Vol. 9, Issue 2

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THE

CHARIOT

TROY HIGH SCHOOL

TROY, MI.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 2

FEBRUARY 2024

NEWS

Marvin’s: A Magical, Mechanical Wonderland

2

Michigan wonder at risk of demolition.

Henry McBrien // Staff Reporter

THE CHARIOT STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ria Gupta GRAPHICS EDITOR Bushra Mohammed PUBLIC RELATIONS EDITORS Ainsley Giorio, Michelle Baik and Laith Hermiz BUSINESS EDITOR Michelle Baik BODY COPY EDITORS Ashley Park and Grace Haugk ADVISER Morgan Clark STAFF REPORTERS Eddie Angers Patrick Mahoney Kate Bullock Henry McBrien Lindsay Burke Maya Nagy Robin Han Jiwoo Park Mehereeen Kaur Aanya Shah Nidhi Kuchulakantihhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh COVER BY Bushra Mohammed 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.

Many feel nostalgia for their childhood, and for some who want to fill that nostalgia, a little arcade in Farmington Hills is their outlet.

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum was originally opened in 1990 by Marvin Yagoda. Since then, the museum has collected a gamut of machines, memorabilia and fun little trinkets. Some are priceless, like the specialty machines built by Yagoda himself. The rows of vintage arcade machines, pinball machines and automatic displays attract patrons from all over, with one patron stating, “I fly in to see family every year from New York, and I always take time to stop by Marvin’s.”

But this magical place might not be there for much longer. On Nov. 16, 2023, the Farmington Hills Planning Commission voted to approve a development plan that would permit demolition of the strip mall that Marvin’s inhabits to allow for the construction of a new Meijer building. The owner of the strip mall, RPT Realty, was represented by David Ortner at the planning meeting.

Ortner indicated that there will be minimal interference at Marvin’s.

Public comments at the meeting indicated that there would be increased traffic, increased noise pollution and that the car-centric

plan would decrease foot traffic in the area. Some called for studies to be conducted on the noise and traffic caused by the new plan. Another commenter drew attention to the change.org petition to save Marvin’s that drew 27,000 signatures in only 48 hours. In response, Chairman Dale Countegan stated that, “There was obviously wide community support for this business, and the commission appreciated the passion people brought to the meeting tonight. However, the Commission needed to base its decisions on the City’s Master Plan, and had to follow due process as outlined in Zoning Ordinance.” Mr. Ortner clarified that the new development plan would not displace Marvin’s, but would rather redevelop the building it inhabited.

Despite this, public sentiment against the action is still very strong.

Senior Bella Satterfield has been going since their 16th birthday and still cherishes Marvin’s. In an interview, they stated, “There are so many Meijers, but there is only one Marvin’s.

It’s really stereotypical for people to just mess around at Walmart on the weekends, y’know? I feel like this gives Michiganders an outlet to go out and make memories.”

The sentiment that Marvin’s is

a personal outlet is shared among many Marvin’s patrons. Many feel that it provides an escape. An anonymous patron stated, “It’s our first time here. It’s a shame it might have to move. I personally love the machines here, especially this old pinball cabinet.”

Even if Marvin’s finds a new location, many consider it a Herculean task. The patron commented, “You look around and there’s just so much stuff. I can’t imagine how you would go about [moving] it.” A quick walk around Marvin’s shows that there are many antique objects. Some are already partially broken, such as an early twentieth century diorama machine with a loose handle.

In addition to the public displays, Marvin’s is also in custody of many machines hidden from public view, such as an original William’s AZTEC pinball machine. One change. org commenter considered that it might “take months to move and maintain the machines.”

Many share the sentiment that Marvin’s is a wonderful place. Marvin’s own slogan is “The Nicest Place Anywhere” and many are inclined to believe it. While the development plan might seem far beyond the horizon to some, it is still a threat to a place many treasure.

NEWS

Half-Life

3

How the recent layoffs in the video game industry impact the path of computer science students.

Eddie Angers // Staff Reporter, Graphics by Ainsley Giorio // Lead Public Relations Editor The video game industry, a shining example of how entertainment and technological prowess can be combined in a profitable way, has encountered hard times in recent months with several studios of varying sizes facing harsh realities of job cuts and failures to meet earning expectations.

The industry’s unique resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the ability of developers to continue to work and communicate on video games from home, combined with the massive amount of consumers who found a new pastime in video games during the lockdowns, created a period of growth for the industry.

Now, it seems that the good times brought by the COVID-19 pandemic have come to an end. As the freshly laid off workers search for jobs, a time of reflection washes over the industry and students who sought to enter it begin to consider if they truly should pursue that dream.

Senior Devarshi Dalal seeks a career in the computer science field and hopes to do video game development as a side project rather than aiming for a position in a larger video game development company. His approach is founded on interest in video game development, explaining, “I’ve played so many different video games. I thought it was really cool.”

When asked about his thoughts on the layoffs, he said, “If I were to

be laid off, I’d be disappointed, but I wouldn’t lose my main source of income.”

Because Dalal intends to pursue video game development as a side project rather than his primary career, being laid off from a game development job would not impact his lifestyle too dramatically.

Junior Pranav Maringanti also shares an interest in computer science. Like Dalal, he holds a casual attitude towards video games, stating, “I’d rather go into a regular comp-sci job and release a game or an indie game by myself.”

Maringanti continues, explaining that his selection of a video game development job would be contingent on, “availability, pay, all those things.”

When asked about concerns about such a job and why it may not be a primary pursuit, Maringanti replied, “Sometimes the income you make is dependent on how well your game sells, so you don’t even have a good income stream.”

Maringanti’s concern highlights an issue only implied by Dalal’s statements: the video game industry’s consistency is concerning for those who want to ensure they have a strong and stable income.

Sophomore Devin Huang is more optimistic about game development, stating, “Game development is probably my dream

job.”

Although it is his dream, Huang admits that, “A more safe bet is to get programming knowledge and a more normal comp-sci job.”

The video game industry, then, to these students, seems to be a tower of hopes and dreams; one that, although alluring from afar, could be a devastating fall if one lacks the proper preparations. Although the fall may seem entirely dependent on the interest of consumers, the role of upper management cannot be overlooked. In the time leading up to the layoffs at video game company Bungie, for example, many developers wanted to make certain changes that were being requested by players in order to regain some lost interest in their most popular ongoing title, Destiny 2. These changes, however, were not allowed by upper management, and so the decline continued until the arrival of the layoffs.

A job at a AAA developer, or a large company, however, is not the only means of making one’s way in the video game industry. When asked about his thoughts on independent, or “indie,” development, Dalal preferred the idea, citing that it would be “less of that corporate ‘you have to meet these requirements’ [and] more freedom.”

Maringanti shares a similar sentiment. “I don’t expect much from AAA games anymore. I’d rather see indie games prosper.”

In terms of his own ca-

reer, Huang has a slightly different view. “It’s a cool idea to make an indie game that people love, but that is a very, very, very massive time investment.”

He continues, “I’ll try and get some experience inside the industry before I try to go out and blaze my own path.”

Although the layoffs can seem daunting, Huang says, “Game development has always been a hard industry.”

He states that, “Looking at it now, after the layoffs, just reconfirms that, yeah, these jobs are difficult and you don’t always get what you deserve.”

Maringanti boldly states, “Layoffs won’t push me away. I’d say it’s my own feelings. If it was layoffs, I wouldn’t go into comp-sci in the first place.”

Dalal echoes a similar sentiment, stating, “I feel like this isn’t specifically demoralizing for just that [game development] career; it’s almost in general.” He continues, “A lot of people are scared for future careers; it’s [layoffs] happening a lot.”

Maranganti agrees. “It’s everywhere. If you find a grocery store, suddenly you can find an automated bot.”

He builds, “You already have self cash registers.”

In the microcosm of just the video game industry, the layoffs can seem like a dreadful depression brought on by difficult conditions and cutthroat business practices and with lasting consequences, but when given some perspective, it be-

comes clear that it is merely facing a small period of loss experienced by other industries quite commonly.

Marangati says, “You’re not gonna get a good game industry at any point in time. There’s always gonna be defects.”

His statement blooms into advice, “If you wanna go into the game industry, just go ahead. There’s no point in waiting. That’s like saying ‘I’m gonna wait for the comp-sci industry to become less saturated;’ it’s not gonna happen.”

Huang, too, is not discouraged in the slightest.

“I love what games can do artistically. I love their potential as a medium. I’d love to be able to have the opportunity to work in games, to explore what can be done creatively with them.”

Huang closes, “I think that’s the story of a lot of game developers. Working really, really hard when their skills could be paid for more in other industries.”

NEWS

Proceed With Caution

4

What a recent policy proposal suggests about the future of Troy High School.

Patrick Mahoney // Staff Reporter, Graphics by Ainsley Giorio // Lead Public Relations Editor

2024 is the year of the dragon, a fitting mascot for the fiery election that is set to take place this November. As many Troy High School seniors prepare to vote in their first election, a recent right-wing policy guide outlines a possible future for American students.

In April of 2023, The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, unveiled Project 2025 and accompanying 920-page document, “A Mandate for Leadership: The Conservatives Promise.” Intended for the next Republican president, the document provides specific instructions on how to “rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left,” and instructs the president to “attack wokeness” on the fronts of trade, popular culture, and education.

The Heritage Foundation advises the president

to support an overhaul of the United States education system and to eliminate the United States Department of Education. Should this policy be passed, how would the student experience at Troy High School change?

The Heritage Foundation asserts that United States public schools tend to over represent leftist points of view when discussing political and social issues. To combat “possible indoctrination,” Project 2025 sees that teachers refrain from using materials that feature bias in favor of non-partisan, “pro-America” lessons.

Ryan Werenka speaks to his experience as an Advanced Placement U.S. Government Teacher. “AP classes are a convenient target for groups like the Heritage Foundation. They have objected to the curriculum from AP U.S. History and AP African American Studies.”

He continues, “The AP US Government and Politics curriculum is very well balanced from the foundational documents, mandatory supreme court cases, and all of the core concepts from the course and exam description. The curriculum was designed by non-partisan organizations and equal numbers of liberal and conservative scholars.”

Sydney Barosko, Blasck Student Union advisor, adds, “A large part of education is teaching students to be critical thinkers.” She continues, “Working with and learning to spot

bias is important in functioning in such a diverse society.”

The Heritage Foundation works to remove bias from classrooms by limiting a teacher’s role in classroom discussions. Under Project 2025, teachers would be barred from participating in conversations about politics, race and identity, only serving to observe and facilitate discussions.

Literacy coach Jodie Duda explains how teachers currently approach difficult subjects.

“Teachers try very mightily to facilitate open discussion about difficult ideas. So many different views exist, and we try to help kids moderate those discussions in a way where they are exploring ideas, rather than trying to favor one idea over the other. It’s definitely a skill that we’re always working on; making sure that every voice is heard and not shutting down ideas.

Even if ideas are unf a -

vorable to some, perhaps open discussion can serve to show where certain ideas come from, fostering understanding.”

At Troy High School, teachers already play little to no role in leading students to ideological conclusions, so some might wonder what exactly would Project 2025 be legislating against.

According to Werenka, “[Project 2025] seems like a half-baked proposal that demonstrates a lack of knowledge about how classrooms function.” Further, he would “direct the Heritage Foundation and Paul Dans to audit a Free Speech class by UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh.

Professor Volokh is a libertarian/conservative scholar that is well-versed on what speech is protected in schools.”

Project 2025 would seek to remove “radical racial and gender ideologies” from classrooms, by omitting discussions and explorations of identity in curriculum.

Barosko outlines how this could affect a student’s education. “Talking about identity is important in all subjects because every student enters the classroom with a different set of experiences. The way teachers, of any subject, approach issues is dependent on the lived experience of their students, and we can never presume that every student has had the same lived experiences.”

Baros-

ko continues, “The way students interpret information depends on their background, whether that be educational, ethnic or racial. When race is omitted, you ignore a large part of what our society and perceptions are built upon.”

The Heritage Foundation is vague about what is encompassed in “radical racial and gender ideologies,” and it is unclear exactly what Project 2025 would work to remove.

Werenka assumes “the policy would try to remove legal protections from discrimination from LGBTQ+ and racial minorities. Right now racial minorities and LGBTQ+ are protected as suspect classes in the area of employment, but this could allow them to be fired or denied a job with no threat of legal consequences.”

The Heritage Foundation views their policy guide as a playbook for the next Republican president, and they intend the next right-wing executive to begin enacting Project 2025 on the day of the inauguration.

Werenka predicted that “if Donald Trump wins the White House, I imagine that he would work quickly to try to remake the civil service in this way.

I could see there being court challenges, but it is quite possible that the Supreme Court would allow these policies to take place.” However, it is up to the voters to determine whether or not Project 2025 will be the future of America.

NEWS

Redlining: A Lasting Threat to American Democracy

5

A look into the implications of redlining on minority populations.

Aanya Shah // Staff Reporter

In recent decades, Metro Detroit has seen strides in urban development. However, in the 1930s to 1960s, development came to a stand still, and in fact, receded in certain areas. Much of these concentrated recessions can be attributed to the harmful practice of redlining: a discriminatory housing practice that left minority communities, primarily Black Americans, in financial turmoil. A basic zipcode determined the opportunities, services and education available to minority residents and ultimately dictated the life of families for generations to come.

While redlining is defined

by Oxford dictionary as to “refuse (a loan or insurance) to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk,” the practice has had major impacts on the advancement of Black and other minority populations’ ability to thrive from education, career and healthcare perspectives. Certain neighborhoods, typically those with high populations of minority residents, were “redlined” to signal to investors that these communities are “hazardous” to invest in, therefore withholding opportunities that would be offered to non-redlined counterparts.

Denial of credit and insurance, resources that are often integral to a citizen’s advancement in society, to people from redlined communities were

common examples of services unjustly withheld, solely due to demographic.

Legislation, such as the Federal Housing Policy from the 1930s to the 1960s, made it easier for white families to buy homes, while actively discouraging Black families from doing the same. Home equity is one of the cornerstones of building generational wealth; however, due to redlining, many homes in redlined areas had decreased value, making it much harder for minority homeowners to accumulate generational wealth, often used to help children achieve higher education.

A study conducted by the Annenburg Institute for Social Science and Public Policy at Brown University found that the lines drawn nation-wide impacted district-level and school-level funding, student racial diversity and student performance negatively. Specifically, the results of the study indicated that “schools and districts located today in historically redlined neighborhoods have less district per-pupil total revenues, larger shares of Black and non-White student bodies, less diverse student populations, and worse average test scores’’ compared to their non-redlined counterparts.

Sydney Barosko, science teacher at Troy High School and advisor of the school’s Black Student Union chapter

comments on how “redlining has had long standing effects on property values and opportunities for people in the neighborhoods who were redlined, which in turn gives them less of a chance to leave that community, achieve higher education, attend university, graduate level degrees, ultimately affecting whose voices are in the room.”

While the illegal practice of redlining was outlawed in 1968 by the Fair Housing Act with subsequent legislation such as the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 that protected many communities from redlining, the discriminatory housing practice still has long lasting impacts that continue to disadvantage minority populations.

Mburu Karimi, senior at Troy High School and President of the school’s Black Student Union chapter says that “the American democracy posters up as equality for all, and in theory, everyone should get the same public schools, healthcare and resources. However, redlining keeps populations who are already disadvantaged down,” and adds that redlining still impacts many communities today.

The American democracy is rooted in principles of equal opportunity, yet redlining undermines this principle by limiting opportunity by neighborhoods.

Kevin Flaherty, history teacher at Troy High School, believes

Birwood Wall was developed to separate a Black neighborhood from farmland in 1941.

that “redlining is one of the many examples of inequality that is systematic, and any type of inequality weakens a democracy, especially when it comes to equal opportunity, which is supposed to be our founding ideas. Redlining shows how we betrayed this idea, and for gen-

erations.”

Photo courtesy of NBC News

Neighborhoods affected by redlining highlighted in blue.

The Birwood Wall divided the neighborhood situated along the Eight-Mile Road.

NEWS

6

From Pencils to Pixels

Students handle the changes of the PSATs. Jiwoo Park // Staff Reporter, Graphic by Ainsley Giorio // Lead Public Relations Editor The PSATs, also known as the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Tests, have transitioned from paper to digital since the fall of the 2023-2024 school year.

This change affected elements such as time, now two hours and 14 minutes instead of three hours, and the availability of calculators and the first and second modules. According to CollegeBoard, students will have more time, on average, to answer each question, meaning that the digital PSAT/NMSQT measures skills and knowledge, not test-taking speed.

The skills needed to succeed in these tests are still the same as before, such as showing evidence, using passages, effective writing by revising a text, math that is useful in the future and multiple choice and answer strategies in the math portion.

Although the PSATs and SATs are a source of stress for many students and parents, junior Akshara Palanisamy believes that it is useless and causes superfluous stress. “I

think there are other markers to determine what students are better at,” she said, “and these tests cause unnecessary stress, especially with preparing. Kids often get discouraged while taking the PSATs because schools emphasize that this is the preparation for the SATs, when a lot of these colleges have recently made [standardized testing] optional.”

While students having more time for each question is meant to showcase intelligence and abilities rather than speed, junior Aslan Khan disagrees with the statement.“I think the digital PSATs showed my intelligence less because the traditional PSATs have a plethora of different types of questions.

The difficulty and type of application is different than the digital PSATs.” Junior Megha Bhat expresses a similar opinion, posing resentment on how the reading and writing part is combined into one section. She said, “Reading and writing are so different. How are you sup-

posed to show what you got on reading compared to writing?”

Although there are elements of the digital PSATs students dislike, it seems more convenient and composed to Palanisamy. “I like the digital [PSATs] more because I don’t have to deal with pencils breaking, erasers not doing well, my calculator battery dying or anything like that.”

The organization of the sections is a big change in the digital PSATs. Each of the sections, ‘Reading and Writing’ and ‘Math,’ is divided into two modules. The first module has the same questions for everyone, but the second module depends on how well one does on the first module. If a student performs well in the first module, the second one will be harder, and vice versa.

Bhat feels that this change made the digital PSATs go smoother than the paper one.

“The digital one was easier because there’s not going to be questions out of your league because they base it on how

you did.”

Many students weren’t aware of the specific changes and felt unfamiliar with the digital PSATs before taking it.

“I didn’t know what to expect, so I got a way worse score than what I would’ve gotten on paper because I had no idea what I was doing,” Bhat said.

On the other hand, Palanisamy expressed that she did better on the digital PSATs, but for no discernable reason. “Scorewise, I did better on the digital one, but that might be just a

¢ents and $ensibility

chance thing or getting easier questions on the digital one.”

The adjustment from paper PSATs to the digital one affected several aspects of students’ test taking experiences, both positively and negatively. With new technological advances being made every day, the digital PSATs are staying for spring of 2024 from March 4 through April 26, and more students will encounter the transition that students experienced this year.

Where does the Pay-to-Participate club fee go?

Ashley Park // Body Copy Editor, Graphics by Bushra Mohammed // Graphics Editor

Troy H i g h School offers a variety of clubs for its students, providing a three-page long list on the school website. To participate, however, students are required to pay a yearly $50 to the school. Students across Troy High School are uninformed on the uses of these fees, which begs the question; where is the money going?

Athletics Coordinator Shane Hynes, who oversees all clubs for the 2023-2024 school year, explains that the fundamental difference is that “the official club is something that the [Troy School District] pays the advisor for. An unofficial

club, they don’t get paid. The teachers are sincerely doing it out of the kindness of their heart to be the advisor for that program or that club.”

Another major difference between unofficial and official clubs is the ability to fundraise.

According to Hynes, unofficial clubs are unable to fundraise on school grounds and cannot “have [Troy High School’s] name attached to it.” Official clubs, however, do not have these restrictions and are allowed to fundraise on school grounds and associate themselves with Troy High School.

It’s unknown if the Pay-to-Participate fee is for participating in only official clubs or for both official and unofficial clubs. However, Hynes says certain clubs, such

as Student Government, have no Pay-to-Participate fee due to their time spent on planning events such as Homecoming and Prom.

Junior Alex Eichenlaub, leader of Gay-Straight Alliance, an official club, is uncertain of where the club fee goes and believes that their club doesn’t benefit from the $50. They assume that the school uses the fees for building funding for larger clubs at Troy High School.

Senior Michael Hong, Vice President of Writer’s League, an unofficial club, is also unsure of where the club fee goes.

Hong speculates that “the fee is used not only to sustain the vast amount of clubs at [Troy High School,] but for other things, like school maintenance

or miscellaneous funding.”

Hynes provides some clarification with his assumptions based on similar Pay-to-Participate fees that are required for sports: “Similar to athletics, there’s a $175 Pay-to-Participate fee. A lot of the money is used to offset stuff like coach’s salaries, bussing, transportation and some other things that require a lot of money over the course of the season.”

Hynes acknowledges that the lack of travel expenditures and officials may potentially result in an excess of money.

He shares that “if there is leftover money, that probably goes back to the district general account which gets spread apart to wherever it may be needed.”

The $50 Pay-to-Participate club fees remain a mys-

tery, with staff and students being uncertain of where the money is going. While there are assumptions about where the fees go, there has been no clarification of these concerns.

Some members of the student body have expressed a desire for transparency in the use of these fees, including Hong.

“I feel like I don’t know enough about how [Troy High School] handles its flow of cash from students,” Hong says. “In order for the school to function, it’s not necessary for students to know, but I am curious as to where the money is going.”

FEATURE

From Passion to Action

8

Overview of Troy High School’s Activist Week.

Bushra Mohammed // Graphics Editor, Ainsley Giorio // Lead Public Relations Editor

History of Troy High School’s Activist Week: Activist Week has changed many times over the course of its existence. In recent years, Activist Week has had many events that help raise money and funding for one particular charity. Students in the Troy High School community make sure to be actively engaged with the organization they are trying to fund and advocate for. However, Activist Week was not always like this. Due to improvements, it has evolved and changed into something bigger compared to what it was 10 years ago.

Each year, Troy High School’s Student Government runs and plans Activist Week. Ryan Werenka, a history teacher at Troy High School, was formerly the Student Government Advisor who ran and started Activist Week back in 2012. The idea began as an outlet for students in Troy High School to help their community by doing small projects that didn’t directly involve money, spreading the message to students that they can make a difference and help others in many ways.

Werenka describes the early purpose of Activist Week, “In the beginning, it was mainly about action and collection in items or a production of items. Early Activist Week, there was no money raised because the other school across town Troy Athens High School runs a really good Charity Week; for them, it’s a big thing in dollar amount. Our idea was never about dollars, at least early on. It was more how you can commit acts without money.”

Early Activist Week first started off as a variety of small service projects or events that students could choose to participate in, including canned food and fleece blanket drives. These small events were the foundations of Activist Week and were meant to bring awareness toward certain things or help out the community.

The purpose of starting Activist Week at Troy High School was to give students the opportunity to help others and teach them the importance of advocating issues. Werenka states, “Activism is going beyond yourself by doing things for others. We all have the capacity to help people and do things for our community. Sometimes people don’t know how to do it. If you give people that little gentle nudge, then they’re willing to do things.”

Recently, Troy High School has started to focus on one given charity and help raise money for it.

Not only is money being raised, but a partnership is also being made. Students in Troy High School try to become active members of their community and interact with the charity as much as they can.

Melissa Nita, one of Troy High School’s Student Government Advisors, explains the current goal for Activist Week. “Our goal for Activist Week [is] not only to raise money, but to also become an active member in helping out the organization. We always try to get students involved rather than just donating money.”

However, Troy High School did not start raising funds for organizations until 2019, which was considered a huge change for the event. This change occurred when there was a high demand from students to start raising money.

Meghan Riddock, one of Troy High School’s Student Government Advisors, stated that, “Students wanted to raise money and the community wanted to donate money. We did not want to lose the legacy Werenka started.”

For the future, Student Government Advisors are looking into having the student body vote on what charity they should support and advocate for. Having more student input and opinion can make events more enjoyable.

Activist Week has changed tremendously by adding charity aspects.

It’s improved through the creation and change of different events that aim to raise and advocate for the chosen charity. Even with all the changes, it maintains the same purpose and message, of advocating for issues around the Troy Community.

How Student Government Plans for Activist Week:

Activist Week takes a lot of extensive planning and student involvement. Students involved in Student Government are expected to take part in at least one committee and be involved in event planning and spirit week.

Activist Week starts long before Troy High School students see it. The planning process is a long and tedious one that starts right after homecoming.

Planning starts with brainstorming within the Leadership classes, then once a new event is decided upon students must consider the logistics of the event and what the opportunities for fundraising would be.

After deciding what events will be a part of Activist Week, newer events created have to be approved by administrators before further planning.

An example of a new event that had to go through the planning process and be approved by administration is Splash Bash.

Avery Gaydash, a committee member for the new Splash Bash event, states the event was inspired

by Troy Athens High School’s belly flop competition. They made a few changes to the original idea, starting off with the concept of a belly flop competition and morphing it into a competition to see who could make the biggest splash. Then the committee had to get their new Splash Bash event approved by administration.

Similarly, for the new Bingo event, McManus states, “We have to run it by admin and a couple of our advisors, Mrs. Nita and Mrs. Riddock, to make sure they are okay with us planning the event.

For Bingo Night, we actually need to run it by the state, because it’s technically gambling, so we have to make sure it’s licensed.”

Once events are approved and put into motion, students get ready by planning out what they need to do for each event during the week.

McManus said, “During [Activist] Week, it is really day of and logistics work; like during Coin Stall, we count the coins to give back to the bank, and during Bingo Night, we will be passing out cards and stuff like that to make sure everyone is having a good time and everyone gets the chance to participate in everything they can.”

Student Government members are very excited about the upcoming events and Activist Week as a whole. Some of their goals include generating further student involvement, forming a strong and positive bond with On My Own, making sure students have fun and beating the amount of money, $33,923, they raised last year.

a

9

FEATURE

About On My Own: Each year, Troy High School’s Student Government chooses a charity to support as a part of the school’s Activist Week. This year, after two charities reached out to the school’s Student Government, a vote was held within the Leadership classes. The chosen charity was On My Own of Michigan.

On My Own, as described by the non-profit’s Director of Education, Emily Lourim, is an organization that “supports individuals with developmental disabilities to help gain and maintain some independent living.”

On My Own works towards a couple of goals, including helping to prepare high school students with developmental disabilities to live independently in the future and aiding in maintaining independence for those who have been a part of the organization for many years.

Lourim is an important component of On My Own as an organization as well as a connection to Troy High School. Lourim is a former Troy High School student who graduated in 2017. Her time at Troy High School was one of the reasons that On My Own reached out, with Lourim stating, “I knew about Troy High Charity Week efforts, and at On My Own, we are always fundraising and seeking out grant opportunities to help enhance our programs and make them accessible.”

Lourim currently runs all of the organization’s educational programs.

When asked what their programs entail, Lourim stated, “I run our Family Consulting Program, which provides families with information about independent living options in the community and resources to help them get there. I also run our Independence Prep Program, which is our quarterly, overnight, independent living experience for teens and young adults with mental disabilities, where we give them a taste of independent living.” she continues, “As a part of that program, we also have a summer day camp, which we run during the summer to work on independent living skills. I also run our Independence College program, which is our twoyear program for individuals with developmental disabilities. It is a residential college experience designed to improve their independent living and vocational skills.”

As On My Own and Lourim move towards Activist Week, their goal is to “be involved in the community, and get involved with Troy High and really create a strong partnership.”

Lourim states that what they ultimately want students to take away from Troy High School’s partnership with On My Own is “that oftentimes individuals with developmental disabilities don’t have an opportunity to attend college or to live independently after college, and we really aim to make that possible to this community.”

Programs like On My Own allow for people with developmental disabilities to be a part of society in a way that they weren’t traditionally able to. On My Own is focused on the future for young adults and teens who are beginning to integrate into a more independent lifestyle.

It’s important that everyone has the ability to excel in their lives, and On My Own is providing opportunities to people who may not have had them before.

Schedule Events from Feb 3-10 FEB. 3rd FEB. 5-9th FEB. 5th FEB. 6rd FEB. 7th FEB. 8th FEB. 9th FEB. 10th

- Movie Night: To kick off Activist Week, there will be a movie shown in the main gym at 6 p.m.

- Survivor : Throughout the week, chosen students and teachers will compete in multiple challenges for the chance to win a $150 gift card.

- Crush for your Crush: Buy your crush an Orange Crush soda. Available at all lunches.

- Troy High’s Got Talent: A talent

show where students are able to display a variety of talents for a chance to be crowned Troy High School’s “most talented.” Talents will be displayed in the auditorium from 7-9 p.m.

- Coin Stall: Throughout the school day, students will have the opportunity to donate coins in order to stall class.

- Powderpuff: A competitive bracket-style competition where junior and senior boys compete in volleyball matches. It will take place in the main gym from 7-9 p.m.

- Splash Bash: Competition for who can make the biggest splash. Contest will be during all lunches in Troy High School’s pool.

- Ticket to Skip it: Students can pay money to skip their first three hours.

- Pep Assembly: After sixth hour, there will be a pep assembly.

- Family Game Night: On Friday night, people at 6 p.m. people can enjoy fun games.

- Snowcoming: For the last event of Activist Week, there is a school dance that will be hosted at Troy High School from 7-10 p.m.

10

OPINION

Negligent or Necessary

Two Chariot Staff Reporters share their opinions on whether overconsumption can be justified.

Robin Han // Staff Reporter & Nidhi Kuchulakanti // Staff Reporter, Graphics by Ria Gupta // Editor-in-Chief

Instagram Reels have been my main source of entertainment during these past couple of months. I’m not proud to admit it, but its convenience and quick hit of dopamine fails to have any competition. I love how it’s catered towards me and my humour, and I like the feeling of shutting my brain off after a long day of thinking. Whether it’s a day in the life of an out of touch rich housewife or a horrific car crash, reels never fail to cure my boredom. 60 second videos are the most common form of entertainment amongst our generation.

We all consume and relate to each other with this new media. It’s like our version of MTV or weekly sitcoms.

When something like social media is so widespread, it will inevitably be influential within our culture. Unlike past decades, trend cycles have become shorter due to influencers and the accessibility of media. People don’t have to read month-

ly magazines or see the red carpet to know what’s in style. The power of being trendy is literally in the palm of our hands.

TikTok creators will practically hold their followers hostage with their Amazon Storefront link asking them to buy an electric bento box or a mini-fridge for skincare. Consumers tend to be more susceptible to influencers instead of advertisements like infomercials because the content creator is essentially talking to their audience. People might buy these products to feel excitement, but this feeling of short-term satisfaction isn’t worth it when it harms our environment in the long run.

A lot more waste is created with this culture, too.

With fashion trends being refreshed weekly and cheap useless gadgets being sold on TikTok Shop, a lot of products people buy tend to end up in landfills.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, “a truckload of abandoned textiles is dumped in landfill or incinerated every second.”

While shopping might give a short dose of dopamine, it should not be a viable solution to fix

your problems. Finding hobbies that don’t involve constant spending will have longer lasting fulfilment. Rewarding yourself by buying products you will only use once isn’t sustainable and feeding your addiction to weekly packages will not give you long-term gratification.

Twenty years ago, trends would filter out more slowly, leading to more sustainable and higher quality products, but as society advances, innovative technology makes trends more disposable. Younger generations are bombarded with influencers telling them that they need a certain perfume or hairbrush to be worthy. Although people should be more aware of what they consume, it’s not a teenage girl’s fault that sweatshops with unethical labour exist. The issue of overconsumption is larger than Amazon’s Lululemon legging dupes.

But that doesn’t mean that they are completely absolved from guilt. Supporting companies that expend a large amount of resources is unethical and selfish. As our planet is exponentially degrading, we are also responsible for change.

In our economy today, overconsumption is increasingly prevalent.

Although many people tend to critique the idea of consuming unnecessary goods, I personally fall victim to it, as do a plethora of others.

I like to view consuming tangible objects as a reward; it’s a motivating factor for me.

For example, if I have to study for seven hours, I will lose motivation as time progresses and that will cause my studying to be ineffective. But, if I tell myself that I can treat myself to something after studying, I will be much more motivated and remain diligent. Do I really need this product? No, but it will indefinitely have me sleeping with a smile on my face.

As an avid reader, I possess five different copies of “Pride and Prejudice.” The text is the exact same in each copy, but all the different covers make me overly joyous and I pur-

chased them as a result of a dopamine rush. I also bought a Christmas tree out of sheer excitement but never put it up. While my Christmas tree is rotting away in my room and serves no key purpose, it gives me so much happiness merely knowing that it exists.

Although such consumption is seemingly illogical to the common eye, this reward system is what keeps me motivated and constantly ecstatic. The dopamine rush is real, and I am not alone in it.

In another view, social media continually works to target teenagers such as myself, and it would be a blatant lie if I said it was ineffectual on me. Through social media and the constant emergence of new trends, my interests and hobbies are always changing. I’m finding myself constantly exploring new things.

However, these don’t always last. The sewing machine in my laundry room closet may be collecting dust, but at least it helped me realize creating clothes was not my cup of tea. Furthermore,

spending an abundant amount of money on yarn when I’ve never picked up a crochet needle may have seemed silly at the time, but I don’t regret it one bit as it granted me one of my favorite pastime activities.

Some utilize desserts or napping as rewards, but I am sadly one who finds joy in shopping.

It may not be the best method, but it’s my method. All in all, consuming unnecessary products isn’t always the solution, but I truly believe it’s granted me a 100% on a test here and there through the positivity and comfort it brings.

OPINION

Don’t Leave the Christmas Lights Up Till January

11

All the reasons why Christmas decorations only belong during the Christmas season.

Lindsay Burke // Staff Reporter, Graphic by Grace Haugk // Body Copy Editor

Every year, it seems like decking the halls starts earlier and earlier. The radio starts playing festive music on Nov. 1, Christmas trees are immediately being put up and the whole world seems to think

Christmas is the next holiday to come until the three day window surrounding Thanksgiving rolls around. While I do agree that the whole month of December should be dedicated to hot chocolate, festive lights, snowmen and Christmas shopping, starting in November is just a tad crazy; aside from Black Friday, of course.

Each year, there is a growing population of people who start putting up Christmas decorations in October. Now, I love Christmas as much as the next person, but in October; that seems just a little desperate. History teacher Meghan Riddock, a year-round Christmas lover, says that her family puts up their Christmas decorations: “on a great year, mid

October, and on a bad year, like the last week of October.”

It’s common knowledge among Troy High School students how much Riddock loves Christmas. She believes that anytime can be the right time to put up Christmas decorations and play Christmas songs. While the Christmas season is one of the best ones by far, starting in November or even October can make the real month of December feel like it drags on.

Many people focus on the time before the holiday season to justify overconsumption. The sad thing is that ornaments, Christmas trees and presents are bought in bulk and may possibly never be used again after one season. The funny thing is that many people

rush to take their decorations down practically the minute Christmas is over. Personally, I don’t let my family take the decorations down till after Jan. 10, my birthday. However, this is also a popular religious tradition. In the Catholic faith, it is believed that the Christmas decorations should stay up at least until Jan. 7, the day after the coming of the three kings to visit baby Jesus, known in the religion as the Epiphany.

The Christmas season is arguably one of the best, but beginning to celebrate it months in advance is over the top. A more normal time to put up the decorations is the first week of December. Take them down around the last week of December or even the first week

of January if you want to keep the Christmas cheer through the new year. The Christmas season is a special time of year, and, while I can’t blame those who decorate early, Christmas belongs in December. Presents aren’t opened early, so keep the decoration boxes in the attic until Dec. 1.

Golden Ticket

As Dec. 15 rolled in, the “Wonka” movie hit movie theaters all around the world starring Timmothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson and many more. This musical fantasy film follows the beginning of Willy Wonka’s life as a world famous chocolatier.

Movies “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are based on the original book, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. The movie is not a prequel to either Johnny Depp or Gene Wilder’s version of the character, but instead focuses on the first candy shop Willy Wonka ever opened with the help of a team of fellow misfits.

In my opinion, the cinematography for this movie was outstanding. Even in the trailer, every single detail about this movie made it worthwhile.

I wanted to watch “Wonka”

A review on Timothée Chalamet’s new movie, “Wonka.”

Mehereen Kaur // Staff Reporter, Graphics by Bushra Mohammed // Graphics Editor

again and again.

Chalamet played Willy Wonka phenomenally in this movie. He really added that whimsicalness that Wonka is known for that I did not know Chalamet had. Usually, Chalamet plays more conservative and more realistic roles compared to Wonka. If someone asked me which actor played the better Willy Wonka, I would say that I don’t know.

Chamalet did absolutely wonderful playing Wonka.

The movie first opens with a shot of Wonka singing “Pure Imagination” on the highest point of a ship, gazing out into the open sea. If I’m being honest, Chalamet’s voice is not the best I’ve heard, but the movie made up for it. He is not a sing-

er, but rather a better actor in this movie.

The humor in this movie made me laugh a little more than I would like to admit.

There were some childish and predictable jokes, but this movie did make me smile. It made me feel like a kid again absorbing all of the weirdness, emotions and quirkiness that “Wonka” possesses. As someone who has grown up watching “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Willy Wonka and the Charlie Factory,” this movie was like a warm hug.

Even though Hugh Grant wasn’t as prominent as the trailer suggested, he did a good job as Willy Wonka’s personal Oompa Loompa. I

w a s a little uncertain of how Grant would play this character but even for the few minutes he was in the movie, he did an outstanding job.

This movie receives a solid 4.5/5 from me. This brought me back to when I was younger watching Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp play Willy Wonka. This movie just makes it nearly impossible to watch without having a giant smile on your face. Each

character added their own whimsicalness to this movie and made this movie one of the best movies of 2023. It was the type of movie that brought you back to your childhood.

12

OPINION

The Price of Convenience A look into the impact of Amazon on small independent bookstores.

Grace Haugk // Body Copy Editor

Down any typical neighborhood street, the chances of stumbling upon an Amazon delivery truck are higher than ever before. Since Amazon’s launch in July of 1995 as an online bookseller, it has dominated the market in just about everything retail, from pillows to music to its original product: books.

Jenny Carney, local business owner, calls the online retailer a monopoly “not just in tech, not just in retail, but so many different

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Haiku Contest

Administered by Grace Haugk // Body Copy Editor

spheres.”

Carney knows this fact all too well. She and her wife are the co-founders and co-owners of Sidetrack Bookshop, a small, independent bookstore in Royal Oak. They hear negative comments from customers daily, all thanks to Amazon. “[Customers are] accustomed to two things as a result of Amazon: they want immediate shipping and delivery of anything in the world, and they want these ridiculously rock-bottom prices.” Both of these demands are offered by the online store. As a result, more and more customers are turning to Amazon for their book shopping.

This isn’t just talk. Small businesses feel this effect in a pretty significant way.

Ac-

One-sided

By Shafia Mahmood

Eight billion hearts beat, Fell for one who beats alone, Mine echoes, unheard.

Cosmic Solidarity

By Anonymous

Silent emptiness, Expanding frostbitten void, Darkens the night sky.

Grandeur Highlands

By Anonymous

Earth’s stoic pillars, Pimples on her gorgeous face, Mounds of elegance.

cording to Forbes, two out of three business owners say their growth is negatively affected by the online retailer.

In fact, a 2022 study found that it has displaced over 136,000 shops in the United States.

Bookshops are affected more than most. Since the launch of Amazon, the number of local independent bookstores in the United States has plummeted more than 43%.

Co-owner of Paper Trail Books, another local bookstore in Royal Oak, is David Brown. He’s been in the bookselling business for years, working at a large, now-closed Borders bookshop in the early 2000s.

Brown is familiar with the effect that Amazon can have on booksellers everywhere. “The bookstores in the past in fifteen years or so [have] gotten a lot smaller because, back in the ‘90s and the early 2000s, the bookstores were the only gang in town before Amazon.

Winter’s Blessing Now that

By Anonymous there are Children’s smiles and laughs, so many Snowmen all around the street, other options, comThe blessing of winter. panies just can’t Remarks of an Onomastician afford

By Anonymous t o

Some names look longer than they are. Aoibheann. Séaghdha.

Interesting, right?

Thee Infinite Self

By Minerva Star

have 50 employees, to have 40,000 square feet, so everything’s gotten a lot smaller.”

The impact of Amazon’s control goes beyond those running and working in bookstores. The company doesn’t create jobs: it destroys them. A study published in 2022 found that Amazon provided only half of the jobs that would have been provided if the small businesses displaced by the monopolistic retailer stayed open. That’s over 1.7 million jobs lost in the United States alone.

Furthermore, Amazon’s returns to the local economy are minute compared to those of small businesses.

Small independent bookstore Between the Covers in Harbor Springs reports that 68% of the money spent at a small business stays in the local economy, while less than 43% of the money spent at companies like Amazon is returned to the local economy.

The same bookstore also reported that Amazon’s founder, executive chairman and former president Jeff Bezos had an annual philanthropic donation equivalent to the money he makes in a day. Between the Covers, by comparison, has annual philanthropic donations equivalent to the money they make in two months.

All of this doesn’t even touch on the racism, ex-

Stars dance within you.

Quantum galaxies of love. Fluency

By Michael Hong

By Kayla All is one within.

Trees bleed brilliant red A bird flies across Wet the sky with cold breezes A wave rises and falls The sand falls asleep November lovers

Autumn

ploitation of workers and mass pollution allegations and convictions against the company. Supporting Amazon in turn supports the continuation of all these massive issues.

Understandably, though, Amazon’s low prices, quick shipping and extensive inventory are alluring, and sometimes even necessary.

Brown admits to using Amazon to purchase office supplies for his store. “As a small business, you’ve gotta keep costs down.” He finds that the online retailer is the cheapest place to buy many things and that it makes more sense for the finances of Paper Trail Books to purchase items at their cheapest, even if that means supporting Amazon.

“It hurts, but it also helps,” he admits.

Carney also recognized the appeal, calling the retailer “insidious.” But, she says, “Just don’t buy shit on Amazon. It’s a big hot mess that’s problematic.”

She explains that, while she doesn’t support Amazon in her position as a business owner, she also doesn’t support them morally. “Amazon’s a problem. They’re too powerful. They’re too big to fail. They can use their power in not-so-good ways. They’re exploiting their workers and nobody can do anything about it because they’re so powerful.”

Between the Covers leaves a final thought on the matter. “If your support of Amazon disrupts us into extinction, you are not threatening quaint old ways of doing business. You are threatening this place we all call home.”

13

OPINION

Laith Listens

A teenage boy disgraces your favorite artist.

Laith Hermiz // Public Relations Editor IDGAF by Drake and Yeat The opening is as slimy and funky as possible. It’s disgusting in a way that makes you cringe with amazement. It’s like hearing bebop jazz in a portal to another universe. Then, the intro ends. That funkiness lives on in the beat, but the rapping in the lyrics makes it feel less ethereal. This beat is too good to be singing about money and carelessness. Sing about something that matters, please. However, with a beat that good, it’s still easy to listen to.

Gucci Flip Flops by Bhad Bhabie and Lil Yachty Why? Why, God, why? This is the worst song I’ve ever heard. The instrumental is boring. The lyrics sound like they were recorded in a vegetative state. It sounds like Bhad Bhabie forgot the other lyrics to the sound because there’s only about 9 different lines that are switched between each track. I wasted two minutes listening to that, and it’s the worst song I’ve ever heard.

Beautiful Things by Benson Boone This song is very generic, and this kind of emotional pop music was perfected in 2012 when Train came out with “California 37.” Boone’s music is very reminiscent of this era of pop that all sounded good in some way. Boone has a very unique sense of how tension should be felt, and the way the music builds up to the chorus is beautifully executed and makes me feel like a man fresh out of college whose girlfriend just broke up with him as soon as that tension bursts. In addition to this, Boone’s guitar player deserves the kind of accolades a president gets after winning a war. The delicate tone that switches from being an overdriven lead that makes you yearn for the next section to just being a cog in the rhythm section is Einstein-level genius. When it comes to well-produced melancholic pop music, this is the best it gets.

Not My Fault by Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion This is very corporate. I sort of like everything, but love none of it. It seems like it was all made to appeal to the widest audience possible.

The bass tone is good, the drums sound good but nothing moves me.

I feel nothing. This song is the embodiment of “meh.” Megan Thee Stallion is obviously a great rapper and the line “I’ve been told I’m the black Regina George” stuck out to me.

Swing, Swing by The All-American Rejects I want to preface this by saying I love emo music, especially from this era. But Jesus Christ, this is the most cringy song I’ve ever heard. I want to swing, swing, swing my head into a wall. I am disgusted that the uninspiring synth copied from Weezer and the three power chords played in this song are lame, too. There’s actually nothing they could’ve done to take a song idea like this and made it good. There was a good moment of harmonization in the guitar solo, but then I got mad because I realized there were two guitars and they still chose to keep the chords that boring! They could’ve played two different chords at once to make things more interesting, or something!

Read the full story on troychariot.org!

Photos courtesy of spotify.com.

Kate’s Korner

An honest review about BookToks most popular books.

Kathryn Bullock // Staff Reporter Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros This book is probably one of my favorites yet. The dystopian feel, the dialogue, the enemies to lovers romance, UGH. I absolutely adored this book and I personally think this should win a prize. I’m not even joking. This book is basically a mix of “Divergent” meets “How to Train Your Dragon.” The romance between the two characters, Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson, makes anyone giggle and kick their feet like a little girl. I know I did. Shamelessly. Besides the romance, the political and war issues were super interesting and, I kid you not, made me question whether our own government was corrupt. The quote, “Lies are comforting. Truths are painful.” really made me think about how lies are told to keep your feelings and thoughts at ease and away from reality, whereas truths unfold every dirty and grimy part of reality, whether you like it or not. In the end, this book made me cry, laugh, gasp and blush in every possible way.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears I’m honestly quite impressed. This book has some parts that are kinda horrific that made me cover my mouth in shock.

Britney Spears tells her story in the most reality-checking way ever. I’ve never read something as deep and heartbreaking as her story. What she went through, and how she explains it as if it’s just another day, is insane. The quote, “I wanted to hide, but I also wanted to be seen.” was low-key relatable.

However, the book seems a little fabricated. It felt as though Britney Spears had a ghost writer and things were made up.

Some snippets in her book made me pause and question if this really happened. Yes, most things she said were talked about on the news and allegedly happened, however those clips were all over the place and made me wonder if this is fake or not. On a happier note, Britney Spears impressed me a lot with her recollection of her childhood, since not a lot of people remember their early childhood. There’s also a part at the beginning of the book that has some Maltese representation, which made me really happy because I’m Maltese and you rarely hear about Malta. Overall, I’m not that impressed with this book. I’ve been looking forward to it for quite some time now and I’m happy I got to read it, but, if I’m being honest, I didn’t really enjoy reading it. It felt more of a chore to read her book.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard OH MY GOD. Let me put y’all on something real quick because holy moly. This book made me shocked at every page flip. I was on the edge of my seat at the end of every chapter.

The romance, the political war, the social hierarchy, everything fits perfectly. It honestly almost brings me to tears. The main character, Mare Barrow, however, was low-key a ‘pickme’ and whenever she had to make a big decision, I had to close the book and take a lap. If you had put me in this book, I would have slapped her so hard, I swear. Besides the aggravating main character, I loved this book. The quote, “Anyone can betray anyone.” gave me shivers. The foreshadowing was so good. My mouth dropped each time a twist came up; that’s how well it was executed. Overall though, this book was written perfectly, besides Mare, to fit into the dystopian-romance genre.

Read the full story on troychariot.org!

Photos courtesy of amazon.com.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

14

First Date Ideas

Here are my recommendations for first dates as someone who has never been on one.

Michelle Baik // Public Relations Editor, Business Editor February is a great time to finally ask that person out. Here are some non-basic first date ideas to hopefully secure that second date.

1: LOVE ON WHEELS: SKATING Although this one is controversial as some might consider it to be embarrassing, I think that it could work depending on the person. If you’re someone that doesn’t get embarrassed easily and finds situations like falling straight on your butt funny, I think that this first date idea is perfect for you. If you are experienced at skating, you can help your date while making funny jokes. If you aren’t experienced, your date can teach you. If you’re both inexperienced, I think that it’s even more fun because you’ll both be figuring it out together.

2: LOVE ALL: TENNIS/RACQUETBALL While the weather might not be so great right now for playing these sports outdoors, there are many great indoor facilities like Lifetime or Troy Racquet Club. These sports in particular are rather easy to pick up and fun to play, even for beginners. If you and your date have different skill levels, playing these sports also welcomes playful banter and makes for a good time.

3: STEPS TOWARD A SCENIC ROMANCE: HIKING If you are someone that is outdoorsy, this is a great option for you and your date.

A hike has a great duration and it allows for something else to be happening while you converse with your date and get to know them more. It can also create

a lot of great conversation starters, like people you see along the way or the nature around you.

4: PUTTING LOVE ON PAR: MINI GOLF A classic idea is mini golf.

Mini golf is also rather easy to pick up and it creates a fun, competitive atmosphere. It’s also an activity in close proximity to one another unlike tennis and pickleball, which could be an added bonus since you can actually have a conversation with your date while playing. I think that this is a great idea to ease the awkwardness of a first date.

5: BOOKS ‘N LOOKS: STUDY DATE Something that is more doable and casual for students is a simple study date at a nearby cafè. You can talk about school, classes

and teachers while getting to know your date and getting some work done, too. I think that this is a great way to test the waters and keep it casual for a first date.

6: GET CAKED UP: COOKING/BAKING An idea for people who like to cook or bake is taking a cooking or baking class with your date. Although it makes your date less private, I think that this is still a great way to ease the awkwardness of a first date while actually having fun.

It also includes an exciting atmosphere and an activity that can split your attention so it’s not just solely you and your date, which can feel awkward and intense.

7: THROWN TOGETHER: POTTERY/PAINTING I’ve saved the best for last. My absolute favorite first date idea is taking a

pottery-making or painting class. Not only is it somewhat trendy, it is also partially intimate which means that you can get to know your date one-on-one without just talking to them. Pottery-making and painting can help keep the conversation flowing since you can comment on each other’s designs, whether it be compliments or playful insults, as you go. Also, you can keep your final results as a memento of your first date. This is a really fun activity and I think that it also makes the perfect first date idea.

Whether it’s an outdoor activity or something cozy inside, there is something for everyone in this article.

Have a special and memorable first date!

Bouquet for Building Connections

“Should I bring flowers to my date?” is a question that’s been asked by many. A bouquet on a date, whether it’s the first or fiftieth, is a sweet gesture that shows thoughtfulness and charm. While opting for flowers blossoms the experience and makes the special occasion even more special, flowers shouldn’t take away from the actual date. As we embrace the ever-changing seasons, here are some bouquet ideas to keep in mind while shopping for the flower of your life.

Starting with the basics: a rose. This is the ultimate

A guide to help you bring the perfect flowers on the perfect date.

Maya Nagy // Staff Reporter

symbol of romance and love that is seen so often in movies, and for the right reasons.

How can something be so bold and classy, yet so soft to the touch? A flower with such hot desire needs to be cooled down, which is why the most aesthetic season to give roses is winter. The red pops so much, and these are

perfect when you’re aiming to impress. Using a rose of any color paired with white baby’s breath and some simple greenery creates the best contrast.

As spring blooms, consider tulips, lilies or daisies; each a true staple of spring and a great choice. Tulips come in vibrant and playful colors while also maintaining a level of elegance and grace.

Although tulips are not considered a passionate flower, they do portray a deep and perfect love. Tulips are best when rather simple and not crowded by other flowers.

When fall comes around, mums are the way to go. With their warm and cozy colors that match the surrounding scenery, they’re a perfect choice for the fall. Bonus: mums usually come potted so you don’t have to worry about building a bouquet!

With the different colored

leaves, try making a leaf bouquet. It’s perfect to do with your partner and they’re adorable no matter how they come out.

Bringing flowers to a date is always a good idea, but there are some things to keep in mind, like making sure your date doesn’t involve walking around or any activity that requires both hands.

While there are so many flowers to choose from, these are only a few recommendations.

Creating bouquets is a lot like cooking or baking; by following these simple steps, they are sure to be the icing on top!

SPORTS

Synch or Swim

15

Junior Parker Silagy makes Troy High School history as first male member of the synchronized swimming team.

Ria Gupta // Editor-in-Chief Parker Silagy is many things, but a coward is not one of them. While most might be daunted by joining a traditionally all-girls synchronized swimming team, the junior takes it in stride.

“I don’t really care about that,” he said. “It’s definitely something that crossed my mind but it never made me uncomfortable. It was more like, yeah, I’m going to be the only boy on the team and it’s going to be noticeable.”

The team, colloquially referred to as “synchro,” doesn’t limit boys from joining. In the past year, during the recruiting process, the team’s captains have begun actively seeking out the boys’ water polo team for new swimmers. It was during one of these recruitment meetings, alongside encouragement from an assistant coach, that Silagy made the initial decision to join.

He started synchronized swimming on a trial basis with pre-season workouts, simultaneously attending pre-season workouts for the boys’ swim team which he had previously been part of.

Many water polo swimmers join during the winter to stay in-shape, but as a goalie, he found that synchronized swimming was better suited.

On a technical level, both synchronized swimming and water polo share many similarities, namely the treading technique known as “eggbeater.” As someone who seeks to improve, continued practice of the shared technique seemed like the only way for him to train appropriately during water polo’s off-season.

“A lot of it is sculling too.

There’s so many ways to do it and knowing when to do

it,” Silagy added. Sculling is a specific arm movement used by swimmers to propel themselves within the water.

He continued, “One of the basic things I need to work on is getting myself up out of the water besides treading, like jumping and pushing myself up.”

The junior joined the Troy United water polo team in his freshman year, becoming a goalie at the end of the season. Taking on the role was a natural process, as Silagy was always a naturally defensive player.

“I was really good at defense,” he admitted. “From the start, I just had a better tread than a lot of the other boys on the team.”

He had started out as a field player for the Troy United water polo team until conflicts prohibited the junior varsity goalie from participating in a game. Since then, the junior has slowly risen up the ranks.

Silagy didn’t make his final decision for the winter season until after he earned his place on both the swim and synchronized swimming teams.

“That was the hardest part,” he said in regards to the swim team. “Saying to Coach Larson, yeah I made the team and now I’m quitting. I really do

respect him.” Still, he added, “I was also on the swim team last year. There’s plenty of swimming in water polo, but swimming isn’t what I like about it. I enjoy the game aspect of water polo. I really struggled with the swim team last season because it was just swim and I didn’t have the motivation for it.”

Another part of this decision was determined by the team’s atmosphere, Silagy shared. During synchronized swimming’s pre-season practices, the coaches would round up the swimmers for a series of games, including tossing the yellow ball he was accustomed to during the water polo season.

“I just had a lot more fun there than I was at swim practice,” Silagy shared. “There’s a lot more team-bonding activities. In swim, it’s more like you’re in the same lane and swim next to each other.

I liked having time dedicated to being a team, but it was m o r e the content that

drew me to synchro.”

One of the junior’s favorite moments included Skittles, which he assures aren’t his favorite candy, but rank decently high on his list.

Each Skittle color represented a different move, like torpedo, which is a specific form of sculling. So, when the synchronized swimming coaches had the team compete using Skittle colors during practice, Silagy found himself becoming competitive.

“Everyone was laughing the whole time and cheering each other on,” he recalled fondly. “Even if you got last, everyone was telling you that you did great. It felt great.”

At the end of the game, the coaches handed out packets of Skittles, one which still remains on Silagy’s nightstand.

The swimmer does draw parallels between the synchronized swimming team and the swim team when it comes to meets. “The difference is, since I only did compulsory, I was kinda just watching a lot of it, “ Silagy commented.

The synchronized swimming season is split into two parts, figures and routines. During figures season, swimmers practice holding certain poses in the water.

There’s a compulsory duo required for all competing swimmers, the ballet leg and barracuda, the latter being Silagy’s favorite.

More experienced swimmers compete in other rounds with more complicated figures.

During routines

season, swimmers dance to choreographed music relying on figures from the previous season and lifts.

On watching his teammates compete during the non-compulsory portion of a figures meet, Silagy shared, “We were placed at the top of the bleachers and it was really hot, so everyone was having a miserable time up there while also enjoying watching everything that was going on. It was an enjoyable expe-

rience.”

Silagy has been adapting to the team well and has found himself improving immensely, in large part to the synchronized swimming team coaches. “I always find it helpful that they tell me exactly what to work on,” he said. This isn’t just limited to coaches, however, he added, “One of the captains, Sonia, I don’t remember what it was, told me something about my ballet leg that instantly improved it. It just clicked.”

Silagy has already noticed notable improvements to his sculling, treading and stamina since becoming a synchronized swimmer. He looks forward to rejoining the sport next year for another season.

Photo by Laith Hermiz

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