The Huron Emery Volume 9 Issue 3 December 2024

THE

HURON EMERY

@THEHURONEMERY

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

VOL. 9 ISSUE 3

“Know your why:” planning protests at school ANITA GAENKO AND ANNA ESPER COVERAGE EDITOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF A person’s right to peacefully protest is protected by the First Amendment. However, for students, these rights become a little more complicated.

Typically, one has the right to peacefully protest without any repercussions in any public place—that includes streets, sidewalks, parks, and plazas in front of government buildings. But even in a public school, you can be disciplined for missing class due to a walkout, because the law

requires students to go to school. However, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, your punishment for missing class cannot be any more severe as a result of your message or political statement: for example, you should be permitted to make up your work the same way as someone who missed school for a non-political reason.

For

Ann Arbor Public Schools, protests and walk-outs are facilitated by administration to ensure student safety and a limited disruption to the classroom environment.

“We will always work with our student leaders, and coordinate supervision and procedures to assure student safety

the

on our campuses,” reads the official AAPS policy. “Thus, we coordinate supervision and procedures to ensure an orderly exit of the building, a designated gathering location, and an orderly return to the building.

In all cases, students will be supervised, whether they choose to participate or not.”

Since the school is required to supervise all students, staff members have to be present at any event that takes a significant amount of students out of class.

This means that a walkout is more

likely to be successful if the organizers communicate their plans to administration—and this way, students who participate will also likely avoid disciplinary action.

“First, I thank them for having the relational trust to share with me,” Ché Carter, head principal of Huron High School, said. “One thing I’ll tell them is that I can support people being safe, but I can’t support [their]your movement because I am a public school employee.”

If students are planning a school walk-out with a specific focus on protesting gun violence, they can register their event with Students Demand Action (SDA) to get support.

“When you register your event, the SDA team will be alerted that you’re hosting an event and can help with planning,

See Protest, PAGE 2

NEWS PAGE 2 UKRAINE CLOTHING DRIVE

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 5 HUNGER GAMES

SPREAD PAGE 8-11 CLIMATE CHANGE

GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE

SCAN HERE

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Huron HOSA competes at regionals and begin to prepare for states ISHAAN KAMAT STAFF WRITER Huron HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) just completed their Regional Conference centered around their medical events.

With 49 out of 63 finalists from Huron, they’re getting ready for their states conference on April 18-19, 2023.

Freshman Sarah Xu

talked about her event, “Cultural Diversities and Disparities”, where she had to compete in a written test and a tie-breaker essay question about cultural diversities and disparities in healthcare.

“To prepare for my event, I decided to read one of the books offered that gave an extremely good overview on what my event would be like,” Xu said. “I also took many

notes, did practice problems, and had late night study sessions that eventually paid off, as I placed first in my event at this year’s HOSA regionals.”

Senior Sena Yoshida competed in the event “Medical Innovation” where she worked with seniors Anna Wyman and Srinithya Chiravuri. “​​My group and I created a medical innovation that did not exist! We created

‘Sole Serenity Slippers’ which helps people’s struggles with plantar fasciitis. Along with the innovation of shoes, we made a poster board to present to the judges,” Yoshida said. “Our performance at regionals went very well! We were very prepared and ended up getting first place!”

Freshman Anna He participated in the event “Health Informatics,” where

Huron HOSA after completing regionals and moving onto states. COURTESY OF SRINITHYA CHIRAVURI INNO EDUCATION

READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

PROTEST | FROM PAGE ONE recruiting, ordering materials and more,” the SDA website says.

If a student is planning to organize or attend a protest outside of school, the school is prohibited from punishing the student in any way because of political messaging, no matter how “controversial” it is. This applies to post-secondary education as well, particularly at public universities like the University of Michigan. The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) at U-M even offers free assistance

in planning a “safe event,” according to their website.

Protests on campus, like the pro-Palestinian protest on Nov. 17 calling for divestment from companies affiliated with Israel’s military actions, are usually organized by student groups and spread on social media. For example, the Nov. 17 protest was primarily organized by Students Allied for Freedom and Equity and Jewish Voice for Peace.

A protest does not

need a permit as long as it doesn’t block the flow of traffic. A march or parade that blocks traffic or uses soundamplifying devices requires an application for a permit at your local police department.

“A permit cannot be denied because the event is controversial or will express unpopular views,” according to the ACLU page on protestor’s rights. “If the permit regulations that apply to your protest require a fee for a permit, they should allow a waiver for t h o s e w h o

GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE

Empathy in action: Huron Democrats organize Ukraine clothing drive PHUONG-ANH DO STAFF WRITER The Huron Democrats are teaming up with the Prosvita Society, which works to preserve Ukrainian culture, and the nonprofit organization C4HMI to help raise winter clothing for children in Ukraine.

The clothing drive is for anything from gloves, scarves, coats, etc. which can be dropped off in the donation box near the general office.

The clothes will go directly to an orphanage in Ukraine.

There isn’t a set deadline, but they want to get as much stuff as soon as possible before the weather gets too cold in Ukraine. The clothing drive

is a simple way students at Huron can help those in need. Every donation, big or small, helps someone in need.

“Donations and drives don’t often get very far in schools because people don’t know about them or they don’t really have time to do anything,” junior Zara Lin, one of the club founders, said. “So we just want to get something.”

According to the International Rescue Committee, about 3.7 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes and forced to live through the harsh winter conditions. During the months of December to March, the average temperature ranges from 23-36 degrees Fahrenheit. More than 18 million people (four million of which are children), need humanitarian assistance.

Fan Wu, the Chinese t e a c h e r at Huron, reached out to the club informing them of the c l o t h i n g drive done

by C4HMI to help kids in Ukraine. One

GRAPHIC BY PHUONG-ANH DO

of the members felt particularly connected to the cause.

“Mrs. Wu knew that I had some relations with Ukraine because my grandparents are Russian -Ukrainian,” junior Maya Martinson said. “So it was a kind gesture.”

Along with Lin and Martinson, juniors Julia Caird and Elsa Pasquariello started Huron Democrats last year as a way for students at Huron to discuss national and global issues.

“We started Huron Democrats because we all already engaged in political conversations amongst ourselves, and we wanted to have a forum for the school to do that,” Pasquariello said.

“We also are just interested in spreading our cause nationally and discussing national issues within our school and what we can do to help.”

The club hopes to use this drive to show how anybody–no matter how old–can make a difference to help others.

“We’re just looking to help out and show that kids can make a difference,” Caird said. “Even though the war in Ukraine seems so far away, these are little things we can do to help.”

2 | NEWS cannot the

afford charge.”

At a protest outside of school property, police may be present especially if they are notified of the protest by the application for a permit. If any streets are closed, police cars will block entry to traffic.

However, additional blockages by police may be unlawful.

“Restrictions on the route of a march or sound equipment might violate the First Amendment if they are unnecessary for traffic control or public safety,” the ACLU website says.

While police presence is rare in public school protests, there are steps by administration that go into creating a safe space.

“I have to think about the perimeter of the location,” said Carter. “We think about entry points to our school. I want to be in a position where I can see what’s coming before it gets there.”

Alongside location, there are three other pieces of information important to school led protests: communication, time, and support. For Carter, everything

“Have an action plan. Don’t just do it because everyone else is doing it.

Know your ‘why.’”

CHÉ CARTER Principal revolves around safety.

“It’s important for me to consider how the community outside of Huron may be impacted,” Carter said.

“If people from the community want to come and get involved then we have some issues because I can’t have people who aren’t fit to be around kids.”

If parents want to get involved, the school is required to hold background checks if the adults will be on school property. Although it may seem tedious to hold a protest at school, Carter suggests that students vocalize their ideas.

“Have an action plan,” Carter said. “Don’t just do it because everyone else is doing it… Know your ‘why.”

THE EMERY STAFF EDITORIAL BOARD: Anjali Nadarajah 424587@aaps. k12.mi.us Anna Esper 310650@aaps.k12. mi.us Satvika Ramanathan 405293@ aaps.k12.mi.us Jamie Tang 311245@aaps.k12. mi.us ADVISER Sara-Beth Badalamente Maya Fu & Melinda Mei Website Editors-in-Chief Emily Hu & Julya Mae Jones Social Media Editor-in-Chief Kiki Choi Copy Editor Zain Charania Photo Editor Anita Gaenko Coverage Editor Rowan Grenier Sports Editor Ashley Kim News Editor Ella Yip & Bea Harss Opinion Editor Kayla Fu Something Editor Fayeza Muizz Feature Editor Anna Lee Design Manager Ayana Adams Staff Writer Sydney Aldrich Staff Writer Aicha Bah Staff Writer Hezekyah Bell Staff Writer Jamison Black Bear Staff Writer Jayden Bush Staff Writer Samuel Butler Staff Writer Nicholas Casey Staff Writer Sory Cisse Staff Writer Ashley Cruz-Juarez Staff Writer Ethan Demps Staff Writer

David Dannemiller Staff Writer Lamarana Diakite Staff Writer Phuong-Anh Do Staff Writer Mori Escobar Staff Writer Joseph Esper Staff Writer Maria Farah Staff Writer Berenice Venegaz-Gonzalez Staff Writer Grace Henley Staff Writer Maya Haynes Staff Writer Daniel Hemati Staff Writer Jules Heskia Staff Writer Breyana Jackson Staff Writer Alondra Jurado Staff Writer Miguel Jones Staff Writer Ishaan Kamat Staff Writer Samuel Kerekes Staff Writer Kaimi Larkin Staff Writer Justin Latham Staff Writer Kerstin Mejia Martinez Staff Writer Israel Parks Staff Writer Nadia Ochoa Peterson Staff Writer Kasia Phan Staff Writer Sadie Plumb Staff Writer Justin Phelps Staff Writer Anna Reid Staff Writer Jayvon Robinson Staff Writer Alcis Said Staff Writer Isha Savi Staff Writer Jaden Shelton Staff Writer Jacob Smith-Kelly Staff Writer Kevin Trejo-Galinda Staff Writer Dennis Vega Staff Writer

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THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

3 | FEATURE

Trimming the trees at Tyner Furniture MELINDA MEI WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tyner Furniture’s longtime owner Fred Miller’s dream came true when Huron High School and Father Gabriel Richard High School participated in

Tyner Furniture’s first-ever Christmas Tree decorating competition on Nov. 12, 2023. Miller had wanted to hold a Christmas Tree Decorating competition since before the COVID-19 pandemic. “[Miller] came to me and said ‘I’ve always wanted to do this. Do you think you could put together a contest between high schools?’” said Ann-Marie Davis, a furniture consultant at Tyner Furniture.

“This was at the end of August.

I said, ‘Geez, this is not a lot of time, but I could definitely try and put this together.’”

With her experience in management and event planning, Davis was the goto person for transforming the idea into reality. She was also familiar with Miller’s goal for this competition.

“After COVID-19, [Miller] had seen a lot of people not getting out and having fun,” Davis said. “He wanted to bring some fun back to the community, to the high schools. He wanted to see the kids get out and have fun with each other.”

And this goal was accomplished.

The Emery staff began preparing hand-made decorations even before the competition. During class time staff members made ori-

gami flowers out of previous newspaper issues. The Emery staff really wanted to add a personal touch to their tree.

“We incorporated red to symbolize the IB torch of knowledge,” said Emily Hu, The Emery’s Social Media Editor-in-Chief. “We topped it off with an Emery star.”

What many may not know about Miller’s dedication to the Christmas Tree Decorating competition is the fact that he’s a Jewish man.

Christmas is not the only holiday Tyner recognizes– the furniture company aims to celebrate many different cultures and holidays. They currently have a Hanukkah wall up and are planning to have a Ramadan wall decorated next year.

“Miller wanted to bring together all these different cultures and bring fun back into the holidays,” Davis said. “He wanted to make the community alive again.”

And he did.

“It was a great experience and we’re excited to do it again next year,” Hu said.

Next year, Tyner Furniture will hold its second annual Christmas Tree Decorating competition and is challenging more high schools to join in on the fun.

A dream becomes a reality: teacher’s first novel becomes a motion picture NADIA OCHOA PETERSON STAFF WRITER “Love and Vodka” by Robert Fox is a story about what happens when someone follows their heart, not just mentally, but to an entirely other country. Fox, a film and English teacher at Huron High School, took a trip to Ukraine in 2000 and returned in 2001 with loads of experiences ready to be written. With his years of cumulated passion for writing and film, he’s recreating his trip to Ukraine in a movie called “Love and Vodka” that’s currently coming to life.

Although Fox’s movie is in production right now, it wasn’t a steady journey. Fox returned from Ukraine in

2001 and started writing his script that same year, over 20 years ago. The process was a little back and forth, “So, in 2001, I started writing the script, finished it a few years after that, and then in 2009 I started writing the book that got published in 2015,” Fox said. “So it’s been literally over 20 years of working on the same story doing rewrite after rewrite after rewrite, both that script and book.”

The production of this film went from the original script to the creation of a book and finally to the creation of a movie filmed over the summer.

Fox explains that although the film is being produced the budget is limited, this connects to how much detail that was originally in the book was able to make into the film.

“Now that the movie

From book to film, English teacher Robert Fox announced his first novel will become a motion picture.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOX

is shot, it won’t have nearly as much as the book has, because, with the budget, we have to scale back,” Fox said. “We couldn’t shoot a lot of the scenes that would

have otherwise been shot.

So now I’m just hopeful that it’s going to turn out to be a beautiful movie that will represent my experience and the book and the script.”

Fox stays hopeful and excited for his movie to be here finally, he hopes that after the editing process, he’ll include his movie in film festivals and one day, on the big screen or a streaming service. While talking about the production of this film Fox shared his true passion for script writing and where it came from.

“When I was in tenth grade, I had a teacher who really inspired me to go into writing,” Fox said. “And really, it’s part of my love for film. I really kind of owe it all to her.

I’m still in touch with her.

She’s been long retired, but we’re still close. I consider

her my hero because she kind of gave me my dream.”

Fox expresses that it isn’t always easy, juggling teaching and selling his books, and now “Love and Vodka.” Fox said some challenges always come with doing what you love.

“I always try to stress that student should always follow their dreams and passions,” Fox said. “Even if you’re not getting paid for it, you can still find ways to do it. So like, if you want to be an actor, you could do community theater, you can still do short films, and so on. And maybe you’re not getting paid or not getting big Hollywood treatment, but you’re still getting the satisfaction of creating something and you know, getting your voice out there, that’s sometimes worth more than money.”

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

4 | FEATURE

Breaking barriers: navigating racism and food insecurity SATVIKA RAMANATHAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

younger generations, instead of trying to make amends. It’s ‘No, you don’t talk to them,’ or ‘No, you don’t play with them because they’re Black.’ So it’s never going to truly get better if parents are passing it down to their children.”

Part 1 Pharmacist and phlebotomist Shantana Harvey was busy at work one day earlier this year. A woman walked up to the pharmacy counter, looking for assistance. Harvey offered to help, and the woman said, “Can someone else help me?”

“Excuse me?”

Harvey responded.

“I would like someone else to help me because you look like you have an attitude,” the other woman said.

Her coworker walked over to help her with her question, and the lady walked away.

“Wow,” Harvey’s coworker said to her, “That was rude.”

Harvey’s eyes welled up with tears, and she walked away from the counter to gather herself.

“I stood there in disbelief for a few minutes because I was being judged before I could even offer assistance,” Harvey said, reflecting on that moment.

The woman didn’t know Harvey. She didn’t even know her name, but she made an assumption about Harvey, a Black woman. It brought Harvey to tears. Harvey felt even worse because the other woman was Black too.

“I have to push my feelings to the side, I have to push my feelings to the back,” she said. “You go in your car

Part 2

GRAPHIC BY ELLA YIP and you go home and you cry, because you’ve been treated like this still, in this time. I thought the world was past racism and gender roles and all of that, but it’s not. They’re not.”

Harvey is a single mom of two, and she moved from Nevada to Michigan a year and a half ago. Being a Black woman also comes with additional challenges thrown into the mix, like balancing “fitting-in” with being yourself.

“I want to stay true

to myself,” Harvey said. “But I also want to somewhat fit in with the environment that I’m in. I’m already Black and already a woman—I don’t want to be looked at as the oddball. And that’s somewhat difficult. Either I’m fitting in to what they’re doing, or I’m trying to be myself, and there’s a conflict there.”

She believes she gets looked at differently because of the color of her skin.

“It’s hurtful. I feel like we all [should be] afforded the same opportunities,” Harvey said. “We should be able to work wherever we will, and drive whatever we want and live in the area that we want.”

“People haven’t matured out of that place in their mind that ‘Black people sit over here, and white people sit over here,’” Harvey said. “It’s a way of life right now. It’s sad because the older generations are passing it down to the

Another impactful part of Harvey’s life has been dealing with food insecurity. Being a single mom, it has been challenging to pay for everything, including food.

“Some days are better than others,” Harvey said.

“We’ve always had food, but we weren’t always sure we would. And then being a single mom, it’s just difficult.

You’ve got to feed two kids by yourself on your only income.”

Food insecurity is defined by the USDA as “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” According to Feeding America, over 44 million people struggle with food insecurity in the U.S., and more than 1.1 million people are food insecure in Michigan.

When someone is not within a certain wage bracket, they don’t necessarily qualify for state benefits. When Harvey first moved to Michigan, she wasn’t working, and she READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM

By the numbers: food insecurity in the U.S., Michigan, and Washtenaw County * according to Feeding America

GRAPHIC BY ANITA GAENKO

Greenwashing: The Devil Behind Sustainability Staff Editorial: How to be a Hero, Not a Victim From reusable water bottles to organic clothing, sustainability has become the latest marketing strategy for companies to lure in starry-eyed consumers.

Think back-to-school shopping and Black Friday sales. It’s no secret that we love to shop. In recent years, companies like Starbucks and H&M have faced criticism for using green-sounding language and irrelevant claims to misguide consumers.

As consumers, we should remain vigilant about greenwashing. If you dig deeper, that so-called sustainable product or brand you love might not be as environmentally responsible as you think.

Say no to fast fashion.

Skip out on buying another pair of shoes, another whatever. Instead, try mending your belongings, swapping with a friend, or buying second-hand. Look for brands

that are transparent about their sustainability practices.

Choose products that you and the environment can cherish for years to come.

Cook at home instead of eating out to reduce your carbon footprint. Try new recipes. Consider eating less red meat or switching to a plant-based diet. Ann Arbor offers many vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants.

Often, sustainable products are expensive or

unrealistic. That’s okay. Grab the hoodie on sale or the instant ramen for that midnight meal. Your purchasing power is but one of the many ways you can be sustainable.

Instead, find ways to be sustainable in your everyday life. Did you know that Americans use 5 trillion plastic bags a year? Reuse that plastic bag for the next time you head out. Turn off the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth. Turn off the lights

when you leave. Be creative.

And be bold.

Today is a great day to start.

GRAPHIC BY PHUONG-ANH DO

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

5 | A&E

The odds were always in his favor: The Hunger Games EMILY HU SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “This was the best movie I had ever watched in my life” - that was my only thought as I stepped out of the movie theatre on the day it was released on Nov. 17, 2023, still amazed and overflowing with intense emotions the movie had given me. A full 5 out of 5-star movie.

Upon going to the movie, I was actually unsure of what to expect, especially noticing the movie was a whole three hours long. To say the least, I had reckoned I would fall asleep midway, as I tend to have a habit of doing in those smooth, relaxing chairs I laid on while watching.

I was utterly mistaken. The movie acts as a prequel to the popular Hunger Games, exploring Coriolanus Snow, the central antagonist in the other movies, on how he came to be who he turned out to be.

His story is fully explained.

Tom Blyth did a spectacular job of portraying the inner conflict Snow went through throughout the movie.

Taking us back to the world of Panem, we see the depth and cruelty of human nature. How far is someone willing to go to survive? We see the conflicts Snow has to go through, picking between killing or surviving. With odds stacked against him, he’s willing to do whatever he has to do to get to the top.

But, it’s not just a simple game. Snow, at the beginning of the movie, is still an innocent, naive, yet smart boy. But as the games progressed, he had to kill to be able to save the ones he loved, to be able to afford to go to university and to reclaim his family’s dignity. To win the ultimate prize and money to be able to do all these things, he is determined to make sure his mentee, Lucy Gray from District 12, ends up alive.

Every choice and step he takes drags him down deeper and deeper, turning

him into the cold, cruel man we see in the other movies.

Some may claim he had the option to choose other paths, but did he really, when society pushed him against a wall?

On the other spectrum, we see Lucy Gray, drafted as the tribute for District 12. Her story shows resilience and determination.

She is a singer and a performer. A stark contrast between the main character of the other three Hunger Games movies, Katniss Everdeen. One comment I read really touched me.

“Lucy Gray is a performer forced to fight and Katniss is a fighter forced to perform,” Rachel Ziegler, actress of Lucy Gray, said. Lucy Gray at heart was a singer forced into the treacherous ring of the Hunger Games. On the contrary, Katniss Everdeen was herself a fighter but was forced to perform in the games to gain the likes of sponsors so she could get materials to use during the game.

In the movie, we

see the many similarities and easter eggs between this movie and the others. For example, the similarities between the protagonist of this book, Lucy Gray, and the protagonist of the other Hunger Games books, Katness Everdeen. Whether this be the iconic bow in the beginning that both Lucy Gray and Katniss Everdeen performed, the mockingjays flying and singing in the sky, or the Katniss plants that Gray picks out.

Besides the many theories people have after watching the prequel story now, the main question that everyone asks is, “Where did Lucy Gray go?” One of the most fascinating parts of the story was the emotional and love connection between Gray and Snow. Fighting hand in hand, they create a bond unbreakable to the outside eye. That is, of course, broken after Gray learns Snow has betrayed his best friend. Gray believes that survival still requires a moral code while Snow believes doing anything

to survive is justified.

As she runs away, with Snow chasing after her, the true climax and turn of Snow’s destruction and madness occurs. As he shoots up into the trees, firing up at the Mockingjays that symbolize their love, his hatred towards the world and his wounded heart cracks.

He will end up spending his whole life searching for any trace of her.

The movie ends with Snow getting the opportunities he had always wanted and his ideas implemented into the games.

His story is fully explained.

The movie ends with Olivia Rodrigo’s song, “Can’t Catch Me Now,” a song she wrote after watching the whole movie. Lyrics, from Gray to Snow, “I’m here, I’m there, I’m everywhere. But you can’t catch me now.”

GRAPIC BY KIKI CHOI

Sweet and salty: Mochinut brings cultural fusion to Ann Arbor Hana Miller STAFF WRITER Last week, I got a chance to visit Mochinut at 1771 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor, which opened on Nov. 3, 2023. Mochinut has some iconic mochi donuts, with 25 different flavors to choose from.

Mochi donuts originated in Hawaii, and are a fusion of traditional American donuts and Japanese mochi. Mochi donuts have a bubble-like look with a golden brown outside and a light fluffy middle. What makes them even better are all the unique flavors that they offer. They have a flavor for everybody. For chocolate lovers, they have Nutella,

cookies and cream, and chocolate. For fruit lovers, they offer blueberry, mango, banana milk, and strawberry flavors. Of course, you can also never go wrong with the plain.

People have described the texture as a soft, chewy donut that is super fluffy.

However, the specialty donuts go beyond just the feeling – some of the donuts also have notable designs.

“The blueberry mochi donut looks kind of like a night sky with the dark blue frosting and powdered sugar,” senior Maya Fu said.

Senior Melinda Mei got a chance to try the holiday donut, with chocolate, pretzels, and a red candy on

Mochinut’s mochi donuts come in over 20 flavors and offerings vary by location. PHOTO BY JULYA MAE JONES

Mochinut offers a wide selection of Korean corn dogs.

PHOTO BY HANA MILLER

top.

“The chocolate makes it really sweet, but the saltiness of the pretzel meshes really well for a nice flavor,” Mei said. “The dough part tastes kind of oily but doesn’t have much flavor.”

Like Mei, others have also said that the donuts are a bit oily and don’t have much of a strong taste, with most of the flavor coming from the icing on top. Others said that the matcha mochi donuts can taste a bit harsh.

“I thought that the matcha powder was a bit overpowering,” freshman Sydney Aldrich said. “The matcha powder made the donut taste a bit bitter. The donut part was very good though.”

Beyond just sweet treats, Mochinut also offers a range of salty options. There are numerous Korean corn dog options available, one of which is the half-and-half with potato. The corn dog has potato cubes on the outer corn dog, with half cheese on the top and a hot dog on the bottom.

The inside is super cheesy, while the outside is crispy and golden.

The Korean corn dogs are available in a variety of flavors, including potato, hot cheeto, and ramen!

Whether you’re looking to satisfy a sweet or salty tooth, Mochinut is a destination you should try. With a single donut at $4.50 and a dozen for $30, Mochinut leans on the pricey side, but the unique offerings is definitely worth the money.

Academy, a few examples are “year-round advocacy work to help pass legislation In November, the Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards that will take place in February. The Grammys are music’s biggest night of the year, giving the top artists and musicians of the year three hours of recognition. One nomination is all someone needs for their Besides the usual fanbase anger of their favorite artists being snubbed, the Grammys have had a lot of controversy around it. In the past few years, The Recording Academy has been called out by fans and artists for the way they choose nominations and winners of the categories.

There have been issues of gender and racial equality inside not only the nominations, but The Academy as a whole.

In comparison to the honor of the award, the Academy is fairly easy to join.

To be able to join, candidates have to have two strong recommendation letters from known music industry “peers.” After this step, candidates are required to write a their career, stating why they should be part of The Academy and possibly be on the voting team.

Once someone is accepted into the Recording Academy, there is a 150 dollar annual payment due. With this, membership dues cover

and “MusiCares’ health and human services supporting music people in need.”

But besides the known problems inside The Academy, the nominations, almost deserved and correct.

With this, there is more work to secure the win.

After the nomination, it is peak campaign season.

To be able to win your nominations, it is important to campaign for yourself. This is when artists begin interviews with big music publications like “Variety” and “Rolling Stone.” It’s all about getting your name out, and making your peers recognize you.

Besides interviews, one of the popular ways of campaigning is Saturday Night Live (SNL).

What goes into each nomination has a lot of work to go in. Each artist is deserving, and had their moment throughout the year. These are the top three categories: Album Of The Year: The biggest award of the night. According to The Academy, this category is awarded to “artistic achieveand overall excellence in the recording industry.” Included in the four categories in

support the music community. According to the Recording

most prestigious Grammy an artist can win. The albums nominated for this year are “World Music Radio” by Jon Batiste, “the record”

by Boygenius, “Endless Summer Vacation” by Mi

The Beatles have again made a lasting impact

new Beatles song since the ‘90s. Formed in the 1960s, the Beatles crafted 20 number-one hit singles, solidifying their status as one of

release, “Now and Then,” delivering a bittersweet conclusion to the legendary group. Originating as a home demo by John Lennon in the 1970s, this emotional song has now blossomed into another Beatles hit. “Now and Then” stands as a singular creation, initiated two decades ago and completed by his former bandmates, providing fans the closure they deserve.

all time.

Initially, there was skepticism about this project.

Yet, in McCartney’s “Now and Then - The Last Beatles Song,” McCartney states, “Let’s say I had a chance to ask John, ‘Hey John, would you like yours?’ I’m telling you, I know the answer would have been, ‘Yeah!’ He would have loved that.” Despite the deaths of

ley Cyrus, “Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” by Lana Del Ray, “The Age Of Pleasure” by Janelle Monáe, “GUTS” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Midnights” by Taylor Swift and “SOS” by SZA. The category is packed. From “SOS” which might literally be the album of the year to “the record” being the supergroup made of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, the race is tight, especially since Swift is in the running.

Overall, SZA deserves the win. “SOS” is an incredible album that incorporates R&B roots, perfect sampling and lyrics to draw you in. With her leading the pool with nine nominations including three big four categories, Pop Duo/ Group Performance for her song “Ghost in the Machine ‘’ with Bridgers and other genre is hers.

Record Of The Year: As a part of the big four categories, The Academy describes this category as ing of a song and recognizes the artists, producers and engineers who contribute to that recording.” The nominations go to “Worship” by Jon Batiste, “Not Strong Enough” by Boygenius, “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “What Was I Made For?”

by Billie Eilish, “On My Mama” by Victoria Monét, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Anti-Hero”

by Taylor Swift, and “Kill

John Lennon in 1980 and George Harrison in 2001, all four Beatles are featured on the track.

In the ‘90s, attempts Harrison’s guitar work and a cassette tape with Lennon’s vocals faced challenges due to technology limitations, resulting in Lennon’s voice being drowned out by the piano. McCartney praised the song, claiming that it would be completed someday. In 2022, the project resumed, after gaining permission to use sound separation technology that Peter Jackson used in “The Beatles: Get Back”

Bill” by SZA. Like Album of the Year, this category was neckand-neck. Overall, these are the top records of the year.

The award could go one of

being nominated with their

the obvious and safe way, with “Kill Bill,” “Anti-Hero,” or “What Was I Made For?” These three songs are also nominated for Song of the Year, who wins and what they win is the interesting part.

On the other hand, The Academy gives the award to “Not Strong Enough.” Besides being my top pick in the category, this record has everything from scarily relatable lyrics, strong production, and hauntingly beautiful vocals.

It might be the best recording on the list. After last year with winners that shocked everyone, they have as much of a chance as anyone.

Song Of The Year: The third category in the big four, The Academy describes it as “Deals with the composition of a song and recognizes the songwriters who wrote the song.” The nominations go to “A&W

by Lana Del Ray, “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift, tiste, “Dance the Night”

by Dua Lipa, “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “Kill Bill” by SZA, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo and “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish.

Overall, all of these nominations are deserved.

Each song in this category was created by talented teams, including Swift and Del Ray

is nominated for Producer Of The Year. If the category stays true to all elements of the song and not popularity, the award could easily go to Del Ray. “A&W” is a seven minute long ballad with folk, pop, and trap genres shining through, bridging together by the lyrics, “this is the experience of being an American Whore.” This song has everything, and although it may be the underdog, it has a strong chance.

Besides this, the second song on the list that has both the composition and popularity is “What Was I Made For?” by Eilish. Eliish has been a force to be reckoned with for all the years she has been nominated.

Besides lyrics that have been described as “girlhood” and being the theme song for the “Barbie ‘’ movie, it has production. Working with her brother Finneas O’Connell, the heartbreaking song forces hood. The song builds like your emotions. This song is special, forcing The Academy to pay attention to it.

The race for these top categories are tight. Anyone who loves music has grown to love each song and artist on the lists throughout all nominations. Everyone is deserving. Everyone had put in their best work. Everyone has fought for a spot to be where they are now. But now it is the time to see who walks away with the gold plated gramophone in their hands.

documentary in 2021. AI was used to replicate Lennon’s voice, combined with guitar

This song serves as the perfect unique conclusion for a timeless band.

contributions from McCartney and Ringo Starr. the song was released on Nov 2, 2023. While opinions may vary, the Beatles, as a timeless and iconic band, have created Fox puts it, “Though not nearly as good as their long list of amazing songs, to have a new Beatles song in 2023 is a beautiful thing. The existence of the song is more important than the song itself. Though, I really like the song, as well!”

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

7 | OPINION

The energy drink controversy: cut them out of your diet MAYA FU WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As finals season approaches, school workload is only increasing, and more and more highschoolers seem to be staying up long nights to finish endless assignments or study for looming assessments. Many of us turn to last resorts to stay up just another hour, or to power through the next day – and energy drinks seem to be things we reach for the most. From Red Bull to Monster to Celsius, these highly caffeinated beverages seem to have an iron grip on our lives – and to an extent, have even been romanticized. But especially now that there have been two deaths related to the consumption of Panera Bread’s Charged Lemonade – 21 year old Sarah Katz and 41 year old Dennis Brown, who both went into cardiac arrest after having the beverage – we must reconsider whether or not there needs to be more regulations regarding these drinks, and who should be allowed to purchase them.

While all energy drinks are required by the American Beverage Association (ABA) to come with cautionary la-

bels advising against the drink being consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, those sensitive to caffeine, and children, they are not categorized as dietary supplements – rather, simply conventional beverages.

This lack of distinction mostly likely only fed the “E-girl” social media aesthetic several years ago: a blend of anime, gothic styles, gaming culture, and Monster energy drinks. People stopped seeing Monster as a brand of energy drink, and instead saw it as an edgy, neon accessory. Bedroom walls adorned with Monster cans stacked from floor to ceiling became completely normalized, and there is data to prove it. In a survey conducted at Huron High School, only 8 out of 81 people voted that they never drink caffeine, with 24 voting “everyday,” 30 voting “sometimes,” and 19 voting “almost never.” In reality, along with having 54 grams of sugar per serving, Monster and many other energy drinks contain ingredients such as taurine, ginseng, guarana, and carnitine that can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure especially in children and teenagers whose bodies are unaccustomed to stimulant drugs.

Furthermore, according to the National Library of Medicine, because caffeine is generally recognized as safe, the amount of caffeine in energy drinks is often cloudy and difficult to pinpoint. Reports show levels of caffeine ranging from 50 to 505 mg, which would be enough to push 70% of children and 40% of teenagers past the recommended level of 3 mg day. This can cause anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and many other side effects.

These adverse reactions are only exacerbated when energy drinks are consumed with alcohol (which occurs frequently with college-aged individuals).

And finally, it is simply ridiculous that there have been multiple deaths tied to energy drinks – we have far greater things to worry about in this day and age than whether or not something we’re drinking is fatally harmful to us.

There needs to be a minimum age to purchase energy

drinks – while downing one as a quick way to stay awake might seem like the best solution in the moment, in the long run, the negative effects on one’s health (especially in younger age groups, like highschoolers), is not worth the instant gratification.

GRAPHIC BY MAYA FU

Sip into the season: Starbucks releases limited edition holiday drink menu ETHAN DEMPS STAFF WRITER Out with the pumpkin spice, and in comes Starbucks’ six new seasonal drinks. Holiday season is now in full swing, Starbucks’ holiday menu started November 2nd. There holiday menu consists of six beverages including the brand new Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai, Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, and lastly there new Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte, unfortunately only sold at select stores. So me and my family hopped in the car and took a trip to the nearest Starbucks and did a taste test of three of their holiday drinks.

We decided to try the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai, Caramel Brulee Latte, and Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte.

Starting off

with the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai, the newest addition to their holiday menu; according to the official starbucks website this drink has “warm gingerbread notes, a cozy blend of chai spices, and creamy oat milk.” I would have to agree with their statements here, this drink had the perfect subtle hints of gingerbread and chai that was not too overpowering and an extremely

refreshing drink that truly put me in a good mood. I was actually a big fan of the oatmilk, I think it tasted better the more sips I took of it. My mom and I both agreed that this drink was a 4 out of 5 for us.

Next, the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte. This drink I have to say was my least favorite, which was disappointing because it looked very promising to me.

Starbucks describes this drink on their website as “featuring cookie flavored syrup, combined with Starbucks Blonde espresso, and almondmilk.” I ended up getting this drink hot instead of iced so maybe it would have been better iced but upon tasting it, lacked any type of flavor. I was expecting it to be a sweet treat but it unfortunately tasted like any regular coffee and it was not as sugary as I thought. The worker did say that she also thought this drink was quite bland when I asked, so I ended up giving this only a 2 out of 5.

Lastly, the Caramel Brulee Latte. Starbucks describes this drink as containing “Starbucks signature espresso Roast, steamed milk and rich caramel brulee

Starbucks releases its new holiday menu for 2023. PHOTOS BY SARA-BETH BADALAMENTE

sauce.” I got this drink hot as well and out of all the drinks this was by far my favorite, they were spot on in describing this drink. It is extremely rich in flavor and I feel it is a perfect drink for the holiday season. I was left pleasantly surprised with this drink and I would definitely recommend this one out of the 3 I tried. This was a 5 out of 5 for me.

I would say Starbucks did an overall good job with their

holiday menu based on the drinks I got the opportunity to try. If you were interested in the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai or the Caramel Brulee I would for sure recommend giving them a try, the only one I for sure would not recommend is the Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte.

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

8 | Climate

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

9 | Climate

Mitigation and Resilience: Combating climate change on a local level SATVIKA RAMANATHAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

For today and tomorrow, where does it start?

FAYEZA MUIZZ PANIOROTAN COPY EDITOR It’s true. Let’s admit it. We hear about climate change everywhere: in schools, news headlines, public establishments, random commercials, and more that we can name of. As much as it’s overwhelming to hear this here and there, we have to be overwhelmed with the simple, terrifying truth that climate change could be irreversible seven or more years from now. Saying it again for the people in the back: Climate change could be irreversible seven or more years from now.

And that’s something we need ingrained in our heads. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), immediate and urgent actions need to be taken before the catastrophic effects of global warming further worsens. But you know what’s a fact too?

IPCC reports we can halve emissions by 2030. A golden lining of hope, right? Saying it again for people in the back:

We can halve emissions by 2030.

IPCC says it is possible through the “right policies, infrastructure, and technology.” This is where we, as humans who inhabit the planet, come in. What can we, as students who belong to the youth sector, change about what’s happening with the world right now?

Conserve energy and water. Practice 3Rs. Invest in Sustainability. Big terms, but if you think about it more carefully, it is actually quite easy to incorporate in our daily lives.

How do we conserve energy and water? A recent report

by Oxford Scholastica Academy this year advises students to turn off or unplug lights, computers, electronic devices, or appliances when not in use, and lessen our water consumption by taking shorter showers if not urgent or by turning off the taps as we brush our teeth. While using electricity and water is now a staple in our daily lives, too much and wrong usage of it emits more pollutants

According to the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessment based out of the University of Michigan,

into the atmosphere, and pollutants are never good news. Conserve and use energy in moderation.

How do we practice 3Rs? Rogue Disposal and Recycling, a communityinvolved company specializing in “curbside trash, recycling and yard debris pick-up services”, lists ways on how to have as less materials and waste in landfills as possible.

Reduce: Instead of using too much paper and plastic bags that create too much waste, pack our lunch in a lunchbox, use reusable bags for grocery shopping, and lessen our usage of bottled water.

Reuse: Rather than throwing away items and increasing our trash footprints, we can donate or sell them instead.

Recycle: A better alternative for discarding old and useless materials is turning them into something new and useful like an old newspaper becoming construction paper and corrugated cardboard to paper bags or paperboard.

All these waste take up a lot of space in the environment, and most of the time, they end up in a landfill, bodies of water, and even get burned, further resulting in the deterioration of the planet.

Now, as we try to practice these environmentallyfriendly waste disposal methods, we also get to invest in sustainability or our ability to live in this world without compromising the future.

I mean, aren’t we all doing this for today and the many tomorrows to come? Scary enough, a study published in Journal Science says that the current generation of children will be living through thrice as their grandparents’ experienced climate disasters. To be more specific, if today, oceans are dying, more than a million of species are being extinct, more and more people are being displaced due to climate change, and increased warm sea levels, we will be at risk of these three more times in the future.

It’s true. Let’s admit it. This does sound alarming.

But you know what’s bound

to be more alarming? If we don’t take immediate, urgent actions to help minimize or stop all of these. If not now, when? If not now, it’s all gonna be worse, worse, then worst, until we can’t do anything about it anymore.

Your actions have a significant value in our society. You have an ability that can make differences.

Let’s continue to educate ourselves and other people about what’s happening in the world right now. Adopt and support eco-friendly initiatives and practices such as tree-planting, clean-up drives, or maybe even just recycling your old belongings.

Whatever that may be, if it’s for our environment, it will matter and help. It’s up to us. The future generations are up to us. Saving our environment is saving our present and future; saving our environment is saving today and the many more tomorrows to come.

W h e n people think about being sustainable, that oftentimes comes with the thought of a reduced quality of life. They think that they’ll have to give things up and be unsatisfied with what they have. But that’s not actually the case.

“I think there’s a lot of technology, there is a lot of smart innovation happening to have a better world that is removed from fossil gas and fossil fuels,” City of Ann Arbor Community Resilience Specialist Bryce Frohlich said.

“Climate change is obviously a global problem.

We’re situated in a region where climate impacts overall are minimal, but that doesn’t mean that we still don’t have to prepare for possible future projections of a changing climate. There are a lot of things that people can do to make themselves more resilient.”

Frohlich works for the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations. The Office of Sustainability and Innovations has adopted a seven-part plan to get community wide carbon neutrality by 2030, which means releasing and removing the same amount of carbon dioxide into and from the atmosphere.

The seven strategies that A2Zero has are to use fully renewable energy for the electric grid, switch all appliances to electric, improve energy efficiency in places across the city, reduce the number of miles traveled by at least 50 percent, change the way we use and dispose of materials, enhance resilience of the people and anything else under an other category.

Frohlich does resilience work for the city which focuses mainly on adaptation and neighborhood

programs. A lot of that is thinking about how to develop programs that help the community adapt to changing climates and how to build more community and social c o h e s i o n to respond t o climate change.

“I’ve lived in Ann Arbor for about four and a half years,” Frohlich said. “And even in my short time here, I have seen the frequency of power outages and severe events. And they’re coming more frequently. They’re coming more extremely.”

According to the GLISA, the Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Partnership team, the number of days a year where there is more than 1 inch of precipitation has increased by about three days in Ann Arbor between 1951 and 2022. The annual precipitation in Ann Arbor has also increased by 46 percent between 1951 and 2022. Those numbers aren’t small, and they are continuing to grow.

The community resilience strategy is in place to get the people living in Ann Arbor to be more able to deal with the extreme climate impacts that are becoming more and more common like power outages, extreme heat, and extreme cold.

There are many ways that people can educate themselves and prepare for future climate struggles, whether that’s learning about different assets the city has, coming up with a household emergency plan, talking with their family about what to do if the power goes out, or even weatherizing their home if it’s financially possible. But there are also ways to combat climate change at a community level.

“What climate and sustainability really means for people in Ann Arbor is that it really is a community wide effort,” Frohlich said. “It has to be a community wide effort to be able to achieve community wide carbon neutrality.”

For individual people, that might seem like a far-away goal.

“For the average person, it’s not just about greenhouse gas reductions or how we are going to slow down or stop t h e warming of our planet,” h e said.

“Really what I think sustainability a n d A2Zero can mean is the possibility to rethink everything in our society, on how we commute, how we interact with each other, where we get our foods from, our purchasing habits and really think about how we can ingrain sustainability into our everyday lives.”

Climatologist with GLISA Kim Channell says that the first step to responding to, adapting to, and mitigating climate change is to be informed on its impacts, especially locally.

“We hear all these global-scale terms used really often,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean anything to a lot of people who are trying to think about what are the actual impacts to me and my city, my neighborhood, my

forward with individual responsibility and collective responsibility at the city level, the county level, the state level and the national level.”

Frohlich agrees.

“Pay attention to local funding and state initiatives,” Frohlich said. “Pay attention not just to the A2Zero plan, but also the Michigan healthy climate goals. Even though we do need a lot of federal action, a lot of impact can happen by putting people in the right local positions to be able to make those changes. Getting out and voting and getting public support behind these options are some of the biggest things that we can do to make those larger chunks of progress.”

He believes that when people work together the results can be large.

“Mitigation at the individual level can seem like a hard thing to do,” Frohlich said. “There is a lot that an individual can do. Can one person’s actions alone change the course of the climate crisis? No. But together collectively, it can make an impact.”

Frohlich says that one of the biggest ways to make a difference is to think about transportation.

If it’s affordable and accessible, he encourages people to take action and ride the bus, carpool with a

friend, or even b i k e community.

B e i n g informed of these local trends is really that first step to moving

somewhere.

“If you’re a person who wants to go see a friend who lives in a place where

you may have to take carbon intensive transit, I don’t think you should burden yourself on deciding, ‘Oh, I’m not going to take this flight or go to this event’ and punish yourself because you’re scared of the emissions,” he said. “Those impacts will not change the course of the climate crisis. But making those choices in your everyday life really can stack up.”

Frohlich believes that incorporating sustainability into every-day life is an act of love towards the community and world.

“I think one of the reasons why sustainability and the climate crisis present such a challenge, but an opportunity within itself, is because as a society overall, the way that we can tackle sustainability issues, comes with a lot of care,” he said. “Folks who live on frontline populations or are lower income residents are going to be ones who feel the brunt of these climate impacts the most, and we have a real opportunity to address those inequitable situations and make sure that those who are going to be most affected by the climate crisis are safe and encouraged and supported through all that. Sustainability not just presents us a chance to care for each other, but for the natural world and to span beyond that.”

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

10 | Climate

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

11 | Climate

Wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round, cleanly through the town SAMUEL KEREKES AND DANIEL HEMATI STAFF WRITERS All around us, Ann Arbor Public Schools is slowly making its eco-friendly future a reality. Talk of the adoption of electric buses has been spreading for a long time now. Their implementation into the district years ago may not have felt like much, though the district might have a lot more to look forward to in the near future.

According to a ClickOnDetroit article, the first ever electric school bus in Michigan was unveiled in Lansing in 2019. Seventeen electric buses were deployed out to seven Michigan school districts, one of them being the Ann Arbor Public Schools. The electric buses were deployed under the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) diesel bus replacement program, which is funded partially by a Volkswagen mitigation settlement. The objective of the electric school bus program is to upgrade children’s safety by promoting a cleaner atmosphere. This is achieved

by eliminating harmful diesel exhaust emissions coming from the diesel-powered buses. These diesel exhaust emissions contained over 40 contaminants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified as hazardous.

In January 2021, the Ann Arbor Public Schools began to roll out electric buses to deliver meals to kids who qualify for free or reduced lunch. They purchased four Thomas SafT-Liner eC2 Electric School Buses with financial help from a Volkswagen mitigation settlement, bringing the price from $1.37 million down to $412,000. Additionally, DTE Energy provided $189,000 for the purchasing of the charging stations. During the remote learning era, the electric school buses transported food to 22 distribution sites throughout the AAPS district.

Now, after around three years of service, their operation has not been spotless.

“We had a few issues with the charging stations - particularly the type of vehicle to grid (V2G) software utilized - but those have been replaced with more reliable and predictable

fast charging equipment,” AAPS executive director of school safety and district operations Liz Margolis said.

Battery problems occurred early in the rollout of the EVs, meaning Electric Vehicles, which the district had to learn from, too.

“Initially we had some equipment issues with our EV buses and batteries that took some patience, until that was solved by the vehicle and battery manufacturer,” Margolis said.

“We understand the EV buses and charging infrastructure represent a new technology, and we are tracking lessons learned through this process.”

The district stuck with their EVs. Doubts aside, they still seem to provide some benefits over diesel buses, other than lower emissions.

“When operating efficiently and effectively, electric vehicle buses should save the district on fuel costs, which is very exciting for AAPS,” Margolis said.

The position of this technology in the market, and its current state of development, pose extra challenges to a green future.

“Right now, EVs

somewhere. It only takes one small spark to light a whole fire.

Caring for the Earth that holds us and takes care of us is the least we can do.

Every step we can take towards a cleaner, greener future is a step in the right

direction. And as Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

present some cost challenges in two areas, the cost or retail cost of EV purchase, and the cost of the charging infrastructure.” Margolis said.

There lies the next challenge vital to the use of electric buses.

“There is another potential challenge, which is the electrical capacity available to provide power to the charging infrastructure,” Margolis said. “As the district continues to invest in EV buses, this capacity question becomes potentially m o r e challenging as the electrical demand increases with more buses. Adding electrical capacity to a location would require DTE’s involvement, as they will need to bring that additional power to the site and may need to add or replace electrical gear as part of that effort.”

Transportation emissions currently only account for around 4% of the district’s greenhouse gas total, but this isn’t stopping AAPS. “The four electric buses represent 3% (4

out of 132) of the fleet, so emissions saved from these buses represent a relatively small percentage of the district’s total GHG emissions,” Margolis said.

T h o u g h transportation is only a minor part of the district’s greenhouse gas emissions, AAPS is committed to reducing its contribution to climate change everywhere it can.

“AAPS is reviewing the next bus purchase as part of our commitment to the community to ensure our bus fleet is well-maintained, with buses in rotation to replace other buses,” Margolis said.

“As part of this process we are examining all bus options including EV, diesel and hybrid models as well as the incentive programs that are available to AAPS. We expect the next bus purchase to occur in 2024.”

Sacrifices will be necessary to achieve the dream of tomorrow. And though challenges certainly dot the road ahead, it’s nothing a hardy school bus can’t handle.

Green Team members implement environmentally friendly practices MELINDA MEI WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Truly making a difference in fighting for environmental preservation goes beyond just attending weekly club meetings – Green Team members implement practical steps into their lives while the club as a whole takes direct action to make a difference.

“Observing the world and just noticing the way we have polluted it motivated me to start changing how I live my life, even though it may be minimal,” Green Team member senior Zubair Alam said. “I started trying to limit the amount of waste I produce and start being more sustainable.”

To reduce waste and become more sustainable, many

people have turned to using reusable items, from water bottles to containers and bags.

In recent years, however, thrifting has also been picking up in popularity. “Plato’s Closet” and “Goodwill” in particular are a favorite locations for high schoolers to purchase second hand clothes and accessories.

“So much clothing goes to waste and factories that make clothing cause a lot of carbon emissions, so I thrift most of my clothes,” Green Team member senior Lorelai Sell said.

Green Team president senior A n n a

Wyman leads the group in spreading awareness a b o u t sustainable measures a n d taking direct action t o make a difference.

T h e club meetings usually consist of engaging lessons about how to be more environmentally friendly, such as what can be recycled and how to recycle, and end with a trash pick-up. On a larger scale, the Green Team is trying to make a bigger impact in the larger community.

“Green Team is currently trying to get compost and recycling bins

in the cafeteria as well as raising community awareness, and lobbying to our local legislators who have the ability to change things on a larger level,” Wyman said.

From using reusable bottles and thrifting second hand clothing, to picking up trash and striving to compost, there are many actions Green Team members take to better the environment. Ultimately, though, everyone is working toward one goal: preserving the world that they live in.

“We only have one beautiful Earth so we

need to do our part to take care of it,” Sell said.

A call for action Change is inevitable.

Leaves fall, skies darken and flowers wilt. We watch as the snow comes later each year.

We watch as there are heavier rains each year. We watch as the power goes out more frequently each year. We feel helpless.

But we’re not. We forget that we are not alone.

As an individual, sure, picking up one piece of trash may not make a substantial difference. But as a world, if eight billion people pick up one piece of trash each, that could impact the globe on a large scale.

We have to start

GRAPHICS BY ANNA LEE

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

Huron

High

JULES HESKIA, ROWAN GRENIER AND JULYA MAE JONES DESIGN EDITOR, SPORTS EDITOR AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

School’s

top

There is no doubt that the holidays are a very joyous time of the year and for a lot of people, it’s their favorite time of the year. The holidays are a time of the year when people gather with family and loved ones to create new memories. But a cheerful holiday season is nothing without these iconic

3%

14%

12 | HOLIDAY

holiday

songs

songs. These songs are here throughout the holiday season to bring you cheer and happiness to get you through the freezing weather. We asked Huron staff and students their favorite holiday song, and these were our results.

4% “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé

“Baby It’s Cold Outside”

by Idina Menzel

“Last Christmas” by Wham!

3%

11%

“Winter Wonderland” by Michael Bublé

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms

“Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych

22%

3%

35%

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

“What’s This?”

(Nightmare Before Christmas) by Danny Elfman

Other

5%

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

13 | SPORTS

Reaching the surface: A breath of fresh air JOYIA KEITH GUEST WRITER Senior Victor Heskia runs, swims, golfs, and likes everything from fashion, to cars, and planes. You have never met the busiest man in the world until you met Heskia.

“I run, swim, golf and I’m a senior,” Heskia said. “I also like fashion, cars, and planes.”

His role model is his dad. Heskia’s dad got him interested in cars and planes. They both have similar goals, so whenever he wants to try something new, his dad is right by his side.

“I’m open to anything,” Heskia said.

“I like being a leader, helping and collaborating with others.”

Leadership plays a big role in Heskia’s life, due to him

being the oldest of five siblings.

Using leadership in his day-today life helps him set boundaries and rules so him and his siblings can achieve something greater.

“My greatest achievement is probably my IA [Internal Assesment],” Heskia said.

“It’s a 2200-word essay I wrote.”

For Heskia, moving from around the world has faced challenges like making new friends. He has learned to become open and more empathetic.

“One thing I have learned from my greatest failure is that anything is possible,” Heskia said. “You have to make it interesting and look forward to doing it even if it’s not.”

His favorite thing READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM

Senior Victor Heskia swimming at a meet at Huron. Heskia looks to clear his mind when he swims. “ I just don’t think about anything,” Heskia said. PHOTO COURTESY OF HESKIA

FINE COFFEES AND TEAS IN NICKELS ARCADE

o mice: i naAn t Against Dthe here passion goes for hockey Junior forward Kyle Fu moving fowards through the neutral zone with the puck.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON MARTINEZ

AARON MARTINEZ GUEST WRITER Kyle Fu, a junior at Huron High School and a key player on the men’s ice hockey team, is climbing the ranks of his sport and one of his grandest passions. Known for his formidable skills as a defenseman, Fu has become an integral part of the team, bringing both talent and insightful guidance to the ice. “Every shot you don’t take, you miss.”

As a child, Fu lived in atlanta; where his fascination with the sport first originated.

It was there that the ice became his steed, and his skates his saddle. The blood rushing through him after hitting a

perfect shot stuck with him. This early exposure laid the foundation for his relentless drive and love for hockey, rooted in a childhood passion that he carries with him in every game and practice.

In the classroom, Fu’s studious nature mirrors his discipline on the ice. He approaches his academics with the same focus and determination that he brings to hockey, balancing his athletic commitments with a strong academic record. His ability to excel in both realms speaks to his exceptional time management and dedication, qualities that have earned him respect both from his peers and his coaches.

Fu’s philosophy, deeply influenced by his initial love for hockey in Atlanta, is centered

around never giving up and constantly striving for improvement. This mindset has not only shaped him as a player but also as a person. It’s a mentality that sees challenges as opportunities for growth, a perspective that Fu applies to every aspect of his life, from academics to athletics.

As Fu continues his journey at Huron High School, his story is a compelling narrative of ambition, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence. His origin story in Atlanta is not just a memory; it’s a constant reminder of where he started and how far he’s come. Fu’s path is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance, and he stands as a role model for aspiring athletes and students alike.

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

14 |SPORTS

Competition to the Classroom: staff’s journey through collegiate sports ANJALI NADARAJAH EDITOR IN CHIEF

Suzanne Dickie From the time that she could walk, all Suzanne Dickie did was play soccer. Since then, her journey in soccer took her all the way to the collegiate level, playing for Michigan State University’s women’s soccer team.

“I started really young,” Dickie said. “I think I was three and a half, four years old when I started playing. My parents were British, so it wasn’t like I had a choice, but I ended up loving it. I played club soccer, and then in high school, college, and then I still played in an

old lady soccer league up until a couple of years ago.”

Though she’s played for the majority of her life, there were times when Dickie thought she wasn’t cut out for it. She wasn’t recruited, rather, she tried out for the college’s team and while she made the team, tryouts were grueling, competing for a spot with kids from across the country, even across the world.

“I didn’t think I was good enough in college because you’re playing with kids that are the best of the best you know,” she said. “They’re from California, Europe, Canada, and I was just kind of a roster filler. The speed of play is completely different from high school to college..I broke six fingers in my tryouts.

I couldn’t even get my goalie gloves off because

Marcus Edmonson The six foot seven principal you see walking the halls didn’t always know he wanted to be one. Marcus Edmonson played basketball his whole life, even traveling internationally.

After being inspired by his older brother, Edmonson played basketball through high school, and at Hillsdale College with a full ride scholarship.

From there, he played professionally in Uruguay, Argentina and the Dominican Republic.

“Life was the same,” he said. “But the basketball there is different, they’re more fundamental down there.

There’s not as much fanciness, it’s more of the fundamentals. But I enjoyed it. I’ve loved playing, and I got paid for it.”

Edmonson loved playing basketball across South America. Even when the crowds of fans were booing him, it only fueled his competitive spirit more.

“I love to compete and play games away. I love when the fans are booing you, it brings out the best of me like I keep coming more and more. The more they boo, the better I play.”

Whether he recommends collegiate level sports, Edmonson had this to say: “Everyone

thinks about D1 and D2,” he said. “If you want to play basketball in college, there’s a squad there for you somewhere. I mean, it’s hard, stressful, and there are a lot more things on your plate.

But I think it makes the four years go by faster.

Enjoy it.”

my hands are so swollen.”

Dickie began to doubt herself, but she wasn’t ready to give up soccer. The thought of not having the sport in her life everyday was far worse than going through any amount of physical or mental pain.

“I’m glad that I stuck with it because I got to travel the country,” she said. “I play to get to Abby Wambach. The experiences I have are just unbelievable. And it was worth every second of it, you know.”

But post-college, she tore both her ACLs and dislocated her ankle, leading her to retire from her soccer career. After about 30 years of playing, Dickie knew teaching was meant for her after an inspiring project for her philosophy class.

“For my semester-long project, I ended up working with this seven year

old kid who had pretty extreme autism,” she said. “I would meet with him once or twice a week, we’d go to the park and play, we’d go out to lunch and just interact with each other.

After that I thought ‘this is really cool’ So after I graduated, I went right into special education for grad school.”

Even though Dickie didn’t pursue a professional career, she recommends all students who are interested in playing sports in college to try.

“Try,” she said. “It’s hard because there are kids that are going to have advantages over you. They’re gonna have more money.

They’re gonna play in a more elite club, but just try. You never know what’s going to happen , you know what I’m saying? So that would be my biggest advice is just, try.”

Josh Williams Although he started as a normal kid, Josh Williams became a star football player, playing in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts.

Growing up in Houston Texas, Williams played with his friends casually “In Texas, football is really big,” he said. “I just played football because that’s what my friends did [but] I knew i t was going t o be

come more and I knew I had an opportunity to earn a scholarship to play in college.”

Williams started as a sophomore on varsity, and then from there, he started to get letters and contacts from different colleges. He ended up playing for the University of Michigan, then got drafted to the Indianapolis Colts.

“Playing at the professional level is a really big deal,” he said. “My confidence [gave me] a feeling that I had that I knew that I was going to make it.”

But like most others, he had to end his football career short due to financial reasons. Williams had a degree in psychology, and had worked with children for a while. It made him realize teaching was for him. He’s now a community assistant. And even though he chose teaching, he would still recommend practicing sports in college.

“Just be ready for it to be a big responsibility,” he said.

“Managing your schedule, school and then whatever sport you decide to play. It’s something that’s fun for the kids to do, but there’s a lot of life lessons involved. I encourage all kids to play sports, no matter which one.”

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

15 | SPORTS

GRAPHIC BY KIKI CHOI

1. Senior Evan Tinkham shoots a floater after a shifty move to freeze the Dexter defender. 2. Moments before the tip off, Kaleb Brown, Jaydon Keefer, Yassen Issa, Marcari Moore, Mohamed

Doumbouya and Drew Williams sway back and forth to the national anthem. 3. Soaring through the air is senior forward Justin Latham. He gets an easy two points after a crucial steal fires up the

crowd. “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to fly through the air and just leave the ground for a few seconds,” Latham said. “It’s really peaceful. 4. Senior captains Justin Latham, Jackson Keef-

er, Graham Baker, Cristian Brown and junior captain Macari Moore speaks with the officials before the game alongside the Dexter captains. 5. The men’s varsity basketball team makes an

entrance through the cheer tunnel on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 for the season home opener. The boys won 74-39.

PHOTOS BY RYAN BEZAS AND BRODY TURNER CAPTIONS BY JULYA MAE JONES AND JUSTIN LATHAM

Harbaugh’s suspension: an unfair act of obvious bias ROWAN GRENIER SPORTS EDITOR Many college football fans have been made aware of the controversial situation that the Michigan Wolverines and their head coach Jim Harbaugh have been in this season. While not everything is out in the open yet due to the Big Ten not releasing evidence from their investigations, people are still itching to come out with their opinions on the matter based on what we do know.

Towards the middle of the year this season, there were rumors of illegal sign stealing taking place within the Michigan pro-

gram and the NCAA investigated these rumors when they came out. The NCAA eventually dropped their investigation on the matter with no actions done to the program leaving Michigan fans feeling relieved. However, this feeling of comfort did not last very long because the Big Ten started to investigate the situation just a few days later. They were keeping their evidence private to the investigations but rumors were still floating around.

The Big Ten later suspended Harbaugh for the remaining 3 games in the regular season with two of those opponents being AP top 10 teams in the nation. They suspended

him on Veteran’s day, a national holiday and a day before their game against Penn State University. All courts were closed on this national holiday meaning that Michigan was unable to go to court to challenge the case with their lawyers.

This seemed very obvious that this was purposeful as everyone viewed Michigan as an overrated team due to their early season weak strength of schedule and the sign stealing rumors. Penn State was considered to be their first big game of the season and Penn State was ranked 10 in the nation. The Big Ten appeared to be trying to weaken the Wolverines’ play by taking out their

head coach less than a day before their big game versus Penn State and were given no chance to fight the case.

The Big Ten has been notorious for investigating often for things involving Harbaugh throughout his Michigan career. He was suspended for the first three weeks of this season as well due to recruiting penalties during the COVID-19 dead period.

This very soft infraction was given a quite large punishment which was forcing Harbaugh to miss games against East Carolina University, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), and Bowling Green University. This penalty seemed

very unnecessary with the actions that took place to get this suspension. Harbaugh had bought lunch for a recruit in a COVID-19 dead period which gave him this punishment of a three game suspension.

The suspension for the final three games of the season was also very questionable based on what we knew. We have seen evidence of an assistant coach, Connor Stallions, for the Wolverines going to games and doing in person scouting and sign stealing.

Stallions was relieved of his duties by the university as everyone started to figure READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM

THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER

16 | HOLIDAYS

Winter holidays celebrated at Huron SATVIKA RAMANATHAN, JULES HESKIA AND ISHA SAVI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DESIGN EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

Hanukkah - Ethan Lyu When junior Ethan Lyu was young, celebrating Hanukkah was something to look forward to.

Getting presents on all eight days, playing Dreidel with friends at parties, and lighting the menorah was what made this holiday special.

As a high schooler, though, he celebrates Hannukkah

a bit differently. They make sure to light the menorah every night but aren’t necessarily able to make time for the games that they played as children. Although the way he celebrates Hanukkah may have changed, the joy of the holiday is still there.

Diwali - Sri Jayakumar Wake up before sunrise, take an oil bath, change into new traditional clothes, and pray. This is how senior Sri Tharika Jothipuram Jayakumar celebrates Diwali. The day before, Jayakumar spends time with her family by going out to dinner or watching a movie before the chaotic day ahead. After prayers,

Jayakumar’s family distributes sweets to their neighbors and FaceTimes family overseas in India.

They are rewarded with lunch surrounded by family and friends. Later that night, they go to the temple to burst firecrackers.

“I love decorating our house with diyas and helping my mom make sweets to share with

family,” Jayakumar said.

“And you can’t forget about bursting firecrackers at the temple with friends.

It’s always the best part.”

This holiday is jam packed with significant traditions – the oil bath, for example, is believed to purify and help you attract positive energy for the coming year.

As well as this, bursting firecrackers is believed to

scare away evil spirits. The most prominent is the act of lighting diyas; houses that are well lit are believed to be blessed by Lakshmi with wealth and good health.

“It’s always so nice to be able to celebrate with your loved ones,” Jayakumar said.

Lunar New Year - Emily Hu The story of the Nian goes as follows: A long time ago, there was a monster named Nian who would rampage through the villages, terrorizing and eating those who lived there. One day, someone had the idea to scare him off using the color red along with firecrackers. This story molds the red firecracker tradition that sophomore

Emily Hu and her family use to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

She also eats fish with her family to symbolize prosperity in the upcoming year. Lunar New Year is a time to spend with family and friends, and it’s a celebration of their culture and beliefs. When she was in seventh grade, Hu was in China with her family during the holiday season. They made

home-made pork dumplings and went to her grandma’s house to celebrate with the entire extended family.

“I really love celebrating Lunar New Year because it’s truly so special to me,” Hu said. “I get to spend valuable time with my family and especially feel loved and cared for during this time.”

Christmas - Maddie Pale The snow was coming down fast. It was freezing outside and just as cold inside.

The heat was out at sophomore Maddie Pale’s house over winter break last year, but she and her family didn’t let that stop them from having a fun-filled Christmas. They all

spent time together on bean bags bundled up with lots of blankets.

They made fires and did s’mores together, and watched multiple movies together.

She loves that Christmas time gives her a break from her hectic schedule and busy life.

“It gives me

a chance to get closer to my family and enjoy the spirit of the holidays without any stress from school or other things,” she said.

Pale says that her family doesn’t celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday, but they do have a lot of quality family

time and positive memories associated with Christmas. Every year, they go to a tree farm and hand-pick a Christmas tree together.

Christmas for the Pale family symbolizes love, family, and an allround feel-good time.