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Featured reviews on Netflix original "The Umbrella Academy," feature film "Captain Marvel" and Weezer's new ablum "Black."
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 20 2019
Governor Dangerous Internet challenges concern UPCOMING Whitmer releases EVENTS controversial parents, school responds budget plan LINK CREW SEMINAR Monday, March 25 at 8 a.m. in the gym
MEET THE COACHES Monday, March 25 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria WINTER SPORTS AWARD Tuesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center
GREAT WORKS CHOIR CONCERT
Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
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By Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITOR Whether it is eating a handful of Tide Pods or jumping out of a moving car to dance to a Drake song, the Internet has never shied away from producing questionable challenges for young people to partake in. Most recently, the Momo challenge has caught the eye of most online users. This challenge, similar to that of the Blue Whale challenge, has participants perform dangerous and potentially violent activities in the name of “Mother Birth” who informs them of the tasks they must complete over messenger platforms such as Whatsapp. Freshmen Ava Janka believes these challenges are a reason for concerning, and she cannot fathom why students would participate. However, she does not believe it is necessary for the school system to address the potentially harmful challenges. “I don't know why people would ever do that. I guess I’m just not friends with those kinds of people,” Janka said. “But I mean, people aren't really doing them in schools, it's not their territory.” While there is no factual basis to support the existence of the Momo challenge, the concern of student safety is still prevalent. On Feb. 27, the administration sent an email to parents providing methods of promoting student safety online. These included using privacy settings and paying attention to online interactions, in
response to the Momo challenge. School psychologist Christine Kuhl said she thinks it is not the responsibility of one person, but of everyone to protect each other from the threat of these online challenges. “Since most students are connected to the Internet 24/7, relying on one group or organization to solve the problem seems short-sighted,” Kuhl said. “A whole community approach will provide the best protection for our students.” Kuhl credits the ongoing development of
the teenage brain as to why some students are eager to participate in trendy Internet challenges. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the location for rational decision making in the brain is located in the prefrontal cortex, which is still developing in most people up until age of 25, when the brain stops growing. This means those under the age of 25 use a different area of the brain to make decisions, the amygdala — a very emotional area of the brain that controls things such as fear. This, according to Kuhl, combined with hormonal changes in the body and social pressures can allow for students to make more impulsive decisions. Sophomore Tiara Cherry does not participate in online challenges because she believes they distract students from other important aspects of life. Further, she encourages others to be role models for those who do participate. “(Internet challenges) give kids this certain mindset, that GIACHOBI BUSH only trends make you cool or that it's something that you need to focus on,” Cherry said. “Just be a better leader, set great examples for younger kids who you know are easily inspired.” In the future, Kuhl and Cherry hope that students will recognize the danger that these challenges present, and will be aware enough to avoid participation. “I would urge students to stop and think before participating in a challenge,” Kuhl said. “If you have any inkling that the behavior may be dangerous, please speak to a trusted adult about it before doing anything.”
Varsity gymnastics team tumbles to States, earns rank in top 10s By Maggie Carron PAGE EDITOR As a member of the varsity gymnastics team, junior Amanda Nguyen was pleasantly surprised at this year’s success. Grosse Pointe United made it to States for the third year in a row, which to Amanda, was a well-earned experience. “I was very excited and honestly kind of shocked because the difference between the scores was very close to make it to States,” Amanda said. “It's been awhile since our team has gone to States as a whole, so it was nice to just enjoy it.” The girl’s gymnastics team traveled to Grand Rapids and competed at Rockford High School after a fulfilling season that to Amanda, consisted of hard work and personal growth. The team left for States on March 8 and competed throughout the weekend. Amanda tied for fifteenth in Division Two on vault, ending with a score of 8.875. Sophomore Cate Gagnier placed third, earning a total of 36.525 points in the four categories she AMANDA NGUYEN competed in: vault, uneven parallel bars, balance beam AS A TEAM | Although Junior Amanda Nguyen has been doing gymand floor exercise. Overall, GPU finished in 11 with a nastics for over 8 years she does not think States would have been as successful without all her teammates. "I'm the type of person who puts score of 138.400 points for the team finals Former GPU gymnast of four years and two-year a lot of stress on myself and lets the pressure get to me," Amanda said. assistant coach, Isabelle Nguyen was proud and felt "Having my teammates there to help calm me down and get me out of my own head was the best thing I could ask for." accomplished as a coach for the team making it this far. “Throughout the season, each gymnast had their own five years of experience in club gymnastics, her pre-state nerves were way to work harder as Regionals and States came closer,” Isabelle said. inevitable, but with the support around her it went by in a breeze. “I was very proud on how hardworking they were and that the team “The most difficult thing was the amount of pressure that I had made it to States. It’s hard to do as a team, so I was very impressed. on me,” Amanda said. “Knowing that one little mistake could cost the Being at States is always exciting, because as a team you were chosen team and myself everything really hiked up my nerves. I'm the type of to be part of the top 13 teams in Michigan to compete for first. person who puts a lot of stress on myself and lets the pressure get to me, In the days leading up to the competition, the girls focused on so having my teammates there to help calm me down and get me out of practicing a careful routine, in an effort to avoid working themselves my own head was the best thing I could ask for. They’re so supportive too much. This preparation included having shorter practices and and are always cheering no matter what the outcome is.” making sure each member had enough energy left to push through a For Gagnier, a team member for two years, not only was having her difficult routine as the end of the season was coming close. teammates at States vital for her success, but it was just as important to “It was most difficult near the end of the season,” Gagnier said. continue the trend of their consistent support for each other. “Many of us were persevering through injuries and worn out, tired “My teammates are amazing, while just hanging out with them during bodies. Sometimes it was hard to stay positive and keep going to States, practice and at school,” Gagnier said. “They were always there for practice every week. The team worked so hard every practice to earn me. They would cheer me on at every meet, and inspire me to do well. a team spot at States, so I felt really accomplished and proud that all They were kind and supportive of my performances at meets even when that practice time in the gym paid off.” I didn't do well. Always telling me "good job," and encouraging me to Although Amanda has been on the team for three years and has do better. They made practice a more enjoyable and fun place to be.”
@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org
VOLUME 51 | ISSUE 11
News Life
By Abi Murray STAFF REPORTER On Tuesday, March 5, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released her first state budget to members of Michigan’s legislature explaining how she will address her long-promised solutions to “fix the damn roads” as well as increasing funding for Michigan K-12 schools. School board Treasurer Judy Gafa remains cautiously optimistic towards the new budget, but hopes to see more being done for improving Michigan’s education in the future. “I feel it’s very reasonable I would like to see a bigger increase (in funding) but I understand that Michigan has many needs,” Gafa said via email. “This will bring funding back to the funding the district received in 2008. I’d like more to address the rate of inflation but am grateful for this step forward.” If passed untouched, this new budget will allocate $507 million towards Michigan schools by increasing funding by between $120 to $180 per pupil depending on where a school lies on the funding scale. According to Gafa, this would mean around one million additional dollars for the district to pay for staffing, improved classroom resources as well as operational cost. Although senior Tommy Jakubiec is alarmed by the steep 45 cent increase in Michigan gas the budget includes, he believes Whitmer’s increased funding for improvements in education is a step in the right direction for Michigan. He is also interested to see how this money would be employed in the Grosse Pointe Public School System. “I know most of the departments at Grosse Pointe North have problems with either old textbooks or lack of funding to do more field trips and stuff at North sometimes,” Jakubiec said. “So I hope some of that money goes towards enriching the education that we get.” Chemistry teacher Kristen Lee was excited to hear about Whitmer’s intent to improve Michigan schools, and is pleased to see any amount of increased funding towards education in the state. “It's encouraging to see someone, as our Governor, who seems to see the value of education and (that) the state wants to change things to support education,” Lee said. In courses like her Advanced Placement Chemistry class, Lee said that tightened budgets have had an affect on how efficiently the class can be run. According to Lee, when there is not enough funding to split a large group of students into multiple classes, this can lead to shortages in supplies and safety hazards. “We can write grants and things, but (the increased funds) would just be nice. I'm doing a lab with AP right now and I only have eight of this piece of technology,” Lee said. “Which, unless I want to have groups of five kids-which is too many-I don't have enough equipment.” In regards to the the school board’s decision to reconfigure the district by shutting down certain buildings, this increased budget will not affect the closures according to Gafa. “Reconfiguring the district has been at least a 2 year process and while change is difficult and uncomfortable it’s something that no longer can be avoided,” Gafa said. “I am not happy that this needs to be done but I recognize my responsibility as a board member to address the issue.”
1 Editorial 3 Reviews 5 2 Indepth 4 Sports 6
By Hannah Zalewski & Kylie Duke
LIFE
North Pointe – Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – 2
Tradition of boat races continues in physics
By Sofia Ketels, Michael Hartt, & Victoria Wittenburg MANAGING EDITOR, PAGE EDITOR, & BUSINESS MANAGER
On March 8, the physics classes had the opportunity to put their knowledge to work in front of parents, teachers and their fellow peers. Students in traditional, honors and AP physics classes worked in groups over the past few weeks to construct boats made only of cardboard and duct tape. These boats were put to test in the pool in the annual regatta. In addition to having to hold two people, the boats also had to remain sturdy enough to compete a lap in the swimming pool. For any student competing, like junior Michael Lynch, the cardboard that is used for these boats was extremely important its durability. To Lynch however, it wasn’t just the materials that made the event. “It’s a unique event that is really fun,” Lynch said. “It’s super inclusive and provides a hands-on project.” While the day of the regatta was fun and games for the
participants of the race, Lynch and junior Joe Hamouda agree that a lot of hard work went in to building the cardboard boats for the race. With rubrics including a specific material list and requirements, like the boats not being allowed to have cardboard in places that weren’t along the seams of the boat, the process proved rigorous and time-consuming for some. For Lynch and his group, a good amount of the planning came down to the materials and basics of cardboard-boat building. “The other members of my group found this project to be very time consuming, but it was also very gratifying,” Lynch said. “It takes a lot of time and a lot of duct tape. The kind of cardboard used is a huge factor as well, because cheap cardboard takes on water very quickly.” Junior Troy Herd said that the most difficult part was turning the design of the boat into reality. “The hardest part was time management,” Herd said. “Like trying to come up with some designs for the boat, and then after you get the designs for the boat, how you can make it into a real life boat that people can get in to.”
As students who participated in the regatta came from three different levels of physics classes with two different teachers, pre and post race assignments differed. For some, this meant that in addition to creating a boat, students also created an infographic on the design and structure of their team’s boat that also included the result from the regatta. For many students like Hamouda, who was proud of the performance of his “S.S. Boat” despite it not making it very far, the overall experience of being able to use skills obtained in class for a practical, fun and hands-on example was more than worth hours of dedication and some soggy cardboard. For him, being able to spend time with friends while learning “a few good lessons” about physics made his experience with the project positive. “I think the process was definitely fun,” Hamouda said. “It was a good group of guys and it was a good experience.” Contributing: Julia Magnan
Urban exploration leads to potential dangers By Michael Hartt & Brooklyn McWhorter PAGE EDITOR & WEBMASTER
Sophomore Lily Ludlow has recently caught on to the trend of exploring abandoned buildings in her area, particularly those located in the city of Detroit, where there are countless vacant industrial sites. Ludlow understands the risks of venturing inside these buildings, but said that she loves the idea of seeing the ruins of a bygone era and appreciating the street art plastering the factory walls. “It’s cool to see all of the art that people snuck in and painted,” Ludlow said. “It makes me feel like I’m in on some kind of secret.” Science teacher Sue Spears thinks that the enjoyment gained from breaking into these buildings pales in comparison to the potential consequences. “I get the intrigue behind it, but I think too, there is a reason to not break in, because it is against the law,” Spears said. “When you look at some of the ruins from different industrial factories, I think it is a horrible idea to break in because of the contaminants left there, the crumbling structure of the buildings, and trouble with law enforcement.” The contaminants mentioned by Spears include industrial grade chemicals — both improperly and dangerously disposed of — and asbestos. According to Web MD, asbestos can increase the risk of mesothelioma (a tumor that can line the lungs) and lung cancer if inhaled for long periods of time. Some industrial sites, like the Packard Plant, have remained mostly intact, but have remained vacant and vandalized for decades.
In Jan. 2019, a man died playing hide and seek inside the abandoned former Grand Truck Warehouse and Cold Storage facility, according the the Detroit News. Junior Lexi Poulos has never broken in to an abandoned building herself, but has friends who have participated in the trend, said that her friends have never encountered law enforcement or anyone else at any of the properties they have gone to. The trend surfaced in the summer of 2018, and thrived until temperatures began to drop in the fall, when explorers became reluctant to venture out. On the cusp of Spring, temperatures are on the rise, as well as the urban exploration trend. Urban exploration is not a new occurrence, as the trend originates from 90’s grunge and punk countercultures, which were often encompassed by dangerous acts in the name of thrill-seeking. The sudden resurgence of “UrbEx” is mainly a byproduct of grunge culture perpetuated by social media websites such as Instagram. Famous influencers with primarily teenage audiences post glamour shots set inside of various abandoned buildings, and their followers have begun to do exactly the same. Ludlow, for example, was inspired to start exploring foreclosed properties after
seeing people participate in it on the internet. “I saw some stuff on the internet that made it look fun so I just went,” Ludlow said. Ludlow also said that she is fully aware of the likely consequences, and they would not deter her from engaging in UrbEx. Both medical professionals and law enforcement officials alike strongly discourage the pastime of urban exploration, as it could put one in physical and legal harm, as they believe this type of mindset — that thousands of teenagers potentially share with Ludlow — could put them in danger if applied.
French teacher Charles Posigian By Victoria Wittenburg INTERN
SARAH CLINET CHARLES POSIGIAN
C’EST LA VIE | French teacher Charles Posigian is more than just an expert in the language. When he was in high school, Posigian was involved in an array of activities, including the Spanish Club. Posigian has visited both France and Spain, but was taken with France in his first visit to Paris. “Being in Paris for the first time was a dream come true and I felt at home in the city,” he said. “I knew I wanted to go back again one day which I did my senior year of college and this past summer.”
Although French teacher Charles Posigian has mastered in all things related to France, he has just as much interest in domestic affairs. “It would be an honor to do some positive work and help bring about change in this country to help make it a place that all of its residents can be proud to call home,” he said. Posigian grew up in Dearborn, where he was able to stay close to his mother’s Lebanese roots. Although much of his family is Armenian, his mother was born in Lebanon, and Posigian has always been very connected to his family’s culture. His heritage is part of the reason why he has taken such an interest in making America a better place to live in — it all started with his ability to stay connected to the Lebanese culture so prevalent in Dearborn. As a teenager, French was not Posigian’s only focus. He found himself taking an interest in extracurriculars like journalism and theater. During high school, he said he f loated from
group-to-group, making friends in each clique. Posigian ended up with a few friends in different places, and not just with his classmates. “I was a very serious yet outgoing student throughout my high school career. I became friends with as many people as possible, including teachers,” Posigian said. “I often ate lunch with some friends and either my French or journalism teachers.” In high school, Posigian was in a program called Student-Directed Scenes. Here, he said he was inspired by many of his teachers to give his all while completing his work. In addition, Posigian not only traveled with the French and Spanish clubs in his high school, but he also continued to study the language for many years post his secondary education. “Going abroad to France and Spain with the French and Spanish clubs stuck with me the most,” Posigian said. “Being in Paris for the first time was a dream come true and I felt at home in the city. I knew I wanted to go back again one day which I did my senior year of college and this past summer.”
What would you do if you were in a zombie apocalypse? I think I would lock myself at the nearest grocery store and watch Bird Box on Netflix.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? And why? Paris. Absolutely. I studied abroad there.
What is your favorite book? My favorite book is called “One Man Guy” by a man named Michael Barakiva.
What is your favorite food? My favorite food is Pad Thai with fried tofu in it.
If you could have lunch with any celebrity who would it be? Why? Lady Gaga. She is an inspiration and also just won an Oscar and that is something that Madonna will never have, and all the more reason to talk to her about that.
EDITORIAL
NORTH
POINTE
“Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the press for all students, regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or offensive.” BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY Syeda Rizvi EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Hartt PAGE EDITOR
Emily Widgren PAGE EDITOR
Sofia Ketels MANAGING EDITOR
Abi Murray STAFF REPORTER
Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITOR
Maggie Carron PAGE EDITOR
Adam Schwartz PAGE EDITOR
Amelia Nowicki STAFF REPORTER
Brooklyn McWhorter Arzoo Chhaya PAGE EDITOR WEBMASTER Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.
AMERLIA NOWICKI
OUR EDITORIAL
Taking a break versus taking the blame Despite the preachings of balance, the line between pacing oneself and pure laziness has become blurred in our busy world. As we grow older, we begin to understand what “balance” means through collaborative group projects and “eat, sleep, repeat” schedules. We also learn how easy it can be to blame somebody else for our own misfortunes. Unfortunately, this carries over into our academic lives. Kids today are quick to blame teachers for their poor grades without bothering to consider the idea that it may have been their own fault, thus eliciting unnecessary emails to teachers from angry parents. After all, it’s the teacher’s fault for not constantly checking in on them, right? Wrong. Teachers should not be held “guilty by association” because we weren’t up for doing our homework. For many students, the stress of giving 100 percent in multiple aspects of their lives — like sports, school and social lives — means that by the time they get home, all they’re looking for is a break. Once the next day rolls around, the realization of not having homework done hits them like a brick — and whichever teacher is associated with that assignment is put on a mental dartboard. However, the worst part of this situation is that it is not an easy fix. In the circumstances of today, it’s much more difficult to distance oneself from stress-triggers due to the invasiveness of society and technology, so trying to break up a schedule to seem more manageable is near impossible. It’s difficult to say “no” to more opportunities, but there’s a certain point where we get worn out, and by then any motivation we may have had disappeared. Although time management seems like more of a distant dream than a reality, there are things we can do to ease our own stresses that don’t involve blaming our teacher for failing the tests we didn’t study for. Something simple that can be used as a great first-step is owning up to our mistakes. When we fall short, we need to start addressing our issues head-on instead of hiding behind somebody else because not only is it unjust to them, but also to us, as we’re teaching ourselves that it’s okay to have a nonconsenting scapegoat. We also need to start thinking to ourselves, “Is this really worth it?” before picking up a new project or joining yet another club. If we begin to examine our current situation prior to committing to something new, we can avoid pressure and the inevitable “snap” of our mental state. Understandably, we’re doing everything we can to thrust ourselves into the eyes of colleges, but we can only do so much as individuals, and our collective fear of failure can drive us mad. What we need to understand is that we can’t necessarily slack off, either. Drawing that fine line between what’s within our capabilities and what’s too much for us is critical in achieving personal success and avoiding a motivational decline. Taking accountability for our academic accidents will also help prevent a hostile student-teacher environment while promoting healthy learning. The prioritization of our extracurriculars can also help us reach that sanctuary of equilibrium every day. Procrastination is a major detriment to our mental health, so breaking up major projects or reports so they correspond with our sports and social schedules eliminates feelings of resentment for teachers that “put too much on our shoulders.” When you need a break, take a break. However, this doesn’t mean you should drop everything and throw on a facemask whenever we’re asked to do something. The problem with modern self-care is that it’s promoted in a way implying that we should use it whenever we feel the least bit stressed, but that’s simply not the case. It’s more difficult than it sounds, but before looking for a place to point our fingers, we need to look in a mirror — and this will help us feel more comfortable with taking responsibility for our own mishaps.
North Pointe – Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – 3
Disproportionate stigmi — why talking about race should never feel like the elephant in the MY TURN room, but always does SYEDA RIZVI We habitually connect ideas that help our brains form patterns. It’s part of the way we learn to recognize when things just don’t seem to fit; oddballs, peculiar instances, abnormal behavior. These social patterns lead us to sort people into one category, and when someone doesn’t quite fit the pattern, they are branded with stigmas generalizing their entire identity. Our instinctive behavior when we see traits outside of our cultural norm is to group all people associated with that abnormality together. I’m going to reach out a little past everyone’s comfort zones just a little bit, but bear with me. We see a black man rob the local convenience store, gun in hand. A black woman smoking weed. And suddenly, it turns into a stereotype. A stereotype that black people are unsuccessful, have no purpose and exert criminal-like behaviour. It certainly is not true, and I’m not saying that it is. But that’s the label they are given in society, and Grosse Pointe is certainly no exception. My name is Syeda Rizvi. I’m obviously not white, and maybe I’ve seen more minorities affected by stereotypes than the average white Grosse Pointer. But from what I have seen after moving to America is that stigmas tend to be blown out of proportion, and the majority race is never affected as severely as any minority. It is a great thing to be sensitive to race, mindful of other cultures’ practice and religion. But why is it, that talking about race feels like it’s taboo? In ninth grade, we were discussing our ethnic backgrounds in class. After explaining that I am Pakistani, and that no, it is not in the Middle East, a classmate asked me if the people in Pakistan are educated enough to speak English. There are many technical problems with this question — for one, the ability to speak English does not determine
" Honestly, the most dangerous is the snow challenge because you could get hypothermia ."
your intellectual ability. You can be just as intelligent in another language. But I chose to ignore this, because at least the question was being asked instead of assumed. If it gives someone the opportunity to learn more about another country, than what’s the harm? Pakistan actually comes third in the list of countries that have the most English speakers (according to www.k-international.com), while nearly half the population speaks it as a second language. But here’s the interesting thing: this student was almost immediately denounced by my teacher. I suppose they assumed I would get offended, maybe insulted on the grounds of a lack of sensitivity. I appreciate the sentiment; however we can’t learn to address issues of race if we only ever tip-toe around conversation. The solution to the disproportionate stigmi each race faces compared to the “average white American citizen” is obviously not to create more stigma revolving around white people. It’s to eradicate stereotyping completely. The first step we can all afford to take, especially in a community like Grosse Pointe that has a white majority, is to step up and address issues of race faceto-face. Only by understanding the other side’s perspective do you come to realize that we have lot more in common than you initially thought you saw. And you can only understand the other perspective when you ask about things you don’t know, when you take the initiative to understand what someone else goes through. We need to stop being so touchy about race. This awkwardness shouldn’t settle in the room every time someone brings it up. Yes, be respectful, but I think that in high school, we’re all mature enough to draw the line between outright insults and trying to become less ignorant about things that truly do matter.
"The most dangerous internet challenge in my opinion is the Tide Pod challenge, only because they are poison."
" Momo, because kids think it 's real."
Ada Johnson
Jennifer Owens
Mercia Grundy
FRESHMAN
FRESHMAN
SOPHOMORE
YOUR TURN: What internet challenge do you think is By Kylie Duke the most dangerous?
"Momo challenge."
Dana Turner JUNIOR
" I think the most dangerous challenge is the cinnamon challenge and the snow challenge."
Taylor Morton SENIOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Syeda Rizvi MANAGING EDITOR: Sofia Ketels BUSINESS MANAGER: Victoria Wittenberg WEBMASTER: Brooklyn McWhorter PAGE EDITORS: Maggie Carron, Arzoo Chhaya, Michael Hartt, Adam Schwartz, Emily Widgren, Hannah Zalewski STAFF REPORTERS: Colin Duffy, Kylie Duke, Farrah Fasse, Ray Jason, Julia Magnan, Abi Murray, Amelia Nowicki INTERNS: Giacobi Bush, Niklas David, Ray Hamilton The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published every two weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review.
" I ’d have to got with the t ide pod challenge because I think it 's ridiculous that people would eat laundr y detergent ."
Sean McCarrol SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe Public School System. We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Student Press Law Center. We subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and iStockphoto.com. One copy is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online at northpointenow.org. The North Pointe is printed on 100% recycled paper. CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Email: gpnnorthpointe@gmail.com Phone: 313.432.3248 Twitter: @TheNorthPointe Website: northpointenow.org FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn
EDITOR'S DESK ADAM SCHWARTZ
Addressing a communication problem We’re going to work with an endless amount of personalities. With advancements in technology infiltrating our lives in more ways than one, we now have numerous ways to communicate with each other. Anything from a simple text message to a Snapchat notification can kick start a conversation, but at what cost? These advancements are already creating inconveniences regarding how we communicate and interact with each other face-to-face. Real-life interaction is the key to success, and it’s essential that students learn how to work with each other in person. The work field expects that you have the ability to present yourself and talk to a group of people in a sufficient, professional manner. The rise of technology is usually a good thing, but it’s making people, especially high school students, too laid back and unwilling to go the extra mile to interact with others. When we get into a professional field, we will be expected to work in groups and talk to individuals who aren’t our favorite people. This is why the need for communication and physical interaction at a young age. It is so important to a successful future for us. We can't go far without knowing how to talk to each other. Individuals are more likely to say something online that they wouldn’t normally say to someone in person. This is the online disinhibition effect — there is a lack of restraint we feel when we communicate with others online. We need to be able to take responsibility for what we say, not always hiding behind a screen where we aren’t seeing any kind of emotion or reaction from the person we’re speaking to. We all react differently when we see an emotion or expression on an individual. However, online, we’re care free and seem to forget that on the other end there is an actual living human being who has feelings and emotions just like we do as well. Since we have a lack of physical interaction when using technology, it halts our ability to read and analyze situations on the spot, which is a vital component in the development of our social interaction skills. Face-to-face communication also helps with interpersonal skills among individuals. From freshman year in high school to when we retire from whatever kind of career we decide to pursue, we’re going to work with an endless amount of personalities. Some people naturally aren’t as good at communicating unless you see them and ask face-to-face about an issue that you’re having. As high schoolers we need to understand this, and the best way is through the group projects that we do. These are mini-jobs that force us to deal with different kinds of individuals. You learn who you work well with and who you don’t work well with. The best part about this is that it’s a minijob — you aren’t stuck working with the same group of people for twenty years, but instead, get a taste of what it’s like to be apart of a group and learn how everyone communicates. Communication is key to success and some people won’t step up unless you hunt them down and do it face-to-face. Physical communication not only allows one to see reactions from others, but also enhances how they would deal with different kinds of individuals either in a workplace or in school. Not everyone is going to be easy to work with and that’s why it’s essential to hold your ground. Don’t be a different person when you’re communicating with them via email than if you were speaking to them face-to-face. You shouldn't ever type something out that you would be afraid to say to that person physically.
IN-DEPTH
North Pointe – Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – 4
Teens and Technology
How technology has changed over the years, what this has to do with adolescents and what’s in store for the future By Emily Widgren & Amelia Nowicki PAGE EDITOR & WEB EDITOR From navigation systems to additional learning tools to brand new smartphones, technology is constantly evolving. Many schools have integrated new technology with a variety of items, such as Smartboards and computer labs, to better modernize the learning experience of their students. Senior Paul Gusmano, a student in the fourth level of the iTech program, iCap, is aware of the implementation of new technological devices, but believes that much of it has fallen victim to the rapid pace at which it is upgraded. “The OS (on Chromebooks) is really outdated and it’s sort of a slug,” Gusmano said. “That being said, I don’t think I can justify an increase in spending to upgrade the computers because they technically work fine, they’re just not as smooth as newer laptops or computers. They get the job done, even if it’s painful.” Technology in schools is not the only way it has been seen to benefit teenagers. With motor vehicle crashes being one of the leading causes of death in young adults, car companies are starting to incorporate many different features to help teens and adult drivers alike stay safe on the road. According Kier Mathieson, a manager of the infotainment systems in cars for OnStar, there are many different features that have made many cars much safer for new drivers. Some of the most used features include the lane-keep assist, which can be found in cars like the 2016 Cadillac CT6, allows cars that are drifting, if the driver’s hand is on the wheel, to go back into the lane. Another feature is Apple CarPlay and Android Audio, which searches your phone for apps that drivers could need while driving such as Spotify or Google Maps. This takes the phone out of the driver’s hands and on the screen, which can prevent crashes based off of texting while driving. The programs also allow the driver to makes calls and send texts via voice recognition, in an attempt to help drivers keep their eyes on the road. This constantly evolving technology has helped to create a safer environment for beginner drivers, but Mathieson says that it will never be enough. “There’s nothing particular about teens other than (they are) less experienced, but all of us can benefit from promoting safety features, and it really will never be enough,”
APPLE VERUS ANDROID (116 students interviewed)
94%
6%
APPLE
ANDROID
4 Features in Cars to Help Keep Teens Safe
student opinions
Mathieson said. “The trend is going to autonomous driving vehicles, and providing all the technology works as it should, you know, that would certainly likely reduce the number of accidents, but it’s hard to say if it will not be enough.” Gusmano, who is also a student driver, prefers to use the navigation systems on a phone rather than that of a car. Although avoiding texting and driving is necessary, Gusmano also sees some issues with this course of action. “It’s sort of annoying sometimes when you need to make sure your route is proper so you check your phone for a quick second to make sure it is taking you in the right direction,” Gusmano said. “Or when a text pops up on your phone and it covers your route, you need to swipe it out of the way, which is tedious, so I could imagine a more integrated and more specialized service could be useful on a car.” In addition to new features that technology brings to the table, there are still many more to come. In the future, voice recognition in cars could become more prevalent and so could the use of more updated technology in the school. According to iTech teacher Sean McCarroll, many of the staple pieces of technology used throughout the district, such as Smart Boards and computers, are starting to become outdated, and will need to be updated soon. Technology is ever changing and many of the newer pieces in the district, such as the Chromebook carts, are mainly bought through donation money. With the introduction of technology in regards to the school, a newer concern is if whether both students and staff will be able to adapt to it. “I think the best way to adapt to technology is to not focus so much on memorizing specific functions of different technology, but more so adapting to, or acquiring a skill set that allows you to adapt to new technology,” McCarroll said. “I think being able to explore something new and unfamiliar is going to serve us far better in life than memorizing certain technologies we have now because ten years from now, it’s all going to be different anyways.”
REVIEWS
5– Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – North Pointe
Back and Better Than Ever By Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITOR After a hiatus lasting just over five years, fans of the teen-pop trio, The Jonas Brothers, patiently awaited the midnight release of their new single. “Sucker” came out with a music video on March 1 and has been an international hit. The tune features all three original members, Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas. They open with a steady beat and soft vocals that slowly build throughout the entire song. Detailing the feeling of being deeply in love to the point of obsession, the melody seems to be an upbeat love song dedicated to the significant others of each band member. A clear reference is even made to Nick and his recent wife, Priyanka Chopra’s marriage with lyrics, “Heat in December” alluding to their winter wedding. These connections to the brothers’ real lives keep the song not only lively, but meaningful as well.
Rebranding themselves as a more mature version of their former kidfriendly selves, the music video places each brother alongside their significant other. Taking cues from the Victorian Era, the music video opens with the view of a long winding road leading up to a magnificent castle in which the video takes place. Inside, each wife or wifeto-be is dressed in lavish, expensive looking gowns and accessories. In keeping with the theme of the ornate and powerful, the brothers partake in various explicitly meaningless activities. From taking bubble baths on the front lawn to fencing and even dancing the conga line at an outdoor tea party, the song remains light-hearted and fun while straddling the line of being outright ridiculous. On the other hand, each of the brothers’ partners can be seen partaking in rather mundane activities. Danielle Deleasa can be seen walking six adorable corgis, Sophia Turner can be found tending to hedges in the garden and Chopra can be seen mowing
the lawn, all of which are done in utterly extravagant fashion. The clash between the ladies’ attire and the housewife activities they per for m is i ron ic, hu morous and only adds to the overthe -top theme of the video. T his video also makes one thing clear to viewers: Nick is the new front man. While it may have been smart for the producers to make Nick the center of attention following his solo success, his older brother, Kevin, gets roughly a third of the screen time that he does. As a long-time Jonas Brothers fan, I was rather disappointed at the uneven distribution of screen time allotted to each brother. Some may see Kevin as a replaceable member of the band, as he does not sing, but after a five year absence from the spotlight it would have been nice to see more of the brother who took the farthest step from the public view. However, the focus on the other two brothers pays off. Through the entirety of the song, there is a steady balance between Nick’s hushed vocals
and Joe’s fresh, dense harmonies. This combination creates a ballad of love and dedication that harnesses a simple, yet complex variance of rhythm which anyone can dance to. Although it is obvious that the brothers’ new sound is distant from their former Disney-star days, the question of musical distinguishability is still up in the air. The new pop genre the band seems to be aiming for sounds remarkably similar to the work of Joe’s band, DNCE. In fact, I would have guessed it was the work of DNCE if the Jonas Brothers reunion was not highly publicized. Hopefully in the future, the brothers will continue to separate themselves from all their former work and grow to have their own recognizable sound. The large success of this single following the announcement that the band is getting back together makes it clear that both old and new fans are eager to see what the brothers have in store for the future.
"Sucker" (2019) Single EONLINE.COM
ALBUM
TV SHOW
MOVIE
TV SHOW
THE BLACK ALBUM
UMBRELLA ACADEMY
CAPTAIN MARVEL
NORTHERN RESCUE
Weezer is notorious for having a unique sound that defined the mid to late 90s. After the release of the “Teal” album earlier this year, nothing much ENIGMAONLINE.COM was expected from Weezer, as the cover album was enough to hold the world over for a while. Then, on March 1, “The Black Album” was released, taking fans by surprise. Though the album has been in the works since 2017, the release was sudden, with few knowing of it’s release date. When I first listened to the album, “Can’t Handle The Hustle” caught my attention and became, what I believe, is one of the best songs on the album because of its upbeat tone. With the few songs that follow, I noticed that they get a bit slower, and almost, dare I say, darker. The gradual recession of tempo continues through the album, which adds to the connotation of the album being dark. I feel as though the songs on the album were meant to be heard in the order in which they are in, and that the placement of each song was intentional to some sort of storyline. Another song that caught my attention was “Living In LA,” as the song has a pop feel to it, which is unexpected, since this is a Weezer album. The song, though pop-esque, sounds very generic compared to the others, and I think the song could have been easily left out of the album and released as a single in the future. Along with “Living In LA,” the song “Byzantine” seems as though it was meant for a different release date. Still, it feels as though the songs are apart of a story, and even though the two songs are different, they still feel essential to the albums whole operation. “The Black Album” was made, in my opinion, to be one of the random, filler albums artists put out. Though this feels like a filler, the album is still very well made and produced. The bands sound hasn’t changed a bit since the 90s, which is a good thing for them, as it is a sound that most like to hear. Weezer did an amazing job with this album, and with each day I listen to it, it gets better and better.
When someone says superhero, some people think of being strong and flawless. However, in the Netflix original “The Umbrella Academy,” based on the comic “Dark IMDB.COM Horse” by Gerard Way, the main focus is on the characters’ flaws. This show implies that nobody has a perfect life, including superheroes. The show starts with 43 women around the world giving birth at the same time. The odd part is that not one of these women were pregnant when they woke up that morning. This was when Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), an eccentric billionaire, decided it would be a good idea to buy as many of the newborn children as he could. The show’s visuals made this scene interesting and eerie, showing a Russian woman jump in the pool — not pregnant — when all of a sudden, the woman appears nine months pregnant and goes into labour. Hargreeves (Feore) managed to purchase seven of the children. Six of them had super powers, or so it seemed. Not that Mr. Hargreeves was a bad father, but he was the guy who didn’t name his kids, but instead numbered them in order of who he liked best. Not to mention he couldn’t be bothered to actually raise them, so he just built them a robotic mother named Grace (Jordan Claire Robbins) who eventually gave the children names. Although origin stories of the characters are important, the events of the show take place after the seven kids in the academy are all grown up and out of the limelight. Some went on to pursue their dreams, while others went on to get jobs to meet ends meet. While they all ended up going their separate ways, they all got back together after the death of their father, for the funeral, and they banded together to try and stop the upcoming apocalypse. The show presents a lot of characters at once, but the it also understands the importance of a sick montage to help you get to know the characters a little better, plus it leaves room for an amazingly dope soundtrack. Overall, the show was great. It was really great at portraying the characters struggles and insecurities in themselves, as well as their strengths. It gave each character their own unique story arc.
Marvel Studios’ new film, “Captain Marvel,” turns back time by 24 years to 1995, as planet Earth has been centered in the middle of a galactic war between WIKIPEDIA.ORG two alien races, the Kree and the Skrull. The movie is based around female protagonist Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), an ex-Air Force pilot who called the human race home until six years prior, due to her involuntary switch to the Kree via energy reactor explosion. In addition to being a milestone movie on its own, many Marvel fans would also argue that “Captain Marvel” has more significance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) timeline following the “Avengers” trilogy. The MCU is home to a vast amount of movies in the modern Marvel era. Beginning with “Iron Man,” the MCU includes a number of unsolved mysteries and unexplained events, including the whereabouts of the Tesseract, also known as the space infinity stone. “Captain Marvel” is a key stepping stone to the next MCU movie, “Avengers: Endgame” which premieres in April, and with this comes a billion new questions from the viewers now that they know more about this new hero. As the credit scenes rolled for “Avengers: Infinity War,” Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) summoning Captain Marvel on an old beeper. This final scene foreshadowed both a Captain Marvel scene in the near future and a Captain Marvel appearance in “Avengers: Endgame" come April. Prior to this great cut scene, MCU fans were on the edge of their seats waiting anxiously to watch the most powerful superhero in the MCU. Captain Marvel has more than exceeded expectations, quenching a thirst Marvel superfans have had since last year as we inch closer to the release of “Endgame.” Actress Brie Larson perfectly portrays Captain Marvel. Larson portrays Carol Danver’s cutthroat, yet sympathetic personality, creating a character immediately loved by the MCU fanbase. Overall, Captain Marvel is a must-watch movie. The film correlates all MCU movies with one another and explains all open gaps. Before you watch “Endgame,” it is vital to see “Captain Marvel,” as the movie explains not only Infinity War’s famous end credit scene, but also the origins of the Tesseract.
Netflix’s new original “Northern Rescue” has viewers wanting more. The show is based on a true story about a family whose mother suddenly passes IMDB.COM away from stage four cancer. With the unexpected death, the West family from Boston, to their aunt’s small town called Turtle Island Bay in Massachusetts. The main plot follows the family as they try to live their life in a new town without their mother. The casting for this show was almost on point. Many of these actors and actresses have played similar roles in other shows or movies, so they already have the character figured out. Though not all acting would be considered Emmy-worthy, this familyrelated drama is definitely a binge worthy show. John West (William Baldwin) is the father and villain in the show. John, a single parent, never listens to his kids and doesn’t understand their problems, only his. Having to take on the role of a mother and a father to three kids is hard but with the help of Aunt Charlie (Kathleen Robertson) it's a little easier for everyone. The main obstacle for children Maddie (Amalia Williamson), Scout (Spencer Macpherson) and Taylor (Taylor Thorne) is to try and figure out life without their mother. Once you get more into the episodes, a lot of flashbacks come up from when their mother was still there, and how they relate to what's happening in their lives now. The kids go through major, realistic life issues including bullying, running away from home, drugs, alcohol and moving away from their friends. These are life issues that happen to teenagers more often than not, so it is not like that stereotypical, unrealistic show that we have all seen at some point. Lastly, Netflix and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation teamed together to make this show, so naturally the overall filming quality of it was amazing. The show was filmed in Ontario, Canada, but it takes place in Massachusetts. Despite the fact that this was a lower budget show it was great for a first digital show for CBC.
"The Black Album;" 2019; Available to buy on iTunes
"Umbrella Academy;" 2019; Available to watch on Netflix
"Captain Marvel;" 2019; Available to watch in theaters
"Northern Rescue;" 2019; Available to watch on Netflix
By Julia Magnan
By Ray Jason
By Colin Duffy
By Kylie Duke
6 – Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – North Pointe
UPCOMING GAMES GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER Away game against Chippewa Valley High School on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE Away game against Northville High School on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL Home game against Cousino High School on Thursday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m. in the baseball field
SPORTS
Diet trends find their way into student athletics By Arzoo Chhaya, Farrah Fasse & Ray Hamilton PAGE EDITOR, STAFF REPORTER & INTERN
On Instagra m, the hashtag “keto” is attached to 11 m illion posts. T he ketogen ic diet, wh ich advises a h igh fat, moderate protein a nd low ca rbohyd rate consumption was the most Googled diet of 2018, with people crediting thei r 10 0+ pound weight losses to following it. Evidently, the diet ca n assist with weight loss for some people. However, a n often una nswered question still sta nds: how do diets like keto a nd vegeta r ia n ism a ffect athletic per for ma nce? Culina r y A r ts teacher Michael Vivia n i believes that although the keto diet has ma inly benef its, it ca n come with some less favorable repercussions if you approach the diet in a n incor rect way. “I th in k (keto has) ma inly positive effects. (T here will be) negative effects if you cut out ca rbohyd rates 10 0 percent,” Vivia n i sa id. “T hat would be the negative effects of it. You wa nt to ma ke sure you’re still eating ca rbohyd rates, you just wa nt to lim it the factor of it. But, other tha n that, it’s ma inly positives.”
Viviani sees keto as more of a tempora r y diet, rather than a lifestyle due to its unsustainability, and believes W hole30 diet, a 30 day “reset” which cuts out added suga r, grains and legumes, among other things, is a better option.
“I don’t feel it’s a tr ue lifestyle, the keto diet,” Vivia n i sa id.“You ca n’t eat fr uit on keto, it’s ma inly fat. It’s not really someth ing you ca n do day-to -day.” Athletic tra iner Chelsea Wa nczyk has m ixed feelings about the diet, but believes it ca n be benef icial for some. To Wa nczyk, the diet depends on the goals of a n athlete th in k ing about ta k ing it up. For insta nce, endura nce athletes rely mostly on energy a nd therefore, should avoid the ketogen ic diet as it elim inates a sign if ica nt por tion of ca rbohyd rates. According to Wa nczyk, th is diet is ta rgeted towa rds people who have ner ve degeneration diseases, such as Pa rk inson’s Disease a nd Multiple Sclerosis. “If you’re someone who’s look ing into keto,” she sa id, “you need to be ver y specif ic about the th ings you’re tr ying to accomplish with the diet.” T he keto diet’s guidelines for a h igh fat consumption almost always comes along with eating heavy a mounts of meat a nd a n imal products.
Its nea r opposite, vegeta r ia n ism, is a diet where meat is not consumed. However, these diets promoting h igh fat a nd h igh pla nt-based items respectively a re both hotly contested. Freshman Gabbi Bielak is a vegetarian, and has been for the last twoand-a-half years. Even though some people view meat as essential to a healthy diet, Bielak believes that meat was more detrimental to hers. “I felt bad for the a n imals, a nd meat just made me sluggish a nd feel k ind of gross. I def in itely have more energy now that I don’t eat meat a nymore,” Biela k sa id. “I th in k I m ight not get as much protein as other people, but I th in k I get more energy out of pla ntbased proteins.” Biela k sa id she often faces qualms from others once they hea r about her exclusion of meat from her diet, as ma ny people believe she is too young a nd lacks the proper nutr ients necessa r y for growth. However, Biela k believes other wise, just as athletic tra in ing inter n Madison Ma r tin believes m iseducation is often the biggest fault with someone approach ing a vegeta r ia n diet. “I th in k vegeta r ia n ism is all about education, because you really have to k now where you’re getting the different nutr ients from. Maybe a h igh school athlete doesn’t educate themselves, a nd they’re th in k ing vegeta r ia n ism is just eating fr uit a nd veggies, because you’re not eating a ny meat,” Ma r tin sa id. “But, where do you get that protein? You get it from your nuts, bea ns, foods like that.” Ma r tin believes that a legitimate, bala nced diet includes f inding the per fect ratio between macronutr ients. According to her, optimal athletic per for ma nce relies heavily on the inta ke of protein to help develop muscle, especially for h igh per for ma nce athletes. “H igh per for ma nce athletes a re consta ntly work ing out thei r muscles, a nd with muscle regeneration, you need that protein to continue to facilitate muscle growth a nd recover y,” Ma r tin sa id. “Ca rbohyd rates a re the major energy source for athletes. (It’s impor ta nt) to ma ke sure that they’re ta k ing in more ca rbohyd rates tha n a nor mal individual, because for athletes, they requi re more calor ic inta ke.”
GIRLS VARSITY TRACK Macomb Indoor Meet against multiple opponents on Thursday, March 28 at 4 p.m. at Macomb College
WINTER SPORTS AWARDS NIGHT Tuesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center
SOFIA KETELS
ARZOO CHHAYA