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Battle of the Burgers: Determining the best burger in the Grosse Pointe area.

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COLIN DUFFY COURTESY OF DIANE MONTGOMERY

EMILY WIDGREN

POINTE

NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

EVENTS

CHIOR HOLIDAY CONCERT Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church WINTER BREAK Monday, Dec. 24 through Tuesday Jan. 2. LINK CREW STUDY SESSION Wednesday, Jan. 9 from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. in the cafeteria

INSIDE

"I THINK IT'S REALLY

GOOD FOR THE

STUDENTS

TO HAVE SOMETHING

DIFFERENT, TO DISTRACT

THEM IN A WAY. SOMETHING

FUN TO

LOOK

FORWARD

TO AND TO BE A PART OF. PAGE 2

"CONSIDER THIS: THE

REASON "GET PEOPLE ARE

INFORMED LIVING AND MAKE IS LONGER YOUR VOICE BECAUSE THE HEARD.RACE WE HUMAN CANNOT IS BECOMING AFFORDAT BETTER TO LOSE THE GAME ."

THEM." PAGE 3

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NORTHPOINTENOW.ORG

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 2018

Healing this house:

Faculty, administration work towards improving, maintaining staff, student relationships post-conflict By Syeda Rizvi EDITOR-IN-CHIEF According to Fox2detroit.com, on Nov. 12, the brother of a student who was murdered at age 17 elaborated on plans for his 21 birthday in class. The teacher, who responded with “if you're going to make it,” has since left school. Though this event occurred weeks ago, students, faculty and administration alike are still dealing with the aftermath of the incident. According to principal Kate Murray, even before Nov. 12, the focus for this year’s staff was helping students who have suffered adverse childhood experiences. “We’re a family,” Murray said, “and when you’re a family, you feel for things as a whole... I never want any of our students or staff at North to feel as if we do not value them. I never want that.” Faculty and administration met on Oct. 23, Nov.13 and Dec. SH GI AC OB I BU 4 to discuss and learn various strategies to help student victims of emotional trauma. Strategies discussed included self-ref lecting, developing a self-care accountability system and group processing check-ins. With the focus of staff revolving around becoming more informed about adverse childhood experiences, some staff and faculty members say this incident was completely unexpected. Spanish teacher Michael Spears was surprised to find out about it, but doesn’t believe this is an accurate representation of the academic environment staff and students are used to. “That is the most atypical thing that I have seen come out of this building. It was certainly wrong, and I’m not pleased it happened. I was appalled to hear it,” Spears said. “But I don’t think there is any kind of endemic problem in this building that caused an incident like this to happen. I think it was an isolated incident that arose from a bad decision... If I’m not surprised by something like this think about what that says. I was shocked, absolutely.” Spears said that in truth, most teachers have an excellent relationship with students, and an event like this forces everybody to “reset the relationship button.” However, he also believes that this situation is an opportunity to reevaluate the right sensitivities to have with students. To him, Spears said staff has historically worked to fight attitudes of racism and

feelings against diversity. “I think the staff was disappointed because it doesn’t represent what is typical for this building. It doesn’t represent how we feel about students, about diversity and how we feel about education in general,” Spears said. “It’s disappointing and it’s unfortunate.” English teachers Kristen Alles said that although only one teacher has left, the impact of this situation and its effect has transcended through school. She believes reaching a high level of understanding with students is a significant factor in preventing a similar situation from occurring. “In school, there is some fear, some sadness, frustration, and those feelings are all related. I think

“

When you’re a family, you feel for things as a whole... I never want any of our students or staff at North to feel as if we do not value them. I never want that.

“

UPCOMING

SINCE 1968

Kate Murray PRINCIPAL

at least for me, I’m probably a little more sad,” Alles said. “It’s hard to overcome (focusing on the negative) but I’m trying. I’m trying to focus on the good because there is so much good. But, to be candid, right now is just feeling sadness and a little bit of loneliness. It makes you feel like you’re isolated and looking for a life raft around you.” According to Alles, a new priority of faculty is not just to make sure nothing like this incident happens

again, but also that any students impacted must be given the support they need, along with helping any members of staff who are still facing obstacles within the healing process. Alles believes all teachers want to say that they support and care for their students, and that their main goal is to help students achieve whatever they set out for. “We would do almost anything for our students as teachers and administrators,” Alles said. “I appreciate my students, I’m grateful to them and I will be their biggest supporter, through the ups and downs, best and worst. I’m here to help them succeed in whatever that success looks like. Even though something like this causes things to be divisive, this may make us sad, it may make us frustrated, but our job is to teach our students to be kind and members of society. That is still our focus and we will support them no matter what.” Alles said that time, focusing on the positive, supporting staff, students and administration are all remedies needed to rise above the current school climate. Murray agrees, and also believes that time is vital in overcoming the repercussions of the incident. “I think healing takes time. I think North High School cares deeply about students and our staff cares about students,” she said. “So the impact on one student can impact all students and the impact on one teacher can impact all teachers.” Murray also believes faculty should remember that teaching is a profession of “passion and dedication.” To her, reconnecting with the passion for education and realizing the amount of positive relationships teachers have with students is a good way to heal as well. “Every teacher is different but if I could, I would love to grab each and every one of them, hug them and tell them that they are deeply valued,” she said. “I have been deeply saddened over the last few weeks for a variety of reasons. Part of that is because we believe so deeply in the work that we do at North. I look forward to our continued work to understand and teach all students and I have faith that school can do that.”

Challenge Day: what it is and its significance By Adam Schwartz & Emily Widgren PAGE EDITORS Challenge Day, which is on Dec. 12-13, provides the opportunity for staff and students to gather and discuss each other’s struggles, the goal being to understand everyone on a deeper level. Special Education teacher Lisa Steiner feels that Challenge Day is a crucial opportunity to help build a better understanding among students and staff alike. Steiner sees the program as a chance to change how people view others who have gone through difficult circumstances, changing the normal reaction one can have to another in tough situations. “The overall goals of the program are to increase personal power and self-esteem,” Steiner said, “to shift dangerous peer pressure to positive peer support and to eliminate the acceptability of teasing, violence and all forms of oppression.” Junior Clare Loch is participating in Challenge Day this year, and sees the occasion as a chance to find out what goes on in the lives of others. “I hope to gain more of an understanding (to) how people deal with the tough times they go through or mental illness and how people bounce back from those things,” Loch said. In addition, Loch thinks it is a privilege to participate in something that other schools don’t have the choice to. She said she is glad that staff encourages students to “get to know each other,” and build on in-school relationships. Junior Mariah Loper, who participated in Challenge Day her freshman year is doing it this year as well. She views it as an opportunity to be aware of people you are around and to understand them, since she thinks many teenagers aren’t as open to others.

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“There’s so much stuff that’s going on, and there’s such a deeper meaning to everybody,” Loper said. “You just don’t know people and by going, you automatically figure out and you know people just by talking to them. I feel like talking really helps, because a lot of CHALLENGEDAY.ORG teenagers, we don’t talk.” Steiner said Challenge Day has helped kids with a better understanding of how they view their family and it is relevant to everyone, as everybody has gone through a struggle at some point in their lives. “I hear many stories about kids understanding themselves, their family dynamics and others,” Steiner said. “They realize they are not alone in their pain or happiness; that everyone has struggles and that together, through the simple act of kindness, we can help each other through life challenges.” Loch added that Challenge Day is important to her because she believes it’s important that nobody is facing a challenge by themselves.

VOLUME 51 | ISSUE 6

News Life

“I think that it’s very important to understand that no one’s alone and everyone goes through it in one way or another.” Loch said. “It’s important that people are there for each other… it is my hope that it enlightens and changes young people's thinking and behavior.”

1 Editorial 3 Reviews 5 2 Indepth 4 Sports 6

By Hannah Zalewski & Kylie Duke

LIFE

2 - North Pointe – Wednesday, Dec. 12 2018

Embracing the h lidays

Michael Hartt & Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITORS

Special needs classes assemble holiday cookie kits

PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGAN EVANS

FOSTERING A NEW METHOD OF TEACHING | Speical education teacher Michael DeCenso’s students are organizing a holiday themed cookie kit and soap sale on December 20. DeCenso said that the proceeds will go towards funding field trips for the special needs students, such as going to Macomb Mall. DeCensos mentioned that the cookie kit sale is not just about sweet treats, but about much more than that. “The idea is not to make cookies, the idea is to give them experience working in a stimulated work environment,” he said. During the holiday season, family traditions include getting together and baking holiday cookies. This years’ special needs program is no exception. Special education teacher Michael DeCenso’s students will hold a holiday themed cookie kit and soap sale on Dec. 20, during both lunches in front of the student union. DeCenso said his students enjoy making cookie kits and soaps, and are rather ecstatic to be selling them. Junior Kids Need Opportunities to Socialize member Zoe Graves said she thinks the sale is for a great cause and is glad to contribute her own money to it. “I think it’s really sweet and a really great way to raise money for the Special Ed. program because I know it’s a lot of money, and that not as much money goes to that program as it should,” Graves said. “I think that selling cookies and soaps is a really great way for them to raise money. And it’s a lot of cute little things you can give to someone for Christmas.” For the Special Education students, the cookie sales are worked into the curriculum of the classroom. This means that all cookies and soaps made for the sale are done either in their classes on the third f loor or in the commercial kitchens in the A building.

Unlike the soap kits, which are made year round, the cookie kits are only made by students before they hold a sale. This allows the kits to be specialized to the season during which they are being sold. Each cookie kit includes two cookies, sprinkles, frosting and a knife to spread the frosting. At a price of $1, DeCenso said he has seen students buy up to 15 kits at once during previous sales. Senior Kayla Kettler, who purchased a cookie kit at the sale held in October, said she was quite impressed with the quality of the kits and the work that went behind making them. “I thought that they’re very well packaged and there was a lot of effort put into them,” Kettler said. “I think it’s really good for the students to have something different, to distract them in a way. Something fun to look forward to and to be a part of.” DeCenso refers to the sales as “micro-enterprises,” as they raise some money, while maintaining their selfsustaining status. All the money raised through the sales go to funding things that the Special Ed. program wants to do, such as going on field trips. From money raised in previous years, the program will be taking the students on a trip to Macomb Mall, where each

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student will be give $10 to spend. DeCenso said he believes this field trip is a reward for his students’ hard work. Kettler said she is not only thankful for the delicate work the students put into creating these products, but for DeCenso for creating a part of the class that students really enjoy. “I just love what they’re doing and I love what they stand for. I think it’s all for a good meaning or awareness,” Kettler said. “I really love and appreciate that they’re such caring people that put the time and effort into stuff like that.” Beyond the fun his students have with the sale, DeCenso said he believes there are valuable skills his students acquire through their experience selling their products. “They’re all over 18. So, they’re all kind of men in this world. And they have lots of responsibility around here,” DeCenso said. “The idea is not to make cookies, the idea is give them experience working in a simulated work environment. We tried to make these enterprises their enterprises, that they do and they make.”

Expressing creativity through selling homemade holiday crafts to sell her dragons. According to Ballinger, a single-headed dragon is $12 and a double headed dragon is $20. “This is the first year that I am actually trying to sell them,” Ballinger said. “I have been giving them to people as birthday presents. I think every year I have given one to my favorite teacher too.” Ballinger said most importantly, making the dragons improves her overall mood. “I really enjoy making the dragons,” Ballinger said. “It helps with stress and it is just a lot of fun to do.”

Junior Elizabeth Ballinger has been making dragons since she first read “The Last Dragon Chronicles” in elementary school. In the series, the main character also made clay dragons. While she said she loves making them, Ballinger also said that creating dragons is a long process. “It takes me half hour to make one,” Ballinger said. “I normally make the accessories first, and then I get the dragon together and then put the accessor ies with it. T hen, I ba ke it for about a half a n hour. A fter that, it’s all done.” Ballinger said that she is changing her tradition this year, and doing things differently by beginning

Holiday traditions of students & staff For junior Annie Fleming, Christmas is never complete without placing “Jamocha” atop her Christmas tree. The angel tree-topper, nicknamed by Fleming and her mother, was inherited from a great-grandmother. “My dad has this horrifically ugly angel that we put up on the tree every year — it’s super ugly,” Fleming said. “My mom tries to change it and I’m like, “no Mom, it’s not Christmas without Jamocha.” Fleming, who has two younger brothers, thinks part of the seasonal fun is keeping the magic alive for those younger than her. She does this by helping her parents move around the family’s Elf On the Shelf on

a daily basis. Beyond the time spent bonding with family on Black Friday, when her family decorates for the season, Fleming also looks forward to baking Christmas cookies with her family. Moreover, she sees the holidays as a time to be close to those you love, such as her siblings and her grandparents. “I’m just really looking forward to enjoying these last couple years. Maybe this is the last Christmas that I might ever have with (my grandpa),” Fleming said. “(I’m looking forward to) soaking in the boys still believing in Santa and that little magic in their eyes.”

Unlike most students, junior Phillip Solis celebrates two different holidays during the winter season. Solis, who is Jewish, said that celebrating Hanukkah during December consists of lots of time spent praying with his family. However, his family also has a Christmas tree, and they exchange presents on Christmas morning. As for family traditions, Solis’ family typically eats ham on Christmas. For most, this is normal, but pig meat is not usually consumed by Jewish people so this is a special occasion for him. Although his mother

doesn’t agree with it, Solis sees it as a means of fully experiencing Christmas. Solis said to him, it’s fun to get to experience both holidays in very different ways. Furthermore, he is excited to receive both Christmas and Hanukkah gifts this season. “It’s pretty cool because we celebrate (Christmas) secularly — not religiously,” Solis said. “Instead of celebrating the religion, like the birth of Christ, as most people do, it’s usually more about the decorations and the people.”

Although English teacher Kareem Hakiem is Muslim, he follows some commercial Christmas traditions, but does not practice Christmas as a religious holiday. “I love Christmas music and I listen to it all the time, but it’s not like we had a Christmas tree in our house growing up and nor do I now,” Hakiem said. “But, I do love driving around places like Grosse Pointe to look at all the beautiful Christmas lights.” He said that sometimes Ramadan falls during the same month as Christmas and then he gets the opportunity to celebrate a Muslim holiday at nearly the same time Christians are celebrating Christmas.

“In the Islamic calendar (Ramadan) shifts every year and a while ago, when I was in late high school or late college, Ramadan fell in nearly the same time (as Christmas). We have Eid, which is a holiday where we give each other presents and you have this huge feast so it is very similar to Christmas in that way,” Hakiem said. Hakiem mentioned that many Muslims are used to similar traditions, because of American culture uniting both religions. “Many Muslims do celebrate Christmas, but, again, it would only be the commercial side of it,” Hakiem said. “I know a lot of Muslims that set up Christmas trees in their homes, but I think that it is more American culture.”

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

Arzoo Chhaya PAGE EDITOR 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.

AMELIA NOWICKI

OUR EDITORIAL

MY TURN JORDAN CRAIGHEAD

North Pointe – Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 – 3

We're living in a simulation

During the course of our lives, we all have events that happen to us that are just insane. Like for example, Flat Earth Society tweeting that they confirmed Logan Paul as a member. Or how about the fact that CNN actually covered furries and how they want the rest of the world to know “their culture isn’t about sex?” What about the fact that the Chicago Cubs, allegedly the most futile team in Major League Baseball history, won the World Series? In the end, there is a simple explanation to all of these events: the world we’re living in is a simulation. The simulation theory reached a peak when Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, announced his belief that the world as we know it may be a part of a video game. In an in a conference for www.recode. net, Musk said, “If we assume any rate of improvement (in gaming) at all, then the games will star t to become indistinguishable from reality. Even if the rate drops by, say, 1000 percent from what it is right now, let’s just imagine it happens 10,000 years into the future, which is nothing on the evolutionary scale." Musk claims that the probability that we’re in our base reality is one in billions and his point make sense. Here’s a thought: the reason people are living longer is because the human race is becoming better at the game. And if you think of a game, there are levels. The final level of the game is discovering the truth about the Earth. It's simple really, and easy to understand once the evidence is laid out. The Earth, at least the one

inside this simulation, is f lat. Now you might be thinking that that's a tough pill to swallow, but it's actually very well thought-out and most likely true. For example, when standing on the Earth’s surface, especially in a desert-like area, there is no way to see the curve of the planet. Scientists argue that a person is too small and the Earth is too big in order to see it, however if that sa me person goes up in a n a i r pla ne, they will still be unable to see the cur ve. One may be wondering, “why,” but let me give you a reason. T here. Is. No Cur ve. Basically, the Earth is a disk, with the Arctic Circle in the middle, and on the perimeter of the disk is Antarctica, a 150 ft ice wall. Ever wonder why the average person needs several permits to travel to Antarctica? Well, it's one of two things: NASA doesn’t want them to fall off the rim or, they don’t want the the aliens on the underside of the Earth to be found. Oh, you heard me right, ladies and gentlemen, aliens. Ever wonder why tons of people see UFOs all around the world? It's because aliens from the other side are trying to escape the slave labor there are circum to on their side. Believe me, if the United States found a source of cheap labor that they could exploit, they would. All our clothes say they’re made in China, but it's all a lie. We have aliens slaving away in the underside of the Earth making our clothes, and if you don’t see this, wake up and join us in our journey to expose the unknown.

Hallway passes: a temporary cure D u r i ng t h e we e k of Nove m b e r 2 6 , m a ny s t u d e nt s a n d t e a c h e r s we r e s u r p r i s e d t o le a r n a b o u t t h e e n fo r c e m e nt of sig n e d h a l l p a s s e s i n s t u d e nt pl a n n e r s. T h r o u g h o u t t h a t Mo n d ay, m a ny s t u d e nt s t r ie d t o le ave t h e i r r o o m s t o go t o t h e b a t h r o o m o r t h e i r lo ck e r, b u t we r e s e nt b a ck t o cl a s s by h a l l m o n it o r s wh o n o t ic e d t h a t t h ey d id n’t h ave t h e i r pl a n n e r s a t t h e i r sid e s. K id s s k ip p i ng cl a s s e s t o “ u s e t h e b a t h r o o m” a n d u si ng t h a t t i m e t o m a k e r e s t r o o m s r e e k of c o t t o n c a n d y f l avo r e d n ic o t i n e h a s b e c o m e i n c r e a si ng ly c o m m o n , a n d h av i ng s t u d e nt s f i l l out hall pa ss e s b efor e t hey le ave t he cla ssr o om p o s e s a n i n t e r e s t i n g s o l u t i o n . H o w e v e r, d o e s t he b enef it i n t he ha l ls out weig h t he cost i n t h e c l a s s r o o m? It i s t r u e t h a t s e e i ng k id s i n t h e h a l lway w it h o u t t h e i r t r a d e m a r k yel low pl a n n e r s c o u ld b e a d e a d g ive away t h a t t h ey’r e s k ip p i ng, b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e , it c o u ld b e ju s t a s i n d ic a t ive of s o m e o n e wh o lo s t t h e i r pl a n n e r t owa r d s t h e b eg i n n i ng of t h e ye a r wh o s e t e a c h e r ju s t d e c id e d t o le t t h e m go. A l r e a d y, t h e n ew p ol ic y h a s p r ove n c h a l le ng i ng t o t h o s e s t u d e nt s wh o h ave m i s pl a c e d t h e i r pl a n n e r s t h i s q u ick ly i n t h e s e m e s t e r. T h i s le ave s k id s wh o n e e d t o le ave t h e cl a s s r o o m fo r a ny r e a s o n s c r a m bl i ng t o a s k eve r y s t u d e nt i n t h e i r n e a r v ic i n it y wh e t h e r o r n o t t h ey h ave t h e i r pl a n n e r s o n t h e m . T h i s c a n c r e a t e a sig n i f ic a nt d i s r u p t io n i n t h e cl a s s r o o m o n t o p of t h e d i s r u p t io n i s a l r e a d y c a u s e s wh e n s o m e o n e n e e d s t o le ave t o u s e t h e r e s t r o o m . I n s t e a d of q u ick ly a s k i ng o r ju s t wa l k i ng o u t , s t u d e nt s n ow m u s t a s k t h e i r t e a c h e r p e r m i s sio n , t h e n fo r a sig n a t u r e , a l l b efo r e t h ey c a n s t e p o u t i nt o t h e h a l l . W h a t o n c e wa s a 45 s e c o n d p r o c e s s n ow t a k e s a few m i nu t e s , a n d m o s t of t h a t t i m e is s et t i ng t he cla ss ba ck fa r t he r t h a n t hey could be. H av i ng a t e a c h e r f i l l o u t a h a l l p a s s w it h t h e d a t e a n d t i m e m o s t d ef i n it ely a d d s p r e s s u r e b a ck o nt o t h e s t u d e nt t o ge t b a ck t o cl a s s a s s o o n a s p o s sible. S c h o ol s t a f f m ay b e a ble t o r e a d ex a c t ly wh e n a n d why t h ey lef t t h e cl a s s r o o m , b u t t h i s h i nge s o n wh e t h e r o r n o t a h a l l m o n it o r s e e s t h e m o u t i n t h e h a l lway, wh ic h i s n’t a s l i k ely wh e n o n t h e s e c o n d o r t h i r d f lo o r s o r i n t h e s c ie n c e b u i ld i ng. Ju s t l i k e t h e r e we r e ways t o avo id ge t t i ng c a u g h t w it h o u t t h e h a l l p a s s e s , t h e r e w i l l c e r t a i n ly b e t h o s e wh o d o t h e i r va l i a nt b e s t t o avo id ge t t i ng c a u g h t eve n w it h t h e m . A lo ng w it h t h e t e d io u s t a s k of f i l l i ng o u t t h e i r pl a n n e r s , a c c e s s t o t h e A b u i ld i ng b efo r e t h e 5 m i nu t e b el l i s n ow p r o h ib it e d , t hu s c a u si ng s t u d e nt s o n t h e fa r sid e of t h e b u i ld i ng t o r u s h a n d of t e nt i m e s b e l a t e t o t h e fol low i ng h o u r. St i l l , a s i n c o nve n ie nt a s t h i s s u d d e n r u le c h a nge h a p p e n e d t o b e , it s t i l l a d d r e s s e s a n i n c r e a si ng ly c o m m o n p r o ble m w it h i n t h e wa l l s of No r t h . No t o n ly h ave s t u d e nt s b eg a n a b u si ng lo o s ely g ive n b a t h r o o m p a s s e s , b u t s o m e h ave b e e n d o i ng it t o fo r t h a t a r e n o t o n ly a g a i n s t t h e r u le s , b u t a r e bl a t a nt ly i l leg a l . T h i s i s a d e c e nt tempora r y f ix, but more must be done in the f u t u r e , n o t o n ly by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t io n , b u t by s t u d e nt s t o i m p r ove t h e sit u a t io n a t t h e r o o t of t h i s n ew p ol ic y.

"I feel like its kind of a waste of time for teachers and the students, but I understand why they started doing it. We could maybe make a better way of doing it." Katie Szczepanski

"It's really difficult because I don't have mine because like, we didn't use it our freshman year, so I kind of just throw mine away and lost it and now I'm in trouble." Lauren Link

JUNIOR

SOPHOMORE

“I think it's stupid and I think that it's childish. I just feel like there's no need for passes if you tell them where you're going then there's no need for any of this.” Toniah Eli SENIOR

YOUR TURN: How do you feel having to take a hallpass everywhere now? By Ray Jason and Jordan Craighead

“It's weird because I'm not used to it. It's understandable so they can know who is skipping and not skipping.” Doni Sailor SENIOR

“I like seeing them with fear planners, because then I know a teacher knows that they're on their way to somewhere and I can just walk right by and say, Hi, rather than wondering if maybe they should be in class" Peggy Bonbrisco STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Syeda Rizvi MANAGING EDITOR: Sofia Ketels BUSINESS MANAGER: Jordan Craighead WEBMASTER: Brooklyn McWhorter PAGE EDITORS: Maggie Carron, Arzoo Chhaya, Michael Hartt, Adam Schwartz, Emily Widgren, Hannah Zalewski STAFF REPORTERS: Kylie Duke,Julia Magnan, Abi Murray, Amelia Nowicki INTERNS: Giacobi Bush, Niklas David, Colin Duffy, Farrah Fasse, Ray Hamilton, Ray Jason, Leo Peck, Victoria Wittenberg 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.

" This helps inform teachers and hallway staff of why that student is not in class. I think that is important because a students number one priority is to be in class so that the teacher can teach."

Ben Henry CHOIR 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 SOFIA KETELS

My month without media In our teenage world, everything is noisy- both our lives in school and everything that happens after. Our clubs, our jobs, weekends and friends all produce a certain amount of noise and energy that fill our days, from the harsh screeching of our alarms to our last Schoology submissions at 11:57 p.m. So, how do we spend those moments when we catch a break? How do we fill the silence? Well, most of us turn to social media. 95 percent of teenagers have access to a smartphone, and 45 percent of us report being on them “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center. We fill the quiet spaces in our lives with a completely different type of noise. We fill it with constant updates from anything and anybody who might have something to show and tell on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr. Any time we get bored in class, in the passenger seat of a car or anywhere else with a viable signal, we open those colorful logos on our phones and drown out the noise with the idealistic worlds of celebrities, “Instagrammable” foods and our best friend’s latest selfies. Around a month ago, I decided that all of the background noise was too much. The relentless flow of notifications on my phone that had once made me feel special were now stressing me out, knowing that I wouldn’t answer all (if any) of them. The Instagram that I had begged my mom to let me create for years was now a place for me to wash hours down the drain, all while giving myself unrealistic expectations for what my life should look like. Everything about social media that had made it magical had become grotesque, and it certainly wasn’t simply filling the empty space in my life. It was consuming all of it, so I did something that would make my freshman-self faint. I took my phone out of my back pocket, and deleted every single social media app on my phone not to punish myself, but to allow myself to breathe. I was expecting the worst withdrawal imaginable and wholly prepared to be twitching without the ever-present buzzing of my phone. “These apps will be back on my phone by the end of the day, just wait,” I told myself. It was going to be catastrophic, I could just feel it as I went through and removed my outlets to the rest of the world. But the strangest thing happened. Minutes passed and I felt no remorse. Those minutes turned into hours that turned into days that turned into weeks, and I still felt absolutely fine. My life was much less noisy, but the silence didn’t consume me in the same way that social media did. Instead, I reveled in it. My homework started becoming an almost pleasurable pastime as opposed to another set of chores and my sleep cycle magically inched closer and closer towards normalcy. There is still a lot of quiet space in life without social media, but I’ve learned that maybe it isn’t the worst thing. Mind you, I still waste more than my fair share of time on my phone. Deleting social media did not cure my perpetual procrastination, and it certainly did not alleviate any of the stressors and noise from the rest of my life. What it did do was give me a few minutes of peace from knowing everybody’s business, and having them know mine. It allowed me to truly accept the peace and quiet around me for what it was - exactly that.

North Pointe – Wednesday Nov. 28, 2018 – 4

IN-DEPTH

Abusive Relationships: New study finds decrease in physical abuse rates By Abi Murray, Kylie Duke, Brooklyn McWhorter and Leo Peck STAFF REPORTERS, WEBMASTER & INTERN

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I think that women feel that they have a lot more leniency. And there’s maybe less awareness that (it) is bothering some men more than actually believed. SENIOR

Hardships and conf lict in high school relationships isn’t a new concept to most students, but a 2018 study by the University of British Columbia says that physical abuse in high school relationships is actually on the decline. Social studies teacher Terri Steimer believes she has seen strides towards educating students on how to enter the potentially dangerous dating world, and is confident the trend will continue. “I would think that now there will be a big change because of the new movement,” Steimer said. “I do think that it will decrease, sexual violence or dating violence.” The movement towards fostering healthy relationships includes a surge of theme-based programs designed by the federal and state governments. These include the Office on Violence Against Women and non-profits such as Planned Parenthood or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which is creating a positive change for students. These organizations are often dedicated to giving young people resources to identify the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Although abusive relationships may be decreasing, the numbers are still not negligible. According to Loveisrespect, an organization that aims to answer questions for teenagers beginning to date, one in three adolescents in the U.S. experience physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. In addition, young women between the ages of 16-24 experience triple the national average of intimate partner violence. Experiencing an abusive relationship at such an early age puts students at an increased risk of suffering from anti-social behaviors, depression and thoughts of suicide, as well as risky behaviors like drug or alcohol abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, being a victim of abuse in high school also

increases risk of further victimization at a college level. Senior Grant Sachs is unsurprised by the high level of unhealthy relationships among teens. Sachs says he sees relationships the same way as any other unnavigated world high schoolers are figuring out their place in, but feels like he has an understanding for why these types of relationships reoccur for some victims. “What people tend to do in a relationship is they’ll follow a pattern,” Sachs said. “(They’ll look) for the person who treated them poorly in the past and they’ll seek out — subconsciously — partners who ref lect that person so that they can continue to work on that thing.” Sachs also said that abusers — similarly to victims — tend to follow established behaviors in youth, arguing that more resources need to be used to equip parents with better coping and social skills to offer to their children, to better nurture and prepare the adults that will come out of high school and into the world. While the focus of national research and attention is typically on the abuse of women by men, additional studies done by the University of British Columbia state that 5.8 percent of boys, as opposed to 4.2 percent of girls, had reported experiencing physical dating violence. The study, being the first of its kind to compare both male and female trends in North America, hypothesized that many still find it socially acceptable for girls to hit boys, resulting in the normalisation of casual hitting and hurtful comments from females. Sachs sees this concept playing out in his own life. “If a girl slaps me, I’m not going to say anything. But if I slap her, I know that that is crossing a line,” Sachs said. “I think that women feel that they have a lot more leniency. And there’s maybe less awareness that (it) is bothering some men more than actually believed.”

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Grant Sacs

If a student fears a friend is suffering from an abusive relationship, no matter their gender, psychologist Christine Kuhl stresses supporting that student and encouraging them to talk to a trusted adult. “Offer to go with them to provide additional support. Offer to sit with them while they call the domestic violence hotline. Most importantly, do not keep this secret,” Kuhl said. “If you are not comfortable telling your friend that you are going to talk to an adult, come and talk to someone on your own. Mental health providers have ways to talk to the student without disclosing who told them about the concerns.” Steimer agrees that confiding in an adult is critical at any stage. Even if she did not have the legal obligation to go to an administrator or psychologist after finding out about abuse, Steimer feels that she is not properly equipped to handle the situation without their help. “When I do that, it’s always with the social worker and a counselor. It’s never me by myself,” Steimer said. “Not that I haven’t heard about it from a student who feels comfortable to talk to me, but I immediately take it downstairs because I am not an expert at that. I don’t pretend to be.” Sachs, Steimer and Kuhl all agree that it is very important for students to educate themselves about what the standards of a healthy relationship look like, and what to do if it looks like something isn’t going right. To Sachs, education is important in order for students to go into a relationship with knowledge of what is and isn’t acceptable. “(Relationships) are so, so, so hard to get just right,” Sachs said. “Educate yourself and educate the people around (you) because that is so important and there’s such a lack of knowledge of what is a healthy relationship in our society.”

BEST MEAT

LITTLE TONY'S A wet and cold night, warmed with the glow of the Christmas lights strung across the trees and a small restaurant filled with the scent of fresh beef VICTORIA WITTENBERG searing in a pan and the sounds of those who await its satisfaction. Upon walking into Little Tony’s, it may seem to be an average bar & grill. However, regulars can surely tell you otherwise. Little Tony’s welcomes families and provides a kid-friendly menu filled with burgers, sandwiches, and nachos of all kinds. The restaurant caters to a variety of different tastes. As for me, I took pleasure in ordering the Blue Burger: a normal burger complete with delicious blue cheese dressing. The burger patty was both juicy and flavorful. My burger was succulent and perfectly cooked. The blue cheese dressing is mouth watering. It was a perfect addition to the burger. Condiments, as well as toppings, are left on the side for customers to pile on their own. Perfect for those of us who constantly pick off the tomato. I also got to taste the sliders. The sliders are made from the same beef as the normal sized burgers, and are equally delicious. Little Tony's offer a huge selection of appetizers, including an entire section in which there are many different types of nachos. Things like fries or onion rings are typically ordered for the table, but are so good that it's understandable to order them without planning to share. The onion rings are not only the perfect width, but made with the perfect amount of batter. Not to mention that the onion never separates from its perfectly crispy shell. Besides the great food, Little Tony’s also has wonderful service. Not only is the service fast but servers are beyond friendly. My server not only took interest in me and my life but also told me about herself and her own life. She told me about how she had studied abroad in Spain. All in all, Little Tony's is much more than a small bar and grill, and I will be dining there time and time again from now on. "Little Tony's"; 2018; at 20513 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236

REVIEWS

5– Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 – North Pointe

BATTLE OF THE BURGERS The best burgers in the area, ranked for your convenience

1st place: 2nd place: 3rd place: 4th place: 5th place:

Mack Ave Grill Little Tony's Blufin Travis Red Crown

BEST RATIO OF BREAD TO TOPPING

RED CROWN I came in with high expectations for Red Crown’s veggie burger, knowing how tasty Red Crown’s food usually is, but was incredibly let down by this burger. FARRAH FASSE Two soft, warm brioche buns sandwiched the contents, holding everything together. The bun was a perfect ratio to the rest of the toppings, not too much bread, but not too sparse either. The menu described the burger as having garlic aioli and pea tendrils. For some reason or another, the garlic aioli was orange and did nothing but moisten the bread. It also strangely reminded me of Big Mac sauce. The only purpose the pea tendrils seemed to serve was to get caught in my throat and make me cough up my lungs. The black bean patty, despite being described as “falafel-inspired” on the menu, was lacking flavor. Though I could slightly taste the Mediterranean spices, I was left wanting more. The patty was too crunchy on the outside, however, it had a good texture in the center. The burger was a little satisfying and substandard at the same time, an undesirable combination. “Smashed” avocado was a supposed topping. However, my avocado was not smashed. Instead, it was in thick slices that oozed out onto my hands whenever I took a bite, covering my fingers in a mushy green mess. The avocado dilemma wasn’t the only thing leaving me feeling Grinch-like, as Red Crown’s bean burger was painfully mediocre and underwhelming. The chefs hadn’t taken any risks with flavor or ideas, which strays away from Red Crown’s unique spins on American food, a fatal mistake with what could’ve been a knockout sandwich. "Red Crown"; 2018; available at 15301 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230 By Farrah Fasse

By Victoria Wittenberg

BEST PRICE

BEST BUN

TRAVIS

BLUFIN Blufin, a restaurant mainly known for its sushi and Asian influenced cuisine, also caters to those who do not like sushi or prefer American cuisine with menu items EMILY WIDGREN such as their sliders. While they can be ordered as a meal, the sliders can also be served as an appetizer so that customers can share and have a broader taste of the menu. The sliders are made from Wagyu beef and are paired with Boursin cheese, which is similar to goat cheese. There were two sliders per order, which was nice for the pairing with different menu items such as a plate of sushi. Both sliders were juicy, and the cheese paired extremely well with the beef. The bun was toasted to perfection and added a little bit of crunch to the burger which gave it something different than your average hamburger. They also came with pickles and onions, but I chose not to include include them on mine. Even without the typical flavors that all sliders can be naturally paired with, the beef had a bold flavor. Not only was the slider good, the service at Blufin was too. I was with my mother, and when we were given our food, there was a little problem that the waitress handled right away, and was very kind and mature about, even when she had multiple other tables on her hands. The only things I would have changed are the size and portion. The sliders, being sliders, are small, and there were only two per order. This was fine for me, considering that my mom and I shared an appetizer. For those who don’t like Asian food, or would prefer to have the sliders as a meal, they might enjoy more than two per order. While this burger was delicious, it is not your average casual burger. Obviously, it comes with a more sophisticated cheese and is made with a higher end beef, which would not make it ideal for the average burger. But, if you are in the mood for a fancier take on an American classic, I would recommend Blufin. The restaurant was lively, and the food was great.

"Blufin"; 2018; at 18584 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 By Emily Widgren

COLIN DUFFY

BEST COMBINATION

MACK AVENUE GRILL Mack Avenue Grille is home to a wide variety of burgers, including the Apache: a six ounce beef PINTEREST.COM patty with bleu cheese crumble, caramelized onion and zesty chipotle mayo. As a person who will usually order a boring burger and is not very fond of ones that are more unique, I particularly liked the Apache. Not only was the burger great, but the french fries complimented it well, and didn’t overpower the plate. Although most french fries are very similar from restaurant to restaurant, Mack Ave’s fries are particularly good due to their perfect crisp and just the right amount of seasoning. Here, the widely known burger-and-fry combo is executed to a T. In detail, the components of the burger complimented each other well. Despite the inclusion of both onions and bleu cheese, the Apache wasn’t overly salty. In fact, the cheese balanced out the onions, and the traditional components of a burger helped to incorporate the two without creating a rift in flavor. To top it off, the chipotle mayo not only added a needed spice, but also helped to avoid potential dryness. Although seemingly ordinary, the Apache is anything but. The eccentric use of an onion bun and the creative combination of ingredients not only creates a unique flavor, but an identity of its own. Overall, the location of the actual building couldn’t be more accessible. Walking into the Grille is like walking into your local church, you’ll always see someone you know. Because it’s so local, the welcoming atmosphere makes it very comfortable to eat and enjoy the experience. In addition to the phenomenal burger and the restaurant's convenience, the service is outstanding. Seeming as though it would take forever, the complicated burger was out within 10 minutes of the waitress putting the order in. I highly recommend eating at Mack Avenue Grille. The combination of a convenient location, delicious food, and great service makes for the perfect restaurant for breakfast lunch or dinner, however the experience would not be complete without ordering the Apache burger. "Mack Avenue Grill"; 2018; at 19841 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 By: Colin Duffy

50 years in the making, Travis Coffee Shop has been a community staple since 1968. Their burger is one of the most notorious in the state due to THRILLIST.COM their classic burger composition. The bun, meat and cheese that make up the burger have been able to maintain a positive reputation for generations. This 9 Mile and Mack restaurant has something that most burger restaurants could only dream of having: a friendly environment. The staff at the establishment were very kind and friendly and catered to whatever I needed, while simultaneously not barging in on my meal, as wait staff are constantly under fire for. Not only was the service good, but the food I was given was great as well. I ordered the classic burger that they offer with the addition of pickles. When my food arrived, I was a little bit disappointed by the size of the burger, as it was relatively small compared to most. The people in the restaurant called it both a slider and a burger, but it was somewhere in between those two sizes. The small size was quickly made up for in what taste had to offer. The flavor of the burger as a whole is one that reminds me of home, which is what most people seek when eating in such a friendly, comfortable environment. The meat complimented the bun perfectly, and the ratio of bread to filling was good. The toppings (The classic ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions) were also properly proportioned with the rest of the burger. I felt as though the burger I was eating was almost perfect. At $1.90 a burger, it is no surprise that the Travis slider has been listed as 85th best in the U.S., as well as the restaurant as a whole being listed in the top 21 diners in America. Such a high honor is well deserved for the burger joint, as they are overall an amazing restaurant that makes an excellent burger.

"Travis Coffee Shop"; 2018; Available at 23500 Greater Mack Ave, St Clair Shores, MI 48080 By Julia Magnan

SPORTS

6 – Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 – North Pointe

“Who’s on deck?”

GIRLS VARSITY ICE HOCKEY Home game at East Side Hockey Ice Arena against Walled Lake Central High School on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.

GIRLS VARISTY CHEERLEADING Cheer for Charity at Cousino High School on Friday, Dec. 7

the search process more intensive, but it also requires the interviewers to find someone who truly wants to involve themself with the program. ]“They might have a regular 9-5 day job, but they have a real passion for the sport, so they end up being a coach for us,” Dean said. Todesco and Dean agree that when lacking a coach, a team can suffer greatly. They also believe that it could lead to the downfall of a team, potentially dragging the reputation of the school’s athletics down with it. Despite this, Dean is confident that the school board will choose coaches that will benefit students, the teams and, ultimately, the school itself. Sophomore and varsity cross-country runner Noah Lawson believes that good coaches are critical for boosting the image and morale of a team. “(The coaches) always try to help us with anything we need,” Lawson said, “they help come up with workouts that work on different aspects of the sport itself, and I think that makes us better.” Overall, athletes like Lawson and Todesco, along with Dean, believe that coaches inf luence the success of school athletics, and that their impact on their students is what leads them, and the schools, to victory. “I think athletics play a key role in our school district and in all of our schools,” Dean said, “and getting great people to work in that program is critical.” US

Away game against Gabriel Richard Catholic School on Monday, Dec. 17 at 6:15 p.m. at Yack Arena.

As freshman Ana Todesco prepares herself for the 2019 spring tennis season, she has the luxury of not worrying about her team’s coach. “(Our coach) is pretty organized and pretty put together,” Todesco said. “He has a clear-cut schedule and we already have our uniforms set for the season.” However, this is not the case for all sports. Throughout the 201819 school year, multiple athletic teams, including varsity football and baseball, have undergone the process of finding new coaches. Tedesco believes that simply knowing a coach ahead of time has many benefits that can contribute to the overall performance of the team. “It benefits the team so we can do better, and having someone who’s knowledgeable about the sport that can teach us,” Todesco said. Despite the hunt for new coaches not being over, Deputy Superintendent Jon Dean strongly believes that the coaches chosen will be prepared to work to better their athletes and programs. Dean said that when finding varsity coaches, the voices of student athletes, parents and staff members are all taken into account. He describes the end goal as finding somebody who is undoubtedly invested in whichever sport they have been hired to coach, with the student athletic experience in mind. Both Dean and Tedesco believe that a coach should be devoted to not only the team as a whole, but to the improvement of their program and the interests of the individual student athletes. “We’re looking for the same thing, whether we’re hiring for football or baseball or swimming,” Dean said. “Content knowledge, passion for working with young people and really, a commitment to growing young people in that sport, no matter what the sport is.” Although the search is just as extensive as it would be for teachers, Dean says that there is no proper certification given by the state of Michigan for coaching. He believes that not only does this make

BOYS VARSITY ICE HOCKEY

Need for coaches grows as difficulty for finding them increases

STAFF REPORTER AND INTERN

By Amelia Nowicki and Ray Hamilton

UPCOMING GAMES

Majorettes dance: a new addition to clubs offered

GIRLS JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL Home game against Stevenson High School on Friday, Dec. 14. at 5:30 p.m. in the gym

BOYS VARSITY SWIMMING

GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL Home game against Stevenson High School on Friday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the gym

PAGE EDITORS

When junior Nia Crutcher heard about the addition of a Majorettes team, she said she was very excited. Having danced at music, arts and church programs, this new club inspired her to mix her love of dance and sense of community. “It’s usually a thing they do at predominantly black schools,” Crutcher said. “So I was excited to have something like that here and I wanted to get back into dancing.” Club advisor Sakina Hill, who is aclassroom assistant and a paraprofessional, was approached by senior Daeja Boles in an effort to create a Majorettes dance team. “(Daeja) was interested in having something similar to what South had in addition to a dance team allowing students to do drills as well as modern dance,” Hill said. “When she presented it to me I thought that it was a great idea and I wanted to support them as an advisor.” Hill has an extensive background in dance, starting at the age of three, when she began doing modern dance with her mom, a percussionist. She also danced in Downtown Detroit with African Dance ensembles, all from a young age. “I was always around music and performing arts, coming from a family of artists and musicians,” Hill said. “So it’s like a hobby.” Senior Mekelle Pace has been a part of the dance team for two years, and while she did not audition for Majorettes, she is familiar with what these types of teams typically do. “Majorette teams usually happens in football season and basketball season, and basically you follow a certain leader, they do one move and you follow along — it’s just continuation,” Pace said. “They usually dance with a band behind them.” Majorette dancing is most associated with marching bands and parades, but the club

plans on taking that a step beyond its original definition, and showing that Majorette dancing is a combination of different genres of dance. Hill said that for people who are interested in different choreography and a variety of movements, Majorettes would be a good fit. “The Majorette drill team will be exploring different styles of dance that are part of Majorette dance, including baton twirling, and incorporating choreography from different styles, because that’s what modern majorette is,” Hill said. “It will have different styles like tap, hip-hop, and a little bit of gymnastic movement.” Pace said she plans to welcome Majorettes in with open arms and expresses enthusiasm for this team. “I know a lot of people who want to do Majorettes,” Pace said, “so I’m excited for them too, because it’s a new team coming in.” While there is a process of auditioning, everyone who wants to join is more than welcome to, according to Hill. “They will be trying out to see who the main performers are going to be,” Hill said. “But if people come to tryouts and they don’t score the required score to be a main performer, they’re still allowed to be apart of the team.” Hill hopes that the club becomes a permanent one, even after the current seniors graduate. She dreams for the team to be able to go beyond halftime shows and for the team to be able to travel and compete with other Majorette teams if they want to. Crutcher agrees, and looks forward to forming a close bond with her soon-to-be teammates. “(I hope) that we really become a sisterhood,” Crutcher said, “and just learn how to work together and have each others backs.”

GOOGLE IMAGES

Home meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at the pool against Dakota High School

By Maggie Carron and Arzoo Chhaya

BUY ONE ENTREE, GET ONE FREE

Hockey team spreads cancer awareness: student with cancer to do puck drop By: Giacobi Bush INTERN

Varsity hockey defense’s sophomore Dylan Holman is proud to participate in the cancer awareness hockey game on Jan. 26. To him, the game emphasizes exactly how lucky he, and many others, really are. Holman hopes this event will serve as an example to live life to the fullest, no matter the potential setbacks. “Having a young kid (who is) battling cancer dropping the puck affects the team,” Holman said. “It shows how blessed we are to live such a good life, and be able to participate in events like this.” The cancer awareness charity game will take place at the Saint Clair Shores Civic Arena. Both the boys and girls hockey teams will be wearing lavender

and white jerseys with the names of those affected by cancer to honor them. Varsity hockey manager junior Joey Kettler hopes the elementary school student who will be dropping the puck enjoys himself and his experience at the game. According to Kettler, the GPPSS student, who themself is undergoing the process of battling cancer, has served as a motivator for both the boys and girls teams. “It makes us want to play hard for him,” Kettler said, “Show them a good game to make them happy.” Kettler has only been managing the team for a few weeks and will be pushing himself, along with the rest of his teammates, to make the game

worthwhile. In addition, Kettler believes that the game will go on to create memories for each player, and bring both teams closer together. “It brings us closer in the locker room and on the ice,” Kettler said, “and playing with each other.” Along with Holman and Kettler, senior Clare Murphy will be playing in the game, and feels as though sports can not only be used to advocate for a cause, but also to bring players and fans together. Murphy believes that some of these friendships help to create a closeknit team, thus leading them to success and give them the ability to play in events like the charity game.

While the game is not taking place until late January, support for the event has spread throughout the student body, and is already expecting a high turnout. Murphy, Holman and Kettler all believe that both the boys and girls teams are preparing for this event, and are hoping to make it worth it for everybody in attendance. With the bonds between team members and the collective determination of the hockey teams, they hope their efforts bring attention to cancer awareness. “The way hockey creates friendships is by working together and bonding over the sport,” Murphy said. “We are all very excited to see this happen.”