Wrestling team gears up for season with experience See C16
January 2011
See B8
Muslim students show faith
Vol. XLVIII Issue IV
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Delano McKenzie Senior
DIGITAL
International Academy
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Farmington School District takes out students
FRONTIER
See A7
Anna Zambelli
The Biff
Life Section Editor
Radio Station revieves eight national awards
Students will soon be allowed to take out a different kind of notebook. “The district is looking at their ‘acceptable use’ policy right now for all electronics,” says Principal Rob Durecka, referring to the potential revision of the two high schools’ policies allowing students to use their personal laptops in class. “Communication has changed. I would rather start to move toward the norm of acceptable behavior and that’s where the acceptable use policy comes in.” Rather than putting a blanket ban on electronics, Durecka explains the acceptable use policy would say that electronics are allowable for use at certain times.
See A2 School Farm Bowers Academy School House undergoes renovations
See A4
Change comes to technology policy second semester
“Right now [the policy] is an extreme all-ornothing [regarding] phones and laptops,” he says. “I don’t think that’s realistic anymore in the world we’re living in.” After the International Academy (IA) adapted their policy allowing laptops in the fall 2010, Social Studies Teacher Scott Sugg and Business Teacher Dan Whitmire visited the school to observe the policy in effect. “The purpose of [our] visit was [to see] how teachers use [the students having] their laptops and their policies, how students use their laptops - if they’re using them for education or entertainment, in the hallways or in the classroom - [and] the support staff along with the administrators to see what their view points are,” Whitmire explains. See
LAPTOPS A5
Forensics
Learn about the happenings of a tournament
See C8-9 Poms
New policy in effect for team tryouts
Seats Debating the perfect dining experience
See C7
Photo by: Brian Margosian
See B3
Senior James Feuereisen researches the Andover Shield website for a class project.
With purchase of new software, teachers aiming to perfect MLA formatting Life Section Editor
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Rachel LeFevre Staff Writer
The days of cruising with your friends might be over, at least until you hit your 17th birthday. The Michigan Senate recently passed a new amendment to the Michigan Vehicle Code, after it was passed by the House in November. The new law would limit drivers with a level two graduated license (anyone under the age of 17) to one passenger unless the passengers are members of the immediate family or the drivQuick Facts er is driving to or from - The previous school or a school sanctioned event, and pro- bill limited drivhibits driving between ing between the the hours of 10:00 pm hours of 12:00 and 5:00 pm. “[The Michigan House am to 5:00 am. of Representatives initially] wanted no driv- 16-year-olds ing at night-time,” says are more likely Officer Scott Monk- to get into a konen of the Bloomfield Township Police De- crash than any partment Traffic Inves- other age group. tigation unit. “Then no passengers is what [the - The risk of House]...wanted to talk getting in an acabout.” cident increases According to Monkkonen, while passen- with each pasgers in the car certainly senger contribute to teen negligence on the road, the bill is not definitively aimed at teens, but negligent behavior in general. “The goal is not to police younger drivers… That’s not the objective. The objective is positive as far as trying to reduce the number of injuries that are taking place.” To most new drivers, however, the intentions of the bill in terms of safety do not overshadow what they see to be a clear damper on the joy of getting their license. “A lot of the excitement surrounding getting your license is the freedom that comes with [it], the freedom to go wherever you want almost whenever you want to, is awesome,” states Eliot VanValkenburg, whose parents at first did not allow him to drive with See friends due to the lack of a LAWS A5 passenger airbag in his car.
On January 1, Andover purchased a subscription to Turnitin.com. “It’s a web-based software program. [Students or teachers] upload a paper into the system and it’s checked against their database,” says Media Specialist Stephanie Bevier, who helped to research the program. “The database includes the internet, subscription websites, and previous papers that have been turned in. It catches everything that is coming from another source.”
Quick Facts - FNI was chosen by the board of trustees in November - FNI has published a book which is the number one selling novel for school design - Designs will be shown to the community starting in February and March
“We were concerned about academic dishon- something from another source] it will flag it esty and the notion of whether or not somebody and will show that original source. But it’s up is even aware of what they’re doing. There’s to the teacher to use it as a tool to figure out cutting and pasting going on out there without what you’re doing wrong and how to fix it, not citation, and obviously that’s plagiarism,” adds a hammer.” Principal Rob Durecka. “This is an objective “It’s not a radar detector to catch plagiarism,” measure that will make it easier to find kids who adds English teacher Rebecca Ossenmacher. “I are in fact cheating. We really want plan on using it. I think you can score pato make sure that students are doing Technology pers right on [the program] so they do not their own work in their own words.” have to be printed off; it will be helpful.” After their two and half hour training on Janu- Social Studies teacher Phil Laliberte agrees “the ary 18, faculty members from all departments most valuable aspect of it is to teach kids what have begun thinking of ways to use Turnitin plagiarism really is. I think more than catching within their different disciplines as a way to sup- kids it should be used as a tool to teach them so port learning, rather than to catch students pla- that when it gets to the college level they are not See giarizing their work. plagiarizing without even “We are using Turnitin as a learning tool, first knowing it. SOFTWARE A3 and foremost,” adds Bevier. “[If it catches
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I think more than catching kids it should be used as a tool to teach them so that when it gets to the college level they are not plagiarizing without even knowing it.
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Phil Laliberte
Social Studies Teacher
Collaborating on the high school of the future
Fielding Nair International holds community forums to plan long term vision Mara Stein
Assistant Web Editor As the community demands the district for answers on the proposed Bloomfield Hills High School, Fielding Nair International Architectural Firm (FNI) strives for consensus by holding focus groups. Selected by the board of education trustees in November, FNI was chosen to provide planning and design consultation. “We chose Fielding Nair International for a number of reasons,” explains Ingrid Day, Board President. “The two most important [were] one, they
had demonstrated that they have gone through this process before in many different situations, for a lot of different reasons. They showed a really varied background in their facilitation process. Secondly, they have international exposure. The depth of their knowledge from an educational perspective and architectural perspective matched perfectly with what we were trying to accomplish.” “The most important aspect [of the focus groups] is to try to get a sense of where everybody is [and] what are their priorities,” says FNI President and founding partner, Prakash Nair. “When we analyze all the data we have collected, we will be in a posiSee tion [to understand] what is in fact the view FIELDING NAIR A5 of the community.
Photo by: Zach Wolfe
Visit us on the web
Car passenger limits and curfew times changed
Teaching proper citations through computer technology Marley Kalt
Index
State alters driving rules for teens
President and Founding Partner Prakash Nair speaks at the Disovery Workshop held on January 11. The workshop released the results of the community forums held in November to assess community viewpoints.
Shield News
A2
Smith spreads his wings After years of hard work, Smith’s Eagle Scout project is complete
AWARDS
Eve Sherbin Staff Writer
According to the National Boy Scouts of America Website, 95 percent of Boy Scouts quit scouting before reaching Eagle, but Senior Jordan Smith has stuck with the process. “I am not going to lie, the process was hard, but I never considered giving up. Becoming an Eagle Scout has definitely changed me,” says Smith, who achieved the Eagle ranking in the beginning of January. To qualify for Eagle, all scouts must complete a minimum of 21 merit badges (a badge awarded in recognition for special projects), organize a service project, be an active participant in the troop for six months prior to attaining Eagle, meet with Troop Leaders to verify a scouts eligibility for the Eagle ranking, and lastly meet with your Scout Master and discuss the entire scouting career. The project is often one of the largest components of Although becoming an Eagle scouting Scout. “The process is got difficult fairly simple to at certain understand,” says times, I Jordan. “I entered at a very low rank never conand had to do basic sidered quit- scouting activities, like camping, ting. cooking, and knot Jordan Smith Senior tying. Then I had to do merit badges and serve in leadership positions to continue my advancement.” Linda Smith, Jordan’s mother, says that the process “has been one of the most meaningful experiences in Jordan’s life.” She adds, “For him, working toward Eagle Scout has been fun because he loved the activities such as a Jamboree in Virginia and he climbed mountains in New Mexico.” Jordan started scouting when he was in sixth grade. “I was really excited about [starting] and it sounded like a lot of fun, so I decided to stick with it and I have never looked back,” says Jordan. “I got into scouting when a few friends of mine were discussing some of the fun things they had done on a camp out. I went to the first meeting and [the troop was] launching a catapult that they had just made.” See Jordan explains that without such a EAGLE SCOUT remarkable troop, A7 his scouting
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2010 national
January 2011
The Biff conquers the 2010 John Drury High School Radio Awards Gabi Stone
Assistant Managing Editor “We don’t do what we do for awards, but it sure is nice to get recognized,” WBFH Station Manager Pete Bowers says about his staff’s latest accomplishment. At the John Drury High School Radio Awards on November 13, Biff radio students won five first place awards, three second place awards, and one third place award. Also, the combined Andover/Lahser Biff station won first place as the Best High School Station in the nation. This is the fourth time in the past five years the Biff has won the top award. The eighth annual event, which was held at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, included finalists from 10 schools from across the nation. The entries for individual categories are submitted in May before the awards ceremonies, and five nominees are chosen. At the event, the top three are announced. The award for Best High School Station is out of ten nominees, and the winner is also announced at the awards. “We had the most nominations, 17, and the next closest station [had] nine,” recalls Bowers. “I knew we sent some really good stuff to [the competition], and because we had more nominations than any school in the nation, we probably would do pretty well.” However, some of the students were surprised by the results. “I was not expecting [an award] at all,” current University of Michigan Freshman Ryan Bloom, who won first place for Best Sports Play-By-Play last year as a senior, explains. “I knew I’d submitted [an entry], but I didn’t expect to win... considering that it was on a national scope. I thought it was a quality tape I had sent in... When I found out that I won first place, I was like, ‘Whoa. Really? Ok!’”
Bowers, Loney, Shepard, and Randy Carr attended the awards ceremony in November.
“I was actually working on Hairspray, and [Mr. Bowers] was in Chicago, and he called me, and let me know about it,” says Senior Alex Osten, who won first place for Best Newscast. “My heart dropped back a little, and I was very excited. I called my parents and all my friends in Hairspray found out, and they cheered for me.” In order to win these awards, the students continually fixed and improved their entries. “[I had] to put a lot of work in,” adds Bloom. “Many of us spend a lot of hours in the studio, working on our pieces to present nationally, knowing, after coming so close the year before to winning station of the year that [we needed] to put the extra effort into one efficient year, and see that happen.” As Bloom explains, an additional motivational factor was reclaiming the station’s first place standing. In 2009, the Biff placed second as the Best High School Radio Station after three consecutive first place wins from 2006 to 2008. “I think what happened after we won [Best High School Station] a bunch of years in a row, is we got a little bit commonplace, and so some of the previous people in charge weren’t as enthusiastic,” adds last year’s Operations Manager and current Michigan State Freshman Josh Loney, who won first place for Best Talk Show, second place
for Best Newscast, second place for Best Promo, and third place for Best Sportscast. “They were like ‘We’ve already done this.’ We didn’t slack off – but it wasn’t as tightly run – and so when I came in, I got on top of everything, and in order to win, I really tried to run a tight ship and tried do as much as I could.” Other winners at the event included former Andover senior and current Michigan State Freshman Alex Scharg, who won first place for Best Promo and Best Radio Drama, and former Lahser student and current University of Michigan Freshman Chad Shepard, who won second place for Best Public Service Announcement. In the end, Bowers sees the awards as an additional reward for his students. “It’s a great feeling for me as manager and teacher and advisor to see my students win these, especially because these are national awards,” he says. “They can safely say they were first in the nation. And then we all go up to get it. It’s kind of like winning the Stanley cup – it’s a great feeling, no doubt about it.”
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Alum publishes Vegas memoir
Andover Alumni Rick Lax publishes memoir on how to deceive deception Nicole Kiester
Sports Section Editor From walking down the Andover hallways to the Las Vegas strip, Andover alumni learns the tools of the trade. “I wanted to learn more so I moved to Las Vegas to learn from professional deceivers,” says 2000 alum Rick Lax, author of Fool Me Once: Hustlers, Hookers, Headliners, and How Not to Get Screwed in Vegas. “The book recounts the lessons I’ve learned from them. This story is my life, it’s a memoir about all my experiences with deception.” Published January 9, Lax explains the idea came from an incident in a previous relationship. “My ex-girlfriend got pawned by a guy who
was a violent drug dealer and it really hit most obvious being the magicians. Also me hard,” he says. “At that point I wanted to [for] people in the gaming, nightlife, and learn more about deception, to make sure sex industry, deception is a component of that nothing like that ever happened to me all of their jobs,” claims Lax. Lax has had a fascination with magic for or to someone I care about.” as long as he can remember. Lax gives insight on the Most peo“I’ve been doing magic my whole meaning behind the title. “The life. I’ve always been a magician; I first part of the title comes from ple could performed on the Andover stage. the saying ‘Fool me once shame I’ve always been interested in on you, fool me twice shame stand to be magic as a form of deception,” on me’ and the saying means a little more says Lax. that at a certain point you skeptical in Not only does Lax offer advice have a responsibility to protect on how to protect ourselves yourself from deception,” says their lives. from being fooled, he provides Lax. “You have a responsibility Rick Lax Andover Alumn readers with life lessons. “Most to not be naive.” people could stand to be a little The two-year Vegas resident more skeptical in their lives. I chose Las Vegas as the setting think people have this tendency to believe for his book because of its great diversity. “The reason I picked Las Vegas as opposed whatever they hear and see. I hope readers to any other random city [is because] will walk away a little more skeptical; if not this city is filled with all different kinds of learn something, I hope readers will have a people who are professional deceivers, the fun experience reading my book,” explains Lax.
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According to Band Director Robert Ambrose, Lax was “irrepressible.” “Ricky is a very bright kid. Very outgoing. Whether or not he was on stage, he was on stage,” says Ambrose. “I remember his magic shows during band camp. He is quite the magician.” Rick’s father, lawyer Charles M. Lax, who has been published in various legal journals, is pleased his son is following his footsteps in the writing direction. “I’m a proud father. This is his second published book; he is out in his own doing what he wants to do and and doing good things,” says Charles. Although Lax graduated from DePaul University to become a lawyer, he suddenly chose the writing path. “I just started doing it, and I haven’t stopped yet. I don’t really enjoy writing, and it doesn’t pay that well. But I keep doing it. The best thing I can say about my writing is this: it gives me a good excuse to do crazy things,” says Lax.
Quick Facts -Lax passed the bar exam and has a license to practice law. -Lax is a 2000 Andover graduate. -He graduated from DePaul University Law School and then decided to write.
United we remember and move forward West Bloomfield High School hosts the annual MLK memorial walk Zack Neff Staff Writer
Forty-eight years later, his legacy still lasts strong. “Dr. King’s legacy has lasted because his message was one of nonviolent change. He reminds me a bit of Ghandi in that way,” explains Pastor William J. Matlack of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church. “Dr. King won the respect of so many because he was sincere, truthful and compassionate. I really admire what he did.” To remember and continue Dr. King’s legacy, an annual walk called United We Walk took place at West Bloomfield High School on Martin Luther King day.
According to Pastor Matlack, this is the 17th year of United We Walk. Every year there is a different theme for the walk. The theme this year was “United We Remember and Move Forward.” “It’s more than just the walk and it’s more than just remembering Dr. King and what he accomplished,” explains Pastor Matlack. “A big part of it is what we are doing today and what we can continue doing to carry on his legacy and fight for what he stood for. It’s more of going back and thinking about what we as a country have accomplished, thanks to Dr. King, and then moving forward from there.” West Bloomfield High School Senior and student co-chair of the walk David Kakos adds, “The purpose of the walk is to remember Martin Luther King and to never let his vision of all humans being united die. All the people in attendance walked together united as one down
Orchard Lake Road as a single family with no discrimination on racial groups. The fact that we shut down one mile of Orchard Lake Road makes a large statement.” Kakos became a co-chair of the walk to make an impact on his community and give his input and ideas as a student. Although he will not be in high school next year, he plans to continue his support for the walk and come back to contribute. “My favorite part about the walk was that everyone was acting in a brotherly [or] sisterly way,” comments Kakos. “People were laughing and having a good time in a community without discrimination. It was really a great sight to see.” To aid in carrying out the legacy of Dr. King, one or two keynote speakers attend the walk each year. Judge Denise Langford Morris was the speaker this year talking about being a judge as an
African American. Pastor Matlack says, “Before the walk I was really excited to hear her speak about being an African American judge. Her speech exceeded every expectation I had. It was really amazing to hear and I’m glad I got the opportunity to listen to her.” Shelby Bruseloff, who read her essay on United We Can during the 2010 walk, thinks it is a great cause. “Last year, our teacher offered us extra credit if we wrote an article on the theme of United We Can. I ended up winning the contest and got the opportunity to read my speech during the walk. It’s important that his legacy is carried on because what he did was amazing,” says Bruseloff. With well over 500 people in attendance, the walk resembles the legacy of Dr.King, still lasting strong today.
Quick Facts -This year was the 17th anniversary of the walk. -Multicultural Awareness Committee of Orchard Lake Middle School came up with the idea for the walk.
Shield News
January 2011
A3
Runningfrom
Romania
Romanian family escapes communism to come to America to live their dreams
“The phones are usually tapped. I cannot even tell you. He starts telling me something News Section Editor and I wonder if he is saying white and wants Crawling across the field, the freshly me to believe it white or am I supposed to harvested crops dig into her palms and believe it is black?” knees as she thinks of her husband and how With those uncertain calls and months of just a few months before they had created waiting, Leo agrees that the time apart from this plan to escape the country. his wife was “lonely and difficult.” “Everyone was scared for their lives,” says Months later, Corina, another girl and two Corina Lazar, who this May is celebrating men were to cross the border into Yugoslavia her 20th anniversary of arriving to America. by sneaking accross a field. “Daily life was a struggle. There was no As they reached the road on the Yugoslavian freedom of speech; there was no freedom of side, Corina remembers sighing with relief. expression. [We] were afraid. If [our] feelings But all was not as expected. didn’t match those of the government, it was “We waited for [Arsa, our friend with dual a problem.” citizenship who was waiting for us on the Even after arriving to America in 1991, other side,] to come get us… and he’s not Corina and her husband Leo still remember coming. The minutes are becoming hours their journey to the “land of opportunity.” and the hours are feeling like decades and “They are very humble and reserved about then its morning and he’s still not there,” [their journey to America]. I don’t think they Corina recalls. want people to look at them differently for According to Corina, with no food or water, [their story],” Bianca, their daughter and the four of them struggled to stay hidden junior at Andover, says. from the road’s traffic in fear of being In 1987, the communist regime was caught. Meanwhile, Arsa was actually just controlling Romania, rationing everything on the other side of the road, waiting for from food to water. Corina and them as well. After waiting all It’s one of her husband Leo had the perfect day, the group of four decided to plan to escape. those stories return to Romania. According “[I wanted to leave Romania] to Corina, despite their worries, where your for the desire for a better life, they figured it was the best for freedom. [America was jaw is droppossible choice. so appealing] because of the ping. You don’t “[The next day], when we opportunities and freedom of have to underfound [Arsa], he was so mad. speech,” says Leo ‘Who in their right mind stand. Corina adds that Leo was escapes a country, doesn’t get working on a fishing vessel at Bianca Lazar killed, and then goes back into Daughter of Corina and Leo the time. Since the ship was it?’” she remembers him telling already allowed access outside them back in Romania. the country and international waters, Leo After much tribulation, the two girls and could leave the ship in Las Palmas, Canada Arsa decided to cross again. in 1988. “I think it has to do with adrenaline, really. “He knew a lot about what was going on You get into this and you know it’s crazy, but outside [Romania]. And he was always you do it anyway,” Corina says. dreaming about going to America,” she Once the three had made it into Yugoslavia says. successfully, they traveled, “with no sight After abandoning the vessel, Leo applied seeing,” towards to border to Switzerland. for political asylum, which, according to In the back of Arsa’s car, Corina and the Encyclopedia Britannica, is usually granted other woman waited for him to pass through to refugees trying to escape persecution in the mountainous border, hearts pounding. their own country. “Talk about claustrophobia,” Corina “We were blessed along the way,” says remembers. “But we had [finally] made it Corina. “Leo found a Romanian captain into the free world.” [at the port in Las Palmas] who lent him Corina and Leo were reunited in money to get to Spain. [My husband] didn’t Switzerland. From May to December, the know anyone [or] the language; it’s a totally two stayed in the country with Arsa and his different country all together.” girlfriend. They later ended up in France When he arrived in Spain, Leo applied for and, after a short time, went to Spain. asylum again due to the lengthy process “We got [to Spain] in December, a few in Canada. Meanwhile, Corina was waiting days before the revolution in Romania. We patiently for him to call. crossed the borders. My husband had made
Ashley DuBois
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Leo an d on the Corina ir weddin g day
ith their orina w C d n a Leo Vlad r n son, newbor Photos courtesy of the Lazar family and the CIA World Factbook
Design by Ashley DuBois and Rachel LeFevre
Student mentors holds freshman meeting Club helps to ease freshmen nerves over finals Rachel Gorosh Staff Writer
Many freshmen fear first semester finals. For the second year, the Student Mentors club helped them face these unfamiliar exams. “The freshman meeting is to provide the freshman with an opportunity to ask any questions about their first experience with final exams on a high school level; it’s quite a bit different from what they experienced in middle school,” says Co-Club Advisor Phillip Laliberte. “A lot of times students will be willing to ask a question to a student and not ask a question to a teacher. So it’s just to give them an opportunity to improve their transition into the real high school experience.” Last year, the student mentors held
from A1: SOFTWARE I think a lot of kids plagiarize and have no idea they’re even doing it.” Sophomore Tyler Falcoff and Junior Elena Steinhaus believe Turnitin will be helpful for the future. “I think it’s a good thing to teach kids not to plagiarize at an early age. That way in college we don’t mess up and do it by accident,” says Falcoff. “I have a lot of trouble with citing; it’s difficult,” Steinhaus says. “But Turnitin will show [students] that we can’t plagiarize and take little bits of things and put them as our own.” “Some people just copy and paste a whole paragraph. You need to cite your work so you give credit to people,” Freshman Griffin Hamel adds. “[Being able to use Turnitin myself would be] good, so I can check it myself so I can change
their first meeting with the freshman class have done in the past year.” regarding study tips and advice for finals This year, the meeting was held on January week. Now, they want to expand their role 13 during seminar. Freshmen were called in the school even more. down to the gym to meet with the mentors “As a club, we want to do more mentoring about finals. as opposed to just planning meetings,” “Anything we can do to help [the freshmen] explains Co-Club Advisor perform better on their final Robert Hurdle. “In the past, exams is a benefit,” explains Anything we the mentor’s role was just Hurdle. “Now we recognize can do to help providing the eighth grade that not everybody is going to [the freshmen] listen to us, but we have roughly presentation which is going perform betto come up in May. But close to 200 freshmen and if we we’ve added in the freshman can even get half of them to pay ter on their meeting, and we want to have attention, then that’s good for us final exams is a freshman meeting second and it’s good for the school.” a benefit. semester.” Freshman Molly Klein explains, “We discuss our plans and go Robert Hurdle “The meeting helped me feel over what to tell the freshmen Co-Club Advisor more relaxed about finals during the finals meeting because I got to talk to the and we’ve put together some student mentors who have taken pamphlets for the eighth grade orientation,” finals for four years and who had the same Senior and Co-President Natalie Gray teachers that I have now.” explains. “We’ve also met with the Principal “The club used to just be focused solely to see if we could expand the club which we on the eighth grade orientation,” says Gray,
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something or ask my teacher, so I know 100 percent that it will be fine.” Durecka points out a long-term goal of educating students about doing their own best work. “We don’t want to just use [Turnitin] as an enforcement tool,” says Durecka. “It’s not really a ‘gotcha’ mentality. It’s just that sometimes I think people don’t realize it, especially when you’re 13 and you’re sitting in your freshman English class and you think, ‘Oh, well that sounds good. I’ll change a couple words here.’ It should provide a platform for better discussions.” “I don’t think [plagiarism] is a huge problem,” Durecka continues. “We do have some every year. I think it’s unfortunate, but sometimes it’s a reflection of the pressure. Sometimes kids will take shortcuts. Hopefully they can learn from that and not do it anymore. [Cheating results in] a zero and it may hurt, but it’s a safe environment to learn in.”
Study Tips
“but as a club we decided that it would be a good idea to talk to the current freshman class... We are also thinking about doing some sort of optional mentoring session for kids who have issues so they can come to us and we will help them.” According to Laliberte, the administration and the student body reacted positively to the mentoring program. “I know that the administration was pretty happy with the meeting last year. We try to do anything we can to increase the ease at which students transition into high school. I feel that the students who we’re really targeting, the students that did have questions, definitely benefited from it. So [for] the students who needed it, the meeting was very beneficial. That’s our goal.” Hurdle concludes, “If we get a good body of kids that are energetic and want to be involved in the student mentors club, then we can expand their role so [the students] are more like real mentors.”
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some friends there before. Leo showed me to them and said, ‘This is the girl I’ve been trying so hard to get out of Romania’. They were incredibly nice to us,” Corina says. The friends of Leo permitted him and Corina to stay in their upstairs, finished attic. Leo worked to put together some money while Corina lived off of a form of welfare. After all their work to leave communist Romania, the unthinkable happened. “I remember it clearly,” Corina says, “[The Spanish news] was saying ‘What’s going to happen to Romania? Will they follow suit and have a revolution?’ Both of us said ‘No! It’s not going to happen.’ Well guess what? The next day, December 29, the TV starts showing that yes, that’s what happened. They killed the president. It was such a confusing time.” With mixed feelings, the Lazar family did not choose to go back to Romania. Especially pushing them to remain in Spain was their asylum to the U.S. being passed. “The [U.S.] doesn’t allow everybody to come, but there was something about us that fit the profile. We were officially approved. It was a day of celebration,” Corina says. “It felt really good. [It was] a dream come true and a new chapter was [about] to start in our lives,” Leo adds. Finally, the bells of freedom rang for Leo and Corina. They flew from Spain to Las Palmas to pay back the captain that lent Leo money. They arrived in America in May, four years after they had begun planning. Corina feels that America has been good to her family. And 20 years later, their daughter, Bianca, expresses her pride in her parents. “The differences between my life and the life I would’ve had [in Romania] are indescribable. It’s all due to them, and I should probably say ‘Thank you’ more often. But that’s the thing, they aren’t the people you would think; they don’t expect me to be grateful. They would never tell me things like ‘We gave up so much for you.’ It’s just not in their character to put that on us kids,” she says. After living here for a fifth of a century, the Lazar family has returned to Romania to visit. Leo and Corina took Bianca and Vlad to Spain to meet the couple that let them stay in their attic, Leocadio and Marisa, whom they are still very close with. “I love whenever we go to Spain to visit [Leocadio and Marisa]. The way they admire my parents is so heart-warming. I think they’re as proud of them as I am,” Bianca continues, “It’s one of those stories where your jaw is dropping. You don’t have to understand it because it is so remarkable.”
Shield News
A4
Winter what? The Sweetheart Dance is now called Winter Formal Alex Wolf
Photographer and Guest Writer Winter what? “At one of our PTO meetings, a concern was raised about the Sweetheart Dance. A number of the parents of underclassmen students suggested that [the concept of] the Sadie Hawkins Dance was difficult. Especially if you had a ninth grade girl, for example, that had never dated, and the daughter had to go up to a guy and ask him to the dance,” says Associate Principal Lou Ruggirello. “The thing is, the Sadie Hawkins dance has been going on for centuries and the concept of it is that a girl would ask a guy to the dance. When the issue was brought up by the parents to Krista Laliberte last year, she suggested that the name should be changed.” Starting this year, the Sweetheart Dance is called Winter Formal. Although the dance is supposed to be the same, Junior Erin Eschels thinks that it is confusing because a formal seems to be less casual than a dance. In order to compensate with students thinking the formal is different than the normal dance, Student Leadership made posters that get the idea in kids’ heads that it is still the same dance. “I guess people could get confused with the name because a formal puts a fancier touch to it, but really it is just the same dance with a new name,” explains Junior Class President Jacob Ruby. “The only big difference is that it does not make people feel as left out if they do not get asked because they can still go to the dance.” As Ruggirello adds, another difference is going to be the decoration of the school. “It might have a different flavor to it, but a significant difference, probably not. I have been here a long time and if there were any major differences or problems, I probably would have already heard,” says Ruggirello. Sophomore Emma Furlong is against the name change. “I don’t like that they changed the name because it has always been ‘Sadies.’ I think it is fun for the girls to ask the guys for a change. They think the new name will make it so more people come, but really I think its actually making it less people go to dance because it is not the tradition we had in the past.” However, Junior Student Leadership Technology Advisor Erica Broder disagrees. “It is good that the formal’s name was changed because now people don’t think that the girls need to ask the guys. Girls can go with girls, guys can go with guys, and people can go alone. People won’t feel pressured when they are not asked.” Senior Bryce Henney says, “It really doesn’t matter either way; it is not a big deal. The concept is still the exact same regardless of the name and everybody realizes this, except there is an option of guys asking girls.” However, as Ruggierello explains, “When you have long-standing traditions, change is never easy. It is a process that could take many years to catch on.”
the
January 2011
Bowers
ACADEMY
The Bowers Academy at the Bloomfield Hills Farm was recently remodeled.
New Bowers Academy opened after making additions for students Sam Gordon Staff Writer
There is something new to the Bowers Farm. “We spent $2.5 million to build the Bowers Academy,” says Bill Boyle, the Principal of Bowers Academy and Model High School. “Fifty thousand people a year use it, including all students from the elementary schools.” The money was spent on building many new additions for the use of students. After six months of construction, it finally opened in January. “We have two main classrooms with a divided wall and a small computer lab,” explains Boyle. “There is a breakout room where students can work quietly and the Da Vinci studio where students can do artwork.” The school is also organized to allow a teacher to supervise all students
Photo by: Sophia Garfinkel
through the addition of a series of win- and insulation made of natural materidows. Because Bowers Academy puts als. Staying environmentally conscious, emphasis on the student with self-paced, most of the demolished building was reself-directed classes, the new design al- cycled. lows students even more independence The staff and students alike are excited with the supervision system. to be using the new schoolhouse. The funds were also used to complete Senior Natasha Amin, a Bowers Acada new kitchen as well as a greenhouse, emy student, enjoys the new learning which is utilized by Holly Glomski, the environment, explaining that, “We were Manager of Bowers Farm. previously in a smaller vicin“I will teach my agri-science ity with not too much room The ability to walk. To be honest, it was class in the greenhouse,” says Glomski. “We will do ex- to bring in gross since we were in the periments and grow plants for more people back of Lahser at the old kinthe garden whose products dergarten wing. Now there’s is amazing. will be sold in the summer.” a whole place built for BowThe new facilities will also be ers students with windows so used to help the community as Bill Boyle you can see around the farm. Principal a whole. The farm is used for I definitely notice a great difvarious programs throughout ference.” the year, such as the Hallow“This opens a lot more room for comeen corn maze and community farming, munity programs,” Glomski says enthuwhere everyone helps tend the fields. siastically, “and the ability to bring in According to Boyle, the new building more people is amazing.” was constructed with many eco-friendly features, including a wind turbine, geothermal heat, walls made from bamboo,
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Derek Imboden enlightens teachers Math teacher introduces new math methods to other teachers Calvin Williams Staff Writer
They sat and listened in silence. A total of 90 teachers between two sessions packed into room B-16, some even sitting on the floor solely to hear him lecture. Math Teacher Derek Imboden began lecturing at conferences in the summer of 2009. He has been attending conferences for Michigan Council Teachers of Mathematics for the past five years. “The idea was to show people what I’m doing in Algebra 2 that I think is effective,” says Imboden. “The reason being is that there’s so much [curriculum] packed into the class now by the state.”
Quick Facts
At the September 4 conference, Imboden syas Imboden. lectured a total of 90 teachers who chose to Imboden first met Bellman at a conference listen to him lecture. that he went to in his first year of teaching. “It was pretty cool,” Imboden shares “I always give thanks to him at the start of about his popularity my lectures.” at the conferences. “I According to students, gave two sessions at the methods are paying Detroit Area Council off. Teachers of Math, and “I had [Mr. Imboden] both of them were just sophomore year for packed.” Honors Algebra 2,” says Imboden explains that Senior Alex Samadzich. the teachers that attend “[Mr. Imboden’s teachthese conferences are Imboden demonstrates some of his ing skills] did help me spread out all over the methods. transition into Honors Photo by Zach Wolfe state. Some come from Pre-Calculus. [Imboden] high schools and others used the book very effrom colleges. fectively, so that we had a lot of examples “I learned [parts of my teaching meth- for every problem. There was nothing that ods] from a gentleman named Lonnie Bell- I didn’t understand how it worked, because man, and his group CPM (College Prepa- he explained it pretty well.” ratory Mathematics) out of Wisconsin,” Samardzich again has Imboden for AP
-$2.5 million were spent rebuilding the Bowers Academy. -50 thousand kids a year use the Bowers Academy. -The new Bowers Academy is very ecofriendly, with such features as a wind turbine.
Quick Facts - His lecture is entitled “FOIL is Dead!” - Derek Imboden teaches high school and college teacher new math methods - Imboden has been giving lectures since summer 2009
Head, heart, hands, and health
-Crossfire is an extension of the 4-H program at MSU.
4-H encourages youth to reach their highest potential through new club
-Crossfire focuses on showmanship of horses, rabbits and dogs.
Jarred Bratley
-Although not an Andover club, Crossfire does not conflict with any Andover clubs.
Calculus BC. The skills taught to him sophomore year continually need to be utilized. Sophomore Leah Jacobs stated, “I think [Imboden] is a great teacher overall. I definitely think his teaching skills are preparing us for next year.” Feedback from his lectures included teachers saying: “loved learning more about how to implement this new technique,” “loved the connections between the concepts,” and “awe-inspiring lecture!!!” “The idea that what I put together is going to be used to make stuff simpler for students that I’ll never meet, that’s really cool,” Imboden shares. “The fact that I’ve got some stuff that’s working really good for my kids is great, but then that I’ve got an opportunity to share it with other teachers, and have them go off and teach it to their kids, that’s really rewarding.” For more information about these conferences, visit to www.dactm.com.
Quick Facts
Staff Writer
4-H is not only for farmers. “The Department of Agriculture started the program, originally, to give youth in rural communities better knowledge of farming techniques in order to meet the production needs of the country; however, today 4-H can really be anything you want it to be.” says 4-H Program Coordinator Sue Stapleton. 4-H is a national organization that aims to help American youth grow and succeed. The four H’s that comprise the programs foundation, standing for, head, heart, hands, and health, cover every region of
the country, from rural populations, to suburban schoolyards, to urban cities. But, although in a suburban schoolyard, the Andover based 4-H club, Crossfire, and it’s members “wish they lived on a farm,” says President Luba Berg, speaking on her club’s best interests. Most members of the Crossfire 4-H club came from the larger Bowers farm club. Berg explains, “We were talking about how our current 4-H club at Bowers wasn’t as suited to our interests of showmanship, basically showing of animals to judges and if done well awarded with ribbons, money, and recognition. We decided as a group it would be beneficial to just start our own self-ran, more focused, club.” Crossfire’s interest of showmanship emphasizes that of horses, rabbits, and dogs. Member Genevieve Cornwall says, “We meet and discuss projects and
community services opportunities having to do with those areas. The major project we have to prepare for and the ultimate goal we work towards is performing at the Oakland County fair in July. All the other shows and projects we do are to better prepare us for the fair. Everything for Crossfire right now is a learning experience.” Crossfire is an extension of the 4-H program at Michigan State University. The learning environment of Crossfire is befitting of the 4-H program, enable American youth to emerge as leaders through hands on learning explains Stapleton. She says, “Crossfire is doing and excellent job of demonstrating the 4-H principles. They are learning about their areas of interest by participating in shows.” Berg highlights that, “Crossfire is about
building a partnership with your animals and learning to compete and show them off. Also, a great thing about Crossfire is you can meet new people who share your interests and learn from each other. Crossfire is especially proud of the relationships we’ve formed.” Although Crossfire is not an official Andover club, it doesn’t conflict with any Andover clubs. “If I had to compare it to any of the clubs at Andover I’d say Andover Helping Animals. However we do not only fundraiser for animal shelters, we work with animals,” says Vice President Connie Victor. In terms of membership, the members are primarily high school students but range in age to elementary students. “All you need to join is a pulse,” says Berg.
Shield News
January 2010
meetthe BOARD
from A1
BHS board members share their experiences
From left to right: Kate Pettersen, Jacqueline ElSayed, Ed Ford, Mark Bank, Ingrid Day, Rob Herner, Cynthia Von Oeyen
Photo courtesy of http://www.bloomfield.org/
Quick Facts -Board members serve six-year terms -Trustees are elected in November on even-numbered years -Board meetings are scheduled on the first and third Thursday of every month -January is School Board Appreciation Month
Rachael Gerendasy Distribution Manager
Kate Pettersen, Secretar y
--Physiology major, Miami University --Has been on the Board for two years Mark Bank, Trustee --Goal on the Board: to “maintain the focus --1984 Andover Alumnus. on excellence. I really would like us to be --Psychology major, University of Michi- able to provide adequate facilities for all our gan; George Washington University Law students, particularly in our high schools.” School. --Advice to students: “Take advantage of --Joined the Board because he “[wanted to] all the opportunities we provide, because make a very positive contribution to the we provide more opportunities than almost community, to give back to [my] schools.” any other high school in the [U.S.]” --Advice to students: “It’s important [to] have a voice, [for students to] tell the eduCynthia Von Oeyen, Treasurer cators in the district and the Board what --Music major, Wheaton University (MA) is important to them [and] what they need --Moved to Bloomfield Hills in 1986 to get the best experience possible out of --Became coach for a funding ballet propostheir high school years.” al, which evolved into Proposal A --Has been Board Treasurer for 12 years Rob Herner, Trustee --Advice to students: “The Board of Educa--Bachelor’s Degree in Business Adminis- tion is very dedicated to getting the high tration, University of Michigan; Master’s school question resolved as soon as posDegree, University of Detroit Mercy. sible, and protecting the programs.” --Replaced David Lubin in November 2010 --Joined the board because he wants to give Ed Ford, Vice President back to the district he felt did a “very won- --Bachelor’s Degree, University of Michiderful job” in educating his children. gan; MBA, University of Detroit Mercy --Advice to students: “Being a student who --Joined the board to “minimize the impact is interested in learning is so important. [of the current economic situation] on the Find areas that you are passionate about. students and make sure that [the students] When you are passionate about some- continue to have a positive education.” thing, all the other things in life just seem --Advice to students: “Do your best, get into happen.” volved, [and] make a difference.”
from A1
LAWS: Driving I’m much more comfortable now having friends in my car than I would have a few months ago.” Others see a need for the law. “You are 150 percent more likely to be involved in a car crash if you have three or more passengers in your car,” says President of Apple Driving School Jim Maiorana. “When it comes to passengers in the car it truly works against you as a new driver. The government is always trying to protect us from ourselves,” continues Maiorana, reaffirming his original sentiments in regards to teens feeling targeted by the bill. “It’s everything but [discrimination]… It’s to help you gain experience behind the wheel.” Monkkonen disagrees, saying the issues of having to consistently enforce the law and discrimination are real. “[It would] probably [be enforced] the same way that cell phone usage is now, it’s nearly impossible to enforce it. So do I think [the law] could be, well obviously. If you appear to be a younger driver and you have a passenger in the seat then obviously it would be enough reason to
from A1
LAPTOPS: Changes “Essentially, [Sugg and Whitmire] came back with what was a surprise to me,” tells Durecka. “They said if teachers give notice, most everyone will have a laptop. Teachers still have discretion within the classroom to disallow them at certain times. The teachers thought it [the policy] was working.” IA students say they can take notes, do homework, and even take quizzes on their personal computers. “I bring my laptop to school almost everyday, but especially when I know I’ll have time to work on homework,” says IA Junior Sarabeth Perry. “A lot of our homework is based off of computers and it’s extremely helpful not to have to worry about all of the computers in the lab being taken up by classes. We’ll sometimes be given time to work on biology or chemistry labs and it’s easy and time-saving to be able to directly begin my lab in class instead of handwriting it and then having to re-type it at home. I have also been able to take notes on my computer which once again saves time and allows me to pay more attention to the lecture.” Because not every student may own a lap-
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Jacqueline El-Sayed, Trustee --Bachelor’s Degree, Kettering University; PhD and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, University of Missouri --Enjoys being on the Instructional Committee where she’s involved with the curriculum --Advice to students: “Keep up the good work, education is extremely important, [and] find [your] passion and pursue it.”
Ingrid Day, President --Mathematics and statistics major, Miami University (OH) --Previously occupied the treasurer and secretary positions on Board. --Goal on board: to see a district-wide sense of community. --Advice to students: “[Do] not be afraid to make mistakes and step into the unknown, because there’s a vast range of possibilities to those who do.”
!
For more information...
about the Board of Education, visit the BHSD website www.bloomfield.org and click the “Board of Education” tab
make a stop, but I think it’s an intrusion of privacy because if you’re not someone who falls into that Graduated Drivers License (GDL) requirement then it really wouldn’t be a very legal stop at all. [An officer] better have a different reason to stop them in the first place, whether it’s a primary or secondary law because the fact is it’s an intrusion of privacy…‘Oh sorry you look younger than you were, I guess you’re not in violation of the law, have a good day?’ That’s unacceptable.” Sophomore Cecily Myers sees both the benefits and disadvantages of the bill. “[Drivers] might want to carpool to a friend’s house, if there’s an emergency you have to be able to drive people places... I think it should defined within the law so that [drivers] can at least do that.” However, as a driver who recently completed Segment I, Myers thinks that “[the amendments] will also be a good addition because they will help [drivers] be more focused on the road, help make drivers safer.” “Any teenage driver is going to tell you that they’re a safe driver and they doubt they’d get themselves into a hazardous situation or accident. However, I’ve been in the car with a few scary teenage drivers,”
says VanValkenburg. However, he believes there is a better solution than the law. “I do think the law has good intentions but...I think a better solution would be to make the standardized road test more difficult, rather than to limit the legal amount of passengers in a car driven by a new driver.” Monkkonen has a solution of his own. “I think if [the government] wants to improve behavior of drivers, they have to go to the core, and in my personal opinion if it’s a new driver, they should go through several steps of education. As far as driving goes, it shouldn’t be a GDL type of thing, it should be one or two steps of actual hands on school… after you’ve gotten your temporary license, after your first year you go back into another classroom for about eight hours and be tested on that… I think that’s reinforcing laws and things that are very specific to [the younger] age group.” While Maiorana agrees a reformed drivers education system could help the problem of driver distraction, he, and the government, stand behind the bill. “We are a country of laws, and if more people came close to what we were supposed to do we wouldn’t have as many problems… The law, as it states now, has to be tweaked. We are a country in motion.”
top, Whitmire noticed the school provided the computers on wheels; however, after doing an an informal survey [at IA], Whitmire and Sugg said 95 percent of students can bring their laptops when asked. While conveniance was key, some like Social Studies Teacher Ken Cameron worry that laptop privileges may be abused. “There’s always the potential of kids being on Facebook or Twitter,” he says. “I wouldn’t want to be looking over their shoulder all the time, [thus] it would be a concern, [but] I understand the temptation.” Along with the temptation of being off task, security is another issue. “The safety of the laptop would be up to the individual. [The school] wouldn’t be policing it [and] we wouldn’t be servicing it,” says Durecka. “There would be an agreement that the student and parent would sign that says you have to follow the academic honesty codes [as well].” According to Whitmire, the policy may take a long time to perfect and put into practice. “The timeline is not set yet,” he says. “Because of the infrastructure we have now with the wireless Internet, we might as well utilize it. Maybe by second semester students will be able to bring their own.” Durecka adds, “Getting the policy reviewed will delay the implementation. But
the train is moving in that direction.” Once this wait is endured, Whitmire expects to see immediate benefits. “One example we saw at the IA was a class that was writing a research paper,” tells Whitmire. “The majority of the students had their own laptops and they could sit at their own desks instead of having to reserve a lab. If [students] have questions, the teacher is right there to help them out instead of the student doing it at home.” Students and teachers alike believe using laptops in high school will better prepare students for college. “In many [college] classes, using your laptop is the only way to take notes quick enough,” explains Andover graduate and current Michigan Sophomore Hope Peskin-Shepherd. “Being able to do this in high school would give practice for doing it in college when it becomes a necessity.” “Laptops have always been created to be useful educational tools and it’s hard to ignore all of the ways that they benefit students in particular,” adds Perry. “I think that this opens opportunities for furthering learning, if people are using it for the right reasons,” says Durecka. “People use them, colleges use them. It’s following the 21st century.”
Quick Facts -Risk of a car crash rises 150% with three or more passengers in the car -Teenager’s brains, esp. the frontal lobe involved in decisionmaking, are not completely developed until age 25
FIELDING NAIR: Architects The focus groups, comprised of BHSD students, administration, faculty, and local residents, were created in order to obtain feedback from the community about what would be most important to them in a new school. Matters were discussed regarding the Andover building’s suitability for a new combined high school. The focus groups started the week of November 15 and were lead by Nair as well as Randall Fielding, Chairman and founding partner of FNI. In addition to the focus groups, FNI also held interactive workshops in November and December at the Doyle Center for 23 administration and faculty members from both Andover and Lasher. “[Fielding Nair] really wants the teachers to focus on how they might use the new facility,” shares cience teacher, Dennis Kwasny, a workshop participant. “So the focus [was on] different styles of instruction. What are some things we could [add], like team teaching Our numor maybe cross departmental teachber one goal ing, that could be is to enhance facilitated with a building? How educational could we use the outcomes, space to make and we do things like that kind of teaching it through happen easier?” design. In order to better understand the Randy Fielding Chairman, Fielding Nair community’s vision for the design of the building, FNI discussed and will base the design off of the 20 modalities of learning. Some include peer-to-peer learning, learning with a teacher, project-based learning, and technology-based learning. Nair explains, “[Typically,] traditional schools [are architecturally] set up more for direct instruction [like lecture type learning]. We are trying to understand how the students feel versus, say, the teachers or parents. When it comes down to the community, the focus groups are more to understand what aspects of the plan they do and do not support. If they do not support something, we try to understand what are their objections. If they do support something, we want to find out why.” After the information was gathered from the focus group sessions, FNI reported a summary of the results to the community in a discovery report on January 11. The two top options that the focus groups preferred, were 1) to renovate and add to the Andover site, or 2) build one new school at the Andover site. January 17 through 19, community members had the opportunity to respond to the discovery report via the Internet, and designs will be presented to the community starting early February and May. Fielding, who will be the lead principal in charge of design, shares, “Our number one goal is to enhance educational outcomes, and we do it through design. We have both educators and architects on our team. One of the things that is very unique about our firm is that we bridge the gap between two different fields, [educators and architects].” According to Fielding, “Educators may be innovative but they are often not knowledgeable or innovative about space [or] architecture. Architects might be quite innovative about design but they are often not experts in education. Our goal over the last 15 years is to build a common language. [Also,] we work in 31 countries. This is something that makes us unique in that we work in many places. We are able to bring the best ideas from around the world to each project.”
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aron Briefs Upcoming Events
HELP CHILDREN CANCER PATIENTS ONE SMILE AT A 2/7 Parent Networking MeetTIME: Bottomless Toy Chest is ing w/ Counselors 2/12 ACT Test 2/12 Winter Formal 2/24-25 Mid-Winter Break 2/27 School Resumes 2/28 College Info Night, Gr. 10-11
SAY “YES” TO YES FOUNDATION: The Yes Founda-
tion needs help with their Buddy Study program. This is a distance learning program for early elementary students in Detroit, Highland Park, and Pontiac schools. Volunteers will help grade packets and provide feedback to the children on their work. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to make a difference in the lives of young children and help them learn better. If interested, please contact Chris Bogojevich at: accounting@ theyesfoundation.org.
a new non-profit organization in our area that delivers interactive toys and games to children going through cancer treatments in local hospitals. Your help is needed in areas ranging from wrapping items to help with community events. What more meaningful way to get your community service hours than helping put a smile on a child’s face. For more information, check out http://bottomlesstoychest. org or contact Whitney Coulson at Whitney@Bottomlesstoychest. org.
Attention Seniors: If your col-
lege is requesting your seventh semester grades, please sign up in the Records Office and print out your Mid-Year Report Forms. They are necessary for many Common Application schools.
Shield News
A6
January 2011
Apple Driving School Inc. Experienced at applying proven and reliable training techniques to prepare for the road that is ahead. These classes will meet at 4066 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills, Suite 3A Segment One Classes Feb 7-24, 2011 Feb 7,8,9,10,14,15,16,17,21,22,23,24 2011 7-9 p.m. BFH 211B seg 1 Feb 19-Mar 27, 2011 Feb 19,20,26,27, Mar 5,6,12,13,19,20,26,27 2011 1-3 p.m. BFH 211 seg 1 Mar 5-Apr 10, 2011 Mar 5,6,12,13,19,20,26,27, Apr 2,3,9,10 2011 1-3 p.m. BFH 311 seg 1 Mar 17-Apr 1, 2011 Mar 17,18,21,22,23,24,25,28,29,30,31, Apr 1, 2011 7-9 p.m. BFH 311B seg 1
Segment Two Classes Feb 19,20,26, 2011 10:45 a.m.-12:45 a.m.
Sat, Sun, Sat BFH 211 seg 2
Mar 5,6,12, 2011 10:45 a.m.-12:45 a.m. Mar 22,23,24, 2011 5-7 p.m.
Sat, Sun, Sat BFH 311 seg 2 T,W, Thurs BFH 311B seg 2
These classes will meet at Lahser High School, 3456 Lahser Road, Room 107 Segment One Classes Jan 31-Feb 17, 2011 Jan 31, Feb 1,2,3,7,8,9,10,14,15,16,17, 2011 2:45-4:45 p.m. LHS 111 seg 1 Feb 28-Mar 17, 2011 Feb 28, Mar 1,2,3,7,8,9,10,14,15,16,17, 2011 2:45-4:45 p.m. LHS 211 seg 1 Apr 19-May 19, 2011 Apr 19,20,21, May 3,4,5,10,11,12,17,18,19, 2011 2:45-4:45 p.m. LHS 411 seg 1 May 23,24,25,26 June 6,7,8,9,13,14,15,16, 2011 May 23-June 16, 2011 LHS 511 seg 1 2:45-4:45 p.m.
Note: Class dates and times are subject to change
Segment one requirements --14 years old, 8 months on first day of class --Parental Permission --24 hours of classroom instruction --6 hours of on-theroad driving
Segment Two requirements --Completion of segment 1 --Have Level 1 License --Drive with parent or guardian for for a minimum of 90 days and 30 practice driving hours of a 50 hour total requirement --6 hours of classroom instruction on defensive driving
How to Register
Apple Driving School Inc. 4895 Stoddard Troy, MI 48085 248-689-8224 www.appledriving.com
--Select a Class Date --Print Contract from website --Mail the completed form, signed contract, and deposit or payment in full to 4895 Stoddard, Troy, MI 48085 --Call 248-689-8224 or register online
Shield News
JANUARY 2011
TOP PICKS2011 Shield Editorial Board’s
NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
A7
Farmington pulls seats Budget crisis upsets IA students and parents from Farmington district Jaclyn Nagel
Sports Section Editor
This RED FIAT 500, a small three-door car, has a 135 horsepower. The Fiat 500 has won more than 60 awards including “the single most innovative engine technology” by the International Engine of the Year Awards Panel.
The TESLA ROADSTER goes from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds. After 3.5 hours of charging, this electric supercar is good to go for 245 miles. The carbon fiber exterior is hand built and “designed around the driver.” The electric powertrain is an “extention of the driver,” and corrects the driver’s errors in steering. And with zero emissions, it’s eco-friendly.
The PORSCHE BOXSTER ranks 1 out of 9 Luxury Sports Cars, produces 320 horsepower, and can reach a top speed of 163 miles per hour with the manual transmission and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds.
The Ferrari 599 GTO is the fastest road-going Ferrari ever with a maximum speed over 208 mph. This extremely fast car is in fact based off of an advanced experimental track car. The high speeds of the Ferrari 599 GTO is mainly do to its reduced weight in comparison with the other models from Ferrari. The Chevy Volt, winner of the 2011 Green Car of the Year, is the first electric car to ever win the award. The Volt runs on electricity for an initial range of 35 miles on a single change saving a large amount a money. This electric car conveniently takes approximately only 10 hours to reach its complete charge.
Photos by James Feuereisen
from A2: EAGLE SCOUT
experience would not have been the same. “I have a great troop; without this troop, I don’t think that it would be possible for me to reach the level I have reached. It is a predominately boy-led troop, and we always have a lot of fun at both the meetings and the camp outs. The leaders are always there to help the scouts and the merit badge counselors really make sure that we grasp the concept of the merit badge.” The service project is a key component of the Eagle process. “My project was renovating a wall at Bowers Farm. It had fallen into disrepair and the outside of the barn was going to be redone as a community project. So I wanted to give it a feeling of completeness. I wanted to do something that would help my community, so I chose the farm. I had a great time and I am very happy with how it came out,” says Jordan. “The actual project didn’t really change me but Boy Scouts definitely has. I am more patient with people and I am more
confident because of the skills set I have obtained through my years of scouting.” According to Linda, becoming an Eagle Scout is not easy. “Jordan needed to be pushed. Jordan’s father and the Scout Master had to keep reminding him about the badges because he was often more immersed in the fun of scouting rather than moving toward achieving badges. Once he got closer to the goal, however, he became more independent.” But after Jordan achieved Eagle ranking, Linda describes the feeling as, “having felt deep pride that he set a high goal, worked hard to achieve it and then experienced success.” Lahser Senior Brian Freeburg, a fellow scout member, says, “Jordan is a great friend who always tries to do the right thing and is very dedicated to scouting. He had a rough start and ended up taking some time off, but he came back and it took him a while but he had the perseverance to go through the Eagle Scout process. He finished at age 17 (you have to complete all requirements before
age 18), we all helped him through it as a family of scouts. I am really proud of him.” Jordan adds that obtaining the Eagle title will be beneficial in his life. “I know for a fact that [becoming an Eagle Scout] will help me in my future,” explains Jordan. “With merit badges like Family Life, Citizenship in the Community, Nation and World, I have learned a lot about respecting people and their beliefs as well as dealing with a lot of different types of people. The leadership experience from scouting will also be a major benefit for me as I move forward in my life.” Jordan highly recommends that all boy scouts should stick with it. Jordan says, “Although scouting got difficult at certain times, I never considered quitting. I have always known that there were people to help me when it got tough.” Jordan says to future Eagle Scouts, “I am very new myself, but all I can say is work hard and always maintain the Eagle Scout standard. Make sure [to] uphold the scout law and oath.”
Quick Facts - The Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America Program - The National Eagle Scout Association was founded in 1972 - Jordan joined Boy Scouts in sixth grade
Going into effect next year, Farmington students will no longer be able to attend the International Academy (IA). The Farmington School District pulled all 15 of its seats out of the Bloomfield Hills-based school. Farmington chose to leave the IA to start an International Baccalaureate (IB) program in their district. “[After the budget crisis of last year,] Farmington could not afford our own IB program at the same time as being involved in the International Academy,” says Sue Zurvalec, the Superintendent of the Farmington School District. “We wanted to be able to expand IB classes to many more than the 60 students that we currently send to the IA. The program that our committee proposed, and that our board approved, would service 140 students in each grade level. The program will start at Harrison High School next year. It will be open to students from our three high schools: Harrison, North Farmington, and Farmington, on approximately equal basis in terms of one third from each high school, starting with the ninth grade.” The Birmingham School District has seized ten seats and Waterford has taken the other five of Farmington’s previous spots at IA. However, all current Farmington students attending the IA are allowed to finish the remainder of their education there. “I definitely am grateful for my education [at the IA]. I feel like I have spent four years working harder than a lot of kids in the country and I feel like it has all been worth it,” says International Academy Senior Maya Menlo, who is from the Farmington district. Lynne Gibson, the President of the International Academy, took pride in the fact that so many students like Menlo actively protested Farmington’s decision. “I was really proud of the students who spoke up and articulated their passion. So while I was very disappointed with the outcome [of Farmington pulling from the IA],” says Gibson, “I was also very proud with what our students did to speak up and show how much they love the IA and the education that they are receiving.” “As a student body we formed a coalition called SOS, which means “Save Our School.” SOS rallied at one of the Farmington board meetings. We just tried to raise awareness within the IA community just about what makes IA special and how we hope that IA will continue to stay ‘open for business’ for the next however many years,” says Menlo. “We went to the Farmington board meeting and had a lot of people from Farmington speak at the podium in front of the board. I personally spoke at a previous board meeting for the Farmington board.” In addition to Menlo, other students, parents, alumni, and siblings also expressed their unhappiness. “We have students who have siblings who wanted to at least have a chance to get into the lottery. So we have a lot of parents who are upset about it and are looking for ways to try and maintain their children’s enrollment at the IA,” says Gibson. “[Parents and students] all love the IA so much that everybody is now working together to try and make sure that other districts do not follow suit. We also have a huge alumni support group that has been formed from alumni emailing teachers and myself.” Though the removal of the Farmington School District is a big change, it will not affect the IA’s existence. “The impact is not financially great,” says Gibson. “We are losing a lot of diversity and that is always hard. [But] we have a long ways to go before anything would happen where we would no longer exist. [In the future,] I see the IA maintaining where we are and improving what we are already doing.” According to Andover Principal Robert Durecka, Farmington leaving the IA will not affect Andover at this point in time or change its involvement. “We have 50 Andover students that are currently attending the International Academy. If we doubled that to say, 100 students, to me, that’s 50 more students that would have been AP sections or honors sections,” explains Mr. Durecka as to why Andover did not take over any of Farmington’s seats. “Taking 50 kids who are academically focused and on task out of this building has an impact.” Gibson is hopeful that Farmington leaving the IA will not set an example for other districts to follow. “Districts are being forced to make difficult decisions,” says Gibson. “However, a lot of districts understand the value of the education at the International Academy. So a lot of districts have indicated that they appreciate that value and that they are going to maintain their enrollment at the IA.”
Shield News
color
A life without
January 2011
students deal with color blindness and its effects on their daily lives Meagan Danielak
Assistant Managing Editor
Junior Evan Bloom and Senior Matt Fellows each have a similar secret. “Only people who know me know I’m color blind,” Bloom shares. “[Colorblindness] makes me different because you can’t see it if you look at me.” A colorblind individual struggles with the inability to detect certain colors or color shades. Students who are colorblind must cope with this issue everyday. However, due to the fact that one in every ten males is colorblind, Bloom and Fellows are not alone as colorblind teenagers. Unfortunately, daily tasks such as getting ready for school every day present challenges. Bloom says, “It is hard for me to pick out my clothes. I have to ask people if they match.” Bloom, who is red-green colorblind, shares his hereditary trait of colorblindness with his grandpa and great-grandpa. Fellows is redgreen and blue-purple colorblind. His grandpa and two cousins on his mother’s side have this condition as well.
Bulls are actually colorblind. The bull fighter’s red flag only attracts them because of its movement.
the three colors on a standard traffic Both boys found out they were light. According to Daniel Flück, a colorblind as they were entering colorblind man and the author of a elementary school. novel on this disease, 99 percent of “In kindergarten, I couldn’t tell colorblind people have the red-green apart the colors when the teacher type. asked me,” describes Fellows. “I Both boys drive, so it was crucial would get worksheets to color things to learn the placement of the lights. in. And to color something blue or According to both Bloom and Felpurple, I would mix them up.” lows, when red and green are next Speaking about the discovery of her son’s colorblindness, Liz Fellows to each other, it can be problematic. Luckily the traffic light is says, “I was not surprised not arranged in that mansince my father and two [Colorner. However, knowing nephews are colorblind. It the position of the lights in made sense on why [Matt] blindness] relation to one another is couldn’t get the colors makes me essential for them. right on math sheets that different A driver’s education required to match a color because you instructor from the local with a certain number. If can’t see it Alert Driving School says, he had those color-number if you look at “There are usually not sheets, I would make sure . problems for colorblind he used the right color that me Evan Bloom students. To be honest, coordinated.” Liz says it is Junior they can easily learn the humorous when she asks lights and the shape of road signs to her son “‘Is that the color you really know what kind of sign it is.” see?’ Sometimes he will see a color Liz says she was “not at all” worso different from the real color of ried about her son driving. “What the object that it’s funny.” happens is, as I learned from my Driving with red-green colorblind[colorblind] father, you pay attenness is something to get used to tion to what light is lit. You become because red and green are two of
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Mark Zuckerberg chose Facebook’s famous blue color because he is red-green colorblind
aware that the top light is red and if it is lit or brighter than the other two below, you know to stop.” Regarding his colorblindness in the classroom, Bloom says, “All of [my teachers] know. It’s because if they ever give me an assignment with colors, sometimes I can’t do it.” Health teacher Lisa Hiatt has talked to Bloom about his colorblindness after she referred to a sheet by its color while organizing a packet from the current chapter. Hiatt says, “I told the class the next sheet in the packet should be pink, and [Bloom] said, ‘I would never know which sheet is pink. I’m colorblind.’ So after I knew that, I would work with him on organizing his chapter packets.” Speaking on behalf of teachers on the subject of students with any unique condition like colorblindness, Hiatt says, “We make sure to understand who our students are as learners. [Then] we accommodate them the best that we can.” After years of being in school, Bloom and Fellows share they have adjusted and are used to confronting their colorblindness.
All babies are born colorblind.
Bill Clinton is colorblind.
Emerson Moser, Crayola’s ex-senior crayonmaker, revealed (upon his retirement) that he was blue-green colorblind and couldn’t see the colors of all the crayons.
Mark Twain was colorblind.
In WWII, the colorblind soldiers were found to be able to detect camouflage due to their decreased ability to see green.
can you read this?
Due to problems with their rod cells and cone cells in the eye, colorblind people cannot detect certain colored wavelengths of light.
Senior Matt Fellows has red-green colorblindness.
black & white A very few (less than 1% of people) suffer from complete black and white color blindness and live literally without any color. http://tjshome.com/colorblind.php http://tjshome.com/selftest.php
Usually, people with color blindness cannot see red, green, blue, or any variations of them. It’s not that they can’t see them, it’s that they all look the same.
.5 %
8% male
female
red-green
99% 99% of color blind people are “red-green” color blind. In other words, they can’t see these colors and mix them up. 45,6,12
A8
Design by Ashley DuBois
Poms switches to two seasons
See B3
Elli Thomas competes in the Junior Olympics
See B5
Shield Sports Boosters cut spirtwear Parents want to cut spirtwear due to the troughed economy Ashley Pikula
Assistant Managing Editor
Football sweatshirt: $35. Basketball longsleeved shirt $25. Volleyball t-shirt $15. “I believe in this economy that the [athletic] program is being wasteful. [It] is wasting the parents’ money,” Varsity Girls Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, and Softball Boosters parent Lori Garfinkel says. Groups of athletic boosters and the administration are considering limiting the amount of spirit apparel available for student athletes due to the current economy. “Cost has been an issue that has gone on for a couple years now,” explains Athletic Coordinator R.J. Guizzetti. “I think it’s a combination of the economy and having a few parents who are finally saying, ‘You know what? Enough is enough.’ I’ve had a parent tell me, ‘My child could come to school every day for two weeks and wear a different Andover hoodie and never wear the same one twice, it’s just such a waste’.” Garfinkel is one parent who feels this frustration. “I think it’s exorbitantly expensive for the parents to have to purchase or feel pressure from the team or pressure from their child to purchase newly designed gear every year,” Garfinkel adds. “Students need to understand what tough economic times mean and they need to have an understanding of how it impacts even their lives.” “I think some parents really want to take a stand but number one, they worry that their child will be angry and number two, that their child would be the only one that [doesn’t] look like all of their other team members,” Guizzetti says. “And I also think some people may be afraid about I think it’s what other people exorbitantly will think if they do.” expensive for To improve the the parents to current issue of have to purpurchasing new chase or feel athletic spirit wear every year, both pressure from Guizzetti and Gartheir child to finkel see possibilipurchase newly ties. designed gear “With this economy, things are every year. really tough and Lori Garfinkel the administration Parent is trying to do everything it can to possibly help take a load off of the minds of parents. The [athletic] program and the boosters are trying to be very clear that buying the extra clothing is optional and limiting options because [players] don’t need a new sweatshirt every single year,” Guizzetti says about the plan to take pressure off of parents. “When you have $300 booster dues, that is just too much.” Garfinkel wants to take proactive approach. “What I suggest is that we keep items like sweatshirts, shooting shirts, warm up jackets, sweatpants, consistent in design year to year and each year a new, less expensive, t-shirt can be designed, which is probably worn out from the season anyway,” explains Garfinkel. “Girls basketball is [one sport] that now uses the same clothing design from year to year and it’s been working out well because it has reduced the superfluous buying and wasting of clothing.” Sophomore member of the boys diving, golf, and tennis teams, Connor Yee, disagrees with the spiritwear cuts, saying, “Things like team sweatshirts bring the team together and help form a bond. Team clothing almost symbolizes what the team has gone through and all of the accomplishments that come out of hard work.” “Purchasing spirit clothing is a really nice way to bring the team together,” adds senior member of the Girls Varsity Softball Team, Sara Kileen. “[That’s why I think] there are better ways we could cut back on costs. I think if [my team couldn’t design] new clothing every year, it would be sad to lose some of [our] team bonding,” she says. “Our team always makes t-shirts for districts and it’s really fun [so] maybe more self-made spirit wear could be encouraged.” Despite the goal to limit spiritwear, Guizzetti says future apparel changes may be tough to make for every sports team. “Each team has their own booster club [and] unfortunately, it might take time for everybody to change their practices,” he says. “That battle of [limiting] clothing items is being fought a little bit at a time.”
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SWIMMER SUN MAKES STATE CUT Vic Sun qualifies for state competition in the 200 and 500 freestyle swim Leslie Alter Staff Writer
As he took his last stroke, the entire auditorium was well aware that he would be attending the state meet. “You knew about three quarters through the race he was going to get it,” says Boys Swim Coach David Zulkiewski. “He has trained all year and all summer long so he had his goals set high; he knew what he wanted to do so he got [his state cut] out of the way early.” Junior Vic Sun received two state cuts at 1:54 in the 200 freestyle and 5:05 in the 500 freestyle on December 9 during the Andover swim meet. “I got down next to him in the lane and started screaming when Vic got there and was shaking his head,” says teammate Junior Joe Abrash. “He was excited, I was excited, it was really cool.“ “When you look at how the experts tell you to race a 500, Vic did it almost perfectly,” shares Zulkiewski. “I expected him to get the state cut, but this was a little bit earlier than I would have thought; I figured a couple meets in maybe, but he made all the necessary sacrifices to get there. Vic is extremely dedicated, focused, and talented, made the sacrifices to make himself a great athlete, and is one of the hardest working kids I’ve got on the team.” “I’m really happy that I got my state cut early because now I know that I can spend the rest of the season getting even faster,” shares Sun. “I pretty much love
working hard which makes it a lot easier. of expected it because Vic is just so wellI feel like I’m getting something done.” conditioned, such a good swimmer, and so After year round training, the state cut was to dedicated,” tells Boys Swim Team Captain be expected, according to not only Sun, but to Senior Michael Linden. “Most people expected it, but it’s always awesome his teammates and coach as well. for it being the first race of the “It wasn’t a surprise, it was He has season and the first time you jump pretty much my plan to do it,” says Sun. “I’ve been working trained all year into the water to get a state cut.” After accomplishing his hard and got a state cut at my and all summer first goal, Sun has given first meet for the Birmingham long so he had himself more to shoot for. Bloomfield Dolphins (BBD) “To already get [his state cut,] this summer as well, so I fig- his goals set he knows that he can now get foured if I couldn’t do it at An- high; he knew cused of the state meet [because dover, I was wasting my time. what he wanthe already knows he will be goI’ve been working hard and ed to do so he ing],” adds Zulkewski. “He’s going faster in everything. also more relaxed and has been The fact that other people got [his state having a lot of fun because he were also expecting this of me cut] out of the already has his personal goals added pressure, but the good way early. out of the way for right now.” kind of pressure because if you “After seeing [the hard-work] know that people counting on David Zulkiewski Coach pay off, I’m really glad I can go to you, you tend to do better.” states but I’m also glad that I’m “This summer, he did BBD long course which is a longer pool and is helping out my team and we can do leagues really hard, and when I came back to nor- and take down Lahser,” says Sun. “Now, mal BBD with him in the fall he was just I’m mainly just trying to get to nationals as wrecking everything and making the sets my overarching goal, along with being in so much faster than us,” adds Abrash. the top ten at states. [For a national cut], I “I expected it because would have to go 4:49.89 in the 500 freestyle, I’ve seen how good which is the event I’m trying for, but the he is at practice and 100 freestyle actually See he’s just that fast.” looks more likely at 48.99 since I’ve SWIMMING B5 “I was very ima 50.38. pressed but I sort gone
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Photo by: Zack Wolfe
Siblings bond by competing together Students share experiences playing in the same sport Stephanie Fotouhi Staff Writer
As Senior Jasmine Yousif steps on the court for a match, she feels a slight tug on her ponytail as sister Sophomore Jenna Yousif silently wishes her luck. “I love playing tennis with Jenna,” says Jasmine. “We become great friends during the season and play it out of school to get even better, which always gives us a fun topic of conversation at home.” Jasmine and Jenna Yousif are one of many Andover sibling pairs who play sports together. Many siblings feel that being on a sport together made them be together more often. “[Tennis] makes us closer because I get to drive Alex around more and we listen to music in my car,” Senior Nicole Hollander says
about younger sister Sophomore Alex, who much outside of school, but our cross play tennis together. “She hangs out with country bickering is only friendly compemy group of friends on the team a lot, and tition we’ve created.” we are really close at home too.” The Hamel brothers agree with the KeVivian Yousif, the Yousif sisters’ mother, menys. sees tennis as a way to spend “I think we’ll be a little bit comTennis has time together as well. “Since petitive; we compete at home a they are close in age, they have given them a lot too so it will translate over always done private and group common inter- to [swimming] practices,” Selessons together. They also have est. They have nior Brett says about younger played a lot of tournaments tobrother Freshman Griffin gether and all of these have led encouraged and Hamel. “We are very close, but to countless hours of being with supported each like normal brothers, we argue each other,” Vivian explains. other over the occasionally.” “Tennis has given them a com- years. “Jenna made Varsity [tennis] mon interest. They have encouras a freshman which made us Vivian Yousif aged and supported each other Parent be together every day at pracover the years.” tices. We didn’t get competiAccording to siblings, friendly competition tive because we are friends, but it made is created through sharing a sport. us even closer,” Jasmine says. “This year “[My sister] is on the girls’ team and I’m on will be the last year she gets to play on the the boys’ team, so we aren’t too competitive, team with me. I am looking forward to but we always argue which is more competi- a great season with See tive: boys or girls cross country,” explains her being [that] it’s Sophomore Joey Kemeny. “We don’t fight my last.” SIBLINGS B5
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Sibling Pairs - Jenna & Jasmine Yousif and Nicole & Alex Hollander play Varsity Tennis - Brett & Griffin Hamel participate in Varsity Swimming - Joey & Anna Kemeny are run in cross country - Elli & Andrew Thomas are both part of the Varsity Ski Team
JV gets new basketball coach Ken Dandridge comes to bring unity to Junior Varsity basketball team Noah Newman Staff Writer
Barons score with new Junior Varsity basketball coach. Ken Dandridge attended Detroit Pershing High School, where he played basketball as an underclassman, and went on to Ferris State University, where he graduated with an Associates degree in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelors degree in Public Administration. Dandridge now coaches the Junior Varsity Basketball team and is new to the job this year. Dandridge previously coached at Crescent Academy in Southfield at the Junior High level for two seasons. “It was definitely different, a smaller program. There weren’t as many finances available, so we had to come up with many creative fundraising ideas to provide uniforms
and other things of that nature.” Dandridge said of his previous coaching job, “It’s a lot better having access to the resources that we do here at Andover.” According to Dandridge, he was looking for a high school coaching job right as the position at Andover opened up. “I want to be part of a winning program here at Andover,” Dandridge says of his goals for the team, “most importantly I want to get the guys to understand how important it is to not only play the game of basketball, but actually compete.” Since Dandridge infiltrated the basketball program, the JV team has experienced great success; including an improved record and a victory against rival Lahser. “The thing that I wanted to do to shake the league up was playing a more fast paced game.” Dandridge says of his new approach, “We want to take the game back and forth rather than just playing a 2-3 defense. The fast paced game has really made the difference.” “He’s very outspoken and easy going,” says second year JV player and Junior Paul
Walker, “but a good teacher at the same time. He is easy to talk to and it is easy to ask him a question if you don’t understand something.” According to Walker, Dandridge has brought in a whole new philosophy to the Junior Varsity program. “This year we’re a faster passed and more athletic team, last year we ran more set offenses and plays,” says Walker, “Last year we ran our offense to get open shots, but this year we’re more forcing turnovers and getting easy layups and steals.” “He’s a really relaxed guy; he doesn’t yell, he doesn’t scream,” says Junior captain Winston Urwiller. “He likes to win and so does everyone else and when the coach’s personality matches the teams, everyone is more successful.”
Ken Dandridge Boys Junior Varsity Basketabll Coach
Shield Sports
B2
January 2011
You Only Get One...
Take Care of It
Recent frequency of concussions creates new awareness of head injuries.
Barons For Barons boosts school pride Football team takes strides to support fellow Baron athletes Meagan Danielak
Assistant Managing Editor
Design by: Noah Newman and Ashley DuBois Photo by: Zach Wolfe
The Baron football team is expanding upon their goals, now focusing their energy in this off-season towards positively encouraging other athletic teams. “Barons For Barons is something that is bigger than us. If we [act as a support system] at sports games, maybe others will see and follow this example,” says Junior Quarterback Winston Urwiller. Organized by Football Coach Jim DeWald, the new Barons For Barons football program is helping the football players actively support other sports teams at Andover. This program, the “I think [Barons first of its kind at Andover, fo- For Barons] is a cuses on the wonderful idea. football players I think it’s a attending school sporting events great thing to encourage anytime you other athletes have a coach while bringing the Baron spirit and athletes you can’t see a brain injury. seriously enough and I know a lot Derek Wolfe to a whole new who are will“I was dizzy and groggy. I was at 60 about them,” Fishman says. “I think Life Section Editor level. percent brain capacity at one point,” something needs to be done because -A concussion is At Barons For ing to go out explains Junior Jeremy Fishman, who people can really ruin themselves.” After picking up a bad snap, Freshthe most minor Barons sporting of their way to sustained his third concussion last Lefkofsky adds, “Some coaches were man Mat Lefkofsky, then an eighth events, the footform of a brain support each winter. “I couldn’t take any tests for a saying that one concussion can’t do grader at West Hills, scrambled left. ball team brings injury month. I couldn’t do anything. I just felt much. They think it only matters when While being pursued by three defendthe players food, other. I give there’s multiple concussions.” so held back. in addition to Coach DeWald ers, he was hit with a brutal blow to -You may feel In order to combat concussions, Concussions have caught the attenrooting for them. head. dazed or not The members of a lot of credit.” tion of many due to their frequency in Schiff says Andover has purchased the “I couldnt remember anything after I yourself for days football meet at R.J. Guizzetti got hit except for having terrible head- sports, most notably in football where ImPACT system (up to $1000), which or sometimes school sporting Athletic Coordinator aches. I didn’t even remember the day the National Football League has be- assists the trainers in diagnosing athevents to do so a week after a before where I watched an incredible gan imposing penalties for head-to- letes with head injuries. about three times a month. concussion “ImPACT tests those [cognitive] signs Tigers game. I wanted to keep playing head hits. According to DeWald, since the foot“I rarely get through a season without that we can’t see. These include recogafter I recovered, but my parents said ball team is currently not having games, -Most people that’s it. My parents were freaked out. having to deal with [a concussion],” nition and response time,” says Schiff, they want to contribute to Baron athletic with concussions It was a very bad concussion,” Lefkof- says Andover Athletic Trainer Shira who runs the test before a season be- programs in the mean time. By going to recover fine with sky recalls. Schiff about the frequency of concus- gins and again if a player sustains a sporting events, the team hopes to set an proper treatment example for the rest of the school to be“I was very concerned not only with sions in Andover athletics. “However, head injury. come more involved with the “support” According to imPACT’s website, imthe injury, but with with a subsequent some seasons I have more than othaspect of athletics. Furthermore, DeWald -About every 21 PACT tests visual memory, verbal ers.” injury to his head,” says Mat’s father wishes to possibly motivate the football memory, visual motor speed, reaction “They’re being diagnosed more freseconds in the Steve Lefkofsky. “It’s very scary to see players themselves to participate in these time, and impulse control using six difquently because technology is better. United States your kid not being able to remember sports. someone sustains things or know where he is or what I’m happy that [sports leagues] are ferent activities called modules. Barons For Barons is new this year due Schiff says that when players are a concussion he’s doing. I also had a feeling it was coming out with regulations like in the to the football coaches coming up with a NFL,” Wolfe elaborates. diagnosed with a head injury using the end of football for him. positive way for the team to contribute to Unlike most other physical injuries, imPACT, the medical staff must come -The most comWith that one helmet-to-helmet hit, the school. It was brought up when the football coaches were at a weekly meetmon cause of Lefkofsky joined the 1.4 million Ameri- Wolfe, Fishman, and Lefkofsky believe up with a plan of care. The plan of care ing, according to DeWald, who sends cans who suffer from Tramautic Brain concussions are not taken as seriously usually includes following up with a concussions is out messages to the team to coordinate as they should be. physician who then determines whethparticipating in a Injury’s (TBI) each year. The concusgames they will attend. “Usually first time concussions are er to clear them to play or to sit out. sion, a mild TBI, has made the news contact sport “When we have football games, a lot of dismissed. This is because they’re not Most always, the athlete misses at least recently. people come. That’s why we want to be “A concussion is a mild tramautic termed Mild Tramautic Brain Injuries. one game. -Males are more supportive by watching other sporting Schiff wants the Andover community brain injury,” explains Tracey Wolfe, If this term was used more often, parlikely to get a events,” says Junior Joey Labes. to understand that despite competitive ents would have their kids quit the Clinical Director of Therapeutic ReUrwiller explains, “I really like Barons concussion than habilitation Center, which deals with football team,” explains Wolfe. “Medi- demands, the athletes are getting the For Barons, and I think it was a great idea. females major TBIs. “They are the common cally, mild TBI’s can have a major im- best treatment possible. Plus, I like watching sports, so it’s good to “Athletes are competitive by nature,” watch my peers play their sports.” result of a blow to the head or sudden pact on an individual’s thinking, learn- When the brain deceleration, causing an altered men- ing, language and daily living skills. It’s Schiff explains as to why athletes try to Labes, who most recently attended a swells, it rubs up tal state. Symptoms for concussions in- like brusing your elbow, except you’ve shake off head injuries. However, that’s wrestling match as part of Barons For Barons, adds, “I know there are some against the skull, clude being forgetful, thinking slowly, bruised your brain and it takes a long why I’m here, to keep them healthy.” wrestling matches and basketball games causing more and having a hard time paying atten- time to heal. we are planning to attend in the next few “I don’t think that I even take them injury tion. It’s the silent epidemic because weeks. I am looking forward to it because it’s a lot of fun to see other athletes and their hard work paying off.” In terms of his goals for the team program, Labes says, “We hope to motivate students to attend more sporting events. pic Games in Atlanta and received gold thought we could execute, he would teach Being on the football team, I am more medals in the 1988 World Cup and Pan- us new moves and techniques,” says Wilthan happy to participate in Barons For American games. liams. “The best part of it is that he knows Barons.” - Rodriguez “Wrestling is my life,” says Wagerson, things that almost no other professionals do, Junior Basketball Player Juarrezz Smith, ranked 11th in who, like Williams, has been wrestling so it was a real advantage for us this year to who has seen the program in action, says, Will Neef since before middle school. “I want to use these skills against top wrestlers in the the World at “[The football team] cheers at Junior VarStaff Writer continue to get better and always study state,” raves Wagerson. The two this year the Olympics in sity and Varsity basketball games. And “I know what I am looking for when I the game, so when [Alberto] told me have a combined record of 31-6 and are top Atlanta, in 1996 I’m glad to have them there as supporters search for new wrestlers: a good build, that he wanted to train me, I could not at Andover in their weight classes. behind me.” smarts [for the game], but most impor- believe it, and was honored,” explains Rodriguez concluded, “I gave them my - Rodriguez Athletic Coordinator R.J. Guizzetti adds, tantly is a love for the game,” says Alber- Wagerson. Rodriguez trains wrestlers in knowledge and I believe that their heart wrestled as a “I think [Barons For Barons] is a wonderful idea. I think it’s a great thing anytime to Rodriguez. Houston but also visits other states look- and determination will reflect their success welterweight in you have a coach and athletes who are The Former Olympic Athlete Alberto ing for talented athletes who he feels from now forward. I think that they both the olympics willing to go out of their way to support Rodriguez voluntarily trained two Ando- could grow more with his expertise. can go on and play at the next level, and as each other. I give Coach DeWald a lot of ver wrestlers for no charge. During the “I noticed something special in these far as they wish to pursue.” Williams plans - The sport of credit.” summer prior to the 2010-2011 Andover two young men. Both had a very strong on attending either Central Michigan Uniwrestling can DeWald hopes to carry the program wrestling season, the Former Cuban basis as far as basic tactics, skills, and versity or Eastern Michigan University to be tracked back through the years to come explaining, Olympian recognized Senior Captain knowledge of the game. I saw potential wrestle, but has to finish the season to de“I think our football team is pretty close. 15,000 years to Jon Williams and Junior Captain Brody in them, potential that I believe could termine his next destination. When they are watching other teams, I Wagerson’s abilities and “wanted to take them as far as they want,” explains Wagerson believes “anything is possible. cave dwellings in think they are good at encouraging them.” train them.” Rodriguez who trained the two together In a year I have dramatically improved be- France, Babylonia In addition, DeWald believes it would be “My initial reaction did not match for about three and a half months prior cause an Olympic athlete wanted to train me and Egypt neat to make Barons For Barons a club what I thought the next week. I did not to the 2010-2011 wrestling season. not for his benefit but to help me achieve one day with more people involved. know who the man was at the time that “Alberto met with us usually three times what I have I always wanted; to become the - Freestyle wresUrwiller concludes, “We do this because he approached me during the summer, a week for a couple of hours. Alberto in- next great wrestler.” tling is one of the that’s what we like people to do for us: to but after I typed his name into Google I dividually told each of us what we needed “I was taught by one of the best. I feel two ways olympic come and watch our games. I really think was quickly humbled, realizing that he to work on, and then he would have us more confident in my ability and cannot wrestling can be our school needs more school spirit, so wanted to train me,” says Williams. Ro- test it out [which is why he trains wres- wait to test it at the next level,” says Wil- played this could be the first step towards havdriquez participated in the 1996 Olym- tlers in pairs]. If there is something he liams. ing that.”
The sides of the brain are typically the most vulnerable to serious concussions, because when they are hit the brain dangerously rotates and has the potential to collide with the skull.
Quick Facts
Baron Wrestlers Train with Olympic Athlete Olympian helps two Baron wrestlers train for 2010-2011 season
Quick Facts
Winter Formal FEBRUARY 12
Tickets on Sale January 31st through February 4th
Shield Sports
January 2011
Varsity Poms becomes two season sport Changes are prompted by interest in a two season schedule
Faces In the Crowd Jennifer Sterbenz Double gold-medalist in Moves in the Field and ice dance
Leslie Alter Staff Writer
Though before the girls on poms would be committing to both football and basketball seasons, their position on the squad is no longer guaranteed for the full year. “[Deciding if poms should be two seasons or one] was a very difficult process. [The Andover athletic department and those involved “For the first in poms] had a number of girls time ever, Varsity Poms is express concerns now separated that if they chose not to be on the into a twopoms team in the season sport” fall, they couldn’t RJ Guizetti [be on poms] in Athletic Director the winter because it took up two seasons,” tells Athletic Coordinator R.J. Guizzetti. “[The girls] could not understand why poms was the only sport at Andover that you tried out for once and covered two seasons ever since the beginning.” According to Guizzetti, for the first time ever, Varsity Poms is now separated into a two-season sport with different tryouts for the fall and winter seasons. Guizzetti continues, “When [the athletic department] started doing some research into the situation, we found out that there were quite a few girls who at least had some interest [in trying out for poms], but were already playing a fall or winter sport. Many said they would be interested in doing it one season but could not commit to two, so we decided at Andover Varsity Poms before 2009 that point to Andover vs. Lahser football game. do two separate seasons. Our goal is to try to provide more opportunities and [through this decision] we think we’re doing that. I wouldn’t have supported it if I didn’t think it was best.” “I was hesitant at first because it has made [poms] more difficult,” explains Poms Coach and Mathematics teacher Megan Samhat. “This season will be hard because this decision was put in place last minute, but overall I think [this change] will be helpful for our squad and some of the other girls to have the choice of two sports or two seasons and what they want to do. I’m glad that poms is now a two season sport; I think it’s a great thing and will be beneficial for everyone.” “At first I wasn’t too happy about the change just because I like the whole idea of having one team for both seasons. [Having poms as one season] makes [the team] more cohesive and brings a certain bonding,” shares Senior Varsity Poms Captain Hallie Berger. “But as time goes on, I see the benefits of having two different seasons. I personally have no interest in any other sports because I am completely dedicated to poms, but now [poms being a two season sport] makes it easier for some girls to do other sports as well as poms.” According to Sophomore and previous member of the Varsity Poms team Brenna Turner, she is taking advantage of this new opportunity by trying out ski team this winter season. “It took me two weeks after being informed that poms is now a two-season sport to decide to go out for ski team,” Turner elaborates. “I thought it was the perfect opportunity to do more sports and broaden my horizons. I feel like this decision makes Andover athletics so much better because I can still do poms and another sport and I’m not just on poms . Now, I can do sports every season and not just do poms for two seasons because last year’s season was so long. I feel that overall, it is better for the varsity team.” Guizzetti concludes, “I’m optimistic [about this decision], which has opened up poms to a number of new candidates and has allowed girls in poms to go play another sport. It helps [Andover athletics] potentially achieve one of our main goals, to provide as many opportunities as possible to the students.”
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Junior Jennifer Sterbenz is a member of the Bloomfield United figure skating team, which is the reigning state silver medalist. She started her skating career when she was five years old after seeing it on television and thinking it looked pretty. Since then, she has been training at the Detroit Skating Club and now competes freestyle at the Junior level; she is a double gold-medalist in Moves in the Field and ice dance. She has also competed at the high school competitions representing the Bloomfield United since her freshman year. Her favorite skating memory is either making it to Junior Nationals for the first time or her first Regionals. Her favorite jump is the flip jump.
Michaella Jelin Four assists in game against rivals Junior Michaella Jelin, a captain of the Girls Varsity Hockey team, has been playing since freshman year. Jelin has always enjoyed watching the sport, and wishes to play hockey through college. A friend of Jelin’s, Hanna Belden, was the captain of the team during her freshman year and convinced her to play hockey through high school. Jelin’s hockey idol, Gordie Howe, was born in the same month as her, and played right wing which is also her position. Jelin and Howe have both donned the number nine as well. Although Jelin didn’t score in the game against their rivals, Detroit Country Day, she had four assists which led the team to an eight to one victory. “I wish people would have a greater appreciation for women’s hockey as a whole.” Jelin says “I love the sport and would not change a thing.”
Ashleigh Stewart Won a Pine Knob race and placed 13th in a mid-American race Ashleigh Stewart is celebrating her fourth and final year as a top varsity ski racer and a two-year captain. Her personal goal is to be first place at every Pine Knob race, win regionals, and go on to states; her goal for the girls team is to go back to states together for the fourth year in a row. “Last year I won a Pine Knob race and was 13th in a mid-American race, and I’ve been working to improve ever since. Since then, I’ve gotten faster. Now I’m stronger and have more drive because it’s my senior year I really want it to be the best ever. I’m very excited; it should be a good year.”
Ivan Spizizen 208 in a six-dive meet Sophomore Ivan Spizizen first began diving as a freshman on the Andover team. His favorite dive is a front two and a half tuck. Ivan’s highest score this year has been a 208 and he is aiming for a 220 in a sixdive meet. During the off-season, Ivan dives three times a week and runs on the Andover track team. This year he is looking forward to attending the regional and county meets. Ivan’s goal is to go to the state meet at the end of this season. He is planning to continue diving at Andover and is considering diving in college.
Devon Herzoff Scored a high of 26 points earlier this year Junior Devon Herzoff is in his first year of playing small forward for the Varsity basketball team. He has been playing basketball for 12 years. Earlier this year, Devon had a career high 26 points against Ferndale University. His favorite basketball memory was playing a tournament at Findley Prep in Ohio, which is year in and year out a basketball powerhouse around the country. During the off-season, he mostly works on his shot but also likes to workout and get in shape. His goal for this season is to become a more rounded player and to make all-league. Devon hopes to play basketball in college at either the Division 2 or 3 level.
Junior Varsity hockey team founded in Bloomfield Former Bloomfield Hills Club sport added to Andover atheltics Andrew Pan
News Section Editor The number of hockey sticks just doubled. For the first time in the district, there is a functioning Junior Varsity hockey program. “Head Coach Rick Reed and the Bloomfield Hockey Boosters Board thought it would be very valuable to have a JV program for the coach to oversee directly,” explains District Athletic Coordinator Mike Cowdrey. “They came to me and said it would be fully funded by the parents, meaning it’s not costing the district a dime for ice time, transportation, uniforms, officials, and etcetera. I gave it the green light.” Varsity Coach Rick Reed and Assistant Varsity Coach Bruce McAlister describe the conception of the JV team. “I asked for a JV program when I first interviewed [to be coach] and was pretty shocked when [Bloomfield] didn’t have one,” says Reed. “Parents started to mobilize. [They had funded the Bloomfield Chargers prep program before] and determined there was no huge financial difference to
support this JV program. This new program became a full sport and was very well supported.” “I’d say it was a community effort,” adds McAlister. “We needed a JV program, and the only way that it happened was that parents and the prep team worked together with the coaches on the Hockey Boosters Board to find a solution that would meet everyone’s needs, including the district’s.” Coaches commented on the short- and long-term benefits of having a JV program versus keeping the former non school-affiliated hockey prep team. “[Under the old system,] we could bring a prep player up to varsity if a varsity player was injured, but once he came up, he could not go back down,” explains McAlister. “So if we had a full roster, that player might not see a lot of time on the ice.” To current JV Coach Fred Burnham, the greatest advantage is preserving membership. “Players who don’t make the varsity team have somewhere to play hockey instead of having to go outside of the school system,” says Burnham. “There’s flexibility to move players up and down between teams, and the varsity coach is also more involved than with a prep team.” Reed adds that “without a pipeline [to
recruit brilliant players as freshmen and sophomores], you have only a peak of a couple of good years. Players can now stay at home instead of paying [upwards of] ten grand to go to Brother Rice or thirty grand to go to Cranbrook.” Coaches also saw changes in attitude from last year just from observing the weekly integrated practices combining the JV and varsity teams. “Everyone has a great attitude and is excited to play,” observes Burnham. “The camaraderie has also definitely improved.” “The previous prep team wasn’t held under any school guidelines so [players] expected less of themselves, took the game less seriously, and were less disciplined,” says Reed. “But this year, there are a lot fewer penalty minutes.” In addition to sustaining the improved team dynamics, Burnham says that “[the team] wants to have a good season and win as many games as possible. But our main goal is to get all players ready for varsity, to develop their skills and discipline for the next level.” To conclude, the coaches and athletic directors encourage all students to come support the Chargers at games. Middle school players entering high school are also encouraged to try out for hockey in the summer. It’s time to hit the ice.
“Players who don’t make the varsity team have somewhere to play hockey instead of having to go outside of the school system.” Fred Burnham JV Hockey Coach
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Game Plan Support
Superbowl XLV
On February 4-5, Barons will be raising awareness and funds for cancer on the basketball court. Boys Varsity Team faces off against Rochester High School and the Lady Barons play against Ferndale High school for Coaches vs. Cancer. Coaches vs. Cancer is a countrywide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams, and their communities to raise an effort in the fight against cancer. The varsity teams, both lead by Coach Rubin, will be hosting a weekend-long program that concentrates on the experience, leadership, and excellence of Rubin and his teams to beat cancer and promote healthy lifestyle through awareness efforts and fundraising activities. The Barons hope to make a fit contribution to the already $50 million scored in support of the American Cancer Society’s mission to pack cancer as a life threatening disease. “Coaches vs. cancer just make sense. Everybody needs to understand the importance of fundraising for a cause that has touched just about everybody,” says Rubin. Hopefully the Barons will put forth a strong fight in beating both of their opponents, the opposing teams, and cancer.
Get pumped for Super Bowl Sunday, now considered a de facto national holiday, Super Bowl XLV will be played on February 6, 2011. Watch the champions of the NFC the Green Bay Packers and AFC champions the Pittsburgh Steelers clash on the gridiron to determine the best football team in the nation. Last year’s game became the most watched event in U.S. television history and this year’s game should be just as popular. Even if you are not a football fan, the Super Bowl is filled with the best commercials of the year, which should keep people glued to their screens. Another reason to watch will be the half-time performance by the Black Eyed Peas, who look to put on a great show. So get together with your friends to watch a great sporting event unfold.Who will take home the Lombardi Trophy this year? Tune in to find out.
http://www.thesportsbank.net/illinois-illini/coaches-vscancer-suits-sneakers-awareness-weekend/
Boys swim meet Andover v.s Lahser Grab your goggles, your cutest bathing suit or trunks, and hop in the car and head over to Lahser High School for a meet that you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive into the world of the Andover Boys Varsity Swim team. Our Barons will be competing against the Lahser High School Knights Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. This is one meet that will put all other meets to shame. The Varsity Barons have prepared, trained, swam for hours on end, and soon all their hard work will pay off. Our boys have prepared to swim faster than any Knight dares to dream. This year the Andover Barons have the change to defeat the Knights for the first time in years, so this is definitely one meet all Andover students do not want to miss.
Saturday, February 19 9 a.m. to noon Student Center, McNichols Campus
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Duke Vs. North Carolina On February 9, witness a titan of a battle between two of college basketball’s most storied franchises as Duke takes on North Carolina. Nicknamed the Battle of the Blues, it is widely considered the fiercest rivalry in all of men’s college basketball and one of the most intense rivalries in all of sports. Battling it out at least twice a year since January 24, 1920, North Carolina and Duke routinely rank among the nation’s best basketball teams. The games frequently determine the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion; since the ACC’s founding in 1953, Duke and North Carolina have combined to win 80 percent of the conference’s regular season titles. North Carolina leads the alltime series 130-99 but this season, Duke enters the game as the favorite. This is still either teams’ game to win and it looks to be a competative one. Tune in to see which team is “still the best” in North Carolina. http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/xm-live-at-duke.html
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January 2011
AMERICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) encourages investigation that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and experimental. PRIORITY MERIT SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 15 APPLY NOW: www.saic.edu/ugapp www.saic.edu/ugmerit ADMISSIONS 800.232.7242 | 312.629.6100 | ugadmiss@saic.edu Annie Sutula (BFA 2010), Rebuild (detail), 2010, mixed media installation
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january 2011
Partaking in America’s pastime Baseball player recalls stories from past generations about the dying game
Steven Goldenthal Staff Writer
It is a cold, snowy Saturday in January. Looking out the window, I think of the endless possibilities if the weather wasn’t so terrible. I quickly set my mind on one thing: a pick-up game of baseball with some of my friends. I would ride my bicycle around the neighborhood and round up anyone I could find to get in a couple of games before nightfall. I’d try out my newly-developed slider to see if it would make their knees buckle. Sadly, this thought is gone as fast as it came to me as I realize that even if it was summer, there are no realistic chances of having a pick-up game. Pick-up baseball is a dying breed of sport. Ever since I was little, I always heard of the elusive “pick-up baseball game” where kids from a neighborhood would get together in an open field and just play for the fun of playing baseball. My dad used to tell me how he and his friends would play until nightfall, only returning home because of their parent’s demands. I remember watching the movie The Sandlot for the first time, giddy about the prospect of gathering up some kids from my neighborhood and partaking in America’s pastime. Nowadays kids only play baseball if it’s in their schedule. If kids don’t have games, practices, or private lessons scheduled, they aren’t playing baseball. Instead, they are more likely to be inside, occupied by the few hundred channels on their television, endless amounts of videogames, or the Internet. I would be lucky to get a couple of my friends to come and play catch with me. They are missing out on some of the best parts of this type of baseball. There aren’t any coaches or parents. There isn’t any pressure. Kids don’t need to worry about impressing anyone or about making mistakes, they just need to love the game, have fun and play. Today, organized baseball is under the microscope of adult supervision, with too much pressure and not enough freedom. I hope that when I have kids, they will be able to play baseball the way it should be played -- “for the love of the game.” As I come back from my daydream, I turn on the TV to see what will occupy the rest of my day. Unfortunately, the closest I am going to come to a pick-up game of baseball is watching highlights on the MLB Network.
from B1 SWIMMING: Sun I think all the freestyle national cuts are achievable; I probably won’t get all of them, but I’m fairly certain I can get at least one. I think if I just get in a lot of yards of training at a difficult pace I can work my times down [to the national cut].” According to Zulkiewski, his abilities and attitude add a great deal to the team. “He adds so much talent and is a very well rounded athlete, making Vic able to swim a great deal of events for us,” continues Zulkiewski. “His work ethic is inspiring to the rest of the team; the guys see what he does everyday and they know how hard He adds so they have to work to much talent and achieve that which really motivates the is a very well rest of the team.” rounded “Vic is an extremely athlete, fast swimmer with making Vic a good attitude,” able to swim a shares Abrash. “He great deal of just adds everyevents thing [to the team] for us. he’s perfect. I look up to everything David Zulkiewski Vic does, every Varsity Swim Coach time I walk into the locker room and into that natatorium, I wish I could be Vic Sun. I feel like it’s an honor to be sharing a lane with him every single day of the year.” Zulkiewski concludes, “It’s exciting for me as a coach to see one of our athletes to achieve this, but more than that it’s exciting for Vic to know that the hard work paid off. For him to get it this early speaks volumes and I am very proud of him for what he did all year.”
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Sports Q&A
Elli Thomas Tessa Lewitt Staff Writer
Q: When did you start skiing? A: Well I started when I was one - skiing in Otsego - and I’ve been skiing ever since. Sophomore Elli Thomas skis down the slopes at a CUSSA sponsored race.
Q: How did you get into racing? A: I started skiing more and more often and then eventually I started doing some racing clinics at DL and I also did Central Region U.S Ski & Snowboarding Association (CUSSA). Q: How did you get into the Junior Olympics? A: Last year, I went to Marquette, which is in [Michigan’s] Upper Peninsula, and after training for it I tried out there. They took the top 20 skiers to be in the Junior Olympics. Q: How did it feel to be in the Junior Olympics? A: It felt really cool to be following in my skiing hero Lindsay Vonn’s footsteps. She tried out for the Junior Olympics there and made it, and then soon after went on to win a lot of Olympic events. Q: What is your plan for skiing in the future? A: I want to keep on racing and eventually go to the Olympics, but you have to train a lot and put in a lot of time, which is hard to do in high school.
Q: How has Andover skiing affected your skiing?
Q: What makes skiing important to you?
A: Well, its really improving me as a skier because I train every day for a couple of hours after school. So, if I didn’t do Andover ski team, I’d only have the chance to train on the weekends.
A: My whole family skis, so its something we can all do together.
Q: What is your favorite skiing memor y? A: I really liked being a part of the ski camps in Oregon and Colorado, but I also was really happy to be going to the Junior Olympics.
Q: Who is your favorite skier and why? A: My favorite skier is Lindsey Vonn because I have always looked up to her since I was little watching the Olympics. She has been my inspiration towards racing. I met her at Copper Mountain this year and had a conversation with her. It was really cool to meet my skiing hero.
Q: What’s your favorite place to ski?
Q: Who got you into skiing?
A: I love skiing at Vail, Colorodo.
A: My grandparents and parents got me into skiing.
Q: What do you like about being a part of a ski team? A: Well when you have your friends skiing by your side, you can encourage them and they encourage you, so it’s fun.
Q: What is the most fun part of skiing? A: The most fun part is the CUSSA racing team and high school team, and making it into the Junior Olympics at Vail, Colorado.
Quick Facts -Thomas’s grandfather owned Don Thomas Sport House -Thomas is in the Junoir Olympics -Thomas family owned Skiers Peak -Thomas trains during the summer at Mount Hood, Oregon -Has been involved in CUSSA racing camps
Wrestlers cut weight to compete Quick Facts -Can only cut one point five percent of body fat per week -MHSAA does not require wrestlers to cut weight -Cutting weight improperly can be dangerous -Cases where students have died from improperly cutting weight - There are safe ways to cut weight
Doctors and coaches discuss the healthy way to cut weight for athletics Tim Zobl
Staff Writer Jon remembers it all too well. “One of the kids I used to wrestle with died from cutting weight about two years ago,” the four-year varsity wrestler and senior captain shares. “He went into a sauna room with a bike knowing he had to cut a lot of weight and just started pedaling. He got to a point where his body couldn’t take it anymore and he died from a heat stroke.” Because wrestlers are divided into weight class, they must maintain proper weight for each class or cannot participate. Some, like Williams, “just eat right and work hard at practice, but sometimes, [I] have to sweat it out [in order to stay in my weight class]. One day last year, I put on several layers of clothes, exercised, and cut almost 10 pounds in an hour and a half. I was very dehydrated and felt very sick. It was one of the dumbest things I have ever done in my life and I regret it to this day.” “Cutting weight” is not required by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
from B1 SIBLINGS: Athletics Additionally, siblings help each other out on sports teams. Brett says, “I will definitely help [Griffin] out, especially with time management. He won’t be used to doing a sport at the heart of school, when grades are important, but I’m used to it.” “She helps me out a lot. I don’t like stretching that much, but she always makes sure I do,” Joey says about Anna. Andover Graduate Michael Hamel, the oldest Hamel brother, wasn’t on the team with Brett, and says, “We actually missed each other by a year. He didn’t join the team until I had already graduated, but I think the biggest thing he gained was seeing what I had gone through being on the
“The MHSAA has put safeguards into “A lot of the time, kids will take effect,” explains Athletic Trainer Shira [cutting weight] too far. All that goes Schiff. “All wrestlers must attend a nutri- through their mind is, ‘I have to lose tion lecture and be weighed in this weight.’ They are never A lot of properly prior to wrestling in a taught the proper way to cut match. Once they are weighed the time, weight and are willing to do in, they may only lose 1.5 perjust about anything to lose the cent of their body weight per kids will weight. They are working out week. too much. Some are even take [cut- way Also, no wrestler can wrestle killing themselves,” explains if their percent body fat is under ting weight] Williams. seven percent, unless they have “It’s terrible to see these too far. All wrestlers specific clearance from a medilose their lives for that goes cal doctor.” such a stupid reason,” adds Through out her son’s particiSports Medicine Doctor James through pation, Laverne Williams says Moeller located in Auburn “At first, I had my concerns their mind Hills, Michigan. “I don’t like about cutting weight. I didn’t practice of cutting weight is, ‘I have the really know what he was doing. for wrestling and don’t recom[But] over the years he learned to lose this mend it. Wrestlers should how to manage everything that wrestle at their natural body comes with cutting the weight weight.’ weight and should not lose and I became accustomed to it Jon Williams weight to move down weight Senior Wrestling Captian [the practice].” classes.” According to Head Wrestling “Not all wrestlers need to Coach Tony Scigliano, maintaining weight cut weight. It really depends on what “is all about the calorie intake. A wrestler weight class they are best at. We advise needs to eat healthy food, such as lean a lot of wrestlers not to cut weight,” exprotein, and work out hard at practice and plains Scigliano. “Because of the rules they will be able to lose the weight neces- in place, cutting weight is a lot safer if sary.” done right. A wrestler should not wait Wiliams adds that some wrestlers some- until the last week to cut weight. That times resort to drastic measures to cut is when it becomes unhealthy.” weight.
team. He knew what kind of schedule to expect and how much time he would have to put in to be successful, all from my experience.” Girls Cross Country Coach Beth Sinclair thinks that being on a sport with a sibling is a great way to bond. “[Anna and Joey] are very supportive of each other and their success. Even though they are often together at practices, they are separate enough not to argue, and if they do, it is only about silly stuff.” The Kemeny’s mom, MaryJo Kemeny, agrees with Sinclair. “[Cross Country] for sure makes [Anna and Joey] closer since they have an age difference but share a common activity together,” MaryJo explains. “It is also beneficial to me since they are at the same place at the same time, but they are supportive of one another and like being around each
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other and their friends as well.” According to younger athletes, when their older siblings graduate and are done with their sports, it will be a change they aren’t ready for just yet. Sophomore Skier Elli Thomas says about Senior brother Andrew, “It will be different because I won’t have anyone to look up to when skiing. [Andrew] was like a coach to me and he helped me be a better racer. I will miss him helping me take care of my skis and waxing them for me. Before a race, Andrew would always wish me luck and now he won’t be there to give me support.” “If [Elli] has an off run or a bad day and asks for help, of course I will help her,” concludes Andrew. “[Ski Team] makes our relationship stronger. I’m there for her and she’s there for me.”
Quick Facts -There are over 10 sibling pairs who play sports together at Andover -Three of the siblings pairs are on the ski team alone - The Kemenys both run Cross Country and Track together
B6
Get an education, not just a 4.0
Sole focus on grades detracts from purpose of four years in high school
Gabe Menchaca Co-Editor-in-Chief
“… but as long as I get an A.” After three and a half years of high school, it would probably take me another three and a half to count how many times I’ve heard that phrase escape a classmate’s lips. It seems to be an accepted fact at Andover, among much of the student body, that any tactic or trick is acceptable in pursuit of the almighty A. But, do the ends really justify the means? I don’t think that they do. I’ve watched teachers who I respect immensely come under pressure from students, parents, and the community at large to dole out these little groups of dots on sheets of paper. Every time a progress report goes out, many teachers can expect a torrent of emails and calls coming in from parents who are “concerned” about their children’s performance. The worst part, however, comes when final exam time rolls around. Suddenly, teachers are labeled tyrants because they refuse to inflate student’s grades to bump them up a letter grade. The dreaded “But I worked so hard!” starts to creep back into the vernacular of the student body. Chasing this goal, it’s easy for us to get lost in the details and forget why exactly we drag ourselves into American high schools every morning, half asleep, and slightly disheveled. Schools are designed to educate, not to streamline the process of shifting students out of their parent’s houses and into college dorms. Somewhere along the way it became about attaining an arbitrary measurement from other inherently subjective humans and not about preparing students to face the challenges of a 21st century world. Here, all parties share the guilt: parents expecting their children to do things that aren’t healthy or even right for grades, students who run themselves ragged trying to succeed, and a school system unwilling to just say no to the deluge of coming ethically bankrupt grade-seeking parents. If for no other reason than it could help reduce friction in the system, I believe that we all need to take a good, hard look at our priorities. Perhaps it is time to change the focus of school from “getting an A” back to “getting an education.”
Shield Opinion
PRO
James Feuereisen Co-Editor-in-Chief
Mr. Lincoln, why the hate? With the increase in metal prices over the past decade, there has been a movement by various individuals and a select few politicians to eliminate the one-cent piece from circulation and make the fivecent piece the lowest denomination. For this battle, there is clearly only one noble cause: the penny must remain part of the American coinage system. A main argument for the elimination of the penny is the fact that producing one penny cost $0.0180, which ends up costing the federal government a net loss of over 20 million dollars, according to the 2010 U.S. Mint Annual Report. Yet the same report indicates the nickel too has a production cost above face value at almost nine cents per nickel. A solution to the high cost of production is to change the composition of the penny. Potential compositions include a base of aluminum or steel, which was previously used during World War II. Congress has already taken steps for this to occur with
its recent passage of a law that will give the Mint freedom to alter the penny’s composition Nevertheless despite the official negative costs associated with the penny, in total, the mint actually makes a net profit with the penny. The reasoning behind this is that recently the mint initiated special commemorative designs for the penny that sell to collectors far above their face value. These commemorative sales represent a separate component of the mint’s budget but the profits of these sales outweigh the circulation production loss, meaning that the penny’s elimination will actually reduce the profits of the Federal Mint. An elimination of the money will force the government to spend excessive amounts of tax payer money to collect all the pennies in circulation and melt them down as well as pay for the transition process in other areas. In addition, getting rid the penny means all purchases will necessitate rounding. While law will mandate
january 2011 that rounding be done fairly, businesses will surely manipulate prices to ensure prices are always rounded up to better their bottom line, which cheats consumers out of their hard earned money. Another argument for the penny’s elimination is fears of criminal behavior in melting down the penny for its metallic value, specifically older pennies that have a higher copper content. Despite these fears, the U.S. mint has enacted strict laws that criminalize such behavior, with fines up to $10 thousand and up to five years in jail. The penny has been an American icon for over a century and is a key contributor the coin collecting industry, which generates millions of dollars in trade every year. The penny’s eradication would put a dent in a pastime that could never be replaced. Nothing shines like a new penny.
Gabe Menchaca Co-Editor-in-Chief
Psychological pricing means that retailers are intentionally betting that your brain subconsciously rounds the last two numbers of a price down when shopping. By merely handing customers back a penny, the retailer is making more money than it would have at a whole number price point. And the continued existence of the penny allows them to continue to swindle consumers. This relic of the past has been rendered useless and nearly valueless by inflation and public perception. In the day of Melville Stone, who mythically introduced the penny to Chicago in 1876, a penny was a significant amount
of money. These days, though, pennies end up tossed nonchalantly into tip jars or wedged between sofa cushions. The purchasing power of these little copper Lincolns has been so greately reduced in recent years that the penny is no longer useful in every day commerce. This begs the question, why precisely do we need a denomination as small as the penny in the 21st century? Having this two and a half gram coin jingling around in pockets or piling up in purses isn’t workable, practical, or desirable any more. America is cluttered enough as it is without the nearly 386 thousand tons of pennies floating around in circulation, many of them forgotten and not being used as everyday currency. In an age where cash transactions are swiftly losing ground to electronic payment methods and where the price of copper has soared over the last few years, the continued production of the penny is making less sense every day.
James Feuereisen Co-Editor-in-Chief
Freedom. It is the cornerstone of American society, a beacon of hope for millions of immigrants, and a right cherished by all. Yet, with recent changes in the functioning of society, I find myself asking, does freedom still exist?
Sure, there is still free speech. There is no government oppression to worry about. I’m not worried about big brother coming to hunt me down. But the freedom I’m question the existence of is the freedom to privacy, and clearly the answer is “no.” The rise of the information has basically put a death sentence to this once cherished right, with the notion of privacy being abandoned by society. Facebook is the main culprit of this act. While this social network has opened the doors for a completely new way of communication with friends near or far, it has nevertheless closed the doors of privacy. Yes there are settings preventing complete strangers from viewing my personal information, but no matter what, my information is still accessible.
My friends, or indirectly their friends and their friends’ friends’ friends can view my preferences, my photos, my posts, and any other information I post to the site. Yet the true problem of Facebook and social networking in general isn’t privacy but a loss of individuality. The site has several features based around determining what my friends are doing and their preferences. Essentially, the message is that my decisions should be based on my friend’s decisions, not my own. What happened to the notion of individuality and thinking about actions with a clear conscious? Even my regular internet activity is not private. Almost all websites have tracking devices whose information is sold to businesses based upon my actions on the
- The penny is the most widely used denomination currently in circulation
Pro/Con Editorial
For instance, in 2009, it cost the Mint $0.0162 to produce the one cent penny. The total deficit of $19.8 million associated with penny production in 2009 is currently being absorbed by the gains from producing dimes and quarters. However, with rising metal prices across the board, these gains are not nearly at the level that they used to be. The U.S. therefore needs to nip the problem in its metaphorical bud and relegate the penny to the purview of collectors and curators. It is clear that the penny has had its day in the sun. But it may be time to bid farewell to Honest Abe and the dead weight of the currency world.
Rachel Rohr
Managing/Copy Editor I just can’t buy any more cookies. Andover students’ desire to do good is one thing that makes me proud to be in high school here. This desire is exemplified by most of the 45 clubs currently active, many of which choose a worthy cause to help.
But often, clubs take the wrong apbe sent to people no club member has proach to supporting these causes. even met. Rather than looking to service projects, Don’t get me wrong, raising money to they look for money. send to charities is certainly noble. But Can anybody count the number of bake taking action is what is most rewarding sales there has been since he or she of all. started high school? Neither can I. Take the Animal Protection Club Why do so many clubs from Great Valley High School in choose to use their weekly Malvern, Pennsylvania for example. The Roar meetings to plan who will It won the “2010 Humane Society bring the chocolate chip Youth Club Award” for its participacookies and who will bring the snickertion in The Humane Society’s “Mission: doodles? The answer could be laziness. Humane Friends for Hens” project, which It might be time constraints. Or there’s tries to get encourage school cafeteria’s even a chance that these people genuinely to purchase cage-free eggs. The Animal don’t care enough to take time to truly Protection Club put in a tremendous make a difference. Regardless, club time amount of work, meeting with their direcneeds to be spent doing something, not tor of food service, PTO, superintendent, just selling something so the proceeds can local farmers, and even their senator; club
- A recent poll by Opinion Research Corporation found that more than 70 percent of Americans support keeping the penny in circulation Facts from coins. thefuntimesguide. com
CON
Cartoon by: Jarred Bratley
internet to allow for personalized marketing. These businesses will likely soon know more about my preferences than I know myself. Even a simple cell phone contributes to this loss freedom. The widespread use of text messaging has made it almost a requirement to have my phone on me at all times. If I don’t respond to a text within a few minutes I am almost vilified for being disconnected. But I like the disconnect. I like the feeling of having an ability to live life as a true individual free of outside influence. I like having true privacy. Unfortunately, it seems the only true way to gain complete privacy is to live on a tropical island with no form of communication. Perhaps one day I’ll find myself rowing ashore.
Taking the time to truly make a difference Clubs need to plan social action events instead of repeated fundraisers
- Pennies were the very first coins minted in the United States
- About 30 million pennies per day (1,040 pennies every second) are produced
Determining the real reality of privacy Feuereisen discusses the changes in freedom resulting from technology
- The average penny lasts 25 years
- There have been 11 different designs featured on the penny
MEMORIAL
Should we keep the penny?
Concrete Copper Facts
members managed to also gain support from their peers by creating an informational video about their cause. The Amnesty International Club at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia accomplishes just as much. A recent winner of the Activist Award from Amnesty International USA, the club’s goal is to make people passionate about fighting human injustice. Club members have visited hospitals and orphanages, held an informational “Jamnesty” concert, and completed a letter-writing campaign which resulted in more than 500 letters landing on the desks of government leaders throughout the nation. These are the types of things our clubs should be doing. By planning social action events, we can truly make a difference.
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
January 2011
Our Turn:
‘Gaining weight’ could benefit the academic health of our students We Believe the current GPA system should be changed to reflect the challenging course work of rigorous classes If there is anything a student is passionate about in our school district, it’s grades. And it’s about time that Bloomfield Hills Schools revisit how the dreaded Grade Point Average (known as GPA in the halls) is calculated in our high schools. Currently, GPAs are calculated on a four-point scale with no extra weight given to AP or honors courses, and no attention paid to whether a grade has a minus, plus, or neither attached to it. In short: an A- in an elective course is equivalent to an A+ in an AP course, as far as Bloomfield Hills Schools is concerned. Students are being ripped off. We believe that this is an inefficient way to display our academic achievements. The solution is a weighted grading system. Simply put, an extra point would be given to Advanced Placement Courses and .5 points in Honors classes. Thus, a B in an AP class would still be counted as a 4.0, while an A will count as a 5.0. At last, a system that makes sense. Students will no longer have to fear taking challenging courses, as the weighting will compensate for the difficulty. In addition, colleges will have a better sense of the value of one’s GPA as the difficulty of courses plays a role.
Our brightest students will no longer be penalized for going above-and-beyond. GPAs will now accurately reflect the students’ academic achievements. Furthermore, the current system’s disregard of the other values assigned to the letter grade adds many more negatives to the situation. By counting a B+ as equivalent to a B-, students are not only less motivated to strive for success, but they are also done a huge disservice. Is an 89.3 percent the same as an 81.4 percent? Absolutely, and positively, not. That 7.9 percent difference should be echoed in one’s GPA. Come time for grading at the collegiate level, students may be surprised to find that there is a significant difference between getting an A- and an A to the tune of nearly a third of a point. The fact that Bloomfield Hills is behind the curve when it comes to its students’ futures means that students may be less competitive when compared to students in other local schools like Marian, West Bloomfield, Cranbrook, and the Frankel Jewish Academy, which all have some form of grade weighting system in place. Only Detroit Country Day shares our grading system. If Andover wants to remain competitive with many of these schools, significant changes will need to be made, starting with the system upon which all academics rest: grade point averages. If Bloomfield Hills Schools wants to continue to pride itself on its “Scholarship, Opportunity, and Integrity,” the first step is updating the GPA system. It’s easy as one, two, three, four, five.
B7
Your Turn:
What do YOU think about weighted GPAs?
absolutely think it would benefit stu“ Idents to have weighted GPAs because clearly they should be rewarded for taking harder classes. Paul Stewart
”
Junior
should be weighted because “ GPAs we put all of our dedication into AP
classes, but are still compared to those who don’t put in as much effort. Brenna Turner
”
Sophomore
Hmmm.... 4.2: impressive work in those AP classes.
GPAs at Andover should be weighted “ Our because many students take AP classes and get B’s which is equivalent to an A in a non-AP class. It will make more students take AP classes.
Jasmine Yousif
”
Senior
Cartoon by: Summer Krinsky
Letters to the Editor Impressed with Hairspray
I am amazed at the courage Marly Zack demonstrated in her effort to play the lead role of Tracey Turnbland in Andover’s production of Hairspray while suffering from a hairline fracture in her foot. It is hard to image what she must have had to go through during each performance of Hairspray due to the amount of dances she had to perform. Before I read this article, I had no idea that Marly had a hairline fracture in her foot, because she was able to cover it up so well during each performance and still made the dances look very professional. This also shows the dedication Marly has towards acting because she was willing to do whatever she could in order to make sure that Andover’s production of Hairspray was the best it could be. Marly is a real team player because of everything she has gone through in order to help the musical and her forensics multiple succeed.
Adam Zureick Junior
More about school clubs
I think the Shield should have more information about clubs. For example, I would like to read more about club fundraising. The paper shows so much about sports, opinions, and things like that instead of notifying us of what clubs are up
to. During morning announcements, they mention club activities but since most people don’t pay attention to them, I think it would be more beneficial to put them in the paper. Andy Kim Sophomore
Radio essential to music
The article “Radio killed the 21st century star” mentioned the iPod driving the final stake through the heart of radio. This is certainly not true. At stations playing AC, hip-hop, or pop, a music director spends their days selecting tracks off new albums. Artists still regard terrestrial radio to be the pinnacle of music distribution as they generally set the trend for what people download to their iPods. Music is not the only thing played on FM radio; it is often accompanied by the artist’s biography, upcoming tour dates, and background of the song. Whereas this information can be found online, it is better said by our favorite deejay. If the iPod replaced terrestrial radio, there would be little input of new music. As an artist myself, I hope to have my singles aired on terrestrial radio in the near future. Paul Stewart Junior
2010-2011 Editorial Board
Golden Globe Black Swan
I thought that Gabi really got to know exactly what the movie was about because she [is] a ballet dancer herself. She wrote the article with colorful vocabulary and she seemed like she really knew what she was talking about. It really made me want to go see the movie. The movie also kind of sounds like a turnoff because it’s scary in a way. However, because Natalie Portman is such a good actress, that definitely makes it an intriguing film. I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about it, but now reading Gabi’s take on it, I will probably go see it. It seems like a cool storyline, telling what the real life of a prima ballerina is like. Sarah Klein Sophomore
Fake trees are better
I think the fake christmas trees are more practical than real ones because you are spared from cutting down your own tree, watering it, and caring for it. Despite the fun of real christmas trees, people don’t realize what a hassle it is and what it does to the environment. Basically, we are chopping down unnecessary numbers of trees when we could all just get fake ones. Max Coplin Junior
Gabe Menchaca
James Feuereisen
Rachel Rohr
Brian Margosian
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Managing/Copy Editor
Ashley DuBois
News Section Editor
Marley Kalt
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Design/Web Editor
Andrew Pan
News Section Editor
Derek Wolfe
Life Section Editor
Life Section Editor
Anna Zambelli
Bianca Lazar
Life Section Editor
Nicole Kiester
Sports Section Editor
Ashley Pikula
Assistant Managing Editor
Gabi Stone
Opinion Editor
Jaclyn Nagel
Sports Section Editor
Meagan Danielak
Assistant Managing Editor
Sophia Garfinkel
Assistant Managing Editor
Photographer-in-Chief
Rachel Gerendasy
Mara Stein
Zach Wolfe
Christina Hammitt
Distribution Manager
Advertising Manager
Web Editor
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
Shield Feature
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January 2011
Faith finds it place
in school
Photos by: Sophia Garfinkel
Ameen Suharwardy (9) performs the call to prayer, called the azaan, at an Muslim Student Alliance meeting.
nightfall (Isha).” Chaabi explains that currently, Zuhr falls between noon and approximately 2:40 pm. At 12:50, around 10 to 20 percent of the MSA meets to observe Zuhr together in the media center. Since they meet during passing period, they do not miss much class; at the most, Rachel Rohr and Ashley Pikula Managing and Assistant Managing Editors they arrive only two minutes late. To secure space for Zuhr during the Eat. Pray. Go back to class. winter, the students asked administra“We pray at school because with the tors. timings nowadays – the region of time “TKS actually worked with Mr. Rugthat we have to pray the second prayer girello,” says MSA Sponsor Stephanie between noon and mid-afternoon – if Bevier. “Mr. Ruggirello approved the we go home we might miss [the secneed and we talked about a space. We ond prayer],” explains Junior Hiba figured out that the conference room Chaabi. [in the library] would work.” Chaabi is one of the Muslim students Associate Principal Lou Ruggirello who, from December to early Februhas been accommodating the Muslim ary, observe Zuhr, the second prayer students’ need for six or seven years. of salah, during school. “I find it very interesting learning “Salah is basically one of the requireabout different cultures and religions,” ments, one of the distinhe explains. “In fact, that’s guishing characteristics of a one of the things we have ...I would Muslim,” says Co-President going here… I think [Anhonor any of the Muslim Student Aldover has] a rich diversity. liance (MSA), Junior Taha religious And that’s just something – if Suhrawardy (who is known group: Musyou’re a people person – you as TKS). “In Islam prayer, lim, Jewish, like to hear about this stuff.” it’s for us; it’s not really for Christian, According to Ruggirello, he God. It’s an act of worship whatever. is unaware if providing the and it has a number of uses. Muslim students a place to Lou Ruggirello For example, it’s basically Associate Principal pray is mandatory or not. like a continuous reminder “I think it’s the right thing of God. It’s because of God to do [regardless]. Because I would that we’re here. Because of that, it enhonor any religious group: courages Muslims to do good and forMuslim, Jewish, bid the evil. And also it gives Muslims Christian, a peace of mind.” whatever,” “[Salah is] ritual prayer. We do it he says. five times a day, and it has certain tim“So ings according to where the sun is,” says Chaabi. “One we do before the sun comes up (Fajr), one after about noon (Zuhr), and then one after mid-afternoon (Asr), and then one right after sunset (Maghrib), and then one after
Prayer needs accomodated during winter months
“
”
what I do is I talk to the kids [needing the week because of the importance of salah in their lives. a space to pray], I find out how many “When we’re praying, we’re not just kids are involved, and then we want to find as much of a private and comfort- putting our hands up and praying to him and just saying random things,” able location as possible.” The students use the media center to explains Sophomore Bilal Chaabi. perform salah only Monday through “There are actually actions and words Thursday. On Fridays, the MSA gath- with deep meaning and stories that ers to have their weekly meeting in the have evolved throughout the history of Islam… When I’m praying, computer lab, which beSalah is... I feel at peace and calm.” gins with the special prayer Sophomore Rowa Altattan that is read out loud. They a connection agrees. choose to meet on Fridays between you “Salah is basically a connecbecause of the significance and God. I tion between you and God. I of the day to their religion. view it as a view it as a time to relax and “In Christianity, Sunday is time to relax time to get peaceful,” she the holy day. And in Judasays. ism, it’s Saturday. In Islam, and a time to TKS explains the signifiit’s Friday,” says TKS. The get peaceful. cance of salah to Islam. Friday MSA meetings be- Rowa Altattan Sophomore “Besides the declaration of gin with the call to prayer. faith it’s most important. And, After, a speech is given by one member. TKS says the speech is I can prove that because it’s required “a reminder to do good and to be good, for every single person. Charity, that’s upstanding Muslims in society, to im- only required for those people who prove our character, etc. We begin and can pay it, who have the ability to pay some of the Quran is read. There’s one it. For the hajj, pilgrimage, only those chapter that’s read every single time. who should go are those who can go At the end of salah, we raise up our physically and are able financially. hands and ask God for what we need.” The fasting, the pregnant women, the The students appreciate the opportu- elderly, the sick, they’re exempted,” nity to use the media center and com- he explains. “But salah... if you can’t stand up, you can lie in your bed even. puter lab during Because, for us, prayer is a blessing rather than a burden. It’s a way that we can get close to our God.”
“
”
Begins with the onset of the “second dawn” and ends when the sun starts to rise. The “second dawn” is the brightness that appears along the horizon in the east and extends north to south.
Zuhr
Starts when the sun has passed the highest part of the sky and started to descend towards the west. Ends when the shadow of everything is equal in length to the object itself.
-Salah is the second pillar of Islam -Prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet’s ascension to heaven -There are seven requirements for prayer: -body has to be clean -clothes must be clean -body must be adequately covered -praying location must be clean -have to face the right direction (towards Mecca) -time of day must be correct -use the correct prayer at the right time
(From front to back) Hiba Chaabi (11), Sarah Edlibi (12), and Jumana Baraka (10) perform prostration during prayer.
The Five Daily Prayers Fajr
Salah Facts
Asr
as explained by Mehreen Baakza from the Muslim Unity Center, Bloomfield Hills.
Begins when the time for Zuhr ends. The preferred time it ende is when the sun begins to turn yellow. The other end is when there is a “time of necessity.”
Maghrib
Starts immediately after the time for Asr ends, which is when the sun sets. Lasts until the twilight or red afterglow has faded or disappeared from the sky.
Isha
Begins immediately after the time for Maghrib ends. This lasts until “midnight.” To calculate midnight, divide the time between sunset and sunrise in half. The halfway point is the end of Isha.
Shield
Life
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shield|life
January 2011
shield|life
January 2011
The Rundown shield|life SCUBA Club
January 2011
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Join the Club: Testimonial “[SCUBA Club]’s a great opportunity, and not many people get the chance to go SCUBA diving on a regular basis” -Tegan Servo
Sophomore
What is SCUBA?
Divemaster Chuck Stavoe and Sophomore Tegan Servo go into depth about the club Ryan Rosenberg
Staff Writer
How would you describe the SCUBA Club? Chuck Stavoe: The club is for anyone in Bloomfield Hills high schools who is a SCUBA diver, who has SCUBA dived, or is just even interested in SCUBA diving and wants to try it or learn about it. It’s for anyone who wants to be certified in SCUBA
-SCUBA stands for “Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus -With proper SCUBA equipment, divers are able to spend extended time underwater at depths up to 130 feet. On the right: Senior Gabe Menchaca enjoys his dive.
dents. People’s experience in the water is usually limited to being on top of the water, like swimming or boating, but when you get into the water and under the surface and actually see what’s in there, it’s different than what you might expect. Even if you’re a student of marine biology, and when you get to see the ocean where all the different things live, like fish or coral or jellyfish or whales, you start to understand that other 70 percent of the world covered by water. I’d like for more people to be able to experience that, so that is why I wanted to bring the activity to Bloomfield Hills schools. Why did you want to join the SCUBA Club? TS: I wanted to join the SCUBA Club because I swim, so the water is something I’m used to. My parents have been SCUBA diving and snorkeling when I was younger, so it’s something I’ve always been interested in. Why should students join the SCUBA Club? CS: They should join the SCUBA Club so that they can become certified SCUBA divers, enjoy an activity that not many people do, and see some wonderful areas on the planet that they wouldn’t be able to go to otherwise. I hope that we will be able to take a trip and do some diving in places that the students might not go if they were not diving. During the summer we will be doing some shipwreck diving here in Lake Huron. TS: They should join the SCUBA Club because it’s a great opportunity, and not many people get the chance to go SCUBA diving on a regular basis. Usually it’s very expensive and hard to come by, so getting to [SCUBA dive] in an inexpensive way that is close to home is a great opportunity.
Enthusiastic members of SCUBA Club including Gabe Menchaca, Brian Margosian, Tegan Servo, and Michael Duric practice diving in Lahser’s pool.
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Join the Club
Dive into the underwater world of the SCUBA Club
Photos by:Brian Margosian
Club in Action
diving because we have all of the sessions necessary. We do work on dive theory and we do sessions in the pool to learn the underwater skills. Then, when the water warms up in May, we will take everyone who has done their prep work, and we will go out and dive in a local lake and do the last part to get a certification. Tegan Servo: The SCUBA Club is a group of kids from Andover and Lahser who get together with a SCUBA instructor from Novi, Michigan who provides us with SCUBA gear. We go into the pool at Lahser and we apply the stuff we learned like safety techniques and how to SCUBA dive. What does the SCUBA Club do in a regular meeting? When are the meetings? CS. We’ll talk about SCUBA skills and go over SCUBA knowledge, and then we’ll be in the pool with SCUBA gear on, and we will practice different SCUBA skills for about an hour and a half. We meet usually on Tuesdays and Saturdays. TS: At a regular meeting, we go to the classroom for an hour and take a quiz on the stuff we learned. Then we get to go in the pool and actually apply that stuff. Why did you want to bring SCUBA diving to high school students? CS: I’ve been SCUBA diving for almost 30 years, and I’ve SCUBA dived in a lot of places around the world, so I really wanted to be able to share the activity with stu-
shield|life
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January 2011
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About
1
“I wish to go back and do it all over again, at 25, and I would do it all the same... not changing a thing.”
3
6
“ I’ve always loved teaching. ever since I was young I grew up knowing I was going to be a coach, and a teacher. Three of my four older brothers are teachers, and coaches.”
2
“mY guIlTY pleAsure woulD probAblY be pIzzA. IT’s so unheAlThY. buT IT’s sTIll gooD To eAT.
7
“I’m never reAllY AngrY, IT TAKes A loT for me To geT AngrY.”
8 9
hIs mIDDle nAme Is norrIs
“I lIKe To plAY golf, wATch fooTbAll, AnD coAch volleYbAll.”
“I was named after my Uncle Norris, who died of cancer at a young age.”
4
BIGGEST PET PEEVE “Artificial people trying to be something they’re not.”
“I hAve A verY gooD sense of humor, As serIous As I looK. no one ever Knows when I’m KIDDIng or noT.”
5
10 HIddEn TalEnTS
“I wAs elecTeD To oAKlAnD unIversITIes hAll of honor for volleYbAl In 2007.”
“I’m a really good cook. I was the youngest of five boys, and the only way I could eat was to make my own food.”
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Ten Things Discover what you didn’t know about Robert Hurdle
Design by: Marley Kalt Photo and Interview by: Sarah Harris
shield|life
January 2011
C9
Seating Wars
Table
Your Turn
Where do you sit?
vs
Booth “ I like booths because
they are cushy and comfortable for my butt.
Marly Zack
It’s a no-brainer: take a seat, Mr. Booth. The table has the floor. Do I really want to slide all up and down those leathery seats, mess up my clothing, and decrease my chances of making out with my date later? Or do I really want to look like a fool trying to go to the bathroom by having to scoot to get out? One of the easiest decisions in my restaurant excursion is choosing the table as my primary seating arrangement. The table and chair add elegance to any occasion; the timeless dining area ensures comfort and keeps me looking refined as I feel like a nervous wreck. The chair-table combination helps keep me and my date focused on each other rather than trying to stay comfortTables are able in the overstuffed booth we might terrific dinhave been forced into, leaving us both on ing sets that edge for the rest of the date. Not sticking to that New Year’s Resoluhave ample tion to lose weight? Tables are terrific room for evdining sets that have ample room for ery course of every course of the meal while the booth, the lower-class counter-part forces everythe meal one to sit shoulder to shoulder struggling to find room to cut that prime New York strip steak. In order to make sure the elbow-fight doesn’t get to round two, be sure to place a reservation for the largest table to accommodate the entire party and not leave anyone on the outs falling out of their seat. While some may argue booths are the best invention since chili-cheese fries, (actually, hold the fries, it’s my New Year’s resolution!) I want to know what booths they’re sitting in. More than likely, when I am sitting in a booth, I am also more at risk of receiving a hair in food. That is to say, there is a strong, inverse correlation between number of booths and quality of the restaurant: the more booths, the worse the establishment is. For the ladies: Is anyone able to pull out a booth? The chair increases the chances to find out if the man is a “true” gentleman. So scoot over booths, a low-class, poor excuse for a dinner setting. I’ll take a table. Classy: party of two.
In Roman times, dinner was an occasion. Long couches to lounge on while decadent courses skirted in and out (all presented by hordes of servants), were the norm for any rich Roman ready to ruminate and rend a rarefied dining experience. Though these somewhat extravagant measures are no longer taken today, the remnants of the legacy can be seen in almost any dining establishment. Booths are the great-great-great…(you get the idea) grandchild of the Roman way. When I sit in a booth, I am emulating the noblemen of the Great Empire. Who doesn’t look good An intimate in a toga? But more than that, booths are a booth and superb way to enjoy the titillating disdim lighting course provided by my dining companset the perions. And even if they aren’t that interesting (blind date syndrome), at least I fect stage for am dying of boredom surrounded by a romance plush backdrop. And now, on to the number one concern of almost all adolescents: dating. It is here we get to the crux of the matter. While comfort and class are satisfactory and a nice touch when dining casually, the most important time to make this grueling decision is a Saturday night, when the less-than-thrilled looking hostess asks the vital question, “Table or booth?” and looks expectantly, waiting for an answer. An intimate booth and dim lighting set the perfect stage for romance. On the other hand, a stark ‘table’ can seem miles long, and the conversation comes to a tripping halt halfway across the seemingly infinite trek. The wincingly rigid chairs require scraping and dragging to get to the correct distance from the table. The nails-on-a-chalkboard experience is repeated as the night goes on, whether to use the restroom, move in to allow others to pass behind in the cramped dining area,
Guest Writer
Senior
Guest Writer
“
”
”
Victoria McBean
Ben Rooney
“
”
tables because “youI like don’t have to get up when other people go to the bathroom. Adam Zurick
”
Junior
Tables, because they’re “just more convenient! ”
C7
Versus
Seating debate between tables and booths
C3 2010-2011 Andover Shield Staff Writers Leslie Alter Jarred Bratley Stephanie Fotouhi Steven Goldenthal Sam Gordon Rachel Gorosh Rachel LeFevre Tessa LeWitt Will Neef Zack Neff Noah Newman Ryan Rosenberg Eve Sherbin Mara Stein Calvin Williams Tim Zobl
Guest Writers Michael Linden Alex Osten Ben Rooney Marly Zack
Photographers Sarah Harris Alex Wolf Zach Wolfe David Yu
Allie Silberman Freshman
Pictures taken by Sophia Garfinkel
shield|life
C14
January 2011
Breaking the Gender Barrier
Girls join the 2011 Bionic Barons team Stephanie Fotouhi Staff Writer
The Bionic Barons go co-ed. “It was fine being the only girl. No one treated me differently and I never really felt uncomfortable. Occasionally there were uncomfortable moments, but overall it was fine,” says Senior Shobhita Kramadhati. Once the only girl on the team, Kramadhati will not be alone anymore. During the 2009-2010 school year, Kramadhati was the first and only girl to be on the Robotics Team, but now she will have other female teammates. “It was weird being the only girl [for Shobhita] when the boys start to goof around,” Junior Hiba Chaabi says. “Shobhita isn’t the only girl anymore so she helps the new girls when we don’t know what to do. I think she is a good leader.” Captain of the Bionic Barons, Junior Jason Law feels good about the new girls on the team, saying, “[Shobhita] as well
as the other new girl members of the team brought a lot of great ideas with them. Shobhita is always a contributing member of the team and none of the boys ever treated her differently because she was a girl. When she joined, the team was very welcoming to her.” To add, Robotics Coach, Dr. Ed Law feels Kramadhati is a great addition to the team. “Shobhita is always eager to learn and wants to help. She is on the electrical team but helps in any other areas when necessary,” says Law. “She is a great role model for the younger team members, especially showing younger girls that girls can contribute just as much on a robotics team and have fun at the same time as the boys.” Kramadhati became interested in robotics when she was a junior. Law continues, “Shobhita fit in on the team very well. She didn’t ask or expect to be treated differently. She was eager to learn and didn’t mind jobs that got her hands dirty. She was just another member on the team.” Kramadhati explains how she got involved in robotics.
“Last year, a parent of someone on the team set up a vendor and displayed it in school. They were comparing parts of robots. I got interested in it and decided to join the team,” says Kramadhati. Law explains, “The team started in the 2008-2009 school year, so Shobhita joined in the team’s second year. There were 14 new members this year,with 10 males and four females.” “Andover is one of the only schools in the country with a robotics team mostly full of boys,” says Kramadhati. According to Kramadhati and Chaabi, having a girl on the team adds a different perspective that changes the designs and ideas for robots. “Actually, most Robotics teams have a lot of girls on them. Some of them are all girls teams and some have girl captains. The team gender varies among schools,” explains Kramadhati. According to the female members of the team, being a girl didn’t bring them different treatment. “Sometimes I was treated differently when it came to carrying things and such. But usually I was just like everybody else,” Kramadhati says. “The
coach was very welcoming and excited to have a girl on the team. It was a new change for him as well.” Kramadhati’s parents fully support her interest in robotics and enjoy attending competitions. “I was just surprised to find out that Andover was one of the only teams with few girls on it,” Kramadhati’s father, Simha Kramadhati says. “I don’t see what is weird about a girl being on the team, I am sure the many great female engineers out there feel normal about themselves!” In the future, Kramadhati hopes to carry her high school robotics experience into college and her parents are fully behind this plan. “Shobhita could definitely get involved in robotics in her planned Engineering career in the future,” says Kramadhati’s father. Kramadhati concludes, “I did [robotics] for two years in high school but I would love to be a mentor [on the team] after I graduate. Robotics in college? Definitely. If I find something like it, then I would love to get myself involved in it.”
C14
Bionic Girls
Sometimes “I was treated differently when it came to carrying things and such. But usually, I was just like everybody else.
”
Shobhita Kramadhati Senior
Co-ed membership changes the gears of the Robotics Team
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.
On the cover: Dive master Chuck Stavoe dives into the Lahser pool with the SCUBA club. Photo and Design by: Brian Margosian,Life design by: Marley Kalt, Derek Wolfe, and Anna Zambelli
shield|life Join the Club: SCUBA Club
January 2011
C4
“[SCUBA Club]’s a great opportunity, and not many people get the chance to go SCUBA diving on a regular basis” -Tegan Servo
Sophomore
What is SCUBA?
Divemaster Chuck Stavoe and Sophomore Tegan Servo go into depth about the club Ryan Rosenberg
Staff Writer
How would you describe the SCUBA Club? Chuck Stavoe: The club is for anyone in Bloomfield Hills high schools who is a SCUBA diver, who has SCUBA dived, or is just even interested in SCUBA diving and wants to try it or learn about it. It’s for anyone who wants to be certified in SCUBA
-SCUBA stands for “Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus” -With proper SCUBA equipment, divers are able to spend extended time underwater at depths up to 130 feet. On the right: Senior Gabe Menchaca enjoys his dive.
Club in Action
diving because we have all of the sessions necessary. We do work on dive theory and we do sessions in the pool to learn the underwater skills. Then, when the water warms up in May, we will take everyone who has done their prep work and we will go out and dive in a local lake and do the last part to get a certification. Tegan Servo: The SCUBA Club is a group of kids from Andover and Lahser who get together with a SCUBA instructor from Novi, Michigan who provides us with SCUBA gear. We go into the pool at Lahser and we apply the stuff we learned like safety techniques and how to SCUBA dive. What does the SCUBA Club do in a regular meeting? When are the meetings? CS. We’ll talk about SCUBA skills and go over SCUBA knowledge, and then we’ll be in the pool with SCUBA gear on, and we will practice different SCUBA skills for about an hour and a half. We meet usually on Tuesdays and Saturdays. TS: At a regular meeting, we go to the classroom for an hour and take a quiz on the stuff we learned. Then we get to go in the pool and actually apply that stuff. Why did you want to bring SCUBA diving to high school students? CS: I’ve been SCUBA diving for almost 30 years, and I’ve SCUBA dived in a lot of places around the world, so I really wanted to be able to share the activity with stu-
dents. People’s experience in the water is usually limited to being on top of the water, like swimming or boating, but when you get into the water and under the surface and actually see what’s in there, it’s different than what you might expect. Even if you’re a student of marine biology, and when you get to see the ocean where all the different things live, like fish or coral or jellyfish or whales, you start to understand that other 70 percent of the world covered by water. I’d like for more people to be able to experience that, so that is why I wanted to bring the activity to Bloomfield Hills schools. Why did you want to join the SCUBA Club? TS: I wanted to join the SCUBA Club because I swim, so the water is something I’m used to. My parents have been SCUBA diving and snorkeling when I was younger, so it’s something I’ve always been interested in. Why should students join the SCUBA Club? CS: They should join the SCUBA Club so that they can become certified SCUBA divers, enjoy an activity that not many people do, and see some wonderful areas on the planet that they wouldn’t be able to go to otherwise. I hope that we will be able to take a trip and do some diving in places that the students might not go if they were not diving. During the summer we will be doing some shipwreck diving here in Lake Huron. TS: They should join the SCUBA Club because it’s a great opportunity and not many people get the chance to go SCUBA diving on a regular basis. Usually it’s very expensive and hard to come by, so getting to [SCUBA dive] in an inexpensive way that is close to home is a great opportunity.
Enthusiastic members of SCUBA Club, including Gabe Menchaca, Brian Margosian, Tegan Servo, and Michael Duric, practice diving in Lahser’s pool.
Photos by:Brian Margosian
Testimonial
shield|life
January 2011
C5
Student does an extra year of high school Eshly Lemmelijn comes to Andover after completing high school in Belgium Bianca Lazar
of working or taking a break] because Opinion Editor since I was a little kid, I always wanted Unlike the rest of her friends, to know how it is to be a student in an Senior Eshly Lemmelijn wanted to be American high school.” different. Frida Appelros, a Swedish foreign “I really love traveling and having exchange student and a friend of new experiences. So an exchange year Lemmelijn’s, believes because “[Eshly] seemed like the perfect thing to do,” started school one year before everybody says Lemmelijn. else, I think it was a very good thing for Instead of going straight to a university, her to take a year off and learn a lot this Belgium native decided of English and live in to spend the 2010-2011 school another country. I think I really love year studying abroad. it is a very nice thing to traveling and “In Belgium, I skipped a year do.” in elementary school so I was having new Her host mom always a year younger than the Janet Sandberg says, experiences. other students,” she explains. “[Eshly] fit right in So an ex“When I was in my last year of with our family very high school, all of my friends change year quickly. I think [coming were so looking forward to it but to America to study] is seemed like I was not excited. I just didn’t a great way to fill her the perfect feel ready to go to University gap year. She gets to [even though] I knew what thing to do. keep up with her studies Eshly Lemmelijn I wanted to study and where and gets to have a great Senior [I wanted to study it]. I first experience as well.” wanted to do something else Lemmelijn explains with my life. I was interested in during these programs, other countries since I was younger.” students “learn so many new things, Lemmelijn’s interest developed in her make a lot of new friends, and emotionally fifth year during her school’s ‘little’ get so much stronger. My English is exchange program. getting better. I even start thinking and “I went to Sweden for two weeks [and] dreaming in English. Sometimes when I really loved it,” she says. The program I’m skyping with my parents, I don’t was not long but my interest in doing a know the Dutch words anymore.” bigger exchange program was growing. Looking ahead, Lemmelijn says So I chose studying abroad [instead
“
”
studying abroad won’t affect her admission to college. “In Belgium you don’t have to apply if you want to go to college. You just go to the University before school starts and you get all the papers you need,” she says. “I think [the experience] will be more important when I want a job after my studies. When you mention that you studied an extra year abroad, you’ll be special.” Appelros adds, “I think it is interesting and cool that people go abroad to go to school. If you are happy and open to new things, the exchange year will be a great experience. It is actually harder than you think and it takes a lot of courage to go and live with a family in another country that you have never met before. I think Eshly is making the best out of her exchange year.” Lemmelijn concludes, “When I’m done with my studies, I want to do another big project before I start working. I dream about seeing the world and I just love traveling.”
Spot the Six
Exchange student Eshly Lemmelijn is attending Andover and living with the Soetaert/ Sandberg family.
Photos by: Sophia Garfinkel
Find the six changes in the pictures of the new building at the Bowers Farm.
1. The window on the far-right wall is gone. 2. The center window above the door by the picnic tables is gone. 3. The window near the front corner was added to the left side of the building. 4. The speaker was moved to the top of the building. 5. The light was moved to the top of the building. 6. The greenhouse to the left of the building was removed.
shield|life
C6
January 2011
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About
1
“I wish to go back and do it all over again... and I would do it all the same... not changing a thing.”
3
2
“MY guilty pleasure would probably be pizza. it’s so unhealthy, But it’s still good to eat.
His Middle Name is Norris
“I was named after
my Uncle Norris, who died of cancer at a young age.”
4
“I have a very good sense of humor, as serious as I look. No one ever knows when I’m kidding or Not.”
5
6
“I’ve always loved teaching. Ever since I was young, I grew up knowing I was going to be a coach and a teacher. Three of my four older brothers are teachers and coaches.”
7
“I’m never really angry. it takes a lot for me to get angry.”
8 9
“I like to play golf, watch football, and coach volleyball.”
BIGGEST PET PEEVE
“Artificial people trying to be something they’re not.”
10 Hidden Talents
“I was elected to Oakland universitY’S hall of honor for volleybal in 2007.”
“I’m a really good cook. I was the youngest of five boys, and the only way I could eat was to make my own food.”
Design by: Marley Kalt Photo and Interview by: Sarah Harris
January 2011
shield|life
C7
Seating Wars
Table
vs
Your Turn
Where do you sit?
Booth “ I like booths because
they are cushy and comfortable for my butt.
Ben Rooney
Marly Zack
It’s a no-brainer: take a seat, Mr. Booth. The table has the floor. Do I really want to slide all up and down those leathery seats, mess up my clothing, and decrease my chances of making out with my date later? Or do I really want to look like a fool trying to go to the bathroom by having to scoot to get out? One of the easiest decisions in my restaurant excursion is choosing the table as my primary seating arrangement. The table and chair add elegance to any occasion; the timeless dining area ensures comfort and keeps me looking refined as I feel like a nervous wreck. The chair-table combination helps keep me and my date focused on each other rather than trying to stay comfortable in Tables are the overstuffed booth we might have been terrific dinforced into, leaving us both on edge for ing sets that the rest of the date. Not sticking to that New Year’s Resohave ample lution to lose weight? Tables are terrific room for evdining sets that have ample room for every course of ery course of the meal while the booth, the lower-class counter-part, forces everythe meal. one to sit shoulder to shoulder, struggling to find room to cut that prime New York strip steak. In order to make sure the elbow fight doesn’t get to round two, be sure to place a reservation for the largest table to accommodate the entire party and not leave anyone on the outs falling out of their seat. While some may argue booths are the best invention since chilicheese fries, (actually, hold the fries, it’s my New Year’s resolution!) I want to know what booths they’re sitting in. More than likely, when I am sitting in a booth, I am also more at risk of receiving a hair in food. That is to say, there is a strong, inverse correlation between number of booths and quality of the restaurant: the more booths, the worse the establishment is. For the ladies: Is anyone able to pull out a booth? The chair increases the chances to find out if the man is a “true” gentleman. So scoot over booths, a low-class, poor excuse for a dinner setting. I’ll take a table. Classy: party of two.
In Roman times, dinner was an occasion. Long couches to lounge on while decadent courses skirted in and out (all presented by hordes of servants) were the norm for any rich Roman ready to ruminate and rend a rarefied dining experience. Though these somewhat extravagant measures are no longer taken today, the remnants of the legacy can be seen in almost any dining establishment. Booths are the great-great-great…(you get the idea) grandchild of the Roman way. When I sit in a booth, I am emulating the noblemen of the Great Empire. Who doesn’t look good in a An intimate toga? But more than that, booths are a booth and superb way to enjoy the titillating disdim lighting course provided by my dining companions. And even if they aren’t that inter- set the peresting (blind date syndrome), at least I fect stage for am dying of boredom surrounded by a romance. plush backdrop. And now, on to the number one concern of almost all adolescents: dating. It is here we get to the crux of the matter. While comfort and class are satisfactory and a nice touch when dining casually, the most important time to make this grueling decision is a Saturday night, when the less-than-thrilled looking hostess asks the vital question, “Table or booth?” and looks expectantly, waiting for an answer. An intimate booth and dim lighting set the perfect stage for romance. On the other hand, a stark ‘table’ can seem miles long, and the conversation comes to a tripping halt halfway across the seemingly infinite trek. The wincingly rigid chairs require scraping and dragging to get to the correct distance from the table. The nails-on-a-chalkboard experience is repeated as the night goes on, whether to use the restroom, move in to allow others to pass behind in the cramped dining area, or even to avoid the accidental splatter of spaghetti. Sorry, but there is no way to avoid the stain when lugging that lumbering and leaden chair. Scoot in, snuggle up, play footsies, and lose that awkward feeling of scraping and bowing in the chairs. After all, you can be the Roman nobleman now (gladiator costumes not included).
Guest Writer
“
”
Photos by: Sophia Garfinkel
”
Victoria McBean Senior
Guest Writer
“
”
tables because “youI like don’t have to get up when other people go to the bathroom. Adam Zureick
”
Junior
Tables, because they’re “ just more convenient! ” Allie Silberman Freshman
shield|life
C8
Do you have
Talk about your judge Make up sources during Your judge claps the Your name is proin the bathroom…while your extemporaneous loudest after your pre- nounced incorrectly…as she was listening. speech. Get disqualified sentation. Move for- you get your first place Lose next turn. from Final Round. trophy! Roll again! ward two spaces.
What It Takes? You’ve been practicing with coaches and captains all month and now it’s time for your first Forensics competition! Go to “Start” and roll a die to play!
C9
Your sales table breaks! Find some duct tape and return to lunch.
Chair collapses during Multiple drops a stool. the most dramatic part of your piece! Back Go back a space. four spaces.
Break to semi-finals! Gain a turn!
STEP 1: PICK A PLAYER MEET THE CAPTAINS
Do
Has competed in Extemporaneous Speaking for six years. Excels at analyzing global politics and current events. Placed sixth in the state in 2010.
start
James Feuereisen
Has competed in Multiple for four years. This year he is a director of the multiple “Children of Eden.” Ben has received two first places in the state.
Ben Rooney
step 3: how to play
Competes in Dramatic Interpretation, performing the “United States of Tara.” Took second place in the state in 2010. Her goal is to rank state champion.
Ar a. rive l tu m. rn bu ate . s. fo Lo r 5 se :3 ne 0 xt
• Gather 2-5 players • Use pennies (or any other small items) as game pieces • The first one to the tournanment trophy is the winner!
ColLEEN Sords Competes in Duo Interpretation with Senior Michael Linden. She has competed at the state level in Storytelling and Dramatic Interpretation.
Emily Stillman Has competed in Impromptu for four years. She placed second in the state in 2010 and is looking forward to a great 2011 season!
You forgot your secret buddy gift. Go back to the start.
You forget your code. Go back two spaces.
INTERPRETATION
Dramatic Interpretation
Act out a selection from a play; between 5 and 8 minutes.
Duo Interpretation
Two people act out a literary selection. Contestants may not look at or touch each other; 7 to 10 minutes.
Multiple Interpretation
Act out a piece of literature with 3-8 people. Contestants may not look at or touch one another; 10 to 15 minutes.
PREPARED PUBLIC ADDRESS
Informative
Write an original presentation designed to explain a particular subject. Use of visual aids is encouraged; between 5 and 8 minutes.
Oratory
Poetry Interpretation
Write an original persuasive speech. Use of visual aids is allowed but not required; between 7 and 10 minutes.
Prose Interpretation
Sales Speaking
Perform a poem or compilation of poems; 5 to 8 minutes. Interpret a selection from a novel or short story; between 5 and 8 minutes.
Storytelling
Deliver a selection of children’s literature, myths, legends, or folktales; between 5 and 8 minutes.
Write an informative and persuasive speech on an actual product. Use of visual aids is encouraged; between 5 and 8 minutes.
Design by: James Feuereiesen, Marley Kalt, and Brian Margosian
LIMITED PREPARATION PUBLIC ADDRESS
broadcasting
Use 30 minutes to edit, write, and organize a news broadcast. Broadcast must be 5 minutes long and inlcude a 1 minute editorial.
Extemporaneous Speaking
Draw current events topics, use 30 minutes to prepare a speech on one of them. Must speak for 4 to 7 minutes.
Impromptu
Receive a topic or editorial. Time limit is six minutes to prepare and give a speech on the topic.
You ge t lost an d miss t he genera l meetin g Go ba . ck three spaces
.
iqu
ens
Oh no! Easels collapsed during your speech! Lose next turn.
Ami Venkataraman
STEP 2: SELECT A CATEGORY
For
you h it t ave w a kes hat Cri ? t ics
es
Edi
t
Lunchtime! at
Do You Have Wh It Takes?
Forensics:
] [Fuh-ren-siks y of The art or stud or n tio ta en m argu debate
Give a brilliant performance. Advance to semi-finals!
r ou y d an rtner u o Y o pa ectly du perf ted. are rdina one coo ward ! For space
Roll again and wait for semifinals to be posted.
Ask coaches when you will get critique sheets. Back two spaces.
Forget to tip at the team dinner. Go back one space.
finish
n
Forensics Editio
Go over the time limit. Move back three spaces.
Fa du int r rou ing Ba ck nd. spa thre ces e .
ulaCongrat ou tions! Y e mad it through t your firs ition! compet
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C10
January 2011
Non-fiction story teaches life lessons The King’s Speech delights in theaters Alex Osten and Marly Zack Guest Writers
The Grammys are coming up!
uh... uh... Forget You.
Nominated for record and song of the year is Cee-Lo-Green's song...called...uhm
--- Politicians involved in scandals n' stuff --- --- Media makes a big deal out of nothing ---
minivan flood--- Hide yo kids --- Hide yo wife ---
Cartoon by: Summer Krinsky
Talent should never go to waste Despite flaws, Ted Williams adds to society
Derek Wolfe
Life Section Editor I admit I fell for it. I was tricked. Ted Williams, the homeless man with the “Golden Voice,” is not who I thought he was. Williams was found off of a Cleveland street and made instantly famous by a Youtube clip where he shows of his calming, deep voice and explains his supposed two year sobriety. He became the most sought after personality in the country. Kraft gave him a job. The Cleveland Cavaliers gave him a job and a home. CBS and NBC fought over him for interviews. It was another “rags-to-riches” saga. But I guess the story was too good to be true.
In reality; however, he’s not sober, some people don’t deserve second despite denying it on Dr. Phil in early chances. But I am a strong believer in image January. Williams has nine kids he can’t support. And he’s headed to rehab. He recreation. Everyone should be given an opportunity to prove that they’ve needs help. But as his story changes and the truth changed. And if successful, they should about his life leaks out, does that mean I be welcomed back with open arms. My hope is that when Ted Williams should think differently of his talents? leaves rehab, it will be for No. Absolutely not. It was a the last time. And he can This man, like many other let his talents speak for people in this country, has ‘rags-tothemselves because every undeniable and extremely riches’ saga. person should not leave desirable skills. Every time the earth without hearing I play back the Youtube clip, But I guess the story was his voice. I smile with approval. And that goes the same And like Williams, every time too good to with Vick and all the others I watch ex-dogfighter Michael be true. who’ve hit rock bottom. Vick score a touchdown for In our great country, the Philadelphia Eagles, I each individual has and cheer for his comeback. You could say I root for the guy deserves the chance to make a name who makes a contribution to society for themselves despite the past. Because all that matters is the present regardless of past or current flaws. Talent should never go unused. Flaws and future. can always be fixed. From addictions The United States thrives off innovation and talent. And we need it to compete to past robberies. There are always going to be people with the rest of the world. Its time to who disagree with this and say that stop holding grudges against the gifted once a felon, always a felon. And that flawed. We can’t afford to lose them.
“
”
Quick Facts -Ted Williams was discovered on the streets in Cleveland -He entered rehab for drug addiction and cannot support his nine children -He recently recorded a voice over with Kraft
Though The King’s Speech is about a speech impediment, the movie flows without a hitch. Colin Firth shines in the role of the stammering King George the VI. The story is about Prince Albert, Duke of York, later known as King George the VI, and his speech impediment. The main problem is this story takes place in 1925 just when the radio came out, making it imperative that the monarchy addresses their people by means of speech. After many failed attempts, Albert gives up seeking assistance for his stammering until his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) finds a very ‘un-orthodox’ doctor, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) with a different approach on life. The plot involves a deep breaking of Albert’s layers from past and present. He faces demons from his past when his brother makes fun of his stammer, and battles the future preparing for his role as King. With many sessions of therapy, the test comes when Albert must address his people as King, reciting a nine minute speech. The movie teaches its audiences that perseverance and persistence is the key to success. We personally loved the movie. When Albert was stammering we just wanted to go into the movie and tell him to slow down, everything would be ok. The movie had many witty remarks as well as hilarious one liners. We’ve never been in a movie where the audience had been so involved in the plot, whether it was laughter or applause. What we found somewhat unappealing about the movie was the lack of color and optimism. Throughout the movie there are many feelings of lost hope and failure, and yet even with the achievements noticed, the film does not highlight them in any way. Overall, we highly recommend putting The King’s Speech on your list of box office to-dos. It has been nominated for many awards, leading the Academy Awards nominations with 12. Colin Firth has already won the Best Actor Golden Globe. We support all of the critics praise for this highly accomplished movie, and believe that this movie is perfect for the students of Andover.
shield|life A YEAR IN MUSIC: 2010 January 2011
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Staff Picks Recovery Eminem
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Portland-based Agalloch’s fourth album, Marrow of the Spirit, showcases a more emotional side of their music. This album defies genre to include elements of drone metal, black metal, surrealist folk lyrics, rock, and classical. “Into The Painted Grey” is a standout track for it’s driving opening and long, sweeping arrangements. This trans-genric metal album leaves little to be disliked.
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New York’s The National delivers High Violet. Although not quite equalling 2007’s Boxer, High Violet conjures up the same imagry and feelings.
Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy provides something new from the venerable Hip Hop artist. Resurgent songwriting has brought the album to the top of many critics’ lists.
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Tron:Legacy Daft Punk The remake of the 1982 cult classic, Tron, brought [17] the franchise into the 21st century and with that came a stunning original soundtrack from French electronica duo Daft Punk. The official soundtrack for Tron: Legacy is sure to please any fan.
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Gorillaz does it again, this time with heavier emphasis on Hip Hop and collaborations. Plastic Beach is a worthy entry into the Gorillaz back catalogue.
Detroit-based rapper Eminem seems to have [15] gotten his mojo back with his 2010 release, Recovery. Through the album, Eminem is starting to recapture some of his signature wit and bite that catapulted him international critical acclaim in the early 00’s.
LCD Soundsystem’s third and final album, This Is Happening promises listeners a complex contemporary indie Electronic experience.
Something For the Rest of Us Goo Goo Dolls The Goo Goo Dolls’ most recent album represents a new twist on a classic Goo Goo Dolls theme. While not their most popular album, its wide variety of music has something for everyone. [16]
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The Monitor Titus Andronicus
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Grinderman 2 Grinderman
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Broken Bells Broken Bells
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The Suburbs Arcade Fire
2010 proved to be a phenomenal year for new and old artists alike. Particularly in the fields of indie and rock, 2010 produced some of the most phenomenal albums to come out in the last decade. However, mainstream Rap and Pop contributed some major contenders. It’s time to finally put 2010 to bed and ring in the New Year with great music, some old and some new. [1] http://www.themetal-spirit.com/2010/12/agalloch-marrow-of-spirit-2010. html [2] http://www.thecitrusreport.com/2010/headlines/the-national-high-violetreview/ [3] http://world.yes.my/?q=ytlc&id=37 [4] http://www.jeremyhaun.com/my-favorite-10-albums-of-10 [5] http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=2276332 [6] http://titusandronicus.net/images/5t.jpg [7] http://www.grinderman.com/ [8] http://www.brokenbells.com/extras/1280x1024c.jpg [9] http://www.arcadefire.com/the-suburbs/ [10] http://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/album/the-age-of-adz
[11] http://assets.gearlive.com/music/blogimages/beastie_boys.jpg [12] http://cache.gawker.com/assets/resources/2008/05/foofighters.jpg [13] http://www.therealmusician.com/images/radiohead-band.jpg [14] http://www.ilosaarirock.fi/2007/images/press/opeth.jpg [15] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6m1W8in3gg8/TK7WIpBWxGI/AAAAAAAABco/ze29jYpQeF8/s1600/Eminem-Recovery-Official-Album-Cover1.jpg [16] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pnt9wNqjwNA/TJ0Np0n8qVI/AAAAAAAABCg/ CZjfPA771rE/s1600/Goo+Goo+Dolls+-+Something+For+The+Rest+Of+Us.jpg [17] http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NGeOXNeQU3k/TSXyyKhcRcI/ AAAAAAAAAL0/rtKZcQxJOCc/s1600/Daft+Punk++Tron+Legacy+Soundtrack.jpg
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The Age of Adz Sufjan Stevens
2011’s Most Interesting Prospects
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Radiohead To Be Announced Self-Released
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Beastie Boys Foo Fighters Hot Sauce Committee,Vol. 2
via Capitol
To Be Announced
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Opeth To Be Announced via Roadrunner
Page Design by Gabe Menchaca
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Orchard Lake Road
Pontiac Trail
Lone Pine (17 Mile) Business Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am - 10:00pm Sunday 4:30 - 9:00pm
January 2011
January 2011
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Battling the “Bubble” stereotypes So-called “Bloomfield Bubble” isn’t so bad
Michael Linden Guest Writer
“I can’t wait to get out of The Bloomfield Bubble.” That’s all I hear these days. I can’t check my Twitter, Facebook, or even walk through the halls of Andover without hearing this strange new catch-phrase. What
does “The Bloomfield Bubble” even mean? Is Bloomfield Hills really any different than your average, rich, predominantly white American suburb? Now, maybe I’m just sheltered. I’ve lived here all my life. But, I’m relatively content. I struggle to see the negatives about a safe, affluent community with quality educational opportunities, intelligent people, and a damn good Coney Island. No, I don’t think I’m a self-entitled elitist. Granted, I own a designer sweater or two and drive a nice car. Is that so heinous? I truly believe that the vast majority of Bloomfield Hills residents are normal people. We can’t let a few snobbish
outliers tarnish what I believe to be a positive image. Don’t get me wrong. I’m looking forward to a faraway university as much as everyone else. I want new experiences, new people, and a geographical change. I simply question whether those who attach such a negative connotation to “The Bloomfield Bubble” have really experienced anything significantly different. By all means, go out into the world, explore. Ultimately, however, I think you might be surprised to find that perhaps The oh-so-dreaded “Bloomfield Bubble” is a pretty great place to call home.
Quick Facts 2009 Estimate
-Bloomfield Hills covers an area of 5.0 sq. miles -The median income of Bloomfield Hills is $123,409 per household -The racial makeup of Bloomfield Hills is 89.1% Caucasian
Diet Coke: soft drink or soda for the soul? Soft drink is more than
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Old or a thirst-quencher new, bubbly or flat, hot, cold, or in between, this Marly Zack Guest Writer refreshIt runs through my veins and ment keeps sustains me through all times in my life. me sane. There is no replacement for it, no With a can substitute possible that creates the at my side, same feelings of satisfaction. Old or new, bubbly or flat, hot, cold I can do or in between, this refreshment keeps me sane. With a can at my side, I can anything.
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do anything.
The longest day of my life turns to two, and still it is unflagging in efforts to keep me running, even on empty. With my carbonated life-line at hand, the world seems a brighter, more manageable place. I often start my day by hastily gulping a few sips before running out the door, the caffeine giving me the jumpstart I need to whisk myself out the door and in to purgatory, otherwise known as school. I never heed the naysayers, who often berate me for toting the beverage constantly. Their negative words fizzle and fade into nothingness, just as the foam at the top of a well-poured glass of the icy concoction. Concoction or
confection? It cannot be determined, as it encompasses both words to me. A mixture that has been honed for years is, to me, the sweetest treat on the planet. My wants, needs, joys and answers can be found in two words: Diet Coke. I do not accept so-called alternatives. Those who offer me the impostor and begin to walk away are stopped by my angry call: no, I will not accept Pepsi. There will be no settling for less as far as I am concerned, as I hold myself to the highest standards of imbibing, as should the rest of the world. Diet Coke is the glue to my soul and perfect option for every occasion. To me, a day without Diet Coke is a day without oxygen.
Detroit gets back on the “field” The city’s “team” is making a comeback
Griffin Williams Guest Writer
As a team, the city of Detroit and its industries have been on a losing streak since 2008. Our defensive line, the Big Three auto makers, weren’t keeping our key player, the economy, safe. The franchise manager of the team, Kwame Kilpatrick, had fallen to shambles, convicted of multiple “rules violations” and expelled as a leader. The shareholders of the team, the city council, were corrupt and playing against us. With most in the stands rooting against us, how could anyone
from other “teams” around the country, expect us to have a comeback? The stands were becoming emptier and emptier by the week as “fans” were flocking to new “stadiums” which rumor had it, were prospering. Even at the franchise ownership level, where Jennifer Granholm was residing, there were no advocates. Did anyone really care about how the defensive line was getting run over by the competition? Without even knowing it, we were doing our team just as much harm as the other team’s steamrolling us, by not being supportive. Jumping to late in the 2009 season, we see that one of our defensive linemen, Ford, has posted some promising stats: an $868 million profit in the fourth quarter according to media.ford.com. If the rest of the line, including General Motors and Chrysler, can step up their game, we could maybe break this losing streak.
Let’s jump to today, the 2010 season. The team now has a new owner coming in, Rick Snyder, our franchise manager has been replaced, bringing newcomer Dave Bing to the team. By many expert accounts, including mainstream car magazine Motor Trend, the team is now controlling the competition. The running back for the team, the Ford Fusion, won the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year, beating out all of the other foreign competition. Looks like the fans are coming back to watch the team. The fans have to remember that the team can only support so much loss before they fold into bankruptcy. If the fans can’t see farther down the field into the future, then the team will never survive. This is what everyone needs to remember: the city of Detroit needs its fans to put faith back into it so it can continue to grow and prosper back to its prime. That time is now.
Detroit Facts
-Detroit was founded in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac -Detroit is the home of four major sports franchises: the Pistons, Lions, Red Wings, and Tigers -In 1950, Detroit was the fourth largest city in the United States
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Green Hornet lacks sting
Superhero movie plays predictably Marly Zack Guest Writer
Buy the soundtrack. I’d like to end my review there, but sadly my editors insist on about 523 more words. So, unto the breach. Knowing little of the old radio series, I had no expectations walking into The Green Hornet. This turned out to be a good thing, for if I had walked in with expectations, I could have been even more disappointed in the film. From the over done villain-causing-mayhem opening to the didn’t-we-all-see-this-coming ending, The Green Hornet fumbled and tripped its way out of the starting gate and arrived winded and in last place at the finish. Spoiled L.A. newspaper heir Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) inherits the family paper after his father dies. Cue extravagant montage and his indifference toward the new responsibility. With his mechanic-turned-sidekick friend, Kato (Jay Chou), the two men decide to fight crime while posing as villains to the public. The crass humor and pratfalls in poor taste make me wonder if Seth Rogen will ever escape the gross-out comedy genre. However, the bright point in the film is Jay Chou as the brilliant martial artist and mechanic extraordinaire, as well as right hand man. From his first rumbling motorcycle entrance, Chou creates a strong and lovable character. Any scene with Chou in it, from making coffee to creating the most incredible car seen outside of a Marvel Comic, he steals the show and makes all the girls swoon. Which brings me to the second-best thing about the film: The Black Beauty. The car driven by Kato on the Green Hornet’s escapades lives up to its name, and then some. Automotive maniacs will drool into their popcorn at the streamlined and tricked out traveling Swiss Army Knife. Even I, the Barbie dream convertible lover, would jump into this awe-inspiring and jaw dropping automobile. Alas, after the joy of the car has worn off, even the appearance of the delightful Cameron Diaz (as secretary Lenore Case) cannot save this film. The predictability is so apparent that I don’t even feel badly in revealing the spoilers to follow. The great plot twist in this movie is more obvious than the writer’s cheap attempt to appeal to the adult crowd with a superhero movie using crude jokes and language. Oh, the slimy D.A. is in cahoots with the crime boss? Who is shocked? No one. At the beginning of this review, I recommended buying the soundtrack, and I stand by that. From gems like Johnny Cash’s “I Hung My Head” to a surprising original rap from Chou himself during the credits, the music by James Newton Howard is pleasingly eclectic, and a refreshing element to the otherwise drab film. I came away from this film with only three things: a deep and abiding love for Jay Chou, a dream car in the Black Beauty, and a terrible popcorn headache. And this time, it wasn’t even worth it.
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Breaking the Gender Barrier
Girls join the 2011 Bionic Barons team Stephanie Fotouhi Staff Writer
The Bionic Barons go co-ed. “It was fine being the only girl. No one treated me differently and I never really felt uncomfortable. Occasionally there were uncomfortable moments, but overall it was fine,” says Senior Shobhita Kramadhati. During the 2009-2010 school year, Kramadhati was the first and only girl to be on the Robotics Team, but now she will have other female teammates. “It was weird being the only girl [for Shobhita] when the boys start to goof around,” Junior Hiba Chaabi says. “Shobhita isn’t the only girl anymore so she helps the new girls when we don’t know what to do. I think she is a good leader.” Captain of the Bionic Barons, Junior Jason Law feels good about the new girls on the team, saying, “[Shobhita,] as well as the other new girl members of the team, brought a lot of great ideas with
them. Shobhita is always a contributing member of the team and none of the boys ever treated her differently because she was a girl. When she joined, the team was very welcoming to her.” To add, Robotics Coach, Dr. Ed Law feels Kramadhati is a great addition to the team. “Shobhita is always eager to learn and wants to help. She is on the electrical team but helps in any other areas when necessary,” says Law. “She is a great role model for the younger team members, especially showing younger girls that girls can contribute just as much on a robotics team and have fun at the same time as the boys.” Kramadhati became interested in robotics when she was a junior. Law continues, “Shobhita fit in on the team very well. She didn’t ask or expect to be treated differently. She was eager to learn and didn’t mind jobs that got her hands dirty. She was just another member on the team.” Kramadhati explains how she got involved in robotics. “Last year, a parent of someone on the
team set up a vendor and displayed it in school. They were comparing parts of robots. I got interested in it and decided to join the team,” says Kramadhati. Law explains, “The team started in the 2008-2009 school year, so Shobhita joined in the team’s second year. There were 14 new members this year,with 10 males and four females.” “Andover is one of the only schools in the country with a robotics team mostly full of boys,” says Kramadhati. According to Kramadhati and Chaabi, having a girl on the team adds a different perspective that changes the designs and ideas for robots. “Actually, most Robotics teams have a lot of girls on them. Some of them are all girls teams and some have girl captains. The team gender varies among schools,” explains Kramadhati. According to the female members of the team, being a girl didn’t bring them different treatment. “Sometimes I was treated differently when it came to carrying things and such. But usually I was just like everybody else,” Kramadhati says. “The
coach was very welcoming and excited to have a girl on the team. It was a new change for him as well.” Kramadhati’s parents fully support her interest in robotics and enjoy attending competitions. “I was just surprised to find out that Andover was one of the only teams with few girls on it,” Kramadhati’s father, Simha Kramadhati says. “I don’t see what is weird about a girl being on the team, I am sure the many great female engineers out there feel normal about themselves!” In the future, Kramadhati hopes to carry her high school robotics experience into college and her parents are fully behind this plan. “Shobhita could definitely get involved in robotics in her planned Engineering career in the future,” says Kramadhati’s father. Shobitha concludes, “I did [robotics] for two years in high school but I would love to be a mentor [on the team] after I graduate. Robotics in college? Definitely. If I find something like it, then I would love to get myself involved in it.”
“ I was just
surprised to find out that Andover was one of the only teams with few girls on it I don’t see what is weird about a girl being on the team, I am sure the many great female engineers out there feel normal about themselves.
”
Simha Kramadhati Parent
shield|life Alternative Incomes January 2011
starting a business in high school. one or two stocks that cost more money, you He believes that young entrepreneurs can buy more shares of more stocks.” have more energy, free time, recovery time However, Junior Ben White-Levin, who from bad business decisions, tolerance, and has been involved with the stock market, are more willing to learn from their missuggests looking towards mutual funds and takes and gain experience from them. All mutual bonds because of their safety. Jarred Bratley of these allow teens to dedicate lots of time “Since mutual funds are made up of Zack Neff to establishing a business - more than most hundreds of stocks, they normally are a Staff Writers adults who have other commitments. much safer gamble. You won’t get as big of VanValkenburg started a a gain out of them; however, Babysitting is no longer the only way to media company named Techthe chances of making a profit make money during high school. Using Studio with Matthew are much higher,” White-Levin Once you have nogeekz the stock market or even starting a busiPleatman in seventh grade and explains. ness are just a couple of ways to pay for an idea, feel it continued it throughout high White-Levin’s main suggesgas and movie tickets. school. “We thought we could out a bit, see if tion for investing is, “Whatever fill a niche in the market,” The Stock Market you do, you have to be 110 people would explains VanValkenburg, percent confident it’s going to Utilizing the stock market offers similar fibe interested. “provide a really good product work. You can never jump to Noah VanValkenburg nancial opportunities to the traditional high [of event photos and videos] Andover Alum conclusions in attempt to make school job with the benefit of never having better than what other studios money quickly. You cannot to leave home. were providing, for a lower jump to conclusions because “Online trading accounts are completely price. Our strategy was to deliver better for that one decision will either gain you a lot or free to make and very convenient. You cheaper and the reason we could do that lose you everything.” can upload money from a bank is because we were students and we didn’t Although investing in stocks electronically. I was lucky enough have bills to pay.” is illegal for minors, custodial Online to have connections with a stock VanValkenburg believes that Andover accounts can be made with pabroker, which made my experitrading ac- rental supervision in order for students are innovative and have good ences even easier,” says Junior ideas, but tend to feel they don’t have time kids to get a learning experience counts are Jake Levy, who has been using the to execute their plans. He wants to get out of the stock market. student advantages of working with completely across that “starting a business takes less The Future Business Leadthe stock market for several years time than you think it does. If you are ers of America club, instructed free to and was able to purchase his car willing to put in a lot of work during the by Dan Whitmire, is playing a make and with the earnings. summer - designing a website, getting an virtual stock market game as Levy adds, “As a kid we have a employee identification number, doing all very convepart of the club curriculum, little more insight - insight that the technical boring stuff - then during the emphasizing the importance of nient. adults would like to have because school year, if you only spend an average of experience and gaining knowlJake Levy we know what’s becoming trendy four or five hours a week on your business Junior edge about the stock markets. and what’s becoming trendy is including the weekends, you can maintain a Whitmire stresses the imporwhat stocks go up.” successful company.” tance of experiencing business Levy prefers to invest in diversified yet VanValkenburg says the first step to startrelated processes as a student so that as an easily fluctuating penny stocks. ing a business is clear: get an idea. “Once adult, his students are at an advantage. “If you invest in six or seven different you have an idea, feel it out a bit, see if penny stocks with the current market, Starting a Business people would be interested. If so, you got odds are you will make a profit. I use this yourself a winner and you can make it hapAndover alum Noah VanValkenburg method of investing because it diversifies pen. It will work.” explains there are several advantages of your money more. Instead of investing in
Teens share their different methods to make money in high school
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Investors at the New York Stock Exchange make trades. Making trades through the online websites such as E-Trade helped Junior Jake Levy purchase his car. Photo from: venelogia.com.
Revive, part-owned by Junior Ben White-Levin, is located in Birmingham. Revive is most notable for its shoe selection.
Star Trax Valet and Junior Zack Neff parks a car. Most valet jobs occur at Bar Mitzvahs, Jewish Shivas, and coorporate conventions.
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The Importance of Experience “I got a job simply to make some money,” says Junior Zach Wolfe, who works at Star Trax as a valet parker. Senior Meagan Margolis prefers babysitting as she puts it in plain words that she wants the “easiest job that makes the best pay.” This “simple” money-oriented outlook regarding high school employment is common amongst students, explains Business Department Head Dan Whitmire, but he has a different outlook. “Don’t let the dollar signs get in the way of the experience. Use the experience to build your knowledge, build your vocabulary, and bring that to the table. Use the experience as a stepping stone to get to where you want to get financially later in life,” says Whitmire. Whitmire also stresses “building connections. Don’t burn the bridges. If you don’t like the job or the boss, it is all about the experience. Use it to build to where you want to get. Also keep your relationships alive because you can fall back to that job later on if it becomes necessary.” Andover 2009 graduate Benny Emerling exemplifies what Whitmire indoctrinates, saying, “I worked AMS valet for two years consistently in high school. When I went off to college, I stopped working; however, I kept in touch with my manager. A year later, still in college, I called him looking for a job. He was excited to hear back from me and instantly hired me as a manager of the company.” Emerling now attends Oakland University. Noah VanValkenburg, sophomore at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, states another advantage of starting a business in high school. “When you apply to colleges, not only do you have an item where you can say I started my own business, but it makes a great essay topic and I know it helped me with the admissions process. The second way is it really helps you in learning how to talk to people as an adult. ”
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January 2011
Right: Captain Senior Jon Williams
stacks his opponent. In the 2009-10 season, Williams became the first Andover wrestler to qualify for the regionals.
Right: Belgian exchange
student Malo Beguin attempts to escape from his opponent. Beguin has done Judo for three years, which greatly assisted him with wrestling.
Above: Head Coach Tony Scigliano and As-
sistant Coach Dave Hack yells out moves to an athlete during a match. Scigliano and Hack have been coaching at Andover since the 2008-09 season.
Left: Junior Chris Jabero pins his opponent from Farmington High School to advance to the next round in Oakland County Tournament. Jabero wrestles varsity at the 145-pound weight class.
Wrestling
Strikes
Over the last two years, Andover’s wrestling program has grown tremendously Right: Sophomore
Mike Lee holds down his opponent to gain six team points. Lee earned a silver medal at the Dave Kerr JV Classic Tournament at Holly High School.
Right: Junior E.Z. Kidron successfully
executes a move to put his opponent on his back. Kidron placed in several tournaments over the last two years he has been wrestling for Andover.
Back
By: David Yu