Meet Amtrak’s Employee of the Year: Riley Allendorf ‘18.
4 Focus
Feature
Jason Eckenrode ‘18 shows off his winter fashion.
Fragrant bath bombs make a nice Valentine’s Day D.I.Y. gift.
5-8 Entertainment 6 February 14, 2017 Volume XLII Issue IV
Stayin’ “Urinetown” Musical hits the stage alive Students to learn CPR in 2017-18 school year BY Madelyn Cooper ‘17 Reporter
Michigan is now one of 35 states that require high school students to be taught CPR based on American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. Thanks to the bill passed by congress, more than 2.1 million high school students each year will be trained in CPR in the United States. According to the AHA, more than 350,000 Americans suffer sudden cardiac arrests outside a hospital each year, and only 12 percent survive. For each minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the chances of survival decrease by seven to 10 percent. “That gives emergency medical services very little time to get to victims, which is why bystander CPR is so important,” said Brad Dornbos, a firefighter and EMS coordinator for the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety Fire Services in Michigan. According to the School CPR website, the graduation requirement will begin in the 2017-18 school year. School districts, public school academies and non-public schools must provide instruction in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to pupils. Training must include a psychomotor component. Licensed teachers are not required to be certified as a CPR/AED instructor in order to instruct students. CPR courses that result in certification must be taught by a certified CPR/ AED instructor. The pupil must be physically present for the instruction and to participate in all aspects of the training unless the pupil is physically unable. An instructional program developed by the American Red Cross and The American Heart Association provides evidence-based guidelines for CPR. “Those first extra few minutes are critical until we show up,” said Dornbos, who testified in support of the bill. He said only a handful of Michigan schools are currently teaching CPR training, but the new law will change that. Michigan students will learn and practice hands-on CPR, which includes pumping the chest to circulate blood to vital organs such as the brain and heart. They’ll also become familiar with AEDs, batteryoperated mobile devices that can deliver a shock to a cardiac arrest victim’s heart. “We’re hoping this will help increase survival rates across all Michigan communities and beyond,” said pediatric cardiologist Monica Martin Goble, M.D., an associate professor at the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, found on the American Heart Association page. “As four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home, this has the potential to increase survival rates across our communities.” An emergency is never planned; CPR and other life-saving skills are always beneficial to know especially when it has the potential to help save a life.
Photo by Sieloff Studio
The cast of “Urinetown” poses for a group picture in character.
BY Kara Headley ‘17 Guest Writer
Yes, the musical this year is actually about pee. Or more specifically, what happens when people are forced to pay to pee. This year, L’Anse Creuse North’s Drama Club is taking on a show unlike any they have done before. “Urinetown” is a political satire that takes place in a world where water has been scarce for many years. In order to control water consumption, a tax is placed onto the bathrooms and harsh laws are enacted to prevent people from doing their business elsewhere. The cast consists of 70 students and 15 staff members. These talented individuals execute the singing, dancing, and acting that any musical requires. Autumn Repshas ’18 is playing Officer Lockstock, who is the narrator and the head of the police force. She is in charge of keeping peace on the streets of the city. Repshas’s favorite part of playing Officer Lockstock is, “The sassiness and getting to chase people around with a stick.”
The police aren’t the only ones in charge of enforcing these laws. Penelope Pennywise, played by Tori Kuzmanovski ’18, runs Public Amenity Number Nine. She is in charge of collecting the money from the poor so they can use the amenity. Penny isn’t all that she seems to be on the surface. Kuzmanovski enjoys playing Penny because “she’s similar to me… she’s stern when she needs to be, but she’s also caring.” And what kind of musical would this be without a hero? Bobby Strong, played by Zach Craig ’17, is the assistant custodian at Public Amenity Number Nine who decides, after tragedy strikes, that he simply cannot stand for the oppression of the people through the regulation of bathrooms any longer. This year, the Drama Club is under new direction from John Alwardt, an English teacher. He has directed several plays and musicals in the past, including North’s recent production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” He said, “It is fun getting to meet students I wouldn’t usually get to interact
with, like the freshmen and sophomores.” When asked what challenges he has faced since taking on the direction of “Urinetown,” he said there really hasn’t been any. “Mr. Osadchuk [the choir director] has made it easy.” However, what the audience sees on the stage isn’t all it takes to make a musical. A key aspect to any musical is the music, and to have music, one needs a pit. The pit consists of nearly 30 band students, including Ryan Flaugher ’17, who plays the alto saxophone. To him, the best part about the musical is, “the downtime with friends and the music.” So why should you come to see “Urinetown?” In the words of Craig, “[“Urinetown”] features people from the school who worked really hard on it. It’s going to be a great show. Not a lot of kids have experience with the theater, so it’ll be a new experience.” “Urinetown” will be performed February 23 through 25 at JAPAC at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
Who will be named the next Mr. Crusader? BY Ryley splitt ‘17 Reporter
L’Anse Creuse High School – North is holding another Mr. Crusader this year, a male student pageant that raises money for charities. Senior and junior boys go to classrooms during the day to raise money so that they qualify for this event. The Student Council is in charge of running this pageant and making the decisions about who gets to be the runners up. When asked how many participants are allowed in Mr. Crusader, Lauren Raich ‘17, a member of Student Council, said, “We will be taking the top 10 guys, junior or senior, who raise the most money for their charity.” The students who plan on participating have been trying to sell items to raise the most money. Andrew Gable ’17 has been selling chocolate-covered pretzels to staff and students to try and win against his opponents. Zach Craig ’17 had the same idea as Gable but has been selling donuts. Most students believe that this pageant started last year for the first time, but Raich said, “We have been doing this for maybe five years, not exactly. We had a break two years ago and started it back up
last year. (We’re hoping to top last year).” Starting it back up has given male students a little something to be excited for this year, giving them time to show off talents, express opinions, and give money to people in need. Gable said, “It’s a great way to raise money for people, and it makes you feel accomplished and helpful.” Carter Oselett ’17 said, “I’m excited for Mr. Crusader because it’ll be one of the last opportunities of my high school career to participate with my friends and put myself out there more.” Craig is raising money for Make-A-Wish Foundation because “It is such a good cause and brings smile to so many kids and families,” he said. Josh Brockett ‘17 is raising money for the L’Anse Creuse Foundation because “I want to help out my fellow Crusaders.” Mike Torres ‘18 is raising money for the American Heart Association because “My grandpa passed away from a heart attack and this subject means a lot to me.” The participants also look at this event as their last hurrah. Not all guys are athletes, so those who want to stand out their last year can show their peers what they’re made of. Craig also said, “Mr. Crusader is great
because it gives guys an opportunity to have fun and perform. Also, because everything goes to charity, it makes it even better.” This is social studies teacher Rosa Hough’s first year being in charge of this event. She just took over Student Council in December and has been working hard to help make this event one to remember. When asked what she was most excited for, she replied, “I’m excited for the opportunity of working with all the student body on this event, where with Link Crew, I only have juniors and seniors. Student Council is all grades, so it is awesome to be able to encompass all of that into one group.” Then Hough was asked if she plans on continuing Mr. Crusader and she said, “Oh yes, definitely.” It’s inspiring to see students want to help others and come together as one. Being involved in this pageant can make someone somewhere happy and help with the troubles they may have. You could be making a wish come true, helping researchers find a cure, give someone a home, or make someone feel better on their darkest days. Mr. Crusader will be held on March 1, at JAPAC, and all are welcome to join and come see the entertainment provided by the contestants.
2 | Opinions An open letter
To final exams
BY Eric Ostling ‘17 Reporter
Another week of final exams has passed, and some students question why they have to take these exams. Turns out, it’s a valid question to posit. Final exams are proven to cause levels of stress that induce irritability, anger, depression, and restlessness, according to the National Institute of Health. Considering this, why is it still acceptable to challenge students for such a drastic portion of their semester grades on one exam? Final exams are not good for students, they’re annoying, they’re a waste of time, and they cause tension to the human psyche; moreover, they do not measure aptitude, as is their purpose in the first place. Students spend their entire semester gathering a bank of intelligence that they are expected to be able to draw from on a single comprehensive test whose denotation is to measure the mastery of the skill covered in a course; although,
this does not match the definition of a comprehensive test because skills covered earlier in the course are less clear in a student’s head. Not allowing for students to use notes on an exam is a waste of a student’s time. There is no point in taking pages and pages of notes about a subject, just to study for an entire night before an exam; this does not show how well a student knows a subject. This is a test of how well a student can remember information. An article published in the Journal of Psycholinguistic Research in 1983 explains the difference between remembering and comprehending a subject. A human being is able to remember quite a lot, but putting something into practice seems to be a harder task when they do not comprehend what they remember. Testing multiple times over a semester has begun as a more popular alternative to a large exam at the end of a semester; this trend has shown itself at multiple universities
The big move BY Gina Hofbauer ‘19 Photographer
The new year always brings on new changes to the world. A large change is brewing in our own backyard. For the first time in 40 years, all four professional sports teams will play in the city they represent- Detroit. While the Tigers and Lions have resided in Detroit for many years, and the Red Wings are building a new home in Detroit, the Pistons announced November 22 that they would be moving in to play at the new Little Caesars Arena with the Red Wings. This makes Detroit the only city in North America to have all four sports teams just blocks away in the same city. While the idea of all four teams playing in their city is celebrated, some consequences of the move are not. Auburn Hills residents dislike the idea of losing a nearby sports arena that gives them easy access to attend games. Hockey fans dislike the idea of sharing the ice with any other team that’s not hockey, while workers at the Palace are living in fear that they may
lose their jobs. Everything is currently up in the air in that aspect, but one thing is for sure: the Pistons are moving. It is determined that the Pistons’ move will bring an extra $600 million towards the city in economic income, which will be very beneficial to a city knee-deep in debt. It will also gain more attraction to the city; therefore, bringing more money into it as well. In the beginning, I was not a big fan of the move because I am a dedicated hockey fan but not a basketball fan. I saw the sharing system as disadvantageous. Games on either team may have to be switched around, postponed or cancelled because the other team is using the arena. It’s unfair that either team would miss out on any games. After going over the research I had gathered for this story, I realized that I just need to get over the fact that the move may have a few small consequences. It’s happening and it will bring some good with it. It has been determined
throughout the nation, along with high schools. This is a better alternative; although, it still does not accurately measure aptitude. The psychologically-proven way to best understand the proficiency of a student would be to assign a course reflection paper. A paper that allows a student to draw from their notes, their peers, and other sources of information. This is the single best option for measuring a student’s knowledge of a subject because it freely allows for students to think calmly about their experience in a course, and truly begin to comprehend what they have spent their valuable time learning. This is all according to an extensive analysis performed by the University of California Berkeley. The idea of final exams is flawed, and it’s time to change over to something that makes more sense.
Editorial Mandatory CPR
Views from room 213
by the Detroit City Council that the move will cost the DDA (Detroit Development Authority) around $34.5 million to make accommodations for the Pistons at the LCA. It is estimated to bring around 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. Hopefully, some workers at the Palace’s jobs will be transferred to the LCU. For a long time, Detroit had been seen as city of violence and abandoned, run-down places. In the past few years, however, the city has begun to re-invent itself, including the building of LCA. I think the LCA will be one of the most popular places in Detroit once it’s built because it will hold something for everyone. Just like Joe Louis and the Palace have, the arena will hold games, concerts and more. I’m ready to see where the 2017-2018 season takes all Detroit teams.
Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States. It involves a malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat, which leads to a disruption of the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. According to the American Health Association, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year. Almost 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. This is because survival depends on immediate CPR by someone nearby. If CPR is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it doubles or triples the chance of survival. The state of Michigan has passed a bill that states all students will have to learn CPR as a requirement to graduate starting with the 2017-18 school year. This will be incorporated into current health classes, which are already required to graduate. If every student in Michigan learns how to perform CPR correctly, the percent of cardiac arrest-related deaths may drastically decrease. Heart.org states, “Sadly, 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they either do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed. This alarming statistic could hit close to home, because home is exactly where 88 percent of cardiac arrests occur. Put very simply: The life you save with CPR is mostly likely to be someone you love.” With more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occur, there is a chance that many will have to use the skill at some point of their lives. American Red Cross requires CPR certifications to be renewed every two years, and people such as lifeguards have to renew it every year. Now, even if no student ever renews their certification, they will still have an idea of how to perform CPR, which will help more than if they had never been taught. The basic compressions to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” saves thousands of lives a year, and the more people who know how to do it, the more lives that will be saved. CPR is a very important skill for everybody to learn and is one of the most reasonable requirements for high school students. Thanks to the Michigan education system, thousands more people will have a chance to save a life.
Girl Code VS. Guy Code
BY Baylee Bowman ‘17 Photo Editor
L
isten up, I’m just going to state a quick fact: Boys ALWAYS catch the feels. Whether it’s because they actually like the girl, or if they are just friends, they always catch ‘em. I mean, let’s be honest; we all know this by now. Guys can’t just stay friends with girls, simply because girls just have that certain attitude and personality that drives boys crazy. You can disagree all you want, but you’re wrong. If you’re friends with a guy, he may act like he doesn’t have feelings for you, but he does. At first maybe not, but over time they will catch the feels, just wait on it. First, he will get comfortable… too comfortable. Then, it’ll start with the random “heyyy” texts messages just to start a conversation. After, the conversation goes on, you’ll get the “So when are you ever going to hang out with me?” text and that’s when you know. He’s too comfortable. Hanging out with multiple people along with him is one thing, but oneon-one hangouts are not a thing. Ways to prevent this? Friend-zone him right away. He might be salty about it at first, but letting him down easy is the best way to go about it. On the other hand, for girls it’s different. Girls don’t catch the feelings easily; it takes a while, and if a girl and a guy are friends, most likely the girl already “friend-zoned” him. I think for girls the reason it’s different is because the girls never want to ruin the friendship by becoming more than friends, for it could easily be ruined. For example, if you guys break up, you will never go back to being just friends, the way it was before. Even if you try to remain friends, it will not work, trust me. This will save unnecessary drama along with saving your friendship. Plus, it saves you from catching feelings and those are never good. If you ever do start to catch the feelings here’s a tip: ABORT. Moral of the story: boys can’t just stay friends with girls, but girls can be just friends with guys.
BY Matt Alanskas ‘17 Online Editor
A
February 14, 2017
Photos by Chloe Acker ‘17 and Amanda Tomlinson ‘17
big question in high school is: Can guys and girls just be friends? Many believe that guys and girls often cannot just stay friends, as they start to catch “the feels” for each other. This common thought is a total myth. I have seen both guys and girls be friends with one another, even when one or the other is in a committed relationship. In this day and age, the idea that guys and girls cannot just be friends is a totally wrong statement. Many high school boys and girls believe when a boy and girl start to talk, they catch these things called “feelings.” Although I have seen many boys and girls go from friends to dating, this is usually when both are single and looking for something lasting. When both communicate the idea that they just want to stay friends, they will keep this relationship as just friends. From my own personal experiences, some of my most important friends were girls even while I was in a relationship. Being able to have a friend of the opposite sex when going through tough times always gives you a different perspective on things, such as relationship or family problems. Whenever I had a relationship problem, the first person I went to was my girl best friend. She gave me a girl’s point of view which helped me solve the issue. After getting this close with her, I still did not have any feelings for her. Although at times the girl started to catch feelings, communication between the both of us ensured we were nothing more than friends. This may be tough for her, but we both knew our friendship was too important to let a small matter like that affect it. Along with having the extra perspective, the opposite gender, in my opinion, is much easier to open up to. Whenever I had a deep issue to deal with, I always felt more comfortable talking to my girl best friend. I felt as if they took the issue more seriously and listened to my true feelings. All of these reasons show how both guys and girls can associate just as friends. Although many people may not agree, I stand true to how I feel. I believe that both guys and girls can stay just friends, no matter the situation. Although “the feels” are a real possibility, friendships do not have to be ruined because of them.
North Star Staff: The staff of The North Star are members of Quill and Scroll Society, Michigan Interscholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association. Editor-in-chief Chloe Acker News Editor Gavin McHugh Feature Editor Riley Garrett Entertainment Editor Renee Prvulov Reviews Editor Rachel Kircus Focus Editor Chloe Acker Sports Editor Ben Sassin Opinions Editor Shayna Schroeder Copy Editor Kayla Chattinger Photo Editor Baylee Bowman Online Editor Matt Alanskas Business Manager Connor Dailey Photographers Gina Hofbauer, Morgan Sputa, Reporters Chris Calabrese, Autumn Frieze, Madelyn Cooper, Olivia Frank, Delaney Nichols, Eric Ostling, Ryley Splitt, Alexis Zak, Amanda Tomlinson Adviser Kim Kozian The staff of the North Star accepts letters to the editor with feedback on how we express our opinion in this paper. All letters must be signed. The staff also accepts future ideas in room 213 or Ms. Kozian’s mailbox in the main office. The viewpoints expressed in The North Star are those of the editorial newspaper staff, but do not necessarily reflect those of the administration and faculty of LCN. Visit Ms. Kozian’s web page, www.lc-ps. org/Schools/LCHSNorth, for editorial policies and procedures.
Reviews | 3
February 14, 2017
New Netflix series brings books to screen BY morgan sputa ‘19 Photographer
Directors often have a habit of wanting to bring a book’s characters to life in either a TV series or a movie. Most of them have had tremendous success, such as Harry Potter or The Hunger Games. Director Barry Sonnenfeld, brought success to the screen once more. The well-known book series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket debuted on Netflix just last month. This isn’t the first time the books made it on the big screen. It was adapted into a movie in 2004 (with Meryl Streep playing Aunt Jessica and Jim Carrey playing Count Olaf). Sonnenfeld managed to stay true to the characters and executed the storyline perfectly. The first season plays out the first four books of the series in eight episodes; each episode is approximately 45 minutes long. The series is about three children whose parents died in a fire, so Photo by Flickering Myth they had to move in with money, hungry actor Count Olaf (portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris). The children are Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and Sunny Baudelaire (Presley Smith), who each have their own unique personality.
Since moving in with Count Olaf the children go through a series of unfortunate events, hence the name of the series. Count Olaf has an agenda that is not so secret, as he has revealed it to the children several times. During the show, Lemony Snicket, who is played by Patrick Warburton, narrates the story, as done in the book, since the whole show is filled with satire, complex characters, and a lot of irony. Overall, Sonnenfeld did an amazing job adapting these brilliant books into a series. The cast is filled with amazing actors who give a convincing performance, such as Harris who embodied Count Olaf as his own, and was by far the best performer of them all. Sonnenfeld already has a second season lined up that will cover books five through nine of the series and there is a third lined up as well. So if you haven’t had the opportunity to watch season one, I would do it soon. I give “A Series of Unfortunate Events” five out of five stars.
LCN February Favorites Compiled by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
James Mazure ’20
Favorite song/album: N/A Favorite movie: “Die Hard” Favorite app: Snapchat Favorite restaurant: Red Lobster Favorite Valentine’s Day tradition: “Sitting in my basement, eating icecream and watching movies.”
Isabel Kozicki ’20
James Dignan ‘19
Favorite song/album: Lil Yachty’s “Summer Songs Two” Favorite movie: The “Alien” series Favorite app: Madden Mobile Favorite restaurant: Black Finn or Bagger Dave’s Favorite Valentine’s tradition: “Bingewatching Netflix all day.”
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Favorite song/album: N/A Favorite movie: The “Harry Potter” series Favorite app: Snapchat Favorite restaurant: El Charro’s Favorite Valentine’s Day tradition: “Baking heart-shaped cookies with my mom.”
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Julius Stoutermire ‘18
Ja’Lea Echols ‘19
Favorite song/album: “The Hooch” by Travis Scott Favorite movie: The “Fast and Furious” series Favorite app: Snapchat Favorite restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings Favorite Valentine’s Day tradition: “Going to dinner with my girlfriend.”
Favorite song/album: “Lemonade” by Beyoncé Favorite movie: “Cinderella (2015)” Favorite app: Snapchat Favorite restaurant: Culvers Favorite Valentine’s Day tradition: “My parents always buy me candy.”
Photo by Victor Valley News
James McAvoy plays a mentally disturbed man with multiple personality disorder in the film “Split.”
Don’t look away for a ‘Split’ second BY autumn frieze ‘17 Reporter
Multiple personality disorder is a disorder unknown to the majority of society. Little is known about the horrendous effects, for it is a curse to those who have it. However, M. Night Shyamalan exploits the disorder in his new film “Split” and leaves viewers with a new profound view of how those affected live, with many eerie twists. The movie begins with the focus on three high school girls, actresses Anya Taylor-Joy, Jessica Sulu, and Haley Richardson, who are quickly abducted by a man, James McAvoy, thought to be a typical, dirty criminal. As the opening scene continues, the girls are locked in a dusty, old basement room, anticipating the unthinkable. The same man who abducted them has an evil demeanor, is quite aggressive, and anyone watching at this point is expecting another movie about the kidnapping and murder of a few young girls. However, the tone quickly changes when the same man comes in the room again, adding a bit of confusion and suspense as he begins talking in a childish voice and an absolute belief that he is 7 years old. From this point on, the audience, and the girls, are introduced to the man’s wildly different personalities one at a time.
For several days, the girls devise ways to escape from the man. McAvoy does an outstanding job of changing his manner for each dominant personality he owns. He is at times funny, sincere, and terrifying within the same scene, as he fully commits to the character. As McAvoy’s totally unpredictable character manages to gain the upper hand, the girls try to make sense of the information to plan an escape. Every second of the movie from this point on is erratic and there’s no telling what will come from McAvoy or the girls. “The broken are more evolved,” McAvoy screams at one point, slightly changing the theme of a severe disorder to something much deeper. The tension builds tremendously throughout the movie, and it moves deep into the concept of psychological trauma and abuse, and how people cope in its aftermath. Overall, “Split” is a suspenseful movie that requires deep thinking and takes countless unpredictable turns. It is too weird to be fully scary and too intense to be overly funny, but it is a film of interesting concepts and plot. Not to mention, the ending is powerful, shocking, and brings about various emotions. 5/5 star rating.
NORTH STAR RATINGS Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Kerry Fischer ‘18
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Favorite song/album: “That’s My Kind of Night” by Luke Bryan Favorite movie: “Twilight” Favorite app: Snapchat Favorite restaurant: Texas Roadhouse Favorite Valentine’s Day tradition: “Eating chocolate.”
Christian Rawling ’17
Favorite song/album: “Forever” by Drake Favorite movie: “The Dark Knight Rises” Favorite app: Snapchat Favorite restaurant: El Charro’s Favorite Valentine’s Day tradition: “Buying my girlfriend flowers and taking her to dinner.”
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
Gabby Girard ‘17
Favorite song/album: “AM” by Arctic Monkeys Favorite movie: “Jurassic Park” Favorite app: Amazon Favorite restaurant: Noodles and Company Favorite Valentine’s Day tradition: “Buying my friends gifts.”
“4 Your Eyez Only” focuses on feelings BY rachel kircus ‘17 Reviews Editor
Hip hop recording artist Jermaine Lamarr Cole, aka J. Cole, recently came out with a new album, “4 Your Eyez Only.” Cole describes on this album the tribulations of street life and fantasies of escaping the harsh realities of extreme poverty and violence, and he expresses these emotions through these tracks. Selling 363,000 copies in its first week, when society had heard one of Cole’s tracks off of the 2016 al-
bum, “She’s Mine Pt. 2,” he was called “corny” repeatedly on social media sites. Cole is more of a sentimental artist, focusing on feelings, and scenarios that actually occur in people’s everyday lives. Cole deeply describes death in this album also, including that of his late friend James McMillan, Jr., who was killed at age 22, which gives a deep and mysterious vibe that Cole gives through the album. The song, “Ville Mentality,” gives a broad view of what McMillan’s daughter has
faced after the death of her father. “Neighbors” shares dreams, and it anchors a record that wrestles with the fragility of life and the importance of family ties. Cole’s recent album is a new work of his, an album deeper than his others, and focuses on touchier topics. Listening to this album and putting thought into it may help listeners understand his views more. “4 Your Eyez Only” = 5/5 stars.
Amazing!
Photo by DJBooth
Thumbs up
Not the worst
Meh
Don’t bother
4 | Feature
February 14, 2017
Riley Allendorf is on the fast track BY Renee Prvulov ‘17 Entertainment Editor
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
The train glides quickly along the tracks, chugging with a steady rhythm, and screeches to a halt as it arrives at its destination. The conductor of the train is Riley Allendorf ’18, a 16-year-old conductor for Amtrak. His duties entail scanning tickets and ensuring the passengers get on and off of the train safely. He has worked for Amtrak for about two years, and took a six-month course of training for the job. “I was approached by Amtrak to work for them. They knew who I was because I worked at the Michigan Transit Museum located in Mount Clemens,” said Allendorf. The transit museum features a train for which Allendorf was the conductor. His love for trains brewed early on. “Thomas the Tank was my start to the train scene,” said Allendorf. From there, his love for trains grew and developed into the career he possesses today. While other teens are sitting at home on the weekends, he is traveling across the country. He has traveled to several different states for his job, but his favorite and farthest trip would be California. Some of his trips are quite lengthy, yet he makes time for it. “I work on the weekends because of school. Sometimes it is hard to manage my time. It depends on what routes, but they are pretty lenient and let me pick which routes I’ll take,” said Allendorf. Allendorf is on the fast track for his job, being awarded with the honor of Employee of the Year. The ceremony was Saturday, January 14, 2017 in Washington D.C. He is the only 16-year-old conductor that works for Amtrak, and he believes this is what made him stand out from the rest. He was honored with the gift of a plaque, a 24-karat badge for his conductor’s hat, and two diamond lapel pins for his achievement. It will be a smooth ride after high school for Allendorf. He has gone through all three levels of Amtrak’s training program. He now has the title of a master conductor, which allows him to travel long distances like California. He wants to continue on his career path with further Amtrak education and be a conductor in the future as well.
Riley Allendorf ‘18 conducts a train for Amtrak. Photo from Riley Allendorf ‘18
Put those phones down for an hour! BY Kayla Chattinger ‘177 Copy Editor
Cousin Andrew Allendorf accompanies conductor Riley Allendorf ‘18 on a trip.
Celebrating Black History Month
Photo from Pixabay
Photo from: nolalibrary.org
BY Julianna bruno ‘19 Guest Writer
“I look to a day that people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”-Martin Luther King, Jr February has been officially celebrated as Black History Month across America since 1976, according to History.com. L’Anse Creuse High School-North is commemorating the event with an assembly on February 28 that will be directed by English teacher and Diversity Club leader Sheila Esshaki. “For hundreds of years, African Americans have not had an opportunity to control the nature of what is celebrated in history. Having been subjugated for hundreds of years means we have to work harder to make sure that the accomplishments of this rich culture are elevated and celebrated,” Esshaki said. The ceremony will feature 12 student acts of spoken word poetry, instrumentalism, singing and speeches. There will be a guest appear-
Riley Allendorf ‘18 smiles about his conducting career.
Photo by Gina Hofbauer ‘19
The Diversity Club organizes events in adviser Sheila Esshaki’s room to celebrate Black History Month.
ance by “Mahogany,” a local poet and rapper. The assembly will be hosted by Daniel Showers ‘19 and Qua’Nisha Clemons ‘17. Clemons has been involved with the assembly since it first began four years ago, starting out in a step dancing act. She continued learning about her heritage as “guest speakers inspired me to dig deeper into my culture,” she said. Clemons believes that, “it’s important to know where you came from...and
where your fellow classmates came from, what they’ve managed to overcome.” This year, Clemons plans to revamp the assembly by getting the crowd more involved in the show. She said, “[our history] is more than just the textbooks about slavery.” It is senior Lauren Wise’s second year participating in the event. Last year she recited “Juxtaposing the Black Boy and the Bullet.” Wise plans to paint a mural in honor of the assembly
this year. “Black history isn’t just about slavery. It isn’t about guilt. It’s about celebrat-
ing the contributions we’ve made and being united,” said Wise. “We never learn about black culture in American History,” said soloist Kyra Jefferson ’19, emphasizing the importance of the event. Jefferson will be singing “At Last” by Etta James. It is her first time participating in the celebration. A host, a mural painter, and a singer are some of the amazing and diverse people whose incredible talents will be displayed on February 28, justly show the advances in civil rights America has made.
Contacting the North Star: @LCNNewspaper
@LCNNewspaper
Life Chats with Chattinger
LCNNewspaper
@LCNNewspaper
L’Anse Creuse High School - North 23700 21 Mile Road Macomb, MI 48042 (586) 493-5270 Northstar.np@gmail.com
Find the North Star’s website: www.lcnnewspaper.com
Think of where your cell phone is at this moment. Is it in your hand? In your backpack? On your desk? Wherever it may be, it’s always nearby and is never out of reach. The majority of our generation is addicted to his/her smartphone, and like any addiction, it’s affecting the way we live. A change in the generation’s behavior is a necessity. The Kaiser Foundation reports that “children ages 8-18 spend an average of seven hours, 38 minutes a day on digital media.” The amount of time spent with our faces to a screen surpasses the amount of time we spend at school, and on most nights, the amount we sleep. Phones and media have become such a priority, that they have consumed part of our lives. If one were to spend seven hours a day on a phone, from the time they are eight till the time they are 18, then they will have wasted a total of three years of their lives to a phone. Imagine all the things he/she could accomplish in three years. I could be a junior in college three years from now. You could travel the world in three years, or get married, or start a business. Three years is too much life to give away to an addiction. Not only are our phones consuming our time, the content we are reading and watching has the potential to destroy our self image. The National Organization of Human Services suggested that depression, social rejection, online bullying, and access to damaging or inappropriate material through sites can negatively impact an individual’s mental health. Think about the people you follow on social media. We constantly see these famous people with perfect bodies and rich lifestyles; however, the people we are seeing online are not real, they are false realities. People tend to post only the positive in their lives, so that’s all we see. The issue comes when we assume these false realities are true, we compare ourselves to them, and automatically assume our life is worse than theirs, when that may not be true. This social media fantasy has left many of us feeling lessthan or left out. Our cell phones have limited our time, our freedom, and our self-confidence. Try to take a hour a day away from your phone. Shut it down! It’s okay, nothing too important is going to happen on your phone within that hour that won’t still be there when you come back. Try taking a bit of your freedom back from the “necessity” of the cell phone.
Focus | 5
February 14, 2017
Photos from staff members
ne’s Day Keith and Cheryl Corsi
Sara and Dan St. Aubin
High school sweethearts
BY Riley Garrett ‘18 Feature Editor
Kitty and Kurt Reifert
Only in movies do you expect high school sweethearts to fall in love, stay in love and end up together. However, teachers at L’Anse Creuse High School-North are the perfect example of how it can happen in real life. English teacher Kitty Reifert and her husband Kurt attended the same high school and met while starring in their school’s production of Agatha Christie’s “10 Little Indians.” Reifert said, “It’s funny because my mom said ‘that boy from the play was cute’ and I responded by telling her he probably doesn’t even know who I am.” Not too long after that they went on their first date to get pizza, and soon after, they were graduating from high school and going off to college. Reifert went to the University of Detroit and her husband attended jewelry school. They broke up for about three months when they were 19, but were back together and engaged two years later at the age of 21. When asked about their relationship now, Reifert said, “We’re just fine and dandy, and he is still the love of my life.” Sara St. Aubin, world language and history teacher, met her high school sweetheart Dan in band back in 2003. Their first date was to get ice cream at Dairy Queen. They both attended Oakland University. Eleven years after they started dating, they were engaged in 2014. When asked about her and her husband’s current state, St. Aubin said, “We’re awesome and currently pregnant
with our first child.” Supervisory aide Keith Corsi started dating his wife Cheryl when he was 17 and she was 16, though they had known each other for some years before that. For their first date, they went to the fair and rode the ferris wheel. Shortly after they graduated from high school, they both attended Macomb Community College. They had been dating for about five years when he proposed and were engaged for a year when they got married on September 26, 1981. Despite arguments and differences, Corsi and his wife have now been married for 35 years and just recently visited Italy and renewed their vows. Together they have two kids and three grandkids that are his pride and joy. Corsi said, “It’s easy to quit. I think that’s why so many people get divorced now-a-days, but not quitting when it gets tough helps build love. Yeah, there were arguments, but I cannot see my life without her.” Art teacher Patty Willoughby met her husband Tom at camp for marching band during the summer of ’78 when they were in the tenth grade. Their first official date was a hay ride that fall. The both of them attended Michigan State University. When they were juniors in college, Willoughby’s husband proposed at a mall in East Lansing. “Currently, we’re doing awesome with three sons,” Willoughby said. Willoughby said, “I’m sure the percentage of high school couples that get married isn’t very high, but sometimes it’s just meant to be.”
Patty and Tom Willoughby
• 25 % OFF OF ANY SALE
Valentine’s date ideas
BY Autumn Frieze ‘17 Reporter
As Valentine’s Day approaches fast, planning the special day can get tricky. What’s the best way to celebrate the love between two people? Whether it is a boyfriend/girlfriend, a best friend, or maybe even family, there are many fun, unique ways to spend this Valentine’s Day. Autumn DeVooght ’17 recalls a short outdoor retreat her boyfriend and her ventured on last Valentine’s Day. On DeVooght’s unique date, she said, “We took a bunch of blankets to Stony Creek, it was cold of course, but so fun. We had a little picnic, and I definitely recommend giving it a try.” Daniel Showers ’15 said a unique way to spend Valentine’s Day is, “Walking by the water, maybe even go to Lake Huron because it’s not too far, and watch the water and stargaze.”
Nate Schultz ’18 recommends finding a concert to attend together, Schultz believes, “A concert would be a blast, and it’s different than the norm.” Aimee Cesarz, biology teacher at LCN, gushes over all of the awesome Valentine’s dates her husband has taken her on. The best ones, she said, consist of: A trip to the zoo, where there are typically Valentine’s festivities, a night in (cook dinner and rent a movie), and a night out in a town not too far, but far enough for it to be special. Brendin LaPorte ’17 thinks the best Valentine’s dates are, “random, something you don’t normally do, and something that makes you both happy… like go karts, zip lining, or maybe even fishing.” So, whether it’s a night in, or a trip to the zoo, make it a memorable day with the one(s) you love. Try something new, and most importantly, just have fun.
• Free sample lotion for every new customer
6 | Sports
Patriots take Super Bowl LI in comeback BY Ben Sassin ‘17 Sports Editor
The stage was set; the two teams from their respective conferences were ready. Sunday, February 5, the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots played for the Lombardi Trophy at NRG stadium in Houston, Texas. The Patriots were favored by three points, but the high octane offenses on both teams made it one to remember. The Falcons had the most offensive touchdowns this season (58), as the Patriots had the third most (51). Both defenses would be in for a long game if they couldn’t keep the scoring to a minimum. Super Bowl Sunday is also a big day for parties across the nation. Many people have friends and family over to celebrate one of America’s biggest sports events of the year. Steven Williamson ‘18 said, “Super Bowl Sunday is a good time to get the family together and enjoy America’s greatest game.” Since 2000, the average viewer rating for the Super Bowl is 100 million. To put this game in perspective, the Super Bowl is the most-watched event almost each year and it is growing every year by the tens of
thousands, according to the Washington Post. Ryan Lentz ’17 said, “Super Bowl Sunday is kind of a tradition in our home because we have a full on party and have family over.” It almost seems like Super Bowl Sunday has become more of a holiday to sports fans, and continues to grow all over the world. Super Bowl LI was most certainly one of the greatest Super Bowls ever in the history of the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons got off to a good start with a 21 to 3 lead at the end of the second quarter. Matt Ryan and his explosive Falcons offense scored again in the third quarter with the score of 28 to 9. Then, the magic began at the start of the fourth quarter. Tom Brady and the Patriots’ electric offense marched down field to score a field goal. Even with the field goal, Brady and the Patriots were down on the score board 28 to 12, and the comeback looked nearly impossible. The Patriots defense dominated the fourth quarter, stopping the Falcons on their entire offensive possessions. The Patriots marched down field again to score a touchdown and complete a two-point conversion to run the score
The impossible becomes possible
Freshman Johnson plays on varsity team
up to 28 to 20. The comeback was alive with five minutes and 30 seconds left. The Patriots needed a defensive stop to get the ball back. That’s what they did and never looked back. The Falcons punted the ball to the 8 yard line and Brady and the Patriots took possession on offense. Three minutes left in the fourth quarter and Brady has one thing on his mind: get a touchdown. The Patriots drove down field and eventually with one minute left in the game they were at the 1 yard line with James White awaiting the handoff to get into the end zone. Brady got the snap and handed it off directly to White and he plowed right in to the end zone. At the end of the fourth, the score was 28 to 28. Time for overtime, the Patriots won the coin toss and they got the ball at the 25. Brady drove down field to the 3 yard line and again White was awaiting the handoff to score the gamewinning touchdown. Brady got the snap and pitched the ball outside to White and he bulldozed through to score. There it is, the greatest “show on turf ” and the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
February 14, 2017
C
onnor’s atch
Alum hockey stars BY Connor dailey ‘17 Business Manager
As a hockey player myself and a huge hockey enthusiast, I was very intrigued to see alumni of LCN take home championships this past year. Steve Oleksy of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup last spring Micah Johnson ‘20 was while playing a lot of qualcalled up from the JV Boys’ Basketball Team ity hockey in the NHL. to varsity. Tyler Parsons, another LCN Photo from Micah Johnson ‘20 alumnus, took home gold for Team USA at the Junior BY Matt alanskas ‘17 Online Editor Olympic Games in Montreal, Freshman Micah Johnson was interviewed about his exQuebec, over Christmas periences playing on the Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team. break. Having met both of Q: How did it feel to get called up to varsity? these players, I can say it A: “When coach told me I was getting the call up, I had a is quite an honor to walk moment of nervousness which was followed by excitement. through the same halls they Although I was nervous at first, practicing with the team did not long ago. made me get more comfortable with the flow of varsity Oleksy graduated from basketball.” LCN in 2004, while being Q: How did you feel during your first varsity game? a star in both baseball and A: “The first few minutes of playing were the most nerve- hockey. After he won the wracking. After getting comfortable with the flow of the Stanley Cup last spring, he game, I relaxed and just played my game.” received the chance to spend Q: How did it feel to make your first shot on varsity? a week with it. During this A: “The moment was surreal. Everything seemed to slow time, he showed it to friends down as the ball went through the hoop.” and family, giving them a Q: How difficult was the transition from JV to varsity, and sense of awe towards his what was the biggest difference? great accomplishment. One A: “The transition was fairly smooth. The biggest differ- of Oleksy’s days with the ence was the speed of the game as everyone seemed to be Cup was spent at LCN while much faster.” family and friends took picQ: What is your prediction on the rest of the year for the tures with it on the baseball team? field. Oleksy did this not A: ”I think in these coming weeks, we will build confito show off, but because he dence, end our regular season with some wins, and make a wanted to give back to the run in the playoffs.” place that taught him so much about life. “He’s a great player. I’ve known him for a while, and Events found on LCNCrusaders.com as a close friend, I always knew he would do something Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday great in the NHL and give 1 2 3 4 back to LCN,” said LCU Father Gabriel Fraser High School Grosse Pte South League Meet (Wreshockey coach Jon Nader. Richard High School (Girls Basketball) (Boys Basketball) 7 pm tling) Oleksy obviously has left his (Hockey) 7:30 pm 7 pm Port Huron High impact on the LCN comSchool (Hockey) 7 munity, but one player with pm a closer age gap and a neat 8 5 6 7 9 10 11 story made a big save to win Dakota High School Team Districts (WresPort Huron High the gold medal for USA at (Boys Basketball) 7pm tling), 5 pm/6 pm School (Hockey) 3 pm this year’s Junior Olympics. Warren Mott High Individual Districts Parsons graduated from School (Girls (Wrestling), 9 am LCN in 2015. Growing up, Basketball)7 pm Parsons played a lot of 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 youth travel hockey and Stevenson High Anchor Bay High MAC Red Team Meet Individual Regional always had a knack for the (Bowling), 4 pm Wrestling Tournament, School (Boys School (Hockey), 7:45 game. As a goalie, Parsons 9:30 am Basketball) 7 pm pm always knew growing up Wrestling Regional that the chance of making it big time was much slimmer 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 than Oleksy’s. Parsons was Milford High School Lapeer East High Center Line High Singles Regionals persistent as he never quit. (Bowling), 11 am (Hockey) 7:30 pm School (Hockey) 7pm School (Girls Eventually, he found Basketball)7 pm Team Regionals himself between the pipes (Bowling), 11 am of the London Knights, an 26 27 28 OHL junior hockey team from London, Ontario. Over Dakota High School L’Anse Creuse (Hockey) 7:30 pm High School (Boys Christmas break, Parsons Basketball) 1:30 pm found himself playing goalie for Team USA’s junior team. As a hockey player, I can *Bold text = Home event tell you this is the moment that every player dreams of. Playing the game he loved with all his heart for his homeland, Parsons knew he was not going to let this opportunity go past him. As the last shooter for Team USA scored in the shootout against Canada, it was up to Parsons to make the gamewinning save to secure the win for team USA. “That was the proudest Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone. moment of my life. Not only We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and as a sister but as a friend,” entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow. said Bailey Williams ’17, Parson’s sister. As Parsons Watch LTU students share their college experiences at made the kick save on the ltu.edu/StudentStories. last shooter of the shootout, everyone watching knew who Tyler Parsons was. Players like Oleksy and Parsons don’t come around every year. As a LCN stuin nation for boosting Student/faculty ratio Students employed or Academic programs dent, I am proud to say they graduates’ earning registered for graduate potential school at commencement represent this school. The humbleness nature of these two players is ridiculous, as Southfield, Michigan 800.225.5588 admissions@ltu.edu well as their work ethic and desire. I am proud to say I know these two gentlemen and that I play the same great game as them. Possible is everything.
Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Engineering | Management
February 2017
THINKERS, HIPSTERS, AND GAME CHANGERS.
5th
12:1
88%
100+
Entertainment | 7
February 14, 2017
How to pick a college roommate BY Alexis ZaK ‘17 Reporter
Seeing as senior year is coming to an end and college is approaching at a rapid pace, many students have become frantic for multiple different reasons. One of the most challenging aspects that comes with college is choosing a roommate. Do you take the risky route and go in blind? Or do you take the safer route and choose someone that you know? Picking a roommate may be a difficult decision. Many different things are brought up when choosing who you would like your roommate to be. You have to make sure that you mesh well with the person you choose because you will most likely be living with him/her for an entire school year. You should ask potential roommates questions and talk to them before you decide. Find out their study habits. For example, do they need the room silent to study or do they even plan on studying in the room? Find out if they think they might have visitors over often. The answers to the questions can make it or break it for some. For students going in
blind, most colleges provide a questionnaire about yourself so that you will be matched with a compatible roommate. It is also common for students to find a roommate through social media. Roomsurf is an online website that is a great option for finding roommates; fill out a short survey about yourself and your living habits and it composes a list of possible matches. “I plan on attending Michigan State in the fall and I used this website called Roomsync. It was a survey that you fill out about yourself and the type of person that you would see yourself living with. It compiles a list of potential roommates together and then you can message them on Facebook or Twitter. That was how I found my roommate, and I feel like that is the most efficient way to find one that will work best with you” said Autumn DeVooght ’17. Some people want to go in completely blind, not knowing anyone, so that they can make new friends and get away from the peers that they have been around nearly their entire lives. “I am not really sure who I am going to be rooming
with because I don’t know who else is attending the University of Michigan in the fall,” said Kristian Adamczyk ’17. Some people find comfort in rooming with someone that they know. It might help to make the transition from high school to college easier, since they are not completely alone. Others might think that rooming with someone they know, like for instance one of their best friends, may end up ruining the friendship. Make sure to choose wisely, because in the end, it is your college experience that is affected. Sometimes the best roommates are the ones that you would least expect.
Student poll shows most popular ways to choose BY Renee Prvulov ‘17 Entertainment Editor
https://imgflip.com/piemaker
Poll surveyed 30 LCN students Photo from publicdomainpictures.net Photo from Adrianna Sputa ‘15
Adrianna Sputa ‘15 and her sophomore college roommate, Kathryn Muller, pose on the first day at Eastern Michigan University.
Annual Puppy Bowl gains viewers by Ryley Splitt ‘17 Reporter
The Puppy Bowl is a program that Animal Planet broadcasts the same day as the Super Bowl every year. When it first aired on February 6, 2005, it didn’t have that many views, but the second Puppy Bowl hit the mark with about 690,000 views. That was about a 230 percent increase from the first Puppy Bowl. The highest number of viewers
was 10 million for the eighth Puppy Bowl. According to animalplanet.com, there are 78 puppies in total. Every puppy that plays in the event can be adopted. They are taken from different shelters around the United States and are up for grabs to people who are capable of taking care of the little ones. The puppies can be mixed breeds or pure breeds, rang-
ing from small to large. If you go on animalplanet.com, you can take a test to see what breed fits you and your lifestyle best. Also a number of the closest shelters near you to ask about the adoption of your four-legged friend. There are currently three disabled players on the roster. This is the most disabled puppies they have had in one game so far. Lucy
is a three-legged terrier mix and is 16 weeks old. The second is a deaf and blind Australian Shepherd named Winston. He is 14 weeks old. Lastly is Doobert, a 15-week-old English Pointer who is also deaf. This is the most disabled puppies they have had in one game before. A poll was taken of students to see how many actually watch the Puppy Bowl. Forty-one percent
said that they do not watch the program, 38 percent said they did and 21 percent said they only watched five minutes. Most said that they think the Puppy Bowl is a waste of time and money. Dawson Splitt ‘20 said, “I don’t see the point in it. I think it at least shouldn’t be that long of a show.”
Others, like Christian Rawling ‘17, said, “It’s cool” and “the puppies are always cute to watch.” This year’s Puppy Bowl was held on Sunday, February 5, at 3 p.m. on Animal Planet.
Winter fashion trends BY Olivia Frank ‘19 and Morgan Sputa ‘19 Photographers
Photo by Morgan Sputa ‘19
Photo by Olivia Frank ‘19
Jason Eckenrode ’18 is wearing a Carhartt Men’s Duck Active Jacket $84.99 (Dick’s Sporting Goods).
Photo by Morgan Sputa ‘19
Photo by Morgan Sputa ‘19
Jessica Bryson ’19 is wearing Hunter Boots, $150, and Hunter Original Tall Fleece Welly Boot socks, $30 (Nordstrom).
Ashley Richard ’19 is wearing a hooded long puffer Jacket, $160 (Kohl’s).
Jessica Milavec ’20 is wearing a plaid blanket scarf, $12.99 (Forever 21).
Shayn’s Shade
Plastics poison the Earth BY Shayna Schroeder ’17 Opinions Editor
Ladies and gents, put down that disposable plastic bottle and open up those ears! You are participating in the death of the Earth! Congrats! It is not only plastic bottles that are ruining the Earth, but all disposable plastics that we use! Yay! By using disposable plastics, we are contributing to the unnecessary harm of animals, especially marine
animals. The National Science Teachers Association states that fish are estimated to ingest plastic at a rate of roughly 12,000- 24,000 tons per year. We are indirectly harming other animals on this planet that could end up dying from starvation, because their stomachs are so full of plastic that it can’t digest actual foods anymore. Why will this happen? Because we’re humans, and humans are lazy. So lazy, in fact, that we believe it necessary to invent and use
a product that can virtually be here forever for products that we may not even use for 30 minutes before tossing it in the trash. According to EcoWatch, after an autopsy of a whale, there was enough plastic bags and fishing nets in its stomach to fill an excavator bucket. We are so lazy that our temporary cups or bags that we use for maybe minutes can completely alter or even end giant animals like whales’ lives. But not only are we tearing down one end
of the food chain, we are building it up. New Internationalist explains that plastics are giving bugs like sea skaters, more surfaces to hatch their eggs, creating a surplus of these insects. We are able to simultaneously wreak havoc on both sides of the food web without even having to think about it. Every time you take a sip from your disposable plastic bottle, I want you to think about what you’re really doing. Everyone wants to
make a lasting impact on the world; well, I suppose you are. . .so congrats? But do you want your impact to be a bad one? According to Pollution Solutions’ website, plastic isn’t biodegradable, it’s photodegradable, meaning that the environment and biological occurrences won’t cause it to degrade, but the sun will. The problem with this? The sun won’t allow it to mesh back in with the environment; it’s going to stay plastic, just in a different form. The sun will
break the plastic into smaller and smaller pieces, making it easier for animals to eat and harder for humans to pick up. The idea of never using plastics again is a lifestyle very different from the average one, so instead of going cold turkey, just use reusables more often, and care about the Earth a little more.
8 | Focus
Are you in love or just lonely? Take this quiz to find out Compiled by Chloe Acker ‘17
Start Here When you hangout, do you...?
Go on fun adventures.
Do you feel comfortable with them seeing you before you get ready?
Do you constantly think about them?
Valentin
Watch Netflix
I never stop.
Sometimes Yessiree Do you adore every characteristic about them, even the annoying ones?
I would die before they saw me without makeup.
Some things about them irritate me.
Of course! When they don’t answer your texts/ calls, you...
Get mad at them, and think that they are up to something.
February 14, 2017
Are you constantly fighting and breaking up?
Do you wish you could change certain aspects about them to make them more ideal?
Get worried that something bad could have happened to them.
All of the time. Kinda....
NO! They are perfect the way they are.
Nope, we never have.
Couples of LCN You are just lonely
You guys are in love!
Compiled by Olivia Frank ‘19 Photos from couples interviewed
Grace Sloan ’18 and Bryan Vandelinder ‘18 Sloan: “We first met eachother in elementary school in the fourth grade and ended up dating in fifth grade but broke up and then dated again in seventh grade and have been together ever since.” Together four years and two months.
Alyssa Madou ’17 and William Schlacht ‘17 Schlacht: “I had known Alyssa since elementary, but we reunited when she began liking my memes on Twitter . We started messaging on Twitter and found out that we have a lot in common. She is like my better half. We have been together for over a year, and I see more to come!” Together a year and two months.
Ava Desrocher ’19 and Trevor Garling ‘17 Desrocher: “I saw him at a football game and he was standing right behind me, and I didn’t even know it was him. Then he had added me on Snapchat and I didn’t know if I should answer or not and I did and we have been talking ever since. We officially started dating October 12.” Together four months.
Shannon Grzadzinski ’19 and Justin Schein ‘18 Grzadzinski: “Justin and I met during the summer before our ninth and tenth grade years. Things clicked right away, and we haven’t stopped talking to eachother since.” Together one year and four months.
DIY Valentine’s gifts Compiled by Delaney Nichols ‘18
Bath bombs- Mix 8 oz. of baking soda, 4 oz. of citric acid, 4 oz. of corn starch, 4 oz. of Epsom salts (make sure these are fine grained), ¾ tsp. of water, 2 tsp. essential oil, 1 tsp oil (we like almond or coconut oil), and a few drops of food coloring to make a soft scented bath bomb for your loved one.
Muslin candy bags- Put together a small bag of your significant other’s favorite candy as a sweet, small gift.
Chocolate covered strawberries- Some freshly dipped strawberries in chocolate would be a perfect gift for a girlfriend/wife.
Deck of cards bookletWrite one reason why you love your significant other on each card and make a booklet.
Valentine’s basket- Fill up a basket full of small gifts that your partner will enjoy. Think CDs, DVDs, books, socks, and other small items that can be presented in an attractive and visually stunning way in your basket.
Floral food bouquet- If your partner has a sweet tooth, create a floral bouquet… not with real flowers, but with candies, chocolates, and other sweet treats. Hold the food together with high quality ribbon or a special bow.