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| Detroit Country Day School |
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22305 West Thirteen Mile, Beverly Hills, MI 48025
Mr. Williams steps down
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Mr. Williams talks about his plans for the next school year Mr. John Williams will be stepping down from his administrative role as Interim Head of the Upper School, and will be passing it on to Mr. John Corrigan next year. Mr. Williams will return to teaching four math classes, a mix of precalculus and calculus. Mr. Williams has fearlessly led the school during some of the toughest times in recent memory, and the Day Times honors his service to the school community. Mr. Williams has always been a traveler. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and then moved to Buffalo, New York, where he lived for thirteen years. He lived in Los Angeles for five years, and subsequently went to college in Minneapolis. After his college, he took a teaching job in Campbell County, Wyoming. Wanting to be closer to a bigger city, he decided to interview for a position as a math teacher at the Detroit Country Day School. When asked why he decided to stay for 25 years, he replied that “It is a great place to teach.We have great students working with great people. Especially in this school, 99 percent of your teaching time is spent teaching, while only maybe one percent on classroom management. Everyone is here to learn: students, teachers, whatever. It’s a great place to meet people that will help you learn and grow,” said Williams.. We were curious to learn what Mr.Williams felt made the people here so special and what traits enable the success of those in this building. “I think what makes a Country Day student is a desire to learn and achieve. It is one thing to show up and absorb information, but it is another thing to use that information. The difference here is that we want to use that information to help others and achieve goals. We all want to achieve and make our little world a better place and our bigger world a better place through the knowledge and skills that we gain,” said Williams. Consequently, with all of the great people present in this building, we must find a way to
connect with them. Williams has a very particular mindset on how to accomplish this goal. “The best way to connect with students is spend time with them. I’ve always said the classroom is the best part of my day. I leave everything and go and get to know my 13 students. Whether it’s coaching them, teaching them, or going on trips with them to places like Paris or Spain, you get to know those students by being with them,” said Williams. As Williams steps down from his role as Head of the Upper School, he plans on keeping things the same, except now, he will have more time. “I’m looking forward to when I’m walking the dog. I’m thinking about walking the dog. In these roles, there are so many things going on that, frankly, people don’t know about, and it’s great that people don’t have to know about them, but I do. I’m looking forward to having time to actually sit there and think about things I enjoy doing or want to do rather than thinking about things at school that I have to take care of.” We wondered if Williams felt that his connection to students and the community would wane with this new change of job. “Even if I don’t have a title, people will come and see me because they know who I am and what I stand for,” said Williams. TOP: MR. WILLIAMS poses for a picture with Faraz We asked in conclusion if Williams had Rahman at student golf outing Bottom: Mr. Williams any final words to the school community. He readvises students at DCDS March Madness event sponded with the following message: “I want the students to know that I am proud of all of the things they have achieved.I’ve We have been so lucky to have Mr. Wilenjoyed helping them navigate their high school liams provide such strong leadership in a time experience. I’ve never been prouder to lead this school for the last year, especially through of turmoil for all. Mr. Williams will thankfully COVID, through everything that we’ve done, and be staying in the building, and will continue to the return to normalcy has been great. But really, remain one of the faces of Detroit Country Day I’m proud of everything that they have done, and School. He has set an example for future leaders of it has been an enjoyment on my part to be a small our school. Thank you Mr. Williams for the extra hours and the late nights you have put in to make part of that.” this school a special place for all.
pg. 4
Hear a different take on Euphoria.
Check out where our seniors are going to college!
pg. 9
pg.
6&7
Find out how the sister exchange programs are returning next year!
Read about the impact of concussions on DCDS students.
pg. 10
DCDS welcomes new student leaders! A look into the leaders of the new school year! By WILLIAM BEACHUM News Section Editor
Photo courtesy Lisa Sova
As DCDS says farewell to its senior class, the question arises of who will step into their shoes. While leadership comes in many forms, the most accessible outlet for leadership, student government, has started to elect its new members. Detroit Country Day School has four main student government organizations: DRB, Student Council, Class Board, and the Honor Council. On April 25, 2022, the first elections were held for DRB and Student Council. The Disciplinary Review Board is the school’s premier source for investigating disputes over disciplinary action. The Upper School student body elected Sophia Kitsopanidis, Kyle Hong, Lauren Kim, and Hills Howard IV. Also elected on the 25th were the brand new leaders of the Student Council. Student Council is an all-school collection of students that organizes events such as Field Day, Culture Day, and the Variety Show. Stepping into the role of Student Council President is Solene Degaynor. We sat down with Degaynor in order to gain her perspective and learn about the goals she has for this upcoming year. “I hope to help shift the culture at Detroit Country Day to be more focused on the well being of students. I think that a lot
The Day Times | May 2022
of times, the humanity of students gets lost in the chaos of grades, awards, and extracurriculars, and it can be hard to remember that most Upper School students are being constantly pushed to their maximum. I would love to help initiate change that better aims to support students and help them manage everything that attending Detroit Country Day entails.” says Degaynor. Joining her as officers are Junior William Beachum as Vice President, Sophomore Connor Kalkanis as corresponding secretary, Sophomore Will Thompson as treasurer, and Freshman Alessandra Fakhoury as recording secretary. We wish Degaynor and her team the best of luck in their ventures! Next in the election cycle was the individual grade class boards. Some of the large events that the class boards plan are Homecoming(Jr.), Prom(Jr.), and the Sadie Hawkins Dance(Soph.) On Sophomore Class Board, Abraham Chattahi, Mac Farah, Ella Jeup, Mary Pavlou, Maddy Rocchi, Naima Safedine, and Evan Singleton grabbed positions, and will offer a fresh underclassmen voice to the class board process. For the upcoming juniors, Emma Arico, Mia Beck, Trinity Chen, Nishan Inampudi, Laine Milahlich, Natalia Pataq, and Zach Rodger take on the responsibility
of Homecoming and Prom, as well as other bonding and fundraising activities throughout the year. Lastly, on the upcoming Senior Class Board, Shakuntala Balusu, Alexis Corrigan, Om Jaipati, Arnav Modi, Lucy Pund, and Alex Zarghami secured their positions. Further, it seems as if the Class of 2023 has a special motivation to make this upcoming year special. “I hope to be able to organize more interactive events for both the Senior Class, as well as the school as a whole. I feel like, in the past, most of our events have been taken for granted, but after COVID, we realized how important all these dances and events are. Hopefully, we can promote more school-wide engagement this year through the various
Photos courtesy of IMDb, Prepscholar, and Graham Doman
Photos courtesy of Zachariah Yeh
By WILLIAM BEACHUM News Section Editor
Learn about what the new schedule is for next year!
Class Boards.” says Balusu. The final student government group that is holding elections is the Honor Council, dedicated to upholding the academic integrity policy at Detroit Country Day. These elections will be held in the upcoming weeks, and will round out the roster of elected student government officials. As mentioned previously, while these positions do important work for the wellbeing of the students, student government is not the only avenue to be a leader. Sports captains, club leaders, and leading by example all still remain essential aspects of our community. But, to our student government officials, best of luck in all of your individual endeavors.
SENIOR CLASS BOARD poses for picture
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
2 News/Opinions The Day Times Arts are back! Editorial staff Editors-in-Chief: -----
Managing Editor: Kaitlyn Hopkins Will Beachum Tanisha Khare Sam Sampath Content Editor: Hiba Asadula Josie-Marie Pachla Layout Editor: Grace Liu Senior Staff: Jui Won
Connor Kalkanis Arya Chalasani Atlas Harris
INTERNS: Andrew Brentano, Abigail Burdette, Armaan Dev, Alex Eby, Steven Fu, Kian Kiarash Miles Kohn, Riley McAlpine, Arvin Pandiyin, Raj Rao, Achyut Reddy, Ammar Siddiqui, Jiale Wang, ADVISORS Heather Huhn Matthew Sadler The Day Times will serve the best interests of the Detroit Country Day School community by preserving the freedom of press through honest and accurate reporting. Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editors, guest articles and original comics regarding topics covered in the paper. The Day Times reserves the right to edit content for clarity and space.
Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crown Award 2017 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2011,15-17, 19, 20 Michigan Inter-Scholastic Press Association Gold Award 2011,13, 18, 19 American Scholastic Press Association First Place 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-20 American Scholastic Press Association First Place with Special Merit, and Most Outstanding Newspaper 2010-11; 2014-15 The Day Times is a member of the American Scholastic Press Association, Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and the Quill & Scroll Society. Published six times a year, The Day Times is produced by the students and teachers of Detroit Country Day School. Contact The Day Times at: Detroit Country Day School 22305 West 13 Mile Road Beverly Hills, MI 48025-4435 (248) 646-7717
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The Day Times | May 2022
| The Day Times
Events in the DCDS artistic community ACHYUT REDDY and STEVEN FU Staff Writers
Arts are back with a colorful surprise! This school year, DCDS is celebrating a return to in-person art programs. DCDS hosts numerous types of visual arts, including painting, drawing, design photography and jewelry-making. The arts play an important role at DCDS, and participating students and staff members deserve a huge amount of credit and recognition for their work. This year is the first year Visual Arts have returned back to normal after the long pandemic. The arts has played a vital role in students lives and allows them to continue the passion they have developed with it. Freshman Allen Song, an art student at DCDS acknowledges how art is built in his life. “Art lets you take your mind off the stressful environment of school, and helps you develop a sense of ‘thinking outside of the box’ to discover your own style of being unique in art, which can transfer over into the real world. The amount of joy that comes from being able to look at your own creativity brought into the physical world is nothing short of mesmerizing, and relieves me from the stress and worry of schoolwork.” said Song At DCDS, the arts don’t just play a role in the Upper student body, but connects the community with its fun and diverse events. William Beachum, a junior, created the “Explore the Arts” program to connect upper and middle school students through art. In the program, an upper school student represents one of seven arts (ceramics, metals/jewelry, photography, drawing/painting, film, theatre, and music) and bonds with middle school students by working together on the imaginative workshops. “I wanted kids to be able to feel like they could be creative and express themselves even if drawing and painting isn’t their thing, they can always find an art medium to express themselves,” said Beachum. On top of creating a creative outlet for students, Beachum hoped to connect the DCDS community through the use of art. “For Upper School students, it was a way to find a Middle School student to mentor in the future, especially when the Middle School student eventually goes to the Upper School… For Middle School students, they’re able to identify students who can help them not only with art, but with anything, in future upper school years,” said Beachum. And for the most part, Beachum’s plans worked. Sophomore Conner Lee, who volunteered for the film section of “Explore the Arts” agrees. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to show film as a whole to the younger students. I felt that I was really able to establish a connection with them, especially through something we were both very passionate about,” said Lee. Combining 31 upper school students, expressing 7 art forms, and teaching countless middle school students, the “Explore the Arts” program allowed students to both express and learn any art form that they were passionate about. The DCDS art program has had great success over the previous
DCDS STUDENTS GUIDE middle schoolers through art activities years in its performance in art competitions. This year, more than 100,000 students submitted approximately 260,000 entries into regional competitions around the country, and less than 2,000 of the entries received a National Award this year. Junior Isabella Cook won four Gold Medal Individual Awards, as well as two silver medals. “I am often inspired by my surroundings when creating a photograph. Usually I will just be carrying on with life when I notice something that intrigues me. It could be the rogue rock that sticks out of the water of a bay or the intricate detail of tree branches. Since I don’t always have my camera with me, I often don’t take the picture right when I notice something. I will make a mental note of what I saw and plan to come back. During this time, I brainstorm how I could compose a photo out of what I saw,” said Cook. Cook first pursued her interest in photography during her 8th grade year and plans to continue her passion in the future. “The Scholastic Art Awards has opened my eyes to the world of photography. I am definitely considering pursuing photography while in college. Whether that be at an art school or just taking photo classes at a liberal arts college, I don’t know yet. All I know is that photography is something I really enjoy and hope to continue with in the future,” said Cook. Another student at DCDS also decided to pursue his interest in art. Only 88 entries from the entire world received an American Vision Medal, and Senior Aidan Khaghany won this award for his piece “Somewhere in the Middle.” “I don’t know if I was really inspired; it was just something that came into my head and I thought it would look cool,” said Khaghany. Aidan started his journey in art at a young age and has continued to pursue his passion as an artist. “What made me continue my passion for art was helping others by creating pieces to put in the Children’s Hospital. I really enjoyed making others happy with my art at a young age. I am not sure if I will continue to pursue it in my future but it has surely taught me a lot about myself and I am very thankful that art has had such a huge impact on my life,” said Khaghany. The arts at DCDS have created a huge impact on the student body and environment and program participants will continue to inspire and awe us by their hard work and passion.
Homework or sleep?
DCDS students sacrifice rest for grades JOSIE-MARIE PACHLA Senior Content Editor We’ve all been in this situation: it’s late at night, past your usual bedtime. You sit at your desk, working on math homework that’s due by class the next morning. If you stay up any later, you will be tired the next day. Being tired the next day means you could perform worse on your upcoming test, as well as your in-class essay. Not to mention, you have tryouts for your spring sport after school. Even so, you still have math homework to complete. Suddenly you are met with a common question: sleep or homework? Many students believe that sleep is the obvious choice. Junior Lexi Clark says, “Even if you do all of your homework, going to sleep late will affect your performance at school. Isn’t the entire point of doing homework to improve that performance?” Clark makes a good point in stating that the improved performance that homework is meant to provide cannot be achieved without the correct amount of sleep. Many students feel similarly. Senior Nicolas Bellissimo says, “Homework will only affect you temporarily, while sleep will affect you long term. Not to mention, sleep is necessary for maintaining good health.” Although several students feel that sleep takes priority, there are many who believe completing their homework holds more importance. Junior Lola Bagby says, “Nor-
mally I choose homework because I know I will be anxious the next day if I don’t complete my work by the time it is due.” Bagby also made mention of a stigma at Country Day which often THE DCDS JAZZ band plays at the Celebrate the Arts showcase affects her decision: “the culture of our school tends to make me feel like I need to prioritize my homework over sleep.” Most students would argue that the decision depends upon the situation. Maybe the homework they are working on is weighted more than the quiz they have the next day. Maybe they care more about finishing that homework than they care about doing well at their sporting event. In other scenarios, the homework may hold little value compared to the student’s upcoming test, and they might prefer being well rested rather than completing their work. When it comes to deciding between sleep or homework, the verdict often relies upon the student’s personal preferences and circumstances. In my opinion, sleep is more important than homework. If I do not get enough sleep I can barely wake up the next morning and am unproductive for the rest of the day. Not to mention, I play two sports and tend to value my performance in sporting events over completing small and temporary assignments. As I mentioned before, it does depend upon the situation, but in most scenarios my personal preference would be sleep over homework.
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
Photos courtesy of Susan Lucas
Section Editors:
www.fearthesting.com
The Day Times |
Senior Column: Taking time to experience the fun hidden behind the DCDS lifestyle
By TANISHA KHARE Managing Editor
Photos Courtesy of Ava Thomas
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Opinions
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There is no doubt that high school has been an adventure, full of highs but also full of lows. From assignments to tests to after school activities, and several other responsibilities, it is no secret that as a DCDS student the “grind” never stops. Therefore, like many DCDS students, I entered high school with a mindset of focus and determination with the belief that I would do nothing but dedicate myself to my studies and activities. As a member of the Women’s Swim Team, a fall season sport, I learned that I had to find a balance between school and sport early on in high school. Though my day to day life as a DCDS student has remained the same over the last few years, my mindset has transformed. As a freshman and a sophomore, I simply went through the motions. During the day, I went to school and used every spare minute that I had to com- TANISHA KHARE POSES for a picture plete my homework. Then, I would go to swim practice, come home, do more homework and then rinse and repeat this routine. However, the more that I spent countless days stuck in this cycle, the more I realized that my life lacked flavor and that it was high time I learned to embrace the actual experience itself. These two years were definitely a learning curve, but by the time junior year came around, I was already seeing a change in myself. When swim season began in junior year, I made an effort to build relationships with my teammates, spend time with them outside of practice on the weekends, and enjoy an extra laugh with them. By opening up and truly cherishing that experience, I met some of the most influential people in my life who have made my high school experience unforgettable. Unlike the other swim seasons I have participated in, I have built such strong relationships in my junior year that I still talk to several members of the swim team every day. In addition to my swim experience, I have branched out with my school friends too and worked to build personal relationships with them. I met individuals that share similar passions and hobbies, and have made it a habit to often venture outside and explore different cuisines or areas. The countless memories I have made with my friends this year hold a very special place in my heart. Most importantly, however, I have grown to appreciate the academic experience as more of a learning experience rather than a chore and a burden. I have realized that there is more to high school than simply striving to achieve perfect grades, perfect test scores, and a perfect college resume. High school is a time of discovering who you are as an individual. It is a time to build long lasting friendships, to explore what you are truly passionate about, and most importantly, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to live your life to the fullest. Though there is no doubt that it has been a stressful experience, a healthy balance between academics and enjoyment has truly made my high school experience worthwhile. It is vital to cherish the memories and embrace experience because they will stay with you forever.
New schedule, new problems Day Times editorial
The editorial is included in every issue of The Day Times and is written on an important topic in the DCDS community. It represents the opinion of the majority of the Editorial Board, which is comprised of the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editor, the Senior Editors, and the Editors and Interns of each section.
At the community’s request, the DCDS schedule has been changed to accommodate the wishes of students and teachers. In the 2022-2023 school year each class will meet 12-14 more times, Flex will be removed, more time will be available for clubs, affinity groups and student government, and we will return to a lunch much like what we had before COVID. However, despite a lot of discontentment with the old schedule, many improvements to student and teacher life were made to accommodate stress amongst members of the community, including fewer classes per day, longer passing periods, more free time, and fewer homework assignments per day. In light of the new changes to our schedule, it is important to maintain these changes to be considerate of the people around us and make things as smooth as possible for the people in our school. Numerous new rules and practices that have bettered our community were implemented during the pandemic. For example, because classes meet on fewer days, homework is no longer allowed to be due on days that classes don’t meet. This makes work more manageable for students and should continue to be a rule, even if we’re gaining back time that was previously lost. On the topic of having more classes, meeting for each class more often doesn’t mean that more homework should be assigned. Before COVID, our school had a culture filled with stress and busy work-- going back to something that resembles normal shouldn’t mean that we go back to those unnecessary negatives. We at the Day Times believe that leaving the COVID pandemic behind us doesn’t mean we have to leave the lessons we learned from it behind as well. The current COVID schedule was designed to relieve stress and help students have a more balanced, healthy life. Many quality of life changes were made to our school that have greatly improved the experience of community members, and we shouldn’t go back on those or take them for granted.
What to see in the 2022-2023 Schedule How do DCDS students and faculty feel about the change? NATHAN MAIBACH and ELLA JEUP Interns
The Day Times | May 2022
Photo courtesy of Atlas Harris
As the 2021-2022 school year comes to a close and the pandemic starts to dwindle, we begin to see a bright school year ahead of us, with a new schedule. While this change can allow room for opportunity and growth, disappointment may be bound to follow. Intel from the faculty board behind the new schedule has resulted in an abundance of new opinions from impacted students and teachers. Let these different faces of the upper school help draw a conclusion on whether next year’s schedule gets a clarified overall stamp of approval! The new 2022-2023 school schedule is revealed in the picture below, and there are many changes. The biggest change may be the return to a normal lunch in the student center with time to see teachers and friends, and Flex being eliminated. The new schedule includes 70 minute long blocks, with each class meeting 12-14 more times next year, and 70 minutes lunch periods with time for music classes that once met during Flex, student government, second clubs, or affinity groups. School hours are similar to this year’s; Mondays begin at 8:45 due to faculty meetings and end at 3:25, but every other day begins at 8:15 to 3:25. Junior, Shakuntala Balusu mentions how “Flex in the morning on Friday is something that might be missed,” because of the nice break it presented to the students. Even though Flex may have been redundant and long to some, it was quite helpful at times because “it was another 80 minutes of the day I could work” says Balusu. 9th Grade Dean and English teacher, Mr. Cappelletti notes that eliminating Flex is a drastic change, but believes that “Flex has been reappropriated” in a way that is beneficial to many. Wednesdays will have Office Hours from 8:15- 9:00 to meet with students, teachers, study, or do homework. Lunch will also be a beneficial time where students can use it in their favor to accomplish the things they may have done during Flex. During the 70 minute lunch, there is an A and B period designated to the Senior and Freshman class eating together, and the other period is for Juniors and Sophomores. From 11:40 to 12:50, students have the time to eat their lunch and to use the rest of it to their advantage, whether that may be seeking help from teachers, studying, doing homework or even relaxing. Dr. Hanlan, a faculty member with a large voice on the board for the new schedule, justifies Cappelletti’s statement about Flex being reappropriated, affirming that, with the longer lunch, “Your off-lunch period becomes a Flex-like period where you get to pick where to be, what to do, and who to see.” Whereas during our original Flex, teachers had to take attendance of their students and passes were given out and signed by teachers that allowed students to go elsewhere. Mr. Cappelletti continues to explain that “lunch on Mondays and Thursdays are times to meet for secondary music classes, Tuesdays are for student leadership, and Wednesdays are for Friday Clubs” He mentions that during this time, students will be able to attend music classes that previously met during Flex, Friday Clubs, and more. “Students get to do what they want to do and not feel as overwhelmed in terms of trying to be in two places at once.” Cappelletti said. This is especially relative to students in Flex classes, who struggled this year to find time
to meet with teachers, make up tests, etc. Junior Veer Agarwal, a student of Bella Voce during Flex, struggled with this problem as well but mentions how the built in office hours and longer lunch period “will now allow him [and other students who took a flex class] to meet with teachers”. The Choir and Bella Voce teacher at the Upper and Middle school, Mr. Weiler strongly disliked Flex. However, he also mentioned his appreciation of having an eight block schedule where Bella Voce got to meet more frequently for a longer duration of time, and was not held in the early mornings before the start of school. Mr. Weiler states, “Because of Flex, students had the opportunity to take advantage of more of what the school has to offer. Eliminating Flex was necessary, but it was a big step backward to eliminate the time altogether rather than expand the 8th block structure and its advantages to all students and departments.” Mr. Masuda has a similar concern. Masuda, the head of the arts department, said, “I wish that they would have added space for an eighth block so that some students could take another fun class such as art or other new interdisciplinary courses.” The new 2022-2023 schedule receives a general stamp of approval with there being a common and universal appreciation towards the changes made. While the proposed schedule may have some flaws to it, there is excitement for the new changes for next school year. The new schedule of 2023 brings back a sense of community that has been lost due to COVID-19 restrictions. The faculty and administrators behind the planning procedure of the new schedule are enthusiastic to share the schedule, and there is much to be enthusiastic and eager about next year!
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
4 ENTERTAINMENT The plight of modern day women
The Day Times | www.fearthesting.com
BY Ana Dougherty, GUEST WRITER
I
t’s my sophomore year of high school and Euphoria is all the rage. So naturally, I wait in anticipation every Sunday for a new episode to come out. This week’s episode is even more disturbing than the last. Maddy, a 16-year-old girl in the show, is sitting on her bed watching pornography. She copies the girl in the videos’ every move and noise while dressed in a short lace nightgown. Of course, for Maddy, it’s all an act. This is just one way that film portrays a harmful but realistic stereotype about what lengths women are willing to go to please the men in their lives. The media is a powerful tool used to create a narrative about the world we live in and how things should be run. I follow all different kinds of people on social media. I view misandry, misogyny, and everything in between. I have watched everything from Euphoria to Promising Young Woman, and the disparities between each perspective are shocking. Recently podcast channels like Kevin Samuels, No Filter Pod, and Fit and Fresh have gone viral. These male-run podcasts provide an uncensored outlet for men to discuss their personal problems with modern dating. They are often considered misogynistic, a term used to describe a person who is strongly prejudiced against women. The term ‘High value man’ is used to describe a guy who emulates masculinity and toughness. These men claim that if a woman wants a ‘high-value man,’ she has to exercise, cook, eat, and live up to the standard of a 1950s housewife. These men consider themselves of high value, despite their single relationship statuses. On the opposite side of this spectrum, there is a lot of misandrist content on social media. A misandrist is a person who dislikes or is strongly prejudiced against men. One creator, who goes by Lipglosssssssss, has dedicated her entire page to understanding men and how to manipulate them. In one of her posts titled “How to dodge straight male goofy insults,” she explains that when men try to argue with a woman about feminism, they have three tactics: they will call her emotional, ugly or insult their lifestle choices. She is of the opinion that if a woman is dating a lot of men, she is most likely doing something wrong because “the majority of men are terrible, terrible, people.” Some more ‘moderate’ channels, like The Roommates on YouTube, claim that this is a generalization and it does not apply in every situation. It only comes off as true because the people who strongly agree are the only ones commenting. However, The Roommates fail to address the underlying reasons as to why people hold these controversial beliefs. They also state that even the most reactionary men, such as Kevin Samuels, have admitted how draining their work is. Lipglosssssss on Tik Tok openly discusses how she is currently suffering from depression. Although this type of direct messaging has created a lot of controversy, it is not the only outlet. CREATOR LIPGLOSSSSSS ON Instagram
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courtesy of instagram.com
t seems that everyone has seen the graphic drama Euphoria at this point. Despite its explicit scenes, the show has won multiple awards including an Emmy. Whether or not viewers enjoy the show, many people have expressed their discomfort by the graphic imagery and depiction of minors. Teenagers allowing their boyfriends to control their every movement, abusive relationships, and body dysmorphia are all things that are normalized in the show. Most believe that this is just an exaggerated extreme of kids attending public schools; however, some Americans believe that this show accurately portrays their experience. What does this say about our society? However, Euphoria successfully gives backgrounds and motives to their female characters. Projects like the James Bond series, Blade Runner, and even Game of Thrones fail to give women the depth they deserve. They are written as objects to be had or prizes to be won by the leading male characters. The problem with these films is that these one-dimensional female characters could never exist in real life.
The Day Times | May 2022
STILL FROM HBO Max’s Euphoria, courtesy of HBO and The New York Times Women cannot look perfect all the time, and men cannot be emotionless. But the media perpetuates those expectations that further contribute to the gender roles conflict. After subjecting myself to hours of painful or downright ridiculous content, I decided to get the opinion of my peers. I sat down with Joseph, age 20, and asked him where he thought the notions that “all men are trash” and trends like “Hate all men” stem from. His answer was short and sweet but gave me a lot to think about. He said “trauma.” With that one word, a kaleidoscope of realizations hit me. People are traumatized. Small children are traumatized by our society, by what the world has taught them is supposed to be “normal.” I asked my friend Edyn if she had ever been objectified, and she told me, “I was raped by my cousin when I was like 8, so I didn’t understand it at the time. I’ve never told anyone that before.” I was genuinely at a loss for words. My friend Cara told an equally chilling story. She said that a boy she had been friends with since they were little - Michael- started to pursue her in the summer of her freshman year. At first, she was fine with it. However, as time went on, it was clear that he didn’t intend to make their relationship public. In fact, when he was talking to her, he was also involved with an agreeable girl named Cleo. He started to harass Cara over Snapchat and send crude remarks during class like. She said that as things progressed, he started to take advantage of her and backed her into corners until she couldn’t say no. It was hard for her to even say the words, but she admitted that he had sexually assaulted her. She tried to tell her friends what was going on, but none of them believed her. Michael was white and popular, and she was not. Of course, everybody had the incentive to stick with him and ignore her. It’s easy when there is clearly a social hierarchy, and anyone who can’t see that is either blind or doesn’t want to look too hard. Every single woman I know has a story. I don’t know how we got to a point where it’s considered normal, but it is. The craziest part is that these are all the things happening in America, “Land of the free home of the brave.” Outside of America, there are places with no laws governing assault or enforcing women’s rights. My friend Gina constantly tells me stories about the men in her Jamaican family. How all her male cousins have secret illegitimate children and second wives. How all of her grandfathers and even her own father have cheated on their wives. How the men are abusive or neglectful, and the women are the only glue that binds her family together. How it has affected the way she interacts with men. How she is traumatized. I want more for women. I want more out of society and what it offers its people. I know it can be easy to brush off situations, especially when they seem so extreme. But public research continues to back up these experiences. The CDC states, “Nearly 1 in 5 women have experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime.” Another account states, “An estimated 91% of victims of rape & sexual assault are female... and Nearly 99% of perpetrators are male.” These statistics make sense considering the link between objectification and assault. Sarah Gervais, a doctor in psychology, conducted an experiment to better understand objectification and its effect on everyday women. Her results were consistent: “Women’s sexual body parts were more easily recognized when presented in isolation than when presented in the context of their entire bodies. But for men, it was the opposite.” When we can objectify another person to the point where we no longer view them as human, it makes it easier to commit atrocious crimes or participate in their oppression without feeling guilt. Oppression can be all-consuming, and it can make people act out in ways that most would deem irrational, like female-hating male podcasts or allowing boyfriends to control what you eat, wear, say, and do.
However, people tend to forget that it all stems from the deep-rooted trauma and hurt that nobody wants to talk about. Bell Hooks states, “They [Women] learn then to settle for whatever positive attention men can give. They learn to overvalue it. They learn to pretend that it is love. They learn to live the lie,” and similarly, “Feminist writing did not tell us about the deep inner misery of men. It did not tell us the terrible terror that gnaws at the soul when one cannot love. The truth we do not tell is that men are longing for love.” Men are forced into a box where they are not allowed to express themselves. Women are being traumatized every second of every minute of every hour. We all need to resensitize ourselves to the reality of what’s going on. People need to stop pretending like 12-year-olds dressing like a grown woman, men attributing their worth to their productivity, body dysmorphia, and sexual assault is a necessary part of life. It’s not. If we all stop distracting ourselves with meaningless content and ignoring what’s happening around us, maybe society would finally realize that we are creating our own suffering and trauma. We are allowing these cycles of abuse to continue by shutting off our emotions, by hearing woman after woman tell her assault story and not getting outraged or triggered by it. We don’t have to live this way. We choose to. Seeing all these hurting, depressed, and angry people online should be our wake-up call to do better, not add fuel to the fire. The truth is that it’s easier for women to say, “I hate all men” than to admit that the men in their life have hurt them in ways that they can’t articulate, when all they wanted was to be loved. It is easier for men to blame women for their problems than this ‘omnipresent’, seemingly ‘intangible’ system that is the patriarchy. It is easier to hate and claim we want more power when all everybody actually needs is more love. There is definitely a need for these outlets on the female side to vent and hurt, but after a point, people need to heal. Instead they just keep traumatizing future generations because they can’t pull themselves out of the pit of their own despair. Oppression is a horrible reality, but constantly theorizing and picking people apart helps no one. I don’t want men to drown, and I don’t want to watch women get repeatedly abused until they’re numb. I want a better world for all of us. We need to start by healing ourselves first. STILL FROM EUPHORIA
photo courtesy of wallpapercave.com
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
ENTERTAINMENT 5
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Wordle: a new way to test our vocabulary BY Naomi Zakalik, Entertainment Staff Writer
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he new online game, Wordle, created and designed by software engineer Josh Wardle, has quickly grown to become one of the most popular games for kids, teens, and even adults all over the world! Wardle - who titled the game as a play on his own name - initially created Wordle for just himself and his family, but after its quick spark in popularity, The New York Times has since bought the game for a price, according to the Times, “in the low seven figures.” Although, after its acquisition, many people have voiced how the game’s amusement has gone down a significant amount. Nonetheless, its immense popularity and ability in engaging millions of teens and adults still continue. The object of the game is simple: try to guess a five-letter word. However, this endeavor may not be as easy as you think. The only way to arrive at such a specific answer is by using other five-letter words from which you may discover the certain vowels or consonants that lie in the day’s word. Players only receive six tries in order to uncover the word, and with such a limited number of attempts, each guess will let one know if the letters within the word are correct and, if they are, whether they’re in the correct position or not. If a letter turns green, it means that it lies within the word and is in the correct position; if the letter turns yellow, however, it is in the word but not in the correct spot. Such aspects of the game, therefore, really challenge its players, giving them both a sense of frustration and excitement in guessing every day. But the question still remains: what distinguishes Wordle from other word games and why has it become so popular? Some speculate it is The New York Times having bought the game that truly promoted its popularity. But perhaps it is its easy gameplay and appeal to wide audiences which entices so many. Much of Wordle’s five letter words range from being simple, more well-known words such as “frame” or “movie”, to more strange, less common words such as “epoxy” or “ulcer.” Oftentimes, players will use a certain “starter-word” to kick off their six chance guessing attempts. Some of these so-called starter-words include “adieu” or “audio,” both of which contain multiple vowels, making the guessing of the word much easier. English teacher Ms. Corwin uses “irate” as her starter word because “it’s got three vowels in it and two of the most common consonants, and has worked every time without fail.” Another strategy some people utilize is, since there are twenty-six letters in the alphabet and only five attempts at guessing the word, trying to use 25 out of the 26 letters of the alphabet via the five guesses. To use such a strategy, one would use the words “glent,” “brick,” “jumpy,” “vozhd,” and “waqfs’’ to supposedly be able to uncover the word. Not only has Wordle created a large following for itself, but it has also given way to the creation of other similar games, many of which have the same premise as Wordle. Some of these such games include Nerdle, the math version of Wordle where one must guess a certain equation using numbers from other equations, Queerdle, which is described as the “yassification” of Wordle where one is challenged on their knowledge of LGBTQ+ vocabulary, Sweardle, Heardle, Globle, and much, much more! There is even an offshoot of Wordle called Quordle, where one must solve four Wordles at once, using nine guesses to figure out all four words. Nevertheless, Wordle has provided its players with much excitement, and has not failed to engage thousands of people to guess at the word every day! If you are interested in playing the game, you don’t even have to download anything, you can simply look up “Wordle” on Safari, or any other search engine you may use. And, if Wordle does sound interesting to you, or if you are already an avid player, feel free to engage in some of the Word games below. Although they are not the exact same as Wordle, they certainly provide a similar sense of fun!
The New York Times buys Wordle, courtesy of The New York Times
Summer suggestions from DCDS students and staff BY Madeline Rocchi, Staff Writer
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s we head into the summer months, it’s time to venture outdoors. Detroit metro offers a great selection of activities at this time of year, however it can be difficult when you have the free-time to do things outside of sports/school activities (etc.) to find an engaging pastime. After conversing with both students and faculty , we were able to learn and compile all of the different summer activities that they recommend for the Detroit Country Day community to participate in. Mr.Schwarz highly recommends kids to, “actually make time and say to yourself I need to get out.” Mr.Schwarz passionately believes young teens should get off their phones and engage with people, “eye to eye.” Mr Schwarz suggests visiting some of the many wonderful art fairs that run across the state during summer. The Ann Arbor Artfair will be hosted from July 21st until July 23rd. It hosts up to 1,000 artists to buy from, found in over 30 city blocks This summer Mr.Schwarz plans on selling creatures made out of coffee cans at art fairs around Michigan, including the Ann Arbor Artfair, keep your eyes open for his handmade items! J.Wil says, “I highly recommend being active, walking. If you’re a person who likes gardening, get in the garden.” Located on what used to be a railroad, Dequindre Cut in Detroit has lots of different graffiti murals to enjoy while walking, biking or riding a scooter. While in Detroit, the Detroit RiverWalk provides spectacular views alongside the Detroit River for 3.5 miles. J.Wil recommends finding local activities to participate in. He says,“There are also all kinds of fun activities outside, parks and things like that. At the end of the summer I always like to go to Shakspeare in the park in Royal Oak.” If you’re not a Shakespeare fan, going to an outdoor ropes course such as TreeRunner Adventure Park found Westfound in West Bloomfield, is an activity suitable for all ages. While ziplining, and climbing elevated platforms you can still enjoy Michigan’s nature.
For any high achieving art students Mrs.Robinson offers time during the summer for advanced art students to come nd get help from her on their work. Mrs.Robinson states, “Some of my advanced AP students and art conservatory students have the option to come in and check their progressive with me.”If you don’t have the opportunity to visit Mrs.Robinson, there are workshops at the Birmingham Bloomfied Art Center that high school students can sign up for. These workshops span for 4 days each and include activities such as fashion, wheel throwing, portfolio preparation and more! Volunteering is required at Detroit Country Day. Some students struggle with successfully getting enough volunteer hours. Senior, Alex Mathews sparks the inspiration that, “Grace’s Center of Hope is a great place to volunteer, you can work in the kitchens. There are 3 meals you can sign up to volunteer at a day, dinner is usually when they have the most people come to work. It is people who are struggling down in Detroit.” Junior Jack Donigian suggests students volunteer at “Summer in the City”. It is a non-profit volunteering program for young adolescents across Michigan to volunteer in three different areas. These include painting, working in a camp, and gardening. It is a great way to get volunteering experience and also to help out the community. Freshman Addy Garn recommends students and faculty to “be in the sun” and go “tanning.” You could always go to a tanning salon; however, with the beautiful Michigan summers there are a surplus of different settings for one to tan. Belle Isle Beach is a gorgeous place for swimming and tanning, and once you are done at the beach, you can go to the Belle Isle Aquarium. Make the most of your summer vacation this year! It is the first semi-normal summer many have experienced in 2 years. Whether you are a faculty member or a student, there is an abundance of activities for you to do this summer!
Ann Arbor Art Fair, courtesy of ClickOnDetroit.com
The Day Times | May 2022
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
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Vol. 98 | Issue 5
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The Day Times | May 2022
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
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Senior Spotlight: Bella Bandol
A commemoration of Bandol’s high school accomplishments By TANISHA KHARE and SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH Features Section Editors Photos Courtesy of Bella Bandol
BELLA BANDOL WORKING on set of the film “Cherry on Top.” FEATURE FILM “Cherry on Top” flyer. Expectations are a part and parcel of every student’s life at Detroit Country Day School. Each and every aspect of student life at DCDS exemplifies the rigor and high standards at which students are held. With the inherent nature of DCDS, students are often swamped with a handful of responsibilities, making it difficult for some students to pursue and follow their true passions. Students who are able to stay true to themselves and deviate from a traditional course, however, are truly commendable members of the DCDS community. Senior Bella Bandol represents a complete portfolio of a DCDS student. Through her high school experience, Bandol excelled in the classroom; however, most notably, Bandol followed her heart by pursuing her love for film. Her contribution and dedication to the film program has had an everlasting impact on DCDS. Bandol has had a passion for film from a young age; however, when she came to high school, she was able to pursue the art more closely. “I’ve always had an interest in movies and I used to even make mini films on iMovies and music videos on my iPad as a kid. In my freshman year, I saw film as an option for an elective and signed up for it immediately,” said Bandol. Through high school, film has transformed Bandol as an individual by helping her find a purpose as well as discover her true identity. “Since my freshman year, I have gained a lot of independence and confidence. I used to worry about what my peers and parents thought of me, which held me back from trying new things. I did not have a plan for my future, but after finding my
passion for film I knew what I wanted to do for my career and now, I work towards improving my filmmaking skills each day,” said Bandol. Bandol’s dedication to the film program culminated with her direction of the Winter Silver Point Film, “Cherry On Top.” “My cast and crew shot “Cherry on Top” over the course of four months and during that time we all improved our film-making skills and formed a close bond with each other. The premiere was a very special night where we got to celebrate all of our hard work and enjoy the final film,” said Bandol. Through the production of the film, however, Bandol had to adhere to a strict schedule, while having to overcome obstacles and challenges. “Managing the Silver Point film was a difficult task. I began preproduction with the Executive Team in December and from there we planned out our tight shooting schedule. COVID outbreaks, weather issues and other obstacles made it necessary to have everything planned out for shooting. Thankfully, we ended up wrapping on schedule with some time to spare,” said Bandol. While Bandol enjoys watching a film come to life, her connection and collaboration with the crew and cast members is what she truly embraces about the art. “Film is the most collaborative art form, and I love that every crew and cast member gets to bring one of their talents together to create one movie. Getting to bond with the crew on and off set is one of the best parts of film,” stated Bandol.
BELLA BANDOL POSES for her senior picture. Learning from her high school experiences, Bandol shares valuable life lessons for the incoming freshman class. She encourages them to branch out beyond their comfort zone with regards to friends, clubs, or extracurricular activities. Additionally, Bandol conveys words of wisdom to rising seniors by advising them to savor and cherish their last year of high school. “I spent the first half of senior year going through the motions, but I would advise to stay as present as possible and make sure you have a list of things to accomplish before high school ends. Everyone says this, but the year really does flash before your eyes,” said Bandol. As the school year comes to an end, Bandol feels relieved and looks forward to what is coming in her near future. She continues to expand on her skill set in film by working as Mr. Salamin’s teaching assistant for her senior project and is looking forward to working with younger students. In the fall, Bandol will continue her studies in film at Chapman University Dodge for film production and would one day like to become a director. Her talent in film production is evident with her award for the best high school short film in the country at the National Videos for Change Contest. By taking a less conventional and more unique path, Bandol exemplifies perseverance, courage, and mental grit. She has exceeded every expectation of a DCDS student and is truly an inspiration. We wish Bella the very best of luck in her future and look forward to seeing her as a world-famous director one day!
Advice for upcoming seniors
Photos Courtesy of Kunwoo Kim
Words of wisdom to navigate college applications By TANISHA KHARE and SAMEEKSHA SAMPATH Features Section Editors
Junior-senior college counselors Mrs. Penkala and Mrs. Stahl answered questions to advise the class of 2023 about their activities over the summer in preparation for college and their college applications. The questions were as follows:
MRS. STAHL’S ADVICE:
1) What activities should students participate in to prep for college over the summer?
1) “Spend the summer exploring your potential major interest as well as activities that will have an impact on your school and living communities.”
2) What should students do in terms of college apps over the summer?
2) “Continue to visit colleges, attend virtual information sessions and explore your interests.”
3) What is the best way to decrease stress throughout the summer with the beginning of their college application season?
3) “Complete tasks which can be front-loaded including constructing your essay, preparing a list of activities, visiting colleges and completing your college list.”
4) What other words of advice do you have for upcoming seniors, in general?
The Day Times | May 2022
4) “Take a deep breath knowing you are fully supported by your college counselor. There are thousands of colleges so cast your net widely to ensure the colleges to which you apply are great FITS for you and will meet your goals.
MRS. PENKALA’S ADVICE:
1) I would recommend any of the following: visit colleges, do community service, job shadow, work, work on your Common Application, read everything you can get youhands on for pleasure, refresh and relax. 2) I would recommend attending our College Counseling Application Camp in mid-August. It will be a packed three day program that will really help rising seniors jump-start the application and essay process. 3) Tune into important deadlines. Try not to save things until the last minute. Begin working on essays and applications this summer. Read all emails. Meet with your College Counselor regularly. 4) Ask questions when you need help. Stay open-minded. Enjoy the process.
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
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DCDS Sister Exchange Program
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Showcasing the DCDS Sister Exchange Program By JIU WON Features Intern
Riley, DCDS Global Initiatives Director, says the school is moving ahead and is making plans for the new year, including hosting students from Japan and France in the fall. To make everything safe, in order to participate in these exchanges, one must be vaccinated. This ensures one more layer of comfort and safety. Riley believes “it’s important for students (if they’re able) to experience a program like this, as it gives them a different perspective on the world. All families travel, but when families travel quite often, they’ll be staying in hotels and staying in their own family bubble. Whereas an exchange program puts students in families, where they become a part of the family and learn about the culture and food. It’s designed so students can spend time in schools and make friends, who may become lifelong friends.” One of Riley’s favorite moments about this trip is seeing the reactions of the students when they arrive at their destination: seeing the dome in Japan or flying over the Eiffel Tower.
Students can experience cultures they never would have imagined through this program. Even though the cultures may not seem familiar, it’s a good way to learn and discover new things. Like Chen, Riley shares the same view about perspective: “It’s really important for us to see and value and appreciate other cultures around the world that are so different from ours. We may not understand and we may sit and think about why they do it that way, etc., which is okay, but we need to appreciate that. Just because they’re different doesn’t mean they’re wrong.” The Sister Exchange Program is one that makes the DCDS experience so special. If you’re interested in participating, reach out to Mrs. Riley or any of the current participants!
Photos Courtesy of Mrs. Jackie Riley
DCDS has a rich history full of traditions, one of which is the Sister School Exchange Program. In this program, students from DCDS travel to a school in a different country and live with a host family for several days. This tradition started in 2010 with a trip to Japan and has continued ever since, until the COVID-19 outbreak, which nearly had devastating effects on the Italy trip in February of 2020. The virus affected many of the other planned trips for the 2020-2021 school year, but things will be different for the 2022-2023 year. The sister exchange program is back in business! Charlie Chen, a current junior at DCDS, reminisced about his Italy trip back in his freshman year. “My most memorable moment was when we visited castles on a mountain at night, which made it even cooler. I went with Mr.Masuda (the metals teacher) and he made everything very fun and organized,” said Chen. His daily life in Italy consisted of waking up as early as he would have back in Michigan for school and going to bed very late because they were exploring so much outside. They shadowed their host students around the school and visited different cities. As for the cultural differences, Chen said, “living in Italy was a lot different than living in the US because they’re more social and tend to stay outside instead of staying inside doing homework. Everyone knew everyone else, so when you went outside, you would be greeted by your name.” Chen learned that the world is more diverse than he thought and that there are different ways of living in this world. To experience this, he says that one needs to be open to trying new cultures and different foods and different ideas, and to not be close-minded. Luckily, Chen’s group arrived back in Michigan the day before Italy shut down, and he says he was lucky to dodge a bullet. Chen wishes to experience the Sister Exchange Program once more, specifically in Italy again. Hopefully with decreasing COVID restrictions, this program will come back in the 2022-2023 school year. Mrs. Jackie
LEFT: DCDS STUDENTS POSE in front of the Spanish sister school. Right: students in Spain pose outside the Montserrat.
Eid: an ageless celebration of reflection and gratitude A holiday widely observed by the practicers of Islam By AMMAR SIDDIQUI AND RAJ RAO Features Staff Writer
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them and enjoy being with them on Eid. To make the day even more special, my uncle always makes the trip from Chicago to celebrate with us,” said Tariq.
TOP: AMARA AND Zayn celebrate Eid. Bottom: Members of the Muslim Student Alliance club pose at Iftar.
At the end of the day, Eid is a religious holiday. This makes God an integral part of the day. Despite the fun behind food and family, keeping god in mind is a necessity. “Eid starts early for us; at eight A.M. we go to the local mosque. At the mosque we do the morning prayer. Also at the mosque is a ceremony with breakfast and candy for kids. Our family always donates at least 100 bucks to the mosque every Eid. The whole day, I make sure to remember God and thank him. He blesses us all with so much, and it’s important to remember that,” said Darwich. Tariq also expresses a similar connection with God. “Eid prayer is a must; I always go to the mosque with my grandparents. God is always an essential part of my day on Eid, so I make sure to thank Him countless times, especially for the great food we eat,” said Tariq. During the school day, students had to deal with the challenges of fasting during rigourous classes along with the typical day to day demands of a Country Day student; however, they did not always view their fasting as a struggle. “Fasting was not bad during school because I would ask my teacher to go to the library and they let me, so it wasn’t difficult when peers went to lunch,” said freshman Zara Rehman. The DCDS community also found ways to support and provide ways for students to partake in Eid rituals at school. “The school has dedicated a prayer room for students all year. The prayer room is our room which we use on Fridays, but it is also supposed to be prayer room all year round and is not used,” said Rehman. In addition, the school gave students the day off for Eid for those observing the holiday to be able to spend time with family and friends without having to worry about falling behind. “DCDS tried to give us a day off even though it was the wrong day, but it’s not the school’s fault because Eid was supposed to be on Tuesday; however, it shifted to monday due to the lunar calendar, so I understand that they could not move it. Regardless, I really do appreciate the school trying to give us the day off,” said Rehman. Eid represents a culturally rich holiday with celebration and festivities to conclude the holy month of Ramadan. From the food to showing appreciation to God, Eid is a holistic festival celebrated across the world.
Vol. 98 | Issue 5 | May 2022
Photo Courtesy of Amara Tariq
From the evening of April 1st to the evening of May 1st, adherents of Islam participate in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a 30-day holiday on the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast all 30 of those days with no food or drink from sunrise to sunset. After a long month of fasting, Muslims celebrate with a holiday called Eid al-Fitr. This year DCDS gave a day off for Eid, along with a no homework, no test, and no quiz day. The day carries a lot of significance for those who celebrate it. After a month of fasting, food plays a big part in the Eid celebration. Muslims feel a range of emotions on their first day back to eating on a normal schedule. ‘“There isn’t a big difference for me between fasting all day and being able to eat food on Eid, but it’s nice to eat breakfast and have lunch with my friends. Also my mouth is always dry when I’m fasting, but on Eid my mouth isn’t dry and I’m not always dehydrated either,” said sophomore Radwan Darwich. Junior Amara Tariq is very passionate about the Eid festivities and savors the food on this auspicious day. “It feels really good to eat yummy food on Eid. Usually, everyone eats a lot of food on Eid. My family, we eat tons of food. My grandma always cooks food for us. She makes biryani and many sweets that are amazing,” said Tariq. Along with the food, family and friends play a significant role in making Eid truly special. “I like that I eat dinner with my family throughout Ramadan and on Eid because outside of it we all are so busy that we don’t get to eat together often. On Eid, we always visit our family; first is visiting my Dad’s family’s house, and we eat lunch there and then the uncle gives kids money. After that, we go to my mom’s family’s house and do the same thing, except we eat dinner instead. Towards night time, the neighborhood hosts a block party for all families to come and celebrate Eid; my mom makes sure to make hundreds of Arabic cookies to give to hundreds of families around the neighborhood,” said Darwich. For Tariq, spending quality time with family and friends is the most important part of Eid. “The key element to having a good day on Eid is spending time with family and friends. I think that as long as you have good people around you, the day is fun regardless of anything else. All day, my family and I go from one friend’s house to another. People that we don’t see for long periods of time, we always see
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The Men’s Varsity Golf Team Senior Spotlight: Cole goes “fore” it all Wilhelmi An exclusive interview with the senior baseball sensation Varsity golf prepares for state competition By ALEX EBY Sports Section Staff Writer
With the baseball season now well underway, Detroit Country Day School’s preparation and leadership shines out on the field. The baseball team is definitely one of DCDS’s younger teams, but the few seniors on the team lead with great pride and honor. Cole Wilhelmi, committed to Grand Valley State University to continue his baseball career, leads the team with courage and constantly practices the principles of our school. Wilhelmi reflected on his goals for his last season with the Yellow Jackets. “Baseball has always been a priority for me, and I couldn’t ask for a better team or program to be a part of. The goal is, of course, to go far in playoffs and hopefully win a state championship, but all in all, I really just want to make sure that I don’t leave anything behind on the field. Coaches always say give it your all or else you’ll regret it, so for my last season with this team I want to make sure I give the program everything I have to offer and hopefully that is enough. But if not, at least I won’t have any regrets,” said Wilhelmi. Spring sports can sometimes be very difficult for seniors to stay committed since halfway through the season they graduate, and most want to just relax and have fun before they go off to college. Wilhelmi describes
how he plans on staying focused for his senior season. “[I]t’s no regrets for me and that means that I can’t goof off once I graduate. I do know that it will be hard since a lot of my friends are going to be doing things while I still have to come to practice, but I love the sport and am willing to give up things for it. There are also other seniors on the team who are just as devoted to the sport as I am, and are going to have to miss out on some things ..., so I’m not alone in this,” said Wilhelmi. With a young team, it is very important that se-
niors like Wilhelmi lead by example and help to prepare the future team for the years ahead. One of Wilhelmi’s teammates, sophomore Tyler Inge, described Wilhelmi’s leadership. “He comes to practice everyday ready to go, and he makes sure to push everyone in practice, but he does it in a way that’s uplifting. I hope to be just as good of a leader as he is my senior year,” said Inge. With all of Wilhelmi’s desirable traits as a baseball player and person, he is destined for great things.
WILHELMI’S SIGNING DAY photo.
The spring sports season is now fully underway at DCDS. That includes the DCDS Men’s Varsity Golf Team, which has high hopes for this year and looks to improve off of an already impressive 2021 season. While there may be ups and downs throughout the regular season, as there is with all teams, Head Men’s Varsity Golf Coach Schuitema aims to have his squad rounding into form in time for the playoffs. The team is currently on a strict practice schedule preparing for upcoming tournaments and games. Coach Schuitema said, “We practice or play five days a week Monday-Friday. Our team mainly practices at Carl’s Golfland as well as plays nine holes at Glen Oaks or local country
GEORGE PICEU TEES up.
clubs when we get an opportunity to do so (Oakland Hills, Pine Lake, Orchard Lake have all hosted us for a round or two in the past).” The young team is looking to gain more practice and experience. “We lost our top three players from last year who were all seniors, but we have picked up some great young talent this year, and I feel like this team has a lot of potential to get better and better as the season goes on. We have four sophomores on our varsity out of eight guys DCDS GOLF TEAM practice. and they will all be counted on in our lineup this season,” that we see during our Schuitema said. The youth on high school season.” Coach the team shows good poten- Schuitema wants to focus on tial for future growth, which enhancing the team while is what Coach Schuitema is also keeping the bigger picmost excited for. Schuite- ture in mind: “Ultimately ma said, “I’m most looking we want to compete for state forward to watching the im- titles, while helping our stuprovement of all of our play dent-athletes improve their skills in a lifelong sport such ers this season.” as golf.” As for the future of the DCDS golf program, Schuitema said, “My vision for our program is that we are consistently competing in the state finals each season and hopefully improving to being a consistent top five team in Division 2. My goal is to have all of our players participating in summer tournaments to improve their skills in a competitive round while competing against the same players
Currently, the team has played in a total of three events. Coach Schuitema looks forward to helping his team improve as States approaches.
Photos courtesy of Dan Berger and Vikram Goddla
Photo courtesy of Detroit Country Day;s Instagram
By ANDREW BRENTANO Sports Section Staff Writer
Women’s Tennis: a success story How the team maintains its state-wide reputation By ZACHARY RODGER Sports Section Editor Intern
The Day Times | May2022
every Saturday and Sunday just to make sure they knew they were doing everything possible to succeed. We are also a very close-knit team. The girls support and care so much for each other, which shows on the court,” said Stencel. To add to the camaraderie that Stencel noted, Lana dove into the importance of this bond. “I think we are also a very uplifting and supportive team. My favorite memories come from any time I’m on the court and look over, seeing my teammates cheer me on. I wouldn’t say we get the most spectators at our matches, so having their support means everything to me,” said Haddad. When speaking about the team’s talent, Stencel mentioned that they won States last year, but that victory is one of many. The team has currently won five State Championships in a row, an incredible feat, and they have a plan to continue the streak despite early setbacks moving into this season. “We lost one of the best players in the country last year so we know we are not as strong as in previous seasons. On top of that, we have added two top teams to our division. The girls are aware of this and know they need to work harder than any previous year. They are putting in a ton of effort, and when the weather doesn’t allow outdoor practices, they are finding ways to get hits in. No matter what - win or lose - by the end of the season they know they will have done everything possible to put themselves in the best position to win that they could have,” said Stencel. In the past, the team has been able to rely on a vast talent pool and great depth in every part of the team. With the loss of key senior players this year, they must put extra emphasis on their effort and hard work to produce positive results and a six-peat. Returning sophomore player, Peja Liles, described
Photo courtesy of The Day Times
The Spring season is well underway this year and all sports have taken the field, or in one case, the court. In recent years, the Women’s Tennis Team has built a reputation as a powerhouse through their current five state championships in a row, Division 1 recruits, and a long list of all-state players. Behind these accolades lay hours of hard work and preparation that Jessica Stencel, Head Coach of the Women’s Varsity Tennis Team, described. “We run a two-hour practice on the days we don’t have matches focusing on individual needs. Our team is one of the hardest working teams out there and the girls always do supplemental hitting on weekends as well,” said Stencel. While practice during the season is a key to the team’s success, off-season preparation can make all the difference. Lana Haddad, a senior captain, detailed her own off-season regime. “In the off-season, all of us played in group clinics at tennis clubs and had lessons with private coaches. On the weekends, we also continue to hit with our outside-of-school coaches and we enter ourselves in USTA matches not affiliated with DCDS in order to get more match-play experience,” said Haddad. Aside from the hours of work put in, Stencel also touched on another source of the team’s success. “I think some of it is about raw natural talent and who is getting the top players in the area. We have been spoiled the last several years. With that being said, last year we won because of our team’s dedication to the sport and our hard work. I make sure every player is getting what she needs and some players need more than others. We had girls staying after matches to practice or asking me for extra help even after a two-hour practice. The month before States last year, the girls ran captain’s practice
THE WOMEN’S TENNIS team practices. the team’s progress towards reaching their goal. “The season is going well. We just placed first in a quad tournament which was positive. We are 10-4 as of now and our biggest challenge will be running into Cranbrook at regionals and states. However, I would say we are definitely on track to winning it all,” said Liles. DCDS hopes to see the Women’s Tennis Team lift the state championship trophy once again. We wish them good luck with the season!
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
The Day Times | www.fearthesting.com
The danger of contact sports
Sports 11
BY Graham Doman Sports Guest Writer
C
The Day Times | May 2022
Before a big playoff game, Clay was in practice battling for a puck in front of the net. Aggressively fighting for it, two attackmen swarmed Clay. One of the opponents fiercely thrust his stick into the side of Clay’s skate, causing the blade to flip up. With his momentum quickly snapping backwards, Clay smashed his head against the ice once again. After this collision, Clay was still conscious but felt woozy: “Nauseous is probably the best way to describe it.” Clay attempted to play through it, but he couldn’t skate due to his impaired balance. After the trainers on the sideline evaluated him, Clay was diagnosed with another concussion. It was his second within only a few months. Concussions are a growing concern among young adults that play contact sports. In an article posted on the CDC website, there were 2.5 million high school student-athletes diagnosed with at least one concussion in 2017, and nearly 1 million of those student-athletes had received more than one. What does this mean? When I asked Kady O’Connell, DCDS medical trainor, about concussion treatment, she said, “[we have] to treat each concussion independently from all of the other ones,” since each concussion is very unique. With this logic, everyone’s brain heals and reacts differently to concussions. Factors like the severity of the impact, the area of the brain that was damaged, and the patient’s particular cognitive genetics, alter the short and long-term symptoms. Generally, people believe that concussions heal like a scab; once they have repaired, there aren’t any long-term effects. However, Gregory Hawryluk, physician and concussions specialist at the University of Utah Health argues that there is new concerning research about long-term effects: “we think that some suicides may be linked to the brain damage that results from multiple concussions.” Another developing study is the connection between CTE and concussions. According to a New York Times article by Jonathan Abrams, CTE (or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) is a “degenerative brain disease [that] is linked to alarming symptoms like personality changes, memory loss and impulsive outbursts.” Philip Adams, a former NFL player, in April of 2021 tragically murdered himself and 6 people, including 2 young children. Adams had no connection with these people, so what made him lash out so violently and irrationally? Later information based on a recent examination of Adams’ brain concluded that Adams had a severe case of CTE. Abrams then uses Dr. Ann Mckee’s expertise, director at the CTE Center at Boston University, to explain the effects of this damage: “the combination of poor impulse control, paranoia, poor decision-making, emotional volatility, rage and violent tendencies caused by frontal lobe damage could converge to lower an individual’s threshold for homicidal acts.” Did CTE turn him into a killer? Several ex-football players, like Junior Seau and Aaron Hernadez, are guilty of similar homicidal acts and were also diagnosed with CTE posthumously. These congruences are not a coincidence. How do we solve this issue of CTE caused by contact sports? While discussing this issue with the DCDS training staff, they expressed confidence in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s new concussion protocols, which proceed as follows: 1. The training staff first conducts the SCAT5 baseline test for all contact sport athletes. This one-on-one examination between trainer and athlete evaluates memory, reaction time, balance, and coordination, providing the trainers with the athlete’s typical performance and behavior. 2. The trainers compare and contrast these results with an athlete that is in suspicion of a concussion. 3. If there are discrepancies between the baseline and post-injury tests, then the training staff directs that athlete to seek a neurologist for further evaluation. Head athletic trainer at DCDS, Ross Cooper, expressed that these protocols “are almost unbelievably different” than how they were only a few years ago. “The thing that has evolved the most in concussion care,” Cooper elaborates, “is how individualized it is based on the symptoms that they are having, academic limitations, and sleep limitations.” Eric Grenadier, football and basketball player at DCDS, has received three concussions over the course of his life. In order to compensate for this vulnerability, Eric bought a Riddell Precision-Fit football helmet. These helmets are customized to the unique contours of each player’s head, making them the safest technology available. Eric has not received another concussion since this purchase. Despite the potential side-effects imposed by contact sports, athletes are insistent upon continuing to play. Lucas Shallal, offensive lineman for the DCDS football team, argues that contact sports are essential for high schoolers because they build mental and physical toughness. When asked about his feelings toward the risks of head injury, Lucas wasn’t worried about it:“There are ways to avoid them.” He explains that “Hawk Tackling,” a technique that protects the head from contact, and stricter officiating makes him feel safe. However, despite the potential life-damaging injuries, Lucas remains adamant about playing football. He loves it too much togive it up. When asked about the inherent risks, Lucas concluded, “I am willing to take them.”
Photos courtesy of Graham Doman
ole Jacobson woke up in the back of the ambulance. Flashing red lights, sirens blaring, and tires screeching. Prying his eyes open, he was met with an intense light swinging directly in front of his face. The rays painfully stung his eyes. Trying to focus his vision, he attempted to sit up, but was met with two firm blue medical gloves pushing him down. Glancing side to side, he noticed the encapsulating metal walls of the ambulance decorated with high-tech machines. Cole recognized several blurry figures tending to him and working to get his attention. He saw their mouths move, but he could only hear the incessant ringing in his ears. Cole tried to make sense of it all. “Where am I?” he muttered. A week prior, Cole was in a tight game with Novi Middle School, one of the best teams in the league. It was 3rd and 3 from their own 32 yard line, and a first down would set his team up for the game winning score. As the offense looked to the sideline for the call, his coach signaled “Power I-Right 44 Blast,” a designed iso behind the right guard for Cole. Lined up behind Hunter Riutta, the quarterback, Cole waited for him to snap the ball -“Ready, set, hit!” - smoothly side-stepping right and directing his body downhill. As his blockers created a running lane, Cole found a sliver of daylight and instinctively ran for it. However, while trying to slip through the line, the hole closed up. Two iron-headed linebackers instantly smothered the lane with their solid, muscled frames. Cole’s head was then jarred between several helmets and shoulder pads, crushed by the powerful momentum. After stumbling to his feet, he headed for the sideline. Although Cole was in no condition to play, he felt the importance of the game to his coaches and teammates. Cole returned to the field. By the time the next game arrived, Cole was out of sorts. While traveling to the opposing team’s field, Cole’s vision was fuzzy, and he leaned his throbbing head against the cool window of the bus for some relief. During the game, Hunter looked to the sideline for the call. “44 Counter Trey,” a misdirection hand off up the middle for Cole. “Cole, you’re on the wrong side!” hollered the offensive coordinator. Completely bewildered, Cole responded by stumbling to the right position. “Ready, Set, Hit!” Cole progressed through his steps, faking right and receiving the handoff. Planting toward the hole, Cole tried to slip through the narrow seam created by his blockers. However, the hole once again closed and came crashing down on him. Girding himself for impact, he ducked his head and churned his legs. Then suddenly, everything went black. After arriving at the hospital, Cole was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury, or major concussion. But it seemed that Cole was lucky. According to medical training staff at Detroit Country Day School, returning to play with an unhealed concussion can develop Second Impact Syndrome. Although it is rare, this syndrome causes major breakdown of cognitive function that can result in death. According to Beaumont Hospital’s website, when someone has a concussion and receives another minor blow to the head, it “can trigger lethal damage.” Cole was dangerously close to developing this syndrome, so he decided to retire from football altogether. Although football has the highest rate of concussions, men’s ice hockey is a close second. Clay Hartje, a captain for the DCDS Men’s Ice Hockey team, has been honing his technical skills as a defenseman for 10 years. He can skate backwards, steal the puck from attackers, and snipe deep slap shots with ease. Clay is also extremely scrappy. He causes turnovers due to his relentless poke checks and well timed steals. Due to his competitive instincts and natural leadership, Clay inspires his teammates to play harder. However, this ambition often leads to injury. At one of his hockey practices, Clay and his team were playing a 3 v 3 mini game. Bolting down the ice with the puck, Clay and his team entered the offensive zone and set up their 2-1 formation. Clay’s teammate, Matt Jenkins, made a risky pass flat across the ice intended for Clay. However, Justin Calso, one of the opposing players, stretched out his stick and deflected the pass. The puck ricocheted away from Clay and slid down toward the other side of the rink. Pivoting and redirecting his body toward the puck, Clay took off. Suddenly, everything went black. “What happened?” Clay gasped to life. Matt cried in relief, “He’s awake! Jesus man I thought you were dead. Don’t worry, an ambulance is on the way.” In bewilderment, Clay asked, “How did I get here?” One of the dozen spinning faces filled him in. While Clay was skating after the puck, Justin bolted after him. As they sped down the right wing of the rink, Justin lunged for the puck, but missed and accidentally caught one of Clay’s skates instead. Thrown off balance, Clay instantly slipped backwards and slammed the back of his head against the ice. Clay was knocked out cold. As Clay became more cognizant of his surroundings, his brain cramped and pounded behind his droopy eyes and his balance was completely thrown off. The throbbing pain surrounding Clay’s head began to worsen. It became unbearable. Snatching the trash can next to him, he hunched over it and hurled. After 3 weeks of recovery programs, Clay was ready to get back into full contact play, slashing, and scoring like normal.
GRAHAM DOMAN AND the DCDS Football Team.
Vol. 98 | Issue 5
Congratulations Class of 2022!