Huron introduced a new change this year – a cell phone pocket expectation. This new guideline mandates all students to turn in their devices to a pocket holder in the classroom, usually near the door of the classroom.
The goal of the new expectation is to make sure students are more focused on schoolwork rather than their cell phones.
“I am a huge fan of the new cell phone [expectation],” English teacher Daniel Crowley said.“In past years, I allowed students to keep their phones in their pockets, believing that doing so would encourage them to learn to self-monitor, and to eventually be able to become wholly responsible for their use of technology. The number of students who come to class exhausted because they spent all night on their phones has dramatically increased since I began teaching, but what’s more, I’m struck by the legions of Ann Arborites who seem glued to their phones.”
Crowley said the new expectation is a “great step” in the direction of making students more focused.
“[The expectation is] urging students to slow down and experience learning as teachers have been trained to deliver it, rather than insisting teachers adapt their instruction to another paradigm shift,” Crowley said.
Junior Keunhyung Cho
READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM
performance was immediately noticeable.
High school students in Ann Arbor are starting the 2025-26 school year with a major technology upgrade. All district high school students received Apple MacBook Air M4 laptops, replacing the Chromebooks they had used for nearly a decade. The rollout is part of Ann Arbor Public Schools’ effort to provide faster, more reliable devices that support both classroom learning and digital testing.
The decision follows a spring pilot program in which students and staff tested different devices for speed, usability, and learning potential. The district ultimately chose the MacBook Air after determining it best met the needs identified in the pilot.
While many district leaders emphasize the upgrade as a step forward, reactions among students and teachers have been mixed.
For some, the switch is welcome. Junior Juna Sakamoto said the difference in
“The Chromebooks were super slow, and my old one was outdated,” Sakamoto said. “The MacBooks are lighter, sleeker, and way faster in comparison.”
Teachers also anticipate changes in the classroom.
English teacher Sheri Horwitz said she hopes the new devices will cut down on technical issues that plagued Chromebooks.
“I fully expect that this will hopefully mean there are a lot fewer tech issues compared to using the Chromebooks over the last few years,” Horwitz said. “I also expect that more students will come prepared, since some didn’t always bring their Chromebooks before. I think a lot of teachers are more comfortable using MacBooks and Apple products, so we’ll hopefully find more ways to make them assets to students.”
Horwitz also noted that while the laptops create opportunities, they could also present challenges.
“This is definitely a moment that is full of
opportunities and also challenges,” she said. “Unlike the Chromebooks of the past, a big challenge is that students will probably feel more comfortable using the MacBooks for non-school activities, which could lead to more distractions in the classroom.”
To limit those distractions, the district has installed restrictions on apps and settings, though some students have expressed frustration with them. Horwitz said she views the limits as a positive.
students excessively, but I don’t think these restrictions are excessive.”
In addition to smoother classroom activities, Horwitz sees long-term benefits in preparing students with digital skills.
“As teachers, we are already dealing with a lot of distractions, and I think anything that helps these devices actually be a help rather than a hindrance is useful,” Horwitz said. “We obviously don’t want to restrict
“I hope that using updated devices will help my students become more technologically literate,” she said. “Many of my past students struggled with tasks like formatting documents, doing online research, and typing. These products are designed in a way that is intuitive and can really build that confidence.”
Students also commented on the logistics of the rollout. Shin described the
SPORTS PAGE 11
THE MULTISPORT ATHLETE GRIND
JAEWON LEE NEWS EDITOR
“The students in [the] Multidisciplinary Design Program used the U-M GPT Toolkit to create a WordPress plug-in that automatically generates image ALT text, making websites more accessible. This tool can be used on any WordPress site, and it demonstrates how our students are applying AI to solve real-world challenges.”
Those were the words of Dr. Ravi Pendse, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. In 2023 Pendse helped the University of Michigan to become the first university in the world to provide an “AI Suite,” a diverse collection of artificial intelligence models designed to provide a free, privacyconscious AI Assistant to boost their learning productivity.
“At the University of Michigan, we wanted every member of our community to have equitable, secure, and responsible access to the most advanced generative AI tools possible,” Pendse explained.
“Many of the popular public tools are innovative, but they also raise significant concerns around privacy, accessibility, and affordability. We wanted to ensure that every member of our community could use these tools without worrying about where their data might end up or being excluded because they could not afford access.”
Now, two years after the founding, the AI Suite is still making changes to the university. For example, the university recently added support for o1 and o3-mini models (an OpenAI model that is more skilled at thinking) for the suite in April 2025.
One feature, called the “Virtual Mock Patient,” helps physical therapy doctors to create a realistic background to build upon their future real patients.
Some people do fear that AI might take over critical learning. However, Pendse says that will never happen.
“The reality is that generative AI is here to stay,” Pendse said. “Banning it outright would be like banning the internet in the 1990s.”
Pendse emphasized that the most productive approach is not to ban AI, but to integrate it in ways that enhance — rather than replace — critical thinking.
Moreover, some students are already
showing examples of AI boosting their creativity.
Students like U-M junior Michael Reifman, majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology through LSA, says that the UM-GPT assistant is particularly helpful.
“For one of my projects in PolSci 101 we
MANAGING EDITOR
The day begins at 5:30 a.m. for senior Emma Schneidewind. Water is filtered, Quaker Apples and Cinnamon oatmeal is swallowed — chewed, if it’s granola — and the tent she slept in is now tucked into her terracotta bag, her hedgehog trinket and Chacos attached.
“It certainly got challenging at times,” Schneidewind said. “Not even physically, but having to sleep in a tent every night and having to cook all your own food and filter your water becomes a lot.”
At the Appalachian Trail, for 130 miles, the footprints of campers from Camp Miniwanca are stamped into the mountains of Katahdin and Whitecap. And every summer, it’s in Schneidewind’s heritage to spend her Junes, Julys, and Augusts at Camp Miniwanca, traced along the shore of Lake Michigan. In fact, it’s more of a family heirloom.
sister Molly Schneidewind, too — who also hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2024.
And according to her, it’s “the hardest thing she’s ever done.”
“I think being prepared mentally, knowing that it was going to be hard, really helped me a lot,” Schneidewind said. “Because I was able to be like, ‘Okay, this is
in Explorer, kayaking in Voyageur, or hiking in Odyssey.
“I’ve been looking forward to going on Odyssey since I was a very young camper because I saw all the older girls come back and tell their stories,” Schneidewind said.
By July 14, when weighing her Osprey backpack at the airport, the scale read 40 pounds, including the sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes, toiletries, and group gear. And that was without the 80 pounds of food fractioned between the five hikers and two counselors.
After a practice hike in the sister camp Merrowvista, the 18-day hike began on July 17 in Monson, Maine.
“We started out with seven, including me,” Schneidewind said. “But then one of my tripmates had to go home because her knee took a big toll, so she had to get evacuated. So then there were six of us.”
were allowed to use AI and my group used DALL-E 3 to generate movie posters for papers we had written ourselves,” Reifman said, explaining one time where he used generative AI. “These enhanced our assignment while presenting these papers, and our professor loved it.”
But not all students share the same enthusiasm.
Ted Lee, a U-M junior studying Biology, Health, and Society (BHS) on the prephysical therapy track, said he rarely turns to UM-GPT.
“I’ve used UM-GPT once, but if I use AI, I tend to use ChatGPT instead,” Lee said. “I can’t really think of a class assignment where UM AI has helped me. [However,] in my coding classes, I have used AI to help me figure [out] or decipher some codes.”
Together, these two perspectives highlight how the AI Suite can feel essential to some students but not critical to others.
Reifman also pointed out that the AI assistants can have limitations in certain
areas. He said that he’d rather use Google or a textbook rather than an AI since the AI models, at his level, “do not get the answer right.”
“I would not use any AI model over Google or a textbook,” Reifman said. “Specifically with my major, these models are their most basic levels [and] do not get the answer right the majority of the time.”
Reifman also added that his general rule of thumb to prevent AI from doing all the work is that AI “should never be used to originate an idea.”
“AI, when allowed for, is an excellent tool to check over for grammar and even provide feedback on work, but should never be just copied from directly,” Reifman said.
While perspectives on AI may vary, most students agree it works best when used carefully. Lee summed it up with his own principle.
“My rule of thumb is that I figure out what I can do [and] only have AI help me with things I struggle with,” Lee said.
“My parents were both counselors when they were young, so they met there,” Schneidewind said.
“My grandpa also went to the camp.” Her
going to be hard, but I’m going to be able to do it and be able to get through it.’”
In Camp Miniwanca, there are programs catered to each age group that probes a different skill like backpacking
It was on the fourth morning when hiking uphill became downhill for Schneidewind.
“It was raining that day, and my raincoat didn’t work, so I was soaked, and
See APPALACHIAN TRAIL , PAGE 5
the pickup process as “chaotic,” saying the lines stretched for hours. Sakamoto added that she wished there were fewer restrictions on customizing the laptops, saying, “Let us download some things.” Despite these concerns, district officials say the laptops will serve as the primary tool for students, supporting standardized testing, essay writing, coding, and creative projects. The devices were funded through a combination of bond dollars and community contributions,
part of a broader investment in educational technology. As the school year begins, both students and teachers will be adjusting to the change. Horwitz said she is optimistic overall.
“I am very excited about it, especially in an English class. The Chromebooks have been difficult to use in the past because of glitching and slowness,” she said. “These new devices will hopefully provide a more cohesive experience for everyone.”
SATVIKA RAMANATHAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Meaghan Sullivan was in the top percent of her graduating class at The Harvey School in Katonah, N.Y. She had two international robotics awards, as well as five national and over 20 state awards. And this year, she got deferred from her state school, SUNY Binghamton, which accepts 59.4% of students who apply early.
This is a likely instance of yield protection, where schools will reject students who are “over-qualified” for their school. If they believe students will be accepted to and attend a “better” university than their own, schools will sometimes reject or defer those applicants so they don’t have too high of an acceptance rate.
These kinds of things are becoming increasingly common as competition to get into university increases around the country. Acceptance rates of top schools
have decreased drastically over the past few decades.
In 2000, Harvard University had an acceptance rate of 11%. That has now dropped down to 3.6%. Most Ivy Leagues and schools of the same caliber show similar numbers, with the acceptance rate in 2000 securely above 10% and an acceptance rate below 5% now.
But the “next level” of schools have even more drastic drops. University of Michigan had an acceptance rate of 54.6% in 2000. They now have an acceptance rate of 16%. Northeastern’s acceptance rate has dropped from 70.3% in 2001 to 5% now.
The lower the acceptance rate, the more prestige the school is perceived to have. And acceptance rates are one thing that a school can have control over.
Part of the drop in acceptance rates might be due to yield protection. There are other possible explanations,
too. The number of applicants has increased substantially for these schools since 2000. There are numerous reasons for this. With the CommonApp system to apply, which became popular after 2000, it is much easier for students to apply to many more schools than they would have previously. Schools are also doing much more outreach. Sullivan said that she would get emails and letters from schools that she had no interest in applying to. She got many emails from Columbia University and even got a personalized letter from UChicago.
“You’d think, ‘wow, they must really want me,’ but no, they just want those numbers,” Sullivan said.
Many schools have also now created “testoptional” policies where they don’t require an SAT or ACT score submissions for the application.
Nicole Zhong, a rising sophomore at the
University of Michigan, said that removed a barrier for a lot of people in her year.
Test-optional policies allow more students to apply to schools, which increase the applicant pool. Ultimately, this also does help to decrease a school’s acceptance rate because more students applying for a set number of spots will lower the percent of people who get in.
Many universities have also been expanding their applications to include more early options, as well. Early decision, which is binding, is especially beneficial for schools. Students who apply early decision must attend the school, which tightens up acceptance rates as universities accept less people off the waitlist with ED.
University of Michigan just announced on July 9 that they would offer Early Decision for the upcoming application cycle this year. Michigan rising senior Rukmini Nallamothu’s first thought when she found out was, “Thank goodness I’m not applying this cycle.”
“When I was applying to colleges, I really appreciated the freedom that Michigan had offered,” she said. “Early action did a great job of demonstrating my interest in the school, and I was really committed, but it wasn’t restricting.”
Nallamothu also said she felt that University of Michigan is a state school and should be more open.
“I think offering Early Decision is an attempt to increase Michigan’s status,” she said. “When we think about college ranking, we often think about acceptance rates. But I think their attempt to [lower their acceptance rate] is problematic.”
OPINION EDITOR
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education has wrapped up key developments ahead of the new school year, and has proposed a $314.8 million budget for the year, prioritizing instruction, student support, and extracurricular programs, with a projected ending fund balance of $18.5 million. The full budget proposal can be found here.
On Aug. 5, district leaders gathered at Skyline High School for a retreat focused on strategic learning and district advancement, according to AAPS District News. This session aimed to prepare staff for the upcoming
year, with discussions centered on improving engagement and outcomes for all students.
The board hosted its most recent meeting at the Earhart Administration Building on Aug. 13, following another regular session on July 30. Several committee meetings on performance, finance, governance, and equity also took place in late July, according to a2schools.org.
In addition, the AAPS School Board is expected to add a new graduation requirement: starting with the Class of 2028, students must earn a half-credit in personal finance, integrated into existing economics courses, according to WEMU. They will also be required to complete the FAFSA, with an opt-out
option available. The initiative is supported by a $1.1 million grant awarded earlier this year. School Board President Torchio Feaster said the measure will help students pursuing higher education navigate scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
“That way, they are able to have all doors open to them and have the possibility to go to all colleges or trade schools or institutions that they want to go to, and this grant will allow us to help provide them with the resources necessary,” Feaster said AAPS also has in place a FAFSA policy in place which requires all high school students in the class of 2026 to either complete the FAFSA or submit a FAFSA
Out Form as a part of their graduation requirements. “We drafted it that way because we only intended for it to impact 2026,” said
EMILY HU WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Senior Amadou Sidibe’s summer could have been TikToks and sleeping in. Instead, it’s 8 a.m. volunteering shifts, afternoon soccer practices, and shifts at Jimmy Johns.
Though having an extremely packed schedule, Sidibe doesn’t seem to mind. He originally took the job at Jimmy John’s when his friend had referred him, encouraged by the promise of a flexible schedule and a nice boss.
“He told me it was really chill over there,” Sidibe
EMILY HU WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Three jobs. That basically sums up what Senior Olivia Riegle had been doing all summer. For many students, summer means long days in the sun, a break from homework, and fun days at the beach. But for Riegle, summer meant juggling three jobs: lifeguarding, cashiering, and coaching swimming.
“Yeah it’s been busy,” Riegle said. “But I’ve had a lot of fun this summer.”
One of her jobs was at the Forest Brooke Athletic Swim Club where she worked
as a swim coach. Coaching is not new to Riegle. Last summer, she worked as an eight-and -under coach, and this year, she stepped up into a bigger role after the previous head coach moved on. Now she coaches swimmers ranging from five to 17.
“The eight and unders are really cute,” Riegle. “But the 13 year olds are the easiest to coach.”
Alongside coaching, she also worked as both a lifeguard and cashier at Burr Park. Lifeguarding came naturally, as she’d been swimming for years and had already gotten her
certification.
Her schedule varied wildly this summer. On some days, she coached from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., others she worked from nine to nine or nine to four.
But despite the long hours, the best part of her summer was clear.
“Definitely the community,” she said. “All the people were great.”
Through her roles, Libby says she’s grown both personally and professionally. “I’ve definitely learned more compassion, more patience with little kids, and how to be a good leader.”
said. “And the managers are pretty relaxed, so it worked out.”
With the calm environment, Sidibe finds peace in being able to sit down without much pressure, especially when it’s not rush hour. However, the job isn’t entirely effortless. Especially when it comes to the toast ovens.
“They’re new so we don’t really have a good way to clean them,” he explained. “It takes like thirty minutes and it’s just like a hard workout, basically”
Still, working at Jimmy Johns has taught
him numerous lessons. From making sandwiches for customers, Sidibe learned the value of doing things more carefully. Sometimes it’s easy to get into the habit of making a particular sandwich, and when customers have a niche modification, the subconscious muscle memory might take over and the specific request forgotten
“Overall, I love my summer job,” Sidibe concluded. “It just gives me something to do and makes me feel like my summer is more productive.
SALEM DINH SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Around 80% of Americans today have at least one sibling, and within this 80% is Huron High School junior Joseph (Joey) Kim. Growing up with not just one but two brothers, Kim’s family situation may not stand out as unordinary in the other 80%, but his experience sure does.
“We have a very close bond as brothers,” Kim said. “Despite our age differences, we don’t argue often. It feels more like we’re one person.”
With older brother David (21 years old) and younger brother Noah (7 years old), Kim falls right in the middle of his family dynamics, or better known as the infamous ‘middle child’. While many people may immediately assume the stereotypes that come with this label, such as being overlooked or feeling neglected, Kim brings new insight and perspective to this.
“I honestly do enjoy being the middle child,” Kim said. “I get to experience having an older brother that I can look up to, but also a
younger brother that looks up to me.”
Part of this connection with his brothers translates into his school life. Both Kim and his older brother play clarinet, with Kim currently participating with Huron’s Symphony Band as his brother did three years ago as well. Today, older brother David attends the University of Michigan’s School of Music and the Arts (SMTD), often volunteering with the Huron Bands as an instructor.
“For me, my older brother is easy to joke around with and talk to,” Kim said. “Interacting with my little brother is, of course, different. It’s more like me relating to him than him relating to me.”
Younger brother Noah was born a decade after Kim, causing some differences in their own upbringing and understanding of each other. Despite this, Kim is still close with both of his brothers and treasures their time together well.
“My favorite memory of all three of us is when we went to Atlanta,” Kim said. “We got to see all the
main attractions in Georgia together, and it was super fun.”
While sibling relationships are undeniably not as easy as they seem, and being the middle child cannot help this equation, Kim’s relationship with his brothers stands as proof that it can work. When asked his least favorite part of having brothers, Kim only had one answer to state:
“Honestly, nothing.”
GRACE HENLEY CHIEF CONTENT EDITOR
Every summer in Pittsburgh, an organization called the JCC Maccabi Games takes place. From Aug. 3-8, members of the Jewish religion come from all over the US to meet up and participate in different sport events at this camp. Teens have the chance to spend a whole week away and connect with others who share the same religion and passion for sports.
Lyla Cox was a Star Reporter for JCC this year and got to report on all the excitement firsthand. Cox’s job was to collect content like photos and interviews from all kinds of sports,
and [my friend] got taken home. My knee, when I walked on, felt like pinsand-needles,” Schneidewind said. “I was wet, I was cold, and I was sad.”
By the end of the program, Schneidewind’s ankles were twisted three times, her eye swollen half-shut by an insect bite, and her knees sore.
“In general, it took a lot of toll on my knees. Now still, sometimes I’ll bend down and my knees will hurt,” Schneidewind said. “I also got nerve damage on my toes. So I still can’t feel them; I haven’t been able to feel them for three weeks. One of my other friends, the same thing happened to her, so we were able to laugh about it.”
Laughter was prevalent at all times. Required to hike the Appalachian Trail, even.
“I think we were so loud that we scared away wildlife,” Schneidewind said.
which included games like swimming, volleyball and basketball. The games are split up between gender and also involve different aspects, such as one hoop instead of two for basketball.
Part of Cox’s job as a Star Reporter is to do interviews with the athletes and coaches, along with some of the volunteers. Even Cox is new to reporting for the JCC games, she has past experience from doing interviews for Huron High School’s yearbook. When asking Cox why she feels it is important to report about this program, she gave multiple answers.
“This camp helps you see and learn about all the different Jews that are your
age; they also come from all over, but they are here for what you are here for,” Cox said. “By being at this camp, it shows you that you don’t have to be embarrassed about being Jewish.”
Cox added that while she has never been bullied about being Jewish, this camp shows her all the community she has behind her.
“I also just enjoy being at the camp, it’s really fun and I get to connect with others who like sports,” Cox said.
This year, Cox is also representing Michigan through a Jewish delegation. How it works is that they choose students every year who are in 9th - 10th grade, to bring to the games and eventually
travel to Halal in Israel.
“This year there were 10 or 11 of them in our group, adding up to 25, including athletes in the group and me,” Cox said. The JCC Maccabi Games are not only about sports and pulling Jewish teens together; it’s about showcasing the spirit of the state and celebrating Jewish identity. This year, it was also about welcoming athletes from Nahalal, Israel’s Ann Arbor sister community.
“The camp is able to represent a strong bond in not only Jewish communities in Michigan, but around the globe,” Cox said.
“
For the group’s quieter activities, they dealt cards in games like Euchre and Spit, or rotated books like “Demon Copperhead” or someone’s miscellaneous summer reading. Below the Patagonia and underneath Lowa boots, Schneidewind dressed in “darn tough wool socks.” Her group also had coordinated bear socks — Schneidewind’s
“At times, I just wanted to sit down and give up. Pushing myself really made me realize my capability and that I can do hard things.”
EMMA SCHNEIDEWIND, SENIOR
Schneidewind and Smith’s first encounter was at Camp Miniwanca in 2019. Smith recalled her as “shy” but discovered a comedic counterpart in Schneidewind when they
crest of a mountain.
“It’s the best feeling when you get to the top of the mountain. You get to look over all the other mountains and be like, ‘Wow,’” Schneidewind said. “You can pick out the mountains that you were at and it’s kind of cool to see just how far you’ve gone.”
On Aug. 2, Schneidewind concluded her hike on Mount Katahdin, the tallest mountain in Maine at 5,290 feet.
“At times, I just wanted to sit down and give up. Pushing myself really made me realize my capability and that I can do hard things,” Schneidewind said. “It’s very easy to want to give up, but you just have to keep going.”
salamanders. GRAPHICS
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EDITORIAL BOARD: Satvika Ramanathan 405293@ aaps.k12.mi.us
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ANN ARBOR NO KINGS PROTEST LOCATED DOWNTOWN ON JUNE 14 AGAINST RECENT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION INCLUDING DEI BANS, COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION IN THE NATION WIDE PROTEST 2025 PHOTOS BY BRODY TURNER
“You cannot stop a moving train” Huron continues to uphold and embrace inclusive values
AMELIA BAI, AMY YANG
WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, A&E EDITOR
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has always had a role in American education, regardless of its name. It has roots that trace back to the 18th century, when abolitionist and Quaker school teacher Anthony Benezet began building and teaching schools for all, including girls and Black children, seen as rare and controversial at the time. The Civil Rights Movement would further Benezet’s efforts, with the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education Court Case of 1954, which abolished segregation in public schools and outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These changes have created the groundwork on which DEI is based. While the movement of DEI has developed over the years, DEI itself is still
relevant to this day, even more so with the executive order signed by President Trump on Jan. 21 to rescind all DEI-related programs in the federal government.
At its core, DEI represents the effort to encourage fair treatment and representation for all, especially of minorities who have been historically marginalized and discriminated against.
These values are especially important when it comes to public education — specifically, in the Ann Arbor Public Schools District and Huron High School.
“Public education was founded on the promise of equal opportunity. You cannot stop a moving train,” Huron High School principal Ché Carter said. “Public education cannot stop, as that is the foundation [on] which public education was built.”
With Huron’s ranking of third in diversity in Michigan, dozens of student-run clubs at Huron represent student interests. One of those clubs is the Middle Eastern club. Last year, class of 2024 alumni Valerie Habib and Maya Alzebdeh ran the club and said it was extremely impactful for them and other students.
“I think having people that are from the same culture [and] same country as me has helped me with making more friends,” Habib said. “Having a club that represents the Middle East is really important to have, because the whole club itself can speak on any problems that are going on or educate people about the history.” Dear Asian Youth (DAY) club is
another club in relation to the concept of DEI. DAY is a global organization that aims to promote advocacy and equality for marginalized communities, with chapters within schools all over the country.
“It’s really hard, especially for high schoolers,” said senior Salem Dinh, who is the club president of Huron’s DAY.
“Because we’re not legal adults, we all depend on these policies and laws that are meant to be protecting us and protecting our identities, but they’re not anymore.”
we have a club that allows us to embrace our culture and bring more attention to those who are being affected by [the ban], too.”
As of now, the future impacts of the nationwide DEI bans are uncertain. The goals of AAPS, however, remain unaltered.
“I just want to stress, nothing has changed,” AAPS Board of Education Trustee Susan Baskett said. “We’re staying on the course. [DEI] is the way that we do business in Ann Arbor Public Schools, and that will not change.”
At Huron, the administration will also be continuing to make a conscious effort towards promoting equity for all students and faculty.
Despite the ongoing controversy regarding the topic of DEI bans, cultural clubs and organizations continue to foster a positive community in which they can stick together.
“It’s good that we’re together here,” Alzebdeh said. “That
“We will never stop working to create an inclusive environment for all,” Carter said. “Myself and those who do the work of uplifting and supporting our youth will always address inequity when it enters our space. We will respond, learn, and repair any harm caused and get better.”
AMELIA BAI, AMY YANG WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, A&E EDITOR,
This summer, University of Michigan Public Policy Undergraduate student
Sydney Lount lost a potential internship, but it wasn’t caused by personal performance or a blip in the business; it was because of the DEI ban that the University of Michigan Administration
Deemed a position that the current administration of the University of Michigan did not support due to its nature of being a Minority Serving Institutions Internship, it was taken away. With current and ongoing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI bans, many students and faculty alike face challenges similar to Lount. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion may only be three words on a piece of paper, but they have somehow made its way to impacting all 18.4 million postsecondary education students in the United States today (Best Colleges). Created in the 1960s and implemented in 1965 by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is an organizational framework to be applied to different systems that allow for the promotion of accessibility and success to people of all backgrounds. DEI has mostly been applied to groups of people that have been historically underrepresented or subjected to discrimination based on identity or disability in different businesses and jobs. DEI was first implemented into the University of Michigan’s administration in 2016, with the DEI 1.0 initiative. Since then, it’s spread widely across campus.
Michigan stand-out for many of their incoming freshmen.
“I know there are students who, when they got to Michigan, noticed that there were a lot of clubs for specific cultural groups or different things they might not have had at their high school,” Lount said.
Recent federal budget cuts sourced from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have led to schools and universities being at the forefront of DEI bans, though, including the University of Michigan. Announced in March by then University President Santa J. Ono and Provost Laurie McCauley, the University of Michigan no longer asks for diversity statements from faculty when considering hiring, promotion or tenure, as a part of the university’s latest cut to its DEI programs.
“Over the course of our strategic efforts, we have heard strong pride in the university’s support for student-facing programs,” President Ono wrote in his message to the community according to the University of Michigan Office of the President website. “We have also heard concerns about the balance of resources between administration and direct student support. Some in our campus community have voiced frustration that they did not feel included in DEI initiatives and that the programming fell short in fostering connections among diverse groups.”
Kay Jarvis, the University of Michigan Director of Public Affairs, also speaks on these changes to the student population.
“DEI topics are definitely in classes,” Lount said when recounting her first few years as a University of Michigan student. “A lot of the classes I’ve taken have really focused on cultural differences. For example, one of my classes talked about how law might affect Black women and Indigenous women differently.”
Outside of class content, Lount also describes the student community environment with previous DEI policies. With over 1,700 registered student-led organizations, the diversity in culture of the clubs and groups at the University of
“The university is shifting resources to
increase investments in student-facing programs, such as financial aid, mental health resources, pre-professional counseling and other efforts,” Jarvis said. “Our goal is to strengthen the community, promote a sense of belonging and expand accessibility.”
Specific updates to U of M include closing the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) as well as the discontinuation of the DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, which originally worked to promote diversity within hiring for internships and jobs at the university. Despite reassurances from the U of M directors, many students still stay unsure with these changes.
“I’ve seen a lot of students posting about it on this Chinese app called Red Note,” an anonymous student said. “I’ve read many posts there related to DEI.”
The main concern for many current students is the uncertainty of these changes. With them still being fresh and new, there is a large unknown on how DEI policy, or the therefore lack of it, may change their campus life.
“I definitely think the biggest thing is people don’t know how it’s gonna impact them yet, just because the changes were more recent,” Lount said. “A lot of people are just trying to see what direction we are
going. But there definitely have been protests about it.”
For some students, their concerns with shifts in DEI relate further into their future: the working world.
With the ban, the guidelines and standards of hiring companies are set to be altered, leading to change within the working environment of the employer and the selection of employees, serving as a concern of many.
“I think a lot about how the job market is going to change,” said an anonymous student, “Like when the company hires people, is that [DEI program bans] going to affect their standards or guidelines?”
Though the
progression and further impact of the national level DEI ban and removal cannot be determined, many are starting to pay more attention to the ban as its effects are seen throughout local communities, such as those of university campuses. Whether supporting or against, the engagement of student bodies and local communities regarding DEI program bans are increasing rapidly.
“I do feel like now that people are starting to see how it’s directly affecting them,” Lount said, “They definitely care more about it.”
ELLA YIP PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A more than noticeable rise in conservative media has been prevalent within the last year. Mirroring the result of changes in administration, not only in the United States but in a larger sentiment echoed by much of the world. Advertisements, social media, and the reach of larger actors on the global stage feed into the larger population through these platforms.
Recently, a larger corporation has been under fire for an advertising tactic. Specifically, around commentary on genetics and what is considered valuable. Messaging for a
value in the blond-haired blue-eyed human is pushed through the corporate lens into the broader audience, in turn “giving the people what they want,” perhaps a larger reflection of popular sentiment in the world today.
In passing, this could be written off through corporate insensitiveness, but nods to a similar ad involving a genetic metaphor was Brook Shields for Lev-i’s, the ad created controversy due to speculations of hypersexualizing Shields who was 15 during the filming. Companies like American Eagle and Dunkin’ Donuts use a similar marketing a larger underlying
JUSTIN PHELPS STAFF WRITER
message of “good” genetics. This plays into the ripe conservative media world, eaten up and even praised by world leaders. The larger focus here is the perseveration on genetics, and why are they “good.” “Good” genetics are referenced by Gavin Casalegno, referencing his appearance similar to Sweeney. The weight of eugenic referencing media, placing values in appearances that represent a small portion of the world, begs the question of representation in media, and perhaps the beginning of its limitation once more.
The ads held larger political implications. Set out initially as something
separated from the political world for consumers, has become inherently political as its messaging was picked up by political leaders. President Donald Trump has reportedly tweeted about Sydney Sweeney’s appearance in the ad, praising her pairing with the brand and speculating her voter registration as republican. The tweet was later deleted, and the actress and her team have not released a statement in response.
The response to be taken away here is not that of a direct attack on the public faces and facilitators of said media. Instead, it should be evaluated as something
of a mirror to society; corporations aim to cater to consumers, and they observe and cultivate something most likely to generate a favorable response to, in turn, sell a product to us.
So the fact that this is a production of what the majority of consumers is assumed to favor should tell us of a larger ideological and societal shift more concerning than one uproar over an advertisement.
The press is the bridge between average citizens and the decisions made that affect their everyday lives. Recently, the foundational structure of the press has been threatened and weakened by a multitude of causes. Many of these lead back to one thing: fear.
As national policies continue to create difficulties for many Americans, the act of telling stories of these struggles on all levels is becoming less possible. People are wary of speaking to journalists because they are unsure of whom to trust. Sources wish to remain anonymous out of worry that consequences will come back to them for speaking their
voice. These things are happening even at the high school level. The Emery has seen increasing numbers of people unwilling to talk to student journalists or share their personal details. Many of these are for understandable reasons. But it does pose the question of where to draw the line. Journalists’ golden rule is outlined at the very start of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics: Seek the truth and report it. However, when we are unable to reach people because of the fear of repercussions they have, our impact is diminished. We can’t actually show people how
their communities are being affected without a deep look into their lives.
The next point in SPJ’s code is to minimize harm. In many cases lately, this has directly conflicted with seeking and reporting the truth. A large part of publishing stories is making them public to everyone, meaning that those wishing to harm others for specific reasons or traits are easily able to identify people whose stories we share. Journalists’ aim is not to hurt people.
The Emery makes anonymity and identity protection decisions with great thought – we strive to balance reporting the truth
with minimizing harm for all people involved. But sometimes our decisions do come with the cost of a remaining gap between the people and the power over them. As this country and the world continue to progress in a way that never was the norm, the boundaries and laws of journalism are shifting. As student journalists, we will define the future of what the press looks like in our new world. It’s up to our societies to determine what direction they want to move in. Communities have to unite and decide where they want to draw the line between sharing their stories and protecting their privacy. The
press is ready: it’s now up to the people.
ELLA YIP AND ISHA SAVI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND ZINE EDITOR
Released in the heat of the summer, Tyler, the Creator released “Don’t Tap The Glass.” Unlike larger artists in the genre, with albums and singles released for the sake of fuses, this album brings back a lightweight feel, giving reason to the larger message and to truly resist tapping the glass.
In an Instagram post, Tyler details the inspiration behind the album, writing “This album is not made for sitting still. Dancing, driving, running, any type of movement is recommended to maybe understand the spirit of it. Only at full volume.” The album prioritizes the idea of body movement and music for the sake of enjoyment and expression–nothing more, nothing less.
Lyrically, the album features Tyler’s usual playfulness and vulgarity, omitting the emotional richness of his previous work. Songs like “Big Poe” and “Suka Free” read as victory laps–he’s at his peak and he’s not afraid to gloat. Sonically, the album is very reminiscent of three decades earlier. Tyler pulls inspiration from everything from electro to synth to disco, creating an album that is snappy and perfectly danceable. He also takes inspiration from producers like Pharrell Williams, who is featured on the first track.
This album strays far away from Tyler’s previous work; everything from its release to its themes is different from his norm. Heavy themes of disconnect and fantasies of a techless world accompany this album. The promotion and subsequent listening events all promote staying off personal devices, going as far as to ban them at said events. Tyler is trying to revive a world that valued expression without fear, a world that is a safe haven from the looming feeling of doom we’re all feeling right now. Nothing is that serious–just don’t tap the glass.
ANJALI NADARAJAH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
When country artist Tyler Childers’ released his latest album Snipe Hunter on July 25, 2025, I was not just excited- I was thrilled. The collection of songs surprised me; many weird and wild, some live show classics, but all together a blend of incredible tracks that reveal his talent for storytelling.
The 13-track album opens with “Eatin’ Big Time,” a zealous and experimental song about enjoying the fruits of your labor. Childers, who has found fame in recent years through songs like All Your’n and Feathered Indians, started his career off as a college drop-out, couch-surfing and playing regional gigs. He sings “‘Cause a thousand-dollar watch is fine enough flex for me” and “When they ain’t nobody knowin’ any prayer you’ve ever sang / See me now, I’m on the sow and I’m ridin’ to your city.”
One of the more poignant singles on the album is Nose on the Grindstone, a song where Childers sings about the advice his father, who works in the coal industry, gives him and the journey he takes trying to follow it. His father tells him “One of these days you’ll get out of these hills”, referencing the Appalachian region Childers grew up in. “Keep your nose on the grindstone” is a line that means continuous hard work. He finishes the line with “and out of the pills”, referencing the opioid crisis widely faced by the Appalachian community, and by him personally.
EDITOR
Everyone say, “Welcome back, 2014 Tumblr.” Lorde is back in all her glory, and is living proof that evil (teenage angst) never really disappears–it just rebrands. At sixteen, she released her groundbreaking album “Pure Heroine,” cementing herself at the frontlines of youth culture. Since then, she’s come out with two albums–”Melodrama” and “Solar Power”–both of which charted within the top 5 at their debut. After four years, Lorde has been reborn with her new album, “Virgin.” “Virgin” reads as digital poetry–she writes about her struggles with growth, vulnerability, and identity, all to a beat you can dance to. She writes herself as destructive and confused in this album, moving through life chaotically to make up for her uncertainty, reflected on the tracks “Hammer” and “What Was That”. She is painfully blunt as she sings “When you’re holding a hammer everything looks like a nail,” on “Hammer” shining a light on her destructiveness and setting the tone for the themes of the album.
My favorite song on the album is “Oneida.”
A ballad about loving a woman who is far older than Childers. The song starts slow, then instrumentally builds up with his backup band, The Food Stamps. He notes things like her “referencing movies I’m too young to know” and “letting her lead as we dance in the dark’, emphasizing the age gap, but his love for her unwavering. The lines say “I’ve been workin’ on learning that song you’ve been dying to sing / About weddings and rings / I’ll strum in the back / And come in where I can harmonize on a line or two
But this song’s all you” In this, he notes that she in leading the song, but his naive and inexperienced love for her has led him to learn the song on his guitar. He’s willing to do whatever he can to make her happy, even if it means just harmonizing in the background.
Snipe Hunter has set the precedent in the country music world for future albums filled with risk, emotion, and experiment. I highly recommend listening, even if you aren’t a fan of country- his balance of soul and strange will make it to your playlists upon first listen.
The first half of the album tells the story of a version of her that is moving too quickly to look inward. The second half, though, punctuated by the tracks “Clearblue” and “GRWM,” represents Lorde metaphorically sobering up and coming into clarity. “Clearblue’s” composition is beautiful in that it has no backing track, leaving Lorde alone with her words. The song tells the story of a pregnancy scare as she sings, “I’ll try letting the answer be part of the dance as I trip and I stumble, yeah baby, I’m free, I’m free.” This line is painfully vulnerable–lets her mistakes shine through to the audience and accepts them. Rather than trying to absolve her shortcomings, she accepts them and affirms that this acceptance is freedom. “GRWM” is the flipside of this acceptance; it brandishes the fear of this incident and questions what it means to grow into adulthood. She sings “A grown woman// Girl’s a grown woman,” reflecting how out of body it can be to grow up.
Sonically, this album is incredibly reminiscent of her previous work. It has its finger firmly on the pulse of “Melodrama” and “Pure Heroine” in its maximalist production as well as its darkwave influences. The bass is heavy, and the beats and melodies are fun, balancing out the seriousness of its lyrics. All things considered, this album is worth the hype. Outside of a few questionable lyrics (“A grown woman in a baby tee”-objectively stupid) as well as a lack of variety within its sound, the album is beautifully composed and written as well as painfully human. It’s certain to leave a lasting impact on anyone who listens to it.
JULES HESKIA SPORTS WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Fridays, he kicks a football between goal posts, and on Saturdays, he kicks a soccer ball into a net. Senior Hamoodee Vaghayenegar has played soccer since he was a kid and is now on the varsity soccer team. This year, however, he has added a new sport to his name. With the football team needing a kicker for this season, Vaghayenegar stepped up and volunteered to kick.
“My family is really football oriented, and my cousin played,” Vaghayenegar said. “So they all told me I should play, since they heard the team didn’t have a kicker.”
Although
“Vaghayenegar’s commitment to play two sports in one season is typically quite rare, he is not the only one to do this.
His soccer teammate and now football teammate, senior Kinley Poole also decided he wanted a more timeconsuming schedule by playing football.
track talents on to the football field. Additionally, Poole had very minimal, but still some, experience with football.
My family is really football oriented. They all told me I should play, since they heard the team didn’t have a kicker.
HAMOODEE
VAGHAYENEGAR SENIOR
Unlike Vaghayenegar, however, Poole decided he wanted to play wide receiver.
He believed he could take his
1. Senior Hamoodee Vaghayenegar scans the field for passing options in his game against Edsel Ford. Huron won the game 3-0. 2. Vaghayenegar kicks the football for a kickoff during a scrimmage. PHOTOS BY
“I’ve been playing soccer since I was a little kid,” Poole said. “I used to play flag as a kid, but that’s different from tackle. I’m pretty new to tackle.”
Vaghayenegar and Poole share the same mindset when it comes to prioritizing one over the other; soccer always comes first.
Poole comes to soccer practice first when he has two practices in a day. This means he misses some of his football practices, so he has to make sure he is fully engaged during football practice. On the other hand, Vaghayenegar has a different schedule.
“For football, I just have to be there for the practice before the game,” Vaghayenegar said. “Football games and soccer games never end up on the same day. If they do, the soccer game is always before the football game, I make sure to prioritize soccer.”
With both of these athletes choosing to prioritize soccer over football, they have to deal with the pressure
3. Kinley Poole runs towards the goal with the ball at his feet during his game against Pioneer. The River Rats ended up winning the game 1-0. 4. Poole sprints to the sideline with the ball at his hands during a scrimmage. Poole is a fall two sport athlete. PHOTOS BY BRODY TURNER
coming from some of their teammates and coaches.
“My teammates know that soccer comes first,” Poole said. “But for football, they know, when I come, I’ll be ready. They also joke sometimes about how soccer is not a men’s sport like football, but they understand.”
As this is both of their fourth year on the Huron soccer program, they knew many of their teammates coming into the year. However, they weren’t as familiar with the football team and had to adjust to the different culture.
“I’m really close with everyone on the soccer team, and so it feels more like a real team than the football team,”
JULES HESKIA
SPORTS WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Vaghayenegar said. “Also football teams have different groups and separate teams, so not everyone is all together.”
Having multiple intense practices a day means these multi-sport athletes need a good recovery plan for their bodies. An injury would not only be frustrating for themselves, but it would also affect two teams rather than one.
“I’ll take as much rest as I can whenever I have all day,” Poole said. “I eat healthy and make sure to try to avoid any big hits on the field.”
1. Junior Ayaan Patel launches out of the water to take a shot on goal. The River Rats defeated Groves 14-3, marking their largest victory of the season so far. 2. Players and coaches discuss game strategy between the first and second quarter. The team talked about running a play they had practiced earlier that week. 3. Looking for an option with the ball in his hand is sophomore Thalys
Shiue. Shiue plays wing for the varsity team. 4. Junior Christian Grudzinski scans around for a passing or shooting option. Grudzinski, like many other players, started playing water polo his freshman year of high school. 5. Aiming for a shot on goal, senior captain Luke Bunnell, ended the game with a career high 9 points. “I was working on getting high out of the water with the ball when it came in to set, and I think that made a difference,” Bunnell said. 6. Senior captain Max
Greineder gives instructions to find a teammate to pass to. He ended the game with a career high 6 assists. “Shout out to the field players who made a really good effort out there,” Greineder said. 7. Preparing for the swim-off to start the second half is senior Camp Streeter. He swims eight freestyle strokes before looking up to see where the ball is.
PHOTOS BY JULES HESKIA
Cardigan: Brandy Melville
Top: Free People
Sweatpants: Brandy Melville
Shoes: Birkenstock
“I wanted to still feel like summer, but in a way that was warm.”
- Celia Brown, Senior
Top: Bape
“I wanted to look more performative which was the whole theme of the outfit. I just wish I had some matcha and a labubu.”
- Yobani Martinez-Salazar, Junior
Pants: Zara
Shoes: Timberland
Top: Princess Polly
Jewelry: India
Belt: Amazon
Skirt: Hollister
Shoes: Smrithi’s mom
“I was trying to go for cool chic, but I spent 2 hours on Sunday trying on [clothes] and landed on this as the best option for my last first day ever!”
- Smrithi Arcot, Senior
