RHS had many athletes qualify to represent the Falcons in the State finals this winter. Athletes from the swim and dive team, ski team and wrestling team all competed at the state’s highest level. Read more on pages 6-7.
THE
TALON ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // MARCH 2019 // VOL. 81 ISSUE 6
Photo courtesy of Kavan Troy.
PAGE 2 || NEWS
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
NEWS BRIEFS: 2.
1.
Photo by Violet Resh.
1. RHS
On March 6, Key Club hosted an event with Kids Coalition Against Hunger, a non-profit committed to getting food to people in need all around the world. Organizing this project was no easy feat. Packaging these meals at the school cost Rochester High School’s Key Club $2,000. Despite this big price tag, RHS has done this event twice in the last four years. “Part of our membership fee goes to this and we have to save up over the years sometimes,” RHS counselor and Key Club sponsor Mrs. O’Toole-Seyka said. Over 100 students signed up and helped out at the event after school and successfully packaged thousands of meals. These meals will then be delivered through the Kids Coalition Against Hunger organization to various locations around the world where they are needed. Some of these destinations even require military transportation. “[The meals are sent] to a place after a natural disaster or a famine,” Mrs. O’TooleSeyka said. “The food goes to devastated people.” These bags of food mean a lot to families around the world, especially those who have limited access to essential nutrients. This mission is what inspired RHS to make a difference. Breif byViolet Resh
5.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.
Photo courtesy of Barb Anness.
2. RCS
On Saturday, May 11, the RCS Foundation will hold its annual Hometown Hustle fun run/walk. Teachers and students from RCS, including RHS English teacher Mrs. Aleah Facca, gathered together in previous years to run for a great cause. “I participated in the Hometown Hustle once several years ago,” Mrs. Facca said. “I loved taking part in the event.” The RCS Foundation runs the event, and they make sure to keep the fun run as family friendly and exciting as possible. “The Hometown Hustle is such a fun way to get active and support the RCS Foundation at the same time,” Mrs. Facca said. There are several new additions to the Hometown Hustle this year, including more entertainment, such as the AHS drumline and the singing of the national anthem by students in the district. There is also an incentive for schools throughout the district to earn $500. “I certainly hope the $500 incentive helps with student participation,” Mrs. Facca said. “Having the AHS drumline performing and students singing the National Anthem are both wonderful additions to the event. It’s always nice to see our students showcasing their talents in the community.”
Brief by Alexandra Glaspie
3. STATE
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently came out in favor of raising the state’s gas tax to forty-five cents per gallon by October 2020 as part of her budget. “No one likes to raise taxes,” Whitmer said at a meeting of both the Michigan state Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. “I know it’s hard, but the hard truth is we’ve got to get to work. Every day we don’t, we are jeopardizing our economic future, wasting our money and endangering our people.” The proposal would tax every gallon of fuel that drivers in Michigan put into their cars in order to pay for road improvements and new infrastructure, while a new tax credit will ensure that less fortunate residents can still afford the cost of living. “I think it’s a good idea as long as every cent of the gas tax goes towards fixing up our roads,” PTA member Martina Alcock said. Critics say the proposed tax would force many Michiganders to pay more per month. “Since I’m European I am used to a much higher gas price,” said Alcock. “The roads are generally so much better than the roads in Michigan, so I would rather have better roads and pay a little bit more at the pump.” Brief by Noah Peterson
4. COUNTRY
President Donald Trump stressed the necessity of building a border wall between the U.S-Mexico border long before his presidency. On Friday, Feb. 15, he declared a national emergency to accelerate the process to build it, after Congress denied most of the money he needed. President Trump requested over $8.6 billion, of which Congress would only give him $1.3 billion. The declaration will also let the president divert $3.6 billion from military construction projects and $2.5 billion from counternarcotics programs to the wall. He emphasized that there was no other way to accomplish his promises. “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster,” President Trump said, responding to a question from NBC News. “I just want to get it done faster, that’s all.” Despite all the opposition President Trump has faced over the border wall, on Monday, March 10, in his $4.7 trillion budget, he stated the necessity of building the wall. “This week in his 2020 budget proposal, the President asked Congress for additional funds,” social studies teacher Mrs. Christina Bettes said. “Some reports saying over $8 billion to pay for the construction of the southern border wall.” Brief by Israel Rosas
5. WORLD
President Dondald Trump met with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un for the second time in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The leaders met to discuss a potential denuclearization deal between the United States and North Korea. A deal between the two countries wasn’t reached during the summit. “Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety. And we couldn’t do that,” President Trump said in a press conference. “They were willing to de-nuke a large portion of the areas that we wanted.” Last year’s Singapore summit ended with a plan for new relations between the U.S. and North Korea. “Last year’s summit in Singapore between Kim Jongun and the President resulted in a signed agreement between the two sides, such as working towards new peaceful relations and denuclearization,” social studies teacher Mrs. Christina Bettes said. With no denuclearization deal being made at this year’s summit, there is unceratiny if a future agreement will be made. “Everything is possible in the future, but in my opinion a denuclearization agreement between the US and North Korea won’t happen in the near future,” Senior Tej Seth said. “For Kim Jong-un, his nuclear arsenal is his favorite thing and he most likely won’t want to give that up.” Brief by Wyatt Anness
PAGE 3 || NEWS
CHARITY WEEK
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
ShelterBox’s tri-high effort ELIZABETH BULAT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Rochester, Adams and Stoney Creek high schools joined students involved in working toward a common goal. together for the tri-high charity week during the week of “We can definitely meet [our goal] with all student’s Mar. 1-7. This year’s charity was Shelterbox, an organization involvement,” Payne siad. “I love charity week. [It’s] such a that provides shelter and means of survival to those who good way to give back to the community.” become homeless from natural disasters. Although there are advantages to combining charity week “We decided on Shelterbox because each high school for the three high schools, there are some complications that recommends a charity or two that they would like to may arise. One of the disadvantages of having a tri-high support,” RHS student council adviser Mrs. Cusmano said. charity week is coordinating dates and times for events with “Our Interact clubs are also raising money for Shelterbox, so three different student councils and high schools. we thought it would be a good way to help out.” “Having students talk to each other among three high Shelterbox works to meet the needs of all families that are schools can be a challenge, and sometimes coming to an stripped of their homes, belongings, families and sense of agreement with 40 student council students is difficult,” Mrs. security. The organization donates ShelterKits that provide Cusmano said. “So imagine when it is three different high temporary shelters, cooking sets, solar lights, school supplies schools with different goals and objectives.” and activity sets for children. Much of the money raised Therefore, the three student councils had a variety during charity week went to support of events throughout charity week, “We are also so grateful to these efforts. with some being exclusive to a high “We are impatient to see a world every student who is able to school and others a tri-high event. where no family is left without example, the teacher courts donate. Every penny makes a For shelter when disaster strikes. This and pep assemblies were school difference!” drives us to transform the support specific, while the dodgeball of our donors, fundraisers and tournament and charity ball were Stugo advisor, volunteers into the hope and power open to all three schools. Payne Mrs. Kelley Cusmano of families all over the world — describes her responsibilities as the power to rebuild homes, lives the student council president while and communities,” Shelterbox representatives said. “Our coordinating all of these events both within and outside of impatience leads to determination. We will do whatever it the school. takes to ensure that no family goes without shelter.” “I meet with all committees and confirm everyone has Fundraising efforts that took place during charity week everything they need/ events are set,” Payne siad. “[I also] to raise money for Shelterbox included the teacher court, approve events, meet with other high schools Presidents and raffle tickets and baskets, breakfast blitzs, pizza sales, petting set up week calendar [including] dodgeball, baskets/ raffle zoo sales, T-shirt sales and the coin stall. Events during tickets, teacher court, pep assembly, blood drive, dance [and] charity week included the pancake breakfast, kickoff festival, pizza sales.” tri-high dodgeball game and the charity ball. These events Another aspect of charity week was raising money within contributed to the success of charity week both in student the school. For example, on Monday, March 4, there was the involvement and in fundraising. second annual Falcon Friendship Basketball Game. At this “The festival at Stoney Creek was super fun,” freshman event, special needs students from RHS played basketball Janie Perkins said. “There were lots of activities to do. Some for the school to watch while raising money for the special of them included ice skating, bounce houses, face painting education department at RHS. On Friday, March 7, RHS and a chilli cook-off.” participated in the “social break” activity, where RHS clubs According to RHS Student Council President Julia Payne, sold food to the student body to raise money for their the goal for RHS was to raise $10, 000 this year. However, respective organizations. RHS was able to raise over $12,000 by the end of the week, “The basketball game went really well this year,” junior and even more when combined with the other two high Alicia Perkins said. “It was really cool to have it kickoff schools. Mrs. Cusmano described this as a key motivator and charity week to get students excited.” advantage to combining charity week with the other high There was a wide variety of ways for students and staff to schools. be involved in this year’s charity week. The tri-high effort was “It really helps for publicity (since we have three groups again successful both in student participation and in raising talking about it) and we are able to donate a ton of money to money for Shelterbox. one place,” Mrs. Cusmano siad. “Last year, between all three “[I] just want to emphasize how much work this group schools, we raised over $70,000. That is life-changing for a puts into helping others. We have an event every day/night lot of these charities.” during the week and they sacrifice a lot of their time to make Payne described how when student council combines sure it runs smoothly,” Mrs. Cusmano said. “We are also so charity week with other high schools, it increases community grateful to every student who is able to donate. Every penny and business support and involvement. It also gets more makes a difference!” Students at the RHS charity week pep assembly. Photos courtesy of Tony Reedy.
PAGE 4 || FEATURE
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
HONORED FAMILIES
The effect that having family in the military has on students MARIAM HANNA
LIFESTYLES & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
F
ive years ago in the early morning, sophomore Awtry Massa woke up to a knock on her front door. She reluctantly got out of bed and dragged her feet to the foyer, where she saw her mom standing, waiting for her and her sister. They opened the door, and standing there was Massa’s father, who had been stationed in Guam for four months. The girls were shocked — they ran to their dad and hugged him tight. Massa is not the only student at Rochester High School who has a loved one in the military. Many students have parents and siblings who are defending American freedom by serving in the armed forces. Although these students take pride in knowing this, having a close family member in the military can be challenging at times. “It was hard when [my dad] was gone for long periods of time because I was used to having him around,” Massa said. “It didn’t feel… whole just doing [things] with my mom and my sister.” Massa’s father was stationed at a base in Southridge for her entire life, but there are some students whose parents have been stationed in multiple places, which caused their families to move around often. “Up until I was about seven, we moved a lot because [my dad] moved from base to base, so a lot of my childhood was moving from one state to another,” sophomore Grace Phillips said. “I was born in Texas, and then we moved to Kentucky, New Hampshire, New York and now Michigan.” Because of constantly moving to a different school and environment, Phillips sometimes had a hard time making new friends and developing long-lasting bonds. “It affected [you] socially with some
Sophomore Grace Phillips and her father when he was stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucy in 2004. Photo courtesy of Grace Phillips.
things because you were leaving friends,” about the stories and the things he had Phillips said. “You would make a new done,” Phillips said. “Like who he met and friend and then you’d have to move and go his friends in the military and stuff.” somewhere new. You never got to stay with Sometimes, being in this situation does the same faces. It’s kinda hard, especially not impact someone directly, but could when you’re younger and that’s when you’re affect a person in a different, more implicit supposed to be building your friendships way. with people.” “I haven’t had students address those On the other hand, this frequent specific concerns,” counselor Ms. Aliyah relocating allowed Phillips to have Caggins said. “But I have had students in experiences not the past that, to me, many individuals can “It makes me proud to be have just had other say they have had, stressors that, to a sister of someone who is me, I felt like could especially at such a young age. honored by our country and have been attributed “You get to see [having a family someone who is willing to to more of the United member away in the States,” Phillips said. do such an important job.” military].” “I lived in five states Since this can be by the time I was such a touchy subject Mya Fisher, senior six, and so you get and is sometimes to see new friendly considered a difficult faces, you get to problem to solve for see different places, many children and like mountains and just places you never teenagers, it is not always as simple as it imagined seeing so young. It was exciting. seems to receive the help one seeks. It was fun to have a new atmosphere all the “[In this situation, I would] try to time.” be sympathetic and understand there Since her dad was in the military and was is nothing I can do to fix the issue,” away from home for long periods of time, Ms. Caggins said. “I can’t actually bring Phillips grew close to her mother. their parent home, but I would try to be “It would just be my mom and I,” sympathetic and empathetic, try to seek out Phillips said. “I grew really close to my some resources for them.” mom just bonding with her when I was a Not only do many RHS students have kid.” parents at in the armed forces, but they When her father came back home, could also have aunts, uncles, cousins or he would tell his family stories about his siblings who serve in the armed forces. experiences. Through these stories, Phillips Senior Mya Fisher’s brother, Owen Fisher, learned about different people and places as who graduated from RHS in 2018, is a young child. currently a Combat Engineer in the Army “It was just exciting to see him and hear National Guard and is enlisted for six years.
“We’ve always been really close, so it felt weird [when he left], like I was an only child or something,” Fisher said. “When we picked him up from basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. after he had been gone for four months, I was very emotional but so happy to see him. My whole family missed him so much, and it was really heartwarming to see him in his uniform and everything.” Although Fisher misses her brother immensely, she realizes how significant his job is, and she is very proud of him. “It makes me proud to be a sister of someone who is honored by our country and someone who is willing to do such an important job,” Fisher said. “Although, sometimes it can be stressful knowing he could be activated to anywhere in the world.” Massa shares this mentality. “[The hardest part is him] being gone,” Massa said. “[But the best part is] knowing that it’s good and he’s saving the country and he’s fighting for everyone, fighting for us.” Similarly, Phillips acknowledges that having a parent in the armed forces is not easy and can be a challenge, but she also believes that being strong and having a positive mindset can help anyone in this situation. “I would say stay positive all the time,” Phillips said. “It’s not that hard. Yes, it’ll be hard leaving your friends or leaving family, but you grow into a new person by moving. You have this awareness of being so kind to everyone. If you meet someone else in your situation, it’s a way for you to bond. Always stay positive. You can’t look at it as a negative because that can hurt you.”
Senior Mya Fisher and her brother, PVT E-1 Owen Fisher, reuniting after he was gone for Basics Training for three and a half months. Photo courtesy of Mya Fisher.
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
PAGE 5 || FEATURE
GREEN CLUB STAYS GREEN
Students and teachers highlight Earth Day’s importance ALEX GLASPIE
FEATURE EDITOR
Science teacher and Green Club adviser Mr. Brandon Shurter spends his time throughout the year trying to stay as green as possible, volunteering and involving Green Club members in recycling events, and donating money to many green organizations. Outside of all of their yearly volunteer opportunities and jobs to help keep Rochester one of the best recycling schools in Michigan, Green Club works hard to make Earth Day, which falls on April 22, one of the most important parts of their year. “We encourage people to go to the Earth Day Fest in Downtown Rochester, which has plenty to do regarding living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle,” Mr. Shurter said. “We will also advertise a green out for Earth Day.” RHS maintains the status of one of the greenest schools in the state of Michigan. Every school
year, students and staff work to keep RHS under a strict recycling program, while also promoting staying green outside of school. “RHS is one of the best recycling schools around,” Mr. Shurter said. “We have planted trees on the property and cleaned up trash. We also donate to the Clinton Watershed Council and World Wildlife Fund.” When it comes to keeping Rochester a green school, Mr. Shurter works with the school to oversee projects that could benefit recycling. “As far as helping RHS stay green, I developed and oversee the recycling program,” Mr. Shurter said. “[I also] invest in new bins for recycling, organize/volunteer at electronics recycling events and write grants to fundraise for our club.” Outside of school clubs and activities, Mr. Shurter encourages students to recycle, and he also spends his own time invested in
keeping the Earth clean. “I make decisions in my own personal life that help this planet stay healthy,” Mr. Shurter said. “This includes what food I buy/ eat, which organizations I donate to, and which products I buy/use.” The members of Green Club stay active during the year and are involved in many events that put effort towards cleaning up the Earth. “Green Club members’ main job is to recycle for the building, and without them it wouldn’t be done,” Mr. Shurter said. “We do things throughout the year, such as promoting ‘Waste Free Lunches.’ Members also have the chance to volunteer at Electronics Recycling Events, Founder’s Day and clean up events.” Earth Day has the potential to improve the air and land on the Earth every year. Green Club members work to keep the school running smoothly with recycling programs and help to keep RHS a
green school. “It’s so important to keep the air clean and the land green on Earth,” junior Carly Rodman said. “We only have one planet to live on, so we have to take care of it, not only for ourselves but for future generations as well.” Over the past decade, the trash around the world has increased in quantity. One of the largest parts of the world, the oceans, have become largely affected by this overwhelming amount of trash. “Trash in the oceans is a factor that threatens the earth’s greenness that concerns me,” Rodman said. “Our trash does not belong in the oceans because it is harmful to the waters and the animals living in them.” Green Club members work not just individually, but together, to make sure their programs run smoothly. “We recycle every Wednesday,” junior Kendall Evans said. “We all collectively help each other out
and make sure every section in the school has been emptied.” Both Evans and Rodman are in Green Club together and spend some of their time helping keep RHS a green school. “[We] do Green Club together,” Rodman said. “We both decided to join because we wanted to help the Earth, and Green Club is a great way to do that.” Recycling clubs, programs and events are commonly found in most high schools, but at RHS, the Green Club members go above and beyond to help out the Earth. “Together as a club, we do good for the Earth by recycling,” Rodman said. “Our recycling for Rochester High School helps keep our Earth clean. Even though RHS is one school in a world full of schools, every person that contributes to keeping the Earth clean is making a difference.”
TIPS AND TRICKS TO STAYING AS GREEN AS POSSIBLE THIS EARTH DAY: - ALL plastic water bottles can be recycled. - Flatten or rip up cardboard boxes in order to fit more recyclables in your bin. - Most metallic food cans can be recycled, including fruit and vegetable cans. - Glass can be recycled endlessly. - Wrapping paper, envelopes, birthday cards and phone books can all be recycled.
Former RHS students and Green Club members during the 2016-2017 school year help out with the recycling program, where all bins are taken out of teachers’ rooms on Wednesdays. Photo courtesy of Mr. Brandon Shurter.
- When eating in school cafeterias, scope out recycling bins to put any bottles or recyclable containers in them.
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
PAGES 6-7 || SPORTS
STATE ATHLETES
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Student athletes compete at state level competitions SANYA GUPTA AND COLLIN KILPATRICK
STAFF WRITERS
Wrestler Kavan Troy
Sophomore Kavan Troy capped off an undefeated season with a win at the state meet at Ford Field in Detroit on March 2. Troy competed in the 103 lb. category and won in the final match of the state tournament with a pin in the third round. He qualified for the state meet on Feb. 16 at the regional meet in Clarkston. He was the only wrestler to represent RHS at states. Troy gives much of the credit for his success this season to his Falcon teammates. “I just can’t stress enough how helpful my teammates and drill partners were to help me become this successful this year,” Troy said. “I worked really hard, but my teammates are one of the main reasons why I made it to states.” Troy said he worked hard to prepare for states, which was similar the what he did for regionals. “To prepare for states, I just keep focused and work hard. I did the same for regionals,” Troy said While nerves are something that can affect many athletes, especially in bigger events, Troy did not let them get to him. “I wasn’t nervous for the state meet because it’s just another tournament in the season,” Troy said. “I just keep focused and work hard.” Troy kept the same mentality all season as he stayed focused on the next tournament and treated every one the same. “I was not really thinking about states at the beginning of the season,” Troy said. “I was just thinking about the next tournament or meet.” Troy was competing at high levels and winning tournaments throughout the year, as he went 50-0, but the state meet was on a different level of competition, and the atmosphere was completely new to him. “The competition was much more competitive and [had] a lot of good wrestlers,” Troy said. “The tournament was a lot different than I expected because it was a lot bigger once you get on the field and look up at the stands.” Troy worked hard all season, and his teammates and family were very proud to see him accomplish his goal. “Seeing my brother do so good at states was an awesome experience. It was nice to see his hard work finally pay off after all these years of grinding out,” senior Brandon Troy said. “And as an older brother, you can’t be any prouder of your little brother winning a state championship.” Troy’s teammates worked hard to push him and make sure he was ready to compete for states. “What is really cool is that two weeks leading up to states, we all came to practice and wrestled like it was the middle of the season, even though everyone else was done. Even the seniors came,” Brandon Troy said. “It also showed Kavan that the whole team was behind him on his push for the state title.”
Skier Daniel Vince
Swim Relay and Divers
Troy wrestles in the State meet. Photo courtesy of Kavan Troy.
“The experience was really cool because of all the people and how big the venue was.” - Kavan Troy, sophomore
Troy recieves his medal on the podium after his big win. Photo courtesy of Kavan Troy.
Freshman Jack VanHowe, sophomores John Flater and Spencer English and senior Isaac Steenson competed at the Boys State Final Meet in Holland, MI on March 9. The boys qualified for the 200-yard medley relay at the OAA White Division League Meet with a time of 1:40:71. At the state meet, they swam a time of 1:43:30 and placed 30th. Earning a state cut is no easy feat, and Coach Paul Karas explained how getting a relay to make the cut is even harder. “The times at states are so fast, it’s easier to get an individual to make it,” Coach Karas said. “So, when you get a relay to make it, that means you have four swimmers going opposed to one.” Throughout the season, the boys compete in dual meets every week. To do well, they couldn’t let the nerves get the better of them. That was the plan for the state meet as well. “[I treated] the state meet like any normal meet,” English said. “Nerves are natural to any athlete.” While getting the cut at the league meet was a victory for the swimmers, they still had their work cut out for them at states. Coach Karas described the technical portion of their workout. “Leagues was really all out, leave nothing on the table,” Coach Karas said. “The boys had to step it up. When they got the cut, they reset the goal so they could swim faster. The relay is 200 yards, so each person swims a 50, which means we didn’t have to train distance. We had to work on a lot of speed and kicking.” No one could anticipate how the meet was going to go, but the swimmers had certain expectations to swim even faster. “I worked my butt off to get that state cut,” English said. “And I [did] the same in Holland.” Getting the cut was a surprise success for the team. “It was a pleasant surprise,” Coach Karas said. “I’ve always said, it’s better to wonder where it came from, than wonder where it went. The times are very fast, and you needed all four people to swim the relay, and all four people went best times at the same time. That doesn’t always happen.” The four swimmers aren’t the only ones who went to Holland that weekend. Two divers, senior Shawn Suttie and sophomore Devin Losh, got personal bests at their regional meet on Feb. 28 and qualified to compete at the state meet as well. Losh placed 21st in prelims, and Suttie placed 12th, landing him in semi-finals. At finals, Suttie placed 9th. “The divers only get one crack at it,” Coach Karas said. “They have to finish in the top 12. Diving is so unexpected you never know how it will go and how they will do.” During the season, the divers usually practice with the other divers and diving coach, rather than the swimmers. This doesn’t stop them from being a part of the team. “Even though I [didn’t] coach them throughout the season, it [was] great to see them move on to the next level of competition and represent our team,” Coach Karas said.
English, Steenson, VanHowe and Flater recieve their medals at the league meet. Photo courtesy of Dean Allen.
“States was fun, but we did not swim as well as we wanted to.” -Spencer English, sophomore
English swims butterfly at a swim meet. Photo courtesy of Spencer English.
Senior Daniel Vince competed at the regional ski competition at Alpine Valley on Feb. 11 and qualified for the State D2 Competition in Giant Slalom for the first time on Feb. 25 at Boyne Mountain. He has been a varsity skier for four years and a ski team captain for three years. He finished 8th out of 95 skiers at regionals and 37th out of 66 racers at states. This finish is what Vince was hoping for. “My coaches and I had a goal for me to be In the top third of the standing,” Vince said. “I finished 37th, which was almost better than we were planning.” From the beginning of the season, competing at the state competition became a goal, and Vince did everything in his power to achieve it. “At the beginning of the season, I set a goal for myself, and the goal was to make it to states,” Vince said. “I went to Copper Mountain, CO for a race camp over Thanksgiving week and trained, then on every weekend I trained with NASTAR to achieve this goal.” Freshman Saira Mir explained how exciting it was for someone on their team to represent at states. According to Mir, it is very hard to do so, and the fact that Vince did was special. “It was extremely exciting for someone to place for states,” Mir said. “There is a lot of really good competition and our motto is ‘not last’, so it was pretty great to have someone do so well.” Vince’s coaches have believed in him from the start and led him to his success this season. “Assistant Coach Nick Cronovich and I were over the moon when he qualified at regionals,” Coach Susie Mackens said. “We [were] very proud of his results at states too.” The famous quote “there’s no ‘I’ in ‘team’”, could be related to Vince’s success on the ski team. He has not only been driven by his goals, but his teammates have helped him, too. “My coaches and teammates helped me a lot,” Vince said. “[They] always [pushed] me to my potential at practice and even on the weekends.” With new freshmen on the team, it might be hard for upperclassmen to get to know them, but this was not the case for Vince. “Dan has been a really great and helpful captain this year,” Mir said. “He was very welcoming to me and the other freshmen.” From being a successful skier to a great leader, his last four years on the team will leave an impact, according to Coach Mackens. “He is well respected by his fellow racers and coaches alike, and always [led] by example,” Coach Mackens said. “Daniel has been an instrument of cultural change for the better while on the ski team and will be greatly missed.”
Skiiers Vince, Livie Weick (JR), Emily Eckel (JR), and Jack Mickley (JR) at a ski meet. Photo courtesy of Susie Mackens.
“It was an awesome feeling competing for my school at the state meet at Boyne Mountain.” - Daniel Vince, senior
Vince and his coaches stand on top of a hill during a meet. Photo courtesy of Dean Allen.
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
PAGE 8 || ENTERTAINMENT
ARIANA’S GRAND HIT ALBUM
A review of Ariana Grande’s lastest masterpiece and her evolving style SANYA GUPTA STAFF WRITER
Artist Ariana Grande’s fifth solo album, “thank u, next” was released on Feb. 8, 2019. Since the album’s release, it has been widely played on the radio and through streaming services, becoming familiar to people throughout the world. The album is available in the forms of digital, CD and even vinyl, offering many opportunities for fans to listen to its songs. Grande’s debut single in 2011 was “Put Your Hearts Up”, which kick-started her reputation as a pop singer. However, Grande was introduced to the world as Cat Valentine on the hit Nickelodeon TV show “Victorious” and its spinoff series, “Sam and Cat.” She became more widely popular with kids and teenagers who watched both of the shows. Since then, Grande’s talent has only grown and become more widely renowned. “thank u, next” dropped less than six months after her secondmost recent album, “Sweetener”, was released. Since the album came out so soon after her last one, the excitement built up well before it was released. As soon as the album came out, it reached No. 1 on Billboard’s top 200, and became a woman’s pop album with the biggest streaming week ever. Grande broke the No. 1 album record with her albums five months and 22 days apart, the first woman to do so since 1974-75. She is also the first female artist to have singles at No. 1 (“break up with your girlfriend, I’m bored”) and No. 2 (“7 Rings”). The album had 59 million streams, and is the third most streamed album in a week. Her other albums, “Sweetener”, “Dangerous Woman”, “My Everything”, and “Yours Truly” all consisted of mainly pop songs featuring various artists. The songs on “thank u, next” contain a different combination of music genres. Besides just pop, the album includes R&B and trap music as well. Each songs is special in its own way, and has recieved much attention from the
listeners. The album features “imagine,” which was the album’s preview and intro song, and “thank u, next,” which references her past relationships with Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, Big Sean and Ricky Alvarez. Grande told fans that the track “break up with your girlfriend, I’m bored” replaced a song she preferred to keep, and “7 Rings” was written after a shopping trip where she bought rings for her friends. Grande received a Twitter shoutout from the international space organization about “NASA”, which was named after them. The
tweet read, “Hey @ArianaGrande, we saw ‘NASA’ trending this morning and thought it was about one of our new discoveries. But we realized that you might need some space.” This was a reference to the lyrics in the song. The other songs on the album, “needy”, “fake smile”, “bloodline”, “bad idea”, “ghostin”, “make up” and “in my head,” are popular with fans as well. Grande hit a new spark of creativity when writing this album, making it one of the most dynamic that she’s written so far. She fused R&B and nursery rhyme in song “7 Rings,” which was based off of “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music.” Although it sounds like an unlikely
combination, the song is catchy, involves her rapping, and is one of the more successful songs on the album. “ghostin” is about grieving the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and maintaining the relationship she was in. It uses soft music to touch the hearts of those listening to the song. Written about relationships, “NASA” even features the line, “That’s one small step for woman, one giant leap or womankind,” in the beginning of the song. One of her brother Frankie Grande’s, friends, drag queen Shangela, said she was going to use that in her own version, and Grande loved the idea so much, she wanted to use it. It represented her ideas perfectly. On her previous albums, she’s released songs with other popular artists, but for this one she traveled down the solo road. Each song has a meaning behind it, and every one was written from the heart. Grande shared that she just wanted to share her music to the world the way other rappers do. While the album is by far more mature than her previous work, there has been some controversy surrounding it. Lyrics in “7 Rings” mention expensive name brands and using hair extensions. These give the Italian singer a “bad girl” vibe, and almost imitate other rap songs. The song has been accused of copying “Mine” by Princess Nokia and “Pretty Boy Swag” by Soulja Boy. 2 Chainz also claimed her music video imitated his for “Spend It.” Grande also got a tattoo in Japanese saying “7 Rings” in an attempt to promote the album, but it ended up saying “small charcoal grill.” After another attempt at fixing it, the tattoo said “Japanese barbeque finger.” The past year and a half has been a full out rollercoaster for Grande. She’s dealt with more than deemed fair for one person: the bombing at her show in Manchester, the death of Miller, with whom she was very close, and an engagement and break up with comedian Pete Davidson. She uses these tragedies in her music, and if listened to closely, many songs are related to her emotions. Instead of waiting for “Sweetener” to continue to sell, tour the album, and then die down, Grande hit the studio once again, and busted out a new album right away, which amazed many when first heard. No one expected her to drop an album like “thank u, next”; there’s no other like it. Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons.
PAGE 9 || OPINION
THE TALON STAFF Adviser: Mrs. Facca Editor-in-Chief: Elizabeth Bulat Copy and News Editor: Violet Resh Feature Editor: Alex Glaspie Entertainment and Lifestyles Editor: Mariam Hanna Sports Editor: Bianca Mow Business Manager: Noah Peterson Opinion Editor: Wyatt Anness Photo and Design Editor: Kari Eickholdt Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff
Writer: Holly McDonald Writer: Sanya Gupta Writer: Alexandra Glapsie Writer: Maggie Rhymstett Writer: Alyssa Hart Writer: Pooja Patel Writer: Devin Toma Writer: Maddie Nikolic Writer: Sidney Burlison Writer: Abby Breitschuh Writer: Clint Douglas Writer: Evie Ansari Writer: Marcella Hanna Writer: Colin Kilpatrick Writer: Sabrina Abed Writer: Franc Deda Writer: Jack Downey Writer: Maria Nagaitis Writer: Alex Reeve Writer: M. Conner Arsenault Writer: Summer Rawashdeh Writer: Israel Rosas Salinas Writer: Sharan Shibu
THE TALON POLICY The Talon is the official student publication of Rochester High School. We are now available both in print and online editions. Check out rochestertalon.com, @rhstalon on Twitter, @falconsofrhs on Instagram and like The Talon on Facebook for more great content. The print edition of The Talon is issued monthly during the school year and is devoted to the interest of the student body, parents and alumni of RHS. The Talon strives to create a publication that is informative, entertaining, accurate and professional. The mission of The Talon is to accurately, truthfully and professionally report on events and issues that are of interest to the student body, entertain readers and serve as a valuable archive of the happenings of the school. The views expressed in The Talon are those of the staff or individual staff writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration. The editors encourage communications and reactions from students, alumni, parents and friends of the school. All communications must be signed, but signatures may be withheld from publication upon request. The Talon values feedback from the community on its articles and other media. However, we maintain the right to censor inappropriate dialogue in comments.
MEMBERSHIPS
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
STAFF EDITORIAL: Are horoscopes worth believing? Each month, writers in newspapers, magazines and websites create horoscopes for each of the twelve zodiac signs. Horoscopes and zodiac signs fall under the veil of astrology, a pseudoscience that uses the movements of stars and celestial objects to predict a person’s future for the day, month or year. People either believe in what the horoscope of their respective zodiac sign says, or they don’t, and there doesn’t often seem to be an in-between. Horoscopes may be useful to some for predicting how their social relationships will carry out through the month, but there just isn’t enough proof that horoscopes are accurate. In an unbiased and anonymous poll conducted by the Talon, 6 staff writers do believe horoscopes are worth believing in, while 18 staff writers disagree. A main reason why horoscopes aren’t worth believing in is that almost anyone can write one. Writing a horoscope doesn’t require a degree in astrology. People who know the horoscope buzzwords can convincingly craft a paragraph telling readers how their month is going to pan out, and chances are, someone will buy in. Looking at horoscope.com’s Gemini horoscope for March, it’s obvious how much astrological jargon is put into horoscopes. One of the lines in the horoscope says, “This is a spiritual journey asking you to release attachments to the material world, so you can reclaim your true power to make conscious choices that liberate you.” The meaning to this is ambiguous, and that is the problem with believing in horoscopes. There’s no factual evidence that they’re accurate, and the writers often resort to confusing wording to make them appear believable. According to UC Berkeley, there are no occurrences where astrology has contributed to a scientific finding. UC Berkeley also stated that in the small number of cases where astrology was used to make testable expectations and the results were studied, the findings didn’t support astrological ideas being valid. With this evidence, it’s clear that there’s not a whole lot of science going into horoscopes when they’re written Even though horoscopes don’t have science on their side, it won’t stop believers from looking at their horoscope each month. Horoscopes give readers tips to overcome challenges and hardships in life, which is a positive, but there’s also a downside to this. Horoscopes have a lot of negativity written into them, and diehard believers might take it literally and go into the month with a negative mindset. People reading horoscopes should take them for what they are. Horoscopes can be fun to look at, but they shouldn’t be taken as a factual and accurate prediction of how someone’s entire month, year or life will pan out.
”I don’t think horoscopes are worth believing in because they don’t really predict the future.”
Elizabeth Bulat, senior
“[Horoscopes] are worth beliving in. There’s many other beliefs out there and this could be one of them.”
Clint Douglas, senior
“I read my horoscope but I don’t believe in it. I’d like to think my own path through life.”
Mariam Hanna, sophmore
PAGE 10 || LIFESTYLES
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
CHEAP VS. EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGY Comparing similar products at different price points Device
Cheap
Expensive
Activity Tracker
Fitbit Versa
Apple Watch
Headphones
JBL
Beats
Speaker
Sony
Bose
Laptop
Dell
MacBook
Desktop
Acer
iMac
Activity Tracker
What it is: These are Bluetooth headphones that allow you to listen to music and call people. Compare: Both headphones allow you to listen to music wirelessly and are similar in designs.
Contrast: JBL can only be used via Bluetooth, while Beats can be used both wired and wirelessly. Price: $49.95
Contrast: The Beats Solo3 last up to 40 hours on a single charge while the JBL only lasts 11 hours. Price: $239.95
What it is: They are Bluetooth speakers that allow you to listen to music with others.
Sony XB10
Bose Soundlink II
Desktop
Laptop
Headphones
Apple Watch
Contrast: The Fitbit Versa can be used with any device, while the Apple Watch can only be used with another Apple product. Price: $199.95
Portable Speaker
Fitbit Versa
What it is: You wear these so that you can track your activity daily. Compare: Each of these devices are similar in the sense that they can both track activity and can send text message alerts.
Compare: Both speakers have Bluetooth compatibility and can be moved anywhere.
What it is: These are portable computers that allow you to get work done on the go. Compare: Both laptops can be used wirelessly and have access to the web and many applications.
What it is: These are personal computers that are meant to stay in one place. Compare: Both desktops are all-in-one devices. All-in-one devices are computers that are built into the monitor.
JBL T450BT
Contrast: The Sony XB10 includes wireless charging, while the Bose Soundlink does not. Price: $59.99
Dell Inspiron 7000 Series
Contrast: Dell uses Windows software while Macbooks use IOS. Price: $679.99
Acer C 22
Contrast: The iMac has options to upgrade software within the device, while the Acer C22 does not. Price: $649.99
Contrast: The Apple Watch is almost $100 more expensive than the Fitbit Versa, but it is basically an iPhone on your wrist. Price: $279.00
Beats Solo3
Contrast: Although the Soundlink is $70 more, the Sony XB10 beats it in almost every aspect, being better in sound quality, durability, charging and price. Price: $129.95
Macbook
Contrast: The Dell Inspiron is a 2 in 1 device which is a tablet and laptop combo. The MacBook does not have 2 in 1 compatibility. Price: $1299.00
iMac
Contrast: The iMac is IOS compatible and has the option to download Microsoft applications along with other programs. Price: $1099.00
PAGE 11 || LIFESTYLES
AQUARIUS
LEO
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
PISCES
VIRGO
ARIES
LIBRA
TAURUS
SCORPIO
CAPRICORN
SAGITTARIUS
FATE, FORTUNE OR FRAUD? ROCHESTER STUDENTS “DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’’’ KARI EICKHOLDT
Illustrations by Conner Arsenault.
HOROSCOPES Aquarius
(Jan 20 - Feb 18)
PHOTO AND DESIGN EDITOR When children are born into the world, it is exciting for family members to think about what characteristics they will inherit as they grow older, or how a child's personality will grow as he or she ages. Some people even turn to horoscopes or other methods to predict what’s to come in the future. Many remain skeptical about the credibility of horoscopes, but some fully believe in them. “I believe in horoscopes,” senior Abbey Reed said. “Everyone is born at a certain moment in time which relates you to others based off of their signs and how they react to certain things.” Horoscopes go along with each person individually depending on time of birth. Some people may be devoted to learning about their horoscopes, while others believe it’s just a generalized statement that anyone could apply to his or her life. Astrology, the study of the sun, moon, planets and stars, originated from the Babylonians to help them predict the recurrence of seasons and celestial events. The Babylonians shared their knowledge about the solar system with the Greeks, which led to the development of zodiacs. Astrology was later taken on by the Romans, who created the name and meaning of zodiac signs. “I do believe in [horoscopes] because I think they’re self-fulfilling when you read them and relate in thinking that certain events did happen to you,” junior Zaaki Mandwee said. “I'm a Leo, and a Leo wants to be in control, so I would say I have a more controlling personality.” The process of writing horoscopes is
CANCER
GEMINI
not an easy task. First, the date and time is calculated into “sidereal” time. From there, astrologers rely on an astronomical ephemeris, which contains details of the locations of the sun, moon and stars at any time. Lastly, the astrologer can interpret the chart in order to find insights on people's personalities. “I would say that horoscopes are weirdly accurate,” junior Legacy Mayes said. “I wouldn't say I believe in them fully, but I wouldn't say they're necessarily wrong either.” There are many methods of fortune or ways of depicting one’s future, and it all comes down to what someone believes. Another form of fortune or futuristic ideology is Tarot card reading, which many students are not familiar with. It was said that Tarot cards were first originated around the year 1440 as a card playing game called Triumph. In each deck, there were four suits numbered one through ten, also including face cards with a king, queen, knight, and page. In 1781 in France and England, certain cults around the time discovered these playing cards. They saw the cards as having symbolic meaning and used them for other motives, such as considering them as a divination tool: the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means. The origination behind Tarot cards is not thoroughly certain or set in stone. Some also believe that Tarot cards originated from Egypt, where the cards are considered to be hieroglyphical keys to life. One last form of fortune that is very well known is in the form of small pieces
of paper that are shoved in between the folds of fortune cookies. In 1906, Suyeichi Okamura, an immigrant from Japan, started Benkyodo, which is a Japanese confectionary store in San Francisco. The store supplied Japanese fortune cookies to Makoto Hagiwara, who ran a Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park, until the outbreak of World War II, when Japanese Americans living in California were sent to internment camps. From there, Chinese businessmen took over the business and started to produce their own fortune cookies, which were sold in Chinese restaurants all over the world as they are today. “Fortune cookies are just mass produced in factories, so I feel like if you get a fortune that applies to your life, then it’s just a coincidence,” Mayes said. “I have kept fortunes out of fortune cookies, though, because it’s just a good luck charm to me since they’re usually pretty positive, so it’s almost comforting to me.” Depending on what an individual believes, a lifetime could be dissected in so many different ways, whether that be through beliefs as major as religion or something as small as a fortune out of a fortune cookie. The theory suggesting that “everything happens for a reason,” could also be widely interpreted and depicted as a form of fortune, depending on the way it’s viewed. “I believe that in your life, every decision you make depicts the outcome of further events,” Reed said. “I also do believe that everything happens for a reason because what happens in the present prepares you for the future.”
Pisces
(Feb 19 - March 20)
Aries
(March 21 - April 19)
Taurus
(April 20 - May 20)
Gemini
(May 21 - June 20)
Cancer
(June 21 - July 22)
Leo
(July 23 - Aug 22)
Virgo
(Aug 23 - Sep 22)
Libra
(Sep 23 - Oct 22)
Scorpio
(Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Sagittarius
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Capricorn
(Dec 22 - Jan 19)
USE THE CAMERA ON YOUR PHONE TO SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT ROCHESTERTALON.COM TO READ MORE ABOUT YOUR HOROSCOPE CHARACTERISTICS.
THE TALON || MARCH 2019
PAGE 12 || SPORTS
MIRACLE ON ICE
Rochester United hockey team makes history COLLIN KILPATRICK
STAFF WRITER
Rochester United hockey made history this season as the team went undefeated in the OAA for the first time, which resulted in the team winning its league and the region. The team finished the regular season 22-3, and went on to win the regional game and go to the state semifinals in the playoffs. “[Winning leagues was] a great accomplishment. [I am] so proud of the young men on the team to come together with achieving their goal of being league champions this year,” Coach Kowalski said. “Going undefeated for the first time in league play is a very special accolade.” According to Coach Kowalski, experience and depth played a big role in the team’s success this season. “Our main strength is our depth. We have a large group of Seniors, 13 total, in addition to our very talented underclassmen.” Coach Kowalski said. “Everyone on the team has contributed. It is not a one or two line team. We’ve had production top to bottom with the roster and are very fortunate to have a healthy team.” The team focused on improving and setting high standards for the future. “We have all improved in the past couple of months,” Sophomore forward Justin Chevalier said. “Our team really wants to create a legacy for our schools, and that is why we are doing our best to play like never before.” Some players believe the atmosphere around the team
and the team chemistry and camaraderie contributed to this season’s achievements. “Creating memories is one of the most important things with any sports team,” Chevalier said. “But the way RU connects as a whole friend group is something I personally have really never been a part of.” The team’s success did not come without struggle, but Kowalski believes the struggle actually helped the team. “Adversity is welcomed on this team. It is something I have preached to the group all year,” Coach Kowalski said. “Sometimes things will not go your way, but when you are faced with adversity you can shy away or work harder. We have been on the top of the OAA all year, we have faced many good opponents, and because we were on top, we saw every other team bring up their game to challenge us.” Even with the challenges, Coach Kowalski says the focus and the effort was always given by the players. “One of the best teams to be apart of, bar none,” Coach Kowalski said. “These young men show up to the rink and give me 200 percent every day. That’s all a coach can ask for.” Although next season is far in the future, some players believe they will be able to maintain this standard of winning. “We will have to see what happens next season,” Chevalier said. “But the coaching staff definitely is able to create a program that is able to continue doing great these
Girls Softball
“Our goal is to get better
“Our goal is to get better every practice and grow as andevery grow aspractice a team and be an athlete”
a team and be an athlete.” - Captain Abby Michelz
Varsity Girls Soccer
“Since we have 11 seniors, let’s go out on a strong note.” - Captain Jillian Lekosiotis
Men’s Track and Field
“Come to practice everyday and get better and better. Make friends, ya know?” - Captain Cam Wright
Photo of RU hockey courtesy of Justin Chevalier. next couple of years.” Rochester United brings together Rochester and Adams players to form one team, unifying the two schools, which creates a unique experience. “I want to thank the athletic departments of both Rochester and Adams for their support this year. Also, the students have come and supported us throughout this journey as well,” Coach Kowalski said. “As a combined team, it allows both schools to have a common team and I really do believe that is something special.”