HURON EMERY
Surviving sexual assault in the age of pop culture
SATVIKA RAMANATHAN AND MAYA FU EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
One-hundred-and-twenty individuals have now accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual abuse, including allegations of rape, abuse of minors, rape, facilitated sex with controlled substances, and dissemination of video recordings. Combs has also been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Huge amounts
Rohypnol – commonly known as the date rape drug – were also seized from Comb’s Miami home.
And although Combs’ case is one that generally people would take seriously, there have been a large number of jokes around the topic, especially from high schoolers.
The term sexual assault refers to any sexual behavior or contact that occurs without consent, and is a broad term that can encompass various forms of sexual violence, while
specifically to pentration without consent. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, but only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators end up in prison for their crimes.
Molly Lipton is an Ann Arbor educator, teaching both PE and health. She is also an NCAA administrator for the district, working with student athletes to help them reach their goals of playing sports in college.
“I’m a survivor of sexual assault that happened to me when I was a kid in a very different time,” said Lipton. “So I would say, in the last decade plus is when I started speaking nationwide and sharing my story in different age groups.”
Arya Kamat, a junior at the University of Michigan studying public health and creative writing on a pre-med track, has had extensive experience in sexual assault education and reproductive justice work.
“The problem is so much larger than us in terms of how everything really begins at a systemic societal level,” said Kamat. Throughout high school, she was involved with Planned Parenthood, where she worked with the youth advocacy team. This opened her eyes to political canvassing, and the significance of sexual education at a high school level. Kamat regularly traveled to other Washtenaw County schools to talk about sexual education, discussing different STI’s, birth control methods, and performing demonstrations. Kamat now works as a survivor support group facilitator, specifically for BIPOC survivors, for The University of Michigan’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC), which helps survivors navigate legal, emotional, and personal challenges by attending to each person’s specific needs and circumstances. SAPAC frequently visits
See SA, PAGE 2
HURON HOSA FACES DRASTIC CHANGES
Huron High School’s Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) club is taking on a new structure, splitting into two distinct chapters: one for students in CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs and a new chapter for non-CTE students. This shift comes in response to recent budget cuts in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, which have reshaped how clubs like HOSA are funded and organized. For non-CTE students, form-
ing an independent chapter brings both opportunities and challenges. Finding a teacher or parent willing to serve as an advisor is crucial—without one, as the HOSA board explained in a recent email, “we won’t be able to start this new chapter, meaning [students] will not be able to participate in HOSA.” NonCTE students will also need
to cover their own competition costs, with regional fees around $100 and state competitions potentially reaching $500. Despite these hurdles, HOSA leaders are committed to keeping healthcare mbined meeting on Oct. 22, members from both chapters gathered to discuss the changes, share concerns, and brainstorm solutions. Although financial and organizational challenges lie ahead, HOSA’s mission to prepare students for healthcare careers remains a strong, shared focus as both chapters work to keep the club thriving.
Rising AAPS concerns about healthcare
SATVIKA
RAMANATHAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The AAPS Board of Education had their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The meeting started with Public Commentary as usual, and the most prominent concern voiced was from the teachers about a recent five percent increase in healthcare costs. Many teachers shared that they already work multiple jobs in addition to their teaching jobs, and they won’t be able to cover these rising costs. “I already have the cheapest ‘I hope I don’t get sick and die’
health plan and don’t go to the doctor because I can’t afford it,” teacher Amber Mahaney said. “I am a single mother who already works two jobs to support my family. With this pay cut, my only option will be to work the 25 hours a week needed at my second job to take their health care and sign the waiver for Ann Arbor’s health care coverage.” Ann Arbor Education Association President Fred Klein spoke during the meeting, as well, saying that no employee group is dealing with these extremely high healthcare prices.
See HEALTHCARE, PAGE 3
GRAPHIC BY YUANCHEN ZHAO
New Athletic Director joins Huron community
his students’ education.
After moving from Trenton to Ann Arbor, James Trush is stepping into the Huron community this year as the new athletic director and assistant principal. Although new to Huron, Trush has spent much of his life in Ann Arbor. He attended the University of Michigan and Concordia University and completed his pre-student teaching in Ann Arbor. These experiences made Huron’s open position extremely enticing.
“I saw the opening here and [it was] a different opportunity,” Trush said.
“I know the area pretty well and felt like this was a good opportunity for me to come and make a difference.”
For Trush, being an educator has always been about having the chance to positively impact students in his community. Whether this be through academics or athletics, his ultimate goal is always to maximize
college clubs to host training sessions about consent and healthy relationships.
“People are less aware of how to spot the signs of a potentially dangerous relationship,” Kamat said. “So for example, if someone’s partner is trying to be controlling of their location and their finances, or they’re getting mad and jealous that their partner is hanging out with their friends and stuff.”
However, Kamat believes another barrier is a pervasive cultural narrative of both subtle and overt shifts of blame onto survivors, and a tendency to excuse perpetrators based on their status. She feels that this relates to how society selectively sympathizes with certain survivors and questions the credibility of others.
“I always liked school growing up and admired my teachers,” Trush said. “Just wanting to give back the positive experience I had in education.”
Trush’s goals specifically focus on expanding the opportunities and possibilities for athletes in the school.
“I think this school has a lot of untapped potential,” Trush said. “I’d like to see our sports and extracurricular opportunities make sure that we’re offering them at the highest level and most opportunistic for all students.”
in a positive direction,” social studies teacher and football coach Patrick White said.
“
I think this school has a lot of untapped potential. I’d like to see our sports and extracurricular opportunities make sure that we’re offering them at the highest level and most opportunistic for all students.
Other members of Huron’s athletic department share Trush’s feelings of optimism surrounding the future of the athletic department and his work.
“I think that things are going to take a new turn
Lipton also attested to this.
“I’ve heard, specifically, some boys throw [Diddy’s] name out and laugh. And I’ve definitely hard checked them, like, ‘I’m sorry. What’s funny about this? I need you to know this is not a joke,” said Lipton.
“With somebody like Diddy or R. Kelly, or these people who are in super high ranking positions of power and in the entertainment industry, I think that’s where it can look very different for people, because this is not somebody they know. This is not in everybody’s eyes, a regular human, this is somebody whose music you’ve listened to for two decades, and so I think that that also comes into play
James Trush, Athletic Director
“Mr. Trush seems really well organized and really well thought out about making large-scale changes that will help all student-athletes at Huron High School.”
in terms of people’s reactions. It can lessen the seriousness of the charges and convictions because people’s view of that person is already elevated.”
Kamat also believes that the P. Diddy cases demonstrate the fact that meaningful changes in the legal system never seem to happen until rape and sexual assault are brought back into the light of popular culture.
“Why do we have to wait for it to be such an exacerbated thing, and why can’t we kind of try to help change things once we see the first signs of it?” Kamat said. From more funding and infrastructure support provided to different sexual
As of right now, the department is working towards recognizing the importance of athletes’ academic success in a stricter manner.
“People sometimes forget that we’re student-athletes first, not athlete-students,” White said. “The biggest thing that I see is making sure that our students understand the importance of taking care of their grades, first and foremost, to maintain those high academic standards. From what I can tell, that seems to be a big priority of Mr. Trush as well.”
Not only does Trush aspire to improve the environment for athletes, but he also hopes to shift the school’s culture as a whole, furthering the emphasis on athletics. With plans to create a new website for athletics, including the contributions of students through writing articles and
assault sectors in colleges and workplace, to increasing the number of social workers in positions of power to help politicians inform their work, Kamat believes that there are many things that society can do to make sexual assault and rape awareness a priority, leading to meaningful changes in the legal and justice system.
“Good reminders: it doesn’t matter what parts you have, what color you are, how old you are; this is a crime that can happen to anyone unfortunately,” said Lipton. “Nothing – what you wear, what you drank, what you smoked warrants it; nothing excuses it. Know that. This is a crime. This is not anything except that.”
If someone is struggling with the aftermaths of sexual
recording videos at games, the involvement of the entire Huron population in athletics is a priority to Trush.
“I definitely want people wearing the Huron colors, [being] proud to be in here, [and] the Huron fight song to be on,” Trush said. Despite being a very new member of the River Rat community, Huron has already made a strong impression on Trush. .
“I’ve never really seen a demographic like this, where you kind of have many cultures, many languages, many opportunities,” Trush said.
Trush also recognizes the outstandingly positive and respectful environment he has experienced thus far at Huron, and his excitement to learn more about the school’s history, culture, and people.
“I don’t know that I’ve encountered a community or a school quite like this,” Trush said. “Everyone’s been very welcoming. I think the opportunities are fantastic, just the amount of things that students are able to do and achieve.”
assault, Huron’s counselors are always available to provide support. Ann Arbor’s SafeHouse Center also provides free and confidential services to all survivors of sexual assault in Washtenaw County. The National Sexual Assault Hotline, available 24-hours, is 1-800-656-4673.
Aspects of Consent
Acronym from Planned Parenthood
Athletic director James Trush outside the Huron athletics center entrance at Huron. He joined the staff this past month. PHOTO BY THOMAS EWY
ASHLEY KIM MANAGING EDITOR
Cosmetology program offers hands-on learning and pathways to future careers
NAI SUTTON STAFF WRITER
Huron High School offers different CTE programs. The cosmetology program promotes career exploration, hands-on experience, and a state certification. With 1,500 hours of work spanned over two years, the curriculum gives students a unique set of technical and interpersonal skills that will help them thrive in the beauty industry.
The program’s head teacher, Elaine Sines, highlights the variety of talents that students acquire. “
“Students learn everything they need to know about hair, skin, and nails to pass the Michigan cosmetology exam for state license,” she explains. Although hair is the main focus of the program, students also receive instruction in facials, hair removal, manicures, pedicures, and artificial nails.
“I chose to enroll in cosmetology because I was interested in cosmetics and aesthetics, and I was interested in learning more about skincare and skin health,” senior Talia McCommons said.
Along with these practical abilities, flexibility is essential.
“Cosmetology is always evolving with trends and techniques,” Sines said. “We’re teaching students how to take these foundational skills and apply them to the everchanging beauty industry.”
One of the program’s best features is the direct path to certification. After completing the program successfully, students are eligible to sit for the state license exam and earn a cosmetology license.
Successful graduates can also receive up to 20 free credit hours at participating community colleges, such as WCC, under the articulation agreement, Sines said.
Because the program offers both professional license and potential college credits, it’s a terrific option for students to start their careers while still in high school.
Seeing students develop over time is one of the most fulfilling parts of the program.
“In the beginning, many students are reserved and lack confidence in their abilities,” she said. “By the end of the two years, after clocking 1,500 hours of practice, they are much more confident and prepared to enter the industry.”
The program’s second year gives students the skills and information they need to succeed by prioritizing state board test preparation. The hands-on experience and practical knowledge they gain with real clients help boost their confidence in the highstakes exam environment.
“I think it’s helped me to
Japanese Society Club dives into culture
MAKO IRIE STAFF WRITER
The Japanese Society Club offers students a unique opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of Japanese culture while fostering community and leadership skills. Meeting every Thursday during the 8th hour, the club is student-run, emphasizing a collaborative and engaging environment.
One of the standout activities from the past year was a celebration for Girls Day, where members crafted traditional dolls using materials like styrofoam and felt.
“That was pretty memorable,” Joshua Bihary who is a teacher of the Japanese society club.
The club’s focus extends beyond mere activities; it aims to educate members about various aspects of Japanese culture.
“They’re learning information about Japan, so they kind of get to learn about the culture,” Bihary said.
With plans to introduce a tea ceremony and explore Japanese holidays, the club continues to engage members in meaningful ways.
Despite being a relatively
Last year, students in the Japanese Culture Club made traditional dolls using material like styrofoam and felt.
YUANCHEN
new club, established just last February, the Japanese Society Club has already navigated challenges, including leadership transitions,” Bihary said.
For those interested in joining, Bihary said the club is open and welcoming.
“They should just come to one of our meetings if they’re interested,” he said.
The Japanese Society
Club builds a supportive community where members can learn and grow together, capturing the essence of the club’s mission to inspire curiosity and appreciation for cultural experiences.
“I hope that students who’ve been in this club would have a desire to actually go and visit Japan one day,” Bihary said.
study and learn more about anatomy and interacting with actual people, so you get that human interaction you wouldn’t get from just an anatomy class,” McCommons said.
However, the program is not for everyone.
“Students who are a good fit for the program are
HEALTHCARE | FROM PAGE ONE
is dealing with these extremely high healthcare prices.
“Teachers and principals are shouldering a disproportionate burden effectively subsidizing the health care plans of every other district,” Klein said.
“This is not just unfair, it is unsustainable. The school district must prioritize a change that offers relief to teachers. It’s simply unacceptable for our educators who dedicate their lives to nurturing the next generation to struggle under the weight of such high out-of-pocket expenses.”
Another issue that parents brought up in the Public Commentary was regarding the building of the new Thurston Elementary School and what it means for the Thurston Nature Center.
“With this historic Thurston Nature Center,
typically self-motivated and very driven,” Sines said. “If a student isn’t sure about a future in cosmetology, this level of commitment may not be the best fit for them” Students spend half of their school day at the Huron Valley
you have an opportunity to showcase your commitment to environmental education, outdoor classrooms, STEAM education, and, of course, environmental sustainability,” Thurston Nature Center Committee Chair Praveena Ramaswami wrote in her Public Commentary submission.
“Build a building that integrates these spaces safely for students and the nature around it. You have a gem, landmark and under-utilized opportunity in your district; this could be a feather in the district’s cap. Please think about the long-term implications of any of your decisions today.” The School Board meets every Wednesday evening. Meetings are held at the Earhart Road Building at 3700 Earhart Road.
Rashelle Hernandez-Callejas getting a task signed by teacher Ms. Stephanie Johnson PHOTO
BY NAI SUTTON
ZHAO
Trustees Ernesto Querijero and Rima Mohammad listen to public commentary at board meetings. SATVIKA RAMANATHAN
Comfort and creativity: Olivia Liao’s passion for crocheting
AMELIA BAI COPY EDITOR
During the pandemic, everyone seemed to start a new and strangely specific hobby. It contrasted a large range; whether it was growing a living sourdough starter in a mason jar or spending hours creating the perfect Animal Crossing Island, this new gain of a hobby offered something we all desperately needed: an escape. For junior Olivia Liao, it was crochet.
In a time of chaos and confusion, Liao found something in crochet that she seemed to be missing — fun, comfort and something to keep her busy while the days seemed to melt and mush into each other.
Like many, she paused for a while before picking it up again less than a year later in 2021, to crochet a piece to wear for Sabrina Carpenter’s “emails i can’t send” tour. Having a reason to continue with crocheting motivated Liao to
continue, and eventually turned into a passion she continues to pursue to this day.
To Liao, crocheting is a way to relax after a long day. It’s a repetitive hobby, one that requires just the right amount of focus that allows for multitasking.
“It’s such a relaxing hobby,” Liao said. “I can crochet whenever and wherever, and it helps to calms me down.”
A piece Liao has crocheted is a pink halter top with a flower patterned peplum bottom, which she gave to her friend for her sixteenth birthday.
“It is honestly the coolest piece of clothing I own,” said junior Jessica Wu, who was gifted the top. “It’s such a statement piece and because it is custom, Olivia was able to personalize it with qualities that I like it in it too, like the peplum bottom and flower pattern.” Though she mainly crochets clothes, Liao’s favorite
finished I felt so accomplished. I think it turned out well, and my mom also liked it a lot.”
Crochet hasn’t just provided Liao enjoyment and a sense of achievement — it’s also taught her patience and how to stick to something no matter what happens.
“I’m the type of person where once I get bored of something I just move on,” Liao said. “But with crochet, it’s different. I’ve been consistent with it, and I’ve learned and gotten better at it over the years.”
As of now, Liao will be focused on her Etsy shop, where she will sell her handmade designs and pieces. You can find her on Etsy and Tiktok with the username @crochiique.
When in need, students say they can find support from adults in the building
JAE’LA RELEFORD STAFF WRITER
Everyone needs an outlet, someone to confide in, someone to express themself and their thoughts with, just someone who will be there to listen. When going through difficult times, some have no outlet or find it hard to communicate their feelings with one another. Many people have best friends, cousins, counselors or therapists to help them get through difficult times in life or times of vulnerability. But for students at HHS, their outlet is Joshua Williams, better known as Coach Jay. Throughout high school years, teens often go in and out of friendships, whether it’s due to conflict or simply growing apart. Hall monitors like Willliams, roam around the halls directing students physically, to and from class, and emotionally, giving advice and helping students move forward in times of difficulty or hardships. Some may argue
that it is unprofessional to talk about at home issues with staff or someone who isn’t a professional, but students disagree. While speaking with Williams, junior Tamsin Aherne, feels a sense of comfort, and security, he is a support system.
“I just feel very supported and heard,” Aherne said. “Of course I love my counselor, I love Mr. Samaha and all the other hall monitors, but my main one is Coach Jay, just because he understands me and he is a good listener.”
“Opening up to others, particularly from a young age, can be challenging due to various factors such as fear of judgment, past negative experiences, lack of trust, and social anxiety,” said BetterHelp .
For example, with counseling or therapy, the information shared is confidential and within the first day meeting, you take things slow, gaining a sense of reliability with one another. It is important
to form a relationship and sense of trust to be able to confide and open up with your person. For Williams, he connects through his past life experiences and uses those experiences to give advice.
“My experience growing up where I did makes me relate to students in some ways,” Williams said.
“Obviously, I’m older, but it makes me want to be around more and be available to help them through situations I’ve personally dealt with. He believes that getting to know the students is extremely important.
“They trust themselves with trusting you, and being around you more and more and more to see if you’re going to change,” Williams said.
“That’s important to them. And I think I’m just who I am. This is what you get. So I think that helps them.”
Some may ask, how do you give honest advice and feedback without it being considered rude? Well, sometimes students and
teens and even adults, need to receive information and advice that might hurt their feelings. Sometimes it can be hard to address certain topics with others, maybe it’s a hard or sensitive topic, or maybe it’s just who you’re talking to.
Some ask, how do I begin to ask my child what’s wrong? For example, when talking about a sensitive subject, your closest friends and even family might tell you honest and not sugar coat information on behalf of your well being, even if it
might hurt your feelings a bit.
“I’m honest. I’m not preaching to them all the time, but I’m telling them what they maybe don’t want to hear, but in a way that is relatable.” said Williams So, don’t be shy to ask for help or advice with staff. They might know more than you think. And parents, when addressing any issues or sensitive topics with your child, be mindful, try to relate and share your own experiences!
A pair of gloves and a bear coaster displayed, crocheted by Liao. PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA LIAO
Williams walks through the halls of Huron looking to support Huron students. PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNNY KERNAHAN
Junior Jessica Wu wearing a custom pink top, featuring a halter neckline, a peplum bottom and a crocheted flower pattern crocheted and gifted by Liao. PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA LIAO
Graphic by Amelia Bai
A wallet crocheted by Liao. PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA LIAO
Facing the music: Rodriguez’s fight for band
ISHAAN KAMAT WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Evaristo Rodriguez walks into band rehearsal each day with a clear passion for music education. The process of teaching, the joy of watching students find their rhythm, and the community within the band have long driven his work. But this year, budget cuts are putting a strain on his program.
“It’s different for you guys,” he tells his students, his usual warmth now carrying a note of frustration. “I come in, and there’s no time to talk. It changes everything.”
For Rodriguez, those moments before rehearsal— the casual conversations and check-ins—have always played an important role. These interactions help him build relationships with his students, turning the band into more than just an ensemble. It becomes a space where connections are made, and the music grows from those relationships. This year, however, the rush to get everything done has cut into that time.
As he looks around the room, Rodriguez notices a sense of unfamiliarity. He knows his older students, but many of the newer ones,
“My favorite memory working with Mr. Rodriguez was playing “Pines of the Appian Way” on English horn at Band Camp this year, where I got a large solo in the piece. As the conductor, he helped me do so much with my solo, and he directed the band to sound very good, to the point where it was evident in the
MARTY BAILEY Huron Bands
especially the freshmen, remain strangers to him.
“We’re almost a quarter of the way through the year, and I don’t know any of them,” he says, sounding disappointed. Usually, by this time, he’d have a good understanding of their personalities, motivations, and potential. But the budget cuts have reduced the time available for personal interactions, which has affected his ability to connect with the students.
In addition to these challenges, Rodriguez is also facing a reduction in his planning time.
“Last year, I had about 90 minutes a day to plan. This year, if I get 20 minutes at a computer, that’s a win,” he says. His schedule now requires him to travel between different schools, teaching multiple classes at each location.
“I’m often racing against the clock, juggling rehearsals and planning across three campuses,” he explains, making it difficult to find time to plan lessons or collaborate with other teachers.
Rodriguez stresses that connecting with his fellow educators and students is critical. However, with the limited time, he feels as though he’s constantly trying to catch up. The changes have forced him to cut back on oneon-one time with students who may need extra help.
Freshman Carter Song shares his perspective on the situation.
“This is my first year in the band program, and my experience with Mr. Rodriguez has been really positive so far. When I heard about the budget cuts, I was shocked.
I was worried about how it would impact us,” Song says.
“Honestly, I haven’t noticed many changes yet, but I can tell that our rehearsals have been affected. Mr. Rodriguez still manages to support us well.
Even though he holds us to high standards, he motivates us to strive for our best.”
Song also reflects on a memorable experience.
“One of my favorite moments was at Interlochen when our cabin performed a skit that highlighted some of his favorite sayings. His energy and passion during rehearsals really keep us engaged.”
Rodriguez also highlights a significant challenge in how music teachers are funded compared to other subjects.
“If a classroom teacher has a full room, they can advocate for more resources. But we can have 100 kids in a band room, and it doesn’t change how much we cost the district,” he explains. This, he says, results in fewer resources for music programs, making it harder to provide support to students who need additional guidance.
Despite these challenges, Rodriguez remains dedicated to his students and his program. He believes that a strong music program benefits not only the students but also the wider community. “If our program is strong, it makes scheduling easier and draws people to Ann Arbor Public Schools,” he says, highlighting how music can foster school pride and unity.
Rodriguez’s commitment to music education is rooted in his own high school experience. His band director left a lasting impression on him, inspiring him to create similar experiences for his students. Reflecting on his time as a student, he recalls how music brought people together and created connections that extended beyond the classroom. This is the environment he aims to cultivate for his students today—a space where students from different backgrounds come together through a shared interest in music.
As the school year
progresses, Rodriguez finds himself increasingly concerned about the future of music education in his district. He points to other schools with robust music programs and suggests that
not only as musicians but also as individuals. Even with the budget cuts, Rodriguez is determined to continue supporting his students and his program. He notes that while some
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Maya Fu 314166@aaps.k12.mi.us
Satvika Ramanathan 405293@ aaps.k12.mi.us
Ashley Kim 316519@aaps.k12.mi.us
Anjali Nadarajah 424587@aaps. k12.mi.us
Hu, Ishaan Kamat, Kasia Phan
What are you listening to?
The Misfits
JP PHELPS STAFF WRITER
“Soak City” by 310babbi Junior Kaia Knewman
“Mars” by Raq Baby Sophomore Jayden Cook
“We Made It” by Jaechino Freshman Jayden Homes
“Feelings” by Kili
Junior Christian Smith
“I Gotta Find Peace of Mind” by Lauryn Hill Junior Amiyak Kirk
“Silver String” by Fleetwood Mac Sophomore Lauren Sabel
“Make Me Proud” by Drake and Nicki Minaj Freshman Valentina Cruz
“21 Guns” by Green Day Sophomore Johan Kim
“Oceans” by JAY-Z
Junior Marvin Fox
“Yacht Party” by NoCap Juior Kimora Smith
NYZIER BROWN & KAIMI LARKIN STAFF WRITERS
Fall fashion: outfits inspired by movies and t.v. shows
SATVIKA RAMANATHAN, AMELIA BAI, ISHA SAVI & GRACE HENLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, COPY EDITORS, A&E EDITOR
Dead Poet’s Society is a deeply heartfelt movie that covers the impact of one teacher on the lives of his students in an all-boys private school in the 90s.
This outfit is directly inspired by the uniforms of Dead Poet’s Society, and incorporates the navy, gray and red tones of their outfits, as well as the slacks and navy v-neck sweater.
Dead Poet’s Society (1989) Gilmore Girls (2000)
Practical Magic is a story of two sisters who begin to learn magic together after one the sisters’ boyfriend passes away.
These outfits come in a pair similar to the main characters of Practical Magic. Slightly eclectic with whimisigoth inspiration, these two are perfect for early fall.
Gilmore Girls is the perfect slice-of-life show that follows a mother-daughter duo and the chaos of their lives.
Warm, fall tones are a staple of the Stars Hollow aesthetic. This outfit is cozy and simple with a little bit of charm–everything that Gilmore Girls encapsulates.
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” follows a fox giving into his animalistic instincts to raid the homes of his human neighbors and the events that transpire after.
The film comes from the vibrant mind of Wes Anderson. He uses cozy knits and warm tones in this movie, which can be seen in this outfit!
Graphic by Amelia Bai
Graphic by Amelia Bai
Graphic by Amelia Bai
Graphic by Amelia Bai
AAPS school board candidates
MAYA FU & SATVIKA RAMANATHAN EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
An AAPS parent since 2017 and active member of Forsythe’s and Haisley’s PTSOs, where she serves as Enrichment Chair and PTO Council Representative, Megan Kanous decided she wanted to run for school board after a friend suggested it.
“I spend a lot of time in schools, and I have a really good sense of what the challenges and opportunities for our students, families and teachers are,” she said.
Kanous had watched and participated in public commentary in board meetings before, but she knew that there was a lot
Ernesto Querijero, the only incumbent running in the school board elections, believes that that puts him at an advantage.
“Experience accounts for something,” Querijero said. “I happen to be a teacher. I’ve worked in K-12, so I already had huge background knowledge about how contracts work, how teacher unions work. I’m the only active teacher running, so there’s a lot of stuff I know from my experience.”
Last year, while the school board was planning how to go about the $25 million dollar budget cut for this school
of work behind the scenes.
“I wanted to understand the full scope of what it was,” she said. “Once I had a handle on it, I decided to put my hat in the ring.”
As Kanous remained involved, it was difficult for her to watch last year’s budget oversight and the way it was communicated to teachers and parents.
Kanous will also focus on retaining and attracting the best teachers.
“If we have consistency for students – especially at the high school level –it becomes a community that’s going to make [students] feel safe and confident,” Kanous said.
A graduate of Ann Arbor Public Schools, Eric Sturgis went on to receive a Bachelors in History and a minor in Political Science and Masters in Sports Medicine from EMU. Along with working as a substitute teacher in this district, Sturgis has also been a tennis coach at Huron, Skyline, and various colleges.
“I hear a lot from students and teachers through coaching,” Sturgis said. “When I’m on the tennis court and I’m hearing what the students are talking about, they’re not sugar coating it. They’re telling me exactly what is happening.”
Sturgis believes that several cuts due to the budget deficit were misjudgements.
“One of the things that was cut was the foreign language program in the elementary school, and I think that was a big mistake. I also think it was a big mistake cutting some of the music teachers.”
In addition to this, Sturgis hopes to prioritize ensuring equitable treatment... for students that live in underprivileged neighborhoods and attend Title I schools, and will support initiatives that reduce achievement gaps.
year, Querijero was the only trustee to vote against the plan to cut 141 staff positions.
“And lo and behold, here we are in [the new school year], and we’ve hired back all but three teachers,” Querijero said. “To characterize it so quickly as a crisis put a lot more tension in the community than was required and than was needed. I don’t see how you can call it a crisis when just before the school year starts, you hired everybody except the three employees, and you have more than like, seven or eight jobs open.”
Longtime AAPS parent Leslie Wilkins has served the PTO at Carpenter Elementary and Scarlett Middle School, and was the vice president of the latter for many years.
“I really liked that work, advocating for teachers and students that need something extra,” she said. “The school district is really fantastic for a lot of kids, but there are some kids that aren’t being well served by the school district, and I want to make sure that those kids and those families are being heard from.”
Wilkins wants
to make sure that AAPS policies are continuing to be edited and improved upon.
“I was just at a candidate forum for the Jewish Federation of Ann Arbor, and the board president Torchio Feaster talked about our anti-bullying policy and how the language of it needs to be changed to be more inclusive for people like our Jewish students and Islamic students,” she said. “It’s not that the policy isn’t there, it’s just that it’s old and kind of outdated. We need to make sure that we’re updating it.” [...]
LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH CANDIDATE AND ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION MILLAGE PROPOSAL HERE
Former journalist and elementary school teacher Glynda Wilks was drawn to running for school board because of three reasons: fiscal responsibility, civility and high quality education.
“I just really want to make sure that children who come after my children still have a viable school district,” she said.
Wilks worked as a journalist for the Detroit Free Press as a copy editor, and she believes that that
background will help her if she is elected to the school board.
“As a journalist, I want to ask the tough questions, to really dig deep and to really examine issues,” Wilks said. Wilks has considered running for school board multiple times over the past 15 years. She spoke previously to the board as president of a district-wide Black parents student support group as a “concerned parent.”
A proud Native American, Don Wilkerson is also a father of four, all of whom have been, or will be enrolled in Ann Arbor Public Schools. In addition to being involved in coaching Rec and Ed sports, Science Olympiad, and DECA, Wilkerson was the Treasurer and Vice President of the PTO Council, which oversees parent teacher organizations across the district. He also sat on the board of a nonprofit for special education
advocacy in Ann Arbor, along with having run several millage campaigns – campaigns focused on asking voters to increase their property taxes to fund schools – as well. Wilkerson ran for Board of Education in 2016 and was unsuccessful, but the events of the last several years are what re-engaged Wilkerson in local politics.
“It’s some of the lack of trust that I think our community has across the district.”
GRAPHICS BY ANNA LEE
Ernesto Querijero
Glynda Wilks
Megan Kanous
Don Wilkerson
Leslie Wilkins
Eric Sturgis
Kamala Harris holds rally in Ann Arbor the week before the election
SATVIKA RAMANATHAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
1. On Monday, Oct. 28, Presidential candidate Kamala Harris held a rally in Ann Arbor at Burns Park with her running mate, Tim Walz.
2. A girl at the rally holds her pink Kamala Harris hat and runs towards her family.
3. The rally was also a Maggie Rogers concert, where the singer talked about the importance of voting.
4. A young girl holds up a vote sign during Maggie Rogers’ performance. The park was brimming with excited energy. “I am most excited about the crowd tonight,” attendee Laurie Lachance said.
5. Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks at the rally. “Kamala Harris has [always] had one client,” he said. “The people.”
6. Harris walks out onto the stage to cheers and applause from the crowd.
7. The set-up included a large Ann Arbor sign displayed behind the crowd.
8. Harris spoke at the rally, addressing many issues that people are going to be thinking about when they vote on Tuesday, including women’s reproductive health, Gaza and her economic policies.
“When we fight...” she said to the crowd.
“We win!” they shouted back.
PHOTOS BY SATVIKA RAMANATHAN
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
MAYA FU, SATVIKA
RAMANATHAN AND JULYA MAE JONES
PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
National election: How policies affect students
Most high school students can’t vote yet, but elections are still relevant and important to them. As the next generation, decisions that will impact our communities will soon be
Harris’s policies
· Says she wants to relieve student debt, hasn’t made any official steps towards it, however.
· Helped announce the Biden administration’s forgiveness of all loans borrowed by students at Corinthian Colleges.
· Says schools shouldn’t ban teaching about sexuality/gender/ racism.
· Biden-Harris administration issued rules prohibiting schools from discriminating against students based on gender identity.
· She attended public schools which many people say gives her a better view of what middleclass families in America are wanting for their childrens’ education.
· Accomplishments as VP
ours to make. It is important for us to begin to consider our political views and opinions and how we think the country and world should be running.
But even before we have
include: helping deliver the largest investment in public education in American history provided $170 billion in student debt relief for almost five million borrowers investments in HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and other minorityserving institutions, helping more students afford college by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $900.
the ability to vote, it is crucial to educate ourselves about how the world is currently run and contribute to the conversations being had all around the world. Just
Trump’s policies
Project 2025:
Proposed presidential transition project. Trump has distanced himself from this, but Democrats tie the project to him, warning that many of its policies are to be expected if he is elected.
· Would provide funds with no designation on how it should be spent (block grants); “any lawful education purpose under state law”. Right now, schools receive federal grants for specific purposes (aiding low income or disabled students) under Title
1. States implement these programs and hire people to ensure they comply with these federal requirements.
because we’re not making the decisions, that doesn’t mean the decisions don’t impact us. Here are some Harris and Trump policies that are relevant to high schoolers.
Campaign promise to eliminate Department of Education, which currently provides 11% school funding:
· Would require an act of Congress.
· Trump believes that schools within states would perform better without federal intervention. (Right now, performing poorly despite money being spent)
School privatization: shifting education services from public to private management/control.
· Expansion of school choice.
The Huron Emery strives to report on events in the community; Harris is the only candidate that visted Ann Arbor.
Intermezzo: a study of interspersonal relationships
KIKI CHOI SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
At just 33 years old, Irish author Sally Rooney has achieved international success, with her 2018 novel Normal People selling more than one million copies in the UK alone and receiving a 2020 television adaptation. But with great success also comes controversy, and Rooney has more than most.
While the author has hundreds of thousands of diehard fans, Rooney is also a name that is frequently bashed in online literary communities such as Goodreads, the popular book reviewing site, and BookTok, the niche of the social media app TikTok where book lovers gather to review books, share recommendations, and more.
There are several popular dissensions regarding Rooney that seem to be most people’s issues with her writing. Firstly, Rooney is iconically known for her complete refusal to employ quotation marks. That’s not to say her books have no dialogue — rather, the dialogue is written just as any other book, but it lacks quotation marks to notate that it is, in fact, dialogue. Readers frequently express frustration with this stylistic choice, calling it annoying, pretentious, stupid, and more. However, as Rooney’s books are all ultimately character studies, rather than being plot-focused, the author’s fans argue that the choice aids in representing the prevalent miscommunication between characters. Personally, I enjoy the lack of quotation marks, as it makes for a more seamless and integrated reading experience, also feeling more like I am more pulled into the story and the characters’ thoughts, rather
than just reading dialogue on paper.
Other prevailing complaints about Rooney include her often pretentious writing, and many also feel as though her writing feels too “white,” added to by the lack of characters of color in her novels.
However, I have never faced such issues when reading Rooney’s works. Although I acknowledge her often pretentious writing style and lack of diversity, I do not see them as defining problems that overshadow the things I love about her books—namely her ability to inspect human relationships at microscopic levels and build characters so comprehensively, without explicitly stating much, that the reader can understand and empathize with the characters’ behaviors and decisions despite them often being essentially dislikeable.
Rooney’s newest novel Intermezzo, published Sep. 24, 2024, continues her exploration of the human condition through the characters’ daily lives and interactions. The novel follows two brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek, who have, at the debut of the novel, just lost their father to a years-long battle with cancer. Peter, 32, is a successful lawyer juggling convoluted relationships with two different women, one a 23-year-old homeless college student, the other a 32-year-old professor dealing with chronic pain from a past accident. Ivan, 22, is a washed-up competitive chess player who begins a relationship with a 36-yearold woman he meets at an exhibition match.
Grief for their father pervades the brothers, each in different ways but
causing both to question and reflect on their pasts, futures, and what gives value to their lives. Due to their completely separate lives and mutual complicated dislike, the brothers mourn alone, unable to confide in and be vulnerable with one another for most of the book.
The novel is told from three points of view — Peter, Ivan, and Maragaret, the 36-year-old divorcée Ivan strikes up a relationship with. Rooney manages to seamlessly transition between perspectives while still
giving each character their own distinct voice. Peter’s chapters are written in a choppy train of thought style, involving short, staccato, often incoherent sentences that mix with the lack of quotation marks to make Peter’s narration feel very stream of consciousness, as if we are surrounded by his inner monologue. In contrast, Ivan’s perspective reveals his thoughtful and logical nature to the audience, but also his anxious, rambling nature. In the midst of Ivan’s chapters, Margaret’s
perspectives add a calm and assured undercurrent to play off of Ivan’s anxiety and selfconsciousness. At the same time, the reader recognizes Margaret’s own uncertainty, guilt, and inner conflict, which Ivan is completely blind to due to the pedestal he puts her on.
An intermezzo, from which the novel is named, is a short, connecting instrumental movement inserted between the acts of a play or movements of a larger musical work. While reading the book, I felt that it was very aptly named — the story seems to follow the characters during a suspended time in their lives, a time between life’s bigger, more important events, simply a time of existence leading up to the main points. However, the book also explores this very idea — is life valuable because of the big, important moments? The events that act as timestamps in our lives?
The novel dipped into a discussion of the very meaning of our existences, especially through Margaret’s perspective, wherein she frequently ruminated on the purpose of her life, and the fact that life seems to be more a mere amalgamation of random, everyday occurrences. “What if life is just a collection of essentially unrelated experiences?” Rooney writes, through Margaret. “Why does one thing have to follow meaningfully from another?” And also — “Margaret feels that she can perceive the miraculous beauty of life itself, lived only once and then gone
Same plots, different season: Is Outer Banks Season 4 too repetitive?
JULYA MAE JONES SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Outer Banks first came out in 2020 during quarantine. This show gained huge popularity amongst teenagers. When I went on TikTok, I would constantly see people recreate scenes from the show or the outfits the characters would wear.
The first season starts off with a group of teenagers, “The Pogues,” trying to find the gold that John B.’s dad got lost at sea trying to find. John B grew up with it just being him and his dad after his mom left when he was young. Months before the series takes place Johns B’s dad, referred to as “Big John” , goes missing at sea when trying to find gold. When they find
themselves getting involved in not the best people it leads them to going on a mission to find the gold his dad was trying to find. During the lockdown, it seemed like a dream; this group of friends were out free in the summer, having fun. The first season ended on a cliffhanger, so when the second season came around, it continued with them finding the lost gold. When it came to the third season though, their new mission was to find the gold cross, which was hectic and involved them going to another country and including more people in a group. Each season revolves around them going on some kind of thrilling adventure that gets somewhat repetitive. They’re thrown into a treasure hunt
each season, but for what reason? They are running out of ideas for the plot and sending the teenagers on a wild goose chase. Why not dive into the characters’ pasts? Why not figure out why the characters are the way they are? There is almost no depth to many of the characters. I think that this has caused me to lose a bit of interest because the plot seems to be the same for the most part. I still plan on watching the second part of season four but I hope to see more flashbacks about the characters’ past so we are able to understand them.
Outer Banks Season 4 came out on October 10 and is available on Netflix.
Intermezzo was released on Sept. 24. COVER DESIGN BY JUNE PARK AND RODRIGO CORRAL.
Diddy, freak-offs and baby oil: Is rape funny now?
PHUONG-ANH DO STAFF WRITER
Sean Combs, Puff Daddy–and maybe more commonly known as P. Diddy–has been the topic on everybody’s tongue for the past couple of weeks. As more and more information about his crimes has come out, most people have taken it upon themselves to make light of the “freak-offs” or copious amounts of baby oil purchased by Combs, though, I can’t help but feel discomfort at the tasteless jokes and lack of empathy on display. On
girlfriend Cassie Ventura, known by her stage name Cassie, filed a lawsuit against him accusing him of rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse. The lawsuit was dismissed the next day after the two reached an undisclosed agreement. On May 17 of this year, CNN released surveillance footage of an incident described in Cassie’s lawsuit, showing Combs physically assaulting Cassie in a hotel on March 5, 2016. Since Cassie’s lawsuit, more women have accused Combs of sexual assault, one woman accusing him of drugging and a gang rape of
Producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones sued Combs alleging that he was forced to engage with sex workers he had hired as well as was “subjected to unwanted advances by associates of Combs at his direction.” Lil Rod also says in his lawsuit that Combs regularly hosted “sex-trafficking parties” with underage women and illegal drugs. Combs’s attorney responded to this lawsuit in the Los Angeles Times saying that they included “reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction.” On May 24, plaintiff April Lampros filed a lawsuit against Combs accusing him of sexual assault taking place over four “terrifying sexual encounters” between 1995 and 2001. Lampros says that there were three cases of rape and one instance where she was forced to take ecstasy.
On Sept. 16, Combs was arrested after being indicted by a grand jury. A federal court in Manhattan revealed the charges against Combs, which include racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. It was alleged that he “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.” On Sept. 24, Thalia Graves filed a lawsuit against Combs, saying he and his bodyguard gave her a glass of wine that made her feel “lightheaded, dizzy and physically weak,” prompting her to fall unconscious where she was then raped by the two men while her hands were tied behind her back. Even more women have accused
Combs of sexual assault, one woman even alleging that she became pregnant after he had drugged and raped her. This is not even close to the full scope of the heinous crimes Combs has committed; in fact, more than 100 people have come forward accusing him of sexual abuse—not to mention the people who haven’t said anything yet. These people are still alive today living with the trauma Combs has inflicted upon them, which is why I just can’t seem to find anything funny about any of the jokes people are making. Forgive me for being sensitive, but I cannot bring myself to laugh about anything even tangentially related to rape. The subject of rape is particularly taboo among teenagers–the word itself is enough to make people squirm–which is why I’m confused seeing the same people who go silent at the mere mention of the word “rape” make the loudest jokes. I have yet to smile at any attempt of humor being made, mostly because more than anything people just want to be shocking. I do not believe that people making these jokes support Combs or the things he’s done, but I think that there’s something to be said about the lack of empathy people possess towards issues that they don’t think affect them.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), one in five women have experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime in the United States. From even before they can fully comprehend what “rape” is, girls are told to dress and
Staff Editorial The importance of local elections
Did you know the local elections were happening? Do you know who is running? With the chaos of the national elections looming just a few weeks away, the attention of our community, like all those across the country, has been drawn to that of the debate between Harris and Trump. Yet, while the national debate is at the top of headlines, our local elections are just as important. Here at the Huron Emery, when researching, interviewing, and getting information about the local board elections, we discovered that few people were paying attention. Despite the direct impact this election can bring to children across the community, many parents don’t vote, or others don’t
even know who is running.
As a publication with the goal to spread awareness and shine light on issues that may not be broadly seen, we find this quite troubling. Local elections are so important. They determine the future for the education of our children, where tax dollars are spent, what the classroom setting is like, and so much more. They have a direct impact on a student’s education as the elected board will help to decide and shape the policies and funding for the schools. Here at Huron Emery, we believe that as a member of the community, it is our responsibility to make sure others stay informed. We encourage all of you, to learn more about the candidates running in this election, particularly
those who have the potential to shape the education system we hold so dear to us. Every candidate has their own unique policies and perspective on various situations, and it is important for us to recognize and learn about where they stand on matters that directly affect our schools and communities.
Here are some helpful resources and places to learn more about the various candidates:
The Huron Emery
MLive
The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor Observer
Most importantly, we encourage everyone to vote. Every vote helps to make sure more are represented as we move our community into the direction we want it to go. Every
act a certain way to avoid being in situations where they could be assaulted. This isn’t to say that men can’t be victims of rape, but looking at the numbers an estimated 91% of victims of rape & sexual assault are female and 9% male, with almost 99% of perpetrators being male (NSVRC). Because of this, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that every person I’ve seen make jokes about Combs are all male.
I know people will think I’m being sensitive, that “boys will be boys”, but I think it’s important to highlight how these jokes are part of the larger problem as a whole. The same culture that has people comfortable with making jokes about rape is also the culture that allows so many rapists to roam free without any consequences. It’s not just rapists who contribute to rape culture, it’s the friends of rapists who ignore what’s going on, it’s the people in power who protect rapists and yes–to a lesser degree–it’s also the people making jokes about rape. Making jokes, no matter how harmless one may think they are, just further push the idea that rape isn’t a serious issue and diminishes the harm caused by rape.
If making jokes about Combs is what brings a person unfounded joy, who am I to tell them to stop? But I implore everybody to be a little more conscious about the things they say. In a time where the world seems to be lacking a lot of compassion, I don’t think it would hurt for people to extend their empathy beyond what affects them directly.
vote counts. This is our community, and our voice matters together.
GRAPHIC BY ANJALI NADARAJAH
GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE
“
I celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by immersing myself in my culture. I called my abuelita and learned family recipes” - Julia Brinker
“
I celebrated Mexico independence day with my friends. We ate pozole and drank ua coca mexicana”
- Jose Salvador Ronquillo
“ I celebrated by spend ing time with my family and being appreciative of my upbring with my grandma and viewing her as a role model.”
- Navaeh Peña
Santana Jones: a costly injury for the football team
RYAN CERDAS STAFF WRITER
Santana Jones is the starting running back as well as one of the team captains on the Huron High School varsity football team. Jones recently suffered an injury leading the team to a difficult situation. Jones got injured during a run play against an opposing football team.
“Somebody’s helmet hit my knee,” Jones said. “I felt a sharp pain so I walked to the sideline and I had to sit out for the rest of the game.”
Players on the football team express concern for the season. In particular, fellow teammate and team captain Diego Romero expresses exactly how Jones’s
injury affected the team.
”The offense clearly misses him,” Romero said.
“During games, he would break the extra tackle, get the extra yard, it took away a piece of our game.”
Jones expresses how his injury affected his performance as well as statistics that are beneficial to pursuing his career in football, Jones got injured during the fourth week of the river rat season, spending a week on crutches and was projected to return by the seventh week.
“It sucked because I had to miss three weeks, two of the games were big games,” Jones said.
Prior to the “bad bone” injury Jones suffered, Jones’s stats offered a promising season with 321
rushing yards, 179 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Although the football team appears to be in a tough spot without Santana, Romero sparks hope for the river rat community, ensuring triumph in the near future.
“The team will improve when Santana returns,” Romero said. “We’ll have more depth in the running back position.”
In the midst of this injury, Jones expresses his compassion for football isn’t coming to an end anytime soon.
“I just got to get better, start working harder since I only have two more games left” Jones said. “I just have to try to just do the best I can to get my stats up.”
Tennis, golf, field hockey and soccer have historic seasons for their programs
Tennis Golf
The Huron Men’s tennis team has so much to offer for aspiring tennis players. Whether they’ve been playing since they were six, they just started playing a few months ago, or if they’re just starting, the tennis team has opportunities for everyone. Senior Warren Gunnar, who is a captain and the number one singles player, has been on the team for 4 years now.
“I think everybody really likes each other on the team. We work well together. We have a lot of fun when we play. We work hard when we’re around each other, and we push each other to get better,” said Gunnar. The team has made a lot of progress this season, going so far as to even winning regionals. They placed sixth place overall and tenth place across all four divisions.
“I think the team’s progress has been good. Everybody’s getting better. Everybody’s been working hard to get better, and they want to get better too.” Gunnar said.
Now, the team is really focusing and honing their skills to perform exceptionally well at the state championships.
“I think we’re getting to the point of where we want to be. We still have some work to do,” said Gunnar.
The Huron Women’s Golf team earned a spot this year in the state tournament which was an exciting experience for the players as this was the first state tournament that everyone on the team had experienced. The team felt that it was going to be a good learning experience for the future.
“Through the experience, I gained a lot of new knowledge about myself, my game, and what causes me to play better or worse,” Sophomore varsity player, Ellise Baidel said.
“We had hour frost delays both days which caused a lot of stress for me about timing and being able to warm up. This setback seriously affected my mental state the first day because I was extremely unprepared. This caused me to really reflect on how my stress has an impact on my game.”
Baidel, though young, has already emerged as one of the stars on this the roster her sophomore season. Despite this setback on the first day, she was able to gain some encouragement and have a successful second day.
“If I had the chance, I would try to just slow down and enjoy the experience instead of getting so intense and stressed about playing well,” Baidel said.
Field hockey Soccer
The women’s field hockey season came to an unfortunate end after a 4-0 defeat to Pioneer in the state’s semi-finals. Although the team’s season ended in a disappointing fassion, the River Rats have come a long way and face a lot of advesiryt from the beginning of the season. No one saw them as state semi-finalists.
“I thought our season went good. We made it to the semifinals, which for us, it’s good. We haven’t been there in a while. I thought it was really fun. We pulled a lot of people up from JV this year, so it was definitely a growing year.” Junior captain Katherine Huntzicker said.
Huntzicker was a captain this year and will be a captain once again next year for her last year. She thinks the team can do go far and even do better than this year.
“I am so excited. Yeah, senior year I have really high hopes for next year. I’ll be a captain again next year so I’m excited too.” Huntzicker said.
The run the field hockey team had this year will be very hard for them to beat next year, but they can defienetely do it. A lot of the team is young and the JV team shows promising talent.
On Oct. 17, 2024, the Huron High School varsity boys soccer team attended the district finals at Saline High School. Forward player Antonio Cassone, a senior at Huron, helped lead the team in the conference.
“We are unlucky not to win,” he said. “But we finished second in the conference, and second in districts. I think we learned a lot from the players returning next year.”
In this game, he played as an attacking-mid and striker on the team, his favorite part of the day being when they beat their rival teams at fair play. They lost 3-0 to Saline.
After playing at plenty of games stretching all the way to schools like Rochester Adams High School, Fordson High School, and Okemos High School, the River Rats were ready to take on their hornet rivals. If there was a chance for a do-over however, Cassone would do some things differently.
“I would have tried to maximize the experience, because when it’s done, you can’t get it back,” Cassone said. “As for advice for future players, it’s just to focus on what you can control, and not the coaches or the referees.”
Jones doing his dynamic warm up to get ready for normal game day drills during the warm ups for the game against Pioneer. PHOTO BY RYAN BEZAS
ESHA JADHAV STAFF WRITER
ROWAN GRENIER SPORTS EDITOR
JULES HESKIA GRAPHIC EDITOR
Senior Warren Gunnar swinging at the ball to return it at a meet at Huron High School in a double-dual meet. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON
Sophomore Ellise Baidel seconds before making her putt at states. Baidel finished 57th place. PHOTO COURTESY OF WOMEN’S GOLF TEAM
Senior captain Clara Freeth in the action of passing the ball to one of her teammates. PHOTO BY JULES HESKIA
Junior Philip Leucht holds the center of the field during the play between Huron and Saline. PHOTO BY RYAN BEZAS
ANJALI NADARAJAH CHIEF CONTENT EDITOR
Bridging the gap: The role of athletic trainers in high school vs. college sports
ROWAN GRENIER SPORTS EDITOR
High school is a time to be social with your friends, to be an athlete in many sports, and to prepare yourself for the next steps in your life. The jump from high school to college is a difficult process for everyone as you start to build up responsibilities and start your independent life. From the athletics aspect, there is also a very big difference between being an athlete in high school and college. It is common in high school to see people that compete in two or even three sports, but it is very uncommon to see people playing multiple sports at the collegiate level. The competition, intensity, and importance all increases for college athletes as they start competing at the next level of play. Due to the high competitive nature of collegiate sports, there is a busy and difficult schedule put in place. Burnout is a real thing in sports and we see this on many levels of competition. Many student athletes in high school sports can become very fatigued as seasons go by and even develop injuries due to overworking their bodies. The difficult schedule balancing their physical demanding sports and their mentally demanding school assignments can be a lot of stress on an adolescent. Each high school tends to have around two athletic trainers
who go around to attend to players that may need help on all of the sports programs at the high school. At Huron, the two trainers are Zach Crothers and Melissa Stamper, who both work very hard to help support the players in programs across Huron and get them the right help they need when injuries occur.
“Most of you guys in your high school probably had an athletic trainer at your high school within your city or community, and they do something very similar to what we do at the college setting,”
Michigan State University
Men’s Soccer trainer Vince Del Valle said. “We’ll see any high school student athletes for their injuries or for things like a weird illness, and then we can refer them on from there.”
At big colleges like Michigan State University, there are usually one or two trainers for each sports team that are there specifically to help the players on those teams. They can get to know the players and coaching staff on a deeper level
because they have less people that they need to take care of. That being said, the worth ethic and intensity is much stronger in college, so they often require more attention from trainers than your ordinary high school athletes. The trainers can help keep the athlete’s bodies in a healthy state and prevent them from future injuries as they experience burnout throughout the physically demanding seasons.
“In the college setting, it’s a little bit different, because we’re more involved with our teams. For example, with a high school of like 2000 students, you might have just one or two athletic trainers for that entire school. Whereas in the college setting, especially a major university like MSU, I work with one team,” Del Valle said. “I’m in communication with our team throughout the year and as new players join the team, I get to know them better. I
go to all the practices, I go to all their games, I travel with the team so I’m with them all the time during the year. So, I get really used to how they are personally, but also, I have a good insight into their injury and health history, which can help when injuries come up in the future.”
These athletic trainers in all levels of sports can be very helpful in getting the help players need both physically and mentally, keeping athletes fit to continue succeeding in their competitions. Trainers may not have as tight of a relationship with the players when they are a high school athlete, they will for sure be able to find them the assistance they may need to get back to a healthy spot.
Men’s varsity soccer team falls short to a district title in a loss against Saline
KASIA PHAN WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
1. After a tough loss, the Huron River Rats are still united and celebrate their last game together. “It was definitely one of our worst games we’ve played,” Senior Bernie Bowman said.
2. Saline and Huron battle over the ball.
3. Junior Amadou Sidibe aims to shoot straight into the goal with a fierce kick
“It was tough losing, but I feel like we definitely could’ve beat Saline and if we won that game we would’ve been regional champions,” Sidibe said.
4. Junior Desmond Kartha kicks his foot into the air.
5. Senior Bright Zorh jumps into action as he leaps in front of the opposing team player to get control over the ball.
PHOTOS BY RYAN BEZAS
GRAPHIC BY KIKI CHOI
kentucky butter cake
The Kentucky Butter Cake cookie is inspired by the dessert of the same name . Covered in a light dusting of powdered sugar, Crumbl’s version of the classic dessert blends a perfect mix of a crunchy exterior and a soft inside. The cookie was buttery, has an amazing texture and most importantly, was not too sweet, meaning that the cookie appeals to a wide audience. We loved this cookie and we’d give it a 10/10.
pink velvet cake cookie
The Pink Velvet Cake Cookie is a take on the Red Velvet Cake, with a soft, light pink cookie base and a swirled cream cheese frosting and crumbled pieces of the pink cookie as a topping. The cookie was soft, but felt artificial and lacked depth to its flavor. The frosting was far too sweet and overpowered the cookie, to the point where it felt like you were eating a candle. Though good in small bites, the Pink Velvet Cake Cookie was too sweet for our taste. We’d give it a 6/10.
banana upside down cake
The Banana Upside Down Cake is a moist, soft banana cake topped with a whipped cream dollop and toffee glaze. The cake itself is incredibly moist, and has a strong banana flavor. We were a little disappointed about the fact that we couldn’t actually taste the banana part of the banana upside down cake — it tasted more like banana bread. The whipped cream is theoretically a nice touch, but combined with the cake makes for a unvaried range of textures, and creates an unsatisfactory result. Overall, we’d give it a 7/10.
sticky bun
With its nutty and rich flavors, a sticky bun is a sweet breakfast roll that is akin to a cinnamon roll, with a sweet spiced glaze topping, which the Crumbl Sticky Bun cookie draws inspiration from. Visually, the cookie can end up a bit messy with its brown sugar and butterscotch pecan topping. Still, the cookie itself is soft, and stuffed with a delicious cinnamon sugar filling in the middle, creating a deliciously flavorful result. Despite the good flavors, the cookie was still extremely sweet, and hard to eat in one sitting. We would give this cookie a 7.5/10.
AMELIA BAI & SALEM DINH COPY EDITOR, STAFF WRITER