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(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Kristian Craig
Staff Writer
This school year Douglass has started a new class called American Sign Language.
“Douglass does not have a curriculum for ASL,” said Karee Strome ASL. teacher at Douglass.
Strome said that right now she is working out of a book called “Signing Naturally” for the lesson she teach.
“I think the students are learning at their own pace, so I am teaching as they learn,” said Strome.
Strome said that if the student pick something fast she moves on if they do not understand she goes back and review.
“To do ASL you do not need to know good English because ASL is its own language,” said Strome.
Terrell Brown student at Douglass said that ASL is a good class but you have to be into it to understand.
“ASL gets fun when you really get into because you understand more,” said Brown.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Angolique Woods
Staff Writer
Did you know that King High School had a dance team? They are known as the King Dance Workshop. It is opened to anyone at King who is registered in a dance class. Students must audition at the beginning of the school year and be able to practice Monday through Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m.
The workshop gives student dancers an opportunity to grow, travel and experience life as a dancer.
In the past six years, Dance Workshop has traveled to many places. In 2013, the workshop traveled to Washington D.C. to performed at the Kennedy Center for the Black Dance Association, and took Master dance classes while there. In 2012 they traveled to Chicago.
This year, Dance Workshop is raising funds to travel to Cleveland to participate in the annual Black Dance Association, Jan. 21-25.
“My goal is to grow a strong bond between my students, and to teach them everything that they have to offer,” said dance instructor Denise Allen said.
The dance department has been requested to perform many places such as, the Jamison Temple Church on Mack and Conner, America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit, and in 2012, it performed at a Lions game.
Every March they attend the Detroit School of the Arts (DSA) All City Dance concert with other Detroit Public School dance companies to showcase their extensive dance abilities to its audience.
King High School also sponsors many dance performances such as the annual spring and winter concerts featuring the Dance Workshop and dance students.
“My goal this year is to help guide the team into a successful, fun year, and I’ll do my best to be a great captain,” Dance Workshop captain Allayah Morrison said.
“My dance experience for all years of high school have been a great, and exciting one,” Dance Workshop senior member Crystal James said. “I am planning to further my dance training throughout college as well.”
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Tristan Shaver and Christopher Griffin
Staff Writers
Freshmen at Benjamin Carson High School are carrying something new in their backpacks these days. In October, all freshmen were given a "compendium" containing reference materials to use in all their classes to complete assignments for cross-curricular project based learning work.
Students are using the compendium that was developed by teachers during the summer for the course and which Curtis Valasek, health careers exploration teacher said "is much more reliable than using internet sources since all the information is right there."
The freshmen are participating in a competition to encourage youths in Detroit to drink healthier beverages. Benjamin Carson staff judged the first round of three rounds of judging on Dec. 10-11. Judges for the second and third rounds will include health care teachers, professional and the staff of Dr. Reginald Eadie, the president of Harper University and Hutzel Women Hospitals. The winning submission will be used as a prototype for the 2015 healthy lifestyle campaign.
Freshman Christophe Brown said he thinks that students should feel great about having this opportunity because "it's a unique opportunity for learning about health risks." His group will be working on a campaign to promote tea as a healthier choice to sugary drinks.
The purpose of this competition is to help young Detroiters learn about healthy beverage alternatives to soda pop. Part of the project is to plan for ways to spread the message with the goal of "going viral" and as a result make Detroit a healthier place. Students are learning about different methods of spreading messages including t-shirts, murals and word-of-mouth campaigns.
The Academy of Health Science is a program that helps design curriculums for medical-based high schools and prepare high school students to get into his health industry.
Valasek said he believes that this program will help students gain the "foundation for understanding of the overall health of the human body and different health careers and skills needed to be successful."
“You learn a lot in this program and you gain of new experiences,” freshman Tonia Pope said.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Christopher Turner
Staff Writer
Hardworking. Dedicated. Champions. Those are three words that the Loyola High School football team uses to describe themselves.
On Nov. 29, the Bulldogs played Ispheming High School for the Division 7 State Championship. But this was not Loyola’s first encounter with Ispheming.
In 2012 and 2013, Loyola faced the same team, in the same place for the same title. Each time, Loyola walked away with a heartbreaking loss.
Facing their rivals for the third time, Loyola was determined not to take another loss.
“We were hungry for a win so we had the desire to learn from our past mistakes,” senior linebacker Paul Engram said. “One was to learn to respect the other team’s ability.”
That hunger and determination paid off for Loyola. The Bulldogs won this year’s championship with a 28-9 victory. They are the 2014 MHSAA Division 7 State Champions.
“It feels good to lead such a wonderful and talented team,” junior quarterback Nicholas Lee said. “We got it done this year.”
Lee also said he felt honored that “the team trusted me to lead them to this day.”
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Taija Johnson
Staff Writer
The schedule change at Pershing High School is a combination of direct instruction and online learning. This new way of teaching will help the students learn more modernly and efficiently.
Pershing has implemented the learn (direct instruction), practice (computer work), apply (do the work) system (L.P.A.) after the first quarter. L.P.A breaks up one class into three components.
“I like the new schedule because it gives me more time to get my work in, on time instead of late,” senior Jimmy Pleasant said.
The schedule has “A” and “B” days, which both have different classes and teachers.
“The new schedule gives the students an opportunity to learn more modernly and efficiently,” said parent liaison coordinator Deidra Highball.
The schedule change is partly based on the Performance Series test scores. The freshmen and sophomores will be grouped together and the juniors and seniors will be grouped together. Within these groups, there are three groups of people, those who scored high, average, and low on the Performance Series Test. Students are taught according to ability.
“Everything is connected,” English teacher Ann-Marie Richardson said. “The changed schedule has all the classes more connected academic wise.”
The L.P.A. makes all the classes joint to some extent. For example, if you’re working on a science project, it should connect to math, E.L.A., social studies, etc.
“The new schedule change will benefit the students in the long term,” said Anthony DeGrazia, an instructional coach.
The students have more classes to attend and remember however class sizes are now smaller and more manageable.
“I think the new schedule change is a good way to learn. All the new technology that my generation will one day be working with, it’s good that we’re using computers and learning how to really use them,” junior Bishop Eady said.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Alexis Thomas
Staff Writer
On Nov. 1 at Renaissance High School, senior Decision Day was held. Decision Day offers opportunity for seniors to visit with representatives from local colleges and be provided with on-site admissions. Seniors must have a copy of their transcript, ACT scores and the school of choice application.
Since this event is pre-planned, the counselors usually have a list of colleges that will attend Decision Day. This year’s list included Michigan State, Northern Michigan and Central Michigan.
Students arrived at Renaissance at 8:30 a.m. to start their visits. There were many students in attendance from the various schools throughout Detroit.
“EEVP students were ready, organized and excited,” said senior sponsor Janie Hubbard. “We represented our school well and had prepared with us completed applications, current year transcripts, ACT scores, as well as college applications from schools of choice.”
Hubbard said she wanted to make Decision Day more than just a day of decision, but also a day of fun. As most students from other high schools arrived to Decision Day on their own or with parents; EEVPA seniors arrived on a bus.
“I wanted to get more seniors involved in this wonderful opportunity,” Hubbard said. “Moreover, to ease the anticipation, and eagerness, we took a bowling trip to Regal Lanes.”
Once applications were submitted and before the acceptance letters were available, EEVP students went bowling.
“Once we arrived at the bowling alley it felt that I forgot all about the anticipation of the college’s decisions,” senior Sierra Young said.
The seniors split up into several teams, and bowled two games, and ate pizza.
“I appreciate our spirit of togetherness and being with my fellow students allowed me to feel more at ease,” Young said.
“Once we arrived back at Renaissance, and everyone received their letters, I began to see a lot of smiles. Decision Day was a success for the Ville students,” Hubbard said.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
Hello Osborn Knights! How you doing?
My name is Brittney Dobbins, and I am a senior at OPrep, captain of the Osborn cheer team and soon to be the OPrep salutatorian.
I am also the new campus paparazzi.
As your new senior paparazzi, I’m going to capture everything, so watch out, I’ll be looking and as Kermit says, it might not be none of my business.
Since I now have the mic, just wanted to give a few shout outs to some Osborn athletes this month — don’t worry spring teams, I gotcha!
I’ll start with the basketball team, I know y’all gone put in the work this season y’all always do. Coach Will and Merchant working and getting y’all ready so it’s bound to be a good season since all those skyscrapers have been recruited from near and far.
Next, a shout out to the girls basketball team. Who will be the top scorer this season? I do believe it will be another great year, especially with Coach Dre around.
Lady spikers, loved the way y’all blocked those spikes and served it up. Great season!
Although football season is over, I still wanna say HEY to the Knights posted at the 50 yard line. Looking good and can’t wait til’ I read about you all next year.
Next, can I get H-E-L-L-O CHEERLEADERS! Let’s get those voices ready to drown out the opponents jeers. Thanks Coach Merch, you are always fired up and you are doing a fabulous job!
I also want to give a special shout out to MST and Evergreen’s Class of 2015, you guys were looking mighty good on cap and gown day.
As it relates to graduation news, remember the Jan. 1 FAFSA deadline — get it in seniors! I don’t want to hear the excuses, ’cause I will just reply, BYE Felecia!
College, college college ... it’s around the corner, so you can get it done now or I’ll tweet you later. And yes, you know what my tweet will be from my college dorm room — yep, you guessed it, BYE Felecia!
Have a safe and happening holiday break and see ya in 2015!
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
What exactly is preferential treatment? I do not know and, contrary to popular belief, if you were to ask any student-athlete, they would probably not be able to give an answer either.
For years, the general population of high school students has accused student-athletes of receiving special treatment from their teachers, peers and school administration. As a student-athlete myself, I can say that that is simply untrue.
Student-athletes are held to a higher standard and the expectations placed on them exceed those of an average student. Along with these higher expectations and standards comes pressure; pressure to do well, pressure to stay out of trouble, and pressure to not fail.
Pressure to not fail is not the same as pressure to succeed. Pressure to not fail brings about thoughts, such as “I hope I don’t mess up.”
These thoughts can have a negative effect on performance in school and on the playing field of athletes’ respective sports.
The morale of student-athletes can suffer greatly from this added pressure. This is why when a high-profile athlete is the latest headline for being arrested I am neither shocked nor do I have a large amount of pity to offer them. Some simply cannot handle the pressure that comes along with the territory, and they crumble under the weight.
When the punishment is given for things that they have done, and it is not as harsh as it would be for an average offending citizen, it is viewed as a “slap on the wrist.”
Student-athletes are often placed upon pedestals that they have not climbed onto themselves. More often than not, if you were to ask a high school athlete if they are fond of the notoriety and excess attention they receive, the response you get would be, “Not really.”
In my opinion, the media are partly to blame for the magnitude of pressure felt by student-athletes in today’s sports world. This is not an excuse for the way that some athletes behave, but it is a contribution to the stress and pressure that is placed upon their shoulders.
While it may be highly plausible that preferential treatment is present in some high school settings, I have not been exposed to such treatment. If one is taking care of their business in the classroom and in their social life, it would be hard for anyone to persecute them when there is a countless number of knuckleheads and ne’er-do-wells to deal with. So for all of those who complain about a student-athlete being treated better than you, it is simply a case of the classic line, “If you knew better, you’d do better.”
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Alyssia Curry
Staff Writer
On Oct. 23, King High School and the U.S. Army hosted Ten80 Education, a program to engage and educate the high school students through workshops that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.
Senior Chyna Turner said, “It made me feel like you have more opportunities to have a stable and challenging career and the army is one way to get the education needed to be successful in life”.
Ten80 Education is a team of engineers, scientists, teachers, professors and parents dedicated to an ambitious mission to cultivate students skills and STEM literacy. They have chosen to join forces to help students and teachers understand STEM subjects so that they will excel in their designated career and personal paths.
“It’s fun to be in relative control of your life and for that to be your future which includes gaining insight into how people and processes work,” said Ten80 Education president and CEO Terri Stripling.
Before Stripling established Ten80, she worked in a pharmacy and manufacturing industries for five years. Her career shortly started when she began volunteering in schools to become a Professional Engineer. She attended Georgia Tech where she majored in chemical engineering and later earned a doctorate in geochemistry.
“These accomplishments have been a wonderful experience so far,” Stripling said.
Capt. Damien Butler, part of the strong U. S. Army partnership, talked about how participating in JROTC during high school led him to pursue a career in the Army.
“Leading soldiers twice in Iraq was a great experience and I felt good about doing it,” Butler said.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Roderick Boyd
Staff Writer
As most students went home and watched TV on Oct. 15, the boys of OPrep went to work: Hollywood style.
OPrep students taped the pilot for their very own reality show “Street Cred” in hopes of getting funding for a weekly reality show.
The show is the result of their participation in the League of Extraordinary Gentleman’s male mentoring program, which is designed to expose students to different careers and occupations as well as actual real world activities while teaching character skills. OPrep students Terrell Dewhart, Roderick Boyd, Mateyo Savage, James Jackson, Marquis Day and Kahlil Lee had the added bonus of meeting some of Hollywood’s A-listers.
Lala Anthony, Hill Harper and Corey Hardict, who were in town filming “Destined,” took time out of their filming schedules to have a sit down and answer questions from several Detroit Public Schools.
The meeting afforded the students an opportunity to pick the brains of some of Hollywood’s hottest stars.
“As our students prepare to shoot their own reality show, we wanted our students to have the opportunity to meet the some of the best in the field,” said Nashid Sharrief, managing partner at the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and older brother to film producer Sultan Sharrief.
The “Street Cred” pilot was filmed mostly at Detroit School of the Arts and included other students from DPS. Students were filmed on set saying small lines, acting out parts, and being photographed in different settings. All of this is being brought together in the end to produce a trailer like video that will be presented to film directors to get funding for a fully produced series.
OPrep sophomore James Jackson described the experience as “crispy.”
The students were filmed doing sample shots of the weekly challenges that students are asked to participate in as a part of the mentoring program.
“I really didn’t think they were going to show up, so after they did and each actor explained their character, I had to ask Lala, ‘Was playing two sides of one character difficult?’” said senior Marquis Day said.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Taylar Berry
Staff Writer
On Nov. 18, the Detroit Historical Black College and University Network (Detroit HBCUN) hosted its first college fair at East English Village. Representatives from schools such as Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Spelman College, Tennessee State University among many others were in attendance and provided relevant information about their school. Approximately 500 students and parents were serviced.
Students spoke with the college representatives, who were also alumni.
“I enjoyed learning about the rich history and various experiences of the different HBCU. I am seriously considering attending a HBCU in the fall,” senior Jada Matthews said.
Students had the chance to talk to 18 different HBCU representatives, as well as a college funding resource that provided information and options for paying for college.
Students received information about admission requirements, scholarships, financial aid and individual college majors.
“I look forward to making this event an annual tradition for our students,” Leslie Holsey, EEVPA’s Compact coordinator. “I believe HBCU’s provide an excellent options for our students because of its smaller learning environments, as well as affordable college tuition.”
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Janielle Christmas, Qu’Juan Twilley and Dajae’ Everette
Staff Writers
The Communication & Media Arts High School drama department hosted its first ever rap battle. This event was orchestrated to fund props for upcoming plays. Admission was $2 for the battle and $2 for relaxed dress. The event consisted of 20 rappers from all grade levels.
“It was very comical and flavorful,” senior Edwin Jones said.
As a special guest Kash Doll appeared and performed her hit remix “2 On” and a brief freestyle. Kash Doll is a native Detroiter and an up-and-coming artist. She has appeared at many schools in Detroit and showcased her talent all around the world.
Though the battles were close, in the end there could only be one winner: senior Dante Hoard.
“There was no competition, I knew I was the best before I won, and this just reassured me,” Hoard said.
“Rap is something I enjoy, and we have a plethora of talented scholars, and I felt that their talent should be showcased,” said. MC Courtney Lewis, who hosted the battle.
‘’We raised over a $1,000, this will help the department greatly and help us put on great shows, we are grateful for all of the participants,’’ said drama Instructor Mrs. Parizon.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
My cousin is doing a five-year sentence in prison because of a time he let his anger spiral out of control. When he 17, someone stole his car, and in anger, he retaliated by carjacking the guy who stole his car. He wasn’t present when his son was born and now the baby doesn’t have his dad.
According to SafeYouth.com, as many as one in three teens frequently lose their temper and don’t know how to cope with their feelings. They might not know it, but their anger is the root of many of their problems in school and at home. It can take a toll on relationships with others and on school performance.
I’ve seen smart kids argue with teachers and fight with peers when it didn’t have to be serious. They get put out of class or suspended and they lose class time.
Security officer Tameka Cooper said the environment can sometimes make things even more difficult for students with anger issues.
“Something that would be just a simple thing can turn into an argument or a fight when you have all kinds of people in your ear with negative vibes,” Cooper said.
It’s happened to me. Just last week, I felt attacked when a teacher was yelling at me, and everyone was saying, “Are you gonna let her talk to you like that?” so I yelled back and got put out of class. I wasn’t allowed back without a parent and now I have missing assignments.
Some teens are in denial about their anger issues. They need be open to the possibility of looking for help, whether it is talking to a parent, a teacher, or a counselor. They should control their anger before it controls them.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Brianna Rice
Staff Writer
Although junior Tatyana Howard is new here to East English Village, she is fully embracing the Bulldog spirit. Howard said she enjoys EEVPA and participates in both the dance and track programs. Moreover, Howard looks forward to expanding her academic knowledge in transition to her next level of learning.
Upon graduation, Howard will attend Clark Atlanta and major in criminal justice and minor in social work. She said wants to become substance abuse counselor. Attending and graduating from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) is a family tradition. Many of her family members graduated from a HBCU, including her grandparents.
“I love helping others and providing them with options” Howard said. “I am a people person and enjoy being around others.”
Outside of school, Howard enjoys hanging out with her friends, eating and shopping. Her favorite foods are chicken alfredo and fried chicken, which she says she cooks the best. She currently participates in the cooking program at Golightly Vocational Technical Center. She said this program has taken her cooking to another level and she enjoys learning new recipes.
She received a 3.0 GPA this past card marking and looks forward to earning additional academic honors.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Anthony Sherman
Staff Writer
The beauty of winter; Hot chocolate, snowmen, snowball fights, and of course, Christmas. Winter also come with some severe weather, especially in Detroit. Icy roads accompanied with subzero temperatures cause safety issues. With students’ and teachers’ safety being priority one the district is forced to close school to insure that there are no injuries or fatalities. This change leads to students missing a copious amount of important school days.
Farmer’s Almanac predicts that temperatures this winter will be below normal for most of the United States. Meteorologist across the state notes that this will be the coldest winter of the century; with an abundance of below zero temperatures, snow and rain storms, coupled with active wintry weather within the first ten days of January. It is within those ten days most students take their finals which can really have an impact on the first semester grades. These deplorable weather conditions can cause fluctuation in class session, assignments, and grades and stifle education.
While missing school is a big issue it isn’t the biggest when it comes to the harshness of winter, safety is. For students who walk to school or stand at the bus stop there is a big safety issue, there comes the hazards of frost bite and even slipping and injuring yourself on ice. Students who drive must deal with the possibility of getting into accidents, some which can lead to being fatal.
Seniors Jaylin Glenn and Allegra Hicks both catch the bus to and from school.
“It really has a bad affect,” Hicks said. “If it’s too cold I am prevented from coming to school.”
“Sometimes if it is cold outside and ice on the road, the bus takes longer than usual and if it’s too cold, I decide not to come to school,” Glenn said.
To make sure that students are safe this winter and at the same time learning, there needs to be a system in place in which teachers can communicate with students and can send assignments via email or social network.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Ariana Taylor
Staff Writer
For a while senior Christopher Chamblis had three of his seven hours at school where he would walk into a classroom, a substitute teacher took attendance and then he and his peers would “just talk and chill” for the rest of the hour.
Although these chilled hours were at different points in the school year, Chamblis and many other students have experienced them due to several teachers leaving the school.
“We did nothing, no grades went in, I didn’t learn any African American history for a good two to three weeks, and I had a P [for passing] in German for first card marking,” said Chamblis.
As of now, five teachers have left Renaissance during the first three months of school. Reason vary from other schools offering better pay to a teacher moving to Philadelphia.
“I understand that they have a better opportunity and have to think about their families, but I just feel like they should have waited till at least the end of the semester,” said Chamblis. “Our education and grades are affected.”
When teachers leave, administration has to go through a process of finding a new replacement. During this time, one or more substitutes are brought in. Some students have deemed this period as “absence of work” because the class would do no work. In the five cases of teachers leaving, the “absence of work” lasted for an average two weeks.
With Renaissance being the No. 1 school in the city and No. 35 in the state, it might be surprising the school is still reaching for teachers.
“This isn’t something that we want but we still have to deal with it and we’re going about in the best way to make sure these kids miss as little instruction time as possible,” said assistant principal Mr. Harris.
It’s still an adjustment for students to get used to even when a replacement is found. Some students form relations with their teachers and when one leaves, it becomes difficult and confusing for the student and the new teacher.
“It messed up our connections and grades, and I didn’t want a new teacher,” said freshman Kenneth Smith. “I like the way we learned before and the new teacher changes it, teaching in a different way.”
Some of the students became emotional as teachers announced they were leaving. Teary-eyed hugs came from every direction when English teacher Mrs. Felix-Brown revealed her departure.
“I’m really going to miss her and her class,” said senior Tyrone Edwards.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Latasha Jacks
Staff Writer
Gallaudet University recently visited King High School to support those students who are deaf.
Speech therapist Dr. Deborah Spencer organized a group of students with hearing loss to attend the presentation.
Tami Santimyer, a college recruiter who is deaf, spoke to the students through sign language in the library. She brought along with her two American Sign language/English Interpreters, Mirana Horwitz and Jennifer Quinn.
“I would like to know about sign language and it would help me out because its hard for me to hear especially when I’m sitting in the back,” junior Tinaya Edwards said.
Gallaudet University is the world's only university with programs that offers a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in American Sign Language (ASL). It offers 28 majors to deaf and hard of hearing, and a small percentage number of hearing individuals.
“I have a bilateral hearing loss,” junior Katia Dickerson said. “I have organized a group here with Dr. Spencer. The purpose of this group at King High School is to help students support each other, talk about needs and more ways to interact with each other.”
Gallaudet University’s mission is the advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Jakobi Lundy-Bass
Staff Writer
When outsiders look at Loyola High school they can readily see the dedicated teachers, staff, and students. However, Loyola owes its success in part to the school’s board members.
The board members have the responsibility of managing the school in a number of ways. The position brings a lot of responsibility. Unlike public school boards, the members are not elected, or paid. In fact, members offer monetary support of the school. So what is the motivation to serve on the board?
“I was invited by the President (of the school) since I supported the mission of Loyola and other Jesuit programs,” said board member Charlie Rutherford.
“There-were three principal motivations: I liked the mission. I liked the fact that we are preparing them academically and spiritually for the future,” board member Bill Conelly said. “I had skills that I thought might be useful, and the energy to work on Loyola’s agenda. I like and respect the people, leadership, faculty, staff and board members.”
Among other things, Loyola’s school board puts together several events to advertise the school. The events include the Carron-Mastrangelo fund-raising dinner. Money that is raised goes towards operating the school.
Another is a Detroit Tigers event. The event includes food and an auction of items that are donated for the event. The event also gives students and donors the opportunity to meet. The day ends with participants attending a Detroit Tigers game.
Some board members are solely responsible for providing the Loyola men with a first rate Catholic education through the McNish foundation, which allows for those developing men to be around first rate minds.
“I joined the board because I believe strongly in the mission of Loyola: ‘a culture of hope and academic success for young men challenged by an urban environment ...’” board member Mike Nolan said. “At Loyola my efforts and monetary support can make a difference. We are impacting the lives and the future of 150 young men, who otherwise might succumb to the Detroit streets. Loyola is making a difference. We are giving our students a taste of success, in academics, sports, and life. We are giving them an opportunity for college or a career. I am proud to be a part of this.”
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Nicholas Lee
Staff Writer
Loyola High School gathered together on Dec. 1 for a pep rally to honor the victory of their varsity football team in the Division 7 State Finals.
The pep rally kicked off with the acknowledgment of all the players and staff of the varsity football team then followed by team and individual pictures with the championship trophy.
Then students of Loyola really had something to smile about after school president Mark Luteke granted a day off of school Dec. 8.
And to wrap it all up head coach John Callahan gave a motivational speech to all the students.
(12/17/14 6:00pm)
By Fatou Snow
Staff Writer
Founder of the NAACP and Harvard graduate W.E.B. Du Bois once said “A system cannot fail those it was never meant to protect.”
On Nov. 24 ABC News’ Dan Abrams analyzed the grand jury’s decision in the case of Mike Brown and Darren Wilson and said: “This grand jury decided that there was no crime worth trying.”
How is a loss of life, a case not worth trying? The grand jury—consisting of nine whites and three African Americans—only needs nine votes to reach a verdict. Is this an ironic coincidence?
As a daughter of a Senegalese native, I was puzzled but not surprised to hear Abrams statement and the result of this case.
For a journalist of Abrams’ reputation to allow such harsh words to flow from his mouth it is, quite heinous to hear. According to him, it’s like the grand jury blatantly said: Mike Brown’s life does not matter, my life does not matter, your life does not matter, nobody’s life matters. It is obvious that this country was not founded on laws to protect black people. I realize that I cannot change the mindset of groups of people with 1 opinion article; however, I can attempt to educate others.
In my opinion, fighting violence with violence is pointless because it only leads to ignorance and a more destructive society. Politicians and lawyers use their knowledge of law to their advantage. Protests are a great act of voicing your rights, but unfortunately, protests only get you so far. Knowledge is power and in order to prosper as a people, we as African Americans must educate ourselves.
