BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY (BGQ) APRIL. 2017

BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY

april 2017 // volume ninety-six

BGQ // April 2017

editors’ note

2

In addition to the com-

We at the BGQ are thrilled

community members and

to be sharing our latest

bring awareness. Sex

munity-focused content

issue with our readers,

issues and rape culture are

in this issue, our readers

and to present a project

heavily present in today’s

will find coverage vary-

that has been long in the

society, even in our small

ing from the SEA Club to

making. Back in Novem-

community, and we feel

student artwork. The BGQ

ber as we were laying

it is important that we

staff also spent time out in

out the second issue

present our observations

the community during this

of the BGQ, it became

and research about these

issue. We were featured

obvious to our staff that

topics. We hope that by

on the Ron Jolly Show on

we needed to address

providing our readers with

WTCM Radio, appeared

several issues that we feel

this information, we can

on Horizon Books’ Up

are of great importance

open a discussion that will

North Friday’s show, and

to the student body of

set change in motion. Af-

were featured in a story

Central High School and

ter all, progress rarely hap-

published in the Record

the community as a whole

pens all at once. It occurs

Eagle. While doing so, we

the prevalence of sex in

because of many small

were able to see different

media and the notion of

events that take place in

aspects of our community

rape culture. We also

order to spark a change.

and how they view the

ask questions about the

Even though discussing

BGQ. The feedback was

current state of sex educa-

rape culture or other sex

enticing, and we hope

tion curriculum in Mich-

issues in a high school

readers will find this com-

igan and TCAPS as they

magazine will not fix these

munity-based issue just as

relate to the world we are

problems, we at the BGQ

intriguing.

exposed to in media, film

cannot agree more that it

From the Pub,

and elsewhere. While we

is definitely worth bringing

understand the sensitivity

attention to serious issues

inherent in these topics,

within our community, and

we hope that by address-

we hope that our readers

ing them we can inspire

will consider our observa-

conversation amongst

tions with an open mind.

BGQ

BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY: APRIL TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN

4 The Talk: the birds and the bees in school 8 Media’s subliminal messages 10 He-said she-said: unrealistic expectations 12 Exposing rape culture 16 Interview with a prosecuting attorney 18 The Gallery: a student showcase 22 Mentality 25 Students for Environmental Advocacy 26 Around campus 27 Sponsorships 28 Shouldn’t be alive For any student or faculty member interested in submitting artwork, poems, writing, or a submission of any kind, please email your submission to us at bgq@tcapsstudent.net.

editors-in-chief julia vannatter andrea bavikatty content editors kirsten berkey abigail harnish kristin mclintock jack myers hayley scollard baille zipser business manager jack myers photography editor olivia wilson photographers michael aldrich abigail vannatter staff writers michael aldrich sophia boyce logan cook beatriz gaya greg haggerty olan lensch tyler moreno olivia rockwood abigail vannatter cameron wuerfel cover photo abigail vannatter special thanks maggie harnish

TALK THE

A

s long as there have been parents and children, “the bird and the bees” has been a touchy, emotionallycharged issue that has been veiled in mystery, half truths and innuendo. This has invariably has led to innocent confusion and misinformation as well as dangerous behavior and decisions. The BGQ would like to open up a discussion about issues regarding sex education and clear the air. Much the like the aforementioned euphemism, TCAPS current sex education curriculum (based off of the Michigan Department of Education’s guidelines for sex ed) strongly emphasizes abstinence to discourage teenagers from being sexually active. Yet, teenagers, to whom this education is aimed at, often feel they aren’t provided with factual, up to date, and unbiased information.

“So much is changing these days, and people are having sex at younger ages,” said Finch Moore ‘17.

“We have to make sure that people know that just because they’re being taught about sex, it doesn’t mean it’s encouraging people to go out and have sex. It’s just to giving them the information that they’ll need when and if they decide to become sexually active.”

Sex education curriculum generally teaches varying degrees 4 // BGQ // April 2017

of topics. Some of these topics include effectiveness of contraceptives, the age of consent, adoption programs, abstinence, diseases such as sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), and healthy relationships. Each state has requirements regarding sex education (sex ed) curriculum created by the state government. This must be followed by each school district, however, individual districts are allowed further specify the curriculum for sex ed.

The goal of sex ed according the TCAPS Sex Education Advisory Board’s (SEAB) “...believes that provisions should be made to equip students with the knowledge and skills to develop healthy relationships and to avoid sexual behaviors that put them at risk for HIV, STIs and unintended pregnancy.” A Summary of Legal Obligations and Best Practices, HIV/STI and Sex Education in Michigan Public Schools, published by the Michigan Department of Education, lays out the guidelines that all public schools must follow. Private schools are not bound by these guidelines. According to this summary sex education classes in all of Michigan public schools must present the following topics: benefits of abstaining from sex until marriage, benefits of ceasing sex if a pupil is sexually active, sex and the law, the age of consent (sixteen), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), encourage refusal skills and emotionally healthy relationships, adoption services, and being a parent out of “wedlock.”

Logically, abstinence is the only method that is 100 percent effective for not getting and preventing STI’s and unintended pregnancies. However, in today’s society, remaining abstinent until marriage seems less realistic in light of such potent influences like the sexualized media and entertainment industries. Is it possible that increased teenage sexual activity is merely reflecting the influences that bombard American teens in seemingly increasing amounts? Putting the emphasis on abstinence while ignoring other facets of sexuality certainly seems to avoid the reality that many high school students are sexually active. Instructing teenagers not to have sex seems unlikely to change the minds of those

K:

THE BIRDS AND THE BEES IN SCHOOL

Focusing soley on abstinence in sex ed only heightens teenagers’ curiosity about dif-

ferent aspects of sexuality. Putting the emphasis of abstinence while ignoring other facets of sexuality avoids the reality that many high schoolers are sexually active. teens who are already sexually active. And what of those teens who are considering becoming sexually active? Focusing on abstinence without considering the broader spectrum of protection only heightens teenagers curiosity about the mystery of sexuality.

The SEAB must include, “parents of children attending TCAPS schools, pupils within TCAPS schools, educators, local clergy, and community health professionals.” The fact that clergy must be present and that abstinence is heavily encouraged may imply a religious bias. “We can teach the facts, what we can’t do is teach how a student should believe or convey their personal, political, spiritual beliefs,” Head Principal Jessica Houghton said. It is not intended for public schools to teach the ideas of a certain religion. As reported in the The Huffington Post, “Yes there is a division between church and state,” although there are some students who have these values and beliefs, “the court ruling in the case of Everson v. Board of Education stated ‘the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect ‘a wall of separation between Church and State.’” Therefore, parents can

remove their children from public schools if they have a difference of belief.

The current curriculum is missing essential pieces of information that would help students make more informed, educated and safe decisions. For example, students aren’t instructed about condom use or birth control, which could lead to misconceptions such as thinking an ID is needed to buy condoms or wondering whether teenagers can obtain birth control without a doctor’s prescription. According to Chris Roggen, a registered nurse and supervisor for Adolescent Health in Grand Traverse County, “the law technically says that minors can get birth control, But there are other laws that come into play at the age of 13 and under. So realistically the age is 14.” It also depends on the brand and type of birth control whether or not a prescription is needed. Minors can also get condoms, without a prescription. This lack of accurate information, students could be using protection incorrectly or not at all, which defeats the whole purpose of even teaching about protection. While this lack of adequate information about contraceptives in TCAPS’ sex ed curriculum may match many adults’ perception of teenage

sexual behaviors today, it doesn’t address the fact that 41 percent of students were sexually active in 2015 as stated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This gap between the expectation and reality of how often teenagers have sex could impact the prevention of both sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies. For these reasons, Rachel Muszynski ‘18 feels a contraceptive-based curriculum would be more effective than an abstinence-based curriculum. “I feel like there are a lot of people who don’t know a lot about contraceptives,” Muszynski said. “They definitely need to reform the curriculum to make it more contraceptive-based to give out the information to minors who may need to know based on what they’re probably going to do in the future.” After all, how are students expected to protect themselves both now and in the future without proper knowledge of how to use these contraceptives?

Another grey area in the current curriculum is consent. Teaching consent means simply informing students how to communicate, and what could be interpreted as miscommunication. Although this goes along with the abstinence-based program,

Contraception-based sex ed is important because instead of just addressing abstinence, you acknowledge the fact that that having sex is a possibility. When you do reach the point of deciding to have sex, you should be aware of how to do it safely.

The knowledge of consent is important with respect to the larger issue of rape and sexual misconduct. Similarly, other issues indicate that current curriculum is out of touch with both a societal and teenage view of sexulaity. Roggen can see many gaps in the abstinence-based sex education. “While abstinence is the best way to prevent a pregnancy, there’s not a broad enough discussion of sex as a whole in sex ed,” Roggen said. “It doesn’t discuss about emotional, psychological, spiritual impact of sex and what it is.

There’s also zero discussion about LGBTQ relationships at all.” Some students agree with Roggen. Chloe Beyer ‘18 feels the lack of instruction on LGBTQ relationships is unfair. “There are so many gay kids and trans kids in this school, and they should be considered equal,” Beyer said. “These groups of people exist, and we shouldn’t be ignoring them.” The lack of information about LGBTQ relationships not only creates unequal representation of students, but also negatively impacts staff. “Education creates acceptance,” Beyer said. “So if the teachers won’t teach about LGBT relationships, they’re doing themselves a disservice by not being accepting and by doing that, they’re doing their

6 // BGQ // April 2017

students a disservice.”

Information about abortion, with regard to the law and the procedure itself, is another area that is currently not included in the curriculum. Obviously, abortion is a highly charged issue with regard to emotions, morality, ethics and faith. Consider that politics falls into the same category, and yet TCAPS offers in-depth curriculum with regard to the nature of politics.

Perhaps it is time to open the door to abortion-related curriculum as well. Is it possible that the old argument that this kind of classroom instruction violates or interferes with with the parent-child relationship has become passe? Maybe, open and honest curriculum will inspire and stimulate insightful, meaningful and educated discussions at home and in the classroom that will lead to healthier and better informed decisions by teenagers.

Each student deserves to be given transparent, unbiased information that they then can draw their own conclusions from about what’s right for them.

Parents are able to remove children from certain aspects of sex education or opt them from the course entirely. From a societal perspective, this means essential information is not being taught to students from a teacher with a certification, which most parents do not have. “Many parents are intimidated to talk about sex with their kids, but they

won’t admit it,” Fern Spence, Medical Assistant, ER Technician, Phlebotomist, and Planned Parenthood volunteer said.

“A lot of the time, high school students are told that sex is shameful and is not a thing to be discussed openly with parents, which puts a lot of fences up,” Spence said. Students may not feel inclined to ask important questions, and the idea of talking about sex with their parents may be intimidating. “If we were more open and transparent with how we approached sex ed with high school students, there’d be less unintended pregnancies and there may be less STD’s,” Spence said.

The primary goal for any sex ed program should be to inform and educate students in a factual manner. Although TCAPS does provide minimal information about contraceptives, there is still a noticeable lack of helpful information regarding safe sex. Lack of thorough knowledge and access to current information could result in students engaging in sexual behavior without properly protecting themselves. If more students participate in an updated, informational sex ed class, more students whose parents opt them out of the class are likely to be influenced by those well-educated peers.

Meg Judd, mother of two TCAPS middle schoolers, feels the Michigan’s statewide abstinence-based program simply isn’t enough. “I think the sex ed here misses so much,” Judd said. “These parents have a right to review the materials to observe the instruction to excuse their child, so why are they excusing my child from learning all of it?” Although students are given basic information about the effectiveness of contraceptives, they are not taught how to use them, which is a serious issue. “In school, we encourage kids to take classes that they think will apply to their lives and later education, not on what the school’s expectation of what they’re going to do is,” Judd said.

“You’re presenting them with information so that they can make informed decisions Photos: A. Vannatter & O. Wilson

about their life and what they want to do.

Why is sex ed any different?” As Judd said, if the goal of a school is to educate, why is information necessary for students to understand what constitutes safe sex as opposed to dangerous sexual behavior shrouded in mystery?

Considering the fact that some students are sexually active, this idea becomes even more important. Perhaps it is time to clear away the mystery, innuendo and myths that can lead to harmful decisions and begin to present the complete picture in a clear, concise and accurate manner particularly at a time when the subject is the most poignant. It is better to be educated beforehand, even if some students are currently sexually active. “TCAPS ad-

visory committee meetings can be pretty lousy because there’s a lot of parents with a hidden agenda attending,” Spence said. “There’s a couple people that are abstinence-only education focused, and then the people who are more objective and plead that it should be transparent just don’t speak up.” It’s important to get everyone’s perspective on sex ed, to outline the potential strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum.

Statistics also prove preaching abstinence to high schoolers is ineffective. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, 30 percent of students surveyed were sexually active in the past three months, and out of that 30 percent, 43 percent did not use a condom last time they had sex. Even more critical, 14 percent did not use any contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy. This implies abstinence-based programs are either failing to teach a large portion students how to properly protect themselves, or not stressing the importance of protection.

Furthermore, many students agree that Central’s current abstinence-based program fails to provide students with important information.

“Contraception-based sex ed is more important because instead of just addressing abstinence, you acknowledge that having sex is a possibility,” Muszynski said. “When you do reach the point of deciding to have sex, you should be safe about it. And the more we are taught about how to be safe, we are probably going to see lower STI, STD, and teen pregnancy rates.’”

If students don’t learn about sex education now, when are

they going to?

Depending on the effectiveness of the curriculum, what we are taught now could affect our futures.

Although parents may take their kids out of sex ed, some kids will learn from parents effectively, but what about kids who are left in isolation or receive false information? “Sex ed is something serious and it shouldn’t be ignored,” Moore said.

“I think it should be it’s own class rather than a small section of a gym class. I know it makes people uncomfortable, but we need to face the issues head-on.”

The statistics from Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that teaching students to abstain from sex doesn’t decrease the participation in sexual activity. It seems much more likely that this approach to sex education curriculum actually hinders us from being aware of our bodies and how to properly protect ourselves. As a part of the student body, I have discovered the lack of knowledge students have about safe sex, and I have also discovered the desire for knowledge regarding safe, protected sex. The best option doesn’t always gain the most positive response from everyone. However, I truly believe a more updated, information-based sex ed curriculum would be for the betterment all concerned, students, parents, school system and society. // HAYLEY SCOLLARD

SUBLIM

MEDIA’S

P

icture a woman. What does she look like? How does she act? Maybe you pictured someone you know, your friend, teacher, mom, girlfriend. Or maybe you just pictured the average woman, someone you may run into at the grocery store or the coffee shop. Now picture a woman on the cover of a magazine, or on a reality TV show. What is different?

She is probably a bit too perfect, gazing at you seductively, wearing the most revealing clothing the company could get away with. This harsh disparity between the images on TV, in movies, magazines and advertisements and the reality of everyday people in everyday life plays into nearly every aspect of daily life. When attending monthly high school assemblies where cheerleaders and dancers perform suggestive routines, strolling through the mall and coming face to face with a larger than life poster of women in lingerie on the main thoroughfare, or walking into any Family Video and encountering a seemingly innocuous back room cordoned off with a sign reading “18 and Older Only.”

Mainstream media exposes teenagers to excessive and ubiquitous stimuli everyday.

Sexualized messages, both subliminal and explicit, are constantly presented through magazine covers, TV shows, and advertisements. Yet, the public often shies away from issues such as rape and social expectations for men and women. These contradicting views shape expectations, 8 // BGQ // April 2017

molding a paradoxical culture that defines sexuality as a key to success but also places a harmful stigma on it, labeling sexuality as a personal fault.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Ours is a society of sex. Many of the products we consume and the entertainments we seek are made appealing through sexualization. Consider Hardy’s cheeseburger commercials, displaying provocative women dramatically indulging in fast food burgers or Spirit Airlines who, in multiple advertising campaigns throughout the years has used profane references to threesomes and women’s bodies to sell tickets. The advertising industry is saturated with overt sexualization of even the most mundane of household goods.

Evidenced by a provocatively dancing Mr. Clean, the most mundane of household goods, during Super Bowl LI. And it works—sex sells. However, when comparing American advertising styles to their European counterparts it is obvious that Americans advertising is more dependent

upon explicit imagery sell products as well as boost ratings.

“I believe American advertising pushes oversexualized imagery and ideas more so than other cultures,” said Hans Schoonover, creative services producer for Heritage Broadcasting (a parent company of 9&10 News). This more explicit form of advertisement shapes not only American advertising trends, but also presents a contrasting view when compared with other trends internationally. “The difference I see is societies other than the U.S. use healthy sexual relationships as a tool while the American society’s use of sex is unhealthy in at least two ways: (1) they push unrealistic imagery as sexy and (2) they do not support/portray healthy, emotional, loving, secure relationships between partners.”As Schoonover explains, “It is easy to get the attention of a lot of people by dressing a better-than-average looking person in revealing clothes and showing them off. This approach is cheap and doesn’t require a lot of work or clever thought.”

This overt sexualization in media has prompted some local businesses to take a stand. According to Luke Haase, owner of the Traverse City Ticker, “the one situation where we’ve seen problems is in ads for strip clubs. I did institute a policy of not accepting ads that depict any man or woman in a compromising way in any advertisement at all.”

MINAL MOVIES This carnal permeation extends its reach to entertainment as well. Magazines, online articles, films, and TV shows all have the potential to display suggestive material and are all easily accessible to teenagers who idolize the celebrities and reality stars who appear in them.

The MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) rates films on a system ranging from G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, and X. Although these ratings suggest parental supervision, often many teens are watching films with sexual imagery at an early age. When released in the 1970’s, movies like A Clockwork Orange, Midnight Cowboy, and Evil Dead were rated X for strong language, violence, and sexual content.

Today, these films are rated R, two ratings lower than their original classification. This begs the question: are these once taboo

MESSAGES

concepts now commonplace enough to fit mainstream morality?

VIDEO GAMES In video games like Grand Theft Auto, popular among teens, players can visit strip clubs and hire prostitutes, and women are portrayed more like sexual playthings than human beings. Movies and television too are infused with these underlying messages of sex and sexuality. The ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) rates video games according to questionable content, while also determining the legal age at which games can be purchased. Despite these legal limits, teenagers are often exposed to these games earlier and more often than recommended. These ratings reflect societal standards on sexualized imagery, in an effort to create safety parameters for video gaming. If 13 year olds are playing games meant for 18 year olds the efficacy of these ratings is dubious at best.

TV SHOWS At this impressionable age, strong sexualiztion is ingrained in these kids. Popular shows such as HBO programs like Game of Thrones and Westworld are very explicit, not afraid to show some of the most intense sequences of rape and blackmail in a mainstream program. Research suggests that sexualized imagery depicting women being enticed and enjoying sexual

encounters leads to the misconception that rape is pleasurable for women and is likely to increase male readiness to hurt women (Malamuth & Check, 1981; Zillman, 1989). This imagery also has the ability to devalue relationships, making the average partner seem less attractive and desireable (Kenrick & Gutierres, 1980).

Even daytime TV and game shows have become more and more sexualized when compared to similar shows from twenty or thirty years ago. Take the classic game show Family Feud, in recent years the contestants’ responses have become more risque and less centered on the apparent family theme of the show. An increase in suggestive content across the board, even in a family oriented show can have serious repercussions.

SOCIAL MEDIA Perhaps most influential of all is the mass use of social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat that create a social expectation for their user base to get more followers, or likes, or have a higher score.

This is not in itself a sexual pressure, but when the content of the most liked and viewed imagery is taken into account it becomes apparent that whether it be a shot of celebrity skin or just a provocative selfie, sexually suggestive posts are the most popular.

“You see so many images on Instagram or Twitter and people think it is normal to

A

s a young man growing up in the midst of constant technological revolution, where an exponentially growing library filled to the brim with any kind of information or entertainment is at my fingertips, I can’t help but be immersed in it all to a degree surpassing any previous generation. This immersion is present in all of our lives; so it’s really no surprise that with all of this stimulus flowing in and around our minds every day, some of the Hollywood cliches and advertising tactics would seep their way into our collective worldview. One such notion, that being the way women are portrayed in all that media, has become a major point of contention in the world today. If you’ve ever seen any movie or TV show then you already know what I’m talking about. The women on TV are always gorgeous with perfectly smooth, radiant skin, beautiful silky hair, and toned, voluptuous bodies.

These women are goddesses, far better looking than you or anyone you know (probably even better than they actually look, considering what can be done with makeup and Photoshop). Whether it be to highlight the insecurities of consumers enough to convince them to buy the latest makeup, or to get

more male viewers into a theater, the bottom line is cash. I can’t say I blame them. If I was trying to sell makeup, or convince guys to see my romantic comedy, I would totally show off the most unrealistically attractive people I could find. However, the real problem is, that in spite of all their greatness, those perfect women we see in the movies or on the cover of Cosmo (yes, I’ve been in a grocery store) are all on display in a way that exploits not only themselves, but other women as well. The fact that we see women like this every day has really embedded this idea in our heads: women are supposed to be hypersexual beings. Everything around us points to them having to look a certain way and to dress a certain way, all designed to appeal to us guys from a marketing standpoint. It has gotten to the point where even women believe that it’s how things are supposed to be. Girls grow up surrounded by Barbie dolls and princesses.

Heck, even my four year old sister wears makeup sometimes. Not that wearing makeup is necessarily a bad thing, but it really shows just how ingrained this idea of being attractive is in our collective psyche.

She doesn’t know why she’s wearing it. There doesn’t seem to be any concept of sexuality or attraction behind it. However, she knows that is what girls are supposed to do. Similarly, media misrepresentation has given men a preconceived notion of what a woman should be, and it is not doing them any favors.

Guys think that women need to be perfect too, and have raised their standards to the point where no real person could ever meet them. When you take into account the negative effects that sexual overexposure can have on relationships it starts to become clear that these societal expectations are setting everyone up for disappointment, male and female.

However, the real problem is, that in spite of all their greatness, those perfect women we see in the movies or on the cover of Cosmo are all on display in a way that exploits not only themselves, but other women as well.

dress or act a certain way,” Hayden McNamara ‘19 said. “People begin to feel like they have to compete for appearance and that is where the line is crossed.” When people see posts on social media sites they associate the images with real people as opposed to what they see in other forms of entertainment. The idea that social media users are viewing Instagram photos or Facebook posts which have 10 // BGQ // April 2017

heightened verisimilitude, as opposed to watching characters in movies or television, leads to a more powerful perception that they need to resemble these images despite the fact the photos are doctored and selectively chosen to the same degree as any other image found in media. “Society more or less follows the trends on social media,” Hayden McNamara ‘19 said.

“If you take a person like Kim Kardashian

who has over 50 million followers then people are bound to follow what someone as famous as her may be doing. Whether it’s what she is wearing or how she may act, people respond by emulating her.”

CONCLUSION The paradoxical nature of our society is pervasive. To live in a culture constantly presenting its people with explicit sexu-

W

e are taught from an early age the negative results of stereotyping. Despite these precautions, we have grown accustomed to them in one large part of our lives—the media. In no other context can stronger stereotypes of men and women be found than on the TV screen or between the pages of a magazine. I understand why companies would publish and portray men this way, it is easy, alluring, and probably is what many people would want to see thereby selling more which is the ultimate goal. It matters for two main reasons. One, because we, teenagers and the majority of youth interact with some form of media everyday, and second because cramming a whole gender into a 4 by 4 box labeled “This is normal” results in skewed and distorted expectations. These fixed ideas begin early on. Think back to the days of Power Rangers, superheroes, and action figures. These fabricated characters were often bold in their actions and impossibly perfect. Growing up, boys who idolize superheroes and male leads with their strength and courage have learned from a young age that to be accepted, they have to fit this specific framework-one that often leads to feelings of inadequacy later on in life. These same characters still exist later in life but in different forms. In shopping malls, magazines, and advertisments, men are usually muscular, rugged, or lusting after a woman who is overtly sexulized to the point of laughabiltiy. Let us not to forget a little thing called social media. Somewhere along the line, society chose to accept the fake images and discard the real people in front of us and in our mirrors. We all have realized at one time or another that our standards, not only personally, but also for a character or image, were inflated beyond what we normally would expect. It begs the question, would the way we view masculinity as a culture be different if it were not for the media’s one dimensional portrayal of men? These images we have seen over and over do not, and never did, match the male figures we see in our own lives, yet we somehow accepted the distorted image as fact. This false representation makes women wonder why every man they see doesn’t look like that Calvin Klein model or have the alluring heroism of Superman; it gives a visual checklist to both men and women alike with criteria including Adonis like

features or proportions that mimic Hercules. How could men and women not have high expectations for partners or ourselves when these are the images we have to compare to? Every advertisement we see is defining masculinity in today’s culture by constructing a wall of ignorant expectations and if broken, individuals are left feeling insecure about their placement in these gender roles.

Furthermore, these expectations are forces that accelerate sexual violence in our society; males feeling pressure to display power, force, and superiority over their surroundings and others. The representations of men in media are presenting a single, fanciful, and unrealistic image of what it means to be a male in today’s worldone that excludes the many different quirks and characteristics of all men.

We could all benefit from seeing images generated by the media that encompass varied physical, mental, and emotional male attributes. Questioning the images we see in the media, realizing they are not fact, nor an honest depiction of all men is one step towards establishing a view of the male gender that is not only healthier but also realistic.

Would the way we view masculinity as a culture be different if it were not for the media’s one dimensional portrayal of men? ality without acknowledging its own role in the promotion of these ideas through the media places people squarely within a paradox, one that results in American youth having a skewed perspective of sexuality in modern life. Our tainted outlook could well be a catalyst for much of the controversy surrounding current conversations about sexual violence, education and expression. Media is powerful. It has the influence to change the priorities of

a populous and control the opinions and perspectives of everyone exposed to it. It is important that we actively think about what we are seeing everyday through outlets like television, social media and, yes, magazines. Questioning whether or not the images we see are an accurate or realistic model of the world around us is a good start. Although we cannot control the manner in which images are presented to us, we can attempt to see through

them. Hollywood executives and the entertainment industry should make an effort to portray the world realistically, and revolutionary as that may seem, perhaps then the pictures we see will match the world in which we live. // GREG HAGGERTY & KRISTIN MCLINTOCK

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Photo: A. Vannatter

Since society often excuses the actions of the rapist and blames the victim, it allows rape to continuen and holds women and men to different behavioral standards.

I

’ve seen many high schoolers laugh when presented with the term “rape culture.” It tends to get a bad reputation in society; many perceive rape culture as some extreme theory propagated by the radical misandrists in order to shame and complain about men. “How does rape culture exist when people go to jail for rape?

It’s still illegal, after all,” a rape culture sceptic might suggest. The fact is, rape culture is often mistaken for the crime of rape itself. However, the phrase extends so much further beyond the physical act of rape. It’s an idea instilled deeply into our society; that women should be responsible for preventing rape, rather than the idea that men should not force themselves onto a woman who did not give consent.

Because this attitude often excuses the actions of the rapist and blames the victim, it allows rape to continue, and holds women and men to different behavioral standards.

This has left an indelible attitude on the American Psyche.

14 // BGQ // April 2017

The roots of rape culture have been ingrained into Americans for years and continue to permeate society touching every member. For generations back, women have been told to never walk to their car alone at night, to avoid provoking violent behaviors by showing too much skin, and to stay away from anyone who looks questionable while walking down the streets, particularly men. The result of this paranoia? Women have to do everything in their power to stay safe, therefore if something goes wrong, we are left to believe that the fault belongs to the woman.

While women are being told to cover up, men are encouraged to have sex in order to acquire their manliness. For years, Americans have been indelibly stamped with an attitude that shapes not only what we see and what we think, but how we act.

This attitude is rape culture.

Hannah Rodriguez, a Community Advocate for the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center claims that “nationally, statistics show that about one in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. We see that being true in Grand

Traverse County as well. Children are just as likely to experience sexual abuse in small, rural communities as they are in larger, urban, perhaps more impoverished settings. We see it happening just as much here in Northern Michigan as we would in other parts of the country.” Rodriguez is also works with Team Zero. Team Zero is a local group that educates adults on child sexual abuse prevention.

Although rape crimes are occurring locally, Rodriguez says that there is a sense of hope as people are willing to acknowledge that rape is an issue in Traverse City. “I think it’s hard to look at an entire city and say that there is a rape culture, but I can only speak from what I know and what I can see. I see that we are are becoming a city and a region that is really starting to talk about this as an issue, that is really committed to keeping people safe whether they’re children or adults, and that is really willing to do what it takes to start to shift those numbers to say that we have safe communities in the Traverse City area.” Team Zero has partnered with over 100 groups and organizations across

the region and has educated close to 3,000 adults. “People are participating, people are having those conversations, and they are wanting to create a culture that is not a rape culture but is in fact a culture of health and safety and one where we respect each other bodies, rights, and boundaries,” Rodriguez explained.

Decreasing statistics of sexual assault is more than important, however it does not directly tie into the social ill of rape culture.

In fact, according to Central’s School Liaison Officer Joseph Soffredini, in the city of Traverse City and Grand Traverse County combined there were 213 criminal sexual conduct complaints in 2016 which have steadily increased over the past five years. Could this be a direct result of rape culture?

Rape culture isn’t the act of sex. It’s not a just a group or society blatantly promoting rape. Rape culture is the joke that has transcended the locker room. Rape culture is the euphemism that “boys will be boys.” Rape culture is how our society accepts that we remind women to have a man walk them out to their cars at night or not leave their drinks unattended at bars and parties. Rape culture is the way society can look at a rape case and assume that the victim brought it on themselves.

It’s shown when we warn women against wearing revealing clothes because they look “slutty” or like they’re “asking for it.”

Rape culture is also visible through the fact that only 3% of rapists go to jail, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN). It fosters the idea that the victim is the impetus of what Webster’s Dictionary defines as sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will, usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent, suggesting some kind of implicit loophole to normalize the issue. It’s naturally present wherever a society exists.

Aili Simpson ‘18 has encountered rape culture first-hand in Central High School.

After giving a speech on the topic, a classmate made a jest along the lines of rape.

“They did not take the topic seriously because we have not been taught that this is a serious topic,” Simpson said. “If somebody gave a speech about terrorism

then a classmate made a joke like ‘I’m gonna bomb the school,’ that would be the end, yet we can joke about rape with little backlash.” This is one of the many examples where we see more light being shed on one national issue while another is kept in the shadows.

With a social ill as significant as rape culture, perspective plays a role in understanding it. We can look at the efforts that have been made to prevent rapes and say with relief “there’s now Rohypnol (date rape drug) detecting nail polish to keep women safe.” Or, we can look at it from a logical point of view and say, “the fact that we even need Rohypnol-detecting nail polish is terrifying.” We can look at the personal defense trick of holding car keys between our fingers when walking alone for protection and say “Good thing women were taught personal defense with keys.” Or we can once again look at it from a radical point of view and say “Women shouldn’t need to carry a personal weapon when walking alone.”

It’s no surprise that we often fail to acknowledge rape as an issue. Why? Because who truly wants to believe that these situations occur? Ignoring the truth won’t make it go away, particularly if that truth is ugly. Once we as a society can reach a point when victims are not to blame, when women don’t need to cover up to avoid abuse, and when “boys will be boys” isn’t a lesson but rather a derogatory statement, this ideal, this attitude of rape culture will no longer exist. // ABIGAIL VANNATTER

CSC Complaints in the Grand Traverse Area In 2012, there were

CSC Complaints reported In 2013, there were

CSC Complaints reported In 2014, there were

CSC Complaints reported In 2015, there were

CSC Complaints reported In 2016, there were

CSC Complaints reported *numbers represent combined totals of Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) Complaints in Traverse City and Grand Traverse County. **numbers were provided by CHS Liaison Officer Joseph Soffredini

INTERVIEW WITH A

does an educational piece on sexual assault. Also, we usually see a spike when school reconvenes in the fall. Many kids don’t have a best friend or counselor to tell at home, so they disclose the abuse when they return to school.

T

his type of story wasn’t our original idea, but while writing the other drafts of this story (which didn’t work), I realized that this really is a challenging topic to tackle. I definitely had a bias going into this, which really got in the way. My bias made it really hard to clearly see what I was writing without slanting it. While editing, I realized that much of what I was writing and thinking were direct outcomes of rape culture.

For example, I talked about how the media slants their stories a certain way, and the story get’s skewed, and that’s exactly what I was doing without realizing it. This is the type of story where as a writer I attempt to explain, and get the reader to notice the problem, instead of throwing it in their face and telling them to stop this and do that.

Rape and rape culture are such emotionally charged subjects that I realized I needed to make my ideas clear. Unfortunately, the only thing that was clear was that my ideas were all over the place, because rape culture, is very complex with many aspects. I wanted to touch on all those aspects so I was jumping from one to another; it was just chaos. When I stepped back to consider what I was trying to accomplish with this story, it became clear 14 // BGQ // April 2017

Q: How many rape cases has the office seen since Photo: courtesy of the Record Eagle Robert Cooney was that the one thing that wasn’t crazy and was elected head Prosecuting Attorney in really powerful was Noelle Moeggenberg 2013? thoughts and experiences. Moeggenberg is A: 2016: we had 43 felony rape cases an attorney, she’s a woman, and she wit2015: we had 25 felony rape cases nesses rape culture and the effects of rape 2014: I don’t have numbers readily culture because it is her job to work with available, but could do some research if these cases. As a prosecuting attorney, she necessary. has first hand experiences on a level most of 2013: 35 felony rape cases us don’t and hopefully never will. The following interview is with Noelle Moeggenberg Q: What group of people are you usually who works for the Grand Traverse Prosecuthelping or prosecuting? ing Attorney’s Office. Moeggenberg is the A: There is not any specific group of Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, and people that are victims. We have had resident expert on CSC cases or Criminal victims as young as 3 and into their 70s.

Sexual Conduct cases. Moeggenberg works We do have a lot of cases involving chilunder Robert Cooney, who is the Head Pros- dren with the perpetrators usually being ecuting Attorney for Grand Traverse. a relative, often a stepparent or even Q: Are rape cases a typical occurrence in our town?

A: I’d love to tell you they are rare, but as in most jurisdictions--as you see from the numbers--they are not. They do seem to fluctuate in number. While we don’t have scientific evidence to show why that number fluctuates, I believe a lot has to do with victim’s comfort in reporting. It is not uncommon to see a spike after a school

biological parent.

Cases involving teens and young adults often involve alcohol or other drugs.

The majority of adult victims seem to be in their early twenties. Although we have had victims into their sixties.

Perpetrators come from all walks of life.

The only generalization is that the vast majority are male.

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF RAPE CULTURE

Q: Are there any specific similarities with rape cases?

A: Yes. And that is why having one or two attorneys who specialize in these cases makes sense.

Some of the similarities are a delay in reporting. This is especially common in child sexual abuse cases because the children don’t understand what is going on, don’t always know that it is wrong, are worried that they will be in trouble, are worried about breaking up their family or are told by the perpetrator not to tell.

Adult victims often delay reporting because of fear of embarrassment or not being believed. They often feel that they are to be blamed. Another similarity is that rape is an assaultive crime that does not often result in injuries. This can make the case difficult to prove as it often ends of being the victim’s word against the perpetrators. An unfortunate similarity in adult cases is that society (and jurors) tend to put some blame on the victims. Victims are questioned about why they trusted the perpetrator, how much they drank, how they dressed, why they reacted to the trauma in a specific way...

There is very rarely any eyewitness testimony other than that of the victim, so credibility is always a big issue in these cases.

Q: What is the typical verdict of a rape case?

A: The results of the cases vary. Most end without a trial through a plea bargain. A plea bargain is where our office makes an offer of a lesser charge. Plea bargains are obviously good for a defendant and for our office, we avoid the possibility of a

not guilty and also avoid having to put the victim on the witness stand, which can be a difficult experience Q: Do you think rape culture exists? - What do you think it means?

A: Rape culture is real. I believe it means permitting behaviors or attitudes that normalize sexual abuse. Jokes about sexual abuse, objectifying women, and victim blaming are all aspects of rape culture

why the male behaved a certain (often heinous) way, the media asks why a victim put herself in a vulnerable position, why she drank, or why she didn’t report immediately. Unfortunately, even many of the magazines and shows out there tend to objectify women, portraying them more as objects to be observed and desired, rather than humans. That sounds a little dramatic, but it can change the way people think.

Q: Do you think rape culture is a problem in our community? If so, why?

A: Rape culture is a problem in our community and in our country. One of the comparisons I use during the jury selection phase of trial is to compare the individual who is mugged at an ATM in a bad part of town late at night to the rape victim. Is the thief less guilty because the individual went to the ATM alone? At night? Was he “asking for it?” Jurors always say no. But, when confronted with a young female who dressed in a short skirt, went to a bar, drank excessively and consensually kissed a man, the jury automatically questions her actions instead of putting the blame where it should be—on her rapist. I also think this kind of thinking is what often prevents women from coming forward when they have been sexually assaulted. They know that their actions will immediately be questioned and they fear not being believed.

Q: What do you think rape culture stems from?

A: I wish I could answer that one, but I really don’t know. Maybe it goes back to the time when women were “property.”

Sadly, it was only in the 1980s--which probably seems ancient to you--that it became possible for a husband to be convicted of raping his spouse.

Q: How do you think the media and news media effect rape culture?

A: Locally, I think we are fortunate that not a lot of “victim-blaming” occurs in the media. On a national level, however, this happens all the time. Instead of asking

For the people who say rape culture isn’t a thing, or a problem, I hope this gave you some insight into a very real issue that is around you at all times. // SOPHIE BOYCE

Q: What do you think needs to be done to stop rape culture?

A: We’ve come a long way in ending rape culture, but we’ve still got a way to go.

Changing the way we think about sexual assault and making it more of a people issue than a women’s issue is a start. There has been a lot of movement lately for men to be involved in sexual assault prevention because it is a men’s issue. More awareness and more men willing to take a stand against sexual assault will certainly help.

THE GALLERY A STUDENT SHOWCASE

BGQ // April 2017

artist: Finch Moore ‘17 title: unnamed

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“i really love art because you can demonstrate copmlex ideas that only you understand.”

-F. Moore ‘17

artist: Froest Roth ‘17 title: illuminating forest artist: Svannah Rider ‘18 title: one with the bees

artist: Emily Andreasson ‘17 title: unnamed

artist: Kai Rogers ‘20 title: crashing waves

“art is one of the only ways to express the unexplainable aspects of life. a lot of the time, i find it difficult to explain how i feel, and drawing gives me a means to potray my own emotions and creativty in a way that most things do not.”

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burn ing b right

BGQ // April 2017

- M. Smith ‘17

artist: mae smith ‘17 title: burning bright

MENTALITY A healthier diet containing fewer processed ingredients is extremly benficial to the brain as well as the body and can also assist with treating numerous health conditions

BGQ // April 2017

OLIVIA ROCKWOOD with KIRSTEN BERKEY

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Throughout my life, I have struggled with my Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Aspergers. I have found it difficult to keep my attention on simple tasks. Although diets are typically associated with weight loss and can be beneficial to assist individuals get in better shape, having a diet specifically aimed to help my ADD and Aspergers has helped me tremendously. From an increased work ethic to more focus, the value of a mental diet has been vital in many aspects of my life.

Every person’s diet should shift slightly to suit their needs. My diet consists of whole foods without preservatives, refined sugars, dyes, or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). For example, instead of choosing white rice, I eat brown rice. Instead of a shake, I choose a smoothie. I incorporate healthy, simple foods into my regular eating schedule. According to Eat Right, simpler foods that are less processed have more health benefits, including increased energy and happy hormones in the brain. “Having a good diet can improve your mood, get rid of the fogginess in your mind, alleviate depression, and make you happier,” said Linda Szarkowski, an educator for plant based diets.

While having a bad diet, one becomes full of processed foods and chemicals. Their mind becomes cloudy, leading to general unhappiness.”

By changing my diet, I primarily consume whole foods; I focus, listen, and follow directions better.

Prior to my diet switch, my ADD and Autism were substantially more severe.

In addition to preservative-wrought food, I also avoid

refined sugar. According to Harvard Health Publications, copious amounts of sugar consumption has been linked to high cholesterol, heart disease, cavities, and weight gain. Sugar contains high amounts of empty calories. Energy drinks are one of the most sought after refined sugar options among teenagers, and are also one of the biggest no-no’s on my diet. According to New Health Guide, these drinks have been tied to strokes, heart palpitations, seizures, sudden death, and extreme variations in sleep patterns and blood sugar levels.

“Energy drinks cause an individual’s blood sugar to really increase,” said Jennifer Lyons, D.O. “When it rises to a very high level, it will eventually crash really low. And those highs and lows are going to create problems with focus and energy.” If I consume an energy drink, I would not be able to function properly. I would be jumping off the wall because I already have enough energy as it as. I wouldn’t be used to having that much sugar in my system, so by consuming this energy drink, I would not be able to function because it would’ve thrown everything off balance.

Furthermore, manufacturers utilize dyes to enhance the colors of their food to make it more visually appealing to the consumer and to potentially hide a lack or loss of color in the food item due to heat or storage. According to Whole Foods, these dyes are tied to anxiety, asthma, ADHD, and inflammatory skin conditions like atopic dermatitis for some individuals. By alleviating these foods from my diet, my ADD and Autism remained unaffected by the side effects of these foods. “Arti-

ficial dyes contribute to hyperactivity and trouble focusing,” Lyons said.

By removing these foods from my diet, I am able to get better grades, hold conversations easier, and go through the day smoother.

GMOs can also be harmful for me. A GMO is when the DNA of a plant is spliced to make it grow differently. When I cut out all the GMOs in my daily meal plan, I had more energy and could concentrate better despite my Aspergers and ADD. According to Exposure to Environmental Hazards, GMOs have increased toxicity, decreased nutritional value, and cause antibiotic resistance. I never found it beneficial to eat scientifically enhanced foods. Once I discarded GMOs, refined sugars, dyes, i.e., all I had left in my diet was more natural, real stuff: fruits and veggies. My diet has helped me become a better person.

I can actually make eye contact.

I can thuroughly understand the meanings of people’s words, and I don’t zone out. Prior to my diet switch, I could never focus and I got frustrated with that. I always compared myself to others. I didn’t feel normal. My diet has really improved my life all together.

A diet is more than something that will help you lose weight. Diets allow your mind and body to be the best of its ability. Diets become a way of life for individuals to abide by. By removing GMOs, refined sugars, dyes, and processed foods, my day-to-day life has improved in so many ways. Diets have substantial effects on the mental health of an individual and have helped me to be a more dilligent student and a genuinely satisfied person.//

BGQ // April 2017

Photos: A. Vannatter

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THE PIZZA DELIVERY EXPERTS

Traverse City 748 Munson Ave. in the East Bay Plaza 231-941-5355

Students for Environmental Advocacy The new Students for Environmental Advocacy Club allows for students to come together to share their passion for environmental advocacy and spark changes in the community at Central and the rest of Traverse City

At the beginning of the year, Elliott Smith and Kaysen Mortenson-Chown, both ‘18, were involved with a local chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), a lobbyist group that focuses on climate change. This experience really influenced both students to create their own “green” club here at Central. After hashing out the details, they formed the Students for Environmental Advocacy Club (SEA Club). SEA Club is student-run and focuses on environmental conservation. “I have wanted to start an environmental club for a long time, but I never did it because I didn’t really know what the process was for starting a club.

I think I was just afraid of putting myself out there like that,” Smith said. “But after my experiences with CCL, along with other friends of mine saying they would want to be part of the club, Kaysen and I felt empowered enough to have our first meeting.”

Paige Paul, AP Government teacher and advisor of the club, is enthusiastic about the addition of the SEA Club to Central’s long list of clubs and extracurriculars for the students to participate in. “I think it’s important for students to have an outlet for political participation,” Paul said. “So the particular cause for SEA Club, the environmental activism, I think is important because we only have one planet. However, as the advisor, it didn’t matter to me what type of club these students wanted to do. I just want there to be an outlet for activism.”

The members of the SEA Club have set their goals high. On the state’s Michigan Green Schools list, CHS is currently rated as a “green school.” The scale measures a school’s eco-friendliness. Being a green school is the lowest rating, and the SEA Club is hoping to bump it up to the “Evergreen” rating, which is the highest level.

This scale can be climbed by achieving

certain criteria such as recycling and having printing limits. The students not only are looking at what the school is doing to achieve this goal, but they are also looking at what else the school could be doing to improve their environmentally-friendliness.

Alongside improving the school’s rating on the Green School list, there is also currently a push to install solar panels around the school to reduce regular energy consumption. To achieve their goal in converting all forms of non-renewable energy at school, SEA Club members are concerned with the solar panels because they have a lot of legal work ahead of them to get this project in the works. “We have a lot of TCAPS people that we need to be

Photo: M. Aldrich

in contact with,” Smith said. “We are just trying to get an idea about what this project could entail, so we can put together a plan to present to TCAPS Board. We are actually wrapping up the initial TCAPS proposal.” Even without the hurdle of coming up with a plan and presenting it to TCAPS, the solar panel project would not be able to be installed until summer. “Our goal is to get it installed in the summer because the install season is between May and November, but our biggest issue in reality is funding. It could take awhile for the money to come through so we could potentially not be starting constriction until next next summer.” The solar panels will be funded through private donations and grants,

along with other run-off money from some of the SEA clubs other projects.

A current project the SEA Club members are working hard to complete is getting a set of compost bins for the schools as a way to help our school become more ecologically friendly. Compost bins are a simple yet effective way to dispose of organic matter rather than throwing it away.

This allows for the food to be broken down and to be used for fertilizer for plants. The students in the committee are working with the school’s stringent health and safety regulations in an attempt to achieve their goals. “They have done a lot for the very short amount of time they have been a club,” Paul said. “The committee on compost is working with the laws, the maintenance, the health department, and all the various hurdles for setting up compost.”

The members of SEA Club are starting to see the small affects of what their club inspires, which encourages them to work even harder and come up with more unique ideas to preserve our community.

“We had a woman from CCL come in and talk to us, and I remember how excited she was for the future of environmentalism after seeing how many students were willing to wake up early for a club where attendance isn’t even mandatory,” Smith said. “That gave me some perspective on how cool what we are doing is.”

It’s important for the Central students to make an attempt to protect our local ecosystems, as they do live in an area abundant with fresh water and forests. Students taking environmental advocacy into their own hands is a step in the right direction towards preserving the environment. “Environmental action, no matter how small, is important work,” SEA Club member Dana Phloegeft ‘17 said. “SEA club gives me hope for a cleaner, safer planet.”//

BGQ // April March2017 2017

LOGAN COOK & OLAN LENSCH

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Left: Macy Meindertsma ‘18 and fellow students cheer on the Central basketball team at a home game. “I go to almost every game,” Meindertsma said. “It is very fun to sit in the student section with friends and dress up for the themes.” Right: Jordan Ruckle ‘17 participates in the Chinese New Year during lunch. “It was a lot of fun,” Ruckle said.

“I was spinning the jump rope for people. Anywhere from one to five people were jumping at a time. I think everyone should try to participate next year.”

WHAT’S POPPIN’

Most students have a busy life, both in and out of school. They don’t have enough time to pay attention to what goes on around our campus. Dealing with school, work, social activities, and keeping up with the challenges life throws at us as blossoming adults can be a struggle.

The BGQ has developed this page to inform the student body about what they are missing, allowing them to keep in touch with everyday events that may have slipped their attention. From cheering in the student section, to Special Olympic speed skating, to the various events that take place in the lunchroom, it’s all covered here! Have no fear of missing out on events because with What’s Poppin’, you will know what’s happening in the Trojan universe. We aim to capture the small moments that happen on and around our campus showcasing the unique people that make Central, Central.

Photos: M. Aldrich and A. Vannatter

BGQ // April 2017

local • organic • made from scratch

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260 E. TENTH STREET

|

TRAVERSE CITY

| 231.947.0191 |

ORYANA.COOP

Left: Ryan Frost ‘18 paints Chinese symbols on a scroll in celebration of the Chinese New Year as he enjoys the celebration and it’s many activities.

Right: Participants and volunteers hang out on the bench, cheering on their teammates during the Special Olympics speed skating event at Centre Ice.

BGQ // April 2017

KIRSTEN BERKEY

Sponsorships

Wind gusts up in Sage Rancour’s ‘18 face Photo as she plows through the fresh powder : court esy of C. Ma coating Crystal Mountain. Wearing a free sweatshirt rtin from her sponsors, SheShreds.co, Rancour races her way to the bottom of the hill as her snowboard cuts across the hill in sculpted turns. The temperature is dropping steadily, but Rancour doesn’t give a care in the world. She is in her happy place.

“I love to snowboard and be involved with SheShreds.co,” Rancour said. “My favorite part about being involved with Sheshreds.co-a clothing and lifestyle brand for women in action sports-is definitely meeting the other girls that are ambassadors.

The goal for SheShreds.co is to get more girls involved and out shredding. I started in August 2016. We have group chats and stay in touch on social media even though we are all from different parts of the country.”

Numerous teenagers like Rancour can be noticed by a company on social media from YouTube videos or by reaching out to a company themselves. An individual can be offered a sponsorship, ambassadorship, or partnership. Although each company has different criteria to be sponsored, typically the company gives their products to the sponsored individual. A representative or ambassador still can receive some free gear from their company, but they spread the product and promote it more. With a partnership, an individual may receive a discount or perks from the company on their products by promoting the company on social media.

Similar to Rancour, Reece Doezema ‘18 was offered a sponsorship with Sky High Scooters after posting videos of tricks on YouTube. Sky High Scooters is a company that sells scooters, scooter parts, gear, and clothing. Doezema feels like being sponsored is relatively easy and stress free.

“In order to be sponsored, all I have to do is represent the company and be grateful for all they do for me,” Doezema said.

“Being sponsored just means that I support the people that support me. Through social media, I have to tag them in a post or a picture of clothing they sent to me. I also recently made a video about scooter parts for Sky High Scooters on an account I have with my friends called @kape1177.”

Getting sponsored or receiving an ambassador position is not always a difficult endeavor. Lukas Rivera ‘17 found it was very easy to become an ambassador for Illegal Apparel from Minnesota, a company that specializes in sporty, outdoor wear and gear.

“In order to be an ambassador, it’s not about skill level,” Rivera said. “It’s more about displaying enjoyment for the sport and riding and being really passionate about it.”

While being involved with a company through a partnership, ambassadorship or sponsorship, individuals receive gear from their company to wear on their local ski hill like Rancour or at their home skatepark like Doezema. Doezema also received free scooter parts from Sky High Scooters.

In addition to the free goods, Doezema has also had the opportunity to travel out to the West Coast on his sponsorship.

“I got to travel once to San Diego last year for a week long trip to a scooter competition,” Doezema said. “The competition actually got canceled, so we just chilled out there instead and got some footage. My favorite part of the trip was meeting so many new people and partying with scooter riders from California and other countries.”

Being involved in a company can spark a potential future for the individual in their industry.

“I love to snowboard,” Rancour said. “I definitely want a career in the snowboard industry. Right now, I’m a snowboard photographer and videographer. In addition, I’m a snowboard instructor so it’s cool to get paid to ride all day. I love any excuse to go out and snowboard.”//

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SHOULDN’T BE

...the facial fracture, skull fractures and blood on the brain could have easily killed me. If I was never taken to the hospital I would have died that night.

BGQ // April 2017

S

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nowflakes fell softly from the sky, burning her chapped, cold cheeks as she rode the tube up the hill. As her tube reached the top of the hill, she looked back and watched as the people at the bottom grew smaller and smaller. It was the last run of the night, and Jesse Lampton ‘18 was determined to race her friend, Lindsey Summers ‘18. Although Lampton was eager as she prepared to go down the hill, Summers hesitated. Jesse was nearing the second hill at the bottom when her tube started slowing down. Her tube slowed down to a stop, and there was only a second of peace and tranquility before Jesse’s life would be forever changed. Seconds later Summers’ boot crashed into Jesse’s skull at full speed, causing an impact that left both girls unconcious.

“All I can remember before the hospital was that I was peaking the hill,” Lampton said. “After that, everything is black. I was unconscious for five minutes.” Summers regained her conscious quicker than Lampton. Confused and dazed from a concussion, she started to call out for her friend.

“After I woke up from the crash I remember a few ski patrol people asking me questions and many more surrounding Jesse,” Summers said. “I couldn’t see her and I was yelling her name because I had no idea what was going on

and I wanted her to be okay.”

The staff had attempted to wake Lampton and called her parents.

“The call came in around 9 o’clock on a Friday night, and the voice asked for her dad,” Mary Jo Lampton, Jesse’s mom said. “I put her dad on the phone and I could hear the conversation between the two. He said, ‘Are you sure she’s OK?’ ‘Yes, I want her to be taken by ambulance!’ I didn’t know what for sure had happened, but once he got off the phone he said that she has been in a tubing accident and was unconscious.” Jesse was taken to Munson Hospital, and her parents soon followed. When they arrived, they were put in a room with a social worker.

“When we first got to Munson, I just wanted to see her because no one was giving me any answers,” Mary Jo said. “When we went into the room and were separated from everybody, I didn’t think it was a good sign, and emotions in the room were getting high. I just wanted to see my daughter.”

When Jesse had arrived, she had stated her head hurt and proceeded to vomit blood.

Immediately, the doctors gave Jesse a Computerized Axial Tomography (CT) Scan. The CT scan revealed multiple fractures in Jesse’s skull. After this, Jesse was taken by helicop-

tor to Devos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. Since her parents were not allowed on the flight, they had to drive down and arrived around 3:30 A.M. When doctors took another CT scan, they discovered blood between the two hemispheres of her brain. If the bleeding persisted and added even more pressure, they would have to insert a stent. A stent is a tube or other device placed in the body to create a passage between two hollow spaces. The next 24 hours were be the most crucial in determining Jesse’s fate. There was nothing to do but wait.

After roughly two days of being in a coma, Jesse woke up during the night, thinking she was staying the night at her friend’s house.

“When I woke up, I felt like I was laying on the floor because I had stayed overnight with Lindsey numerous times before and we usually slept on their floor in the basement,” Jesse said. “I started to sit up and my mom rushed over, so I was wondering what she was doing there. She told me to not say anything because I had a tube in my throat that lead down to my stomach. I don’t like to listen, and so I tried talking again, so my mom told me to stop and that I was in a tubing accident. And that’s when it hit me.” The nurse handed Jesse a pencil and paper to communicate and immediately,

In 2011, Jesse Lampton survived a tubing accident that has left an impact on her and her family’s lives forever ABIGAIL HARNISH

Jesse scrawled down three questions: ‘Where am I?’ ‘What happened?’ and, ‘is my friend OK?’ “When Jesse started writing on the paper, I knew we could handle this,” Mary Jo said. “Whatever else may be, and whatever else may come our way, we’ll deal with it.” The following days would still determine Jesse’s fate.

There were no answers to give to her family; only time would tell what Jesse’s future would look like. Prepared for the worst, her family came to say their goodbyes. “I remember my Godmother and Godfather saying goodbye to me in case I didn’t make it,” Jesse said. “I also remember my brother and sister coming to see me one last time. I remember my mom had her little flip phone and she was texting everyone sending out little prayer chains.”

Five days later, Jesse and her parents left the hospital and headed back home to Traverse City. It was a miracle; they were told to pack for two weeks but due to an infection spreading throughout the hospital, Jesse was sent home. Jesse and her family were welcomed home with a sign that spread across her front door; Jesse’s classmates knew she was coming home that day and wanted to show their support. The severity and weight of the accident and how it will affect their family had not settled in yet until Mary Jo began the laundry that evening. “When we put her to bed, I had gone back to do the laundry,” Mary Jo said. “As I pulled out the laundry, I noticed her sweatshirt was cut down the middle. They had given me her sweatshirt after they had cut it off to wash, and it just set me into the hysteric mode again. My husband was telling me everything was OK and that we got her back. I just

Photo: courtesy of J. Lampton

couldn’t believe that they had sent her sweatshirt after they cut it back with us.”

The effects of her accident lasted for months. Jesse was out of school for three months, and when she was able to go back, she could only attend half the day. Even weeks later when she was able to go back to school full-time, she was still separated from her peers. The trauma the accident had inflicted to her skull left her head sensitive to sound and future head injuries. For her wounds to

“It sucked,” Jesse said. “It’s like you’re watching your fifth grade graduation DVD and everyone’s there, but you’re not. When you’re a fifth grader, all you want to do is just play with friends, be with people, explore, and do all of this fun stuff. I was used to not being able to do as much as others because of my arthritis. But after my accident, I was extremely sheltered. I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything. I was in a hamster bubble for a good one to two years of my life.”

tion. I don’t trust the staff at Mt. Holiday anymore either. If I was paralyzed or something, my parents would have sued for how reckless their actions were. They were supposed to watch--if a kid doesn’t resurface at the next hill, you should not let another kid go down the hill. I won’t go back to Mt. Holiday out of fear, anger, and my parents’ wishes. If I get hit again like that, I won’t make it.”

As an eleven-year-old girl who had just been in a life-altering accident, she was naive to the ‘what if’s’ and possible consequences of her accident.

Now that she is seventeen and has had six years for the fact to settle in, Jesse realizes just how much her life could be changed, or even cease to exist, if her parents had not pushed for her to be sent to Munson by an ambulance.

“The accident has influenced me to view life differently and I look at it from a whole new perspective,” Jesse said. “I realize that the facial fracture, skull fractures and blood on the brain could have easily killed me. If I was never taken to the hospital I would have died that night. If I wouldn’t have healed properly, I would most likely struggle with school and simple tasks. Also, if my facial injuries never would have healed, I would have had plastic surgery and most likely wouldn’t look the same.”//

If I had been sent home like the staff at Mt. Holiday proposed, I wouldn’t be here today. heal properly, sound and impact to her head had to be reduced. Because of this, when the classroom became too loud, she would be moved into the quiet hallway with her work.

At lunchtime, she sat in the lunch lady’s office with one friend. While the other kids played on the play structure, shrieking and laughing as they chased each other around, she had to play on the structure on the opposite side of the fence. She was confined in her own little bubble, excluded from the noisy, fun world.

Because of the serious injuries Jesse had obtained, she plans on never tubing again. Her parents even barred the winter activity for as long as she lives under their roof. Unlike most teenagers, this strict action taken by her parents did not upset her. Frankly, Jesse herself is petrified to step into another inflatable tube again.

“If I had been sent home like the staff at Mt. Holiday proposed, I wouldn’t be here today,” Jesse said. “That’s just the reality of the situa-

BGQ // April 2017

Months after the accident, Lampton’s fireplace was covered in the balloons and cards she received from friends and family.

“All of those cards, balloons, and little gifts that people brought was a huge reminder for my family and I that we had people who loved us and believed I would get better,” Jesse said.

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Photo: courtesy of J. Lampton

Welcome Jesse Kogelman, PA-C

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