Longboat VIKING
Haslett High School Student-Produced Newspaper
11.20.15 Volume 21 Issue 3
Beauty and the Beast
Unmasked –see page 9
PHOTO: ASHLEY DYER
Five words or less Superintendent visit Michigan’s state superintendent of schools Brian J. Whiston will visit the high school Tuesday. All students and faculty will be required to attend the assembly being held in the gym at 9 a.m. According to principal Bart Wegenke, Whiston is expected to address his vision and agenda for Michigan schools. While he is visiting schools across Michigan, Haslett is one of only 14 schools he is going to observe. “Since we are one of the top schools in the state, he probably wants to see what Haslett is doing differently than other schools,” Wegenke said. According to Wegenke, Whiston plans to raise Michigan’s rank among other states in education from 41 to the top 10.
HUNTER DAWSON
Joint GSA collaboration People coming together to support one another has always been a great thing. We are always coming up with new ways to help each other. Now, several of the Capital Area Gay Straight Alliance clubs are going to begin working together. Haslett’s GSA is also one of the clubs that is a part of this collaboration. The purpose of this was explained by GSA of Okemos co-president Jessie Mitchell. “All GSA’s are small. We are looking to get more people connected to provide better support for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) students and also for the community,” she said. The first coming together of the clubs was a Halloween party on Oct. 24. There are plans for a New Year’s party, but the date has not been decided.
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The Viking Longboat
JJ MILLER
Hizen electrifies
Junior DJ aspires for serious recognition in music world
CHRISTINE AWUOR| Staff Writer The energy in the room is electric. The lights pierce the darkened space like rainbow lasers as the booming bass shakes the ground. The music energizes the crowd, creating a euphoric atmosphere free of life’s stresses. A spell has been cast and it’s all thanks to Hizen. Junior Hunter Isenhath has come a long way in the short year and a half since he delved into the musical world. He first developed an interest in the field after watching the movie “Tron.” “I never really listened to electronic music before then, but the movie soundtrack was futuristic and cool,” Isenhath said. “Me and my friend Lorenzo (Pixley) were like let’s try and do what these guys are doing.” His passion for the art grew, surpassing that of his partner’s. They amicably split ways and Isenhath began to seriously pursue music. Isenhath began
uploading his songs onto SoundCloud, where he gained attention. However, as Isenhath’s popularity has grown, so has the amount of negative comments. Although his love and dedication to his work is evident, there are still those left unimpressed. “Whenever teens hear about another teen getting into a music career, they’re like ‘yeah, whatever’,” he said. “(There are) definitely people who look at EDM as computer noises and random sounds. There’s a lot that goes into it.” Despite the nay-sayers, Isenhath has continued to flourish. His SoundCloud uploads are still drawing new listeners and he’s also got songs on iTunes now. Last month, he even had a concert at the Loft in Lansing with Colt45, a fellow up and coming artist, as an opener. “The show at the Loft really showed people what I was about. It was definitely a success,” Isenhath said.
Junior Hunter Isenhath interacts with the crowd at his Oct. 4 premiere at the Loft in Lansing PHOTO BY: CAM BEST
COURTESY PHOTO
BSU awarded community grant HUNTER DAWSON | Staff Writer
Giving back to the community is often small donations toward charitable organizations. But for Meridian Township Trustee Milton L. Scales, it’s by giving $2,170 to Black Student Union. In October, Scales donated an estimated $2,000 to BSU. He got this money through his own birthday. “ I like to celebrate my birthday, and try to use that day to do things for other people,” Scales said. Last year he used this fundraising event to help raise money for the Parkwood YMCA. “They (Parkwood YMCA) were going through a remodel,” he said. “They needed almost half a million dollars, I didn’t raise that much for them, but I held my birthday fundraiser in their honor and the cost of admission was for people to write a check for Parkwood Y.” This year he chose to hold the fundraiser in BSU’s honor “This year the price of admission was to write a check to the Haslett High School Black Student Union,” Scales said. The money he raised was the group’s to use with one rule. “The first $500 for the purpose of purchasing a seat in the new performing arts center with a nameplate that says ‘Black Student Union’ on it,” Scales said.
The Viking Longboat is the student newspaper of Haslett High School, 5450 Marsh Road, Haslett, MI 48840 and publishes about every four weeks of the school year. It is published by the fifth hour Journalism class. The Longboat is established as a student run public forum circulated within the school, the community and outside the school district. The Longboat is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, National
Scholastic Press Association and Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. The publication is an 11-time Spartan award winner and CSPA gold medalist. Letters to the editor are accepted at the discretion of the editorial board. Forms of speech not protected by the First Amendment will not be published. Letters must be signed by the author and may be edited for grammar, spelling and style. Direct all questions to the Publications Room, Room 411.
Scales is one of the adult supervisors for BSU. He was approached by principal Bart Wegenke to take on the role when the group was first organizing. “ Principal Wegenke contacted me and said that he had a group of students who wanted a black student union, and he asked if I would help,” he said. “So I said sure I’ll sit down and talk to them and find out what a black student union means to them so we could get a full understanding of what it is that they want. From that it was born.” The reason Scales told BSU it had to spend the first $500 on a chair is because when he was helping create BSU he asked the founders, senior Jonah Gerry and 2015 graduate Marvin Williams, what BSU meant BSU members pose with the bust of Charles H. Wright, founder of his to them. “Their (Gerry and Williams’) goals namesake’s African American History museum in (for BSU) were... consisted of putting something Chrysler Hall in Detroit. COURTESY PHOTO together that they could be proud of, that will help other people understand the history of the Scales said. “It was of them giving back. My whole life black experience, and to be able to return to Haslett has been about giving back so I was able to identify with after they graduate and see something that they started,” what they were trying to do.”
The Staff
Editor in Chief Kelsey Johnson Copy Editor Hailey Pecic Feature Editor Molly Gadola Opinion Editor Molly Brady News Editor Ben Hampton
NEWS
Sports Editor Brodee Gillam Photo Editors Ashley Dyer Rachel Hamilton Advisers Julie Price Cody Harrell
Staff Writers Derek Choma Madison Nez Kenzie Adler Hannah Alverson Christine Awuor Leona Blosser Hunter Dawson Austin Eveland Connor Frank Connor Heinz Megan Kaczmarczyk
Katelyn Lee Khonnor Longendyke Kyle Looney JJ Miller Caleb Newport Alex Sadler Mia Salvador Kylie Stornant Cody Thelen Lauren Wey
11.20.15
Stronger together Ashia Wroblak sat patiently in the doctor’s office on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2013 waiting for the surgeon to return with her lab results. Her heart thumped in her chest as she waited. After what seemed like an eternity, the surgeon came in and delivered the news. Ashia was told 2 lymph nodes out of 27 were malignant and that she needed four cycles of chemotherapy as soon as possible if she wanted to live. “I laid in bed and cried for weeks,” Ashia said. The reality of her condition really hit her when she lost all of her hair. “It was the worst experience,” Ashia said. “I felt like I had no control over my body.” She was diagnosed with ovarian dysgerminoma. This is a type of cancer found in the ovaries and most commonly affects 15 to 30-year-old women. “The recovery process was never ending,” Ashia said. “I was sick for weeks and couldn’t even move.” The journey she went through was unexpected, but not uncommon. Approximately 5,000 teens are diagnosed with cancer in the United States every year. According to the Pediatric Cancer Center, 9,100 kids were diagnosed with cancer from 2005 to 2009. “I don’t think anyone should have to go through what I went through,” Ashia said. “It’s a scary, scary thing. But thank God for modern drugs, technology and hope.” According to Ashia, the Haslett community, family and friends got her through the endless surgeries, excruciating pain and emotional breakdowns. Every day, she received dozens of encouraging messages from friends and family asking about her condition and wanting to visit her in the hospital. Ashia’s mom, Holly Wroblak, was with her every step of the way. “Right when my mom had to leave to go do something, I called her right away asking for her to come back,” Ashia said. “She was
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with me all the time.” Ashia’s younger brother, senior Darek Wroblak also tried his hardest to show support and love for his sister. “There was not a lot I could do, but whatever she asked for I would get it, like if she wanted a popsicle I would get her a popsicle or something,” Darek said. “I’d mostly just chill with her and play video games.” While the family was there, the community was also supportive and had her in their thoughts and prayers. Darek says he was amazed by the support and love. “It was super cool—everyone made food for my family when my mom wasn’t home and she (Ashia) wasn’t home,” Darek said. “Everybody was always asking me how she was and stuff.” Ashia is grateful to be a part of a loving community like Haslett.“The love and support I was getting was making me feel positive even when I did not want to be,” she said.
She found her tumor two months from finishing a 12 month regimen of chemotherapy. “It was horrible, I went through things no teenager should go through,” Shelby said. She was looking everywhere for treatment because doctors told her that the only option U of M could offer was radiation. After searching for other options, she settled with Biochemothereapy in Houston, Texas. This treatment is used for select patients with metastatic cancer and requires intensive treatment with five different drugs. At the time, Shelby was the youngest person in the U.S. to receive this treatment. Only six hospitals in the entire country utilized that combination of three chemos and two immunotherapies. Shelby had two weeks to recover, and all she did was puke and sleep. “There’s no happiness when you can’t stop puking and can’t keep any food down,” Shelby said. “When all your friends are moving on to their senior year you’re having chemotherapy treatments.” A SIMILAR FATE While enduring this challenge, Shelby Durbin was running Shelby was not alone. Her mother, her hands through her hair, feeling Denise Durbin, is herself a cancer a huge scar on the side of her survivor and was going through her head and neck. As she got to the own rounds of chemotherapy at the bottom, she felt a huge lump, time. ASHIA WROBLAK like one of those gumballs from “Cancer has the ability to strip a machine. She ran downstairs to you and humble you in ways that tell her mom and they immediately are unimaginable,” Denise said. called her oncologist. She then was scheduled for Denise lost both her parents to cancer. She was surgery three days later. only 20 when her father passed, and Shelby feared “Do you ever have that moment of realization her mother would suffer a similar fate. when you’re thinking about life and it really hits “I used to have the scariest dreams through home that you’re going to die one day? I woke up those three years where she would die, or we both with that feeling every day for three years,” Shelby would,” Shelby said. “She is literally my best friend. said. “At any moment, I could have been no more.” I would not be able to go on without her.” It was the day of her first surgery when it hit After three years of treatment things started to her. “I felt defeated, hopeless and a whole world of look better for Shelby. “I have never been so happy sadness inside of me,” Shelby said. in my life when they told me my scans were clear
“ The love and
support that Shelby and I felt was indescribable and we were so thankful that the community did that for us.
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MIA SALVADOR | Staff Writer
Two cancer survivors talk about experiences and how community support is key to winning battles
2014 graduate Ashia Wroblak talks about her experience survivng cancer during an interview at the Haslett Bigby. PHOTO: ASHLEY DYER
NEWS
and I was guaranteed five years of remission,” she said. “Sometimes I still wake up and can’t believe that I really went through it all.” Eventually, Ashia and Shelby returned to school to finish their senior year, and were greeted by smiling faces of the students and staff. The community even put together a fundraiser called “The Pancake Breakfast”, that was held at the Haslett Community Church to support the two girls. “The love and support that Shelby and I felt was indescribable and we were so thankful that the community did that for us,” Ashia said.
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER
A nonprofit organization called Listen and Believe is all about community and support. Originally created in honor of former Haslett student Micah Magnuson, this organization serves children and their families in the community who suffer from dire medical conditions. “The non profit group that my husband and I started was inspired by the life of Micah Magnuson,” Millie Heinz, a founder of Listen and Believe, said. Micah was a former student at Haslett High School and a close friend of the Heinz family. In May 2007, Micah suffered a sudden brain bleed on the day of his high school graduation open house. The family later learned the brain bleed was caused by an arteriovenous malformation, which is an abnormal collection of blood cells on the brain. This left him paralyzed and unable to speak. An army of volunteers throughout the community came to Micah’s aid. Trinity Church in Lansing, New Hope Church in Haslett as well as Haslett families helped the family with laundry, cooking, carpooling and more. In August of 2012, Micah Magnuson passed away. After watching the community come together, the Magnuson and Heinz families were inspired to start an organization to help families in the community in desperate situations. The Magnuson family named the nonprofit Listen and Believe after a Bible verse. John 5:24 says, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” The organization has a website in which families of the Haslett, Okemos, East Lansing, Holt and Mason communities can apply for assistance. The website also allows people from the community to donate, sponsor, or volunteer. “It is our hearts’ desire that this organization will be an encouragement to others in our community as they travel through similar challenging times,” Dale Magnuson said. The organization’s first applicant was a Ralya fifth grader, Will Goodale, who passed Nov. 4. To support the family and cover medical bills, Listen and Believe will be hosting a “Cut-athon” at Shear Reflections in Okemos Dec. 6 from noon to 4 p.m. Heinz said the organization will continue to host different fundraisers to help raise money for other children in the community. “Micah was an inspiration to the community, an inspiration to never give up,” Heinz said.
To read more about cancer’s impact and preventative measures, visit vikinglongboat.org.
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A Staff Editorial
Write a letter to the editor! Let your voice be heard!
Don’t let fear rule
Terror attacks shouldn’t stop you from living freely
Have something to say?
On a night intended to be filled with holiday celebration, many students are instead opting to remain home. The annual Silver Bells parade attracts approximately 80,000 visitors. But this year, that number may drop due to the fear of a potential terrorist attack on Lansing. While this fear is a natural and understandable reaction to tragedies like those in Paris, giving into it is just as risky as ignoring it. It’s exactly what fuels groups like ISIS in its mission to terrorize the world into submission. Every day we open our eyes and make the decision to do something. Take a walk, hang out with friends or do absolutely nothing. The one constant among all of our choices is the fact they are choices at all, without the influence of outside sources. To avoid parts of your life you would otherwise embrace because of fear, empowers those who inflict the fear. Being brave and taking a stand doesn’t require any sort of activism. All it takes is living life as you would on any other day.
Angry, frustrated or downright upset about what we’ve written?
Get out and embrace the world Silver Bells in the City, at 5 p.m. tonight It’s a Wonderful Life Live LCC Radio Play, at 8 p.m. tonight
Want to tell us how well we’re doing?
Breakfast with Santa, at Troppo, Saturday at 8 a.m.
Write a letter to us!
Silver Bells 5k, Saturday at 9 a.m.
Drop the finished product off in the Publications Room, room 411, for consideration to run in the next issue of the newspaper. We do NOT accept annonymous letters. Thank you.
Turkeyman Trot, Thanksgiving at noon A Christmas Carol at Riverwalk Theatre, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. By doing that, it tells evil it will not win. Evil should not take away your holiday celebrations, your travel plans, your drive to see the world and experience all it has to offer. It’s expected for people to see things differently after a tragedy. At events in large crowds, one may wonder if something could happen. Constant “what ifs” could plague the thoughts of people
each time they step outside. But as author Mandy Hale once wrote, that’s okay. “Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave”. So take a stand. Go out tonight with your loved ones, buy overpriced hot cocoa and watch the Christmas tree light up. Go to concerts and festivals, eat at restaurants and see movies. Do something really, really brave.
Letters to the Editor are here to help! We know that you all have issues with different things around the school and in our community. We want to hear what YOU have to say.
Gap year proves valid option Breaking the glass ceiling LAUREN WEY | Staff Writer
A gap year can make a huge difference in the life of a high school graduate. However, most parents, and people in general, are strongly against waiting a year to start college after high school. One big reason is people believe a student won’t go back after taking a year off. However, according to the American Gap Association, 90 percent of people go back to school within a year. Not only do they go back, but they are more satisfied with themselves because they took that year off school to find out what they like. Because of this, they are more satisfied with their career choice. Gap years are also a smart choice because they offer the opportunity for a different type of learning. Most students who take gap years end up learning about the world. Through programs like the Rotary Student Exchange or CIEE, a student can travel to different countries, learn new cultures, and meet people with perspectives unlike their own. With over 30 countries to choose from, the options are limitless. These programs, and many others offered to gap year students, allow a person to develop leadership skills and professional skills, while helping others. Although these students might be forgoing traditional education, it doesn’t mean they
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CONNOR FRANK| Staff Writer aren’t still learning. Gap years aren’t only about finding new opportunities to learn. For some other students, a gap year is a necessity. College is an expensive place and having to take a year off in order to earn enough money to attend college is a common reality for students. For others who don’t do it for the money, a gap year can be an excellent time to pursue internships or even just reconnect with family members. People who feel that a gap year will be the end of a person’s education couldn’t be more wrong. Just because someone isn’t immediately spending thousands of dollars on a degree, doesn’t mean he or she isn’t absorbing new information or preparing for the future. Gap year students can learn more about the fields they are interested in pursuing and gain real world experience. When they decide to re-enter the academic realm, they have an idea of what they’re studying. For some, college straight after high school is a given. But for others, gap years are the better choice. Gap years provide limitless opportunities for students to prepare for college, and to learn outside of a traditional classroom setting. They are an entirely valid choice, and one that all students should be encouraged to consider.
As I sit in my Capital Area Career Center aviation class learning about the kinds of vegetarian meals allowed on airlines by the Federal Aviation Administration, I cannot help but let my mind wander to a warm August memory of kayaking down the Cascades River in Ann Arbor with my girlfriend. I think about the smooth, crisp air that billowed in the trees, tumbling down to the glassy black water, cracking its plastic-wrap perfection and distorting the image of the cloudy blue sky. I hear myself humming a tune and letting my fingertips grace the ends of seaweed peeking above the stream. Snapping back with a jolt, I awaken to the living world. The dull hum of fluorescent lights. Sickly cream-colored paint coating the cinderblocks are paving my disappointing regression from a beautiful daydream. The sound of howling winds haunt me in this stagnant air. No more can I feel a fine mist from the small rapids, as they have been replaced with spit from the tongue of the teacher, defiling my skin. I reside in a windowless room where the freedom of the open air is taught without being discovered. This is school.
My day of kayaking, laughing, and singing is lost in the wake of textbooks, lectures, diagrams and theory. My education has become slavery. Books and projects are my ball and chain. How I crave a glass ceiling to burst through, to join the yell of these frosty winds and angry skies. Or perhaps a window to witness the world we have been sealed off from. But with a sinful degree of monotony, in this seat I remain. My eyes burn from the endless slew of sentences lining the white pages of my textbook. The bell tolls, a monotone blurb that signifies relief for the enslaved scholars about me. I rise from my chair, close the writing that shackles itself to my wrists, and depart from the cinderblock bunker. My pace steadily increases, until I sprint out the halls to the glass doors that retain me. My canter is unyielding to the hollers of restraint from teachers. I open the door, but the sun shines elsewhere. It is nearly winter in Michigan. And my dreams of the kayak and plasticwrap perfection are cast away on a frosty wind from the North. Photo by ASHLEY DYER
OPINION
10.30.15
Meninism meant to be a joke The history CONNER HEINZ | Staff Writer You may have recently seen a small piece of paper hanging above the senior bench, dwarfed by the more prominent signs for Feminism Club and GSA beside it. The sign had but one word on it: #MENINISM. If you’re unfamiliar with the movement, you’re probably not on Twitter. The Meninist Twitter page has gained over 1 million followers and a load of controversy along with it. Meninism is a semi-satirical gender equality and men’s rights movement aimed at mocking modern radical feminism. This has produced a flurry of furious feminists, who rant and complain about the movement being offensive and sexist. Ironically, the term Meninst was originally coined in the early 2000s to describe men who opposed sexism and supported women’s right of equality in society, the workplace and politics. The term’s definition has evolved slightly over the past decade. One search on Urban Dictionary will accurately display the divide in opinions on the issue. One definition properly defines it as “a spoof of modern, first world feminism and the many trivial things most feminists complain about. However it is not a real movement for equality despite the claims of many who get upset over it existing.” Another post defines it as “A synonym of bull****; usually used by those who aren’t oppressed but want to be.” What most of these angry feminists don’t realize is that Meninism isn’t opposed to the same feminism that has been around since the early 1900s that fought for women’s suffrage. Or the feminism that fought for the Equal Rights Amendment, the Equal Pay Act, and other Civil Rights legislation in the 60s and 70s. Nor are they against the feminism that fights against the social injustices against women all over the world in undeveloped countries and Muslim regimes. Meninism simply is a criticism of the radical and hypocritical feminists who discriminate against men rather than strive for true
equality of the sexes. A majority of feminists most likely aren’t part of this group and shouldn’t be so offended by meninism because it is -- almost literally -- a joke. That being said, it doesn’t mean there’s no issue here. There are plenty of double standards against men in our world, just like there are against women, which is one issue that meninism aims to shed light on. A woman can reject a 5-foot, 8-inch guy with her reasoning that she only prefers taller guys. And that’s the end of the story. But say a 265 pound woman is rejected because a man prefers thinner women, and he is endlessly bashed and harassed. It’s socially acceptable to judge and reject men because of their body, but men are shallow pigs if they do the same to a woman. But it’s not just body image. In a clip from a British talk show, the guest, a man, was telling his story about how he was locked outside his apartment by his abusive girlfriend. He was left with no option but to jump from the three story balcony, sustaining serious injuries and being hospitalized. At this the audience burst into the laughter. This is sickening. Domestic abuse is nothing to joke about, regardless of the gender of the victim. Thankfully, the host of the show spoke out against the audience laughing at the man, pointing out if it were a woman there telling her story, the audience would be appalled. But instead they laugh because it was a man who was abused. I’m not saying these double standards are inherently results of feminism, just they are part of a stigma that plagues our society today. Meninism simply tries to raise awareness of these stigmas while also poking fun at the ridiculous claims of radical feminist. An example sentence under the top Urban Dictionary definition for Meninism perfectly sums up the issue. “Rick believes in meninism, and Lily is a feminist. They both fight about who is more oppressed. Rick is laughing the entire time.”
Senior bench status
Underclassmen refuse to acknowledge tradition KATELYN LEE | Staff Writer Ever since I can remember, the senior bench has been just that, the senior bench. It is a place where seniors go to socialize and kill time before class. The seniors have always been very particular about who sits on the bench. I can still picture my first time walking by the bench my freshman year, and imagining the day my friends and I would finally get to sit there. The stereotypical hierarchy we see in all of the movies growing up is a reality. Seniors are at the top and freshmen are at the bottom of the high school food chain. Until now. Now we see juniors sitting among the seniors as if it is normal, and as if it isn’t the least bit disrespectful. I recall the years leading up to my senior year, always being afraid to even step on the carpet because I felt like I didn’t belong there. I understood that I wasn’t a senior and it wasn’t my time. Now that
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our time has come, it seems underclassmen don’t have the same fear we did. It seems the bench is becoming less of a senior thing and more open to everyone. I don’t think this is fair. The tradition of the senior bench has been around for almost 20 years. The bench was constructed in 1998 when that hall was remodeled. Before that, the area had been the school store and typically where the upperclassman hung out in between class. Once the remodel was complete, the area continued to be the spot claimed by upperclassmen and was eventually deemed “The Senior Bench.” Seniors made it known this was the rule and everyone had an understanding the new bench was an underclassman free zone. This tradition is fading as seniors aren’t the only ones hanging out at the bench this year. It seems like there is no sense of superiority and the bench is welcome to anyone. This has been a topic of discussion among the seniors and has caused a lot of frustration. As a senior, I think underclassman should wait their turn just like everybody else. I’m not the only one with this opinion. “Every year I’ve been at Haslett the bench has been strictly for
OPINION
of Meninism CHRISTINE AWUOR | Staff Writer
In the early 2000s the term meninism appeared. It was used to describe male feminists. By 2010, men who were opposed to radical feminism began to use the term mockingly in order to air grievences about feminism. Soon, women who had taken issue with feminism began to join the “movement.” The infamous meninism twitter account was eventually created. It was meant to be satirical, joking about people who were not feminists. However, a hike in the number of men who felt that feminism excluded them led to the word menisim straying far from its origin.
Photos by RACHEL HAMILTONN
seniors, but this year juniors think they can just go and hang out at the bench whenever they want,” senior Evan Harden said. Not all underclassman would feel comfortable sitting on the bench, though. Sophomore Lilly Campbell believes it shouldn’t be open to everyone. “Personally I like the senior bench because it gives you something to look forward to when you are a senior,” Campbell said. “It should be exclusively to seniors because you are the oldest in the school and have been here the longest.” In some way, you could put the blame on seniors because we haven’t been good at making our point known. But then again, when we were underclassmen it was a known rule we are not allowed on the bench. Whether you think it’s stupid or not, it’s a tradition that has been ongoing and has been something to look forward to. Someday those same underclassmen sitting on the bench will be in our position and want the space as their own. Sitting on the bench is a privilege, and something you earn as a senior. Don’t abuse it.
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Graphic by JJ MILLER
Terror Hits Home
HAILEY PECIC| Copy Editor Among a sea of sweaty dancing concert goers, senior Camille Norris took a break from enjoying the music to peek at her phone and read a text from her mother. “Do not worry about me. I’m not in Paris” it read in French. Norris did not know she had a reason to worry until the band, All Time Low, stopped its music and made the announcement. Paris, where her mother had been visiting before heading to a conference in Germany, had been attacked. “The atmosphere was very surreal,” Norris said. “For me, it felt like I wasn’t here but rather in Paris. That’s where my mind had been the whole time.” Norris has dual citizenship with France and is extremely close with her family there. She attended school in Paris for a year and keeps in close contact with her friends. To her, the attack didn’t just hit close to home, it was at home. The rest of Norris’ night was filled with panic. “I was freaking out overnight and texting all my friends and making sure they’re OK,” she said. “It was really scary because we didn’t know if there were going to be anymore (attacks) throughout the night.” Despite being in the U.S., Norris received first hand accounts of details as events unfolded. Her friends and
family informed her they had all locked themselves inside their apartments, watching the streets below through their windows. “All they could see outside was the military and ambulances. Just complete chaos everywhere,” she said. As a result of the chaos, French teacher Alison Dykman was unsure about how to propose to the school board the plan for her class trip to France in 2017.
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They (ISIS) are not supposed to be doing this. It is not a part of Islam. MARIUM IMRAN
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Locals affected after terror attacks in Paris
“My original plan was to go to the school board this spring and talk about the trip. That may be put off until we see what the situation is,” Dykman said. The Monday following the attacks, Dykman pushed her lesson plans back a day and each of her classes spent their periods discussing the situation. “The general feeling was some students were scared because they listen to the news or see social media and feel that if they hit France, we’re next,” Dykman said.“There was also a lot of concern for France. Some of the kids have been there. And some of them who had been with our tour guide wanted to make sure he was okay. There was just a lot of deep thought and taking it all in.”
The attacks on Nov. 13 in Paris were carried out by the terrorist group ISIS. ISIS claims to be an Islamic group, living and acting for God. Senior Marium Imran said that’s simply “not true.” Imran is concerned her religion of Islam is being used incorrectly. “Islam is a peaceful religion, not for violence,” Imran said. “They (ISIS) are hypocrites and not really following the religion. They’re just making stuff up as it applies to them.” Around the world, many Muslims are publically condemning the acts of terror carried out by ISIS. Despite this, there is still concern that Muslims could be targeted as a result of the attacks. Imran said people should understand, Muslims are not to blame. “They (ISIS) are not supposed to be doing this. It is not a part of Islam,” Imran said. For Norris, fear of future attacks by ISIS has affected her plans for after graduation. She had intentions of applying to colleges in Paris, but is now reconsidering. “It kinda depends on how the situation goes, if it worsens or not. And if my parents think I will be safe over there if I get accepted,” Norris said. But she doesn’t plan on ending her summer visits. “Nothing is going to stopW me from going home”.
Friday, Oct 13 9:30 pm: the first bomb explodes outside a stadium in Paris, France By the end of the night, ISIS has killed 129 people and wounded 352 more
Saturday, Oct 14 and Sunday, Oct 15 The hacker group, Anonymous, stages war on ISIS The hunt begins for suspected mastermind behind the attacks, ABaaoud France begins bombing missions against ISIS targets
Monday, Oct 16 More than half of U.S. state governors say Syrian refugees are not welcome
Tuesday, Oct 17 The European Union unanimously backs France’s request for military support and aid Paris, France, and Russia stage air strikes on Islamic state targets
Wednesday, Oct 18 Paris police raid building where Abaaoud is suspected to be hiding. A woman blows herself up when authorities enter the building. Prime Minister Manuel Valls urges lawmakers to back a proposal extending France’s state of emergency for three months
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LIFEBOAT
11.20.15
Fear of the known
Students see Silver Bells as “easy target” for ISIS; Lansing mayor doesn’t feel threatened MOLLY BRADY | Opinion Editor An estimated 80,000 people are expected to gather around the lighting of the state Christmas tree tonight during Lansing’s annual Silver Bells in the City celebration. Not juniors Cassidy Wolf and Olivia Yarsovich. With Michigan named on an ISIS hit list and the events in Paris, France, Yarsovich and Wolf don’t want to risk the danger. “I saw ISIS released a statement targeting Michigan and I thought Silver Bells would be an easy target,” Wolf said. It’s been months since the terrorist organization ISIS released its target list: a series of 23 American states, and the cities and people within them that ISIS intends to hit. Michigan cities Dearborn and Lake Orion were both on that list. However, after the horrific attacks Nov. 13 in Paris, the fear of being targeted by ISIS has reached new heights. Being threatened by ISIS isn’t new for Michigan. The terrorist organization has been promising violence since March, warning via social media that it has trained soldiers in Michigan ready to attack. However, although the FBI and other authorities have been aware of the threat, most people have gone about their daily lives without a thought for what the bad guys could do. For many, the attacks on Paris were a startling wake up call. In the face of a deliberate, and well organized attack, many people seemed to realize what ISIS was capable of. And, with Michigan being third on the to do list, people are worrying that what happened in Paris could easily happen here. This fear of being attacked is leading people to pass up events they believe could have the potential to be dangerous, including Silver Bells. The annual celebration includes a parade, a concert, and the lighting of the state Christmas tree on the grounds of the Capitol. It’s a big deal for many, but this year some think the risk is too high. Although Wolf will not be attending this event, she said the threat of ISIS will not impact many of her decisions in the future.
LIFEBOAT
“I’m not going to go out of my way to avoid places,” Wolf said, “and I’m not scared because I know we are ready to fight back.” Even though she feels safe, Wolf encourages people to make the same choice as her. “I think it would be a smart idea to stay home from Silver Bells,” she said. “It’s not that big a deal to go to Silver Bells and I know ISIS is serious. For me, that was enough.” Wolf is not the only one who feels unsafe in light of recent events. Yarsovich will also be skipping Silver Bells this year. “I heard that ISIS was in Michigan and Silver Bells is the biggest thing happening so it makes sense that they would be there,” she said. For Yarsovich, like many others, the Paris attack will have a big impact on future decisions. “It definitely makes me concerned about going to big places and big events,” she said. “I’d encourage people to be cautious and to be aware.” Lansing Mayor Virg Bernaro agrees people need to stay cautious. “We ask that you stay alert and keep your eyes and ears open for anything that may pose a threat,” Bernaro said. While Bernero encourages safety, he is not too concerned about the risk of attending Silver Bells. “My family and I will be at Silver Bells, and most of my friends,” he said. “You start taking risks when you get up in the morning. There’s no such thing as absolute safety, but we are as prepared as we can be.” Bernaro is confident law enforcement is ready for any potential attacks. “I don’t feel particularly threatened,” he said. “We are as prepared as we can be. It’s a different world than we grew up in but our law enforcement and technology is very advanced”. Still, Bernaro’s confidence won’t stop many people from changing their plans in the future, “I’m definitely scared and concerned that something will happen to Michigan, or happen in our country because of ISIS,” Yarsovich said. “You see people lying dead in the streets in Paris. And that could happen here”.
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Manbun Madness
Students sport popular hairstyle amidst criticism from parents and peers
CODY THELEN | Staff Writer
senior Jackson Marinez
importance of it being long all the way Marinez, who has excellent hair around and have good shape running through his family, to it. Bepler joined the started to grow his hair bun trend when he started out in April 2014. He was Some people growing his hair out at the one of the first to take on are completely the man bun trend, but not beginning of sophomore year. shocked when without some opposition. Over the years, he has “At first my mom they first see it wanted me to cut it, received a lot of feedback from critics of his long especially for my senior TOBY BEPLER hair. “Some people are pictures, but obviously I completely shocked when didn’t,” Marinez said. they first see it, but most Although a man buns people like it,” Bepler said. bring attention, it may not be the
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It’s a trend that has been sweeping the nation and has made its way from Hollywood to Haslett. Man buns. A hipster trend that became noticeably popular in 2014 with Hollywood stars like Harry Styles and David Beckham embracing the long topknot hair style. Not many know but there are a lot of elements that go into achieving the perfect man bun. “It’s gotta be tight and it has to have good positioning,” senior Jackson Marinez said. Senior Toby Bepler added the
perfect fit for everyone. “You’d need some confidence to have one for sure,” Marinez said. Marinez said he is looking forward to keeping his man bun through lacrosse season, but has considered ending the long streak by the end of the school year. Bepler on the other hand has enjoyed his long hair and has no immediate plan for cutting it. “I’m not really sure when I’ll get rid of it,” he said. “Once it starts getting old to me, I’ll probably cut it.”
Man vs. Woman Hair Bun
senior Casey Schiebner
PHOTO CREDIT: RACHEL HAMILTON
“Get whatever amount of hair you want.”
“Make sure it’s really tight, and get all the hair in there.”
“Take the hair tie and tie it around the bun, make sure it’s tight.”
“You take the top section of your hair.”
“You coil your hair all together.”
“Put the hair tie in.”
December Movie Preview LEIGH BLOSSER| Staff Writer
Life
Heart of Sea
Star Wars
Snowden
Anomalisa
Dec. 4
Dec. 11
Dec. 18
Dec. 25
Dec. 25
Story: “Life” is about a photographer assigned to shoot pictures of the famous James Dean. Star: Robert Pattinson
Story: “Heart of Sea” is just like the stories of the white whale, Moby Dick, who is being hunted down. Star: Chris Hemsworth
Story: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is a new Star Wars trilogy. After 30 years of episode 4, it will feature new characters. Star: Harrison Ford
Story: “Snowden” is about a soldier waiting for his request of his country at the asylum. Star: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Story: “Anomalisa” is about a speaker whose life changed when he met a woman named Lisa. Star: David Thewlis
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FEATURE
11.20.15
Back to the classics
‘Beauty and the Beast’ features big costumes, big set, big sound KYLIE STORNANT| Staff Writer Nervous students fill the band hallway patiently awaiting their chance to step onto the stage under blinding lights with hopeful hearts and belt out the lyrics of a song they have learned just 30 minutes ago. Once the waiting game is over and roles have been assigned, it’s time to get to work to create another one of Haslett’s renowned musicals. This year, students are eager to show off their singing and acting talents in the musical production of “Beauty and the Beast.” Many know the childhood fairytale turned love story of Belle, played by senior Hannah Vogelsang, and the Beast played by senior Ben Maines. With only two short minutes to change and swap scenery, this intricate display and large deal of costume changes will make this one of the most difficult performances to execute. “This year’s set has many moving
Musical Times Friday 7:30 p.m. Saturday 2:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
pieces and intricate costumes, it will be interesting to see how it works out, but we are excited for it,” Maines said. From techies to actors, everyone’s involvement is crucial and will surely be put to the test to create a wonderful production of such a well-known story. However, the actors said they are very prepared and have been rehearsing since before the beginning of the school year. The cast has high hopes and great expectations for the show. “It’s all about trying to work to balance out the movie aspects to what the audience sees on stage,” Maines said.” I hope people enjoy the show and can see how hard everyone has worked.” With the upcoming musical, students and families will not only see the shining stars and dancing tableware, but will also be able to see the updated auditorium which was renovated this past fall. Those involved in the musical say they are excited to get to finally showcase their talents in the new auditorium. “I hope people can enjoy the musical as much as they enjoy watching the movie,” senior Noah Wood said. Tickets for the Nov. 20 & Nov. 21 shows are on sale now and can be purchased at lunch or online at www.haslett.k12.mi.us.
Becoming Beast
Belle, played by senior Hannah Vogelsang, dances with the Beast, played by senior Ben Maines, during a rehearsal on Saturday, November 14. PHOTO: ASHLEY DYER
The process that transforms senior Ben Maines into the Beast
PHOTOS: ASHLEY DYER
Jennifer Brooks (the makeup/costume coordinator) primes Maines’ face to put the glue on.
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Brooks puts the glue on his face in preperation for the prosthetic.
Brooks places the prosthetic on Maines’ face lining it up with the glue.
FEATURE
The wig is put on, and The final product Brooks fills in the gaps with (senior) Hannah with more makeup. Vogelsang and the Beast dancing.
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Pushing past the competition With help from a former pro, Stinson heading into elite status KYLE LOONEY| Staff Writer While growing up with big dreams and ambitions, Mykal Stinson would watch football on TV and think to himself, “That’s going to me one day.” That dream has become a reality for the junior running back. Childhood is where everything started to fall into place for a kid with breathtaking talent. He used to play football with neighborhood friends, even with his now captain and teammate senior Jake Tahaney. He was seeking that dream of being a football player. “It all started when I was 5 years old,” Stinson said. “It has always been something I was interested in.” Sports bring out the inner competitive instinct and truly turn athletes to breakout stars. The ability to transform into a top prospect takes
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Whether it’s D1 or D3 he’s still going to be a great asset to any team. TICO DUCKETT
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hard work and “blood, sweat, and tears.” Having an outside influence can be the missing piece an athlete can use to progress. Stinson has gotten the chance to work with MSU alumni, star running back Tico Duckett. Duckett started to help Stinson improve and condition during last offseason. “Always talking, run harder, run harder, gotta do this, gotta do that,” Stinson said. “Just stuff that gets me inspired, and hypes me up.” Duckett got involved with the varsity running backs this year, and especially with Stinson. “The biggest thing I have taught them is running full speed, to open area and reading the blocks in front of them,” Duckett said. “We’ve done some drills that work on certain ball handling skills, watching film and try to better ourselves every time we get on the field to get better than we were the day before.” With sports there comes discipline, the one thing that everyone dislikes. For Stinson, freshman year was where he had the attitude and didn’t like doing what was needed. “Freshman year I had an attitude, I didn’t like doing anything,” he said. “I didn’t listen to anybody, including the coaches. I would get suspended from school and not be able to play.” Head coach Charlie Otlewski has really made a huge impact on Stinson. “Out on the field, Coach O is like a father figure to me. When I feel like he’s watching, I feel like I do a lot better,” Stinson said. “He has done so much for me.” Otlewski has noticed a change in his star running back. “I think he has matured, which has been his biggest factor,” Otlewski said. “He fought us on a lot of stuff freshman year.” Siblings can also be a huge motivating factor. Stinson has been trying to help his younger brother, while also improving himself.
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He has high expectations for being the big brother and role model. “He better be better than me,” Stinson said. “He has the talent, and I don’t want to see him waste it.” Earlier experiences in the Lansing youth football leagues was just the beginning for Stinson. He played quarterback as a great way to gain experience to prepare for the high school level. This was also an opportunity to surround himself with friends even if they play on different teams and be included in the community. “The youth football was amazing,” Stinson said. “There was all types of talent. Everybody is friends.” With high hopes for Stinson’s future, as this season comes to an end, the main focus now is his senior season and “bringin’ the hammer.” Duckett sees a bright future for Stinson at the college level. “Whether it’s D1 or D3, he’s still going to be a great asset to any team as far as being a running back,” Duckett said. “He can become a leader by practicing every day, getting in the weight room and leading by example.” Stinson has high expectations for his senior season to surpass his previous season’s stats. “I want 2,000 rushing yards, 24-25 touchdowns the whole season, 25-35 touches a game and I want to go D1,” Stinson said. For Stinson, Haslett has given him the connections he has needed to mature and grow as a person. The environment is more fit academically and athletically, compared to other options, for helping students go to the next level. “I’m glad I came out here because the position I am in and the education that I have got here is by far better than Lansing schools,” Stinson said.
Junior Mykal Stinson fends off defenders with a stiff arm. PHOTO: RACHEL HAMILTON
Junior year
19
rushing attempts per game
1078
9
rushing yards
Senior year
Five star 30
rushing attempts per game
numbers? 2000
25
rushing touchdowns
SPORTS
rushing yards
rushing touchdowns
11.20.15
Tear down the records
Dry couple weeks ahead
Senior swimmers take on upcoming season
BRODEE GILLAM| Sports Editor
HUNTER DAWSON| Staff Writer In years past, the boys swim team has looked like it would be good contenders for the league meet, and every year it has sputtered out and failed. This year’s seniors plan on changing all of that. Having broken the pool record for the 200 meter freestyle, these seniors now have made it their mission to break other records and leave a lasting impression. Here’s a conversation with four of the top five seniors. Hunter Dawson: What do you hope to achieve this season? McKain Williams: It’d be really nice to have the team finish in the top three in the league. I’d like to qualify for the state meet, in almost every event except for a couple. I’d like to win nin or 10 of our meets. Beat Okemos. Spencer Rice: I’d like to finish in the top three at leagues. It’d be nice to have a pretty decent sized state team this year, try to get 10 or so guys qualified for the state meet. To be competitive with Okemos, we’ve never really gone into the meet thinking we’ve had a chance to win, so going in there and actually having a chance to win would be nice. Will Miklavcic: It’d be nice for more individuals and relays to start getting closer to the record times this year. Also a larger state team would be better for the records as well. We have a few swimmers that could get closer to record times. Also to qualify for states myself for the 100 breaststroke. Angus MacFarlane: I’d really like to go undefeated this year and win leagues and crush Okemos. I would also like a large state team. HD: You had a relay break the record last year. Do guys hope to break any records this year? SR: I plan on it. MW: Oh yeah. Oh yeah. We definitely want to get the varsity record for the 200 and the 400 free relays, and replace those varsity records. We could get some pool records, but leagues isn’t here so we won’t be shaved or tapered for any meet here. But varsity records for sure. SR: Yeah, we are close in getting quite a few of the relays, we got the pool record in one of them last year. I don’t know if we will be able to break that again this year. But in the other relays we’re pretty close and then in some individual events I’m pretty sure we will break a few records. At least hopefully. But you never know because we are not going to be shaved and tapered at our pool. So I don’t know how many pool records we’ll break. WM: The team itself has definitely improved. We have pretty much the same amount of fast swimmers as we did last year minus Zach Reid. We definitely have potential to start getting much closer to the records than we did last year. It pretty much comes down to good training and fast swims.
AM: I hope to definitely break the 400 and the 200 freestyle relays as well as get one, at least one personal record for myself and for pool records I’m not sure because, again, leagues will not be here. HD: The number of captains the swim team has, I know it’s more than most sports. Do you feel like there should be fewer captains, or do you think others should be considered as captains? MW: I think especially for swimming it can be OK to have more because we have a lot more people than other teams. Like our freshman year we had 65, and its slowly gone down a little bit each year. I don’t mind having three or four.
Returning Players Seniors Times
Juniors Times
Ryan Abbott 50 Freestyle 22.81’ John Ryan 50 Freestyle 30.08’ Daniel Kashy 200 FR Relay 27.38’ Paul Whaley 100 Breaststroke 115.88’ Cameron Lemon 200 FR Relay 29.29’ Jaegar Horstman 100 Backstroke 106.93’ Perry Fiero 100 Backstroke 102.74’
Kai Jeffery 100 Fly 103.88’ Brandon Cook 100 Breaststroke 111.89’ Mitchell Marrs 500 Freestyle 604.47’ Avery Lennemen 200 FR Relay 25.05’ Austin Simpson 50 Freestyle 29.99’ Chris Aldrich 200 FR Relay 29.01’ Nathan Glaza 100 Fly 112.63’
SR: I don’t think the number matters because all that a captain is, is a leader, and I think that every single senior should probably be a leader. So calling ourselves captains is really no different because we should be doing what we’re going to do as captains whether we are or not. WM: As a non-captain, it is perfectly fine to have multiple captains. AM: I really feel like the four people that are captains are definitely some of the best leaders on the team. HD: People skipping practice is that a problem in swimming? Because I know in the past people have skipped quite a bit. MW: I think the captains all show up. I don’t think that there are very many mandatory practices
that the captains didn’t go to. Some of the people that don’t really take the sport as seriously skip quite often. I mean it doesn’t help them any, but I mean they’re really only hurting themselves if they’re skipping practice. Odds are that they’re not contributing to the team, I’d like to see them there, but I can’t make them go. WM: I mean mostly the important people swim, the less important people don’t. SR: The people that score show up because they’re the ones that care about the team. The guys that don’t show up are there to try to get a varsity letter. They don’t care about the team, they don’t care how they do. They’re not going to get better and that’s their own fault. HD: Do you feel like the punishment for skipping is harsh enough or do you feel that Coach (Bob) Oliver should punish them harder? WM: It doesn’t seem like that much of a punishment missing a meet. SR: Yeah, I don’t think it’s a punishment, because people that skip don’t really care about the team. They don’t really care about meets. There’s not really a good punishment when you think about it that way. They’re skipping because they don’t want to be there, so they don’t want to be at the meets either. MW: They should be forced to swim the hard events at the next meet in an exhibition heat all by themselves. AM: I say that (Coach) Bob should kick people off the team and then not just let them back on because he feels bad. HD: Do you know of any freshman that we should look out for? AM: Ben Brittain. MW: Ben Brittain. MW: Ben is really good, he’ll add a lot of depth to our team as a freshman. He is at least decent at every event I think, and really good at a few of them. It will be really helpful gaining some depth because it seems like each year we lose a little bit, and we just have to rely on the seniors. HD: I know last year you had to have the seniors step up. Do you feel like the team is going to have that problem again? MW: No, I think there’s a few underclassmen, I think there will be more of them that can step up this year. I know Kai Jeffery was getting pretty fast at the backstroke last year and he’ll be a contributor. Brandon Cook will be pretty good a breast stroke this year and that will add some depth to breaststroke, which we have only really had a couple of guys that were good at breaststroke at one time. AM: I think we will have the potential to be great, but we will have to work for it.
Thanksgiving is a great time for everyone. You get to see all your family, watch the Lions get crushed and eat great food. But for high school sports, it is the most dry time of the year. Girls basketball had tryouts last week, boys basketball just ended and gymnastics started Nov. 2. This is a great time to reflect on last season. The girls basketball team lost four seniors from its Breslin Center visit, but have seniors Madelyn Lampman, Megan Mowid, Karson Tripp Shannon Twichell and Carlie Root returning. Juniors Alley Trosko and Sydnee Dennis also return. The squad has the potential to make a run for state title revenge. Seniors Brandon Allen and Darek Wroblak lead the way for the boys basketball team. They were key contributers on last year’s squad which won districts but lost in regionals. Blocking machine John Hudgins, Lee Mott and Alec Dunckel will be missed from the starting rotation. Even with senior Will Holton out for a couple weeks to begin the season, look for seniors Luke Sleeper, Jake Tahaney and the junior class to step up. The Haslett/ Williamston/Bath gymnastics squad had six girls make the CAAC Honor Roll last season and only one, Kikel Sekoni, graduated last year. Look for seniors Brooke Allen, Megan Ivey, Cara Clarizio and Emily Sleight to lead the way for a dominant season. So while we all enjoy our turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and family drama, it looks to be a great winter for Haslett athletics.
Sports Ticker Fenton relays start off the swimming season Saturday, Dec. 5.
11.20.15
The Detroit Pistons, off to a rocky 6-5 start, play the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minnesota at 8 p.m.
This Saturday Nov 21, the Eastside Stars play Kalamazoo at 6:30 p.m. at Suburban Ice.
Girls basketball season starts Dec. 11 at home against Owosso. Wear your swimming gear, it’s a beach out!
SPORTS
Boys basketball also starts Dec. 11 at home against Owosso.
The Michigan State vs Ohio State game is Saturday, Nov 21. at 3:30 p.m.
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New kids on the block KYLIE STORNANT | Staff Writer CALEB NEWPORT | Staff Writer Photos by RACHEL HAMILTON AND ASHLEY DYER
Dillon Reed
Ethan Green
Jake Tibbitts
Gabe Millian
New students from each grade help us get to know them
Freshman Dillon Reed misses his old home in Illinois. It has been hard moving and leaving friends. Reed has two dogs, both golden retrievers. His dad moved here first for work. The family traveled back and forth multiple times. The dogs traveled with them every time. Reed was excited to move here because he loves the cold.
Sophmore Ethan Green started his life in California, moved to Georgia, back to southern California, then to Germany and finally to Michigan. All of these moves mean Green has changed schools multiple times losing count after 15 different schools. Green loves playing on his computer, reading books and talking to people.
Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
Coke
Coke
Coke
Biggest Fear
Spiders
Heights
Failure
Disappointing parents
Favorite Subject
Math
History
Ceramics
Volleyball
Favorite Color
Green
Green
Orange
Green
Favorite Sport
Basketball
Basketball
Ultimate frisbee
Soccer
Prized Possesion
Cubs hat
Wire from DMZ fence
MVP ultimate disc
Championship title
Number of Siblings
2
6
1
1
Favorite Season
Winter
Winter
Spring
Summer
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BACK OF THE BOAT
Junior Jake Tibbitts is here from a small town in Utah. Despite missing the mountains and old friends, Tibbitts has noticed in Michigan the lack of ultimate frisbee in the area. After high school he hopes to walk on to the BYU ultimate team and is looking to become a dietitian or nutritionist in the late future.
Senior Gabe Millian is here studying from Brazil. Millian is involved in boxing,which he has been doing for almost six years, and has acquired 12 trophies and 28 medals. Millian has decided to come back to the U.S. after returning home to Brazil for a while for college. He hopes to one day open his very own veterinarian clinic.
11.20.15