWitt is not alone as approximately one eighth of Andover’s athletes choose their sport over their attendance. “I would not cut back on my gymnas-
tics, even if it does interfere with school, [since] I am committed to my sport. Missing school is a sacrifice I have to make,” explains Junior Allison Brooks, who for the past ten years has competed in rhythmic gymnastics. First quarter, Brooks missed a week of school for a competition held in Toronto. “The sacrifice is not always easy, especially because it is my junior year. I have to make sure I manage my time and keep my focus on academics which is difficult when I am so involved with my sport,” says Brooks. Although Junior Baseball Player Gabe Berman also missed a week of school in order to play in a tournament in Florida for his team the A. Greens, his experience differs from Brooks’. “Missing school for me is pretty easy [because] I don’t find it that stressful [as] I am usually able to sit down and get everything done. To be honest, I don’t really mind missing school because
playing baseball is what I love to do,” says Berman. According to Kathy Fotouhi, whose daughter missed four days of school during the last three weeks of the first quarter due to swimming regionals and leagues, “[Since] kids work extremely hard with their sports, I think if missing school is part of the committment then it’s acceptable.” Lewitt adds that her parents “are fully behind my skating but expect a lot of me academically too. So in order to [participate in skating], my parents make sure I keep up with school.” “The time factor is the most difficult part of seeing Tessa miss school,” adds Tessa’s mom, Jan LeWitt. “[Tessa] manages her time well but there See is always a lot of TRAVELING B3 work to do.”
“ I am not re-
ally strict about it but since I teach mostly APs, students are always really good about making up work and making sure they understand what they miss.
”
Kenneth Cameron
Social Studies Teacher
Shield Sports
B2
November 2010
Students training to be trainers Students discover what athletic faculty’s day entails Gabi Stone Guest Writer
Above: Senior Middle Hitter Paula Demings signs a MTSU committment statement. Middle: Demings greets the crowd at Andover’s home gym. Far right: The senior is shown hitting at the Volley For the Cure game, which Barons shut out Lahser 3-0 games.
Baron becomes Blue Raider
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Photos by: Lori Garkinkel
Senior volleyball player earns scholarship Nicole Kiester
Sports Section Advisor
Standing shoulder to shoulder, they remembered what they had been through. “Sitting down to write my senior speech, I was super emotional [thinking] about everything she has done for me,” says Paula Demings of her mother Kimblee, who had been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer at the beginning of Paula’s seven year volleyball career. “[During senior night] I was literally crying the whole time. It was so weird because I was thinking about everything that happened and [that] I was leaving for Tennessee [in less than a year].” Playing with Paula since their days at Bloomfield Hills Middle School, Senior Varsity Captain Setter Judy Thelen believes Kimblee is one of the reasons for Paula’s success. “Even though [Kim] was sick, she is always smiling. I think Mrs. Demings being sick has taught Paula to appreciate everything
from B1 XC: Counties
more and has also taught her to work harder.” “I try not to focus on my sickness. I do my best to focus on the positive and Paula,” says Kimblee. Upon receiving a full ride volleyball scholarship to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), a Division 1 College, this middle hitter remembers believing this accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of her biggest fan. “Whatever it took to do what I wanted to do in volleyball, [my mom] made it happen. There were times where I thought [volleyball wasn’t]worth it. I didn’t know if I could do this long term. I’d come home and tell my mom, ‘I quit,’ and she’d say, ‘OK, you can quit,’ secretly knowing that by her saying that, I wouldn’t. [It was] reverse psychology.” “I was so excited to hear Paula had been recruited. I was thankful to God for this marvelous blessing,” says Kimblee. It was during a two day camp Demings was offered a full ride scholarship.“I was really excited about [the scholarship], especially since MTSU was my top choice,” says Demings.
“It was so exciting to hear we were going to states. We qualified Lexi Sinclair, Lise Devits, Mackenzie Gammons and Running alongside Sherbin, Freshman Issabella Lackner individually,” adds Gammons. “It was an amazing feeling Kyla Milberger remembers she “was to hear we finally qualified as a team.” nervous, but since I was at the back of According to Gammons, it was thanks the pack for more [of the race], it was to Anna Kemeny, who edged out a runinteresting to watch everyone. And the ner from Lahser, securing the team’s race itself was really fast and exciting.” Moving from tenth place on the leader first place at the regional competition. Looking back at the entire season board to fifth after Regionals, Sinclair says , “I wasn’t surprised a week prior to states, Junior Lise Devits says the course [When,] Mr. at all when I saw all of these girls’ was hilly and cold. “[While Laliberte came times improve. My husband and running], I wasn’t thinking up and told us I analyzed what kind of competiabout states; I was just think- we won by one tion they were up against. I saw they were mature and I knew ing of getting our team into point we all they were going to be able to the top three at Regionals.” went insane and On November 1, the team screamed really reach their goals and hopefully exceed them. This year all of my won the regional competiloud. girls really improved, but the girl tion, qualifying for states, and Devits that improved the most was my adding another title to their Lise Junior senior Anna Kemeny [who] ran resume as Oakland County Division II Champions and Blue League a time of 20:46, improving her previous time by 1:20.” Champions. “The team was thrilled when Kemeny “We were really nervous and we were finished [at Regionals]” Gammons really quiet [waiting for the results]. concludes. “I was ecstatic we won first They were getting ready to announce place and beat Lahser; it was just a great the winners,” says Devits. “[When,] feeling.” Mr. Laliberte came up and told us we won by one point we all went insane and screamed really loud.”
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Putting the finishing touches on the ankle she has wrapped, Michelle feels a rush of excitement. “I just feel really good, and I just feel accomplished. I’m very proud of myself,” says Senior Michelle Meinhart. “Then, that way I can do more, and I can learn more after that, because the first tape job you learn is actually the ankle tape job… and once you learn that, you can move on to other ones, but you have to do that one first.” Meinhart is one of the many students volunteering under the guidance of Head Trainer Shira Schiff. Any time “[Having the trainers] helps kids can get the athletic hands-on department, and experience, my department in particular, in working helping set up through fields, get the teams ready, high school, [and doing] I think it’s all the taping,” Schiff says. “And a wonderbesides, it’s good ful thing for education, especially if they’re them, and it going somemakes them where in the feel useful. medical field.” “[Shira] told Shira Schiff Athletic Trainer me having this experience going into college [will help] studying and becoming [an athletic trainer], as [I’m] already way ahead of everybody else coming into the field,” says Meinhart, who believes that other college students will have to start at ground level, but with all of her experience from the training room, she will already be up at the window. “Any time kids can get hands-on experience working through high school, I think it’s a wonderful thing for them, and it makes them feel useful,” Schiff says. “It’s [also] good for the program [as] I’m not only the only one there.” From a professional standpoint, St. Joseph Hospital Physical Therapist Dr. Lance Wozniak sees the benefits of student trainers at schools. “[It gives them] gained experience,” he says. “In medicine, a lot of what we learn is by trying different things; some things work for some people, and some don’t for others. And so they get to broaden their education and understand different things and different ways of helping people.” According to Junior Mujan Seif, the experience learned varies from day to day. “[When] I come in, I tape, make water, learn how to make casts, organize a lot, clean, and then learn a lot about anatomy and injuries, especially right after they happen on the field because I’m at all of the games.” “[I] learned to appreciate the sports and the players. For instance, I know how hard the football team works now and how disappointing it is for them when they loose. And [I] learned how to be dedicated and committed to something,” Meinhart adds. “At times it can be demanding if there’s a lot of kids piled into the training room and you have to tape all of them, massage them, and get them out to their practices on time. That can be stressful. But it’s all worth it in the end.” Seif adds, “I definitely learned a lot about sports-related injuries. I’m trying to look at people a lot differently. Now when I see somebody walking, I can tell what’s wrong with them, if they [hurt themselves] more than average or not normal in that kind of way.” Due to a stress fracture in her right ankle, Sophomore Emma Furlong stopped by the training room every practice. “[The student trainers] are definitely contributing to how fast they can get people in and out of the training room and out to practice. I [also] like that it’s personal and [I] can feel comfortable telling them, ‘Well this hurts.’ And with someone you don’t know, you’re kind of shy about your injuries. I feel a little more comfortable [with the student trainers] because I usually know them better, but with Shira, I feel comfortable that she really knows what she’s doing.” Schiff concludes, saying, “I’m always looking for more student trainers. Any student or student athlete that’s looking to go into the medical field can get some hands on experiece here. If they’re interested they should contact me.” Interested in student athletic training? Contact Shira Schiff at sschiff@bloomfield.org or 248-798-6961
Hearing that one of his senior captains had received this scholarship, Varsity Head Coach Robert Hurdle was not surprised. “[Despite] all of the things [Paula] has gone through and the challenges she’s had not only athletically but in other facets [of her life], from the day she walked in, [she] has been [one of] the most hardworking players I’ve ever coached. She’s one of those rare kids [who] wouldn’t settle for anything less than she could be. Her work ethic is just phenomenal. She has all of the things that become predictors for success: she gets along great with people, she is empathetic, she is aware of her surroundings, she has tremendous personal drive, and is a self starter. All of those equate more than a GPA or a test score or what school she goes to. She is going to be successful because of who she is.”
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Above: Demings tips the ball during warm ups.
from B1 GOLF: Barrett
Schottenfels believes Barrett’s success as a coach derived from his ability to communicate. “He is really good with people. He understands what we are going through out on the course,” says Schottenfels. “He doesn’t really mess with our heads. We have our own swings and he accepts that. He uses our swing and makes it so we consistently play our own game. That is part of the reason we were so successful this year.” Ultimately, the combination of the right team with the right coach led the team and the coach to receiving their respective accolades. Athletic Director R.J. Guizzetti adds saying, “This year [Dave] happened to have a group of girls who were very dedicated and worked a lot outside of the golf season. Having a quality coach and a group of girls who were serious about the game is a good formula for a successful season and it showed.” Schottenfels concurs. “Coach Barrett is the best coach that I have ever had. As individual players, we are average golfers. But because of Barrett’s ability to motivate us, relate to us, and bring us together as a team, we went from a group of average players into an undefeated state finalist team,” she concludes.
Quick Facts -Barrett is optimistic about next year’s team -Barrett not only coaches but also teaches eighth grade mathematics at West Hills Middle School -Girls Golf Coach Dave Barrett was awarded regional coach of the year, an award voted on by fellow coaches -Barrett returns for his twelfth year of coaching
INTERESTED IN FORENSICS? Andover’s state champion Forensics team will be holding auditions for the 2010-2011 team on:
Tuesday December 7th and Wednesday December 8th after school in Ms. Harsh’s room 222.
Sign up sheets will be posted outside of Ms. Harsh’s room for all new and returning team members to select a time to audition. All skill levels and interests are encouraged to audition. See Ms. Harsh or any of the team captains with any questions or concerns.
Shield Sports
November 2010
from B1 BASKETBALL: Rubin “Coach Rubin called me when he learned our position was open and said he was giving some thought to asking us if he could take over that spot,” Athletic Director RJ Guizetti explains. “He asked me what my thoughts were and I loved the idea. I talked to our district athletic director Mike Cowdrey and I talked to Principal Durecka and it was unanimous. Coach Rubin is by all means passionate about basketball. We got an outstanding coach and I certainly see why the girls would be excited.” “When I found out our new coach was We got an the Varsity Girls’ outstanding Lahser coach I was coach and I excited because certainly see I know how good why the girls he is and how he would be ex- will challenge us to make our team betcited. ter,” girls’ basketball RJ Guizetti Athletic Director center Jamie Lederman shares. Varsity Boys’ Basketball point guard Jeremey Fishman agrees. “It’s a good thing that Coach Rubin is just at Andover because now he’s all at one school and he doesn’t have as much travel time. It will definitely be a positive change for the team.” New Season According to Rubin, being at one school should prevent conflicts in the boys’ and girls’ playing schedule for the upcoming season. “I try to do all my scheduling in the summer and fall so we kind of avoid all possible conflicts,” shares Rubin. “We will deal with the difficulties of having a double header but in general scheduling is done prior to the season.” “It will definitely affect our team, but mostly in a positive way. Last year Coach Rubin had to have different plays for each schools’ team and it was difficult for him to switch off but this year being at one school will be a lot easier,” shares Fishman. According to Rubin, being at one school will not only cut travel time down but the girls’ and boys’ basketball programs will be more united. “Hopefully as a basketball program as a whole we can promote basketball in the school instead of having the boys program and the girls program we can just have a basketball program… being able to bring boosters together, there’s just so many positives that might come out of it,” explains Rubin. Rubin concludes, “I don’t know if there’s anything I’ll be doing differently between the two programs, it really depends on the players’ independent success.”
Faces In the Crowd Jeremy Fishman High of 27 points a game Preparing for his second season as Varsity Point Guard, Junior Jeremy Fishman’s main goal for himself and his teammates is to prove those wrong who don’t give [Andover’s varsity basketball team] enough credit. “At Andover, my personal record is 27 points a game and I will try to improve upon it. I’ve been going to the gym everyday, working on my speed with Sports Speed and Quickness Trainer Frank Cona, taking about 500 shots daily, and attending my team’s individual workouts. But out of everything, I’ve seen the most improvement in my leadership role on the team. I’m extremely excited for the upcoming season to show that we have more potential than people give us credit for.”
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Ryan Kavanagh Sixth place in divisional slalom race last year Ryan Kavanagh, a Junior Captain on the ski team, started skiing when he was five years old and began racing in the eighth grade. He has been on the Andover Varsity Ski Team since freshman year and is a key member of the team. His favorite memory, aside from his sixth place triumph, is winning the team regional championship last year. Kavanagh says “I like the speed and how technical the sport is and how there’s always room to get faster in each run, courses change every day so you’re never bored with doing the same thing.” This year he hopes to help lead the team in going for the divisional title as well as another regional title. They also want to improve on their seventh place in the state meet from last year.
Angelica Kunz Sophomore Assistant Hockey Captain Sophomore Angelica Kunz will be playing defense on the Varsity Girl’s Hockey Team for her second year. She started playing hockey last year, and since then, Angelica says that her greatest accomplishment has been leading her team as assistant captain for the upcoming season. “I was very excited [to be an assistant captain] but also a little bit hesitant because there were other [players] older than me with more years in that didn’t get the position.” Angelica loves everything about the sport, especially the rush she gets before each game. Although there is no professional women’s hockey team, Angelica hopes to continue playing throughout her high school experience and throughout college. But for now, Angelica “will continue to lead by example and keep working hard.”
Vic Sun 51:03 seconds in the 100 free Five years ago, Junior Vic Sun began his swimming career, which has included being on the varsity team for three years. Currently, Sun swims the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle, and has a state-cut and personal best time of 51:03 in the 100 free. Sun especially likes swimming because he “knows that where you are is… a result of how hard you [have] worked.” In the 2010 season, Sun is looking forward to Nationals, excited for the unique opportunity, meeting other national level BBD swimmers, and because he “wants to be fast.”
from B1 TRAVELING: Athletes AP U.S. and AP World teacher Kenneth Cameron says, “I am not really strict about it, but since I teach mostly APs, students are always really good about making up work and making sure they understand what they miss.” Teaching AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and Honors Chemistry teacher Dennis Kwasny says, “A weeks notice is reasonable, but I guess I am pretty flexible. I think students deserve time to compete and if that cuts into school then I think it is okay, as long as they are able Even when to keep up with I have had to school.” skip a day or Lewitt shares two of school, that missing the whole pro- school in high cess has helped school to middle school was me to be who I an adjustment am today. as “back then Tessa LeWitt it didn’t really Sophomore seem to matter if I missed school. I could make everything up in class. There was hardly anything I would have to do at home. Now everything is so much harder.” Freshman Timothy Sterbenz agrees. “This year is different for sure. Missing high school is harder because in middle school, I could usually get out of assignments and in high school, teachers expect a lot more of you. I have realized seminar is key in catching up; I really take advantage of that time to get help.” LeWitt concludes by saying, “I love skating and I am really glad I have put so much time into it. Even when I have had to skip a day or two of school, the whole process has helped me to be who I am today.”
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B3
Jon Williams 70 career wins Senior Jon Williams, Captain of the Varsity Wrestling team, has been wrestling at Andover for four years and his full career stretches back to fifth grade. Jon’s favorite memory from wrestling is qualifying for regionals and states in his junior year. For Jon, “the best part of wrestling is that you are alone on the mat and control your own destiny. No one is going to be able to help you when you are out there.” Jon plans to wrestle at a division one school. His top two choices right now are Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan University.
Basketball players help the community Boys’ basketball program donates toys to cancer patients for the holidays Will Neef
Guest Writer With a high score of 80 toys collected in last year’s drive, Jeremy Fishman believes his Varsity Boys Basketball team can do better. “[Bottomless Toy Chest] (BTC) is great, [and] the cause is a good one, especially before the holidays,” the second-year varsity point guard explains. “We did great last year collecting many toys [during last year’s game against Highland Park] but thinking about it now, we could have done much better, and I believe that we will this year,” says Fishman. In conjunction with “Toys for Tots,” Mickey Guisewite established the not-profit organization two years ago when her son’s doctor diagnosed her son with Leukemia, a type of cancer that young children are most prone to, as it is the second most cause of death for children only behind accidents, says the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. “In [an] instant we were yanked out of the comfortable, predictable world we knew, and flung into a panic-filled world of
uncertainty and fear as our son began to fight for his life,” explains Guisewite, as her motivation for collecting toys to be taken primarilly to the patients at Henry Ford West Bloomfield, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and Beaumont Hospitals. Five-year Varsity Men’s Basketball Coach Jeff Rubin says he and his teams became involved when “a former [Lahser] player had come to me and she was really involved with [BTC] and thought highly of it and what they do. She approached me and asked if we could help out. I had done it for four years at Lahser with the girls, and since it worked so well there, I brought it to Andover three years ago with the boys. This will be the first year doing the event with both the boys and the girls’ teams and I am really excited about it.” According to Rubin, the event begins on December 14 with the girls’ home game against the Seaholm Maples and continues until Tuesday, December 17 when the boys host Ferndale University, also at home. “If you bring in a new item to donate, then you can get free admission into the game,” explains Rubin. “Each year we have been trying to improve the event and make our players more accountable for what they are doing. Following the boys’ game on the [December 17], the players are going to individually wrap each gift with materials supplied by the Bottomless Toy Chest
Organization. Because the children are terminally ill, each gift has to be new; this year toys, books, and other crafts are being collected and donated.” “If we can help kids while building team unity then it is defiantly a worthwhile event,” says Fishman. Booster parent and second-year charity director Betsy Keidan agrees. “Players should do things to help their community and it is great that they can hopefully become closer as a team while doing it.” “We want the players to understand why we are giving back to these kids, and not just think of it as something else on the calendar that we are doing but for them to really see the significance of giving back to kids, and the community,” says Rubin. Keiden adds, “We have a great booster program, and anything Coach Rubin and the players want to do, especially related to community service is supported. The basketball teams will also be raising money for Coaches vs. Cancer (February 4-5) and possibly doing a basketball sneaker donation drive. Rubin concludes, “If we can collect a couple hundred toys then we can hopefully make a couple hundred children happy.” Betsy Keidan For more information, look at The Bottom- Parent of Athlete less Toy Chest’s website, www.bottomlesstoychest.org.
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should do things to help their community and it is great that they can hopefully become closer as a team while doing it.
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Shield Sports
B4
Game Plan Attend
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November 2010
What smart Barons should do this month
Purchase
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Bloomfield Hockey Michigan play Ohio Tickets to The Lions v. Patriots Game November 24 State November 27 Fighter December 10 November 24 In what promises to be an exciting game, The Bloomfield Chargers hockey team will face off against The Flint Powers Charges. The game will be played November 24 at 5 pm on the Chargers home ice, the Flint Iceland Arena. The Chargers, led by Captains Austin Ramin and Neil Krentz, are coming off of a disappointing playoff run last season. The team received a bad draw and was eliminated in the first round. Finishing third in the Oakland Athletics Association with an overall record of 10-11-3, the boys are hoping to improve on last seasons record. The team will be aided by returning goalie Bryce Henney and Forward Cameron Schwalb, both Andover Seniors. The team features several Andover juniors. Mark Andonian is returning as a third year Varsity defenseman. “I have high hopes for the team and I am confident in our abilties,” says Jacob Rosenszweig a Varsity foward. Lend our hockey team your support and watch them begin another successful season. http://www.eteamz.com/bloomfieldhockey/index.cfm
On November 27, these two storied programs meet for the 107th time. Michigan leads the series with a 57-43-6 record. Michigan invades Ohio Stadium, otherwise known as “The Horseshoe,” looking to end a six-game losing streak to Ohio State. Considered the biggest college football rival by many, this rivalry dates back to 1897. Traditionally meeting for the last game of the season, this match up has decided the Big Ten Conference Title 47 times and looks to have the same stakes on the line this year as Ohio State is in the Big Ten Title hunt with Michigan State and Iowa. Even though Michigan has struggled so far in Big Ten play, they look to upset Ohio State and their chances at a major Bowl Game. Denard Robinson leads Michigan’s high powered offense against an all around great Ohio State team. Make sure to watch out for Ohio State players Terrelle Pryor, Brandon Saine, and Cameron Heyward for some big time action. This promises to be a great game, so get together with your friends and watch history unfold. http://topnews.in/files/university-of-michigan_logo.jpg http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/sps/OhioState_Logo
Ready for another emotional sports journey about overcoming all odds? Based on the true story about underdog boxer Micky Ward, upcoming film The Fighter will take over box offices on December 10. With an all-star cast that includes Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams, The Fighter looks like it will have a few Oscar nominations next February, according to Jeff Sneider from entertainment website “The Wrap.” Set in Lowell, Massachusetts, a documentary crew follows Micky and his brother Dickie (Bale) around as Micky trains and prepares for a title shot. This movie focuses on more than just boxing. Micky’s relationship with his family and how it affects his boxing career also plays a central role. These two elements are combined to create a film that “pulls off a delicate balancing act of good, old-fashioned sports drama and gritty character study,” says Sneider. Make time this December to come see the film described as an “againstall-odds physical and emotional journey” by Kirk Honeycutt from hollywoodreporter.com. It looks to be a knock-out. http://www.onlinemovieshut.com/online-movies/the-fighter-movieposter
In the 76th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving Day game, played by none other than the Detroit Lions, the boys in Honolulu Blue face the New England Patriots. The Lions, with a losing record, are facing a daunting task, against the successful Patriots. Led by superstar Tom Brady, the Patriots are the clear favorites. This is due to their fifteenth-ranked rushing attack. Aided by their seventeenth-ranked passing offense, they prove to be one of the most balanced teams in the league. The Lions very well may enter this game without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford suffered a separated shoulder earlier in the season. This may cripple the Lions eighth-ranked air attack. This Thanksgiving Game has a lot of history behind it. The Lions played in the very first Thanksgiving Game. The game, played in 1934, was a way to bring attention to the new Detroit football team. Gather together with family and friends and enjoy a special game that has been played for generations. h t t p : / / t h e c o n f u s e d h o m e m a k e r. c o m / w p - c o n t e n t / u p loads/2010/11/new-lions-logo.jpg
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Shield Sports
november 2010
Eliminating immense expectations in sports Athlete urges students to support rather than critisize
B5
Sports Q&A
Brandon Labe Bianca Lazar Guest Writer
Steven Goldenthal
Guest Writer
Every year, most sports teams start the season with high expectations from themselves and/or their fans. These expectations, whether justifiable or not, set teams up for failure. It’s always incredibly hard to live up to the hype. No matter how good a team is, the best that they can do is meet their own or their fans’ expectations. Otherwise, they end up disappointing everyone. If my friends expect me to get into some Ivy League school but the only school I get into is Michigan, should they be disappointed in me? No! Michigan is a great college and I should get a pat on the back for the hard work I put in. Hey, at least I’m going to college. I do understand and even agree with the point that sometimes expectations put needed pressure on teams to push them towards greatness. And yes, this pressure does push most teams, but not necessarily towards greatness. It can add unnecessary stress that usually ends up hurting a team. Look no further than New York to find a city and a team expecting nothing but the best. The Yankees come into every baseball season with the expectation of winning the World Series. Case in point, Yogi Berra in his first season as a full time manager took the Yankees to the last game of the World Series but lost. Most managers would be commended for this kind of performance but not with the Yankees’ expectations. No,Berra was fired soon after. What is always acceptable is the expectation for a team to give 100 percent of their effort. If they do, and succeed, then great, everyone wins. If they don’t, and fail, then they should not be content and we as fans should expect better. But if a team busts their butt but doesn’t quite go all the way, they should be supported and know that they always have next year to compete for the title. The best advice for sports teams and fans is to hope for the best and expect the worst because then you will never be disappointed.
Q: When did you start playing hockey? A: I started playing hockey at 5. Q: Who got you started in hockey? A: My dad and grandpa took me to a San Jose Sharks game when I was four years old. It looked like a lot of fun and so my dad signed me up for a league the next year. Q: What team do you play for? A: Little Caesars. We practice at Joe Louis [Arena]. Q: Are they a good team? What is their ranking? A: They’re normally like top ten in the nation. The rankings haven’t come out yet so we’ll see about how we are there. Q: What position do you play? A: I’m a forward. Q: Where did you transfer from? A: Los Gatos. It’s a city near San Jose. Q: How do you like Andover? A: It’s pretty nice. Different. Definitely a lot different. Q: How’s your season going? A: It’s going good so far, I don’t know what our record is, but we’re definitely above 500. We beat the team who won national championship last year, so hopefully we’ll do well this year. Q: Do you follow a certain team? A: I follow the San Jose Sharks. Q: How has hockey changed your life? A: It just keeps me busy and everything like that. Practice is five, six times a week and off-ice conditioning is two times a week or so.
Q: How far do you plan to go with hockey? A: College - D1 hopefully. Q: Do you play with anyone from this school? A: No one from this school but there’s a kid who goes to Lahser [on my team].
Q: What was the reception from the team when you got here? A: They were all nice. Most of the guys knew each other from before, but I got to know them all pretty fast.
Q: Why did you choose Andover? A: It was the school closest to my grandparents’ house, [which is] where I live now.
Q: Do you enjoy playing for a team outside of school or do you feel like you’re missing out on a chance to assimilate into this school? A: It’s nice to play for a team outside the school because the level of play is better. It’s a little more inconvenient though because it’s so time consuming since I have to drive 45 minutes to practice everyday.
Q: How did you feel about moving here? A: It was sad to leave all my friends and family but I was also excited to start playing hockey with the new team.
Q: What other sports or activities are you a part of? A: I play lacrosse and sometimes our hockey team plays a game of soccer or basketball every now and then.
Q: How does it feel to be on a new team? A: It’s really nice but a lot different. Since we’re affiliated with the Red Wings, they give us free gear and other stuff which is pretty cool. The coaches are a lot better, we have a lot more practices a week which is good, and we have a personal trainer who sharpens our skates and everything.
Q: Do you enjoy other sports or is hockey your main focus? A: I played varsity lacrosse throughout high school in California and I plan on playing for the school lacrosse team here too. I can play lacrosse since the seasons don’t overlap, but hockey is still the main focus. I still play in some [hockey] tournaments during the lacrosse season.
Q: Why did you transfer? A: I transferred to train here and play hockey.
Exploring the depths of SCUBA diving Bloomfield Hills offers club to area students Jarred Bratley Staff Writer
Nut Sale
Help the Band and Orchestra raise funds for their upcoming trip to Great Britain
Purchase Michigan based Koeze Nuts and Candy Order Forms are due by December 2 The nuts and candy make excellent holiday; hostess; birthday gifts and more Sales arrive in time for both Christmas and New Year’s
Please email Marshtron@aol.com for catalog and order forms
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Pontiac Trail
Orchard Lake Road
SCUBA, an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, is now being offered to Bloomfield Hills high school students as a club based out of Lahser. “Some days we use the pool,” says participant Senior Matt Rosner, “but other days we don’t go in the pool and do paper work in a classroom. It is sort of like driving class except we are getting our SCUBA diving certifications instead.” People who want to gain their scuba certifications must pay only $60 for the certification packet and $30 for equipment. Instructor Chuck Stavoe, working out of Novi Scuba and Snorkel, as Junior Anna Zambelli states, “is presenting an amazing opportunity by donating all of the equipment and instruction time to get Bloomfield Hills students their SCUBA certifications for a highly reduced price compared to the $400 or $500 it would cost to do anywhere else.” In order to become certified for SCUBA diving, an individual has to have five lessons, four quizzes, five confined water (pool) dives, four open water (ocean, lake, etc.) dives, and one final written exam administered by a respected certification agency, such as Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the organization of which Stavoe is a part. “I plan to finish all the classroom and pool work in the winter,” Stavoe says. “We are then talking about organizing a trip to the Bahamas over Spring Break in order to do our open water training. Those who don’t go on the trip will, once the weather warms up, go in local lakes or they can finish their certification on their next vacation.” “Certification requires a certain amount of pool time. We played torpedo in the pool and just messed around in the pool one day. It’s a great opportunity to have fun with scuba without going on vacation,” says Zambelli, who is already certified. “Students will discover that it is a lot of fun. There is no reason not to try scuba diving. It is relatively cheap and a great experience.” The club meets on Tuesdays at 3:00 and the dives are on Saturdays. To learn more, join the club on Facebook named Bloomfield Scuba Club 2010-2011.
Lone Pine (17 Mile) Business Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am - 10:00pm Sunday 4:30 - 9:00pm
Shield Opinion
B6
Examining workloads in high school Menchaca explores the phrase ‘There is no rest for the weary’
Gabe Menchaca Co-Editor-in-Chief
No one is quite sure where the phrase “there is no rest for the weary” comes from. Some say that it is a corruption of a bible passage; others, that it is an idiom derived from “there is no rest for the wicked”—which is definitely from the Bible (Isaiah 57, to be exact). Either way, I can only imagine what was going through the head of whoever penned that oft repeated proverb. Was he or she writing after a day’s work in the fields, or was it perhaps late at night, long after sensible people had gone to sleep. Such a phrase seems to be meant to be uttered with a sigh and a yawn. But does it have to be? Despite the amount of complaints I have heard over my high school career about the workload placed on 21st century high school students, I don’t think that it precludes a student from being content. I think that the truly weary choose to be; and I think that they love it. To me, there is no feeling more satisfying than climbing into bed at three in the morning after completing school work all night. I thrive on the pressure and flourish under a deadline; and I suspect that I am not alone. The culture at Andover stands as a testament to that: more AP classes and greater workloads than nearly every high school in the area and students that take them while involved in several other organizations. These wouldn’t exist if there weren’t students who wanted to push themselves to the limit. It wouldn’t be worth offering a challenge if students weren’t eager to rise to the occasion. That paints “there is no rest for the weary” in a different light, for me: it seems to be no longer a lament, but a goal. Being tired isn’t fun, but living a life without a challange isn’t particularly fulfilling either. Someone asked me the other day why I would run myself ragged during the school week and I couldn’t produce a real answer for her until now: It may be that I can only rest when I’m dead, but until then, I’ve got Trader Joe’s Whole Bean French Roast—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
november 2010
PRO
Ashley Pikula Guest Writer
You have to look the part to be at the head of the class. The reality is because Andover High School does not have a teacher dress code in writing, our teachers can technically wear anything under the sun to school. As a student, I want my teachers to take me seriously and I want to be able to take them seriously as well. I fashion my homework in such a way that entails professionalism. Teachers are professionals and I expect them to uphold a similar type of professionalism, making fashion choices just as I maintain with my school work. Because students often develop strong bonds and personal relationships with their teachers, I sometimes forget that teachers are not my peers. Inappropriate or unprofessional clothing would only emphasize this inaccurate perception. According to a report by the Education Commission of the States, supporters of a dress code argue “that more consistency in the quality and type of teacher clothing can boost employee morale and respect for the profession.” Think about this: teachers dress up for their job interviews and during parent-teacher conferences in order to earn the respect of the employer or the parent. Shouldn’t we as students, who teachers see everyday, get the same respect? Are we no less important than these future employers or our parents? I have to abide by the rules of the student dress code, which sets important guidelines of what is appropriate for us students to wear. When it comes to teachers, there should not be any
dress c o d e discrimination. They should have clothing guidelines to follow as well. I’m all for freedom of expression through fashion choices, but a dress code wouldn’t take that freedom away. It would simply ensure for an appropriate and professional environment for students. Teachers are comparable to the employees of any business. Stores such as Macy’s, Target, and even Wal-Mart have dress expectations and rules for their employees. Why shouldn’t teachers? I’m not saying it is necessary for
Should teachers follow a dress code?
Pro/Con Editorial
Rachel LeFevre Guest Writer
In the morning I wake up and pick out my clothes. I select what is comfortable, what is clean, and what is “in style.” Currently, Andover teachers are able to do the same because the school has no teacher dress code, and it should stay this way. I have come appreciate the relaxed environment my teachers encourage through their casual dress. Wearing a suit and tie or a skirt creates a feeling of authority which could stop a student from asking a question due to the shear intimidation factor formal attire presents; there is just something so monumentally unapproachable about a teacher gone corporate. Teachers are expected to, well…teach. Why should it matter if my teacher is teaching in slacks as opposed to a threepiece suit? Advocates of the dress code may argue that better dress increases productivity or work ethic, but jeans and a tight fitting top do not change a teacher’s teaching style, how effectively he or she gets a point across, or how fast papers are
graded, and it never will. If the administration imposes a dress code, it would be sending a clear statement about how With our top test scores and high levels of college admitmuch it trusts teachers. Teachers hold a profestance, some of the highest in the sional job in the school district, and in a profesnation, does it matter how many times sional world there are implied expectations; dress a week teachers wear cords and a is one of them. If the administration does not trust teachers’ discretion enough to dress aphoodie? Teachers have done their job; propriately, how can they trust them to teach am I missing something? and be role models for students? A study by the University of Houston Professionalism should never be traded in for found uniforms increase attendance expression, especially in a school, where exand language scores by less one percent pression is actively promoted and the sharing of in students. One percent? What can the opinions is a valued prospect. administration hope to gain when the Our school has been a measure of success reresults of dress codes in general are gardless of how our teachers dress and that will mediocre at best? not change with the addition of a tie. With a new In addition, the same study found that teacher dress code we can say hello to corporate the uniforms resulted in an increase in policy and kiss that classic jeans and Baron’s paradisciplinary infractions caused by viophernalia that teachers sport every Friday goodlations of said dress code. What will bye. This is something I for one will not welcome. the administration do--send the teacher to detention? The worst punishment would be reduced pay or even firing the teacher; enforcement would have to be extreme or non-existent. Cartoons by: Summer Krisnky
CON
Letters to the Editor Important to be yourself
As I looked at the front cover of this month’s Andover Shield, I was drawn in by a certain article: “Family Shares Story of Transgender Son.” I am glad this article was published because I feel many high school students can relate to it. Today, high school students face drama on a daily basis; on top of that, Nikk had to deal with finding his identity. The important part is not whether you are a boy or a girl, it’s about being comfortable in your own skin. I think this article brought awareness to the new struggles that the youth faces in today’s society.
Savannah Herrmann Junior
Watch what you say
[In response to Winston Urwiller’s column,] I agree that no matter what the record of the football team is, students should encourage the team and think highly of them because they have been working all summer to represent Andover. I am very shocked by the fact that people actually go up to you and ask, “Why can’t the team do this?” It is one thing to talk about the team with other people, but actually going up to the captain and questioning the team’s ability is a sign of disrespect. As soon as the final home game against Lahser ended, I saw a status update on Facebook saying, “Andover sucks at football, not like that was an established fact or anything.” These kinds of comments should not come from Andover students. Even though Andover has three teams that made it to the state finals, students should not ignore those teams that are struggling. Students should instead show confidence and support as best as they can in order to help the football team succeed.
Adam Zureick Junior
them to wear matching collared shirts, but having a dress code would set a standard as seen in the professional world outside of education. After all, they too are selling a product; it’s called education. Because teachers don’t have a dress code, I can’t exactly be sure what they will be wearing when they walk in the door. For all I know, one of my teachers could come to school in their pajamas tomorrow. Do I want my chemistry teacher wearing a rubber-ducky onesy while he’s explaining the electromagnetic spectrum? I think not. Do I want my English teacher discussing Chaucer in her night gown? That would be a no. Not only could their choices be inappropriate, but they could also be a distraction. Isn’t it more important to see what’s on the smart board than the latest style of True Religion Jeans? Students and teachers should share stories of accomplishment, not sales at Somerset. I want my teachers to dress for success.
It’s fine to have two
I liked that The Shield included the article “Team Teaching” about co-taught classes. When I originally walked into Chemistry and found Mrs. Novak in addition to Ms. Wendt, I was confused. It seemed unwise, at first look, only to save jobs, but it turns out that it’s a great thing. At the end of class, if more than a few students don’t understand a topic, Ms. Wendt or Mrs. Novak will try to explain the topic in a different way to just those students. This is beneficial to all because those who understand are bored with the repetition, and those who don’t understand don’t need to worry about slowing the class down. Also, the class is large and one teacher can take a long time answering questions about a difficult worksheet. Hopefully the school will continue to offer these co-taught classes.
Sydney Rosen Sophomore
Why not Renovate?
I read the [editorial] that addresses the millage issue in the October paper. Although there are many things that can be improved upon in the Andover building, the students still receive a top quality education. It seems to be inevitable that the two high schools will have to merge because of declining enrollment. Why not just renovate? Many quality institutions have buildings much older than Andover and turning away students. It seems to me it would be a much wiser decision to expand and renovate the building that is on the Andover campus now. In this tough economy, it doesn’t seem to be the right decision to ask our residents to continue their tax burden, when there are no specific building plans.
Tony Litzenburg Junior
Where’s the spirit?
Guest Writer and Varsity Quarter Back Winston Urwiller has a valid point. I am also on the team and have noticed most of our home games are sparsely attended. Most high school football games are easily identifiable to a passing person because of the loud band and extreme fans. At Andover football games, the band is loud but the fans are lacking. Most fans go to the game to watch the game, but at Andover the game is just an excuse to socialize with friends again. Fans have no clue what is going on.
Paul Walker Junior
Teachers deserve equality
Bianca Lazar’s article “Teachers travel between school districts” intrigued me. As a student who takes a class at Lahser High School, it can be very cumbersome to find the opportune time to meet with my teacher if I have missed work or need to make up a test. Along with shorter seminars and certain teachers being out of the building on an odd/even day, it makes making up missed work extremely difficult. I have also learned that teachers who must travel between schools in the district are often not able to use the printer at the school in which they travel to. Traveling teachers are a great benefit to the district financially, and deserve the same benefits as teachers who do not travel between districts.
Mary Pickard Senior
Article inappropiate
“From Nikki to Nikk” is very interesting to me for many reasons. I do not think something like this is school appropriate. I also think that it took a lot of courage for him to make something like this public about
Michael Lundy Junior
Buses still are problem
Kudos to Michael Linden. His article, “Getting the wheels spinning on busing woes,” was one of the best articles in the entire paper. He used one of the most interesting topics that was very easy to relate to. I agree totally with the fact that students riding buses is not any safer or speedier than if I drove myself. I’ve even waited up to 45 minutes for my bus to model after fourth hour. It’s ridiculous! I think that this article will spark the interest of other kids in the school. The buses are crowded and many students the first few weeks did indeed have to sit in the aisle of the bus. These things have to change and the last line of this article put forth a powerful message that must be heard.
Maddie Baczkowski
Junior
Cover everything
I am an avid Shield reader, but when I open the pages, the sports section always seems dull as can be. As an athlete, I look forward to reading what is going on with other sports around the school, but instead the section is filled with boring ads and interviews. The Shield should report on the good things our sports teams are doing, rather than our failures. Such as how our girls golf team went deep into states, our girls cross country team won regionals, the boys soccer team was ranked sixth in the state for half of the season, and even how our tennis team continuously has players reaching the state finals. These are just a few of our successes. The sports section should be better; The Shield should do better.
Emerson Misch Junior
Editorial Policy The Andover Shield is a student publication distributed free of charge to 1000-1500 Andover students, faculty, and alumni as well as local community members and businesses. We strive to inform, entertain, and provide a limited open forum for community opinions while continuing a tradition of journalistic excellence. Signed letters to the editor may be dropped off in Miss Hammitt’s room 306, or emailed to andovershield@ gmail.com and may be edited for content and/or space.
Shield Opinion
November 2010
Our Turn:
Debating the merits of five-week report cards given to students via paper We Believe that progress reports are a waste of time and money and should be eliminated. Somewhere at the bottom of a backpack lies a crumpled piece of Bloomfield Hills letterhead sharing the space with missing homework assignments, forgotten handouts, and gum wrappers. In a society turning green, the thought of printing and distributing over 900 progress reports every four weeks makes us see red. We think progress reports are completely unnecessary. With the addition of Zangle ten years ago, students and parents have 24-hour access to grades that are continually updated. There is inherently an error in every progress report. A grade changes with every homework assignment and by the time a progress report reaches the hands of a parent, the grades they see are already outdated. Parents go up in arms when they see their dreams of us attending Yale vanish with three C’s. And
we all end up sending our parents to Zangle where they can see our English grade really will not prevent us from becoming a Yale Bulldog. Shouldn’t we just send them there to begin with? By going to Zangle, parents can also see that four or five weeks of grades simply do not accurately represent a probable semester grade. Some teachers do not even display grades on progress reports due to the fear of receiving 200 angry parent phone calls. Lahser has moved into the 21st century and now solely sends progress reports through email. Moving into being one, cohesive high school, shouldn’t we be implementing this new method as well? Instead of sending parents straight to Zangle, administrators are printing thousands of sheets of paper to send home to middle and high school parents via child and mail. Maybe it is just really important to them that our parents can dangle a display on the fridge that we are “a pleasure to have in class.”
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Your Turn:
What do YOU think about progress reports?
“ I don’t think they’re help-
ful because we already have Zangle which is actually more accurate that the reports.
”
Dhara Patel Junior
“ Honestly, these progress reports are a waste of nine-hundred pieces of paper.
”
Daniel Levine Sophomore
“ I don’t think there is a reason for them because we are sent report cards every quarter.
”
Alana Karbal Senior
“ They are not a necessity.
They’re just another reminder of how we’re doing in school.
Tyler Kieft
”
Sophomore
Cartoon by: Summer Krinsky
Giving thanks to the year’s best Feuereisen discusses the joys, benefits, and wisdom behind Thanksgiving
James Feuereisen Co-Editor-in-Chief
Family, food, fun: it doesn’t get much better than that. Every year, as fall reaches its conclusion, I anxiously await my favorite holiday of the year (aside from my birthday of course), Thanksgiving. From the start, the day is filled with excellence. Waking up after a long sleep, I instantly smell the marvelous scents of my mother’s cooking and my stomach growls. I tune to the annual Lions Game and sneak into the kitchen to pick at food that sweeps by my eyes. However, soon comes
the crème de la crop: dinner. Normally, a multi-thousand, carb-rich feast leads me to an unpleasant visit to the bathroom; not here though. As dinner starts, I gobble down filling stuffing, crisp vegetables, flaky potatoes, sweet cranberries, scrumptious desserts, and, of course, juicy and tender turkey. Family members whom I have not seen in a long time share entertaining stories, offering an enjoyable experience. Eventually it is time for everyone to depart; I realize many I will not see for a while. However, my euphoria is short lived as I must face the reality of waking up the next day, living in the real world, and waiting 364 days to the next Thanksgiving. Yet Thanksgiving goes beyond simply being a delicious meal. It is a celebration of the simple pleasures of life. Surprisingly, part of what makes Thanksgiving great is what it lacks. It has not been overtaken by the modern materialistic world of society that has gobbled other holidays. There are no cheesy Hallmark Cards for me to purchase or receive. No midnight rushes to
the store to buy a gift for a relative that is likely to be tossed in a closet or returned. No never-ending songs on the radio. No household decorations to deal with. No religious affiliation. The true heart of Thanksgiving remains being surrounded by family and simply being thankful. We are not worried about updating our Facebook or sending a juicy text to our friends. We don’t need to concern ourselves with school work. It is the one of the few holidays that nearly every single American takes part in. We take time to be thankful for what we actually have, not what we want to have, which is ever more important in the challenging economic times in which we live. I take heart when at my table everyone shares the one thing for which they are most thankful. It is the year’s busiest travel week as Americans commit to travel long distances or short, no matter how busy, in order to see their families and end months of disconnect. Thanksgiving is an occasion fit for the kings, followed by the commoners, with an everlasting message.
Editorial Policy The Andover Shield is a student publication distributed free of charge to 1000-1500 Andover students, faculty, and alumni as well as local community members and businesses. We strive to inform, entertain, and provide a limited open forum for community opinions while continuing a tradition of journalistic excellence. Signed letters to the editor may be dropped off in Miss Hammitt’s room 306, or emailed to andovershield@gmail.com and may be edited for content and/or space.
Editorial Board Gabe Menchaca
James Feuereisen
Rachel Rohr
Brian Margosian
Ashley DuBois
Andrew Pan
Marley Kalt
Derek Wolfe
Nikki Kiester
Sophia Garfinkel
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Managing/Copy Editor
News Section Editor
Life Section Editor
Sports Section Editor
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Design/Web Editor
News Section Editor
Life Section Editor
Photographer-in-Chief
Christina Hammitt Faculty Advisor
MIPA Spartan Award 2007, 2008, 2010 NSPA Pacemaker Award 2006-2007 CSPA Bronze Medal 2006-2007 NSPA All-American 2006-2006, 2007-2008 Member Quill & Scroll Society Member NSPA Member MIPA
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Shield Opinion
November 2010
Our Turn: Look around Andover. We have something so wonderfully rare: diversity. Our remarkable blend of students makes it the perfect place to truly learn not only inside the classroom, but outside as well. Now look around this page. These words heard around our school often demonstrate how instead of accepting our differences, we mock them. This needs to change. Take a look into the life of Seth Walsh, a gay 13-year-old who recently took his life after the relentless bullying and abuse of his peers. Hateful words and actions can be more harmful than imaginable. To support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth everywhere, Dan Savage founded the It Gets Better Project in September. This project encourages adults to post videos ensuring gay teenagers and young adults that life really does get better; it is a way of providing hope. It has over 2,000 videos and continues to grow. But our intolerance is reflected in much more than how we treat LGBT students. We discriminate because of nearly every difference, including gender, race, religion, appearance, economic status, social status, talent, and intelligence. And it is simply not ok. Students should not need to turn to the It Gets Better Project for support. They should have support in their school. According to a recent Andover High School Climate Survey for Students, 331 students reported witnessing hurtful teasing and name-calling. The number is probably much larger. As a community, we must be more tolerant of our differences and reduce that number drastically. In the past, we have all said the words seen on this page or heard them. Now it is time to look for the future. Make a promise that things will truly get better. To accomplish that goal, a change needs to start right here in our school. Once we can finally accept each other’s differences, we need to embrace them.
Design by: Rachel Rohr
Shield
Life
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November 2010
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November 2010
The Rundown C4
Join the Club
Play along and see what Gaming Club is about November 2010
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Necessary diet brings new challenges
Two sophomores change their eating habits to adjust to a gluten allergy Leslie Alter
“For Melissa’s birthday, I made her Guest Writer a gluten-free cake,” tells Michelle Sitting at the lunch table, she looks at Weiss, Melissa’s mom. “A cake is not all the foods she cannot eat. something she can have too often. She “If I eat [certain foods], I feel devoured it, it was a delicious birthday really sick and can’t get out of bed,” cake made with almond flour.” explains Sophomore Melissa Weiss, “At the beginning, it was really hard who has been diagnosed with gluten because I would always be tempted sensitivity. “[Being] a vegetarian and with foods like cookies and brownies,” lactose intolerant, my choices are says Weiss, “but very restricted. My According to foodintol.com, one in after I’d eat them, doctor said that I seven people are allergic to gluten. I would always feel should consider so sick. I realized eating meat again once we found out there’s no point in eating these foods I was allergic to gluten a year ago, but when the result was only hurting there’s no way I could [eat meat].” myself. Now, I eat lots of fruit and Across the cafeteria, Sophomore there’s a lot of gluten-free foods which Jessi Brownstein understands Weiss’ have made it much easier.” situation, as she has been gluten-free Brownstein adds, “It was really since middle school. hard having to turn away bagels, “I’ve been gluten-free for two years sandwiches, cookies, and foods like because my body is sensitive to that at first, but I don’t mind it anymore. [gluten],” says Brownstein. “It is one I don’t even notice when people eat of the hardest things I’ve ever done. gluten around me.” When I first found out, I was really mad According to the Food and Drug and thought there was no way I could Adminstration, gluten can be removed do it.” from wheat flour, producing wheat According to Weiss and Brownstein, starch; however, all of the gluten in maintaining a gluten free diet means wheat flour cannot be removed. When their diet is completely free of a certain amount is removed, the food ingredients derived from gluten, a product can be labeled “gluten-free.” protein commonly found in rye, wheat “This change with Melissa has really and barley. It is found in most types impacted [our family’s diet],” explains of cereals and in many types of bread Michelle. “I make a lot of stir fries; as well as most baked goods such as everything I make for our dinners is cakes and muffins.
While eating at home is manageable, the families agree that gluten-free. I do most of my shopping one of the most difficult adjustments is eating out. at places like Plum Market and Whole “P.F. Changs is my favorite restaurant for gluten-free Foods where they carry more healthy alternatives,” elaborates Brownstein. “They have their whole and gluten-free products. Sometimes backside of the menu that’s gluten-free that I found this year. we’ll even find already prepared glutenI can’t tell the slightest free foods.” difference, I even had my Once their daughter was diagnosed, friends try it [who are Allison Brownstein made the decision not gluten-free] and they to have her entire family choose a couldn’t tell.” gluten free diet. “I figured we’ll all According to both Weiss do it together and make it easier as a and Brownstein, this diet family It is a hard thing to do, but we has affected many around wanted to do this together.” them, including their “I feel bad that my parents went friends. gluten-free just because I am,” says “I’m now more aware of Brownstein. “When we go out or go being gluten-free ultimately to friends’ houses for meals, I always because of [Melissa],” tell them that they can eat [foods explains Sophomore Brenna with gluten], but they don’t just so it Turner. “[Melissa] loves doesn’t tempt us.” to bake, but she can’t eat “This change has made me much anything she bakes and I more conscientious about reading Sophomore Melissa Weiss eats an always end up eating it all. labels and more cautious about the I actually want to be glutenapple, a gluten-free alternative. types of food I buy because of my free, but I don’t know if I daughter’s diet,” explains Allison. “It’s have the will power to do so.” caused me to be more creative with my “I always feel guilty when I eat [foods with] gluten around cooking.” [Jessi],” agrees Sophomore Jamie Steuer. “But it has “In the beginning, the gluten-free definitely made me more aware of what I eat and what has meals were bad,” tells Brownstein. gluten in it. A great gluten-free snack we have together is “We would all just laugh and then try popcorn.” to make something else, but the meals As her friends share some homemade cookies, Brownstein have gotten much better. We don’t sighs, saying, “[Being gluten-free] isn’t enjoyable, but I don’t even think about gluten-free meals mind it anymore [because it] is what’s medically best for anymore; it has become a normal thing me.” to make.”
Spot the Six
Do you see the six changes between these two photos from Make A Difference Day on October 23?
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Gluten-Free
Two sophomores adapt to a new lifestyle after removing gluten from their diets
1. Sunglasses from woman on left removed 2. Nametag added on woman in middle 3. Words removed from girl’s sweatshirt in middle 4. Words removed from back of her book 5. Stripe added on boy’s shirt on right 6. Ponytail removed from woman in back
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Ten Things
Discover what you didn’t know about Assistant Principal Lou Ruggirello November 2010
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Battle of the Turkeys
The Side Dish How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
vs.
Roasted
Fried
Noah Newman
Derek Wolfe
Turkey and football: what could be better? Joy is in the autumn air as families gather to enjoy the Thanksgiving feast and the pigskin is tossed from father to son. Relatives from across the country come together on this holiday to join in recalling what they are thankful for. As everyone takes a seat at the dinner table, the smell of the stuffing and potatoes is intoxicating, and the anxiety of waiting for pumpkin pie is overwhelming. The main attraction, however, is not the delicious pie or stuffing; it is the massive golden brown bird able to be detected by nose a mile away. The Meleagris gallopavo, commonly known as the turkey, has been a ThanksRoast turkey giving tradition for centuries and will continue to delight hungry Americans for is not only a years to come. food, it is a With recent advances in culinary techlife decision nology, our nation has developed many that will take different techniques for cooking the main Thanksgiving dish, but the time-honored you down a roast is by far the best. path leading A roast turkey is the most divine, sucto Thanksgiv- culent, and satisfying form of turkey ever enjoyed on planet earth. Its smell is so ing heaven encompassing that it quickly engulfs the house with a fantastic aroma of golden greatness. With each bite, every last taste bud is coated with the delicious taste of the thanksgiving masterpiece, and then anxiously awaits the next portion of magnificence. In addition, the nutrition benefits of roasted outweigh all other forms of turkey; especially fried. 3.5 ounces of a fried turkey contains approximately 190 calories and 11 grams of fat, whereas the same size portion of a roast bird contains about 165 calories, and 9 grams of fat. While this is not a huge difference, it is substantial in leaving room for more delectable treats at the terrific thanksgiving feast (and keeping weight off the belly). Furthermore, Cooking any food in a large vat of boiling oil is never healthy, or tasty, particularly when it absorbs liquid like a sponge. The average 7-10 lb. fried turkey uses 3-5 gallons of oil in the cooking process. In other words, the fried turkey is nearly a heart attack on a plate. Roast turkey is not only a food, it is a life decision that will take you down a path leading to a thanksgiving heaven.
Everything tastes better fried. There, I said it. I’ll even give examples. Chicken? No brainer. Potatoes? Do baked and fried even compete? Twinkies? That might be up for debate. But there is no doubt about that feathered Thanksgiving favorite. For many years, my family stuck to tradition by making the dry, and salty roasted turkey (gasp). Finally, just two short years ago, my Thanksgiving dinner experience changed forever with this greasy and moist delectable. Maybe the best part about it is that No flipping. it doesn’t take all day to make. No No basting. flipping. No basting. Just 45 minutes (about 3-5 minutes per pound) in the Just 45 minfryer and it’s cooked. Voilà. Beware utes in the though, frying turkey is extremely danfryer (about gerous, but it’s definitely worth risking a third degree burn. And despite 3-5 minutes its dangers, it’s fun to fry! When has per pound) fun and turkey ever been associated and it’s besides this? Never. And also, there’s that sense of accomplishment when it’s cooked. fried to perfection. You’ll be the talk of the festivities. But if that’s not enough evidence for your stomach, then there’s also the meat itself. It’s tender, juicy, and moist. The outer coating is nice and crunchy. But most of all it tastes good. Even better with gravy. It’s nothing like the baked version where I need to drink gallons of water in fear being dehydrated. This is my kind of entre. It is also important to note that during Thanksgiving, color is everything. Every dish has to look good. And fried turkey definitely fits the mold. It’s inviting and has a nice appearance. It essentially looks the same as baked. But that’s as far as the comparisons go. One last advantage is its ability to be reheated and still taste great. When baked gets reheated, it even drier. Who wants that? But fried, it retains all of its great qualities. Do I need to rename them? So for Thanksgiving this year, make the change, be a rebel. Go out, buy that turkey fryer, and go fried.
Guest Writer
“
”
Life Section Editor
“
usually watch a football “ Igame on TV, and then my
cousins come over my house, we chill and have fun and then we eat dinner as a family.
”
Danielyo McCauley Freshman
My family and I go to my “ grandma’s house, play a
family game called the ring games, and then we eat.
”
Camille Jonna Sophomore
”
Photos by: Zach Wolfe and Sarah Harris
I go to my uncle’s house, “ chill, eat some store-
bought turkey, talk about life, we spend some quality time together, and then we leave.
”
Nikhil Chandok
Junior
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Versus
Two well-liked versions of a classic Thanksgiving dish go head-to-head
On the cover: Assistant Principal Lou Ruggirello, Photo and Design by: Sarah Harris
C3 2010-2011 Andover Shield Staff Writers Jarred Bratley Steven Goldenthal Sam Gordon Anna Zambelli
Guest Writers Leslie Alter Meagan Danielak Stephanie Fotouhi Rachael Garendasy Rachel Gorosh Bianca Lazar Rachel LeFevre Tessa LeWitt Jaclyn Nagel Will Neef Zack Neff Noah Newman Ashley Pikula Ryan Rosenberg Eve Sherbin Mara Stein Gabi Stone Calvin Williams Marly Zack Tim Zobl
Photographers Sarah Harris Matt Rosner Alex Wolf Zach Wolfe David Yu
Editorial Policy The Andover Shield is a student publication distributed free of charge to 1000-1500 Andover students, faculty, and alumni as well as local community members and businesses. We strive to inform, entertain, and provide a limited open forum for community opinions while continuing a tradition of journalistic excellence. Life design by: Marley Kalt and Derek Wolfe
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Join the Club: Testimonial “Gaming Club is a great way to not only learn how to play games, but also a really fun place to be with people and talk face-to-face”
-Sean Ropp Senior
Club Promotion “Come out and play the best and greatest board, card, and miniature games. New members always welcome. See Mr. Imboden with any questions.”
Gaming Club
Sponsor Derek Imboden and three gamers give the play-by-play Rachel Rohr
Managing/Copy Editor Q: What are your favorite games that you play? Sam Friedman: Black and White the series. It’s a real-time strategy game for the PC. It’s like Risk. Derek Imboden: You can either be benevolent or you can be an evil leader.
Favorite Games •Pente •Blokus® •Halo Reach •Runebound •Lost: The Game •Super Mario Bros. •Battlestar Galactica •The Settlers of Catan
On the right: Some of the Gaming Club’s favorite games are stacked up. Photo by: Sophia Garfinkel
Club in Action
November 2010
Q: Do you choose evil? SF: Actually, as you play you change. I’ve played it both ways. One time I killed everybody – it didn’t work out so well. Second time I was really nice and then I ended up killing everybody by mistake. Because you’re a god and you have fireballs and sometimes if you don’t click hard enough it will just drop on your people – oops – and burn the entire city down. DI: Then they’re sad. Michael Rush: And slightly charred. Q: What about you Mr. Imboden? DI: My favorite game is Runebound. It’s a really good way when people show up for Gaming Club for the first time to convince them that we’re not doing Monopoly and Risk here. And it’s a table-top version of a role-playing game. So they’re familiar with it from a video game but they actually sit down and play it socially with a group of people; it makes it entirely different. [As opposed to online gaming,] in board gaming, you’re all right there, you’re all talking, you’re all
having fun together. Q: Do you have a favorite Michael? MR: Let me put it this way: you’d be hard pressed to find a game that I did not enjoy to some extent and I have more favorites than it would be reasonable to list. DI: Provided it doesn’t take that long of a time frame. Q: Do you play more board games or video games? DI: We try to strike a balance between both [board games and video games]. In the past it has been strictly board gaming and card gaming because we want to promote the hobby. But more and more the boys were interested in doing some Xbox as well so we’re compromising by doing it every other [time]. Q: What has been your most memorable time over these past few years in Gaming Club? MR: Probably beating just about everybody I meet at Pente. DI: It’s on, I have to play you again today. Sean Ropp: He owns everyone, even me. Q: How has the club grown since you first joined? DI: Slowly. SF: Exponentially. DI: Not exponentially… (laughs) slowly. But I’d rather have a dozen people that are really into it and enjoying it. The first couple years when I took over we may have had weeks and weeks where it was five, four people… but that’s ok. Because I’d rather have something that grows slowly but steadily rather than force anything. Q: What do you say when students ask about the Gaming Club? MR: I’d explain that it’s more advanced games and that you get more into it. It can be more fun and sometimes it’s a little bit slow but often when it is slow, people will be talking and they’ll be having fun and enjoying each other’s company. I think it’s a very good club for many people. I think more people would enjoy it if they gave it a chance. DI: Come and try it.
Avid gamers Josh Breitman, Mazen Hasan, Joshua Inwald, Michael Rush, Sean Ropp, Mark Vance, and Steven Vance enjoy the November 5 meeting.
Photos by: David Yu
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November 2010
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Necessary diet brings new challenges Two sophomores change their eating habits to adjust to a gluten allergy Leslie Alter
“For Melissa’s birthday, I made her Guest Writer a gluten-free cake,” tells Michelle Sitting at the lunch table, she looks at Weiss, Melissa’s mom. “A cake is not all the foods she cannot eat. something she can have too often. She “If I eat [certain foods], I feel devoured it, it was a delicious birthday really sick and can’t get out of bed,” cake made with almond flour.” explains Sophomore Melissa Weiss, “At the beginning, it was really hard who has been diagnosed with gluten because I would always be tempted sensitivity. “[Being] a vegetarian and with foods like cookies and brownies,” lactose intolerant, my choices are says Weiss, “but very restricted. My According to foodintol.com, one in after I’d eat them, doctor said that I seven people are allergic to gluten. I would always feel should consider so sick. I realized eating meat again once we found out there’s no point in eating these foods I was allergic to gluten a year ago, but when the result was only hurting there’s no way I could [eat meat].” myself. Now, I eat lots of fruit and Across the cafeteria, Sophomore there’s a lot of gluten-free foods which Jessi Brownstein understands Weiss’ have made it much easier.” situation, as she has been gluten-free Brownstein adds, “It was really since middle school. hard having to turn away bagels, “I’ve been gluten-free for two years sandwiches, cookies, and foods like because my body is sensitive to that at first, but I don’t mind it anymore. [gluten],” says Brownstein. “It is one I don’t even notice when people eat of the hardest things I’ve ever done. gluten around me.” When I first found out, I was really mad According to the Food and Drug and thought there was no way I could Adminstration, gluten can be removed do it.” from wheat flour, producing wheat According to Weiss and Brownstein, starch; however, all of the gluten in maintaining a gluten free diet means wheat flour cannot be removed. When their diet is completely free of a certain amount is removed, the food ingredients derived from gluten, a product can be labeled “gluten-free.” protein commonly found in rye, wheat “This change with Melissa has really and barley. It is found in most types impacted [our family’s diet],” explains of cereals and in many types of bread Michelle. “I make a lot of stir fries; as well as most baked goods such as everything I make for our dinners is cakes and muffins.
While eating at home is manageable, the families agree that gluten-free. I do most of my shopping one of the most difficult adjustments is eating out. at places like Plum Market and Whole “P.F. Changs is my favorite restaurant for gluten-free Foods where they carry more healthy alternatives,” elaborates Brownstein. “They have their whole and gluten-free products. Sometimes backside of the menu that’s gluten-free that I found this year. we’ll even find already prepared glutenI can’t tell the slightest free foods.” difference, I even had my Once their daughter was diagnosed, friends try it [who are Allison Brownstein made the decision not gluten-free] and they to have her entire family choose a couldn’t tell.” gluten free diet. “I figured we’ll all According to both Weiss do it together and make it easier as a and Brownstein, this diet family It is a hard thing to do, but we has affected many around wanted to do this together.” them, including their “I feel bad that my parents went friends. gluten-free just because I am,” says “I’m now more aware of Brownstein. “When we go out or go being gluten-free ultimately to friends’ houses for meals, I always because of [Melissa],” tell them that they can eat [foods explains Sophomore Brenna with gluten], but they don’t just so it Turner. “[Melissa] loves doesn’t tempt us.” to bake, but she can’t eat “This change has made me much anything she bakes and I more conscientious about reading always end up eating it all. Sophomore Melissa Weiss eats an labels and more cautious about the I actually want to be glutenapple, a gluten-free alternative. types of food I buy because of my free, but I don’t know if I daughter’s diet,” explains Allison. “It’s have the will power to do so.” caused me to be more creative with my “I always feel guilty when I eat [foods with] gluten around cooking.” [Jessi],” agrees Sophomore Jamie Steuer. “But it has “In the beginning, the gluten-free definitely made me more aware of what I eat and what has meals were bad,” tells Brownstein. gluten in it. A great gluten-free snack we have together is “We would all just laugh and then try popcorn.” to make something else, but the meals As her friends share some homemade cookies, Brownstein have gotten much better. We don’t sighs, saying, “[Being gluten-free] isn’t enjoyable, but I don’t even think about gluten-free meals mind it anymore [because it] is what’s medically best for anymore; it has become a normal thing me.” to make.”
Spot the Six
Do you see the six changes between these two photos from Make A Difference Day on October 23?
1. Sunglasses from woman on left removed 2. Nametag added on woman in middle 3. Words removed from girl’s sweatshirt in middle 4. Words removed from back of her book 5. Stripe added on boy’s shirt on right 6. Ponytail removed from woman in back
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C6 Classes: Algebra 2 Algebra 2A Previously: Student taught in Troy Favorite number: “5. It was my sports number in middle and high school.”
N Jennifer Beams
E Katelyn Borninski
Classes: Spanish 100 Previously: Taught at Andover Favorite cultural experience: “I studied abroad in Valencia, Spain in college. I definitely encourage all students to do a study abroad.”
Position: MYP Coordinator Previously: Taught in Detroit Public Schools and at WHMS Favorite part of MYP: “Working with teachers to develop great units for students and watching students be great.”
Position: Media Technician Previously: Worked at International Academy Mac or PC: “I’m mostly a PC; I worked for 10 years in corporate IT.”
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W Candy Day
Mark Day
Classes: French 200 PAGES Previously: Taught at Lahser Favorite cultural experience: “I got a scholarship to cruise on a river barge in southwestern France, and we stopped to see all of the cities.”
Paul Fugate
Classes: American Sign Language 100, 200, and 300 Previously: Taught at Lahser, BHMS, and East Hills Favorite word to sign: “Against the law.”
Classes: Basic Reading Mathquest American Gov. Previously: Taught in North Dakota, Idaho, and Minnesota Favorite part of teaching special ed.: “The kids are really fun. I never know what they’re going to say.”
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O Sarah Hershey
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Emily Jones
Meghan Gornick
Classes: Physics Previously: Taught at Lahser Favorite element: “Well, I’ve always been partial to carbon.”
Classes: Computer Applications Currently: Teaches Web Design, You and the Law, and Independent Study Business at Lahser
N Shayna Klein
D Dan Loria
Students: A-Fe Previously: Taught at Lahser Favorite part of being a counselor: “The opportunity to work one-on-one with students is really nice, helping with future goals and working out problems.
Position: School Psychologist Previously: Worked in Utica Community Schools Personality: “It depends on the day, but type A. I’m a little bit of a control freak.”
O Rachel Matz
V Dijana Micakaj
Classes: World Literature I American Literature Previously: Student taught at BHMS Favorite book: “Little Women. I could read it over and over again.”
Classes: World Literature I Previously: Taught at Lahser Favorite book: “Beloved by Toni Morrison.”
E Gianna Mrozek
R Terri Thav
Classes: Spanish 200 Previously: Taught in Armada, Lake Orion, and at Lahser Favorite cultural experience: “The Cinco de Mayo Parade in Detroit.” Design by: Marley Kalt Photos by: Sarah Harris and Zach Wolfe
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November 2010
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About
1 3 5 7 9
What kind of cologne do you wear? Obsession by Calvin Klein, I actually keep a bottle with me at all times, in case of emergencies.
He loves collecting cars. I’ve had lots of Corvettes, BMWs. Of course I’ve sold them but I love collecting them.
What is your biggest pet peeve? I hate it when kids get bullied, especially when the kids are challenged. It’s not acceptable, and I never allow it.
He’s right handed. I’m a righty but the cool thing is that I can write my name with both hands!
He has a dog. His name is Kerby and he’s a 10-year-old golden retriver. He’s the nicest dog ever. Design by: Derek Wolfe
2 4 6 8
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? An hour and a half… time is beauty.
He wears a size 11 shoe. My favorite shoes are Cole Haan, they’re so comfortable.
How did you ask your wife on your first date? I came into her class and asked her on a date. She was forced to say yes since she was teaching.
He loves the outdoors. I love to hike, fish, and hunt: my kind of fun, especially on the weekends.
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He’s a jokester. I used to tell my kids my favorite color was pink when they were little just to mess with them. Photo and Interview by: Sarah Harris
November 2010
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Battle of the Turkeys
The Side Dish How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
vs.
Roasted Noah Newman Guest Writer
Turkey and football: what could be better? Joy is in the autumn air as families gather to enjoy the Thanksgiving feast and the pigskin is tossed from father to son. Relatives from across the country come together on this holiday to join in recalling what they are thankful for. As everyone takes a seat at the dinner table, the smell of the stuffing and potatoes is intoxicating and the anxiety of waiting for pumpkin pie is overwhelming. The main attraction, however, is not the delicious pie or stuffing; it is the massive golden brown bird able to be detected by nose a mile away. The Meleagris gallopavo, commonly known as the turkey, has been a ThanksRoast turkey giving tradition for centuries and will continue to delight hungry Americans for is not only a years to come. food, it is a With recent advances in culinary techlife decision nology, our nation has developed many that will take different techniques for cooking the main Thanksgiving dish, but the time-honored you down a roast is by far the best. path leading A roast turkey is the most divine, sucto Thanksgiv- culent, and satisfying form of turkey ever enjoyed on planet earth. Its smell is so ing heaven. encompassing that it quickly engulfs the house with a fantastic aroma of golden greatness. With each bite, every last taste bud is coated with the delicious taste of the Thanksgiving masterpiece and then anxiously awaits the next portion of magnificence. In addition, the nutrition benefits of roasted outweigh all other forms of turkey, especially fried. Three and a half ounces of a fried turkey contains approximately 190 calories and 11 grams of fat, whereas the same size portion of a roast bird contains about 165 calories and nine grams of fat. While this is not a huge difference, it is substantial in leaving room for more delectable treats at the terrific thanksgiving feast (and keeping weight off the belly). Furthermore, cooking any food in a large vat of boiling oil is never healthy, or tasty, particularly when it absorbs liquid like a sponge. The average 7 to 10 lb. fried turkey uses three to five gallons of oil in the cooking process. In other words, the fried turkey is nearly a heart attack on a plate. Roast turkey is not only a food, it is a life decision that will take you down a path leading to a Thanksgiving heaven.
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go downtown with “ Imyusually family, have a huge
Fried
Thanksgiving dinner and then spend some quality time with them.
Derek Wolfe
Danielyo McCauley
Life Section Editor
Freshman
Everything tastes better fried. There, I said it. I’ll even give examples. Chicken? No brainer. Potatoes? Do baked and fried even compete? Twinkies? That might be up for debate. But there is no doubt about that feathered Thanksgiving favorite. For many years, my family stuck to tradition by making the dry and salty roasted turkey (gasp). Finally, just two short years ago, my Thanksgiving dinner experience changed forever with this greasy and moist delectable bird. Maybe the best part about it is that No flipping. it doesn’t take all day to make. No No basting. flipping. No basting. Just 45 minutes (about three to five minutes per pound) Just 45 minin the fryer and it’s cooked. Voilà. utes in the Beware though. Frying turkey is fryer (about extremely dangerous but it’s definitely worth risking a third-degree burn. three to five And despite its dangers, it’s fun to fry! minutes per When has fun and turkey ever been aspound) and sociated besides this? Never. And also, there’s that sense of accomplishment it’s cooked. when it’s fried to perfection. You’ll be the talk of the festivities. But if that’s not enough evidence for your stomach, then there’s also the meat itself. It’s tender, juicy, and moist. The outer coating is nice and crunchy. But most of all it tastes good. Even better with gravy. It’s nothing like the baked version where I need to drink gallons of water in fear being dehydrated. This is my kind of entre. It is also important to note that during Thanksgiving, color is everything. Every dish has to look good. And fried turkey definitely fits the mold. It’s inviting and has a nice appearance. It essentially looks the same as baked. But that’s as far as the comparisons go. One last advantage is its ability to be reheated and still taste great. When baked gets reheated, it’s even drier. Who wants that? But fried, it retains all of its great qualities. Do I need to rename them? So for Thanksgiving this year, make the change, be a rebel. Go out, buy that turkey fryer, and go fried.
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family and I go to my “ My grandma’s house, play a
family game called the ring games, and then we eat.
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Camille Jonna Sophomore
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go to my uncle’s house, “ Ichill, eat some store-
bought turkey, talk about life, we spend some quality time together, and then we leave.
Photos by: Zach Wolfe and Sarah Harris
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Nikhil Chandok
Junior
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October 2010
Local pizza joint impresses
It’s not what it looks like... I swear I’m not a witch!
Pizzeria Biga provides memorable experience
Jaclyn Nagel Guest Writer
Cartoon by: Summer Krinsky
It’s time to take pride in the Motor City Recent proposal sparks great appreciation for Detoit
Derek Wolfe
Life Section Editor
Is Detroit that bad? Yes, murder and crime run rampant. The economy is in shambles. And it’s home to one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States. But is the name “Detroit” an embarrassment to the whole country? A term that when people hear it they “scrunch up their noses, and furrow their brow?” A small village in Oregon, also called Detroit, apparently thinks so. On the November ballot, there was a proposal to add “lake” to their name, just because they don’t want to be
cause. associated with our Detroit. I’m afraid that the Detroiters This offends me. There’s no doubt that our Detroit themselves are going to give up on needs work (The abandoned buildings Detroit. I don’t want this to happen because are an eyesore). But there are good there is hope for Detroit. It’s just going things about it. There is an incredible music culture. to take (dare I say the “T” word) time. Those who are reading For God sakes, the music probably are thinking, “What industry essentially took off I’m proud does he know?” And I really with Motown. don’t know anything. There are successful sports to be a DeBut I do want to be a part franchises (although cheaper troiter. Quite of the solution in helping parking would be nice) with frankly, I Detroit maximize its amazing fans. potential. Detroit leads the way with wouldn’t Detroit has more entertainment in general. Is it want to live opportunity for growth even possible to name all of its anywhere than any other big city in theaters? America. We have a chance And of course, Detroit has else to start over and build the that noteworthy blue-collar ethic. The list even goes on from most sophisticated and state-of-the-art facilities for everything. there. Detroit may be down now, but not for I’m proud to be a Detroiter. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere long. So take that Detroit, Oregon. Just else. Yet for as much as I love Detroit, I’m know that right now, I’m scrunching my afraid. Afraid that so many citizens of nose and furrowing my brow at you. the United States have written us off and think of our great city as a lost
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Detroit Facts -Detroit, Oregon proposed to change their name to “Detroit Lake” -Motown was founded by Barry Gordy in 1957 -Detroit, Michigan is the only city in the United States north of Canda -Detroit is the home of four major sports franchises: the Pistons, Lions, Redwings, and Tigers
Sitting in the back booth with my family, I take a peek at the two rooms, one cozy and small and the other large and spacious with long glass windows surrounding me. Along the walls were Italian posters, which were visible in the warm glow of the dim lights. The bathrooms were elegant and clean with simple décor decorating the walls. With all of this, I knew I had found some place special at Pizzeria Biga located in Southfield. Opening my menu, I was startled at the prices. I saw that most of the meals were considerably expensive; all of the 14 different kinds of 18-inch pizzas were $14 to $22. Although, the smaller, 12-inch pies varied from $9 to $14. Luckily, out of the corner of my eye I saw the lunch special. It included any pizza or pasta with a side of a soup or salad with a free soda every Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. The lunch special was perfect to split with my family and includes just the right amount of food to satisfy my large appetite. Along with pizza, Pizzeria Biga serves two incredible soups, Minestrone and Roasted Eggplant. Served in containers big enough for two, the soup was great to share with the whole table. Both soups arrived steaming and delectable. The Roasted Eggplant was very rich, but delicious, while the Minestrone was lighter but still filling. The second we set our spoons down, our waitress brought out our 12-inch Mushroom Ragu ($11) and Margherita ($12) Pizzas. They were hot, with thin, crispy crust, and the perfect amount of melted cheese dripping from the pan. I ate until I could not eat another bite it was so good. My only complaint was obnoxious music playing semi-loudly from the speakers. Located in Southfield off of Franklin Road and Northwestern, Biga Pizzeria is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 am to 11 pm, Thursday through Saturday from 11 am to 12 am and Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm. To learn more about the Pizzeria Biga experience you can visit their website at pizzeriabiga.com.
November 2010
Freshman Nate Mularoni
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Exploring roots With support of family, freshman works on discovering his biological origin
Ashley Pikula
Guest Writer Fifteen years ago, the life of a Guatemalan baby changed forever. “I was adopted when I was six weeks old from Guatemala,” says Freshman Nate Mularoni. “All I know is my birth mother wanted me to live a happy and better life because she was poor and she wanted the best for me. I feel really good about that.” In January of 1996, Bert and Karen
Mularoni added a new member to their family, bringing home an eightpound, healthy baby boy named Andres who is now known as Nate. “We both always wanted to adopt, and when we were trying to have biological children we could not,” says Karen Mularoni, Nate’s mother. “First we adopted [our other son] Humby from Guatemala and we thought it would be good for his sibling to be
from the same country, so we went birth mother] looks like and if she is back to Guatemala for Nathaniel.” still alive today,”says Nate. “If I found According to Nate’s parents, their out that she was alive I would want to get in contact with her.” adoption process was Not only does Nate, not without difficulty. wonder about his birth “First, we tried to If I was still mother, but he also adopt in the United in Guatemala I wonders about the States and there were other children his birth some problems with would be poor mother had. that, so we decided right now... “I know I have other to go overseas [to maybe I would siblings but I don’t know Guatemala],” says Bert even be dead. much about them. She Mularoni, Nate’s father. gave [them] up for “In the United States, adoption too so I wonder what was so difficult Nate Mularoni if I’ve already met them was every time the Freshman or if they’re in Europe birth mothers called, or something, anywhere my stomach hurt,” really. I’m [also] curious about what adds Karen. “I was talking to these women and unfortunately there it would feel like if I was still in were quite a few young ladies that Guatemala and if I would be poor really were not pregnant and just right now or maybe I would even be trying to get money and [there were] dead. I’m actually kind of happy that others that changed their mind.” my mother gave me up, even though Because of this, Karen explains, she it seems like it was bad, she just “felt more secure going out of the wanted the best for me. My life could country because the likelihood of have been very different,” he says. somebody coming from Guatemala According to the Child Rights Information Network, United Nations and wanting him back would be slim. International Children’s Fund I just wanted [the baby] to (UNICEF) reports that almost half be ours.” of the child population in Guatemala “We had suffers from malnutrition and 76 wanted a baby percent of children live in poverty. for so long,” says “When we visited, Guatemala, we Bert. “and it was just saw how [our children] would have ‘boom’, that’s it, and ended up if they weren’t adopted,” he’s ours.” says Bert. “Our kids would be According to Karen and begging and living in an extremely Bert, Nate is curious about his poor country right now.” Guatemalan heritage. “It’s very sad to look at some of “He’d like to visit and we have the family [situations], even in our always been open about the adoption,” explains Karen. “We [even] own country which is why adoption is great,” says Karen. “In the end, have several pictures of his birth I’m just grateful that [Nate’s birth mother, and if Nate wanted to see mother] gave up her children because them, it would be no problem.” without women like her, people like “I’m just curious about what [my us wouldn’t be able to have children.”
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Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala. Adoption rates from Guatemala steadily increased from 2,200 in 2002 to over 4,700 children adopted in 2007. In 2007, the U.S. closed its borders to adoptions from Guatemala due to corrupt practices. The United States remains closed to Guatemalan adoptions today.
Quick Facts -The Mularoni’s adopted two children from Guatemala: Nate and Humby -Nate’s name was changed from “Andres” to “Nathaniel” when he was brought to the United States -Nate wonders how his life would have turned out if he was not adopted -Almost half of the child population in Guatemala suffers from malnutrition
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November 2010
Cold Soles
When the temperature drops, step into these Andover favorites with style
Many students opt for something less bulky with sneakers and flats
UGGs are a great way to keep feet warm on cold winter mornings
Boots have been growing in popularity for the fall and winter months
“I got to design mine, which is cool. They also have my name on them so I will never lose them. I wear them every day.” -Jake Migdal (9)
“I like [my ankle boots] because they aren’t tall, but they’re not cold.” -Erica Broder (11) Leather boots, $99.95, DSW stores
“They are really cute and match with everything. Plus they are different from UGGs and I can dress them up or down.” -Megan Wester (9)
“They’re different. They’re lightweight and they keep snow out. And I feel like I’m walking on the moon.” -Alex Osten (12) Moon Boot® (Classic, Blue) Tecnica, $85, tecnicausa.com
Photo courtesy of TecnicaUSA
“I like trying something new [by wearing rainboots].” -Shannon Davis (11)
Rain Boots (Hunter Gloss Welly Boot, Black) Hunter Boots, $115, neimanmarcus.com
Design by: Marley Kalt
“They’re easy, warm, and great for the rain.” -Niki Howard (11)
“I know what I am looking for and I can make what I want. I have four pairs of custom shoes so that every day can be matching day!” -Alex Samardzich
NikeiD Custom Footwear Nike, from $110, nike.com
“Mine are hand-me-downs [from my sister], plus I write all over them. They are unique.” -Dylann Stein (10) “I love that they come in every color; I don’t even know how many pairs I have.” -Amarriah Valentine (12) All Star Lo Athletic Shoe (Yellow) Converse, $39.99, journeys.com
“They come in every color. I have red and purple. They’re also not as heavy as a boot but still give me protection from the snow.” -Marly Zack (12)
Kilty Suede Moccasin (Brown) Minnetonka, $36.95, dsw.com
“They’re comfortable, neutral, and can go with almost anything.” -Jillian Beltowski (12)
“They’re so comfy and perfect for cold Michigan winters.” -Liza Sherbin (12)
Classic Tall Boot (Chestnut), UGG® Australia, $180, uggaustralia.com
“I wear them around my house. They’re like a pillow under my feet!” -Angelica Kunz (10)
“You can wear them with absolutely anything. They keep my feet warm and I don’t have to worry about snow on my pants.” -Kyra Weeks (11)
Slippers (Cozy Knit Hearts, Blackberry Wine), UGG® Australia, $100, uggau -stralia. com
“I have the ‘Coquette’ slippers. They are easy to slip on in the morning, plus they seem to go with everything!” -Niki Austin (12)
Classic Short Boot (Black), UGG® Australia, $140, uggaustralia.com
“They aren’t too hot and they are more reasonably priced than the tall UGGs.” -Nicole Hollander (12)
“They’re just an easy shoe, and they make my legs look longer.” -Christina Hart (10)