Theemeryissue2 2016

The Student Publication of Huron High School

The

Emery

Vol I Issue 2 April 2016

Huron High School

Huron High S chool > 27 27 Fuller R oad > Ann Arbor, Michigan > 4 8105

Casting light on a safety concern Students, parents, administrators and community members took note of the crosswalk for HHS on Huron Parkway not being as safe as it could be. Students who walk or take city transportation cross the four lane street each day without a crosswalk signal, just signage for drivers to take caution of pedestrians. This will change next year... story on pg.2

School | 2 Local

| 4

Sports | 7

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News

Dimly lit crosswalk new project for Huron

HARLEY HAGEN | MANAGING EDITOR

ALEXA PEREZ-BERMUDEZ | FEATURE EDITOR

“I wrote the resolution that was presented to the council,” Lumm said. “It was very impressive and helpful to have Superintendent Swift and Principal Schwamb attend our meeting to speak forcefully in support of the Huron Pkwy. safety improvements.

Junior Sarah Ward walks one mile evNo surprise, they care deeply about you and your felery day from school to home, and her safety low students’, families’, and staff safety.” on the roads has caught her attention.

Through the various projects that have taken “I feel as though the current crosswalks funding in Ann Arbor, the $117,000 addition will be could benefit from one of those crosswalk funded by the Alternative Transportation Fund, and lights to get cars to stop, because sometimes if that falls short, money will be taken from the GenI have to wait a couple minutes for a car to eral Fund. stop or for there to be a break in traffic so I “I proposed utilizing Alternative Transportation can cross the street,” Ward said.

Fund (an appropriate funding source for pedestrian Although crosswalks are an asset to soand other non-motorized/alternative transportation ciety for the safety they are supposed to proprojects), and the Alt. Transportation Mgr. preferred vide, many issues have been found with the Each morning, students who walk and take public trasportation cross Huron Parkway. There is utilizing General Funds (not budgeted so from the no traffic light or flashing lights to alert drivers to stop for pedestrians. Neon yellow signs without city’s crosswalks, specifically the one on Hu- lighting are at the intersection for the high school. Photo by Brooke Brenner General Fund Fund balance),” Lumm said. “A few ron Parkway. council members questioned the proposed funding risk for getting hit.

As of March 10, the Ann Arbor City source, but our Public Services Administrator de“Many Huron students and staff cross four lanes of traffic fended utilizing the Alternative Transportation funds as proCouncil met to discuss the topic in further detail among citizens within the Huron community, it resulted in the ap- in the morning and afternoon to access the AATA bus stop posed.” proval of the proposed additions to the current crosswalk. on the east side of Huron Parkway,” principal Janet Schwamb The plan for the crosswalk addition has been approved; Despite the positive results, the current standards of transit said (as MLIVE reported.) “This heavily traveled portion of there is not a specific date for when it will begin. safety and the crosswalk code have been brought to light and Huron Parkway is a dangerous situation to both pedestrians “I can tell you that the work will occur over the sumand to vehicles traveling on Huron Parkway.” questioned. mer while school is out of session,” Council member Nick At the city council meeting, Schwamb and superintendent Hutchinson said. “Our plan is to have the work complete beIn a recent study, it was found that 42 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred on roads without proper crosswalks. Pe- Jeanice Swift spoke with council member Jane Lumm to ap- fore school starts again in September.” destrians younger than 16 and older than 45 are the most at prove the motion.

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News

Generation Z: the technology obsessed KARLEY MISEK| STAFF WRITER

ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND VISIONARIES.

It is not uncommon to hear negativity about this generation. Parents, grandparents, teachers, really anyone just can’t seem to help themselves from insinuating hyperbolized cliches about our generation—Generation Z. Named for proceeding Generation Y, or the Millennial Generation, (born 1980-1995). Speaking historically, Generation Z includes those born from roughly 1995-2009, although this generation is still quite young, we are achieving incredible things rapidly. Whereas Generation Y is known for being the pioneers of technology, Generation Z is known for using this technology—constantly. This is where all of those remarks about our generation play in. We are chastised for always being glued to a screen, and as irrefutable as that may be, is it truly the worst thing in the world? To some, the following may sound brazen, but should we really feel guilty for applying such innovative and useful technology to every-

day life? Why do we admire the invention of the light bulb so much, yet see a smartphone as a “brain killer?” A light bulb creates the opportunity to virtually lengthen the day, allowing us to accomplish more, and a smartphone creates the opportunity to make communication easier, faster, and far more efficient. We can connect ideas, purchase goods, even settle business deals on a device that fits in a pocket.

In the early winter of 2015, MTV conducted a survey asking teens what they think their generation should be addressed as. The final answer was...The Founders. Yes, we are now seen with the responsibility of founding new things. New concepts, new products, new jobs, and new sources of income. Although this name deserves high praise, we should apply it to the controversy of this generation.

Lauren Warren, one of Huron High School’s Media Specialists, thinks that this generation’s relationship with technology gets a bad rep.

Possible is everything.

“This is a huge topic and often talk is focused on the same few things leaving out of the conversation the many wonderful things that it makes possible,” Warren said. “Technology has changed the way society interacts, but this is not the first time we have had to adjust to new technology. As a Media Specialist, I love the access to information that technology gives, which I think is very much underutilized, as well as unknown to many.”

Warren’s advice to this generation: “Use it to its full advantage.”

With new generations, there are new factors that affect the way we grow up, what we shape our values to, and what we see as an ‘ideal life.’

Recently a survey was conducted asking 75 students from each grade the following question: Out of four choices what makes this generation different from others: technology, education, different societal values, or economical changes, and, of those choices, which factor do you dislike the most, or would like to

change? Of the answers received, the factor said to be most influential by far was technology—and for obvious reasons.

One of the survey takers, freshman Cierra Slater mentions that technology both benefits and damages this generation. “[Technology] Has made us more tolerant and open to new things, but has also cut off our communication with the outside world,” Slater said.

The technology accessible to our generation has improved incredibly compared to our parents’ generation, and even our preceding generation of the millennials. Which is kind of amazing, isn’t it? To think that within 10 to 20 years, the opportunities we are granted with technology helps us to advance to a far more superior species compared to the generation of humans that have perished.

So, technology is obviously an advancement, but with the second question, the results were far more widespread. Most survey takers an-

swered different societal values or economical changes, that they either disliked the concept, or simply wished that it existed differently.

On another note, some survey takers opted not to answer the second question, or were undecided. Since different societal values was chosen so frequently, maybe we shouldn’t focus so much on how technology affects this generation, but instead how this society treats us. All of us have a hand in how society treats our generation. There are many articles regarding this generation with many blurred opinions, but what should be interpreted of this generation is that we aren’t as reckless and self-absorbed as some say. We do, in fact, value more than just the screens glued to our hands. The generations before us should keep in mind that we are still in our youth, building a foundation for our future.

To see results from the survey, go to huronjournalismprograms.weebly. com: click on the newspaper tab

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WISD

Proposal for special ed can help all students Students receiving

“ special education WALEED VAID | DESIGN EDITOR

O

n Tuesday, May 3, the polls will once again be open. It won’t be Clinton duking it out against opponent Sanders like in last month’s primary. Nor will there be the highly controversial referendum calling for Governor Rick Snyder to step down due to the ongoing Flint Water Crisis. Rather, voters will be heading to the polls to cast their votes on whether they approve the new Special Education millage increase in Washtenaw County.

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District has proposed a new 1.5 millage increase to cover unreimbursed costs that are needed to provide special education. The WISD, as it is better known, includes the Ann Arbor Public Schools as well as numerous surrounding regions like Chelsea, Dexter, Ypsilanti, and Saline. The proposed measure has been supported by many families, especially those families who have children who benefit from special ed services.

Others are not putting their support behind the proposal just yet, citing increased taxes as a potential concern.

“There are only a handful of mechanisms for local communities to fund education, and this is one of them,” Washtenaw Intermediate School District superintendent Scott Menzel said.

Menzel is referring to a tax increase for Washtenaw county residents to cover expenses related to special ed services. If passed, the proposal would raise an additional $22 million per year for special education, with $9.4 million of that going towards Ann Arbor specifically. In 2011, a similar millage was passed with an overwhelming support of 77 percent of the electorate from

services include: Lillian, who has a visual impairment yet enjoys a range of activities including sports and civic groups.

Mark, who has a physical impairment, but is in the band, rides horses and camps.

And Zakiya, a budding artist who enjoys music and bowling, but has autism.

”

the Washtenaw County community. The 2011 proposal aimed to approve the millage at .985mill. “[The proposal] Impacts all students, because when districts have to take money out of the general fund that means that other programs are

impacted,” WISD Communication Coordinator Emma Jackson said.

All students within AAPS will reap the benefits if the proposal is passed, as well as the consequences if it isn’t. Under the current millage, many of the costs associated with special ed are not covered, and are subsequently withdrawn from the district’s general budget. This often takes away vital funds from other district supported programs: athletics, theatre, the arts, and even music have all seen slashes to their funds in recent years. With an increased budget, more money can be allocated to these programs, as well as other district supported services.

“Nearly 6,500 students in Washtenaw County public schools, or about 1-in-7, receive some type of special education service” the official WISD website states.

For over 40 years special education has positively impacted the lives of children with special needs. This includes AAPS, where nearly every school has a special Ed program that ranges from teacher aides, special support services, speech therapy, some ESL services, and assistance to those who have physical disabilities and/or visually or are hearing impaired. Public, private, and even home schooled students will be eligible to gain from the benefits of this fund, and with a current cost of nearly $121 million county-wide to provide special ed services, school officials feel that it is imperative for the proposal to be passed immediately. The 2011 millage expires in 2017 and the current funds will not be sufficient to cover the ongoing costs. The proposed millage will extend until 2025 if passed.

Others are not throwing their support behind the proposal citing increased taxes as an unwanted burden.

“For a homeowner with a house valued at $200,000, this proposal would increase taxes by

$150 per year, or less than $3 per week - about the cost of a caffe latte,” the Ann Arbor Citizens Millage Committee noted on their website.

The Ann Arbor Citizens Millage Committee or A2CMC as they are also known, is a non-profit organization that is striving to ensure that the current proposal is passed. Their website highlights the benefits of special education, why special needs students deserve our support, and how strong schools build strong communities. Their research puts into perspective how great the benefits are if the proposal is passed, and how little the millage actually costs the average homeowner.

“All students are important,” Jackson said.

The proposal is just one part of a greater effort to direct public funds back towards supporting education. The services provided by this proposal are vital to the education of thousands of students; and it is only with a communal support that this proposed millage, can become a reality.

“We will continue to provide the services for special education students,” Jackson said.

It is mandated by law that districts provide the necessary special ed services to those students who need it. Due to the federal maintenance of effort requirement, as well as other anti-discriminatory laws; the district must allocate the required funds to support special ed students. The proposal is designed to cover 97 percent of all special ed services, services that will need to be provided no matter what. Supporters of the proposal cite that if students get the necessary help while in grade school, they will be better prepared for gainful careers and ultimately become productive citizens in the community. Supporters feel that in the long run, these students will not be dependent on government handouts that are otherwise paid by our tax dollars.

Tax Increase if Proposal is Passed Market Value

Taxable Value

Monthly Tax

Annual Tax

$100,000

$50,000

$6.25

$75.00

$150,000

$9.38

$112.50

$200,000 $100,000 $12.50

$150.00

Issue 2

$75,000

Local Districts' General Fund =$24 Million 20% Current WISD Special ED Millage =$57 Million 47%

The Emery

Federal & State Sources =$40 Million 33%

Currently only one-third of special ed services are covered by Fed eral/State funds

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Whitmore Lake

Chelsea

§Deaf/Hearing Impairments §Specific Learning Disabilities §Hearing Impairments §Emotional Impairments §Blind/Visual Impairments §Speech and Language Impairments §Autism Spectrum Disorder

Dexter Ann Arbor

Ypsilanti

Saline

Lincoln

Manchester §The largest group of students receiving special education services have learning disabilities.

Milan

§The second largest group of students eligible for services are speech and language impaired.

=.5 Million Dollars *Values rounded to the nearest half million

§The remaining students have disabilities that range from mild to severe.

Ann Arbor will benefit immensely due to its high student population if the proposal is passed

SERVICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY

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4

100%

Ann Arbor $9.4

$1.24 Chelsea $1.3 Dexter Lincoln $2.5 Manchester $460,000 Milan $768,000 Saline $2.8 Whitmore Lake $453,000 Ypsilanti $2.4 0

If the proposal is passed, less funds will need to be withdrawn from the general fund. This reduces the overall amount of money that special education costs have on the district. $10.2

Mill.

75%

50%

25%

6

8

Estimated Revenue in $ Millions

10

$29

0%

The Emery

Mill.

$9.4

Mill. $.8

Mill.

$29 Mill.

Proposed Reimbursement Plan

IN EVERY 7 STUDENTS - RECEIVE SPECIAL ED

-2016 Millage Powerpoint

THE AVERAGE COST TO EDUCATE A STUDENT WITH AN IEP (INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN) IS $18,615

Current Reimbursement Plan

d-

NEARLY 6,500 - OR 1

Additional Reimbursement if Proposal is Passed

Expense that is not Reimbursed

Current Expense Reimbursement

*Based on AAPS typical yearly expenditures of $39.2 million

April 2016

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opinion ________________________

The Emery

KARA KOZMA | STAFF WRITER

The official student newspaper of Huron High School ________________________

Staff Harley Hagen - Managing Editor Brooke Golembiewski - Copy Editor Waleed Vaid - Design Editor Margaret Boerst - News Editor Alexa Perez-Bermudez - Feature Editor Ibrahim Jaber - Sports Editor Staff Writers Selestina Banda Justin Blake Brooke Brenner Jane Burns Gabrielle Carpenter Madelynn Chicke Madison Echlin Marcus Edmondson Alondra Garcia Kowinn Glenn Olivia Greenspan Sunanna Grewal Mica Johnson

Neverwhere: part horror, part satire, part urban fatansy

Kara Kozma Jack Kroll Amielia London Raymond Miles Karley Misek Kyle Moldwin Katherine Monnett Jakob O’Leary Alyvia Patton Kira Pierson Mikayla Sibbitt Alyjah Zavisa Husam Zeidan

________________________ Adviser: Sara-Beth Badalamente

The Emery Staff Policy The Emery, a newspaper produced for and by the students of Huron High School, will provide the student body with information pertinent to events, activities and issues that affect HHS students.

Letters to the editor are encouraged by The Emery’s staff. Letters may pertain to an article written or simply act as a form of student expression. All letters must be deemed publishable by the Editorial Board including the adviser. They should be 200 words or less but may be edited for content of length. All letters to the Editor must be signed. To send a letter to the Editor students may drop them in the publications room (room 4203)

interest with an uncanny prologue and exhilarating first chapter; and it only gets better from there.

In Neverwhere, Gaiman writes a vast and diverse cast of characters, many of whom are known to the reader only briefly, yet they all leave vivid impressions. Additionally, the story contains many point-of-view characters (among them antagonists), which allows the reader to view the unique universe Gaiman builds from a great variety of perspectives.

Neverwhere offers characters that are individually and collectively relatable to an immense variety of readers.

In addition to creating memorable and compelling characters, Gaiman devises a tranquil, eerie, and fascinating version of London, the Neverwhere is avaliable at any local Ann Ar- mysterious quality of which makes bor Public Library branch or at most book- the book impossible to put down. stores. Photo by Kara Kozma.

The setting of Neverwhere reflects its difficult-to-quantify genre by giving Many books fit securely into a sinthe impression of being of both gle genre: J. R. R. Tolkien’s works are fantasy and horror. The workings of high fantasy, Isaac Asimov’s science Neverwhere’s world are never fully fiction, and Stephen King’s horror. explained, and even as one finishes Other books, however, are more diffithe story, the universe feels full of cult to categorize. Neil Gaiman’s Nev- potential. Perhaps this is because erwhere is one such book. Part horror, Neverwhere was Gaiman’s first novel, part satire, and part urban fantasy, if not his first published work.

Neverwhere captures and holds one’s

In fact, the tone of Neverwhere is similar to that of some of his other works, particularly American Gods (which I enthusiastically recommend), but not overly or unpleasantly so: reading his works is not repetitive, but comfortably familiar. Gaiman manages to avoid many common first-novel pitfalls that one often perceives in the early works of admirable experienced authors. Today Neil Gaiman is a household name, and when reading Neverwhere, one can see why.

Centered upon businessman Richard Mayhew, Neverwhere is Gaiman’s unique version, or caricature, of the hero’s journey. The plot is as absorbing as it is serpentine. But I am afraid that, should I say more, I would diminish potential readers’ enjoyment of the story. Still, exemplary as it is, the plot doesn’t seem to be the point of the book.

Neverwhere is a series of fleeting glimpses of reticent places and people that engrosses the reader in its intriguing, otherworldly narrative. It is complex and thought-provoking, whimsical and amusing, and sinister and disturbing. I found it to be phenomenal, and I recommend it highly.

“It’s not the years, honey. It’s the milage.”

JACK KROLL | STAFF WRITER In mid-March 2016, shortly before we published Issue 1 of The Emery, Disney and Lucasfilm announced that a fifth film in the “Indiana Jones” franchise has been greenlit. Steven Spielberg will direct and Harrison Ford will reprise his role as Indiana Jones. The film will start filming in 2018, and is scheduled for a release date of July 19, 2019. This is cool to see, but is it really necessary?

The film that was released in 2008, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was harshly critiqued.

Most people agree that this movie was the weakest installment in the series. In the opinion of the writer, it wasn’t that bad, but it was certainly the weakest entry of the franchise. So, they tried to bring Indy back to the big screen, which didn’t go very well. Will history repeat itself ?

Harrison Ford, widely known for

his role in Star Wars as well as Indiana Jones, is now 73 years old. By the time the movie starts to be filmed, he’ll be 75 years old. It’s hard to imagine he’ll be able to fight bad guys as energetically as he did in the original trilogy or even the fourth movie. Sure, they could just throw him in a room full of green screens, but seeing a 75 year old man fight bad guys might look silly.

So is Indiana Jones 5 really necessary? To some degree, yes, and to some degree, no. The important thing to remember about this movie, as well as the other movies, including any sequel, is that it’s being made for entertainment. So, while it may be an overkill fourth sequel, it is being made to entertain us, and that’s never a bad thing.

It may be kind of bad to just leave the franchise where it currently lies with Crystal Skull, so the fact they

are trying to possibly end Harrison Ford’s run as this character with a better movie is a good thing. In the sense that this movie is just being made for entertainment, and it is good that after Crystal Skull, they want to give Indy a proper finale. So, this movie actually is kind of necessary so we can get a proper conclusion to the character. And the fact that we are getting another Indiana Jones movie, even if Harrison Ford is in his seventies, is pretty cool. When you go to the movies in 2019 and you see a poster for a new movie that has the Indiana Jones logo on it, don’t act like you’re not gonna smile. Regardless, Indiana Jones 5 is coming to theaters on July 19, 2019.

Funding for you, funding for me, and funding for generations to come STAFF EDITORIAL On May 3, home owners of Ann Arbor will head to the polls to determine whether or not to increase spending in the Special Education program also referred to as a mileage. Education in AAPS is at a greater quality than other school districts like Detroit Public Schools, it helps students build a foundation for their future.

With the help of the mileage, AAPS would be granted another 1.4 million dollars towards

education programs such as the special education programs at Huron.

Students would benefit greatly from extra funding, they have in the past and will continue to in the future. Think of it like an investment, we the students are worth the extra spending. Schools and teachers would agree that education should be ranked highly among our priorities, though it hasn’t gotten any additional funding in recent years and has had some cutbacks, this mileage could allow

for more opportunities for the younger generations and for future generations to come.

Annually, over 550 billion dollars in the U.S. is spent on funding public elementary and secondary education. The federal government spends around 79 billion dollars on education programs alone like the special education program. With the financial help of the mileage proposal, more education programs can be continued or added to AAPS’ curriculum. Though 1.4 million may

not seem like a substantial amount in funding compared to the amount spent nationally annually, every penny counts.

Voting “YES” would open more doors for our schools and for future generations to come. It’s an investment worth taking and will set a precedent for education and public school standards.

Seven

PHOTOSTORY

5 1

1. Sophomore Dani DiGiovine sends a rocket over to first for the out. “I’ve been playing softball for as long as I can remember,” DiGiovine said.

“It’s how I’ve met many of my close friends.”

2. Pitcher Celia Kent and Catcher Maggie Boerst are all smiles after a successful inning.

3. “This is my last season and I’m very excited to have such a competitive team surrounding me,” Co-Captain Maggie Boerst said.

4. Junior Grace Kent winds up for the pitch. “The softball program is up and coming,” Kent said.

“We have some really promising underclassmen.”

5. The River Rats ended up winning both games against Romulus, 7-4 and 10-1.

6. Sophomore Lexi Spect barehands a bunt before throwing to first.

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WALEED VAID |DESIGN EDITOR

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