THETORCH February 17, 2016
Check out the center spread all about food: producing it, serving it, and eating it, pages 8-9.
Staff editorial on dining out, page 2.
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Cafeteria stats, page 16.
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PLAINWELL HIGH SCHOOL 684 STARR RD, PLAINWELL, MI 49080 ISSUE 4, VOL 66
02 opinion The Trojan Torch Volume 66, Issue 4 February 17, 2016
trojantorch.com
Editor-in-Chief:
A later start to school does not just benefit students who need sleep BY DAN STOWELL STAFF WRITER
Sarah Bommer
Opinion Editor: Ashley Widner
Kaitlin Rietkerk
Feature Editor: Emily Totten
Michael Carroll
Online Stories:
Photo Editor:
Current articles:
Staff Writers
Check out these articles to be posted later this week:
Maiah Lesher
Luciano Almeda ‘17 Hannah Arendsen’16 Mirchell Britton ‘16 Chase Bryant’16 Cassie Burnett’16 Devin Cobble’16 Breanna Colyer ‘18 Jarrett Comai’16 David Donovan’16 Colin Dorgan’16 Claire Durian ‘18 Andrew Dyke’16 Cole Evans ‘16 Alex Frederick’16 Tyler Gauthier ‘18 Andrea Gritter ‘18 Jeremy Guarino’16 Logan Hiemstra ‘16 Nathan Ingersoll ‘16 Catherine Jewell’18 Shelby Judd’16 Carlee Keim ‘16 Jaiden Kohls ‘16 Caleigha Lunarde ‘18 Ethan Macdonald ‘16 Kayleb Mallory’16 Jenna Mathis’16 Morgan McKee ‘16 Nikolai Minka’16 Trenton Opel ‘18 Alissa Pierce ‘18 Jordan Raglon ‘16 Liam Ridgway’16 Gary Selner’16 Isaac Shaw’16 Morgan Smith’16 Jessica Steffey’16 Daniel Stowell ‘16 Luke Vanslambrouck ‘16 Maci Wilson’18 Kendylle Wolthius’18
Index Opinion.....................................2 News..........................................4 Feature......................................7 Lifestyle...................................11 Advertisements.....................12 Sports......................................13
Movie reviews, the life of a dancer, and how the medical team works.
Heelies and crocs making a comeback, and the newest foreign exchange student.
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The Trojan Torch serves students, faculty of PHS, and members of the community through informing, educating, interpreting, entertaining, and advertising. All members of the community and students are free to contribute stories, photos, and/or drawings to The Torch. We do reserve the right to edit or reject your work as we see fit. If the story submitted is anything other than editorial, The Torch requires all sources to be identified in order to continue its tradition as a credible news and information source. The Torch staff also reserves the right to accept or reject the purchase of any advertisement. To purchase advertising, or to submit a story, photo, or letter to the editor, please send it to:
It’s fourth hour. Students are trying desperately to focus on a lecture about how to avoid credit card debt, when it happens. That low, rumble. Students look around to see who it is, and just then the volume increases. Yep, for sure someone is snoring. What if we can fix sleeping during school with a later start time? Other schools in the area have a late start, such as Otsego High School. It is effective because it allows the students to get more much needed sleep to help them learn. The way Otsego does their late start is every Wednesday students have the option to come to school at the usual time if they need help in school, or if they feel they don’t need help they can just sleep in. “I enjoy the late start because I can stay ahead in school and
then when it comes time I can just sleep in,” said Otsego student, Curtis Towne ‘16. Many would be all for late start because sometimes half way through the week you are just too tired to concentrate at school. Although there are others who disagree. “It would not work because kids would not show up and it and if we did this it would be wise for it to be mandatory that students who are failing the class need to show up,” said teacher Dawn Baad. One person who agrees is woodshop teacher Colin Gallagher, who has experience with the late start because the school he used to teach at had a late start. Forest Hills High School used their late start as an extra teacher’s planning period. “As a wood shop teacher I enjoyed this time because it gave me extra planning time to plan the projects we were going to work on in class,” said Gallagher.
“Although it takes away from teacher lecture time, I would like to see a late start here at Plainwell High School,” said Gallagher. I feel late start should be much like RTI just in the morning and it would also be optional so that you weren’t stuck just sitting around in RTI. Not only would it benefit students, but also teachers. It should definitely be worth the school board considering a late start.
Benefits of a late start Teens need 8.5-9.25 hours of sleep each night 2/3 of High School students get less than 7 hours of sleep 33 percent of students report falliing asleep in school Sleep-deprived teens participate in more violent and property crime than other teens
Out of 100 students, this poll shows how many hours of sleep on average students said they receive.
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News Editor:
Online Editor
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Plainwell High School Attn: Marilyn Hess 684 Starr Rd. Plainwell, MI 49080 269-685-9554 ext. 1544 mhess@plainwellschools.org Some material courtesy of the American Society of News Editors/MCT Campus news service.
Seniors Lizzie Schneider and Cheyenne Stephenson, asleep in class. Photo taken by Maiah Lesher.
february 17, 2016
Our Voice STAFF EDITORIAL
That quick burger and fry is worse than you think Food is a major part of people’s lives. The growth of fast food chains and restaurants makes going out to eat more and more common. This can create positives and negatives. And for some people, going out to eat everyday is actually killing them. Food can act as a social factor for some people. Getting together for family dinners or having a meeting with colleagues at a restaurant is a regular occasion for most people. But with the growing number of fast food chains it’s becoming easier to choose an unhealthy meal to eat rather than a home cooked meal or sitting down at a restaurant. It is understandable to swing through a drive through once in awhile or if you are in a rush. Most people are aware you aren’t supposed to eat fast food often, but that doesn’t stop them, especially teenagers. We believe the reason teens go out to eat so much is the common conception that it is faster and cheaper. In reality, you can go to a sitdown restaurant and wait ten minutes longer for a meal that costs about the same. In Plainwell/Otsego alone there are more than 10 fast food options to choose from. Whereas sit-down restaurants there are under ten, and most of these still feature unhealthy options. McDonald’s average meal is 1,000 calories. That is just for a quarter-pound burger with bacon and cheese and a medium fry. And a salad from Taco Bell is 780 calories, according to qz.com. The amount of calories you are supposed to have per day vary on weight and height. But the average daily amount is 2,000 calories. Eating that one burger and side of fries is already halfway there. And you have to remember a meal from McDonalds has little nutritional value. Because of that, you typically won’t feel full after you eat. This causes
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you to eat more and more, and then surprise: you’ve gained weight. The obesity rate is rising in America, and most fingers point to fast food businesses as the culprit. Among children 6 to 19 years old, 1 in 3 are considered overweight. And 18 percent are considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Many blame parents for overweight children. Kids can’t drive themselves to McDonald’s to get a happy meal. Eating fast food so often can actually cause a fast food addiction. So the kids who ate unhealthy food when they were younger will usually continue the cycle into adulthood. You can opt for a healthier choice like Subway, where sandwiches can vary from 500 to 940 calorie, but also have more nutritional value. No nutritional value and obesity rates are the big issue here but fast food also has many other side effects most people don’t know about. Headaches, acne, and depression are all related to regular fast food consumption. Not only is fast food a growing problem, but many restaurants today don’t allow a sit down family dinner even if a “sit-down” restaurant is chosen. Most restaurants today have TVs everywhere you look. Which of course, disconnects you from the group you are supposed to be enjoying dinner with. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 67 percent of Americans said in 2012 that they regularly watch TV while eating dinner. However, in the same survey, 49 percent of Americans said they think they watch too much TV. For the sake of your health and social skills, make as many home cooked meals as possible. We’re mature enough to make our own food and get some skills in the kitchen.
Pot legalization:
It could benefit society, not just smokers
BY JARRETT COMAI STAFF WRITER Cannabis can be used to treat glaucoma, lung cancer, epileptic seizures, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis discomfort and more; yet is illegal. Society needs to change how it perceives cannabis. THC, a chemical in cannabis, acts as a muscle relaxant and anti inflammatory. It is used to treat epilepsy, inflammation, depression, and lower blood pressure. CBD, another chemical, is used for illnesses with strong physical symptoms and is the true medicine part to the plant. It is used to relieve pain, reduce anxiety and nausea, and stop the spread of cancer cells. “I 100 percent support the medical usage and benefits of cannabis. There has been a lot of scientific research that the public has not been informed on. I don’t know individuals personally that use it, but I know it can help people function in society,” said science teacher Scott Evans. Cannabis was legal to use medicinally 100 years ago, before refugees from the Mexican Revolution came across the border with the less-familiar term “marihuana.” It was the use of this new word by the immigrants that stirred up fear of this agent and led to its prohibition in 1937. According to MedicalMarijuana.org So why is something that was beneficial against the law now? As a society we have been taught to look at cannabis as a dangerous drug. Remember the Above The Influence commercials? The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice claims Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the company that paid for the commercials, was funded by alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical companies. Big funders were Marlboro, Jim Beam whiskey, Budweiser and many more. The company that’s sup-
posedly against all drugs was founded on the money of drug companies. That’s a little fishy. Cannabis is in the same schedule drug category as heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy. New York Times says in 2012 there were 658,000 arrests for marijuana alone compared to the 256,000 for heroin, cocaine, and other derivatives. The government makes you pay outrageous amounts of tax money to put people in prison for a drug that can physically help some people. “I believe our society needs to be more educated on the medicinal and recreational benefits and hazards of cannabis,” says substitute teacher Mark Fitzpatrick. “It’s time to be civil and open m i n d e d about the positives and negatives,” he added. “I don’t have a strong opinion either way but I feel if it were legalized our overall public health would decrease and our youth could get a hold of it easier,” said teacher Richard Luczak. We need to stop hiding our youth from the truth. Every day I hear about how students’ parents would kill them if they even thought about cannabis. Let me tell you right now, if a teenager in this day and age wants to try it, they will. Hiding us from the real world won’t help. State governments are legalizing medical and recreational use of cannabis across America everyday. We NEED to be more educated on it if we’re selling it to the public. “I see no reason why it is illegal, our country could be helping the people and itself for that matter if we legalized cannabis. We could use it medici-
nally and for things like paper, clothes, eco friendly products and so much more. It’s time we become more educated,” says science teacher Scott Cool. THC and hemp both come from the same plant. THC is what you smoke and hemp is the waste product. What most people don’t know is that hemp can be used in many different everyday products. Hemp could save trees and life on this planet. One acre of hemp (grown in a single season) yields as much paper as up to four acres of trees (which take many more years to grow) according to Hempfarm.org. And when you cut it down you aren’t hurting a thing. Just look at the states that have already legalized marijuana. Colorado made $70 million in tax revenue last year and Washington, $580 million, says High Times Magazine. Our country is in so much debt but here’s all this tax money that could go towards our government. It is up to our generation to decide the way we look at cannabis. It’s a medicine that was put on this earth to grow freely and naturally. Not only just a medicine, but a product. That is an eco friendly recourse we can use for products like paper, cloth, and even clothes. We have the power to take this plant and use it to our advantage to help heal the sick and create more natural products. Cannabis can help in more ways than you could imagine and it’s time we look into it. Do your own research, you might be surprised.
Colorado made $70 million in tax revenue last year and Washington, $580 million.
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What Root and Villareal have in store for prom BY MORGAN MCKEE STAFF WRITER
Photo of the prom venue taken from the Loft 310 website.
The promposals, the dresses, the dinners, the dance that all girls dream about is right around the corner. “Prom is April 16, the weekend after spring break,” said junior class co-sponsor Julie Root, who along with teacher Andrea Villareal is in charge of the event. For students that are going somewhere warm this will be a plus because they will be tan. The theme of prom this year is “This Night’. “It is at the Loft in downtown Kalamazoo. Iit is the most beautiful venue ever, you guys are going to be blown away,” says Root. “There are windows all around looking over Downtown
Kalamazoo, lights on the walls, chandeliers, and wood floors, it is very elegant,” said Root. Now for what everybody really wants to know about: the music. “They are supplying the DJ, so they want a list of songs from the students, so there should be no complaining about the music,” said Root. For the seniors, this is their last prom and they want to make sure the music is awesome. “They play the same music at every dance so I hope at prom it’s more diverse and I hope the music is actually good this year,” said Angela Millar ‘16. Food wise there will be “different finger desserts and punch,” said Root. “Last year the chocolate chip cookies were the bomb so I hope
this year’s desserts will be just as good,” said Megan McKee ‘16. Although prom is exciting and a lot fun there is a cost involved. “It’s so expensive. Guys have to buy or rent a suit, they have to rent a limo, which can cost anywhere from $500-800 or just drive their own car, they have to pay for dinner, and they have to pay for both of the tickets, which cost $70,” explained Chase King ‘16. This year tickets are $35 and the photo prices are included, said Root. “Becky Howrigon is doing the photos and she always does such a fantastic job,” said Root. As for what you can expect at prom, “an elegant fun filled night of not having to worry about the music and the food,” she says.
Having hot flashes? Classroom temperature differences explained BY CATE JEWELL STAFF WRITER In the summer students can be seen sweating like an ice cream cone left in sun, and in the winter students are so cold you can see their teeth chattering. Plainwell High School seems to be all the wrong temperatures all year long. “I never know what to wear because one day I’ll wear a sweatshirt and it’s really hot and the next day I’ll wear a t-shirt and It will be freezing,” said Korrin Johnson ‘18. Director Of Operations and Facilities Greg Smith and Master Maintenance Tech Danny Stratton run the temperature of the school. Smith says the ideal temperature of the school is 70 degrees. Smith controls the temperature from a computer. In spring and fall Smith makes slight temperature changes. There are many factors that go into what the temperature a classroom is. “Some classrooms with computers generate a lot of heat, and
some classrooms have no outside windows or walls. Others have more than one exterior outside wall. The ceiling height has a lot to do with maintaining the temp like the gym,” said Smith. The school is not all the same age, which might be another factor in the differing temperatures. Different parts were built at different times. For example the Performing Arts Center was built in 2010, when the middle of the school was built in 1971. English teachers Alex Stacy and Chase Mielke teach the same subject in the same hallway but still seem to have totally different temperatures. Stacy is known for having a sauna for a room while Mielke has an ice box. To make students more comfortable, Mielke offers blankets to his students when it’s cold in his classroom. “If you wear the appropriate clothing for the time of year you are usually fine, but sometimes the temperature gets out of whack,” said Mielke “The hot temperature in my
room is detrimental on student performance, it makes learning really difficult. The heat exhaustion also affects school property; my paper fades if left in the heat causing ink to be wasted,” says Stacy. “It’s hard to learn when the school is bipolar,” says Lauren DeVisser ‘18. According to Smith, school budget does not affect the temperature. It seems as though the teachers can easily change the temperature in their room by using the class thermostat. But if you look harder you can see that there is either a glass case around the thermostat, or the numbers don’t change. There is nothing students can do to try to help with this temperature issue. Smith and Stratton are the only people who control the temperature. “I’ve been a student at PHS for three years now, and I can tell you the temperature has been an issue every year,” said Ellie Beachler ‘17 “The science hall is freezing,
Haley Holly ‘16 struggles to stay warm. Photo by Hannah Arendsen. the math and computer halls are hot and the English hall is all of the above. It feels weird going
from all of the classes because the drastic temperature change,” said Thea Sampsel ‘18.
february 17, 2016
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Musical practice heading down the yellow brick road BY CYIAH KING STAFF WRITER
Musical cast and crew put in countless hours of voice, acting, and dance practice under the direction of choir director Denise Beauchamp. Photos by Isaac Shaw
This year the cast for the musical is getting ready for “The Wizard of Oz” March 18-20. “We’re on schedule, and we have about 10 scenes to cover but we are doing very well,” said Catherine Lemus ‘16, who is playing Dorothy in the musical. “It’s nerve-wracking but very exciting and I don’t want to mess it up,” said Lemus, who has been in the musical cast all four of her high school years. There will also be middle school students acting as munchkins, along with a dog acting as Toto. “It’s cool to watch them learn their choreography and for them to see what it’s like being in the musical, and Toto is so cute!” said Lemus. Many agree that their favorite part about being in the musical is getting to know the cast. “My favorite part about musical is getting to know all the other people, and even if you have a small part you still get really close to the cast and it’s a really great experience,” said Cassandra Keator ‘18. “My favorite part is learning the show piece by piece and
finally seeing the whole show come together,” said Marlee Burgess ‘18. This musical is something very different compared to the last musical, “Footloose”. “Personally I think for me it’s more work than ‘Footloose’ even though I’m in less scenes because there are some pretty big dance numbers,” said Ella Betz ‘18. Lemus agrees that this is very different from anything they’ve ever done. With only a few scenes left, the cast is working on more choreography, and perfecting the little things. Mya Veen ‘18 says, “I think it’s going really well. It needs a lot more work still but I think it’s going to be a really great show that will make you go ‘aww!’ a lot.” There is still a month worth of practicing for the cast, crew, and pit band. The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19. A 2 p.m. matinee is scheduled for Sunday, March 20. Tickets are $15 for the main floor of the Performing Arts Center, and $12 for the balcony. All tickets will be sold online this year, at phswizardofoz. brownpapertickets.com.
Register to vote
What seniors need to know for the upcoming election
BY KAYLEB MALLORY STAFF WRITER That big day is coming up. National poll day. The day that America votes for the next president of the United States. As 18 year-olds, many of this year’s seniors will have the opportunity to participate in the voting process during the primaries in March and the general presidential election in November. However, while most of them have just recently turned the age of majority, some have not yet registered to do so. In order to do this, there are
some prerequisites: Be a U.S. citizen. Be at least 18 years of age by Election Day. Be a resident of Michigan. Be a resident of the city or township you’re registering in. After all of these requirements are met, the next step is to get a registration form and fill it out. hese can be obtained from many places. These include local Secretary of State branches, and even online. Once it’s filled out, applicants must submit it. This can be done at the local clerk’s office, or by mail. If an applicant chooses to do
it by mail, and has never registered to vote in Michigan, they must include a driver’s license number or personal identification card number and a photocopy of a driver’s license OR an official document that has both name and address on it. The clerk will process the application and send a voter registration card. eep it in your wallet or purse because you’ll need it when you go to the polls to vote. When voting day comes, you’ll be asked to present voter identification. Viable voter identification includes the following:
-Michigan driver’s license -Michigan personal ID card -Driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state -Government-issued photo ID card -U.S. passport -Military ID card with a photo -Student ID with a photo from a high school or a college I.D. card -Tribal ID card with a photo. If applicants do not have any of these, they can get a state identification card at the local secretary of state office for $10 that is used in place of any normal ID
Youth Voting Stats 45 percent of young people, ages 18-29, voted in 2012, down from 51 percent in 2008 (presidential elections). In 2012, 41.1 percent of single young men turned out, compared to 48.3 percent of single young females. Young people (18-29) make up 21% of the voting elible population in the U.S. Source: civicyouth.org
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New classes headed our way
february 17, 2016
News flash
News that is kinda important, yet not important enough to warrant its own story
Local: On Saturday, Feb. 13, the best marathon runners in the U.S. descended upon Los Angeles for the Olympic Marathon Trials, and a 2007 Allegan High School graduate was among them.. Samantha (Draney) McClellan qualified for the Olympic Trials thanks to her time in the Berlin Marathon last September. So after six months of training with Taryn Sheehan, a long distance trainer from Louisville, McClellan headed off to Germany for the Berlin Marathon last September. The qualifying time for the Olympic Trials was two hours, 45 minutes. McClellan checked in at 2:42.41, meaning she’d earned her way to L.A. and possibly to Rio de Janiero this August.
State: Sophomores Lexi Lambert, Jasmine Pavey, and Alicia Layton pick next year’s classes with counselor Janelle Rieman. Photo by Hannah Arendsen. BY TYLER GAUTHIER STAFF WRITER Are you interested in planning events, taking pictures, experiencing the world’s different cultures , or becoming an EMT right out of high school? New classes involve all of those things. One of the new choices is an EMT course taught by Marilyn Hess. This class includes all three trimesters. During that time students will learn all the skills someone would need to have to become an EMT. For example, more advanced first aid skills than the existing First Aid/CPR class, patient assessments, airway, trauma, medical problems and legal concerns. Students who are going to be 18 years old by the end of the course are eligible to take it (because that age is a requirement to take the national exam). If a student passes the assessment at the end they can become an EMT right out of high school starting out making about $24,000 a year. They will be able to work on ambulances and in the hospital helping people. Being an EMT makes one eligible to go on to become a paramedic. Students who are inter-
ested in going into the medical field, criminal justice or fire may benefit from this EMT class. “This class seems like a great opportunity to learn a good skill that you can use to work right out of high school,” said Emily Zimmer ’17. Another new class that PHS is trying out next year is Event Planning. This is a one-trimester class taught by Sarah Boven that teaches students many skills about budget, strategies for working in groups, fundraising, requirements, food, other innovations required to host events. Students need to be in 10th grade or above to take this course. Individuals who are looking into doing something as a host or planning events with large groups might like to take this class. Another choice that students can make is World Cultures, also taught by Boven. This is a onetrimester class that will teach students about different culture all throughout the world. “The skills you could take home from taking this class arelearning how to be a global citizen and learning about the world outside of Plainwell,” said Boven. Students who are interested in this class you must know that you must be in at least
10th grade and have two years of a foreign language. The students who take this class will become mentors for all exchange students that come to PHS, who will also be in the class. Participants will cover the geography, holidays, vocab, food, and traditions of the exchange students’ cultures. Individuals who like learning different things about the world this class would fit that type of student. The last class that’s coming to PHS next year is digital photography. This class is taught by Regina Beltowski and is one trimester long. At this point the course is offered to all levels of students. If too many people want to to take the class, it might have to be made available for just upperclassmen. The class will provide students with basic digital photography skills like interesting composition, a subject in motion, the exposure triangle, manipulation and editing. In this class students will be taking pictures with DSLRs, point-and-shoots, and smartphones. “I’m going to try to have professional photographers come in and talk to my students about their careers,” said Beltowski.
Your driver’s license will soon have information that could help in a medical emergency. Police officers, or EMS will be able to help you just by scanning your driver’s license. Lawmakers just passed legislation to make this happen. It allows residents to have their emergency medical contact information on driver’s licenses and stare identification cards. The information, which can include medical conditions, will be digitally encoded and stored on a police database. Supporters say this will also help families of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller says this will assist both people and law enforcement. Officers will also be able to figure out if a medical condition could be behind a problem such as an accident or violence. The new system still has to be developed by the state. You can expect to see it starting sometime next year.
National: A team of scientists announced last week that they had heard and recorded the sound of two black holes colliding a billion light-years away, a fleeting chirp that fulfilled the last prediction of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. That faint rising tone, physicists say, is the first direct evidence of gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of spacetime that Einstein predicted a century ago. It completes his vision of a universe in which space and time are interwoven and dynamic, able to stretch, shrink and jiggle. And it is a ringing confirmation of the nature of black holes, the bottomless gravitational pits from which not even light can escape, which were the most foreboding part of his theory. More generally, it means that a century of innovation, testing, questioning and plain hard work after Einstein imagined it on paper, scientists have finally tapped into the truth of one of his most basic theories.
Information was gathered from News Channel 3, Allegan County News, and The New York Times.
february 17, 2016
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feature 07
No more walk of shame: BY ANDREA GRITTER STAFF WRITER
Tips on getting to class faster
3.1 miles per hour
average walking rate
791
students
5 minute passing time
TIP 2: Use the breezeway when it is open. This helps if you have a class on the other half of the building. Photo by Maiah Lesher
TIP 1:
TIP 3:
Avoid the sophomore hallway. “It’s narrow, out of the way and always crowded,” said Ethan Oakes ‘18.
Wear your backpack. If you wear your backpack you can easily just go straight from class to class.
Photo by Hannah Arendsen
TIP 4:
Photo by Maiah Lesher
Just walk faster. “Just weave in between people. Just go for it. Most people are doing the same thing,” said Carly Colyer ‘18.
Photo by Hannah Arendsen
Q &A
“Hell no, you see the true side of people when “Nope, the only nice thing about it is the pay.” you work together in the food industry.” -Derek Phaneuf ‘16: McDonald’s -Aaron Crawford ‘17: Taco Bell “No. It’s full of racism, and everybody thinks you’re dumb just because you work at McDonalds.” -Megan Guilmette ‘16: McDonald’s
BY JESSICA STEFFEY STAFF WRITER
Fruit 41%
Yogurt 9% Salad 32%
BY CARLEE KEIM STAFF WRITER
How supportive are your co-workers of you? “They’re not supportive. They play favoritism and only praise the employees that they like. My manager told me that he doesn’t com“None, only certain co-workers care, but pliment us because he doesn’t want to fill our egos.” other than that they don't care at all.” -Guilmette -Phaneuf “They’re not at all. They are all just there to do their job and that’s it.” Students’ favorite -Crawford
Teachers grow their own food
Q& A
There are currently 1.4 million vegetarians under the age of 18 in the United States, Plainwell has a few at our school. Megan Childress ‘16, has been a vegetarian for nine years and her love for animals drove her to the decision in 4th grade. “When someone argues about my choices I make on not eating meat, it doesn’t affect me at all. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” said Childress. Bailee Martin ‘17, is also a vegetarian. Martin started out as a pescetarian which is someone who only eats fish, but made the final the decision four months ago to be a full on vegetarian. Martin gets her protein from sources such as veggie burgers, beans, and veggies. Another junior has also chosen the path to be a vegetarian and she started out as a pescetarian as well. Shiann Hale-Henry ‘17, has been one for a total of 8 months now. Transitioning into a full on vegetarian is not as easy as people make it out to be. “It was hard, I unconsciously ate meat and slipped up a lot,” said Hale-Henry. Being a vegetarian is not always the easiest though, some don’t make it through as a long term commitment. Leslie Shaw ‘16 knows this first hand. Her reason for quitting meat began two years ago after she watched the movie SuperSize Me. “It was going really good for eight months, but then one morning my dad made bacon and that’s when I went back,” said Shaw. Many people do not know where vegetarians get their protein from, but there are a number of foods that are high in protein. Tofu has 10 grams of protein per serving, pumpkin seeds have 32 grams, and artichokes have 8 grams of protein. Vegetarians can live a very healthy lifestyle, the most common places vegans and vegetarians are located are: Portland, Albuquerque, and Atlanta. They also have a lower risk for developing heart disease, breast cancer, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure). “Trying to explain to people that I am a vegetarian they tend to make a big deal out of it, when really it’s not,” said Childress.
fast food restaurants (100 students) KFC 4%
BY JARRETT COMAI STAFF WRITER
The “eat local” movement is all sorts of trendy around the country, but some in West Michigan have long been taking advantage of our climate to grow food for them and their neighbors. Teachers Andrea Villarreal, Jane Kostanko, Sandy Breitenbach, Patricia Austin, and aide Annalee Johnson are among them.
Villarreal raises bees and chickens.
How long have you been beekeeping?
JImmy Johns 19% Subway 11% Burger King 2% Taco Bell 16% Wendys 23%
Arbys 19% Mcdonalds 6%
-Since 2011 (5 years)
How often do you get stung?
-Once a season maybe. It’s all about staying calm and moving easy.
What is the most difficult part of beekeeping?
-Trying to keep them alive during the winter.
Johnson’s family owns a dairy farm. What is one thing that most people don’t know about dairy farming? -Everything about the milking process is completely sterile.
What do you do with baby calves? -Separate them from the mother and raise them from birth.
What do you feed dairy cows?
-GMO cattle feed
BY CYIAH KING STAFF WRITER
Having a life threatening allergies definitely makes life a little more difficult and makes you extremely aware of what you are eating. I learned I was deathly allergic to nuts at age one when I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and swelled up like a balloon. My symptoms are life threatening and my throat could swell up so I can’t breath and eventually suffocate. I would break out in hives, which are itchy red dots, and my face would swell up. Luckily my parents knew what to do and rushed me to the hospital. I have had some very close calls already. Thankfully this was the last reaction I’ve had. Now I carry my Epipen everywhere I go just in case. The scariest time was when I was on an airplane and they passed out peanuts to everyone and the whole plane smelled very strong like peanuts. I could see hives and feel the reaction starting but to my luck it went away thankfully because help was quite aways away. It has become so normal in my life to read food labels on pretty much anything because they can seem to sneak nuts in about anything nowadays. It surprises a lot of people on some of the things I can’t eat because a lot of things are cross contaminated. This means that they are made on equipment that processes nuts. For example some fruit snacks, cookies, and popcorn may contain peanuts or peanut oil. Peanut oil can be used in anything that is fried so it can be used in anything that is fried. Im thankful to have considerate friends that know that I’m allergic and look out for me too.
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BY LUKE VANSLAMBROUK STAFF WRITER
Are you satisfied working for your restaurant?
BY LUKE VANSLAMBROUK STAFF WRITER
Protein Shakes 7%
feature 09
Fast food workers tell all
What students eat when they’re trying to be healthy (100 Students)
Vegan Burgers 4% Vegetables 7%
february 17, 2016
BY BREE COLYER STAFF WRITER
e i tio g r e n: food all
How would you feel if you weren’t able to eat your favorite foods? No pizza, ice cream, snickers, or grandma’s no-bake cookies. Some students here at Plainwell know the feeling. Rachel Axelson ‘18 is allergic to gluten and has been her whole life. “I got it through genetics, both my grandparents were gluten free. I noticed something was up when I kept getting reactions when I was younger,” said Axelson. The worse part Axelson noted was not being able to eat normal things that all her friends eat. “There is a large amount of gluten free food choices, which helps, but if I had to choose one thing to try it would be donuts,” said Axelson. David Baskin ‘18 is allergic to peanuts, but with age he grew out of a strawberry and egg allergy. “When I was two or three my parents fed me peanut butter crackers and my face turned blue, that’s how they found out I was allergic to peanuts,” said Baskin. “I miss out on some pretty cool foods like PB&J or the peanut butter banana sandwich that Elvis ate. But I get it easy, I have to eat peanuts for it to affect me, as long as I stay away i’m good. It’s just hard to remember to always have an epi-pen around and to make sure its not expired,” said Baskin. Epi-pens are used to treat a severe allergic reactions by receiving shot in your outer thigh of the medication epinephrine. It helps by relaxing the muscles in your airways to help your breathe easier when a reaction occurs. At Plainwell High School we have around 10 potentially fatal food allergies registered with the front office, and a new law also requires the school to have epi-pens on hand.
s
08 feature
That may be helpful for Jacob Farris ‘18, since all he has to do is smell, touch, or eat nuts for a reaction to occur. “I’m allergic to all nuts, tree nuts, almonds, walnuts, peanuts or even peanut oil, everything like that. Even if the label says MAY CONTAIN NUTS I cannot eat it. Since traces of nuts are in a variety of foods it’s makes this a little more difficult,” said Farris. “I found out I had the allergy in kindergarten and don’t remember it much. But I’ve gotten use to it over time,” said Farris. Like Baskin, Farris grew out of another allergy. “I use to be allergic to dairy as well but that went away as I got older,” said Farris. “I wish I could try peanut butter rice krispies with chocolate, no bakes, or even puppy chow,” said Farris. Luke Vanslambrouck ‘16 is allergic to all types of nuts as well. “I was around one or so and my parents fed me a PB&J and I swelled up like a balloon,” said Vanslambrouck. “The worst part about having an allergy is everywhere I go like restaurants and stuff I have to ask if there’s nuts in the foods,” said Vanslambrouck. “I carry an epi-pen everywhere I go just in case. In elementary I even used to wear a fanny pack to hold it,” said Vanslambrouck. Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children (under 18 years of age) in the U.S. That’s roughly two in every classroom. Also, eight foods account for 90 percent of all reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish, according to Food Allergy Research and Education.
10 feature
february 17, 2016
the trojan torch
Graduating early:
Early senioritis has a definite cure
BY HANNAH ARENDSEN STAFF WRITER Third trimester is quickly approaching, and for 22 seniors this will conclude their high school career. Graduating early has become more and more common in recent years. Students are now realizing that if they get all of their credits sorted out early, have all community service hours, and be passing all second trimester classes they can leave Plainwell High School ten weeks earlier than the rest of the senior class. These seniors are graduating early for a whole slew of reasons, including: work full time to save money, enter the military earlier, sleep in, and escape from classmates. “No one wants to stay for third trimester, to get up and come to school at 7:30 for all electives,” said Maya Pell ‘16. Graduating early is not all sunshine and roses either though, some students have also expressed reasons of why they were initially skeptical of graduating early. This would include: worse/earlier senioritis, starting the real world earlier, not seeing friends at school everyday, and a fear of missing out. “I might regret it a little, but just the social life. We have to say goodbye to everyone earlier,” said Abby Benson ‘16. Although many more stu-
dents than usual are graduating early, the rest of the seniors are still stuck at PHS for another trimester. Some students wanted to graduate early but couldn’t. These reasons include: not enough credits, not passing classes, not enough community service, or some other various graduation requirements not met. “I am only missing one English credit, if I had known I would’ve taken AP Lit instead,” said Alex Chappie ‘16. On the other hand some seniors want to make the most of their time here and opt out of graduating early, even if they can. Some do not want to miss out on school events, do not want to leave just yet, or have taken AP classes that are three trimesters so they cannot. In order to be eligible to graduate early students must have all credit hours, all community service hours, and be passing all classes. The student also has to have their parents and teachers sign off on it. The guidance office takes it from there and many have said that the counsellors can be either easy or hard to work with on it. It all depends on their opinion of what the student should do or not. “The counselors really pushed me to do it, they knew I was going to keep skipping class often anyway,” said Ty Brugh ‘16.
Abby Benson ‘16 practices for her last day of school in March. Photo by Hannah Arendsen
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february 17, 2016
A day in the life of...
BY HANNAH ARENDSEN STAFF WRITER
lifestyle 11
the trojan torch
Senior vs. Freshman
6:00 am: “Sleeping until 7:30, duh.” -Jessica Nyberg ‘16
6:00 am: “Wake up and get ready for school.” -Anna Pruess ‘19
9:30 am: “Sitting in student aide, looking at things for my apartment.” -Zoe Lepley ‘16
9:30 am: “In English, so probably crying.” -Olivia Crandall ‘19
11:00 am: “In personal finance, learning how much I spend on food per month.” -Lepley
11:00 am: “Thinking about food.” -Crandall
12:30 pm: “I sit in contempt of what Bernie(Christopher) tells me about our country’s people.” -Ty Brugh ‘16
12:30 pm: “Eat lunch and chill.” -Tristan James ‘19
3:00 pm: “Working (making dope subs, freaking fast).” -Trent Joynt ‘16
3:00 pm: “I am getting off the bus.” -Libby McKenzie ‘19
4:30 pm: “Probably fell asleep watching Netflix.” -Chase Marshall ‘16
4:30 pm: “Hanging out with friends, waiting for my mom.” -Naomi Lutz ‘19
7:00 pm: “Dinner time/panic about future.” -Claudia Stroupe ‘16
7:00 pm: “Skiing.” -James
9:00 pm: “Comtemplating homework, deciding not to do it at all.” -Marshall
9:00 pm: “Going to bed.” -Isaac Davis ‘19
12:00 am: “Not staying up to do homework.” -Nyberg
12:00 am: “Sleep.” -Kenedie Booden ‘19
Zoe Lepley ‘16 and Anna Pruess ‘19. Photos by Hannah Arendsen
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the trojan torch
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february 17, 2016
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sports 13
Trainer keeps athletes functioning at their best with the help of two new interns bY Carlee Keim staff writer It’s the room at the end of the hall by the gym where the magic happens. The knees are popped back into place, the concussions are no longer a problem, and athletes come back to life all in the hands of our athletic trainers. Jessica Bakhuzen graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree of science in Athletic Training. She then moved on to Morehead State University where she earned her masters of arts in teaching, for health and physical education. She doesn’t do this job all on her own though, each year she has some assistants that help out. This season she has Zach Jones and Vince Mazonne, both currently at Western Michigan University studying athletic training. They each have had some experience when they were in high school with their athletic trainers which really persuaded them to go into this type of field. “I liked sports a lot in high school and had a really good experience with my high school trainer. I was running in a cross country meet and passed out for eight minutes. My trainer was really good with keeping me calm and making me feel like I wasn’t going to die. I ended up having fluid around my heart and it was basically pumping too hard,” said Jones. Jones grew up in Muskegon where he attended Fruitport High School and chose Western for the athletic training program. Jones ran cross country, played basketball, and ran track in high school. Although he was surrounded by sports athletic training wasn’t his first choice to major in. “My Junior year of high school I thought I wanted to do psychology, but then I didn’t want to go to medical school,” said Jones. Mazzonne however has been to many different colleges and has dabbled in quite a few activities. His freshman year he attended Wisconsin Platteville University where he played a defensive back at the division three level. “I didn’t really like the team
so I decided to leave to go to a community college for a couple years. I was majoring in physical education at the time,” said Mazzonne. After he was done there, he decided to go to Western Michigan for their physical therapy program, but when he found out they did not have one he decided on athletic training. “This is my first high school I am at, although I worked with Western’s football team as well as K-College’s team,” said Mazzonne. Mazzonne grew up in Naperville, Illinois and participated in football and wrestling. He plans to pass the BOC which is the national certification exam to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. In fact both of these guys are supervised by Bakhuzen. Bakhuzen graduated from Otsego High School and works at Borgess full time and comes to Plainwell at 2 p.m. every weekday. Bakhuzen also worked closely with her athletic trainers when she was in high school as well as college. “In high school I had ankle sprains and a torn rotator cuff. I played volleyball, basketball, and track. In college I tore my ACL playing intramural basketball,” said Bakhuzen. Bakhuzen is seconds away from any scene that could take place. Especially in the springtime you will see her riding the gator from the baseball fields, to the softball fields, as well as the track. “The scariest medical moment I had was when I had to spineboard someone and I have seen a lot of dislocated shoulders, as well I have also seen a head laceration, deep enough to where you could see the skull,” said Bakhuzen. She really appreciates all the work that her trainers put in and understands that they work hard to get to where they are. “I think they are doing really well. Zach is new to the WMU program, so we can teach him a lot and hopefully he will start out enjoying the medical field of athletic training. Vince is great and
Bakhuzen, Mazzone, and Jones tend to Cale Lyon ‘18 and Trevor Millard ‘16. Photo by Hannah Arendsen. knows quite a bit. He can take on a lot of lead roles very well,” said Bakhuzen. Being an athletic trainer does not look easy and comes with many challenges. You have to build athletes in the right way to heal them and not hurt them any more than they already are. It comes with a lot of responsibility with calling the parents to let them know, telling a child that they can’t play for a certain amount of time, and touching some of the gross feet that walk through those doors. It has a lot of affect on these athletes. “Jess helped me a lot with my knee when I tore my ACL during football when I stepped wrong. She was on the field with me when it happened and has worked with me for a long time trying to recover it,” said Cale Lyons ‘18. Working with the kids and sports is something Bakhuzen has always wanted to do. Everyday she is living her dream at Plainwell. “I enjoy working with people and seeing the outcome of helping an athlete return to their sport is very rewarding,” said Bakhuzen.
14 sports Varsity numbers on the board
17
wins out of 18 matches for Trevor Millard on the bowling squad
3
wins out of 14 games for Boys Basketball
7
wins for the Wrestling team, and 7 losses this season
50
percent wins and losses for the Wrestling team this season
3
wins and 13 losses for Girls Basketball
10
th
in the state for Competitive Cheer
8-0
and tied for first in conference with Otsego, for the Boys Swim and Dive team
the trojan torch
february 17, 2016
Most athletic:
Tri-sport athlete is recognized for her hard work
BY Jordan Raglon STAFF WRITER “My coaches and teams have taught me that you have to really work hard for what you want,” said Jessica Nyberg ‘16. Nyberg is involved with the swim team, basketball team, and the soccer team. Her swimming career which consists of 11 years, her overall career of high school swimming she has been awarded All Conference, All Academic State, and All County. Nyberg has been playing basketball for six years. Her junior year she was given All Conference and her team was District champions. She has also been playing soccer for eight years. Nyberg is a team player and works hard on each sport to accomplish her goals not only for herself, but for those around her. Her favorite sport is swimming. “The team is closer than any team, everyone matters, it’s not like other sports where the couple good people make up for everyone else. It also teaches you competitive life skills you need for the real world,” said Nyberg. Team bonding is something that Nyberg does not take lightly. Everyday she is doing something that will benefit it her for the next big game or meet. “I really like her and think she is a good leader. She pushes us to do our best and really has us stay focused when we are in our lanes,” said Maddie Betz ‘18. Her coaches obviously think of her very highly and are helping her improve into something great. “She is very hard working and conscience. She is a team player and extremely team oriented. I met her when she was in middle school basketball,” said Tim Rieman, varsity basketball coach. Coaches aren’t the only ones who value her, she has close friends that value their friendship and they think she is great. Nate Bruce ‘16, has been dating
Nyberg for almost two years now and is looking forward with their future together. “I value her because she is always there for me, and deals with me all the time. We started dating in April of 2014 and I asked her to be my girlfriend at my house. It was the best decision I have ever made,” said Bruce. Her friends and coaches don’t just value her, she values them a lot too. “For swimming coach Dubois is always pushing you to do better and he cares about every individual swimmer. He’s intelligent, he treats swimming like a job. He knows how to win. For basketball coach Rieman knows all players on a personal level, always encourages you to get better. For soccer David is young so he relates well; he’s giving us a run for our money. He gives us a tough schedule because he knows he can do it,” said Nyberg. Nyberg likes to push herself and others around her. She knows what to expect and what other people expect for her, her goals are to meet those expectations. Nyberg plans to play intramural sports in college and hopefully swim, she wished she would have made the choice to swim in college. She did however receive a few offers from smaller schools, but she didn’t plan on attending them. “It’s going to be weird not playing a sport in college, considering how much time it took from me in high school. It’s going to be hard going from having something to do everyday to not having to do anything,” said Nyberg. Nyberg will do her studies at Western Michigan University and plans to major in Occupational therapy. Her love for sports will remain the same although she will not be doing them on a regular basis. “If there was one thing sports taught me it’s that everyone matters,” said Nyberg.
Nyberg swimming in a home meet. Photo courtesy of Nyberg.
“If there was one thing sports taught me it’s that everyone matters.”
Nyberg, number 25, watching her shot. Photo by Maiah Lesher.
Nyberg gaining control of the ball. Photo courtesy of Nyberg.
february 17, 2016
sports 15
the trojan torch
Gibson takes on another year of varsity basketball bY Luc Almeda STAFF WRITER
Ben Gibson (number 11) taking a shot. Photo from Gibson’s Facebook page.
He plays basketball for the varsity team and could probably beat you in a game of 1-on1. It has been disputed that he has the best hair in the school. He is a Little Caesars pizza boy, and is a National Honor Society member. Junior basketball player Ben Gibson might be one of Plainwell High School’s most liked student athletes, and he has a legitimate fan base. “It feels good to be supported by so many people,” said Gibson ‘17. One of his biggest fans has a lot to say about Gibson and how he plays. “It’s a big responsibility to be such a big Ben Gibson fan. I have to let everybody know about him,” said Jordan Kellerman ‘17. Kellerman even went as far as writing an email to a local reporter asking him why Gibson wasn’t being recognized for his 3-point shooting abilities. “I just think that one of the best shooters in the league should be noticed,” said Kellerman. Mark Andrysiak ‘17, a hockey player, always supports Gibson and the rest of the team when he can. “Even though I have hockey practice on most of the game nights, I make it out to the games whenever I can. It’s awesome to watch Ben because he is so good and fun to watch,” said Andrysiak. Most students know Gibson as a peer, but many don’t know what he is like to play with. “He thinks he’s ghetto when he is on the court,” said Carson Spratt ‘17. Spratt also described Gibson as “supportive, hard working, and passionate.” Spratt and Gibson have been playing together since 5th grade. Since he was a little kid, Gibson has always loved basketball. He is undecided if he wants to play in college. “It really depends on how
the rest of this year goes. I feel like next year could be too little too late.” Being one of the few returning players this year, Gibson is one of the leaders on the team. Last year, he was the only sophomore to make varsity. “The experience that he brings to the table is a big help to the team,” said Spratt. Gibson is always working to get better. In spring and summer while not busy with soccer, he is always playing basketball, or FIFA soccer. One of the things that makes Gibson different from any other point guard is his quickness. Even though he doesn’t have the height advantage, being 5’7”, he can beat players off the dribble and find an open shot or pass. Something that Gibson is known for around school is being a huge Stephen Curry fan. Curry, point guard for the Golden State Warriors, is one of the best players in the NBA, and Gibson has modeled has game around him since his freshman year when a couple of seniors started calling him “Steph” because he was shooting so well in gym class. “I try to imitate Steph’s game when I play sometimes. He is quick, can handle the ball, and can shoot, and that is kind of the way I play too,” said Gibson. Varsity boy’s basketball coach Dan Klein knows that Gibson’s size could make it challenging for him to succeed at the varsity level. But Klein thinks that it it used to his advantage sometimes. “Clearly size helps in basketball, but people tend to underestimate him. He is extremely quick and I think that sometimes his defender doesn’t realize it,” said Klein. After already having coached Gibson for a year, Klein knows his tendencies and how he plays. “It’s no question that Ben’s extra year on varsity has helped him this year. He knows how hard it is to play with bigger and better kids and this year he is really embracing it.”
16 photo
the trojan torch The cafeteria goes through more than 300 fruits a day. Everyone who gets a meal must take a piece of fruit.
february 17, 2016
Digest this!
Every day more than 250 students are served between the 2 lunches (here, Jason Senters ‘18 eats his). Food can sit out for no more than two hours at a time. It must sit in hot boxes or in the refrigerator.
Bags of chips sold per day: 125 Drinks sold per day: 350
Photos by Maiah Lesher. Statistics collected by Cyiah King, Claire Durian, and Andrea Gritter.