BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY (BGQ) Jan. 2019

BGQ BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY

january 2019 // volume ninety-eight

To vaccinate or not Central’s security Hair dye confessions Nordic changes

As we set out to start our second issue, we wanted to bring something different to our readers. While we retain our features like the Quarterly Photo, Identity in TC, the Gallery, and Extra Curricular, many of our articles focus on ideas and topics that are new to the pages of the BGQ. We have crossed new boundaries by featuring subjects that might spark thought, discussion, and perhaps impassioned opinions. Vaccinations, dyed hair, and plastic straws are but a handful of the new topics featured in this issue of the BGQ. Pushing into new territory, we asked ourselves why modern medicine is not always adhered to by all, specifically the reasoning behind why people choose to not to vaccinate themselves or their children, despite society’s overbearing support for vaccines.

Anti-vaxxers remain firm in their beliefs, as do vaxxers. By exposing and considering diverse opinions, we grow to be more tolerant of dissenting views.

Acceptance of others and their differences are necessary for those who cherish freedom and diversity. While many of us wear our natural colored hair our whole lives, only touching it up at the occasional visit to our barber or stylist, some choose a different path. Colors coalesce for those who alter their hair in countless shades and styles. Though their differences may irritate some, nevertheless they persist, not changing for another’s views.

Regardless of what science shows or ardent politicians and political junkies argue, climate change remains a divisive issue for the masses to mull over. However, the environmental issue of pollution is often overlooked by society’s environmental vocalists at the national level. Perhaps it is not as foreboding as our waste is managed by people in big trucks and landfills out of sight from our homes, while effects of a warmer climate can be declared visible in deadly natural disasters and disruptions to the regular change of the four seasons only years ago. Is it possible that the seemingly benign plastic straw is the insidious symbol of humankind’s unintended effects to our health and all the inhabitants of Earth?

It could be argued that change is one thing that remains constant, which is why the staff of the BGQ prides itself on our ability to adapt and bring to light stories of varying interests and personalities to our readers. Whether reading this issue by a cozy fireplace, a crowded coffee shop, or a classroom, we hope to enlighten our readers and provoke meaningful thought about important issues, events, and people in our community. from the pub,

2 // BGQ // January 2019

BGQ

a note from your editors

BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY: JANUARY TWO-THOUSAND NINETEEN

4

TO VACCINATE OR NOT an exploration into the controversy

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jack Myers Abigail Vannatter

6

STRIVING FOR A SECURE CENTRAL

EDITORS Sophie Boyce

8

NORDIC CHANGES

a season full of shake-ups

PHOTOGRAPHY McKenna Bak Abigail Vannatter

HOW DO YOU STREAM?

GRAPHICS Tori VerVane

10

security protocols

entertaining content where you are

12

PLASTIC STRAWS SUCK

13

FOE THE LOVE OF WATER

14

AN ART MEETS A SPORT

18

THE MANY SHADES OF CENTRAL

20

HAIR DYE CONFESSIONS

22

HOT MUSIC RELEASES OF 2018

24

IDENTITY IN TRAVERSE CITY

26

THE GALLERY

29

MUG CAKE

are we sipping our way to ruin? the public trust and plastic bottles inside the world of a dancer

showcasing students with unique hair

Paige Conners shares her colorful journey last year’s best music

BUSINESS McKenna Bak STAFF WRITERS Sarah Auger Joie Baldyga Paige Conners Lia Cook Julia Demusky Ava Edwards Niklas Fagerman Sydney Flaherty Maria Linck Madison Marshall Autumn McMillan Mia Moeggenberg Richard Mosley Lauren Stallman Elizabeth Teesdale Tori VerVane COVER PHOTO Abigail Vannatter

perspectives and thoughts on life in TC visual art submissions microwave deliciousness in 90 seconds

MISSION STATEMENT: The Black and Gold Quarterly (BGQ) is Traverse City Central High School’s student-run magazine. Since its conception in 1886, our publication has evolved with the times, frequently changing in style, format, and even name. However, one factor has remained constant—our staff’s desire to capture the story of our community, to challenge the accepted, and to open our minds to perspectives that we hadn’t previously considered through investigation, research, and inquiry. We are constantly striving to improve our content and artistic elements; after all, the BGQ is a school publication, so educating both ourselves as well as our readers remains one of our primary goals.

To Vaccinate Or To Not Vaccinate It’s officially flu season, and kids are lining up at the doctor’s office or pharmacy to get their yearly flu vaccines. Except in recent years, many parents are questioning whether or not the flu vaccine—or any vaccines—are actually effective

by LIA COOK Staff Writer It’s officially flu season, and kids are lining up at the doctor’s office and local pharmacies to get their yearly influenza shots. Except in recent years, the annual queue of people hoping to get vaccinated has dropped significantly. This is true for not only the flu shot, but also other immunizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of unvaccinated babies and young children has almost quintupled from 0.3 percent in 2001 to 1.3 percent in 2015. I know from personal experience that it’s never a fun time to get vaccines. Since the age of one, I have been immunized. That’s fifteen years of up-to-date immunizations, fifteen years of leaving the doctor’s office feeling like a human pincushion, and fifteen years of never contracting any of the major illnesses for which I was vaccinated. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m invincible; I’ve gotten my fair share of ailments. I’ve survived a bout of strep throat and bronchitis simultaneously, and a cold or fever periodically. Given my history of vaccinations, it’s hard for me to fathom why parents wouldn’t want to also vaccinate their children; just a simple poke in the arm or leg and suddenly the chances of contracting life-threatening diseases such as measles, polio, and smallpox are slim to almost none. However, numerous anti-vaccine campaigns has sparked tension from both opponents and proponents of vaccinations, the pro-vaxxers and anti-vaxxers. After hours spent scrolling through mommy blogs on the 4 // BGQ // January 2019

internet, talking to parents, nurses, and going as far as to joining anti-vaccination communities on Facebook, it has become clear to me how complex the anti-vaccine debate has become.

HISTORY OF VACCINATIONS It’s time to brace yourself for a mini history lesson since there’s some important background information that’s vital to understanding the continuity of the vaccine controversy. It essentially began in 1796 when the first vaccination was created. Some of you may be familiar with Edward Jenner and the famous milkmaid story from biology class, but if not, here’s a synopsis. Smallpox was sweeping across Europe in the 1800s, leaving a trail of bodies behind in its wake. It was formidably dubbed as the “speckled monster” due to small red spots that manifested in an excruciatingly painful rash (like poison ivy on steroids, but much more deadly). A cure for this indomitable evil seemed impossible, until Edward Jenner came along.

Jenner’s areas of studies and hobbies included geology and, you guessed it, conducting experiments on human blood. He discovered that the dairymaids didn’t contract smallpox after being infected with cowpox—a disease transferred from a cow’s udders which resembled a mild form of smallpox. He took material from the cowpox lesions and inoculated a young boy with smallpox and voila! The first vaccination was created. Yet every step forward in defeating smallpox resulted in two steps

backwards. Oppositions to vaccinations arose in the forms of anti-vaccination movements and public criticism. Several parents were more willing to let their children die from smallpox than undergo the vaccination treatment. Now just think about that for a moment; parents had the chance to save their children from this terrible disease, but they refused. Smallpox was eventually eradicated, though the efforts were gruesome. Mandatory vaccination laws, penalties, and world-wide vaccination practices were involved.

IMPACT OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA The vaccine debate has lasted for centuries, so why is it such a big deal in today’s society? The internet and social media networks are predominately to take blame for the severity of this issue.

Type in “why I should or should not vaccinate my child” in the Google search bar and 103 million results appear in less than half a second. The overwhelming number of articles and blogs tilted “Six Reasons to Say NO to Vaccination” or “The Real Truth of Vaccinations” distorts the line between fact and fiction.

To add more fuel to the fire, many celebrities are taking a stance on vaccinations. Kat Von D, a famous tattoo artist and makeup magnate, shared an Instagram post on her personal account on June 7th, 2018, justifying her reasons to not vaccinate her baby. “This is my body. This is our child,” she announced.

Fans were dismayed with Kat Von D’s

decision, threatening to abandon her makeup brand, while others voiced eager support on Twitter and Instagram; the comment section was a warzone.

The post has since been removed, but her message still reached her seven million followers and has largely contributed to the anti-vaccine movement.

Should you trust the pediatricians’ opinion saying “yes” to vaccinations, or the mother who opposes vaccinations due to personal experiences of her children being affected by immunizations? Both make convincing and compelling arguments, and both have a specific agenda.

were already on the decline prior to the induction of the vaccine.” Dr. Froese stated, “We made these decisions way before autism was the hot topic that it is today.” The “vaccines cause autism” dissention took the medical community by storm when former M.D. Andrew Wakefield published a case study in The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, in 1998. Wakefield and his colleagues claimed that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine triggered developmental disorders in children, more specifically autism spectrum disorder.

The study was later retracted and Wakefield was stripped of his credentials after his research was found unethical and

INTERVIEW WITH A DOCTOR AND MOTHER Dr. Laura Froese, who received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, is a resident of Traverse City and has four children. She explained there were several factors that played a role in her and her husband’s decision on not vaccinating.

“Our education and philosophy were the prime catalysts. As we did our Photo: courtesy of Jill Cook own research, we made an educated decision that the risks - both short dishonest. You can still read the original and long term- were not worth it.” She report on The Lancet, titled “Ileal-lymexpressed, “it didn’t make sense to us phoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific that injecting a child, whose immune colitis, and pervasive developmental system was still raw and developing disorder in children.” with a lot of diseases, but more importantly adjuvants that don’t belong in the body, such as formaldehyde, aluminum, VACCINES AND AUTISM The correlation between vaccines and mercury to mention a few, were something that would serve them long term.” autism is a whole other controversy in She also added that “childhood diseases of and itself. Jenny McCarthy, actress, that many are vaccinating for are neces- model, and author, is a well-known activist supporting the vaccine-autism sary for the fighting of other things link. The Generation Rescue campaign as such as cancer, etc. We feel very is dedicated to helping families whose strongly about our own decision but our main goal is that people are making children were diagnosed with autism, and McCarthy is a strong leader of this an informed decision and getting ALL organization. She was also featured on of the information- not just one sided.

“The Oprah Winfrey Talk Show” in 2007 One of the other things that helped and several other news outlets in the to sway our decision early on which following years. In an interview with hadn’t changed us that certain diseases

PBS Frontline in 2010, McCarthy recalls how her son began to behave differently after receiving the MMR vaccine.

She describes in detail how he was “struggling to breathe” and had “pasty white, blue lips” during a seizure. Evan later was diagnosed with autism by a neurologist, and since then McCarthy has been relentless in spreading awareness about vaccines and autism. Her affiliations and influence has advanced the anti-vaccine and autism movement by leaps and bounds. There is also a prominent emotional aspect of the anti-vaccine dispute; many parents on Facebook communities post passionate testimonies (with the occasional meme here and there) of watching their children fall ill and dying following series of vaccinations. Parents are now faced with a decision: should they risk the consequences of having their child susceptible to deadly diseases, or vaccinate with the possible chances of life changing side-effects?

Are parents willing to let their children die either from the disease or the vaccination?

Stories of infants and toddlers dying from the disease itself have surfaced. On vaccineinformation.org, a mother tells how the influenza killed her 23-month-old daughter. Vira IlczyszynCover writes, “I am not just battling sorrow, I am battling disappointment. I am also battling anger... Elizabeth was just 23 months old when influenza struck her and took her life on December 1, 2003.” Ilczyszyn-Cover pleads for parents to “please vaccinate [their] children against influenza.”

The nurse at my clinic, the Grand Traverse Children’s Clinic, explains that it is possible to come down with the flu even after getting the vaccine, but it will be a less severe and more mild version, as your body has been building an immunity to the virus. Although the influenza vaccine is not mandatory, it is highly recommended by many doctors.

Continued on p. 29

Striving for A Secure Central A wave of violence in schools has spread across the United States; CNN News reported that after the May 25th shooting at West Middle School in Noblesville, Indiana, 23 school shootings had occured in the first 21 weeks of 2018. That is an average of more than one school shooting per week. As this issue is becoming increasingly more serious, it is at the forefront of the minds of students and school staff alike across the nation.

Central students no longer feel as safe at school as they once did. “Ever since the first school shooting I can remember, I have felt more nervous going to school. You don’t really think much about what could happen, but when there are all these bad things happening in the news, that you are seeing very consistently, it just makes you a lot more aware,” Lily Jenkins ‘22 explained.

Jessie Houghton, Central’s head principal, further elaborated on the anxiety that these tragic events cause, “it makes it more real to [the administration]. I think it makes it more real to the kids too. I have seen a definite increase in anxiety and the thoughts of: ‘Are we next? Could it happen here?’ We say, ‘Oh, this won’t happen at my school’ but I guarantee all those schools who have had incidents thought that too.”

Assistant principal, Brian Guiney, has similar sentiments, ¨I think that some of the really tragic things that we hear about at other schools remind us everyday to be vigilant and to be aware of potential threats.”

When students are worried about the threats that could potentially be lurking it is a great deal harder for them to focus and learn. Security is important to 6 // BGQ // January 2019

School Safety is a growing issue. In order to keep Central safe, staff and students alike must work together.

by MIA MOEGGENBERG Staff Writer

everyone in the building as it affects the well being of each and every person, though it is also important to consider that the first goal of schools is to teach students. In many ways, security may even be receiving more attention than learning itself.

There is a long list of ways Central is kept safe: lockdown drills, wind drills, fire drills, door boots, the new cell phone policy, cameras posted at doors opening outside, drug dogs walking through the school once a month, vape detectors installed in bathrooms and locker rooms, as well as employing fulltime security personnel. An increased amount of focus is being placed on keeping the school secure. Each piece of safety in place is important to keeping the school safe, though some security concerns are currently placed higher on the list of priorities than others.

Principal Houghton explained, “that the biggest thing we have seen increasing is vaping.” This has led to an increase in security on this issue, with vape detectors being installed in bathrooms. The new vape detectors notify the administration if any students are vaping in certain areas and allow them to be more reactive with this issue.

When a student is found vaping, one of the administration’s primary goals is to inform the student of what is happening to their body when they vape and how it is damaging. “We are just trying to help kids not vape,” James Brumfield, one of Central’s full time security officers explained. “Everyone that vapes has a mental disorder. Anytime you do something that is harmful to you and you know it is harmful you have a mental disorder. We are trying to stop

kids from hurting themselves, if not everywhere, then at school.”

Drug use can be extremely harmful to anyone, not only adolescents. As this issue is brought to the attention of the nation through the opioid crisis it is also being combated in multiple ways at Central.

Police officers come into the school with drug search dogs on average once a month. The dogs search random areas, often depending on tips the administration receives. The searches are quiet, drawing little attention, but effective. This also allows the administration to help those with drug and alcohol issues by referring them to a clinic that can educate them on the effects of these substances.

The ultimate goal is to not find drugs, knowing that they are no longer being used by students. “It has been really reassuring when they come and do pretty good sweeps of the area and they don’t find drugs, they don’t find alcohol,” Principal Houghton noted, “That’s good, that’s what we want. We are here to learn, learning is tough, you have to focus, you have to concentrate and any type of things that distract you from that aren’t going to help in that process.

It is just not what we do here.”

Along with these new tools and procedures being but in place, the security team here at Central is a huge part of keeping the school secure. In addition to Brumfield, Central has two other full-time security officers: Barb Hackney, who works in the Responsible Thinking Classroom, and William Livingston.

Livingston and Brumfield patrol the halls for the entire day, between the two of them, they are at Central from

6am to 4pm. They do a great deal to keep the school safe from major threats.

Livingston also explained that, “dealing with parking stickers, hats, hoods, students in the halls without passes, and locker room theft have simple fixes, yet they tend to take up the majority of our time. When we have to combat these issues daily it takes us away from the major issues of keeping our doors secure and making sure random people are not coming into the school. This can cause the atmosphere between students and staff to be a little edgy at times.”

A lack of good relationships between staff and students is the last thing teachers, administrators, and security personnel want. In fact, making sure that every student feels welcome and cared for is a key part of security. Brumfield elaborated on this, “we are looking for the kids that maybe feel excluded. We have seen around the country that a lot of kids that do school shootings or violent acts are kids that got excluded somehow, someway. So it’s a big stress on our part to make sure that everyone feels cared for here at Central.” Principal Houghton cited connections with students as being the “number one” priority for school security. Every student, every person in the building is valued and must be kept safe. Principal Guiney explained further, “I think everyone on our administrative team and security team understands that every student

here is someone’s daughter or son or brother or sister; every student here is someone’s loved one.”

Perhaps what makes connections with student the most important piece of security is the information that staff received from students about what aspects of security need more attention. Just by letting a principal or other member of the staff here at school know about something going on, no matter how big or small it may seem, will help to keep the school safe. In fact, it is the responsibility of students to do so as Principal Guiney explained, “I am not sure students understand that they have the opportunity and the responsibility to help build safety by reporting things that they hear or things that they are worried about.” Students make up most of the school population, therefore they are capable of doing the most to keep the school safe. They can simply speak to any administrators or text the student hotline in order to bring up any security concerns. Through the student hotline students can report something in a message that is sent directly to Principal Guiney’s email. He explained that, “it is a powerful tool to prevent something that is small from turning into something bigger, some sort of conflict.” Any and all communication between staff and students could help to put aside a security risk. Students can also simply speak to the security officers patrolling the halls or send an email

Photo: M.Bak

Security Officer Livingston watching the security camera footage of Central High School’s parking lot and Big Gym area.

to any of the principals. Notifying the school administration of any concern is easy, but can have a tremendous impact in efforts to keep the school secure.

Chris Wise, the TCAPS Security Systems Manager, explained, “we rely on students eyes and voices. They are the front line of our organization and need to understand the importance of relaying information quickly and accurately to ensure the safety of fellow classmates and faculty.” Principal Houghton, agrees, saying that students voices are “super important.” She explained that, “the biggest thing is just talking to us; we are all a team here together. I have students who reach out to me in emails all the time. Any type of feedback is valuable and important to us.”

With nearly two thousand people in the building each day there is no way the school can be kept safe by a few members of staff alone; if staff and students work as a more unified team to make the school safer they could have an even larger impact. Across the nation, many are divided on issues of security. With enormous issues like the growing number of school shootings occurring across the country, compromise on various opinions seems a small price to pay in order to potentially save lives. A unified front has a great deal more power in keeping schools safe. As Mr.Livingston pointed out, “it has to be a team effort. A house divided cannot stand.” //

Nordic

Changes

The Cross Country Ski team looks forward to new coaches, new students, competitive races, and a season full of skiing.

by NIKLAS FAGERMAN Staff Writer All Photos: J. Myers

Nordic Skiing is a fun, fast-paced winter sport, in which skiiers glide along snow glistened trails in the woods atop skis and poles. In the past, ski teams in Traverse City were divided between a combined team of Central and West, and a seperate Saint Francis team. However, this year they have merged into one large team. Ted Roe ‘19 feels that the changes allow him to “see students from other schools, which means you get to see people you usually don’t get to see.” With the Saint Francis merge, two new coaches joined the team: “This gives 8 // BGQ // January 2019

us the opportunity to get more perspectives from different coaches and different points of view on our technique, which is really helpful, and it’s also really fun because we get to have more fun coaches around us.” Another big change from last year was a new head coach: Ruth Oppliger. “She’s been great” according to Roe. A new coaching staff can make a really important difference. With the adjustments in the team, skiers are looking forward to a new season and snowy trails.

Q: How long have you been skiing?

A: Roe: I’ve been skiing for a long time, probably since I was around seven years old.

ski in the same motion as a double pull, and then you shift to the other ski as you complete the pull. For V2 you do that on both skis but for V2 alternate you only do it on one ski.

Q: How long have you been on the skiing team?

A: Roe: I’ve been on [the ski team] all four years that I’ve been in high school. We also had a middle school team that I was on all of the years I was in middle school.

Q: Are you a competitive racer?

A: Roe: I am a JNQ racer, so hopefully I’ll qualify for nationals this year, but it’s always up in the air depending on the competition.

Q: How did you get involved in the program?

A: Roe: My dad is a skier, and ever since I was little we would go skiing together [with] my brother. When I found out about the middle school program I joined that, and I had a lot of fun so I decided to do the high school ski team too.

Q: What are those like?

A: Roe: Those are much more competitive than your standard races. It brings people from all around the Great Lakes Area, which includes Wisconsin and Minnesota and us of course and everyone is right on time. If you miss your start, then you basically lose because we have timed starts, and sometimes we will have staggered starts. Sometimes everyone does a mass start, which is one thing that is unique about skiing. You really have to get every second that counts because it’s not just about your place with the staggered starts, it’s about your time itself.

Q: Have you done competed in tournaments or races?

A: Roe: We don’t really have tournaments, but we have a lot of races. We have races in the Upper Peninsula and in the Lower Peninsula. I’ve done some Junior National Qualifying races, and they’re always a lot of fun.

Q: What happens during these races?

A: Roe: We either race classic or skate, which are the two different ski techniques, and usually [a race] will be anywhere from five to fifteen or twenty kilometers long for our high school races. We start out and then there are a lot of hills, and you just try and get around people and win like any race.

Q: What do you do in practices?

A: Roe: In practices we do a lot of technique work and sometimes speed work. Sometimes we will do intervals where you go really fast and then a little more relaxed, on and off. We work on specific techniques like V1, V2 and V2 alternate for skate [and] kick double pull [or] double pull for classic.

Q: Can you describe V1, V2 and V2 alternate?

A: Roe: These are three different skating techniques we have for skate skiing. V1 is where you get onto one foot and you’re poling on one side every time, and you pole as you put your ski down. In contrast, V2 is where you are pulling on a gliding

Q: Are waxes important?

A: Roe: Waxes are extremely important. They can make the difference between winning a race and and coming in last.

Wax is important for gliding. Skate skis only use glide wax and classic skis use kick and glide wax. You put kick [wax] in the middle [of the ski], so that when you press down on the ski with your weight you can kick back. Waxes have their own temperature range, so if you put on the correct wax to the range you will glide and kick well, but if you don’t then you won’t glide at all.

Q: Is there anything else you like people to know?

A: Roe: I’d just say that skiing is probably the most fun sport you could ever join. Cross country skiing is a joy to do and I’ve loved every moment of it. You can explore, you can hang out with friends, and you can really take it to whatever level you want. You don’t have to be super competitive, but you can if you want to, so I’d recommend it to anyone. //

how do you

stream?

Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Twitch are becoming very popular amongst people everywhere. In a poll of 170 students, the BGQ sought to find which type of streaming service is right for which type of person.

by NIKLAS FAGERMAN Staff Writer

Graphic: T. VerVance

If someone wants to watch it, there is a streaming service providing it. Streaming services, content providers that allow people to watch anything they would like, are appearing everywhere.

Different streaming services provide a wide variety of genres of content. Additionally, mobile access via apps on cell phones and tablets allow users to watch content whenever they want. The bottom line — streaming services are constantly evolving.

Streaming services are also relatively inexpensive for the average consumer. Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu start at $8 per month and an Amazon Prime account costs $13 per month. In comparison, cable television (such as charter) costs $45.99 for the most basic plan and $85.99 for the most expensive plan, according to a Charter representative. Satellite Television costs $59.99 for the least expensive plan, and $89.99 for the most expensive plan according to DISH’s website.

Out of 170 people in a BGQ survey, only six respondents said they watch cable television, while four others said they watch nothing from streaming services at all, which means the rest watch content from streaming services.

A major difference is streaming services do not have as many advertisements interrupting viewers leisure in comparison to cable. With the exception of Hulu (without the more expensive ad free version) all of the major streaming services have none.

Streaming services are convenient for those who do not have a lot of free time. “With Netflix every show that you can [not] watch at the exact time it airs [on television] you can catch up whenever,” Hayley Nelson ‘20 said. The ability to watch a show or a movie whenever the consumer wants to is a big advantage streaming services have over cable television.

10 // BGQ // January 2019

NETFLIX YOUTUBE Netflix is the most popular streaming service in the poll, with 51.7% of poll respondents saying they use it. Netflix contains mostly television shows along with movies and documentaries. It has a subscriber base of 118 million people worldwide as of January 2018, according to technology news outlet Recode.

People can watch Netflix on their computer, tablet, or phone just by downloading the app and logging in. It has no commercials, unlike Hulu or cable television. It also hosts original programming, shows that are specifically produced to be aired on Netflix. A unique thing about Netflix is that anyone can download shows on their phone. For example, a person can watch their downloaded content without internet connection while travelling. This means if anyone is going on a road trip or on an airplane, they can watch all the shows that they previously downloaded. Netflix is for people who enjoy watching shows, movies, and documentaries when they want, instead of watching it live on cable television.

YouTube is the second most popular streaming service with 29.5% of poll respondents saying they watch it.

YouTube has 1.8 billion users, making YouTube the most popular streaming service in the world, according to news outlet Business Insider. YouTube has videos on nearly everything, as well as movies for rent. It is expanding with its newest adaption of live television.

Anyone can create a YouTube channel for free. If viewers like the content someone posts, they can “subscribe” to their channel. This means those viewers will be notified when the channel they subscribed to posts another video.

It is easy to find endless videos about whatever the viewers want to watch.

Though YouTube has commercials, they can often be skipped after five seconds have passed, a relatively insignificant amount of time in comparison to some of the longer videos the site supports.

YouTube is for those who want to find information or find entertaining videos.

hULU Hulu is the third most popular streaming service with 7.7% of poll respondents saying they use it. It is very similar to Netflix, with a few key differences.

Firstly, Hulu and Netflix have television shows, as well as originals. They have a few movies too, however, Hulu has 20 million subscribers, whereas Netflix has 118 million. A key factor in this is that Hulu is only available in the US and Japan, while Netflix is available everywhere except China, North Korea, Syria, and Crimea, according to CNN Business.

Other factors for Hulu’s lower membership include it having less content as Netflix, it having commercials, and a steeper price to be ad-free ($12). Hulu has an app for smartphones, but it does not allow for viewers to download shows in advance. Hulu is for people who enjoy watching television shows, movies, and documentaries when they want, instead of watching it live on cable television.

No one type of service is right for everyone. It all depends on the content they watch, and the small features that benefit certain types of people. With new streaming services appearing constantly, old streaming services are forced to always improve. Whatever you like to stream, make sure you are using the best service provider that suits you. //

Graphic: R. Mosley

plastic straws

suck

by St JO aff IE W BA rit L er DY GA

Graphic: T. VerVane

onvenien A small c

al impact

ironment Large env ce has a

When ordering beverages, the small plastic straw that comes with it used to be the last thing on people’s minds. On its own, a single plastic straw doesn’t seem like much. However, according to Ecocycle.org, more than 500 million drinking straws are used and thrown away everyday by Americans, which makes an average of about 1.6 straws per person. These numbers and straws really add up. When considering the environmental impact, it is encouraging to know that the hospitality industry has begun to make the switch from plastic straws to paper due, in large part, to a shift in consumer awareness. It should come as no surprise then, that Traverse City area restaurants are also looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic drinking straws. “We made the switch a little over a year ago,” James DeMarsh, General Manager of The Jolly Pumpkin and The Mission Table, recalled. “We made the switch to biodegradable [straws] first, that are made from plants, and then recently we switched from those to the paper ones. Our goal is to eventually get away from all straws of any sort.”

Many think that plastic straws cannot be recycled. In reality, plastic straws are hard to recycle, but it can be done. “Most plastics can be recycled,” explained Andy Gale, founder of Bay Area Recycling for Charities, “but in order to recycle it, you have to get four thousand pounds of the same stuff onto a truck and find a place that will buy it from you. So, the problem isn’t whether the plastic straws are recyclable, it’s more that most don’t go through this process for straws.” The fact that plastic straws are not easy to recycle means that many straws end up in landfills, oceans, and our Great Lakes. Furthermore, plastic straws and other single use plastics that end up floating in the Great Lakes can find their way into our drinking water. In a study published in Plos One, a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science, it was found that eight out of nine tap water samples taken from all five Great Lakes contained plastic. Considering that much of the tap water we use comes from the Great Lakes, is very possible that your home water could have traces of microplastics. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic in the environment that result from plastics starting to break down. According to the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, more than 35 million people rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water. Although tap water is treated for human use, the microplastics are still tiny enough to make it into your glass without you knowing. The amount of waste produced by these single use plastics is astounding. An estimated eight percent of all plastic in the environment in the U.S. comes from plastic straws and stirrers, according to an analysis done by a group of pollution research nonprofits called Better Alternatives Now. TCAPS has been considering an alternative material for the plastic straws currently offered, Tom Freitas, Food and Nutrition Services Director for TCAPS, explained. If it is found that the paper straws would meet the school’s needs and are cost effective, they would be used throughout the district. So, although TCAPS understands the ecological benefits of a paper straw, there are many factors that need do be Continued on p. 31

12 // BGQ // January 2019

by JOIE BALDYGA & AUTUMN MCMILLAN Staff Writers

As we continue to try to cut back on plastic use, the organization, FLOW is working to get people to put down their disposable plastic water bottles.

“

Founded in 2011 by water attorney Jim Olson, For the Love of Water (FLOW), is a nonprofit organization that works to clean up the Great Lakes and Michigan’s freshwater. FLOW has created multiple programs in an attempt to get people to become more aware of the damage that people are doing to water and the Earth in general. FLOW is mainly inspired by the Public Trust Doctrine. The Public Trust Doctrine keeps the water in the hands of the people

waters from being used for any private purposes and allows them to remain public property.

The FLOW website displays statistics about the amount of plastic we are putting into our Great Lakes.

Ninety percent of bottled water contains microplastics, which doubles the amount found in tap water, meaning that tap water is actually safer to drink in many cases.

This adds to FLOW’s concern for a growing public use of disposable plastic water

Water should be free, it’s public. It should be free and available to you. where it belongs, not at the disposal of the companies who hope to take advantage of our natural freshwater.

This principle has been drawn on for a variety of different water related cases throughout history, but the idea of it was first seen in the mid-eighteen hundreds.

The doctrine ensures that certain natural resources, like public water, are not destroyed by a lack of consideration for them. This main principle also protects the

”

bottles and their effect on the environment. Along with many others, one of their current projects the “Get Off the Bottle” campaign, advocates against the use of disposable plastic water bottles. The campaign urges citizens to use reusable water bottles as opposed to buying prefilled water bottles. The “Get Off the Bottle” campaign started last year in response to Nestlés increased water intake from a spring in

Oceana County, Michigan.

Nayt Boyt, Program Coordinator for FLOW, believes that the water in the bays and lakes of Michigan belongs to the people, but companies are taking the water and filling cheap plastic bottles to sell for profit.

Boyt believes, “we should simply use tap water that’s available to us for free.” In essence, we are buying water from corporations that we don’t need to buy from, which make plastic bottles that many of us don’t even recycle and we ignore the environmental impact they are causing.

According to the FLOW website, seventy percent of plastic bottles used do not get recycled, this is “partially [due to] inconvenience,” according to Boyt. “Most of the time, especially in a smaller business like a small cafe, instead of them having a recycling bin [there is] only a garbage can.” Often people don’t take the extra step to recycle their plastic and instead just throw it into the garbage. That plastic eventually gets into our Great Lakes, polluting our water.

FLOW has created stickers for the “Get Off the Bottle” campaign, as well as flyers that share more details

For the Love Of Water about the issue, some of which have been placed in Central’s library. Through the “Get Off the Bottle” campaign and others like it, FLOW is working to decrease the use of plastic bottles by promoting the use of reusable bottles. The ultimate goal is to change our habits which will help decrease the amount of plastic in the Great Lakes.

Some people are adamant about continuing to buy bottled water. Boyt hopes this campaign will bring about change and emphasizes that the water belongs to the citizens of Michigan.

“Water should be free and it’s public. It should be free and available to you,” Boyt reasoned. The members of FLOW are hoping that people with this same mentality will join FLOW’s campaign and take the pledge to use reusable bottles instead of buying bottled water. //

Graphic: T. VerVane

an art meets a sport

Despite being artistically challenging, dance is also physically demanding.

14 // BGQ // January 2019

by JULIA DEMUSKY Staff Writer

All

Pho tos

: A.

Van nat ter

Butterflies in my stomach, I was backstage at my dance recital last May, right before my first dance of the show that night. I had danced this dance a thousand times before that night, yet it felt like I had forgotten the entire routine.

Seconds away from going on stage; the lights were dimming, girls from the last dance were running off, I ran on stage and got into position. Lights started to brighten, music began and everything just seemed to click. The butterflies went away and I started to perform.

Dance is a sport and art that is often underestimated. Just like other sports, dance is physically demanding. “Dance is a huge part of people’s lives,” according to Elise Powis ‘21, who takes classes at Dance Arts Academy, which is a popular dance studio in Traverse City.

“Dance controls my life pretty much.

I’m always at the studio, but it’s where I want to be. I don’t want to be out doing random things with friends, I want to be at the dance studio doing what I love. It controls my life, but I enjoy it.”

There are many different styles and types of dance all over the world. Ballet is typically the most common, which includes the famous Pointe dancing which many people glorify and marvel at. Other kinds of dance include tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, Celtic, as well as contemporary. Oftentimes dance companies will have a competitive dance team. A competitive dance team is when a group of students from a company travel to dance competitions either around their county, state, or country. Dancers compete for awards and medals for performing choreographed dances for a select number of judges.

Professional dancers who are part of a

company usually spend between six and seven hours a day, six days a week, in the studio rehearsing and training. Dance Arts Academy student, Hope Hanna ‘21, says she dances, “between fifteen to twenty hours a week, six days a week.”

Although dance is physically demanding, it looks effortless when done well.

“Some people think that dance is super easy, but if it looks easy, I mean, that is pretty much our job, to make dance look easy,” Hanna enthrals. Alongside the physical aspect of dance is the emotional aspect. Every kind of dance requires dancers to show a certain kind of emotion and passion with every movement. This part is supposed to come naturally – it’s how a dancer communicates that they are doing what they love. “When I started dancing it was like a perfect match for me. I had fun,” Powis said. “I got to do what I loved and it just continued to where I am now.”

Many differing opinions exist regarding whether dance is a sport or art.

Perhaps what makes dance so unique is that it is artistic, but also athletic. Dance requires endurance and passion, like every other sport. “People tell me dance is not a sport all the time,” Powis explains.

“Sometimes I just let it go because people are going to think what they think, but if somebody comes to my studio

they are not going to be able to dance like I do.”

Every dancer has different reasons why they dance and why they have a passion for it. Powis offers some insight on what she loves about dance, “I love the support all my friends give me— it’s like our own little time and we all believe in each other, and even though we compete against each other, sometimes we all love each other and we are just a great family.” Dance is a sport. It may not be a typical sport, but dancers have all the same ideas, values, and work ethic as traditional athletes.

Dance also touches the art world and falls into the art category because it is a form of artistic expression. As a dancer it shows artistic expression because I can express myself through movement. I can say something and make a statement though dancing without having to actually say anything. It is one of the only activities that classify as both a sport and an art. It’s the best of both worlds. //

Quarterly Showcase Photographer: McKenna Bak 16 // BGQ // January 2019

Photo: P. Conners

The Many Shades of Central

by PAIGE CONNERS & AVA EDWARDS Staff Writers

You’ve probably seen someone walking in the hallways with a head of vibrantly colored hair. Have you ever wondered how they did that? Or why?

People have been dyeing their hair for centuries. Ancient peoples would combine natural ingredients and smear the paste on their hair to give it a temporary color change. The modern means for it came about in 1863 when the first synthetic hair dye was accidentally created while English chemist William Henry Perkin was trying to cure malaria. He made a light shade of purple known as mauve. The trend of dyeing one’s hair a vibrant, unnatural color did not become well established until the 1970s, during the punk movement.

Celebrities, primarily music artists, popularized colored hair, and it eventually took hold of the public as well. Now, it is not uncommon to see heads of rainbow-hued hair passing you in everyday life.

Dyed hair has dramatically increased in popularity in recent times. Ashleigh Udell, a certified hairdresser for nearly a decade and owner of Salon Boheme on Eighth Street, believes “a good 75-80% of adults have some form of color in their hair.” Additionally, she spends “about 20 hours per week solely coloring hair,” averaging about one or two color services a day, seeing as the process can take up to three hours to complete.

There are a number of different ways one can get their hair dyed. One can use permanent, demi-permanent, or semipermanent dye, depending on the desired effect. “Contrary to popular belief, permanent, demi-permanent and semi-permanent do not pertain to longevity of the color,” says Udell. “It refers to the chemical process [that takes place] in the hair.”

Permanent dye permanently alters the hair, hence the name.

It lifts out the natural pigment by opening the hair cuticle.

Demi-permanent dye only lifts out a little of the natural pigment. It is with semi-permanent dye that one achieves the vivid, unnatural colors that are oh-so-appealing to the eye.

This process sometimes begins with bleaching, “a controlled method of removing [natural] pigments for a lighter result.”

This can be necessary because semi-permanent dye is “deposit only,” meaning it will not show up on dark hair because it does not lift the natural pigment of the hair follicles. Color deposit refers solely to putting color into the hair, which every product but bleach does.

18 // BGQ // January 2019

Many people seemed to have the idea stuck in their brains that dyeing one’s hair is severely damaging. Yes, undoubtedly there will be some damage that occurs while altering the chemical composition of the hair follicles, but it is not as bad as many people make it out to be. One of the most damaging dyeing processes that can be done to the hair is over-bleaching. Over the years, however, stylists have perfected ways to lift the hair using bleach with as little damage as possible.

Stylists refer to natural hair colors using “levels” in a numerical system from one to ten, one being black and ten being platinum blonde. The lower the level, the more “lift” that may have to take place during the bleaching. When mixing the bleaching formula, stylists will mix the bleach (normally a powder, but it can also be a cream or a gel mixture) with a developer. Developer is the chemical that opens the hair cuticle to allow the color to penetrate and chemically change the follicle (think of it like something that opens the hair “pores” to let in the color). Developer, depending on the brand, also comes in levels, from 10 to 40. These numbers relate to the level of lift that they add to the bleach or, if being mixed with a hair color or dye, the level of deposit. (10 = 1-2 levels of lift/ deposit, 20 = 2-3 levels, 30 = 3-4 levels, 40 = 4-5 levels.) Typically it is the developer that causes the most damage. There is also what is called a level six developer, which is used with dyes to deposit the color. This is the one that is normally used.

If it is not used, stylists use a level ten developer. Stylists have other products that can alter the bleaching and/or color formula. The hair dyeing process is a combination of different products coming together to create the desired hue in the safest way possible. It is only when the process is done wrong that results in irreversible damage to the hair.

While the process through which hair goes through to attain its bold tint may be complex, the reasoning behind why people choose to dye their hair is not. The majority of individuals seem to color their hair for the first time because they are bored of their natural hair color, but that is not the only reason people dye their hair.

Other individuals have dyed their hair because, like Amaijah Dunham-Elmer ‘22, they, “wanted to do something new.”

Photo: A. Vannatter

Photo: A. Vannatter

[from left to right, top] Mars Stringham, ‘21, “I didn’t want to have brown hair like everyone else.” David Deneen, ‘20, “I didn’t like my original hair color.” Ava Edwards, ‘21, below, “I hated my brown hair.”

Photo: M. Bak

When it comes to older people dyeing their hair, it can often have to do with the natural greying effect that takes place as we age. “Some just like to play around and have fun expressing themselves through their hair,” adds Udell. Whatever be

the reason, hair dyeing is a fun experience that many people take part in each day, and it has become an ingrained part of our society. //

Hair Dye Confessions It was August, and I was seated at my grandmother’s dining table. I was full of jitters, the fact I would be starting middle school in less than a month at the forefront of my mind. I told myself it was going to be different somehow.

Something major was going to change with my ascension from elementary school. But what was going to be that something? That was when my gaze fell onto my cousin, her hair cut short and dyed navy blue, and it came to me— I would be the kid with the brightly colored hair.

Before middle school, I had never seen anyone besides my cousin and her friends who had hair dyed an unnatural color. Maybe in passing at the grocery store or somewhere like that, but I never actively acknowledged the color. I was of the mindset that I would be the only kid in the school with brightly colored hair. While that was not completely accurate, it also was not far from the truth. There were only a few of us, and I was one of them. I had long purple hair for almost two years straight. Some people only knew me with purple hair and did not believe me when I told them I was a natural blonde. Eventually, however, I got bored with my purple hair. I got bored with my hair in general. So, in October, I cut my hair and dyed it pink with the excuse of wanting to accurately portray Tonks from Harry Potter for Halloween.

In reality, I had always wanted my hair short, I just never had a good enough reason until then. At least, that is what I had always told myself. The actual reason I did not cut my hair until then was because I was terrified of having short hair. My hair had been long for my entire life. As a small child, it reached the tops of my thighs. I cut it off to my chin once, but that was not quite what I was looking for. In all honesty, I had wanted to shave my head and start fresh. I hated my long hair, and I finally had the short hair I had wanted for so long.

20 // BGQ // January 2019

The pink quickly washed out and I was left with boring blonde hair, until I decided to go even bolder and dye the front part of my hair blue in January. I chose blue because it was my mother’s favorite color. It remained blue until I shaved my head in November of that same year. No one had wanted me to shave my head. I had brought it up multiple times to a number of different people and absolutely none of them condoned my decision. I did it anyway,

Photo: P. Conners

and I absolutely loved it. There was one thing, though, that irked me. I no longer had enough hair to dye a fun color.

My hair did not grow out enough to dye until March. That was when I had an epiphany. Why dye my hair just one color when I could dye it six different colors instead? I dyed my hair rainbow the week Love, Simon came out and went to see the movie later that day.

Not even twenty minutes after leaving the salon, I was stopped in Subway.

Someone asked me if they could take a picture of my hair. I felt like a movie star.

My hair retained its vibrancy for about a month, and then I went swimming in a chlorinated pool. When I got out, my

by PAIGE CONNERS Staff Writer hair was severely faded. In hindsight, I should have realized that was going to happen.

By this time, it was not worth dyeing my hair again until after summer. I have a rule: I do not dye my hair in the summer. We bleached out the remaining pigment in my hair and I had bright blonde hair that was so pale it was almost white until August, when I colored my entire head blue— the same blue that my hair had previously been. It felt like a color that belonged to me, a color I had to return to. I also shaved the side of my head, to satiate the urge shave my whole head again.

In October, I grew bored of my hair yet again. I dyed it red shortly before Halloween, using the excuse of needing it that color for a Halloween costume yet again. I was a demonic witch.

The unfortunate part of that decision is that the red quickly faded to pink, and it is now the color of bubblegum. That was not what I was going for, but I suppose it works.

I have big plans for my hair in the future. I have compiled a list of colors I want to dye my hair, but my current agenda is to dye it yellow— specifically, the color of burning sodium— this spring, then shave it all off just before school gets out. The urge to shave my head again has still not gone away, evidently.

My hair is something that is incredibly important to me. I might even go as far to call it my best feature. It is something that gets me noticed in public, which gives me a rush of adrenaline everytime it happens. I am noticeable in the halls because of my hair. I have had people come up to me and say, “Hey, you’re the kid with the rainbow hair,” or something along those lines. Dyeing my hair has become exactly what I wanted it to be— a way for me to stand out when I feel like I might get lost in the crowd. //

Infrequently Asked Questions We made students feel awkward with random questions. Here’s what they said: What’s something that everyone looks stupid doing?

“Pumping Gas. I don’t feel like anyone looks cute doing that.”

Olive White ‘19 If you were invisible for ten minutes, right now, what would you do?

“Probably go and loot some fast food places.

I go pretty slow, that could be it. Probably go skiing invisible, that’d be pretty sick. Just the skis and boots showing.”

Chum Dulude ‘21 What’s the most nonsensical thing you believed as a kid?

“That babies come from poop. Up until five, that’s how I thought babies were a thing. I don’t know what I thought after that.”

Logan Cook ‘19 It’s midnight and you’re hungry- what are you cheffing up?

Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Lots of cereal, not too much milk.

Everest Noyes ‘22 There’s a zombie apocalypse- what 5 items are you grabbing?

“Wait, what’s the point of these questions? I’m so confused right now.”

Payson Fraser ‘21

All Photos: M. Bak Graphics: Staff :)

Music For The New Year

A look back at this year’s outstanding musical contributions to the world

by RICHARD MOSLEY Staff Writer

Throughout the year we have received numerous albums from from artists such as Eminem, Metro Boomin, Imagine Dragons, and numerous others. Here are some of my favorite albums that I recommend you check out as we go into 2019.

Eminem - Kamikaze Eminem’s proper response to the hate received from his previous album Revival, Kamikaze is the return to form that Eminem fans have been waiting for since his sixth album, Relapse. Flooded with controversial lines and disses at nearly everybody in the hip-hop industry, Kamikaze is out for an all out collision. Tracks such as “The Ringer,” “Greatest,” and “Not Alike” featuring Royce da 5’9”, are lyrical combustive shots across the rap and hip-hop industry, while songs like “Venom,” “Lucky You” featuring Joyner Lucas, and the title track “Kamikaze” are consistent rap records from an ‘old head’ doing what he does best.

Kanye West - Ye Kanye West’s musical return after two years of hiatus and controversial statements, Ye is a proper return to form emphasizing on West’s personal and vulnerable life following hospitalization stemming from his temporary psychosis. Tracks like “Ghost Town,” “Yikes,” and “All Mine“ display the true focus of Kanye’s musical genius. Through a period of hardships, addiction, and the continued advancement of the hip-hop genre in the new generation, Ye is a substantial eighth installment in West’s discography.

Travis Scott - Astroworld Travis Scott’s musical odyssey Astroworld is named after the famous theme park of the same name in Houston. Gritty, raw, and considered a musical masterpiece in contemporary hip-hop to many people, Astroworld is the album you should listen to if you haven’t by now. Songs like “Astrothunder,” “R.I.P. Screw,” and “Stop Trying to Be God” paint vivid murals of a depressed life within fame, while songs like “Sicko Mode”, “Yosemite”, and “No Bystanders” are explosive, sonic, and overall fun. With heavy replay value across this 17-track album, this album is one for the history books.

TDE featuring Various Artists - Black Panther [Soundtrack] TDE’s first soundtrack within their discography and produced for the highly successful Black Panther movie, the Black Panther album is star studded with powerful verses, high levels of production, and even containing excerpts of audio from the movie. The primary artist across the album is Kendrick Lamar and his fellow TDE artists, however numerous features appear on this album. Songs such as “All the Stars”, “Pray for Me” featuring The Weeknd, “King’s Dead” featuring Future and James Blake, and “Big Shot” featuring Travis Scott, are some of this year’s best released music, and from head to toe, this album is stunning.

22// BGQ // January 2019

School Choices After doing a school-wide survey in search of favorable albums enjoyed by the students at CHS, the final results for the survey are displayed below by the most voted upon.

Other albums that recieved a large number of votes but could not make the feature include: J Cole— KOD, A$AP Rocky— Testing, Dan + Shay— Dan + Shay, Mac Miller— SWIMMING, Twice— BDZ.

Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy

XXXTentacion - ? (Question Mark)

Ariana Grande - Sweetener

Drake - Scorpion

Panic! at the Disco - Pray for the Wicked

Migos - Culture II

Imagine Dragons - Origins

Twenty One Pilots - Trench

Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes

Photos: A. Vannatter

Maikel Ragel Wilson

traverse city

Anthony Ascione

“Before I moved to TC in 1999, I was born in Spain in a town called Darragona. I am half-Spaniard and currently work as a barista at Brew downtown.”

Grace Duensing

identityin

In our spinoff of Humans of New York, the Black & Gold Quarterly went out into the Grand Traverse community in search of uniquity.

Our mission was to find inspiring stories and share them to encourage self-expression. Through a variety of randomly selected people, we were able to find one commonality—passion.

Stories like theirs are what make us believe in the power that comes from expression through journalism. People are art. We feel when combining their words with a visual story, a unique and inspiring message is created. Members of our community have conveyed their identities and inspired us through their words and sense of passion. To us, this is the truest kind of journalism—finding moving stories and sharing them.

“I’m a forensic anthropologist. I work for a firm that does emergency disaster relief. So if there’s ever an instance of mass loss of human life they would call me up and others like me and say “let’s come find everybody and figure out who they are” that’s my free-a-life job, and my day job is working in a bookstore and recommending books to people.”

24 // BGQ // January 2019

“I moved back here from New York City. I was there for 6 years and just moved back to start my own store. I mean New York is great and all, but this is so much better. The people are so much nicer and the water’s amazing.”

Courtney Kent Jill Beauchamp

“Growing up around water my whole life, I mean that’s one reason I work in the fishing industry is because it was instilled in me as a child, you know, with the bay right behind you, and you’re swimming, you’re doing all these outdoor things, and I wanted to make a career out of it. So I became a fishing guide and I eat, sleep, and breathe water and fishing.”

Jon Kestner

Photos: M. Bak

“I learned how to scuba dive when I was thirteen and I’ve experienced diving all over the world. My husband and I were able to dive with manta rays this past April. If you’ve ever seen them they are really, really huge, beautiful magnificent animals.”

“I have a Shakespeare company that this summer will be our twentieth season, and it’s called Riverside Shakespeare. This summer we did Merchant of Venice, and next summer we are going to do Much Ado About Nothing, and then I’m out! Twenty years is a long time to do something”.

Title: I’m Dizzy Artist: Mckenna Sandford

the Gallery

Title: Untitled

Artist: Makenna Maliano 26 // BGQ // January 2019

A student showcase

Title: G

Artist: McKenna Bak

Title: Self Portrait

Artist: Ethan Shaw

Title: Untitled

Artist: Andy Keith

Title: M

Artist: Grace Shroeder

Title: Untitled

Artist: Jack Doerr 28 // BGQ // January 2019

28// BGQ // January 2019

Title: Untitled

Artist: Olivia Rockwood

Graphic: T. VerVane

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate, Continued from p. 5 PUBLIC SCHOOLS Public schools in Michigan are required by law to have records of students’ immunization files. The required vaccines are listed on the TCAPS website, and include polio, tetanus, chickenpox, and MMR vaccines. All preschool, kindergarten, and seventh grade students (as well as transfer students) in the TCAPS district must have this information, unless a signed waiver is presented. According to the Grand Traverse Health Department, “a nonmedical waiver is a parent’s/guardian’s written statement indicating their religious or philosophical or other objections to a particular vaccination.” A non-medical waiver makes it possible for unvaccinated students to attend TCAPS schools, so what does that mean for us at Central High School? Are we at risk for a potential outbreak?

In late November of this year, a school in North Carolina suffered an outbreak of chickenpox, reported to be one of the worst cases seen in the United States by CNN News. According to Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, the county medical director, the Asheville

Waldorf School’s kindergarten class “had the highest percentage of religious exemptions in the country and among the highest in the state,” and the virus had spread quickly throughout the community. If the rates of unvaccinated children are increasing in the United States, are we vulnerable to an epidemic? It may be a far-fetched idea, but the possibility is something to consider.

The vaccine controversy is not a black-and-white issue; instead, it is an array of colors and opinions that range from one end of the spectrum to the other. When I began this story, I had a mindset that the vaccination process was quick, easy, and the benefits outweigh any repercussions. In the end, I realized that choosing whether to vaccinate or not to vaccinate is not a simple decision.

There are so many factors involved that it becomes confusing; is it a matter of who’s right and who’s wrong, or does the issue go deeper than that? Whether you believe that kids should or shouldn’t be vaccinated is entirely up to you. All I have to say is that I got my flu shot and immunizations this year, but are you going to as well? //

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ingredients 4 tbs all purpose flour 3 tbs sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 3 tbs milk 1 tbs oil 1 tsp vanilla extract

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MIX MIcorwave 80-90 seconds Top & Enjoy All Photos: A. Vannatter

30 // BGQ // January 2019

Recipes: Courtesy of Buzzfeed Tasty

Plastic Straws Suck, Continued from p. 14 weighed out yet before making this decision, including cost.

While TCAPS considers switching to a paper alternative, some students at Central are doing their part as this movement sweeps the country. “Myself and a lot of my friends have aluminum straws that we just carry around with us just in our bags,” Olivia Hale ‘20 said. “I keep mine in my car so that if we are out somewhere we can just use them. It’s not a hassle. It is just one step closer and I think that everyone should try to do it.”

Clearly, we need to find an alternative to plastic straws. And yes, paper straws are better for the environment, in that they are biodegradable, but they still have a downside in terms of use, they dissolve. If a paper straw is left in a drink for too long, it will turn into mush before the drink is consumed. While the anti-plastic straw movement is a step toward reducing waste in our oceans, there is much more work to be done. Chemicals from plastic manufacturing show up in our everyday utilities such as drinking water. This movement to switch to paper straws is getting us closer to a multiple-useplastics environment, where we no longer use a plastic bag, water bottle or straw just once before recycling it.

“I don’t think that [straws] are the root of the problem with plastic waste in the oceans,” said Hale, “but I do think that taking the step to use either reusable straws or paper straws can be beneficial if done the right way.” So maybe next time you are in a restaurant, ready to order your drink, think about if you need a straw or not and choose to order a drink without a plastic straw. //

Want to see your work in the BGQ? Send your art, photography, and writing to bgq@tcapsstudent.net

IT TAKES

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