Longboat VIKING
12.18.15 Volume 21 Issue 4
Haslett High School Student-Produced Newspaper
Student Spotlight:
Shreya Srivastava page 8
PHOTO: RACHEL HAMILTON
News:
Opinion:
Center:
Sports:
Quiz bowl falls short in championship run
Officer’s son defends good police officers
Military families cope with holiday separation
Eastside Stars look to senior leadership
page 3
page 5
pages 6-7
page 11
Early College applications due February Towards the end of January, Haslett High School will be preparing students for the Lansing Community College Early College program. However, it is only available for sophomores as it requires a four-year commitment. The course will involve the students’ school years sophomore-senior, plus an extra thirteenth year afterwards. The program will start with regular high school classes, based upon the Michigan Merit Curriculum, and then transition into more advanced, college-level classes. At the end of the four years, the student will have earned an associate’s degree, and will be allowed to further their education or enter immediately into the workforce. The program is available for all sophomore students, but is aimed to help anyone who cannot afford college. For more information, visit http://www.lcc.edu/earlycollege/ Applications will be due the first week of February.
KENZIE ADLER
Speaking out
OK2SAY empowers students to report violence in schools
CONNOR FRANK| Staff Writer A wave of anti-bullying legislation from 2014 has taken effect, and a helpful tool has been created for student use. OK2SAY, a hotline program run through the state of Michigan, empowers students to report safety threats, personal struggles such as eating disorders, bullying and abuse without the fear of social repercussions and isolation. OK2SAY has existed since last year, but it was not presented to the student body until yesterday because of uncertainty surrounding the initial development of the hotline. Principal Bart Wegenke reintroduced the seminar to the school after attending a student assembly in East Lansing High School. Satisfied with the presentation, he elected to bring it to Haslett. According to the OK2SAY website, “In the majority of violent incidents that occur in our schools, someone other than the perpetrator of violence knows of a threat before it’s carried out but fails to report it.” This ‘culture of silence’ hurts the abilities of law enforcement and mental health professionals to adequately protect from
Contact OK2SAY:
and prevent harmful behavior. The hotline is anonymous so that this phenomenon does not deter students from helping save their peers’ lives and their own. OK2SAY has already been presented in many Michigan high schools such as Okemos and Alpena, where two reports had been submitted within the day’s end. Just yesterday, Haslett High had the same presentation scheduled for the entire student body. The goal of OK2SAY is as follows: “To stop harmful behavior before it occurs by encouraging anyone to report threatening behavior to caring adult authorities who can help.” If a friend is suicidal or in a situation beyond their ability to control, you can anonymously report it to the hotline, which will delegate a proper response to the matter. Eating disorders, physical abuse, and bullying can all be reported through OK2SAY. The service can also be used outside of school. OK2SAY can be utilized by calling 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729), via text at 652729 (OK2SAY) and online at OK2SAY@mi.gov.
Call: 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2792) Text: OK2SAY (652729) Email: OK2SAY@mi.gov Information submitted to OK2SAY is CONFIDENTIAL so your identity is safe.
Holiday work complicates family time, boosts pay HUNTER DAWSON | Staff Writer
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The Viking Longboat
Casey Schiebner doesn’t mind working over the holidays. In fact Schiebner, a senior and a Tiny Town Toy employee, got hired because she could work over the holidays. “The owner (Cheryl Savage) is leaving for a vacation so I’ll be working four or five days a week,” Schiebner said. Tiny Town hires more seasonal workers from surrounding communities due to a drop off in available workers. “We need extra hands around break because Michigan State University student employees can’t stay in the dorms over the break period,” Savage said. “So even if they could work they would have no where to stay.” Schiebner said her parents encourage her to work over the holiday break. “They want me to stay productive so they have no problem with it, obviously it (working over the break) kinda sucks,
but the money will help me pay for Christmas presents.” Schiebner said. Senior and Maurices employee, Savanna Bain, finds working during the holidays to be stressful. “It sucks school wise because I feel like I don’t have enough time to study or anything like that,” Bain said. Although it’s stressful working during the holidays, Bain’s parents are fine with her schedule and it doesn’t affect family plans. “We don’t have any set days for family Christmas or anything so it’s pretty easy for us to work around my work,” Bain said. But junior and NCG employee, Brad McMahon, doesn’t love working during the holidays. In his mind, he has no choice. “I got to do what I got to do,” McMahon said. “I need to get money to pay for gas for my car and I want to save up money so I can go to college.” According to McMahon, NCG
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.
employees are required to work three of five major holidays, which are Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. McMahon’s parents are fine with him working during the holidays instead of spending time with family. “The car is from my mom so she kinda wants me to make money,” McMahon said. McMahon’s working during the holidays doesn’t interfere with his traditions or family time, but it is inconvenient. “I scheduled to work holidays that I’m not as busy on, so it doesn’t screw them up as much,” McMahon said. And while some students may not be able to manage one job during the year, junior Kaci Baker balances two during the holidays. She works at Ace Hardware and American Eagle. Baker’s schedule for the holiday season is quite
The Staff
Editor in Chief Kelsey Johnson Copy Editor Hailey Pecic Feature Editor Molly Gadola Opinion Editor Molly Brady News Editor Ben Hampton
NEWS
hectic, but she said she doesn’t mind working during the break. “I recently found out that I work on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, so that might be a little bit of a conflict.” Baker said. Senior, and Lou and Harry’s
assistant manager, Andrew Winters is ready to work the holiday break. His parents are not fans of him working during the break, but he gets more money therefore wants to. “They (his parents) would prefer me not to, but I still will,” Winters said.
How do the holidays affect employment? Employment change by industry during holiday season in 2013
+4.10% +6.73%
9.41%
12.10%
13.36%
novelty and and home souvenir furnishing stores stores
goods stores
stores
and accessory stores
gift,
furniture
sporting
department clothing
34.10%
hobby, toy and game stores
STATS: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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
12.18.15
Taking the challenge Quiz bowl falls short in QuizBuster championship, but shows off smarts to community CODY THELEN | Staff Writer The quiz bowl team made it to the acclaimed championship of WKAR Quizbusters Dec. 8 after surviving four rounds of gruelling questions. The senior crew fell to the Okemos quiz bowl team in the finals. A lot of hard work has gone into the success of the team. “We go through books of old questions for leagues and competitions, asking each other questions and preparing,” senior Brad Luzenski said. Win after win,the stakes grew higher for the team. Prizes for winning the championship included free books for college to even MSU scholarships. Senior Hannah Kemple has enjoyed her two years on the team and is excited to extend her quiz bowl career during college. As she soon learned, the connection of the group members goes much deeper than quiz bowl stage. “We’re all really good friends, we have all kinds of inside jokes with each other and we all work well together. All of us have different strengths on the team it all meshes well together,” Luzenski said. Although they they fell just short of winning the championship, the team greatly improved from last year. “Last year we had a younger team for a varsity team,” Luzenski said. “We were mainly all juniors with a couple of seniors. But this year we are all seniors so we all have much more experience.” It’s not only the all senior team that has pushed the team to greatness, but their leader, French teacher Alison Dykman. ”She really pushes us to succeed,” Kemple said. “If she wasn’t there I feel like we would get off track more often but she really cares about the program and works hard to make sure it’s good.” Although winning could have meant free books for next year in college and possible scholarships, that’s not what it’s all about. “Really it just would have been fun to go through and accomplish all that and win,” Kemple said. “Everyone is just really good and we had a great team and we’re proud of how far we got,” Luzenski said.
Quiz bowl seniors Chandler Meyers, Peter Ecklund, Hannah Kempel and Brad Luzenski talk with QuizBuster host Matt Ottinger at the Dec. 8 show. PHOTOS: CHRISTINE HAMILTON
Victor the Viking on the QuizBuster set (top) with the Quiz Bowl team. Victor chats with senior Hannah Kempel. A large crowd, including Victor the Viking attended the championship match at WKAR.
12.18.15
NEWS
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Affection gone too far Excessive public displays of affection make students uncomfortable
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You really just need to think about what you would be comfortable with and respect other people by not being all over each other.
56%
of students wish they saw less PDA in school
SCOTT WHEATON
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I think there’s a line of what’s appropriate in public and what’s not, and people should know what it is. I try to be conscious of it. ALEXIS KELLEY
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Junior Scott Wheaton and senior Alexis, Kelley share their opinions on PDA after over a year of dating ILLUSTRATION: MOLLY BRADY PHOTOS: RACHEL HAMILTON
MIA SALVADOR| Staff Writer It starts as soon as I walk into school in the morning. As I walk to my gym locker I pass by couples who are on top of each other kissing as if they have just been reunited after years apart. I try to ignore them and go to my locker, but then on my way to class my eyes are assaulted by another couple at four corners kissing like their life depends on it. It continues like this through lunch, passing periods, and all the way up until the end of the day. Every day. Public displays of affection, or PDA, is a constant at our school. It’s not just couples making out in the hallways, it’s also hand holding, hugging, and feeding each other. Even couples
standing too close or leaning on each other can be enough to make people around them feel uncomfortable. And it’s everywhere. As I walk up and down the hallways it doesn’t just occur by lockers but also by walls, back hallways and even in the library. It has truly become an issue in our high school. I find PDA to be very revolting, and I’m not the only one who feels this way. “At school I think it is extremely inappropriate” senior Molly Cummins said. “People don’t realize how uncomfortable they make other people feel when being all over their boyfriend/girlfriend.” It’s true. If you’ve ever third wheeled at a lunch table or had to brush aside couples as you are trying to get to your locker then you know what I am talking about.
Society needs accountability A rhetoric I hear often from many women on abortion is “my body, my choice.” And as a feminist myself, I could not agree more. Returning to women the power to make health decisions is a noble and just right to fight for. Using this rhetoric to justify an abortion, however, doesn’t make sense. Spoiler alert; I don’t think abortions are good for this world. But I’ll leave the
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CONNOR FRANK| Staff Writer Bible-belt “because our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said so” arguments at the chapel.
Having a boyfriend or girlfriend is fine, but there have to be boundaries. Holding hands and giving hugs isn’t a bad thing, but making out is just unnecessary. Not only does it make people feel uncomfortable but it also gets in the way of people who are just trying to go to class. I am not saying that any form of public affection is bad, they just need to find a different place to do so. Students need to know that many forms of affection are meant for a private environment. Some people are so used to being in school that they forget that it’s a public place, just like any store or mall. If you wouldn’t do it in Meijer, why would you do it in the hallways at school? Nobody wants to watch you make out and it shouldn’t be considered appropriate on school grounds.
Instead I venture to the satirical Eric Cartman of South Park. “Abortion is the ultimate form of cheating! You’re cheating nature itself!” he passionately exclaims, lecturing a student on abortions in the ”Eek! a Penis!” episode. Therein lies my qualm. Abortions are a way of allowing people to not be held accountable for their actions. Women and men alike have the right to choose if they want to have a child. To be clear, we are talking explicitly of consensual intercourse. The choice for two mates is between protected and unprotected sex. Pregnancy is the direct result of the
OPINION
Although most people agree that PDA is disgusting and uncomfortable to watch, the rules for PDA at our school are not very strong. That makes sense, seeing as teachers and staff do not see it as much as students do. Administrators need to set some boundaries. If I could make it one day without seeing couples throw themselves on top of each other, if I could get to all six classes without having to avoid make out sessions in the halls, if I never had to see another couple feeding each other in the library ever again, then school would be a much better place. After all, think of how much work we would all get done if we were using our time to study instead of kissing.
latter. If you made the decision not to use contraceptives, the consequence may very well be a child, and that is something you have to live with. If having a child wasn’t the best idea, cheating nature to get out of the mess that you created by vacuuming the ingredients of life out of your vagina is not a viable solution, regardless of it being an accident or a result of being reckless. Engaging in sex, however, comes with risks and consequences. You don’t get to go back on your initial decision. That would be like Serena Williams asking for a do-over at Wimbledon because she didn’t wear
the right shoes and lost. There should not be an easy way out of such a serious decision. Imagine if we allowed Tiger Woods to take a mulligan at Pebble Beach every time he hit it into the water, or Blake O’Neill, star punter for the Michigan Wolverines, asking Mark Dantonio for a go-again on his botched punt in the game. Accountability is the cornerstone of society. While I’m not saying that the world is going to fall into chaos explicitly because of abortions, the lack of accountability for personal decisions fostered by abortions is backward thinking and primal, and has no place in modern society.
12.18.15
Respecting the badge Cops deserve respect; especially my father
Take a true break Enjoy time with family and friends this season; kick back, clear your mind, catch your breath
HUNTER DAWSON| Staff Writer shootings or targeting. The few officers who screwed up have put other officers’ lives at risk, including my dad. Some people have decided to take matters into their own hands, and have decided to limit the amount of cops out on the street. This year alone we have had 31 police officers die throughout the U.S. from shootings, according to the Officer Down Memorial page. While others seem to only hear of cops shooting unarmed civilians, I always hear of cops being shot. The more I hear of cops dying, the more afraid I get for my father every time he leaves the house. When I was little, I never worried for him. Even just a few years ago in middle school, I never thought about the danger my father was in on his job patrolling. But really this year and the last have changed all that. The fear of losing your mother or father is natural when you’re older. But if you’re the son or daughter of a policer officer or firefighter, you live with that fear everyday. While the public may be out calling for blood and badges, I will be forever proud of my father. I idolize him. While all these ideas that cops are evil and always shooting unarmed citizens are going around, I will stand strong with my faith in my dad and his job. I know he is out there making Haslett a safer community. Twenty years from now when I have kids, I want them to know of their grandpa’s job, and not think he was an evil person. I want them to be able to look at his job with the pride and respect it deserves.
With winter break upon us, motivation to complete school work is plummeting. But what isn’t plummeting is the anticipation of warm cookies, movie marathons and sleeping in. And although these activities are all wonderful, challenge yourself to do something more worthy with your time. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas or nothing at all, now is a great time to surround yourself with the people you love and consume your time with things that fulfil you. For most of us, in just a few short years or even months, we will be moving out of our homes for the first time. We will also be moving away from our families and the friends we’ve grown up with. This can be a huge adjustment for anyone and often takes a toll on the relationships we thought we would always have. Before it’s too late, spend more time with the people who mean most to you. Put away the cell phone and listen to the stories Grandma tells at holiday dinner instead of tuning her out for endless strings of 140 characters you’ll never remember. Don’t mock your aunt’s knitting, have her teach you. Choose to help your mom bake those cookies you love instead of laying on the couch and taking a nap. Invite your best friends over and go ice skating instead of just sitting on your phone checking social media. It seems that having a passion or hobby outside of updating social media and napping is the rarity these days. Outside of school, when was the last time you did something physically and mentally challenging? When
was the last time you tried something new? School consumes us. We spend eight hours a day, five days a week juggling work, homework, club activities and countless other tasks, leaving absolutely no room for healthy and relaxing hobbies. The amount of time students spend indoors and inside a classroom setting is not healthy. That is why it is important that we find ourselves a healthy outlet to unwind and clear our minds. According to Dr. Pat Alban of the Be Brain Fit Organization, the average person has 60,000 thoughts per day. Activities that allow you to express those thoughts, other than schoolwork and your social media feed, can leave you feeling less stressed and less overwhelmed. Anything from running to painting to meditating for 15 minutes can improve a person’s mental and physical health dramatically. So during this holiday break, use your two weeks of freedom to rejuvenate your mind and discover something new. Take the time to strengthen bonds with your loved ones and go on adventures that will produce memories that will last a lifetime. Find something that truly makes you happy and at peace. For some that may include people. For others it may simply mean dance or knitting. The only way to find these things is to take the time to try new things and take a chance. Take that chance now before it’s too late.
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Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas or nothing at all, now is a great time to surround yourself with the people you love.
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Growing up, I would often boast about the fact my dad was a cop. As kids, we all thought cops and firefighters were awesome. I could just bring up the fact he is a cop and the other kids would flock to me like I made the game winning shot. But now that has changed. Nowadays, I don’t brag about my cop dad. In fact, I hardly mention him anymore. This is all because the public opinion of police officers has changed. Now when I walk through the hallways I get to hear “@#$! the police.” Some of this hate is just because the stereotype is teenagers should not like the cops. But a lot of the hate is because of a few mistakes made by bad cops. One cop screws up, and next thing you know everyone is calling for every cop’s badge. When I look back on growing up, it seems like it’s a whole different world. So much has changed. Back in elementary school cops weren’t hated. Of course some people disliked them, but when I say they were not hated, I’m talking about recent statistics that show public trust of police officers is at a 20 year low. A Gallup poll shows that, only 52 percent of the population still has confidence in police. The last time it was this low was in 1993. This means that just under half of the population doesn’t have trust in law enforcement. What a depressing statement. People are supposed to trust those who uphold the law. Today, cops are known for seeking out people to arrest and for shooting unarmed black men in the back. The events in Ferguson, Missouri with Michael Brown on Aug. 9, 2014, is one incident that brought all of this to the forefront. I’m not saying these crimes aren’t serious, but you can’t blame all law enforcement because of a few cops who don’t deserve to be officers anymore. Just because there are jerks out there who get a badge doesn’t mean all cops are bad. I’m in no way, shape or form trying to say the officer who shot Michael Brown was in the right. But that event has altered the view on police officers. More people than ever are now afraid of police violence. As a result of these incidents, it seems more police are dying in the line of duty due to
A Staff Editorial
Write a letter to the editor! Let your voice be heard! Have something to say? Angry, frustrated or downright upset about what we’ve written? Want to tell us how well we’re doing? Write a letter to us! 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.
Hunter Dawson poses with his father, Sgt. Scott Dawson in front of his police SUV. PHOTO: BRODEE GILLAM
12.18.15
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.
OPINION
5
Seeing the same stars
Miles apart, close at heart
Families reflect on being without military loved ones during the holidays
MIA SALVADOR| Staff Writer
Every night for nearly two years, a young Payton Lannon gazed up at the stars and hoped her dad would be looking at those same stars halfway across the world. Those stars gave her hope that he was OK. That he was still fighting. Lannon hoped so much that one year she even sat on Santa’s lap, asking him to bring her dad home for Christmas. The holidays soon became a reminder of her dad, an Army soldier’s, absence. Now a junior, she has experienced firsthand what it’s like to be missing someone over the holidays. “When I was in the first grade, he left the day after Christmas and didn’t really come back until early third grade,” Lannon said. “It was hard. Especially being a 7-year-old girl who hasn’t seen her dad much,” Lannon said. This is a common scenario for people in the United States. According to The Christian Science Monitor, since 9/11, about 1.2 million spouses and more than 2 million children have coped with at least one deployment of a loved one over holidays.
Continuing A Legacy When their son, 2015 graduate Ben Strickler, left for Marine training in July, Chris and John Strickler supported him in his military career pursuit. But they also feared their son wouldn’t make it home for the holidays. “It’s not like your child going off to college where they come home at Christmas or come home on the weekends or the summer,” Chris said. “I was emotional because I didn’t know when I was going to see him again.” Ben’s dad John understands military involvement almost better than anyone. John served in the Marines for eight years and, as a result, spent many holidays away from his family. He remembers the special bonds he made with his platoon and the memories they shared during the holiday season. He hopes Ben can make similar bonds and memories. “One Thanksgiving in the Philippines, all 18 of us on the base got together for a party. Each of us brought some food and ate at local park,” John said. “We did what we could. It turned out to be a lot of fun.”
Fortunately, Ben is one of the lucky ones in that he is able to make it home for Christmas this year. The family is excited to see him and spend time with him for the first time since Thanksgiving. “We’re going to try to keep our traditions the same,” Chris said. “He technically won’t be home for Christmas so we’re just going to shift our celebrations. We will have our Christmas morning on the 28th when he gets home.” Military Aspirations Senior Steven Harrelson is on the flip side. Although Harrelson has never experienced military life firsthand, he looks forward to serving his country even if that means missing holidays. Harrelson plans to join The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) when he graduates, and said when the time comes, if he is deployed during Christmas, he will not be upset. Though many involved in the armed forces will miss families over the holidays, he said they should be honored to be serving and defending the country they love.
“I can’t think of any better way to spend Christmas than to be serving my country,” Harrelson said. Making A Difference With active and deployed family members, often comes financial hardship in many households, especially over the holidays. According to a 2010 military survey more than a third of military families struggle paying monthly bills and 20 percent reported borrowing money from outside of banks. Organizations like Soldiers’ Angels are made to make the holidays a little more bearable and enjoyable for the men and women in the service as well as their families. This organization gives people the opportunity to “adopt” a family and/or soldier in need and spread a little holiday cheer. Through it people can send letters to troops, send gifts to soldiers or their families, and donate any money they can to the soldier or family in need. With 12 different options of volunteer, Soldiers’
Angels attracts a large group of helpers. Home For The Holidays Lannon’s dad returned from Iraq when she was in middle school. “I remember I got a text from him one day after school, and I kept asking myself if this was a joke or something,” Lannon said. “And then I walked outside the middle school and saw him standing there and I was running to him in tears.” Although Lannon had to experience many holidays without her dad, he has since returned home safely and retired early from the service to be with his daughters, “I was always a daddy’s girl growing up, actually I still am a daddy’s girl.”
I miss the days when there were four stockings hanging on our fireplace mantel, and there was somebody who could help me decorate the Christmas tree and cookies. That somebody is my big brother Josh, who now lives in Texas. We used to dress up and get our pictures taken for our family Christmas card. Now that card stars our mini-pomeranian Rosie who fills his place. One of my favorite memories when Josh was still home was to pick out one present from under the tree and open it Christmas Eve after church. We would both, of course, pick the biggest one. Josh is a sergeant in the United States Army. For the last four years my brother has not been able to come home and has celebrated two Christmas’ in Germany, one in Afghanistan and last year he spent the holidays in Texas. I am very proud of the work he does for our country. Josh was 7 years old when I was born. We are not close in age, but close at heart. He is a great big brother, protective and ready to tease me every chance he gets. Josh attended college at Texas A&M Corpus Christi after graduating in 2008 from Haslett, but wanted adventure and to serve his country. A recruiter talked to him while he was attending college and was the one who encouraged him to join the Army. He then decided to enlist in 2010. It is especially hard being away from him during the holidays since he got married and started a family of his own. I now have a sister-in-law Justine and an adorable niece Madelynn who I am excited to create new Christmas traditions and memories with. I am thankful for Josh’s
Spread holiday cheer: Help a military family If you’re interested in helping out military families and soldiers in need this holiday season, here are some ways to get involved.
Soldier’s Angels: Visit www.soldiersangels.org to adopt a family or soldier in need.
Operation Homefront: Visit www.operationhomefront.net to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
Support Wounded Warrior Project: Visit www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org to support a wounded soldier and their family this holiday season.
ILLUSTRATION: MADDY NEZ
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safety and that of his fellow soldiers who are spending the holidays away from their families. Some troops serving are spending another holiday season away from their families and some are deployed for the first time. Christmas cards and care packages are a great way to show our gratitude and let our service members know we are thinking of them and the sacrifices they make every day. There are several organizations that assist in getting cards and packages to troops overseas.To find out how to send a care package and a list of needed items, www.redcross. org is a great place to start. Other useful sites are military. com or anysoldier.com. An easy way to send a message of thanks is through action.uso.org which will direct you in how to send a greeting e-mail to overseas troops. Our freedoms are hard fought
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We are not close in age, but close at heart.
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KELSEY JOHNSON|Editor-in-Chief
MIA SALVADOR
and gained from the sacrifices of our U.S. military. The great times with my brother Joshua and his growing family are just beginning and I can’t wait to place three more stockings on our mantle and introduce my niece to the wonders of snow. In the meantime, I am comforted by memories, big and small, and by continuing to pray for my brother’s happiness and safety, as well as supporting him in future adventures near and far.
COURTESY PHOTO
LIFEBOAT
12.18.15
LIFEBOAT
77
Things to do over winter break LEIGH BLOSSER | Staff Writer
Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village Dearborn, MI Dec. 18-23 and 26-28 Go have fun skating around the museum and watching fireworks. For more information, go to the Henry Ford website.
Holiday Carriage Rides Gladwin, MI Dec. 19 and 26 Take a sleigh ride through downtown Gladwin between 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wild Lights at the Zoo Detroit, MI Dec. 18-23 and 26-31 Walk throught the Detroit zoo while it’s light up. The times are between 5:30 p.m.- 9 p.m. Get tickets online at the Detroit zoo website.
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A balancing act Srivastava envisions helping make world a better place KATELYN LEE | Staff Writer While many students watch the clock in anticipation of going home, senior Shreya Srivastava throws on her jacket to head to the hospital. She has dedicated her life to her education and bettering herself, and those around her. Srivastava is involved in numerous clubs and activities. She is president of The Model UN, The Green Club, Writing Club and plays the piano in her free time. The Green Club meets every week and focuses on improving the environment of the community. The Writing Club is for avid writers who express themselves through writing while surrounded by other writers. “Writing Club is probably the most enjoyable (club) for me because I’ve been with it the longest,” Srivastava said. Also in her free time, Srivastava enjoys using the Internet as a resource for learning. “The more I was using it, the more I was understanding really hard topics,” Srivastava said. “Since I’m in online classes, my teachers would post Kahn Academy videos.” Because Srivastava is so passionate about Khan Academy, she participates in the student advisory council which is a key part in the creation of the videos posted to the site. As part of the student advisory council, the high school and college students recieve videos to watch and revise. Srivastava feels that it is a resource that should be provided to everyone and that is why she is so involved in the production of helpful sites. Among all of the amazing causes Srivastava is involved in, the most remarkable would be her involvement with The Model UN. She has gone to The Greater Lansing United Nations conferences for two years now because they were extra credit for AP US history. As she continued attending the conferences, she had the idea to start Model UN in Haslett. The president of the Greater Lansing United Nations conferences worked with Srivastava to create Haslett’s program last year. So far the program has had a lot of interest from students and teachers. As of now, the club is preparing for this year’s conference in Detroit where it has been assigned a country in which members will represent as delegates. Each delegate from the
PHOTO: RACHEL HAMILTON
countries in The Model UN debate over topics expected to come up with a resolution. This club gives students insight into the reality of today’s issues and displays what it takes to be a part of the United Nations. Srivastava has made it possible for motivated students to gain cultural experience through this club. Srivastava looks forward to the future where she envisions herself making a difference in the world. Her plan after high school is to go to a college that provides a 7-8 year program where she can get all of undergrad studies done and medical school all in one. With all the great opportunities she has, Srivastava has yet to commit to a college. With a medical degree, her dream is to become a Doctor Without Borders. She wants to help those in poverty stricken nations by bringing modern medicine to their countries. “I really love biology and I always knew that I wanted to go into medicine. I wasn’t sure if I just wanted to be at a normal hospital,” Srivastava said. “I decided that I wanted to do something where you are directly at places that need help like natural disaster and epidemics. You can be there to actually help those in need.” Although her life revolves mostly around making the world a better place, she also takes time to practice her culture and brings that to her peers by participating in Indian dances. She began Indian dance at the age of 4 when her mom signed her up. “My first teacher came from Germany. She taught here for a few years for free so my mom was like, ‘you should just go and try it out.’ I didn’t like it but I was good at it,” Srivastava said. With Indian dance, dancers go through different levels of techniques just like different grades in school. “Once you are at a certain level of maturity, you know what stories you’re telling and it becomes so amazing,” Srivastava said.
Five facts: Shreya
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Volunteering at Sparrow Hospital has driven her decision to becoming a doctor
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Another favorite hobby (along with dancing) is playing the piano
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She uses learnator along with Khan Academy to work on homework and studying for school
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Her two top picks for college are the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University
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Her favorite Hindu story she likes to dance to involves a wedding between two different gods
Holidays built around traditions, memories KHONNOR LONGENDYKE|Staff Writer
ALEX SADLER|Staff Writer
With winter break approaching fast upon us, HHS teachers recall their favorite holiday memories and traditions. Whether it be cold and snowy weather, or 60 degrees and sunshine, this time of year bring back fond (or not so fond) memories of holidays past.
BRANDON SMITH Choir intern Brandon Smith recalls a funny memory of getting deported last Christmas. Smith is from Canada and got stuck there for about three days, after he visited his family for Christmas.
ARTHUR CHIRAVALLI English teacher Arthur Chiaravalli has a crazy Italian tradition. “One year, we had to have seven types of seafood eaten by Christmas time.”
HEATHER COX Earth Science/Biology teacher Heather Cox has a Christmas tradition in which she writes a letter, to friends and family that live in many other states where Cox has previously lived, about how things are in Michigan.
BART WEGENKE Principal Bart Wegenke has a Christmas tradition that involves volunteer work. “First person up gets everyone up no matter what time it is. We always eat cinnamon rolls and volunteer at St. Gerard church to help the less fortunate.”
PHOTOS: ASHLEY DYER AND RACHEL HAMILTON
FEATURES
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Surviving winter with Shoemaker CHRISTINE AWUOR | Staff Writer
THE FANS AWAKEN: NEW MOVIE REVIVES OLD EXCITEMENT
KENZIE ADLER| Staff Writer
KENZIE ADLER| Staff Writer Since it’s announcement in 2012, “Star Wars” fans of all ages having been both eagerly awaiting and dreading the upcoming release of “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.” Fans have been anticipating its arrival with mixed feelings: usually such continuations are a terrible blow-off...what if Star Wars VII is the same? Can fans trust director J.J. Abrams? Many were amazed by his work with “Star Trek: the Motion Picture.” Will the quality of that adaptation carry through? But how can fans not be excited? Hello--it’s Star Wars! So what are thoughts on the upcoming extravaganza? English teacher Craig Kueffner has been a fan of the “Star Wars” franchise since he was 5, when he received his first genuine action figure and vehicle. From then on his collection grew to include an Ewok village and an Imperial Transport. His wife and children are also big fans of the franchise. Senior Brad Luzenski plans on attending the University of Michigan or Michigan State to study Chemical Engineering. Some of his oldest memories involve the Star Wars franchise, ever since he saw the first movie. It has been a huge part of his life, and he owns everything from Legos to lightsabers to Halloween costumes. 2014 graduate Kaitlin Bulkley is currently studying Animal Science at Bringham Young University in Idaho. She has been a fan of the “Star Wars” franchise when she was 3, and owns over a dozen pieces of merchandise, including but not limited to nine t-shirts, shoes, two jackets, and hats she made herself. Kenzie Adler: How do you feel about the upcoming movie? Any misconceptions? Kaitlin Bulkley: Honestly, I’m terrified. I’m afraid that JJ Abrams will take “Star Wars” and turn it into something that it’s not. The franchise is all about the Skywalker family and its legacy. We don’t see one of the official characters on the official poster. What does that even mean? I really hope a popular fan theory, that the bad guy is one of those missing characters, will not come to pass. Brad Luzenski: It looks fantastic. I can’t wait to see it. I love JJ Abrams,
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and his remakes of the “Star Trek” franchise were on point, so I have high hopes for this movie too. All the fight scenes in the trailers look epic and the score sounds beautiful. A huge rumor going around within the community is that Kylo Ren, the new villain, is actually Luke Skywalker. That sounds like a stretch, but hey, this is uncharted territory. Craig Kueffner: My family has tickets to see the new movie on opening day in 3D. We won’t be there at midnight (it is a school night after all), but at 6 p.m.the following evening, we’ll be there. KA: What was your reaction to the trailer(s) for The Force Awakens? KB: I couldn’t breathe for a good 30 seconds when I saw the second teaser. There are still many aspects from the original movies and that’s why I want to see it. There was also a ‘behind the scenes’ thing that made me cry. It was so beautiful, and it gave me hope. I respect Abrams for this because he knows how much is riding on his shoulders, but I’m still going to be nit-picky about the movie itself. BL: When I saw the first short teaser trailer, I got super excited. When I saw the first real trailer, I was ecstatic. There was a lot of jumping and definitely some squealing, and then I watched it six more times. CK: It looks cool. Although we don’t know much about the plot yet, I was enthused by the inclusion of Han Solo, Chewbacca and Leia. I’m also wondering about the absence of Luke. I had heard that Mark Hamill was getting in shape to take part in this newest trilogy, but he’s been noticeably absent from the trailers. I read somewhere this is intentional. I kinda like the fact the new protagonists are relatively unknown actors. Now we’ll just have to see if they can carry the franchise or if they are weak like the young man who played Anakin in Episode II and III. KA: How do you feel about J.J. Abrams bringing back some of the original cast? KB: Smartest thing he’s done. If C3-PO and R2-D2 weren’t going to be in it I would not have been optimistic at all.
BL: I can’t imagine sequels without the original cast. The actors aged with the characters, so it’s perfect. I’m also glad Abrams brought them back because it means we will be getting to see more of the original characters and get to learn about what happens after the destruction of Death Star II. In the extended universe, the original trio had a very established set-in-stone storyline, and I’m curious to see what Abrams keeps and what he reinvents. CK: I’m super excited to see how they are woven into the plot. KA: How did you feel about the second adaptation (movies I-III)? KB: I consider them to be part of the series. I do agree with the majority of people that the original three were classics and better made. People say that “the actors can’t act! Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) was so whiny! He sucks!” It’s my opinion that Anakin’s character is whiny and spoiled on purpose. I don’t understand it when people say actors can’t act. BL: I don’t personally have a problem with it. All of my favorite fight scenes are in I-III, such as Darth Maul v. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, the arena, and basically all of Revenge of the Sith, so they have that going for them. Also, the prequels provide massive amounts of backstory that I really enjoy. The only part of the prequels I really disliked was Jar Jar, however there are some great fan theories about how Jar Jar is really Darth Plagueis, which makes him a bit more interesting. CK: Like most people, I think they are inferior to the originals. However, I am not a hater. They are entertaining movies, and there are parts of them that I really enjoy. KA: There is already a lot of controversy over I-III. Now JJ Abrams is making another trilogy based off the originals. Do you think there will be the same controversy? KB: Definitely. I think people are going to shun Lucas’s work and try to shove it away. I’m extremely defensive of Lucas. I think it’s also possible that closed-minded fans will be against the new movie. BL: I don’t think controversy
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is really the right word for it. I-III have more focus on politics and love stories, which is most likely the reason people don’t like them as much as the original trilogy. If the new trilogy isn’t done well and doesn’t feel like “Star Wars,” people will be all in a fuss; If the movies are good, people will like them. CK: Of course there will be controversy. There are fans who are always going to find fault with anything new. There are many who claim everything peaked with this franchise with “The Empire Strikes Back.” Yet, those same fans will be first in line for Friday’s release. Personally, I’m just excited this series is being extended, and we get to see three more installments plus several stand-alone films. KA: How do you think people who don’t really know the “Star Wars” franchise/haven’t seen any or all of the previous movies will react? KB: I think people will be interested in it to the point where they want to see how it started. They’ll go back and watch the differences and make their own opinions of them. BL: I hope they love it as much as I did the first time I watched the movies. Regardless of whether you love Star Wars or have never heard of it, the film can be appreciated as a generic sci-fi movie. I think Abrams PHOTO: RACHEL HAMILTON bringing in a new set of main characters will allow for newbies to appreciate the movie without being familiar with IVVI. However, the full “Star Wars” experience requires seeing all the movies (in the order IV-VI, I-III.) CK: They’ll enjoy it. I compare it to my father-in-law who never even dreamed of reading the “Harry Potter” books, but he has seen and really enjoyed all eight movies. People respond to good storytelling, and the “Star Wars” series is good storytelling.
For many people, the first snowfall of the season presents a challenge between man and nature. They insist on maintaining their normal routines, refusing to be frozen in time by dreary coldness. English teacher Jan Shoemaker used to be this way as well. However, her entire opinion on winter shifted about four years ago when she began pursuing a master’s degree in fine arts. “I had so much extra writing to do that I couldn’t push myself to go out in the world and try to negotiate more things,” Shoemaker said about winter. “I just had to pull in and sit at my desk and write all the time.” In addition to writing, Shoemaker cooked warm, rich foods like soup and muffins, huddled by the fire and read in bed with her dogs. She came to appreciate the insular feeling of staying indoors instead of trying to battle winter. “I used to feel like I had to live the same life in winter as I do in summer,” Shoemaker said. “In other words, I had to frantically go about doing a million things outside, running all over the place.” She believes a lot of the ill will people have toward winter comes from the continued pressure people face to stay busy despite the less than ideal temperatures. But with work, school and extracurricular activities, she’s not surprised students are the most stressed out this time of year. “I completely get it,” Shoemaker said. “Winter makes such demands of us and we do not have the sense to pull back.” Shoemaker feels it’s partly society’s fault for not recognizing the negative toll winter has on students. She says if students had a way to scale back their commitments and enjoy the snow from indoors, fewer kids would suffer through a depressing four months of cold. However, she also recognizes that with the hectic schedules kids have these days, this is easier said than done. “Maybe if you’re feeling really taxed in the winter, you should stay indoors. Bake muffins, learn the joys of inside by the fire,” Shoemaker said. “But I know kids aren’t going to do that.” The world at large may not be ready for Shoemaker’s approach to surviving the winter. But that’s not going to stop her from enjoying her time indoors. “Life becomes intimate in the winter,” Shoemaker said. “I wish we’d get some damn snow.”
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Last chance opportunity
Senior Jackson Marinez looks for a rebound in warm ups before the East Lansing game on Dec. 15. PHOTO: RACHEL HAMILTON
For many athletes, tryouts are a make or break opportunity, especially on varsity. For senior Jackson Marinez, basketball comes natural. With his last year of high school coming to a close, he wanted to take advantage of his final chance at playing on the varsity basketball team, after not playing since middle school. Tryouts are where players test their skills. The effects of tryouts are the pressure and suspense of never knowing what others are thinking. For Marinez, being put on the spot is no problem. He just goes out and performs. While Marinez hadn’t played basketball since 7th grade and was nervous going into tryouts, once there he felt confident. “I felt I was going to make the team once I went to tryouts,” Marinez said. Coaches took note of his skills and added him to the roster. “He had a great three days of tryouts, hard worker, and we felt he would defensively challenge some of our starters in practice,” head coach Chris Smith said. Haslett is the perfect environment
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I can bring a lot of energy during practices and challenge starters defensively.
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KYLE LOONEY | Staff Writer
Senior looks to make impact after absence from basketball
JACKSON MARINEZ for Marinez as he’s a great shooter and teammate to run with on the court. On the defensive end, he contests shots well and plays good on-ball defense. The speed and athleticism he displays on the offensive end could lead to a positive push in his minutes earlier on in the season. “He’s a great practice player and a great teammate, always willing to do whatever we ask of him in practice to make our team better,” Smith said. Marinez also plays lacrosse in the spring. Basketball drills are different, but it all comes down to hard work and
determination. Lacrosse training has him in good condition for basketball, keeping him a step ahead of the competition. “He’s a very good defender, very athletic,” Smith said. “Even showing off the offensive side of his skill set. (He) pushes the ball well and we like to play fast and he’s able to do that.” Marinez is confident in his defensive abilities if nothing else, and classic sports phrase, “defense wins championships” holds true in basketball. “I can bring a lot of energy during practices and challenge starters defensively during practice also,” he said. “(I) have good hustle and play good defense on everyone in practice and games.” Coming in the last year to a team of returning players, makes development a little slow but Marinez is getting the hang of things. “He’s a little behind some of the other guys because he hasn’t played in so long, but he just keeps playing hard in practice,” Smith said.
Behind the beams
Seniors and coaches look to push gymnastics to states HANNAH ALVERSON | Staff Writer On the floor, bars and beam, the gymnastics team members put in 10 to 11 hours of hard work every week to be the best they can be. But it is not only all of the strenuous work that makes them successful. A lot of their success comes from the behind the scene work by the coaches and captains. Last year the team made it to regionals and almost to states. A couple of gymnasts made it to states for individual events. Both senior captains, Cara Clarizio and Brooke Allen, have had a large impact on the team. Clarizio has been captain since her junior year and Allen has been captain since the end of her junior year. They have the responsibility to make sure the team runs smoothly and to help the coaches out. “We lead the warm-up and show people how to do skills when they don’t know what they are,” Clarizio said. Not only do they do they help the team at practice, they also put in a lot of work to make the season more enjoyable. “We do a lot of planning stuff,” Clarizio said.
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Senior Cara Clarizio doing the splits on the beam during practice. PHOTO: ASHLEY DYER
They make sure to have ribbons for everyone for all of their meets. They also plan events for team bonding and figure out what they should do for apparel. They also help with keeping the team positive
and encourage girls to cheer at meets. “They are always positive and help everyone stay posted during practice and meets,” sophomore Emma Grey said.
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Along with the captains, the coaches put in a ton of effort to make sure the team is the best it can be. The gymnastics team has a total of five coaches: two head coaches and three assistants. Having so
many coaches has been beneficial, as it helps with making sure each gymnasts get the individual attention they need. “They are just really helpful and supportive and they are aware about what’s going on with us outside of gymnastics too and that means a lot more, but they’re also tough and want us to be the best we can be,” Grey said. At practice the coaches make sure the girls stay focused and do what they’re supposed to do. They split the girls up into groups to focus on certain skill such as bars, balance beam and floor. While the coaches focus on skills and keeping the team working, the captains make sure the girls have fun. While they are practicing they listen to music and joke around. “It’s a lot of fun. Everyone gets along great,” Allen said. With all of the effort and time the gymnasts put into their sport, the result becomes obvious. “Our coaches strongly think we can make it to states as a team,” Grey said.
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Bringing back the culture A peek into real-life reporting BRODEE GILLAM| Sports Editor
Senior leadership shoots Stars to success Senior Erich Hairston engaging in a faceoff against Grand Ledge-Fowlerville. PHOTO: CLAIRE COWAN
When somebody is asked what the main sports at Haslett are, hockey usually isn’t one that immediately comes to mind. That’s no surprise, considering there is no Haslett hockey team. If you go to Haslett and you want to play hockey, you play for the Eastside Stars. Eastside is a team consisting of players from Haslett, Williamston, East Lansing, Bath and Laingsburg. The Stars are led this year by a slew of Haslett seniors, including Mike Zsigo, Rob Boughton and Ben Ebert. All are pursuing big goals for this season, both as a team and as individual players. Boughton is most focused on not only fulfilling the legacy of players before him, but also on the future of the team he will be leaving behind. “My main goal is to win leagues,” Boughton said. “We want to get Eastside back to what it was a couple years back.” The team Boughton is referring to is the Eastside Stars of the 20122013 season. The CAAC champions team featured then Haslett seniors Sam Rathbun and Ryan Tyrer. Zsigo and Ebert were freshmen that year, Boughton joining two years later. Since then, success of the Stars has dipped slightly, with records of 6-2-1
and 2-9-0. The seniors aim to bring back the winning culture that was present that year along with a CAAC championship trophy of their own. “We have a bunch of young guys right now, so to get them up to a level that when I graduate they can take over the team,” Boughton said. He is dedicated to trying to help the future of the program, a task that should come easy if the players can accomplish their main goal of winning the conference. Recreating the success of years past means more than having one great season, but also setting up several good seasons ahead of it. But Zsigo also has a personal goal he aims to accomplish this year. “I want to get to 50 points,” Zsigo said. “We have this thing on our team called the Road to Fifty, Andy Petersmark got it my freshman year, I think I can get there.” Road to Fifty is the ultimate aspiration for an Eastside Star. The goal is to get 50 total points in one season, including both goals and assists. Zsigo says he has 12 points so far this season, and is confident he can bridge the gap. Most Haslett athletes never play on teams with kids from other schools during the regular season. But for the
Stars, it’s nothing new. “It’s definitely different at first because no one knows each other,” Zsigo said. “It almost feels like when I played on AAA teams, where everybody comes from a different area, just a bunch of different cultures and no one really knows each other.” Both Boughton and Zsigo see the advantages though. “After you get through the beginning practices and start doing things as a team, everybody gets to know each other and make new friends, which I think is cooler than, say Okemos, who just has their own kids on their team, because you meet new people from all around the area,” Boughton said. “Hopefully it brings more people to the games,” Zsigo said. Senior goaltender Ben Ebert performed quite impressively last season, with games of 64 and 48 saves later in the season. This led to Ebert being selected to be on the Lansing State Journal Dream Team, much to his surprise. “I was really surprised. We kind of sucked last year so it was not expected of me. But I was definitely very proud,” Ebert said. “I expect to do even better this season.”
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I was really surprised. We kind of sucked last year. BEN EBERT -ON BEING NAMED TO THE LSJ DREAM TEAM IN 2014
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CONNER HEINZ | Staff Writer
Coach Chad Theuerkorn has similar expectations for the goalie. “Ben played a really great season last year, but he’s definitely going to get pushed this year,” Theuerkorn said. “We have a junior goaltender coming in and competing for the spot, but I fully expect Ben to step up and take the top spot and make the most of this season.” Despite the team’s unsuccessful last season, Ebert has high hopes for this season. “I expect us to be at the top of the pack this year,” he said.
What is it like to be a sports journalist? We have all wanted to be the guy on ESPN making sports puns while talking over highlights of the Giants-Jets game. But that only makes up one percent of the business. I got to travel down to the University of Detroit Mercy Titans campus for a media day, where they showed us, student journalists, what it is like to be a professional. I walked into Calihan Hall, was welcomed to my seat and got to watch a first quarter shootout between the UDM women and Salem International, where five of the first six buckets were 3s. My group and I got pulled out of the game to talk to the president of mens basketball operations for UDM, the president of the university, the new assistant coach, former NBA point guard Jermaine Jackson and senior guard Carlton Brundidge. After hearing from the three of them, we went back to our seats to see Brundidge and the men play a 6-1 Northeastern University team. Within the first 5 minutes Brundidge was on the bench with two fouls. Meanwhile, Northeastern senior David Walker was putting on his best Stephen Curry impression, going six for six from range, with 18 points in the first half. But the Titans pulled it out in the end with a 76-73 win with defensive pressure on Northeastern’s guards. Overall, being involved in a professional journalism environment, where you could have to rewrite your story in the last five minutes of the game. Five minutes? It’s hard for a high school student to write a story in five days. Just being a part of the next level of journalism shows how fun it really is, even if it isn’t doing the ESPN commentary.
Sports Ticker The Haslett/Williamston/Bath Gymnastics first meet is Jan. 6 at Grand Ledge.
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No. 1 Michigan State takes on a hot shooting Northeastern in Boston at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on NBC Sports Network.
The Eastside Stars play back to back games Friday and Saturday Jan. 8-9 at Surburban Ice.
Girls basketball plays at Mason tonight at 6 p.m. and fans should dress with jolly, it’s a Christmas out!
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Boys basketball also plays at Mason tonight at 7:30 p.m. and is looking for revenge after a 79-70 loss to East Lansing on Tuesday.
No. 3 Michigan State plays No. 2 Alabama in the College Football Playoff at 8 p..m Dec. 31 on ESPN.
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Holiday lights in Haslett Longboat staffers walked the streets of Haslett in search of the best light displays
PHOTOS: ASHLEY DYER
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BACK OF THE BOAT
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