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Eastern Michigan’s US District Court recently delayed ruling on a case that challenged Michigan’s ban of same-sex marriage. “I feel like certain rights are being marginalized because of something that we can’t change, and that hurts a bit. But it can get better,” junior Josh Richter comments on this current event which brings back the 2004 State Constitutional
Amendment that outlawed her willingness to issue speedy same-sex marriage in Michigan. marriage licenses if the ban was overturned. “I Passing by 59%, the amendment is had been workI feel like currently being chaling on a new lenged by April Decertain rights marriage license boer and Jayne Rowse that was genderare being in DeBoer v. Snyder. marginalized neutral, that was According to Oakfriendly to everybecause of land County Clerk Lisa one. I knew that something Brown, a defendant in there were people the case, Judge Friedwaiting at my ofwe can’t fice, hoping to man denied motions change from both sides to imbe able to apply JOSH mediately settle the case for a marriage liRICHTER without trial. “We were cense. There was Junior disappointed [to hear one couple here about the delay],” expresses waiting that had been together Brown, who had announced for 53 years. [I] just felt disap-
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pointment that they were going to have to wait even longer. “ “It’s an interesting case in that it pits the will of the people against ability of a judge to scrutinize a law that may be unconstitutional,” says AP Government teacher Phil Laliberte. “The courts are often hesitant to overturn laws that have been voted in by the public. District Judge Friedman even mentioned the other day that he was nervous about having to rule on it…I look forward to February to see the results of this case, since I really am not sure which case on way it will go.” A3
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WIFI CRASHES UNDERPRESSURE Students and teachers concerned over lack of access to WiFi Paul Pal Guest Writer
Sitting at his desk during advisory, he groans realizing once again that it’s not working. “Some kids actually have legitimate work to be done in advisory, and before you know it the 90 minutes available to finish group projects are wasted due to problems with the WiFi,” says senior Luke Kuza. “It’s extremely detrimental to group work because most groups collaborate over the internet.” Kuza is one of the approximately 1,250 students at the Bloomfield Hills High School Main Campus building that have been experiencing difficulties connecting to the WiFi due to a shortage of internet routers. “There have been some real obstacles with the new WiFi,” says International Studies teacher Matthew MacLeod, whose 6th Hour class of thirty has been struggling to connect to the internet for research. “We have so many kids that expect ready access to the internet, and they can’t have it in the current situation because the demand for WiFi is so significant.” FACTS to the District Director of NetAccording work Services, Alex Noordhoorn, the district is well aware of the problem and has already put forward steps to improve the situation. “There are three reasons why students were experiencing problems connecting to the WiFi,” states Noordhoorn. “[One of the biggest problems is that] there are a lot more students, a lot more staff, and a lot more devices. Last year for the total network you would see an average of about 1,500-1,700 devices on the network. This year we’ve seen about 2,400-2,600 devices on the network.” According to Media Specialist Stephanie Bevier, this increase in devices creates serious problems for the network due to the fact that every one of these devices connects to what is called an access point. These access points, which are the white boxes with blinking blue lights that can be seen around the building, start experiencing problems when too many devices WIFI on are connected to them at the same time. A4
BLOOMFIELD HILLS GIRLS ROBOTICS TEAM HOSTS FIRST ANNUAL GIRLS COMPETITION Robotics Team hosts Michigan’s first all girls robotics competition Minhal Asim Guest Writer
She looked around the room with anticipation as her team’s work came to life. “At the competition, everyone is really pumped,” describes sophomore Anagha Kramadhati, a member of the Bionic Black Hawks robotics team. “There’s not anyone stressed out or saying ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to lose!’ Of course we have those notions, but we don’t show it because everyone is dressed up in their team colors and there’s loud music playing, so everyone is very energetic and psyched.” Girls from twenty-four teams, some from out of state, will be competing in the first all-girls robotics competition in Michigan held at the Bloomfield Hills High School gym and field house on Saturday, November 16th from 8 am to 5 pm. “[The reason fot creating an allgirls competition is to] encourage more girls to join the robotics team because this is something they are equally capable of doing,” expresses Dr. Ed Law, the team coach. “I’m very excited about [the competi-
tion] because there aren’t many girls involved in robotics. This is the fourth all-girls competition of it’s kind that is going to take place in the nation.” “The rule of the competition is that only girls can make repairs on the robot and operate it or drive it,” adds senior Kristen Law, a captain of the robotics team. “The boys can instruct if they need to, but only girls are allowed to touch [the robots].” According to a male member of the team, Milan Parikh, the girls need to advance their skills in order to be successful in this competition since the boys on the team can only instruct. “Some of the girls are practicing driving and trying to learn how the robot works. They need these skills in order to fix the robot during the competition,” explains Parikh. “It’s new for some of the girls on the team. However, I think this competition is a good idea because it will make more girls take interest in this field.” “I love robotics mainly because of how people work and come together to do the little things,” says Kramadhati. “Robotics is a very diverse club, there are very different things you can do with it—it’s not just building robots. It’s unique in a way that it’s an opportunity for girls to step out there and do what `
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Learn more about the boys’ soccer team and their road to state championships
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he college admissions process is not entirely based on the run-of-the-mill, indispensable components standardized test scores, grade-point-average, and extracurriculars. Certain elements lie outside a student’s control. “Americans are so divided on the issue of affirmative action because we are torn on the concept of fairness versus individual responsibility,” interprets AP Government teacher Jeffery Lockwood. “Fairness requires that there is a level playing field. Now, many believe that there is a level playing field, and that is why many Americans have turned away from the idea of affirmative action.” The Michigan constitutional law, established by a ballot initiative in 2006, eliminated use of racial preference in publicly funded institutions. Ever since, the ban perpetuated a long-term debate regarding the constitutionality of Michigan referendum. The highprofile issue reached the Supreme Court on October 15th, 2013. According to social studies teacher Matthew MacLeod, the case of affirmative action presents a conflict between states’ rights and rights of the federal government. “This case reveals the increasing willingness of states to challenge national government policies,” MacLeod remarks. “You see this with gay rights, with legalization of marijuana, issues with Obamacare. There is a growing willingness among states to stand up and question long-held national government policies. The issue of affirmative action speaks to the growing divide within our nation.” On one side stands the opponents of affirmative action. American political activist Ward Connerly, founder and President of the American Civil Rights Institute (ACRI), decided to support Jennifer Gratz in eliminating the use of racial preference in Michigan’s public educational institutions.
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DeBoer v. Snyder is the first challenge to Michigan’s ban and was filed in September 2012
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The Bloomfield Hills Hawkeye is a student publication distributed free of charge to 1600 students, faculty, local community members, and businesses. We strive to inform, to entertain, and to continue a tradition of journalistic excellence. We take our integrity seriously and strive to report the news as accurately as possible.
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Michigan and Virginia are the only US states banning all forms of same-sex marriage
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Issue II November 2013 Bloomfield Hills, MI
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DeBoer v. Snyder court case regarding gay rights is deferred
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MICHIGAN SAME SEX MARRIAGE CASE DEFERRED
they want to do.” Dr. Law feels that people believe girls to lag behind because male students outnumber the girls, “[People] think girls should be doing more artistic kinds of things and decorations. But, I don’t want people to think that way. I want to encourage girls to take on more of a technical role.” According to Kristen Law, girls have already been involved in operating and driving the robot. “On some teams, the people working and controlling the robot are all guys and the girls are in charge of awards, marketing and spirit,” says Law. “However, on our team, the girls have been involved in all technical and non-technical areas.” Dr. Law who is Kristen’s father (and coach) adds, “It has obviously been a big challenge: starting the whole thing, getting it to be a competition, getting the teams to sign up for it. We actually have a Canadian team, who was one of the world champions from last year, who is coming to our competition. Although it’s been a challenge, I think it has gone well.” For more information or inquiries, visit the team’s official website, www.team2834.com or email the coordinator of the event, Ed Law (edlaw.2834@yahoo.com)
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