Volume 96 Turn to Focus Page for an inside look at Valentine’s Day festivities and how to take on the day
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February 17th, 2016
Black Gold
The
Issue 5
2015 MIPA Spartan Award Winner
Traverse City Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive, Traverse City, Michigan 49686
Boosters budget switch
Sports teams now held accountable for excess funds
Baille Zipser Staff Reporter
Heros are often thought to be the hockey player that scored the winning goal or the basketball star that made the winning shot, but the unspoken hero’s are the people behind the scenes. Without Central’s Boosters Club, none of those moments would be possible. On January 11th and 13th the Traverse City Central Boosters club held their annual coaches meeting. A coach from each Trojan sports team was encouraged to attend. The discussions included the different fundraisers going on in the sports community and funding for the upcoming year. “We try to generate funds to have in reserve for long periods of time when it comes to the athletic department,” Vice President of Boosters Jeff Heethuis said. “Our big push this year is we are trying to help eliminate part or hopefully all of the weight room fee.” Central’s athletic program budget covers all the expenses of the sport teams, and the Boosters covers the expenses that are left. In the event of budget reductions, the expenses for the athletic teams are no longer completely covered. A reduction in the TCAPS budget means the Boosters club funding must be revised to cover all of the resulting increased expenses. “We revised the board to make it as efficient as possible,” Trojan Booster Treasurer Juliette Goodwin said. “This way we can keep the kids playing their sports and we can keep the coaches facilitating all that can be done while taking a little bit off their plate for fundraising.” Each year the cost to participate in a sport becomes more expensive. Central’s budget covers all costs of the school rather than just sports. The demands on all have risen, therefore it makes it difficult to increase the funding for Trojan athletics. “Each individual team is having to cover more expenses and that is where Boosters come in,” Goodwin said. “Each sport is now responsible for the bulk of their expenses for the season.
The funds are limited and they are not available from the district. They are kind of having to self manage all of the finances which is something that used to be quite inclusive in school budgets and now it is not. The cost to participate has risen.” The Boosters club meets regularly to handle the finances and discuss fundraising. They are creating a team of people with experience, to efficiently fundraise for the individual sports teams. “Last year the Boosters were facing the deficit just to cover its own cost associated with managing its own individual booster accounts,” Goodwin said. “We as a collective group of parents and alumni focused our efforts to make sure we were bringing in adequate revenue to manage all the individual teams because they do not have the capacity or the ability to do that on their own.” The Boosters are not having budget issues currently, but the community should be aware that the club is working hard to keep Trojan athletics in good shape. The Boosters aims to assist all of the athletic teams that are apart of Trojan athletics, not just the prominent ones. “The Equestrian Team fundraises almost all year round,” Emily Round ‘18 said. The cost for the team to go to districts, regionals and states if we make it, is very high. In the past the team has not been able to fundraise enough and our parents have paid for a lot of it.” There is a limited number of participants in this sport, and the cost associated with it is unusually high. That is the reason why parents have had to financially support the team. “We are trying to maximise our efforts and increase our return on investments,” Goodwin said. “We were having to pass the cost onto parents either to write a check, like paying to participate or fundraise for the money for each individual sports team.” Although tight budgets have caused a lack of funds for sports teams, The Boosters is working to ensure the success See Boosters pg. 6
Turn to Arts and Entertainment for an inside look at the production and featuered casts of this years musical, Footloose
Ribbon Cutting Event
Photos: A. Stiebel Top: Ethan Schuh ‘16, Meredith Nelson ‘16, John Rica ‘17, and Head principle, Rick Vandermolen, cut the ribbon to recongize the opening of Central High School’s newly renovated audiotorium. Bottom Left: TCAPS’ superindendent, Paul Soma, speaks at the ceremony comencing the hard work put into the space. Bottom Right: Central’s women’s vocal majority choir performs at the cermony in celebration of the space that will hold many more pefomances in the future. “It was really fun to finally have our auditorium open up, espically since the Footloose performaces were about to begin,” Katarina Fenton ‘18 said. “It was great to get on stage and sing.”
A game of tug of war: local schools fight over funds
TCAPS voices their need for the TBAISD funding up for grabs, while ISD wants to keep their own funds for future use at their facilities
Abby Harnish Staff Reporter
On January 4th, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District, TBAISD, board members held a meeting regarding a letter from Traverse City Area Public Schools, TCAPS, about the TBAISD funding balance. The savings balance, currently held by TBAISD, is high compared to other districts, and both boards have different opinions in regards to what should happen with the money. “It seems that TCAPS is currently experiencing some financial hardships and would like for TBAISD to release funds to them,” Career Tech Center, CTC, principal Patrick Lamb said. “The amount of money was based upon a formula that was agreed upon by all the local superintendents and TBAISD a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, my understanding is that TCAPS feels that the amount distributed is not enough.”
According to an article published in the Record Eagle on Jan. 7, TBAISD savings is at 39 percent, not including capital projects, while most schools are struggling to reach 10 percent. TCAPS is looking into the TBAISD savings balance as another financial aid tool to help support their schools. “Our funding balance has been declining over the years because we’ve had to cut programs due to decreasing revenue,” Central High School Principal Rick Vandermolen said. “We are looking to find revenue streams or supports for helping our budget situation. TBAISD is in a better situation than TCAPS, and so that’s TCAPS position. They want TBAISD to support the district because of our declining financial condition. Our low enrollment, aging buildings, and utility costs are increasing.” Across the state of Michigan, Central is just one school facing this issue of lack
All Graphics: H. Lancashire
of funds, or funding imbalance. However, they are an adequate representation of these schools lacking in proper funding. “We also have declining resources, which means that the state of Michigan hasn’t been very consistent in their funding of schools,” Vandermolen said. “Not only keeping up with inflation, but also the equity of the funding has been a problem, as some in southeast Michigan, persay, schools are getting a lot more money per student than TCAPS or many schools in this region.” CTC is a TBAISD program. Some students from Central attending CTC believe that the money should stay within TBAISD. Jordan Fischer ‘17 attends both Central and CTC and is enrolled in the Culinary curriculum at Career Tech. “I believe that TBAISD should keep their money because the money they get should be used for educational pur- poses, such as new equipment,” Fischer said. “The
students enrolled in TBAISD programs, like CTC, have high standards for the program, and they will need to keep up with current technology for upcoming upperclassmen and the future generations to come.” As TCAPS’ continues to experience dwindling resources and lack of proper funding, they are reaching out to other sources to help keep their school’s doors open. However, TBAISD is attempting to hold onto the funds they currently possess for the betterment of their own programs. “Any time that you put an organization in that situation, whether it’s a school or a business, they are put in a position to survive.” Vandermolen said. “It seems to me that most organizations begin to look for revenue streams and ways to combat the lack of funding from their primary sources, and so I think that TCAPS is looking to TBAISD for some support.” On Wednesday, Feb. 10, Governor Rick Snyder proposed a budget which, if passed by the State House and Senate, will result in a 120 dollar increase in state funding per student. This increased budget will help ease financial issues facing TCAPS.
Briefs
Senate holds Central/West dance On the evening of January 23rd, 2016 the Central West Dance was held at Traverse City West Senior High. Many Central students attended the dance and had fun letting loose with their friends from across town. “I went because it was the end of exams, I didn’t have anywhere to be and I wanted
to have a good time celebrating the end of the semester,” Abby Puckett ‘18 said. “Also, I hadn’t been to a Central West Dance before and I wanted to see what it was like.” The dance, an anticipated event, happens rarely and is one that draws a lot of students from across Traverse City.
Photo: courtesy of L. Rodgers
“It was a unique experience to share the night with West,” Puckett said. “Though it was sort of inconvenient because the dance was way over at West, which is really far away.” Traverse City Central’s Student Senate class worked with students at West to plan a dance that was convenient for both high schools and brought them together in a fun way. “My least favorite part was deciding the date because it took a long time to find one that worked with us and West,” Macy Meindertsma ‘18 said. “My favorite was the setup because it was really fun to set up and plan with West. We blasted music and danced a little too.”
Powder Puck cross town rivalry Two rivals, Central and West, faced off against each other in a heated powder puck game on January 29th at Howe Arena. With very few knowing how to actually play the sport, the fun was seeing each other struggle. “My favorite part was being able to see people from West
that I don’t normally see and just be able to interact with them,” Ella Oliver ‘18 said. “My least favorite part was the people who were taking it too seriously.” Coached by senior hockey players, both upper and lower classmen were able to learn their way around the rink once
Photo: courtesy of J. Chang
the game got started. “Our coaches were Michael Fink, Parker Hebden, Jack Stevenson and Andrew Froese,” Julianna Chang ‘18 said. “I don’t know very much, but I do know the basic rules. I go to most of the games but I’m not an expert at it all,” she said. “It’s really hard and I don’t know how people do it.” Before the game, the girls all did something to prepare for the ice. “I ate a lot of carbs the night before so I would have sufficient energy,” Chang said.” I also quoted the movie Miracle in my pre game pep talk. I was most excited about trying out a new sport and hanging out with Michael Fink.”
2 Opinion
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Feb. 17, 2016
All Graphics: H. Lancashire
Should religion be taught in schools? Parents livid after Fife Lake Elementary’s first grade classroom touched on religion in an early world civilizations
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ll teachers must follow certain guidelines regarding what must be taught in a classroom generally referred to as curriculum. The curriculum keeps teachers and the lessons they teach focused, however it does always avoid controversy. Fife Lake Elementary School recently drew some attention after their first grade classroom briefly discussed world religions in an early world civilizations unit that was part of the first grade curriculum. In this unit, students were to learn the advent of farming, establishment of cities and government, and the creation of writing and religion. The curriculum outlines that students will first learn about Mesopotamia, including the Gods and Goddesses in the “cradle of civilization.” Then students transition to studying Egypt, including the significance of mummification and afterlife for ancient egyptians. Before the first grade teacher began the unit, a newsletter, which is part of the curriculum created by the Core Knowledge Foundation, was sent home to parents. The newsletter states: “Lesson 13-16 will explain the historical changes that began to take place and how these ancient people devel-
oped new beliefs and practices focused on one God rather than many gods. These final readalouds provide a historical introduction to the development of three world religions-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-which are all categorized by a belief in a single God.” The newsletter then explained that the “Core Knowledge Language Arts Program” intro-
“I am ashamed to live in a generation where younger kids can’t live without learning about a simple religion and it becoming a widescan issue. My first reaction was that the parents reaction was stupidly funny. The parents were absolutely ludicrous.” -Bailey Brovont ‘16
duces these religions to students as a part of a study of world history. The teacher explicitly states “It is important to understand that the religions your child will hear about in first grade are not being singled out or presented in any way that suggests the merits or correctness of specific religious beliefs.” The guidelines noted that the teacher should consult with the school administrator on whether or not the final section should be taught. “We’ve received a few calls just because they brought up the term Islam,” principal, Josh Rothwell, told the 9&10 news team. “It was historically accurate information that was presented in that first grade classroom.” Parents took their concerns to Facebook saying religion has no place in public schools. The unit focused on history and strayed away preaching the religious views, but controversy still hovered. Parents even threatened to remove their children from the school district. The school along with Principal Rothwell defended their decision to teach the major religions. “It’s extremely basic. The teacher talks about Christianity, Judaism and Islam at a very basic level,” Rothwell said. “We are not preaching religion or practicing religion in the first grade
“I understand how the parents might not want their kids to learn about religion at a public school since that’s not meant to be religious. The parents should’ve just let the teachings happen because they are going to find out about the different religions one way or another. ” -Macy Cook ‘17
classrooms.” By all means we at the Black & Gold understand it is a parent’s legal right to remove their child from a school, therefore the parent’s final say takes precedent over any other argument. This right includes not having their children subjected to material that conflicts or alters this view. Clearly, this was the case at Fife Lake Elementary. We at the Black & Gold believe the parents overreacted given the circumstances. A newsletter was sent out to each family stating what exactly was going to be taught, yet the parents acted utterly shocked once the lesson had begun. Had the families sat down and truly thought about the situation, they could have come up with a solution that is not as extreme as taking their child out of the school district. Censoring what a child learns is limiting their knowledge and having them focus on one specific area, similar to a carriage horse wearing blinders to block out areas of vision, leaving only the view a high See Religion, pg. 6
“Kids should know about religion and they should be taught about what it is, but they should not be taught to follow it. Parents can teach their kids when they’re younger, but it shouldn’t be in the curriculum until they are able to understand the different concepts.” -Ryan Frost ‘18
“It seemed kind of odd to me that the parents got so upset because they were learning about religion, but not practicing it. I think that it’s important that kids and people understand the different world religions we have and how we can live together by knowing more.” -Eliza Beutler ‘19
Is “The Donald” presidential material?
Trapped in a stereotype
We analyze the important qualities of a president
Criticized by the media and judged unfairly, millenials feel the weight of older generations
Abigail Vannatter Staff Reporter
the Black & Gold
The qualities of intelligence, honesty, and tolerance are highly valued by most cultures. As are an even temper, cooperation and the abilities to lead and unite. Is it any wonder that these are the qualities that we look for in the person who holds the office of President of the United States? As Americans, each of us like to think we posses many of these attributes, which is why we vote for a candidate that reflects our attitudes and beliefs. Furthermore, a president should represent all Americans. Americans have a duty, and that duty is to vote for a candidate whose qualities, in their opinion, would best fit the office of President of the United States. Do these characteristics apply to leading Republican candidate Donald Trump, fresh off his win in the New Hampshire primary? President Barack Obama gave his final State of the Union speech on January 12, 2016. The State of the Union is an annual speech given by the President of the United States informing Americans of all the current plans and events going on in the country and issues that need to be addressed. In essence, an annual, nationwide checkup. Obama’s speech skimmed over the current events in America such as decreasing unemployment rates, cheaper health insurance, and lower taxes. These things were greatly applauded by the crowd. The Democratic party appreciated Obama’s words, but a cloud was cast over the Republican party when potential shots were fired indirectly towards the leading Republican candidate, Donald Trump. “When politicians insult Muslims, whether abroad or our fellow citizens, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid is called names, that doesn’t make us safer. That’s not telling it like it is. It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals. It betrays who we are as a country,” Obama said in his speech. I agree. I have always thought the President of the United States is the president of all Americans, regardless of religion, race or creed. Considering this could create a conflict between Americans who practice certain religions and a possible President Trump, is this really what we want? That is not how a country with a strong government should be run. The
Editors-in-Chief Maddi Miller Julia Vannatter
News Editor
Kristin McLintock
Opinion Editor Carly Hernden
Feature Editor Maddi Miller
ideal scenario is that every single American has a strong alliance with their president. This is an impossibility, but there should at least be an effort made. It’s quite clear Trump is not willing to make that effort. Fox News recorded and aired a phone interview with Trump to get his reactions to Obama’s speech and the references that were made towards him. Trump claimed that Obama refused to mention Islamic terrorism in our country because he is “living in a fantasy land.” This statement is inaccurate. “If you don’t talk about something, you’re never going to solve the problem,” Trump told Fox News anchors, referring to the most recent terrorist incident which occurred in California. Obama did, although vaguely, mention ISIS and their attacks. I agree with Trump, things can not be solved until they are talked about. However, the purpose of these speeches, as I understand, is not to discuss past issues and threats, but to communicate with America and inform everyone on the current state of our union. With that being said, Trumps response was inconsequential and only implied something negative about Obama which was not what the question asked for. This shows Trumps poor ability to reasonably reply to given questions with effective feedback. At a recent town hall meeting held in New Hampshire, Trump received the following question, “We have an issue in our country, it’s called Muslims. We know our current president is one, he’s not even American.” When Trump replied, he completely disregarded the fact that Obama was called Muslim, and failed to set the record straight. In contrast, Trump doesn’t have the qualities needed to make situations like these as truthful as can be so false information is not spread. When a similar question was asked to Republican candidate John McCain back in 2009, McCain cut off the woman who claimed Obama to be Arab mid-sentence and replied with superior, suitable feedback. “He is a decent family man and citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.” This is one of the many accurate representations that demonstrates how Trump is not in fact a superior opposing candidate but a poor one. He focuses on himself and his beliefs. He is not portraying the qualities found in a person who is best fit for the job. If America is diverse and Trump has issues with the different ethnicities and groups throughout the country, how would his presi See Trump, pg. 6
A&E Editor
Nicole Rogers Staff Reporter
Our generation is constantly wrapped up in a digital world, slowly distancing ourselves from anything other than social media. We have gained the title “Generation Z”. The name comes from the following Generations X and Y. Generation Z is the millennial that’s been defined by global terrorism, economic collapse, and smartphones. They could also be defined as kids from about 1995 to 2010. Our generation is constantly being bashed in and by the media for being selfabsorbed, extremely lazy, and unfocused. More often than not we are defined as the generation by the invention of touch-screen smartphones. Our image is being warped by a digital world. Every generation is picked apart and overanalyzed. In our case, it is for having a shorter attention span and constantly communicating through the internet. These are not necessarily bad things. We have the ability to sort through information via the internet very quickly. With modern technology, teens are now able to associate with people from all over the world on different social platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook. “We see the digital world as an extension of our real worlds,” Teen author, Vivek Pandit, quoted from The Buffalo News says. “A place to create an extended identity, a place where we want to experiment, be creative and express ourselves fully and unconditionally.” Although our image is portrayed to be very self-invested, a study done by Time Magazine shows, out of a survey of 900, 60% of teenagers ages from 14 to 18 want to better the world around us. The percentage of Gen Zers who want to have influence over generations to come is quite significant to the 39% of millennials who wanted to make a difference in 2010 when they were our age. Along with our perspective on how the digital world should be used, Generation Z also has a very open minded attitude towards gender and race issues. These are typically seen as things that shouldn’t be issues at all because the majority of Gen Z believes in equal opportunities. A poll conducted by Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts showed 73% of Gen Zers supporting same sex marriage and 74% supporting equal rights for transgender people. Proof that we accept different perspectives, whether we agree with them or not. It is very easy to generalize and judge all generations. Every generation is raised in a different way, and every millennial is going to have their own way of doing things. This comes with the territory of being a human being. Furthermore, every millennial prior to Generation Z has some negative stereotype associated with them. Generation Y is known for their lack of work ethic and demanding flexible hours rather than working from nine to five, while Generation X is known for their apathetic and ambitionless attitudes. Every millennial has a flaw, and the stereotypes are nothing more than a shallow generalization. Behind every stereotype, there is a unique individual. Aside from the negative connotation given, we are self-motivated and want to work towards something we find meaningful. Yes, we use the media to socialize, but we also use it to voice our ideas, gain support and bring about change. Generation Z has a lot of potential for both success and failure. With the attitude of this comingof-age generation the options are limitless. In order to make a significant impact on the world, we should not limit ourselves to the judgements society has labeled us with. This is our generation and it is in our hands. Let us craft together something that resonates for the generations to come.
Taylor Weckstein
Julia Vannatter
Sports Editor
Business Managers
Noah Aulicino
Kirsten Berkey Hayley Scollard
Focus Page Editor
Photo Editor
Introspec Editors
Illustration Editor
Bethany Pataky
Maddi Miller Abbie Crick
Aidan Stiebel
Henry Lancashire
Staff Reporters
Andrea Bavikatty Ben Brown Jackson Conlon Abby Harnish Jack Myers Autumn Roberts Nicole Rogers Alex Stern Abigail Vannatter Baille Zipser
Send us an email at tccblackandgold@gmail. com or drop off a letter to the editor in room F-158
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Feb. 17, 2016
Feature
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Photo credits: K. Berkey, J. Conlon, A. Stiebel
In our spin off of Humans of New York, the Black & Gold went out into the Grand Traverse Community searching for inspiration and originiality. Our mission - to share stories, to inspire and to encourage self-expression. From one of our own teachers who taught in a jungle, to Larry who owns a local antique shop and spends his days gushing about his grandchildren, we were able to find one main comminality - passion. Stories like their’s are what make us believe in journalism and the positive impacts that comes from sharing each other’s stories. People are art and when combined with their stories and the right colors and pictures, we feel we are doing those stories justice. In a single quote, members of the community have conveyed their own self-definitions and made us all feel inpsired. This is what journalism is to us - finding stories that matter and sharing them. “I became a volunteer Young Life Leader in college at GVSU. Young life is a Christian organization and everyone is invited regardless of where they are with their faith. What is different about Young Life is that we know how to celebrate. At some point, we were taught that talking about God is not a celebration filled with laughter, joy and fun. I love to see kids that are happy and free because I don’t know where else they can be like that. As I got more involved in the Young Life program, I saw myself in the kids I was hanging out with. I realized how awesome it would have been to have an adult walking beside me as I navigate high school. We all need a helping hand at one point or another in our lives and that is especially crucial in high school.” - Erin Laferet, Young Life Leader
Question: What is the biggest threat to humanity? Answer: That Trump is almost gonna be president. Q: Why don’t you like him? A: He looks terrible and he is annoying and mean. Just all those bad words. Q: Do you know his politics? A: No. I just don’t like him. He’s yucky. Q: Are there any politicians you do like? A: Umm no. They’re all just weird. Politics isn’t interesting. There should be one president forever. Until he dies. Then you get a new one. Or print one. Q: What makes you happy? A: Bugging my brothers. It’s fun when they yell at me. -Max Battle, age 10
“When I was a candidate patroller, I wasn’t a full patroller and I couldn’t pull toboggans down the hill yet because I wasn’t done with my training. At the time, I would bring in first aid, and the hill team would come in later. I was sent in on a couple of different incidents, and one time there was a pretty severe injury, I assessed it correctly, got the victim down, got the right equipment, and afterwards some of the more senior, seasoned patrollers said I made the right call. It was really reassuring to me to know that I had made the right call. Now it is enjoyable for me to see people get those ah-ha moments when we are teaching them how to do the maneuvers, from me demonstrating them.” - Kyle Jones, fifth year Ski Patrol at Crystal Mountain
“I taught in the Choco Jungle on the border of Colombia and Ecuador to elementary-age students as a fresh college graduate. I fell in love with teaching there. I saw its impact of helping people overcome personal adversity and to help students’ better themselves. I fell in love with that region of the world. The school’s only supplies were half of a textbook and an incredibly inaccurate map from before the Cold War. Two teachers there named Josaphina and Erinson are my heroes today. They were able to take the most minimal resources and terrible job prospects for the kids and inspire them to show up every day for school in hope that things will get better. As much as I hoped I was an incredible teacher down there, I feel like I was the one that had gained so much as a result of that experience.” - Jeff Glikman, Social Studies teacher
What gets you out of bed in the morning? “My life. My job. I like my job. I do passports, and I like meeting people from all over that come in for passports. It’s fun. It’s fun to meet people and hear their plans. It’s fun because I get to see people come back that brought their kids in from five years ago. They have to come back in with their kids to renew their passports and it’s nice, they say ‘oh, you took my picture last time,’ and it’s fun it’s really fun.” - Michelle Arntz, Passport Clerk at 202 Union St
“Seeing my grandchildren happy is what makes me smile. I like watching them ski and play guitar. I have three that live in Traverse City. I live in Fort Wayne Indiana and I come up to see them and work at my antique booth. Meredith is 5, Moses is 8, and Maggie is 15. I see qualities of myself in Moses, and the other two are adopted.” - Larry, works at Wilson’s Antique downtown
4 Sports
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Feb. 17, 2016
Central’s hockey team excedes expectations Jack Steveson ’16 and Michael Fink ‘16 exemplify on ice team work and determination fueling Trojans motivation for post-season success
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Hayley Scollard Business Manager
Hard work, tradition and team bonding have all been important ingredients to TC Central’s hockey season this year. Within the mix of players, Michael Fink ‘16 and Jack Stevenson ‘16, are both especially important “ingredients” to the Trojan’s hockey team. It is not surprising that both Fink and Stevenson have had outstanding high school hockey careers so far and ambitions to play after high school. For Stevenson, the tradition began when he was five years old. “I’ve been playing hockey for twelve years,” Stevenson said. “My dad played college hockey, and he got me into it when I was really little.” Stevenson’s dad played for Eastern Michigan University and passed on his passion to his son. Although Stevenson’s dad got him hooked on hockey, his motivation comes from his own hard work that requires extra time and patience. “Working hard every day at practice and off the ice really motivates me to do better,” Stevenson said. “I’m in weights and I also have a personal trainer that I go to two or three times a week.” The constant dedication Stevenson has for hockey comes from his dreams of playing hockey at the University of Michigan next fall. “I want to get to college first and see where it goes from there,” Stevenson said. Fink anticipates going to a junior camp, which helps prepare young players to be college athletes. If he does play in college, he hopes to play club hockey, which is a recreational league for college students players. “I plan on going to some junior camps this summer and I’ll just play club where I go to college,” Fink said. Unlike Stevenson, Fink’s dad did not play hockey or influence him to play. He influenced himself to decide to play hockey from childhood memories of watching the sport with his family on TV. “My parents and I always watched hockey together and I remember that I wanted to try it,” Fink said. His love for the sport is shown through his vivid memories. Fink easily describes the moment he’s most proud of in his hockey career. “During my freshmen year, I was on a travel team with a couple friends and we were in the state semi-finals. We were playing with Grosse Pointe, who was the number one team in the nation for the whole year,” Fink said. “We lost to them earlier that season by one or two points, so beating them was a huge goal for us.” Fink enjoys being social, so it only makes sense his favorite aspect of hockey is the diversity of people he’s met and being able to have fun while on the ice. “My favorite part about hockey is being with friends and being able to just make fun of guys and have a fun time,” Fink said. Fink gets focused before games by driving himself to the rink with music. Focus is a large part of the skill that hockey requires. Hockey has always been known as an intense sport, so focus is vital to prevent injury and play well. During the game is the most difficult time to stay focused, something Fink admits he still struggles with. “The mental aspect is the hardest aspect of hockey because if you’re not focused, it will completely throw you off,” Fink said. Stamina can also affect a player when frequently under the pressure of the opposing team, as it’s easy to become mentally exhausted. Stevenson feels the mental aspect of hockey is a hard challenge to overcome, especially when stamina is running low. “During third period, you can get really tired. After a while of playing, it’s mostly in your head to overcome your exhaustion,” Stevenson said. “I learned that when I was running cross country. You have to find that place in your mind where you can’t be tired. You have to push yourself because it will be over soon and you can rest later.” Stevenson’s past experiences have certainly helped improve his hockey skills. The maturity he has developed about pushing physically and mentally is what makes him an exceptional player. In the midst of the hard work and focus hockey requires, relaxing is important. “The day before every game, we have a pasta dinner at somebody’s house. It’s a good way to get the team together and bond before the game,” Stevenson said. “Right before the game, we listen to the same song, and it gets us pretty hyped.” Music tradition proves to be a vital part of the Trojan hockey team. They listen to the same three songs every game to keep the energy and spirit up. ‘99 Red Balloons’ before warm ups, ‘Bro
Photo: E. Simon 1. The Trojan hockey team removes helmets in honor of the national anthem. 2. The Trojan starting line-up confidently kicks off the game, with Parker Hebden ‘16 leading them on the ice. 3. Players huddle, pep talking eachother and discussing the game plan.
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Photo: E. Simon
Photo: E. Simon
4. Jack Olson ‘19 congratulates teammate and captian of the team, Jack Stevenson ‘16 5. Forward player Will Beattie ‘17 skates swiftly around an opposing teammate, attempting to pass the puck.
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Photo: E. Simon
Photo: E. Simon
Hymn’ before the game, and ‘Can’t Hold Us’ is played in between the second and third periods. Being on a team means connecting with players, creating a bond that translates into wins and even a better atmosphere. This year, one of the parents rented out the Mount Holiday tubing hill and the team went tubing. Every Thursday before practice, a teammate hosts a game of mini sticks at his house. This hockey season, a new tradition was created. The team was split up into four groups and had to give fifty dollars back to the community in a way they chose. “My group donated our money to the public library,” Stevenson said. “The other groups bought people’s groceries for them or donated money to the Salvation Army.” For Fink, the highlight of the season was not just when the Trojan Hockey team had their most profound win, but when they
came together as one and all worked their hardest. “Our Houghton-Hancock trip was the highlight this season because they were supposed to have really good teams and our team wasn’t expected to be as good,” Stevenson said. “We actually played really well against them and they’re both top five division three schools. It was pretty good for us. I think every line worked well that game. We don’t have much depth and all the lines were working and everything flowed.” That flow finds the Trojans with an overall record of 12-8-1 and one win shy of the Big North Conference crown. The team has improved throughout the season promising a long post-season run and a bright hockey future for both Fink and Stevenson.
Conditioning pays off Butler is beckoning Traverse City Central wrestler Quin Doud ‘17 works his way to the top of his weight class Alex Stern
Staff Reporter Competition is dense in the air, with all eyes focused on the Traverse City Central wrestler Quin Doud ‘17. As Doud prepares to face off against his opponent for his next match, the only thought circulating through Doud’s mind is the necessity that he win this match in order to make it to the state competition. Deciding to wrestle at a young age, Doud has always known that wrestling was the sport that clicked for him. “I’ve been wrestling for eight years,” Doud said. “My friends were wrestling when I was younger so I decided to also, and that’s how I got into it.” Having a solid finish to the season, Doud hopes his hard work will pay off so he can qualify for states. “I have a chance of moving on to states depending on how I do the rest of the season,” Doud said. “I’ve done pretty well so far, and I’m in a tough weight class.
It’s one of the top classes.” Before states, the team has to practice to mitigate their flaws, like poor fitness and not being able to endure more on the mat for a long periods of time. Since the beginning of the season, the team has made big improvements. “We’ve definitely improved on conditioning. We’ve gotten a lot stronger,” Doud said. “During practices, we mostly do conditioning, like running and doing stairs.” One of the benefits of wrestling is improved overall physical conditioning which in turn improves psychological fortitude. “It gets you stronger,” Doud said. “It gives you more mental strength, pushes your limits, and it makes you realize how much it takes to get to the top.” Right now, the Trojan wrestling team has a record of 8-12 and they are headed to the state championships. Along with conditioning, the team has also improved their skills on the mat, which shows promise for their future in states.
“The team continues make huge improvements on the mat,” Coach Don Funk said. “We are competing at a higher level than we were last season and still making strides and winning matches. With the return of a lot of young wrestlers, we have continued to grow around their athleticism and determination to win.” Each wrestling match is six minutes long. High school wrestling is recorded in two ways. Points are recorded based on how long the wrestler is down for. Back points, which are near fall points when the opponent is almost, but not quite, pinned. Improved strength and performance in their matches is resulting in more of both types of points, which means the team is headed down a path of success for the end of the season. “I really think the team could have a shot at states, as long as we continue to keep up our hard work and keep pushing ourselves,” Doud said. “I would also really like to make it to the top of the Big North Conference by the end of the year.”
Ethan Mason ‘16 signs with Division 1 university to play college soccer Noah Aulicino Sports Editor
His pen moving across the paper, Ethan Mason ‘16 finally saw years of hard work pay off as his dream of playing college soccer became a reality. Mason solidified his spot in school history with his decision to continue his passion for soccer at the Division 1 level. Mason’s commitment to attend Butler University makes him one of the first Trojans to sign at the nation’s top collegiate level since the separation of Central and West High Schools. Butler competes at the Division 1 level, and currently has not only one of the top soccer programs in the Midwest, but also across the NCAA as a whole. In addition to a nationally competitive athletic program, Butler boasts some of the region’s best academic opportunities. Although he is excited to play, Mason is conscientious of the amount of work that college sports entail. “I’m really going to have to hold myself to a high standard and really dedicate myself to school and soccer, one hundred percent,” Mason said. “I know the coach, and I know he will push me in athletics, as well as with academics, which is good, because I like to be pushed.”
Fortunately, Mason is no stranger to the give and take required by this level of dedication. Apart from training on his own, Mason generally attends upwards of five practices a week for his national club team. The practices are held in Grand Rapids, requiring around 25 hours in commute time a week. Additionally, his team travels around the nation, playing in the United States Youth Soccer National League. To Mason, the time put in is well worth the reward—a chance to continue pursuing his passion and compete at one of the highest youth levels available. “I’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices involving my social life outside of school, but you have to work hard for what you want,” Mason said. “I just dedicated myself to the sport for the last four years, and I’m excited to see it finally pay off.” Photo: A. Stiebel
Ethan Mason ‘16 signing a letter of intent, accompanied by head coach Rob Boynton.
A&E
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Feb. 17, 2016
Focus:
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Ceramics Alli Beauchamp ‘18
Photo: A. Stiebel
Name of Piece: Lantern Materials used: wheel, exactoknife (razor) Techniques: carving away clay and using the negative space to give it pattern Inspiration of Piece: “The inspiration behind the design was based off of the shape and pattern of flower petals. For this piece, I wanted a soft pattern that wasn’t overwhelming.” Why did you choose this piece to be published? “I chose this piece because I feel it was my best work from the class. I was also very happy with the way this specific piece turned out. I spent a lot more time on it than I had with previous projects.”
.S
os: E
iebel
A. St
Graphics: H. Lancashire and A. Stiebel
Phot
and imon
Karl Lannen ‘18
Olivia Policastro ‘19
Photo: A. Stiebel
Name of Piece: Bowl Materials used: pottery wheel, trimming tools Techniques: throwing on the wheel, trimming Inspiration of Piece: “Mrs. Harper spent time teaching us how to make and perfect bowls, so I wanted to try and use what I’ve learned to create a detailed bowl of my own.” Why did you choose this piece to be published? “I think it looks cool and is really symmetrical, which is good for a bowl. I would consider this piece to be one of my best pieces I’ve made throughout the class.”
LeighAnn Endres ‘18
Brayden Gates ‘16
Standing backstage before his opening night of Footloose, Brayden Gates ‘16, When Olivia Policastro ‘19 auditioned on both nervous and excited, waits for his stage for Central’s Footloose production, cue to head onto the stage. Before going she was not even hoping for any part in onstage to make his debut as black cast particular, soStanding she was backstage not at all expecting lead character Ren McCormack, Gates before his opening to get a lead night role playing Rusty. of Footloose, Brayden Gates imagines ‘16, boththe original actor for Ren, Kevin “I was so surprised when I found out Bacon, nervous and excited, waits for his cue for inspiration. As the cue comes that I got this Policastro said. “I and he makes his entrance, Gates is fully torole,” head onto the stage. Before heading was really happy about it. I was excited in character and effortlessly jumps into onstage to make his debut as black cast to have suchlead a great role asRen a freshman the scene. character McCormack, Gates because thatimagines doesn’t happen a lot.”actor for Ren,“It’s very easy for me to get into charthe original Kevin After hearing the news, Policastro acter and Bacon, for inspiration. As the cue comes it makes me so happy that I began to learn her character for the play the same character Kevin Bacon andabout he makes his entrance, Gatesget is fully production. in Policastro says she watched did,” character and effortlessly jumps intoGates the said. “I think that Ren is a kid other performances online to get a better who is trying to move on from his past scene. feel for the role thatvery sheeasy would and is also very energetic, so I try and “It’s forbe meplaying. to get into charIn Footloose, Rusty is a fun, loving, portray acter and it makes meyet so happy that I getthat. Playing Ren is just so much sassy character. happyKevin she Bacon fun that playPolicastro the same was character did,”I enjoy it a lot, which makes getgot such a unique into character very easy.” Gates role said.because “I thinkshe thatcould Ren is a ting kid who have fun while acting--she didn’t have to is trying to move on from his past Because and is Gates had only participated in be confined also as some the other the musical his sophomore year, the news very of energetic, soroles I try and portray did. Having that. this role definitely he had been given the lead came as Playing Ren isenhanced just so much that fun that Policastro’s first experience performing at a shock I enjoy it a lot, which makes getting into to him. Initially, he was nervous Central. about having such a major role with minicharacter very easy.” “I still needed to be humble because mal experience. However, over the course Because Gates had only participated I’m still a freshman,” said. “Iyear, the of news the production of Footloose and support in musicalPolicastro his sophomore take critiquethat fromheeveryone in the fromasother members of the cast, Gates had beenelse given the lead came cast becauseaIshock have to my charhad no problem taking on the lead. tobuild him. up Initially, he was nervous acter to makeabout it flow with such everyone else.” wasn’t coming into this expecting having a major role with“IminiAlong with performing in the new this role at all, but it just happened,” auditorium, Policastro enjoyed her parts Gates said. “I’m very thankful for it, and where she got to entertain the audience. it’s been an amazing opportunity. I love “I really like the big dance numbers, that I can just have fun with my character. or when I have a joke in my line or say Being in the show involves a lot of ad lib, something funny,” Policastro said. “I look making it up as you go along and really forward to doing that because the audijust having a good time and enjoying the ence gets a kick out of it.” show.”
Shannon Fiegel ‘16 Standing in front of a packed audience, lights shining in her eyes, gold cast lead Shannon Fiegel ‘16 (Ariel), takes a deep breath. Breaking the brief silence, Fiegel’s voice fills the auditorium, the other actors start singing along with her, the audience begins cheering, and Fiegel realizes that there’s nothing she would rather be doing. “Singing is my absolute favorite thing to do,” Fiegel said. “My love for singing has been really helpful in allowing me to focus on improving my acting more.” Fiegel has participated in the musical since sophomore year, but until this year’s production of Footloose, has only been given small roles. Although Fiegel was anticipating a slightly larger role this year, begin chosen for the lead was unexpected. “It’s been a huge challenge, but a really fun challenge,” Fiegel said. “I’ve never been able to be as involved in it until this year, and it has been such a cool, new experience.” Fiegel’s experience in Footloose has had a huge impact on her and has helped her realize what role singing and theatre will have in her future. “I’m so thankful for this opportunity because it has opened my eyes to how much fun acting really is,” Fiegel said. “I want to be in a singing group in college, and even though there are other things that I want to do with my life, singing will always be a part of it.”
The behind-the-scenes production of Footloose
Along with the musical cast members, there is a group of highlydedicated students who run the sound and lighting at performances Photo: J. Conlon
Name of Piece: Hope Materials used: pin tool, roller Techniques: slipping, scoring, hollowing, rolling and smoothing Inspiration of Piece: “I had a really cute idea in mind of what I wanted to make, and then we had a tile project so I was able to do it.” Why did you choose this piece to be published? “I chose to publish this piece because I liked the way it turned out and it was a fun project to make. I hope to keep making things like this in the future because even though it took a while to make, it was worth it in the end when I saw the finished project.”
Autumn Roberts
Photo: E. Simon
Staff Reporter
Joey Wheeler ‘17 scans the brand new auditorium on opening night of Footloose as he prepares to man the mixing console. The lighting and sound crews of Traverse City Central High School are made up of students who are intrigued with how the technology behind the scenes works. Even though it requires a good amount of time and work, the members of the crew enjoy what they do. “I decided to join because at my old school I did tech stuff for musicals and I always had an interest in theatre and auditorium work,” Wheeler said. “I’ve been in a couple musicals but that didn’t really float my boat, so I tried sound. I found out I like the technical stuff a lot more. We work on lights, hang mics up, and work on the speakers.” Wheeler is just one member of Central’s sound crew who have worked on the production of Footloose. The major challenge for the crew this year was learning all of the new technology of the renovated auditorium and making sure each crew member was familiar with every button, switch, circuit, cable, microphone. “The new auditorium made things easier and harder at the same time,” production member Dylan Kangas ‘19 said. “Everything is a lot more digital and advanced, which forced us to make
Managing the sound board, Joey Wheeler ‘17 runs the audio and visual effects for the Footloose performances. “Being in the crew backstage and working with the lights and sound is fun for me,” Wheeler said.
adjustments and learn the new technology, but now that we know how it all works it’s a lot easier for all of us.” Despite the long and tedious hours of becoming familiar with the new technology, the crew members were still able to have fun while working, which made the process a lot more enjoyable for everyone. “I enjoy working in the crew because it is helping me prepare for future experiences in the music industry, so having the knowledge of sound technology will really help me in the future,” crew member Connor Voss ‘17 said. “It is also nice to be a part of the team because everyone is friendly to each other which makes the experience a lot more fun.”
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Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Feb. 17, 2016
Boosters Continued from pg. 1 of all TCAPS sports programs. “We are headed in a really great direction because we are getting so much alumni support,” Goodwin said. “Central has big things coming up for athletics, and we are assuring we do not have budget issues by doing it collectively with current students, parents and alumni. We are really coming together as a community to make sure that our athletic department stays strong and is funded properly.”
Religion Continued from pg. 2 drawn when a teacher preaches or expouses specific views or reads page after page of the Bible or Koran, or a similar religious doctrine. This incident was far from preaching. This was a teacher following the guidelines that were given. The teacher inquestion presented information being taught, not opinions, as stated previously. We also believe students should be exposed to different religions at a young age so it slowly becomes more and more familiar. Religion is
crucial to learn about because it provides a reason for so many historical events. Students in first grade are unable to fully comprehend such a heavy subject because it is foreign and they do not understand the significance of it. It is best to expose kids to it at a young age then teach it more in depth in later years. The sooner this information is taught, the sooner it sinks in.
Trump Continued from pg. 2 dency work? The President of the United States needs to be willing and ready to work with all people and their views, not just limit this to their party and their party only. We live under a Democracy, and that’s not how things work here. The words that come out of his mouth are totally egotistical and unprofessional. He’s a rich man using his money to get what he wants. Taking citizens thoughts into consideration is a major characteristic to being a leader, Trump tends to lack that. March 8, 2016 marks the date, the day I hope Americans go out and make a good decision in the voting booth. If he or she were to prove themselves incapable of doing the job well, it would be Trump. And if the day does come, that Donald Trump is President of the United States, I’ll be disappointed.
7
Focus
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Feb. 17, 2016
Single on Valentine’s Day? Page credit: B. Pataky, J. Myers, A. Harnish
Cut these memes out
How to make yourself not look single
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Graphic: courtesy of maximumpop.com.uk Graphic: courtesy of pinterest.com Graphic: courtesy of pinterest.com
The best way to convince other people that you actually have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, is to actually have a romantic partner that you can prove exists outside of your fabrications. The best way to go about scoring a romance is to find someone that you think you might be interested in dating. Then begin to speak to that boy or girl, but stay honest and true to yourself, and do not lie to a potential love interest. If they find out that you are not telling the truth, they will not want anything to do with you. Ask them to maybe get coffee or lunch sometime. Exchange phone numbers and Twitter handles, so you can communicate when needed. If you do find yourself on a date or other romantic excursion, dress to impress, but don’t push the fashion envelope. Be sure to make a lasting impression. If you still enjoy going out with this person after several successful dates, propose that the two of you go steady and date exclusively. This means, Ta-Da - you are in a real relationship and the above steps will not be necessary.
Graphic: courtesy of tumblr.com
For people wanting to further their “relationship,” create a sappy Valentine’s Day post. Use this post to express the love you have received on any social media platform, outside of the obligatory teddy bear picture. Although it has the possibility to be very creepy, and some would not recommend it, you can take a picture off the internet that looks close to how you described your partner. Just open up Google and search for gender along with some physical attributes. These can be things like “blonde hair, green eyes.” You can post this sappy shrine on Twitter or Instagram—or better yet, both of them, expressing how much you love this great, fake person. Make sure to include specific facts about this person that you’ve told your friends, to keep up the façade. Don’t choose to post a picture of someone with brown hair when you specifically said blonde hair to everyone you know. This step is very risky, so proceed with caution if you choose to do this. Make sure to reference your notes that you should have written down in step one. If you do this, and find a convincing picture, everyone will for sure think that you are not single.
BONUS STEP: Find a real person
Graphic: courtesy of pinterest.com
Giant teddy bears are a great way to show others you have a special someone. We see them posted all over Instagram around this time of year, and we all feel that pang of jealousy for whoever is holding the all-important relationship status criterion. To really solidify your relationship status and show off the fact that you are “not single,” you can buy yourself one of those massive teddy bears from the nearest store that sells them. Once you find this extremely important item, whip out your iPhone and take the picture. You don’t even have to buy the stuffed animal! Just make sure you zoom in enough not to get anything recognizable from the store in the corners or background of your picture, or someone might see your fault and call you out on it. This picture can just be of the gift, or it can be a selfie. When you post your picture, make sure to caption it with something that makes it obvious your significant other got it for you, such as, “Aww, look what ___ got for me! #ValentinesDay #love.” If giant bears are not your cup of tea, you can substitute it for chocolate and a small gift. Bam! You officially do not look single.
Step 5: Post on Social Media
Graphic: courtesy of pinterest.com
Graphic: courtesy of H. Lancashire
Step 4: Take fake pictures
Graphic: courtesy of tumblr.com
Roses from Student Senate are a necessary aspect of your relationship status. We all have been that loveless, flower-less, loner in the back of the classroom gazing longinly at those who receive roses — it is an unfortunate experience. Their eyes light up as they read the message from their loved ones. Their smile grows as your frown does the same. Don’t let this happen to you this year! In order to up the game of your credibility, buy a rose, or even multiple, from Student Senate and write a cute note, signing it from your fake partner. Make sure to write the note in a different penmanship, or have one confidante that knows about your secret write it for you. It is highly unlikely that you and your significant other from another school have the same handwriting, and you don’t want to risk people recognizing it as your handwriting. This year, you will be the one whose eye’s light up with excitement. Everyone who didn’t get one will be watching you as you read your note. After you receive the rose, you will become one with the “in-a-relationship” group, and you will have upped your fake partner’s credibility.
Graphic: courtesy of A. Stiebel
The next step in perpetuating the relationship ruse is to inform all your friends and peers that you are now officially in a relationship and out of circulation. This preventative measure will be of great benefit should you be invited to leave the comfort of your bed when you would much rather stay home and eat large quantities of Doritos, turn out the lights and bask in the glow of the newest season of Parks and Recreation on Netflix. This will also allow you to tell your friends that you are busy with your special someone when they want you to go window shopping at the mall. This excuse should work on most occasions, but make sure not to do this too often because you don’t want to lose precious friendships, or get too pale by staying inside all the time. Friends could possibly start to question your loyalty to them when all you do is spend free time with your romantic partner. They might think that you do not want to be friends with them anymore, and no one wants to lose their good friends over a girlfriend/boyfriend-especially a non-existent one! This situation could come back around to bite you in the derrière. Plus who doesn’t want to keep their fading tan as long as possible?
Step 3: Buy yourself flowers
Graphic: courtesy of gurl.com
You will not convince anyone that you are not single if you do not have the basic details to prove this partner exists. Be sure to come up with some basic characteristics for this person. Include eye color, hair color, height, and other physical traits. Make sure you keep your story straight, so you do not contradict yourself and leave your peers suspicious. If you say they have blue eyes once, then you should be sure to say blue eyes again! The only thing more embarrassing than creating a fake partner, is getting caught and revealing your desperation. No one wants to be deemed desperate. Consider putting these characteristics in your notes on your phone, so you do not forget them. Creating your fake partner can be fun, so be creative, and be sure to keep it realistic. Do not make your fake boyfriend a music prodigy from Paris, France that tours with Beyoncé, or that your girlfriend’s dad is Jay-Z, or something like that. Also keep in mind to make them from a school far away. If someone gets suspicious, the first thing they will do is talk to their friend from that school and ask them questions about your partner. It will be awkward and embarrassing for you, and for everyone else.
Step 2: Tell others of your status
Graphic: courtesy of tumblr.com
Step 1: Create your partner
Give these funny cards to friends
8 IntroSpec
Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold Feb. 17, 2016
The education system
How the education system in the US and the pressure to succeed in college pushes students to prioritize grades over learning comprehension All graphics: H. Lancashire
Abbie Crick & Taylor Weckstein
Current Events Each issue, we test students’ knowlege on current events, represented by an ostrich burried in varying degrees of sand
Abbie Crick & Taylor Weckstein IntroSpec Editors
IntroSpec Editors
We are knowledge hungry, and always have been. We’ve pushed ourselves since freshman year. We’ve found our limits and we’ve come to realize that maybe taking four AP classes and a couple college classes is too much at once. Sure, some of the reasons we choose those classes were to impress colleges. But, to be honest, we took some of the hardest classes this school has to offer because we’re passionate about them, not because an Ivy League School wants to see it. For some people, these classes are just hurdles they have to vault in order to look good on paper. For that reason, cheating is real. It’s prevalent. The conventional logic goes that if you’re learning something in class that you won’t use later in life, you can cheat to get a good grade, and continue forward unaffected. Abbie: I want to go into law, or maybe literature, and still I took AP Statistics as a sophomore and BC Calculus as a junior. While I will probably never use a derivative, Mr. Failor taught me problem solving skills, logistics and the complexity behind things we take for granted. While I could have found his tests from past students, I instead opted for tutors, for spending long hours away from family, who were playing in the living room, to study. Taylor: Going into my junior year, the prospect of taking AP Language and Composition terrified me. I felt at ease sitting in a Differential Equations class with a bunch of students four years my elders, yet every time I passed room C186, I was filled with trepidation. Joelle Kolody, who is now one of my favorite teachers, terrified me to no end. Last year, I spent hours slaving over my computer, drafting and redrafting a “Hills Like White Elephants” essay only to receive a C. Yet it was all worth it. AP Lang taught me how to think critically about the world around me, it taught me how to express the messy tangle of ideas previously imprisoned in my head. It’s not easy. It’s frustrating and more than once we have wanted to cheat so badly it physically hurt. We looked at our friends, pulling the rubber band trick, leaving class to google answers, or, most infuriatingly, cheating off of their siblings. Friends that have gotten into some of the best schools in the country. But the great thing is, those rubber bands will snap, Google doesn’t always have the answer, and, most satisfyingly, sibling cheaters will always live in the shadow of those siblings because they have never learned anything for themselves. These classes that people are cheating their way through are the classes that make us into well rounded people. They’re classes that make us more than a one-dimensional person. If we cheat for grades, we
don’t become smarter people, we become our transcripts because all we took away from that class was a letter on a piece of paper. Yes, it will be hard. We couldn’t have done it without compassionate teachers and parents that fought for our success around every turn. It turns out that the struggle was well worth it. We’ve found the old adage “knowledge is power,” isn’t far off. Abbie: That said, you won’t find me in Calculus-based Physics class, because again, I’ve found my limits. I plan to go into the most challenging Literature classes I possibly can, because that’s where my real passion lies. When I was younger, I wanted to be a poet, and my father snorted that when I grew up I wanted to be poor. He thought that my love of poetry, my fascination with how Whitman describes grass, was “non-essential” knowledge that would never benefit me later in life. But how is my loving didactic meter different than Taylor loving derivatives if we learned both ofthem? Who is to say that my advanced literature classes aren’t just as impressive as her advanced math courses? Taylor: When the time comes each year to sign up for classes, I always elect to take as many science classes as possible even though I consciously try to maintain a well rounded schedule. Biology, enthralls me; nothing seems more important than the study of life. The inner workings of the human body seem almost too perfect to believe. Be it drastically increasing someone’s quality of life through advances in medicine, or protecting the precious environment, I know I want to use my knowledge of science to positively impact the world. Really, that’s where the importance of this lies. As people reflecting fondly on their high school careers after finishing college apps, we’ve learned this: Do you what you love to do, and try to realize the importance of what you don’t. Cheating through a class isn’t going to make that experience anything more than a good grade. Grinding through that class will provide a new perspective on the mechanics of the worlds and, honestly, will make you love your favorite classes that much more. We have come to value knowledge for the power behind it, for the way it allows us to understand the world. Not for the way it looks on our transcripts. We’ve learned we need to understand math to appreciate the rate at which grass grows, and we need poetry to appreciate its beauty.
Anonymous students’ point of view “I only cheat in the classes that don’t matter.” “Once I found the first AP question online, there was no turning back.”
“Teachers call it cheating, I call it teamwork.” “If you already learned it, why not use someone else’s homework?”
Genocide Only one out of the thirty-six students polled at Central High School knew about the genocide of the Rhoingya peoples in Myanmar. A recent report conducted by Yale’s Law School found decades of systemic discrimination against this minority group. There have been three ethnic cleansing campaigns in Myanmar since the 1970s. Huffington Post has reported about the recent progress in the country: the transition from military to civilian rule. However, these major democratic gains may be covering up the other atrocities occurring in the country. Likewise, the American media may not be covering this issue as much as they normally would because Muslim people are being persecuted rather than the other way around.
Genocide
Students did not know about the genocide in Myanmar. Body in the ground.
Occupation Students were pretty aware of the armed occupation of a federal building in Oregon. Head out of the ground.
Occupation Fifteen of the thirty-six students polled knew that armed militants had taken over a government building in Oregon and had retained control for over a month. The “Bundy Militia,” as the group dubbed themselves, had two distinct goals according to CBS News. They wanted the release of Dwight and Steven Hammond, father son ranchers persecuted for ranching on what was probably government land, from prison. They also wanted the Malheur National Forest be handed over to locals in the area.
“If you copy off one person it’s cheating, but if you copy off of a bunch of people, it’s research.” The idea behind Introspec is to combine current events and opinion. Every issue, we pick a topic and Taylor and Abbie write about it from an inner perspective as students - Introspec. Doug Luciani writes to represent the community - Comspec. And finally, we choose two countires and cover how they view and deal with the issue - Globespec.
Comspec Guest Writer
Students live in a high-drama countdown to the next test. Their extracurricular activities are used as means to judge them versus allowing for development and self-expression. Their homework is massive as more data “for the test” is crammed into their narrow time-frame. Students are more connected to each other and the world via their devices than ever before, while, in some ways, they are more out of touch with the world than previous generations. Employers bemoan a lack of the “soft skills” among
employees. They want individuals to look them in the eye, write and speak in complete sentences, figure things out, and finish things.
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Doug Luciani
Doug Luciani is the CEO of TraverseCONNECT. Here he gives his view on how our current system of education is preparing the world’s future leaders.
Civic leaders have social graces.
Civic leaders have social graces, humility, and the ability to separate important issues from trivial. Those require empathy, experience, patience and grace. Yet, a
formulaic approach to performance has replaced time for play, introspection, experimentation, and the joy of being a child. We have created standardized metrics and are risking a massive generational burn-out. Some blame “the system.” Yet, it is we, the public that are to blame. We “throw the bums out” when we don’t get immediate gratification politically. When we vote no on school bond issues with the caveat, “live within your means,” and, “show me the ROI,” we force teachers and administrators to perform to robotic, measurable standards where everyone is viewed as being the same. Reminds me of the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”
Globespec We chose Canada and the Central African Republic to show global variations of educational approaches
Canada
According Admissions Intel (a college consulting organization) the college admissions process in Canada differs greatly from process in the US. Canadian colleges are often highly specialized, career driven institutions - perhaps putting more pressure on students to decide on a career path early on. However, colleges and universities in Canada tend focus less on extracurricular activities. Finally, colleges in Canada often forgive poor grade performance early in a student’s high school career, providing students an incentive for growth.
Central African Republic According to UNICEF, students of the Central African Republic have class sizes of about 87 students with only one teacher to instruct those students. There is one university in the entirety of the country and the percentage of students who are educated past primary school, much less attending that one university, is infinitesimally small. According to UNICEF the overall literacy of the country is a meager 50%.