The Scrivener - University Liggett School

The Scrivener
University Liggett School Journal • Volume 1, Issue 3 • February 2009

Inside This Issue...
Cheated 3
Examining Exam Policy 4
Non-Academic Keys to Success 5
Still Hope for GM 5
Generation Rx 7
The Big Three 8
The Bug That Baffles 9
Digital Messaging 9
Convicted Sex Offenders 10
BCS v Playoff System 11
Worst Team Ever 11
A Tiger’s Roar 12
American Tennis in Decline 13
Where are the Fans 14
Player of the Month 15
Hockey: America’s Sport 16
Memory Paintings Are Art 17
Michigan State Welcomes Thespians 17
Graffiti 18
A Perishable Fruit 19
Slumdog Millionaire Review 19
Beauty in the Breakdown 20
WiFi 22
Records on the Upswing 24
Special Art Feature 25
Fiction: Chapter 1 29
Haiku Battle 30
College Crisis 32
Medical Marijuana 33
Freshmen Discipline 33
Drew’s Haiku 34
Racism, Sexism, Adultism 35
Blake’s Haiku 35
The Paris of the West 36
The Effects of the Recession 37
Gatorade: Alligators Revealed 38
Global Warming: Fact or Fiction 39
Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle 40
Generation Apathy 41
Urban Exploration 42
Executive Editors:
Drew Brophy
Claire Peracchio
Layout Editors:
Drew Amato
Megan Brandon
Jessica Lancaster
Quinn Scillian
News Board:
Clarke Dirksen (Chair)
Alex Boll
Jack Fisher
Marc Hames
Aziz Jan
Cat Vatsis
Literature and Arts Board:
Charlotte Waldmeir (Chair)
Danni Kress
Cristin Mason
Whitney Baubie
Editorial Board:
Kyle Keith (Chair)
Megan Amicucci
Blake Chouinard
Margaret Fitzgerald
Erik Litch
Steven Morris
Pictures:
Jack Fisher
Cover Art:
Jessica Lancaster (front)
Charlotte Waldmeir (back)
Faculty Advisor:
Sam Mock

Yawps!
Cheated
By Claire Peracchio
It seems that we live in a world inundated with cheating.
Whether it transpires in the smoke-filled rooms of the Wall Street
elite or on the shamelessly voyeuristic television show Cheaters,
cheating has become a cultural cliché exploited for its shock value.
Indeed, much of the cheating available for public consumption is
appalling (did I mention Cheaters). Yet, until recently, it seemed
that the fallout for the most visible connoisseurs of deception was
limited to a close encounter with a flying chair on Jerry Springer
or, for the white-collar schemers, a golden parachute inflated by
Uncle Sam.
Yet what happens when cheating occurs on a massive
scale We are bombarded with the headlines of the financial
catastrophe precipitated by this scenario: a government asleep
at the wheel, lenders selling mortgages to people who could not
afford them, people buying homes that they could not afford,
flimsy market regulations circumvented, and villainous stock
brokers dancing like a bunch of drunken teenagers to the beat
of free market capitalism. It just leaves the rest of us feeling, for
lack of a better word, cheated. Though this culture of deception
has lately been cast into an even brighter spotlight, there remains
a legacy of cheating that is closer to home: academic cheating. If
the dire consequences of the economic debacle are any indication,
then the implications of cheating at University Liggett School
may be incredibly grave.
If cheating were an epidemic, then University Liggett
School would be infected. In a community that allegedly values
above all the words “Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness,
and Compassion,” it appears that this critical message is being
lost in translation. When asked offhandedly about the prevalence
of cheating in the Upper School, most students offer a common
refrain, “Everyone does it.” Whether it is simply allowing
another student to copy homework at the last minute or looking
at a friend’s answers to complete a test, many estimate that “over
95%” of students at University Liggett have engaged in some
form of cheating.
University Liggett is not alone in what appears to be
a trend towards academic dishonesty. A 2005 Duke University
survey found that 75 percent of students engage in “serious cheating,”
while the addition of those who admit to more minor cheating,
such as copying homework, causes the percentage to surge to
a staggering 90%. A similar 2002 survey conducted by a Rutgers
University professor found that about half of cheaters do not believe
that their actions are wrong, and many don’t even believe that
copying questions and answers from a test constitutes cheating.
Perhaps the most prominent motivating factor for academic dishonesty
at University Liggett is the heightened pressure to succeed
in a high school environment. Images of parents, teachers, college
admissions officers, and presumably future employers all meld to
create a stress-filled cadre of vocal spectators to one’s high school
performance. Laziness, the perennial vice of high school students,
also plays a part in the cheating epidemic. To many, the time
spent copying answers into a calculator or even etching them onto
one’s leg does not constitute actual work. It appears that if the
act of learning can be entirely divested from academics, then the
stress of actually having to do work dissipates.
Many schools and universities have devised methods
of confronting this onslaught of cheating. The University of
Virginia, United States military academies, and Brigham Young
University have honor codes that maintain strict standards for
student academic integrity and mandate harsh punishments for
any iota of cheating. An honor code would be one avenue for
confronting the academic dishonesty that occurs at University
Liggett. Yet many would argue that if students cannot be trusted
to act with integrity, the responsibility for enforcing standards of
honorable behavior rests with the teachers and administrators who
are present when infractions occur. However, the real solution to
the problem must start with the students who choose to do what
is right regardless of the actions of their peers.
Cheating at University Liggett School represents a
blatant contradiction of every principle that defines the school.
In an educational institution committed to academic excellence,
cheating prevents students from taking advantage of the most
important facet of the high school experience, learning. Cheating
obviates the burden of learning, and those students who cheat
their way through high school will inevitably find themselves
unprepared for a challenging college environment that may have
rigorous standards for academic integrity. Yet possibly the most
serious repercussion of academic dishonesty is that it is a self-perpetuating
phenomenon. Those who cheat in high school are more
likely to do it later in life, and if current events are any indication,
the last thing society needs is more cheaters.
3

Examining the Exam Policy:
Controversy from New Change
While any hope of students changing unpopular
elements of the exam policy was extinguished way before the
first exam began, many people who were complaining about
the policy said after that it was a positive experience. So, The
Scrivener decided that it would focus on the four key points of
the changes exploring both sides of the issue. Written before
the exams, the following is our consideration of each side of
the controversial issue:
The changes to the Upper School exam policy focus
on four key elements: review days, setting, schedule, and dress.
Upper School is ending official “Review Days,” advocating
teachers’ discretion in determining which blend of old and
new material is to be covered after break but before exams. The
setting has been changed from the school’s gymnasium to each
student’s respective classroom for a particular subject. The exam
schedule is now dictated by each course’s letter in the schedule
instead of by subject. Exams will be taken in school dress
instead of free dress as in previous years.
Mr. Cassidy explains that when review days are clearly
defined as “Review Days,” some students come to school with a
different mindset, not treating these days as seriously as normal
school days. Teachers have expressed their frustration before,
but even with the loss of review days, Student Council and
some teachers believe that teachers should not forgo review.
In a letter to Upper School teachers adopted unanimously by
Student Council, the student government body urged teachers,
“individually consider setting aside the last few days of class
before exams for review.” They continued, “If nothing else, we
ask that teachers not give tests or homework unrelated to the
exam during this time.” Though the Council admitted that it
had no power to change academic scheduling, the letter was met
with support from both the faculty and Mr. Cassidy. Even this
letter though has not quelled some students’ fear of a test on
new material the Friday before the exams.
Test-taking comfort and reducing the possibility to
cheat are among the reasons for a change of location for this
year’s midterms. Students have often stated that the buzzing
and crude light provided by the large fluorescent bulbs are disruptive
to concentration. Detractors of this complaint see the
gym setting, though perhaps a bit obnoxious, as almost a Liggett
tradition and something that students are going to need to
get used to in college. As a college-preparatory school, skeptics
Co n s i d e r at i o n s f ro m Ou r Wr i t e r s
argue that Liggett students will be unprepared to take college
exams with a large quantity of people.
Student Council members expressed their fears to
Mr. Cassidy that cheating will be increased when exam taking
is at close proximity. The Head of Upper School argues the
exact opposite explaining that teachers have complained about
the heightened ability to cheat in the gym. But other teachers
recognize that with close proximity comes increased risk of
cheating. Math Department chair David Hartigan explained,
“Taking exams in the gym are the two times each year when I
am virtually certain that none of my students are cheating.” In
the gym, students are spread much farther apart than in classrooms.
Faculty members have privately expressed their exasperations
with the new exam order as well. Instead of separating
exams by subject, this year’s exams are scheduled by class
period. While some students the predicament of AP Biology
and AP Physics on the same day, others see the schedule as
flexible with extra time to study and relax when an exam’s class
period corresponds with a “free period.” Teachers though seem
more inconvenienced by such a schedule. Instead of administering
all of their exams in one sitting, teachers must now come
in on multiple days. There is also the threat that students from
the B period section of the same class from telling answers to
the H period section. Thus, teachers must create multiple tests
of the same material if they teach more than one section of the
same class.
While promoters argue that students perform better
when they are in more professional dress, others see this as
contradictory to the goal of making exams more comfortable.
While many students are disappointed that they will not be
able to sport their favorite sweatpants or jeans, Student Council
sees a more important issue from a switch in exam dress. In two
separate places, the ULS Handbook states that students may
wear free dress on exam days. A new copy of the Handbook
with that change has not yet been created.
Now that we have seen both sides, administrators,
teachers, and students must decide what the smartest way is
going forward to administer each class’s most important assessment.

Non-Academic Keys to Success
By Erik Litch
A successful life is universally desired
For most people, being successful means having a
spotless grade point average, the best test scores, and going
to a prestigious college. Although these attributes certainly
make somebody successful, success is not limited to academic
achievement. Anyone can be successful despite an inability to
obtain high marks in school. Individual success is measured by
the perception of the people around you. Succeeding in the
eyes of others does not always
require immaculate grades.
Appearance, proper conduct,
developing a strong personality,
and taking initiative are simple ways to be successful if
academics are not your strongest feature.
A successful appearance is easy to obtain. Without
much exertion, anyone can have an appearance of success.
Style of dress is often the first observation anyone makes.
The benefits of dressing properly far outweigh the possible
discomfort of wearing suitable clothing. Although sweats and
t-shirts are cozy and warm, they display only laziness and a
lack of concern toward appearance. These comfortable clothes
can certainly be worn at home or in casual situations, but more
proper clothing personifies success in formal situations. Being
well-groomed is also necessary. Messy hair and lackluster hygiene
are unsuccessful qualities. An organized and clean lifestyle
is vital to appearing successful as well. It’s not complicated to
create a routine that keeps your office, home, and car clean.
Simply cleaning up after yourself in these various locations
ensures they retain a tidy and respectable appearance.
The code of conduct to which you hold yourself
directly affects your persona. Success demands strict principles
that guide your actions. To be taken seriously, speak clearly and
with kindness. Engaging in conversations and offering intellectual
viewpoints expresses interest and shows a successful
demeanor. Well-planned and properly presented ideas are the
only kinds that receive serious consideration. Confidence is
seductive in addition to being useful. Speaking with a confident
tone conveys a message strongly and with purpose. Success is
also judged by timeliness. Being on time is essential. Nothing is
more detrimental to success than tardiness.
As stated, perception is crucial to overall success. In
this regard, academic achievement counts for little. Thus, it
is important to develop your personality and demeanor in a
positive fashion. Meeting the right people and creating strong
relationships can help build a successful life. Not to say that
everyone should be a “suck up,” but rather, it is important to
display strength and respect toward superior authorities. In
turn, success is found when people of higher status regard you
as someone who values strength, respect, and hard work. Quick
and decisive thought while working or solving problems can
create this positive attitude. Doing what is asked is vital. Working
through difficult circumstances in order to create a final and
complete product is important in every aspect of life. The struggles
endured to complete grueling tasks are inconsequential in relation
to the overall benefits of hard work.
Personally, I can vouch for anyone who has allowed lethargy
to prevail. However, our success is often judged most critically
in those lazy situations. Taking initiative and being responsible is
crucial to overcoming sluggishness and working through problems.
When we can help ourselves work
though adversity and break down
mental barriers, we are truly successful.
Wasting away in thoughts
of depression and hopelessness does nothing to solve any issue
at hand. Being mature and stepping up to challenges, regardless
of their difficulty, is the first step to surmounting problems and
achieving success.
Although academic achievement certainly does not damage
success level, this does not solely determine success. For both
accomplished and unaccomplished students, there are qualities of
success that have no correlation to academics. A successful life is
universally desired. It is therefore important to strive to for success
and excellence in all aspects of life. In a society that commonly
views academics as a measure of success, the reality is that success
is easily attainable by other means. With some effort, everyone can
achieve success.
Still Hope for GM
By Jack Fisher
The Frost Belt, which is home to the great state of
Michigan, is losing out on business opportunities as people flee
from what appears to be a hopeless situation. Everyone is feeling
the squeeze from the recession at this point, however things
in Michigan are particularly tough as the Automotive Industry
continues to struggle. Judging from the lackluster support for the
bailout in Washington D.C., it seems that the country has lost its
confidence in the American automotive manufacturers. However,
recent developments during the North American International
Auto Show have given hope to General Motors. Tom Walsh, a
business columnist for the Detroit Free Press stated, “GM is
making its first full-blown, organized response to barbs from
Congress that the company is an uncompetitive industrial dinosaur
with overpaid workers who don’t make cars that people want
to buy.” Although the UAW and bondholders might slow GM’s
revamp, things appear to be looking up as GM has invested in a
new technology involving the mass production of hybrid cars.
General Motors has not ruled out the possibility of a
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, but now the company has gained
enough money to make it through the first quarter. Last month,

GM won $9.4 billion in federal loans and is in line to get an additional
$4 billion in February if it negotiates a cost-cutting deal
with the UAW and also reaches a deal with bondholders to lower
its cost of debt. It is crucial that these negotiations happen soon
if GM is to survive. The UAW needs to be ready to compromise
wage and benefit decreases in the interests of the future of the
industry. The union needs to accept its losses now and to be satisfied
with keeping union jobs while the economic crisis unfolds. If
the UAW chooses inflexibility, the disastrous result will be the loss
of jobs and the possible collapse of one of the largest markets in
the country. Speed in negotiations is essential so that GM can view
the Union givebacks to present an accurate value of the company
for bond and equity holders. Once the bondholders are satisfied,
General Motors will be able to stabilize and to secure loans from
the government in order to restructure for the future.
In the complicated process of successfully restructuring,
the solution to the problem lies in the troubled perception
of GM’s brands by the public. The bottom line is that GM is not
focusing on their main brands and is spread too thin. GM vowed
to Congress that it is planning to concentrate on the four core
brands: Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC. Hummer and Saab
are already on the market, and the future of Pontiac and Saturn is
uncertain.
On the upside of GM’s current situation, the company
has introduced the Chevy Volt, which is to be the first massproduced
hybrid in the United States. The Volt is going to be
manufactured in Michigan and may bring many new job opportunities
in the growing battery research and production fields.
When he was asked how GM can afford such an expansion in a
cash-strapped time, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said, “The answer
is we can’t, but we’re doing it anyway. It’s one of the pieces of
our future that we absolutely have to do.” This move is essential
for GM if it is to compete in a global market that is moving in
a green direction. Certainly after many layoffs from shutting
down plants and closing dealerships, the new job opportunities
involving this new technology are key. James Epolito, the
President and CEO of the Michigan Economic and Development
Corp commented on the new Volt project, “This is really
a huge, huge step for the state of Michigan.” This new market
has the potential to create 50,000 direct and indirect jobs over
the next three to five years. That is something Michigan as well
as the entire nation desperately needs. Also, Governor Jennifer
Granholm has remarked that Michigan is looking to offer big
incentives to car battery companies that locate in the state. As
much as $2 billion in aid to the battery industry could be included
in a stimulus package from the Obama Administration.
GM has invested over a billion dollars in the Volt project and is
expecting big results in the years to come.
I’m sure we all want this recession (depression) to
be over immediately, but these predicaments do not just fix
themselves. Sure, the automotive companies are doing all they
can to stay afloat, but they cannot do it all on their own. It
makes me sick to my stomach as I drive around Grosse Pointe
and see foreign cars in the driveways of people who can afford
to buy American. Although the quality of American vehicles
has experienced some bumpy patches, the cars being manufactured
today are the most innovative, reliable, and long-lasting
cars in the world. Go ahead and give America’s auto industry
a strong signal to wake up by purchasing foreign cars, but I
can assure you that it is awake and needs our support. It is still
unclear how the automotive market will fair, however for now a
few glimmers of light are poking through this dark overcast of
economic uncertainty.
6

Generation Rx
By Clarke Dirksen
The history of drugs dates back to the Chinese smoking
opium in the year 1000, and since then, drugs have spread like an
epidemic throughout the world. Drugs became extremely popular
in the United States in the early 1960’s and have been problematic
substances in the lives of many people. When they first hit the
scene, drugs were used for medicinal purposes, however people soon
learned of their potency and addictiveness. Times have changed in
some aspects, but it seems that some things, like drugs, will never
go away.
Each decade has had its own dominant drug, and the new
millennium did not disturb that trend. The drug of choice in the
2000’s is not one solo drug, but a plethora of pharmaceuticals.
Today drug users have managed to make drugs such as Vicodin,
Xanax, and Oxycodone, all pharmaceuticals, into recreational
drugs. Little did they know, these are
some of the most addictive drugs around.
The use of these substances is becoming
a serious problem due to their effects on
an abuser’s life. People will start to do
anything once they become dependent,
and there is little or nothing that they can
do once addiction is reached.
Drugs first really hit the scene
hard in the 1960’s during the “Peace and
Love” phase. Marijuana was around of
course, but that was not the drug that
brought about real problems. LSD, also
known as acid, was the first to bring
about serious complications. Originally created as a cure-all remedy
for a diseases such as schizophrenia and a criminal behavior, acid
became a recreational drug. Everyone began to use acid, and it
became even more popular due to its prevalence among famous
icons such as author Aldous Huxley and the rock band The Beatles.
There is one good thing about LSD: it is not renowned for being
an addictive drug like pharmaceuticals are today. People could take
LSD and not have the craving to take more a few hours from their
previous “trip.” Drugs have always been part of people’s lives, but
the power of the pharmaceuticals that people are taking today is
making drugs a way of life.
Like LSD in the 60’s and cocaine in the 80’s, prescription
painkillers and other pharmaceuticals are proving to be the poster
drug for this decade. The most popular prescription drugs are the
two painkillers, Oxycontin and Vicodin, and the anti-depressant
Xanax. The two common ways that teens get hooked on these
drugs is obvious. They are prescribed and then become dependent,
or they experiment with the drugs socially with the belief that it
will help boost their image in a positive way. They then end up
doing anything to get drugs in their system. Though it is still a
problem when teens are prescribed these drugs and then become
dependent, it is more likely that kids will use these drugs recreationally
and then become addicts. They do not understand the
power that these pills possess. They fail to realize that once they
become dependent, they will no longer be themselves. I firmly
believe the abuse by teenagers of prescription drugs is a major
problem in society because of what it makes them do and who it
turns them into.
My warrant for this belief is supported by the reallife
experience of witnessing two friends become slaves to the
“Almighty Painkillers.” The first victim always had some problems
in his life and was always risk-taker. He had experimented with
marijuana, and as everyone knows, that makes you more vulnerable
to more powerful drugs. He was always someone who cared a
lot about his image, and he decided that taking painkillers would
make him look like a tougher guy. He quickly began to feel the
wrath of these drugs. He cut off all contact with his friends and
was constantly getting high. He was becoming a new person. He
reached his peak when he stole a laptop and a wristwatch from
his best friend, and he was arrested that night and put in jail.
He spent over a month in jail before he was
court-ordered to a rehabilitation institution.
When he came home, everyone thought that
he would be better. He quickly reverted back
to his old ways by getting pills as soon as he
got home, and he was arrested once again for
theft. He is now in rehab again, and it is unknown
if he will ever be the same due to his
irrepressible addiction to pharmaceuticals.
The second victim was a good friend
of the first, and he too cared about his
image. He started taking painkillers with
the first friend in an attempt to impress
him. He quickly got trapped by the power
of these drugs, and from then on, he was
constantly high. He also hit rock bottom when he stole iPods
from his close family friends. He also stole credit cards and made
various purchases towards his addiction. All of the merchandise
that he aquired was taken to a Pawn Shop in exchange for cash to
purchase more pills. Finally, his friends confronted his parents and
made him go to rehab. He went to a rehab institution in Washington
for over three months, and when he got back, he appeared to
be clean as a whistle. It was only a matter of time before he succumbed
to Vicodin and Xanax again, and now no one knows what
the rest of his life will amount to.
I feel so passionately about the problem of pharmaceutical
pill abuse because these two abusers were truthfully smart
and good people. It got to the point where it was not even them
making their own decisions; it was the drugs. They had zero
control of their actions, and they were truly turning into different
people. The changes occurred not because they wanted them to,
but because they could not fight their addictions. The pills take
complete control of your body and mind. Once you try them,
even if you do not intend on making it a habit, watch out, because
you will not be able to make any decision on your own without
the pills will weighing in too.
7

Cars by Detroit
By Clarke Dirksen
Living in Detroit, we are firsthand witnesses to the
deterioration of the Big Three. Due to the economic crisis of the
nation and the fluctuation of oil prices, General Motors, Ford,
and Chrysler are all fighting to survive. Though the bailout’s status
is uncertain, there are many things that are certain, and they do
not have to do with politics. People want fuel-efficient cars, not
gas-guzzlers, and at the same time, these cars should have some
aesthetic appeal and solid reliability. It is true that everybody loves
a big American truck, but with these tough times, does everybody
have the resources to continue to feed their 11 MPG (city) trucks
The Big Three should learn from these rough times that they cannot
continue to sell products that are inefficient, and they should
be focusing on strengthening their fuel-efficient cars and hybrids.
Generally, people end up buying cars that are inefficient
because they are well designed. Let’s face it, most fuel-efficient cars
are truly lacking in the design department. Why If people want
nice-looking cars and also want efficient cars, is it not logical to
combine the two A company who has been doing a good job of
this recently is Cadillac. Its new models of CTS and STS are very
sharp cars and also are stepping up in the fuel department. According
to two Consumer Report journalists and drivers, the new
CTS “will certainly not leave its owner disappointed.” Chevrolet
has also put out a new model of the Malibu, and it too has a
nice combination of efficiency and design. Its new design is far
superior to that of the previous model, and it is getting 22 MPG.
The Malibu has won many awards, including the J.D. Power and
Associates “2008 Highest Ranked Midsize Car in Initial Quality,”
the 2008 North American Car of the Year at the North American
Auto Show, and 2008 Car of the Year by the Detroit Free Press.
Chevrolet has also made a hybrid model of the Malibu, and it too
is being praised. There are a few miniscule complaints about the
car, but for the most part it has had solid reviews with compliments
on its interior design, handling, and the engine’s power.
General Motors is trying to make strides in the right direction. If
it continues to manufacture cars like the CTS and the Malibu and
to cut down the production of big, inefficient trucks, GM will sell
more cars.
With General Motors working hard to move up the
scale, Ford is trying to match, if not outperform, its cross-town
rival. The Fusion gets a solid 20 city miles to the gallon and has
been complimented on both its interior and exterior designs. The
biggest positive about the Fusion is its relentless reliability. It was
also the rated the number one midsize car in safety and beat out
the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry according to Consumer Reports.
In spring 2009, Ford is putting out a Fusion Hybrid, which
could be one of Ford’s top-sellers. The Fusion Hybrid is supposed
to be priced at $27,250, which is pretty good, considering its fuel
range of 41 city miles per gallon makes it the most fuel-efficient
mid-sized sedan. People want Hybrids, people want high miles
per gallon, and the Fusion Hybrid will deliver that. Ford has also
recently redesigned their popular Mustang, not that it was not
appealing before. It gets around 17 city miles per gallon, which is
not too much to complain about considering the V8 engine. One
setback about this vehicle is that Consumer Reports claim that its
reliability is barely average. Many people rank a car’s reliability as
their number one priority when purchasing an automobile, and
thus, low reliability could result in low car sales. One large mistake
Ford did make is changing their Ford 500, a car that sold very well,
into the Taurus. The Taurus is receiving many complaints about its
highway mileage and its overall appearance. Ford has now decided
to remodel the Taurus, and its engineering is supposed to be superior.
Ford must continue to pump out their best selling products
such as the Fusion, and I am sure that the new Hybrid and new
Taurus will really help them sell more cars.
If you have been aware of cars in the past couple of years,
it is no surprise that Chrysler’s most popular car is the 300. It is
such a hit due to its flashy looks that cause you to take another
look and say “is that design really American” The powerful V6
engine gets 18 city MPG, which is not bad for the car’s midrange
size. Its reviews are phenomenal, and consumers rave about the
car’s design and how much they love driving the car. The 300’s
crash test scores are among the highest for midrange cars, and it
also has all-wheel drive. Chrysler is also putting out a hybrid in
2009, but it is a SUV. Chrysler has created an Aspen Hybrid, and
it gets 20 city miles per gallon, which is a lot for a big SUV. This
car should be extremely popular, considering that people want
trucks, and now there is a grand synergy between truck design and
fuel-efficiency. Chrysler needs to continue to design cars like the
300 and the Aspen Hybrid because they have proved style mixed
with efficiency will sell.
It is imperative for the Big Three to cut down on the
production of large gas-guzzling trucks such as the Trailblazer SS,
which only gets a measly 12 city miles per gallon. I know gas prices
are no longer hovering around four dollars a gallon, but reliable
sources say that it should not be long before they are right back
up there. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler need to increase
production of small, fuel-efficient cars, and to start producing
hybrids. Gas-guzzling trucks are no longer wanted, and car companies
need to go back to the basics by mixing style with efficiency.
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

The Bug That Baffles
By Megan Amicucci
It’s not unusual for the number of outbreaks of flu and
other viruses to be high this time of year. It is, after all, called
the “flu season.” But one particular strain has got officials in
the Anytown USA high school baffled.
Since the start of the school year, absences have been
reported in unusually high numbers, sporadically, and at times
popping up without warning in the middle of the school day.
Last Wednesday, for instance, four students in Mr.
Wordsmith’s AP English class each called in with the virus on
the same day. Asked if he had any insight into the matter, Mr.
Wordsmith replied, “It’s flu season. I suppose, we can expect
kids to get the flu.” He then added in a dubious tone, “I’m
quite sure it had nothing to do with the Shakespeare final our
class was taking that day.”
Or did it A similar situation occurred just two days
later in Mrs. Green’s environmental class when two of her
students never made it to their fourth hour and were unable to
turn in their term papers. “It was the strangest thing,” said Mrs.
Green. “I saw the students in the morning and they seemed
perfectly fine.” Even stranger, the two students appeared miraculously
to recover in time to attend their basketball games and
play practices that evening.
In fact, not only does the virus seem to posses the
strange ability to rear its head on days of big tests and come-due
papers, it’s characterized by other peculiarities as well.
It c a n at ta c k s u d d e n ly. So sudden, say students, that
there is often no time to let parents know. “Against my better
judgement, I was forced to have a friend call in posing in as my
Digital Messaging
By Erik Litch
Originating in the 1990's, the use of messaging through cell
phones and computer programs has flourished into an everyday craze.
A technology that seemed unreachable only fifteen years ago is now
a common accessory for nearly every teen and adult. People are only
a phone text or instant message away at all times. However, are these
advancements completely beneficial Could there be negative repercussions
for the countless hours spent at computers or using cell phones
It is possible that these modern luxuries are simply convenient tools
that reduce daily hassle and improve the efficiency of society.
Aside from simple conversation, texting has other valuable
uses. Communication, for business or pleasure, is made effortless.
Worldwide relationships can exist with ease. An e-mail or text message
can travel vast expanses in a matter of seconds. This enables friends
and family to interact on a daily basis even if they do not live near
one another. In certain situations, messaging creates a barrier during
conversation. It allows people to go out on a limb and to say something
they would not normally say without having to worry about a
mom,” says B.S. Disher. “Normally I prefer to keep my parents
informed of all my goings-on.”
It c a n s t r i k e in t h e s a m e p l ac e t w ic e . Skip Offen,
a junior, has already come down with the strange flu seven
times this semester alone–on three occasions for only an hour
at a time. “The thing I feel sickest about,” says Skip, “is that I’ll
never be able to recover that lost quality education time.”
It d o e s n’t g e t everybody. In fact, A few, like Sara
Dogooder, have managed to escape the bug altogether. (Unfortunately,
due to her studies, Dogooder was unavailable for
comment.) What’s more, teachers also seem to be unaffected by
the virus despite their daily close proximity to students.
It c a n be t r a n s m i t t e d electronically. After receiving
a text message shortly before C period, Anita Break became
suddenly ill and was forced go home. Curiously, a pop quiz was
scheduled for C period that day.
But among all the unusual tendencies of this virus, one
in particular stands out. It appears to have the uncanny ability to
pick and choose the days of the week when it wants to strike. Inexplicably,
occurrences thus far have been limited to the five-day
school week–with not one case yet reported on a Friday night or
over the weekend.
potentially irritating verbal reaction. Texting reduces vulnerability and
eases the tension of verbal conversation. This encourages people to
stretch their boundaries of communication.
The seductive allure of constant contact with friends can
be felt by all. However, succumbing to the addiction of texting and
messaging could be detrimental. These technological developments
have the potential to eliminate verbal communication in society. One
on one communication is essential to developing interpersonal skills
that are important in defining character. Lethargy motivates the use of
digital messengers. They represent an escape from quick and witty conversations
that are difficult, but necessary to practice. Excess thought
and planning is put into text messages, which makes them unoriginal
and less meaningful. There is no substitute for the benefits of verbal
conversation.
It is undeniable that technological advancements are crucial
to a functioning society. However, it is important to use these modern
day luxuries with discretion. The joy and simplicity of these messengers
makes them addictive. If used improperly, they eliminate necessary
interactions with people that cannot happen through a cell phone
or computer. We must take responsibility when using these devices and
realize the negative effects they could cause.
9

Convicted Sex Offenders
By Alex Boll
Allegedly, a half a million registered sex offenders reside
in the United States, and according to the national alert registry,
100,000 of the registered sex offenders are missing. Most pedophiles
will commit 117 sex crimes in their lifetime. According to
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, among child molesters released
from prison in 1994, 60% had been in prison for molesting a child
13 years of age or younger. These statistics are shocking and flatout
sickening. Something has to be done to decrease the number
of sex crimes committed. At the federal, state and local levels, laws
have been enacted to regulate the punishment, supervision, and
treatment of convicted sex offenders. These laws create registration
and notification requirements, residency restrictions, and civil
commitment. Action was first taken in 1994 to lower sex crime
rates. The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually
Violent Offender Registration Act requires states to implement a
sex offender registration program, which was amended by Megan’s
Law in 1996 to include a community notification system. Megan’s
Law came into effect after an 11 year old girl named Megan was
raped and killed by a sex offender who lived down the street from
her. Following the enforcement of Megan’s Law, the Pam Lychner
Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act was passed, and it
mandated lifetime registration for recurring and serious pedophiles.
Recent initiatives have proposed zoning laws for sex offenders, and
these laws would prevent sex offenders from living too close to a
school or park. Sexual violence has always, and will persistently be
a serious social problem in society unless the public and lawmakers
develop a way to lower the number of sex crimes. According to the
National Center for Violent Crimes 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys at
some point in their childhood will be sexually abused.
Current laws and punishment do not seem to be decreasing
the number of sex crimes committed. When a sex offender
is convicted of a crime, the majority of the time they go to jail.
Although most sex offenders target children, they can still commit
sex crimes in jail, just not towards children. Being locked in
jail for years just creates anticipation and craving for children that
influences the behavior of sex offenders when they are released. A
majority of sex offenders released from jail will commit another
sex crime in the 3 year period after being released.
Based on these statistics, there is no doubt that something
else needs to be done to lower the number of sex crimes committed.
A sex offender registration system and a community notification
system is a great start, but more laws need to be put in place.
States like California and Iowa have suggested chemically castrating
sex offenders. This may sound like an abrasive and unacceptable
punishment, but it is nothing compared to the damage of raping a
young girl or boy. In order to retard an offender’s sex drive, a shot
of Depro-vera monthly will calm their sexual desires by lowering
their amount of testosterone. Along with the administration of
Depro-vera, a tracking device should be attached to the convicted
offender that will alert the cops if they come within a certain range
of a school or playground. Current laws state that a sex offender
can’t live within a thousand feet of a school, but this doesn’t
restrict them from walking to the school. A Global Positioning
System on the other hand would protect the children-filled areas
that are easily targeted. Even with chemical castration and a GPS
system, it is still impossible to prevent the offender from striking
again. If these punishments don’t keep them from stopping I
believe things need to be taken to the extreme for repeated offenders.
This includes wearing a visible bracelet at all times that
allows the public to see that this person is dangerous.
The rebuttal to this argument is that the sex offender
will be scrutinized and possibly emotionally or physically hurt by
the public. Whatever is done to the offender would not compare
to the physical and mental damage that the victims have to deal
with throughout their life. The majority of those who have been
the victim of a sex crime will suffer a range of psychological and
behavioral problems. This includes depression, anxiety, guilt,
fear, sexual dysfunction, flashbacks, withdrawal, and acting out.
The pain and scarring that is a result of a sex crime will never go
away. Most victims have stated that effects of a crime incurred in
childhood still remain at the adult level.
Sex crimes are the most recurring crime out of all
crimes committed in the United States. Punishing their attackers
helps victims find closure and calm their fear that their perpetrator
will attack again. Citizens will experience ease knowing
these criminals are less threatening after certain precautions are
enforced.
The Views and Opinions Expressed by
Scrivener journalists are not necessarily
those of University Liggett School, the editors,
the English Department, other writers,
or the faculty advisor.
We welcome letters to the editor and any
type of submission, but we cannot guarentee
its publication. It may also be edited for
length or content.
If you are interested in submitting an article
for The Scrivener, please contact Mr. Mock
by e-mail at smock@uls.org or see him in
room 202.

With the United States in the middle of a recession that
has the country feeling like it is on life support, one would think
college football would not be brought up in Senate hearings. Well,
think again. While senators were battling a proposed bailout for
the Detroit Three, some individuals had the audacity to propose a
bailout for the BCS system. I truly believe that if a strong playoff
system is not achieved, the Taliban will win. It does not matter if
unemployment is at the highest point in the last 27 years, it means
nothing as long as we are still using a computer to determine
which teams are the best in college football. How can a machine
that lacks significant intelligence compute the two best out of 119
teams
Going into the last weekend of August, each team has an
equal chance of achieving their dream. That’s a .8% chance for every
team. But, if you know anything about college football, you can
easily eliminate over 100 teams before the first kickoff. What happend
to letting the field of play determine the best teams in college
football Statistics and numbers don’t judge the heart and soul of
a team; they are merely a correlation between success and failure.
Maybe, Americans should not vote on the next president of the
United States and let a computer decide what is best for America.
My animosity towards the BCS is shared by many others. BCS supporters
make the claim that because of the current system in place,
every game acts as if each team is on the brink of elimination, and
every game carries the significance of a do-or-die mindset. Every
team that has their mind on reaching the National Championship
will play just as hard week in and week out no matter what
system is being used, therefore that argument is null. If a team has
a will to succeed, you will not see that team play lackadaisically no
matter who their opponent is. There is a plethora of examples that
support why the BCS has been a liability to college football. The
most recent and evident example of how the BCS has robbed us of
a true national championship is this year’s championship. We’re all
aware that Florida defeated Oklahoma in the National Championship.
But, the important question is whether or not Oklahoma
deserved to be there in the first place, and so let’s ask Texas what
they think. Back on October 11, Texas faced off against then #1
Oklahoma and won the battle 45-35. Technically, it was played on
a neutral field, but I’m not sure how neutral it actually was considering
that the game was played in Austin.
Here is where things get tricky. Not even a month later,
the Longhorns traveled to Lubbock to play the Texas Tech Raiders,
who were undefeated at the time. No one was prepared for
what was about to take place. To the surprise of many, Texas Tech
Sports
BCS vs. Playoff System
By Marc Hames
won the game on a last-second touchdown, and for the first time in
school history, it became the #1 team in the country. Now, Texas,
Texas Tech, and Oklahoma each had one loss. Down the stretch,
Texas Tech faltered, which paved the way for an interesting finish
to the season. Oklahoma and Texas each had one loss. Texas
beat Oklahoma, but Oklahoma beat Texas Tech, who beat Texas. It
became a lot like a love triangle. In the end, the computer gave the
nation Florida and Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship.
Everything was sorted out, right Not quite. I forgot to mention
the Utah Utes. Utah ran the table to a 12-0 record. Yet, they were
not even considered for a spot in the National Championship.
Throughout the season, they beat two ranked teams as well as a
skilled Oregon State team. Unfortunately they play in the Mountain
West Conference. Their chances at a National Championship
were over before the season began, thanks to the BCS. The fact is
that it is nearly impossible for a team outside a major conference
even to be mentioned in National Championship talks. A playoff
system would allow for anyone to have a chance to compete for
the title. Let the playing on the field do the talking, not a piece of
technology.
The Worst Team Ever
By Aziz Jan
Well it's done, the season is over and the Lions are the
first team in NFL history to go 0-16. Nobody wanted this to
happen, but it did, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
For people who sit in the stands screaming and chanting, "0-16,
that’s our perfect season," how do you think the players feel
They're part of a team that has lost 23 of their last 24 games,
and they play football for a living. I don't think anybody who
is or was a part of that team wanted to lose every game. The
franchise as whole is hoping to move forward from this imperfect
season, and surprisingly they are doing a good job at it.
When people look at their record from the 2008 regular season,
all that they will see are sixteen losses, but they won't realize
that this was the season that turned the Detroit Lions franchise
around.
The Lions fired their president Matt Millen. He took
one of the most mediocre teams in the NFL and managed to
make it worse. The Lions won a league-low 31 games since he
took over in 2001, and it's clearly evident that they have not
continued on Page 15

A Tiger’s Roar: A Profile of a Legend
By Kyle Keith
For over a decade the word “athlete” has been inevitably embodied
by one, 6’1” 185 lb., 400 lb. bench-pressing man, and I mean
man. No, it’s not an NFL safety, an NHL defenseman, or an NBA
point guard. It’s a golfer, a long hitting, charismatic, unstoppable
athlete of a golfer. He quiets those who see golf as no more than a
hobby, and riles up those who view it as the world’s best sport, but
there is one thing all his critics and worshippers have in common:
they respect the hell out of him. It’s Tiger Woods. Woods has been
a dominant presence in golf since 1997 when he won the Master’s
Tournament by a record 12 strokes. Ever since, the mere mention
of his name has sent shivers down the spines of his opponents.
This intimidation is more than just because Tiger Woods is the
greatest golfer of all time.
The Jack Nicklaus vs. Tiger Woods argument has been going on
for some time now. Both sides have their cases, but it’s hard to argue
with numbers. While Nicklaus holds the very prestigious record
for most Major Championship wins (18) Woods, 33, has plenty
of time to catch him. Nicklaus tallied his 18th major at the age of
46, and if Tiger remains on this torrid pace, he will decimate that
record. Tiger is also just 9 wins shy of passing Jack in PGA Tour
wins, another record he is on pace to break.
One would think that with these stats, there wouldn’t even be an
argument; everyone would concede that Tiger is the best ever, and
we could all go home and watch Friends, but Jack’s followers aren’t
so quick to jump on the Tiger bandwagon. Golf is considered
to be a gentleman’s game that is played with class and respect for
one’s opponent. Jack followed this to a tee (pun intended).
Not only was Jack the perfect gentleman, but luckily for his
fans, Tiger hasn’t always been. He curses, spits, and throws temper
tantrums, and that’s just on the course. He is often criticized for
whining and pouting. This behavior can be perceived one of two
ways: childish and disrespectful, or as a clear depiction of Tiger’s
true passion for golf and for winning.
Golf is a sport. A sport is something that is played competitively.
Tiger is an athlete and a competitor. Whenever he hits a bad
shot, he may curse or slam his club, but it’s because he knows that
to win, he can’t afford to falter. It’s not that Tiger loves winning;
it’s that he hates losing with every fiber of his being.
He has shown this hatred many times by giving losing not even
a glimmer of daylight through which to rear its head. When Tiger
wins, he does it in one of two ways: dramatically, or with dominance.
After the 2008 U.S. Open, however, he showed a third style:
dramatically dominating.
It was perhaps the single greatest individual performance in
the history of sports. Woods won the U.S. Open, the most difficult
golf tournament in the world and a tournament that he
won in 2002 by a record 15 strokes, on one leg. With a torn ACL
and stress fracture in his right leg, just walking the longest course
in Open history, Torrey Pines, should have been enough to make
Tiger quit. Over the five day stretch, Tiger walked, rather, hobbled,
nearly 22 miles, sometimes utilizing his club as a cane.
If the hike wasn’t enough, his swing should have been. Tiger is
renowned for generating obscene amounts of torque in his swing,
and this is what caused his injury in the first place. But Tiger
persevered, and after 91 grueling holes, he was crowned the 108th
U.S. Open Champion. Even Tiger called it ““My greatest ever
championship…”
Jack deserves respect, there’s no doubt about that, but when
Jack was in his prime, no one was afraid that he would drive the
competitive spirit out of golf like they were with Tiger. Augusta
National, the most prestigious golf course in the world, never
renovated their course to make it harder for Jack. PGA Tour
courses weren’t “Jack-proofed.”
Let’s face it, Jack Nicklaus couldn’t bench press 400 lbs.

Is American Tennis in Decline
By Cat Vatsis
Pete Sampras. Andre Agassi. John McEnroe. Jimmy
Connors. Billie Jean King. Only a short time ago, the tennis world
was dominated by these and other phenomenons. But what is even
more phenomenal was that these tennis champions were American
born and bred. This was an outstanding era of dominance in
a highly competitive international sport. In recent years though,
there has been a noticeable absence of premier American tennis
players.
One may ask: Why is the tennis world now increasingly
dominated by foreign players when American players once had
unquestioned supremacy in this sport Have American players lost
interest in this sport Have foreign players worked harder Do foreigners
possess some unknown competitive quality that Americans
do not have Do their home countries fund their tennis career Are
Americans relying on their past laurels On the IMG Academies
website, Nick Bollettieri, one of the greatest tennis coaches of all
time, sees evidence supporting a decline in American tennis. “Pete
Sampras said it will be five, 10, 15 years maybe never will we see
the likes of Agassi, Sampras… One of the reasons is that, now,
we’re playing against the whole world. You have Russia, China,
India, you have Korea, the third-world countries, you have South
America, you have Portugal, you have Spain. It’s the whole damn
world playing now.”
As we search for answers, we must first look to the past.
Pete Sampras holds a record of 14 Grand Slam Titles, which is
the most in the history of the game. Presently, only one player,
the Swiss champion Roger Federer, trails behind with an astounding
13 Grand Slam Titles. Two other American players that were
ranked number one were Andre Agassi and John McEnroe, who
held eight and seven Grand Slam Titles respectively. Jimmy Connors
also won many titles and was ranked number one for over
three years. Billie Jean King, possibly the most outstanding female
tennis player in history, held 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16
Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed
doubles titles. These players made tennis what it is today. They
brought passion, intensity, and a love for the game to their fellow
players and the public.
Today though, there is an obvious lack of superior American
players. Using the men’s U.S. Open statistics from 1985 as a
starting point, 16 foreign players and only eight American players
won this Grand Slam Event. In an era spanning for 104 years from
1881 to 1984, a grand total of only 27 foreign men won this title.
A review of the corresponding data for women’s tennis demonstrates
a similar pattern. From 1985 to the present, 18 foreign
female players and only six American female players won the title.
Again, for the 104 years of U.S. Open history prior to 1985, only
20 foreign players won the title. Even a review of the 2008 U.S.
Open Tennis Calendar shows a preoccupation with foreign tennis
players. Nearly 75% of the players featured therein were from other
nations. On a lesser scale, according to an article written on May
14, 2003 in USA Today, 63 of the top 100 male collegiate tennis
players are foreign and 47 of the top 100 female collegiate players
are foreign. This startling statistic provides even more evidence of
the decline in American tennis supremacy. Even at the college level,
many coaches indicate that the only way to attain a winning team is
to recruit foreign-born tennis players, according to the USA Today
article. Only one of the top 10 junior male tennis players is American.
Moreover, only two of the top 10 junior female tennis players
are American. Even at the prestigious Bollettieri Tennis Academy
in Bradenton, Florida there is a predominance of foreign-born
alumni. It appears that at all levels of tennis, the American players
are losing supremacy to the foreign-born players.
According to Zeljka Minic, a young female Croatian tennis
player recruited by the University of Detroit Mercy team and
recently interviewed for this article, American tennis is in decline.
She indicated that foreign players view tennis differently than
Americans. Her belief is that American tennis players are more
content and complacent than foreign players. She commented that
when she was growing up in Croatia she did not have the material
advances that are evident in American society. For instance,
she emphasized that her strong ambition and sense of urgency
transformed her into an excellent tennis player. Her intensity won
her a full scholarship to this local university. She questioned the
motivation and dedication of many young American players. Ms.
Minic concluded that her success, along with other foreign success,
can be attributed to the strong sense of ambition and a desire for
achievement. Furthermore, her perspective is reflected by other
commentators on the subject.
It is important to recognize that not all critics agree that
American tennis has hit a low point. James Blake, a prominent
American tennis player, differs. When interviewed on this topic in
2007, he stated, “ I like the way American tennis is looking right
now…American tennis fans are a little spoilt (sic). Agassi, Courier,
Sampras, Connors- that’s the best generation of tennis players
from one country ever. They’re so used to having an American in a

Grand Slam or masters final every time and it’s tough to compete
with that.” Mr. Blake further commented that global tennis
competition is rapidly improving from prior generations and is
making it harder for Americans to maintain their dominance. But
rather than Americans players being in decline, he thinks that
foreign players are simply improving.
In order to retain its supremacy, American tennis has to
become more accessible to all Americans. This can occur in many
ways. In order to expand the popularity of tennis, it is important
that there is greater participation by young people. This can be
accomplished by providing more opportunities and facilities to
play the game. For instance, in most large cities in America, there
are many vacant lots that can easily be transformed, not only into
basketball courts and baseball and football fields, but also into
tennis courts. City governments can encourage this transformation
by coordinating neighborhood volunteer and community
groups at little or no cost.
Elementary, high school, and college programs
should emphasize competition in sports, and particularly
tennis. Students at each of these levels should be encouraged
to play tennis on a regular basis and to join tennis teams in
the community and at school. Parents, school administrators,
and coaches alike should encourage and motivate tennis
players to practice, play competitively, and they should
instill a desire to succeed. These values can also carry over
to all aspects of life. If these recommendations are adopted,
interest in tennis will be expanded, and American tennis will
maintain high standards and dominate once again.
14
Where Are the Fans
By Drew Amato
When you think of rivalry, you picture an abundance
of fans, heckling camaraderie, and a massive bloodthirsty battle.
However, when the oldest rivalry in Michigan high school hockey
met for the 57th time, the action-packed, sudden-death overtime
game was less significant than it sounded, because there were
very few home team fans in the crowd. With less than a handful
of fans in the student section, players would be discouraged for
any game, but when it is one of the most important games of
the season, empty bleachers have extra meaning. People should
not feel obligated to attend every game, but students should feel
that it is necessary to attend sporting events and to cheer on
their team in order to have a true high school experience.
I remember back as a freshman on the varsity hockey
team that the home opener had students wrapped all the way
around the side of our rink. The loud noises and repeated
cheering affected the mentality of the players on the ice. We
were “pumped up” in the locker room, and this led the team
to play better. Fans encourage players to play better, and fans
get a renewed sense of pride from supporting their school. It
gives a team something to play for aside from the raw desire
to win. With our enrollment continuing to rise, why has the
fan base diminished Students should realize that they need to
make the most of their experience at ULS by attending school
functions. It is something that needs to be done for the future
of the school’s athletic program. Nothing
is better than making a big hit or scoring
the important goal that makes the home
crowd erupt in joy.
Sporting events are not the only
thing that needs rejuvenating here at ULS,
but students just don’t seem to have the
same school pride that other students do
at places like De La Salle. When visitors
come to visit ULS, they are impressed by
students that take pride in their school
colors. If the Liggett community puts
forth a little more effort to enhance
Liggett athletics by attending events and
cheering on our team, the teams will continue
to perform at their best. Supporting
friends and peers is only as fun as the
people who do it, and helping the Liggett
sports teams win is never a waste of time.

Player of the Month:
Janaya Gripper
Each month, The Scrivener selects one athlete to be that issue’s
player of the month. This issue we have selected standout varsity girl’s
hockey goalie, Janaya Gripper. Janaya has been a big part of the team’s
success this year by keeping them safe in close games and allowing them
to focus on a strong offense. Some of her notable games include shutouts
against Andover and DCDS. She also kept us in a very exciting
close game against the former state champions, Grosse Pointe South,
and her efforts made it a two-goal game.
Ho w l o n g h av e yo u been p l ay i n g h o c k e y
My first year playing was in 9th grade.
Wh at o t h e r s p o rt s d o yo u p l ay
I’m a field hockey goalie and I will be playing soccer for my first time
this year.
Wh o h a s helped yo u s u c c e e d a s a g o a l i e
Freshman and sophomore year I had a good goalie coach, Koalie, and
now I have a new one named Jane.
Wh at i n t e r e s t e d yo u in t h e s p o rt a n d s p e c i f i c a l ly t h e g o a l i e
p o s i t i o n
The girl’s team needed more players, and I didn’t have anything else to
do, so I joined the team. I played goalie because Alex Boll dislocated
her shoulder, and it was better for me because I didn’t know how to
skate.
Wh at h o n o r s h av e yo u received t h u s fa r
Although I haven’t been captain of any sports, I’ve gotten MIP for
Lions Continued
continued from Page 11
gotten any better. The tipping point might have been public
comments made by the owner's son, Bill Ford Jr., "I would
fire Millen if I had the authority…I think the fans deserve
better." The Lions have been trying to "rebuild" their
franchise for years, and for the first time, they took a giant
step in the right direction. Matt Millen has sadly been the
face of the franchise for too long, and now that he's gone,
the Lions need a new one. Rod Marinelli has coached the
Lions to an NFC worst 10-41 since taking the job in 2006,
and he was rightfully fired. When the Lions took the field,
they seemed lifeless and uninspired, and it seemed necessary
to clean house and to get rid of that "loser" mentality. They
need a defense-oriented coach who will be assertive enough
to pull the players aside and to get in their faces when they
underperform. And to my surprise, the Lions have already
interviewed six candidates, most of whom are currently
defensive coordinators, for the head coaching position. The
Janaya Gripper ‘09
hockey, softball, and basketball sophomore year, and junior
year I received MVP for field hockey.
Wh at a r e yo u r g o a l s f o r t h i s y e a r
To steadily improve as we have been doing, and to be good
enough to maybe go as far as the state finals.
Wh at is yo u r best m e m o ry f ro m h o c k e y
Our first talent show dance.
fact that they are taking their time to make this decision shows
that they truly do care about this franchise. Roy Williams is a very
talented wide receiver, but his numbers were down this season, and
he was in the final year of his contract with the Lion's franchise, so
trading him was the right decision. The Lions traded the pro-bowl
wide-out to the Dallas Cowboys for their first, third and sixth
round picks for this year’s upcoming draft. Not only was this a
more beneficial trade for the Lions to begin with, but the Cowboys
finished the regular season 9-7, thus giving the Lions two toptwenty
first round draft picks. Because Millen is gone, it is unlikely
that they will waste their picks on wide recievers or "quarterbacks
for the team's future." After all, no one had much use for Joey
Harrington, Charlie Batch, Michael Williams, and Charles Rogers.
No one knows what will happen during the 2009 season.
It is unlikely that they will go 0-16 again next season or that each
of their draft picks will have an immediate impact on the field, but
for once the Lions front office has proven that they truly want to
rebuild the franchise. Hopefully they have learned from their mistakes,
and fans will learn to be more patient and optimistic because
at this point, there is nowhere to go but up.
15

Hockey: America’s Sport
By Drew Amato
As long as I’ve paid attention to sports, everyone from
analysts to my closest friends and family members has been talking
primarily about football, baseball, and occasionally basketball. All
I would talk about was the bone crushing hits and graceful dekes
that hockey had to offer. Not until recently have people been appreciating
the amazing sport of hockey, and it is finally getting the
recognition that it deserves. In the past, many people have looked at
hockey harshly, calling it a sport comprised of a bunch of high-paid
thugs who go out and hit each other as hard as they can, but I really
can’t blame these people. I mean, what other sport can you drop
your gloves and punch a guy square in the face and only sit out for 5
minutes, then go back and do it again. Hockey has been the toughest
sport out there since 1917 when the league was founded, and
back then the goalies didn’t even wear helmets. The question that
arose to Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the NHL, was: How do
you turn such a rough sport into one more pleasing for the viewers
He couldn’t take the rough part away or else there would be a new
fan base, so he did what he could and improvements have been seen
ever since he was hired. These exponential improvements make a
person wonder if the NHL could ever be America’s league.
When Gary Bettman was hired in 1993, the NHL only
brought in a mere $400 million in revenue, but in the 2007-2008
season it generated a revenue of $2.4 billion. Comparatively, the
NBA brought in 3.57 billion, the MLB earned 6.08 billion, and the
NFL generated 6.54 billion. The National Hockey League is not
far away from its competitors with all things considered. Although
there is much controversy around Bettman including criticisms that
he is trying to “Americanize” the sport, I believe that we can
attribute all of the NHL’s success directly to him. This huge
jump didn’t just magically happen because people decided to
turn on their local sports channel and discovered a passion for
hockey. It happened because Bettman consciously changed the
sport by adding features that appeal to everyone.
The NHL came to a tough point in 2004 when teams
were losing money because the players took more than the teams
received. Bettman was forced to call the 2004-05 season off,
and players had to figure out another way to play hockey. This
was only thinking time for Bettman and his crew. They came
up with rules including a shootout after one overtime instead of
a tie, restrictions for the goalie to freeze the puck, and perhaps
one of the most important changes, the new restrictions on
interference. This greatly renewed the physical aspect of the
sport. These rules allowed a faster game play and room for
more precision players, like Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red
Wings and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, to shine.
These players are the ones who offer the dazzling dangles and
snipes that you see on ESPN’s top 10 and all over YouTube.
This style of play got the ball rolling for the NHL. To add
even more fun for a casual viewer, the league established its
“Winter Classic,” an outdoor game held once a year on New
Years Day. The first ever classic was held at Ralph Wilson
Stadium, home to the Buffalo Bills. It was between the Pittsburg
Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. The 71,217 eager fans
couldn’t have asked for a better ending as the young phenom,
Sidney Crosby of the Penguins, won the game in a shootout.
The Winter Classic kept its hopes up of remaining an annual
event as Wrigley Field was packed, but to only watch their home
team, The Chicago Blackhawks, get punished by the defending
Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.
Bettman has done his part, and the NHL is in its
golden age right now. Other than Bettman, the NHL has also
been fortunate to get young talent in recent years to take on a
new face for the NHL. Sidney Crosby has been the backbone
of this whole process, and he has been promoted by the league
to be every young viewer’s idol and the one who makes the plays
that people watch all over the world. He has brought a new feel
to this league with his young talent, and he is a new reason for
parents to let their kids play the sport. Other young franchise
players include Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin, Chicago’s
Patrick Kane and Jonathon Toews, Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin,
and Los Angeles’s Anze Kopitar.
The NHL is starting to recruit new fans, and every
year people love hockey more and more. Although baseball is
renowned for being America’s sport, if this trend continues,
who knows what else this amazing league will have in store for
the new viewers in years to come.

wherefore Arts thou
Memory Paintings
Are Art
By Steven Morris
You may remember a past art exhibit that was
completely unlike any other. The art was created by Theresa
J. Herron, who lived in Michigan and went to Wayne State
University. Her paintings are rather plain, and because of
this, they have been the objects of such criticism as "red
paint must have been on sale." Behind the simplicity of the
“Memories,” there is a deeper meaning that confers artistic
value.
The series of Memory paintings have meaning that
goes beyond "just red paint slapped on a canvas." These
were painted one year after her father died, and they have
a significant amount of emotion in them. The series of
paintings have feeling and are an expression of the artist’s
experiences. It may be hard to understand the theme of the
Michigan State Welcomes Thespians
Last month, the ULS players traveled to
Michigan State to attend the Michigan Thespian
Festival. Each year, the students prepare selections
for a performance in December. There are many
categories in which you can compete such as: solo
musical theatre, duet musical theatre, group musical
theatre, monologues, duet acting, solo dance, duet
dancing, set and design, costume design, and technical
directing. You are judged on a scale by: Superior,
Excellent, Good, Poor, and Fair. If you receive a
Superior, you are qualified to travel to Nebraska for
International Thespian Festival in June.
This year we had many students compete
and place in all top three categories. Quinn Scillian
received a Superior for her solo musical theatre
performance. Matching her in a Superior rating
were: Manny Baker, Camille Langston, and Janine
Puleo, who performed “By My Side” from Godspell.
Jessica Lancaster received another Superior for
her costume designs of “Boeing Boeing,” and Jacob
Dombrowski won a Superior for his set design for
this years musical for Godspell. Others awarded
paintings, but there are several reasons why the series of paintings
appear to be simple, are colored red, and are called “Memories,” as
the title reminds viewers. She uses red for its passion, but also for
the mystery. Memories can be elusive, unfathomable, or sometimes
perfectly clear, and so she uses a somewhat simple red canvas dashed
with gray. Herron also uses these paintings to understand questions
such as, “How do we remember memories” and “What do we really
remember” These paintings are also lively; they change with the time
of day and the lighting. For example, in some mornings when there
are dim lights, the paintings looked a little dismal, and they do not
have the same feeling when it is sunny out at three o'clock. Meaning
is a factor of art that makes it what it is, no matter how much
one likes the appearance of the piece. A type of art that gets some
criticism is expressionism. Expressionism is when the artist creates
emotion from a work of art. Take for example “Torrent” by Jan
Blencowe. It is a painting that looks like some average Joe smeared
paint onto the canvas. This is expressionism as well as art, and it has
meaning and depth like the “Memory” paintings in the Arts Wing.
These are more than just red paintings, and they possibly have the
most meaning of any other previous art exhibit.
By Margaret Mary Fitzgerald
were K.C. VanElslander, who won an Excellent in both
her monologues and duet musical theatre with Margaret
Mary Fitzgerald. Margaret Mary Fitzgerald also
received an Excellent for her solo musical theatre piece.
In this year’s tough competition, Pierce Rogg also
earned a Good.
This year’s festival, though smaller than it was
in years past, was much more coordinated and successful.
The festival lasted for only two days but was filled
with activities. When not competing, thespians have
the chance to view other schools’ talent and to watch
them perform on “Main Stage.” During your free time
and when there is not a “Main Stage” performance
occurring, you are able to attend different workshops,
depending on which skills you would like to sharpen.
They have all sorts of workshops ranging from “Learn
how to use accents” to” Stage fighting”. For the past
few years, Michigan State Festival has been held at numerous
places, and this year it was decided that Michigan
State will be the home for this event in the future.
17

Graffiti: A True Art
By Charlotte Waldmeir
As Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel wrote, “The words of
the prophets were written on the subway walls and the tenement
halls.” Yes, we’ve all seen graffiti. But what do we think of it More
importantly, can we call it art
From Picasso to Renoir, Ange to Michelangelo, art has been around
for centuries. However, does Picasso’s blue period hit home when
a child who doesn’t have a voice in society wants to express him or
herself artistically We count on famous painters and journalists
to expand the world’s view of art and politics, but not everyone is
given the chance read the “New York Times,” or to take a class trip
to the DIA. Some of us count on a different form of art to express
ourselves when no one could care what we have to say. Some of us
count of graffiti.
Coming from the Greek term “grapgein,” meaning “to
write,” people have taken this term and have turned it into more than
just writing. There’s no question that graffiti is a form of art, however
throwing toothpaste on a wall is just short of being called art also.
I guess it’s just a matter of whether the public is willing to accept
it as that. Although it is literally referred to as “words or drawings
scratched or scribbled on a wall,” maybe it’s time we look at graffiti
that is in our own backyard and make this judgment for ourselves.
The first public sign of graffiti that got peoples attention kicked
off in the 1960’s by a man whose street name was ‘Julio 240.’ ‘Julio
240’ would go around to different public areas, and “tag” or write his
street name all around New York City in a bizarre pattern. This ongoing
occurrence of spotting his tag name became a game for people
all over the city.
Like New York, Detroit is home to some of these roughedged
hieroglyphics bordering on what can be considered art in
today’s society. “Let’s play a game,” I imposed on my father. “When
I say a word, tell me the first thing that comes to mind:” “Lamp”…
“bright;” “cars”… “fast;” “graffiti”… “police.” Stop. Here we have
it folks: a stereotype, the automatic association graffiti with criminality.
We all can agree that graffiti can be affiliated with gangs and
marking the side of a new bank that just went up. This is obviously
illegal, and someone performing graffiti can face major charges. But
as you get a glimpse of a unique design right “smack dab” in the
middle of the Dequindre overpass, don’t you ever wonder “how in the
hell did that “punk” get up there” Or even more specifically, “Why”
It’s important that one understands why it is done, and who better to
ask then our very own- well, to make things confidential we will call
him by his tag name, ‘Juke.’
I ask ‘Juke,’ “What is your reasoning for doing graffiti”
“My reasons can’t be explained really. I just do it because I can, and I
want to. People tell you all through your life not to do certain things,
but this is one thing that no one can tell you to do or not because it’s
above the law (if you’re not getting caught). It’s intriguing to know
someone you have never met will see your piece, and it will affect
them whether it be in a bad way or a good way. You affect that person
for a time being.”
To make Juke’s point a tad less hazy, lets compare his
reasoning to last month’s art exhibit. What was mostly referred to
as “The Red Paintings,” this exhibit, needless to say, had everyone
thinking it was a senior prank. As people would pass through the
exhibit on their way to “art” class, you couldn’t help but hear, “that’s
not art,” or, “I could do that.” Although these paintings did not catch
the artistic cornea of a sixteen year old, it got them talking. Whether
these paintings were appreciatied or were despised, they got the attention
of people who would have just taken a glimpse if “normal
art” were on display. Just like the exhibit, Juke’s meaning for graffiti
can be connected. These paintings/graffiti were put up for reaction,
and that’s what they got. Juke knows that people can argue with him
that it’s wrong, but, as he puts it: “it’s my way of leaving my mark on
society and knowing everyone who rides down that street or looks at
that building has seen my work and has something to say. They have
no choice.”
Some would agree that graffiti is a way of having a voice
when no one is listening, or for that matter, when no one cares to
listen. According to my sister’s friend, (tag name ‘Zeep 120’), Sean
had to turn to graffiti because it was the only voice people would
listen to, and the side of a building was the only gallery space he had.
“People look at me like a criminal because I have been caught taggin.’
What people don’t know is that I don’t do it to get in trouble (if I
wanted to get in trouble I would steal something.) It’s because I enjoy
doing it. It’s the only canvas I have, it’s the only gallery I got.”
So, graffiti is not all about claiming a gang’s territory. It has meaning
to young kids and even adults who can’t get the recognition that
a painter who went to the Center of Creative Studies might get. It
gives Sean and many others like him a chance to voice an opinion
when society would otherwise not have given the time of day to listen
to what these so-called “delinquents” have to say.
Sean goes on to say that graffiti is not all fun and games.
“It takes a lot of balls” to be patient enough to create art before you
get caught. “I’d love to see Monet in the old train station on Michigan
Avenue at 3 a.m. It’s a lot harder then it looks, and way dangerous.”
So, is graffiti a form of art Graffiti is a form of art for
those that don’t have a voice. It’s what they think and what they
mean. They want your opinion, good or bad. They put it in your
face. And maybe they will never hear your review in the paper or on
the news, but this is their view. This is their only canvas, and this is
their art.

Perishable
Fresh Fruit
By Blake Chouinard
As you may have noticed, over the
past three years Christian Redding and I have
performed in the annual talent show. But
I’m guessing that a maximum of five people
know that we have been working on a CD
incognito for the past two years. From
small beginnings in school auditoriums to
larger venues like Clutch Cargos, our music
has taken great strides over the past six
years. After losing Rameel Cleveland in our
freshman year, we began searching for new
members to join our band, Perishable Fresh
Fruit. We went through about six different
musicians and realized that the statement, “if
you want something done right, you have to
do it yourself,” was self-evident, and we continued
on alone. Following our new motto,
we decided that instead of handing over
hundreds of dollars to recording studios for
what we thought would be a generic sound,
we would produce the album, Nine Chains
To The Moon, ourselves.
The entire CD was recorded and
mixed in-studio by Christian. Most of the
songs were produced in the same manner by
Slumdog Millionaire is truly a cinematic treat. In the
tradition of Indian cinema, the film incorporates the farflung
mixture of love, drama, action, and suspense to create a
wonderful movie watching experience. The film revolves around
Jamal Malik (played by Dev Patel), an uneducated tea server
who somehow manages to get himself on India’s version of
Who Wants to be a Millionaire There, he hopes to be seen by
the girl he loves, but from whom he has long been separated.
Jamal, against all odds, starts to win. Before he can answer the
last question, which will win twenty million rupees, he is arrested,
beaten, and electrocuted by the police who constantly
question, “What the hell can a slum dog possibly know” The
movie spans his incredible and saddening youth, which brings
to the Western audiences a distressing inside look at the slums
of Mumbai.
Director Danny Boyle brings a new look to the clas-
simply recording a single track and
then building an entire song around
it until every song turned out to be
around 30 tracks each. The album
contains five original songs, and listeners
can expect to hear both electric
and acoustic guitar, bass, synthesizers,
live drums, drum machines, cello, and
vocals.
Most people that enjoy psychedelic
or indie rock will probably
enjoy this album (sorry all you rap
lovers), but people that are used to
mainstream rock will probably disown
us (sorry once again, but you are
known for closed-minded listening).
The single is a song called “Broken.”
The song’s base is a rolling bass line
that continues throughout the entire
song, followed by distorted, modulated
vocals and features Chris Monsour
on drums.
Around five tracks are
projected to be on the album and
most consist of crunching guitars,
clean vocals, electronic components
and choruses that are meant to hook
listeners. However, the one song on
the album, “Cabernet”, is a little out
of this mold. “Cabernet” features all
acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals by
myself, and Kelly Usakouski on cello.
With a slower pace than the rest of
Movie of the Year: Slumdog Millionaire
By Quinn Scillian
songs, it is meant to pop out at listeners.
The album is projected to come out
either in late January or early February. As
soon as it comes out and we get some feedback,
we plan on finding other local venues.
We will still stick to our two-man band using
a computer and Christian’s skills as a DJ to
aid us on stage. In about one short month
listeners can expect to be, “up, up and away
now, let’s fly away my friend. I’m on my way
down, and it’s getting worse everyday.”
sic “rags to riches” tale by incorporating wit and passion in this
lightening-paced movie. The film is heartbreaking at times because of
the sadness that fills this boy’s life (and one cannot watch it without
thinking of the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks), yet these sad moments
only heighten the intense joy of the movie. Boyle also employs
a marvelous sense of humor in framing the universal silliness of
childhood.
Cinematically, the movie is top-notch, and even the classical
Indian soundtrack composed by A.R Rahman has made its way
to the Top 3 on iTunes. Special acknowledgment is also due to both
Anthony Dod Mantle for the amazing cinematography and Chris
Dickens for the superb editing, both of which heighten the pleasure
of watching this movie.
Not a typical film set in India, the credits roll with a nod to
Bollywood as all of the actors join in a group dance. A great ending
to a great film.
19

Beauty in the Breakdown
A Short Story By Danielle Kress
Why was there this…ugly green haze over everything Something
tugged at the edges of her vision; browns and blues and…voices
Something cool was sliding down her throat, but then again…not
really.
“Drink up, baby doll,” came a familiar voice.
Oh! Her eyes snapped open. “It’s you! You’re…one of my characters.
Great. I’m crazy.”
“Correction: I’m a muse of yours. I flit around your head ‘cause
hey, you made me. And the crazy think they’re sane. So you’re fine.”
“Depends what kind of crazy,” she mumbled. The other woman
chuckled, green eyes kind and weary.
“Come on, Danni. At least you’re not talking out loud.”
“Um…where am I now”
“In La La Land, as usual.”
“How specific,” Danni replied dryly, looking around. “So, I’m
bored in class ‘cause there’s nothing to do. So I’m daydreaming.”
“Oh boy. You’ve gotten even smarter since last time!”
“…I hate you so much sometimes.”
“It’s not good to hate part of your own head.” The woman swirled
gently on tiptoes. “Are you in or are you out”
Taking up the challenge, the teenager wandered down…the downstairs
hallway “Why am I in school in my own daydream”
“Your mind’s wandering. It’ll get trippier.”
“Fantastic.” Danni followed, knowing that in the real class there had
to be a few inquisitive looks as to why she was staring blankly at the
smelly carpet. “I wish people could see what goes on in my head
sometimes.”
“That’s an odd wish, really.” The two were headed towards the Arts
Wing, passing the Senior Commons now.
“I guess. My head’s scary enough as is without people looking at
what a freak I can really be.”
“Leave your things behind,” her muse chided. “It’s all going off
without you.” Danni looked at the backpack on her shoulders and
listened to it slide to the floor with a heavy thud as she stopped,
glancing at one of the tables where the snack machines used to be.
“Why…”
“It’s your head,” the woman reminded her gently, brushing a lock of
chocolate hair out of her face.
“Mm….” Danni looked at the figure sitting at the table, scribbling
something on a piece of paper. “Excuse me.” Why am I even trying
this I know what’ll happen.
“Too busy,” came the voice of her companion.
“You’re writing your tragedy,” Danni commented to the figure bitterly.
“Should’ve known.” She leaned forward, wanting to move, but
finding herself unable to tear her gaze away.
It wasn’t always like this.
“Come on,” the woman said softly, taking Danni’s face and wrenching
it forward. “Your mishaps.”
“Beg pardon”
“You bubble wrap when you’ve no idea what you’re like.”
“Because that made any sense at all.” But the words were strangely
familiar…
“Follow me, a step at a time.” The woman’s smooth motions and
Danni’s clumsy ones somehow matched each other. “Let go.”
One.
Two.
Three.
They were skimming the floor, then there was no floor. Everything
fell away: Anxiety, frustration, even the pounding headache
that had been hammering at her since the horrible morning traffic.
“I’m…definitely not in Kansas anymore.”
“Someone give the girl a medal.”
“Matsu,” Danni snapped, finally addressing the woman, “knock
it off.”
Matsu only laughed, the sound echoing and wrapping around
them. “Move, lazy. One step, two step!”
Danni sighed and obeyed, the scenery changing with each
tread, an undercurrent gently pulling her along. Many places
were familiar; stories she’d put on the backburner, ones she was
developing, others abandoned as the years went by. She placed
a hand on a tree trunk and peered around it, only to round a
street corner to face an old theater. Another step took her from
a beach to a polished office to a house in the suburbs. Haven,
Clark Theater, Haven again, The Father’s office, Rina’s house…
She skimmed through her stories, taking a bit here and there.
Scattering sand on a cement sidewalk, inhaling car exhaust and
breathing onto fresh-cut lawn…
“So amazing,” she murmured, watching a fistful of pine needles
trail across a temple floor, through a small apartment, settling
on cool stone. Danni paused, looking at the castle around her.
It was just as she’d remembered: intricate tapestries and lavish
paintings illuminated by sunlight filtering through a window.
She half expected the scuffle of elegant flats and the rustle of
skirts, along with the appearance of another muse.
“Rira’s on break,” Matsu said, catching the thought in the air.
“It’s been a while since you’ve paid attention to us.”
Nothing’s ever personal in your own head.
“Of course not.”
“It has been a while, hasn’t it…” New thoughts filtered in, and
there were her classmates, her friends, her schoolwork. Nights
spent sitting on her bed catching up on math homework, punching
numbers into the calculator and scowling at them when they
didn’t end up right; sitting on the downstairs couch, snipping
with her parents about college applications; free time spent
holed up in her room, sitting cross-legged on the floor, clutching
a Playstation 3 controller tightly as she barreled her way through
her latest fantasy roleplayer. “Did you think I’d forgotten about
you”
“Not a bit.” Matsu ran a tan hand through a ray of sunlight,
chasing the dust through the air idly. “Music always brings you
back here. It’s why you’re here now: You got a song stuck in your
head in the middle of your class, and now you’re zombie-staring

at the floor.”
“I promise we weren’t doing anything,” Danni muttered, her face
warming. “I’d finished my work.”
“That’s never stopped you before,” Matsu pointed out, elegantly
arching an eyebrow.
“I’ve got obligations. And I hate most of them, because they
keep me from…this.” The teenager gestured to their surroundings.
“From writing.”
“All that stuff ’s a sideshow. You’ve been doubting yourself a
lot lately.” Matsu slid onto the stone windowsill, the picture of
grace framed perfectly with the sun.
Too bad her personality’s all wrong.
Matsu dismissed the wry observation with a wave of her hand
and continued. “Are you sure you want to be an author Feeling
like it’s not worth it…it stunts our growth.”
Danni stepped forward, and blinked at what greeted her eyes.
Not another piece of scenery from a novel-to-be.
Her. On stage She was gesturing, and there was a spark in
her eyes. Another step led her to a melody she wasn’t aware she
was capable of playing, notes flowing from a flute smoothly.
Another showed her gripping a microphone in her hand, and at
that she had to snort.
There’s a reason I play the flute.
But that wasn’t the point…was it
The next step brought her up short, although the feeling of a
current in her chest persisted. She was bent over a notebook,
sitting cross-legged on her bed, listening to the rain hammer
on the roof as her pen scratched across the page, leaving deep
indents. The other her straightened and twisted around, wincing
at back pain and rolling her wrist before continuing to write
as if something possessed.
I haven’t done that in a long time…just sat down and wrote….
Something pulled her and she stumbled forward, looking
around and blinking again. I hope I’m not intentionally blaspheming
here, she couldn’t help but think, looking at how her
feet rested on top of the water.
Then she yelped, because staring straight at her in what should
have been the reflection was…her. Danni peered closer. She
was different. There wasn’t overwhelming frustration in her
features, nor was there the slight, nervous adjusting she usually
did when she stood still. The dark circles were still there, but
there was no feeling of self-loathing. I’m ugly, I’m awkward,
I’m creepy…it was I’m pretty, I’m quirky and if people don’t
like it Too bad. Creepy Maybe I have some weird comments
here or there, but it’s not so bad.
Standing next to this weird, totally-not-Danni was Matsu.
When had she disappeared, anyway Then the muse was pushing
Danni as the totally-not-Danni jumped. And somehow,
even though she was right on top of the water, Danni was able
to spin and flail, remembering clearly the confident smile on the
other’s face as the two rushed to meet each other—
Just jump in.
Well, what’re you waiting for
There was no giant splash. Her feet slid smoothly through the
water and she chose to just…stay there.
“You’ll never get anywhere if you just sit there and stare at what you
could be,” Matsu said, suddenly next to her again.
“I’ve tried. I’m not that confident. I’m barely making it through
high school.”
“Which isn’t going to matter in a couple of years. And you know it,
because I’m not real. I’m part of your head and even I’m telling it to
you. So that means you know it too.”
Silence.
“There’s beauty in the breakdown.”
“Wait, what—”
Danni was suddenly all too aware of a hand waving in front of her
face. She jumped, jerking back, chair squeaking slightly. Her classmate
jerked her hand towards the adjoining room.
Oh, right. I have to get my article evaluated.
She pushed herself from her seat, her thoughts a series of odd,
jumbled images. I should get more sleep.
******
The blinking cursor in the blank Word document screamed at her.
Or maybe that was her own thoughts. Or Matsu, one of her two
main muses.
People ask me how I do it…but I’d seem crazy. Besides, I do want to
submit a part of my novel-in-progress to The Scrivener…
“But this is so much more challenging,” she murmured aloud, looking
up at her mirror, which sat atop her dresser across from her bed.
“And fun. I’ll add some dialogue…hopefully I don’t just…confuse
people more. I can’t show people what goes on in my head…but I
can try to describe it. And I suppose I could always submit a chapter
to another issue.”
Part of writing is revealing what you can’t say in words, not to anyone.
I may get a new reputation before I graduate as a complete and
total nutter, but…whatever. I’m a writer. We’re weird.
It took a minute or two for her to pull her iPod and headphones
from her purse and adjust them correctly on her head. The music, a
favorite song, slid in quietly, then with a shudder of violins reminding
Danni of that cool sliding in her throat, the vocals blossomed.
Drink up, baby doll
Are you in or are you out
Leave your things behind
‘Cause it’s all going off without you.
Excuse me, too busy, you’re writing your tragedy.
Your mishaps, you bubble wrap
When you have no idea what you’re like…
The laptop keys clicked as the story unfolded:
Why was there this…ugly green haze over everything Something
tugged at the edges of her vision; browns and blues and…voices
Something cool was sliding down her throat, but then again…not
really.
Danni cracked her knuckles and continued.
One.
Two.
Three.
21

Congratulations to Spencer Klene
“Spence Can You Dig It”
To the theme song of “Shaft”
By: Isaac Hayes (Adapted by Charlotte Waldmeir)
Congratulations to the beloved and handsome Spencer Klene. He is the first human in the history of mankind to be victorious
in finding out that Evan Sendi was indeed the “Wifi” of last month’s issue. What follows is a personal ode to Spencer for his
success in this challenge. I have adapted these lyrics to the song “Shaft” by Isaac Hayes. If you really want to get a feel as to what this
song sounds like with the lyrics I have created, go to “YouTube” and type in Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft.” Enjoy.
Who’s the red-headed guy,
That might appear to be a little shy
SPENCE
You’re darn right.
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
Who is the man that drives a carton for a
van,
SPENCE
Can you dig it
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
Who’s the stud that lost his wallet,
When there’s a license in the pouch
SPENCE
Right on.
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
They say this cat Spence likes a nice pair of
SHUT YOUR MOUTH
But I’m talking ‘bout khakis
Then we can dig it
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
He’s a beefed up party man,
But no one understands him but his doggy
Maxwell.
Even though Sendi is to blame,
SPENCE
You’re darn right.
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
Who is the man that would
Make White Castle a perfume brand,
SPENCE
Can you dig it
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
Who’s the man that’d be a fatty,
If lunch were chicken patties
SPENCE
Right on.
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
They say this stud Spence has a crush on…
SHUT YO MOUTH
But I’m talking ‘bout Spence…
Then we can dig it.
[Instrumental and guitar riffs]
He’s the winner of “the wifi”
But no one understands him like
Katie Sheehy…
SPENC-ER
[A very long bridge]
22
Who is the man to claim his fame,

The
W i f i
Questionaire
Ar e yo u s o m e t i m e s s u r p r i s e d by yo u r o w n reflect
i o n
Only when I first wake up.
Wh at is yo u r favo r i t e l u n c h served at ULS
Anything that involves waffle fries.
Wh o is yo u r favo r i t e ac t o r
Johnny Depp
Wh at is yo u r favo r i t e i c e c r e a m f l av o r
The apple Pie thing at Cold Stone.
Do yo u h av e a b oy f r i e n d/g i r l f r i e n d/pet
I have a Jack Russel terrier named Zoey.
Wh o is yo u r favo r i t e teacher
Mr. Hellebuyck
Wh i c h fa s t-f o o d p l ac e c o u l d b ot t l e t h e i r f r a-
g r a n c e a n d sell it
Taco Bell
Wh e n d o yo u t h i n k o f w h e n yo u h e a r t h e w o r d
“f o p” (Yes, “f o p” is a r e a l w o r d .)
A metrosexual.
Wh y c a n’t yo u c o m pa r e apples t o o r a n g e s
Orange is a color.
Ho w d o yo u d r i n k a f ro z e n c o k e (Do yo u u s e t h e
s t r aw a s a s p o o n)
The only way is to use the 7-eleven slurpee straws with
the spoon on the end.
Wh at c o l o r e d h a i r d o yo u h av e
Brown
Is it possible t o l o o k s u av e in a pa i r o f k h a k i s a n d
m i t t e n s
Yes, but only after Labor Day.
Did yo u r e a d l a s t issues “Th e Wifi”
Yes.
By Charlotte Waldmeir
Wh y d o yo u t h i n k yo u w e r e c h o s e n a s “t h e w i f i”
(“I d o n o t k n o w ” is n o t a n a n s w e r .)
Probably, because I am new to the school.
We r e yo u s c a r e d o f t h e m o n k e y s in t h e “Wi z a r d o f
Oz”
I was scared of the monkeys, but more so the tornado.
Do yo u h av e a n older/yo u n g e r b ro t h e r o r sister at
t h i s s c h o o l
Not at this school, but I have a younger brother and
sister at another school.
I’ll first begin my saying
That my hair is sandy brown.
It looks good straight or curly,
I wear it without a frown.
I have a Jack Russell terrier,
Her first name is Zoey.
Taco Bell smells the best
Because it’s hot and doughy.
When I hear the word fop
I think of a metrosexual.
If there’s waffle fries and apple pie
I think I’m gonna text you all.
I was chosen as the Wifi
Because I am no fool.
I walk the halls with confidence
I’m the coolest cat in school.
Johnny Depp is my favorite actor
He’s the man that I would choose.
If I became a poet
He would be my pirate muse.
Like apples and oranges
I can’t be compared.
I eat frozen coke with a spoon
And don’t even care.
Only when I first wake up
Am I surprised by my own reflection.
My favorite teacher is Mr. Hellebyck
Because of his nice complexion.
Here is a piece of my identity,
Hope you’ve been paying attention.
Go to the District and guess who I be,
So you won’t receive a detention.

Records on the Upswing
By Jessica Lancaster
24
Growing up, some children have to deal with their parents’
unusual and embarrassing quirks. I was one of those kids. I
can remember as an elementary-schooler that my father was
always “obsessing” over some kind of foreign object. I, being
a first grader, saw these objects as big black circles that created
some sort of ancient sound, which my parents insisted was
music. A few years later, I discovered that these black circles
were records and with having to endure years of listening
to The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra and a few other oldies, I
learned to enjoy and even love records and the culture surrounding
them.
When one thinks about records, most people think
about that static-y noise on a record, but there is a lot more
to this audio format. Buyers have learned the value of owning
albums. According to some, tracks containing brass instruments
sound better in an analog format as opposed to in a
digital mp3 or compact disc. Also, some music aficionados
swear by records. According to Steven Sheldon, president
of Rainbo Records, “there’s nothing like a vinyl record. It’s
analog. It sounds as close as you’re going to get to the artist,”
which in turn creates a more genuine experience. For others,
it’s the cover art and liner notes. Even though vinyl records
aren’t very portable and can be easily damaged, the ways that
records are packaged and presented override this. When you
buy a record, it’s not like buying a CD in one of those cheap
crystal cases, which break or get lost as soon as they get into
your car. To the listener, the record serves as an ambassador
to the artist. Though records are bought both for listening
and for viewing, having records that sound as real as the artist
playing in front of you doesn’t hurt either. Vinyl records serve
as a testament to the artist’s work, and this makes them so
much more valuable to listeners and fans around the world.
The production of records almost came to a complete
stop mostly due to the popularity of compact discs.
Now that compact discs are a thing of the past, some kind of
new form of getting music will have to take its place. There
are mp3s, which have a steady following. The only competition
for mp3s are records, and it is highly unlikely that records will
regain their original popularity or even match the popularity of
CDs. But records are coming back from a near extinction. In 2008,
1.88 million vinyl albums were purchased, and this beat the year
2000’s record of 1.5 million records sold. This increased interest in
records has actually been on the rise for the last few years as well.
From 2006 to 2007, the sales of LPs rose fourteen percent, and
since then, the sale of compact discs has fallen. While compact disc
sales were (and still are) falling, the sales of mp3s have increased
from 32.6 million to 65.8 million from 2006 to 2007. In addition
to sales, the actual production of records has increased. Rainbo
Records has been pressing albums since 1955, but with a diminished
demand for records, production slowed until the past few
years brought renewed interest in the product. From 2006 to 2007,
Rainbo Records doubled production, and in 2008, it had to more
than double its production by pressing 25, 000 vinyl records a day
to keep up with the demand of consumers. Other music companies,
such as Warner Bros. and Virgin Records have taken note of
this trend and have opened divisions within their companies to
organize the re-release of classic albums and to put current artists’
work on vinyl in an effort to cash in on this movement.
Now, everyone has an iPod, and it does not take much to
collect thousands of songs on these devices. Chances are that those
thousands of songs that you just downloaded onto your iPod are
the same songs that the person sitting next to you has on theirs.
With mp3 players and iPods, music has lost its roots, making
everything about convenience and no longer about the quality or actual
enjoyment of the music. While technology has helped humankind
in some ways, it has definitely fueled the neglect of the arts.
The fact that you must take the record out of its sleeve, put it on
the turn table, and then drop the needle onto it may frighten some,
but that is how listening to music should be done. You cannot fast
forward to your favorite part of the song and then skip through
twenty other ones to listen to thirty seconds of another. Records
force the listener to become familiar with the artist’s work, as opposed
to just one song. For some, nothing seems cooler or more
rebellious than reliving the inconvenience our parents and grandparents
faced when listening to music as opposed to being a product
of society, with those iconic white ear buds blasting some artificial
garbage from the top ten hit list that is bound to be stuck in your
head for days.
In the end, the resurgence of vinyl records is caused by a
number of things. It could just be another trend that dies down in
a few years, or it could be here to stay. Either way, the quality of
records is superior to that of other audio formats. Yet vinyl serves
another purpose entirely. As a link for baby boomers and beyond
to connect with younger generations, vinyl may fill the generational
and technological gap that we so awkwardly wish to bridge.

Previous Page (Clockwise from Left):
1. Hannah Baird 2. Dominique Garrison
3. Savannah Smith 4. Matt Schwindamin
This Page (Clockwise from Left):
1. Mariah Pasalaqua 2. Kati Wahl
3. Megha Patel
Following Pages:
Charlotte Waldmeir

Fiction: Chapter 1
By Guest Writer Katarina Goitz
One Friday, on her way to biology class, a Liggett student
named Rachel began to complain to her friend, Clara, about the
books she’d been reading lately. “I’m sick of reading books about
Australia! No me gusta! I just want to read a book that takes
place at…at this wall!” she yelled, pointing to the constellationfilled,
purple wall.
Clara, however, was aware of more things than Rachel
knew she was. “Rachel, you do not want to know of the terrible
stories about that wall. Deep, dark, terrible things,” she whispered.
“But I do want to know!” exclaimed Rachel.
“Are you sure The stories are very scary,” commented
Clara.
“Of course. I’m not afraid!” she replied.
“Oh,” Clara added. “There’s one more thing. The stories
are true.”
_______________________________________________
_Alone. Stillness. Night. The cool, black absence of light beginning
near the door and ending in front of Rachel. The pleasurable
light snapped away, flickering a bit as if to taunt her into moving
to towards its warmth and cheerfulness. It zipped away quickly
before Rachel could grab the welcoming beams and pull them
towards her frightened heart. The missing light, so quickly stolen
by the custodian, dumped Rachel into a plunge of darkness.
She could find no way out, but she didn’t want to leave…
well she deeply wished to…but that would be impossible. The
stunning black of night left Rachel to follow through with the
dreaded plan. She waited, standing between two stone, cold walls
which she could not look at… The blackness of the dreaded dark
cut them off from her precious and distant world of light.
She waited for the moment that seemed to never come…
so far away from sight…sight…that she took for granted so long
ago…but it was only minutes ago. How would it be possible to
last for hours if minutes felt like years
Hours passed…feeling the same as aging years. Rachel
couldn’t think of anything but the overwhelming moment awaiting
her once the hours finally did pass. Hours upon hours went by
Rachel. It seemed many lifetimes ago that she had decided to do
this.
She took a dare given to her by no one…no one except
herself. She had dared herself to step into a world of fear and
darkness. So far she stood from the precious light, and so long it
felt since she had been without fear…fear that was destroying the
courage which she’d stored up for tonight…courage…if only she
could have that now. To feel the comfort of her soft, snugly covers
in her comfortable bed in a safe room with no fear attached to it…
Rachel looked up at the clock. The red second hand was
edging towards the end of the minute…and the start of her journey
to the wall. If only it would slow down. Was it trying to rush
her into the danger 58…59…60. Open the door. Her hands
unwillingly unlocked the door, pushing it open almost against the
will of the door itself. Her feet moved simultaneously on their
own, her hand lifting itself to the door knob.
Rachel’s brain was not commanding anything…anything
except fear. Her brain sent messages of fear to every part of her
body, but they still continued to move. One step…two steps…
Rachel found herself in the hallway once the door slammed
shut. The wall loomed in sight of the eyes who decided to see
it, though fear warned them not to look. Each step instilled a
frantic anxiety of fear…fear of…fear of the wall.
As her feet trudged closer and closer towards the wall
she’d been warned to stay away from, a deep evil lurking behind
the wall pulled her forward…each time a step closer to the wall.
Finally, Rachel found herself at the wall, unsure of what to do
next.
Rachel wondered, “Why would Clara tell me those stories”
She touched the wall and beneath the plaster and peeling
purple paint she felt a deep pulse…She heard her name… Rachel
furrowed her brows in half-worry, half-disbelief, sliding her hand
along the wall she passed every school day, the wall she thought
she knew so well…
As she continued to slide her hand across it, the pulse
echoing her steps, she stopped to press her ear to the wall. As
soon as her ear made contact with the wall, she felt a pressure,
sucking her head towards the wall…except that she was already
pressed up against it… Now her whole body felt as if she were a
metal object and the wall was magnetic.
The next thing she knew, Rachel stood on the other side
of the wall…but the wall had no other side…she’d previously
believed. Now that she had been sucked through the plaster, she
found herself somewhere she’d never been before…or even imagined.
The “wall” was missing. It was as if there never was one.
All she saw was…nothing… Everything was black. It
was not a peaceful night type of feeling, however, for the thumping
pulse had increased. She could feel it reverberating through
her entire body. From her head, through her fingertips, and not
even ending at her toes, the pulse thumped back up and down,
sending wild chills down her spine.
The pulse did not subside, however. In fact, the beating
grew stronger and more powerful with each thump. Terrified, Rachel
screamed, except that no sound escaped from her frightened
lips. The floor beneath her began to turn red- blood red-stars
of the same color appeared, popping into the sky one-by-one.
The stars did not illuminate the area at all and left Rachel in an
unusual darkness even though there were two distinct colors.
A humongous shape loomed far ahead of Rachel. She
strained to make out what it was. It came closer and closer but
never became any clearer. She continued to strain until, all of
a sudden; a cold breath began to breathe on her shivering neck,
paralyzing her.

8 Mi l e Pa r t II:
An Ep i c Du e l Be t w e e n Tw o Sc r i v e n e r Ti t a n s: Dr e w
On a cold day in Grosse Pointe, Michigan two high school students
met in a dark alley to battle each other in a haiku-off. Journalism teacher/
professional M.C., Sam Mock attended the event as a regulator. Mock presented
the topics over which the two would battle. The following is the
transcript of the actual event:
[Drew went first as Mr. Mock presented the question, Who would win in a fight]
Drew:
Marc thinks it’s all height
I guess he doesn’t realize
He looks like a stick.
Marc:
Merely 5 foot 8
You’re a small Italian
You have zero chance.
th e Of f i c i a l Tr a n s c r i p t
[The crowd was in awe at the two’s nasty syllabic skills.The face off started to get heated, and Mock asked that they battle using
the topic: “the superiority of my vehicular mode of transportation.” Marc went first this time.]
Marc:
Enjoy your V6
Sucks you’re sittin’ on rat fur
Purchase some leather.
Drew:
Marc likes his Envoy,
He thinks all the room is great.
Most moms like theirs too.
[Fans had their hands over their heads.
They’ve never seen two people so young
use such clever rhetoric. A fight almost
broke out after that one. Mock then tried
to cool things off by asking a more humorous
question: “Who possesses sicker
culinary skills”]

Ha i k u Ba t t l e
“Kn u c k l e s” Am a t o a n d Ma r c “Hu m m i n g b i r d ” Ha m e s
o f t h e Pr o c e e d i n g s
Drew:
While I prepare steaks,
Marc is struggling to cook
Things like Mac N’ Cheese
Marc:
You have zero skills,
When it comes to cooking
grub
That’s why you’re so small
[Mock must have wanted to see
the two brawl as he posed the
controversial topic: “Who has the
most undeniable allure to the
ladies”]
Marc:
Your lackluster looks
Remind me of a small boy
You are not manly.
Drew:
Females can’t resist,
My Italian swagger
They won’t stay away
Mouths dropped, scuffles broke out,
new lines were drawn, and hospitals
were filled. It was a true, classic, legendary
Haiku Battle.

Yawps!
Part Deux
College Crisis
By Dani Kress
How does someone choose a college It is, after all, one
of the highlights of life. People choose what they want to do
for a living, meet lifelong friends, and may even find their future
spouse. College affects the rest of a person’s life. How are teenagers
supposed to make such a big decision
The first step, although not crucial in high school, will
help you greatly in choosing which college you want to attend.
For some it’s simple, but others struggle greatly: What do you
want to do with your life At this stage it’s not imperative, but
it’s best to think about it. What subjects do you enjoy What are
you good at
Talking with your college counselor is incredibly important,
but more than anything, it helps put things in perspective.
Ms. Jamett is a great counselor. She asks the questions that make
you think as she assists you in your struggle. She’ll answer your
questions, no matter how simple you think they are. She’ll take
your strengths and weaknesses and pick out colleges that are best
suited to you, and she will alert you when your potential colleges
are visiting.
After you have your list of colleges, it’s best to do some
investigating online. Check out their website and get a general
idea of the college’s courses, location, dorm life, size, extracurricular
activities, tuition, and financial opportunities. If you’re
forgetful, jot down a few general notes. Do you like their variety
of classes Is it a specialized school Where is it: in the middle
of the city, on the edge of a small town, or a good half-hour bus
ride away from civilization How are the dorms separated How
are you put together with your roommate Do you get a choice
How big is the college, campus-wise and student-wise How
much interaction do you want with the faculty, and how much
will you get What sports do they have Clubs Events Study
abroad programs What scholarship opportunities are there
When you do get around to visiting a college, be sure to get a
good look at the campus. Ask any questions you may have, and
no matter how dumb you feel, the tour guides will understand.
They’re usually college students and are very easy to get along
with. They know what it’s like to be going through this grueling
process because it wasn’t too long ago that they were in your
shoes. As you go through the campus, try to imagine your college
years there. Does it fit Again, take notes if you’re forgetful.
It’s not a dorky thing to do; many peers in your group will be
scribbling down information as you walk around. After the tour,
take a step back and weigh the pros and cons.
There is another factor that can’t quite be advised: feeling.
Sometimes you just go to a college, and as you’re walking
around the campus, you realize, this is it. Everyone has a school
that they just know they want to attend. Some don’t find theirs,
but most actually do. Keep in mind that there’s a college out there
for everyone.
After your visits, be sure to schedule another appointment
with Ms. Jamett. Talk it over with her, and see what she
says. She’s quite honest. If you have a good shot at getting in,
she’ll let you know. If you need to work harder, she’ll give you
advice as to what you need to do, and she’ll guide you through the
application process. Don’t hesitate to take your essay in: she does
a fantastic job editing and helping you find the right college.
Don’t depend on her for everything, however. Ms. Jamett can’t
decide what college you want to apply to, and she does enough
without filling out your application and writing your essay. If you
don’t have a specific goal or college in mind…don’t worry about it
too much. You’ll develop preferences in time as the process continues.
Remember to hold up your end of the bargain: make your
deadlines. Colleges don’t care about excuses. Either you have it
in, or you don’t.
There is, of course, one of the most dreaded parts of
applying: the college essay. The number of essays you need to
do will depend on which schools you choose to apply. Some
schools, such as the University of Michigan, will have their own
unique application with their own essays. Other schools will take
the Common Application, which may require a few essays and
short answers. It’s all a matter of which colleges you choose.
The essay itself isn’t as bad as it seems. The biggest problem is
deciding the subject matter of your essay. Try to choose a topic
that is unique to you. The college essay is an opportunity for
schools to gain an insight into your personality. Writing what you
think the colleges want doesn’t help your chances at all. Don’t be
pretentious. Be honest. They’d much rather hear about something
personal like how you thought that summer camp was going to
be lame, but it ended up having a major effect on you personally
and socially. Once you choose a topic, just write and then slowly
make the proper corrections. Put it in paragraph format, clean up
the sloppy sentences, and find some solid word choices. Don’t
go thesaurus-happy. Five-hundred words amount to only about a
page and a half.
All in all, it’s a very overwhelming process. Stress can
sneak up on you or simply punch you in the face. Set small goals
and deadlines for yourself along the way, and make sure to meet
them. Take the process one step at a time, and approach your
teachers early about getting recommendations from them. When
Ms. Jamett gives you information, be sure to remember it. Write
it down, keep the sheet she gives you, and put it somewhere where
you won’t lose it so that when it comes time to hand her the envelope
with your Secondary School Form in it, you won’t make the
mistake of wasting stamps and feeling ridiculous. Just stay calm
and be thorough and honest. The seemingly infinite process does
end eventually, and then all you can do is wait.

Medical Marijuana
By Alex Boll
Every Michigan resident should be aware that Proposal
1 was on passed on November 4, 2008. Proposal 1 is “A LEGIS-
LATIVE INITIATIVE TO PERMIT THE USE AND CUL-
TIVATION OF MARIJUANA FOR SPECIFIED MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.” Michigan is the thirteenth state in which medical
marijuana is officially authorized. On December 4, patients
with debilitating medical conditions were lawfully authorized to
use marijuana. If patients are certified by their doctors, they may
obtain possession of up to two and a half ounces of marijuana
and may grow up to 12 marijuana plants, also known as Cannabis
Sativa. The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-
9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which has been both illegally and legally
used around the world for centuries.
The harmful effects of smoking cannabis are decision
impairment, delayed reaction, distorted perception (sights,
sounds, time, and touch), severe weight gain, fried brain cells,
and paranoia. Marijuana is also considered a gateway drug and
opens the path to “harder” drugs. Studies reported by the Journal
of American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed that if a
person uses one “joint,” one’s reaction time is reduced on average
by 41%, and the use of two joints reduces one’s reaction
time by 63%. Statistics released by the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) revealed that 33% of people pulled over
due to reckless driving tested positive for marijuana, and in 2001,
40,000 high school seniors were involved in car accidents while
driving high According to JAMA, young people who regularly
use marijuana are two to five times more likely to progress on
to harder drugs. These studies and statistics reveal the negatives
associated with marijuana. Although many drawbacks are known
to be connected with the use of marijuana, some argue that the
positives outweigh the negatives.
Some scientists and doctors argue that medical cannabis
can have the following positive effects.
As t h m a : Increases the opening up of the lung airways.
Depression: Brightens mood.
Gl au c o m a : Relieves eye pressure.
HIV: Relieves naturopathic pain.
Ca n c e r: Relieves negative side effects of chemotherapy
and radiation.
M. Sclerosis: Limits and calms spasms.
Alzheimer’s: Protects the brain and helps decrease inflamma
tion among the brain tissue.
Art h r i t i s: Decreases inflammation of the joints.
Epilepsy: Controls seizures.
Cro h n ’s: Reduces the swelling of irritated tissue and
induces an appetite.
To u r e t t e’s s y n.: Reduces involuntary outburst of grunts, tics,
snorts, and shouts.
Many scientists believe, argue, and have proven that
marijuana has relieved patients of vomiting, nausea, pain and
movement disorders. Medical marijuana relieves many ill patients
of harsh symptoms that cause painful suffering. A common myth
associated with marijuana is that it is damaging to the lungs. A
study presented that the American Thoracic Society in 2006
stated that people who smoke marijuana rarely develop lung
cancer or emphysema. A study recently conducted by Dr. Donald
Tashkin of UCLA shows that marijuana smokers actually have
lower rates of lung cancer than people who do not smoke marijuana.
In the United States, 400,000 deaths per year are caused
by smoking tobacco. 2,000 deaths per year are due to Acetaminophen
(Tylenol). In the U.S., zero deaths have ever been recorded
due to marijuana. People who occasionally smoke marijuana are
shown to outlive non-smokers by an average of 2 years. Medium
to heavy tobacco smokers will live seven to ten years longer if they
also smoke marijuana. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s
own Administrative Law Judge Francis Young has declared
that “marijuana in its natural form is far safer than many foods
we commonly consume.” All these recent studies conducted have
revealed that marijuana is better for the body than tobacco and
that marijuana causes short and long-term benefits.
November 4th 2008 was considered a big day in medical
history for Michigan doctors and ill patients. People with debilitating
illnesses may now experience comfort during their time of
ailment.
Freshman Discipline
By Jack Fisher
Although my current position as a University Liggett
School senior might slightly bias the claims I am about to present
regarding underclassmen, it must not be misunderstood that I am
a product, like many who will read this article, of the legendary
system of high school. This is a system that is simple. You start as
dirt and with a good four years time, you turn into gold. Take my
hair for example. Entering as a freshman it was looked at by the
seniors as a filthy mop on my head or an immature expression of
rebellion against the system. Well guess what, it’s 2009, and this
hair is the best in the class. I must beat girls off with a stick from
touching it and protect it against people mistaking it for 24 carat
gold on a daily basis. That was a bit cocky, but I dare you to make
such a point. I am a senior; I believe my own BS; I am on top of
the world; and I am also well aware that next year I will be dirt. At
this point, the direction of my article might be hazy, but I will just
lay it all on the line. Freshmen these days are too relaxed. Some of
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them just need a plain-old kick in the pants from my Nike cross
trainers. At University Liggett School, there are strict policies
against ritualistic initiation practices involving freshmen. With
these regulations in place, I believe we have overlooked a crucial
aspect of high school. Regulating freshmen these days is taken
too seriously, and it is too often associated with the negative
word “hazing.” The only result is character flaws in underclassmen.
It must be understood that there are legitimate ways of
teaching freshmen their place. I would not be a senior unless I
exercised my divine right to bring crucial attention to this issue.
I have finally become senior, and I must say that I am
rather disturbed by the attitudes that I have encountered in some
of the freshmen. They appear to be way too comfortable, or so
enough to blatantly disrespect me and my fellow classmates. I see
them being way too loud, roughhousing, blocking the hallways,
and not immediately parting in deference to the passage of a
senior. When I walk up to a door, I expect it to be held open.
When I am done with my coffee, my mug should be promptly
taken away to its proper place in the kitchen. Furthermore, I
have heard of hand gestures, inappropriate on many levels, being
flashed to seniors that are over 200 lbs. and over six feet tall. If
you are wondering, that’s rather large compared to Billy Marx. I
have also personally experienced verbal exchanges with freshmen
that disgrace my ears as a result of the rude and cocky tone taken
by such weak-minded individuals. These problems have been created
by the senior class’ failure to lay down the law.
My memories of senior “encounters” are rather amusing.
They range from getting snowed by James Dickenson and
Jack Gray at J.V. hockey to being beat with a lacrosse stick for no
reason by Rob Veniri. These are things that weren’t so funny at the
time, but now give me a few ideas and of course, a good laugh. If
there is no hazing, freshmen will not have the same memories that
I hold so dear.
Of course, there are two kinds of freshman hazing: the
good kind that is relatively harmless and results in a good laugh
for both parties and the kind where the line is crossed. I must
stress that I am a clear advocate of the first concept. Hazing is a
perfect example of how life works. It represents an ongoing process
of moving up the food chain, from the top to the bottom and
back again. There is no better time than high school to learn this
concept. My advice to freshmen is: show some respect now and be
rewarded later. It truly is weird though to remember that when I
entered high school, I couldn’t understand how seniors worked. I
thought I was ridiculously cool and could do whatever I wanted.
However, it is not until you actually survive the system and become
a senior that you realize how annoying you once were. Pay your
dues to your senior creators and enjoy the divine taste of supple
white snow in your mouth.
Ha i k u by Dr e w
By Dr e w Am at o
Sp r i n g b r e a k is c o m i n g
I g e t t o p l ay in t h e s a n d
It w i l l be so n i c e
See Dr e w’s Ot h e r Wo r k o n Pag e
30-31. If yo u h av e a n y h a i k u r e-
q u e s t s, please see h i m o r a n yo n e
else in t h e “Ha i k u Department”
Picture Credits
Page 6: General Motors
Page 7: Wikipedia User Calvero
Page 8: Ford Motor Company
Page 12: Department of Defense
Page 13: Flickr User Jimmy Barrett
Page 18: Wikipedia User Martinirebel
Page 19: The Band
Page 24: Wikipedia User Knipsermann
Page 36: NASA
All ULS p h o t o s ta k e n by
Jac k Fi s h e r

Racism...Sexism...Ad u lt i s m
By Megan Amicucci
“How many” she asked. “Smoking or non” she asked.
“Right this way,” she said. The hostess was, of course, not speaking
to me, or to the group of seventeen-year-olds with me. She
was addressing the adult couple that had walked into the restaurant
a good two minutes behind us. As a teen, it was not the first
time I had been treated differently because of my age. But it was
the first time I had experienced it since learning that there is actually
a name for it.
It’s called “Adultism.”
Adultism, according to Webster, is a predisposition
toward adults. In other words, adultism is the prejudice against
young people. It refers to behaviors and attitudes based on the
assumption that young people are somehow inferior to adults.
Hmm A prejudice against young people, the more I thought
about it, the more I realized that adultism happens all the time.
Look around and you’ll see it taking place just about everywhere.
The service industry is notorious for adultism. I don’t
know how many times I have been trying on clothes at a department
store without any salespeople to help me. No one noticed
me; that is, until my mother arrived. At which time, salespeople
seemed to come pouring out of the woodwork.
I often find myself being overlooked because I am a
teenager. Cashiers skip over me. Waitresses ignore me. Adults
try to cut in front of me. When this happens, I am forced to
wonder “who is the child in this situation”
Adultism is no stranger to the workplace of the young,
either. Often, customers are leery of young employees. People
seem to believe that age equals wisdom and knowledge. It is
sort of like a scene from the movie Father of the Bride Part Two.
Steve Martin, the father in the film, is alarmed by how young his
pregnant daughter’s doctor is. “She looks like she just got out of
medical school,” he shouts. “How many babies could she have
possibly delivered, two” The doctor answers, “Actually, 341.”
This may just be a scene from a movie, but it’s also a perfect
example of how unwarranted adultism in the workplace can really
be.
Although it may not be as obvious, the place where
adultism may occur the most is in the halls of high schools.
School is all about authority – who has it and who does not.
School is supposed to revolve around the students, but the
administration forgets that. Often they simply pretend to listen
to students. You might ask, “What about student government
Doesn’t it have a voice” The answer to that is student government
does, in fact, exist. But if the principal or teacher disagrees
with the students’ views, they simply will not take them seriously.
Last year, for instance, students at my high school
petitioned to have prom moved to a different venue. The Student
Council wrote a proposal explaining the benefits of the change.
The students received the full support of the Student Council,
and then received dozens of student signatures. They calculated
the costs and determined that the new venue would be less expensive.
When all was said and done, however, the petition was
denied.
The mind of the administration was, of course, made up
well in advance. Because students wanted this change, the administration
saw it as an undermining of their authority. “This not
a democracy” was one explanation. The point is – the administration
does not care what the student government thinks. How
could they They’re just kids, after all.
One has to wonder where adultism starts and how it is
perpetuated. At home In the media In the home, children are
told what to do, what to eat, what to wear, what kind of people to
be friends with, when to go to bed, and what is the “proper” way
to behave. Adults have the power to threaten, to punish, or to take
away privileges under any circumstance they see fit.
In the media, the young are often portrayed stereotypically.
They are depicted as immature, unruly, and often just plain
dumb. It is no wonder a bias persists against the younger generation.
It may be that there is no quick solution to adultism.
As long as we continue to perpetuate stereotypes regarding kids,
we will continue to perpetuate the biased behavior towards them.
Security guards will follow them around in department stores.
Law enforcement will shoo them away from public places and pull
them over, and adults will continue to assume that they are “up to
no good.”
Adultism is discrimination, plain and simple. It has
detrimentally affects its victims. Like racism, it instills a sense
of powerlessness and can have negative effects on attitudes in the
future. Children can feel as though they don’t have the power to
influence the world. And they may just conclude, “Why bother
No one is listening.”
Darwinism
by Blake Chouinard
Psychedelic fish,
Pondering their existence,
Begin to sprout feet.
35

The Paris of the West:
Recession and Resurgence in Metro Detroit
By Drew Brophy
Residents of the seven county area that make up Metropolitan
Detroit are living through quite possibly the most trying
time in this area’s history. Each citizen faces
the threat of declining home prices and
the possible bankruptcy of three American
icons. 2008 was a trying year for all of
Detroit’s population as directly affected
parties and concerned bystanders turned to
watch the seemingly never-ending testimony
of Chrysler’s Robert Nardelli, General Motors’s
Rick Wagoner, Ford’s Alan Mulally,
along with UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.
These four men, surely worthy of
the title “team of rivals,” represented the
short-term survival of a region so doused
in controversy, overwhelmed by economic
issues, and collectively worried. But in a
fairly surprising move by President Bush,
Detroit—both as a metonym for the “Big
Three” and the area as a whole—was allowed
to survive another day.
In a promotion for the business
news channel CNBC, Yahoo!’s new CEO
Carol Bartz states, “The best use of the down cycle is to get ready
for the up cycle.” Using this strategy as CEO of software company
Autodesk, Ms. Bartz might as well be speaking for Metro Detroit.
As the specter of doom follows outside perception of Detroit
from the auto companies to the Lions, Detroiters need to decide
what can be done to fix our area.
Congressman and senators are wrong to make the assumption
that Detroit engineers and designs bad cars. In a recent advertisement,
General Motors apologized to its customers for sometimes
“betraying” them. This ad states, “At times we violated your trust
by letting our quality fall below industry standards and our designs
became lackluster.” Even this open statement to American consumers
should not turnoff people to Detroit’s cars. With fluctuation
of oil prices, the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado were
the two top selling cars in the United States during 2008, and
the F-150 won the 2009 North American Truck of the Year. The
Chevrolet Malibu won the North American Car of the Year award
in 2008. Both of these awards can be granted to any vehicle that
is new or recently changed, and American, Japanese, Korean, and
European vehicles all qualify. Cadillac CTS won the Motor Trend
Car of the Year with design and handling on par with the luxury
German OEMs. And as far as technology goes, General Motors
and Toyota will be coming out with plug-in hybrids at about the
same time. Though Toyota plans to beat GM to sell theirs to institutions,
GM says the Chevrolet Volt will be available to the general
36
public by the end of 2010. Detroit has the ability to make a great
car, which shows that Detroit, despite the ridicule of others, is not
dead from a product standpoint.
Everyone realizes though that cars cannot be the only
source of income for this area, So, what is it that Detroit can do as
well as build great automobiles We have heard from the Michigan
government and various economic support groups of the need
to build an alternative energy economy by developing and manufacturing
solar panels, fuel cells, batteries, and the like. Especially
with the new Administration’s dedication to building a “green
economy,” Michigan’s commitment to alternative energy will be
economically beneficial. Other industries can likely grow out of
the infrastructure laid by the automotive industry as well. At the
top of the list should be design and technology.
Detroit needs to increase its focus on design—the creation of
products, buildings, and environments. Chrysler, Ford, General
Motors, Hyundai, Nissan, and Toyota all have major design studios
in the seven county area, and many of their suppliers do as well.
SmithGroup and Albert Kahn Associates are large architectural
firms headquartered in Detroit, which reaffirms Detroit’s relevance
with the design community. Called the “Paris of the West,” Detroit
was once one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Some buildings
today are still in good condition, while others remain only as
vestiges of past glory. Also, College for Creative Studies and U of
M are some of the best architecture and industrial design programs
in the world. Detroit was, is, and needs to continue to be one of
the design capitals of the world.
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Design will bring many high income, intelligent people to
a city and the region. Michigan is already looking for left-brained
people with its focus on alternative energy, but now designers can
attract additional right-brained talent to “The D.” Whether it
is people from within the state or new people from other states
and other countries, new capital and new people can provide a
much needed lift for the city. With the support of the Michigan
government, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,
and other economic advocacy groups, Detroit should point to
automotive design as its base and extend its talents in architecture,
fashion, and industrial design. Cities and the state must actively
pursue design firms with similar policy to Michigan’s push for
alternative energy.
As well, high technology needs to be promoted in addition
to automotive technologies being produced by suppliers
and the manufacturers. Fuel cells and alternative energy show
that Michigan can quickly increase its technological capacity,
but though the auto industry is the leading computer chip
user, there is minimal presence of Silicon Valley companies.
Through investments and grants, the Detroit area can enlarge
the high-technology industry to where it should be relative to
automotive consumption of high-technology products. Metro
Detroit has the proper research and development focus like
very few other cities, and three top research universities within
two hours of Downtown. High technology investment now
can insure the survival of this area for years to come.
In the United States, Detroit is seen as “industrial graveyard.”
In China, it is the home of the Pistons. Someone once told me
that a British news outlet makes the city sound like Mogadishu,
the capital of Somalia. With top arts institutions, a
primary sports team, and several Fortune 1000 companies already
here, Detroit has the ability to be a global city. Through
design and technology, Detroit can again be a thriving metropolis.
The consequences of failure are intolerable, and though
“few” people love this city, those who do should work to usher
in a new age where Detroit can be again compared to Paris.
The Effects of the Recession
By Marc Hames
With the country, more like the entire world, in an
economic downward spiral, you cannot help but to notice the
repercussions of this tumultuous time. It all began with the
750 billion dollar Wall Street bailout. Now, I will only briefly
engage in the political portion of this debate. Since the bailout,
insurance companies involved (most notably AIG) have been
criticized for what they have done with the taxpayer money.
We must all remember that back in 1995 former president Bill
Clinton passed a bill that would allow for virtually anyone to
obtain a mortgage on a house. Sounds all nice and dandy: that
is, until those mortgages go bad, and the people don’t have
enough money to pay them, a phenomenon that is occurring
now. You cannot blame President Bush for this, though much of
the country loves for him to become the human scapegoat and
to hide reality because it’s easy to point a finger. If you’re going
to blame someone, by all means locate the man with his saxophone
in one hand, and Monica in the other. But that is enough
politics.
During a time like this, it does not matter if you’re a
Republican, a Democrat, or even supported Bob Barr and the
U.S. Taxpayers Party. In some shape, some form, everyone other
than Carlos Slim is hurting, not only economically but emotionally
as well. There are five significant effects of the recession
that have been bestowed upon businesses and the ordinary
people. The first, which is the most prevalent, is that consumer
spending has undoubtedly seen a decline. People stop spending
money on luxuries and save up for the necessities. If a business
is based on primarily luxurious items, it is most certainly going
to see sales plummet. But, if you’re dealing with a business like
a grocery store, sales will not drop as greatly because people
still need to eat. Even if the companies escape major setbacks
in consumer spending, they may still see a decline in profit
margins, and this could begin a restructuring process that alters
the fundamental makeup of the company. Next, competition
will become an “every man for himself ” mentality. It will be
like 5 teams fighting for the last spot in the NCAA tournament,
show no mercy. The harsh reality of the situation is that
the competitors on the losing end will be keeping the closed
signs up for 24 hours a day. The one effect that will most likely
hit the people the hardest and the most directly is the rising
expenses, the costs of maintaining a business that are passed on
directly to consumers. Again, Americans will be spending their
limited money only on essentials. Business owners will have to
prioritize and to cut down on their expenditures to stay afloat.
Some businesses may become inconsistent. Sometimes they
may feel as if they’re not in a recession, then at other times it
may look like a ghost town around the business. If the business
has a product people need as a means of living, they will
escape the recession more successfully. One of the trickiest effects
of the recession is that employees traditionally seek raises
from their bosses in order to maintain a stable lifestyle. It is
quite evident that businesses will suffer greatly from the recession.
It becomes a battle of survival of the fittest, like animals
all competing over the same prey, but in this instance the prey
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is income.
One of the byproducts of a recession is the effect
on sports. Over the last decades, sports have generated more
income than people thought was fathomable. Sports represent
an industry, one of the largest. But, the sports industry is not
immortal. It is suffering like everyone else. For example, golf
tournaments are made possible in large part due to sponsors.
Just this past week the Mercedes Benz Championship was
played at the Kapalua Golf Club. Well, what happens when
Mercedes decides that it can no longer afford to be the sponsor
of the tournament That leaves you without the Championship.
Now, if Kapalua decides that it is a financial burden to
shut down operations for two weeks, then you have a tournament
with no name, which means no sponsors, and no place
to play. Do you see the problem Already in this 2009 PGA
tour season, a tournament has been crossed off the schedule
because the sponsor did not renew the contract. In sports such
as the NFL, NBA and NHL, ticket sales will tend to decline
because when it comes down to it, going to see a sporting
event is not exactly a necessity. If not as many people are going
to games, what happens to the vendors at the game Food sales
and merchandise sales all take a hit as well. It’s a domino effect
that destroys anything in sight. No one’s safe. The upcoming
Super Bowl will see changes as well. Even Hugh Hefner and
the bunnies are tightening their budgets. They will not be hosting
their annual Super Bowl bash at the site of the Super Bowl.
We know we’re all in trouble if Hugh isn’t letting the bunnies
frolic.
I can only imagine what it was like to live during the
Great Depression. Now, wherever you look, wherever you turn,
you’re surrounded by it. It’s a black hole that is sucking everyone
in and saying “let’s see who is the strongest.” The effects
don’t stop with loss of income, and the psychological wear and
tear is almost just as bad. People live in fear and wonder each
morning they wake up if they’re still employed. No matter
what you do, you can’t escape it. You hear about it, you read
about it, and you breathe it. It’s like ripping a piece of duct
tape off of a hairy arm: you close your eyes, cringe, and hope
for the best.
Gatorade: Alligators Revealed
By Kyle Keith
With jaws that can bite with up to 27,000 pounds
of force, it’s probably a good thing that only a select few of
us will ever be lucky enough to have a face-to-face encounter
with an alligator. The only alligators most of us will see are in
Happy Gilmore or perched comfortably on the left bosom of
our Lacoste shirts. The fact of the matter is, however, that we
have had more encounters than we realize with these majestic
creatures. Before you can truly appreciate the raw power of the
alligator, it is necessary to learn the facts about these divine
creatures.
The largest alligator in history was 112 feet long and
tipped the scales at just over 13 tons. The diet of a normal
alligator consists of crawfish, hubcaps, and morbidly obese
humans. Alligators generally live in cool, damp caves and have
been known to do intricate cave paintings. However, when alligators
venture from their humble abodes, they are truly a force
to be reckoned with. In fact, they account for the second most
deaths every year in the U.S.
Alligators have left their gargantuan talon marks all
over history, most recently in the Kwame Kilpatrick debacle. As
it turns out, an organized group of alligators stole the mayor’s
phone and sent those raunchy text messages to Christine
Beatty. Unaware, the judge sentenced an innocent Kilpatrick to
prison. Unfortunately, that may be the least nefarious things
that the brutal alligators have done in the past. Probably the
most notable thing that they have done was rigging the 1919
World Series between the Chicago “Black Sox” and the Cincinnati
Reds. Alligators bribed the White Sox into throwing the
Fall Classic by promising never to eat them or any member of
their family for all generations. Needless to say, the alligators
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made out like bandits by betting on the Cincinnati Reds and,
as expected, immediately devoured everyone who was involved
in the fix.
Fortunately for the human race, alligators also use
their superpowers for good. They aided the Americans in
the Revolutionary War by wolfing down 35% of the British
soldiers. Another 13% of the soldiers were killed by the deadly
venom that the gators produce. They also greatly contributed
to the rebuilding of Chicago after the devastating fire in 1871.
Their philanthropy was rewarded as they were granted a key to
the city, but it was shortly thereafter eaten.
There is one surefire way to get eaten by an alligator:
call it a crocodile. Just like Aussies and Kiwis, gators and crocs
hate to be mistaken for the other. These reptiles have been
waging war for just over two centuries. This conflict has flown
under the radar due to the ninja-like tactics of both species,
and it is very rare to see this phenomenon firsthand, yet it is
even rarer to live to tell about it. Perhaps the most significant
event in this war was the gators’ brutal assassination of crocodile
icon, Steve Irwin.
In order to protect yourself from these marauding beasts,
you must abide by a few guidelines. Don’t look at an alligator.
Don’t talk to an alligator. Don’t even root for the Florida
Gators. Definitely don’t Google alligators to see if my statistics
are accurate. As long as you adhere to these simple rules, you
will not be eaten.
Global Warming: Fact or Fiction
By Blake Chouinard
One of the most controversial questions of our time actually
concerns the future more than the present. Many scientists have
noticed the correlation between the rapid increase of carbon
emissions and the depletion of the ozone layer in the past 20
years. But even with these recent scientific breakthroughs, many
countries have decided to either reject the idea as a whole or to
settle on the fact that global warming is just not a big enough
problem to warrant action. Without a rapid and complete agreement
on the subject as a world united and if in fact global warming
is a life threatening problem, it will be too late to reverse the
process by the time this is realized.
In 1997, the United Nations passed an environmental
treaty, the Kyoto Protocol, which would limit the amount of
greenhouse gases that countries could emit. Percentages were
negociated in Kyoto, Japan and were different for all countries.
By 1998, 55 countries had ratified the treaty, but two decided not
to ratify. These two countries were Australia, and surprisingly,
the country that accounted for over 25% of carbon emmisions
worldwide, the United States. Newly elected President George
W. Bush decided he would not ratify because he thought that
the treaty was unfair (mostly because China and Russia did not
have to reduce emissions). So although George Bush stated in his
campain that he would reduce carbon emissions, he did not ratify
the treaty and was even supported by several senators.
Some scientists also denouce the idea of global warming.
One scientist, Geoff Pohanka from Vienna, Virgina states that,
“The Ulysseys passed the sun three times: during a solar minimum
the first time, then a maximum, and more recently the solar
minimum of solar cycle 23 minimum. They noticed large differences
between the two minimums, that the sun is now puting out
the lowest amount of energy ever recorded (since the beginning
of modern measurement with the advent of the space program).”
Pohanka believes that global warming is not a problem after
studying it for almost a decade. He believes that global warming
is helping the world, “ Carbon dioxide causes more rapid
plant growth and thus higher crop yields.” Instead, he believes
that the helpful global warming has already happened, and now
we are heading towards global cooling. Many other scientists
also agree with what Pohanka has stated.
In 2006, Al Gore came out with his instantly acclaimed
movie, “An Inconvenient Truth.” Al Gore began
studying global warming so that he could inspire scientists
and everyday Joes to realize that global warming is a threat to
mankind and to insure future generations just that, a future.
“Future generations may well have occasion to ask themselves,
‘What were our parents thinking Why didn’t they wake up
when they had a chance’ We have to hear that question from
them, now.” Scientists have been keeping track of carbon emissions
and also the amount of ice at both of the polar ice caps.
Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon and other greenhouse
gas emissions have been climbing steadily. However, in the
last few years the release of carbon into the atmosphere has
been rising exponentially. This carbon is emitted into the
atmosphere and gets trapped by the ozone, ironically the only
part of the atmosphere that protects us. The carbon and other
chemicals found in CFC’s, chloroflorocarbons, react with the
ozone and destroy it on the molecular level. All the ozone
depletion has caused a giant hole larger than the size of Antarctica
above the northern hemisphere. The hole allows more
of the sun’s UV rays to reach the planet, but more importantly,
it allows the rays to reach the ice on the poles. Ice has a high
level of albedo, which is the ability to reflect sun. This is
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normally good, however the depleted ozone is making the sun’s
rays melt the ice. With no ice on the poles, the melted water
changes the ocean’s salinity, or salt content. Changes in salinity
levels will result in larger storms and the stoppage of ocean
currents, causing some areas on the earth to experience an ice
age. Other parts of the planet will encounter large floods,
because the water levels with the melted ice will raise around
20 ft.
After witnessing and studying this concept for almost
five months myself, I have come to the conclusion that global
warming is a problem. Looking at the graphs and charts from
“An Inconvenient Truth” and several other sources, it is apparent
that the great increase of carbon into the air is actually
destroying the ozone. The entire world is being heated and
already small flooding and larger storms are becoming more
evident. Huricanes twice the power of Katrina will hit the
United States more times than ever witnessed in the history of
the Earth. The giant floods will completely wipe out lowlying
costal states and islands such as Louisiana, California and
Hawaii. If all countries do not come to an agreement, millions
of lives will be taken, and all living creatures will be changed
for the worse. However, if it is true that the world is not about
to experience global warming, it is just as bad a fate. Another
Ice Age may strike the entire world, leaving it a barren desolate
place. In this new frozen land, only a few Arctic creatures used
to sub-zero temperatures will survive. Other tropical species
will die, and humans will be unprepared and will also most
likely perish. One of these truths could be correct, but either
way, we must begin preparing for both situations before it is
too late to reverse our actions.
Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle
By Catherine Vatsis
In today’s society we see a great concern for eating
healthy and leading a fit lifestyle. There are reality shows, such
as the Biggest Loser, in which obese men and women are taught
how to live healthier by eating a better diet and exercising regularly.
There are always new books about how to be healthier.
Each author claims that their methods will work for anyone
and if you follow their “five easy steps,” you can lose weight.
And nearly everyday on the news, one of the broadcasters talks
about new health developments that “can change your life.”
It seems that everyone is talking about this topic.
People want answers, yet they don’t know where to look. Most
people don’t know whose advice to take, and they’re always overwhelmed
with new, plausible information. Most recently, Oprah
Winfrey has introduced a new option that she says she uses to
combat her weight problems. She has suggested a new diet to
those who want to lose weight. Whether or not all of these suggestions
actually work, these health facts will always remain the
same...
1. You should always consume foods from every group on the
food pyramid daily.
a. First, you should consume whole grains, such as cereal,
oatmeal, bread, pasta, etc. They are sources of B vitamins,
magnesium, iron, and fiber.
b. Vegetables also provide fiber, along with potassium, and
vitamin A, E, and C. It is important to have a balance of
dry beans and peas, starchy vegetables, and dark green and
orange vegetables.
c. Fruits also contain some of the most important nutri
ents. Fruits are sources of fiber, vitamin C, and potas
sium.
d. Milk provides potassium, protein, vitamin D, and
calcium. The Vitamin D is necessary for proper bone growth.
e. It is also important to consume your daily servings from
the meats and beans group, which includes eggs, fish, poultry,
and nuts. These foods can provide protein, iron, magnesium,
and vitamin B and E.
2. Exercising can curb your appetite.
3. Avoid poultry skin because it contains 40% of the total fat.
4. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a
bigger breakfast can save you some extra calories later in the
day, and it can prevent the desire to eat sweets.
5. Avoid sugar whenever you can. Sugar is negative energy.
After you consume a food that contains excessive amounts of
sugar, you will reach a high point, and then you will immediately
crash and have less energy.
6. There is nothing good about pop!
7. Everyday you should be drinking at least 64 ounces of water.
If you don’t drink enough water, your metabolism will slow
down (which can make you gain weight,) and in the long-term,
you can have permanent kidney damage.
8. If you don’t like vegetables, eat fruit. It is just as good.
9. Eat foods in their original form. Instead of onion rings,
which contain eight grams of fat and 180 calories, eat onions,
which have 90 calories and less than one gram of fat.
10. Don’t be fooled when you see words such as “Fat Free” on
food labels. Instead of fat, that food probably contains high
amounts of sugar. This is also true for other items such as Diet
Coca-Cola. Diet Coke has increased caffeine levels, which can
cause hyperactivity, high blood pressure, and irregular blood
sugar levels.

Generation Apathy:
The Truth of Generation Y
By Claire Peracchio
If America’s youth were searching for a potential
alternative-rock theme song, they might find promise in the
opening lyrics of “The Youth” by MGMT: “This is a call
of arms to live and love and sleep together / We could flood
the streets with love or light or heat whatever / Lock the
parents out, cut a rug, twist and shout.” Yet it would seem
that today’s youth have not been particularly good at finding
meaning. Designated as those born between 1980 and 2000,
they have been dubbed the Generation Y, the Millennials, or
more pejoratively, the iGeneration. Their critics argue that
this generation represents all that is wrong with American
society. Coddled by a culture of instant gratification and by
parents who debate allowing dodgeball in schools, these young
adults are stereotyped as perennially logged in and tuned out.
Though they were the first to embrace the advances of the
Internet, cell phones, and reality
television, they seem to eschew
more traditional staples such as
newspapers and the evening news.
In comparison to past generations
that saved Europe from the
Nazis and protested against Vietnam
and racial discrimination,
today’s youth appears noticeably
silent. Yet is “apathy” an appropriate
catchword for Generation
Y The answer, it appears, lies
beyond superficial stereotypes.
Perhaps the most noteworthy
disparity between Generation
Y and past generations is
in education. Today’s high school
students are more likely than ever to pursue a college degree.
A United States Department of Education report stated
that while in 1972 under 60 percent of high school students
reported that they planned to attend college, almost 80 percent
of high school seniors said that they planned on attending in
2004. In addition, while only 13 percent of students sought a
professional or graduate degree in 1972, about 40 percent of
seniors in 2004 had similar aspirations. Contemporary high
school students also demonstrate an increased propensity to
challenge themselves academically. Though only 6 percent of
high school seniors were enrolled in calculus in 1982, today
that figure is 13 percent, and the percentage of students who
chose not to take math in their senior year fell from 57 percent
to 34 percent. About 25 percent of students opted to take
advanced science courses in chemistry, physics, and advanced
biology in 2004 compared to 12 percent in 1982, and nearly
a quarter of high school seniors studied a foreign language in
2004, which compares favorably to the 13 percent who did
so in 1982. Furthermore, the high schools and colleges that
students attend today are more diverse. According to a study
by the American Council on Education, just between 1993
and 2003 minority college enrollment rose by 50 percent
to 4.7 million students, and the number of white students
showed a 3 percent increase. A Harvard University report of
tripled minority enrollment in the past three decades is indicative
of a trend in higher education. At most top American
universities, minority enrollment amounts to about one-third
of the student population, while only a half-century ago, there
were very few minority students. Thus, students today are not
only pursuing academic rigor and higher education in greater
numbers, but they are also exposed to greater diversity in the
process.
Generation Y has also
been compared to its predecessors
in its level of social
and community engagement.
While young people today
certainly report to spending
more time watching television
or using the computer than
their elders (after all, these
are technological innovations
that past generations could
not enjoy), young people
also are more likely to engage
in community service. The
percentage of young people
serving their communities
through volunteer work has increased exponentially in recent
decades, and today about 30 percent of teenagers choose to
participate. In recent years, the Peace Corps, a federal organization
that allows Americans to live and to work in developing
countries, has reported the highest number of volunteers since
the 1960s. Since 2000, more than 51,000 young people have
volunteered, a marked increase that Peace Corps attributes to a
new spirit of voluntarism among young Americans.
In addition to a spike in community service in recent years,
Generation Y has also witnessed a less-publicized increase in
political participation. Though voters ages 21-29 are significantly
less likely than older voters to make it to the polls,
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data from the 2008 election suggests that the percentage of
eligible younger voters who participated in 2008 is roughly
equivalent to that of 1972. In 2008, young voters made up
18 percent of the total electorate, a figure that is the highest
recorded in the past decade. Based on findings by CIRCLE,
a non-partisan organization that studies youth political
engagement, the 2008 election was also remarkable for the
degree to which young voters chose one candidate over the
other. Young voters preferred Barack Obama to John Mc-
Cain by a margin of 68 percent to 30 percent, the highest
percentage of the youth vote garnered by any candidate since
1976, the first year in which the voting age was lowered to
18. Young voters were instrumental in Obama’s victory by
supplying critical votes in swing states like Indiana, Ohio,
Florida, Colorado, and Virginia. With his message of change
and use of mass e-mails and text messages to connect with
the tech-savvy Generation Y, it appears that Obama is the
first candidate in recent years to fully access the youth vote.
Yet more importantly, young voters responded dramati-
cally to the political process in 2008, an ability that has been
doubted by many of their detractors.
Perhaps the reason that the identity of Generation
Y has been so disputed is that, like all that is misunderstood,
it is different. Generation Y embodies a spirit of irreverence
and tolerance unknown to its forerunners. Young people today
are far more likely than their elders to support gay marriage
and interracial dating and to look beyond the cleavages of race
and socioeconomic status that have been a chronic source of
conflict in American society. Generation Y may not read the
daily news, but it is more connected and technologically enterprising
than past generations. In a world that is increasingly
interdependent and perpetually changing, perhaps this ingenuity
is Generation Y’s greatest asset. After all, change is the tune
of the future, and as for that theme song, the ending might go
something like this: “The youth is starting to change / Are you
starting to change / Are you / Together.”
Urban Exploration
By Megan Brandon
All across the country young art students are taking part
in an activity known as Urban Exploration. Urban Exploration is
best defined as going into an urban area usually downtown in a major
city like Detroit and exploring areas that are in shambles with
the intention of shining a light on the terrible conditions in these
areas by viewing them with an artistic eye. A lot of the time, this
process requires entry into abandoned buildings. Entry into these
buildings is sometimes illegal and always dangerous. These buildings
are teeming with mold, decay, sharp glass, metal, open elevator
shafts, and staircases that have fallen through. Furthermore, if
the dangers of the physical building don’t get you, the unknown
occupants may—drug addicts, homeless people, or other sordid
characters.
I know from firsthand experience the dangers of Urban
Exploration. Despite the cost of the scars on my hands and legs
and the terror of being pulled over at gunpoint, I still feel that
Urban Exploration is worthwhile but not for the faint of heart.
Many people have negative attitudes towards those of us that go
into abandoned buildings. They believe that we are troublemakers
that just want to break in and deface these buildings, but in reality
the majority of the people that take part in this are just harmless
art students that are trying to capture the beauty of something that
once was.
My favorite Urban Exploration night just also happens
to be my least favorite as well. The building was the old Free Press
building that closed in 1998 on West Lafayette in downtown Detroit.
The night was cold with a wind-chill around 7 degrees. Four
friends of mine and I drove downtown knowing where we wanted
to go and little else. Much of the thrill in Urban Exploration is
the spontaneity of it. The building was beautiful, and the main
doors on Cass were framed in carved stone with animals and faces.
The beauty of these intricate designs by Albert Kahn is something
unlike anything you would see in Detroit in this day and age.
But by far the most beautiful thing about Urban Exploration
is getting to the top of the building. To stand hundreds of
feet in the air with a 360 degree view of the city with all the lights,
the snow flakes coming down, and the cars driving by you is the
most breathtaking part. There really is nothing better than standing
there and taking in the surroundings. The roof was icy, and my
friends and I were running and sliding across it. My boyfriend and
I found some old prints on the wall in one of the old offices. They
had been bleached by the sun over the years but were still very
cool, so we took them off the wall to take home with us. After my
friends finished taking pictures and exploring, we decided to leave,
and this was when the trouble started.
When we went to climb out of the building, two women
in a car driving by saw us coming out, followed us back to my
friend’s car, and called the cops. Within a few minutes we were
pulled over in the middle of Jefferson at gunpoint to the sounds
of sirens and very angry cops. Still chilled to the bone from the
air inside the building, we were told to roll down the windows,
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pop the trunk, turn the car off, and put our hands up. The cop said
two women saw us leave an abandoned building with merchandise and
then watched us steal a car. Sitting in shock, we tried to explain that
we were just around taking pictures. We told the cops that the “merchandise”
that they saw was really tripods and other camera equipment
and that we didn’t steal her car because we had the key and proof of
insurance.
The cops still weren’t very understanding, probably because
none of us would admit that we were in the building. We could never
confess this because the building was still technically private property,
and we could be charged with trespassing and breaking and entering.
But our guilt was still fairly obvious due to the presence of the prints
and other signs that we had taken off the walls. After over an hour
of freezing to death and being interrogated, the police eventually let
us go, but not before they gave us a strict warning. One of the cops
told us that he didn’t know if we ever wanted a future, but if we did,
we needed to stop doing what were doing. He explained that this has
been happening more and more recently and that the people that live
around these areas watch for people like us so they can call the cops to
get us in trouble.
But what these cops don’t understand is that we’re not scrappers
that go into buildings and rip them apart looking for metal that
we can take and melt down. We’re not drug dealers or junkies, and
we’re not looking for a place to get drunk or high. For me,
Urban Exploration is something to do with my friends that
is not hurting anybody, but gets me out of Grosse Pointe and
away from those people with whom I have nothing in common.
These buildings are like extra large time capsules that
have slowly decayed over time, and if you look closely, really
closely, you can still see the beauty of something great in that
abomination of a city we call Detroit.
But everyone has different reasons, and in my interview
with College for the Creative Studies art student Kelsey
von Wormer, she told me hers, “The pictures that I take in
these buildings have real emotion to them. There’s a story behind
the building that everyone wants to know, and you don’t
get that reaction when you shoot a building that’s still in use.
These buildings have feelings, and I take pictures to capture
their sadness.” Urban Exploration means different things to
different people. To art students, it’s a way to capture people’s
feelings and to draw attention to a problem at hand. To cops it
means one more thing that they have to watch out for, and to
parents it is one more place that they have to worry about their
children going. In the end, Urban Exploration represents a new
playground in an old city, and it brings a history that would
otherwise be forgotten to light.

THE SCRIVENER
UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL
1045 COOK ROAD
GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MI 48236
CHARLOTTE WALDMEIR