P.1: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
the overachiever international academy central student newspaper
DECEMBER 2015 Vol. 11 Issue 3 $0.00
The Thrill of C-Day The International Academy had many activities on C-Day that looked to give students a fun and relaxing day before break in addition to helping them with their CAS requirements for the IB diploma program. By: Neehar Haryadi (’16) senior Sharon Singh. She On Friday December said, “Just Dance was so 18, 2015, the International much fun! It was great that I Academy held its second got to relax at school on the C-Day of the school year. last day before break.” Senior Initially, there was some Audrey Humphrey said, doubt by students who “Catch Phrase is not a great questioned “why bother game to play with a small coming.” Students such as group of people, but when so senior Adithya Chandramany people got together, it sekaran were amongst the was so much fun!” doubters and said, “I didPhysics Phun sparked intern’t want to go in the beginest with many physics stuning and was forced to go dents and those who have a by my parents, but I endcertain fascination with Mr. ed up liking it at the end of Hodgkins and Mr. Kilpatrick. the day.” At this event, the goal was to C-Day filled students’ keep an egg from cracking schedules with fun activiwhen it was dropped from the ties that evoked the sensroof of the IA. Students got es, relaxed the mind, and Students show off their hexaflexagons from C-Day materials such as cardboard, paexercised the body. However, nothing could have been done with- came in the morning. It really woke me per, paper cups, tape, and socks. Then they were asked to construct a deout Ms. Clancy. She worked tirelessly up! It was also harder than my wresfense mechanism that prevented the to fix Google spreadsheets and made tling practices. Frau Schultz was a egg from cracking. Junior Gina Li said, good teacher however and that really sure everyone had a fun time. The “Physics Phun was cool. I had fun helped me to know what I was dohighlights of the day included yoga even though I don't even take physics. with Frau Schultz, active Games, phys- ing.” Frau Schultz helped many stuIt was definitely a different experience.” dents who attended her yoga class ics phun, and soccer. All grades loved the task and even enYoga interested many students and gain a new perspective on peace. dured the cold to witness their egg put Active games had many unique filled up quickly. Frau Schultz was an to the test. excellent teacher with vast knowledge games. Many students gained their Soccer had just as many perks as about yoga. She had yoga techniques Action points for CAS in the activity. that went from the beginner level to the Games such as Just Dance and Catch the other activities on C-Day. The comadvanced level. Senior Humza Ali said, Phrase were popular among students. petitors ranged from varsity-level athletes to first-time play“Yoga was not what I expected when I Just Dance brought out the dancer in >>continued, PG.10
MORE INSIDE An overview of the race to the White House [P.2.]
Ways to illuminate your life during winter break[P.3.]
Photo Credits (left to right): clipart, clipart, themash.com
Opinions on Phhhoto[P.6.]
P.2: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
Staff
WORLD NEWS An Overview of the Race to the White House Don’t know who to vote for in the upcoming elections? Read on to know a little bit more on each candidate. By Wehbe Alzohaili (‘16)
legalization of recreational marijuana but supports its medical use. Ban abortions after 20 weeks.
PRINCIPAL Ms. Lynne Gibson ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Mr. Christopher Smith FACULTY FACILITATOR Ms. Sarah Clancy EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rana-Armaghan K. Ahmad SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR Neehar Haryadi WORLD NEWS EDITOR Abrar Quazi FEATURES EDITORS Sydney Rosen Alayna Wong ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Alaina Valente Megan Akins OPINIONS EDITOR Max Totsky SPORTS EDITOR Kenan Sinan BACK PAGE EDITOR Evan Kolin CONTRIBUTORS Wehbe Alzohaili Zoe Hunter Cailee Grzebienik Adrienne Joe Mateusz Kasprowicz Sophia Kim Payge Lindow Kata Szamosfalvi
Breaking through the clishmaclaver surrounding the presidential election has been a hefty task for pundits and legitimate political scientists. The unprecedented ideas brought from both ends of the spectrum, the exact extremists the party system is meant to prevent, have posed an issue for even the most skilled of analysts. The only people that seem to have any success with commentary are comics like SteLeading Democratic and Republican candiphen Colbert on his new primetime dates will face off next year( PSU.edu) show or Bill Maher’s or John Oliver’s HBO counterparts. The mockery of what has become Climate: Global Warming of the United States election process seems only to fuel the is a non-issue because temperature change is extremist rhetoric from either flank. Many of the seniors and even some juniors at IA will be “cyclical” Immigration: Increase the voting in the next presidential election, a civic duty for all availability of work perAmericans, as taught by the government classes at IA. In mits for immigrants with order to clear up what exactly is going on in the ever the stipulation that they changing political landscape, this article will attempt to leave the country first summarize the key views of each of the six major candiTaxes: Abolish the IRS. dates. Also establish a flat taxaDonald Trump: Most polls currently place Trump at the top of the repub- tion system. Middle East: Congress lican nominees however Vegas betting odds are stacked significantly against him. These are his positions on several and Israel should be more involved in Iran key issues: Economy: The government must reduce its spending. Auto- deal. More military inmatic budget cuts don’t do enough and congress needs to volvement is needed to fight ISIL at the military’s do more to cut our deficit. Climate: Climate change is a hoax propagated by the Chi- own discretion. nese to suppress the US economy. Also, Trump has a ven- Ted Cruz The fastest rising Redetta against wind turbines. publican nominee in the Immigration: Famous for his plans to build a wall and limit immigration from the Mexican border. However, he still fa- Iowa polls has attracted attention from his fellow candidates. These are his posivors an increase in immigration of educated Europeans. tions: Taxes: End corporate taxes and lower individual taxes. Immigration: Block any effort to allow illegal residents to Considers the possibility of a one-time wealthy tax Middle East: End talks with Iran and increase sanctions. remain in the US. Wants to multiply resources of border Send some ground troops and increase air campaign patrol agencies. against ISIL. Wants a stronger relationship with Israel. Taxes: Abolish the IRS and cut corporate tax rates. Opposes federal aid to corporations in the form of subsidies or Dr. Ben Carson The second non-politician in the Republican race has protection. been doing remarkably well. Most polls put him in second Middle East: Increase sanctions on Iran and let congress or third. These are his positions: be involved in the decision making. Does not support Social Issues: Eliminate federal based standards on educa- ground troops to fight ISIL. tion and allow states to establish their own curriculum. Anti- Social Issues: Only the states named in the supreme court continued, PG.7
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P.3: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
FEATURES ACT Test Madness With the end of first semester just around the corner, juniors face another harsh reality: The ACT. The ACT, one of the most important tests taken in high school, acts as a gateway to a successful college education. By: Cailee Grzebienik (16)
of a test is crucial to performing well. Deepali Desai (’16) says that, “Going to bed early the night before was the reason why I stayed so focused during the ACT I took in February. Also, I ate my favorite breakfast that morning, so I felt pretty normal going into the test.” 3. PLAN: Make sure your favorite jeans or lucky sweatpants are clean, and find and sharpen all of your pencils the night before the test. Make sure you dress comfortably, and won’t be super cold or overheating during the test. Also, if you need to, make sure you print out your ticket and find your ID so that you don’t have to search for them in the morning. Confirm the location of the test and what time it starts at.
Stress. We all go through it. Whether it’s about that project due next week, or the basketball game at 6 4. ANSWER EASY QUESTIONS FIRST: The ACT usualo’clock tonight, at one ly orders the problems in the order they think is easiest, point in the day every which doesn’t always reflect the same when it comes to student has experiyou. Go for the problems that look easier to do and enced that panicked then come back later for the harder ones. Grace Bian“How am I going to get co (’16) even does the Reading section of the ACT in a this done?” or specific order, “I actually do that section in reverse. (mathnasium.com) “Will this ever Prose fiction is the hardest to me, so I start with Natural end?” Although Science, and go backwards.” this daily stress piles up, it is familiar and we all know how to deal with it to some extent. However, daily stress is completely different 5. DON’T LEAVE ANYTHING BLANK: When it comes down to the last few minutes of the test, make sure you than that looming anxiety you may feel about the ACT test aren’t leaving anything blank on your answer docuthat all juniors this year will take in March. ment. The ACT does not subtract points for wrong anHave no fear! The ACT has been around since 1959, so swers, so it’s always in your best interest to answer that means thousands of other students have taken it beeverything. fore, and there are many tactics to combat that test anxiety. Here are eight time-tested strategies that you can use for 6. LETTER OF THE DAY: Before taking the test, decide the next time you tackle the ACT. which letter you will choose when you decide to skip a 1. PREPARE: The more experienced you are with the test question. This is your letter of the day. Use it for the format, or even the testing environment, the more reentire test, and don’t change it. You will get more points laxed you will be when it’s time to take it. Some stuif you always guess the same letter rather than always dents choose to purchase a practice book and study on switching around. their own, while others opt for a class or tutoring. Both work well depending on the type of learner you are. 7. USE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION: When you come to a question that seems hard, stop and look at the an2. EAT AND SLEEP WELL: Getting a good sleep the swer choices. Sometimes some of them you know are night before and eating a healthy breakfast the morning completely wrong, and by crossing just two off, you are
Ways to Illuminate Your Life During Winter Break
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Looking for something fun to do over break? Read on to learn about holiday light shows in the area! By: Alayna Wong (‘17) After the stress of exams, it will be a nice change to raise our heads, look around and appreciate the many holiday lights and decorations that have popped up in the past few weeks. Most of the tree lighting events have already taken place but there are still many opportunities to see beautiful displays of holiday lighting and decorations in a variety of settings. Also, don’t forget
that these lights are displayed at these locations every year during the winter. For the past 10 years, Rochester has held “The Big, Bright Light Show” every December through January. All of the buildings in the downtown area are covered in lights. It is a spectacular sight with more than a million colorful lights. Each year, the area of coverage is extended as more and more
businesses adorn their facades with lights. Many only drive through the downtown and try to take in the incredible view from the car but a far better way to experience the show is to park and walk the few blocks from one end of the downtown to the other and back. The Big, Bright Light Show is free and can be seen every evening from 5 p.m. until midnight. >>continued, PG.10
P.4: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
ENTERTAINMENT The 59th Grammys With the New Years approaching, the count down towards the 59th Grammy awards is live. By Alaina Valente (‘16)
IA in Vogue It’s time to be fashionable for the holiday season!! By Payge Lindow (‘17) The holidays are here, but it’s the warmest December yet! So far we’ve had record breaking highs of 63 degrees. Regardless if there is a White Christmas or not, festive outfits are always in demand. In previous years, ugly sweaters have been found only by hunting them down at resale shops. This year, plenty of stores have their own ugly Christmas sweater collections, complete with reindeer puns and bow tie clad penguins. Pair these with jingle bell antlers, candy cane earrings, or any other obnoxious festive wear for the complete holiday look. For holiday parties, one shoulder and sheer dresses are out, while deep-v necklines and full skirts are in. Rather than the traditional red and green, the runway has seen lots of sparkly whites, or mixing of warm colors such as magenta, burnt orange, and wine. With 2016 right around the corner, it is also time to start preparing all sequins, glitter and sparkles. As usual, any full sparkle outfit is acceptable for New Years Eve. Happy shopping!
nor, and Courtney Barnett. The two that are predicted to most likely snag this category are Tori Kelly and Meghan Trainor. Kelly is an amazing live performer with a powerful voice that can light up a room. She was on season 9 of American Idol, but was cut before the top 24. Yet, she continued on with her music career by writing, producing and recording her own album, Handmade Songs, and building up a considerable following through her YouTube channel, where she posted videos of her singing original and cover songs. Her competition, Trainor, is an artist that is known for promoting female power and positivi Last year Grammy awards (grammy.com) ty. Growing to fame selfThe leading nominees are Kendrick releasing and writing three albums of her own before signing with Epic RecLamar, the Weeknd and Taylor Swift. Lamar has a total of eleven nom- ords, Trainor’s first single, All About that Bass, sold over six million copies interinations, whereas Swift and the Weeknd both have seven. However, all nationally. Her next single, Lips are Moving, reached number four on the three artists are battling against each other for the “Album of the Year.” It has Billboard charts. The countdown to the Grammys is been predicted that Swift will likely win live. Though the show is a month and a for her stellar album, 1989. She has already walked away with seven Gram- half away, music that will be considered for the 59th Grammy’s is being remys, mostly from her country albums, Fearless and Red. By recreating herself leased right now, such as Adele’s alfrom a country to a pop artist, Swift has bum 25 and Justin Bieber’s Purpose.. Sarah Khan (‘16) made a solid case to garner more sup- Anyone who is a fan of music will enjoy port because of her vast range of songs the show. With several performances Sarah’s skirt is a more casual verand speeches, it is a night one is not and vocal ability. sion of the full circle pleated skirts likely to forget. Also, was it mentioned On the other hand, a new generawe are seeing for the holidays. tion of artists is emerging and changing that the whole thing is live? Live! AnyShe brings her own style with a tie the future of music. Musicians nominat- thing could happen. and edgy jacket, along with a ed for “Best New Artist” are Tori Kelly, suede black boots. Sam Hunt, James Bay, Meghan Trai-
As the holidays approach an end, the New Year marks the start of award show season to celebrate the accomplishments of 2015. Recently, on Monday, December 7 , the 58 Grammy nominations for 2015 were released for the ceremony that is to take place on February 15, 2016 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Grammy nominations are considered for any musician or producer that released a song or album between October 1 . 2014 and September 30 , 2015. th
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P.5: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
Humans of IAC Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s “Humans of New York” photo blog, “Humans of IAC” aims to share the stories of students and staff at the International Academy Central.
By Sophia Kim (‘17) “OKMA Is the Online Knowledge Management Association. The name itself was supposed to be a play on the school name (IA OKMA Campus), and I started it to address a major problem when people do online courses - the lack of a structure when trying to accomplish them and the lack of people who will compel you to accomplish the course…I hope to really bring the online learning environment to a more concrete setting for newcomers to the idea of MOOCs, or massive open online courses.”
Everyone is Suiting Up For Captain America: Civil War The trailer for Captain America: Civil War has Marvel fans anticipating the great fight between the Avengers. By: Mega Akins (‘19) Last year, Robert Downey Jr. announced that he would be starring in Captain America: Civil War and since then there has been a ton of buzz about just how huge this movie would be. Well, now the wait is over. On November 24th, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans premiered the trailer on Jimmy Kimmel live. After that, it was put on YouTube and in less than an hour, the 2 minute trailer had over 100,000 views. Just looking at the trailer, it seems like this all starts at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which came out in 2014. That movie is about the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement Logistics Division). It’s also Marvel poster for Civil War about Captain America (played (whatculture.com) by Chris Evans) finding Bucky (played by Sebastian Stan), who is also the Winter Soldier, and saving him. That is why Captain America is with Bucky in the beginning of the Captain America: Civil War trailer. Iron man tries to take Bucky into custody, but Captain America won’t let him. This is where the whole battle begins. The film will be released on May 6th of 2016 and it shows a new side of both Captain America and Iron Man. Instead of fighting a common enemy like they usually are, they were actually fighting each other. There’s even a line where Tony Stark says to Captain America, “You know sometimes I want to punch you in your perfect teeth.” You could cut the tension with a knife. The trailer also showed some fan favorites, including Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Winter Soldier, The Falcon, and, for the first time, Black Panther. Along with the trailer, Marvel also released the very first poster for the movie (shown to the left). It’s a picture of Captain America and Iron Man in the middle of what seems to be the most intense staring contest ever. It also includes Cap’s classic shield. Which side are you on?
ACT Test Madness (CONT. P.3) left with two options for your final answer rather than the original intimidating four.
Keri: “Just today, in History, someone called me Melissa. I just said ‘My name is Keri’ and the whole class laughed.” “How do you react to typical ‘twin’ comments like that?” Melissa: “They’re tiring. And annoying.
8. DON’T FREAK OUT: Some people around you will finish their test way before you, but that doesn’t always mean you messed up. Smarter test takers use the entire testing period so that they have time to check over their answers and feel confident. These tips should help you do your best on the ACT, and hopefully will help you feel more confident and have less anxiety no matter what grade you are in. Good Luck!
P.6: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
A Grade Above
OPINION Is Phhhoto the beckoning of a new era? Phhhoto is What We Need by Mateusz Kasprowicz (16) We live in a world saturated with social media. From giants like Facebook and Twitter, to niche applications like After School and Ask.fm, almost every method of communicating with peers and loved ones has its place in the cornucopia of iPhone applications. So, you may ask, why do we need more? Why isn’t phhhoto just another superfluous distraction from the more important things in our lives? What does the minty-phresh moving-image application really bring to the table? The answer is: a lot. At first glance, Phhhoto seems to be doing nothing new, just a mixture of Instagram with the lovable and convenient .gif. But any closer investigation of the application reveals that Phhhoto is a veritable wonderland when it comes
Phhhoto logo (themash.com)
to indulging in one's creative impulses, whether they be outlandish or humble, electric or subdued. In the weeks since Phhhoto’s mysterious emergence in the International Academy’s social sphere, new ideas have been in near constant circulation. People have been testing the limits of the application almost nonstop. The posts bring together the best aspects of contemporary visual culture, attention-grabbing, over-the-top moving compositions, within the succinct Instagram-like format, present the opportunity to brilliantly warp traditional forms of social media expression.
Above all, Phhhoto is fun, I mean, try not enjoying yourself while using it. It's actually a blast. Social media doesn’t have to be broadly useful to be compelling; in fact, Phhhoto’s appeal lies in its specific artistic bent and, ultimately, nothing like it exists. Phhhoto has become an essential component of the IA social experience in the 20152016 school year. Of course, with every wave, there is someone turning the tides. Someone underappreciated, someone silky, someone suave, someone glimmering. When I asked God, he told me to grind harder. And I grinded. With the flicker of a wrist, I owned Phhhoto. I started something new. Phhhoto is Kinda Sad by Kata Szamosfalvi (16) OK, guys. Let’s get real. We might want Phhhoto, but do we need it? It was this penetrating question that hit me when I was about to post one of my signature jittery gifs onto the platform. It was a gif, or “a Phhhoto” as the youth would have it, of me sipping on a tangy, chilled lemon drink in my post-art deco, almost retro-gothic, scullery. I looked around me and I was struck by own wealth, class, and power. Have I really stooped this low? No. I was not having it. I quickly hit the back button and hid my phone in a safe, so I was not susceptible to the influence of my less sophisticated peers. See, it was not my choice to subscribe to this philistine trash, but some of my friends, who are typically good people otherwise, encouraged me to use it. I heard things like “everyone has it”, “it’s Instagram without the stigma”, or, worst of all, “it moves.” I’ll admit. I was enticed. As someone who prides themselves of being ahead to the waves, it was extremely necessary for me to at least see what all the “hubub” was about. However, when I came in contact with the application, I was disturbed. What has youth culture become? Why. One word: continued, PG.7
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It’s that time of year again, with midterm exams dominating the thoughts of IA students. Don’t fret, as our seniors leave some words of wisdom! By Zoe Hunter (‘16) By the time you read this column, midterms will be over and 2016 will be well on its way. After studying for hours and sacrificing so much “me time” to make sure your GPA doesn’t drop, this upcoming break is a great way to just take a pause and reflect on all that has happened in 2015. This break is also a great way for you to begin to finish off 2015 and get ready for 2016! Here are some guided tips that will hopefully inspire you to end the year on a good note and ready to move on into the new year. Take care of yourself You don’t want to go into the new year as a zombie. As said before, the period before break can be stressful and take a toll on one’s well-being. It’s important to take time out of the day for yourself so that you can unwind and relax. You deserve it. Throw things out This can be taken literally or metaphorically. If you have a lot of unnecessary junk like old homework papers (recycle these!) lying around your room or locker, or just stuffed to the bottom of your backpack, get them out! You’ll be more organized once you do. A clean area is a clean mind! Make a list of five things you wish you’d done this year, but didn’t I didn’t come up with this quote on my own but I think it’s a great idea! If you make a list of things you wish you had done this year, maybe it will inspire or prompt you to take the initiative and begin crossing things off that list. Celebrate Even though everything probably didn’t go your way this year, it’s important to focus on the high’s of the year, rather than the lows. Take pride in the things that you did well on and recognize your accomplishments. It’s better to go into the new year with a positive mood rather than a negative one.
P.7: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
Phhhoto is Kinda Sad (CONT. P.6) why? Why do I get placed under an umbrella with the degenerates that give this application its place in society?
Phhhoto app interface (simonblog.com)
Why was THIS- this dirt, this filth, this GARBAGE- being championed in a world where hunger, poverty, and infrastructure should have been prioritized? Why did we turn this into a thing? And, worst of all, why did it move? The gif is the lowest form of visual media. It is the unwanted child of the video and the picture, a digital crime against humanity with tape over its mouth and its spleen quivering in its bare hands. The fact that we have to dedicate an entire social media platform to this horrific form of expression in absolutely abysmal, especially considering that other networks offer the same service. It is sickeningly one-dimensional, and the features are equally bad. If I am expected to express myself with such a limited selection of filters, then I am appalled at what art has become. What ever happened to the days of Marquez and Picasso? What ever happened to the time when being a true master of your craft was worthy of applause? Why is it ok to fall into a trap where art comes without effort, where we don’t even have to try to be creative? These ambiguities bombard me, but all I know is that Phhhoto is kinda sad.
An Overview of the Race to the White House (CONT. P. 2) decision on gay marriage should follow it. Wants to end internet taxation however is against “net neutrality”. Education: Eliminate Common Core and any other federally mandated curriculum systems. Have a system that allows states to opt out without losing federal grant money. Marco Rubio Rubio rose very quickly in the Republican polls before Iowa and has been thrust in the limelight as a result. These are his positions: Economy: Supports the need for a balanced budget but wants to favor defense spending while cutting out programs like social security. Climate: Rubio supports the notion that climate change is real but believes that it isn’t being caused by humankind in the way that scientists claim Immigration: Address the leaky borders and keep illegals from entering the country, then address the issue of the immigrants that are already here Taxes: Lower corporate taxes to 25 percent. Simplify the individual tax brackets and introduce a $2,500 tax break per child in a family. Middle East: Scrap the nuclear deal and toughen sanctions. Increase the president’s power to get involved militarily against ISIL Bernie Sanders Sanders is unique in his open advocacy of democratic socialism. Sanders was an independent and is now running as a Democrat. His campaign has put him on par with Clinton despite having a fraction of the resources and no super PACs. These are his positions: Climate: Charge corporations for carbon emissions. Sanders considers himself a climate change hawk and strongly supports the need for human action to counter climate
change Immigration: Waive some deportations and allow paths to citizenship for immigrants that are already on US land Taxes: Raise taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of the population and use the added revenue to lower taxes on the middle class Middle East: Anti-war; opposed the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. Believes that the US should not lead the fight against ISIL. Critical of Benjamin Netanyahu and supports the current Iran deal. Social Issues: Wants to establish more stringent campaign finance laws and limit the influence of big business in politics. Wants to break up larger banks into smaller entities. Hillary Clinton Clinton seemed to be the sure bet for Democratic nominee and even president at the start of the race; however, things aren’t so clear now. Clinton is running the most expensive campaign in US history and has the implied support of President Obama. These are her positions: Immigration: Large propinquity with Sanders’s policy. Wants to create a path towards citizenship for illegal residents currently in the United States Taxes: Close corporate loopholes and lower taxes on the middle class if the budget allows it Middle East: Opposed to ground troops against ISIL. Wants to use regional troops. Continue diplomacy efforts with Iran but keep some sanctions. Supports a two state solution in Palestine however has no immediate plans. Social Issues: Gay marriage should be legal all across the USA as should abortion. Wants to see more research on marijuana before legalization NSA: Wants more transparency and to find a balance between privacy and security.
P.8: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
Student Athlete of
SPORTS What’s Next for Lions?
the Month Every month, an outstanding student athlete is chosen to be recognized in this column. December’s student athlete is sophomore Lenna Kanehara, a stellar soccer player. By Adrienne Joe (‘16)
(tjfl.org)
An overview of the rough season for the Lions, as well as what is to come.
Name: Lenna Kanehara Grade: 10 Sport: Soccer Years Played: Since age 4 Team: Lake Orion High School; PSG Gators
By Kenan Sinan(‘16) It’s hard to believe the Lions were in the playoffs less than a year ago. A team that blazed through 11-5 last year finished this year at a mediocre 7-9. A combination of bad players, bad coaches, bad officials, and bad management has led to the Lions eventual coup de grace during the so called #failmary against Green Bay. With absolutely no hope of returning to the playoffs, or even of having a 0.500 record, and the off season coming up in just three weeks, the question of what the Lions should do is on every Detroiter’s mind. Martha Ford, the owner of the franchise has already introduced sweeping changes to the Lions organization starting with the sacking (no pun intended) of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and then two weeks later the firing of president Tim Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew. The only position to be filled officially is the offensive coordinator position which has been taken over by Jim Bob Cooter. It seemed that all was well after Cooter’s promotion. The Lions offense looked much more streamlined and they won three games in a row, including an absolute humiliation of Philadelphia on Thanksgiving. Cooter turnaround didn’t last, and Detroit’s offensive play calling against St. Louis was abysmal. The lions elected to use Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, the Lions’ best receiver and possibly best overall player, as a downfield blocker only throwing the ball to him 5 times. Stafford instead targeted Theo Riddick, who is a mediocre receiving running back, but definitely not a five-time Pro Bowler. This final show of complete ineptitude by the Lions’ administration has brought to light a few things that must be done in the off season. Firstly, the Lions need to clean house. The process has already started with the firing of the GM and president but head coach Jim Caldwell should be concerned about his job as well. It has become clear over the past few weeks that neither the players nor the fans respect Caldwell, and this makes for a bad situation. Caldwell needs to go if the Lions want to improve. Secondly, the prime candidate to replace Caldwell would be current defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Austin has been one of the only successful Lions coaches, carrying the Lions defense to second in the league last season. Even after the management lost its number one defensive player Ndomakung Suh (now the highest paid player in the NFL and the highest paid defensive player ever) and several other key defensive players like Stephen Tulloch, Austin has still managed to keep the defense tight and prevent above average scoring levels. >>continued, PG.10
What’s something you enjoy about playing a sport for your home high school? Because I go to IA, I can meet my home high school friends and play with them, and I also get the chance to play with people from other grades. Is there another athlete out there (professional or nonprofessional) who inspires you, or that you look up to? There’s a Japanese soccer player named Sawa, she’s a midfielder and she just retired. I look up to her because she’s always supporting her team. Describe a memorable event or moment in your athletic career. The first time I played forward, when I was really little, and I scored a goal! From that point on, I knew I would be a forward-- and I still am. What mentality do you carry when you go to compete in a soccer game? I always go in with a mindset to improve and to not be arrogant. I also look for ways I can contribute as much as I can to the team.
P.9: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
NFL Officiating Reaches an All-Time Low. What Can the League Do? Horrible calls and clear errors by the referees have plagued this NFL season. By Wehbe Alzohaili (‘16)
Officiating reaches an all-time low (img.com) Despite the high profile injuries, heart racing game endings, and breakout stars, the biggest story of the NFL season this year has been the officiating. The Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan was most recent to comment on the horrible calls that have highlighted almost every game of this season so far. Ryan called the officiating “a disgrace to the NFL” adding to the long list have people who aren’t happy with the referees this season. The NFL has had its fair share of scandalous calls in the past few years. The Detroit Lions and Calvin Johnson are no strangers to botched calls that change the outcome of a game. Never before has the entire league been so plagued with horrible calls and clear errors. The bogus facemask call that led to the last second Hail Mary for the Packers win in Detroit was just one of many examples. The NFL has tried to address officiating problems before. Starting with the 2014 season, the League established a central officiating office in New York to streamline the review process and assist the officials with any difficult calls. This policy has backfired spectacularly this season though, most notably in the Cardinals-49ers game early in the season in which the officials spent almost four minutes with the center in New York just trying to find out what down it was. Using the central office as a crutch, the NFL has hired a number of inexperienced referees that cannot call games properly. There are 10 first year referees calling NFL games this year compared to just one in 2013. The lack of referees with game time experience has led to the increase in high profile calls being made incorrectly. Additionally, even experienced referees have come to rely too much on the New York office, sometimes calling uncertain calls with the assumption that New York will interfere if it has to. The issue is that the New York headquarters has the tendency to keep whatever call was made on the field. On top of all of this, no one, not the coaches, players, fans or even the head of officiating can call for the review of a penalty. Whatever the on field referees decide upon is the call that is kept with no exceptions. They don’t
even have the option to look at the play again on camera. This severely diminishes the referee's’ ability to make accurate calls and the league's ability to hold referees accountable for bad calls. Despite all of the bad calls this season, Dean Blandino, the NFL Vice President of Officiating and Roger Goodell, the league commissioner, continue to defend the referees and the rules. Goodell says that the number of plays that have gone wrong is more or less the same since last season. The only reason why it seems the officials are doing worse is because of social media and the ability to relook every play in slow motion HD after the fact. The issue with this argument is that the NFL is a multibillion dollar enterprise. If the fans can afford to look at the video twice, the NFL can certainly afford to allow the referees the option, if not the obligation to review every single play that happens on the field. The inexperienced referees that are currently calling on the field can be moved into review booths for training, leaving the more experienced referees to make the initial calls. The NFL’s officiating problem doesn’t only extend to human error. The NFL catch rules seem to change every game and every referee has a different idea of what a catch is. The number of things that a receiver must exhibit to have a catch ruled is absolutely outrageous. The receiver must have two feet in bounds and have the ball in his hands before it touches the ground. That is the simple part. The receiver must show control of the ball throughout the process of the catch which includes after the receiver hits the ground or goes out of bounds. The receiver must show that he intends to become a runner if he doesn’t catch the ball within the end zone. If these rules make no sense to you, you aren’t alone. Most referees can’t even make sense of the rules leading to what seem like clear catches by Amari Cooper or Dez Bryant being ruled as incomplete passes. If I throw a box of cereal to my sister in the grocery store, I don’t ask her whether she intended to run or if she maintained control of the box, I just say nice catch. The NFL clearly has some work to do on the technological, human, and legislative fronts if it wants to solve the issues that plague the league right now. It might be too late right now for the season. The NFL definitely needs to fix these outstanding issues by next season or risk even harsher criticism for not embracing the times.
P.10: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
The Thrill of C-Day (CONT. P.1) -ers. Imran Quazi said, “Soccer was crazy! I didn't expect it to get that intense out there. I was balling harder than Kobe in that game against the Raptors!” The “C-Day experience” brought out the unexpected for students. They had a chance to try new things and experience a different perspective without the stress of schoolwork burdening their mind. The day brought a sense of
school unity. Thanks to all of the hard work from Ms. Clancy for making this wonderful day happen. Thanks to all of the parents who took time out of their day to volunteer for the morning breakfast. Thanks to all of the teachers who taught the IA students so many new things. C-Day is now officially a new part of the International Academy’s legacy and we hope it stays forever.
Ways to Illuminate Your Life During Winter Break (CONT. P.3) Westland has 5 miles of colorful lights to enjoy – the Wayne County Lightfest is the longest drive-through holiday light display in the Midwest. Another great holiday lighting display can be found at the Detroit Zoo, which presents “Wild Lights,” consisting of more than 5 million LED lights on trees, buildings and animal sculptures. There is also entertainment and activities sell out, are $9 in advance and $11 at the gate. The Toledo Zoo also has an impressive and well-loved holiday light show called “Lights Before Christmas.” A great chance to view beautiful lights and decorations in an historical context is at the Holiday Walk At Meadow Brook Hall located in Rochester. The entire 110-room Tudor revival-style mansion is decorated for Christmas. The
cost to enter and explore the mansion is $20. One of the most popular and well known combinations of holiday lighting, decorations and festivities can be found at Greenfield Village. Holiday Nights takes you back in time to the 19 century and features Santa with live reindeer, horse-drawn wagons and Model T rides as well as ice skating and costumed presenters. Each night ends in an amazing fireworks display. If you can’t drive to see light shows, it is always fun to walk around your neighborhood or local park or downtown to enjoy the displays of your neighbors and local merchants. Hope your winter break is illuminated with joy! th
What’s Next for the Lions? (CONT. P.8) Thirdly, Jim Bob Cooter seemed to be doing something right in his first few weeks weeks as offensive coordinator, running the ball effectively and making use of Matthew Stafford’s strong arm and Johnson’s talent as a receiver. For some reason however, he changed all of his strategies. Cooter needs to be afforded the room to make his own decisions as coordinator and needs the chance to prove himself as a legitimate coach through the rest of the season. Fourth, just one year after losing their greatest defensive player, the Lions may be in risk of losing Calvin Johnson. The All Pro wide receiver is the highest paid in the NFL, and his salary next year will inflict a 24 million dollar hit towards the team pay cap. Johnson is no longer even in the top ten in the NFL in receiving yards or touchdowns. Younger receivers like Odell Beckham Junior and Antonio Brown are bringing new talent and skills to the playing field. Johnson seems washed up, and is underused by the Lions play callers. There are certainly teams in the NFL that would trade for Calvin Johnson and if the Lions can get a good deal, they should part ways. Johnson’s ability to make plays is clearly going down while his salary only increases; the logical conclusion for the Lions is to let him go. Fifth, after the catastrophic four loss start of the season many called for Stafford to be let go. The issue with losing a quarterback is that there usually isn’t talent enough to replace him. This is especially true in this year’s NFL draft, where only two quarterbacks are even contenders to be first round picks. Furthermore, unless his name is Tom Brady, a quarterback takes at least a few years to get accustomed to an organization and his team. Thrusting a rookie quarterback into a changing organization like the
Lions is a recipe for disaster. Matthew Stafford, for his case, hasn’t done all too bad, throwing pretty well ever since Jim Bob Cooter took over. He is the fastest quarterback to get over 25,000 passing yards- faster than names such as Rodgers, Brady, Manning, and Favre. Sixth, the Lions have the 16th draft pick. In the past drafts, the Lions have clearly tried to improve their run game, but that hasn’t worked out too well. Rookie running back Ameer Abdullah has lots of talent, but hasn’t gotten the ball much due to several critical fumbles early in the season. The Lions’ inability to run the football isn’t only due to the backs; the offensive line is one of the worst in the league. The offensive line also plays a critical role in how well Stafford can throw the ball; his rating under pressure is a quarter of what it is when the line manages to protect him. There are several options in the draft for offensive tackles that seem to be promising. The Lions need to get a general manager knowledgeable about football and focus on improving their offensive line before next season. The Lions are a team with tons of talent. With the right management and coaching, they can be a great team, but the organization has simply let down its players and its extremely royal fans for too long. Hopefully with the correct changes, the Lions can turn their organization around and become the top ten team it is meant to be.
P.11: THE OVERACHIEVER / December 2015
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Phoenix Poll In honor of midterms, a poll was sent to all of IA Central asking, “Which subject do you study for the most?” More than 200 students responded with the results shown below. Despite being posted at the late hour of 10pm on Sunday, the majority of the poll’s votes were from that night, showing that way too many people procrastinated their studying for Monday’s midterm. This poll took technology to new heights in allowing one to type in their own answer when choosing ‘other’. However, one voter failed to realize there was already an option for foreign language, checking other and typing in ‘Spanish’. I sure hope they don’t make the same mistake on one of their midterms. There are always those kids that say they never study. Whether that statement is actually true to them is something we’ll never know. 7% of the voters stated how they never study. Whether that’s true or not is another story.