BGQ BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY april 2021 / / volume one hundred
CO N T E N T
MISSION STATEMENT
The Black and Gold Quarterly (BGQ) is Traverse City Central High School’s student-run magazine. Since its conception in 1886, our publication has evolved with the times, frequently changing in style, format, and even name. However, one factor has remained constant—our staff’s desire to capture the story of our community, to challenge the accepted, and to open our minds to perspectives that we hadn’t previously considered through investigation, research, and inquiry. We are constantly striving to improve our content and artistic elements; after all, the BGQ is a school publication, so educating both ourselves as well as our readers remains one of our primary goals.
Send information, advertising, and other inquiries to: Black & Gold Quarterly Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive Traverse City, MI 49686 Phone: (231) 933-6533 Email: roskellesu@tcaps.net 2 // BGQ // April 2021
Editors vs. Editors: Moon Landing Political Turf War Social Media: The Real Bully Online Influencers Identity in Traverse City Central Speaks Everything Fashion The Gallery The Life of Larry Free Food: A New Type of Lunch Quarterly Showcase 50 Questions Not Your Typical Taco Tuesday The Recipe
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B L A C K & G O L D Q U A R T E L Y : APRIL TWO-THOUSAND TWENTY ONE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Josephine Baldyga Maria Linck CONTENT EDITOR Mallory Swope BUSINESS MANAGER Niklas Fagerman PROOFING Ted Arnold GRAPHICS Sterling Goodwin PHOTOGRAPHY Ivy Coe STAFF WRITERS Collin Benedict Leland Brown Ivy Coe Samuel Elkins Samuel Galoci-Sandin Sterling Goodwin Kris Gorney Ethan Gremel Drew Johnsen Alejandro Lepczyk Evelyn Linck Averie McGraw Elizabeth Phillips Aiden Preston Trinity Whiteford COVER Sterling Goodwin CONTRIBUTORS Jazryel Freeland ADVISER Susan Roskelley 4 // BGQ // April 2021
Editors’ Note The third issue came as a fresh start to a new semester. With two issues under our belts, the staff felt confident to get moving on creating some content that felt meaningful to them. While discussing possible themes for the issue, there was a wide consensus that social issues and change were of strong interest among the staff. We discussed some of the most prevalent issues to teens today. In this issue, we showcase a package of articles surrounding social media and the internet and its effects on our generation. In our article about body image, we explore how social media can take a toll on one’s view of themselves. Turn to page 10 to read about the importance of staying true to yourself, despite social pressure. We also feature a change in school; the lunch system. This year, the school has been able to offer free lunches for all students. For those looking for fashion tips, we cover important things to consider about your look in the feature “Everything Fashion”. To many, the start of spring is recognizable by the sound of chirping birds. This issue, we cover our feature article, Identity in Traverse City, in a unique: birds. Turn to page 14 to learn about some bird owners and their pets around TC. Also, we showcase some of the authentic food that can be found at local restaurants here in TC. This feature on the ethnic foods around TC is carried into our recipe section of the newspaper. We tried out two different authentic hispanic recipes: Dirty Spanish Rice and Churros. Looking forward, we hope that our coverage of the issues that are important to us can help to present new ideas and perspectives to extend the conversation of change. From the Pub,
Josephine Baldyga & Maria Linck
Editors vs. Editors: Moon Landing Edition For years, the idea that the Moon landing was staged in someone’s basement has been circulating on the internet. This idea has also been circulating around The Pub, Central High School’s Newspaper room, for three years. This year, our Editors decided to take on the differing opinions and offer validity for both sides of the argument.
All Graphics: M. Swope
Moon Landing Myths Busted by JOSEPHINE BALDYGA & MALLORY SWOPE editor-in-chief & content editor
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n his speech regarding the United States’ involvement in the Space Race, former president John F. Kennedy told the public that “... space is there, and we’re going to climb it.” This promise was fulfilled in July of 1969 when Neil Armstrong put the first footprint on the Moon and declared victory by placing the American flag on the surface of the satellite. Apparently these actions and achievements are not enough to convince everyone that humans have physically stepped foot on the Moon. However, this was an earth-shattering event that can be clearly proved by the extensive visual image, both video and picture, as well as the purely physical evidence of humans being on the satellite that have remained intact for nearly 60 years now. This alone should eclipse any quark of doubt that non-believers—not to name names, Maria and Nik—had or continue to have about the validity of the Moon landing or the “possibility” that the Moon landing was an event that was spoon-fed to the public in order to declare victory in the Space Race. Along with these doubts have come myths about the Moon landing, all of which might seem valid but have perfectly logical explanations. Almost 60 years after the Moon landing, Neil Armstrong’s footprint remains practically undisturbed on the surface of the Moon. Skeptics consider this phenomenon to be impossible considering that no footprint would be perfectly preserved on the surface of the Earth for 60 years; however, the lack of sufficient atmospheric pressure and weather on the Moon allows for this to happen. Footprints on the surface of the Earth are washed away with erosion by wind or water, but the Moon does not have an atmosphere capable of creating the wind power necessary to completely erode the footprint. The water on the Moon is not capable of erosion either, simply because it is in the form of ice due to the extremely cold temperatures on the side of the Moon that does not receive sunlight. Hundreds of thousands of people worked to put a man in space and win the space race for the United States, but it only took one person to create the idea that the landing was a hoax. Bill Kaysing set out to disprove the landing in 1976 in a self published journal. Although this information could turn out to be
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true, a self-published journal does not provide solid evidence to support this claim. Anyone is capable of publishing a journal even if they have absolutely no credibility in the field of discussion. One of the most popular myths that stemmed from Kaysing’s journal is the possibility that astronauts “landed” in front of a green screen to make Americans think that someone actually went to the Moon. Despite the fact that it was the mid-twentieth century and technological advances were becoming more and more common, Photoshop in the 1950s was less than impressive in the sense that it wasn’t even created until 1987; Photoshop in the 1950s meant physically cutting someone out of one picture and gluing it down to the background of another. At this point in time, the Internet wasn’t even around for the average person to obtain an image of the moon to “Photoshop” a person onto. The only images of the Moon were those publicized by NASA, and even those were hard to acquire. The amount of hassle it would be for anyone in the government to set the scene efficiently to convince the entire country of one of the most widely-celebrated events of the century is so great, the probability of it being true is close to zero percent. This hassle would also have to be applied to live-action photoshop because of the live-broadcast airing of the Moon landing. Americans around the country gathered to watch Neil Armstrong put the first human footprint on the Moon and make “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Also high on the reasons for doubt among Moon landing disbelievers is the lack of a camera crew to film Neil Armstrong’s steps. This, however, has a quite simple explanation: there were cameras attached to the spacecraft. NASA’s Apollo 11 Mission Overview highlights all of the objectives and achievements, including the technology included in the spacecraft. NASA reports sending a high-grade video camera capable of transmitting signals back to Earth, allowing the event to be aired live all over the country. Despite the fact that technology at the time was much less advanced than today’s, it still had impressive results that would be nearly impossible to recreate from anywhere outside of a professional scientific building. //
Defying the Moon Landing by NIK FAGERMAN & MARIA LINCK business manager & editor-in-chief
Full disclaimer: Fagerman and Linck do believe that the moon landing happened, we just find that this is an important opportunity to prove the importance of critical thinking. While Josephine Baldyga and Mallory Swope blindly accept everything they’ve been told, Niklas Fagerman and Maria Linck use critical thinking on a much larger scope than the moon landing. After convincing Baldyga and Swope to write an article about something that probably happened, Linck and Fagerman dive deeper into the importance of critical thinking to emphasize Baldyga and Swope’s blind following of not just the moon landing, but probably any other majority opinion that crosses their mind. Looking back on history, critical thinkers have often been subjected to much criticism and speculation. The first people who thought the Earth was round were viewed as crazy, along with those who suggested that there are subatomic particles that make up everything. So that’s why Linck and Fagerman aren’t necessarily discussing the moon landing, but more so the importance of giving new ideas consideration without a completely biased mindset.
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n 1969, tensions were high between the Soviet Union and the United States. With the launch of Sputnik in 1957, the U.S. was scrambling to gain traction in the space race. In response, President John F. Kennedy announced that the U.S. would send people to the moon by the end of the 1960s, an elaborate goal for the time. After many attempts, the Apollo 11 mission successfully touched down on the moon on July 20, 1969. Or did it? The evidence for the conspiracy theorists is admittedly disheartening; almost all of it can be disproved by simple logic and science. But, as Mark Twain famously said, “it’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” So with this in mind, we are willing to listen to the other side of the story, a simple skill that the general public seems to be lacking these days. For the entirety of our educational careers, we have been pushed to think deeper, more critically,
and differently from those around us. If we cannot apply this deep thinking to anything other than our graded English discussion questions, then what is the point? So, when the topic of the moon landing first came up, we decided to do something crazy RESEARCH. We find it concerning that Swope and Baldyga not only provide weak refutations full of “possibly could have” and “might not have,” but it also appears they have not done proper research. For instance, the conspiracy theorists claim that the American flag shouldn’t have been waving (for there is no wind on the moon), Swope and Baldyga reason that the apparent waving was done on purpose by NASA. In reality, the fluttering was caused by the astronauts struggling to plant the flag, causing it to swing and appear as if it is waving. Once again, they poorly refute the theory of a camera crew by claiming that there was no need for a crew because there was a camera on the shuttle. This is false, for Neil Armstrong actually pulled a cable releasing a camera that would film his descent to the moon. It’s alarming that we can prove the moon landing’s credibility more accurately than they can, considering we are supposed to be arguing against its reality. They are so fixated on their opinion without having done accurate research or exploring what is on the other side of the argument, which brings us to our next point. This small, seemingly insignificant debate about the moon landing mirrors the current state of America today. The division between political parties has become as wide as ever, with Congress experiencing more party-line voting than ever. The same can be seen among the people and voters who feel they are forced to take a side even without knowledge of the topic. Many simply follow the majority, or allow one biased news article to determine their opinion. The culture of modern news and social media is a world of confirmation bias, with many people only following those they agree with. Having an open mindset and doing accurate research are vital to having meaningful conversations; so while we admit the moon landing most likely occurred, the point is that there is another side of the conversation that should not be ignored. //
Political Turf War by STERLING GOODWIN staff writer
The psychology of social media politics
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ith all of the political unrest happening in our country, it’s easy to get caught up in the debate. The months surrounding a presidential change are bound to have plenty of disagreement. While civics class debates have some moderation and tact, and dinner table squabbles are silenced by uncomfortable parents, there is one place where every ounce of restraint is thrown out the window: the world wide web. Social media is the wild west of politics, and its full of would be lawmen and part time outlaws. Facebook timelines are filled to the brim with rants, Instagram stories make for easy spread of activism and dirt on politicians, and, at one point, Twitter was a battleground for the Cheeto and the Sloth (that is, until they decided the Cheeto had gotten out of hand). Different platforms are divided like gang territory, and if you find yourself on their turf, you are in for a world of hurt. Politicians and activists alike rely on this chaos to further their causes and promote their agendas. So what makes social media such an effective platform? The answer is echo chambers. Socials are all about the exchange of information. When we limit how we get our information to just the people who think exactly the same as us, our perception of facts and reality is distorted. Content is posted and reposted, causing the same biased information to be spread like wildfire, the perfect echo chamber. The biases caused by the repetition of information find their way into all nooks and crannies of our lives. Since echo chambers in social media are so common, why are they such a big issue? It comes down to a few different biases that are present in nearly
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every person out there. First is the confirmation bias. It is this logical fallacy that causes us to seek out the echoed posts and articles in the first place. Central High School’s very own psychology teacher Kristina Brunink describes it as this: “Confirmation bias is the cognitive tendency to seek out, give attention to, and store information that agrees with or ‘confirms’ a previously held belief, as well as disregarding information that contradicts a belief.” Although it may sound malicious, it is a very natural and even necessary practice. According to Brunink, “our brain uses a lot of shortcuts or ‘heuristics’ when interpreting information, which is helpful most of the time, but those shortcuts can also be substantial barriers to critical thinking.” And for those who think they are immune to this, Brunink has one more bias to mention: “If you’re reading this and thinking about how confirmation bias applies to others but not yourself... there’s a bias for that too, and it’s called the overconfidence phenomenon.” We make ourselves believe that our individual viewpoints are the only logical perspectives, and those who disagree are in the wrong. While there are several issues that do have relatively clear black and white distinctions of morality, most issues are full of gray areas and contradictions. “We can distort our reality and feel zero discomfort about it as we unknowingly click our way into a sort of feel good tunnel vision,” Brunink explains. The effect of these biases is polarization of political views. Politicians and political media outlets become posterboys, losing every ounce of nuance in order to affirm the views of far left and right voters. And thus lines are drawn, and battles for so-
Graphic: J. Baldyga
cial supremacy commence. It can be so easy to be swept up in a wave of politics, anger, and extreme viewpoints. Brunink warns “if we are presented with enough information that contradicts our beliefs, we experience cognitive dissonance, or a degree of internal discomfort, which can motivate us to change our mind. However, if truth is determined by the number of shares, likes, etc…and not actual facts and evidence, then we are no longer faced with that internal discomfort.” Central High School is a diverse place. There are people from all different walks of life who spend every day together. Each student faces their own struggles and challenges. So it’s natural that the political ideologies of two given people may not line up. The case can be seen with two seniors – both of which will remain anonymous and will be referred to as ‘Student A’ and ‘Student B.’ “I’m definitely a more liberal individual,” Student A admits, “but I also have some very centrist ideas. As a queer female [political issues] are kind of a big part of my life.” On the other hand, Student B identifies as a moderate conservative. Despite their differences, they are able to make logical decisions about politics by properly using social media. “Political Polarization could drastically be reduced by avoiding echo chambers. Because of human’s confirmation bias, we automatically look for news and media that best fits our own viewpoints. If we forced ourselves to look at and attempt to understand the other side of the aisle, the differences between us would seem nowhere near as grave,” Student B argues. That does not mean that social media has to be off the table. With proper care, social media doesn’t have to be a battleground.
Just because we are flawed humans doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Several steps can be taken to overcome bias. First is to interact with media that you disagree with in a positive manner. “It helps you realize what opposing views are thinking about and talking about,” Brunink advises. Student B adds, “I am a pretty political person. Everyday I check both Fox News and CNN to get a balanced perspective of the day’s events. I have always been a firm believer in the idea that in order to make a defensive argument, you must first understand the opposing side’s argument.” Student A uses social media as a tool to help see what issues are prevalent, “[social media] allows me to stay informed. It’s the main way I get my news. I’ll look at Twitter to see what’s going on, and then go and research it.” It may be frustrating, but it is important to take all of the information into consideration and accept your own flaws. Take time to reflect on what you have learned, and remember that there is still plenty more information out there that you don’t know about. Brunink believes that “the coolest (and smartest) people I know start sentences with ‘I don’t know...yet.’ The least fun people to talk to are the ones that believe they already know everything.” Political issues are often seen as things to be avoided, and often credited for the loss of friends and family disputes. But the real villain is the mind. With proper care (and a lot of willpower), political discussions can be educational and even enjoyable. Just because they don’t agree with you on who gets to twiddle their thumbs on Pennsylvania Avenue for four years, doesn’t mean they don’t have something valuable to say. //
Social Media : The Real Bully How social media has left a lasting impact on young users throughout the world by IVY COE staff writer
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y whole life I have struggled with the feeling that I need to look a certain way. Growing up I have been heavily involved in social media and have spent most of my free time scrolling through photo after photo of other teens all around the world. My body image and the way I feel about myself is influenced by the things I see online. I’ve wasted so much time feeling awful about myself and being filled with insecurities due to this attachment to social media. Unfortunately, this is a big issue among teens. From a young age, kids are taught what’s considered pretty and what’s not. Despite messages that tell them “everyone’s beautiful,” many are still body shamed and develop extreme insecurities about how they look. These insecurities have sprouted from a drastic increase in social media use over the past few years. According to a study from Hootsuite, a social media management platform, as of January 2020, there were more than 3.8 billion social media users around the world. This number has practically doubled from 2015, where there were around 2.07 billion. The growing access to misinformative beauty standards has left a devastating mark on the happiness of many teens. New research released
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by the American Psychological Association associates increased social media use with increased symptoms of social anxiety, social isolation, and feelings of loneliness. These feelings of being alone and different can lead to a distorted body image and make others feel the need to look like everyone else. “I will see ads promoting products to change things about your body that are completely normal,” explained Audrey Burnside ‘22. Many advertisements promote ways to “fix” imperfections such as acne or stretch marks, when in reality they are completely normal and beautiful. “People show fake beauty standards on social media,” added Burnside, “it’s just not the real them. They show the best pictures that they have.” This lack of self-confidence in the way one may look can make simple tasks such as going to school difficult. Students feel pressured to look the same as other students in order to fit in. One CHS student replied, “sometimes I don’t dress the same as everybody else, and that affects me because I want to look the same as everyone else.” Social media has gone as far as to make students insecure about the clothes they wear to school. “Sometimes I’ll see items I wear being
“With so many bad things going on in the world, people should be able to open their phones and see uplifting images.”
made fun of or see influencers wearing certain items that I want to wear too. It can make me feel like my closet is inadequate,” a student pointed out. Social media’s impact on how girls think they should look is a direct cause of eating disorders. According to the EDC (Eating Disorders Coalition) the rate of children under 12 being admitted to a hospital for eating disorders rose 119 percent in less than a decade. This rise in hospitalization for eating disorders can be commonly linked to wanting to fit certain standards set by social media. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, with nearly one person dying every hour as a direct result. A student here at Central who suffered from an extreme eating disorder described, “my eating disorder began in sixth grade around the time I got my phone. I would say having access to seeing the standards Instagram models and influencers were held to had a direct affect on my confidence. I’d see people I thought looked perfect get made fun of for the way they looked. This made me try to reach unattainable standards through my eating.” Unless changes are made to what social media portrays to its younger viewers, it will continue
to be an issue with many teens around the world and push more and more into eating disorders. “I wish everyone would just post regular pictures without them trying super hard, and REAL beauty standards, not fake ones where everyone’s just sucking in,” said Burnside. People should start posting themselves in their true element as opposed to only pictures of them that have been edited and made perfect. With so many bad things going on in the world, people should be able to open their phones and see uplifting images. “I would change the things that are posted. I would choose more positivity, and make it so that there’s not so much tearing people down,” Kaitlin Gerds ‘24 says. Social media is becoming the real bully, and most of the world is completely oblivious to it. Teens wonder why they feel so bad about themselves, but then spend hours comparing themselves to fake and perfected images online. This generation as a whole needs to focus on uplifting each other, and avoid making others feel bad about themselves using the powerful tool we have all been given, social media. //
Online Influencers: a New Generation of Manipulators by TED ARNOLD staff writer
The dangers of elevating normal people to power
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or as long as media has existed, society has placed certain people on a pedestal. This role has been shared by the earliest radio stars, the first people to appear on film, and sitcom stars of the 90’s. Now, ordinary people making content from their homes have taken their place. The rise of social media brings with it a danger already felt in traditional media, the undue power granted to stars. In this case, however, stars are not elevated by a select group of executives. Anyone can now reach stardom from their own home on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. These platforms allow for the disconnect between viewers and creators of content to be removed, as comments made by viewers can be seen and directly responded to in real time. Conversations between role models and those who admire them may be exciting to superfans but are, as a whole, unhealthy. Idolizing people who may be deeply flawed presents a possibility for young, impressionable fans to be manipulated and corrupted.
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Here at Central, influencers have a noticeable impact. A vast majority of students follow online personalities. Ella Sherman ‘23, follows people who “do art or something that I think is cool, or they have a cool style that I like.” Similarly, Demitrius Mead ‘22, likes to “connect with other artists and my friends, of course.” Mead feels that he has a “different persona,” and is “more confident online.” This confidence boost, that acts as a boon for many, feeds the dangers that influencers pose, as they can conceal their identity to avoid consequences for their actions. Central’s social worker, Diane Burden, agrees with this conclusion, adding that social media “allows us to have a skewed view, or a faulty perception about who [a social media personality] is, what they actually look like, and what they’re doing.” Anonymity and the ability to filter what is visible allows influencers to shape a perfect image of themselves. Students largely think that social media personalities have an outsized influence on their peers. Mead feels that “a healthy dose of influencer” is acceptable, but “for our generation, they have a lot of power.”
Ted Arnold
@realTedArnold
Influencers’ persistence in culture makes them a difficult force to contend with; when their power is abused, those most vulnerable are severely affected. Graphic: S. Goodwin
5:33 PM 4/4/21 Twitter for iPhone 102 Retweets 523 Likes
Sherman thinks that “in some cases they might promote a not very good message.” She concedes, however, “I don’t know if it’s entirely on purpose, I just think it’s a lot of responsibility to be someone who’s influencing so many people,” pointing out that “they’re just a normal person, so it’s kind of hard for them to put up an entirely good message.” Additionally, Burden notes that “particularly during adolescence [attention online] can be quite alluring, and can lead people into some different ways of thinking.” Many prominent influencers saw their rise come just as they came of age, in late high school and early college. The youth and inexperience of many of these people causes them to act recklessly online, not fully understanding their influence. Perhaps the most well known example of this lies with the infamous Paul brothers, Jake and Logan. The two reached popularity on social media platform Vine while still in high school, posting short videos and rapidly gaining an audience. When Vine shut down, the two migrated to Youtube and began posting daily videos about their lives. The two repeatedly found themselves in hot water over things they said and did, as well as their overt marketing to children, despite the inappropriate nature of their content. Both marketed merchandising heavily towards children, blatantly abusing
their platform for profit. The two are not exceptions by any means, as the patterns seen in them are repeated over and over again as young influencers recklessly use their platform for profit, not concerned about their message and impact. Burden points out that “it’s a lot of pressure” for adolescents to be elevated to this position, and that there is a point where social media is good, but it can easily become “a runaway train.” Not all content creators and online personalities abuse their position. Many use their platforms to promote positive messages, and drive their communities towards charities and positive causes. However, a vast majority make no effort to enact change with their platform, positive or negative. This middle ground is safe, but it allows those who do bad to easily spread their message when no concerted effort is made to stop them. Influencers’ persistence in culture makes them a difficult force to contend with; when their power is abused, those most vulnerable are severely affected. The ability that social media provides to shape and perfect one’s image means that students not just at Central, but around the world, are presented with unrealistic expectations. These people are easily manipulated to believe that what they see and feel is completely normal, even when it’s very dangerous. //
In our spin-off of Humans of New York, or in this case Birds of New York, the Black & Gold Quarterly went into the community in search of bird owners. Our mission was to find inspiring, unique creatures unlike anything flying across the Traverse City sky. We used to say that people are art; now, we recognize that birds, too, are art. From their funny noises to their human-like dialect, there is nothing more loveable than a bird. The birds in North America can be fascinating. In Northern Michigan specifically, we do not have many exotic birds like the cockatoo or parakeet. You can get exotic birds as pets, but they are often hard to come by. We interviewed some exotic bird owners to see how they felt about their feathered companions.
Photo: Courtesy of D. Boike
Dawn Boike of Front Street Insurance is passionate about birds.
Boike owns two birds: Oscar, a Sun Conure, and Trooper, a Double Yellow Naped Amazon. Trooper is about 25 years old and is very small compared to Oscar. He’s about a third of the size of the Amazon. Boike’s favorite part of owning Trooper is that “every morning when I leave for work he says bye-bye, and when I return home as I walk in the door he says hello. I enjoy chatting with him. We go back and forth with hello’s, and how ya doing’s. He loves to take showers and it is so much fun to watch him spread his wings and play in the water.” Oscar does talk according to Boike, he says things like “hello, hi, goodbye, what ya doing, and hey buddy. He sings as if he was an opera singer. He will often spend the day just babbling, but I’m not at all sure what he’s saying.” Boike also explains that “birds are different from owning a dog, who loves you unconditionally. Owning a bird is a different kind of relationship - you have to work to be accepted by them. Once you are, it’s a bond that is hard to explain.” Boike thinks the challenges in owning a bird are that they are “messy, they fling food and constantly need their cages cleaned. Adequate-sized cages and play stands take up a lot of space in your home. As mentioned above, they can be very temperamental, and when they are, they can bite hard. While gaining Oscar’s trust I have had more bites than I can count, my arms, shoulders, ears, lip. When they want you to know they don’t like you, that’s how they tell you. People think owning a bird can be awesome, and it can, but because they are so high maintenance, loud, messy, and live so long, people should think about what they are taking on.” Boike is “passionate about letting people know that they should look into rescuing a bird before purchasing from a breeder or pet store. There are so many unwanted birds who by no fault of their own find themselves in need of a forever home.” //
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identityin
traverse city
by SAMUEL GALOCI-SANDIN & LELAND BROWN staff writers
Glenn Moore ‘24 is a brother to a bird owner. Their cockatoo is named Precious, who can be very intriguing. The seven year-old bird has lived with Moore her whole life. Precious is grey and white with yellow and red spots. He also said she loves to play with her toys, “she’ll go nuts over her bell toy.” Moore went to The Greenspire School, where he had lots of opportunities to observe wild birds. Moore has always had a passion for birds. //
Photos: Courtesy of G. Moore
Caden Kowal ‘24, enjoys skiing and is a member of the TCC Junior
Varsity tennis team. Kowal has a few pets, including a green parakeet named Kermit. Kowal says one of his favorite parts of owning a bird is all the funny noises the bird makes. Kowal explained that one of the biggest challenges of owning Kermit is “probably cleaning up the seeds he throws.” //
Photo: I. Coe
Central Speaks High school can be tough. Between school, sports, clubs, social life, family responsibilities, work, and other obligations, it’s a stressful life, and sometimes there are little things that can get under our skin or brighten our day. Central Speaks is a forum for students to share their thoughts about the ups and downs of the “Central” Life. Here’s what students like you had to say. by IVY COE staff writer
“We need more pride in this school. more events. More t-shirts. make it that students want to come to school. We are going to school each day with no motivation. Give us motivation” -Nathan Barbera
Response to Nathan Barbera
“Events are difficult this year due to state health requirements. We have limits on how many people we can have in an area and how close they can be to each other. This has made events tough for us to host and run for students. We did, for the first time ever, give out FREE Trojan shirts to all students earlier this year. We also work to celebrate students, student groups, teams and such. Our Student Senators work hard to build school culture and pride. If students have more ideas, we would love to hear them too!”
Response to Sage Stier
“Mental Health - This is a priority for Central. We talk as a staff about what to look for, how to better know our students, and address issues that may be a concern. We are consistently working with students for further mental health support too. We have a full counseling staff and social worker available for students. If students have ideas to better support them, please let us know! Students are going through a lot during this pandemic and we are always looking for ways to support them and grow our Central community.”
Response to Tricia Smith
“Eating in cars is a safety issue. We work hard to secure our large campus so that we can maintain an open campus for 11th and 12th grade students. Eating in cars is not a practice we allow. If students need a quiet place for lunch, come see your wing office or counselor. We can set up a great place inside for them.” 16 // BGQ // April March2021 2021
“Central as a community needs to be better. We need to make sure that the students that attend this school have good mental health. Many people I know right now are really struggling mentally because of the constant stress of school during the pandemic. We need to check on the people around us, and make them feel safe to talk to the staff around us. Make mental health a priority all the time, and not just for a week. The mental health week didn’t do much for a lot of the students here, and we need to work on spreading happiness throughout the school for more than just a week. Bad mental health is a serious issue that most of the community at central struggles with, and the school needs to do better with helping this. School is one of the main reasons people are really struggling with bad mental health right now, and spreading constant happiness and letting others know that they are loved and cared for needs to be prioritized.” -Sage Stier
“Central is a great school. There are many programs like football and other sports to make friends. Coming here was a great decision. One thing I don’t like is the bathrooms some stalls could use doors.” -Alexander Szajner
“I personally don’t understand why students aren’t allowed to eat out in their cars. I’m a sophomore that has anxiety and sometimes I’d like to go eat food out in my car yet I’m not aloud to which to me doesn’t make sense because I’m not leaving campus and yes I understand that if they let us eat in our cars we might leave but how are we supposed to trust and respect our teachers and principals if they don’t trust or respect us?” -Tricia Smith
Response to Alexander Szajner
“We work each summer to make larger upgrades. I will ask again about bathroom doors. I do know that they are taken down as damage occurs. We run a full night crew each evening to prepare Central for the next day. I know that they have struggled to balance more cleaning processes with damage/repair that occurs.”
Central Speaks Back As busy the administrators at Central are, they always have an open ear to listen to what is on the student body’s mind. Here’s what Principal Houghton had to say in response to our Central Speaks forum.
G N I H T Y R E V E N O I H S A F by DREW JOH NSEN & EVELYN LINCK Staff Writers
How to become a real-life Pinterest Board
18 // BGQ // April 2021
JACKETS
Photo: I. Coe
Whether it’s snowing outside or your fashion sense, jackets seem to be perfect for any and all occasions.This time of year, it’s hard to expect what the weather will be like. One day it feels like spring is just around the corner, while others, it seems as if we lived in a snowglobe owned by a toddler, blizzards being the forte.That’s why jackets are so amazing, they keep people warm and they are great at spicing up any bland outfit. Alejandro Lepczyk ‘24 feels the same way. “I usually just wear a plain colored t-shirt and throw a jacket over the top,” explains Lepczyk. It’s so easy to take your style to the next level with just a couple of unique jackets. Jackets can be worn in so many ways that they become a staple piece, with so much potential. But how do you make your jackets correspond to the rest of your outfit? Feel it out. Lepczyk’s mood has a major role in the way he picks out his outfits. Jackets however, have a lot of personality in themselves, so follow a certain theme when choosing what to pair it with, or start with the jacket and work backwards. Today, just like anything else, it can be hard to find unique jackets that don’t look like everyone else’s at school. This is when thrifting comes in handy. It’s super easy to find fun and unique jackets that no one else has. Most thrift stores also have a section dedicated to jackets, this makes the process pretty fast and efficient. Remember while thrifting, that an open mind is going to be key to finding the perfect piece. It’s easy to become so focused on finding brand name clothing, that it can defeat the purpose of finding a unique piece, especially since name brand clothing is really popular right now.
PANTS Everyone picks out outfits differently. Some match the bottoms to the top, and others match the top to the bottoms, but it can be a little more complicated with funky pants. “Usually, when I decide on outfits I pick out the pants first and then find a shirt that complements the pants by either the color or the pattern,” describes Peyton Barger ‘23. Many of the popular types of pants we see today follow the most recent and trending fit, pattern, and style many teens choose to pursue. Barger has been loving the high waisted flare pants that have been in lately. She makes sure that the pants she invests in are unique and represent her style, while also keeping the comfort aspect. “The types of pants I wear are usually more of a vintage style which is what I have been into recently, I think they represent my style well because I just pick out whatever I like and feel comfortable in and I never really stick to one specific look,” Barger explains. In recent months, there have been a couple of really interesting patterns and fits that have risen to popularity in the pants world. Some including zebra and other animal prints and wide led or baggie jeans. If you are looking for a way to style these funky types of bottoms, keep proportion in mind. With baggy pants, where a tighter shirt, do the opposite with tighter pants. It’s better to think about pattern proportion as well. With patterned bottoms, try to find a plain shirt that won’t draw attention away from your pants. When styling an outfit, remember to choose pieces that will enhance what you are trying to show off. This could be a new cardigan, a pair of cool pants, or in some cases, a fashionable pair of shoes. Either way, pants are a great way to show off style and draw attention to the outfits you work hard to put together.
Photo: E. Linck
TRENDS 2019: The era of the VSCO. 2020: Quarantine when styles varied, mostly sweatpants and sweatshirts with the occasional casual jeans look. 2021: Unknown. After a year of constant unexpected and unintentional turn of events, we are left to question what the trending style of 2021 will be. Last year, we had all the time in the world, well at least that’s what it felt like, since then, most people have focused on rebuilding and portraying themselves in a proper way. Many of those people have used fashion to do just that. Style and fashion sense is almost like a personality trait, everyone chooses to wear what makes them feel comfortable, happy, and most importantly, confident. However, if you have a specific look that you pursue on the daily, and it attracts interest, you might be starting a trend. Let’s start with our trend predictions for 2021. Vintage and thrifted. In later months of 2020, many people copied the vintage trend. Plenty of people
shopped at Urban Outfitters, Zara, Pacsun, and other small businesses off of social media to search for some “unique” finds. The problem with this though, is everyone is finding and purchasing the same stuff. Everyone has wide leg jeans now, some even from the same stores, same exact pairs. Baggy clothes. Everywhere. Everything and everyone looks the same nowadays, there isn’t really a “unique” outfit anymore. For 2021, we are thinking this will change. Most people will hopefully catch on to the repetitiveness and start thrifting, even more than they possibly did before. When thrifting for clothes, or anything really, there is a pretty small chance someone will find the exact same shirt, pair of pants, or jacket as you. “I have found a lot of unique pants while thrifting, which is always fun because they are one of a kind,” mentions Peyton Barger ‘23. It is for these exact reasons that thrifting may be the new “trend” for this year.
STYLE Style. Something that many teens take into consideration every single day. Whether it’s laying out an outfit the night before or waking up early to pick one out in the morning, some people view style as a way to confidently express themselves, and others value it because they see their fashion sense as a way to fit in. It takes money and a sense of direction to develop a style, but you have to know how you want to portray yourself. As you build your style, you begin to find a way to show off your personality, your unique identity. Actually, not really. Many styles that have been developed over the years have also been followed, like the skater or indie look: baggie jeans, crewnecks, chains, and vans or converse. This
style seems to be the most popular in recent months, everyone has begun to adore the “rustic” and “chill” vibes this outfit stands for, people are all for it. Style can be seen as a stereotype as well. Those who have colored hair and wear all black clothes with chunky boots will naturally be seen as “emo.” On the other hand, you have the basics. The one girl who wears Brandy Melville and Brandy Melville only, and the one boy who shows up everyday in a Vineyard Vines shirt and khakis. Take no offense to this, style is simply a choice or a sense of opinion. Style is what you choose to wear, and if it makes you happy, stick with it.
SHOES Putting an outfit together that shows off your style can be difficult. Most of the time jeans and a plain t-shirt don’t cut it. Including a unique and fashionable pair of shoes can pull together a whole outfit. “To me, shoes are the base of an outfit and they set up the whole fit,” says Abigail Rockwood ‘22. “Like to me, having a good outfit with bad shoes is like chocolate with tuna, it just doesn’t look/taste good, you feel?” Shoes may pull together a look, but they also pull money right out of savings. Jordans, Air Forces, Blazers, or even some boots from Hunter or Doc Martin can get to be really expensive, 20 // BGQ // April 2021
which is where the thrifting comes in. It’s pretty rare to find a pair of these shoes at a thrift store but not impossible. These types of shoes aren’t just going to be sitting there for days, they are seen as treasures, so look often or you might miss it. If you don’t find them and don’t want to spend your money, just look for dupes. There’s plenty of fake Jordans and Doc Martin’s out there, and no one will be able to tell the difference. Really, any pair of shoes can make an outfit look better, whether they are brand name or not.
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Josiah Krommendyk Audrey Umstead Rachael Skrzypczak Josee Hanna Audrey Gollan
The Life of Larry
Photo: I. Coe
by ELIZABETH PHILLIPS staff writer
Taking a look into the daily life of Larry the custodian
2:30 AM
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At 2:30 on a Monday morning, Larry Wertenberger grudgingly rolls out of bed. He throws on his winter uniform supplied by TCAPS. This uniform changes during the different seasons. “[During] winter I usually wear sweatshirts, because I’m outside a lot. Summer I wear shirts with something related to Central. The sports teams hook me up with swag!” he explained. Larry goes about his morning, getting prepared for his day of work while the news is playing in the background.
5:30 PM
2:30 PM
8:30 PM
Larry then gets in his pickup truck and begins his four mile drive to Central High School. Today, he arrives at about 5:30 in the morning, which is earlier than his usual winter arrival time. Larry parks his truck in the F wing. Then, he walks in, and says hello to his fellow custodians, whether it be the lead custodian, Terry Freeman or one of the midnight custodians. Freeman is Larry’s boss, but they get along like friends. “It’s like we’re an old married couple here. We’ve been working long enough together that we can joke with each other and not get super upset with each other,” They work together all day - snow removal, lawn maintenance, etc. But, communication is key for Freeman and Larry. “We have our radios communicate first thing in the morning on anything that needs to be done or addressed, anything like that. Weather wise, first thing in the morning. We have to know if we’re moving snow, throwing salt, or whatever else we need to do. Then, just throughout the day we’ll communicate what we have to do next and what we have going on. And then he’ll go do his thing, and I’ll go do mine, and then in an hour we’re probably connecting again,” In order for Larry to communicate with Freeman or anyone else in the building, he needs his radio. “The first thing I do is grab my radio. We wear radios in case one of the principals or security needs anything,” Before students arrive, Larry has to make sure the parking lots are safe. To do this, he throws on his snow gear and begins shovelling and plowing the parking lot, as well as throwing salt down to prevent slipping. Another thing he has to make sure is prepared is the school’s heating. “In cold weather, we make sure the heating units are working properly,” Larry explained. Contrary to popular belief, custodians don’t do much cleaning when students are here. “We do very little cleaning during the actual school day. It is done after teachers and students are gone from the building,” They usually work on small maintenance projects rather than cleaning. Custodians are allowed two 15 minute breaks per day. “I try to fit [breaks] in around what is happening at the school. Some days we don’t take all we are allowed,” They also are allowed a thirty minute lunch break. Larry can be found anywhere around the building, but primarily in the F wing. The jangling of keys is a signal that he’s nearby. He talks to teachers, other staff members, and students. His work day comes to an end around 2:30 in the afternoon, unless there is something he needs to prepare for, such as basketball games. But today his day ended at the usual time. Before he leaves, he talks with Freeman once again to make sure they didn’t miss anything that needed to be done. Larry hops back into his pickup truck and takes the same four mile drive home.
He goes home, where he is greeted by his wife Marcy and his grandchild Lyra. Larry has three children, one of which he is currently living with. He and his wife have eight grandchildren, ranging in ages 14 years old to 10 months old. While at home, he shovels his own driveway, and will relax from time to time. “Getting up that early in the morning I don’t sit down very long or I’ll be sleeping.” Dinner depends on what the consensus is, and Larry is usually the one who prepares it.
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All Photos: I. Coe
Due to a grant, TCAPS students have been getting free food. Here’s why. by LELAND BROWN & SAMUEL GALOCI-SANDIN staff writers
F
rom mask wearing to online learning, this school year has been a challenge, but one of the nice things that came out of the difficulties was making free lunch available for all students at Central. The pandemic impacted many homes and jobs, tightening budgets for many, but TCAPS found a way to help. The change was implemented this year thanks to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), who oversees the school meal programs, giving schools the option to extend the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The SFSP provides free meals to low income children under eighteen when school is not in session. It involves sponsors using sites like parks or schools to distribute the meals. “Obviously being able to feed breakfast and lunch seven days a week to all students for free was a no brainer for us,” comments Tom Freitas, TCAPS Food and Nutrition Service Director. “Schools across the USA had the choice to go back to the normal programs which only allow schools to claim meals five days a week. We wanted to be able to claim meals seven days a week.” Freitas says that more kids are eating breakfast and lunches than previous years as well. The cons do exist though, as Freitas explains, “we have had to reduce meal options due to using bag meals rather than line service. We have [also] not been able to use salad bars which has resulted in less produce options.” The free meal program doesn’t cover certain foods and beverages, which has limited the à la carte (individual order) options. All meals also need to be packed, which again limits the alternative food options. But Freitas continues to look on the bright side of things, “having all free meals is very beneficial and we are hoping the USDA and our legislators will see those
benefits and consider extending the free meal options to all children in all of their meal programs in the future.” Of course, as TCAPS students should know, it wasn’t always like this. Mathew Kushman ‘23 compares the lunches to last year’s, saying, “I have noticed that the food being served is much more simple, low quality, and comes in smaller portions [compared to last year].” For people like Kushman though, the lunches aren’t a big deal, “As a student who regularly brings their own lunch, I rarely eat school lunch regardless if it is cost free.” Many people feel that free lunches are beneficial, including Cameron Mansfield ‘24. “I like the lunches this year because they are free, so it’s not a financial issue for families and students,” Mansfield remarks. The convenience of the lunches is another appeal to many students. “It [is] nice to be able to walk into the cafeteria and just grab something to eat,” Mansfield adds. Mansfield agrees with Kushman’s earlier statement as well. “I believe that the quality of the food is altered due to the free meals and [because the kids are not paying, it] cuts the proportions of the meals,” he explains. Mansfield says that if the lunches were returned to the proportions that he recalls, then he would pay for lunches, but not if they stayed the same size they are now. Although the lunches aren’t perfect, it is nice for many students and families to not have to worry about paying for lunches. In troubling times, it is promising to see organizations and schools stepping up to help those in need. As Mansfield succinctly puts it, “It’s one less thing to worry about, considering what is happening in the world around us.” //
“It’s one less thing to worry about, considering what is happening in the world around us.”
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Graphic: T. Whiteford
Quarterly Showcase By I. Coe
30 // BGQ // April 2021
FREAKY
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ORDER AT JIMMYJOHNS.COM
Because sandwich. 1217 E FRONT ST 231.929.2999
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1294 W SOUTH AIRPORT RD 231.935.9355
F a i l o r
Questions with Mr. Failor & Mrs. Houdek Photo Courtesy of: J. Failor
Photo Courtesy of: G. Houdek
In this “50 Questions With feature,” we put the spotlight on two of Central’s very own: Mrs. Houdek and Mr. Failor. Here we reveal the more personal side of Central’s staff through questions ranging from favorite article of clothing to first jobs.
H o u d e k
Houdek BGQ-What was your first job? Houdek-I planted flowers for neighbors and cleaned the neighborhood gutters when I was 10. BGQ-What is your favorite vacation destination? Houdek-Camping in Zion, Bryce Canyon, or Canyonlands National Park. BGQ-Which celebrity do you think you are most similar to? Houdek-I have no idea, so I asked some friends. The responses included Emma Watson, Seth Rogan, and Melinda Gates. BGQ-How many languages can you speak? Houdek-Two (English and Hatian Creole). BGQ-What is the worst injury you’ve ever had? Houdek-I broke my ankle playing soccer. BGQ-What was the name of your favorite pet? Houdek-Peter (my current orange tabby cat). BGQ-What is your favorite thing a student has ever said to you? Houdek-I finally understand! BGQ-What made you want to become a teacher? Houdek-In college, I embarked on a trip to Haiti. I experienced a society where free and public education did not exist. In such an impoverished country, few people received a quality education and I saw, firsthand, the ramifications. BGQ-How do you take your coffee? Houdek-STRONG with a splash of milk. BGQ-What are three things you could never live without? Houdek-Family, good friends, and pizza. BGQ-What is your favorite letter of the alphabet? Houdek-Never thought about it. Probably G. BGQ-What sports did you play in school? Houdek-Basketball, volleyball, and soccer. I also got down with ping-pong if that counts. BGQ-What was your favorite class in high school? Houdek-PE! BGQ-Have you ever had a near-death experience? Houdek-I was once hospitalized overseas. During this time, a delirious and enraged gentleman wielded a gun, threatening the staff and those in the immediate vicinity, protesting my admission before his own. Luckly, an officer diffused the matter before the weapon was used. BGQ-Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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Houdek-Hopefully teaching English here, with a few more degrees under my belt, and a family by my side. BGQ-Which do you think came first: the chicken or the egg? Houdek-I’ll let you know when I find out. BGQ-What is your favorite show to binge-watch? Houdek-I don’t watch much TV but on occasion, I love NOVA and Cosmos. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the man! BGQ-What is your favorite meal of the day? Houdek-Dinner, preferably in the form of pizza. Did I mention I love pizza? It’s a problem. BGQ-As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Houdek-Initially, I aspired to be a veterinarian. Then, I approached college with dreams of being a sports journalist. After that trip to Haiti, I was determined to be a teacher. BGQ-What is your favorite dessert? Houdek-Strawberry cheesecake (or pizza) BGQ-What is one piece of advice you received in your life that has made an impact? Houdek-Two pieces of advice resonate with me: “Suck it up, buttercup!” and “Everything is enriching if viewed with the right perspective.” BGQ-What was your first car? Houdek-A two-door, 2003 Honda Civic, which I still have! The thing won’t die. She was my grandmother’s and I’ll never sell her. She’s been named, “The Tonka” because when in reverse, she sounds like a wind-up Tonka toy car. BGQ-Are you a morning person or a night owl? Houdek-Definitely a morning person. The alarm goes off at 3:30 and I’m most productive in the early hours. BGQ-Are you a cat person or a dog person? Houdek-I’m a dog person who has learned to love cats (if they’re orange). BGQ-If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? Houdek-I wish that my existence would help better the lives of those around me; I wish that we can learn to treat the earth and one another with respect; I wish that my faith would forever remain stronger than my fears. //
Failor BGQ-What made you want to teach calculus? Failor-Calculus ties together algebra, geometry and trigonometry in a beautiful way and is the pinnacle of high school math. BGQ-What is your favorite hobby outside of school? Failor-Cross country skiing. BGQ-What is your favorite thing about being a teacher? Failor-Helping young adults build bigger brains BGQ-What is your favorite article of clothing? Failor-Any of my Swix hats. BGQ-Do you like toast burnt or barely brown? Failor-Barely brown. BGQ-What is your favorite meal? Failor-Dinner BGQ-What was your favorite subject in school? Failor-Mathematics. BGQ-Who is your idol? Failor-My dad. BGQ-What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Failor-Check my phone. BGQ-What is your favorite quote from a former student? Failor-“I really learned a lot on that test.” BGQ-What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? Failor-I rode my bike from Seattle to Los Angeles. BGQ-What was the first car you ever owned? Failor-Subaru Legacy
BGQ-What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever spent money on? Failor-Betting on a horse race. BGQ-What is your favorite concept of calculus to teach? Failor-Related rates. BGQ-If you could teach another subject, what would it be? Failor-English. BGQ-What is your favorite animal? Failor-Turtle. BGQ-Where is your ideal retirement destination? Failor-The Upper Peninsula. BGQ-What do you do on the radio? Failor-I am a DJ for a folk music show on WNMC. BGQ-What is your favorite kind of music? Failor-Americana. BGQ-Where did you go to high school? Failor-East Grand Rapids. BGQ-Do you prefer dogs or cats? Failor-Cats. BGQ-What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Failor-Cherries Moobilee. BGQ-What is your most prized possession? Failor-My bike. BGQ-What is your opinion on coffee? Failor-I don’t drink it. BGQ-Have you ever had a near death experience? Failor-Nope. //
Not Your Typical Taco Tuesday by AVERIE MCGRAW & TRINITY WHITEFORD staff writers
Graphic: T. Whiteford
Unpopular opinions about different cultures and their foods If you ask people for all of their opinions on food, and what different types of food they like the best, most teens would answer something related to American culture, like pizza or hot dogs. But what if more teens liked or even tried foods like Mexican food or Asian food? I personally feel that Mexican food is highly underrated by teenagers. After I talk about how I think it is the best, my peers seem to have a passionate response to my statement. They rudely respond with “Tacos suck.” They seem to think that tacos are the only part of Mexican culture, but there’s so much more than that. Arroz Con Gandules, a Puerto Rican rice dish with Pigeon peas; Empanadas, a fried turnover filled with meat and cheese; and Horchata rice water with added sugars are all authentic Mexican dishes. What many people don’t know is that Mexican cuisine is actually Native American. All the way back in 1521, when the Spanish colonized Mexico, they found all new and colorful foods, such as peanuts, coconuts, chocolate, cocoa beans, corn, tomatoes, and squash. This is the foundation of Mexican food today. Many people don’t think about all the wonderful options each culture has to offer. When someone says Mexican food, people’s minds immediately jump 36 // BGQ // April 2021
to tacos or burritos. In reality, it’s mostly an American’s take on Mexican cuisine. This is a very common misconception about foods of other ethnicities, including Chinese and Indian cuisine. This makes it difficult for people to decipher what actually is traditional for their specific culture. Chinese food isn’t all just Sweet and Sour Chicken like it is at the Mall; there are many more options to explore, like Peking Duck, a cooked duck where only the skin and a little meat is served; Chow Mein, stir-fried noodles with vegetables added; and even something like Stinky Tofu, curdled soy milk. Even with all of these options there’s way more than just that to define Chinese cuisine. People tend to put different cultures that they are unaware of into bubbles and stereotypes, this could be from not knowing about the culture or just not caring. This makes it difficult for people to put their name out there when it comes to different cultured restaurants. Our goal is to pop those bubbles and open people’s pallets. Some students at Central prefer one type of food to another. Matthew Barbera ‘23 prefers Chinese food to Mexican food, but he is not opposed to other types of food. “There’s many different options to choose from,” Barbera explains. “My favorite shop
Photo: A. McGraw
is China Buffet, [it’s] different because of the different food options. [It’s] called China Buffet but they also have some Japanese food there, like sushi which is one of my favorite foods.” Although the food is good, prices are high. “I mean so far Traverse City has many options and pretty good options to do for now. I think they are doing a good job, but in my opinion the prices for it are kinda high [for] the amount of food. I just wish the price was cheaper.” Barbera thinks that having more cultural options in Traverse City refreshes peoples pallets every time they visit a new restaurant. That being said, Traverse City has done a good job of keeping up with people’s appetites as well as keeping it diverse. Last but not least in this combo is Indian food. In the past few months Traverse City has had two new restaurants join the food court lineup in the Grand Traverse Mall. Taste of India and Food Arabia have many types of dishes like Shawarma, Rice Bowls and Curries. Shawarma is almost like a burrito, but is traditionally made with mutton or lamb and has rice or vegetables. These restaurants have unique backstories or origins. Before coming to Traverse City, owner Golem Rabbani fled his home in South Asia out of fear of persecution. Rabbani explains that
both Taste of India and Food Arabia have only been open for a short time, but have been very successful, despite challenges. He opened these restaurants in hopes to give power to other refugees. “Refugees are not [a] burden but they are [a] garden of the society where they belong now “ Rabbani believes that Traverse City has a good diversity, and that people are more open and have more interest in diverse cultures. He also believes that Traverse City is very good economically as far as diversity goes. Rabbani explains that they have tried to introduce some new flavors and colors to Traverse City by opening these two restaurants. Making new restaurants known is going to be a big part of introducing cultures to the area. Rabbani’s love for Indian food has grown in the process of the restaurant opening. He hopes that he can inspire others to do the same. Traverse City isn’t just about Americanized foods like pizza and fortune cookies; if you dig a little bit deeper you will find that there are hundreds of different cultures to explore. Try something you’d never dream of trying in your life! Cultures are so diverse in nature, go out and explore what they have to offer. //
Ingredients 1 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 cup long grain white rice 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1 clove minced garlic 2+1/4 cup chicken broth 3 tbsp. tomato paste 1+1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1 finely chopped serrano chile* 1 sprig fresh cilantro 1/2 lb. ground beef 3 tsp. desired seasonings *leave seeds in for more spice Photo: M. Swope
Dirty Spanish Rice Directions
1. In a large heavy saucepan, heat the vegetable oil on medium-high heat. Add the rice, onions, serrano chile, and garlic. Saute until the rice has an opaque color and is fragrant, about two minutes. 2. In a separate pan, fully cook ground beef and season to taste. 3. Add the chicken broth, tomato paste, and salt to rice mixture. Mix well to incorporate evenly. 4. Add in cilantro sprig and cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until rice is fully cooked, about 30 min. 5. Add ground beef to rice mixture and fluff with a fork before serving. 6. Optional: squeeze lime juice over top, top with cheese and authentic Mexican hot sauce for added flavors.
The Recipe The Recipe The Recipe
38 // BGQ // January 2021
Directions 1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter then add water, salt, vanilla, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil then remove the cinnamon stick and remove the mixture from heat. 2. Add in the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until a smooth dough is formed, about three-five minutes. 3. Let the dough cool, about 10-15 minutes, then transfer to a bowl and add the egg. Stir vigorously until egg is incorporated. The mixture is pretty hot, so you have to stir vigorously to prevent the egg from cooking. 4. Transfer dough to piping bag fitted with a closed star tip. 5. In a shallow bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar. 6. Heat oil in a Dutch oven to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Hold the piping bag above the oil and pipe about four six-inch lengths of dough. Fry until golden brown, about two minutes, flipping every so often with a spider strainer. 7. Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly then transfer to cinnamon-sugar mixture and roll around until evenly coated.
Authentic Mexican Churros
Ingredients 6 tbsp. unsalted butter 2+1/4 cups water 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 stick cinnamon 2+1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 large egg 1+1/2 cup sugar 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon 1 qt. canola oil (for frying)
The Recipe The Recipe The Recipe Photo: J. Baldyga
40 // BGQ // March 2021