Jan Edition 2017 Occidentalist by Catherine Hansen

what’s inside

OCCIDENTALIST

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The school’s first Chinese Spring Festival brings together exchange students and the community.

The video arcade, The Coin Slots, relocates and draws in gammers of all ages. Theater II performers bring the The Jungle Book to life in their own rendition of the classic tale.

Beloved math, dance, and robotics teacher, Phillip Leete moves on to bigger things, but still mentors students.

Members of the ski team leave the country for training when the snow doesn’t come in Northern Michigan.

Students are preparing for Shrek the Musical. Opening night is March 3, with performances on March 4, 5, 10, and 11. Tickets are available at mynorthtickets. com Seniors who are interested in getting scholarships for college can apply online through the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation website. Applications will be available on Monday, Feb. 6 through March 6.

Students can nominate their favorite teacher for “Teacher of the Week” by placing their vote in the white mailbox outside of the Olympia Office. Teachers with the most votes are treated to lunch from a local eatery. Students will be registering for next year’s classes in an extended second hour on Feb. 7. All students should have filled out their yellow preferred class sheets and should talk to their teachers about the courses that best suit their needs. Students interested in learning more about education and career opportunities within the Air Force, including how to earn a bachelor’s degree without incurring any debt, can sign up in advance in the Counseling Center for a Feb. 21 presentation. West welcomes teacher Mark Skodack as the new leader of the STEM classes and Titan Robotics. Mr. Skodack taught engineering, architecture and robotics at Farmington Public Schools. He accepted the position when Robotics and Math teacher Phillip Leete left in mid-January to build his business that brings together students in STEM programs with local manufacturers.

Traverse City West Senior High VOLUME XX, EDITION 3 JAN. 2017

According to the Women’s March on Washington website, almost five million marched worldwide and over a million took to the streets in the nation’s capital

#Why We March Protest signs spotted in D.C.

sea of smiles, raised fists and pink power pussy hats filled Washington D.C.’s streets the day after President Trump’s inauguration as the 45th resident of the United States. While some demonstrators were there to protest the new president’s nomination, there were dozens of other reasons men and women marched. “I marched because I care about our environment and women’s rights to control their own bodies,” Ella Griggs ‘18 said. “It was super powerful and peaceful.” With hundreds of marches happening all over the world, the tag #WhyIMarch was trending around the globe while women and men alike made their voices heard in a movement that would define history. The march in D.C. started as a movement for women’s rights, but came to include the Black Lives Matter movement, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ awareness, and protecting Muslims from registry lists and travel bans. With record breaking numbers, women and men from all over the United States made their way to Washington D.C. to be apart of the historical moment. No exact number could be concluded to just how many people attended the event, though newscasters and crowd analysts claimed it to be the biggest turnout for any protest in U.S. history, topping MLK’s iconic “I Have a Dream” Civil Rights march. The Women’s March webiste estimated that over one million people participated in D.C. alone. As early as 6 am, public transport systems in the nation’s capital were packed full of diverse groups of people, all headed to the rally where they would hear from well-known Civil Rights activists like Gloria Steinem. Leaders from the Center for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty International, the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, and more made it to the stage to speak about equal rights. Actors and celebrities

were there to inspire people to get active. Singer Janelle Monae of Fem the Future had half a million demonstrators singing Trayvon Martin’s name to honor his early death and the Black Lives Matter movement. Michael Moore reminded the marchers that women are underrepresented in politics, asking women to run for office to be the change our country needs. Moore also mentioned Traverse City, in his speech, encouraging its liberal views in a state that went red for the election. Pop singer and music icon Madonna came out to a controversial performance that slammed the new president. All day long, trains filled to capacity headed into the capital. Children made it to the march as well, singing iconic songs on the train such as “This Land is Your Land,” the same songs and chants used at peaceful protests for decades. “When we marched there were a lot of angry people protesting with lots of signs and chants,” Griggs said. Teens led chants as well, giving a modern look into how they perceive the recent events. Some sayings included, “We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter” and “say it loud say it clear, refugees are welcome here”. “There was a huge outpouring and it was super inspiring to see how many people in my community cared about this issue,” Ruthy Bernice ‘20 said, who made it to the Traverse City Women’s March. With all the reasons why people protested, the demonstrators made it clear that the march was just the beginning. The real work for claiming equality and justice lay ahead and required action. There was one message that the demonstrators took away from the march; if change is to come, people must continue to raise their voices and be active in their protests, not passive. After the marches, people around the world took the 10 Actions for the First 100 Days pledge, and committed to writting letters, contacting representatives, and making their voices heard so they can make the changes they invisioned in their fight “Th for equal“We waisn is what demo cracy loo t a leade ity. “We w

Protesters take to the streets around the globe

Chants hea rd i

street s the

Theater II students are trying out for the play James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and Chocolate Factory. Performances of the children’s classic tales are being planned for April.

D.C. Pro est

Hannah Creamer ‘19 creamerhan50@tcapsstudent.net

in brief

With Snowcoming approaching on Feb. 18, students will be able to buy tickets during all three lunches the week prior to the dance.

Locals take to the streets in Traverse City for the Women’s March. Crowd estimates hovered around 3,000 as protestors marched for nearly four hours around town. Photo: K. Wisniewski Photo below: Occidentalist Reporter Hannah Creamer ‘19 participates in the Women’s March in D.C. Photo: A. Hansen

ks like r, not on’t Men chago away! Welcoa creepy Tweet” m er! “Say it lo nting “Yo ur b e to your firs ” ud say it clear, reody! Your choic t day!” e!” fug here” ees are welcom e

Whether it was Traverse City, the Capital Steps in Lansing, or the nation’s capital of Washington D.C., people let their voices be heard According to womensmarch.com, there were 673 marches around the globe with an estimated 4,956,422 marchers who participated. While the Women’s March in Washington D.C. was many months in the making, Traverse City had its own protest where thousands of locals headed downtown to march in solidarity. “I chose to participate because I feel very strongly about women’s rights and the equality between both men and women,” Madelyn Bright ‘19 said. “I thought it was a great experience being able to exercise our constitutional right

with the local community.” The line of protesters at the Chamber of Commerce continued along Munson Avenue. With more than expected participation, the line of protesters wrapped through downtown streets where people chanted “Our Body, Our Choice” and held signs that read “Love Trumps Hate” and “Resistance is Built on Hope” and “Girls just want to have FUN-damental rights.” With such a large group, officers had to barricade Garland Street to give the thousands of demonstrators a place to safely gather after the march. While

some protested women’s rights, others were there to voice their concerns over the environment, global warming, and immigration. The last protest held in the downtown area on Nov. 11 came only days after President Donald Trump won the election and put Traverse City in the national media when a local, off-duty police officer waving a Confederate Flag had a verbal altercation with another protester. The Jan. 21 march lasted nearly four hours and remained a peaceful rally without incidence.

Some don’t wait for Washington Protesters have met every Saturday since 2011 to make their voices heard

ince the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011, protesters have been meeting every Saturday to hold their signs and let their voices be heard about what matters to them. Regardless of the weather, demonstrator, Will Jahn has shown up each week to protest whatever cause he feels is a priority. His Saturday mornings start at Shine Cafe in Horizon Books to discuss the state of the world before heading to the street. He is willing to engage in respectful conversation about the issues with people walking by. The size of the group depends on what is happening locally, at the state level, nationally and globally, and people of all ages gather there. “We’re here to serve as a reminder to what’s really happening in the world,” Jahn said. “Whether it is poverty, corporate crime, loss of government, loss of rights--it’s democracy now.”

Opinions

THE OCCIDENTALIST

The Ugly Truth With the new administration stepping into the White House, the media is under attack. As reporters set out to disprove inauguration numbers and “illegal votes”, the phrases “fake news” and “alternative facts” have become part of the nations vernacular.

hroughout this past election season and now into his presidency, Donald Trump has repeatedly harassed, shut down, and blatantly attacked media outlets. From telling a female reporter that she belonged in the kitchen to calling CNN “fake news,” Trump has created, to say the least, a rocky relationship with the press. The new White House Administration has even gone as far as to tell lies, and then claimed them to be “alternative facts” when the media challenged them. As a newspaper staff, it may be a bit obvious that we fully support the rights of the media to report the truth no matter who it offends, even if that means angering our new President, who would rather stifle the voice of the free press. The Occidentalist staff belives the motto: “report the truth and nothing but the truth.” It’s the ethical code that we follow when reporting on stories. Despite being a young staff, we have already seen our fair share of controversial articles that some people would rather had been not printed. Against the backlash, we felt as though it was still important to tell the stories because they represented the truth. The same thing goes for the

national level. The free press is exactly that. Free. No one, regardless of their position of power, has the right to take away the free press, which is the cornerstone of democracy. The media is what keeps our nation aware of current events, holds our politicians accountable for their actions, and is, even in the darkest of times, what makes America great. Without reporters speaking out and fact checking, we, as a society, would live on what our politicians tell us. We would blindly eat up their lies and not once stop to question if what we were consuming was the truth. We would be living in a dictatorship, one that produces propaganda to sway our beliefs. As Donald Trump continues to attack reputable sources, calling them “fake news,” and refusing to answer their questions, it is more important than ever that we support our media. If someone tells a lie, we need good reporters out there making sure that the truth is being shared. It is the job of the media to ensure that government officials are working for the citizens of the world, not for their own personal agenda.

Last edition Jared and Megan argued over the Electoral College. According to student polls Jared gets to drop the mic.

Cartoonist: Isabella Gross ‘17

Drop the

MIC

Who earns the right to drop the mic? See below to cast your vote. gronekmeg39@tcapsstudent.net

What’s your opinion: “I think it should be repealed and a backup plan will come soon. ” - Jared Swanson ‘17

Contact us: Send us an e-mail with questions, story ideas, concerns, or requests to: wshnewspaper@tcapsstudent.net or drop your letter to the editor in the main office. Letters to the Editor must be 250 words or less. Please contact Mrs. Hansen with requests to purchase ad space in the Occidentalist newspaper at the e-mail listed above.

Editors:

Social Media Expert:

Staff Writers:

Jessica Freeman Katie Rundio

Kendall Wisniewski

Business Manager:

Assistant Editor:

Elliott Sitkins

Hannah Ashbury Jillian Avis Autumn Bockhol Abigail Bregy Kaleb Carlson Hannah Creamer Ashley Diehl Spencer Elhart Jessica Freeman Nathan Freeman

Annaka Hansen

Copy Editors: Avery Kostzewa Elliott Sitkins Catherine Vaught Kendall Wisniewski

Graphics: Quentin Ross Madison Raymond

Printed by: The Record-Eagle

he Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was a law that granted all citizens that lived below a certain wage level access to health insurance. Recently, the Senate signed a bill that removed this from legislation and has since been moved onto the House of Representatives to sign. The impact that this has is severe and may leave millions of Americans without health coverage. Now, the bill states that a new type of insurance would be made available, but nothing has yet been put in place to cover the estimated 20 million people who will lose health care if the ACA is repealed. Why not simply make amendments to the current law and change simple things that the people against it do not like? Affordable care is right for everyone, not just the privileged few who can afford it. The ACA helps millions of American’s. House Republicans have voted more than 60 times since 2011 to repeal some or all of the health care law, but no other plan has yet been put in place to ensure our nation stays healthy. Until this happens, repealing the ACA should not be an option, as it will leave many Americans without a source of healthcare.

he Affordable Care Act has moved life insurance into the wrong direction, by putting it under the choking grasp of the government. Congress should repeal the law entirely and enact patientcentered, market-based reform to improve the U.S. health-care system. The Affordable Care Act alterations on the tax treatment of insurance put more burden on taxpayers. Its 40% tax on “Cadillac health insurance plans” is one of 18 separate taxes included in the law. According to the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation, all of these separate taxes will raise $771 billion in revenue from 2013 to 2022. To replace this, we should use a plan proposed by then-President George W. Bush, which would give all Americans the same standard deductions on health insurance whether it’s’ through an employer or on their own. This would equalize the tax treatment between getting health insurance from your employer or individual insurance. The Affordable Care Act puts too much of a burden on taxpayers, we should put in place a system where the taxpayers would have equal tax relief.

Who gets to drop the mic when it comes to the Affordable Care Act? Jared or Megan? Tell us what you think at: http://tinyurl.com/j77aq3f We will post the results in our next edition.

OCCIDENTALIST

Megan Gronek ‘17

Jared Kraft ‘17 kraftjar94@tcapsstudent.net

Jared by 55.2%

As Republicans dominate, the movement to repeal the Affordable Care Act looms over U.S. citizens. Megan Gronek ‘17 and Jared Kraft ‘17 take on the topic of whether we should have a new health care system in place before the ACA is repealed.

Should the Affordable Care Act be repealed before a new Act is in place?

“There should be a backup plan so there are not people going without insurance.”

- Libby Alpers ‘20

he Occidentalist is the official student produced newspaper of news and information published/ produced by WSH newspaper students. The Occidentalist newspaper has been established as a designated public forum for student editors and reporters to inform and educate their readers. As well, it will not be priorreviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach

Alex Rogers Michaela Rogers Quentin Ross Katie Rundio Derrick Schwind

John Urquhart Catherine Vaught Alden Wack Jade Wilson Kendall Wisniewski

- Shelbie Darga ‘18

and discuss content during the writing process. Because school officials do not engage in prior-review, and the content of the Occidentalist media is determined and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

Section Editors: Annaka Hansen Alexis Hepler Avery Kostzewa Billy Jo Kyser Madison Raymond

“Many people rely on Obamacare and there does need to be a good backup plan.”

Jessica Freeman Katie Rundio Ashley Diehl Billy Jo Kyser Johnny Urquhart Jillian Avis Kaleb Carlson Spencer Elhart Hannah Ashbury Derrick Schwind Jade Wilson

Opinion Writers: Megan Gronek Jared Kraft

Cartoonist: Isabella Gross

Fashion Writer: Camryn Calderwood

Adviser: Catherine Hansen

THE OCCIDENTALIST

attle

Kaleb Carlson ‘19 carlsonkal87@tcapsstudent.net

School news 3

Chinese Celebration

Parents hope to keep the International Baccalaureate program running as TCAPS administrators discuss canceling amid budget cuts

ublic schools are an essential part of student learning and Leaders in the district seem to recognize the benefits to the TCAPS has been committed to offering rigorous programs program, which makes the decision to cancel it more difficult. and classes that support student growth. A recent look into “The ability to work in teams and the ability to really comcancelling the International Baccalaureate, or IB program has municate and collaborate is obviously a great skill for students to parents on both sides of town fighting to keep the popular program up have as they are getting ready to go out into the working world,” and running. Associate Superintendent Chris Parker said. While all can agree Both East and West middle schools host IB that there are benefits to the IB program, programs, and according to the TCAPS webpaying for it is problematic. Superintendent Paul Soma recomsite, provides “a high-quality education program “The Board and Superintendent had mends phasing out the IB program at both East and West middle schools in designed to develop the intellectual, personal, identified that there are upcoming budget an effort to balance a $1 million deficit emotional, and social skills to live, learn, and work related issues that are common in public in next year’s budget. in a rapidly globalizing world.” The IB program education and the Superintendent made a IB costs at least $280,000 to be fully works with schools around the world to guarantee recommendation,” Parker said. “Since we’re introduced at each school. high standards of teaching, pedagogical leadership not going to be able to get full authorizaand student achievement. tion from IB it’s probably best for us to The program currently serves about 250 students. The district does The program has become increasingly popular work to close this out and to continue not support a full IB program in all since it started in 2014, when the district received it would be very expensive and we still elementary schools, and IB does not a 3.3 million dollar grant through the Kellogg wouldn’t be able to get the certification. continue into the high school level. Foundation to set up the program. While budget is certainly a consideration IB offers a rigorous curriculum with a “The teachers are all nice and friendly,” seventh there are structural priorities.” focus on preparing students to be cargrader, Sam Fikes said. “The classes are really nice The district’s IB program appears to be ing and responsible world citizens. because they have you explain yourself instead of too costly to run, and given the fact it did Neighboring districts like Elk Rapids, doing it on pen and paper. In IB you have to come not get authorization to run IB as a full, Kalkaska, Leland continue to develop up and prove your knowledge.” certified program, is recommending the IB programs in their schools. Now that the grant has run out, it is on the rigorous learning program be cut. Parker Parents with students in the IB prochopping block as the district discusses budget sees a possible solution in addition funding gram felt they did not have a voice in concerns in the upcoming school year. Superinto public schools, which is not likely. the decision, and on Jan. 19 TCAPS was served with a Freedom of Infortendent Paul Soma recommended closing the IB “I think the best possible solution would mation Act requesting data on the IB program in November, but parents, teachers, and be for a change of the funding structure of program to access statistics on stanstudents decided it was worth fighting for. public schools so that would enable us to dardized test scores, improvement in behavior, and costs of the program. Fikes’ mother, Aimee Ranger, and other parents offer a lot of different offerings and to not want the IB program to continue because of the have to continually be going back in and way it impacts student learning and their commuremoving resources and programs from nity. Students in the International Baccalaureate program contribute both our students,” Parker said. “I think solving the funding issue is in and out of school, the classes challenge them by making their learning essential.” connect to the real world. Some parents who have students in the IB program aren’t “The IB Program is important for our community to keep because it convinced that eliminating the program is the best choice and exemplifies TCAPS dedication to provide an engaging, inspiring, and feel there are other programs that are less effective that should be challenging environment in which students reach their potential,” Ranger considered. They have started a Facebook page to share concerns said. and discuss ways to keep the program running.

Danger on the Road

Accidents on campus result in new gadgets Autumn Bockhol `20

bockholaut88@tcapsstudent

French Teacher Jennifer Geroux took some time off after being hit by a car in the school parking lot on a Monday morning after Thanksgiving break. When crossing the lane through the crosswalk she was struck by a parent driver, and ended up on the pavement under the Chevy pickup truck. With the help of Government teacher Tak Ready, she was able to get up and move to a safer place in the school before seeking healthcare advice at the hospital. The accident resulted in a mass

email going to community members from Principal Joe Esper to remind students and parents to take caution and slow down when circling the school. The email also reminded students to use the crosswalks when moving between the parking lots and the school, and instructed them to not cross outside of those designated areas. An added protection included $1500 worth of new crosswalk signs to warn students, staff, and parent drivers of pedestrians in the crosswalks. “The biggest thing is to be patient and to pay attention every time you pass through,” Esper said. The day of the accident it was raining and still a little dark. The parking lots and road around the school were well lit, but the parent may not have seen Geroux as she was crossing the lane because of the weather. Although she ended up falling under the car, she did not receive extensive injuries. She did go for x-rays immediately

after the accident and suffered some minor injuries, however. “My injuries were not severe,” Geroux said. “I’m still in physical therapy for my shoulder because when I was knocked down by the truck, I fell onto my shoulder and my shoulder basically took the majority of the fall, so I’ll continue physical therapy because my muscles are still damaged. I also have a possible fracture in my ribs.” This was not the first accident to happen in the school parking lot, which is why Esper jumped into action with his email and the blinking crosswalk signs. “I think it was an adequate response,” Geroux said. “I think that it’s a good step in the right direction, but I think there could be more that the sheriff department could do to help.” Students and staff can now feel a little safer as they enter the building and Geroux is back to her regular teaching schedule as she heals.

Top left: Katrina Yuanyuan Li performs a traditional Chinese dance. Top right: Leo Liu tosses gifts to the audience at the Spring celebration. Photos: M. Clone Bottom: Ila Wen Hao Zhong plays piano while Lisa Li sings. Photo: A. Hansen

Alden Wack ‘20 wackald72@tcapsstudent net

he Chinese exchange students hoped to educate students on their culture by hosting a spring Chinese celebration on Jan. 28, the first of its kind since the TCAPS district has developed its international partnerships with the Weiming International Education Group. Summer Shi, the Weiming International Student Coordinator, is the advisor of the new Chinese club. This is her third year coming to West with a group of exchange students from all over China. She works closely with the Chinese exchange students to help them adjust to their new home, settling in with their host families, helping with their classes and language barriers, and to help ensure their transition as a new student goes smoothly. Faith Fan is the president of the Chinese Club. She works with Shi and other students to plan cultural activities like calligraphy, preparing and tasting Chinese food with traditional tea, and speaking and teaching Chinese. Students in the club also watch movies in Chinese. Sharing their culture with others is part of helping them stay connected with home, and helping them overcome homesickness. “My favorite part of the club is calligraphy,” Fan said. “The main point is for the Chinese students to have a center where we can do something together. The second reason is for the American students to learn something from China and Chinese culture.” When students meet for the club, they discuss prominent Chinese festivals like the Dragon Boat festival, Lantern festival, and the Spring festival. The spring celebration held in the auditorium on the last Saturday in Jan. filled the auditorium. In the performance, students experienced Chinese culture through traditional dance, music, singing, poetry, videos from family members back home, and even several dumpling eating contests with prizes for the winners. To help pay for the costs of the event, the Chinese club was given a $1,000 donation from China Fair Restaurant. The Chinese club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays every week at 7:20 am in C105. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

To see videos of performances at the Chinese Spring Celebration go to: wshoccidentalist.wordpress.com

Going Green

Science teachers are cleaning up the school

Alex Rogers`18

rogersale77@tcapsstudent.net

ecently the environmental science teachers conducted a study of the school’s garbage and found that 57% of what students and staff throw away can be recycled. Together, they have set out to make West a greener school by making it easier to put recyclable material in the right place. “We need to improve our recycling practices,” Ferchette said. “The way the new system of recycling will be set up will be the most convenient way to do it for students and staff. Hopefully by having a two color system and types of trash cans in the lunchroom and hallways, this will make recycling a easier and simpler process for people.” Making the school greener will cost some green, however, and Ferchette is calling in the big guns to help relieve the financial burden needed to be more environmentally friendly. “Were working with American Waste to make a possible donation,” Ferchette said. Mr. Ferchette is working with science teachers Patrick Gillespie and Juleen Jenkins-Whall to get the color coded garbage cans into the commons sometime in the second semester. After surveying their students in their environmental science classes, the teachers realized that most recyclable material is not being placed in the right trash bins in the cafeteria area. When walking in the wings, however, the blue recycle bins are often used correctly because they are clearly marked. Eventually, the committee hopes to implement a more uniform way identifying where to put recycled materials so a system can be used in all TCAPS schools, from elementary to high school.

news

Fans cheering on fans The Bleacher Creatures compete to win the title for the MHSAA Battle of the Fans

Bleacher Creatures cheer on the football team in their Patriotic themed Bleacher Creature gear at Thirlby Field. Photo: A. Wack

Ashley Diehl ‘17 diehlash20@tcapsstudent.net

ith painted faces, themed outfits, and a deafening sound, the Bleacher Creatures are back for another shot at earning the title of the Best Student Section in Michigan. The BC group was originally created by Student Senate governor, Chase O’Black in 2007 for the purpose of increasing attendance at some of the less attended sporting events. For many years Student Senate members have applied to the Michigan High School Athletic Association to earn the title of being the most spirited school in the state , but it wasn’t until last year the school was able to snag the win for the first time. Now that they have the it, the Bleacher Creatures plan to add another win to the books. The standards for school spirit and the student section were set high last year by past Senate Governor Cooper Kirby. The shoes that were left to be filled are big ones and it will take a lot of dedication and planning to bring in another win. “Last year our legendary governor Cooper Kirby set the bar high for our school spirit and student involvement,” Liam Kaiser ‘17 said. “This year Student Senate is going to have step it up if they want to live up to his legacy.” This year’s senate is ready to take another win and keep the streak. “Our school spirit has been wild this year, I can definitely see that there is a large bulk of students who want to defend our state title,” Senate Governor Danielle Priest ‘17 said. The Bleacher Creatures are known for dressing up for themes, making a lot of noise by blowing on horns and banging plastic drums, and screaming chants. The student section is where everyone can come together as one big group to support their favorite teams. The student fan section in the bleachers is where memories are made. “Being in a student section like ours is something you’ll only get to experience in high school, where you pretty much know and recognize everyone and you have crazy themes like beach party and frat events” Rebecca Brown ‘17 said. “That’s something that you’ll only have during high school, which is what makes it so much better and why I cherish it.” Kaiser was asked by Senate members to be a part of the fan club by beating on plastic drums and making a lot of noise, but opted to help out in another way by helping the fans prepare for the contest. “I was approached by Student Senate to originally be apart of the Bucket Brigade, but after much consideration I declined their offer and did filming separately,” he said. “I’ve been filming the student section to make our Battle of the Fans video for the MHSAA competition to be selected to be the Best Student Section in the state of Michigan. I think it’s up to this year’s Student Senate to step it up if they want our student section involvement to increase and win Battle of the Fans this year.” Kaiser is in the film program at the Career Tech Center. The Bleacher Creatures have clinched a spot in the top five finalist for the MHSAA Battle of the Fan competition, and now it is up to the fans to cheer even louder to bring their second title win for the school.

THE OCCIDENTALIST

Web Worries While students experiment with online dating

sites, the school and local officials look for ways to protect them Avery Kostrzewa ‘18

kostrzewave53@tcapsstudent.net

he internet connects us all, and whether it’s used for research, catching up on world news, or staying connected with friends, it’s a powerful resource. Some people use the internet for online dating to connect socially, turning to popular sites such as Grindr and Tinder. Grindr is a men’s same-sex dating site and Tinder is famous for its use of swiping right or left to determine if a user likes the profile of the person who pops up on the app. If two users swipe right, they are matched and can “hook up” for a date. With technology changing the way people meet, there are age limits to many of the sites being used. This doesn’t stop teens from meeting people online and the question of how safe they are is a concern for administration, parents, and students. According to District Technology Curriculum Coordinator Danelle Brostrom and Elementary Libraries Specialist Stephie Luyt, kids have access to the internet constantly, and students should have as many resources as possible to keep safe and know how to handle dangerous situations. One favorite site these specialists refer to is Common Sense Media. It’s a site that offers entertaining games that let kids

try out different responses to online situations. Students who use these dating sites can be very hesitant to discuss what they are doing on them. Some might not even be using the sites for serious relationships. “I was just kind of curious what they were like because I had heard a lot about them,” Leah Morris ’19 said. “I was on some sites for probably a month or two but I didn’t really do anything so I got rid of them.” After an incident involving a student meeting an older user of a popular dating site came to light, the school began working with Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center to be trained in keeping students safe. “Children’s Advocacy Center is great, they have done a lot of training with our own staff to help identify when abusive things might be going on,” Head Principal Joe Esper said. The district also works to monitor student activity on their computers at school and looks for red flags that could lead to potential problems with students. “Even when people bring personal devices into school it can still be reported,” Esper said. “With school

netbooks, they all run through a filter that’s heavily monitored for certain categories and certain words by the technology people downtown. A few times a month they will send me a flag that will say that this student was trying to get on this site.” Team Zero is a program of the Children’s Advocacy Center that handles all the prevention education. They work with the community to spread the message of internet safety and awareness. “Sometimes we get in situations where we don’t know what to do. Maybe it wasn’t intentional, but we end up in a situation where we do feel uncomfortable,” Team Zero Community Advocate Hannah Rodriguez said. “Having open communication amongst your peers and with your parents is really important, particularly when you’re a minor. In terms of keeping ourselves safe, it’s important to recognize that in an internet setting, you don’t really know who you are talking to.” Internet safety will always be a priority in the age of technology and the TCAPS district will remain committed to protecting its students in the digital age.

Making Change The Coin Slot relocates to downtown and brings in gamers from all ages to play the old classics

Johnny Urquhart ‘17

urquhartjoh67@tcapsstudent.net

hat originally started out as buying one arcade game turned into compulsive buying and eventually led to The Coin Slot, a video arcade with 31 upright arcade machines and over a dozen old school console games. With everything from Tempest to Pacman, to the N64 classic 007 Goldeneye, The Coin Slot has become an instant hit. With an hourly rate of $7, or $10 for the whole day, it’s a good place for some cheap fun. It’s not just the younger generations that are looking for a chance to play some nostalgic games. The people that grew up with them are just as excited to pop in. “I watched plenty of arcades and game halls move in and out of Traverse City over the years,” teacher Charles Rennie said. “Its nice to see the arcades coming back. It is so different these days. We all used to ride our bikes to the Electric Casino and meet up and hang out while playing but now everyone is so isolated. Video games nowadays have really just promoted being a couch potato.” Scott Pierson, the owner of the arcade, was counting on nostalgia for making his business a popular hangout. “We enjoy the hunt, finding these machines from the 1980s that are still working as they were during the arcade boom. It is very exciting to us,” Pierson said. “They’re like a time capsule and thinking of how many people played them or where they were originally is interesting.”

The arcade opened in May of 2016,in the Warehouse District but recently moved to a basement on East Front Street. “We had to move out of our original space for several reasons, the main being issues with the grade of the building compared to the exterior post Garland Street construction. Water and arcade games don’t mix,” Pierson said. One of the things that stands out the most at The Coin Slot is the intricate art that covers all the walls. They have had this at both locations, making it one of their staples. “We originally wanted all of the game characters at the old location. Kevin Burdick, A.K.A. Scrapps, did a fantastic job with that,” Pierson said. “At the new location we wanted to do more of an 80s pop art theme so we just picked characters we like. We called Kevin back and he nailed it again.” Despite The Coin Slot’s specialty being retro games, the arcade is something anybody can enjoy regardless of their age. “Our target audience is everyone. We want all ages to enjoy the space,” Pierson said. Students are getting in on the fun, of course. “I like being able to play the older games,” Dan Murray ‘18 said. “It’s something different and new to our generation. I went to their old location and really enjoyed it, so I am excited to be able to go to the new location to play all the new games they have.” The Coin Slot works to keep things interesting, too. “We want to continually offer something new,” Pierson said. “We’re still buying games and will rotate them in and out to keep it fresh.”

A year in review

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On Aug. 5 the On Oct. 3, Kim most anticipatDec. featured Kardashian was ed movie came The Late Late left “badly shakto theaters all en but physically Show’s James over. Suicide unharmed” Corden tweeting Squad was one after being what may be the robbed at inside of the biggest greatest Manher Paris, France, movies of nequin Challenge apartment 2016, making of 2016. The Pokemon go was during fashion Harley Quinn video featured week. released in July an American Nov. was the everything from “Fifa 17” was “When I first and was immediicon. month America backstage poses one of the most heard about it ately a hit. People “Personally split when Don- to the chaos of popular video I didn’t really all over the world I likes it but ald Trump won the fans cheering games of the year. think it was real, were playing and apparently a the presidential in the studio. For The game was but then people dedicating days to started talking lot of people race in an unex- the Mannequin released on Sept. more. I think the game. Teens didn’t.” pected win agains Challenge, a 27 and trended everywhere were that it’s totally Dennis Hillary Clinton. video is made not only in the crazy and it’s searching for the Kniffin ’20 United States, but great that she is “The election was of particpants nearest Pikachu. fair and Trump standing still to ranked number sharing her story “I think it is the deserves it.” the song Black two worldwide to help people best thing ever.” Cameran Beatles by Rae with seven mil- that have been Kaythlynn Hower Graboski ‘18 Sremmurd. lion units shipped through that,” ‘18 Kelsey Mattison “I really don’t to the United ‘19 understand why States in less than it’s a thing.” a week. Jeremy Butler `19 Kane Clark ’20 “Fifa seemed interesting and if ears resolu I had the money ew Y t io I would buy it.” ni yN s M Nathan Keech ‘19

Pearl Carlson `20

aking res olu t

lution is to be m o

November

m top

On May 28, the 17 year old gorilla Harambe was put down because of a tragic incident, but he lives in a new form; memes. Harambe memes trended worldwide after he was put down for holding a child who fell into his cage at a zoo in Cinncinati, making 2016 Harambe’s year. “It was pretty sad what happened. As for the memes they are great. Some of the most quality memes.” Dylan Teeples 19

In June the best selling book was This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. This book takes you on a wild ride and makes you want to keep turning the page. “I would love to read this book, it sounds so cool and interesting.” Skyler Elliot ’20

September

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July

ears re s o l u ew Y t io yN n

Sean Hillock `17

May

December

e l l. gw in

The Ford F-Series Finally, Leonwas named the ardo DiCaprio “Number One won the Oscar Best Selling he deserved. Truck” of 2016. Dicaprio won This classic “Best Actor in a full-size pickup Leading Role” for truck was known his performance for being able in The Revenant. to ride through Work by Rihanna 2016 began with In his speech, he anything--sun or featuring Drake snow. a bittersweet fare- said, “Let us not was a big hit in “I like the square well. David Bowie take this planet 2016. The song body of it.” was taken by liver for granted. I do eventually hit Montana Blake cancer at just 69 not take tonight number one on ’19 years old. Though for granted.” the billboard he is gone his “It was about charts in March. music and legacy time. He is a The song also continues on. pretty cool actor became a gold “I was heart bro- and definitely mine for memes ken when I heard earned it.” and jokes, using he past. I grew up Jayna Emery Drake’s line in listening to his ‘20 the song, “if you music. He was had a twin, I an idol, someone would still choose I looked up to.” you”. Mason May ‘20 “The song is one of my favorites. It’s a really fun song to listen to ng. It ’s no with my friends. tgoi tg ou o And the Drake e r memes are seriously the funniest things on the internet.” Isabell Northrop ‘20

October

August

happy an d to

March

June

Abbie Bregy’20

ying sta

January

April

bregyabi54@tcapsstudent.net

February

Local news

not going well It ’s . s. on

THE OCCIDENTALIST

My New Y ea r’

Quest for knowledge

History teacher Dan Rosenburg starts up Academic World Quest Annaka Hansen‘19

hansenann37@tcapsstudent.net

t’s clear that history teacher Dan Rosenburg gets excited for facts and trivia. For the past two years, he has taught Quizbowl, and before that, Academic World Quest, which he is bringing back into play after taking some time off. Like Quizbowl, Academic World Quest is about knowledge and learning. While Quiz Bowl is played more like a game show, where students press a buzzer when they know the answer, Academic World Quest sends students topics and readings to help them prepare for competitions in topics related to world politics, social unrest, and sustainability. “Students form teams of four and there are ten topics that they can read and study for,” Rosenburg said. “The actual competition is a multiple choice test and so they can actually study for it.” Students mark their answer sheets for each round, which are then graded by proctors. “The audience can kind of play along and score themselves, but it’s essentially 100 questions total, and before you leave, you know who’s won and they announce the top three teams,” Rosenburg said. Students will compete at Haggerty Center in early Feb., and winning teams will eventually make it to compete in Washington D.C.. “We won it three years ago and four kids got to go to D.C., most of them for the first time, and it was fun,” Rosenburg said. “So then we competed at Nationals and it was a cool experience to interact with kids from all around the country.” Students are excited to test their knowledge and possibly earn their chance to visit the nation’s capital with their teammates. “I heard about Academic World Quest at another school while at a Model UN conference,” Johnny Urquhart ‘17 said. “It sounded interesting and the winning group gets to compete in Washington DC, and I’ve never been, so this is a good chance to make the trip.” Urquhart’s team came in third third place at the competition.

“In the entire state of Michigan we have, in my opinion, the greatest musical program.” Joshua Kevwitch ‘18

Abby Rickert ‘19, Molly Hull ‘19, Miranda Stradinger ‘17 and Natalie Wedra ‘17 perform at the Michigan Music Conference. Photo A. Jones

Making music history TCAPS music students are asked to play at MMC

“We foster music to such a high extent by making it an open environment for anybody to join.” Wyatt Alpers ‘17

“We are a very diverse group of people that come together to perform and show something that we are very passionate about.” Raul Rivera ‘18

Madison Raymond ‘20 raymondmad98@tcapsstudent.net

usic is one of the most prominent extracurricular in high school and the music department is recognized for its incredible achievements in the arts. The band, orchestra, and choir students throughout the TCAPS district were recognized for their dedication to music by being asked to perform at the Michigan Music Conference (MMC). Students from the elementary, middle, and high schools of TCAPS prepared pieces for the event, which were performed in front of music teachers and enthusiasts from around the state on Jan. 19. Caleb Smiley ‘17, traveled with music teachers and his classmates as part of the Wind Ensemble, and was there to perform for both MMC and All-State, another music event. “The rehearsals were really hectic and there was quite a bit to be done and organized, but in the end, it was a great performance,” Smiley said. Often, the bands from the different grade schools would rehearse together, and the entire show was performed for a

An out of this opportunity

test audience in Corson Auditorium at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Many ensembles combined from different schools and grades to perform certain pieces and allowed the TCAPS music programs to become cohesive, something that had rarely been done before and never on such a large scale. “When they considered the district for whether or not we would get this performance opportunity, they decided TCAPS was the district to be chosen,” Band teacher Rachel Linsmeier said. The performance took place at DeVos auditorium in Grand Rapids, an iconic and beautiful hall that also hosted All-State that same weekend. The concert lasted for almost two hours, and rotated between band, philharmonic, and choir performances. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was on such a large scale and held so much significance. I was really grateful for this opportunity,” Smiley said. Hopefully TCAPS’ music programs will see the spotlight again in the future, allowing the hardworking students of the schools to strut their excellence and dedication in front of the perceptive eyes of music experts.

WOR D

Ryan Hayes ‘18, Hayden Holmes ‘18, Robby Lohr ‘18, and Sam Church ‘18 prepare their experiment in Mr. Gillspies class to send it to outer space. Photo: P. Gilespie

Derrick Schwind ‘19

schwindder40@tcapsstudent.net

tudents in Patrick Gillespie’s science classes are ready for their academics to take off. The Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP) is a program where schools compete to have an experiment sent to the International Space Station by astronomers who oversee their work in low earth orbit. Gillespie was on the forefront when bringing outer space closer to home and helping his students become real scientists and engineers.

“I had to write an implementation plan, and they accepted our school,” Gillespie said. “We were the only school in Michigan to do this, and there are now only two schools.” 811 kids participated this year and 207 experiments were proposed. A review board looked over the proposals and chose the top three to be sent into orbit. “This is totally incredible that West students are sending a experiment to the ISS,” Gillespie said. The SSE program encourages students to design experiments in diverse fields, including: seed germination, crystal growth, physiology and life cycles of microorganisms, cell biology and growth, food studies, and studies of micro-aquatic life. “We are sending up algae to gain a better understand-

Students send their experiments into outer space

ing of gravity and a better understanding of plants in space,” Sam Church ‘18 said. Other members of his team include Ryan Hayes ‘18, Hayden Holmes ‘18, and Robby Lohr ‘18. By sending their experiments into outer space, the team hopes to find out if algae can grow well in space. If the project is sucessful then it would be a huge impact on the ISS. Algae can be used as biofuel and can also be used as a source of food for the astronauts. The project took some extra time to prepare for. “It’s more work, it’s going outside of the normal seven hours of school. It’s a lot of outside work,” Church said. The students are hoping that when their experiment returns that they will see that it is still alive and surviving well. Their experiment was set to officially launch on Feb. 8.

Arts and Entertainment

Jungle fever

Left: Elana Hastie ‘17 and Courtenie Brown ‘ 17 monkey around on stage. Right: Aage Denton-Grenchik ‘19 glares at his prey as Shere Khan the tiger. Photos: A. Wack

Cat Vaught ’18 vaughtcat61@tcapsstudent.net

he story of a young kid and his bear companion brought back many childhood memories in the Theater wing. The students of the Theatre II class performed the beloved classic, The Jungle Book, and after months of rehearsing and learning to move like animals, they pulled off a magical performance. Through hard work and some fun, the Theater class retold the story of a young boy and his best friend, a bear named Baloo. Some of the actors in the play had been performing for many years while others were just figuring out how to have fun on the stage with this children’s tale. With some students having less experience on the stage, some struggles came about when bringing the animal characters to life. “A huge challenge that a lot of us had was bringing full energy to the stage and being in the sort of animated jungle character mode,” Clarke Brown ‘18 said. To help the actors overcome the challenges of becoming more animal like, the directors gave particular

warm-ups to help them get into their animal characters. “Minda, our director, Madi Halleck and Ross Williamson, had us run around the theatre as our animals a few times to help us become more comfortable being animals,” Brenna Daly ’17 said. She had been acting since seventh grade. Not all acting challenges came from playing animal character however. During the last scene Mowgli, played by Maddy Shepard ‘19 came back to the jungle after defeating Shere Khan, played by Aage DentonGrenchik ‘19, and then decided to go back to the village to be with his people. “Personally, I found it difficult to bring the emotion that was really needed to the stage for the last scene and the process of showing how the character had grown was definitely an interesting experience,” Brown said. Regardless of the challenges they faced to become believable jungle beasts, the Theater II students pulled off a clever performance of the well-known tale in front of a packed theater.

S and B’s MediaMadness

Battlefield 1 Battlefield 1942, Battlefield Vietnam, Battlefield 2, Battlefield 2142, Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, now finally, Battlefield 1. From Sept. 10, 2002 to Oct. 21, 2016 the first person shooter Battlefield games have been growing, From pixilated people with blocky heads to people that look like you can reach out and touch them. These games have been growing, as well

Spencer Elhart ‘18 elhartspe12@tcapsstudent.net

as their fan-base. This Christmas I received a copy of Battlefield 1, and I sat down and played that game all the way through, from start to finish. The story was amazing and the graphics were beautiful. The sound track fit very well with whatever the situation, the characters were truly heartfelt, and for once the tutorial was actually very fun and interesting. I’ve enjoyed

Moana

some of the Battlefield games- I’ve played through Battlefield 4 at least 3 times, but Battlefield 1 was my favorite by far. This game has become one of my absolute favorites. Even a highly trusted video game critique site, known as IGN, gave Battlefield 1 a 9/10, a high recommendation . Overall this game is intriguing, pleasing to the eye, and can draw the player in for hours.

Bella Gross ‘17

grossisa73@tcapsstudent.net

Disney princess movie is a musical with elegant songs that become instant classics (cue “Tale As Old As Time”), but Moana is far from typical, as Moana herself only sings one characteristic tune. Spoilers: beneath The Rock’s rippling muscle, a songbird flutters. Maui’s “You’re Welcome” may leave you speechless at first listen, but you will be humming the catchy tune as you leave the theatre. And although Disney’s signature overprotective parent role (The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Finding Nemo, Tangled, Brave, Frozen) and empowering elder role (Mulan, Cinderella, Karate Kid) are a little overplayed, Moana’s family is refreshing and inspires her courage. Her determination and devotion to her people is charming paired with Maui’s pessimism and selfishness. His storytelling tattoo-conscience is enchanting and contributes to the playfulness

MUSIC review

Kendall Wisniewski ’18

Wisniewsken47@tcapsstudent.net

Last edition, I reviewed a band that would make you forget the subzero windchill and make you believe that it was summer in the middle of December. It has since come to my attention that some people actually like the snow and don’t exist in a constant state of denial. For those who have chosen to embrace winter, I bring to you Seafret. The British duo got their start in 2011, where they met at an open mic night. Between then and early 2016, the band released two EPs and did a series of small tours, all leading up to the release of their debut album Tell Me It’s Real, released in January of that year. While scrolling through Spotify’s new release section over winter break, I came across their latest single, Blank You Out. The song captivated me with its simple instrumental backing and a lead singer with a slightly imperfect voice, seeming like something that could’ve been recorded in a basement with some good friends. A great companion to their newest single, Tell Me It’s Real is the perfect snowy day sound track. With an incredibly cohesive blend of acoustic guitars, gritty vocals, and beautiful lyrics, the entire album feels warm. I can’t help but imagine fireplaces and steaming mugs of tea every time I press the play button. Comparable to the likes of Vance Joy, Kodaline, and early Ed Sheeran, Seafret is the perfect band for anyone looking to curl up in bed with a good book and embrace all that winter has to offer without actually having to go outside.

Equal Means Equal Katie Rundio ’18

Disney’s new movie, Moana, brings an exciting, cultural experience to the Disney princess world.

Disney’s Moana (2016) is an inspiring, heartwarming, and comical film celebrating Polynesian culture of the ancient Southern Pacific Islanders. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, both Hawaiian natives with Polynesian backgrounds, lend their voices to make an incredible team as the daring Princess of Motunui and the defeated demigod, Maui. Together they brave fantastical monsters, including vicious coconut-people called Kakamora and a giant crab obsessed with shiny objects, in order to return the precious heart of creator goddess Te Fiti and restore life and growth to Motunui as well as Maui’s good name. You may have noticed that this is the second Disney film starring a Polynesian girl, but Moana is distinct from Lilo & Stitch in nearly every way: no Elvis or sunburnt tourists here. The typical

THE OCCIDENTALIST

of the film. As a rather under appreciated race and culture in the media, Moana is a phenomenal vessel for knowledge and reverence of Polynesian folklore for Disney enthusiasts, especially young children. Moana encompasses the adventure lust and eternal devotion to her island born by her ancient ancestors. Not only is Moana lavish with Polynesian history, tradition, and legend, but it is rich in iconic artifacts and symbolism as well. If you can’t appreciate the movie for its lovable characters, imaginative story, or unique sound track, please appreciate it for its clever collection of Polynesian lore. Disney’s Moana is a wonderful addition to the Disney universe. Its appreciation for Polynesian culture is inspiring and brings a new story to the silver screen. A must-see for Disney fans, and an entertaining couple hours for everyone.

rundiokat33@tcapsstudent.net

As women marched around the world on Jan. 21, there was backlash about the motivation behind the protests. The movie Equal Means Equal adds some perspective for those who didn’t understand why women marched.

oes equal really mean equal? Kamala Lopez made it her goal to delve into the United States’ questionable gender equality, and the outcome of her six years of work proves it

does not. The documentary, Equal Means Equal showed at the 2016 Traverse City Film Festival. With the political issues playing out in politics right now, it seems more important than ever that everyone in the United States be well educated and up to date on the issues facing 51% of the country’s population. The content of the documentary is graphic, and definitely not for everyone. The graphic content that scares people away is a reality for many women today, both in the U.S. and around the world. Starting off with the pay gap, Equal Means Equal tackles issues such as international women’s rights, female poverty, foster care, child sex trafficking, female incarceration, reproductive health care, pregnancy discrimination, the legal rights of women, domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape. Lopez left no stones unturned as she pursued the controversial topics that many people avoid discussing. If an estimated one in three women will be raped, shouldn’t they be aware of what they face? When women are being forced to prove that their employers are paying them less than the equally qualified male counterparts on purpose, shouldn’t they know that their pay may be less than they deserve? The statistics and basic facts given in the documentary are startling to say the least. Basic rights that are often overlooked suddenly will feel like a massive weight on one’s shoulders. Things like the protection of women under the Constitution, or the lack thereof, seem basic rights, but the movie points out this is not always the case. Lopez points out that women are not protected under the United States Constitution. They have to prove that a company is purposefully discriminating against them by paying them less than their male counterparts. Some are not allowed to sue their rapist and any domestic violence against them is not likely to be taken seriously. Women will have to pay out of pocket for the use of birth control and will be labeled as a slut for choosing to have sex outside of wedlock. Because of their ability, and desire to have children, they risk losing their job in order to start a family. If lucky enough to be able to keep a job while raising children, some women won’t be able to spend more than a month with their child before being expected to pay obscene amounts of money to have someone else take care of that child so a mother can guarantee her place in the workforce. Equal Means Equal was an eye opening, terrifying documentary that should be a wake up call for everyone in America. The equality that many blindly assume is there for women, simply is not. It’s time to stop pretending like we’re all on a level playing field. This movie is a good reminder that it’s time to fight for our rights. Let’s make sure that equal means equal, for everyone.

THE OCCIDENTALIST

features

Moving on to better things

Phil Leete leads a robotic competition at Central High School. Photo: R. Marinello

Hannah Ashbury `19

ashburyhan41@tcapsstudent.net

eaving a place you love is always hard, and sometimes it’s even harder for those you are leaving behind. Math, robotics, and dance teacher Phillip Leete is one of those people that has made a huge impact on the lives of his colleagues and especially his students who he has inspired so much. “He’s been so helpful to everyone, it’d be hard for anyone who knows him to not miss him,” Tyler Stone `20, a member of the robotics team, said. Leete has been working with the school since 2006, teaching Salsa during NAP at lunch as part of the Every Step Counts grant, which he made happen with a $1 million, three-year federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to teach kids to live a healthier, more active lifestyle. He also built up the Thespian Program and helped many students earn full-ride scholarships to acting schools. He has choreographed musicals, and helped write the current Algebra II curriculum. Perhaps Leete is most well known for what he has done to bring the robotics teams to their supremacy and high accomplishments. Sydney Stewart `17 is a part of the robotics team and is looking to be the main driver and oversee the construction of the robots at this year’s competitions. She is also one of many students who will be missing not only a teacher, but someone that has inspired her own future. “He’s brought [robotics] so far,” she said. “It started out with maybe four people and he brought not only the VEX competition, but he also expanded the FRC program. He pretty much built the entire program. I really like his personality, he’s serious and he has great ideas and he knows what needs to get done, but he can also have fun.” Leete has taken robotics teams all the way to the World Championships and has started many other robotics teams

across the state as well. “I had to build the middle school teams, and Central’s team, and accidently added the elementary team and Alpena’s teams and Petoskey’s teams and Kingsley’s teams and Glen Lake’s teams,” Leete said. “We partnered with a group in Grandville and they doubled in size, but it was always because we wanted more competition for the kids here at West, so that’s why I did it.” Leete’s farewell was driven by his new company, Quarkmine, which will allow him to continue working with students to inspire their interests in science, math, and engineering. “It’s mission is to help promote STEM events. Education right now seems to be more focused on educating the public on what these skills and activities are,” he said. “Quarkmine will bridge the gap between what everybody knows we need to be able to do because of how technology is changing and what the general population actually knows how to do,” Leete said. Leete wasn’t involved in finding his replacement, but is confident that he has built a program that can stand on its own two feet and that his replacement, Mark Skodack, will keep it strong. Skodack has taught engineering, architecture, and robotics in Farmington Hills. “It’s early, but as time goes on, we can be a little more organized and I’ll be able to support both the VEX and FRC teams better, and get the robotics teams out to the student body,” Skodack said. Leete remains modest and thankful to those who have supported him through his journey to get where he is today. “The culture at West has allowed me to do what I’m doing,” Leete said. Starting with Joe Tibaldi and continuing under Joe Esper, I was given a lot of freedom to explore these dreams and ideas, and that has been incredibly empowering. I am doing things that I have never done before.”

Rapping up a dream

Trey Wilcox performs rap with local artist Jeff Haas and sings about the promise of Martin Luther King to educate

Derrick Schwind ‘19

schwindder40@tcapsstudent.net

F Trey Wilcox ‘19 performs with local musician, Jeff Haas at a local winery in the fall. Photo: A. Hansen

To see Wilcox perform at the Martin Luther King celebration at the State Theater, check out our website: wshoccidentalist.wordpress.com

ast and slow, high and low, the words that flow from Trey Wilcox ‘19 are powerful yet soulful. He has been rapping for two years and his dreams of making it big are starting to take shape. In the fall he performed at Studio Anatomy, and has been preforming regularly with local musician Jeff Haas. On Jan. 16, he opened for Mahogany Jones, a female rapper from Detroit, at the State Theatre for the Celebration of Martin Luther King event. Preforming as “Duble U,” Trey’s dream of rapping has been shaping for a while. “I got into rap when I was 11, and heard my first rap song ever, Still D.R.E by Dr.Dre,” Wilcox said. “Through listening to Dre I discovered artists Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and more. Eminem inspired me to

actually pursue the rap career.” Wilcox’s first performance was in September with only 40 attendees. “It felt weird. I went from scribbling lyrics in my basement to performing in front of a big crowd,” Wilcox said. “It also took practice on stage to get used to 50 people staring at you for an hour.” For the MLK celebration, the State Theatre didn’t have an empty seat, and Trey performed for over 500 people. To make his dream a reality, Wilcox worked various jobs at construction sites and restaurants to get the money for his first album and earned about $900 to jump start his singing career. The money paid for the recording, pictures for the cover, CD’s, and the venue to hold his first performance. “It was a great feeling. The experience opened doors that changed my dream into a reality,” Wilcox said. “Next thing I know, I’m getting booked all over

Michigan.” Wilcox may be moving up in the music world, and he keeps working to further his career while making contacts with companies like Pandora, Rhapsody, and Spotify to play his music. He also has his songs on Google Play music, Itunes, Soundcloud, and Pandora. Jeff Haas, who is helping Wilcox launch his career, is founder and artistic director of Building Bridges with Music, a nonprofit that brings live music with a message of open-mindedness and respect to K-12 public schools statewide. A well-known jazz musician, Haas also hosts The New Jazz Archive, a weekly public radio series exploring jazz’s place in American life. “Trey is very passionate about rap and has something worthwhile to say,” Haas said. “He’s an emerging voice that I believe will resonate with a lot of people.”

F E AT

R T I S T

URED

Anna Jarvis

Jessica Freeman `17

freemanjes66@tcapsstudent.net

Evan Sykes snowboards at Cannonsurg in Grand Rapids. Photo: J. Sheehan

Snow&concrete

Jade Wilson, 18’

wilsonjad19@tcapsstudent.net

ith a rush of cold wind burning his face, Evan Sykes glides down a mountain. He also knows the thrill of being airborne on a skateboard when he preforms stunts at the skate park in the spring. This thrill has paid off for him, because he is now a sponsored snowboarder that works to pursue his passion and his dream. “My favorite part is the rush and satisfaction it creates from trying new tricks on jumps and rails,” Sykes said. The skateboarder and snowboarder is sponsored by Waterboyz Skate and Surf. He practices as much as he possibly can to honor their confidence in him. The company grew out of a single-car garage in the late eighties, and is now a 10,000 square foot facility and has become the premier surf, skate, and skim outfitter in Pensacola for 20 years.

“To me, my sponsor is just a good representation of my skills and dedication to progressing them,” Sykes said. Sykes sends the company videos of him snowboarding and in return they send him free clothes for all of his hard work. For 13 years, Sykes has been working to get where he is now. In the winter months, he spends at least five days a week snowboarding. He pushes himself to try newer and harder things in order to improve at what he loves to do. Sykes does not plan to make a living off of snowboarding, but does plan on getting better and gaining more sponsors. Sykes plans for college are to either go to Kendell Art College in Grand Rapids, to get a marketing and business degree somewhere and open up his own European Automotive Shop.

tudents who enjoy art find many different ways of promoting their work, whether that is through competitions or just taking art classes. Anna Jarvis ‘18 has taken a series of art courses which include, painting, metals and jewelry, and currently, AP Studio Art. “I think that AP Studio has challenged me to stop relying on the pictures or the internet for ideas, and start drawing what’s actually around me,” Jarvis said. Jarvis feels, it is easier for students to come up with ideas just by being around other artistic students. “I usually get the most done when I’m with other artists and can bounce ideas off of them, like in class. I tend to draw more living things like nature and people, things that aren’t always the same,” Jarvis said. Art students find joy in working with a specified median, which could be pencil, paint, clay or film. “I really enjoy using watercolor because you can’t control it like you can with acrylic or tempera paint, there has to be no hesitation when painting with it because once it’s on the paper it moves on it’s own,” Jarvis said.

Anna Jarvis ‘18 used water color, and acrylic paints to create her dolphins named Pancake and Waffle. Photo. J. Freeman A major part of the final exam for AP Studio Art is to produce a portfolio that consists of twelve drawings. Each portfolio is centered around a subject of the artists’ choice, and Jarvis hopes to experiment with new mediums. “I am really struggling to decide on a concentration. I need to find something that I can stay interested in for a long time. I’m really excited to start working on it and try new types of art like acid transfers,” Jarvis said. While she explores her options and experiments with new artisic mediums, Jarvis continues to draw from inspiration while working with other artists in the AP Studio Art class.

sports

THE OCCIDENTALIST

B’ball round up against cross-town rivals BOYS:

Girls:

Billy Jo Kyser, 19’ kyserbil92@tcapsstudent.net

he Boys Basketball team has an advantage over their biggest cross town rivals, the TC Trojans, due to the loss of three star players leaving the Central basketball team. Keeping this in mind, Head Varsity Coach, Sanders Frye has been setting his player’s minds on the game. “I have been showing players film and setting up plays and drills for the players to go over and execute,” Frye said. “The drills and plays have been helping make our defense better and have been helping us execute and finishing our games strong.” Starting guard for the Titans, Brady Stoerkel ‘18, has been shooting and practicing to keep at the top of his game. “I am super pumped for this game, and we are ready to go out on the court and

Nandy Lukus throws the ball to a teammate at a home game. Photo: D. Dolinka

play to the top of our abilities to finish the game strong,” he said. “I personally have been working on my shot and my defense. I feel like this will be a good game for us, showing the school what we are capable of and showing the other team that we can finish strong.” Some of the Trojans’ top players have graduated,

transferred, or have decided not to play this year, which is to our team’s benefit. “Trojans losing a few of their top players could help us out in the long run,” Stoerkel said. “I am confident that our team will make this a tough game for the Trojans. Although the Trojans have lost a few of their players, we will not be too confident just thinking we will get the win. We still need to play hard and physical offensively and defensively.” The Titans have been working hard to take the wins this year and did not let the loss of some of Central’s keys players determine anything in advance. Not taking the Trojan weakness for granted, The Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams each took wins in double games against the TC Trojans.

Alexis Hepler ‘20 heplerale12@tcapsstuddent.net

he Central High School Trojans may be the Girls Basektball team’s biggest rival, but they are gearing up for the challenge of a win in early Feb. Sierra Perkette `19 doesn’t treat any game differently, and whether it’s against Central or another school, she brings her best moves to the court. “Personally, I treat every game like there’s no tomorrow and I give it my all,” Perkette `19 said. “Yes, Central is our cross-town rival, but every game is a game I need to focus on and not let it get to my head.” Preparing for games against Central is just like preparing for any other game for Sara Sievers `17, too. She treats it like any other game. “I mean yes, Central is our biggest rival in the whole

district, but I just handle it like any other game and try not to let the tension get to me or the hype of the crowd.” Basketball has it’s ups and downs, and it’s always difficult to adjust to a new team and a new coach. There are definitely challenges an athlete faces when heading into a game, not just physically, but mentally staying in the

Julia McKean blocks a player at a home game. Photo: J. Zhao

Emily Lyons ‘17 practices kickboxing at the Warrior Combat Academy. Photo: M. Elliott

ORNER

Kickboxing and MMA are on the rise.

rogersmic32@tcapsstudent.net

lthough kickboxing has been around since 1960 it’s clear the sport is growing in popularity. Recently, more women are getting involved as a way of learning self defense while getting an intense workout. Sophia Jenkins `18 recently started kick boxing to practice self defense. “My friend Riley took me as a birthday present, and I’ve always wanted to take a self defense class because I think learning basic defensive skills is a trait everyone should have, especially women,” Jenkins said. Kickboxing seems a good match of intense workout, fun, and building skills. “I would most definitely encourage any and every girl to take any self defense class so that they have the capability to defend themselves if needed.” Jenkins said. Riley Fedewa `17 started kick boxing at the end of last November. Fedewa and her

friend were joking around and decided to go to a kickboxing class as a joke and she ended up wanting to continue in the sport. “I’ve always wanted to do self defense classes before I left to college and this seemed like a great way to learn how to defend myself while also getting a really great work out,” she said. Places like YMCA, Seung Ni, and other gyms are open to one on one lessons or group classes for cardio and strengthening in kickboxing. Another sport on the rise is MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts. It was popularized by fans tuning in to watch the Ultimate Fight Championships on Pay Per View and is a combination of many different forms of fighting strategies; kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Emily Lyons `17 started participating the sport when she met her boyfriend, Mat-

thew Elliott, owner and coach of Warrior Combat Academy in town. “I enjoy MMA because it makes me feel more empowered as a young woman, knowing that I can confidently defend myself,” she said. Lyons was a competitive fencer for almost five years, and competed in the Junior Olympics. She is teaching a MMA class for women at the Warrior Combat Academy starting on Feb. 13. She will teach the class with the owner and coach of the studio, who competes professionally in MMA. “MMA teaches self defense, confidence, self-esteem, and empowerment,” she said. “MMA is not just about throwing muscle around. It involves skill, leverage, and technique.” Lyons, who weighs about 115 pounds at 5’4”, can take down a man twice her size using the skills she has learned in MMA fighting.

Waiting for snow

When there is no snow in Norhtern Michigan, members of the ski team head out of the country to train Hannah Schramski ‘19, skis down the mountain in Austria to train for ski season. Photo: Submitted by H. Schramski

Nathan Freeman ‘19 freemannat99@tcapsstudent.net

With barely any accumulation of snow until the first part of January, the Girls Alpine Ski Team had to take drastic measures to get some practice in so they could defend their Regional title for a second year in a row and hopefully grab the State title again. Members of the Alpine Ski Team traveled to Colorado and Utah to ski the slopes with family for fun. The team also headed outside the U.S. to get their legs in shape for hitting the hills. So when the snow wasn’t falling early this season, Coach Ed Johnson, who has been the Alpine ski coach for 30 years,

oach’s

Kickin’ it

Micheala Rogers ‘19

game and being focused. “We had some coach issues and a change in the coaching staff our eighth game into the season, but our new coaching staff is doing an amazing job and it’s made our team even stronger.” Perkette `19 said. “My biggest challenge is probably mentally staying in it. There’s a lot of pressure and stress with grade, practice everyday, and always having a tough game to play.” Being a basketball player is more than just showing what you got on the court, it’s being a part of the team and supporting each other until the last game of the season. “I have a very close relationship with my teammates, we’re one family through everything that happens,” Perkette `19 said. The girls will play Central on Feb. 10 and hope to come out as champions.

took about 17 Alpine skiers, including Hannah Schramski ‘19, and boarded a plane to Austria. “The team doesn’t travel too far for races, with the furthest place they go being Marquette,” Johnson said. Since going to Austria gave the team an early head start for practices, it may be just what the team needed to get an edge over their competition. “It got us on the snow before any other team so we could be solid in our skiing before the season even started,” Schramski

said. When the team practiced in Austria, it introduced the skiers to new elements on the slopes that are inaccessible in Michigan. The practice on the steeper decline and heavy snow helped the racers build up their strength and prepare for the season. “I am able to get a lot better over in Austria than here because of the terrain, and I’m actually skiing on mountains,” Schramski said. “I love the people in the team. It is always fun to go to different places and ski on different mountains.”

Jacob Dean ‘17, Mary Lyon ‘18, and Abigail Jean ‘19 are heading to Ishpeming to ski at the Junior National Qualifier at Al Quaal. If they place well they will advance to Nationals in Lake Placid, New York. The ski teams head to State competitions at the Vasa Trail head on Feb. 17 and 18. Traverse City West High School Boys Varsity Basketball falls to Ludington High School 59-56

Friday, Feb. 10 is the Girls B’ball game against the TC Trojans to support breast cancer awareness. Students can buy pink team shirts during lunches to support the cause. The Girls Alpine Ski Team took first place at the Traverse City Central Invite at Schuss Mountain on Monday, Jan. 29. The Boys’ team took third place. Traverse City West High School Girls Junior Varsity Basketball beat Petoskey High School 23-21 Girls Basketball sweeps Petosky winning at three levels on January 24th. Varsity held on for a 30-28 win! Traverse City West High School Girls Varsity Bowling beat Kingsley High School 29-1 Traverse City West High School Boys Varsity Hockey beat Traverse City St. Francis 4-2 Traverse City West High School Girls Junior Varsity Bowling beat Traverse City Christian High School 29-1 NCAA Signing Day: Carson Rosa: Football (Ferris State University) Alex Gloshen: Men’s Soccer (Saginaw Valley State University) Dalton Michael: Men’s Soccer (Western Michigan University) Donovan Michael: Men’s Soccer (Western Michigan University