P.1: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
the overachiever international academy central student newspaper
OCTOBER 2015 Vol. 11 Issue 1 $0.00
THE NEW AGE TRUIMPHS OVER ALL
OLYMPICS 2015
By Kevin Raju (‘16) On Friday September 25th 2015, IA’s annual Olympics happened once more. Students competed in multiple events for points and showed pride in doing so. Both action and excitement were presented everywhere throughout the day from the ISC where students played 3-on-3 Basketball to the backfields where students competed in games like 5-on-5 Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee. The freshmen of
2019 participated in their first ever Olympics. The seniors of 2016 participated in their final Olympics. The seniors gave this year’s Olympics their all and finished in 1st place with an astounding 274 points. The theme for this year was “Ages.” The freshmen built their Industrial Age. Sophomores competed as the Medieval Age. The juniors, wanting “revenge”, turned into the Jurassic Age. And of course the Seniors were
the best, soaring into the Future. Along with class shirts, many students used face paint and immersed themselves in skin paint to show their class themes and pride. The glorious day started at 7:45 AM, with the seniors cheering teachers and booing students from other grades entering the parking lot. With seniors waving flags, standing by the rock, and cheering, the school day began. Students entered the continued, PG.4 >>
MORE INSIDE Our suggestions for the best pre Charity Ball restaurants [P.3.]
Photo Credits (left to right): clip art, clip art, NBA.com
Inside the mind of IA’s famous dancer Zackary Jordan [P.7.]
Our NBA season predictions [P.9.]
P.2: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
WORLD NEWS The Refugee Crisis in Syria With the conflict more than 4 years old, a refugee crisis was inevitable By Kathleen Kim (‘18)
Staff of refuge. These harsh border closings and extensive waiting times force the mass majority of these refugees to relocate into the few countries that have been welcoming them with open
In 2011, nationwide protests broke out in Syria over the police mass shootings of a group of teens who painted revolutionary propaganda on a school wall. This civil unrest led to the Syrian Civil War that has killed over 250,000 people and caused the mass exodus of over four million people attempting to escape the civil war, the tyrannical Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and Syria’s economic crisis. However, as many try to escape these poor economOverpopulation in one of the many refugee ic, political, and social conditions, camps (Arab Voices) they are met with closed borders, little monetary and physical support, and often violence. arms. Germany and SweCountries such as Britain, Poland and Slovakia have open- den, two of the most welly refused to take in significant number of refugees, and coming countries, are many countries who are accepting migrants enforce long currently holding the waiting periods for registration. large majority of refuMigrants who have survived the trip across the Mediterragees. These two counnean Sea to the borders of Turkey face registration wait tries are currently providtimes of anywhere from a week to multiple years. One refu- ing housing and care for gee who approached the borders of Turkey has been given over eighty percent of the the registration date of February 19, 2020. These incredibly migrants in Europe. long wait times are especially harmful to those who came However, this from regions of economic insecurity, for during these waitcontinued, PG.12 ing periods, people are unable to legally work in the country >>
Feeding the Poor
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 Sarah Bdeir Sabrina Butcher Becca Cox Zoe Hunter Adrienne Joe Zachary Jordan Kathleen Kim Sophia Kim Payge Lindow Sophia Marsh Saanya Pherwani Kevin Raju Sahil Sethi
World hunger is still very much a global issue, despite not receiving much coverage By Sarah Bdeir (‘17) Food. A basic necessity that everyone wants and requires. However despite being a necessity, some people just waste food when there are other mouths to be fed. Washington Post had stated that "Every year, consumers in rich countries waste almost as much food (222 million tons), as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa (230 million tons)". There are about a billion people suffering from starvation. not because food is lacking, but because not all of those calories go to people. In perspective
the New York Times gave a statistic that, “A third of the food that is made goes to feed animals, nearly 5 percent are used to produce biofuels, and as much as a third is wasted, all along the food chain,” . There is so much food now that the world produces 17% more food per person today than 30 years ago, but billions of people still go to sleep hungry every night. There are many reasons as to why one third of the food produced is being wasted. In western continued, PG.8
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P.3: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
FEATURES College Essay Tips As the November 1st deadline approaches, seniors scramble to complete their applications. While grades and standardized test scores often cloud the minds of students, the other parts of the application, especially the essays, can make the difference between an acceptance and a denial. By: Sydney Rosen (‘16)
Be Specific Although our first drafts are often the product of our train-of -thought, it is important to give the essay focus by figuring out which specific personal qualities you want to focus on. Pick characteristics about yourself that you want to highlight and write about a story that reflects those characteristics. Instead of focusing on the number of extracurricular activities you participated in or number of awards you won, share personal stories and thoughts that are not covered in other parts of your application.
Be Yourself
(The College Helper) As the end of October looms, a cold breeze whistles past rosy cheeks as children run outside in their Halloween costumes to go trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, for seniors, the costumes are not the scariest part of the month. As the November 1st deadline approaches, seniors across the nation scramble to finish their college applications. While grades and standardized test scores often cloud the minds of students, the other parts of the application, especially the essays, can make the difference between an acceptance and a denial. As we learn the value of our underlying message about our “true identity” and anecdotal introductions about “who we are,” we become stressed about what to write. The final essay is often the product of carefully worded thoughts that have gone through a filter of what college admissions officers want to hear. However, while writing your college essay here are some tips to keep in mind:
While writing your essay, ask yourself, “how can I distinguish myself from the other students applying?” This is a student’s opportunity to get their voice heard by an admissions officer. One of the biggest mistakes student’s make is trying too hard to impress readers. Rather than choosing a topic you think will impress others, write about something you are truly passionate about. Senior Selin Levi (’16) says, “Let your personality shine through in your writing; stay true to yourself and let colleges feel the glow of your radiant ideas”. It is also important not to embellish facts or stories; colleges want to learn about the real you.
Get Feedback Ask friends, teachers, counselors, and even your parents to check your college essay. It is best to ask someone who has not seen it to take a look because they are likely to see mistakes you will not catch. Students may ramble in their essays and get off topic from the question. Ask the person who is reading your essay what they thought you were trying to portray to ensure you are sending the right message. Don’t Procrastinate Whether you are a senior putting the final touches on your early action applications or a junior who wants to get ahead of the game, a good rule of thumb is always to start early. The more time you have, the less stress you will have and the more effort you will put in. Writing a college essay is always going to be difficult, but these tips will help relieve some of the stress. Good luck!
Don’t Stress in your Evening dress With Charity Ball approaching, it can be nerve wrecking to prepare, from picking out the most fantastic dress to booking a fine dining restaurant. We give some of our top choices. By: Sophia Marsh (‘17) The dinner before a dance is the social gathering that gets everyone, no matter the size of the group, even more enthusiastic for the night ahead. With this delightful tradition of mingling with your friends, enjoying a gourmet meal, and soaking in the ambiance of the fine dining environment, reservations are a must. International Academy’s
annual dance, Charity Ball, is just a few weeks away and students are already preparing for the big night. Finding the perfect dress or suit is, of course, an essential to attending the fantastic event. The hairstyle must be planned to perfection and the shoes must match the dress. The transportation, the after party, the date, the com-
pany; it all gradually comes together the closer the dream-like date approaches. In the midst of all this planning, however, making a reservation for a restaurant may turn in to a last minute crisis, especially if your group is rather large. Fortunately, though, making a late reservation with a big group will be no crisis as the following five continued, PG.11
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P.4: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
Olympics (CONT. P.1)
ABOVE RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: Senior car race team; seniors with metallic face paint; senior team wins Frisbee (Photographs: Rohan Joshi)
school and saw the hallways of other classes. Of course, the senior hallway was jammed during passing time with music blasting and seniors rocking the hexagon. There were 13 games for students to compete in for the morning events. In all of the morning events, there was action, excitement, and above all, sportsmanship. Regardless of who won each event, all of the teams that played these events congratulated and cheered on the other teams. The seniors dominated many of the events. One such event of “senior power” was Ultimate Frisbee. The seniors managed to take on all three classes, and they never allowed the other classes a single point. The afternoon events commenced with the Watermelon Eating Contest. Students gathered around the watermelon-eating contestants and cheered them on as they ate. As the classes unified together after events, chants could be heard everywhere, and the class spirit was high.
Every year, all the cheering and spirit comes down to the grand finale: the Oakland County 500 Car Race. Teams gathered outside with their themed cars. When the race began, racers dashed off in the hopes of closing Olympics with a win. Senior lead racers Armi Ahmad and Humza Ali led their class in a race to claim the last event. In the 6th and final lap, the dynamic duo led the 2016 team of 12 to victory. It started with the regular 7:45AM bell, and it ended with cheers for all classes as the Olympics came to an end. Taim, from the Class of 2016 says, “I felt proud because I had worked hard and I had seen how hard the rest of our class worked. In my four years of Olympics, I’ve enjoyed every single year. From the games to the chants, it has been an amazing experience.” Olympics is an amazing event, but it is only as amazing as the classes make it to be.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Junior team in watermelon eating contest; teachers intimidating with their new shirts (Photographs: Rohan Joshi)
P.5: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
ENTERTAINMENT The New Truth about the Man behind Apple: Steve Jobs A recasting of Steve Jobs in his new life movie offers some redemption from Jobs 2030 By Becca Cox (‘16)
(Cult of Mac) When the Apple cofounder, Steve Jobs, died in 2011, his prolific legacy was immediately drafted for the big screen. Kutcher volunteered to try and fill Jobs’ silhouette through the project, which was appropriately named Jobs, despite the expectations for perfection (After all, Jobs was one of the most well-known innovators of the century). Based on looks alone, Kutcher theoretically had Jobs in the bag. Many considered him a spitting image of Steve Jobs, and some even went as far as to attribute his casting for role to their physical similarities. However, once the film was released, that was where the positives from Kutcher’s performance ended. Many critics condemned Kutcher’s portrayal of the Apple cofounder, it appeared that no one would be able to live up to the enigma of Steve Jobs. Kutcher had failed, but he would not be the last to try. The next attempt came when Fassbender put on the famous black turtleneck and wire-rimmed glasses in the newest production, Steve Jobs. Fassbender’s shot would end up far superior to Kutcher’s. Critics received Fassbender’s innovative interpretation with open arms whereas they claimed Kutcher had failed. Those who were close to Jobs in his life even repeated
this sentiment. Fassbender saw the pitfalls of Kutcher’s interpretation, and filled them completely. Kutcher and Fassbender’s films are so different stylistically that it is almost strange that they origi-
nate from the same source. Fassbender captures the essence of Jobs in an organic environment and revives him on the silver screen. But beyond the acting in the respective films, there is one obstacle that truly separates the films into different stratospheres. The novice screenwriter for Jobs, Matt Whitely, never wrote script of this magnitude. Despite his early crack at the research processhe began shortly before Jobs’ death-his research proved subpar when put to the test of the box office. On the contrary, the script for Steve Jobs was written by none other than Aaron Sorkin, who previously ascended into Oscar glory in 2010 with a biopic on the rise and fall of technological supergiant and cofounder: Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. Steve Jobs is just one of the many successful ventures under Sorkin’s belt, and it (above all in some opinions) sends Steve Jobs into a league of its own both critically and commercially.
IA in Vogue With windy days and bright colored leaves approaching us, October is bound to cause fashion changes! By Payge Lindow (‘17) Fall is definitely here, as people put away their flip-flops and take out their boots. IA got to see a little bit of summer fashion before the cold temperatures rolled around, including floral maxi skirts, Birkenstock sandals, and crop tops. However, with lows reaching 30 degrees, it is time to bundle up. Ponchos are a big thing JOHN MOLL ‘17 this season, with John makes us nostalgic for summer with his floral shirt and khaki shorts. He paired the floral with white and navy palm tree patterned shoes
tribal and paisley designs. Big wraps are a good alternative, which can be worn belted, SELIN LEVI ‘16 draped, or tied. Thigh-high socks can also help Selin sports a you utilize your new trend with her fringe wrap, summer shorts and skirts, but paired with keep you warm black booties. She transferred when worn underneath boots. the summer fringe trend into Fringe scarves Now, one week into its four thefall with the ac- also bring some atre limited release, Steve Jobs is set to summer trend cents on the do more than its predecessor could evinto this season, bottom. er dream. Don’t be discouraged by the while keeping you cozy for the whole day. continued, PG.6
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P.6: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 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)
What makes IA unique? “My favorite aspect of IA so far is all the clubs, and stuff. I’m meeting a lot of new people. I’m in the JSA, The Order of Phoenix, um… I want to be in Key Club, and I’m trying out for Science Olympiad!” - Julie Sheldon (’19)
“With a lot of the original members of IADC leaving, it was a worry that we [wouldn’t] keep it up; but right now, things are running smoothly and it’d be great to see it continue on as long as we can make it… Even if you might think that dancing isn’t for you, we can teach you and we’d love to have even more people join!” - Miri Hoshino, Secretary (’16)
2015 Emmy Awards This year’s television awards left us with some meaningful wins and surprising losses. By Sabrina Butcher (‘17) This year’s Emmy Awards (where awards are given to television shows, actors, actresses, writers, creators, etc.) were hosted by Andy Samberg on September 20th at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. He began the show with a pre-recorded skit featuring himself sitting around a table with some friends, talking about the latest TV crazes. When he realizes he is far behind everyone else in television watching. He goes on to lock himself in a cave and watch every show ever created. Then, he comes out of the cave, looking and smelling disgusting, running all over town singing about the shows he has just finished. Now, he is ready to host the Emmys. As for television shows, big winners include Game of Thrones with 12 wins this year, putting them at 26 Emmy Awards total. Olive Kitteridge, a limited series, Adam Samberg did a walked away with 8 wins out of its 13 nominations, great job hosting (AP with its creators and writer winning awards as Images) well. Veep left with 5 awards in categories including “Outstanding Writing for A Comedy” and “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series”. The Voice left with 3 new Emmys.
As for actors and actresses, notable wins include Viola Davis with her first ever nomination and win for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series” for her role in How to Get Away With Murder. This win was especially notable considering Viola Davis is the first ever black woman to win an Emmy in this category. She went on to give a very memorable speech about what it means to be a black women in television today, and thanked all the people who have impacted her life and helped her get to where she is. John Hamm of Mad Men won his first and last Emmy for the role of Don Draper; although he has been nominated 16 times for various awards for this role over the years. Another First time winner includes Jeffery Tambor for his groundbreaking role in Transparent, where he plays a transgender named Maura Pfefferman. Uzo Aduba also won two Emmys (her first two Emmys from her first two nominations) for her role in Orange is the New Black. There were also some surprising loses, including Amy Poehler. Many having 16 nominations for her role as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation, but never winning an Emmy. This was especially surprising considering 2015 was the last time she could have won an Emmy for that role. Although Modern Family won an Emmy for “Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half Hour) and Animation”, they did not win (but were nominated for) “Outstanding Comedy Series” as they have since 2010. The new show Empire, who almost everyone thought would come out with many awards did not even receive a nomination. The shows lead actress, Taraji P. Henson, received her first two nominations for her role as Cookie Lyon, she did not walk away with any awards either.
Steve Jobs (CONT. P.5) the scars Whitely and Kutcher inflicted on this story-Sorkin and Fassbender create a Jobs so provocatively honest that Jobs is left in the dust. The combination of Sorkin’s genius script and Fassbender’s gifted performance make a recipe for biopic immorality and potential Oscar contention for each of them. With the nationwide release just around the corner, the only thing left to do is confirm what they already know: they brought Steve back in Steve Jobs.
P.7: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
OPINION
A Grade Above
Oakland County famous dancer Zachary Jordan gives an insider’s perspective into the world of dance.
It’s that time of year again, with standardized testing dominating the thoughts of many juniors. Don’t fret, as our seniors leave some words of wisdom!
By Zachary Jordan (‘16)
By Zoe Hunter (‘16)
To Dance or Not to Dance
Unfortunately standardized tests exist, and in order to get into the college of our choice, we have to take either The first thing you need to un- one or both of these tests. Just thinkderstand about sport is that athleticism ing about the ACT or the SAT can be is far more important than competition. stressful, especially for Juniors and If this was not the case, then we would Seniors. Freshmen and sophomores have professional Connect Four and shouldn’t be too concerned about the Monopoly leagues. Why do you think SAT and ACT. The first two years of schools have “athletics departments” your high school career should be but no “competition departments”? focused on getting adjusted to the Competition is for businessmen, not rigorous IA curriculum, finding your sportsmen. What do we call a person passions, exploring new hobbies, and that plays sports? An athlete. What do making new friends. Believe me, we call a person that scratches away at you’ll have time to study later, and lottery tickets, blindly hoping to stumble right now isn’t the time to stress! For Zack performing at the Palace across a few bucks here and there? A those of you getting ready to take the during halftime competitor. When you think of dance, SAT (most likely this test) or the ACT, you don’t think of two people facing off here’s some advice from members of Let’s just cut to the chase. I’m a against each other. This is because the senior class: professional dancer, so I guess you dance is not for the cavalier pretty boys could say I know a thing or two about at the U.S. Open. Dance is for the fin“The ACT is all about patterns. Do “moving my feet” and “bustin’ some est athletes in the universe. We can do practice problems because the types moves”. I’m not gonna waste your time things with our bodies that you would of problems in books are going to be with false humility. I’m one of the best never dream of. Once we are done per- similar on the actual test.” - Sydney at what I do, at least in the state of forming a routine, our muscles ache Rosen ’16 Michigan. As I have progressed along and throb. However, we are not circus my path to excellence, the question freaks. The beauty does not end with “Don’t eat anything that you wouldn’t people have come to ask me is no jaw-dropping body movements. We do normally eat the morning of the ACT. longer “do you dance?” but “how do all of this while keeping up with a com- Try to think of the day as any other you dance so well?”, a gratifying albeit plex rhythm, making sure everything is normal day, otherwise you won’t foappropriate metamorphosis. The anaesthetically and musically coordinated. cus and most likely not do as best as swer? I just go out there and be me. In my eyes, dance is the only thing in you would have liked to.” - Selin Levi Remember the fella who the center of the Venn diagram be’16 danced on the tables at IA Olympics? tween sport and art. You don’t see peoThat was me. What about the guy lead- ple playing basketball at MoMA. I have “Don’t really worry about the content ing the group of youngsters who come never seen LeBron James kick a field because the test isn’t content based, out and dance during halftimes and goal in the backdrop of a Rihanna vid- it’s mostly skill based. Also, most imtimeouts at Detroit Pistons games? eo. Dancers can do amazing things. portantly, don’t compare you scores Yep, that’s me too. So yeah, I’m the Think you could do them? I would love to others. It’s about YOUR personal real deal. To me, dance is like an onto watch you try (and fail). best, not others.” - Daijha Morrow ’16 ion; the tears only fall once you dig into I have three words for those the layers. This means that my dancing who don’t think dance is competitive: it “The number one advice I can give has come to symbolize a vehicle toIS competitive. Do you know how many underclassmen is to not wait till the wards introspection, and as I drive this last minute and try to finish whatever people I have had to leap over to get vehicle down the embezzled highway, I test you're taking in the beginning of where I am today? I can’t even count. am bombarded with petty ambiguities. With each move, each intricate thrust of your junior year. That way when you Can anyone dance? Is dance a sport? the hips or shimmy of the abdominals, have to take the national required What’s the point of dance? The antest, you’re not worrying too much we are not only trying to be the best swers to those questions are “no”, about doing well since you have a that we can be, but “yes”, and “don’t get me started”. continued, PG.8 backup.” - Sabrina Kizy ’16 the best that anyone Dance is as much of a sport as anything else, and I’ll tell you why.
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P.8: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
To Dance or Not to Dance (CONT. P.7) could ever dream of being. And let me tell you buddy, that is no walk in the park. It is time to face facts and realize that dance is not a game but a sport, not entertainment but art. To put it bluntly, it is a multimedia craft that is unparal-
leled by anything else. So next time you see me up on the court at The Palace, just remember, what you are witnessing is nothing short of a godforsaken extravaganza.
Gun: A First Amendment Right? With a spike in mass shootings, the American public has been forced to fiercely debate whether gun culture has a place in today’s society By Saanya Pherwani (‘18) April 16, 2007. December 14, 2012. Do these dates strike a chord? They just happen to be the date of some of the most monumental massacres in recent American history. The Sandy Hook Elementary School killed 20 innocent children and 6 staff members, and the Virginia Tech massacre killed 32 people. These statistics definitely unveil America’s loose (or I should say nonexistent) gun policy. With nearly 400,000 gun crimes committed every year, the United States has the highest rate of firearm deaths (more than 30,000 each year) among the twenty-five high-income nations. This unenviable distinction has resulted in various guncontrol laws at the federal and state levels that seek to reduce crime and violence by restricting private gun ownership. I am a supporter of gun control and would like even tighter restrictions on the sale and circulation of firearms. From my survey and everyday discussions, I found out that almost every “common” American mindset tries to protect what they view as their right to own and bear firearms for self-defense and recreational activities. These “normal” American mindsets aim to prevent new legislation, and if possible, roll back the laws already on the books. But, why does a normal American household need to keep guns? Why do 1 in 4 households in one of the richest and safest counties in Michigan (Bloomfield Hills) have to be armed?
90 guns for every 100 people”. Instead, guns are used to kill more than 30,000 Americans each year and injure approximately 70,000. This is precisely the opposite of the desired effect. Guns are also used to commit nearly 400,000 crimes each year. The rate of firearm violence in America far exceeds that of other industrialized nations, where gun ownership is strictly regulated. A common straw-man argument goes something like this: what if a bandit enters my house with a fully loaded gun? Well, studies show that a gun in the house increases the risk of firearm-related death or injury to a household member. According to those studies, a gun kept in the home is more likely to be involved in an accidental shooting, criminal assault, or suicide attempt than to be used to injure or kill an intruder in an act of self-defense. So why don’t we just let certain responsible citizens own guns? The fact is that criminals don't buy retail. They steal guns, they buy stolen guns, and they buy perfectly legal guns from "responsible" gun owners at gun shows. They know the weaknesses in the system and they know how to exploit them. And we as a nation pay dearly for that in loss of life, in costs for emergency rooms, and in law enforcement costs associated with the thousands of deaths and injuries due to gun crimes.
Answers range from citing self-defense to “everyone owns A perfectly decisive answer to this crisis is STRICTER gun guns, why shouldn’t I?”. If guns really kept us safe, “the regulations. Background checks in the US simply don’t United States would be the safest nation in the world, since work. Guns cause crime and the nation pays. we own an estimated 270 million firearms—approximately
Feeding the Poor (CONT. P.2)
Food is cheap, so people buy too much due to the seductive pricings. People also take the "use by" dates literally, even though the stamps were designed to show the peak of freshness and do not correlate with the food’s safety. People also take the "use by" dates literally, even though the stamps were designed to show the peak of freshness and do not correlate with the food’s safety. They forget to eat their leftovers, and throw edible food into the trash bin without giving it an afterthought. Some governments are implementing policies and legislation to ban the waste of large excess of food. France’s parliament has already unanimously voted for a new law that makes it illegal for supermarkets to throw away any food that is even considered edible. The supermarkets will be forced to either donate the food to charity or
to make sure that it is used as animal food beginning as of July 2016. For the larger supermarkets in France, they will face fines up to $82,000 for failing to comply. The United States, on the other hand, is a bit behind. The Washington Post stated that the US “Is one of the worst offenders: estimated that as much as 40 percent of America's food supply ends up in a dumpster”. However, there have been efforts to change this percentage. The Natural Resources Defense Council is urging the U.S. government to standardize the confusing jumble of "sell by," "best by," and "use by" label dates. The fight against starvation is harsh and long, but with the help of legislation, charity organizations, and individuals we can achieve our final destination: a world without hunger. The next time you can make a difference by thinking twice before throwing away any leftover food.
P.9: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
SPORTS
Student Athlete of the Month
Lions: Worst team in NFL?
Every month, an outstanding student athlete is chosen to be recognized in this column. October’s student athlete is senior Cole Arens, a stellar soccer player. By Adrienne Joe (‘16) NAME: Cole Arens
GRADE: 12th SPORT: Soccer
A Lions fan shamefully covers his face with a bag (WordPress)
TEAM: Bloomfield Hills High School Varsity
After a promising season last year, the Detroit Lions have felt apart to start this year By Sahil Sethi (‘16)
I love the Lions, I love the players, the fans, and that Detroit Pride. After that horrific loss in the 2014 playoffs in which the Lions lost a 17 point lead to the Dallas Cowboys. Every Lions fan believed that 2015 will be our year. The year that we make a comeback; the year that we show our dominance in the NFL and show the nation that we are threats. I remember all of the euphoria I shared with my family and friends during the offseason, keeping up with the updates and schedules, and most importantly, making predictions. That is why on opening kick-off, all of us gathered together to ensure that our predictions were right, that the Lions were going to crush the Chargers in a dominant fashion. 21-3 Lions, But then, the 2nd half happened, and the Lions somehow lost 28-33. They blow an 18 point lead to start of the 2015 season! This team showed strong promise in the 2015 season, but has delivered nothing this season. Their game against the Divisional Rivals Minnesota Vikings cemented the losing streak. It was supposed to be an easy win, but instead, the Lions put up one of the worst offensive performances. The play calling was very predictable, there was no rushing game, and the Lions continued to turn the ball over in the red zone! In the last few minutes of the game, Stafford threw an interception. Poor offense and a generous defense has led to the Lions being last in the power rankings, even behind Tampa and Jacksonville! At this point, it will take a miracle to make the playoffs.
NBA Season Preview With the NBA season coming in full swing this month, fans and analysts come together to make their predictions.
By Evan Kolin (‘18) While to many, October may be the month that shows Halloween is near, sports fans view the month of October as one more thing; a sign that one more NBA season is upon us. And with the abundance of aging legends combined with rising stars, there is no greater time to be a fan of the NBA than right now. But questions still remain: Which team will be crowned the next champs? Who will be the new MVP? These are the questions that continued, PG.10 >>
Describe your journey through sports so far. Soccer is my main sport- my freshman and sophomore year I played JV, and in junior year until senior year until my injury I got to play varsity soccer. What is the most difficult obstacle you’ve faced while playing soccer? Definitely my injury right now; it’s like dangling a piece of meat in front of a dog. You make varsity but then you tear your ACL, and you have to go to every game and watch your team play. It’s rough. Is there another athlete out there who you look up to? Yeah, his nickname is Kaka-- he used to play soccer for Brazil. I look up to him because of what he’s gone through how he’s come out, and the way he stands up for his religion even through harsh criticism. What role will soccer play in your future? It will continue to keep me balanced. It’ll probably be a way to blow off steam to get rid of stress during harsh times at college, when I need to get my mind off of something, soccer’s always there to help me do that. I was hoping to play in college, so we’ll see how that goes.
P.10: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
NBA Season Preview (CONT. P.9) boggle every fan’s mind in the preseason, and these are the questions that shall be answered right now. Western Conference 1. Golden State Warriors 2. Los Angeles Clippers 3. San Antonio Spurs 4. Oklahoma City Thunder 5. Houston Rockets 6. Memphis Grizzlies 7. New Orleans Pelicans 8. Dallas Mavericks 9. Phoenix Suns 10. Sacramento Kings 11. Utah Jazz 12. Minnesota Timberwolves 13. Los Angeles Lakers 14. Portland Trail Blazers 15. Denver Nuggets
Eastern Conference 1. Cleveland Cavaliers 2. Toronto Raptors 3. Chicago Bulls 4. Atlanta Hawks 5. Miami Heat 6. Milwaukee Bucks 7. Washington Wizards 8. Boston Celtics 9. Indiana Pacers 10. Detroit Pistons 11. Charlotte Hornets 12. New York Knicks 13. Brooklyn Nets 14. Orlando Magic 15. Philadelphia 76ers
Finals Predictions: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs Following a long NBA season, it is finally June. School is coming to a close and the NBA Finals are underway. Cleveland, led by LeBron James, returns to the Finals for a second consecutive season. The team they are playing against? The San Antonio Spurs; a team LeBron should be very familiar with come playoff time. The last time LeBron met with Greg Popovich and the Spurs, San Antonio easily dismantled an aging Heat team. But LeBron has yet another two stars by his side, 2 stars that are both younger and more than likely even better than their counterparts from South Beach. But the Spurs come with improvements as well, with their new acquisition of one of the best power forwards in the league: LaMarcus Aldridge. The best free agent move of the summer adds even more depth to a team already led by Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili. Despite this, I still believe Cleveland will come out victorious. LeBron won’t let himself lose to San Antonio once again, especially with a new, even better Big 3 by his side. Cleveland-4 San Antonio-2
NBA Finals MVP- LeBron James Notable NBA Awards Individual awards are a key part of every sport’s season, including the NBA. Each and every year, the races for these trophies are as closely followed as the races that decide playoff contention or even the playoffs themselves. These awards can make a player’s career, or they can just be one more collection in the trophy room. Now, the question remains, who will come out with the league’s most coveted hardware this season? MVP- James Harden, Rockets After placing second to Stephen Curry for MVP last season, Harden will come into the 2015-16 season hungry. While I don’t expect Houston to repeat as the 2 nd seed in the West, that will not diminish Harden’s status as MVP as long as he repeats his production from the 2014-15 campaign.
Defensive Player of the Year- Anthony Davis, Pelicans Even before entering the league in 2012, the 6’10” product out of Kentucky was known for his defensive abilities. While Davis will contend Harden for the league’s highest individual award, it will be the Defensive Player of the Year that the young star will be presented with come June of next year. Rookie of the Year- Emmanuel Mudiay, Nuggets After a strong summer, Emmanuel Mudiay comes into his rookie season looking strong. While I wouldn’t expect much from Denver as a team, look for the athletic point guard to become the face of the franchise soon enough.
P.11: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
The Refugee Crisis in Syria (CONT. P.2) Huge influx ue on an almost daily basis. Reports of refugees being of population has greeted at the doors of their new homes by neo-Nazis turned public opinhumming Third Reich songs or being pelted with banana ion in these counskins are not uncommon. There are also mounting contries from welcomcerns that far-right and anti-immigration groups have ing to discontent found new ground in the crisis by tapping into ordinary and violent, specifipeople’s fears that Europe’s largest economy may be uncally in Germany. able to cope with the decision to allow so many to take The current Gerrefuge within its borders. man chancellor, In response to this unrest in Germany, the lower house of Angela Merkel, has parliament approved legislation that aims to curb the rectaken steps to enord influx of migrants, including steps to cut cash benefits sure that Germany Thousands of Germans welcome ref- paid to asylum seekers, speed up the review of asylum remains in conapplications, and expedite the departure of rejected appliugees (NBC News) stant support of cants. Syrian refugees, including maintaining an open door policy The announcement of this act to curb the large number of for an extended period of time. Initially attracting praise refugees streaming into Germany is said to be Germany’s from the Germans, the policy has now come under scrutiny attempt to encourage, if not force, other EU countries play and criticism as German borders are bursting at the their part in the housing of refugees. This key piece of legseams. islation will be spotlighted in the emergency summit to be The overpopulation of Germany has created an held in Brussels, Germany on October 15. All 28 EU interiapocalyptic scene. School authorities are calling for at least or ministers will meet to discuss the ongoing Syrian refugee 25,000 new teaching recruits to cope with the large numcrisis and hopefully come to an EU wide solution to the bers of new students. While, police officers are being problem. brought out of retirement in the thousands to deal with the people of Germany turning against the people they had once welcomed. Arson attacks on refugee shelters contin-
Don’t Stress in your Evening Dress (CONT. P.3) unique restaurants can still accommodate you and perhaps even make your preparty dinner the highlight of the night. The Stand Bistro This upscale restaurant will definitely measure up to the expectations of the magical night, complete with tasteful décor, dim lighting, music, and the seating capacity for groups of up to 20. The Stand (Clipart) Bistro, located in Birmingham, is a convenient ten minute drive to school. Miguel’s Cantina The Mexican-inspired ambiance will provide the perfect setting for your party to get ready for a night of dancing with its cultural music, traditional dishes, classical virgin cocktails, and its gorgeous interior-perfect for pictures! The restaurant can hold 20-30 in their main dining hall, as well as 50+ in its separate party room. Salvatore Scaloppini Italian style restaurants are always popular among charity ball attendees. With a group ranging from 10-50 people, it may be difficult to secure reservations last minute at an
Italian cuisine eatery so Salvatore Scaloppini may be the perfect place for your large party. With artfully crafted meals, you and your fellow party-goers certainly will be impressed. 5th Tavern If a menu of numerous options and decadent dessert choices is a must, this restaurant, seating groups of 10100, will be perfect for your group. 5th Tavern in Bloomfield Hills can definitely add to the fun memories you will make with your friends on the night of Charity Ball. Lino’s With an extensive list of pastas, appetizers, and desserts, everyone will be able to find a meal they will love. This Italian restaurant can seat groups of 20-30 in their main dining area together, and if your Charity Ball group really is larger than that, up to 150 in their lower level dining area! Dress to impress, dance when you have the chance, and cherish this fine dining opportunity with your friends on this wild, extravagant, and exciting night. Most of all, be safe and have fun!
P.12: THE OVERACHIEVER / OCTOBER 2015
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Students all over the country, including IA, took the PSAT this past month. Following the 4-hour test, students took to Twitter to describe their experiences
Q- What was your favorite part of the IA Olympics?
“The exciting parts” -Thomas Raistrick (’19) “Building the hallway with all of my fellow classmates” –Jack Smitterberg (’18)
“Schooling the freshmen in basketball” –Anonymous (’18)