Issue 2

TOWER

In loving memory of Michael Drew June 2, 1994 - Sept. 11, 2015

the

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 Volume 88 Issue 2 thetowerpulse.net

A WEEKLY TRADITION SINCE 1928

@thetowerpulse

Gross e Pointe S outh, 11 Gross e Pointe B oule vard, Gross e Pointe Far ms, Michigan 48236

Hamka shifts funding With the ultimate goal of getting groups to be self-sustaining, principal rearranges budget numbers

said. “We try to make an adjustment EMILY FLEMING ’16 // Associate to make sure that all departments Editor Many areas of surplus in the budget and extracurricular activities have the will be reallocated to places that lacked resources they need to be successful.”

Hamka’s long term goal is for sufficient funds last year based on prior extracurriculars to become selfspending and need for the upcoming year, sustaining and independent of their according to Principal Moussa Hamka. departments, he said.

The school runs on a holistic, The ability to allocate money to interconnected budget, and the total extracurriculars is heavily based on needs amount of money available never within their department, he said. changes, Hamka said.

“I distribute and I give to departments.

Each year, money is often reallocated For example, The Tower is part of the to departments and extracurriculars English department and is part of that within departments based on financial department’s overall budget, ” Hamka said. need in a particular year.

“This year we had If the school gave certain departments money to an activity It’s not academics that needed a little and it was not used in versus extracurriculars. more money to buy its entirety, the extra Everyone has to be more classroom supplies money can be taken fiscally responsible. and computer away from the activity’s software for their annual allocated budget MEAGAN DUNHAM classes. ” and given to another area ENGLISH TEACHER, Extracurriculars that has lacked sufficient POINTE PLAYERS ADVISER such as Pointe funding in previous years, Players, the drama Hamka said. club, are working towards becoming selfMany departments experience a sustaining so they don’t have to share change in the amount of money they receive from the school based on their a budget with academic departments, adviser Meagan Dunham said. spending in previous years, Hamka said.

“We can’t have the same budget,” “We analyze if there are surpluses in Dunham said. “If science or technology certain areas and money is not spent, then can’t buy materials, but we have statewe have other areas where we had some of-the-art costumes and state-of-the-art needs that we couldn’t meet,” Hamka

instruments and elaborate sets, where do you draw the line? It’s not academics versus extracurriculars. Everyone has to be more fiscally responsible.”

The Pointe Players have faced budget setbacks in the past, and often adjust goals for the year based on the funds they have available, Dunham said. Their budget from the school has decreased by over $14,000 in the past 20 years.

“We had more money to spend on scripts and royalties and sets, etcetera.

But back then, everyone else had more money too,” Dunham said.

In order to maintain the quality of the group, Pointe Players is going to increase fundraising and try to increase ticket sales, all with hopes of becoming fully self-sustaining.

“While it stinks that our budget got changed, it’s not monumental. We’ll do little things here and there to make up for the lost money,” Pointe Players President Alex Niforos ’16 said.

The main goal of budget reallocation is to support groups that need it, and many groups will see an increase in funding this year, Hamka said.

“For example, last year, we were able to support The Tower and they bought a drone. So we just capped it (their budget) back this year,” Hamka said. “Now we can support another group so they can have something special, something extra.”

Remembering Kyleigh Webb ’15 see page 5 for full story

JENNIFER MAIORANA ’16 // Editor-in-Chief Kyleigh Webb ’15 passed away at age 20 on Sept. 14. Webb was an active member of the South community and was planning to continue her education as a fifth-year senior.

“Everyone from the South family has been so supportive,” mother Lori Webb said via e-mail. “There are no words to express our gratitude.

Honor her memory by passing on a smile to everyone you come in contact with each day because she always had a smile for everyone she met.”

Changing the subject, Suicide awareness month seeks to new schedule policy save lives through awareness, education OLIVIA FREDERICKSON ’16 & ELENA RAUCH ‘18 // Staff Writers After strictly enforcing policies regarding schedule changes, many South students are being denied requests to switch classes.

Rather than being able to change courses like in previous years, students are now faced with the challenge of staying in the classes printed on the schedules they received at registration.

“It’s one of those things that we’ve been telling kids for years and years and years, that these are the reasons that you can change your schedule,” Walsh-Sahutske said.

The class change policy is written in detail in the handbook. Despite having a letter sent We’ve been telling out to students and kids for years and years parents in spring and years, that these are regarding how to the reasons that you can change classes, change your schedule.

Wa l s h - S a h u t s k e BETH WALSH-SAHUTSKE claims no one took it COUNSELOR seriously.

Students request classes in February of the previous school year, and the school bases its budget on who they’re going to hire and for how many classes, according to Walsh-Sahutske. This all has to be done in the previous year to line students’ schedules up accurately.

Cameron Zak ’18 said the newly-enforced policy is a little disappointing.

“I’m trying to switch out of Honors Spanish IV because it’s a harder class, and I’ve already taken Spanish for three years.” Zak said. “I’d rather take something easier since all my other classes are harder, and I’m already going to be stressed because of those.”

SEE CHANGING THE SUBJECT ON PAGE 3.

IN THIS ISSUE Cross-town rivalry Check out page 7 for all of the stats on the rivalry history

RILEY LYNCH ’18 // Pulse Feature Editor September is a month dedicated to the prevention of something deadlier than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects and chronic lung disease combined--suicide.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24, according to the Jason Foundation, an organization that aims to cut down teen suicide rates.

In 2003, Suicide Prevention Week was established as a National Mental Health Observance. Its central goals are to show that suicide is preventable and to destroy the stigma surrounding it.

Although Suicide Prevention Week was officially held from Sept.

6-12, the entire month of September is used to advocate for the voices lost to depression and those affected by the loss of a loved one to suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

“One of our fears is that, yeah, kids are great. Kids are good friends, but they’re not professionals that have been trained to walk kids through this. The best thing they can do is guide them to their school counselor or social worker,” counselor Troy Glasser said.

Prior to their death, many depressed individuals show the warning signs of suicide, and yet, each day, there are approximately 5,400 attempts worldwide. According to James E. Sabin of “the Psychiatric Times,” the key to preventing suicide is to recognize the warning signs, informing people about them and seeking help immediately.

“The best way to prevent suicide is to treat mental illnesses as the serious illnesses that they are,” Jared Schenk ‘17 said. “It’s frightening to me that so many people are not given the support they need to deal with mental illnesses, so much so that their only escape is to kill themselves. If we want to prevent suicide, we have to talk about it before it happens, not after.”

The AFSP says the warning signs for suicide include giving away prized possessions, discussions of dying, isolation, an unhealthy sleeping schedule, loss of appetite, reckless behavior and depressive tendencies.

“I happen to know a lot of people who deal with suicidal thoughts and tendencies, and it’s very stressful and a very heavy weight to be under, because I share some of those thoughts, too,” a student who asked that his name not be used said. “But I love and care about those people enough that I’m willing to help them no matter what. I think the biggest step is to just not treat suicide like it’s a joke and to not glorify it. People don’t really like to talk about it. But it’s not hard to be kind to people and help with the struggle. If we all did our part and talked to each other, it would be easier as a society to carry those weights.”

The United States suicide prevention hotline can be reached at 1(800)-273-8255 (1-800-SUICIDE). The hotline is open 24/7 and all calls are confidential.

Know the signs

1 mood swings

2

3

4

anxiety/ withdrawal feeling depression worthless

5 giving away possessions

CALL 911 OR THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT 1-800-273-8255 IF YOU IDENTIFY WITH ANY OF THESE SIGNS OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO EXHIBITS THEM.

A tale of two cities Look at page 6 to get to know the new exchange students

Intercepted Page 8 has the latest information regarding the recent football suspensions.

opinion // 2

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

Pro/Con: Budget Reallocation The Tower Editorial Board had differing opinions regarding this issue, here are both sides.

PRO

G

rosse Pointe South is a place where most students are involved in at least one extracurricular, if not two or three. Not only are there countless opportunities to get involved with extracurriculars, they are also top notch. We are home to the best girls athletics program in the state, one of the only weekly newspapers in the country, a robotics team that competes internationally, the only competitive show choir in Michigan, and so much more.

With all of these things, it is vital that we support each and every one of them, not just the best ones. Budget reallocations

cuts may level the playing field, but could negatively effect some groups are a necessary evil that allow all students to have equal opportunities for success in their chosen activity.

Extracurriculars are a major part of a student’s success in high school. A study done by the National Center for Education showed that high schoolers involved in extracurriculars have more consistent attendance, greater academic achievement, and greater aspirations for continuing education beyond high school than their less involved peers. Adequate funding allows for all of the extracurriculars to benefit and become as strong as possible, further expanding upon these benefits.

Budget reallocation allows everyone to benefit. For example, The Tower was given a little extra money in the budget to buy a drone last year, and now that portion of the budget has been reallocated to help another

COLLEGE

CONFIDENTIAL

Julianna Berkowski ‘16

NEWSPAPER

the

TOWER

STAFF

featuring information and perspectives on the college application process, written by seniors

ILLUSTRATION BY ABBY FERRY ‘16

extracurricular have their own major purchase. Clubs can buy 3D printers, cameras, software, costumes, or anything else they deem necessary that can be used for years down the line and can vastly improve their activity as a whole. If we did not have a give and take within the budget, we would not have the reputation for excellence that we hold today.

W

CON

hile it is important for budgets to be updated every year, it seems unfair and subjective to

change budgets without consulting the group or club that is affected first. Each extracurricular has a unique set of circumstances that should be taken into account before cutting, or “reallocating,” budgets.

Along these lines, the idea to give one group “something special, something extra” is a statement that is hard to quantify and keep track of over numerous years. Our administrative team has changed so many time recently--who’s to say it won’t continue to fluctuate in the years to

College Confidential:

come? If a new administration team comes in blind, they will assume that budgets are set for a reason at their fair amounts. They won’t take into consideration that “something special” added or subtracted from each extracurricular’s budget every year.

In addition, how does the administration choose who gets this money every year? Does each extracurricular apply for it? How do they ensure that every group has a fair shot at this money? They don’t. Instead of having the extracurricular groups apply for this

money, they gave it to the groups that they saw low numbers for and didn’t think twice about cutting successful groups.

It seems contradictory to cut the budget of an extracurricular simply because they are being successful, especially when they’re no proof that another group needs money more than them. The reallocations would be much more justified if extracurricular groups stated ahead of time what their proposed budget would be and what they would do with additional money.

Get those applications in early

Schedule change policy stunts opportunities for growth

Some quotes, I believe, if they are powerful enough, have the capability to change our lives.

There are quotes about love, life, inspiration, motivation and wisdom available to us at our fingertips.

In classrooms throughout South, teachers have posters proclaiming messages like “You’ll never regret doing the right thing!” and “30 years from now it won’t matter what shoes you wore, how your hair looked or what jeans you bought; what will matter is what you learned and how you used it.”

The reason I bring this up is because this summer I came across a quote that spoke to me on an incredibly personal level.

As I set out to begin my college applications in June, I saw an expression on my Twitter feed that said, “If you wait until the last minute, it only takes a minute to do.” Immediately, I closed out of the college applications opened on my computer, thinking most of these weren’t due until the winter anyway. All of the helpful advice I received from those who had already graduated, telling me to start my college applications early in the summer was replaced by this new quote.

In that moment, it made perfect sense. Waiting until the last minute means you get it done in one minute.

When the time came to choose classes for my senior schedule last February, I made some very impulsive choices. I was a junior getting ready to take yet another ACT and working constantly to keep my grades up. I wanted to give myself a break and take less challenging classes for my senior year.

Upon receiving my schedule in August, I automatically regretted my decisions. Yes, the classes were what I requested, but I regretted the light class load, knowing that colleges will be looking at my schedule. I went to my counselor on the first day of school, filled out a form to switch out of a couple classes and wrote a letter describing my requests.

A day later I got a message back: Request denied. The student handbook states that Grosse Pointe South High School believes that “every student is entitled to the best possible education and that students are responsible for their own learning.”

If my school says that they are committed to these values, why am I not allowed to take a harder class?

Why should I be restricted from furthering my own education?

Why should I be denied an opportunity to challenge myself and exceed academically? I am trying to take responsibility for my actions and reverse my mistakes. In the past three years I’ve been at South, schedule changes have never been this complicated.

In addition, the administrators’

Once the summer was over, I slowly came to realize how much of a mistake living like this was.

My realization came when I found myself watching “El Internado,” a Spanish television series about students at a mysterious boarding school full of secrets, while my mom thought I was working on my applications. Life had hit an incredibly low point for me. The initial step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. My problem was I thought it would be possible to apply to college in one minute. That’s a huge problem (according to my mom).

Now that I’ve accepted I need to stop believing in my life-changing quote, there are only a few things I need to get in order before I start my applications.

First, I need to find out if Marcos and Carol will end up together in “El Internado,” even though they are both in grave danger and Carol is dating Iván. After that I’m going to take a trip to Breckels Massage Therapy on Mack to get my mom a gift card after all that I have put her through.

Hopefully, if I can get these things into order soon, my college applications will be sent out in a timely manner, and my mom will love me again. If not, look for me on Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m. trying to apply during my last minute.

Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Maiorana* ’16

Photo Editor Jennifer Toenjes* ’16

Associate Editors Brenna Bromwell* ’16 Emily Fleming* ’16

Business Managers Alexis Motschall* ’16 Asst. Mackenzie Harrel* ’17

Supervising Editors Gabi de Coster* ’16 Haley Vercruysse* ’16 Lauren Pankin* ’16 Sydney Simoncini* ’16

Online Editors-in-Chief Allyson Hartz* and Olivia Baratta*, both ’16

Page Editors Maggie Wright* and Zoe Jackson*, both ’16 Claire Yeamans*, Erykah Benson* and Jack Holme*, all ’17 John Francis*, Liz Bigham* and Ray Hasanaj*, all ’18

Online Section Editors Scarlett Constand* ’16, Adam Cervone* and Ariana Chengges*, both ’17 Riley Lynch* ’18

Copy Editors Brendan Cauvel*, Hannah Connors*, Julia Fox*, Juliana Berkowski* and Shannon McGlone*, all ’16 Rachel Harris* ’18

Online Associate Editor Preston Fossee* ’16

Online Copy Editors Lindsey Stanek* ’16 Lily Kubek* ’17 Online Social Media Directors Emma Andreasen* and Zoe Evans*, both ’17

Staff Writers Abigail, Warren, Blair Shortal, Callie Zingas, Christina Ambrozy, Elizabeth Coyle, Gennie Martin, Griffin Brooks, Hadley Diamond, Hailey Murphy, J.D. Gray, Jessica Whitney, Jon Theros, Katharine Kuhnlein, Lily Patterson, Lindsey Clark, Mac Cimmarrusti, Madeline DesNoyer, Olivia Frederickson and Olivia Wouters, all ’16 Abby Ottenhoff, Anton Mikolowski, Bridget Driscoll, Cam Francis, Charlie Denison, Claire Hubbell, Emma Russell, Gillian Eliot, Jack Froelich, Jack Roma, Jacob Applegate, Kaitlin Malley, Mac Welsher, Madeleine Glasser, Mary Grace O’Shea, Michael French, Olivia Sheffer, Sydney Stann and William Muawad, all ’17 Abigail Due, Arianna Paganette, Blair Cullen, Brennan Zihlman, Cameron Smolen, Chase Clark, Elena Rauch, Evan Skaff, Grace Brandon, John Standish, Kaitlin Nemeh, Katherine Bird, Lauren Thom, Maren Roeske, Margot Baer, Mollie DeBrunner and Liam Walsh, all ’18

opposition about schedule changes doesn’t make sense. To quote the student handbook: “Course changes are sometimes necessary. They are, however, disruptive to the instructional program, expensive, and consume hours of staff time ...

Every effort will be made to complete all schedule changes by the end of the 2nd week of school.”

I would understand their choice more if I was choosing to switch into an easier class, but the administration claims to ensure that I am challenged to the highest standards of instruction in its mission statement: “An evolving curriculum and the highest standards of instruction and learning in every class, every day, will ensure that each student is challenged to fully develop individual abilities, skills, and character to succeed in life.”

As one of the best schools in the state, South has hard-working and dedicated students. Most students are trying to further their education, some even trying to choose courses relating to career interests.

However, due to this newly-enforced policy, I am being limited from reaching my full academic potential. The fact that the administration has the audacity to tell me what I can and can’t do is absurd. I understand that many adults think they know what’s best, but I’m turning 18 in five months. I will vote in the 2016 election for our next President so I think I’m mature enough to know if a high school elective is right for me.

Adviser Rod Satterthwaite

“The Tower” is the weekly publication of the Advanced Journalism classes at Grosse Pointe South High School. It has always been a designated public form of student expression.

The Tower is located in room 142 in Grosse Pointe South High School. Please contact us at 313-432-3649.

Maddie DesNoyer ‘16

senior shares frustrations towards newly enforced class change policy

Errors Factual errors will be corrected on the opinion page or in news briefs written upon request and verification.

Letters Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be screened for libel., irresponsibility and obscenity. The Editorial Board may edit or shorten letters as long as the meaning is Opinion Pieces unchanged. All letters must be signed and Editorials represent the majority opinion of include a telephone number for confirmation. the Editorial Board and are left unsigned.

Request to withhold the writer’s name Columns represent the opinions of individual from publication for good reason will be staff members and outside contributors. considered. Letters can be sent to the above email address, or dropped off in “The Tower” Editorial Board Room.

An asterisk * denotes Editorial Board editors.

Advertising Display advertising is sold at a rate of $7 per column inch, with discounts for large or frequent advertisers. Advertising ma not advocate illegal activities or contain libelous, irresponsible or obscene material.

Professional Associations Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll, the Society for Newspaper Design and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

news // 3

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

1 Make an appointment with your counselor.

Explain your situation.

Add your name to the add/drop request list.

2

Your request is either accepted or denied.

3

5

4

Check back with your counselor to see the results and decide where to go from there.

Administration reviews all requests.

GRAPHICS BY JOHN FRANCIS ’18 AND SYDNEY SIMONCINI ’16

CHANGING THE SUBJECT Enforcement of schedule change policy catches students off guard CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 we are absolutely living by these rules now.”

Cameron Zak ’18 said the newly-enforced policy Principal Moussa Hamka said the letter also inis a little disappointing. cludes reflective topics for the students and parents “I’m trying to switch out of Honors Spanish IV to discuss in preparation for the next school year. because it’s a harder class, and I’ve already taken “This year we received roughly 300-400 plus Spanish for three years.” Zak said. “I’d rather take schedule changes. It’s nearly a quarter of our stusomething easier since all my other classes are hard- dent body. If everyone came in that first week of er, and I’m already going to be stressed school and everyone wanted a schedule change and because of those.” we did that for everyone, Walsh-Sahutske said counselors give Because we have so it would be chaos,” Hamka teachers the list of all the students that much lead time, (schedule said. signed up for their class, and they have changes) throw everything Counselors are also the teacher review those lists. In May, out of whack, its not a very processing senior college they mail home a letter which informs good us of our resources, applications at this time of parents the classes their child is taking BETH WALSH-SAHUTSKE the school year and need and how to set up a meeting with a COUNSELOR to help support the seniors, counselor in the next two weeks with according to Hamka. They any problems. need to focus on that more “Because we have to have so much lead time, (schedule changes) throw everything that schedule changes.

Walsh-Sahutske said counselors are also learning out of whack, and it’s not a very good use of our resources,” Walsh-Sahutske said. “The school board to adjust to this change, and it’s difficult for them as recognized this, and they took these rules and well.

“It’s terribly exhausting for us emotionally to try turned them into a formal policy, and they said that

to find nice ways to say, ‘I can’t do trators and teachers to be on the it. These are our rules, and I’m so same page, and I think we’re doMy advice is, students, sorry because I’d like to be able to ing what’s in the best interest for when you sign up for a help you, and I’d like to make you students,” Peck said. “(Teachclass, think very carefully. happy,’ that’s all we wanna do, but ers) have faith in that student, MOUSSA HAMKA we just can’t,” Walsh-Sahutske said. that student can do it. I think it PRINCIPAL According to AP and honors is awesome that we are keeping English teacher Danielle Peck, those numbers up in AP and struggling in a class can be good. keeping students where they She said accepting struggle as a part of growth is a should be with the appropriate challenge that they should have.” mindset everyone should have.

In regards to next February, students should not “One thing that I always know in my mind is most students can do it. They’re gonna do it. They expect anything to change, Walsh-Sahutske said.

“My advice is, students, when you sign up for a are gonna struggle, sure, but they can and they have class, think very carefully. Take into consideration the ability to do it,” Peck said.

Hamka agrees that if students really try, they can those items that were listed in the letter that went do things that they didn’t know they could do be- home. Consider the balance on your life,” Hamka said. fore.

Regardless of policy, Walsh-Sahutske said it’s of“It’s a delicate balance, pushing kids to the edge ten difficult but necessary to say no. without pushing them over the edge.” Hamka said.

“We hate breaking kids’ hearts and parents’ Peck also believes excessive schedule-changing on the part of students is a big part of why this poli- hearts. We do,” Walsh-Sahutske said. “It pulls every ounce of energy because it’s not at all what we’d like cy is being more strictly enforced.

“The best thing that can happen is for adminis- to do.”

Proposed dog park creates controversy LAUREN PANKIN ’16 // Supervising Editor All bark and no fright, more than 80 Grosse Pointe Park residents voiced their commentary regarding a potential dog park at the Wednesday, Sept. 9 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.

Raised voices and demands for on-the-record promises characterized the nearly two-hour long public meeting, which brought 11 months of behind-the-scenes operations to a public head.

Last February, Dr. Mike Bannon, a professor of pharmacology at Wayne State University and Grosse Pointe Park resident, decided it was time for his city to join the Shores, Farms and Woods in building a municipal dog park, he said.

“I talked to the Parks and Rec director, and she told me, ‘People have expressed interest but never really explained what dog parks were, why they would be a good idea, where might we put one,’” Bannon said. “People just said they wanted one, and then they left, and the issue died.”

Bannon said he didn’t want to be one of the people to just walk away.

Having previously constructed an entirely volunteer-organized dog park in Detroit’s Corktown district PROHIBITED // Although several similar signs were taken down from the fence anonymously, this sign remains with fellow Park resident Jarrod Kudzia, Bannon decided posted outside the field at Pierce Middle School in Grosse Pointe Park. PHOTO BY LAUREN PANKIN to pursue the issue, he said. After communicating with the director last fall and winter, Bannon made a presenand people who already walk their dogs, and generally the noise and tation to the Parks and Recreation commission last Febsmell of the dog park,” Jogan said. “We have two dogs in our backyard, ruary.

While initially enthusiastic, the commission was slow in address- and on hot days, even though we do a good job cleaning up, it still ing the issue, Bannon said. Although a local wealthy family offered to doesn’t smell great.”

In the final public comment of the meeting, physics teacher Scott donate a wrought-iron fence valued at thousands of dollars, the comBrunner decried the Marcks Garden location. He said that if he had mission equivocated on financing and location. known the land would be developed into a dog park, he would have Meanwhile, local dog owners violated Pierce Middle School’s polinever bought his Grosse Pointe Park home. cy, Principal Chris Clark said in an e-mail. Unknown visitors removed “As far as the neighborhood goes, I left my house today and saw two signs indicating that dogs were not permitted on the field, and neighparking spots free out of five (on the side of Marcks Garden),” Brunner bors have expressed alarm at the number of dogs using the grounds. said.

“I’ d say more houses than not have little kids on that block, and “This continues to a be a concern, as students on the play field will having people park all the way down that block is a dangerous part of periodically step in dog waste that is left on the field, despite the signs,” building that park. ” Clark said via e-mail.

Brunner’s friend Robert Taormina said the Marcks location would Earlier this year, there was an incident at Pierce where a girl was be unfair to his family, his dogs, and his little boys. jumped on and nipped by a dog, Kudzia said.

“I am surprised that the decision has gone this far, and no one has “That’s not fair to the girl or her parents,” Kudzia said. “It’s also not come to my door and knocked on it,” Taormina said. fair to the dog owners who are in a place where they really shouldn’t When Taormina initially viewed his house in 2010, he walked away be--but they don’t have any other options. When you have unexercised from it due to its proximity to Jefferson, he said. However, he changed dogs, they can be more dangerous even around their own home. Once his mind after both the realtor and Grosse Pointe Park website said the you give them that dedicated place, where they’re safe, where their park would remain a green space. owner is safe, they won’t need Pierce.”

“Twenty feet will not stop the noise from dogs, and I love dogs,” he It was in search of this place that the Sept. 9 meeting was held. The said, his voice rising above the sound of applause. commission scouted four locations in the Park: Wayburn and Mack, After an hour of public commentary and requests for a vote, the Marcks Garden (on Jefferson, in front of Ewald library), inside and commission voted 7-2 in favor of recommending the Patterson Park out front of Patterson Park, and at Wayburn and Vernor. All locations location.

This recommendation will be presented at the upcoming investigated are a minimum of 20 feet away from neighboring resiSept.

28 city council meeting, in which the final decision could be dences. made, Bannon said.

Over the course of the meeting, the commission presented the pros Although city government has not yet decided to build the dog and cons of each location, and around 8 p.m. opened the floor to pubpark, Kudzia said the commission’s vote, catalyzed by the large comlic commentary. munity turnout, marks encouraging forward progress.

Speaking out against the Patterson Park location, Colleen Jogan, “The larger crowd helped hold the community responsible for mother of Brigit Jogan ’16, said she owns two dogs and therefore supmaking a decision within an appropriate timeline,” Kudzia said. “From ports a park but not one located near her family’s home. what I’ve been able to glean, we could have something in the works by “My main concern would be the parking, the safety of the residents spring. This is a big victory for us.”

Mothers’ Club cookies return

T

MADELINE DESNOYER ’16 // Staff Writer he original school store cookies will return to the school store on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“I’m really excited that they’re back because they were a huge hit our first years at South,” Becca Adams ‘16 said.

Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative focuses on creating a healthy start for children, empowering parents and caregivers, providing healthy food in schools, improving access to healthy, affordable foods and increasing physical activity. It was this initiative that lead to the previously popular cookies being replaced by ones that were made with more healthy ingredients.

“There’s a federal law that was put in place about healthy eating and healthy choices,” Principal Moussa Hamka said. “There are some rules about what can be an ingredient in the food we serve and what can’t be. This was from the Obama administration with Michelle Obama as the main driving source behind it.”

Hamka said there is an obesity problem in The United States the Federal Government was trying to force the hand a little bit to make sure that the food schools are providing kids is healthy “The law is about the nutritional value and the calories that people are consuming,” Hamka said.

“Some will argue that it was healthy, but it didn’t taste good.”

The law that affected the cookie sales also affected the food provided in the lunchroom but not food sold off school grounds.

“We have an open-campus lunch so the law doesn’t permeate beyond our walls,” Hamka said.

“What happens at Farms Market and other establishments we have no control.”

There are rules for the food prepared and sold at South, however. Certain things like milk and cheese can only be nonfat or 1 percent milk.

“I personally didn’t like not like when they took them away, because it took money away from the school store, and the kids would go across the street and spend their money there,” School Store Manager Alka Fosse said.

Adams said she thinks it’s nice that the cookies were healthier last year, but they didn’t taste as good as the old ones and not as many people bought them.

Hamka said, “Every single time they’re available I get cookies. I’m so happy they brought the original form back.”

feature // 4

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

South graduate returns home for show terest in starting to play.”

LILLY PATTERSON’16 // Staff Writer He was constantly playing the piano, but his first After years spent recording and performing piano, Ivan Moshchuk ‘09 returned to Grosse Pointe for a special piano concert performed at real opportunity to perform for a group of people was given to him by Carolyn Gross, the choir teachthe War Memorial on Saturday, Sept. 19.

He has performed on television and radio around the world. Ac- er at Brownell Middle School.

“It was really the first time I got to experience cording to ivanmoshchuk.com, he has even been featured on NPR’s “Performance Today.” However, Moshchuk said that this performance communicating outside of language, and I think is unlike any other performance he has given or will give in the future. that’s such an incredible thing that everyone should “It’s probably one-of-a-kind because I’m putting out my first re- have in their life,” Moshchuk said.

Moshchuk said language is limiting, forcing peocord, and this concert is the official launch of my first album,” Moshple to repeat themselves frequently. chuk said.

“We have predisposed routes, almost,” MoshMoshchuk said he was never interested in recording music because there was something about live music he loved so much. He believes a chuk said. “It’s hard to say something creative out of the usual context of social interaction, which is why live performance leaves more of an impact than a record.

“Every movie that comes out, every album that comes out, all we music is important.”

He said music allows people to express themlook at is the weekend box office or the first week album sales, and then we don’t talk about it anymore, we forget about it,” Moshchuk selves in ways that words do not allow.

Despite his fascination with music, Moshchuk said.

Despite this, he recorded his first album, “Forgiveness.” Moshchuk was never a part of South’s music program. “(Science teacher James) Adams kept me too was hesitant about giving his album this title because the word means something different to everyone. However, he wanted those who lis- busy for that,” Moshchuk said, laughing.

Although he did not participate in the music tened to his album to reevaluate what the word means to them.

“We have to constantly reexamine our life, our ideas, what words program in high school, Moshchuk attended the mean to us, what people mean to us, everything,” Moshchuk said. Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University to study music full “Forgiveness does not have a beginning or an end. It’s an illusion. It’s time.

After graduation, he followed a dream of his and moved to Paris a paradox.” to perform and record music. During his Moshchuk said his goal was to express said time in Paris, Moshchuk experienced a paradox through music in a cohesive album. different lifestyle than what he was used “I wanted to create an album as an illusion, an “It’s probably one-of-a- to. He spent three months without access album that could show people the idea of things to Internet while living in a 17th century we take for granted in our life,” Moshchuk said. kind because I’m putting house he believed to be at least 300 years “It’s a reexamination of what individuality is.” out my first record, and old.

The album artwork also supports Moshchuk’s While there, Moshchuk also develideas about individuality. The album cover is this concert is the official oped an interest in philosophy. This a blurred photograph as opposed to a Photolaunch of my first album newfound interest played a large role in shopped image made to look perfect. He wanted Moshchuk’s album, “Forgiveness.” the artwork to be real and authentic.

IVAN MOSHCHUK “Being in Paris influenced all aspects “In this picture-perfect world, we don’t have of my life, which inevitably influenced the chance, or the time, or the opportunity to exPIANIST my music,” Moshchuk said. amine somebody’s real core of their soul,” MoshNow, Moshchuk is beginning the next chuk said.

The final aspect of Moshchuk’s album project is filming a music chapter of his life in Detroit. video in Paris this October. He plans to direct the video himself, havBack Home ing been studying cinema on the side.

For Moshchuk, returning to Grosse Pointe was not just about his “It’s going to be a challenge that I’m really excited about,” he said.

This album is the first of three in a trilogy. He plans to work on his performance. He also took time to return to his former high school to perform and speak to South’s orchestra classes. next album in Detroit and hopes to release it sometime next year.

Orchestra teacher James Gross thought having Moshchuk as a “I want to find a way to reflect what this city has been through,” guest for his classes was beneficial to his students.

Moshchuk said.

“I could tell by looking at their faces that they were enthralled, attentive and excited,” Gross said.

The Beginning Jillian Kouayara ‘17, a member of South’s orchestra, said hearing Since he was 6 or 7-years-old, Moshchuk has been interested in Moshchuk play and speak was an incredible experience. music.

“He is really intelligent for his age, and I think that he has accom“There was a piano in my home. My family was very musical,” Moshchuk said. “Being in that environment sort of facilitated my in- plished so much and will accomplish a lot more,” Kouayara said.

HOMEBOUND// Ivan Moshchuk ’09 works with current South students while back in town to perform at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. His first album, “Forgiveness” is available for purchase on iTunes.

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN MOSHCHUK, BOTTOM PHOTO BY LILY PATTERSON ’16

The advice and encouragement he gave to the students was one of the highlights of his visit, Kouayara said.

“He gave a lot of good insight and definitely encouraged me to continue playing beyond high school,” Kouayara said. “He made me want to think about where I’m at now in my musical career and where I want to be.”

After performing for and speaking to the musicians of South’s orchestra, Moshchuk gave his live performance at the War Memorial.

Although he has experienced much success, Moshchuk has no interest in being the next big thing.

“It’s not about going for success or fame. These words are meaningless,” Moshchuk said. “Everything that we learn comes down to happiness.”

A midsummer writer’s dream English teacher takes on London and the Globe Theater, immersing herself in British culture and the works of Shakespeare

LEARNING IN LONDON// English teacher Danielle Peck takes some time to explore the city while learning about Shakespeare. For more pictures and an interesting narrative, make sure to check out her blog, theawkwardoptimist.com .

PHOTOS BY DANIELLE PECK

again, because I realized that some of my students who might ALEXIS MOTSCHALL’16 // Business Manager After grading piles of midterms last year, English teacher just be looking at me but not necessarily contributing to the Danielle Peck’s distracted mind wandered to the computer, conversation, they’re there too,” Peck said. “They are getting where a Google search along the lines of “Programs for high the experience, and in many cases they are loving the experischool English teachers over the summer,” brought her to the ence, but maybe in a different way, and that’s OK.” Although she traveled on her own, Peck met 24 other “Teaching Shakespeare Through Performance program.”

“I decided last year that I wanted to do something fun for teachers from around the United States.

“You know when you go away to summer camp and you me, but more importantly that pushed my boundaries, challenged me and helped me grow as an English teacher,” Peck meet these people, and you never thought that you could get along with a group of people so well?” Peck asked. “All 24 of said.

According to The Shakespeare Globe Trust, the Teaching the teachers there were so smart, so caring and passionate Shakespeare Through Performance program allows teachers about what they do. It was wonderful to be able to work with from around the United States to learn different approaches them and to be able to get to know them.”

The 24 teachers continue to keep in touch with each other, on teaching Shakespeare in the classroom.

On July 12, Peck left for three weeks to study in London at Peck said.

“We now have a Facebook group. That’s what the old peoShakespeare’s Globe.

“I wanted to go to London because so much of what I love ple use, and every day someone’s posting in it,” Peck said. “We is there,” Peck said. “I’m an English teacher. Obviously that’s support each other out of the program.”

Peck thinks it is possible to use the skills that she learned a huge hub for English literature.”

Peck got to visit places in London she had always wanted from the program in every one of her classes, she said.

“The first thing, it’s kind of weird, but I noticed as I was a to go to, such as Platform 9¾ from the Harry Potter series student (at the program), much of the stuff that we did was and locations where Charles Dickens wrote, she said.

“It (the program) was very strictly scheduled,” Peck said. movement-based,” Peck said. “It’s nice for students to just get up and do something different.”

“It was like going to class all day for Peck said that incorporating activities with three weeks.” movement will be easy to apply to each class.

I will never forget Some of the classes in the program “Students getting on their feet more in acting on The Globe focused on textual analysis, while othclass would be good because you’re sitting stage because that is ers more specifically studied the teachdown all day,” Olivia Mlynarek ‘19 said. “You Shakespeare’s stage ing of Shakespeare, Peck said. don’t really walk around in class.” ... I think the spirit of She also took voice and acting lesPeck said she will be able to use the acting Shakespeare is there. sons, as well as a class about Shakeand performance skills she learned with her speare’s England.

DANIELLE PECK freshman classes that study Shakespeare.

“I will never forget acting on The ENGLISH TEACHER “Sophomores do ‘The Crucible,’ and I’m Globe stage because that is Shakereally excited to try some of those things speare’s stage, although The Globe is a (learned in the program) with Arthur Miller’s reconstruction,” Peck said. “I think the work,” Peck said. “But in terms of textual analysis and just spirit of Shakespeare is there.”

The class schedule began at 8 a.m. each day and ended at getting engaged in literature, I think I can take a lot of what I 6 or 7 p.m., Peck said. This timetable was stretched when the learned back to all of my classes.”

Lauren Pankin ‘16, who is doing an independent study teachers rehearsed on stage.

“Sometimes the hours were a little bit crazy when we had with Peck this year, decided to change her study focus after to do rehearsals, we would be up past midnight,” Peck said. learning of Peck’s summer trip.

“When I heard Ms. Peck was going to embark on her trip “But … there was always something new and exciting to do.”

As well as acting on a stage for the first time, Peck was to The Globe, I decided that I wanted to do Shakespeare,” also able to experience what it was like to be a student again, Pankin said. “She greatly influenced my decision because I knew she would have the expertise, the knowledge (and) the she said.

“You sort of forget what it is like as a student when you ability to introduce some new thinking.”

Ms. Peck documented her trip to London on her blog, become a teacher,” Peck said. “I was with a bunch of other teachers who, I love them, but in many cases were much www.theawkwardoptimist.com.

“It really was one of the best experiences of my life and louder than me, and I felt like I didn’t know when to speak very transformative,” Peck said. “I’m so lucky to have been up.”

But being a on the other side of the classroom divide may able to go, and it exceeded my expectations in pretty much every way possible.” was one of the best things about the program, she said.

“It was good to get to experience that (being a student)

feature // 5

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

can’t stop loving you 1.

3.

2.

Community remembers spirit, loving nature of Kyleigh Webb

S

JENNIFER MAIORANA ’16 // Editor-in-Chief he will be remembered as the girl who walked down the hallways smiling and singing her favorite song, “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” Despite the challenges Kyleigh Webb ’15 faced, she was constantly happy and able to spread optimism, Peer-2-Peer adviser Dori Martinuzzi said.

“She went through a lot in her young life, but you never saw her without a smile,” Martinuzzi said. “No matter what, she was always extremely happy,” Webb loved interacting with her peers and learning at South, special education teacher Jill Rotole said.

“When she got something right, every once in awhile she’d catch me off guard and short little Kyleigh would reach up, put her arm around my neck and pull me down into a huge hug,” Rotole said.

Some of the skills Webb was working at school included writing letters, reading sight words, adding numbers and keyboarding, Rotole said. She was planning to return this school year for the 18-26 program that the special education curriculum offers.

Outside of the classroom, Webb enjoyed selling popcorn at lunch to raise money for the kids to attend Camp Fowler, a camp providing

enrichment activities for students with special needs.

“She went to Camp Fowler every single year and she just loved it,” Martinuzzi said. “She did everything there and she even went up high in the treehouse. She was just the biggest cheerleader to everybody else. She was such a supportive friend to so many people.”

Some of Webb’s closest friends were Tom O’Hare and Trevor She went through a lot in Beck, both ’15. her young life, but you never “He (Beck) made a picture for saw her without a smile. No her on Friday, so there’s this little matter what, she was always blip on there where I could tell he extremely happy. was trying to write something,” Rotole said. “So I asked him what DORI MARTINUZZI it was supposed to say and he PEER-2-PEER ADVISER said, ‘Miss you.’”

Between selling popcorn and taking classes together, Beck said he and Webb were partners in crime.

“We were always laughing,” Beck said.

In addition, Webb was also close with many members of Peer-2Peer. Katharine Kuhnlein ’16 ate lunch with Webb three days a week.

“She was really close with everybody else in Peer-2-Peer wheth-

er you knew it or not,” Kuhnlein said. “She was especially close with Trevor and Tom. Tom asked her to Prom, and it was just the cutest thing because they loved each other so much.”

The Peer-2-Peer students actually helped O’Hare ask Webb to Prom with a sign that said ‘Kyleigh, I can’t stop loving you. Prom?” in honor of her favorite song, Rotole said.

“She came in, Tom gave her the poster and she was just beside herself. Finally we had to prompt her and be like ‘Kyleigh say yes,’” Rotole said laughing.

Peer-2-Peer members Molly Walsh and Natalia Engel both ’16 went to Prom with Webb, O’Hare and a group of other students.

“It was fun, it was really cool to see them enjoy everything about the high school experience,” Walsh said.

In addition, Engel said Webb and O’Hare enjoyed themselves.

“They were so excited to be there,” Engel said. “It was a little overwhelming for them, but it was so cute.”

Becoming close with Webb has taught Engel the importance of appreciating happiness.

Engel said, “Even though it was not easy for her, she was so happy.

No matter how hard her day was, or how hard your day was, she could always make you smile.”

7.

“I’ve made up my mind

6.

To live in the memory of lonesome times, 4.

It’s useless to say,

So I’ll just live my life in the dreams of yesterday,

Those happy hours that we once knew...”

“I Can’t Stop Loving You”

by Ray Charles, Kyleigh’s favorite song

5.

PREP WORK // 1. Kyleigh Webb ’15 at Camp Fowler petting a horse. 2. Webb with Dori Martinuzzi, Tom O’Hare ’15 and Jill Rotole. at Prom llast spring 3. Webb with Rotole in class. 4. Webb with O’Hare when he asked her to Prom with a sign saying “Kyleigh, I can’t stop loving you. Prom?” 5. Webb with O’Hare and Natalia Engel ’16 at Prom. 6. Webb setting up the popcorn that the special education program sells to raise money for Camp Fowler. 7. Webb with O’Hare and Trevor Beck, two of her closest friends, at Hydrangea.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JILL ROTOLE, DORI MARTINUZZI & NATALIA ENGEL ’16

feature // 6

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

HALLO, HOLA, ANNYEONGHASEYO, BONJOUR, KAIXO Foreign exchange students come to South every year. But how many people know why they come and learn about their experience? We asked the foreign exchange students the following questions.

1. Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student? // 2. What’s most different about the U.S. from where you live? // 3. What’s the most difficult thing about being in America? // 4. What’s your favorite thing about being here? // 5. How is this experience changing you?

Hyeran Youn ‘18 (South Korea) 1. I visited the U.S. four years ago, and it was very interesting for me to come here, and I wanted to learn English and U.S. History.

2. The housing is very different.

3. Language because I’m not that great at English.

4. School is very fast here and there is more freedom.

5. I’m more outgoing here.

Ane Zaballa ‘17 (Basque Country) 1. To learn English and to live like they do in the movies.

2. The schools have a lot of classes, and it’s very fun here.

3. To join a group of friends is kind of hard at first.

4. I like the people a lot; everyone is so friendly and outgoing.

5. I think you grow as a person because I am going to be more independent and confident.

Denis Ahl ‘18 (Germany) 1. I have relatives here, and I wanted to see it.

2. The school system is completely different, and you can’t compare it with Germany.

3. The people and the language. And I’m so far from home, and it’s unusual.

4. The people are very friendly and open-minded.

5. I am becoming a better student here and am more organized here.

Fanny Segers ‘16 (Belgium) 1. For the language, to meet other people and to discover the world.

2. Everything is different.

3. Language.

4. My favorite part here is the people.

5. I’m more responsible, and I’m timid in Belgium, but that’s not possible here.

Ysaline Dromont ‘16 (Belgium) 1. The American culture.

2. The sports and the clubs here because we don’t have that.

3. I miss my friends and family.

4. The school is fun.

5. I think this experience is helping me to become more responsible.

Sandrine Neugart ‘17 (Germany) 1. It’s a nice experience.

You get to know many new friends. You learn about culture.

2.

Germany is more eco-friendly.

3. Generally I am happy and don’t have many difficulties.

4. I like the community and my new school.

5. In Germany I was quite shy.

Here, you have to go to people and talk to them.

Cayetana Cabrera ‘17 (Spain) 1. To meet American students.

2. School. I have fun at my school, but it’s not like this.

3. Language and meeting people.

4.The people.

5. You are alone, so you need to be outgoing.

Jana Wetzel ‘17 (Germany) 1. “I thought it would be really cool to see more about a different culture” 2. “School is really different but it’s not only that, is a completely different way of life.”

3. “you are here without your family and insecure in English, especially at the beginning” 4. “My favorite thing definitely is to meet all these new people” MACKENZIE HARRELL ’17 // Assistant Business Manager

After Africa: Lions, leopards and Land Rovers, oh my MY VIEW Julia Fox ’16

I don’t think of myself as a crier. I don’t cry during sad movies. I don’t cry if I hurt myself. But when I first saw a herd of elephants munching on tree bark out in the wild, I cried.

I may have also teared up a little bit when our plane touched down around 4 p.m.

South African time in the (unexpectedly) massive city of Johannesburg. After 16 hours in the air, my family and I had finally made it across the Atlantic and we were exhausted.

Excited, no doubt, but exhausted. We stayed the night in a hotel just outside the city (that six hour time change is NOT fun) before we were up at the crack of dawn, boarding a little eight-seater plane to our the South African savannah.

Flying over the savannah is not quite the same as flying in the U.S. Instead of looking down at subdivisions and busy highways, we were met with dry grassland and herds of elephants. Instead of landing at an airport with a tarmac, we touched down on a patch of dirt next to a little stone building.

Instead of a taxi to our destination, there was an open top Land Rover Defender waiting for us with our guide and tracker.

We were going on a real African safari, and it was crazy.

We drove about an hour away from the little dirt landing strip and finally made it to our campsite: Singita Ebony in Sabi Sands,

South Africa. At camp each morning we would receive a 6 a.m. wake up call from our guide, dress in our warmest “bush” clothes (basically anything khaki, brown, green or gray in color), meet at the main lodge for coffee and head out on our first “game drive” of the day.

Game drives, the time we spent out on the Land Rovers driving around and trying to find animals to view, were scheduled every morning and late afternoon before the heat of the day set in.

While it would start at about 40 degrees in the morning, by 3 p.m., it could be up to 95, and then because it was so dry, right back down to 30 three hours later. The animals were typically pretty lethargic in that kind of heat, so early mornings and late afternoons were usually their most active times.

It was a series of late nights and early mornings, but missing one game drive to catch up on sleep always meant missing something new. We could have missed a mother leopard and her cub finishing off last night’s dinner (an impala antelope, which were so prevalent it was impossible to go more than five minutes without seeing a harem of at least 25), or a group of rhinoceros grazing in a little clearing. Needless to say we tried to avoid skipping drives altogether.

Each day was something new: cheetahs,

warthogs, rhinoceros, baboons, cheetahs, lions, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, elephants, ostrich, and so, so much more. Seeing them in their natural habitat and hearing from the guide about the ongoing preservation efforts for both the animals and their habitats was actually extremely emotional.

Listening to the guides, it had become

pull up next to a sleeping lion and the lion wouldn’t even acknowledge our presence.

It was absolutely surreal.

But it wasn’t limited to interaction while we were on drives. One morning while walking out to our truck, a male leopard crossed the path 25 feet in front, dragging with him his latest kill. Another day, a female lioness walked up to the deck at my cabin looking for a place to give birth.

Elephants played in the river in front of our cabin. Baboons decided to take a midday dip in our pool. The assimilation of these camps into the daily lives of the animals was incredible to see.

We spent a week and a half at two different camps in South Africa before we took a flight to Arusha, Tanzania. From there we hopped on a little puddle jumper to our next camp (shout out to the couple from Grosse Pointe we met on the plane).

The scenery in Tanzania was entirely different. Instead of tight and dusty forestlike terrain, it was open plain with grass taller than me. I felt like I was in “The Lion King”.

The sunsets were unbelievable. Tracking a rhinoceros on foot through the Serengeti?

Unbelievable. Watching a herd of buffalo fight a pride of lions? Unbelievable. My brother’s 43 mosquito bites? Unbelievably incredibly apparent that those efforts were funny. Sorry, Peter. in dire need of help from other countries I could go on for hours about this trip; as well. it was the trip of a lifetime. However, Driving through the reserves and the most important thing I took away witnessing all of these animals--animals from that amazing adventure is how that I had only previously seen at the zoo or incredible nature is and how important it in movies--in their natural habitat felt a bit is for our generation to acknowledge our like how I would imagine driving around responsibility to preserve it so others can Jurassic Park would feel. The truck would experience it for years to come.

feature // 7

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

THE RIVALRY CONTINUES

by-the-number stats before the rivals face off Friday Tuesday, Sept. cross-town 8, 2015 SOUTH wins 7-6 during first game between North and South

SolarSouth Car team travels to Texas, places eigh 2013: All is fair in wins 21-10 love & war

Paul Attard ’15 said the students on the team are great and capable “Th when i The Sun Devils, South’s Solar Car team, traveled to Fort Worth, kids.

“For next year, one thing the current team could improve on is said. “B Texas in July to compete in The Solar Car Challenge, a national having far more testing. This year, we tested the car a week before the worked competition held at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Twelve members of the team participated in the almost week-long competition, but that really wasn’t enough to see the full capabilities as well of the car at hand,” Attard said. “It takes a lot of Nex event. They were pitted against 17 teams hailing work to build the car, but getting it done on time Car Ch from all around the country in the Classic “Sin to allow for this would only help in the long run.”

The 12 months of work Division to see whose solar car could travel the OLIVIA ’16the // Staff SamWOUTERS Hoffman ’16, otherWriter co-captain of the Minne leading up to the race had furthest over the course of the competition. team said they are starting from scratch with the on the finally paid off.

The Sun Devils finished in eighth place, new car. longer, putting them above all of the other Michigan MICHAEL ROSE ‘16 “Next year we are teams including the Detroit-based Heroes’ SUN DEVIL MEMBER building a whole new car,” Alliance, according to the Solar Car Challenge Do not be afraid to Hoffman said. “The new website. make your vision for th car will be lighter and more Co-captain Michael Rose ’16 said the best car a reality. moment of the event was when the team passed the scrutineering efficient than cars in the past. For members phase, which requires teams to review and comply with a 32-page rule next year, new ideas are always taken into SAM HOFFMAN ‘16 SUN DEVIL MEMBER consideration. Do not be afraid to try to make book. your vision for the solar car a reality. ” “My favorite moment this year was after two days of scrutineering It wasn’t all smooth sailing when they got to hearing the ‘OK’ that our car was approved for the race,” Rose said.

“Those words meant so much more than just we would race, but the 12 Texas, as the team helplessly watched its car take off on its own and United drive right into another team’s minivan, Rose said. you wa months of work leading up to the race had finally paid off.”

JACK HOLME ’17 // Page Editor

591

SOUTH wins

18-13

total points for

in 2011

South

17 total wins for South

Jessica Whitney (South) and Matthew Bergeron (North), both '16

Ho wd oy ou ma int ain you r re lat ion shi pw hil ea t ri val sch ool s?

SOUTH

wins 14-6 in

2010

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South wins

OB

2012

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‘18

“We talk to each other all day, every day and hang out any chance we get.” -Bergeron

17-15

Joey Dotson (South) and Emily Graham (North), both ‘16

points earned

SUN DEVILS // The South Solar Car team travelled to Texas this summer. They placed eighth in the national competition, above the other Michigan teams.

North wins

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GROSSE POINTE SOUTH SOLAR CAR TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE

New superintendent brings administ

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Maddie McDonnell (South) and Trent Williams (North), both‘16

DE NT SY INS DN EY TA GR BE NS AM ON gp ‘16 n_ ph oto s

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Along with being a more active member of the community, Niehaus said he has four main focal points for this fall: enrollment, special education, the North/South dynamic and the failed technology bond.

Enrollment in kindergarten and first grade classes is down due to the lowered birth rates during the recent recession he said, but he said he has begun to work with the Chamber of Commerce addition to the city managers and the mayor to “We meet up afterinschool and study discuss new advertising tactics. together and make sure that “We are tryingschool to figure out how to bring new families into Grosse Pointe to bring these-aged kids still comes first.” -Dotson into the school system,” Niehaus said.

In regards to special education, Niehaus wants to increase co-teaching and get more students with special needs back into traditional classrooms with their peers, he said.

“We want to spend some time at the high school level with our 19-26-year old students,” Niehaus said. “We are working with Full Circle to begin to evolve and develop work programs so that kids can

“We don’t get to see each other every single day, but we always make the effort to spend time with each other when we can.” -McDonnell PHOTO COURTESY OF MCDONNELL , GRAHAM, AND WHITNEY

22-20 in

have full time jobs once they have finished the Full Circle program.”

Along with this, Niehaus said he strives to create a more cohesive community by promoting #oneGP on social media.

“There’s a perception that there’s an issue with North and South, but honestly the results show that they’re both producing good-quality high school education,” Niehaus said.

Lastly, the recent technology bond failing is also an important matter to consider, he said.

“We’ve got to come back, look at and analyze our needs and wants from the tech(nology) bond and determine whether we can go back with our needs versus our wants and whether we can get the community to buy into the now-called building infrastructure,” Niehaus said.

In addition to these four areas, Niehaus plans to improve security and crisis management at the schools.

“We are pretty insular in a lot of ways, but there are people that penetrate this from time to time,” Niehaus said. “What I want to do somewhere along

Frank Sumbera

has been head coach for

44 years

the way is explain to our kids that we really to keep them safe and secure.”

At his previous district, Niehaus experienced an active shooter.

“We had been in school for 12 days, teacher (of the shooter’s class) had been hi days before the start of school.

Three out of four administrators at the high school were in their pe first year,” Niehaus said. “When an the student shot four shots So into the ceiling, it puts you in a res position where you’re kind of like bo ‘oh.’” qu There were no injuries, but ed this incident was an eye-opener for Niehaus and the school DR district, he said. Nobody expected SU anything like this to happen in a community similar to Grosse Pointe, so Niehaus plans to bring in a safety team to conduct a complete eva of the high schools in order to prepare stud

2014

29 total

wins for North

sports // 8

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

Football team tackles drug suspensions “I have received, read and understand the Grosse Pointe South Football code of conduct and procedures. I understand the participation of football is a privilege and requires personal sacrifice and that failure to fulfill my obligations as a member of the South football program may result in penalties up to separation from the team. My signature on this document is acknowledgment and agreement to comply with the Grosse Pointe South code of conduct and program policy.”

JENNIFER MAIORANA & LAUREN PANKIN, both ’16 // Editor-in-Chief & Supervising Editor

T

his code was violated on Sept. 16 by two varsity football players.

As the varsity football team gears up to play rivalry and Homecoming games, the team faces additional challenges with the Sept. 16 suspension of two players.

The Tower’s policy is not to reveal names of minors suspected or convicted of illegal activity.

Through interactions with staff members, players were found to be under the influence of marijuana at school, and one of these players was also in possession of a marijuana-laced brownie, Principal Moussa Hamka said.

The two incidents and occurred around 8:30 a.m.

Coincidentally, the Farms Police brought in a drug detection dog around 1 p.m., Hamka said.

The purpose of the police visit was unrelated to the earlier drug incidents. Rather it was an investigation of South’s off-cam-

Trust me, I agree wholeheartedly with the administration cracking down on this stuff because it needs to be cracked down on.

TIM BRANDON

VARSITY FOOTBALL COACH

pus lunch, including lockdown strategies, overseen by three law enforcement officials.

“We don’t want (South) to be a prison--the students enjoy a lot of freedom,” Hamka said. “I want to uphold that freedom, so I have to put certain parameters in place and have some reassurances to confirm and validate that our school is safe and that we are a drug-free campus. The dog will be around throughout the year very casually and will also be around at North as well--it’s not just South.”

Varsity football coach Tim Brandon became aware two of

his players were caught under the influence at school around 10 a.m. and therefore excluded them from the team, per the zero tolerance policy.

“Because of the (drug) issues we have had, I was angry at first,” Brandon said. “Then I went to ‘let’s see what we can do to take care of the situation.’”

After school on Sept. 16, the team met for regular practice, Brandon said.

“I addressed the team and told them how disappointed I was in those individuals,” Brandon said. “I told them that we as leaders, coaches and football players--leaders in our community--have to do a better job of self policing these type of issues … This is our community, this is our school, and we don’t want these kind of black-eyes on us.”

Brandon also said that in his first seven years as a South varsity football coach, the team experienced zero drug-related incidents.

Yet in the last two years alone,

there have been multiple.

“Taking every incident on its own merits, I think it is for a lot of reasons,” Brandon said.

“I think that it is stupidity on the kid’s part. Trust me, I agree wholeheartedly with the administration cracking down on this stuff because it needs to be cracked down on.”

As for the rest of the season, the team could either unite or disband, Brandon said.

“You could say that we have so many distractions and things hanging over our heads, or we could all bond together and say that we are a family, a unit, and we are going to overcome this,” Brandon said. “I truly believe the latter will happen.”

Brandon said the Sept. 16 practice was a big indicator that his players will triumph.

“It was enthusiastic. It was focused. It was intense, and the kids executed well,” Brandon said. “It was an outstanding practice.”

While the team does feel the missing players’ absence, Cap-

tain Sam Jones ’16 said the team will continue to operate as a tight unit.

“We’re just trying to move on from it and not have that reputation pull us behind, because that is not what this football team is about. It’s not what the school is about,” Jones said. “We don’t want to show the school that that is what we do.”

Leading into his fourth game on varsity, Dillan Finger ’17 said he agreed with his captain, and believes his teammates are going to pull together and win.

“I think that before and probably during after we’ve always been a really close team, especially this year,” Finger said. “As far as suspensions go, I think people have tried their hardest to look past them and keep focused on the goal, which is Port Huron.”

Finger’s prediction came true when the team beat Port Huron, 32-21, on Friday, Sept. 18.

The team plays North on Sept.

25 and Eisenhower on Oct. 2 for Homecoming.

Photo by THE MEMBERS OF THE GRIDIRON CLUB

Cross-town school rivalry game this Friday RAY HASANAJ ’18 // Page Editor As the sun sets on Sept. 25, a civil war will be fought on a grassy, green field. Helmets lowered, South’s turf soldiers will battle rival school North for bragging rights and glory.

“Just like we do, North circles our game on a calendar,” South varsity football coach Tim Brandon said. “It’s one of the biggest games for them.”

Historically, North has won nearly twice as many rivalry games as South, Brandon said. However, since Brandon switched from coaching North to South nine years ago, the rivalry has become more competitive than ever, he said.

“Since my program has been here at South, we’re 4-4, so it’s been a very evenly matched rivalry,” Brandon said.

The players tend to shift into a different gear because of it being such an emotional rivalry, Brandon said.

To prepare, Andrew Trost ’16 said he gets “hype as s---”.

“We have to not fall apart. Not turn the ball over.

“I can only imagine that the emotions got to be Play focused. And play like animals,” said Trost who sky-high,” Brandon said. “And as coaches that’s one plays safety, wide receiver and punt returner. of the things we have to regulate--not letting them Trost said during North week, everyone is hitting get too high, because they’re playing with too much harder in practice and is more focused. emotion and not enough skills and smarts.”

“I think about who runs the Unlike Trost and Shook, Will city, and that it should be us,” All that goes through my Poplawski ’16 doesn’t prepare any Trost said. “I want to show North mind is that I only have two differently for this game, and he important nights like this in my said he agreed with Brandon’s conall the hard work that we put in life, and that I have to make the cerns about emotions overriding and what we did the whole off most of it. season.” thought.

“North to the morgue” is what “I think that if you let your emoWILL POPLAWSKI ’16 goes through kicker Cameron tions get the best of you, you go Shook ’18’s head as he looks forin nervous--rather than thinking ward to the game, he said. His what you need to do, you’re all over role as a punter requires even more concentration the place,” Poplawski said. “You also need to go in than normal at the rivalry game. with the fire in your eyes.”

“My brain is different, I tend to psych out my This being Poplawski’s last major high school own brain, or as Coach Brandon says, over think football game, he said he takes it very seriously. it,” Shook said.

“All that goes through my mind is that I only Brandon said he can empathize with his players have two important nights like this in my life, and in a big game like this. that I have to make the most of it,” Poplawski said.

“Losing is not an option.”

Poplawski thinks to be successful on Friday, the team needs to contribute by not giving up big plays so the offense.

Brandon said the team’s strong defense has kept the games close this year.

Patrick Nauert ’17, defensive end and offensive tackle, is a major contributor to South’s dominating defense, Brandon said.

When Nauert’s not laying people out, he is getting ready for big games like this one by watching football replays.

“You don’t really need to prepare for a game like this,” Nauert said. “It’s the type of thing you’re waiting for all year. I just want to win. We have no challenges. We’re going to kill North.”

Brandon’s goal is similar to his players’ he said: win one way or another.

“There are no moral victories, no win by x amount of points,” Brandon said. “If we win by one, we win. That’s all that matters.”

SPORTS UPDATE

SPORT // Boys soccer Record: 1-4-1 Team Traditions: Researching each team before every game to know what they’re up against.

Captain’s Quote: “Sportsmanship is very strong and every person, I believe, shows up ready to play.” -Zach Stanczyk ‘16, via email

SPORT // Girls field hockey Record: 3-2-1 Team Traditions: Pasta parties, Stick it to Cancer game to raise funds for the Van Elslander Cancer center and honor those who suffer from cancer.

Captain’s Quote: “This year our team has quickly bonded and become a family because of the smaller number of players compared to last year.

We work well together and hopefully can continue to win more games.” -Becca Adams ‘16

SPORT // Boys cross country Record: 2-6 Team Traditions: Team pasta party, playing Frisbee.

Captain’s Quote: “I think our team has the potential to go a really long way. We have a lot of people working really hard so it’d be really cool to see where we place at regionals, and maybe even get a few people to go to states.” -Matthew Gross ‘16

INFORMATION AND PHOTOS BY LAUREN THOM ’18 AND MACKENZIE HARRELL ’17