Vol. 7, Issue 2 by The Chariot

THE

CHARIOT TROY HIGH SCHOOL

TROY, MI.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 2

DECEMBER 2021

DEC. 2021

Cover is a graphic illustration by Luanni Ford.

THE CHARIOT STAFF PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Vanisa Kumar

SOURCE EDITOR Emma Mertz

WEB EDITOR-IN- CHIEF Luanni Ford

STAFF REPORTERS Michelle Baik Ainsley Giorio Matthew Grabowski Ria Gupta Hannah Lee October Marquez Urvi Patil Ellen Seo Abby Werenka

GRAPHICS EDITOR Anjali Sanil SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Raneen AlRammahi and Maddy Hiser BUSINESS EDITOR Lola Pinneo BODY COPY EDITORS Nidhi Kuchulakanti and Ashley Park

ADVISOR Morgan Clark

OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Chariot is a student-produced news publication that publishes information relevant to the times as well as material that is essential to the overall well-being of its readers. It is The Chariot’s responsibility to cover school, city, state, national and international events and issues that affect the concerns of the campus, its students and its readers. The Chariot operates as a designated public forum for student expression. The Editorial Board, consisting of student editors, is the sole decision-making and policy-setting body of The Chariot and has final say over all content decisions. Opinions expressed in letters to the editors represent those of the author. Letters to the editors should be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, signature and class or position. Names of individuals may be withheld upon request, pending a vote of the Editorial Board. Letters may be submitted via email at troychariot@gmail.com. All letters are subject to review by the Editorial Board. Letters will not be edited except to fix space limitations. Should the Editorial Board deem a letter to be potentially libelous or containing content inappropriate for publication, it will be returned to the author with an opportunity for corrections. The Editorial Board is solely responsible for these decisions. The Chariot’s purpose is to be the voice of the school. Its purpose is to shed light on groups and people that are not often discussed while bringing news that is important to the community. THE VOICE OF TROY HIGH. WE SEE YOU. WE HEAR YOU. WE GET YOU.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: The Officer Jones Crossword..................................................................3 What Are They Feeding Us?...................................................................4 Troy High Parking Police.......................................................................5 Caution: The Ripple Effect......................................................................6 The Substitute Teacher and Bus Driver Shortage................................6 Blending into the Majority......................................................................7 Not Throwing Away Our Shots..............................................................7 C*nsorship.........................................................................................8 & 9 Return to In-Person Theatre.................................................................10 The Player 001 Effect.............................................................................10 Sneaker Culture Across Troy High.....................................................11 The Naughty List...................................................................................11 New Year’s Celebrations and Cultural Traditions..............................12 A Glimpse into Troy High’s Sportiest..................................................13 Jumping Through China’s Hoops.........................................................14 Just Keep Swimming..............................................................................14

CROSSWORD

The Officer Jones Crossword When our favorite school resource officer asks for a crossword, we make him a crossword.

TROY HIGH FACULTY FUN FACTS

Answer key on page 14

NEWS

What are They Feeding Us? Why lunches at Troy High have changed since COVID started. Ainsley Giorio// Staff Reporter School lunches, yum. Well, not necessarily. Many at Troy High have received moldy vegetables, food of questionable quality, and tasteless mush. This is because of supply chain issues plaguing our country at the moment. Due to COVID-19, a few things have happened: factories were shut down, workers at factories and delivery locations were sick or quarantined and the demand for many products bought online has increased ten folds. All of this directly affects Troy High and the lunches they serve. Students at Troy High have been slightly unhappy about the new lunches. When asked what changes they had noticed in school lunches since COVID started, sophomore Grace Haugk said, “I’ve noticed that the portions are small, there are fewer choices, and the taste and quality have gone down.” This observation is extremely accurate. Portions have gotten smaller, because food is now state regulated. Lunch being state regulated means that the portions need to be smaller so they can have a greater quantity of food for more people. The fact that there are fewer choices at lunch is due to COVID-19 and supply chain issues. Supply chain issues come from there being less workers in factories and shipping locations. Those who are working are at a greater risk of getting COVID. The lack of stability in workers and companies means

only so much can be produced and there has to be fewer options because companies only have so many people to make the food. Lastly, the quality of food has gone down due to lunches being supplied by the state and supply chain issues. When asked if she had noticed a change in quality due to COVID, food service director for the Troy School District Nicole Gervais responded, “Absolutely, we have certain food contracts with certain brands, so because of the demand everyone is ordering the same amount. So when we order our products they do this thing called auto sub, auto substitution.” Gervais explained that auto substitution can interfere with the quality of the district’s food selection. “For example if we put an order in for hamburgers and they don’t have the particular brand that is higher quality they will auto sub it for whatever they can get. Be it a generic brand or something that’s similar to it, but it does impact the quality.” This practice causes a lot of uncertainty in the food service department. Gervais said, “For example when we get a delivery on Monday it’ll be a kind of surprise what we are getting. Most of the products are automatically substituted, and it does impact the quality. We still want to make sure we have options available, but the quality has been kind of hit or miss.” As Gervais said, they are trying their best to have options for students, so they don’t have to eat the same food everyday. However it is very hard to gauge if the food they are ordering and serving is good, because so much of it isn’t consistent. Those who work for the food service directory are in a tricky spot, and they are trying their best to serve us good lunches. This may feel like it is the

first time the food has ever changed, but that is simply untrue. When Obama was president, Michelle Obama was a huge advocate for schools to serve more nutritious meals. With all of her campaigning as the first lady, Michelle was able to get the The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed. This act changed school lunches making them healthier by requiring fruits and vegetables, fat free or low fat milk, and getting rid of food high in trans fat and sodium. Implementing this caused the way food tasted to change drastically, and this in turn brought many complaints from students. This is similar to today with the change in food due to COVID. When asked if he had heard any complaints about lunches, vice principal Daniel House said,

Photos by Ainsley Giorio and Morgan Clark

“When we were going to more nutritional lunches, probably like eight years ago, students complained about the food not being as tasty.” So the food that is served has changed before, and both times the food change was for

a valid reason. It may be slightly aggravating at times that the food “doesn’t taste as good as it used to,” but it is a great reminder that the food we considered good was once considered gross.

NEWS

Troy High Parking Police An insider’s look at the Troy High Parking Police Instagram. Lola Pinneo // Business Editor, Emma Mertz // Source Editor

Recently, a new Instagram account called Troy High Parking Police was created. On this account, they post about the questionable parking jobs at the school. Their bio states ‘stay in the lines or receive da fines.’ It’s possible that the fine you would

receive is being posted on their Instagram account for all their followers to see. The account has continued to gain popularity and followers as they post more and more. “Over the course of a few weeks, we have amassed a large following, which current-

ly makes up over a quarter of Troy High’s student population with 744 followers,” the Parking Police said. The admin of the Troy High Parking Police Instagram is currently unknown and, in an interview they stated that they wished to continue to stay anonymous. The Troy High Parking Police Instagram account has managed to create a comedic environment for students to simultaneously bond and expose the parking n0-no’s of their peers. “Our parking account has brought together so many individuals from Troy High. In the comment sections of our posts, everyone from underclassmen to members of THS’s senior classes can be found absolutely obliterating the students whose parking jobs we post about. One student who is a frequent perpetrator on the parking police is senior RJ Brar. RJ is a great sport about it, and Troy High students love to join together for a good old laugh about his inability to park correctly.” Brar has also shared his opinions about the Troy High Parking Police Instagram account. “I feel like it’s a very funny

account, the captions are very funny.” The Troy High Parking Police has also brought up a concern that’s been on their mind and the minds of many other students. They are worried about the parking situation in the student parking lot and the visitors at Troy High. “Beyond sharing funny paparazzi-esque photos of students in the parking lot, our

made,” says the Parking Police. The Parking Police Instagram account is a safe(ish) place for students to expose their classmates’ parking abilities, and joke about their concerns with the parking environment. Many students, and the Parking Police acknowledge that the account is just for fun, and only intend to create awareness in the Troy High

parking police account also highlights the evils of the parents in the student parking lot. PARENTS SHOULD NOT COME IN HERE. There are two perfectly functional drop off and pick up loops. The parents make the parking lot very unsafe and chaotic, and the student body has joined together in aims of ending this reckless behavior. Followers of our account have been inspired to reach out to administrators and to make sure that their own parents are following the rules! We’ve seen some positive change, but more can always be

parking community. The Parking Police state, “Learning to drive is hard, so our account is just here to poke fun at that. There’s never a bad intention. Kids love to send in pictures of their friends, and take to the comments to defend themselves when caught on camera.” So you’ve been warned... ‘stay in the lines or receive da fines.’

Photos courtesy of @ troyhighparkingpolice

NEWS

The Substitute Teacher and Bus Driver Shortage How the shortage of substitute teachers and bus drivers has changed Troy High. October Marquez // Staff Reporter Since this year’s return to in person learning, a lot about the school’s resources have changed. Some of these resources include substitute teachers and bus drivers, which have been shown to massively impact how the school functions. The shortage has made classes run in the li-

brary and buses run late. This year, there have been multiple days where classes take place in the library when a teacher is absent. This is due to the lack of substitute teachers in the district, with elementary and middle schools having a higher priority for substitute teachers over the high schools.

According to sophomore June Tegge, it “heavily affected my ability to work” since it was “close to impossible in the environment.” But, when too many classes are in the library at one time, it becomes a bit overwhelming for kids, teachers and the librarian herself. “Teachers like to bring their

classes to the media center on Fridays because it’s an easy lesson plan,” says librarian Toni Issac, “but when they’re using the library for coverage for substitute teachers, the regular teachers don’t feel like they can use that as part of their lesson plan.” There’s also a lack of bus drivers within the district which is caused by a lot of factors. A Troy School District bus driver says part of the reason for the shortage is “the high responsibilities of the job, the stress with minimal pay and no benefits”. The starting wage of bus drivers in the Troy School District is $21 an hour, which many would consider a lot, but taking breaks and summer into consideration, “most of us make an average of 27,000 a year”. Comparing this to the average teacher salary in the district, $63,701 (according to Salary.com), it is significantly lower. These

conditions have caused a lot of drivers to quit, “as we speak four people have put in their letter of resignation, two effective next Friday and two more have given until the end of this school year.” The Troy School District has been suffering from a lack of bus drivers and substitute teachers since the return to in person learning. As noted earlier, part of this is because of the unsatisfactory reparations they get for their work, while other districts offer more. They don’t get enough compensation for the work they do,while also dealing with a “lack of any respect throughout the district.”

Caution: The Ripple Effect

Photo by October Marquez

How have today’s conditions affected students and staff alike. Raneen AlRammahi // Social Media Editor, Graphic by Raneen AlRammahi // Social Media Editor

School has been hectic, that is something many students and staff here can agree on. The transition from online to in-person school has had a large effect on students and teachers alike. Many might argue about which method of schooling is better, but almost everyone agrees there are challenges with both. One teacher, who wished to stay anonymous, has something to say in regards to the first change to online school

back in September of last year. “Last year, we changed everything that we did,” they said, “We had an hour and a half of basic training, all things we could do, but we didn’t have enough time to teach how to do it.” They stressed the fact that the school often gave ideas for things they could do in their class and how overwhelming it was. “So when I’m already struggling at this, just tread-

ing water, and [the school] wants me to learn that while I’m treading water, I’m gonna drown,” they said. To them, online school was “the worst experience I’ve had in [their] complete career”, so it’s safe to say that they’re glad about finally coming back in-person again, even if it might not be the best right now. Junior student, Vidhi Kamat, has her own thoughts about coming back to school. “School’s been a little difficult because of junior year,” she said, “but getting back in person was really fun for me.” While things have been generally good for her, her grades tell a different story. “Academically, I’ve been seeing record lows in my grades,” she said, “I feel weird-

ly not motivated. I feel like that really is because of covid. The fact that I was not exactly putting in the most amount of work I could’ve been putting in last year and I’m seeing the results of that this year.” However, some students have not been doing as well as others. Senior student Julie Anowi shares her experience. “Today I almost had a breakdown,” She said, “because right now I am getting ready for college and there’s so much stuff I have to do, and I am stressed out.” Megan Foster, an English teacher, had her thoughts about how the school could help out stressed and burnedout students. “I think that wellness Wednesdays need to come back,” she said. “ I think we

need to rethink what a regular school day looks like.” Foster also expresses her concern about the pacing of the school curriculum. “We need to slow down,” she says, “Troy is overwhelming. We acknowledge it, but we don’t do anything about it.” Sydney Barosko, also a teacher here at Troy High, voices her opinion on why so many people tend to be stressed out during this time. “It’s been very stressful these past couple of weeks,” she said. “November is always really hard until you get to Thanksgiving because all through September, October and November without any meaningful time off from school or breaks, it’s not enough.”

NEWS

Blending into the Majority

The struggles of eighteen-year-olds transitioning into the beginning of adulthood. Ashley Park// Body Copy Editor Tick. You’re surrounded by friends and family. Tock. They stare at you eagerly, waiting for the candles to be blown. Tick. You smile and turn to face your birthday cake. Tock. In what seems like slow-motion, everyone around you starts cheering. You had blown the candles out. You are now officially 18-years-old. But what lies ahead of you is more responsibilities and problems to deal with. Reaching the age of majority is a dream that many of us have as a child. The idea of being independent sounds like pure heaven, especially with no one ordering you around. But in reality, this so-called heaven doesn’t seem very much like freedom once the milestone is actually reached.

Senior Sofia Urbina brings to light one perspective of the struggles of becoming an adult, comparing them to when she was younger. “I miss not having as many responsibilities. Currently, it’s been stressful thinking that my actions can heavily impact my future,” she said, “It was easy to be care-free as a child, but now I feel the weight of making decisions about my future.” Another senior, Jeongwoo Jang shares a new side of the story relating to his Korean background. “Asians are expected to be better at studying, even within the community,” he said, “I had most of my education outside of Korea, so I wasn’t able to kind of meet up to those

expectations, especially when I went back to Korea to study for middle school and a bit of high school.” However, not only does Jang feel the pressures of being the stereotypical smart Asian, his Korean status holds him at another expectation: conscription to the Korean military. Conscription, often called the draft, has existed in South Korea since 1957. It requires male citizens between the ages of eighteen to twenty-eight to serve if their physical conditions allow. According to the article South Korea Reconsiders a Rite of Manhood: The Draft, it is “one of the few industrialized countries that still drafts its young people.” Living in a country where

conscription is not normalized, Jang talks about the disadvantages many Korean males could experience. “Most people would have to go during their college years which would… delay your educational term by a year,” he said, “Between that year and a half in the military you wouldn’t be able to study at all, so you would have to redo a lot of your work once you come back.” While some agree that becoming an adult comes with more responsibilities, there are some who think there is no drastic change. Senior Hugh Defrancesco believes that aside from having more “legal responsibility and individual freedom, the rest of it feels the same.”

“It’s kind of overplayed because a lot of people tend to think that when you turn eighteen, you just suddenly become independent,” he stated, “…you’re not truly independent until after high school… when you’re not dependent on family.” Many seniors who have reached the age of majority have experienced an increase of pressure and expectations coming from different places including family, peers, and even society. It completely contradicts what we believed adulthood would be like as children. After gaining a new perspective of the reality of entering the age of majority, is it really worth escaping the age of minority?

Not Throwing Away Our Shots

Nearly one year after COVID vaccines became available, kids aged 5-11 are finally able to get vaccinated. Abby Werenka// Staff Reporter, Graphic by Raneen AlRammahi// Social Media Editor When COVID-19 vaccines became available last year, a glimmer of hope was felt that after nearly a year of darkness, the pandemic was finally coming to an end. With a higher-than-expected efficacy rate, shots quickly became available for essential workers, and the general population for people of all ages. That is, except for 5-11 year olds, who make up nearly 40% of all children under the age of 18 in the United States. While it appears that severe illness due to COVID-19 is uncommon among children, that doesn’t mean that the virus poses no threat. It has been reported by the US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that nearly one-thousand children have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murphy has stressed that parents need to recognize that “COVID is not harmless in

children . . . thousands, have been hospitalized, and as a dad of a child who has been hospitalized several years ago for another illness, I would never wish upon any parent they have a child that ends up in the hospital.” With the holiday season fast approaching and COVID cases rising in several states, especially Michigan, the race to vaccinate children has been critical. Fraught with misinformation, vaccinating children has also been a race against the clock, or rather, a new variant. The delta variant, the current dominant strain in the United States, is more transmissible, and children are likely transmitters of COVID-19. But of course, there is now a simple solution. Along with taking proper safety measures such as masking and physical distance, the best thing people can do for each other to prevent COVID-19 infections is to

get vaccinated. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House chief medical advisor and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “if you get vaccinated and your family’s vaccinated, you can enjoy a typical Thanksgiving, Christmas with your family and close friends.” Having been in a pandemic for close to two years now, pandemic fatigue is common. After a taste of normality this summer, it’s frustrating to be in the same position we were in at the height of the pandemic. “I do not like to wear masks,” said Abby, Shelby Allard’s six-year-old niece. But until the nation’s children are protected, it’s important to do what keeps everyone safe. It is scientifically proven that COVID-19 vaccines save lives, and shots are readily available at pharmacies across the state.

EDITORIAL

C*nsorship

Understanding and defining censorship in the student body.

Vanisa Kumar // Editor-in-Chief Luanni Ford // Website Editor-in-Chief “Censorship is not so easy to define. According to Webster’s Dictionary, to “censor” means “to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable.” Its central meaning is the suppression of an idea or image because it offends or disturbs someone, or because they disagree with it. In our society censorship can be found in our government with the removal of absurd media and fake news, in our television with the removal of offensive tropes and animations and in our free market with the recalling of disrespectful and harmful products. Recently, however, it seems as though this idea of censorship has crept its way into our schooling, in books we choose to share within our district’s libraries, and may even be a bigger problem than it looks out to be. The first step of any major debate is fully understanding both sides of it. Who is being affected? Why are they being affected? And, what do the people think? In the case of censorship, the people in our country are constantly battling with how to regulate or enforce censorship in a way that doesn’t ultimately strip away our freedoms, but does keep us safe from harmful media consumption. Some feel very strongly towards one side, while some don’t know enough about the effects of it to take a stand. This debate of censorship constitutionality can famously be dated back to the 1873 Comstock Law. According to Britannica Online, the Comstock Law was a “federal statute passed by the U.S. Congress in 1873 as an act of the suppression of trade in, and circulation of, obscene literature and articles of immoral use.” Heavily scrutinized, this law made it a misdemeanor for anyone to sell, give away, or possess obscene books, pamphlets, pictures, drawings, or advertisements.

Many during the time believed the law was going against their personal freedoms of speech, as to many, it seemed that the government now had free rein to tell the general public what to do, see, and send. What many people don’t know is this law is still in effect. An Iowa State University article titled “Comstock Act Still On The Books - Sept. 24, 1996” written by former congresswoman and president/CEO of the Association of American Publishers, Patricia Schroeder, reveals the uncessasarity of keeping this law in operation, “The problem is, this body just allowed the Comstock Act to be enforced on the Internet vis-a-vis anything doing with abortion,” Schroeder said. “Previously, the Congress did away the Comstock Act dealing with family planning, thank goodness. But, the Comstock Act has never been repealed; it is still on the books. And so, as a consequence, this has been thrown up on the Internet and could be used to bring people into a criminal conviction or arraignment if they decided to discuss anything about the big A word on the Internet.” Pro-censorship views continue to exist well after the Comstock Act debate. In more recent years, the group Moms for Liberty, have taken a bold stand for pro-censorship claiming it to be “a desire to stand up for parental rights at all levels of government.” The founders Tiffany and Tina are former school board members that claim to have witnessed how “short-sighted and destructive policies directly hurt children and families”. Their website explains that the Moms for Liberty believe that the school system, and government at times, don’t do the best they can to protect the children and impressionable youth of America from lude

or developmentally toxic information and media. Another argument in favor of censorship can be found in a recent article from Future of Working, highlighting how censorship reduces hate speech. “There are words that people use as an effort to shut down the right to speak of others,” the article said. “Censorship gives us the opportunity to stop this hate before it can get started. We already live within the confines of education, family, entertainment, commerce, and more. This limiting process creates more opportunities for equality.” On the other side of the debate many students feel like their voices aren’t heard within and around school. Senior Elias Birk thinks that there should not be many precautions taken to censor students. “I think the school shouldn’t censor a lot of things, obviously there are things that need to be censored,” Birk said. “But, especially nowadays a lot of things get canceled, and we need to open up a little bit more. Let freedom of speech be a part of our lives more. There should be a limit to it but I think nowadays people overreact about it.” In agreeance with Birk, an article by Everyday Health states that censoring students is harmful and restrictive to students. “Censorship in schools can also lead to a narrow worldview with holes in the cultural and international education of our children,” Everyday Health wrote. “If a child does not know from literary examples that African Americans were ever abused in our society, then how will those same children understand the implications of marches or rallies for Black rights in modern society, or the struggles that people of color still go through

to be treated as equals in all ways? Additionally, our children, if restricted to an education that supports their family’s religion, will have no frame of reference to understand other religions, other cultures, and other beliefs.” The issue of censorship in schools has recently visiting the Troy School District as local parents and members of the Moms for Liberty have tried to challenge some of our library’s offerings. Most recently, Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, was questioned. This book was only available within one school’s library within the district and was only available to students upon direct request to the librarian. When books within the Troy School District are “challenged,” the issue is reviewed by a committee made up of parents, teachers, students, and administrators. Toni Isaac, Troy High media specialist, served on the most recent review committee. It is the official stance of the American Library Association that books should not be banned. In fact, the organization sponsors a yearly “Banned Books Week” to encourage readership of controversial texts. The issue of censorship within schools also has the potential to reach beyond our libraries and impact our classrooms. This is concerning to many teachers at Troy High and may be specifically alarming to teachers within the English department, who feature novels as central pieces within their classes. Jodie Duda, English teacher at Troy High commented on the issue of censoring novels within schools, stating that “our district’s goal is to make all kids feel represented, so in order to do that, we need to make sure that the books we have available to kids represent all of the groups our

EDITORIAL

kids belong to.” Duda also stressed the importance of novels as a chance for students to learn empathy skills and to see into worlds and perspectives that may differ from their own. Additionally, novels offered within classes at Troy High are carefully selected. Duda explained, “Teachers think very deeply about books that kids are exposed to and we don’t just frivolously put scandalous texts in front of them. These texts are created with real people in mind.” Since any efforts to advocate for censorship within the Troy School District have the potential to directly impact students, we, as the Editors-in-Chief of The Chariot, wanted to offer our opinion, as students, on this important issue.

Vanisa’s Viewpoint For my viewpoint on censorship I want to go back to the Comstock Act we had mentioned previously. The illegitimacy of this law is important to note since this was one of the first acts of censorship brought forth by the government of the United States. As more of a reason to disbelieve the morality of this law, Anthony Comstock, whom the law was created by, was in the business of passing this law for the wrong reasons. “Women seemed to particularly offend Anthony Comstock, most particularly women who believed in the right to plan their families through the use of contraceptives, or in the right of women to engage in discussions and debate about matters involving sexuality, including contraception and abortion,” Schroeder continues, “For example, on November 3, 1872, Mr. Comstock brought about the arrest, on charges of obscenity, of two feminists, Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Claflin, because they published a story in their newspaper about the alleged infidelity of Henry Ward Beecher, a clergyman.” So, if the Comstock law, a pillar of our country’s fight for censorship, was birthed by a biased and clearly sexist man to suppress women’s rights… How good could censorship really be?

Luanni’s Viewpoint I feel like groups like Moms for Liberty are counter-productive. In school you should be able to get an unbiased education and Moms for Liberty are fighting against it. They want to “promote teaching the principles of liberty in our homes and community,” and “spread awareness and an understanding of the limited role of government.” I never really knew about the group until they went after our district. They have a “Hit List” of books they think should be banned from different schools around the nation. The list is blatantly homophobic and racist. Wanting to ban books like The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. By “banishing” books from our library, you’re taking away from our students’ education. A lot of kids rely on books as a learning tool and as a form of entertainment. Groups like Moms for Liberty want to give students their idea of an “ideal education.” Along with that, they don’t believe in mask mandates or the COVID-19 vaccine. If that doesn’t say a lot about the group and their morals, than the subtle racism, homophobia, and transphobia should.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Return to In-Person Theatre Students and staff in Troy High describe how this transition has been for them. Urvi Patil // Staff Reporter

Since COVID-19, the continuation of musical programs has been difficult. Now that theatre is back in person, students and staff have had to find ways to adapt to these conditions to ensure safety for everyone. The crew involved in Pride and Prejudice has been making sure all safety protocols are followed. Along with that, there

are many guidelines to consider such as limiting the amount of audience for each show. It has definitely been hard adapting to these new changes, but following these guidelines can make an impact in everyone’s safety regarding the audience and crew. Director Marc Vickers is in charge of theatre at Troy

High School. He explains how the transition back to in-person theatre is working for the whole crew along with what guidelines students need to follow while rehearsing. “It was really good to train them back up to know what to do, and lot of the freshmen and sophomores are new to this or a lot haven’t done anything for two years so they’re very rusty. So this show was very much about getting people back up on their feet and used to doing what we used to do without really thinking about it.” Vickers also describes the safety process the crew follows. “Throughout the rehearsal process, we are wearing masks. I’ve blocked [the details] the scenes so the actors were further apart than they might normally be. We made sure that they were at least twelve feet from the front row of the audience.” Theatre being back in-person has caused lots of excitement for students and staff. Its

return was a good experience for everyone, especially returning members. Senior Isabelle Lamug speaks on how the transition back to theatre was for her. “I’m really happy, because I’ve done theatre all four years here in school and having it like cut off my sophomore year and completely gone junior year, it was really sad and I completely didn’t realize that this aspect of my life was gone until I had it back again.” Freshman Delaney Bullock gives an insight on how she feels about this change. “It’s a lot more fun because we get to use actual props and costumes and we get to have more expression.” Returning back to in-person theatre has been a success for the cast and crew. It brings one joy that this wonderful production is now back to its productions and more opportunities. Vickers describes how theatre benefits Troy High. “The Greeks believed that

The Player 001 Effect

theatre was therapy. The first theatres in Epidaurus in Greece were healing centers, and so something that was really important I think in the performing arts is not just entertainment, its catharsis, we go, we cry, we laugh, it’s good for us.” Continuing these safety protocols means everyone can enjoy the theatre performance and many other benefits can occur, as well. Vickers also explained about the financial status, on how it affects the crew physically and mentally. “The industry has taken a huge hit financially, but also in terms of emotional wellbeing, along with psychological well being, has suffered, and being in the play and seeing the play makes us healthier, it’s not just a hobby. It’s not just entertainment, it’s something that is fundamental to our wellbeing.”

Photo courtesy of Abby Werenka

Recent popularity of Squid Game exposes that Western viewers largely miss the underlying themes in viral Korean films. Michelle Baik // Staff Reporter Chrissy Teigan, an A-list celebrity, recently hosted a luxurious party that was inspired by the popular Netflix TV show, Squid Game. This garnered a lot of controversy, considering that Squid game was a show critiquing capitalism, about people who were overwhelmed with debt entering a deadly game fully knowing that only one person would get to live and receive 45.6 billion Won, or $38.6 million USD. Teigan invited many rich celebrities to take part in games such as musical chairs and dunk tanks for prizes such as a flight to Napa Valley or

a dinner for two at French Laundry. Senior Vivian Park, a Korean student at Troy High School, stated “I saw this [controversy] on Twitter. I definitely think that [Chrissy Teigan] missed the point.” Many netizens have agreed with Vivian’s point, stating that Teigan had been “tone deaf.” It is incredibly ironic how rich celebrities capitalize off of a show that condemned hyper-capitalism. Squid Game showed how devastating economically exploitation can be, featuring characters that would rather face a certain

death while trying to win money than to continue on living the way that they do. Cosmicroux on TikTok, stated, “Korea is in a different financial situation than Americans but the themes still heavily apply to any society with economic exploitation.” Although it might be hard to relate to some of the themes in Korean films due to language barriers, classicism is a topic that is so deeply integrated in all parts of the world. This is not the first time that many westerners have ignored the main lesson of Korean media. An Oscar award

winning movie, Parasite, took the world by storm and coincidentally shared a very similar message with Squid Game: the consequences of hyper-capitalism and income inequalities. Parasite was trending everywhere you looked and it was all anyone could talk about. But why was it trending? Was it for the remarkable plot line? Or the breathtaking cinematography? Sophomore Simmi Sharma, a member of the THS film club, stated, “[People] like [these films] because they are popular, but I don’t see many people talking about what

they’re about.” These films became popularized because of word-of-mouth and how fast they became trending on social media. With the popularization of Korean media, many Korean films have gone viral. They often contain important underlying messages that westerners tend to ignore. If more people could respect foreign films and reflect on the themes brought up in them, Korean media could get the right recognition that they truly deserve.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Sneaker Culture Across Troy High Students and teachers discuss their thoughts on sneaker culture. Matthew Grabowski // Staff Reporter A lot of people at Troy High would consider themselves sneaker enthusiasts, better known by their common name of sneakerheads. Most would consider their beginnings to start around the 1980s with the introduction of Hip hop, and of course with the release of Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan sneaker line. Ever since, sneaker culture has woven into many parts of society and a lot of outfits. Students at Troy high and teenagers all over the world have played a large role in bringing sneakers to their current position in pop culture.

Sophomore Gaurav Vasudevan told us what he thinks about sneakers. “I think sneakers have more purposes than just wearing, because you can show off the way they look. Each shoe has a unique design, and that can help make you and your outfit look more unique.” Vasudevan also spoke on the improvement and change of sneakers over the years. “Sneakers have improved a lot. Looking back at the older sneakers and seeing the new sneakers. The sneakers look different: they changed colors, different designers which

means new designs. When you look back at older Nike Jordans, they look way different than new Jordans today.” Valerie Valentino, an English teacher at Troy High, gave her opinion on the realism of sneaker culture, saying that “popular figures could make certain shoes more interesting or desirable.” Valentino did speculate on potential barriers to participation in sneaker culture. She said that money and access to shoes is a barrier that may be common. Sophomore Annelies Bergmann talked to the Chariot

The Naughty List

about sneaker culture. When asked about the change of sneakers over recent years, she thinks it’s become a lot like a bigger deal to get trendy shoes and have expensive things. She also brought up the point that with clothing and shoes becoming increasingly unique and ever-changing, more people want better and more expensive shoes. Bergman said that she got into sneakers through her brother as well as StockX and Goat, where you can buy expensive sneakers online. There is no doubt the prevalence of sneakers has skyrock-

Bringing the normalized lies parents tell their kids during the holidays to light. Nidhi Kuchulakanti // Body Copy Editor, Graphic by Anjali Sanil // Graphics Editor

As the holiday season nears, kids start to await Santa’s appearance and convince the alarming Elf on the Shelf that they’ve been good. All year, children work exceptionally hard in hopes to get plenty of presents on Christmas. However, as these children grow up, they come to find out that these stories are simply nothing but tales. Where do these popular tales root from? Jerusha Ondra, math teacher at Troy High, speaks on her beliefs in regards to lying to her children about these tales. She said, “I think that’s part of being a kid, being able to believe in something that’s magical. That’s like the innocence and the joy of childhood.” Many parents seem to think that the tales of Elf on the Shelf and Santa are magical and it’s important to replenish their children’s youth--and that seems to be quite true. Although it is devastating when children come to find

out that their childhood heroes are simply myths, it is also important to protect their innocence and allow them to live their childhood as happily as they can. However, some parents think differently. English teacher Lisa Knudson was asked how she felt about Santa and Elf on the Shelf and if she participated in it with her children. “Being on social media and seeing parents get way too into it who spend all night prepping the next scene for the next day, it’s great for them but I just don’t have the time for it--it’s weird.” Many people’s opinions differ on whether or not Santa and Elf on the Shelf is a creepy myth, but a fair number of kids who are asked tend to believe in these tales. At the parenting class held at Troy High, young children were asked how they feel about the Elf on the Shelf, Santa and the holidays. When asked about what she was most excit-

ed for during the holidays, one young girl said, “I’m most excited for the presents.” A young boy also in the parenting class was asked what he thought about Santa, and he said, “I like Santa and I like how he looks.” Childhood myths are a very important part of most children’s lives. Children associate them with happy moments and many children who believe in the Elf on the Shelf and Santa have the ability to enjoy their youth while they still have the chance to. It is still quite controversial on whether or not parents should be lying to their kids about the Elf on the Shelf and Santa, yet most kids have good feelings and associate happy memories with these myths. That being said, is it rational for parents to lie to their children about these fantasies?

eted with not just the new and younger generation of enthusiasts but with the rise of the internet as well. Companies like the Detroit-based StockX are now some of the most popular places to purchase sneakers. With the current generation interested in sneakers and technology skyrocketing to new heights yearly, the future of sneaker culture looks to be shining bright.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Bye 2021, Hello 2022 The New Year Celebrations and Cultural Traditions all over the world. Ellen Seo / / Staff Reporter The year 2021 has been challenging for everyone. After spending the first half of it being stuck at home, Troy High students were already exhausted when they finally came back to the school. As a result, tension grew up day by day until it reached its peak. Fortunately, time has passed diligently, and it is time to let this year go and welcome the new year. Hoping next year will eventually be “normal” again - without any masks to cover our smiling faces and social distancing that has kept us apart, here are the tips from other countries to close the year 2021 with more wisdom and open the year 2022 with a bit more luck. Before starting the cultural journey around the world, it is always important to remember that every culture has to be respected by all means even when it looks lame or too superstitious. The first destination of the journey is “the rich port”, or Puerto Rico, an island with a river full of gold.

The Near Year in Puerto Rico “is a lot of fun. A lot of dancing. A lot of drinking,” said Spanish teacher Angie Griesmann. She explained about a Puerto Rican special dish for the New Year called roasted pork. “They put a stick [through a huge pig]...from the mouth all the way to the end…and they roast it [under the fire, moving] it around slowly for six to seven hours…They eat the roasted pork with rice and green beans.” 13 hours and 35 minutes of flight time away from the United States, there is a country whose land resembles a brave tiger, South Korea. In South Korea, Kiwan Seo said, “The New Year is the favorite holiday of Korean kids.” He elaborated, saying, “It is a great opportunity for them to make money by doing sebae. Sebae is a traditional bow that children give to the elders to show respect and deference. In return for sebae, the elders give them good advice with some

money depending on their birth order.” Right next to South Korea, there is “the land of the rising sun”, Japan, “the first country

that has the New Year, right in the East” explained by Japanese teacher Mina Mori. Japanese “will go to the temple and watch...priests and

Buddhist monks...start hitting the gong [a huge bell originated in Eastern Asia]...few minutes before the New Year,” she said, “then they will carry it into the New Year as they... listen to the gong...they ring it 108 times...it’s 108 times because in the Buddhist religion, they believe that there are 108 types of scenes. So, you gong the 108 types of scenes [and] leave [them] in the past, so you can start the New Year fresh.” No matter how tough this year has been, it is time to leave it all in the past and start anew, maybe by listening to beloved friends or family’s laughter and favorite carols.

Photos by Ellen Seo and Ria Gupta

SPORTS

Coach Profiles A glimpse into Troy High’s sportiest Ria Gupta // Staff Reporter

With the winter sports season in full swing as the fall sports came to a close in early November, activities like boys swimming, girls’ basketball, and bowling have all begun. The Troy High Varsity Boys swim team, led by Coach Kyle Larson, has been practicing vigorously through Thanksgiving break and the upcoming winter holidays. Coach Larson has been coaching the boys team for three years, leading them to two consecutive victo-

ries at OAAs in 2019 and 2020. Larson swam back in college for Oakland University and attended Rochester Adams High School, where he also swam. He mainly swam and continues to swim backstroke. Larson credits his experience as a college-level swimmer for his knowledge as a coach: “I know what it takes on the individual level to get to the college level as an athlete. But more importantly, I know and I’ve seen what kinds of things

Photos courtesy of Katie Robles own high school experience. Robles continued rowing to He still keeps up with his the point of competing in Naown basketball teammates tionals numerous times. from his high school years. While all coming from varRichey is a large believer in ious different backgrounds in having equal contributions to numerous sports, Coach Larthe team, from the members son and Coach Richey, as well themselves to the coaches. as Mrs. Robles, all stress the Chemistry teacher Katie Ro- importance of a good team enbles, or “Row”-bles, grew up in vironment, and how that has Buffalo, New York. Although continued to inspire them in she did swimming and track their sports careers. “for fun” back in high school, she joined Michigan State’s rowing team in her undergraduate years. “Someone came by and said ‘Join the rowing team,’ and I said, ‘I like boats.’ So I was like, sure, maybe I’ll make some friends there,” Robles shared. A great team environment and being a very sociable person, herself, largely contributed to her fondness for the sport. super successful teams do.” He invites all Troy High students and families to come see the Troy v. Athens meet on January 27th, 2022 at 6:00pm. Taylor Richey is a well-rounded individual in Troy High’s world of sports, currently coaching the junior varsity girl’s basketball team. The team, similar to the swim team, practices through both winter break and finals. Even with the hardships of COVID-19 last year, Coach Richey is proud of the culture the team was able to create. After the arrival of his kid, Richey decided to retire from his place as a football coach (2016 - 2018), a softball coach (2016 - 2018), and as a baseball coach. He has coached basketball for Troy High for seven years. Richey credits his high school coaches for giving himself a great sense of leadership that he continues to use in his later years and being his inspiration. “When you’re a good coach, you get all your players to buy into the program. And you sacrifice for each other to make a really good team,” Coach Richey said, after detailing his

SPORTS

Jumping Through China’s Hoops

A look into the modern day genocide and how it impacts the upcoming winter Olympics. Hannah Lee // Staff Reporter, Graphic by Raneen AlRammahi

The Olympics. The biggest sports event that is watched every year. The games first originated 3,000 years ago. This year, the 2022 Winter Olympics hosted at Beijing, China, has become a debate. A debate about whether or not China should have the privilege of hosting the most antici-

pated event. The genocide going on since 2017 against the Ughyers, has now started gained attention. Ughyers are a Muslim ethnic group from Xinjiang, region in China. It is estimated that there are about 1 million Ughyers in concentration camps. Concentration camps

mean torture and suffering. The Chinese Communist Party claimed the goal of these camps was to help counter potential terrorism. They were considered a threat and shoved into concentration camps. Human rights have been violated and countries have been shedding light on the topic.

Just Keep Swimming

As the debate of whether China deserves to host the 2022 Winter Olympics goes on, a Troy High teacher shares his thoughts on the topic. AP Government teacher Ryan Werenka said,“The Chinese government is blaming Ughyers and saying that their religion is the thing that is radicalizing them, that’s the reason why they created these camps.” Hosting the Olympics has always been an honor, and the nation’s image boosts and legitimacy internationally when corporations sponsor the event. “Countries that host the Olympic Games invest billions of dollars hoping to see a boom in their economy, from increased tourism spending and infrastructure updates. Host

countries can see an increase in trade, which can also lead to increased foreign investment,” according to a report titled The Economic Impact of the Olympics. The benefits a country gains from hosting the Olympics are massive. Acting like everything’s normal is a huge understatement. Sophomore Ayushi Gupta said, “The Olympics are a huge money making event and I don’t think the Chinese deserve it.” Supporting the 2022 Winter Olympics would mean supporting the interference of human rights. While the rest of the world is enjoying the pleasures of the games, what makes the Ughyers different for them to suffer in concentration camps?

Rucha Deshpande continues to crush THS school records. Anjali Sanil // Graphics Editor

Photo courtesy of Rucha Deshpande Troy High’s swim team cap- team itself. tain, senior Rucha Deshpande, “Swim has always been a has left her mark on Troy High place I’ve gone to escape from School. Deshpande, who has my day and be surroundbeen swimming since she was ed by my best friends,” she only 5 years old, joined the explained. “It’s definitely the Troy swim team in her freshpeople that make it the best.” man year. In her 100-meter breast“I joined because swimming stroke event at the MHSAA has always been something I Division 1 Championship meet loved to do,” Deshpande said,. in January 2021, senior Rucha “I knew it would be a ton of Deshpande achieved an asfun.” tounding time of only 1:04.92, For Deshpande, the best beating the previous school part of the swim team is the record of 1:04.99, which had

been held for 14 years. She then beat yet another record, for the 200-yard Medley Relay, at the OAA White Division Championship. According to Deshpande’s coach, Eric Schuman, Rucha’s excellence extends far beyond these records alone. “Rucha’s specialty was the breaststroke, but she was our fastest all-around swimmer, holding the fastest times in every event outside of the backstroke,” Schuman said,. “She sets high standards for herself and is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached. Despite her status on the team, she has been the ultimate team player.” Despite swimming being such a big part of her life thus far, Deshpande plans to end her swim career after this year. “After so much time dedicated to swim, I’ve felt like it’s time to move on… so I will

not be continuing on a college swim team,” Deshpande explained. She expressed gratitude for the swim team, saying, “I’m so happy to have spent essentially the last 12 years of my life with this sport. In many ways it’s going to be hard to move on, but I’m excited for the new things to come.”

Coach Schuman expresses his support for Rucha’s decision. “It’s been a pleasure coaching Rucha, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Whatever she chooses to do and wherever she chooses to go, I have the utmost confidence that she will succeed.”

Crossword Answers:

From The Chariot to the Oxford CommunityWe see you. We hear you. You are loved. #OxfordStrong

Madisyn Baldwin

Tate Myre

Justin Shilling

Hana St. Juliana

To our Troy Community-

There are a number of resources available to help support you during this time. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are struggling.

Crisis Hotlines: • Common Ground Crisis Hotline: 800.231.1127 • Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1.800.273.8255 • Crisit Text Line: Text TALK to 741741

The Troy High counseling office is open and available to speak with you. Please head to the counseling office or message your counselor on Schoology if you would like to speak with them.

Online Counseling Services: • Visit https://commongroundhelps.org/ for confidential online counseling services. • You can call, text, or chat with a counseling representative.

Photos courtesy of The Detroit News and THS Counsleing