North Pointe Volume 54 Issue 1 by GPN North Pointe

NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

SINCE 1968

POINTE

NORTHPOINTENOW.ORG

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021

IMPROVEMENTS AHEAD School construction continues Page 2

GRACE ROSSMAN FARRAH FASSE

@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org

News Editorial InDepth

2-3 4-5 6-7

Reviews 8 OnPointe 9 Life 10

Sports 11 OnCampus 12 VOLUME 54 | ISSUE 1

2 — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 — North Pointe

NEWS

Building Undergoes Construction

Modifications improve learning in classrooms By Sophia Dragich & Ella McCarthy SECTION EDITOR & INTERN many benefits for the school. The construction will help update the building, which was built in 1968, and provide space for the district’s head administrators, who will be relocating their offices to the back of the B-building within the next few months.

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There are things that are more difficult, but in the end, it will be worth it. Kate Murray PRINCIPAL

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Throughout the past summer and initial weeks of school, several construction projects have been ongoing. Some of the more noticeable ones are the improvements being made in the main office and the remodeling of the front staircase, which senior and Student Association Vice President Sophia Graham noticed upon entering the building on her first day of school. “The main thing is probably having that whole staircase in the front of the building being blocked off,” Graham said. “That whole side is a blank wall, and you can’t get through.” In addition to the construction going on in the staircase, renovations are being made in the Performing Arts Center and half of the third floor, according to Principal Dr. Kate Murray. This has caused some school activities to take place off campus, such as the fall play. While Murray recognizes this may be a disruption to students and staff, she believes that it will ultimately be beneficial for the school. “The fall play has to be at South in a few weeks because we don't have access to our own facilities,” Murray said. “There are things that are more difficult, but in the end, it will be worth it.” One of these difficulties that comes with construction is acquiring proper materials and getting supplies in on time. Many items have been on backorder, such as the whiteboards which are supposed to go on either side of the new smart boards that were added to each renovated classroom. “There should be whiteboards on either side of the smart panel in each room that has been renovated,” Murray said. “We are still waiting for these boards because the metal around the board is backordered.” Despite these setbacks in obtaining supplies, Murray believes the construction is going well and will provide

In addition to the remodeling of the former counseling center to house the district administrators, the location of several teachers’ classrooms has also changed. Graham noticed this on the first day, as some of her favorite teachers were no longer located in the same area of the building. Graham explained that although finding

COURTESY OF KATE MURRAY

SWITCHING IT UP | Principal Kate Murray says that the district administrators’ offices will be relocated from the administration building to North. “District administration will be moved to the back of B-building, where the counselors and mental health team were located last year,” Murray said. “Construction allowed us to remodel the inner core on the first floor so that we could build a new counseling center.”

classrooms was not difficult for her to manage, she found it hard to assist freshmen in finding their classes. “I’m on Link Crew and I would try to point people to the right direction,” Graham said. “It was kind of disorienting because all of the teacher’s classrooms [were] switched around.” The relocation of classrooms is also affecting teachers, including Spanish teacher Jennifer Spears. Spears previously taught on the second floor with all the foreign language teachers and now teaches on the first floor, near the new counseling center. Spears enjoys this new location, as she finds value in being near the school’s mental health team. “Being close to the counselors and all of them, I think that’s great,” Spears said. “I just like having a new perspective.” Along with construction and relocation of classrooms, improvements in building technology have been made. Some of the teachers have been given a T.V. — like SMART Boards in replace of the older model for use in their classroom. Spears, like many teachers, finds this new technology helpful and beneficial, especially because she heavily relies on visual aids when teaching her language classes. Spears enjoys using the new SMART Boards because they provide her with a brighter screen for showing her class images and videos. She is still getting accustomed to the technology, but she plans to incorporate new teaching techniques once she has more experience with the board. “There’s been a bit of a learning curve. I’ve had to figure some things out very quickly to make it work on the first day of school,” Spears said. “As the year progresses, I will have new techniques that I can incorporate.”

COURTESY OF KATE MURRAY

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL | Though construction is still currently underway, students and staff alike are optimistic about the final product, including Spanish teacher Jennifer Spears. “Already some of the rooms look great,” Spears said. “[Just] feeling like we're in a more modern and updated building just in general I think is a more positive thing for students and for staff.”

NEWS On-Going improvements throughout the building

North Pointe — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 — 3

Keepin g it Brief

By Grace Cueter, Gabe Goode & Christina Shea MANAGING EDITOR & INTERNS

School board meetings heat up

SOPHIA DRAGICH

OFF LIMITS | Some areas of construction are still blocked off throughout the school, including the stairwell in the front of the building. Principal Kate Murray says that the end result will be worth the inconvenience. “A staircase, the PAC and half of the 3rd floor are unavailable right now, which can be difficult to navigate,” Murray said. “There are things that are more difficult but in the end, it will be worth it.”

As Wayne County’s new mask mandate was implemented this year, many students lost all hope for the normal school year they desired. Instead, Sophomore Stephanie Karoutsos, took advantage of her chance to speak in front of the school board, offering a speech about her dreams of an ordinary high school experience. “I want to be able to walk into North with a visible smile on my face and be able to see my friends’ and peers’ faces,” Karoutsos said. As COVID-19 still greatly impacts our school lives, Karoutsos encourages students to express their opinions on how the Grosse Pointe Public School System is handling these newfound circumstances. She says, without sharing, no changes can be made to better the education, social aspect and overall experience in the schools. “We need the board to see through our eyes what life is like in our schools on a daily basis,” Karoutsos said. “They will only understand if we have time to explain.”

Possible expansion of vaccine availability As the Food and Drug Administration starts to give out approval for boosters to include more age groups, as well as the option for 5-11 year olds to get their initial doses; the topic regarding the vaccine is more controversial than ever before. Science teacher Liz Michaels sees the importance of the booster. “Based on the research, those who are older or have underlying conditions, it seems like a booster would benefit them,” Michaels said. As a mandatory vaccine rollout becomes more common around the country, cities like New York have mandated healthcare workers to get the vaccine. These mandates may become more prevalent, so a student mandate for the vaccine doesn’t seem like a far-fetched idea. “I think in the end it has to be the student's and parent's choice,” Michaels said. "But, I personally would vaccinate my children.”

Mask up, it's required ELLA MCCARTHY

NEW VIEW | Some classrooms throughout the building have had their older smartboard models replaced for a newer version, with a bright and clear screen that is now on wheels. Spanish teacher Jennifer Spears is a fan of the new SMART Boards. “I really like the new technology,” Spears said. “I love the fact that it is bright, it’s backlit, [and] there are a lot of images and videos [that] pop on the screen.”

KAITLYN BARR

FRESH PAINT | Certain aspects of the construction have been completed and are accessible to those in the building, such as the renovated classrooms. “I mean, first of all, I love what they’ve done to the room, they are freshly painted, there’s that bright green wall, which matches my colorful scheme here," Spears said. "I like being close to all the mental health people, which is new for me, being close to the counselors and all of them, I think that’s great."

On Aug. 27, the Wayne County Public Health Department issued a mask mandate in all schools, requiring faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear a face covering when inside school buildings. Wayne County Public Health Commissioner Timothy Killeen says that the discussion of this public health order began around April 2021, shortly following one of the largest surges of daily reported COVID-19 cases in Michigan. According to the New York Times, the daily case count in 2021 reached its peak in mid-April. Not long after the settlement of that surge, the Delta variant, a highly contagious strand of the COVID-19 virus, began its rapid spread throughout the country and the state of Michigan. This variant, Killeen says, is one of the many reasons the mandate was put in place. “The American Association of Pediatrics is recommending masking in schools, largely due to the spread of the Delta,” Killeen said. The health department quickly received criticism regarding the mandate. Killeen says that individuals responded with ideas that face coverings can cause further spread of the virus and prohibit the ability to breathe properly, but argues that these statements, which he says are more emotional than factual, can be put down with medical research. “What we're trying to do in public health is protect as much of the public as we can,” Killeen said. Killeen says that in every circumstance, resistance will always be existent. However, that resistance will only continue to grow the issue, never solve it. He argues that criticism is only an unnecessary extension of the fight, and that the county, state and country all need to work together in resolving the public health concern. “We all wear masks, we get vaccinated, that's how we kill it,” Killeen said.

4 — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021— North Pointe

Plus size d iscrimination

BELLA YOAKAM

Physical appearance is the first thing humans process when meeting a new person. In a world where prejudice and bias are prominent, this creates the issue of judging or discriminating against someone who looks different than the “standard” human. But who is that person? Answer: they do not exist. Society pushes a beauty standard on everyone from the time they are a kid, specifically, “skinny” is correct and “plus size” is wrong. When our brain strives so constantly to be supermodel thin, it can unconsciously demonize people who aren’t. This is plus size discrimination. Victoria Secret holds perhaps one of the most known fashion shows every year, featuring their “angels” in a variety of lingerie. Until recently, angels were not to be above a size 12, and are required to

EDITORIAL

be between 5’8” and 6’ 9’’. This alone is problematic, only tall skinny women are shown as “sexy.” What did the plus size girls think? Because of the shape of their bodies, they can’t be beautiful in society’s eyes? Perhaps this was noticed, because in 2019, Ali Tate-Cutler was featured as the brand’s first “plus-size” angel. Great right, finally getting representation? Except Tate-Cutler is a size 14, the average size of a woman in the U.S.. Victoria Secret is so fat-phobic that they branded an average woman as above average. Not only would this damage young girls perception of their own bodies, but it creates a widespread discrimination against average sized and above women. They aren’t pretty or skinny enough to be models. It isn’t only the fashion industry that has this bias. In fact, it reaches smaller scales, such as school dress codes. At North’s homecoming, at least three plus-sized girls got dress coded for wearing dresses that were “too revealing”. However, they were wearing dresses cut the same as those of tons of “skinny” girls. Just because of the shape of the teens’ bodies, their dresses were deemed inappropriate for them. This is called skinny privilege. Thin girls can get away with low cut tops, exposed midriff or short skirts. But the same things on thick girls are “showing too much,” but really there is just more to show. It isn’t inappropriate to have a larger body, nor is it bad. It’s just different. Can we step up and stop our discrimination against plus-sized women? Beauty is in everyone, no matter shape or size. Show our thin, thick and average girls some love.

Common sense stalls in the girls’ bathroom By Grace Rossman SECTION EDITOR After a summer of construction, students returned to school to remodeled first and second floor bathrooms. Out with the 53 year old pink restrooms, the new and modernized bathrooms seem almost perfect. However, even with the expensive bond given to our school for improvements, the girls’ bathrooms are missing something so elementary, that it’s beyond frustrating. Even the old and outdated bathrooms had trash cans that allowed women to dispose of feminine hygiene products, and despite the attractiveness and cleanliness of our new bathrooms, some may still prefer to journey to the third floor to be in the almost historic bathrooms. Without a trash can in each stall, girls have two options, neither of which are desirable: to flush their feminine products down the toilet, or bring them to the singular trash can outside of the stalls. The former has been advised against, and has resulted in signs in the stalls informing girls that these products can cause plumbing issues. So, in reality, the lack of places to dispose of products is a negative for everyone. The money they could spend providing trash cans in each stall will instead be spent unclogging toilets and solving plumbing problems, an issue that the administration brought upon themselves. The latter option, and the only other solution, is simply a

KAITLYN BARR

violation of privacy. With the stigma surrounding periods, not every girl wants to carry a feminine hygiene product from her stall and throw it away in the communal trash can. Additionally, it is a sanitary issue. A used feminine product should not have to leave a stall and end up right next to the expensive and sparkling hand dryers. The hand dryers are both an area where students place their hands, and where germs are being blown around by the powerful air dryer. Trash cans in our stalls should not be considered a luxury. For a school that is working on an exorbitant construction project and can afford to add unnecessarily extravagant sinks, fashionable marble tiles on the walls and up-to-date design choices for our new bathrooms, I believe they can afford small metal bins for the seven stalls in each of the girls’ bathrooms.

YOUR TURN: How has the construction impacted your learning environment? By Grace Cleary & Parker O’Neill INTERNS

SENIOR ANDREW SLIWINSKI: “I find it distracting. I can hear power tools all the time ,and it is a little disorienting for me, especially when it is hard to get to my classes. I have one stairwell already closed, and I just find it inconvenient for me and most people.”

JUNIOR VICTORIA SCHAAF: “It is really noisy. It is extremely loud and in some of my classes the tools bang on the floor. It is really irritating.”

SENIOR DARIAN STEVENS: “For the past couple of days, I have class with Mr. Gilleran, and there is constant banging, sawing and movement directly next to us that’s being a distraction.”

FRESHMAN MARIA CASTRONERO: “I don’t think it really has. I mean, it took a while to get used to and find everything and stuff in the school, but it was pretty easy after you found all of it.”

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 — North Pointe—5

EDITORIAL

Are libra ries checkin g out? By Bee Bielak, Allie McIntyre & Thomas Jones SECTION EDITOR & INTERNS

Pro

Libraries are dying out in modern society. Online libraries have stolen the show from brick and mortar versions. According to the American Library Association, there are only 4.9 library visits per capita every year. Only about 5 times a year do students rely on their local library to feed their minds. Are books not enough to supplement students’ learning? Or do we need computers and movies to get the intellectually stimulating experience? Libraries enrich our society in more ways than we can imagine. They allow students to have a much greater access to literature, by preventing the need to purchase every novel or story. It’s also unfair that everyone may not have access to books without libraries. Students and their families may not have money that can provide the funds to allow them to continuously purchase new reading material. If these students neglect the free resources of their public library, they’ll never have new learning experiences through books. This could hinder their spirit and excitement to read. With a physical library, you can pick up the book instead of just staring at a screen. According to a meta-analysis by researcher Virginia Clinton, studying and reading out of paper books rather than e-books makes students more efficient at grasping information and aware of what

they are learning. We also already stare at technology too much in everyday life. Plus, online libraries may not be accessible to everyone, so downloading books is not always an option. Everyone deserves the chance to read. As we lose the love for libraries we

Libraries are simply outdated. They are a was of effort, space and time when we have everything available to us virtually. If a student needs access to a novel, the school can provide them

Con

BEE BIELAK

once had, we lose our literacy. Libraries provide a place for students to study and collaborate on group projects, and it is a quiet environment for students to read, do homework and think with the pleasure of pure silence. Not everyone has a quiet place to do homework at home, so libraries may be considered a safe place for many students. There are so many reasons we as society benefit from libraries.

with e-books that can be sourced online. Individuals are also able to efficiently order books from various companies such as Amazon. Our library (The Library Media Center) could be better repurposed as solely a media center. With everyone being required to have access to a chromebook, we believe it is beneficial that the school has more

options to read required novels online. Online reading prevents backpacks from being too full, making it easier to keep track of items. Public libraries also don’t always have the books that their patrons need and want. Just imagine all of the times you went to the library, looking for that sweet new novel all of your friends talk about, and you can’t find it at your local library. You have to call it in from another library across the state, and it won’t get there in two weeks. At that point, isn’t it just more convenient to buy the book or just download it online? Digital libraries have a wider selection of books to choose from. Paper books are a thing of the past and are easily damaged. How many people still go to the library for their books? If the paper book accidentally gets damaged, the person who borrowed it gets a big fat fine. What if a book gets lost and you have to return it? What if you forget to turn it in a day late and presto, a ten cent fine! Whereas in borrowing the book online or buying the book off Amazon, you avoid the risk (and the guilt) of damaging a book that is not yours. Libraries are prehistoric and not worth further investment now that we have all of our resources available online.

Letter from the ed itor: about the last yea r a nd a half

By Farrah Fasse EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Although we’re only just under a month in, the 2021-2022 school year has already proven to be a year of even more changes. With homecoming being outside and construction reconfiguring North, it almost feels like everything we hold dear is being f lipped upside down, something that has been haunting us since March 2020. With the promising news of returning to prepandemic life all over last spring, many of us had hoped that we could return to our familiar comforts, with this school year being like any other. Frankly, we have passed the point of pretending we can live the same as we did before the events of the last year and a half. The notion of us doing so is one that we may find solace in, but is nothing more than a fever dream. The phrase “the new normal” is nauseating. Our current reality isn’t what it once was, and won’t ever be again. There’s no ignoring the over 600,000 lives lost in the United States, and the ripple effect those losses have had on millions of us. Subsequently, since our way of life has

changed, everything now seems to have some sort of stipulation attached to it. We can have in-person school if we wear masks. We can have a homecoming dance if it’s outside. Sure, these endless caveats are frustrating in their own right, however, it’s important to see beyond them and be grateful for what we do get to keep hold of in this ever changing world. Since our last traditional print issue in March 2020, much has changed in North Pointe. We’ve moved rooms, turned over staff and made about a million other changes I don’t have the space to list. While I am somewhat saddened that we have lost some of our normalcy and rhythm to COVID-19, I am still eternally grateful to help lead such a wonderful staff, and finally publish our first “normal” issue in over a year and a half. During the pep assembly a couple of weeks ago, a choir member sang “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. With almost everyone joining in, it was one of the crown jewels on top of an event that, in my opinion, aided in restoring our sense

of school community that we have lacked for so long. The lyrics “we’ve got each other and that’s a lot” really resonated with me in our current situation. Forgetting everything else, us Norsemen are able to be together, here, in our home.

6 — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 — North Pointe

IN-DEPTH

Welcome Home New Teachers By Farrah Fasse, Grace Cueter, Areion Swain, Robert Maddox, Elly Meteer & Lauren Shipe EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, MANAGING EDITOR, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR, STAFF REPORTER & INTERNS

ANNA FLEURY DEPARTMENT: English

“(Dr.) Murray and I actually had a conversation threeyears ago about the joy of teaching, and about how you always need to be working on joy as an action and you have to work toward it. It was so important in teaching, and education, and learning and the role of joy in learning. At the end of that conversation (I said), ‘I want to work with that woman.’”

“The staff is really welcoming here. I’ve been working in schools for a long time, but I’ve never felt this connected to my colleagues.”

PAUL GOLM DEPARTMENT: English

JILLIAN MCDONALD “Getting to know students in person is going to be fun, that’s DEPARTMENT: English

probably the thing I’m most excited for.”

“Getting to know students in person is going to be ERIN TABOR “(I am most excited about teaching) Film Literature.” fun, that’s probably the thing I’m most excited for.” DEPARTMENT: English

ALLIE WARD DEPARTMENT: English

“I loved the community, and the fact that the outside community is involved. It seems like a lot of the students are involved after school which is great.”

MANDOLYN GRATTAN

DEPARTMENT: Foreign Language

North Pointe — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 — 7

IN-DEPTH LAURA HULL DEPARTMENT: Math

“I’m really excited to be here, and to do group work activities, and to be able to do things that feel a little more interactive.”

“I live in the community and I was drawn to North as a way to give back to the place where I live.”

LORI MCCAIN

DEPARTMENT: Science

COLLEEN BYRN

“I’m excited to be a part of a community that has lots of school spirit and lots of really nice and inviting people.”

“I am most excited about teaching a new way of studying earth science.”

CHRIS TREPANOWSKI DEPARTMENT: Science

REBEKAH SPAULDING

DAN TOBIS DEPARTMENT: Science

“There’s a lot of things I’m looking forward to, I think the biggest one is just getting to know everyone. So just really getting to know the students at that personal level and help them succeed. ”

“I actually get to see what my students look like and do fun activities with them, that was limited last year.”

DEPARTMENT: Special Education

DEPARTMENT: Science

KELLIE WHITE

DEPARTMENT: Social Studies

When I was at a different school I wasn’t able to be with kids who were also in mainstream school. So, I’m excited to get to know the mainstream kids as well as the special ed kids.”

8 — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 — North Pointe

REVIEWS

Lakeyah's "My Time": Is Quality Control's new artist actually quality? Jamison Towsend & Katie Madigan

STAFF REPORTER & INTERN It's always refreshing to discover an artist that brings something different to the table. It seems like Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “Pee” Thomas of Quality Control have hit a gold mine, signing artists that are creating legend status for themselves like Migos, City Girls, Lil Baby and their newest signee, Lakeyah. 19-year-old rapper Lakeyah Danaee signed to Quality Control back in 2019 and put out two mixtapes “In Due Time” and “Times Up,” both of which were met with critical acclaim in the underground mixtape scene. In her most recent project, “My Time”, the self proclaimed “Female GOAT” solidifies her status with hard bars and smooth vocals. The album features mixtape and underground legend DJ Drama. While Drama doesn’t have any writing or production credits on “My Time,” he brings something arguably better: motivation. Throughout the record, Drama can be heard yelling inspirational quotes and is a sort of hype man to Lakeyah. Drama can be heard saying “Only the strong survive, sink or swim” on the Tee Grizzleyassisted “313-414”. Drama brings a perfect balance to the record adding a flare to tracks where the flame is missing.

The album opens with the fiery “Out Your Mind” where Lakeyah takes time to check her competition. On the track, Lakeyah brags to her haters “You out your mind, you can’t play with me.” The mixtape is full of moments like these on “GOAT Talk” when Lakeyah describes what it really means to be the Greatest of All Time by rapping “Real Bosses sit down, never speak, that’s that GOAT talk.” Lakeyah describes what it really means to be the Greatest of All Time. Songs like these help solidify why Lakeyah is so successful. She has a voice that compliments the beat selections she makes and a flow that is unique to her. On top of calling herself the “Female GOAT,” Lakeyah also gives herself the moniker of the “Biggest FlexHer”. Lakeyah loves to f lex her riches and beauty. On songs like “Reason,” Lakeyah lets listeners know all of the reasons she has to brag about her f lashy life. While this song can come across obnoxious to some, Lakeyah’s lyric “I got a reason to brag” justifies her confidence and in the song she shows that she’s grateful for what she has, and has worked hard to get where she is today.

Lakeyah has the potential to be a very multi-dimensional artist, but seems to not tap into that with this mixtape. There are many parts of the tape that feel forced and very bland. Lakeyah also comes off as shallow on songs like “In Person” and “Shots Fired” that make this record an underwhelming follow up to her last mixtape. However, Lakeyah does take time to be vulnerable in the 27 minutes we have with her. Lakeyah is the break up song queen with hits like “Worst Thing” and “Windows” but we get to see a new, happier side of her on “Letter to You” an uptempo love ballad, dedicated to her lover. The song is graced with a sampleThe song samples “I Love You” by Faith Evans and Lakeyah’s voice meshes well with the sample. Her flow on the track is almost unmatchable and it is refreshing to finally see her make happier music. It is clear Lakeyah is still learning the game and has a long way to go before reaching true GOAT status but with her consistency, and a Nicki Minaj co-sign under her belt, it is clear that Lakeyah’s "My Time" is a step in the right direction, so I would give it a 3.5/5.

SPOTIFY.COM

MINI REVIEWS: HORROR MOVIES wwww

By Bee Bielak SECTION EDITOR

WIKIPEDIA.COM

“Winchester” 2018

About: Winchester follows the story of Sarah Winchester as she continually builds on her home in unsensible ways. Her goal: trap the souls that haunt her in the homes labrinth. Good: The emotions were portrayed well and the audience felt all of the suspense. Bad: Slow at the beginning and never picks up. Rating: 3/5

"The Exorcism of Emily Rose" 2005 About: Based on a true story, this film tracks the lasting exorcism of young Emily Rose, a last resort to drive the “demons” in her out. Good: It was captivating, easy for the audience to be consumed by the story. Bad: The camera shots and logistics were boring, they didn't add anything. Rating: 5/5 AMAZON.COM

What $20 can get you at local restaurants By Farrah Fasse, Julia Liagre & Gabby Miller EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & INTERNS

Sy Thai Shores: Despite being short-staffed due to COVID-19 and only open for carry out in recent weeks, Sy Thai Shores is still putting together delicious meals. For $20, I got two fresh rolls with shrimp and a vegetable curry with chicken. I decided to start with my fresh rolls as an appetizer. The rice paper shell was stuffed full of fresh vegetables, rice noodles, and four shrimp. The rice paper was perfectly sticky, and the cucumber, carrots and lettuce provided a key crunch. The fresh rollscomepairedwithasweetchilisauce,whichwasagreatmatch. Although the fresh rolls were delicious, the curry was the star of the show. The vegetables maintained their crunch and soaked up the sauce well. There was no shortage of chicken either, as Sy Thai Shores stayed consistent with their plentiful servings. The white rice the dish came with paired perfectly with the slightly spicy curry. Overall, I left my table feeling satisfied and am looking forward to my next meal at Sy Thai Shores. I wouldn’t change a thing about my experience, so I’m giving them five out of five stars.

GABBY MILLER

Zef's Dockside: Located on Jefferson in Saint Clair Shores, Zef’s Dockside is nicely designed and furnished, with friendly staff, but their food fails to measure up with the quality of other restaurants located on Lake Saint Clair. I ordered a chicken pesto sandwich with fries instead of chips, and a side of wild rice, which ended up totaling to $19. When I first tried the chicken sandwich, two words stuck in my head: dry and bland. There was hardly any pesto sauce on the sandwich, and the small piece of chicken was very plain. The French fries overcompensated for the insipidness of the other food, and were incredibly salty. The side of rice that I ordered was well-cooked, but flavorless to the point where I couldn’t finish it. The bang bang shrimp was lackluster. The shrimp were fresh, however, the breading and sauce turned them into grease balls with a slightly spicy mayo sauce. If I had to choose one word to describe my experience at Zef’s it would have to be “meh.” With a subpar sandwich and fries rounding out at $15, Zef’s simply is not worth it, considering there’s more affordable and tastier options in the area. Because of their poor showing with food, I’m giving them three out of five stars.

Telly's Place Bar and Grille: Telly’s Place located in Grosse Pointe Woods, has been operating since 1982. It’s a go-to restaurant in the area and for good reason. As I looked at the menu, I realized I could get a lot of bang for my buck. The challenge of paying just $20 for a meal was no match for Telly’s place. To start, I ordered Telly’s most popular appetizer, the spinach dip and chips. It is also served with a side of salsa. The dip is the perfect balance of creamy and cheesy while still having prominent hints of garlic and spinach. It was served with chips lightly sprinkled with salt, which were a perfect complement to the dip. For my entree, I ordered the chicken caesar wrap. It was also under ten dollars and came with a choice of side, and I chose french fries. The french fries were the best I have ever had, with a perfectly savory taste and crunch. The wrap consisted of perfectly cooked chicken, crispy lettuce, salty cheese and a light Caesar dressing. Most traditional Caesar dressings are very rich, but Telly’s is much lighter and doesn’t overpower the rest of the ingredients. I would rate my dining experience at Telly’s Place five out of five stars. I am excited for my next visit. The staff

North Pointe — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 — 9

IDEAS

ON POINTE 1

EVEN T

What’s buzzing this month? By Grace Rossman, Olivia Dodenhoff & Robb McIntyre

SECTION EDITOR & INTERNS

The Haunted Garage Productions is held at 19520 Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms. The event takes place every Friday through Sunday, October 8th30th. Tickets are available at the event, $13 for general admission and $20 for front-of-the-line VIP access.

A LBUM

Ed Sheeran will be releasing his fifth studio album, “=”, pronounced "equals," on October 29. The album features 14 tracks, one of them being the lead single, “Bad Habits.” Fans of Sheeran have been waiting four years for him to release another solo album, and are sure it will not disappoint.

3 GP NEWS

GENIUS

Fitting in with the theme of the spooky season, author Rachel Harrison is releasing her novel, “Cackle,” on October 5. This novel tells the story about a newcomer who befriends a myster ious woman. You can find your own copy on Amazon.com.

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

BOOK

Disney World celebrates its 50th anniversary starting October 1. Disney will be holding the “world’s most magical celebration” consisting of new rides and firework shows.

A N N I V ERSARY

DISNEY WORLD

EVEN T

North's varsity football team will go head to head against Grosse Pointe South on October 22 at home. Admission is $5 per person, or free with an athletic pass. The Norseman (2-3), led by junior quarterback Daniel Taylor, look to smash the Blue Devils (4-2).

4 BO O K

GRACE ROSSMAN

AMAZON

On October 5, Claire Vaye Watkins’ novel, “I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness” will be released. On a little sojourn away from home, the novel openly discusses the topics of motherhood, marriage, grief, trauma and self-discovery. Copies are available on Amazon.com.

7 CO N CERT

“Project Runway” season 19 launches on October 14. It’s been long awaited as the last episode aired on March 14, 2020. The show features 16 designers from across the world to create a On October 28, Gabi Wilson, also known as collection for New York H.E.R, will perform at the Fox Theatre. Tickets are available online for purchase, prices varying Fashion Week. with the location of the seats.

T V SHOW TVGUIDE

M OVIE

The long awaited “Dune,” a science fiction and adventure movie, starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya will premiere on October 22. The film is rated PG-13 and will be released in theaters and on HBO Max. “Dune” was plagued with production issues and delays, but the adaptation of the 1965 novel is still eagerly anticipated by fans. DUNENEWSNET

BCKONLINE

Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album, “Blue B a n i s t e r s ,” releases on October 22. The album consists of 15 alternative tracks, a shift from her last pop album.

WIKIPEDIA

A LBUM

10 — Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021— North Pointe

LIFE

Home sweet homecoming

Captured under the stars

By Kaitlyn Barr, Natalie Babcock & Gabe Loper

By Bella Yoakam, Kate Bania & Mia Stephanoff

SECTION EDITOR & INTERNS

Student Association President Shannon Kane was excited to put some twists on homecoming traditions, especially after the 2020-2021 school year when none of the usual events were possible. Even with the presence of COVID-19, Kane felt it was important for students to have a week filled with exciting activities. “We wanted to make sure the night was fun while safe,” Kane said. “With the mask rules we couldn't be inside, and on top of that it didn’t seem smart to pack that many kids into the gym.” Other than lack of time in the gym, this year's homecoming schedule remained on par with a normal year. The pep assembly, parade and game occurred on Friday, while the one of a kind outdoor dance was held Saturday night. However, the necessary adjustment of holding the pep assembly outside caused a noticeable difference in prepping for the event. “The biggest change prep wise was definitely the pep assembly,” Kane said. “There was so much we had to adjust and adapt to, between the constant weather lookout, and the bees taking away the pie eating competition, I couldn’t be happier to have it end up as successful as it was.” Student Association Advisor Jonathan Byrne is also extremely content with the way this year's homecoming plans have played out. According to Byrne, students' views towards the alterations in the week's traditions tend to be in line with his. “The student reaction has been overwhelmingly positive in my experience,” Byrne said. “I don't know if it's because they don't want to tell me how they really feel, but for the most part everybody said they had a really great week last week.” Along with positive student support, participation in the parade and pep assembly was consistent compared to past years. The dance had similar attendance for North students, however it was lacking the typical guests from a variety of schools. “Everything was pretty average [for attendance],” Byrne said. “I think kids were ready to get back to having a more normal homecoming.” The dance and parade are not the only way that students were able to participate in the preparation for a traditional homecoming. Float parties are a popular place for students to gather, design, create and essentially build the floats for their class.

Sophomore parent Anne Simon, who volunteered for the first time to host float building at her house, believes there was solid turnout for the float building as well. She says there were a good amount of both students and parents that were able to come when their schedule allowed. “On weekdays, kids would come and go according to their sports and homework schedules, but always a steady flow,” Simon said. “On Friday nights and weekends, we would have groups of 20 or more students and parents for long periods of time.” Simon feels the process of actually building the float definitely had its ups and downs throughout the process. “It was very organized, starting with drawing out plans, making measurements for wood cutting, painting all the wood to look like buildings, reassessing, and finally it was kind of a mad rush to put it all together,” Simon said. Simon enjoyed involving herself with the float building process and says that she would definitely do it again if need be. She believes that lots of students enjoyed their time and worked hard to get it done. Byrne, Kane and Simon all believe that the week ultimately went well, especially considering the changes that had to be made in order for everything to happen safely. “Of course [homecoming] being outside was a big change we had to work with,” Kane said. “But overall it was a fun experience and I’m glad we were able to make it work out planning wise.”

A ROYAL OPINION | Senior and Homecoming queen Elle Bernas had an overall positive look upon the dance, even through its change in location. “It was just as good, if not better,” Bernas said. “There were some parts that were better about it, and some parts that were worse.”

BELLA YOAKAM

PARTY ANIMAL | Having the dance outside wasn't sophomore Brady Beers' first choice, but Beers was still grateful that there was one. “I would’ve rather had it be inside, but at least we were able to have one,” Beers said. “[I was] in the grass taking pictures, or under the tent listening to music and dancing with my friends.”

MIA STEPHANOFF

MAKING MEMORIES | Although the field was muddy, junior Eryn Cosgrove was happy to be able to attend the dance. “Next year is our last year to attend and we didn't get one last year,” Cosgrove said. “That's where lots of high school memories are made.”

BELLA YOAKAM KAITLYN BARR

SPORTS

Wednesdsay, Oct. 6 2021 — North Pointe — 11

Putting yourself out there is hard

All young athletes dream of playing professional sports, but, realistically, fewer than two percent ever receive athletic scholarships. Though the odds are stacked against most student athletes, whether it be due to physical limitations or the amount of funding a sport has for scholarship offers, that doesn’t stop most from giving their best effort to get noticed. There is a clear stigma about who can become a college athlete, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from trying their hand at the recruitment process. As a junior, I am currently in my 13th season of volleyball, as well as my third on the varsity volleyball team. With the help and guidance of my coaches, I have decided to begin the recruitment process for college. From a young age, I was always in the 90th percentile for height, so when I started playing volleyball in fourth grade I was instantly made a front row player. To be perfectly honest, until this year, I had no intention of trying to play at the next level because I felt like it was a lost cause. I am nowhere near six foot five which puts me at a huge disadvantage in the volleyball world and everyone around me has been promoting and making themselves known since middle school. On my travel team, I am one of the only girls not creating highlight reels or following college accounts. My parents always had the mentality that junior year was the deciding factor. If I was good enough by that point, it

was worth trying. Now that I am a junior, I am struggling to figure out where to start. With social media and hundreds of different platforms advertising recruitment with the use of their sites, every 13 year old in America is able to record a kill , which is a hit for a point, and post it for the world to see. I imagine that this process is stressful for most, if not all, prospective athletes, but my biggest concern is that my height is my demise. One of the main reasons I waited, and almost didn’t try the recruitment process, was the fear that my height would be a deal breaker for most colleges. In most sports, including volleyball, to play at the next level you don’t just have to conquer the mental game, but also win the genetic lottery for height and strength. One reason I decided to finally start my journey was that many colleges are beginning to add shorter, more agile players to their rosters. One college that exhibits a shorter roster for key positions like middle blockers, a position that tends to be associated with height, is Mississippi Valley State University. MVSU is a Division 1 school for volleyball, and their team currently has only two players 6’0 or taller. I don’t know where my journey will take me or even if I will get any offers, but to anyone considering the recruitment process; although it is hard, there’s no harm in trying.

ANNABELLE JULIEN SECTION EDITOR

ANNABELLE JULIEN

Teens and energy drinks: a possibly harmful combination ENERGY DRINKS IN OUR SCHOOLS The good, the bad, the dirty

PREVALENCE Up to 50

of high schoolers

report drinking energy drinks, despite the American Academy of Pediatrics advising against consumption.

ENERGY OR ANXIETY? The Center for Disease Control reports that energy drinks can lead to a spike in anxiety amongst adolescents.

DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS In 2011, 1,499 adolescents went to the emergency room for conditions involving energy drink consumption.

D1 ATHLETES CANNOT BE DEHYDRATED The Nation Federation of State High School Associations recommends that high school athletes not consume energy drinks for hydration.

SOURCES:

“Energy Drinks.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019, www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/energy.htm.

By Alyssa King, Kyleigh Egli & Lauren Veitengruber STAFF REPORTER & INTERNS Energy drinks have been trending with teens all over the country. Many high school students have become dependent on these drinks to get through their day. There is no doubt energy drinks work wonders on teenagers, but at what cost? Registered Nurse Kelly Bania believes that there are prominent negative effects of energy drinks. “The high levels of caffeine can lead to sleep disruption, restlessness, increased anxiety,” Bania said. “(Consuming) higher amounts has been linked to high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and even seizures.” Energy drinks have many negative effects. The makeup of these drinks are the probable cause of many health issues, and as the frequency of consumption increases, the risk increases as well. “Added sugars in high amounts can lead to future health problems, risk of developing obesity, diabetes,” Bania said. Since so many high school teenagers rely on energy drinks to get them through the school day and extracurricular activities, it’s important to learn there are other options to get energy levels up that solely have to do with some slight yet crucial changes to your daily routine. “Teens can do other things to help amp up their energy — Get more sleep,” Bania said. “Getting around eight hours of sleep along with going to bed and waking up at around the same time, even on weekends.” Bania also suggests another important tip to ensure efficient energy throughout daily activities.

“Eat several small meals instead of 3 large ones that include protein and complex carbs,” Bania said. “Those will keep blood sugars level & energy steady.” She understands that energy drinks are marketed towards teenagers in high school who need a “quick fix” to aid them in school, however consumers of these drinks need to understand what is in these drinks. “They have caffeine, which is a stimulant, and contains the same amount as approx two cups of coffee. The amount of sugar is equivalent to a 12 ounce cola drink,” Bania said. Students have a very different view on energy drinks compared to medical professionals. Senior Luke Babcock consumes energy drinks often for many different reasons. He believes that the energy drinks provide him with an extra boost during school and extracurricular sports activities. “I think they help with school and sports, when I drink them I am more productive and feel more confident,” Babcock said. Energy drinks have a very strong effect on teenagers whether it’s good or bad. Babcock personally uses energy drinks to his advantage when playing baseball. “If I'm at a tourney and about to play a double header and it’s really early in the morning I'm going to drink one to get me going and get me focused,” Babcock said. “It puts me in a better mood so I feel more confident and excited to play or be there.” North’s trainer, Tera Winton, spoke first on the negative effects energy drinks have on teens who consume them.

“The cons with energy drinks is that they can elevate your heart rate and your blood pressure,” Winton said. Though energy drinks affect all who drink them, student athletes are at a higher risk for negative side effects. “Most importantly, especially for athletes, dehydration can occur,” Winton said. “If you’re not already drinking enough water and then you down an energy drink it makes you even more dehydrated.” Even if one does not experience any uncomfortable effects from drinking energy drinks, they still run the risk of becoming addicted to caffeine. “Once you ingest that each and every day your dependency increases each and every day.” Winton said. There is another downside to caffeine: it wears off. It only offers a temporary boost in energy to the consumer, and what goes up, must come down. “After consuming so much caffeine there is a point where you just crash,” Winton said. “You’re more tired, you’re sluggish, you can’t concentrate and it’s because that caffeine rush is finally gone.” Winton does acknowledge the need many students have for caffeine to keep them awake and alert during school. Though she doesn’t recommend energy drinks, she does say that coffee is a healthier alternative. “Drink it black,” Winton says. “You could fix it up with your sugar, your cream if you want. It contains less caffeine than the energy drinks.”

ON CAMPUS

NORTH

Nothin' but net

POINTE

707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 northpointenow.org “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.”

By Jo Jackson, Madi Lucido & Savannah Seabrooks WEB EDITOR & INTERNS

BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY

OUR STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Farrah Fasse MANAGING EDITOR Grace Cueter PAGE EDITORS Kaitlyn Barr Bee Bielak Sophia Dragich Annabelle Julien Grace Rossman Bella Yoakam WEB EDITOR Jo Jackson SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Arei Swain STAFF REPORTERS Alyssa King Robert Maddox Jami Townsend COURTESY OF MADI LUCIDO

TEAMWORK SKILLS | Varsity volleyball coach Chelsea Brozo has been trying to build her team’s mental and communication skills to prepare themselves for the game. “Individually, we have been working on our mental toughness, and as a team, we focused on teamwork, good communication, and game awareness,” Brozo said.

COURTESY OF MADI LUCIDO

ENERGETIC SOULS | Varsity volleyball player senior Paige Przepiora says that her team put in a lot of effort and kept up their spirits. “I think our team came out strong and put up a good fight,” Przepiora said. “We were communicating, and, although we lost, we were having fun.”

INTERNS Natalie Babcock Kate Bania Grace Cleary Olivia Dodenhoff Kyleigh Egli Gabe Goode Ashyah Johnson Thomas Jones Julia Liagre Gabe Loper Madi Lucido Katie Madigan Ella McCarthy Allie McIntyre Robb McIntryre Elly Meteer Gabby Miller Parker O'Neill Savannah Seabrooks Christina Shea Lauren Shipe Mia Stephanoff Lauren Veitengruber

The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published once a month It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review. Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote. Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the student authors of the 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. One copy is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online.

UNDERDOG TO TOPDOG | Varsity soccer player James Streberger says that he and his team came in with more competitiveness because of their status compared to South. “We knew coming into the game that we were the underdogs,” Streberger said. “(That) made us want to win even more.” FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn