Fenton
InPrint
Fenton High School | May 4, 2021 | Volume 40, Issue 6 | fentoninprint.com
Acceptance, Not Awareness Autism advocates call for better representation. representation. Print Editor-in-Chief Andrea Elsholz, page 7
Additional resources for neurodiversity can be found through the Autism SelfAdvocacy Network and the Autistic Women and Non-Binary Network.
BRIEFS
Fenton
InPrint
Fenton High School 3200 W. Shiawassee Ave., Fenton, MI 48430 Phone: (810) 591-2968 Email: inprintadvertising@gmail.com Website: www.fentoninprint.com
Publication Policy
The InPrint is a student newspaper published on average once a month by the Advanced Journalism class at Fenton High School. We are an open forum. If the paper prints incorrect information, any necessary corrections will be made in the next issue.
Editorials
Editorials are staff editorials in which the entire class votes to decide on the stance taken. Opinions expressed in editorials are not those of the administration. Columns represent the opinion of the individual writer and do not reflect those of the administration. Polls represent a random sampling of 10 percent of the students attending the school.
Letters to the Editor
The staff encourages students, staff and administrators to submit guest columns or letters to the editor. Letters and guest columns may be emailed to inprintadvertising@gmail.com or deposited in the boxes in the main office or the media center. All the letters must be signed and include a phone number to verify information. Letters are subject to editing for space. Anonymous letters and those that are photocopied or addressed to a third person will not be considered.
PHOTO JACKIE BOSSENBURGER SUBMITTED
Graduates from the class of 2020 throw their caps at the Freedom Center graduation celebration.
Photography
Pictures considered offensive will not be run without written consent from the persons pictured and, if necessary, his/ her legal guardian. All photography not labeled with a photo illustration has not been digitally altered to change.
Advertising
The InPrint reserves the right to edit any advertisement that is considered to be in poor taste for high school publication, or one that suggests a violation of federal, state or local laws. Through a voting process, the editorial board makes the final decision whether an advertisement should be published.
Staff
Print Editor in Chief: Online Editor in Chief: Print Assistant Editors: Online Editors: Features Editor:
Andrea Elsholz Bree Soule Cameron Carlson, Molly Killian Emmy Johnson, Meghan Maier Angelina Vitarelli
Columnists: Social Media Director:
Elizabeth Borg
Andrea Elsholz
CAP, GOWN, MASK
Official graduation ceremony still undecided FEATURES EDITOR ANGELINA VITARELLI
In light of the pandemic, details of this year’s graduation ceremony are in limbo. Previously, the class of 2020 did not have a formal graduation ceremony. With more people receiving COVID-19 vaccines, the likelihood of an official ceremony is increasing. The ceremony is currently slated to be held outside on the Ivan Williams Field because of social distancing guidelines, which will affect the amount of guests permitted to attend in order to reduce exposure and limit contact. “Currently the maximum allowance is 1,000 for our stadium,” FHS Principal Laura Lemke said. “Two-hundred and
ninety graduates with two parents is about 580 people, plus the band, the Board of Education and FHS & district staff puts us at that 1,000 person limit.” Temperature checks, mask requirements and social distancing guidelines are possible requirements for the ceremony. “Masks & social distancing are still required as that is a Board of Education policy and was still in place during the sports seasons for any spectators,” Lemke said. The graduating seniors are generally in agreement for an official graduation ceremony. “If we are able to have a ceremony, I think it will be nice
Business Manager:
Elizabeth Borg
Writers:
Halee Alexander, Benjamin Burke, April Carr, Madysen Krug, Riann Masi, Adeline Ostrander
Photo Editors:
Abbey Banks, Kiersten Lapa, Logan Reeves
Photographers:
Paige Bakker, Riley Erfourth, Marissa Frazier, Lauren Gadola, Julia Gnath, Grace MacCaughan, Kyla Marx, Kaitlyn Mossett, Madison Slezinski, Adrienne Staib, WRITER RIANN MASI and ASSISTANT PRINT EDITOR MOLLY KILLIAN Allison Tisch, Trinity Yost
Adviser:
Bethany Hoover
Businesses structure models to assess seasonal fluctuations
FRONT COVER ANDREA ELSHOLZ and MEGHAN MAIER FRONT COVER PHOTO KIERSTEN LAPA
@FHSPUBLICATIONS
@FENTONINPRINT
@INPRINTFENTON @FENTONINPRINT
2
THE OFF SEASON
to gather together as a class for [graduation],” senior Holly Fijolek said. “Our year has been far from normal so getting to wear our caps and gowns and see everyone walk across the stage and give speeches would be really nice. Being together before we all go our separate ways in life would mean a lot.” If an official ceremony does not take place, there will be recognition for the graduating class. “We will continue to hold local scholarship recognition and Baccalaureate, if there is enough student interest,” Lemke said. The current date scheduled for the graduation ceremony is Sunday, May 30 at 2 p.m.
As the summer starts, seasonal businesses are opening their doors again. Ice cream shops like The Scoop of Fenton, Uncle Rays and the Ice Cream Garage in Linden are seasonal businesses that have opened for the upcoming summer. “I work at the Ice Cream Garage,” junior Jordyn Bliss said. “It’s a great experience to work there because you get the time to be employed, but you’re not over worked because you have the offseason for a break.” A common job held by FHS swimmers is lifeguarding at Spring Meadows Country Club. Since the pool is outdoors, the lifeguards only work when it is warm enough to swim outside, which is primarily in the summer.
News Briefs
“As a lifeguard, it is my responsibility to make sure that people at a pool or beach are being safe while not hindering their fun,” junior Evan Koch said. “The reason I got my job is because [Brad] Jones, the swim coach, hired me and quite a few other swimmers to lifeguard at Spring Meadows.” Seasonal jobs may present some problems, as the employee only gets paid during the on-season. However, seasonal businesses generally make more money than businesses that are open yearround. They contribute about 10 percent to the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that rate is rising by about three percent per year, according to the Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management
fentoninprint.com
and Innovation (JEMI). JEMI also reported that most seasonal employees are students and therefore would not have time to work during the school year. “I do only get paid during the summer,” Koch said, “But it is a decent amount compared to the fact that I don’t have to do a whole lot of physical work, so I feel like it’s fair. And plus, I don’t have to spend money all the time so I don’t mind.” Since most seasonal business are related to the Tourism and Hospitality (T&H) industry, most on-seasons take place during the summer. However, there are some winter and fall businesses such as ski hills, Christmas tree farms and pumpkin patches.
May 4, 2021
World News Recap
Global events under-acknowledged in American schools GUEST WRITERS JOE HENLEY and AARON TOTH
FINAL STAGES OF BREXIT After growing Euroskepticism in the United Kingdom (UK) largely focused around immigration policies set by the European Union (EU), a referendum in 2016 voted in favor of the UK leaving the EU. Following this decision, and the stepping down of former Prime Minister David Cameron, Theresa May began drafting a Brexit deal with the EU. However, after being voted down in the British Parliament, current Prime Minister Borris Johnson took power to carry out the Brexit deal. After resolving issues largely focused around immigration policy between Northern Ireland (UK) and Ireland, the UK and the EU have officially made an agreement over their separation and left the EU on Jan. 31. US WITHDRAWS FROM AFGHANISTAN While both Presidents Obama and Trump campaigned on bringing the troops home from Afghanistan (suggesting broad, bipartisan support for a withdrawal), the Biden administration has finally set a deadline for total troop withdrawal on Sept. 11. The deadline comes on the twentieth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the impetus for U.S. involvement. Biden has faced criticism for choosing an overly symbolic date, including that from former President Trump, who signaled approval for the troop withdrawal— despite having not done it himself. COVID-19 RAVAGES BRAZIL Brazil, the world’s sixth most populous country, now ranks third in the world for Coronavirus cases and second for deaths (surpassed only by the United States). Brazil’s healthcare system is not as robust as other nations’ and, according to BBC reporting, “Hospital intensive care beds in many states across the country are full or close to capacity.” Making matters worse, while rich nations are vaccinating their populations en masse, poorer nations like Brazil do not have that option. Not all of the blame can be put on budgetary restraint though. Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, has repeatedly downplayed the virus’ risk; according to the Reuters, the Brazilian President told people to “stop whining” and go to work.
May 4, 2021
ART MOLLY KILLIAN
FARMERS PROTEST INDIA In soviet-influenced India, the government aggressively subsidized agriculture by assuring farmers could sell their crops at guaranteed prices. But after the Cold War, the Indian government decided to liberalize its economy— except the farming industry. As India develops, farming is expected to shrink as a proportion of India’s GDP. The pro-growth nationalist Modi government may be in favor of mechanized large-scale agriculture taking over, having drafted legislation in support of these views. However, small farmers could be hurt by unemployment, a fact that has launched many protests. THE YEMEN CIVIL WAR The Yemennese Civil War, after years of tension between the minority Houthi Shiite Muslim population and the majority Sunni governing body, broke out with the Sept. 21 Revolution. The revolution saw the minority Houthis take control of the former Hadi-led Sunni government. Since stepping down, former president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi has fled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, acting as a leader in exile. Recently under the Biden administration the once-labelled terrorist group, the Houthi, was declassified of that nature and the United States ceased weapon transfers for the war effort.
The Fenton InPrint greatly appreciates feedback from its readers. Check out the letters to the editor section on page two for more information.
InPrint
UKRAINE BORDER Recently, Russia amassed a massive amount of troops on the Ukrainian border. The troop buildup is unparalleled in recent years, reaching levels similar to those used during Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. As of April 22, Russia supposedly ordered its troops to leave the border. However, it has not been confirmed whether troops truly left the border. The Kremlin insists the military buildup is a routine drill, but to many western nations it represents increasing Russian agitation towards Ukraine’s Donbass region.
TAIWAN AIRSPACE Recently, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been conducting aerial military drills in Taiwan’s air defense zone. To Chinese officials, the drills are meant to pressure a rebellious territory into uniting with the PRC, which would mark the end of the still unsettled Chinese Civil War. To the U.S., they represent a threat to Taiwan’s unique national identity, the triumph of communism over a vibrant democracy (a democracy which stands in stark contrast to Mainland China’s single-party authoritarianism) and an end to the U.S. role as the de facto global police. ETHIOPIA TIGRAY REGION DISUNITY The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concern over reports of “sexual and genderbased violence, extra-judicial killings, widespread destruction and looting of public and private property” in Ethiopia’s Northern Tigray Region. In March, the reports prompted a joint investigation by the OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), though the inquiry is ongoing.
fentoninprint.com
fentoninprint.com
News
3
Attention Deficit
BUR NO UT AN XIE TY RES TLE SS DEP
ADHD in adulthood felt to be overlooked
RES
PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANDREA ELSHOLZ
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is sometimes treated as a disorder that expires with age. For those who are diagnosed later in life, the reality of navigating adulthood can be stressful in environments that fail to acknowledge the barriers placed on adults with ADHD. “I only found out I truly had ADHD this past semester, but I’ve had my suspicions for the past two years,” Michigan Technological University student Artemis Allison said. “I noticed I had a lot of things in common with their struggles and I finally pushed myself to take that first step. From what I understand and feel, it’s not talked about in adults much, like depression and anxiety. It feels like it’s not treated as a serious disorder, when it was actually one of the core causes of a lot of my life’s suffering. Because of this, and the overlap in symptoms, I think it’s likely under diagnosed.” The development of prominent behavioral symptoms for those with ADHD from childhood to adulthood could be a possible reason for under diagnosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of adult ADHD may also experience difficulty with time management, mood swings and trouble managing stress. “Because the symptoms of ADHD that people think of most in kids is hyperactivity, a lot of things focus on that,” Allison said. “As an adult, the things like the depression, the burnout, the effort it takes to get started, the overwhelming fear of rejection that causes us to give up before we even start, aren’t talked about as much.” ADHD refers to a condition where people exhibit hyperactivity, impulsive behaviors and trouble maintaining focus and attentiveness to a point where it inhibits the ability to function in everyday life. “A child [with ADHD] is running around the classroom, not staying in their seat, which causes negative attention and that’s usually when the teachers identify them and talk to the parents,” Dr. Judy Ho said in an interview with MedCircle. “In adulthood, they may still have that restlessness, but we are a bit more controlled in our behavior. We’re not going to be running around when we’re not supposed to, but you might feel really fidgety. They may have a lot less patience, it may be a lot harder for them to plan ahead and to organize themselves, so they feel very jumbled all the time.”
SIO
4
Features
N
fentoninprint.com
About 50 percent of those who receive a childhood diagnosis for ADHD recover, news platform ScienceDaily reported. Recovery largely had to do with the thinning of the cortex, the layer of tissue that covers the brain (often referred to as gray matter) ThoughtCo states. “All adults who are diagnosed with ADHD had it as a child, they just never got a proper diagnosis,” marriage and family therapist Kati Morton said. “It’s always upsetting for me to read about because children can grow up believing they are stupid, lazy or that they are never going to fit in, and if they had understood what was really going on, they could have learned tools and techniques to better manage it.” A study conducted by Dr. Philip Shaw and colleagues at the National Human Genome Research Institute investigated the long-term changes in the cortex in those with ADHD. The study found that those who recovered from ADHD in adulthood had a cortex thickness resembling the control group of those who never had ADHD, whereas those with persistent ADHD exhibited thinning. One theory for this occurrence was excess pruning (where the brain trims off certain neural pathways in order to improve efficiency), though the reasons behind excess pruning are also unclear. “Adults with ADHD may have trouble at work,” Morton said. “They change jobs frequently, and they often don’t feel very fulfilled. They also tend to abuse drugs or alcohol with more frequency. They talked about this a lot because of the impulse control issues that we can have, we feel so on edge all day and everything that we do to try to focus takes so much of our energy we often reach out for unhealthy coping skills for a better way to manage.” Struggling with financial decision-making and incurring a higher amount of driving infractions were all cited by Ho and Morton as additional challenges adults with ADHD face. Those with ADHD may also develop depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, feelings of inadequacy and performance anxiety. “Sometimes it’s hard to tease out if the learning disability is its own disorder, or if the learning difficulties come from ADHD,” Ho said. “It originates from the fact that [people with ADHD] can’t pay attention, so they haven’t been able to take in the information they should have by a certain age.” Those with ADHD find coping mechanisms and establish routines to manage symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy, goal setting, using timers and reward systems to selfregulate and establishing distraction techniques help manage symptoms and improve focus.
May 4, 2021
LZ
HO
A
RE
T
AR
D AN
S EL
The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword Power of speech found to have effect on society
ASSISTANT PRINT EDITOR CAMERON CARLSON
Over the past couple of years, the lines between free and hate speech have blurred, bringing discussion on how to deem something as hate speech and how to handle it. “There is no legal definition of ‘hate speech’ under U.S. law,” the American Library Association (ALA) said. “Generally, hate speech is any form of expression through which speakers intend to vilify, humiliate or incite hatred against a group or class of persons on the basis of race, religion, skin color, sexual identity, gender identity, ethnicity, disability or national origin.” In the U.S., hate speech is protected under the First Amendment. However, the amendment requires courts to protect debate on matters of public concern. “Slurs have some strange properties,” Mihaela Popa-Wyatt, a Marie Curie Fellow at a research institute for Berlin, said in an abstract from her research. “Target groups can reclaim slurs to express solidarity and pride. Slurs are noted for their offensive autonomy (offend regardless of speaker’s intentions, attitudes or beliefs), offensive persistence (offend across a range of contexts and utterances), offense variation (not all slurs offend equally) and the complicity they may induce in listeners.” If an individual feels unsafe as the result of change, they are more likely to act rashly to ensure their safety. “It’s important to note that people who fight for autonomy are fighting for independent interests,” author and inspirational speaker Teal Swan said. “It’s not an actual fight for freedom, it’s a fight for self. That being said, because it feels like a fight for freedom, most people have an internal split between the commitment to connection and the commitment to freedom.” This increased debate on hate speech has increased in educational and political environments as well. “There is no alternative to free speech because every controversial topic has a substantial group of people who view it as hate speech,” Stephen Ceci, Professor of Developmental Psychology at Cornell University, said. “If we define unacceptable speech in terms of topics students say should be
May 4, 2021
banned because they make them feel marginalized or uncomfortable, then we remove all controversial topics from consideration.” To reduce extremist views and confrontations, Ceci suggests practices like requiring incoming students to understand First Amendment protections, what speech is deemed free or hate speech or switching sides in a lesson to generate more civil discussion on controversial topics. “Free speech isn’t just for opinions that we all share,” Ceci said. “That kind of speech doesn’t need protection. It’s for expressions that can be vile and hateful and disgusting. That has to be part of the cultural understanding.” Bias and misinformation also have political influence, causing some to consider it a threat to democracy. Approaching the 2020 presidential election, New York Times Magazine writer Emily Bazelon wrote a story titled “The Problem of Free Speech in an Age of Disinformation” on the impact of lies and conspiracy theories on political discourse. “When you think about disinformation campaigns, you think of them as starting at the fringes of the Internet, like on 8chan or in some thread on Reddit and then migrating into the mainstream,” Bazelon said. “However, there’s a center at Harvard that has been studying these networks of disinformation and what they have found is that since President Trump’s election, these campaigns are centered in the more elite media. Now that President Trump is in office, he has the power to use media and make it a kind of party press. So this is a more elite-driven mass-media-led process than it was before the 2016 election.” Media sources that face more competition are more likely to fact-check one another and admit when they have made a mistake. On the other hand, social media corporations in the business of profit and are less likely to stop the spread of disinformation. “The algorithms that platforms like Facebook use are set to maximize engagement,” Bazelon said. “They want to keep you online, and what they’ve learned over the years is that the content that tends to keep people clicking and sharing is hot content. It’s content that generates outrage. And that is not
fentoninprint.com
necessarily very healthy for a democracy. It’s about the profits of these tech companies. It’s not about the most convincing argument.” The First Amendment prevents some censorship, but with increasing trends, people are questioning if that needs to change. “In this age of disinformation,” Bazelon said. “Should we have a First Amendment that can also figure out how to address that particular problem? The problem of online troll armies trying to distract listeners and confuse them and damage people’s reputations. Once you have people using speech as a tool to suppress other speech, then what do you do about the fact that it’s very challenging for our American First Amendment to really address?” European democracies, however, have a different perspective on freedom of speech. “Since the rise of fascism in the 1930s, Europeans are much leerier of this notion that the good ideas are always going to win out in the marketplace,” Bazelon said. “They treat free speech not as an absolute right from which all other freedoms flow, but as a really important right that they’re also balancing against rights like democratic participation and the integrity of elections. It allows high courts to let states punish people who incite racial hatred. Germany and France also have laws designed to prevent the widespread dissemination of hate speech and election-related disinformation. In Europe, there’s a much more acute historical understanding that democracy needs to protect itself from anti-democratic ideas.” Other strategies for mitigating harmful conduct include decoration and internal advertising that promote policies. Forgoing the provision of public meeting room space for all users allows businesses to fully control internal messaging, and using prominent signage promoting the business’ message can also help. To listen to the full NPR interview on the problems of free speech in the modern era, please visit https://www.npr.org/2020/10/20/925755387/ unfettered-free-speech-is-a-threat-to-democracyjournalist-says. Bazelon’s full article can be read here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/ magazine/free-speech.html.
Features
5
Best Buddies
Programs promote neurodiversity through partnership ASSISTANT PRINT EDITOR MOLLY KILLIAN
According to the Autism Alliance of Michigan, too much reliance on teachers and paraprofessionals can cause students on the autism spectrum to experience feelings of isolation and a lack of motivation. This idea is especially true when it comes to Peer2Peer or the Linking Assessment and Instruction for Independence (LINKS) programs in which one student who has typical neurological development (neurotypical) is paired up with a student who has atypical neurological development (neurodivergent) so that they can both learn new skills from each other. “The LINKS program is about connecting a range of typically developing kids with kids identified on the Autism Spectrum,” FAPS Social Worker Heike Woodard said. “First we start with education for the typically developing kids (referred to as LINKS within the program) about what autism is and tell them about the expectations we have for them. Next, we have the LINKS and peers (the kids on the autism spectrum) share classes. Ultimately the goal is that the LINKS and peers are able to develop more of a friendship-like relationship and in turn that the LINKS will then be able to introduce their peers to a variety of other students. We want the peers to be able to feel more connected in their school experiences and have more typical experiences like attending sporting events, sitting at the lunch table with friends or going to dances.” Most people involved in Peer2Peer— including LINKS, Peers, parents and teachers— have reported that it has created a positive experience where everybody in the program can make new friends. “In Peer2Peer we go into classes and we help the students with their coursework,” junior Macy Melero said. “But it’s more than that because we are also their friends. We build a strong relationship and a good friendship with a person that has unique qualities, and building this relationship is so rewarding because you get to see your new friend flourish.” Since Peer2Peer programs put the students into a general education setting and promote independence and socialization, they don’t have as much of a reliance on adult mentors. “Generally speaking, for all the kids who participate in the program— including the LINKS and the Peers— there are noticeable improvements in academic performance, work completion, attendance and a decrease in behavioral referrals,” Woodard said. “In working with the kids I see that they seem to have better feelings about school, an increased positive attitude and feelings of belonging.” While on paper, the neurotypical students are the ones helping and teaching, neurodivergent students also help the neurotypical students gain a new set of skills that they believe will be useful in their future endeavors. “Peer2Peer has definitely taught me to be more patient,” Melero said. “It has opened both my eyes and my mind. Not only has it educated me on the different challenges and barriers other people may have to overcome, but it has also taught me to not judge people at the first glance because there is always so much more to a person than just what meets the eye.” The COVID-19 pandemic brought increased feelings of loneliness. Some people felt that they could reverse the negativity by joining the Peer2Peer Program. “I joined Peer2Peer because I just wanted to help other people,” Melero said. “I wanted to do something important this year, especially with everything going on. I wanted to do something that would benefit somebody else rather than just myself. I knew that even if I had a positive impact on just one student, then I would have made a difference.” The Peer2Peer program is currently selling Chip-O-Grams, which consist of a bag of chips with a message attached. They are being sold for 99 cents on May 10 before school in the Square. ART ANDREA ELSHOLZ
6
Neurodiversity Acceptance
fentoninprint.com
May 4, 2021
Acceptance, Not Awareness IEPs 504s and Accommodations WRITER RIANN MASI
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504s are educational plans for students in need of services or resources that differ from conventional methods, the U.S. Department of Education states. “IEP and 504 [Plans] are written plans outlining ways to support students with medically documented conditions that impact their learning in a significant manner,” FHS Principal Laura Lemke said. “They are provided whether the condition is the result of a learning disability, social or emotional issues or health conditions.” IEPs are provided at no cost from the family. An IEP is used when a student needs services that change how a student learns compared to their peers. This could mean that a student has to take a different test from their peers or refrain from taking certain tests. The 504 plans describe how schools will provide support and help remove barriers for students with disabilities. These provide services and smaller changes in the learning environment to enable the student to learn alongside his or her peers without having to alter the coursework too much from other students, the Autism Self-Advocacy Network reports. This can include receiving extra time for tests and receiving technology or an interpreter to help the student communicate. The term 504 refers to section 504 of the Rehab Act. As outlined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, section 504 provides schools with the financial means to provide support services for students with disabilities. Education for a student with a disability under the Section 504 regulations could consist of education in regular classrooms, education in regular classes with supplementary services or special education and related services. IEPs and 504 plans can be obtained through consultation with special education and general education teachers and school administrators.
May 4, 2021
Autism advocates for celebration of neurodivergence PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANDREA ELSHOLZ
People with autism have a life expectancy of about a decade less than average, a difference that can be reduced with greater understanding about Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Autism Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a network run by and for autistic people, defines autism as a developmental disability that alters perception. Certain sensory input can be overwhelming, social cues or colloquial expressions may be difficult to understand or specific actions may take a lot of concentration. “There is no cure for autism,” a parental guide created by the ASAN said. “Autism is not a disease. Autism is how our brains work. Autism doesn’t make you sick, and you can’t die from autism. Doctors can’t stop us from being autistic. We are okay being autistic. Most autistic people don’t want a cure for autism. The goal of a cure is to ‘fix’ something, and autistic people don’t need to be fixed.” Some people with autism are non-speaking. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) provides alternative ways for people to communicate. “I currently type on an iPad through an application (Proloquo4Text),” Jordyn Zimmerman, a non-speaking individual with autism, said. “I did not have access to AAC until the age of 18 years old. I graduated high school when I was 21. In those two to three years, access to AAC enabled me to communicate with my peers, meaningfully engage with the curriculum, participate in extracurricular activities (everything from cheer leading to speech & debate), and prepare for higher education. Most importantly, it gave me the freedom of advocacy.” Considering its absence from school curricula, the primary intake for information about autism is through media outlets. However, in many productions about autism, people with autism are not consulted. “We may be non-speaking,” a video by CommunicationFIRST titled “LISTEN” said, “and we may need help with many things, but that doesn’t mean we can’t contribute to a book, a play or a movie. If you always leave us out, people think we are not able to participate. That is why most people do not realize that we have a contribution to make. Include us, and you will see that we have so much to give.” Those with non-speaking autism may face negative perceptions of their ability. “People often assume I am deaf, or other times they will infantilize me,” Zimmerman said. “When an individual is under the impression that I cannot hear, I have a preprogrammed response that says, ‘I can hear everything you say, but I need this program to talk.’ Sometimes people will speak louder not because they think I cannot hear, but because they are under the impression I do not understand, and speaking louder will somehow help. Still, other times, people will act as if I am not in the shared space, asking questions of my mom or whoever is with me, while ignoring my presence.” The original autism diagnosis tests were designed while studying autism in young white boys, meaning groups like People of Color, girls and adults are underdiagnosed. Women and girls with autism are often initially
fentoninprint.com
misdiagnosed with other disorders. This can lead to potentially harmful treatment. Carrie BeckwithFellows— who did not receive an autism diagnosis until the age of 35— was administered strong psychiatric drugs, received electroshock therapy and spent years in mental facilities because of her misdiagnoses. “Autistic children are taught to inadvertently hide their autism,” Beckwith-Fellows said in a TED Talk. “They are taught to mask their autistic behaviors. Little girls are brilliant at observing other people and so autistic girls are taught at a very young age to hide their autism. Masking is the result of being told repeatedly you must not behave like this. Masking hides our unique voice and it replaces it with a more socially acceptable version of ourselves.” Stimming— repetitive movements and actions (such as flapping hands, jumping or rocking) which help people with autism communicate, control their bodies, calm anxieties and process thoughts— is often restricted by people who do not understand its importance. “It is difficult to be autistic in a world that was not made for us,” the ASAN booklet said. “Many people don’t understand autism. They might treat autistic people badly because of who we are. Your child may already think autism is bad. Being positive about autism lets your child know they can be proud of who they are. This also means you need to find chances for your child to safely be who they are. Many autistic people face violence because they are autistic. Autistic People of Color also face extra violence because of racism. For example, autistic people of color who stim in public may get targeted by police. There may be times that your child has to hide parts of who they are. That is part of staying safe as an autistic person. That’s why it is so important that you find places for your child to be openly autistic.” Creating a safe space also means ensuring people with autism are able to self-advocate and interact with non-autistic peers. “I strongly believe in inclusion, which facilitates academic, social and communicative gains for all students,” Zimmerman said. “We limit people’s potential when we have segregated areas and we teach others that it’s okay, when it is most certainly not.” According to the ASAN, a way to promote autism acceptance is to establish an atmosphere where people with autism have a platform to speak on policies such as the abuse of Applied Behavioral Analysis, the trials of sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities and the high rates of filicide in children with disabilities. “Autism acceptance means respecting the rights and humanity of all autistic people,” an ASAN article on Autism Acceptance month said. “It means centering the perspectives and needs of autistic people with intellectual disabilities— not by speaking over them, but by listening to them as leaders. It means fighting to ensure the universal human rights of all autistic people are respected. Autism acceptance means recognizing the ways ableism and racism interact in our society, following the leadership of autistic people of color and making anti-racism a core part of our work.” For more resources on Autism education, visit ASAN’s website at https://autisticadvocacy.org/.
Neurodiversity Acceptance
7
STAFF ED
The Staff ED is based off of a question that the staff votes on. The majority vote determines the angle that the editorial is written from.
ISSUE
Do youth feel represented and respected by modern authority figures?
VOTING RESULTS
Yes: 1 No: 11 Abstain: 3 Total: 15 Final opinion: No, youth do not feel represented or respected by authority figures.
You must be 18 years old to enter ART ANDREA ELSHOLZ
“They were talking”
Youth not respected or represented by authority They speak. They speak louder. They shout. They scream. Then, they realize the issue is not that no one hears them, but that no one wants to listen. Somehow, somewhere, humans inherited this internal belief that a person’s value is partially determined by age. This could not be less true. The U.S. needs to make a greater effort to listen to youth. The simple act of lending an ear will play a key role in bridging the generational disconnect that has caused rising social tensions. America is perfectly willing to profit off of the labor of minors and subject them to paying income taxes, but seemingly unwilling to let them hold their own bank account or vote on policies that determine the labor laws, rights and protections that directly pertain to them. While it may seem like this structure ensures that political decisions will be placed in the hands of those who are more responsible, it puts youth at great risk of being taken advantage of. Several students may recall instances where certain businesses ignored labor laws, underpaid youth and forced them to work through mandatory breaks or past curfew limits. However, since minors have no legal weight, they have to rely on intervention from an adult, with the risk of being fired from a job at an early age, which could damage chances of future employment. The average age of U.S. senators is 67 years, with only one senator in their 30s, Infogalactic reports. In fact, the U.S. constitution is structured
8
Staff Ed
so that U.S. senators must be at least 30 years of age. This age gap between active politicians and the youngest generation guarantees a perpetual disconnect between policy agendas and the needs of youth. For instance, most politicians are not talking about the student loan debt crisis, the inequity in the funding and structuring of school districts and standardized testing, environmental health and sustainability and resources for children with disabilities. Most politicians will be concerned with the issues that most directly affect their personal living experience. This proves to be a serious problem in the political arena, as issues that pertain most closely to youth shape the outlook of future generations. In secondary education especially, students thrive in greater autonomy. Most students are involved in numerous programs that enable them to effect change on their outer community. They balance school, sports, extracurriculars, jobs, caring for family members and planning for life after high school. Yet, they are routinely mocked, insulted and exploited. They are called lazy, stupid and spoiled for simply living in a different environment than previous generations. Technology has revolutionized the way people live, especially youth. They have grown up with different expectations and different methods of doing things, an aspect that is not in their control. Regardless, children are routinely blamed for acting in accordance with the environment
fentoninprint.com
they were raised in, even when this behavior is emulated in adults. Excessive use of technology is a prominent example. Children are heavily criticized for spending too much time on their phones; however, they seem to be the only generation receiving this criticism despite the fact that an entire subculture has formed by the Pinterest and Facebook mom community. It is apparent that youth are criticized for not meeting outdated expectations while simultaneously finding themselves held to expectations that other generations are not— despite the fact that older generations may act in the same ways. An age hierarchy has been established, where privilege and respect is determined by years of experience, rather than talent, merit, integrity, character or skill. Age has never been a legitimate standard for administering respect, nor will it ever be. Everyone is deserving of time, attention and respect. Youth offer creative ideas, diverse perspectives and patterns of thinking and problem solving that many adults have forgotten. They deserve to have a voice in the welfare of the communities they live in. This means doing more than just handing out symbolic student executive board positions where, in reality, the students are expected to just sit silently in their designated chairs at board meetings. This means actively seeking out opinions and insight from younger generations. This means listening when they speak.
May 4, 2021
Wider and W i d
e
r
Increasing wealth gap creates classroom divide PRINT EDITOR IN CHIEF ANDREA ELSHOLZ
likely to be affected by student loans or not even pursue a post-secondary education at all and immediately enter the workforce to support their families,” Nguyen said. “In fact, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics showed that students from wealthy families had a higher chance of succeeding with a post secondary education. In addition to that, while the graduation rate continues to grow across the board, wealthier students continue to succeed at a faster rate.” The issue extends to a global level. According to an article published by UNICEF, one in three Italian families could not meet remote learning needs during the initial lock down. This included being able to provide technology, internet access and time outside of work to help their child. In fact, Università Cattolica Associate Professor of Sociology of Media Giovanna Mascheroni confirms that a few students dropped out. “The pandemic has had a huge impact on children,” Nguyen said. “From small things like hanging out with friends to struggling with school work and even bare necessities. As many as 21 percent of children have at least one unemployed parent as a result of COVID-19— which hit the Latino and Black populations hardest, a PBS report found. The education kids received also started to change, as the wealthy could afford tutors or educational assistance programs, while many others continued facing educational issues. According to CNBC News, dropout rates have increased and we’ve started to see more students enter the workforce to take care of basic necessities like food and housing.”
Change in Lower, Middle, and Upper Income Families’ Share of Wealth
100
Share of Aggregate Wealth (percent)
As the socioeconomic rift between the lower and middle class widens, students exhibit generational effects on the quality of their education and their sense of connection to their fellow peers. “Reputation and status are prominent social consequences for children with lower income compared to their peers,” junior Mai Nguyen said. “They feel like they have to have a certain thing to ‘fit in,’ and see being different as a bad thing.” Socioeconomic status can affect student confidence as well as behavioral patterns and resource security, the Novak Djokovic Foundation reports. “When it comes to children, the social and economic circumstances faced are beyond their control, and so differences in merit cannot reasonably be advanced as justification for inequalities among them,” a report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said. “Social and economic disadvantages in early life increase the risk of having lower earnings, lower standards of health and lower skills in adulthood. This in turn can perpetuate disadvantage across generations.” From affording adequate technology to juggling hefty tuition costs, income affects the ability to compete in increasingly demanding environments. According to Crash Course Sociology, 83 percent of families from high income households enroll in college, compared to 63 percent of lower income families. “Students from low income families are more
75 62
Midd
le Inc
ome
50 29
48 42
ome per Inc
Up
25 7
Low Income
1983
Year
4 2016
A UNICEF report measured how far behind a child in the bottom ten percent of wealth fell below a child of average wealth. The U.S. is ranked in the bottom third of wealthy countries, with children in the tenth percentile of wealth falling about 58.85 percent below the household income of a child of moderate income. This means poor children in the U.S. have less than half of the disposable household income of a child in the middle class. Kids from lower income families were at a higher risk for health issues including depression and antisocial behavior, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reports. “In Fenton about 30 percent of students are on free and reduced lunch,” Nguyen said. “This extends to racial bias. I saw on The Balance that the gap between the average White household and the average Black household is about 11 percent. However, the problem continues to grow; as of 2013, White households saw their income increase by 14 percent since 1983, while Black households saw a decrease by 75 percent and Latinx saw a decline of 50 percent. This all comes back to opportunities, education and quality of life.” In a study comparing achievement gaps and educational proficiency, the UNICEF report found that even in Estonia, the highest ranking country, children at the 10th percentile could still exhibit a proficiency loss of about 2.5 years of schooling in comparison to that of the ‘average’ child.
ART MOLLY KILLIAN
May 4, 2021
fentoninprint.com
Features
9
The Roots of Rights Healthy environment as human right ASSISTANT PRINT EDITOR CAMERON CARLSON
As the effects of climate change grow, countries have looked into what can be done to better preserve the environment, protect their people and create a more sustainable nation. Today, more than 100 countries recognize the human right to a healthy environment. Within the past month, the United Nations Human Rights Council made a few steps to further clarify member obligations regarding the environment. United Nations (UN) member nations stated their commitment to continuing
negotiations toward officially adopting the right to a healthy environment, adding it to the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights. Adoption and implementation of this human right at the global level can come in many forms, shown through the different approaches countries have taken to address concerns over the environment while remaining in accordance with their respective constitutions.
Ignoramus
Get Real Editor-in-Chief Andrea Elsholz
There are millions of words in the English language; a dictionary alone can hold over one million of them. This being said, there is no reason to use intellectual or developmental disabilities as insults. Countless other words are available to express anger or frustration towards another person without further
ART
10
C
ON
RLS
N CA
RO AME
Opinion
In the U.S., President Joe Biden recently announced his plan to cut carbon emissions by 50 to 52 percent by 2030. While America represents less than 15 percent of global emissions, it is imperative everyone does their part. Regardless of belief, there has been an increase in devastating natural disasters across the country, and citizens should be more proactive by making their lifestyles and communities more sustainable. If everyone walks more daily, fewer cars would pollute the atmosphere or back up neighborhoods with traffic jams. Supporting local businesses and locally sourced goods requires less shipping distance and attracts more foot traffic, increasing local revenue. As this shift in focus is a lifestyle change, many are concerned about its effects on the economy. Not only do plastics and fossil fuels power cities and build roads, but they are present in almost every product consumed, as they are easier to incorporate into existing infrastructures. However, convenience at the cost of the planet is not convenient at all. If there is no environmental sustainability, there is no planet upon which to build an economy. That said, addressing climate change requires hiring workers to upgrade electricity grids, closing abandoned gas and oil refineries and manufacturing more electric vehicles and other products powered by renewable energy sources. Consumption also plays a large role. Industries release more carbon dioxide. Buying gentlyused clothes from thrift stores like Goodwill and Community Threads decreases the number of new styles department stores produce and the speed at which they change them, maintaining a more eco-conscious mindset, while still promoting local business. Even online shopping uses fewer carbon emissions than driving from store to store. Some businesses clean ocean plastic with every purchase made, while others use services like Shop Pay, planting trees to offset the emissions used in the production and shipping of products. Ecosia, a Berlin-based search engine, uses ad revenue from
searches to plant trees in deforested and ecologically impoverished communities. Not only does this empower communities to build a better future for themselves, but also improves business morale and customer trust in individual changes through their annual transparency reports. Evident by the grassroots protest against the proposed asphalt plant, citizens and city employers alike have a real interest in the health of the Fenton community and its future, making a human right to a healthy environment all the more essential. Whether it assists in promoting K-12 curricula on the environment and sustainability, or passing and enforcing environmental legislation for local and corporate commerce, it provides a local stepping stone for creating a more sustainable mindset at large and supports making a difference for individuals and the world around them.
stigmatizing those with disabilities. For instance, instead of turning a disability into an insult by calling someone “retarded,” simply calling them an “ignoramus” is much more effective and colorful. There is no need to try and turn the word “autistic” into an insult either. People with autism already face enough barriers and now the name of their disability is used by someone who has so little understanding of linguistics that they could not learn to use a thesaurus without an IKEA-style instructions manual. “Daft,” “thickheaded,” or— a fan favorite— “the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of a micro plankton,” are much more successful phrases for beating an opponent in a verbal battle. Why not strive to wow peers with an expanded vocabulary, rather than trying to insult someone with a word that is not really an insult at all? Using disabilities as insults just shows narrow mindedness and a lack of legitimate understanding of intellectual and
developmental disabilities. There is never justification for using a slur when the person using the slur is in a position of power over the one they are insulting. Yes, using slurs is an act of racism, homophobia, xenophobia or bigotry, especially when there is a power dynamic or hierarchy present. Why use a word that has a historical trend of oppression, supremacy and terrorism when it is easier to just be quiet? There is no satisfaction gained by using these words— it just shows who the real ignorant one is in the confrontation. Insults always say more about the person using them than the one who is being insulted. The deeper issue at hand is that these words are being used to intentionally take away a sense of value, love and belonging from the people they are being used against. When people are rude, simply pulling them aside and communicating to them that their words are hurtful is much more effective at solving problems and establishing trust. It is far too draining to be rude; energy is better spent cultivating sustainable and healthy relationships that utilize clear and effective communication.
fentoninprint.com
May 4, 2021
l e o B ng e W
Transgender athletes face restrictions ASSISTANT PRINT EDITOR MOLLY KILLIAN
ART MOLLY KILLIAN
Over the past couple of months, there has been a debate about whether transgender (trans) athletes— more specifically trans women— should be permitted to compete in women’s athletics. The argument was ignited in February 2020 when the families of three cisgender (people who indentify as the gender that they were assigned at birth) female athletes sued the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference because they felt it was unfair for cisgender and transgender women to compete against each other in any sport. Since this case, about 35 bills have been introduced to 20 different state legislatures and emotional debates have ensued. One argument the supporters of the legislation against transgender athletes have used is that people who are assigned the sex of male at birth have more testosterone, a hormone that plays a key role in the growth of muscle and bone mass. However, according to pediatrician, geneticist and adviser to the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr. Eric Vilain, males only have a 10 to 12 percent athletic advantage over females. Testosterone only has clear benefits for athletes in a small number of events which are the 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, hammer throw and pole vault. However, in many states, athletes who are transgender women are barred from competing in all athletic events. “While I would love for trans women to swim with me, I’m not sure that it is ever going to happen,” junior Rose Haney said. “Since they have heightened testosterone levels, they do have somewhat of an advantage over cisgender women, and because of that, I don’t think that people will ever fully accept them in sports.” While some states do not legally restrict transgender people from participating in sports, there are several states such as Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi and North Dakota that require an “internal and external examination of reproductive organs”
“The bill, and unfortunately as a consequence, transgender children, have been weaponized and turned into political pawns.” -Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith
May 4, 2021
fentoninprint.com
for high school girls if they are an athlete and their gender is questioned. There is also a bill in Florida called the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” that requires transgender athletes to play on the team corresponding with their gender assigned at birth and genital exams to settle disputes. It has been passed through Florida’s House of Representatives but has not yet been voted on in the senate. Opponents reference the idea that the supporters of the bill generally do not support bills that could lead to greater protections for women without singling out the transgender community. “It’s interesting because, in the field of sports, there’s a long history of discrimination that targets women that look different,” Vilain said. “The science of whether testosterone in real life is actually providing an advantage in competition is not clearly established, but more disturbingly is that all these rules [against trans women] at the elite level have affected women with a Y chromosome. So I’m a little disturbed to hear that these issues at the elite level are now reaching middle and high schools and colleges.” Opponents of the bill have also expressed that supporters of the bill may have motives that are more centered around politics than human rights issues. “The bill, and unfortunately as a consequence, transgender children, have been weaponized and turned into political pawns,” Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith said, “not just by the Republican Party of Florida, but by 25 state legislatures across the country.” Supporters of the anti-transgender legislation feel that they are protecting cisgender women. They are worried that if trans women compete in athletic events, they will have an unfair advantage for athletic scholarships, awards and admittance to tournaments. “I signed the bill to preserve women’s athletics and ensure fair competition,” Tennessee governor Bill Lee said in a Tweet. “This legislation responds to damaging federal policies that stand in opposition to the years of progress made under Title IX and I commend members of the General Assembly for their bipartisan work.” The bills in question only affect the states that they are passed in, so larger organizations such as the NCAA and the IOC can make their own policies. The NCAA says that transgender female athletes must undergo gender-affirming healthcare for a least a year prior to competing. The IOC policy states that transgender athletes must declare themselves female for at least four years and have total testosterone levels at or below ten nanomoles per liter. However, the gender-affirming healthcare that these policies mention is getting increasingly difficult to access. Arkansas recently passed an act that banned genderaffirming care for minors. Even though this bill only affects minors and therefore does not directly conflict with the NCAA and IOC’s policies, it has paved the way for future antitransgender legislation, according to Business Insider. While Florida’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” did pass through the House, it still has to pass through the Senate. It is believed that there will not be enough time for it to be debated and will therefore die in the Senate.
Sports
11
Dreamin’
Thank you to the Fenton InPrint Friends and Family Sponsors
Interesting dreams leave mark on student memory
InPrint
FEAST
“I had a dream recently that I was in Jurassic World,” junior Josh Maier said. “Inside Jurassic Park, I went to lunch at a Starbucks and all the workers there were different species of dinosaurs. I went to a Starbucks, where I received a coffee from a Velociraptor.” -junior Josh Maier “I had a dream that my house was haunted. “Everything was floating around the house trying to attack me, but then I ended up in a restaurant safe. The dream ended very abruptly.” -senior Jillian McVey
COOKING SCHOOL
“The dream I had last night was me running away from a tsunami. I was hanging out on a beach and all of a sudden there was a super big tsunami that was coming. I started running away, everyone around me was very confused until the sirens started, but the tsunami was crashing the beach before anyone could move.” -junior Landon Barthlomew LSON
N CAR
MERO
A ART C
Feast Gourmet Kitchen Shop 495 N. Fenway Dr., Suite 3 Fenton, Michigan 48430
Thank you to our Fenton Linden Pledge Advertisers: Behind Your Design Cause & Affect Gallery Punky’s Cuts for Men
For more information on how to become a Fenton-Linden pledge advertiser, see fentoninprint.com. Thank you for supporting Fenton publications programs
InPrint
Fenton
From having superpowers to teeth falling out, dreams can deliver unexpected events to the subconscious human mind.
“I’ve had a recurring dream that I always have the day before school starts for the past few years. In the dream I arrive at the middle school, even though I’ve been at the high school for two years. I forget my locker combination and what my class schedule is. The dream always ends with me walking through the hallways.” -sophomore Bethany Grenzicki
Fenton
WRITER RIANN MASI
Benjamin Soule The Elsholz Family Mary Chambers Rob Maier