Inside This IssueHalo Reach p.3

Dodgeball tournament p.8 The gym was packed and spirits were high. Over 180 students, 30 teams in all, competed for the coveted title of dodgeball champion.

Read about the game with interviews from those who play it. All written from a gamer’s point of view.

On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Michigan saw red. The primaries not only contributed to the Republican shift in the House majority, with nine out of 15 districts voting for Republican representatives, but also resulted in Republican Rick Snyder elected as Michigan’s governor.

Snyder, who overtook Democrat Virg Bernero with 58 percent of votes, was previously president of Gateway and had never run for political office before this year’s campaign. To some, such as social studies teacher Mr. Marc Compton, this entrepreneurial skill will aid Snyder in running the state.

“It will be a positive direction for the state of Michigan because it will be a different outlook to the last couple of governors that we’ve had,” Mr. Compton said. “I think it will be good to have a business sense in there. I really don’t see [Snyder] being closely affiliated with the Republican Party. I see him as ‘my main job is to create jobs’ and knowing what it takes to start a business; he knows how to streamline that process.”

Others think Snyder has his work cut out for him in order to prove he can step outside of the business realm. “It’s too early to tell right now,” social studies teacher Mr. Larry Adams said. “With inexperience in the office, learning how to work with the state legislature and developing that way is going to be the big issue. And does he have a Republican agenda or an agenda for Michigan?”

Despite his association with the Democratic Party, first-time vote senior

Taylor HolmesStaff Writer

The numbers grow legs and begin to walk. The statistics come with faces, feelings and families. In the movie “Waiting for Superman” filmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows five “statistics” and their families, their only hope being to receive a quality education. Mr. Guggenheim provides staggering support to his claim that despite America’s mantra “No child left behind,”children in public school systems are indeed being left behind.

The movie has sparked debates among colleagues, friends and administrators. To charter or not to charter is the question parents are asking. On Sept.20 Oprah Winfrey aired a show on the issues the movie addresses. Citizens have begun to speculate as to why American students are being surpassed by foreign students. Many are looking for answers about this global achievement gap.

“Education reform isn’t a one size fits all situation,” English teacher Mrs. Kelley Cusmano said. “The movie portrayed charter schools as the most amazing thing known to man and made public education seem like crap.”

In his film, Mr. Guggenheim does seem to show preference to charter schooling, since his solution to the problem is to have all teachers work as hard as charter school teachers. Winfrey explored this aspect during her show on the topic.

“There were definitely a lot of fingers pointed at lazy, protected teachers,” Spanish teacher Ms. Beth East said about the Oprah episode she watched. “It’s a shame that many don’t

see the reality of our job. I work with highly educated, talented and dedicated colleagues, and unfortunately these types of teachers are not talked about in conversations pertaining to the “failing” American education system.”

Some think the movie was biased and only discussed the negative aspects of teaching without getting teachers opinions on the matter.

“I was actually curious to see what

a bunch of non-teachers had to say about education,” Mrs. Cusmano said. “Before seeing the movie I’d heard it was biased against teachers, and after seeing it I agree.”

“Waiting for Superman” has not only ignited interest among educators, but students as well. Junior Laura Stewart saw the movie this summer during the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association journalism workshop. Though some students

think educational debate doesn’t affect them, Stewart feels strongly about the subject.

“The movie strengthened my dislike for tenure,” Stewart said. “Teachers should be evaluated each year by the success of their students.”

This attitude is one that has been adopted with those fed up with the education system. The movie has warranted talks of ending tenure for teachers in order to provide motivation for quality education. However, some have alternate solutions to the issue.

“I would like to see well-trained, hired professionals, former outstanding educators from other areas, rotating from building to building,” Ms. East said. “[They could] drop in on teachers periodically to give constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement if necessary.”

Whether they thought the movie was biased,

unbiased, or they did not see the

film Stewart a n d

East agree that students should care about the education debacle because it’s something that affects them. They both say something needs to be done to improve education in America.

“You can’t put a band-aid on something this big,” Mrs. Cusmano said. “The majority of parents and teachers are trying to do the right thing, and there isn’t one big fix. You have to take it one situation at a time.”

As far as education in Rochester is concerned, Superintendent Dave Pruneau said both teachers and students are committed to the creation of a quality education.

“I would hope we can recognize and appreciate the many talented teachers that we have,” Mr. Pruneau said. “[We should] continue to improve the educational system for teachers and students alike.”

Brady Crites said Snyder is, in fact, prepared to make a difference for Michigan residents.

“I crossed parties and voted for Rick Snyder, so I am excited about the result,” Crites said. “He seems like the proper fit to get Michigan back on the right track. I really disliked Bernero, so I’m glad things worked out the way they did.”

As for the House, which has 189 Democratic seats and 239 Republican seats as of Tuesday, Crites stayed within his own party, but accepts the change in the majority.

“I find myself siding with Democratic views more often that not, but I can relate to both parties depending on the situation,” Crites said. “I’m definitely not thrilled that the Republicans are taking over the House, but I am not overwhelming upset. And I remain content with a Democratic majority in the Senate.”

While the idea of a Republican Congress is one that can cause concern for some, to Mr. Adams, having a split Congress allows for the government’s system of checks and balances to work as it should.

“To me it’s always good to have an opposition congress,” Mr. Adams said. “It just makes the executive branch more accountable. They have to work together, and there are people who have been in Congress for 30 years who got beat out because people were tired of things not changing. I think that this shift will help to bring that change.”

But regardless of red or blue, voters such as Mr. Adams remain unbiased when it comes to progress.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican, a Democrat or from the Green Party,” Mr. Adams said. “If [Snyder] fixes things around here, people are going to like him.”

Republicans regain control

Senior Tanner Ellsworth conducts research for his future and makes preperations for after graduation. Photo by Taylor Holmes

Public education sparks heated debate

MICHIGANELECTIONS

BYthe #sGovernor Race (Percent of votes)

Snyder - 58.1%Bernero - 39.9%

U.S. House - District 9 (Eastern Oakland County)

Gary Peters 126, 155 votes

Rocky Raczkowski 119,673 votes

Adam Goodman 2,603 votes

Amy MackensOpinion Editor

180 S. Livernois - Rochester High School - Rochester Hills MI, 48307

November 2010 - Volume 73 - Issue 3

Mr. Frank Gollon poses as Superman and gets in touch with his inner hero. Photo by Taylor Holmes

How do you feel about the Republican takeover?

BA

DC

A. I don’t care - 42%B. No, I’m a Democrat - 28%

C. Yes, I’m a Republican - 19.5 %D. Yes, it was time for change - 10.5%

Source: politicsdaily.com

Infographic by Max Kleiner

Gathered from a poll of 200 students

News2 Talonthe

November 2010

Talking with Pruneau

Applying across the U.S.

Mr. VanPopelen changes roles

Mr. Mark VanPopelen is the new Dean of Students at Rochester High School. He is here four days a week most weeks, from about 10 to two. His job is to help the administrative staff.

“It’s a quasi-administrative position, working with the assistant principals on issues like discipline, tardies, absences,” Mr. VanPopelen said. “Also, [I do] some counseling and mentoring regarding behaviors.”

When Mr. VanPopelen saw the job was available, he said he was excited by the opportunity to work more with students in the Rochester district.

“[I] applied for it and met the qualifications,” Mr. VanPopelen said. “[I have]

Anyone who chooses Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy as people that they wish they could invite over for dinner is sure to show some leadership qualities. Superintendent Mr. David Pruneau is no exception.

“They both had a vision and an idea of where they wanted their country to go,” Mr. Pruneau said. “I would like to talk to them about their leadership styles.”

However, it wasn’t until a later age that Mr. Pruneau realized that the teaching field was what he wanted to get into.

“I didn’t decide that I wanted to be a teacher for a long time,” Mr. Pruneau said. “After I got into college, I decided that I wanted to be an elementary teacher.”

The former MSU student’s first job as a second grade teacher was in Dewitt, Mich. Throughout the years he moved his way up to being superintendent.

Because of the strenuous and time consuming job that he has, Mr. Pruneau does not have much time for hobbies outside of work, so being the

my degree in education and it was always my first career choice. It’s nice because I have known the students since elementary and middle school. I was the police liaison at Reuther and West. I already know some students

names.”Although Mr.

VanPopelen has experience with elementary, middle and high schools, he said he simply enjoys

working with students, regardless of their

age.“Students

give me energy and

keep me f r o m

getting bored,” Mr. VanPopelen said. “And I like to think that along the way I can make a difference in someone’s life, now and then.”

According to junior Laura Tack, Mr. VanPopelen’s enthusiasm for his job will help him fit in at the school.

“He will be fair,” Tack said. “He cares about us kids and he wants us to be upstanding citizens. The students will respect the administration more because they respect him.”

Junior Sam Blair also said she thinks Mr. VanPopelen will create a noticeable change in the school. “I think he will make a positive impact,” Blair said. “He can relate to students.”

While some students seem to think that Mr. VanPopelen will help the school, he said he is still working on adjusting as a new member of the Rochester staff.

superintendent is like his hobby.“I like working with the people,”

Mr. Pruneau said. “Also it’s never the same, each day is always different.”

This year, after six years as the superintendent at the Rochester Community Schools district, Mr. Pruneau is retiring. As his career here comes to an end, English teacher Mr. Frank Gollon reflects upon his experiences with Mr. Pruneau.

“Of the times that I have met with him he has been very friendly, very approachable, and seems genuinely concerned about the students in RHS,” Mr. Gollon said.

Principal Wendy Zdeb agrees.“I think that he is a very fun and

entertaining person,” Ms. Zdeb said. “As a boss I think that he has really

raised the bar for student achievement and has set us on a good path.”

Due to the strenuous nature of being the superintendent, the job can be very stressful and time-consuming.

“It’s hard trying to manage a shrinking budget and having to make cuts,” Mr. Pruneau said.

When Mr. Pruneau gets some spare time, he enjoys skiing, reading books and listening to Elton John. He explained that he has skied all over, including in Mont. and Colo.

Mr. Pruneau said that the biggest life lesson he has learned so far is how much one person can make a difference for other people.

“You can really make a difference for other people,” Mr. Pruneau said, “And that’s what really matters to me.”

In terms of philanthropy, RHS does its fair share of giving. The toy drive, the collection for breast cancer research and the blood drives and are some of the few standard “giving” events. However, with the colder months coming, the usual Tri-High can drive is in jeopardy according to student council (stugo) adviser Mrs. Kelley Cusmano.

“Last year’s drive wasn’t much of a success,” Cusmano said. “I’m worried that the level of participation is not going to be what we need for the event to even be worth it.

The can drive, which is a competition between RHS, Stoney Creek High School and Adams High School, gives the donations to local food banks in order to feed the needy. This charity has lost steam in the past few years, and stugo is looking for solutions.

“People have the mentality that it was a failure, and their opinion is ‘We’re just going to lose anyways,’” Cusmano said. “It has become more about the competition than the drive itself, so we have to figure out a way to get the school to realize it’s something to care about. We were thinking about jump starting the collection by getting some cans to kick off the pile; just to make it more visible and present. As an alternative, Ms. Zdeb suggested that we could join into a mitten drive that the Pistons do. I’m just hoping we can make the cans work out this year.”

Despite these concerns, Cusmano is hopeful that the Tri-High can drive will be a success.

“I think that people tend to get caught up in their own issues and forget that things like charity are still important. I’m just hoping we can find away to draw those kids back in.” By Amy Mackens, Opinion Editor

On October 22, the world religion classes led the breast cancer drive by collecting money during second hour and at lunch.

“It went awesome,” social studies teacher Mrs. Sarah Miesch said. “I’m happy we beat last year. There are no words to describe how excited I am.”

The drive collected 1,601.01 dollars, which will be given to the Susan G. Coleman foundation. Junior Taylor Clayton and senior Tess England collected the most between the world religions students by raising 151 dollars.

“I’m very proud,” England said. “We worked very hard. Hopefully it will help find a cure and save lives.

Many people in the RHS community wore pink for the “Pink Out,” along with donating money to help cure breast cancer. One of those supporters was junior Lauren Lucas.

“[I donated because] it’s for a good cause,” Lucas said. “My grandma had breast cancer, and I wanted to help find a cure for everyone who will have breast cancer in the future.” By Aaron Kuhn, Website Editor

Students take a test in Mr. Larry Adams’ third hour AP Government class. When they see their grades on the test a couple of days later, they go home and log on to My RCS to check their class grade.

Technology facilitator Karen Carl urged students to use My RCS. “[My RCS] is a great way to keep up with classes,” Mrs. Carl said. “Go to

myrcs.k12.mi.us and login with regular computer credentials. They can look at your schedule, see current grade, and drill down into class and see individual assignments.”

Students can also access their school files through My RCS. “Through My RCS student can access their H drives,” Mrs. Carl said.

“No more excuses, no flash drives and no more emails.”Junior Jocelyn Kidder uses My RCS to check her grades.“I see if I’m doing well in my classes,” Kidder said. “And to make sure

that I don’t have any missing assignments.”If students don’t have a computer at home they can use the computers

at school. “Computers are available most days after school, before school, and

at lunch,” Mrs. Carl said. “People also need to be patient because Mrs. Garr is now up in the counseling office.”

By Carolyn Berwick, Staff Writer

For as long as there has been school, there have been students who try to get out of it. Now with “senior skip day,” it is common practice for seniors to plan some form of synchronized hooky when they don’t feel like showing up. Many seniors skipped on Monday, November 1.

“Ultimately, kids know the difference between right and wrong,” English teacher André Harding said. “This just goes to show that at times we are more inclined to do the wrong thing than the right thing.”

For some teens, even parents have a role in ditching school. According to Mr. Harding, some parents are calling in to excuse their student’s absence.

“I think we set our kids up for failure; we’re being too lenient,” Mr. Harding said. “I don’t understand it.”

According to Mr. Harding, measures were taken to try and prevent senior skip day from ever happening. Principal Ms. Wendy Zdeb sent out warnings to be read by teachers in all senior-heavy classes. However, some teachers did not read them, while others did read them only to be ignored.

By Nate Barton, News Editor

With the changes in the math department this year, Mrs. Gotko said the extra time teachers spend after school preparing is necessary.

“This is the first year that Algebra II is being taught at all,” Mrs. Gotko said. “There isn’t a worksheet, warm-up, study guide or anything. There are things you can use as references, but you always have to revise things and change them up. It takes a lot of time and effort.”

Mrs. Gotko is not the only teacher who has readjusted her schedule in accordance with changes in the math department; every math teacher in the district has done the same. The district-wide changes involve cutting all FST classes as well as an adjustment of the standard math classes a high school student will take. In order to be on track now, students will generally take Algebra I as a freshman, Geometry as a sophomore, Algebra II as a junior, and Pre-calculus as a senior.

Although the changing math department may require some extra work, Mrs. Gotko said she has high expectations for the future.

“I think the new changes are definitely going to be good,” Mrs. Gotko said. “Just with any change, adjustments are being made and it might take a while. But once we get everything down, I think it will all work out well.”

By Emily Hayward, Feature Editor

Superintendent Mr. David Pruneau at work in his office. Photo by Austin Bowerman

Can Drive Approaches

Breast Cancer Drive was a success

MyRCS gains momentum

News Briefs

“Senior skip day” gains popularity

Changes in the Math Department

Emily FetznerWhat schools are you applying to?

Pratt Institute, NYU Steinhardt School - of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Parsons, Academy of Art UniversityWhat’s different about the application process?

You have to submit a portfolio of your - best work, and art schools generally don’t care about your grades or ACT scores as

much as other schools.What’s different about the schools?

They tend to be a lot smaller than regular universities. The - core classes are drawing and painting, and there aren’t really any academic courses.

What is your favorite piece that you submitted?I have this one called the Tree of Life that I really like a lot. I’m - also really proud of a few of my still-life paintings.

Mrs. Messing-Mirabito, counselorWhat is the most important part of the application process?

Turning everything in early, because scholarships are easier - to get that way. The main factor of if you get a scholarship is depended on when you turn it in.

What schools have been applied to the most by RHS students?Michigan State, Oakland University, and University of Michigan - (in that order)

A school that’s been applied to you’ve never heard of? - Eckerd College and Bellmont CollegeAny advice on getting scholarships?

Start early, be persistent, and its going to be a lot of work. - Seniors should have started at the beginning of the year, and should plan on working until at least January.

Any advice for underclassmen?Tour college campuses early. Look around and gather - information.

Grant ChenowethWhat schools are you applying to?

U.S. Military Academy and the Naval - AcademyWhat’s different about the Application process?

You have to interview with your - Congressman and Senators to get a nomination in order to get it, and there’s a fitness exam.

Are you training? How?I’m trying to get in shape; I run and lift weights. I’ve already - taken the fitness exam, so at this point I just want to get in shape for the Academy.

Where do you see yourself in the future?I’d like to be a full time officer, or maybe be in the Department - of Homeland Security.

Connor Antenucci What schools are you applying to?

Julliard, NYU, Carnegie Mellon- What’s different about the applications?

The application itself isn’t different, but - the process is. You have to audition, which is made of two contrasting monologues and two contrasting songs, and you have to interview. What’s different about the schools?

They’re very relaxed grade-wise. They - don’t have many general ed classes.

What’s the hardest of the application process?Finding the perfect piece to show off your voice.-

Where do you see yourself after college?On Broadway, I want to be able to work my way from chorus, - to supporting roles, to a lead role. I eventually want to originate a character; be the first person to play a character in a new musical.

Officer VanPopelen monitors the mall area at lunch on November 12. Photo by Carolyn Berwick

On October 18, superintendent Mr. Pruneau announced his retirement effective August 1

Lifestyles 3Talonthe

November 2010

New Halo game releasedThis September, Bungie released one of the

biggest games of the year. “Halo Reach” made record sales for the Xbox 360. On the first day of the release, it made over $200 million in sales. The game was well received by a large community from the casual to competitive gamers.

Many Halo enthusiasts showed up for the midnight release including sophomore Victor Drucker. He has been a fan of Halo games since 2006 and didn’t want to miss the midnight release of the final game of the series.

“It was quite hectic, to be honest,” Drucker said. “Even at 10 p.m. the store was packed. It was worth it, though. I got to hang out with friends and get the game earlier than most people to experience the awesomeness that is Halo Reach.”

Halo Reach takes place before the story line of the original trilogy of games. The series started back in 2002 with the release of Bungie’s first halo game “Halo Combat Evolved.” The success of Halo was followed up by Halo 2 in 2004 and Halo 3 in 2007. The campaign of Halo Reach tells the story what happened before the events that unfold throughout the trilogy.

Mr. David Perkins, staff member of HighImpactHalo.org, has been playing Halo games since 2005 and has much experience. “I personally loved the campaign and story line,” Mr. Perkins said. “Bungie did a good job of making the planet Reach feel believable as you

travelled across it. It’s also nice that they decided to bridge the gap between Reach and Halo 1 for the many people out there who did not yet know that part of the story line.”

As Bungie’s games progressed throughout the years, they’ve changed many features to give each new game its own new feel. “As the newer games in the Halo series have come out, Bungie, the developer, has made an effort to polish each game more and more,” Mr. Perkins said. “They

have updated graphics, physics and bugs, and improved weapons and large scale events.”

Bungie has put much effort into making this even better than their last. Drucker said their years of designing and testing Halo Reach has made it one of the most interactive games this year.

“The soundtrack and graphics have definitely improved,” Drucker said. “Also, Bungie has made many new features that help Halo become a more interactive and customizable game.”

The custom ability differentiates Halo from other similar first person shooters. It gives the players many more options to do things such as record their own game play and create their own multiplayer environments via the forge world and share them easily through the built in file share system.

“The basic idea of the game is similar to other first person shooters,” Drucker said. “But when you play through the game, there are different objectives to follow. And the armor abilities add a whole new aspect to the game, making it much more complex.”

As the series evolved, new features have been added. In the beginning, there were only campaign and multiplayer modes. Now they have added firefight, forge and theatre mode to give gamers many more options, making the game’s range of play very diverse.

“I like the multiplayer most because it gives people a chance to play with people of equal skill as them,” freshman Brian Stasevich said. “It makes the game more challenging and just creates a fun experience all around. Halo Reach really brought the whole series together.”

IGN, a popular gaming website, rated Halo Reach 9.5/10 overall based on several different aspects of the game. It’s not a perfect score but nonetheless a very respectable one.

“A 9.5/10 is the same score I would have give the game,” Mr. Perkins said. “The game offers a plethora of online gametypes to suit any mood. It isn’t perfect, but it improves on so many places that needed work in previous Halo games that you forget about the small problems.”

Halo Reach made over $200 million in sales on the first day of the release in September. The menu screen pictures planet Reach, the main setting of the game’s storyline. Photo by Brian Palmer

Catholics face challengesAlthough her parents decided

to raise junior Lauren Lucas in the Catholic faith, she eventually chose to stay that religion on her own.

“I was born into it and raised this way,” Lucas said. “I chose to stay Catholic because I believe in their values and God and Jesus and Heaven.”

Though Catholicism may be a good fit for some, junior Ashley Jacobs said being of this faith can be difficult.

“It is sometimes hard to follow the Catholic teaching, such as ‘turn the other cheek’ and ‘forgive and forget’ when you really want to take revenge,” Jacobs said. “It’s difficult when people tell you that you are wrong.”

However, Mrs. Melanie Avila, Director of Youth Ministry at St. Irenaeous Catholic Church, said being Catholic is not necessarily difficult.

“I believe teens have a sense of spirituality and people underestimate or assume that they find it difficult to be Catholic,” Mrs. Avila said. “Being Catholic doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes. It just means that you have help and forgiveness and support all your life.”

Despite this, Mrs. Avila said Catholicism can be life-changing.

“[Being Catholic] does or should change one’s life. It does for me,” Mrs. Avila said. “Being Catholic makes

me feel connected to a higher power; it gives hope when you think things are hopeless; it helps you make better decisions concerning your life and the life of others.”

Jacobs said Catholicism has had a different effect on her.

“I try not to judge someone before I know them and forgive people who have been mean to me in the past,” Jacobs said. “I know that even if I do make a mistake, it’s OK because everyone makes mistakes, and I’m not a bad person because I did.”

In spite of this, Mrs. Avila said people often misunderstand parts of her religion.

“I believe one of the most

misunderstood things about Catholicism is the sacrament of Reconciliation/confession,” Mrs. Avila said. “People think it’s embarrassing and humiliating, but it’s the opposite. It’s a cleansing of your mistakes and a cleaning of your conscience and total reconciliation with God.”

Jacobs also said there is one common misconception.

“People often believe Catholics think they’re better than everyone else,” Jacobs said. “However, most Catholics don’t think this way. Being Catholic is about accepting people, and not about being better than everyone.”

Being Catholic doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes, it just means that you have help and forgiveness and support all your life.

Mrs. Melanie Avila,Director of Youth Ministry

“

”

Though it is not necessary for the religion, Catholics generally go to Mass in a church to practice their faith. Photo Source: Creative Commons

Describe your religion in one sentence.I’m a Catholic teenager who believes in God and Heaven and stuff. What’s the most misunderstood thing about your religion?I think church. All my friends who aren’t Catholic or religious think that there’s no point in it and it’s weird and all we do is chant at the priest.

Why did you become Catholic?I am Catholic because my mom, dad and grandparents are all Catholic, and it’s how I was raised and what I was raised to think.

Is it ever difficult to be Catholic?Yes, Sunday mornings when I want to sleep in but can’t because I have to go to church. It can be very difficult.

Is there a certain stigma attached to Catholicism?I don’t think so; just that we all love God and some people will try to tease me about [it]. I care; I mean at least I have something to believe in.

What is one thing that most people don’t know?Most people don’t know typical Biblical stories. They also don’t know that God will forgive them for their sins just as long as they repent.

Students share their Anime drawings at the weekly meeting. Photo by Caitlyn McGoldrick

Club corner:

Carefully, senior Cassi Berry begins to prepare for the competition. For an hour and a half, she dyes her hair. She puts in black contact lenses, and she wears an outfit that took her weeks to make. Although the preparation was timely, Berry said it was worth it.

“I was really excited,” Berry said. “It’s pretty much a week or running around with a bunch of other people who have cool costumes on. You get to meet all kinds of new people. I still keep in touch with some of the other kids I met.”

Over Halloween weekend, Berry went to the Youmacon convention, where students who love anime gathered to buy items and meet each other. Anime, a form of Japanese cartoon, is both watched and drawn by the anime club, which meets every Thursday after school.

“[At the meetings], we watch anime

and party,” Berry said. “We have a monga trading among us. I own like 63 monga books. We hang out and get together. We draw anime, too. We introduce new anime each week.”

For members such as Berry and junior Kameron Mahorn, anime is a unique form of art.

“[Anime is] odd,” junior Kameron Mahorn said. “It really is just odd and unique.”

When freshman Alec Gula goes to the anime meetings, he said he is most excited about the people he meets.

“[I really like] all the people in there and what they do,” Gula said. “We are all exciting and accepting.”

Freshman Leah Gold also said she enjoys the atmosphere at the anime meetings.

“It’s fun to meet new people and learn about a different culture,” Gold said.

Others, such as sophomore Sarah Babbie, participate in anime club for the energy and thrill.

“Anime club is really fun and exciting,” Babbie said. “There’s a lot of energy at all of the meetings.”

While the club seems to be functioning well now, Mrs. Elizabeth Arcangeli, who started sponsoring the club in 2000, said this has not always been the case.

“Basically students had an interest, and the kids had trouble finding a sponsor,” Mrs. Arcangeli said. “I do it for the kids. I have become more knowledgeable through the kids and club.”

Through all of the struggles and triumphs, Berry said the members of the anime club have formed close relationships and manage to have a good time.

“We all generally have really good relationships with each other,” Babbie said. “People might think we’re a little bit weird when they first walk into the room. But when you’re a part of the club, it’s just a lot of fun. Overall, I’d say we’re a very lively group.”Part of each Anime club meeting is dedicated to drawing different anime characters. Photo by

Caitlyn McGoldrick

Anime club experiences Japanese cartoons

The Army

• The branch of the armed forces responsible for land-based military operations• As of May 2009, there are 456,651 people enlisted in the army• Under the direction of the United States Department of Defense

The Navy

• The branch of the armed forces responsible for in and on seas combat• As of May 2009, there are 276,276 people enlisted in the navy• Under the direction of the United States Department of Defense

The Marine Corps

• The branch of the armed forces responsible for providing protection to the seas• As of May 2009, there are 182,147 people enlisted in the marine corps• Under the direction of the United States Department of Defense

The Coast Guard

• The branch of the armed forces that serves multiple missions, both maritime and military• As of May 2009, there are 32,647 people enlisted in the coast guard• Under the direction of the United States Department of Homeland Security

Feature Talonthe

November 2010

4

As junior Meagan Verheyen walked out of the San Diego hotel room, she casually joked around with her half-brother, Phil Tomlin. But, Verheyen said, the situation was anything but typical. Without warning, Tomlin turned toward her and pulled her into his body. The two began sobbing.

After a couple seconds, Verheyen and Tomlin let go of each other and gathered together with the rest of the family. They each cried. Tomlin, who was a member of the Coast Guard, was about to be sent to Kuwait for at least eight months. As Verheyen and Tomlin met the rest of the family, her father began to pray for Tomlin and his unit.

“Saying goodbye was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Verheyen said. “I had to look at my best friend and know it was the last time I would see him for at least eight months. When Phil gave me that final hug, it felt like my world was crashing down around me and like I would never be the same. I knew he would be safe, but there was always that thought in the back of my head that something might happen.”

Across the nation, thousands of families are forced to say goodbye to their loved ones as Verheyen did . This separation can be extremely difficult for the families of these soldiers, according to junior Ally Stanjones, whose father is in the army.

“It’s really hard for me to have my dad in the army,” Stanjones said. “I don’t really have a male figure in my life because I am always just with my mom. My mom has to play both parent roles to be honest. I feel like the army kind of ‘stole’ him from me in a way.”

Others with loved ones in the army have been forced to make certain adjustments as well. Mrs. Jill Jessen, who taught English at RHS up until this year, said she sometimes has to put her life plans on hold. Her husband, Garrett, is currently at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., where he is learning to read, write and speak Korean. Eventually, Mrs. Jessen said, he will use his language training for military intelligence operations.

“In theory, I always knew that families in the military make sacrifices,” Mrs. Jessen said. “But you can’t really know what it’s like until you’re living that life yourself. For starters, I had to leave a job that I really loved and where I had built a professional and personal reputation. Above all, we have sacrificed the ability to direct our own lives. While we have some input on

our duty stations and where Garrett’s career path will take us, essentially the army tells us where we’ll live and where he goes for as long as Garrett is in the army.”

Although there is some uncertainty associated with being in the army, Mrs. Jessen said she is proud of her husband for pursuing something he wanted.

“I’m really proud of Garrett,” Mrs. Jessen said. “I’m proud of his hard work. I’m proud that he’s doing something that’s important to him.”

Just as Mr. Jessen worked toward being in the army, senior Grant Chenoweth has begun planning for a career in the military as well. He currently plans to attend either West Point or the United States Military Academy, and then become an officer for at least 20 years. For Chenoweth, the honor associated with being in

the army has been a lifelong dream.“I’ve always wanted to be a

soldier and give back to my country,” Chenoweth said. “For me, it’s being the defender of our freedoms and everything we stand for.”

According to Verheyen, her half-brother had similar motivations.

“I think he chose to be in the forces so he could help people and make a difference in the world,” Verheyen said. “He’s very caring, and he would help a complete stranger in an instant. It really only makes sense that he would want to help protect the entire country.”

However, this dedication has come with certain sacrifices as well. On August 26, while Tomlin was stationed in Kuwait, his wife gave birth to their daughter, MaeLee Grace Tomlin. While Phil was able to watch from the computer via Skype,

Verheyen said he was upset about not physically being in the room.

“He was not allowed to come home for her birth, but he got to be there via Skype, so we are all very thankful for that,” Verheyen said. “Phil tells me everyday how jealous he is of me for getting to meet, hold and spend time with MaeLee Grace. He doesn’t think it’s fair that fathers aren’t shipped home for the births of their children, and he took it very hard when he found out that he wouldn’t be there for MaeLee’s birth.”

While Verheyen said that soldiers have to make sacrifices, she also said the families of the soldiers must do the same. But for Mrs. Jessen, the sacrifices she makes seem more difficult due to a lack of recognition.

“There’s a lot of fanfare for soldiers,” Mrs. Jessen said. “People recognize them. People know that

they’re making sacrifices. But no one notices military spouses. There aren’t any promotions or awards for me. In the military’s words, I am Garrett’s ‘dependent’ – the same term that’s used for children of servicemen or women. There isn’t any distinction for being a spouse.”

Although being in the army may require sacrifices from an entire family, Verheyen said she understands it, or at least on some level.

“It’s not fair that families have to be torn apart so people can go fight,” Verheyen said. “With how hard this has been for me, I can only imagine what people go through when it’s a spouse or a parent. But problems need to be resolved and sometimes war is the only way to go about fixing them. I just wish that we could solve things without going to war and sending away so many loved ones.”

Military family members speak out

Poetry class competes with slam poems

As senior Trevor Johnson walked up to the brightened stage, the nerves began to hit him. English teacher Mr. André Harding gave him a peppy introduction and a high five to lighten up some of the tension. Mr. Harding said he understands the stress involved with public speaking.

“Slam poetry is the art of performing poetry,” Mr. Harding said. “It is usually done in competitions.”

This project was a competition. Every poetry student had to write a one to three minute poem about whatever they wanted. Mr. Harding recommended that the students create a poem about what they know best. At the end of the class, everyone voted for the best performer.

As one of the two winners, senior Tandalea Tatum said her poem required a lot of preparation.

“It took me about three days to prepare my poem,” Tatum said. “I did three different drafts. Two days before my performance, I actually added a lot more to my piece.”

Senior Alex Dinsmoor had specific preparations to get ready to perform. These preparations also helped him tie for the win of the poetry competition with Tatum.

“The majority of the poem was written all at once, but I tweaked things within the poem over a few days,” Dinsmoor said. “To prepare for the poem, I recited it to myself until I memorized it.”

Johnson wrote a heartfelt poem that was inspired by his prior injuries.

“My inspiration was basically how I hate having injured knees because I know I could have been really good at cross country if I didn’t get injured,” Johnson said. “The tone of my poem is upset and angry because I’m upset that I have garbage for knees.”

Tatum’s preparations helped, but she said they didn’t conquer her nervousness.

“The performance was very nerve-wracking,” Tatum said. “I practiced in the mirror plenty and I even videotaped myself practicing, but there was nothing like preparing for those bright lights.”

Just as some of his students did that day, Mr. Harding said he has felt nervous in the past.

“Absolutely [I get nervous public speaking], but I love the thrill,” Mr. Harding said. “The bigger the audience the better. Preparation helps eliminate fear, but being nervous is natural. Usually, we are our own worst critic.”

You fail to understand what I need,Because it’s something you just cannot see

Or hearOr even touch

What’s eating at me is something I’ve hidden deep insideSo deep, that sometimes when it’s driving me crazy I don’t know what it is

And that just really bugs meYet, I feel somewhat responsible for it all

Since it wasn’t just you, but also was me who wanted to make this work,Even though it seemed like for a while we were trying to eat soup with a fork,

But time proved what we already knew, that if you and I really want it, we can do whatever we may want to do

What’s eating me is that I can’t see her more than once a week, if even that,And frankly, that’s not enough. It drives me crazy,

Since there are things I want to say, that I can’t text at youOr tweet at you

Or even facebook at youThey are things that should be said in person, with expression, like I love you

As hard as that may be for us, I at least know this muchThat it’s not only me who longs to talk for hours on end,

You also want to talkAnd not just talk on AIM

Now I know my pain is shared with you, since daily you tell me“I miss you”

And those three words reverberate in my head like a pounding that I cannot stop,ThumpThump Thump

They draw up pleasant memories of our last visit, the one where we went for that walkThrough the forest, looking at the beauty of the trees, the peace and the serenity…

But I banish that thought from my head, since all it does is bring me pain.The pain of those three words

“I miss you”

You wouldn’t think that a guy like me is so … affected by those words threeBut as thoughts of you are eating at me deep inside

I try to stay solid to the naked eye,For my peers judging me is something that I can see

And that just really bugs me

The Air Force

• The branch of the armed forces responsible for aircraft and space warfare• As of May 2009, there are 261,193 people enlisted in the marine corps• Under the direction of the United States Department of Defense

Facts about the branches of The United States Armed Forces

Coast Guard member Phil Tomlin says a final goodbye to his younger brother, Cody, before leaving for Kuwait. Tomlin, who left in June, is scheduled to return home in February of next year. Photo Courtesy of Meagan Verheyen

Mr. Garrett Jessen, who is now learning to read, write and speak Korean at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., studies about two or three hours on weekdays and six to 12 over the weekend. Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Jill Jessen

On August 26, MaeLee Grace Tomlin was born. Although her father Phil was still stationed in Kuwait, he could see her via Skype. Photo Courtesy of Meagan Verheyen

Phil Tomlin and his unit pose for a picture. While the men are currently stationed in Kuwait, they were in training in San Diego. The conditions were similar to what they would see in Kuwait to prepare the soldiers. Photo Courtesy of Meagan Verheyen

In order to be a member of the Coast Guard and travel to Kuwait, Phil Tomlin was required to go to boot camp. The boot camp, which took place in San Diego, Calif., consisted of many different phases, drills and requirements. Photo Courtesy of Meagan Verheyen

Mr. and Mrs. Jessen after Mr. Jessen graduated from Basic Training. Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Jill Jessen

Poem by Alex Dinsmoor Poem by Tandalea Tatum

Mr. Harding’s Poetry Slam WinnersI hate you for what you did but love you because who you are, I love you because I

have toI could sense that tonight would be just like every other night

I knew the end of my innocence would be farGod, where are you? I need you! I refuse to resort to wishing upon a star

On the outside you see nothingYou’ll have to discover me inside to see my hidden scar

Holding me down, covering my mouth, pounding on my faceOh, God where are you?! Take me away from this place

Crying and carrying so much hate because I know I have to wake up and look at your perverted face

He keeps going until he is finishedHe leaves me lying there to simply diminish

I’ve memorized the sounds to determine this kind of nightI swear I’ll never experience a stronger fright

It’s the sounds of his footsteps creaking on the floor, the squeal of my door as he comes to steal more,

The sound of me dying as my heart poursIt’s the sounds of me losing the fight each and every night

He snatches my covers, I still fightTearing, Ripping, Shredding, Crumbling, I still fight

Fear of having to carry this burden for the rest of my life, and I still fightPraying harder each time that a little angel doesn’t come from this hell

Father do you hear me? Where are you?

I swear I never wanted this secretHow can you not hear me Lord? My screams are beyond loud! This hurt is something

no one can affordTake me away; carry me in your arms forever more

Oh, God where are you? Where were all those other nights? God why do you let me lose every single fight?

And every time I hope that this will be the last night…As a matter of fact, since you won’t listen, since you won’t hear my cry

I’ll take the easy way out, take my own life, and just dieWith the flick of a knife to my wrist this is it

I have no more fightLifeless I lay and pray

Lord, where were you tonight? I needed you. How come you didn’t hear my cry?Can you answer me this Lord, will I lay with you in peace tonight?

5Talonthe

November 2010

As the premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I” approaches, the true colors of Harry Potter enthusiasts and haters shine through. On the Friday before Halloween, sophomore Britney Spindler had arranged a day where all Harry Potter fans were invited to “Hogwarts Day,” a day to dress as if one attended the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to embrace the hype that Harry Potter has created.

“I’m particularly excited about Harry Potter right now because the film is coming out and because Hogwarts Day happened,” Spindler said. “I would like to make Hogwarts Day an annual thing. I think that it should happen every Friday before or on Halloween. I hope that eventually the entire school will participate.”

However, not all students would care to participate in such a day.

“My favorite thing [about Harry Potter] is there’s no more of it,” freshman Conner Pacella said. “My least favorite thing is there have already been seven.”

Although some share Pacella’s disdain towards the series, the book

and movie franchise holds a special place in many students’ hearts.

“I do not like Harry Potter. I love Harry Potter,” senior Connor Antenucci said. “Harry Potter and I are life partners. But in all seriousness, it’s always been a fantasy of mine to escape from the mundane backdrop of my life into an extraordinary one, and I think J.K. Rowling gives me and others like me, a more solid template for that.”

Even though senior Bailey Knudsen shares a similar love for the books, she sees the films in a different light.

“I love the books, but not so much the movies,” Knudsen said. “The books are so well-written w h e r e as the movies don’t do it justice. They take the key plot lines of the story a n d change all the other stuff that builds the story. [In] the last movie they burnt down the burrow, so what are they going to mess up now?”

Whatever the reason, fans and

others alike are anxious for the next movie’s arrival.

“I’m most l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to [the

upcoming movie] so it can be over,”

Pacella said. “Once people step back into reality, they’ll realize it’s not good.”

But the anticipation for the movie release is not limited to those who want it to be over.

“[It is] one of the biggest

The town of Provo, Utah may not necessarily sound like the starting place for hot, new bands. Nevertheless, for one alternative band who got their name from an In-N-Out, this is exactly what happened. With the charismatic Tyler Glenn as their singer and leader, Neon Trees released their debut album in March of 2010. However, it has only just begun to gain popularity with the hit “Animal.”

Neon Trees originally formed in 2005, eventually winding up with the four current members. The band currently consists of guitarist Chris Allen, bassist Branden Campbell, drummer

At age 20, Taylor Swift has done fairly well for herself. Her self-titled 2006 album and 2008’s “Fearless” have both gone multi-platinum, and “Speak Now” debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts. Yes,

Ms. Swift is making, as the kids say, “mad bank,” and there’s a reason for that: she is a marketing genius. While listening to “Speak Now”, one can’t help but think that every one of her songs is meant to be sung directly to every 12-year-old girl in earshot. Lyrically s p e a k i n g , S w i f t

movie premiere’s of the century; the

beginning of the end,” Antennuci

said. “It was bittersweet

when the b o o k s ended,

now

we’re just a hop skip and jump away from the movies being complete, and that won’t be sweet at all, just bitter. I think everyone is just savoring the ‘last days of HP.’”

During those “last days,” it is apparent that once Part I and II are released, the sudden bursts of Harry Potter hype may die down.

“Unfortunately, I believe [the hype] will [die down,]” Antenucci said. “Muggles cannot help becoming preoccupied with some other obsession. It will no longer be relevant after a while. But I know that there will be plenty of die hard fans who will continue to love and adore the boy who lived and pass that adoration on to their offspring.”

No matter what happens down the road, Spindler still considers Harry Potter a “staple of her childhood” and

for that reason she stays loyal to the series.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how they interpret

the book and all the s c e n e r y , ” S p i n d l e r said. “The

text was so vivid and intense.

I’m always interested in seeing how books are translated and how the directors toy

with the plot to try to get everything to fit on

screen.”

Harry Potter:

is, undeniably, a storyteller. She’s like John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats, but without the ability to write to a broad audience. Every song paints a picture of a different less-than-ideal romantic situation, some more than others. That’s exactly what’s to be expected of a Taylor Swift album. And what she does, she does well. The lyrics are meant to be powerfully literal, with zero room for interpretation. It’s undeniably cheesy, and can be cringe-worthy at times, but any die-hard Taylor Swift fan knows what they’re getting into.

“Speak Now” has a much poppier sound than “Fearless”, which is especially prominent in “Mine,” “Enchanted,” and “Better than Revenge,” a l though

“Mean” has a decidedly more “classic” Swift sound. Unfortunately, the production often makes the songs’ quality suffer, particularly “Story of Us,” which features this infernal electronic-sounding buzz that is irritating beyond belief.

In terms of song structure, the title track and “You Belong With Me” are remarkably similar-sounding. “Dear John,” a song about Swift’s relationship with John Mayer, is an undeniable low point on the album, clocking in at nearly seven minutes, with very little going on the entire duration. There’s no real reason it should’ve been recorded at all, much like everything musical John Mayer has ever been involved in.

Although die-hard Taylor Swift fans will probably love this album, it’s pretty skippable, and doesn’t keep up the standard set by “Fearless.”

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Elaine Bradley and singer/keyboardist Tyler Glenn. After playing shows with big bands like the Killers and 30 Seconds to Mars, Neon Trees is finally breaking into the world of recording.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ dissapoints

Entertainment

Neon Trees makes good impression

U.S. Country music singer Taylor Swift performing at Yahoo headquarters in 2007. Photo by Brian Cantoni

An alternative band from Utah is on its way to the big time with the release of its first album, “Habits,” which came out in March

New movie release causes hype

Previous albums:

The Neon Trees ‘Habits’ album cover. Photo Courtesy of GoMoxie.com

Released: October 24, 2006

Released: November 11, 2008

At first glance, some of the songs on this album may seem pop-ish and shallow. However, upon closer examination, it is clear that the songs are more than just loud. From “Love and Affection”

to “Girls and Boys in School,” Glenn sings about relationship woes and adolescent angst.

Although “Animal” may be the most well-known song off “Habits,” it is not the best song on the album. By far, the greatest song is “Farther Down,” a bonus track that was released on the bonus track version of “Habits.” Glenn’s raw vocals combined with a touch of lyrical genius turned this extra into the most powerful song on the album.

Though the lyrics all seem to tell of melancholy moments and personal pain, the music never fails to be lively and boisterous. There isn’t a track on the album that doesn’t encourage one to get up and dance. From the opening verses of “Sins of my Youth” to the ending chord of “Our War,” Neon Trees sweeps their listener up into a mess of pure energy.

Neon Trees has only just started recording albums, and it will be exciting to see what this small group from Utah manages to do in the future.

Opinion6 Talonthe

November 2010

In the weeks approaching the primary election, it seemed the most attention-grabbing aspect was the ads. The news featured stories of negative ad campaigning growing more malicious as Election Day drew closer. This vicious and slightly desperate form of campaigning is nothing new. However, it should be one used more conservatively. The tactic of harming an opponent’s reputation is one that makes those running them look petty, tells nothing of their own merit and delves into irrelevant points in a candidate’s life.

The first flaw in attacking the opponent in such an intense manner is that it comes back around. In trying to discredit a candidate, the accuser ends up looking trivial and desperate; like one who is looking for any way to gain an edge in the race.

Also, those who run for office and focus so heavily on the other candidate show nothing about their own intention. Yes, the public is now aware of the opposition’s wrong-doing, but evidence why someone should not hold office is not a valid strength in a campaign. What candidates argue shouldn’t be the faults of the person running against them, but the reasons as to why they are fit for the position or what they will do once in office.

Using dirt on a candidate to one’s advantage can also get much too personal and outrageous. Events that occurred years and years ago do not necessarily affect the candidate’s judgment currently, and the same goes for false and sometimes outlandish

Cars honked at the man. Children stared. Adults thought he was a lunatic.

He was no lunatic. He was fully functional and completely normal. But that day, as he ran across Old Perch in broad daylight, he had only one thought: money. He was planning to rob the PNC Bank on the corner of Old Perch and Walton.

The man, Jurgen Yolemi, was armed with a handgun. As he entered the bank, he demanded all of the money be put into a bag. Before anyone could react further, he was out the door with the bank’s money in his arms

Yolemi, at the mere age of 20, is a suspect in three other bank robberies, two of which also occurred in Oakland County. When the police arrested Yolemi on August 20, the police discovered money from the PNC Bank sitting on top of his bed, almost as if was being displayed. Yolemi didn’t rob these banks because he had a gravely ill family member or because his house was about to be foreclosed. He robbed simply because he wanted more money.

On that August 17, Yolemi thought he was simply trying to get some more money. He probably didn’t have too much of a plan; he just wanted to be rich. But that day, Yolemi was sending a much bolder message: he, as a Rochester Hills resident, was completely unsatisfied with everything he had, everything he owned, everything he was lucky enough to know.

Unfortunately, Yolemi is not alone. All across the Rochester area, people spread this message every day, whether it’s through an act of theft or a mere glare of jealousy. What these individuals fail to realize is that they are among the world’s wealthiest people.

Around the world, nearly half of the population lives on less than two dollars a day. But according to MuniNet Guide, the median household income in Oakland County is 103,213 dollars per

I think negative campaigning is effective to a certain extent, but a cheap way to win votes.

Nate Barton, junior

“

”

I think negative campaigning is a legitimate way to win because if you don’t have anything going for yourself, bash the opponent.

Brian Palmer, sophomore

“

”

I think negative campaigning is stupid because it brings a negative light on positive progress.

Justin Murphy, senior

“

” ”

I don’t like negative campaigning because all you learn is what the campaign is doing wrong.

Melanie Sweet, junior

“claims, such as ones of witchcraft directed at Republican Christine O’Donnell running for Delaware senator. Using obsolete or untrue information can only hurt a candidate in proving his own validity.

Some will say that this campaigning tactic is normal, and that it is necessary politics. And there is no denying that it is somewhat of a norm. Negative campaign ads against opponents have long been a tactic used in the very last days of the election as a final attempt to discredit the other candidate. However, in this year’s primaries, the time frame for negative campaigning was extended to the point where essentially the entire road to Election Day was paved with insults and finger-pointing. It proves nothing, and in the case of this year, can get utterly ridiculous. Parties, according to records at local stations and Comcast Corp., have used up 18.1 million dollars in commercials for campaigning. This money easily could have gone to programs that needed funding, such as schools.

All in all, the drastic negative campaigns are synonymous with bad politics. Using an opponent’s reputation to prove your own doesn’t give the public a reason to believe in their capability or their maturity, and it opens the door for claims to get more and more ridiculous as the race progresses. The news headlines for the primary candidates should read something about the politicians in the running, not how ridiculous their ads have become.

The TalonEditor in ChiefMax Kleiner

Feature EditorEmily Hayward

News EditorNate Barton

Lifestyles EditorMelanie Sweet

Entertainment EditorKatie Ziraldo

Opinion EditorAmy Mackens

Sports EditorKatie Krako

Website EditorAaron Kuhn

Website DesignerJustin Murphy

Business ManagerMadison Reitzel

Staff WritersCarolyn BerwickAustin BowermanTaylor HolmesSteven McConnellCaitlyn McGoldrickBrian PalmerJenna RoccoBen Simko

AdviserMrs. Julia Satterthwaite

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The stories, opinions, and bylined content in The Talon do not necessarily represent and should not be interpreted as the views of the Rochester Community School Board of Education or any of its staff, faculty, or employees.

Unless otherwise noted, all stories and opinions expressed here are the views of The Talon staff which is comprised of students in the Journalism II class of Rochester High School.

The Talon believes it is its duty and right to inform, educate, influence and entertain its readers and will do this by exercising the First Amendment Rights as defined in the Constitution of the United States of America.

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Staff Editorial: No need for negative campaigning

year – that’s about 283 dollars per day. In addition, people in the Rochester Hills area are more fortunate than 2.6 billion people around the world who do not have any kind of running water. As a result, 40,000 of these people die everyday from water contamination. Even students in the Rochester area can consider themselves fortunate, as 20 percent of kids around the world cannot go to school at all.

Within the United States, the numbers are just as convincing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oakland County is the fourth wealthiest county in the United States. While the country’s average income is 62,796 dollars per year, Oakland County residents make almost double that. Simply living in the area is a great privilege that comes with many opportunities.

Unfortunately, these opportunities are often abused. This abuse comes in the form of excessive overuse to the point of discontent. Somehow, the unlimited options that are given to Rochester residents often lead to an unquenchable search for more. Many people tend to think, “If I just had this item, I’d be happy.” But this mentality

leads only to disappointment because these individuals discover that they never really are, no matter how many things they own.

It’s like pushing the pedals of a bicycle. When someone is eagerly pedaling, the wheels move. The wheels continue to move, overcoming rocks, cracks, dirt – almost anything that might challenge it–until the person stops pedaling. This is the cycle that many Oakland County residents succumb to. They are so fired up, so convinced that they can make it to happiness, that they begin pushing the wheels of that bike. Their eyes are so intently set on their goal that they are willing to trample upon anything they perceive as an obstacle, whether it involves a price tag on the newest clothing line or the dignity of another human being. And until that person chooses to stop the cycle, to press on the breaks, they will project a heartless, ungrateful image to the world, and they will never be happy.

However, some would claim that there are genuinely kind-hearted people in the Rochester Hills area who shouldn’t be blamed for the actions of others. And I would agree – with

a slight modification. Those sincere people are happy, but only because they have learned about something that others in Rochester do not know: charity. They’ve learned that life isn’t about hoarding more and more possessions or owning the newest “it” item; it’s about so much more. They’ve taken a lesson from the poor in Africa, who have so few possessions yet find enough joy to bombard the streets with singing every day. They’ve understood that true joy comes from giving what they have been so blessed with to others rather than taking more for themselves.

While there are some of these compassionate people in Rochester, there are also those who should take a lesson. Whether they believe it or not, they are wealthy. They don’t need to buy more clothes from American Eagle or attain the latest iPhone. These residents should learn that the money they have is enough; and they should learn this lesson before Yolemi did, before they’re caught by the police for trying to take more, before it’s too late. People in the Rochester Hills area have food, clothing, shelter – and that’s all they really need.

The four star Royal Park Hotel in downtown Rochester. Photo by Emily Hayward

Greed consumes Rochester Hills

Sports 7Talonthe

November 2010

Sports BriefsVarsity volleyball finishes strong

The varsity volleyball team finished strong by going far into the playoffs and having a final record of 27-19-3.

“Our season has been up and down,” senior captain middle blocker Erin Leppek said. “We started off winning but hit a slump until recently. [But] we didn’t give up; as long as we played with energy and have fun we’ll usually win.”

The team benefited from the good seasons had by many players in many grades.

“We accomplished a lot this season,” Leppek said. “And we really grew as a team.” By Aaron Kuhn, Website Editor

Mr. Adams helps with college recruiting

Determination, dexterity and effort of a student athlete can pay off in the end with college recruiting. Cross country coach Mr. Larry Adams said coaches should involve themselves as much as possible.

“As a coach, I talk to college coaches and help them contact my athletes,” Mr. Adams said. “Coaches want to know the background of colleges that recruit student athletes.”

Mr. Adams said he tries to help his athletes in as many ways possible with their future in running.

“Many of my athletes have progressed as runners,” he said. “For example, Brook Handler is a two-time state champion and has some of the best times nationally. There are some schools, such as Villanova, that Brook will fit in really well to.”

Although it is not his decision to make, Mr.. Adams said he helps make sure students pick the best school

“Students always want to look at education first,” he said. “Choosing a school all depends on the student’s personality. I try not to put pressure on athletes in season. They need to stay focused on the sport during the season, and ultimately it is up to the athlete and his or her parents.”By Steven McConnell, Staff Writer

United hockey trains for season

Though they had a good season last year, being a Division 1 regional finalist, for the 2010-2011 season, members of united hockey have higher goals—and are already working towards them.

“I have just attended practice,” junior JV player Craig Renny said. “And actually getting work done instead of screwing around.”

As a team they hope to beat Utica Eisenhower, a team they struggled against last year.

“We have a pretty decent team,” Renny said. “We should be able to win tons of games if we just play hockey the way it should be played.” By Aaron Kuhn, Website Editor

Wrestling team hopes for state championship

Even though officially the season started only a short time ago, many have started training before hand.

“I’ve been wrestling every chance I got, worked out and was in off-season tournaments,” senior Diego Camp said.

Last year the team had four state qualifiers and has the same hope for this year.

“I want a team and individual state championship,” Camp said. “We’re closer this year and coming back with four state qualifies should be a bonus.” By Aaron Kuhn, Website Editor

His heart is pounding, and there are butterflies in his stomach. Yet to the other kids waiting in the hall, there’s no signs of it. Then, the at-the-time sophomore and current junior Connor Nelson gets called into the room to learn if he made the 2010 JV baseball team. He didn’t make it.

“I felt bad because I knew I could have done better,” Nelson said. “And I wouldn’t be able to play with my friends on the team. I guess I could have hustled more. I gave 90 percent instead of 100 percent.”

Nelson blames himself for being cut.

“During tryouts I couldn’t catch the ball mostly because I couldn’t see the ball because I didn’t have contacts,” Nelson said.

Along with talent, JV basketball coach Mr. Andre Harding evaluates potential players on a personal level.

“[I look for] the three As,” Mr. Harding said. “Athleticism—you have to be able to play. Academics: if you don’t have that, don’t bother trying out, and attitude—having a good one on and of the court, going to class, being on time and treating others with respect.”

Though in most cases people are happy when they make a team, some are not because of the team they made.

“In one word [I feel] cheated,” sophomore Rahul Vyas said when he made JV tennis instead of varsity. “I feel people who were below my skill level got on; they got lucky at tryouts by getting good double partners.”

While most are nervous when trying out, others have confidence due to playing on a team the previous year.

“The first time I was scared because I was going up against girls with varsity experience, and my sister was on the team, and I had to live up to her,” senior Emily Hawes said about trying out for varsity cheer the first time. “This year was different because I was focused on doing good to have a good spot in the formations, not really making the team.”

Though many might think cuts are sad for both players and coaches, this isn’t always true.

“I love making cuts since it means I have options,” Mr.. Harding said. “If I didn’t make cuts, it means I have to keep everybody. Yes, it’s a painful process because you might have to cut someone who’s a great kid but not a good player.”

As for Nelson, he plans to try out for varsity baseball again in the spring and learning from last year.

“Getting cut got me motivated to train more,” Nelson said about going to Jason Thomson and Mark Avery’s baseball camps. “It’s helped me throw harder and faster and for the future since I know I can always improve if I do something wrong or want to reach my goal, proving that I’m better than last year.”

Running back to the baseline during a suicide drill, freshman Tyler Land conditions to prepare for tryouts for the freshman basketball team. Photo by Aaron Kuhn

Jumping in on cheerleading practice

By learning from past experiences and coach’s advice, many are vying to make their desired team

I ’ m up in the sky, looking a r o u n d at a never-before-s e e n view of the area a r o u n d me. Then just as I get the full feeling o f e x c i t e m e n t a n d nervousness, I begin to descend. Back to the ground. Back to reality. But let me explain.

It’s after school, and I’m sitting on the awkwardly spaced mall stairs, surrounded by girls. Then, fellow junior Elyse Kalil walks up to the mob of teens.

“Hey, anybody have a tampon?” Kalil asks.

Then, noticing I’m sitting amongst the group, she continues speaking with a giggle. “Oh um … welcome to cheer practice.”

You read right. I’m jumping in on a cheer practice. Me. A generally non-athletic, junior boy. Anyway, we run two laps around the school to warm up, and then begin a full body workout. The first part is a stretch called

Left: Aaron Kuhn gets to feel what it is like to be a flyer while being held up by juniors Elyse Kalil, Emily Leppek and Amanda Niester. Photo by Keli Hughes Above: The cheer team works on doing back walkovers. Photo by Aaron Kuhn

“Clocks.” And let me tell you, it is nowhere near similar to the song by Coldplay.

Basically I was laying on the mall

stairs, with straight legs

up in a

v-formation. Then I spread them out, making a wider

“v”. After holding them as stretched as

I can, I slowly pull them back in. After five I’m sweating and using all my mental strength to keep going. And we had 25 more to go. To put it mildly, it hurt like a word unfit

for this publication. Moving on, we

grab a bungee strap and stretch every body part with it. I pull it up down, left, right and sideways. These hurt as well, but at least I remembered to point my toes to make sure I

“don’t let it smack [me] in the face,” which was a common warning.

Now, it’s time for me to get out of the way. Girls are jumping, critiquing

and trying to perfect

everything. At about this time head coach Susan Wood, nicknamed “Woody” by the girls, shows up.

“How’s it going?” she asks with a grin on her face. “You’ll be sore in the morning, but it will be a good sore. Have any questions? It’s all about the team and us as a whole, never the individual, because you can’t win a state championship by yourself. It takes a team.”

While Woody is finishing her spiel on the team, all the girls work on doing back walkovers, back handsprings, back tucks and basically back or flip anything. And I obviously can’t just do a back flip on a whim. Instead I jump out in front and perform my own sort of cheer maneuver: cartwheels.

And for your information, they were pretty good. Except the fact that I could only complete one before resetting myself and got dizzy after only six in a row. If I had to do countless flips and tucks, well, I’d need to have one of those little bags you find on airplanes

handy. Once all this is done, I finally get

to do what I was most looking forward to: getting put up in the air.

Nervous, I grab the hands of juniors Amanda Niester, Emily Leppek and Elyse Kalil and slowly get put up in the stunt with Niester on my left, Kalil on the right and Leppek behind holding my ankles. The ground is gone from beneath my feet. I’m up in the sky, looking around a never-before seen view of the area around me. Then just as I get the full feeling of excitement and nervousness at the same time, I begin to descend. Back to the ground. Back to reality.

Leaving, I thank the team for letting me join them, senior Lauren Lipphardt for getting me through the stretches (an ambulance would have been called if she didn’t), and Woody for allowing me to take a peek at the state champion team she’s assembled. Thanks, girls.

And Kalil, sorry, but, to answer your question, I don’t.

Trying out for the teamA necessary process

Sports8 Talonthe

November 2010

The balls fly around as over 30 teams go head-to-head in the annual fall dodge ball tournament. With more than 200 students participating this time the competition was rough, and the tension was high.

Student council advisor Mrs. Kelley Cusmano was elated to see so many students participating in the event her class planned.

“Looking around and realizing there was over 200 kids who were just here to have a good time and be active,” Cusmano said. “I love activities like that at RHS.”

To enter this competition teams needed to pay $21, or $3 per student.

“Teams need to pay an entry fee to ensure that they will show up to play in the tournament,” Mrs. Cusmano said. “If it was free, it would be a lot easier for teams to say that they were going to play and then not show at all without consequence.”

The $3 also went to several other things to benefit the competition.

“This way we are able to buy water, whistles and other equipment for the tournament,” said Mrs. Cusmano.

The atmosphere which the students bring to the tournament is also very unique. Many teams dressed up in team uniforms, some were rather abstract. The Red Band Gang and the Einsteins were said to have the best uniforms.

“Everyone else looked like a bunch of farm animals,” senior member of the Einsteins Trevor Johnson said.

Refereeing any sport is a difficult task, and no matter the call, there will always be someone who disagrees.

“There was definitely controversy involved with the refs, but I’m glad they volunteered to help out because they were definitely necessary,” senior and member of the Einsteins Chris Saber said. Many would agree though that the refs were necessary to keep track of outs and make the tough calls of participants who were unsure if they were hit.

“The refs did the best job that they could making the calls as accurate as they could for all of the teams,” social studies teacher and member of El Maestros Marc Compton said. “Props to them for their time administering the matches.”

In the end, it was a team of teachers, including social studies teachers Mr. Marc Compton and Mr. Adam Hacias, Mr. Chad Zwolinski, Mr. Steve Fox, Mr. Craig Archer, Mr. Jeff Hall and Mrs. Kelley Cusmano, who came away with the victory.

“Everyone on our team had the mindset that if we played up to our potential we would dominate our way to victory,” Mr. Compton said. “Any chance we can create a positive activity that gets student’s interested in competing is valuable for the spirit of Rochester High School.”

The students of Rochester High School are looking for redemption of the competition.

“If our schedule goes well,” said Mrs. Cusmano, “we will hold another dodge ball tournament in the spring.”

Staff wins Dodgeball tournament

The champion staff team: Mr. Marc Compton, Mr. Adam Hacias, Mr. Chad Zwolinski, Mr. Steve Fox, Mr. Craig Archer, Mr. Jeff Hall and Mrs. Kelley Cusmano. Photo by Justin Murphy.

Picking up a dodge ball to start a new match, senior Marcel Johnson gets ready for battle. Photo by Justin Murphy

Sophomore Jared Pardowski making a plan to get the other team . Photo by Justin Murphy.

With trip to playoffs, winning seasonFootball team made many strides

The Rochester football team has finished with one of the best seasons in eleven years. After making it to the playoffs, head coach Eric Vernon and the players are proud of the team and how hard they worked this season.

“We had a great group of seniors and juniors this year; they worked hard all off season,” coach Vernon said. “The kids played great.”

Making it to the playoffs was a shared goal between the team and school. But very few ever spoke of actually making it to the playoffs.

“[Making it to the playoffs] was a week by week process, a game by game thing, repetitions,” coach Vernon said. “I never actually spoke of playoffs.”

Fans and students seemed to be just as excited as the coach when the team won the game against Royal Oak with a final score of 48-6, which earned the team a spot in the playoffs.

“I thought that this year would be the year we made it to playoffs,” Soliders of Fourtnue member junior Jacob Seidl said. “The season went better than I expected and I enjoyed cheering for a winning team.”

With it being the last football season for many of the players on the team, many feel that it went out with a bang. Senior Elive Likine couldn’t be more proud of himself and his team.

“In order to prepare the team for playoffs I gave everything, I did everything 100%,” Likine said. “[The team] played every game like playoffs depended on it and that’s what helped

us have a successful season.” This season was not perfect, but

it was definitely better than the past previous seasons.

“This season was great, it didn’t end the way we wanted but we made history,” Likine said, “We accomplished something a lot of people didn’t believe we could do and I take pride in that.”

The players celebrating their 48-6 victory over Royal Oak which secured them a playoff spot. Photo by Mrs. Elaine Wink.

Junior Kyle Wink anticipating the snap. Photo by Mrs. Elaine Wink

Senior Billy Klotz making a touchdown catch against Royal Oak. Photo by Mrs. Elaine Wink.

How they got to, and fared in, the playoffs:

vs. L’anse Creuse vs. Lake Orion vs. Troy vs. Pontiac vs. Athens Win: 28-0 Loss: 29-6 Win: 17-7 Win: 17-13 Win: 35-17 Playoffsvs. Clarkston vs. W. Bloomfield vs. Adams vs. Royal Oak vs. Ike Lose: 17-14 Win: 17-0 Loss: 31-14 Win: 48-6 Loss: 28-14

Neat Numbers

17:00.02 was the time it took senior Brook Handler to win the 2010 Cross Country individual state championship. It is the second fastest time in Mich.. History.

72 is how many days it is until the 2011 Crosstown Showdown at Oakland University’s O Rena. Last year Adams won 56-48.

209 equal the number of points varsity football put up the season that yielded RHS’ first playoff appearance, homecoming game win, and winning season since 1999.

27 wins is the final total for the varsity volleyball team. They averaged 8.5 kills a game and were ranked 76 in the state.

252.50 is the new school record set by junior Lauren Reedy for the one meter in diving was previously 247.05.

What 2 watch 4:Key games coming up

11/30- Girls basketball first home game vs. North Farmington12/1- Wrestling opens at home versus Anchor Bay, Hartland and Port Huron. Matches start at 5:30.12/4- First united hockey game. It’s 6:30 at the Onyx. By Aaron Kuhn, Website Editor

The players wait to take the field against Clarkston. Photo by Aaron Kuhn.

Any chance we can create a positive activity that gets student’s interested in competing is valuable for the spirit of Rochester High School.

Mr. Marc Compton,History teacher

“

”

Senior Caitlyn Circelli collecting a dodgeball and stares down an opponent. Photo by Justin Murphy.

Even with the staff taking the winning title, dodgeball tournament still drew in a wide crowd.

November 2010

NOVEMBER 23, 2010 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3 ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

2 3November 2010 November 2010

MOVIESTO RENT5

“Fight Club” is a gory, action-packed movie that is filled with scattered and confusing concepts at first. However, in the end, everything falls into place and leaves the viewer in awe and wanting to replay to fully understand this magnificent mind twister.

‘FIGHT CLUB’

Some movies that have historical references lack enjoyment; “Gangs of New York” is the opposite of those types of movies. Starring Daniel-Day Lewis and Leonardo Dicaprio, this entertaining film can be considered one of the greatest revenge movies ever made. “Gangs of New York” follows the revenge plot of Dicaprio against Lewis, because of Lewis’ killing of Dicaprio’s father. This film never misses a beat, and once those credits come on, you’ll never feel more upset in your life.

‘GANGS OF NEW YORK’

This dry humor movie has a direct line to one’s funny bone. “Waiting for Guffman” is about a small town putting on a musical about the city’s history. The musical consists of awful actors, who are so cheesy, you can’t help but to laugh. The whole time the musical is being prepared the actors have a hope of being on Broadway, and are too self-indulged to realize how atrocious their musical really is.

‘WAITING FOR GUFFMAN’

‘FANTASTIC MR. FOX’Wes Anderson – Director – is a genius when it comes to movie-making. He continues to amaze with every movie he directs; that’s exactly what he did with “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” This stop-motion movie, starring George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Owen Wilson, is the most uniquely made film. It combines entertainment with family fun and comedy.

‘THE FLY’This is a terrifying plot of a scientist creating a teleporting machine and switching his DNA with a fly. The character’s slow transformation into a fly is so disturbing that the viewer cannot help but to close his/her eyes. This movie accomplished what a horror film should contain (suspense and bone-chilling scenes) and can be considered one of the best horror movies. Overall, if you are in the mood for nightmares, go rent “The Fly.”

Photos by Steven McConnell

SENIORTO DO’S5 The leaves are falling from the

trees and air is becoming bitter, and all roads lead to Thanksgiving. And this means Thanksgiving break. For seniors, there are plenty of preparations to make and deadlines to be cognizant of; some are necessities and others for enjoyment. In all the chaos of black Friday shopping and turkey-eating, here are a few musts to remember.

Doing things sooner than later almost always results in a more superior product. Allow more time for the editing step. It is crucial to let someone other than you take a look at it, email essays to teachers or relatives to edit. After all, essays are important for allowing colleges to see something about your personality. Essays say the things that transcripts cannot so quality is key.

For those attending college out of state, this may be the last opportunity to spend Thanksgiving at home with family. So forget about the argument with your mom and how annoying you think your little brother is and just relax. If this is hard to do, maybe break out Jenga or Monopoly. Enjoy the company of people you may have been taking for granted because these moments are precious.

Thanksgiving is a great time to hang out in the kitchen with your relatives and take notes; it’ll help you overcome home sickness next year at college. Plus, when others smell great food, they will be drawn to your room like a metal to a magnet, making you a few extra friends. Just keep in mind that some colleges have strict appliance rules so you may have to ask your mom how you can recreate the dishes using a microwave or a hot plate.

Taking the time out to enjoy something as simple as a football game is important. Sit around the television with all your relatives and cheer for your favorite team. Make bets with your cousins and shout orders at the quarterback. Who knows, you may even begin to appreciate that uncle of yours who falls asleep in the lazy boy every year.

Though it may seem rather cliché, being thankful is an important thing to remember this Thanksgiving. This may be the last Thanksgiving you spend at your home in your own room. Don’t take this time for granted because you may just come home to visit next year and find that your parents have turned your childhood bedroom into their yoga studio. Soak it in and live it up. Relish in the moment.

Finish all college and scholarship applications.

Spend quality time with family.

Learn those family recipes.

Watch the big football game.

Don’t forget to be thankful.

Photos by Taylor Holmes

Senior Danielle Williams cooks with her mother.

Senior Danielle Williams watches TV with her mom.

Senior Tanner Ellsworth gets ahead on schoolwork over break.

Over the Thanksgiving break, don’t just sit on the couch and eat leftover turkey. Instead consider

going on a road trip. These five unique and interesting places are the perfect spontaneous destinations from Rochester Hills. Also, check

out puremichigan.com for lots of more traveling information.

AWESOMEROAD TRIPS5 The Windy City is always

an interesting place to be. The different buildings and museums add the opportunity to learn new things. Visit Shedd Aquarium and spot the Beluga Whales or walk up and down the River Walk and enjoy Lake Michigan.

CHICAGO

TRAVERSE CITY

CRYSTAL

GRAND

AVALANCHE BAY

RAPIDS

MOUNTAIN

Michigan’s biggest indoor water park can be the perfect place to spend the break. There are things to do for the whole family. There are five fun-filled waterslides, a wet climbing wall, a lazy river, and finally, the raging wall of water from Splasherhorn Mountain.

Come on over to Traverse City and go shopping in the Grand Traverse Commons. One can also have a delicious treat, an old fashioned soda at The Cherry Stop. If nothing else, try going over to Sleeping Bear Dunes and enjoy the view.

In Grand Rapids, visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and learn all about the only President from Michigan. If the weather is nice, hit the John Ball Zoo and see the animals.

Crystal Mountain is the number one resort in the Midwest, according to SKI Magazine. Rent a house or room in the cabins or hotel. Try to cross-country ski through the 40 km of trails.

Photo by Steven Depolo

Photo by Bernt Rosad

Photo by Monika Thorpe

Photo by Vincent Desjardins

Photo by Patrick Neil

Photo by Brynn Fowler

Thanksgiving break’s high fives

Taylor HolmesStaff WriterCarolyn Berwick

Staff WriterSteven McConnell

Staff Writer

Q&A

Five lovely students answer five questions for your enjoyment.

5 x 5:

1. If you were to write a musical about turkey, what

would you call it?

5. Favorite food for Thanksgiving

4. You’re stranded on a cruise ship for 5 days without food,

what do you eat?

3. What is the sound the color blue makes?

2. Favorite Holiday in November?

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I believe there are three clichés. There is the “straight out of a magazine” variety, where everyone is eating gorgeous food while laughing; love oozing out of every pore. Then there is the “I painfully endure this night once a year, so let’s get it over with” type of Thanksgiving. This usually includes, forced conversation, stony silence and a blowout between two-plus family members at some point in the night. Finally, there is the “wow my life is a ‘National Lampoon’s Family Vacation’ movie.” This tends to feature some form of a small disaster, an obnoxious elderly relative and general chaos. This third option is what my family fits the most.

The minor disaster component is something that we have a handle on. It’s never anything as drastic as the turkey going up in flames, and the list of things that will always go wrong is a modest one. The turkey will always be dry, some item (customarily a runny pie from my great grandmother) will be deemed unacceptable

for plating, and my cousin will make some form of a blunder. So on the scale of disaster from one to the turkey meat is rancid, my family rates at around a four.

T h e o b n o x i o u s older relative is clearly my Grandpa R o n n i e , who has the stereotypical l o u d , inappropriate old person thing down pat. To Grandpa, dinner starts at four o’clock. Five if it’s really necessary. Past 5:30, Grandpa gets agitated, and due to either blatant comments or “whispers” to my great grandmother, everyone will know exactly how he feels by 5:35. Customarily, after the kids get their plates and the adults are seated, the dishes are passed around. When the food that my

Grandma Judy has stressed about and slaved over for days gets to my grandpa,

if it’s not meat, potatoes or canned corn it’s greeted with a stare and a “Now what in the hell would I want that for?” When he finds something he does want, he gets his share and consistently decides not to pass the plate, resulting in a pileup next to his spot and also a lack of whatever Grandpa likes on everyone’s plate. Last year we put him at the end of the passing cycle specifically for this reason.

My Thanksgiving experience is the epitome of comic catastrophe. Some would see this as an embarrassment; they would grimace at runny pie or be mortified by a relative’s obnoxious comments. I, however, see my family’s quirks as endearing, and out of the Thanksgiving stereotypes, I am thankful that my option includes the most laughter out of the three.

Turkeyspray Gobble! Thanksgiving Come on, Pilgrims

Drumsticks

Veteran’s day! My birthday Thanksgiving? Diwali My birthday

BAM BLUGHUE Bluh Black metal Burr

Sand The boat

Q: What is your full name?A: My full name is Julie Winfield.

Q: Where are you from?A: I live in Bloomfield, MI.

Q: How did the name “Mama Bear” begin?A: It was a few years ago. I had this group of kids that were really cool- I liked ‘em a lot and I told ‘em they were like my cubs. They asked me, ‘Does that make you our Mama Bear?’ And that’s where it all started.

Q: Coke or Pepsi?A: I like Pepsi because it lights up your whole mouth.

Q: On a scale of one to ten, how are RHS students?A: Oh my gosh, most of them are pretty good. I’d give ‘em an 8. You’ve always got the 1% that are really whacked out though.

Q: If I took a look inside your fridge, what would I find?A: You would find yogurt, chicken, leftovers; all the regular stuff. Oh, and lots of cheese. Everything’s gotta have cheese.

Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?A: Umm, I would like to have the super power to have everyone love each other. If you’re mean- ZAP, now you’re nice. You’ve got an ugly face- ZAP, you’re smiling. I like love, friendliness and respect.

Q: What is the most memorable moment in your life?A: When I met my husband. Boy, he was the best. Well, he still is, kind of.

Mama Bear

My leg The boat Smoothies

Stuffing MilkPizzaTurkeyGravy

Family dysfunction is Thanksgiving staple4 November 2010

JuniorCaitlyn Kuskowski

FreshmanYousif Kashat

SophomorePete Dauphin

SophomoreKeith Conrad

SeniorSam Johnson

”

“So on the scale of disaster from one to the turkey meat is rancid, my family rates about a four