The Huron Emery Volume 7 Issue 5 May 2022

THE @THEHURONEMERY

HURON EMERY HURON HIGH SCHOOL, 2727 FULLER RD., ANN ARBOR MI 48105

VOL. 7 ISSUE 5

NEWS PAGE 3 Senior Zach Mayrend recounts the night he got shot

He was sitting by himself in the front office. Nobody knew how he had gotten there. “I mean, this kid just gets on a city bus with perfect strangers,” teacher Billy Finch said. “That just shows so much strength and perseverance.” CAITLYN FONG

Ann Arbor community members help refugees MAYA FU COPY EDITOR

ccording to the International Rescue Committee, 74,000 Afghan refugees fled from their homes to seek shelter in the U.S., 300 of them settling in Washtenaw County. The refugee crisis is rising again, and the conflict in Ukraine displacing human lives has highlighted the dilemma. More than half a year ago, the Taliban took over Afghanistan.

Ann Arbor’s Jewish Family Services (JFS) is an agency helping to shelter refugees and provide necessities for them. One of the volunteers willing to go the extra mile is Forsythe Middle

A

School social studies teacher Semra Koknar.

“It happened randomly,” Koknar said. “Because with JFS, the actual involvement has to happen during the work week, and I’m a teacher, so I can’t volunteer.”

Last November, Ann Arbor Public Schools had several days off of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My immediate reaction was ‘great, now I can volunteer!’” said Koknar. “I signed up to bring food to a food shop and bring food to a family that’s up in a hotel, on the side of the highway in Belleville.”

The needs of this family — which would later become her “main family” — and others in the resettlement program, are often extensive.

“It was pretty elaborate shopping,” Koknar said.

“You want to make sure it’s decent quality and the meat is Halal, or permissible for Muslims. I went to about four different stores and gathered up everything that I thought this family would need. I brought it up there, met this family, and was instantly charmed by them.”

She got the impression that the family she worked with were middle upper class and most likely had a fairly large home. All the children are educated and the daughters speak some English. However, many other families in similar situations don’t have these advantages.

Finding jobs and places to live.

Fighting language barriers and cultural differences. There are

NEWS

TARIK FERMIN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Huron Band performs at Carnegie The long awaited Huron Band’s trip to New York and their concert at Carnegie Hall have been planned since the beginning of the 20212022 school year. However, due to continuous COVID-19 regulations, whether the trip would actually happen was unclear for a while.

“I remember thinking that there is no way we’ll be performing,” tenor saxophone player and junior Julianne Cucos said. “I thought the trip would be canceled

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See REFUGEE, PAGE 3

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 13 Representation in Bridgerton: On point

SCAN HERE

To find more content on our website

A heartfelt gesture by a Huron teacher in light of a tragic death

briefs

Daniel Lee STAFF WRITER

countless roadblocks to deal with, making every step the refugees take “My husband and I work really hard to help the families find a house which is challenging because most renters want to make sure that the people they’re renting to are employed, that they have proof of three times the rent, monthly rent, that they have a credit score above a certain number,” Koknar said. “They want all of this documentation that refugees can’t supply. They’re unemployed, they have no credit history. But of course, the resettlement agency does guarantee a certain number of months of support with the goal, they also supply support for employment.”

OPINION PAGE 8-9 Should the mask mandate be mandatory?

Kira Zhao playing the bass clarinet at band rehearsal. COURTESY OF BRAD CARLSON even the day before we left for New York.”

Despite the concerns from students, the Huron Symphony and Green band went on their trip from March 28 to April 2, and had a twohour long concert at Carnegie Hall on March 30. They performed alongside other Ann Arbor Public High Schools: Pioneer, Skyline and Community.

“The trip was really fun, and this was a cool experience because I never know

when I will get the chance to perform at Carnegie Hall again,” Cucos said.

Despite the concert at Carnegie Hall being their first performance outside of Michigan this year, Cucos said it wasn’t overwhelming, but rather a valuable experience.

“Most people said that they weren’t nervous,” Cucos said. “It felt similar to other concerts we have done this year. Obviously, the fact that it’s Carnegie Hall made it special.”

Nearing the end of second hour, on a regular Friday in September, Huron principal Ché Carter gasped in shock as he requested all teachers to check their email.

After exactly a minute, he announced that senior Zade Shamma passed away.

The bell rang and for the first time, silence struck as students swarmed the hallways trying to get to their next class.

Nobody spoke. Nobody said a word.

It was Sept. 9, 2021 when Shamma passed away, causing many lives to turn upside down. That included Huron social studies teacher and

counselor Mike Gottliebsen.

“It was pretty hard,” Gottliebsen said. “[Shamma’s death] came right in the beginning of a class that I was supposed to have him in. So, on the fly I had to come up with a way to handle my own emotions, as well as seek to help whoever was in the classroom.”

Gottliebsen wanted to help heal the Huron community, so he created a grief support group to provide support and contribute to the effort to help Huron students process the tragedy. “[I was] trying to help the kids that I saw personally in a couple of my classes,” Gottliebsen said when asked about his main motivation

See GRIEF SUPPORT, PAGE 5

5/22/2022 10:37:19 PM

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 2 | NEWS

The man behind “The Mystery of...”: Ari Yaff-Innoue ANNABELLE YE DESIGN EDITOR Meet senior Ari YaffeInoue, the mastermind behind The Huron Players’ upcoming show “The Mystery Of…” With an avid passion for filmmaking, Yaffe-Inoue took on the task of writing The Huron Players’ annual murder mystery this spring.

Consisting of a Halloween party, a deceased business tycoon and a complex list of murder suspects, “The Mystery Of…” is a suspenseful yet comedic murder mystery with an unexpected twist.

“There are multiple endings in the play that the audience can choose from given a series of questions at the start,” Yaffe-Inoue said.

“They have control over the general plot.”

Like any creative undertaking, the first course of action in the playwriting process was to make a general plan—an outline.

“That outline was very important,” Yaffe-Inoue said.

“I never would have been able to keep track of everything if it

weren’t for this big flow chart that I had.”

From there, YaffeInoue turned to his trusty collection of jokes.

“I had a list of jokes in my phone that I knew I wanted to include, so part of the process was writing the script into a place where I could naturally integrate those jokes,” Yaffe-Inoue said. “Then it was just based on ‘How can I set up these specific endings?’ and a lot of that is naturally filling in gaps.”

The myriad of plot possibilities that are entirely dependent on the audience’s choices posed a unique playwriting challenge.

“One of my friends described the ending as a labyrinth because all of the possibilities all have to be there, even though the audience doesn’t get to see them,” Yaffe-Inoue said. “It’s definitely hard organizing something like that—thinking everything through and trying to write for every possibility.”

With the elaborate story all laid out, it was time to bring Yaffe-Inoue’s

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playwriting to life, a process Yaffe-Inoue summarized as “surreal”.

“That’s really the only word I can think of to describe it,” Yaffe-Inoue said.

“Hearing people say the lines that you wrote is a lot different than reading them in your head.”

Henceforth, it was no longer simply Yaffe-Inoue and his pen that were involved.

Props, costumes, script lines that flowed well, script lines that didn’t—there were countless production factors to take into consideration, and The Huron Players did not disappoint.

“If there’s one thing to take away, it would be to just try things because if you want something to happen, then the best way to make it happen is to just start asking around and to start making things because you never know what some one might say. Ms. Federhofer agreed to it and I never expected that. And if I hadn’t even asked then this never would have happened.”

Top: Selene Koremenos-Tsebelis, the narrator, opens with a witty monologue.

Bottom left: The makeup team setting the characters up for success.

Bottom right: The stage design team worked hard to build the scenery for the play. SANDRA FU

Huron introduces gender-neutral bathroom VISH GONDESI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Aligning with district and state guidelines regarding transitioning students, Huron’s Athletic Department has added an “all-gender” restroom. The designated space will replace the staff men’s locker room and has already been marked by the appropriate gender-neutral label.

“The SBE recognizes the need for all students to have a safe and supportive school environment to progress academically and developmentally, and believes school administrators, teachers, staff, families, and stu-

dents all play an important role in creating and sustaining that environment,” a 2016 State Board of Education guidance statement wrote.

“To that end, students should be treated equally, fairly, and be protected from discrimination based on their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.”

On April 22, a portion of Huron students participated in the GLSEN Day of Silence, the intention being to “highlight the silencing and erasure of LGBTQ+ people in schools.” Protecting against this silence and erasure from occurring is a central theme of

the district and state policies regarding transitioning and gender nonconforming students.

“We are fortunate to be in a school that is supportive of the needs and rights of LGBTQ+ students and staff,” club sponsor of Huron’s Rainbow Rats, Kristin Kubacki said. “When we brought the need for an all-gender locker room to our administration, they were incredibly responsive. We are still hoping to add more restroom options for those who need them, but there are some logistical challenges to consider. This is a work in progress.”

Jaia Lawrence Iva Panyovska Jose Vega John Verga Stacey Viurquiz Ky’ell Williams

Huron’s new gender-neutral bathroom, located next to the lower gym on the first floor.

PHOTO BY SARA BADALAMENTE

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 3 | NEWS

Huron senior Zach Mayrend shot at Gallup Park RIDHIMA KODALI AND JACKSON POLLARD MANAGING EDITOR AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR shot.

All it took was one

The night before, senior Zach Mayrend was discussing with his team their strategy for Water Wars, a water balloon fight amongst seniors. Zach was discussing just how excited he was to his mom.

No one could have anticipated that by the end of the next day, he would have a bullethole in his left arm.

On the first day of Water Wars, Zach was ready to ambush his first target with water balloons.

Meanwhile, Tamara Mayrend, Zach’s mother, was in the middle of a scout meeting with her daughter and happened to talk to Zach.

“Hey how are you doing?” she asked.

“Hey, I just found out that the last girl went into the grocery store. I’m gonna follow her over there,” Zach replied.

“Okay, just be safe, be smart,” Tamara said.

Tamara says she “did

not think anything of it.”

Soon, one person became five and Zach’s opponent had arrived at Gallup park. Zach and his friend and Water Wars teammate Matthew Dowling began their search of the park for their opponent. They spotted her car and parked right next to it, and went into the park.

After they failed to find her in the park, they began walking back to Mayrend’s car and suddenly spotted car lights moving in the parking lot.

“We thought maybe she was getting in her car, gotten around us, and started leaving,” Zach said.

But as Zach and Matthew looked back, they saw another car. They walked up to see whether it was another one of their Water Wars teammates. They approached it to see if a Huron sticker was on the car’s front window.

When Zach was 1012 feet away from the car, the passenger in the vehicle rolled down the window and mumbled something. Zach could not make out what he said.

Then, all of a sudden, gunshots rang out through

Mayrend in ambulance at Gallup Park parking lot COURTESY OF TAMARA MAYREND

REFUGEE | FROM PAGE ONE “Many don’t speak English,” Koknar said. “That’s definitely the biggest problem.”

William Finch, a Huron High School teacher who helps refugee students adjust, can attest to the challenges of being unable to communicate easily.

“Language is the biggest thing to overcome, and will probably continue to be for a while,” Finch said. “But the refugees are picking it up pretty well and some are even answering questions in class.”

An Afghani refugee arrived at Huron earlier this year and Finch started working with them.

“You immediately learn how resilient they and others like them are,” Finch said. “They came on the bus

Gallup Park. He had fired a few rounds toward Zach’s general direction.

Then Zach was shot in his left arm. This all went down at the Gallup Park boat launch. What Zach thought was a safe spot. Where he would hang out with his friends.

“It was like a cap gun went off in my face,” Zach said. “My ears rang and I saw flashes. I didn’t feel the pain of the bullet hole or anything like that. I thought it was more interesting than anything that the adrenaline caused me to not be in much pain. I just felt the warm blood rushing down my arm.”

“Matthew, Matthew, call 911,” Zach yelled.

Zach was applying pressure to his wound and had Matt grab a first-aid kit from his car. Mayrend proceeded to call his mom, who was getting ready for bed.

“Hey, Mom,” Zach Mayrend at Univeristy of Michigan hospital to recieve treatsaid. “Don’t get mad, but I’ve ment COURTESY OF TAMARA MAYREND been shot.” was having a social worker Tamara was just when he called me.”

The call only lasted 16 talk to him and the staff before getting ready for bed and was minutes. they came and got me.” quite dumbfounded.

Tamara was initially Tamara was forced to “With a gun?” Tamara supposed to meet Zach at the wait outside for an unbearable questions. hospital, but when she looked 30 minutes before she could “Yes mom I got shot,” at the boat launch and the go inside to see Zach.

Zach said. “With a gun.”

U-shaped driveway, while “Waiting is the “When you get that passing the first entrance, she hardest part,” she said. call, your instinct truly is just As she entered Zach’s go get to your son,” Tamara realized Zach and Matthew were still there.

So she pulled room, he was frantically said. “Let me get eyes on you. in. asking the nurses and doctors.

Let me touch you. Let me know She passed by the “What are you doing?” that you’re really okay.” police officers and fleeted “What are the stats?”

Tamara rushed out of towards the ambulance first.

Understandably, he the house, on the phone with Ten minutes later, wants to know everything that her son.

“What I found the ambulance left and drove was happening, especially amazing is that — I’m not sure to the University of Michigan since he is interested in why he left the phone on — he hospital entrance. Tamara pursuing a field in medicine.

That night in the was on my speaker phone the expeditiously gave her car keys to the valet and ran inside. hospital, Zach said to Tamara, entire drive time, until I got “It was really hard “Mom, you were calmer than I to the boat launch,” Tamara for me,” Tamara said.

“He’s thought you’d be.” said. “We live a little further legally an adult, so they have “You don’t know if it away, so I may have driven to make sure that he wants a little fast. I was amazed at READ THE FULL STORY ON how calm and collected he was me, Tamara said. “That meant THEHURONEMERY.COM they added an extra step which

with two kids that they had just shows so much strength never seen before. My as- and perseverance.” sumption is that their parAccording to Finch, ents said, ‘Hey, your kid goes technology also plays a large to that school, so does mine. role in helping refugees beHey, can you come accustake them be- “I mean, this kid just gets tomed to their cause they need new homes and on a city bus with perfect school environto get there?’”

W h e n strangers and shows ment.

Finch first up and just waits to see “It’s good saw them, he what’s gonna happen. that they’re still was sitting by That just shows so much able to access himself in the strength and perseverthanks to the front office.

Internet and ance.”

Nobody knew smartphones and WIlliam Finch how they had stuff like that. All gotten there at this technology Huron High School teacher that point, and helps connect were trying them to their to figure out how they were former culture, and I think going to get home. that’s a big help.” Finch said.

“I mean, this kid just “They’re still able to watch gets on a city bus with perfect things in their own languagstrangers and shows up and es and see things from their just waits to see what’s gon- old homes, making it so that na happen,” Finch said. “That they’re not entirely isolated in

this foreign land.”

In April 2021, president Joe Biden announced U.S. military forces would leave Afghanistan.

Four months later, the Taliban entered the capital city, leading to the collapse of the Afghani government. The lives of people who worked closely with the U.S. militaries were immediately threatened by the Taliban. During this sudden exodus, many refugees personally experienced horrific and traumatizing events.

“When the Taliban controlled Afghanistan in the 90s, the level of brutality was absolutely astounding,” Koknar said. “That has been surpassed by ISIS, which make the Taliban look tame in comparison.”

But there were severe restrictions on what females could do. Women had

to just stay within the realm of the home; there was all sorts of brutality and public beheadings, where people were forced to go and watch.

“But all of our refugees are people who actively worked with the American military over the past 20 years while we were there, making them a target of the Taliban,” Koknar said.

Upon their safe arrival in America, after the precarious journey, the refugees’ new life is on the horizon. Although the work seems nearly endless at times, people such as Koknar and Finch continue to offer their endless support.

“They have just kept blossoming,” Koknar said.

“The refugees find so much joy out of life, even if it’s a struggle at times. It’s truly rewarding to be able to help them.”

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 4 | NEWS

My

experience

as

MELANIIA CHEREPANYNA GUEST WRITER

the news, texting my family and friends to check on their safety, and crying nonstop.

I don’t know when I will be able to go home again, I am a proud or if I’ll even have home by Ukrainian. I was born, that time, and I don’t know raised and I lived my entire when I will be able to see my life in Ukraine. Currently, dad, my little brother, my I am witnessing a horrific grandparents, my aunt and genocide of my people and my uncle again. my country being bombed My friend from Kyiv and destroyed by the Russian is hiding with her family in forces. the bathroom I from the think that bombs. Her by now little brother everyone is waking up is pretty every morning much and asking aware of “are we being what is bombed again?” happening He is nine in Ukraine, years old. My but I would grandparents like to are texting me educate from the bomb MELANIIA you more shelters. My CHEREPANYNA, 10 and give other friend my own who is also perspective. from Kyiv On shared her February experience with me at the 24, 2022, around five in the first day of the invasion: “We morning, Putin fully invaded all woke up at five in the and declared a full-scale war morning from the sound of on Ukraine, sending Russian sirens and later bombs. This troops to Ukrainian cities. At is the scariest sound I’ve ever that time, it was evening here heard in my life. I will never in Michigan, and my friend forget it. My parents told me who is currently in Kyiv to wake up and pack my bags texted me: “Melania, I hear because the war has started bombs, I think the war has and we need to leave our started.” And it has. It was home.” the beginning of all of the Imagine this horror that Ukrainians are happening to your family currently living through. and your friends. Imagine Later on, I started this happening to your hearing from my loved ones country. Imagine Michigan and seeing all of the horrible being bombed right now. I news. At first, it was hard don’t wish anyone to ever to believe that this was experience this. really happening. That my Recently, the small hometown Kyiv, where I was town Bucha in the suburbs born and where I have the of Kyiv was liberated most memories, is now being from Russians after being bombed and destroyed. It occupied for more than a was absolutely impossible month. It is tough to see, but to focus on my school work I implore you to research or anything at all because what happened there. When all I was doing was watching I hear the word “Bucha,” I

I don’t know when I will be able to go home again, or if I’ll even have a home by that time.

a

Ukrainian

can only feel horror and pain.

I don’t have enough words to describe what I feel. The only question I have is why the world is just watching? Why isn’t anyone doing anything with this? Where is justice for my people? When will those Russian soldiers be held accountable?

Pain is pulling me apart. This is 21st century. Why is this happening?

Call it what it is: a genocide of Ukrainian people. A crime against humanity.

I have felt the hate of Russians on myself, but thankfully they had no power over me at that moment. Like most Ukrainians, I have two native languages: Ukrainian and Russian. Ukrainian was the language I spoke at home and Russian was the language I was speaking with most of my friends and in all of the public places. Very often I had situations when I was treated differently for speaking Ukrainian.

For example last summer, me and my family were on vacation in Turkey. The hotel we stayed in had a lot of Russian and Russian speaking tourists. A random Russian man heard me and my dad speaking Ukrainian so he came up to us speaking Russian, mocking Ukrainian, and said “Why are you speaking your language here?” He was drunk and threatened to fight.

I wish it was the only situation like this, but I’ve had tons of them.

The hate towards the Ukrainian language and Ukrainians as an independent nation is something that Russia has always had throughout history. In fact, there is not a single generation of Ukrainians that hasn’t suffered from Russian aggression. My parents and grandparents lived through the Soviet repressions, my

in

great-grandma survived Holodomor, and now my generation is living through this horrific war.

I moved to America for the first time around two years ago, at the beginning of 2020. Every time when Americans asked me where I’m from because of my accent and I told them I’m from Ukraine, they usually responded with: “Oh, so you’re basically Russian, right?”, “Is that a country?”, “Where is it?”, “Is that a part of Russia?”

Now, the whole world knows about my country. We see people in many countries with Ukrainian flags protesting against the war. Now, when I say I’m from Ukraine, people react differently.

My American friends often ask me if I feel any better. My answer is no. I will not feel any better while my family is under bombs and my people are being killed. I will not feel better until this war is over. I will not feel better until there is some justice done. While Westerners sleep peacefully, Ukraine is fighting not only for itself, but also for democracy in the whole of Europe. Because if Ukraine falls, Russia will not stop there. It will go further.

Something has changed inside of me forever.

I’m not even sad anymore, I’m filled with anger. And this anger will never go away.

It will stay with me forever.

It will stay with every Ukrainian. We will never forget this horror. We will never forgive.

instagram: @__ainalem__

America 1991 UKRAINE BECOMES INDEPENDENT

2008 NATO DENIES UKRAINE

2014 RUSSIA SEIZES CRIMEA

2019 ZELENSKYY ELECTED IN UKRAINE the new president promises to end the war

Feb 21, 2022 RUSSIA RECOGNIZES TWO SOVEREIGN STATES Donetsk and Luhansk break away from Ukraine

Feb 24, 2022 RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE

In blue and gold: Junior Kirilo Pereklita recounts Ukrainian support rally JACKSON POLLARD STAFF WRITER You can see Kirilo Pereklita in the halls of Huron with his blue and gold marked Ukrainian scarf around his neck every day. He is a junior at Huron who very closely descends from Ukrainian roots and has a strong sense of pride in his family’s heritage.

On March 14, 2022 there was a Ukrainian support rally held in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue in downtown Detroit. In an effort to do everything he can to show support for those in Ukraine right now, Pereklita attended

this rally.

Along with heavy social media awareness, the support of the people was clear.

“A lot of people made signs and brought flags, shirts and anything else blue and yellow,” Pereklita said.

The attendance of the rally was massive, which could be seen even from social media posts if you weren’t able to attend.

“It started out as a pretty small group and got bigger as time went on,” Pereklita said. “We also had a march up the block from where we were protesting.

There were so many people there and there was definitely a feeling of connection between us.”

The energy that comes with being in the middle of a group of people coming together for such a serious and powerful reason has to be exhilarating.

“A lot of people were chanting and screaming a national slogan, ‘слава україні’ which means ‘Glory to Ukraine’ and the response chant is ‘героям слава’ which means ‘Glory to the heroes.’”

Pereklita said.

Kirilo is just one example of Ukrainian-

Americans who are proud of their country through these troubling times and as a constant vocal advocate for how people here can aid, he’s a great person to set the example.

“Being there made me feel so much pride towards my country and that so many people had shown up and come to support,” Pereklita said.

Perekilta, who has strong pride in his Ukrainian roots, wears his blue and gold scarf to school everyday.

GRAPHIC BY SANDRA FU

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 5 | FEATURE

Dear mom, the country on the other side is not your friend STACEY VIURQUIZ STAFF WRITER The U.S. is a great country for opportunities but for somebody who comes from a different country, it can be difficult to live here due to the different culture.

The mindset of many immigrants is that the only way that they can succeed in life is by living in the U.S., but Marta Mendoza demonstrated that’s not true.

How was your life in your natal country?

I was raised in a small town in the countryside of Mexico. I was the third child out of seven.

Being one of the older siblings came with more responsibilities so quickly in my life. I had to leave school because there wasn’t enough money in my house. At the age of eight, I would sell donuts in the street to help my mom.

For some time I lived with my grandmother and with her I collected fruit and vegetables in the fields. Once I was 15, I would clean houses and over the years I would work selling roasted chicken and do several other jobs.

Why did you decide to move to the U.S? I was 21 when I decided to immigrate to the U.S. It was a difficult decision because I wasn’t ready to come but my sister had moved to the U.S just a year before and I would be meeting my boyfriend at the time who had been living there for some time. One of the biggest reasons was so that I could help my mother. I would send money every time I had a chance. And when we discovered that she had cancer, I helped as much as I could with her treatment.

How did you get to the U.S? I crossed the border through the Rio Bravo with my uncle in 1998.

He was crossing as well for the first time and once he started to tell my family that he was leaving, I knew I had to make the decision. And so I did. I thank God there weren't any difficulties on the way.

Has it been difficult to find a job or housing because of your situation?

It was difficult at first to find a job because I would depend on my partner.

Because he didn’t want me to work, we had to limit our spendings. Also, it was challenging to own an apartment because we aren't citizens, so they would question us more.

Job was also a little difficult because I didn’t know the language and also I didn’t have the studies.

How many jobs have you had?

I started by babysitting my neighbors’ kids and that was my first job.

Then I worked at McDonald’s for some time and finally one of my last jobs in the U.S was as a server at a restaurant. I didn’t work a lot because my partner would take care of the expendings and after becoming pregnant, I dedicated my entire life to my children.

Did it cost you much to learn English?

Yes, for me it was really difficult to learn English because I would barely interact with people who speak English because my friends spoke only Spanish.

And still to this day I know very little English.

What did you miss most about your country?

The principal thing I

GRIEF SUPPORT| FROM PAGE ONE their feelings with him. At

the time that he created the grief group, he was not yet a counselor at Huron, which admittedly made the creation process m o r e difficult.

behind starting the grief group. "They were starting to spiral, and it was not just Zade’s passing.”

“When kids rely on each other for social and emotional When I first expereinced "I had to help, that can him, I was maturing as request only go so far,” a teacher. I'm still maspecial Gottliebsen permission turing as a teacher so said. “Having f r o m I wasn't able to recieve someone with [principal him in a way that I unknowledge or Carter] to experience derstood him very well set it up, to reflect and to arrange MIKE GOTTLIEBSEN guide through a spot to Teacher and Counselor that grieving hold it in,” process to Gottliebsen me seemed said. “[I had to] get necessary.” permission to send out a Gottliebsen was communication to send out immediately using every to parents.”

resource possible to try Gottliebsen and create a safe outlet to taught Shamma in multiple have students communicate

“

Page 5.indd 1

missed was my mom. She was going through cancer and I stayed so I could pay for her treatment but I feel like I could’ve spent more time with her. I also missed the culture and traditions and I missed the food as well: tacos, pozole, mole, mojarras.

Why did you choose to return to Mexico?

My partner was deported back to Mexico in 2012, so my daughters and I had to move back. It was hard for me because I had to sell everything we had: our house, car and all our belongings. And I also had to take care of my girls that missed their dad. On April 15, 2012, my daughters and I took a plane to Mexico and I never came back.

Why did you not return?

My mom was detected with cancer for the second time and I knew I didn’t want to leave her, so my girls and I stayed while their dad returned a month after being deported. I dedicated my life to my girls and I wouldn't want it any other way.

How did you start the business?

A couple years later, I separated from my partner and after that I started my very own business: a clothing shop. It was hard to start from zero, but for me it has been worth it.

In 2020, I opened my first shop. We sell jeans, shirts, jackets and more. I supply my business, manage the money and control my business entirely as a sales manager.

Although 2020 was a difficult year for many, for me it was a year of self growth. This year, I opened my second store and I have more projects ahead of me. I also found love and I am

living my best life.

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different classes over his time logically wrong statement. at Huron. He had Shamma So I grew to love him.” in his Humanities class and Gottliebsen recently became Law class during Shamma’s a counselor at Huron and sophomore year. his ambition for becoming “When I first a counselor stemmed from experienced him, I was student deaths in the past and maturing as a teacher,” it also motivated him to start Gottliebsen said. “I’m still the grief group altogether. maturing as a teacher— so I “I got into counseling in the wasn’t able to receive him in first place, which is like a few a way that I understood him years back,” Gottliebsen said. very well. When I encountered “We had a slew of student him [again] in another class, deaths at the beginning of it was a totally different ball the year, and I didn’t game. I was able to appreciate see a resource there to his breadth of knowledge, help them.” his ability to consume the The actual material and interact. I grief group enjoyed how much he pushed was just a things, and how much he wanted to — even if his information Huron students and staffs was wrong — call express their sympathies for out what he thought the loss of Zade by spray was a false statement painting the rock in front of by a teacher or a Huron. GRAPHIC BY GINA KO

quiet space for any and all students to come into, just to sit and talk about their feelings and how they have been processing Shamma’s death and what mental roadblocks and struggles that they’re dealing with that have come as a result of the tragedy. Gottliebsen was simply there to facilitate the group and offer empathetic, professional advice.

5/23/2022 8:42:33 AM

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 6 | FEATURE

Introducing the musicians ANNABELLE YE & SAMANTHA GOLDSTEIN DESIGN EDITOR AND OPINION EDITOR Timothy Krohn conducts “The Promise of Living” by Aaron Copland in dedication to late orchestra director Larry Dittmar. SANDRA FU

Dave Kim My favorite thing about playing music is sharing that interest and bond with other people in my ensembles. If we did not return to in person school this school year, that connection would not have existed and I would not be sure what I would have done with my college applications and interests.

Playing a concerto is different from others in that memorizing longer, complicated pieces requires lots of patience and practice– something that I’ve come to terms with in recent months. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to perform, but never with a live orchestra before.

My musical inspirations range from friends to professionals, but the main inspiration is my private teacher, Jay deVries. He absolutely taught me how to play and practice my clarinet efficiently, but most importantly he mentored my professional musicianship as I grew as a high schooler who was just playing around in multiple ensembles around the city.

My favorite part of playing music is the ability to connect with certain emotions in pieces without having to speak. It’s a feeling you can’t quite replicate anywhere else. Inspiration to play for me comes from moments in life that make me grateful for what I have.

It feels like a monumental feat that I have worked towards these past few years leading up to college auditions. It is such a rewarding experience that I’m glad I get to share with six other concerto soloists.

Chris Stocking

It’s just really fun to collaborate with people and it sounds really nice when you know you can play well. It’s fun to create a body of work that everybody’s putting their all into.

My inspiration is probably my dad. He kind of got me into it. He’s just been with me all the way. He played trombone in high school and he was kind of brought up with a lot of music.

It’s weird to be accompanied by a whole orchestra. With a piano, it’s just you and one other person who are having to agree together but with the orchestra, it’s you and 50 other people who will all have their own ideas. So it’s definitely more of a challenge, but it’s fun because it sounds a lot better.

Sarah Lee

I plan to continue playing cello on the side in college! I’m currently in the process of researching opportunities for me to stay connected within the orchestral community — I never plan to leave.

Elizabeth Stein

There are so many people and things that inspire me to be a better musician, but I think that most of all, the strong women in my life inspire me to strive for better musicianship. One of the former choir teachers at Huron, Bonnie Kidd, has always been someone that I’ve looked up to. I’ve always struggled with allowing myself to be in the spotlight and to speak up for myself, mostly because it’s easy to think nobody will want to hear what I have to contribute. Mrs. Kidd has consistently taught me the invaluable lesson of never being afraid to speak up and stand out because of the body I was born into or the age I happen to be. Whenever I feel afraid, or like I’m not enough in a musical setting, I try to channel my inner Bonnie Kidd, and borrow her confidence while I’m still working on mine. I will forever be grateful for her mentorship and guidance.

Bryce Yung Soloing with an orchestra is definitely a euphoric experience and listening to and playing with the original instrumentation instead of the piano arrangement is incredibly fascinating.

However, it is impossible to exactly control the mass of people accompanying you to do what you want them to do, whereas with a good pianist, you have a lot more freedom with time, dynamics etc. Due to these uncontrollable factors that come with playing with an orchestra, it is a more collaborative process with many compromises being made compared to playing with a piano. These restrictions might sound daunting, but once all the details are ironed out, I truly believe that a performance with orchestra is infinitely more rewarding than with a piano.

James Choi

Sean Xie I’ve been playing double bass since the 7th grade. I started music in elementary school with the violin before switching.

I started playing my concerto piece at the end of junior year.

Playing with an orchestra as a concerto player is a powerful experience. I guess it’s almost like being a conductor because you lead the orchestra.

I like playing music because music is like a “universal language,” and learning how to play (speak) it is an amazing experience.

Some of my inspiration comes from my bass teacher, also from some of the famous bassists such as Rinat Ibragimov.

I am not quite sure as of now, but I want music to be a part of my college experience.

It’s always nerve-wracking at first, but you get used to it and get more confident with the piece after each rehearsal. Overall, it’s really fun to play with the orchestra, and I’m really grateful for this opportunity.

I love the fact that playing music can communicate really specific emotions and ideas in a way that words can’t.

I’m inspired by the beauty of Krystian Zimerman’s playing, as well as the creativity of Animenz’s compositions.

I want to learn some composition in college to create some music of my own and play in some string quartets for fun.

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY APRIL 7 7 | OPINION | OPINION

Instagram Activism: Simply posting is not enough just a silent plea for people to believe they were somehow a good person. This kind of popular action has a name: virtue signaling. through Tapping The term “virtue sigthere’s stories on Instagram, sometimes misused. is naling” with yellow, a sea of blue and is those pleas signaling Virtue in summaries one-sentence when somelike likability, for what’s pretty fonts. “Here’s yellow and blue a puts one they Ukraine,” happening in bio, Instagram their in heart several before usually begin, people want they because just that’s slides of information to know how caring and at best—incomplete—and at empathetic they are to the false. worst—simply struggles of others. It’s not virtue signaling Why do share ways to we repost?

Why do we repost?

Why do actually help to Why do — that’s people we put the Ukrainian flag in we put the activism. true Ukrainian our bios? To put it simply, it’s flag in because we want to feel better It’s not virtue signaling to our bios? about ourselves. wear a mask, or To put it attend a prosimply, it’s test for a cause ----ANITA GAENKO ----because actually you we want to about. care feel better thing such no there’s But the take We about ourselves. high-quality low-effort, as care. we like easy way to act activism. The effort you put We’re scared that if we don’t, in corresponds to the real or ignorant, we’re seen as positive impact you have. cruel. and worse, insensitive with If you haven’t done more issue There’s no inherent than a couple emojis, you Instaof the actual practice haven’t done anything for the issue real The gram activism.

Ukrainian people. enough. it’s is that we believe Social media is powthe of peak last At the no denying that. there’s erful, movement Black Lives Matter of change. It’s tool a be can It some 2020, of in the summer way effective extremely an attack to as far people went so large to information share to repost. those who didn’t it use So people, of masses but “Silence is violence,” actual Spread effectively. didn’t square posting a black do anything for anyone, it was ways to help, like ways to

ANITA GAENKO NEWS EDITOR

Recently, many have taken to social media to comment on different world events. COURTESY OF ANNA ESPER donate to real organizations, or better yet, directly to Ukrainian people. If you’re just spreading informative posts, at least fact-check.

Some petitions just collect signatures with no actual actions, and almost every single

one of those “we’ll donate a dollar for every like” posts are completely fake.

Check back in on those forgotten waves of activism. When was the last time you checked in on Black

Lives Matter? Or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? The world of social media moves past real-world conflicts with the passing months, but people still suffer every day for a trend that ended last summer.

Is it just healthy competition?

RIDHIMA KODALI MANAGING EDITOR Last issue, I talked about how the incessant American work culture is destroying us.

But, the cause of that?

Why do we feel so obligatory to work and work and work?

The blunt answer: Competition.

Since elementary school, it has always been about, “Who gets the highest score on the math test?” or “Who runs the fastest?”

Sure, competition might be the main factor of how successful certain people are, but without competition, would any of us have the need to try? Probably not. Would any of us have been as successful?

Probably not. But, when taken in unhealthy doses, the excessive competitive nature in schools is sabotaging human nature, friendships and society as a whole.

It’s around us everywhere

and fumed in every person at Huron. It’s the thing that’s dividing the culture and friendship at our school while also creating the unnecessary toxicity. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people ask each other, “Did you get into U-Mich?” Or see the judgmental look from even parents if one person didn’t get in, because if you didn’t get into U-Mich, they act like your entire life is over.

Living in a college town — everyone, including myself — is dowsing themselves with extracurricular activities, AP and IB classes and, of course, checking PowerSchool countless numbers of times.

See, friendships are enfeebled, because the constant need to find out what “she, he or they” are doing and so people can find more opportunities to “one-up,” or say the casual, “Oh that’s all you are doing?” Now, it isn’t wrong to

want to be successful and reach a goal of attending a top-tier university. What’s wrong is how people are diminishing each other to get to where they want to be.

Competition does bring out the worst in people. Observing certain friend groups who go as far as not even helping each other study for AP exams or hearing people ask each other not to apply for certain schools is the brick of morale and honestly just sad.

Getting into college or preparing to go to a good university is already hard enough with a surfeit of pressure, and diverging friendships only makes it more difficult.

I’ve never cared who does what, nor do I ever try to compete. Maybe that’s why I have a different

................................

perception. Maybe it’s because I have friends who genuinely support me or maybe it’s because I never actually cared enough to note what every single person is doing or what their test scores are. But I do know that I need to stay true to my own character.

Wherever everyone ends up, we need to stay true to our own character.

Take a look around your peers, the students beside you. But most importantly the people around you. You might think that I’m talking crap. But listen, everyone wants to be successful but to be successful doesn’t give anyone the right to demean anyone else. Regardless of what you think while reading this, I am here to talk about how the glass is half-empty and for every optimist, there is a pessimist.

GRAPHICS BY ANNA ESPER

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY

Masking pro: The mask mandate should stay VIRGINIA HE GUEST WRITER If you were able to save human lives by only minorly inconveniencing yourself, would you do it?

You’d think that the answer to this question would be an overwhelming “yes,” but two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this fundamental principle of human decency has appeared again and again in discussions and debates. And what exactly is the source of this heated contention? Wearing a mask.

Some may be quick to argue that in a free country like the U.S., citizens should have the “freedom” and “right” to choose whether to wear a mask or not. Others may say masks don’t prevent the spread of COVID-19 and provide a false sense of security. However, the fundamental basis of these claims is, by nature, flawed.

Firstly, to what extent can we allow for total freedom and liberty? Can we allow for unrestricted slander and libel?

Can we allow for relentless harassment and abuse?

Much like we can’t shout “fire” in a crowded theater, certain “freedoms” must be reasonably restricted in order to protect the well-being of the general population, and this includes a proper mask mandate.

Similarly, we’ve seen just how this “restriction” on personal autonomy can greatly benefit the health of the country as a whole.

Extensive research has shown that mask wearing can greatly reduce COVID-19 infection rates and mitigate the severity of the pandemic. The logic is simple: effective masks decrease the transmission of infectious air-borne particles carrying COVID-19. This is particularly important in the crowded hallways of schools, where such particles can easily come in contact with hundreds of people and cause disease to spread like wildfire.

Masking to prevent transmission has multiple other benefits besides health as well. For example, when we limit the spread of COVID-19, businesses are able to reopen, people are able to go back to school and work, and society is able to heal. Mask mandates can help mitigate this transition, allowing people to feel safe when walking into a school or store.

This allows for the economy

to rebuild and for the public’s trust and confidence to be restored; something that would not be possible without enforcing mask-wearing regulations.

Ultimately, all the factual benefits of mask mandates

“

No matter how much a country values personal freedoms, the most basic principle is to protect its citizens under dangerous circumstances.

significantly outweigh any excuse to not follow research-based guidelines. No matter how much a country values personal freedoms, the most basic principle is to protect its citizens under dangerous circumstances. After over 80 million cases and 980,000 deaths, the answer is clear: wearing a mask can not be optional as long as the pandemic is still prevalent.

8 | MASK MANDATE

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 9 | MASK MANDATE

Masking con: Mask mandates should be lifted CARSON HAWKINS STAFF WRITER Mask mandates have been a topic of discussion since the very beginning of the pandemic with both sides having valid arguments.

Mask mandates can

“

have good reason during times such as surges. But mask mandates put in place by schools for no reason are just useless and bothersome.

It is the duty of the county to enforce mask mandates, not school districts.

A CDC study from May, 2021 showed masking un-vaccinated students and staff and upgrading ventilation is efficient. Which makes sense, however, other findings that are just as important were missing from the summary of this report. These results were not widely reported. What were the findings you ask? These findings cast doubt on almost all of the most common anti-COVID measures in our schools

such as social distancing, hybrid schedules, classroom barriers, HEPA filters and, most importantly, requiring vaccinated students to be masked. Each were found to not have a statistically significant impact. In other words, these measures could not be said to have been effective.

Dr. Shamez Ladhani, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at St. George’s Hospital in London and an author of several government studies on the virus and schools, shared his thoughts on mask mandates in schools in a press conference.

“The UK has always from the beginning emphasized they do not see a place for coverings for children if it is avoidable,” Ladhani said.

School systems all over the United States have been debating whether or not to mandate masks in their schools. Yes, the British school system is different from ours, but their experience during the Omicron surge is valid nonetheless. The UK relied on safety measures other than masking, such as quarantining to keep students

We can all vote for change and speak to our school board for change. I just ask of you to do what you think is right for our childrens’ safety, but also keep in mind the future for our children and their education.

safe and healthy.

Shamez believes the benefits of masking do not outweigh the harms.

“Seeing faces is important for the social development and interaction between people,” Ladhani said. “It’s a fact that children need to see other children to socially develop correctly.

Masks are doing this future generation no good.

Mask mandates for vaccinated students in schools plain and simple just don’t work.

They just cause disruptions in classrooms and are uncomfortable to wear. There have been countless protests and demonstrations across Michigan alone, and the majority of school districts in our area have already made wearing masks optional for students and staff and have had no issues. Schools like Milan, Dexter, Saline, Lincoln, Bedford, Manchester, Chelsea, Howell, Brighton and Jackson are all unmasked.

All in all, I say leave the mandate decisions to the County. We can all vote for change and speak to our school board for change. I just ask of you to do what you think is right for our children’s safety, but also keep in mind the future for our children and their education.

SANDRA FU

GRAPHICS BY KELLY PARK

?

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 10 | OPINION

Staff Editorial: What’s the plan for standardized testing days?

Huron faces a dilemma. For Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) to stay funded, a high percentage of students must take certain standardized tests. These tests, such as the SAT and ACT WorkKeys, each take around three to four hours to fully complete. In an attempt to accommodate these state mandates, and stay in compliance with Michigan’s minimum required minutes to constitute a school day, Huron used the mornings of April 13 and April 14 to complete these testings. The rest of the school day was on a shorter schedule. As a result, many students often do not attend school in the afternoon. In fact, on April 13, a whopping 65 percent of ninth graders, 37 percent of tenth graders, 45 percent of eleventh graders, and 60 percent of twelfth graders were absent. The day after, for the ACT WorkKeys, 31 percent of ninth graders, 62 percent of tenth graders, 56 percent of eleventh graders, and a 78 percent of twelfth graders were not in attendance.

Many would argue that school should be canceled for those who are not testing. However, due to staff shortages and inclement weather, AAPS has nearly no off-days to spare until school has to be pushed further into June. But attempting to truncate a 7-hour day into one afternoon is not the best compromise.

What would be a more effective use of time is for school-wide events that already take place during the year to occur during half days. Over the school year, there are many assemblies or events that easily take up two to three hours of the day, such as the senior meetings or transition days where local middle schoolers visit Huron.

Moving forward, when considering how to balance the number of legally counted school days, state testing mandates and quality learning time for students, maybe the solution comes down to moving around some puzzle pieces. Copy and pasting meetings, assemblies and events whose time frame fits perfectly under a 3-hour afternoon, rather than stuffing an unpalatable 20 minute chunk of “class time” into a testing day would much better serve both the wants and needs of the AAPS administration and the AAPS students.

Page 10restored.indd 1

Huron students react to classes on testing days

Question #1: How do you feel about going back to class after standardized testing?

Question #2: “The school board explains that the

reason that we have part of a school day after

standardized testing is because we need to fulfill a requirement of minutes to count for the school year. How do you feel about that?”

In an online poll on social media, students were asked if they thought that it was worth it to still have classes after standardized testing...

97%

answered

3%

“No”

answered

Q A “Yes”

Akshar Cowlagi sophomore

Question #1: “We shouldn’t have school after testing days.

It’s already a late start so not a lot of people come to school.

On top of that, people [who are testing] will be drained and [school] won’t be an effective use of time.”

Nathan McGough freshman Question #1: “The state should shorten the overall school year, so that we don’t have to go to school on testing days.”

Question #2: “They should add more school days [onto] the end of the year because those school days will be more efficient because more people will be there, and people will be end up being less drained.”

&

Question #2: “We should come up with a petition to shorten the school year hours. They should keep in mind SAT and PSAT days and just shorten the time.”

Tom Tan

freshman

Question #1: “There is no point [to school after testing], most people don’t even stay. I don’t get why they even add the 4th hour.”

Question #2: “They should shorten the school year. They should make the testing days count as a school day, and that would easily fix the problem.”

5/23/2022 11:27:20 AM

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5:MAY 11 | ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Copy and paste: Call of duty Vanguard is subpar LALLAMI BOULANA STAFF WRITER Call of duty is considered one of the most popular game franchises to date. With its new release Call of Duty Vanguard it comes with the same multiplayer campaign and zombies format as other previous entries.

Campaign With a little time I’ve had to actually experience The campaign (a.k.a. story mode) of the game I got to say that so far it’s an enjoyable experience. The game takes place within the timeframe of World War II setting at around 1934 it gives you a great feeling of actually being in the war and having interactive levels and great level design makes you feel immersed into the environment. For example there’s this section of the game called Operation Phoenix and it’s basically you infiltrating Nazi germany. I really like the way the game make you fell as if that operation actually happened.

Multiplayer The main attraction and the meat and potatoes of Call of Duty has to be

multiplayer.

Unfortunately, with this game it seems to be a copy and paste of a previous game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019). It has no unique change to it other than the fact that the weapons are all based off of the World War II arsenal. Even that doesn’t really help his case since there was already a Call of duty that took place in World War II and the weapons are pretty much from that game as well just slammed with a reused game engine.

Zombies The zombies game mode is typically a fan favorite.

Unfortunately Call of Duty vanguard does not deliver on that experience. Zombies at first was a round based PVE setting where a player would mow through hordes of zombies all the while ranking up their guns and having an increased world difficulty making the game mode more intriguing and engaging. Call of Duty Vanguard however, completely diminishes the round based formula in zombies and instead goes for a more completion based game mode. By completing certain objectives and meeting a certain requirement the world level increases as you

kill different types of zombies unfortunately this kind of goes against what zombies really is since the whole round based formula is out of the picture which can be a really turn off for Moore veterinary zombie players not to mention vanguard zombies completely gets rid of Easter eggs, which were a fun little things zombies players could do to enhance their experience.

Zombies pretty much feels as bland as you could get although it can be fun at times but that fun can quickly be cut short due to the amount of repetitive objectives need to be completed.

Overall rating Through looking at the main game modes Call of duty Vanguard is subpar compared to its predecessors not only being a copy and paste of with the last three games, but also them taking the lazy way out with zombies.

My overall rating would have to be a 6/10. Vanguard really has a lot of potential to be something greater in fact when

Left: Boulana playing Vanguard on his gaming setup.

RIght top and bottom: Paying real money for “loot boxes” in some video games, such as past versions of “Call of Duty,” was the only way to score top virtual weapons.

Critics say this is no different from playing slot machines.

“Loot boxes” have since been removed from later games in the series, such as “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War,” pictured here.

the game was first announced fans weren’t really happy with the announcement feeling like it would’ve been another repetitive yearly Call of Duty that they would’ve been disappointed in and they were right. Vanguard really had a chance to prove a lot of people wrong but instead delivered in a way where it felt as if the game was more of a cash grab then it was an actual definitive experience.

(Activision/TNS)

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 12 | ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

“The Batman”: Worth the watch LYDIA HARGETT AND MIHAIL GUEORGUIEV NEWS EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

U

AF

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His motive and tone were very clear throughout the movie, as he wanted to destroy Gotham City and it’s corruption and take down Batman with it.

Dano’s acting was stellar, as he went from perfectly calm to crazy in a matter of minutes when things did not go as he planned. Dano’s incredible performance came out to be an unexpected highlight in the movie and was critically acclaimed for playing his villainous role to a tee. The movie is a mix of a dark, noir mystery film and an action thriller that still manages to not be

dependent on fight scenes to keep the audience engaged.

Overall, the movie is amazing, and we see it as DC’s best movie ever released. Coming around in a three-hour runtime, is it 100% worth the watch. The Batman easily competes with other recent blockbuster superhero movies such as “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and is even superior in certain ways. It’s a common consensus that the movie is a 10/10 film, and we could not agree more.

H IC AP

the caped crusader, we see him evolve and grow as a character throughout the movie; as he learns the true meaning of being The Batman. An example of this is at the end of the movie, where we see him turn to a symbol of vengeance to hope. Pattinson did an amazing job acting and showing all the different emotions that Batman feels throughout the movie and the overall persona.

Catwoman was also thoroughly present throughout the film, the character was able to steal the show— with fans loving her character as much as Batman’s.

Catwoman aided substantially in Batman’s mission to stop the Riddler, and proved to be an important and intriguing side character. On top of which, there is an odd romance between Batman and Catwoman that is previewed throughout the movie, which fans went crazy for. The Riddler was also surprisingly much better than anticipated.

GR

Superhero fans, of both DC and Marvel alike, have long awaited for “The Batman” movie to come out, and on Thursday March 3, it was finally released to the public. Starring actors Robert Pattinson (Batman), Zoë Kravitz (Catwoman), Jeffrey Wright (Detective Gordon) and Paul Dano (The Riddler), many had high expectations for the movie and it did not disappoint.

On opening weekend, “The Batman” racked up over 240 million dollars in box office earnings, making it one of the most popular movies that has been released during the pandemic.

DC has been known to make dark movies involving serious matters and little comedy, and The Batman was no exception. In the movie, we see Batman fighting desperately to catch The Riddler, the classic, golden-age comic

book villain that DC fans have been eagerly awaiting to see introduced into a Batman movie. We also see him deal with community disapproval from citizens and police of the corrupt Gotham City alike. The Batman lives a double-life, one as Batman: the masked detective vigilante who stops crime in the night, and the other as Bruce Wayne: the orphan billionaire who shies away from the public eye. Though he is mistrusted by the Gotham City Police Department, Detective Jim Gordon allows Batman into various crime scenes of The Riddler’s gruesome murders with the hope that maybe Batman can help. “The Batman” shown on screen is somewhat new to his position. With it only be ing his second year as

A good pastry for a good price MARK KEREKES STAFF WRITER

berry macaron and a chocolate eclair. These were all presented in a singular box, and the total price came out Located on a busy stretch of Washtenaw Avenue, to $17.25, which is a tad high but still a reasonable price Luca’s Pastry lies in a small for five various pastries. Of and somewhat obscure strip the ones I tried, the best was mall. While it is neighboring easily the lemseveral other on tart: it had businessa soft, crispy es, such as “All in all, for the prices shell and the Chipotle and offered, I think Luca’s tart itself was Bambu, this delicious and new patisserie Pastry is a great deal not too overshould not be with delicious options.” powering in overlooked. its sweetness.

AlThe macaron though the ---- MARK KEREKES ---- was also very new location is tasty and it was a bit removed made properly from the with a crisp street, making outside and it a bit harder to reach, it’s a smooth, sweet inside. The still a charming small locacupcake was good, especially tion. When you walk inside, the frosting and the small jelly you immediately are able to filling.

However, the cake part see the bakery section of the itself was a tad dry on its own; shop with the employees bakthe jelly and the frosting howing fresh cakes and pastries. ever added some good texture They offer a wide array of and moisture to the cake. The pastries and cakes, including cannoli, their most famous cannolis, tarts, lobster tails, product, was satisfactory; the macarons and cupcakes. On cream filling and the shell my visit, I tried the original were quite delicious, however, Italian Cannoli, a lemon tart, a strawberry cupcake, a straw- the amount of chocolate on

Luca’s Pastry offers a wide range of baked goods, including cannolis, lemon tarts, cupcakes, macarons and eclairs. COURTESY OF MARK KEREKES the ends was a little overpowering. I believe that the eclair was the weakest of the five I chose, mostly due to the overwhelming chocolate flavor, but if you enjoy chocolate treats then this may be one of

your favorites.

If you are looking for some sweet treats or a cake for a celebration, Luca’s Pastry is definitely not an option to rule out. All in all, for the prices offered, I think Luca’s

Pastry is a great deal with delicious options; that being said, I wouldn’t recommend all of the pastries offered.

Overall, I feel comfortable giving Luca’s Pastry a 4.3/5.

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 13 | ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

South Asian representation finally done right in Bridgerton RIDHIMA KODALI MANAGING EDITOR Dearest Readers, For the first time in my life, I felt properly represented in the media.

As I clicked on the DM my friend sent me, the post was right there.

It was the post that announced that “Bridgerton’’ would feature two South Asian leads. I rubbed my eyes twice, and slowly, as the fogginess disappeared from my perception, I screamed as much I could exert.

“Finally,” I thought to myself. “Could this actually be a chance of good and proper representation?”

And it was.

For those who do not watch “Bridgerton” — and you should by the way — it follows the Bridgerton siblings on their journey to find love during the Regency Era in England. In season two, “Bridgerton” follows Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and Kathani — Kate — Sharma.

The day before “Bridgerton” season two was released, I couldn’t sleep. Even with how groggy my eyes were and the heavy bags hanging under them, it did not stop me from wondering and just hoping — a small glimmer — for stellar representation. My eyes and heart certainly needed a cleanse after seeing way too many stereotypical South Asians like Baljeet from Phineas and Ferb or Ravi from Disney’s “Jessie.” As well as seeing too many Mindy Kaling prominent lead roles being “the girl who hated her ethnicity and was awkward” — I wonder why no one likes her.

Stopping at Mindy Kaling’s characters and calling that “proper representation” was and is the bare minimum. I couldn’t fathom a better representation of South Asian women after watching “Bridgerton” season two.

As I immediately saw Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) in their beautiful Indian dresses (Banaras style) and the jhumkas (earrings) perfectly complementing their faces, I knew that this was not going to be another Mindy Kaling horror. The best part was hearing Kate’s first dialogue in the entire season being in Hindi “Oh baap re” (Oh my god in Hindi). I myself had the same reaction multiple times watching the show, especially with the “Kanthony” scenes.

From that first scene and Kate’s first dialogue, I sat back and watched as the representation was beautifully stitched and woven in. I think for the first time, I had no complaints in regards to the representation aspect and enjoyed the show.

From watching the Haldi ceremony for the preparation of the wedding to Kate applying oil to Edwina’s hair, I could not — I have not — related to any other characters the same way. The instrumental music of “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham,” a popular and well-known Indian movie, was truly the cherry on top.

The writers focused on the little things. It was those little things that mattered and it was those little things that made “Bridgerton” season two good South Asian representation.

I have always been proud of my culture, but as soon as I observed Baljeet and Ravi, perhaps I have quieted down and felt somewhat ashamed. But through the littlest of things, for Kate and Edwina their culture is shown as their strength, not a weakness. And that’s what made me feel so full of warmth.

Seeing the good South Asian representation in Bridgerton gives me hope, happiness and fulfillment in knowing that this is just the beginning and there’s more to come.

Yours truly, Ridhima Kodali

River Rats’ opinions Favorite dynamic duo?

GRAPHICS BY AUDREY ZHAO AND SANDRA FU

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THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 14 | SPORTS

Keep your eye on the ball: spring sports begin fresh journey SANDRA FU AND GINA KO PHOTO/SOCIAL MEDIA AND FEATURE EDITOR

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5 1. The varsity women’s soccer team participates in the national anthem before the game against Pioneer. 2. Freshman Warren Gunner swings in the game against Pioneer. 3. Junior Aidan Behmer slides to the second base as he avoids tag out. 4. Senior Emma Sutton takes a face-off in the second game of the season, playing against St. Catherine of Siena Academy-Wixon. 5. Freshman Sakurako Esaka hits the forehand volley in her single play in preparation for Skyline. 6. Freshman Anna Schneider does a throw-in.

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Huron student athlete Mya Georgiadis: On the track to success JACKSON POLLARD SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Georgiadis started running track in sixth grade and by the end of middle school she was recruited to run The word “difficult” on an AAU team. doesn’t even come close to From the time she acknowledging what it truly began running AAU track to takes to competing at make it to the national the big stages level, she had of one of the to find her highest levels It was countless long ‘why’ within of athletic hours of blood, sweat herself. competition, “It but senior and tears. But in the end took so much hurdler and I’m so excited for what sacrifice and Vanderbilt self-discipline T r a c k my future has in hold for to get to where and Field me because this is truly I am today,” commit Mya Georgiadis G e o r g i a d i s only the beginning” said. “I am lives and going to MYA GEORGIADIS, 12 breathes the college for work she’s free, as a firstput in. However, it hasn’t generation. Being the only always been set in stone athlete in the family it was that she would become a hard wanting something Division 1 athlete. when I had no one to look Everybody has a up to in the field.” different starting point, “It was countless giving them different reasons long hours of blood, sweat to work hard, but in the and tears.” Georgiadis said. end, everybody wants to “But in the end I’m so excited be the best. Regardless, it for what my future has in all comes down to who’s hold for me because this is willing to put in the work. truly only the beginning”

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Even with this intense passion for success, it didn’t come immediately.

The work had to show before the results would come.

Georgiadis’ recruitment did not quite g o a s planned, given that she didn’t have the best junior season.

I had to work really hard in AAU track,” Georgiadis said.

“I ended up getting recruited by my dream schools which I never thought would Georgiadis committed to Vanderbilt Track and Field.

COURTESY OF GEORGIADIS

happen. But my dreams were literally becoming my reality within months.”

In such a short amount of time, Georgiadis went from a talented athlete to a legitimate track prospect from the class of 2022. From the outside looking in, sometimes it’s hard to understand why athletes choose the schools that they commit to.

Georgiadis had a complex experience during her commitment process with so many choices and decisions to make all at once. Being offered full rides from University of California at Los Angeles, Ohio State University, University of Michigan, Vanderbilt and University of North Carolina, she knew she had to choose based on where she truly felt wanted.

“I decided on Vanderbilt because I saw myself growing in the environment with Coach Justin Byron,” Georgiadis said. “It was so important the way each coach spoke to me and the way each school made me feel. The University of Michigan had been my dream school since I was in the 1st grade. But the love just wasn’t there. I felt like when I was being recruited there was no effort put into my visit unlike Vanderbilt. The meal plan, massage therapist just for the women’s track team, and the facilities at Vanderbilt were just unmatched. But most importantly I felt nothing but love from the coaches, staff, and team at Vanderbilt.”

Georgiadis specializes in the 400 meter hurdles and plans on holding the Huron 300 meter hurdle record by the end of the season. Her high personal expectations make her a great local example to look to for upcoming athletes and shows what it means to be a Huron athlete.

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 15 | SPORTS

GINA KO FEATURE EDITOR At the age of three, freshman Eloise Cras landed her first step in an ice rink.

Since the age of nine, she has continued the journey as a high school figure skater in the Ann Arbor Area.

“I started doing it just for fun,” Cras said. “Then I saw a lot of other people doing it and it really inspired me because I wanted to be as good as them. I just kind of fell in love with the sport.”

Since Cras skates for both school and club team— Ann Arbor United and Ann Arbor figure skating club— managing schedules are

Spinning through obstacles: Life as a high school figure skater crucial to live as a figure skater and high schooler.

“High school skating takes place in the morning from six to seven,” Cras said.

“It’s tiring but I usually do a lot of planning so that I can still get to practice on time.”

Morning practice is not the only thing Cras has struggled with. She tried hard to keep the balance between practice and schoolwork during the figure skating season, even when she went to the national synchronized figure skating competition in Jan. 2020.

“I went to Kansas

with my teammates,” Cras said. “Although we didn’t win, it was really fun and a good experience because I had to miss school and see how to balance all of that.”

Among these difficulties, teammates have been the great supporters for Cras.

“Spending a whole week with teammates was a rewarding experience,” Cras said. “I have a group of friends on my team who are always cheering me on when I do something. It’s really important to have them because it motivates

me to do better.”

Despite pressures to continue being better than others, accomplishing things that only she can do in figure skating makes her stay motivated.

“It’s like w h e n

you accomplish things,” Cras said. “When I land a new jump for doing a spin and I get better [it’s great].”

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Reflecting on a four year journey in Huron women’s tennis team

Coming from a big tennis family, senior Kamie Mueller has played tennis in Huron women’s varsity tennis since her freshman year.

“My older brother was always really into tennis,” Mueller said. “[When I was] four years old, I didn’t really make many decisions. I guess my family wanted me to learn tennis so I just started playing then and I really enjoyed it.”

Tennis has always been a mental game for Mueller.

“When you’re playing a match against someone, you’re kind of on your own out there and you have to mentally be strong,” Mueller said. “Even if you’re behind you can still pull through and win the match.”

As a co-captain of Huron women’s tennis team, Mueller described the team as “spirited and full of enthusiasm.”

“We always go watch someone else’s match and cheer them on,” Mueller said. “We don’t see a lot of other teams doing that. If someone’s having a bad day, we are talking to them and making sure they’re doing okay. I feel like our team is very close, which is a very nice feeling.”

Being a captain is more than just responsibility.

For Mueller,

it’s about connecting the team more closely with each other.

“It feels really great to be a role model for the other girls and find ways to really pull the team together,” Mueller said. “Right now we’re figuring out bonding events that we can do to really get everyone to know each other better.”

Her efforts to make the team bond are found by teammates.

“Kamie is an amazing leader and teammate,” junior and co-captain Julianne Cucos said. “She keeps her cool and is professional even when it’s kind of hard to, but she is also fun and energetic when it’s the time for it.”

Reflecting on her four years in the Huron women’s tennis team, Mueller’s favorite memory is the state tournament where she was able to feel the team bond more than anywhere else.

“Our team really came together and felt like a really knit team,” Mueller said. “Cheering each other on at the state tournament, among all these other amazing teams from Michigan was a great feeling.”

Hitting for home: More than just a sport Starting to play baseball in kindergarten, junior Aidan Behmer’s baseball journey got serious in seventh grade influenced by his friend and family.

“My friend Jake was doing travel ball in sixth grade so I decided to do it too,” Behmer said. “He convinced me to actually getting a serious in sports. Also my brother played travel ball so that helped [me to getting in].”

Baseball is especially important to play as a team.

For Behmer, that was the thing that he liked the most about playing baseball.

“It’s a whole team sport and you have to work together as a team,” Behmer said. “It’s not like I did well and we won but no one else did. It is more like everybody succeeded so we all succeed together.”

The team spirit comes to him especially this year as the team returns to a fully in-person season.

“We did do in-person

last year but it was different,” Behmer said. “It is like coming home.

It’s a lot more fun because we can see the guys on the team and we just get to know more people and be friends with them.”

His favorite memory was when Huron played against Wyandotte last year.

“I was pitching and closing out when JJ started the game,” Behmer said. “He started the game off strong when I came in. To close the

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g a m e I was pitching well and then my friend Alex hit a walk-off to win the game. That was our second win of the season.

It was a really fun memory because we all went crazy when he hit the ball.”

PHOTOS BY GINA KO

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 5: MAY 16 | FEATURE

1. Identify

2. Write it out By having a visual laundry list of stress factors in your life, it can make it easier for you to manage by seeing what your target areas are.

Oftentimes stress can just feel like a daunting cloud hovering over your shoulders. But if you take a step back, and pinpoint the issue, a clearer idea of the problem helps to reduce the stress by allowing you to start making a plan from there.

3. Organize Record all the deadlines, recognize your weak points and target those points — condense all those points into a study system. Remember, everyone is different, study systems for each person will differ.

4. Make time for yourself Reserving some down time for yourself to catch a breath can actually increase your productivity and focus when you’re working,.Not to mention, it would reduce the chances of burning out.

5. Practice Gratitude Did you know that you can’t be stressed and grateful at the same time? Don’t believe it? Try it. Think of something that you’re thankful for, whether that be your loved ones, friends, teachers or recent good news.

Q: A:

What helps you manage stress?

This year I took it upon myself to manage my stress by being more organized and structured with my scheduling. By using a planner and a lot of alarms on my phone, I am able to keep track of my assignments and extracurriculars so that I am not feeling as overwhelmed.

Aaliyah Diarra

Sarah Lee When dealing with stress in my freshman and sophomore years, I was not really present.

The stress was just kind of there and I was like “Okay, it’s whatever. I’ll get over it. I’ll just study.” But I’ve become more present, especially in my junior and senior year. I’ve just been like, “I just need to take this one day at a time, an hour at a time, one study session at a time.”

So that’s definitely something that I’ve been keeping in mind.

A: Q:

How has your stress management changed?

Q: A:

GRAPHICS BY KELLY PARK

How do you deal with stress?

One of the first effective things has been making a schedule of what I plan or hope to do, even knowing that I probably won’t be able to achieve that. It’s helpful to give yourself a goal and a limit for what you can do in a day.

Also doing it with friends and working together can make it a lot easier.

Josh Sinha