Teacher of the Year

Adios, Au Revoir, Goodbye
christine larouere
SPORTS EDITOR
B
Photo Credit: Christine LaRouere
e sure to check out the senior supplement
that is stuffed within your issue of Newsprint.
The senior staffers recounted their four years
at Mercy. The supplement includes spirit
week themes, photos and the senior college list for
the class of 2012. Unlike last year, this supplement
features each year of the seniors’ high school career.
Take a look at the supplement to reminisce on the
last four years.
newsprint
Open up the paper and take a look!
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL 24 MAY 2012 VOL. 66 ISS. 6
29300 W. 11 MILE RD FARMINGTON HILLS, MI
Fair Use:k2spice.blogspot.com
Teacher of the Year
Dangerous
Drugs Sold at
Gas Stations
tori noble
STAFF REPORTER
Photo Credit: Mr. Larry Baker
E
Ms. Ann Jaimeson poses with her second hour gym class after she was announced as the 2012 Teacher of the Year.
elaina weber
FEATURES EDITOR
“A
ll I could hear was my
name, and my first
thought was ‘Oh my
goodness.’”
Ms. Ann Jamieson is Mercy’s 2012
Teacher of the Year. Ms. Jamieson, or
Miss J as her students call her, was busy
setting up for her second hour gym class
when she caught wind of the news. Her
first reaction was to freeze.
“My second thought was that I had to
give a speech,” Ms. Jamieson said with
a laugh.
Every year the Teacher of the Year
was new. People were nice. I felt like
I was supposed to be here.”
This award proves that Mercy
feels that Ms. Jamieson is meant to
be here, too. This may be especially
true of the graduating class of 2012,
as Ms. Jamieson formed a close bond
with this class. A group of seniors
referred to as the “Silver Crew” drops
in at S18 every morning before first
hour to visit with each other and Ms.
Jamieson.
“Miss J. deemed us the Silver
Crew after making fun of our all gray
Jamieson came to Mercy after working
at a school on an Indian Reservation
in Wisconsin for a year. She gave up
a solid job in Illinois, sold her home,
and moved to Wisconsin because she
believed that she was called to help
the less fortunate. After a year, Ms.
Jamieson said she felt the reservation
was an unhealthy environment for
her to teach in. After finding Ms.
Jamieson’s resume online, Sr. Regina
offered her a spot to stay the night at
the convent before Ms. Jamieson’s job
interview.
“People held the door for me at
Mercy,” Ms. Jamieson said, “and that
makes a speech at the graduation
ceremony. Because Ms. Jamieson
traditionally reads the senior sayings,
there will be a shift in casting at
the 2012 Commencement. As the
graduates cross the stage to receive
their diplomas, Mrs. Kathy Sill will
read off their hand-picked senior
sayings.
Ms. Jamieson, an essential
member of the Mercy staff for 27
years, was described as “genuinely
caring” in student nominations,
as announced over the morning
announcements on Friday, May 11
by Principal Carolyn Witte. Ms.
Story continued on page 11
veryone has been told not
to do illegal drugs. We
know that smoking pot, or
injecting heroin is not only
bad for the human body, but can get
users—especially those under the age
of 21—in big trouble with the law. But
what about legal drugs?
With the increasing sophistication
of drug production technology has
come new—and legal—ways to
get high, methods that are often
more dangerous than their illegal
counterparts. One such example is
“spice,” a form of synthetic marijuana.
The drug, which is sold under a
variety of brand names like K2, Salvia,
Demon, and Black Sabbath, has been
developed as a legal—but statistically
more
dangerous—alternative
to
marijuana, that anyone, including
Mercy students, can buy.
“There has been no testing
and they have no idea what effect
drugs like spice really have on the
brain,” says former DEA agent and
Bloomfield Township police officer
Wetzl. “There is no oversight. We
have no way of predicting the longterm consequences, until they happen
to someone who was smoking it, but
then it’s too late.”
Story continued on page 10
Conflict in Syria Affects Mercy Family
“I
f someone picked up the
phone, and said something
bad about the government in
one of their conversations,
they’d disappear,” said senior Jena Raslan.
“And that was before the revolution.”
Syria is a country located in the Arab
Spring and is about the size of the state
of Ohio. Since January 26, 2011 public
demonstrations and protests against its
President and totalitarian dictator Bashar
al-Assad have swept the country. In
return, Assad ordered the Syrian army
to quell the uprising—instead of quietly
ending the “revolution,” Assad’s actions
spawned the creation of the Free Syria
Army and resulted in irreversible damage
to the infrastructure and economy. The
UN estimates the total number of deaths
related to the conflict to be around 9,000,
while the number of Syrian refugees stands
in the hundreds of thousands.
Jena and her family are Syrian and
have extended family living in Homs,
the headquarters of the Free Syria Army,
4
days until
Memorial
Day
and Damascus, Syria’s capital.
Having heard personal accounts from
family members and friends of the
carnage, the Raslan family has been
permanently affected by a conflict
the raping of women, the decapitating of
children.”
Hazam described one incident where
soldiers of the Syrian Army demanded
the use of his mother and father’s three-
Photo Credit: Jena Raslan
katie denton
STAFF REPORTER
Jena Raslan and her extended family in Syria before the revolution.
happening over 2,000 miles away
from their home in West Bloomfield.
“We are constantly worried,”
said Hazam Raslan, Jenna’s father. “
There is no single human right that
has not been violated by the Syrian
government: the killing of innocents,
6
days until
Moving Up
7
story home as a sniping outpost to shoot
people on the streets below. After the
soldiers used the roof for about three
days, they made sure to destroy the
home before they left.
Because of incidents like this, most
Syrians are reluctant to leave their houses
days until
Graduation
15
upon fear of being shot and killed.
“They city is a ghost city, no one
can walk on the streets, especially in
the downtown area,” said Hazam. “The
thugs will shoot at animals if they can’t
find people,” he added.
This has had an effect on the local
industry and industrial output, especially
in the case of the Raslan’s grandparents.
Jena’s grandfather was unable to visit
his factory for eight months because the
area it was located was was declared a
military zone. He wanted to avoid the
fate of a brave friend who went to check
on his downtown business and was
sniped while traveling there.
Arrest without cause or explanation
is also commonplace. Part of the
Raslan’s extended family had soldiers
raid their home. The men stole any
anything of value, including cell phones,
destroyed the house, and took their three
teenage boys into custody.
The boys, who were subjected to
torture while incarcerated, were only
released after their family offered
a monetary bribe to certain corrupt
days until the
end of exams
Graphic Credit: Maggie Blake
Jena Raslan and her father share a personal account of the devastation
Syria is located on the eastern end of
the Mediterranean Sea.
officials.
Hazam further explained that this
practice of kidnapping youth has
developed into a profitable business. The
officials, or the “Ghost” people, abduct
the children of wealthy Syrians and
demand astronomical amounts of money
for their release. If the families refuse or
cannot afford the amount, their children
will be killed.
Fear of kidnapping has also led to
the shortening of the Syrian school
day and increased fear over school bus
transportation.
Story continued on page 10
16
days until the
first day of
summer
2012
student life
Photo Credit: LORE Staff
2
24
MAY
Moving Up: A Mercy Tradition
M
Photo Credit: LORE Staff
ercy High is full of
unique traditions. Food
is a fascination: sports
teams are motivated
primarily by bagels, food is almost
always a part of any Mercy celebration,
and the thrill of getting pasta bar can
be one of the highlights of the school
year. Mercy’s diversity is distinctly
celebrated through Ethnic Bazaar, and
the talent show displays the exceptional
abilities of Mercy girls. Part of Mercy’s
unique culture includes one of our most
distinctive traditions: the Moving Up
ceremony.
The Moving Up ceremony is certainly
quirky, and Mercy girls enjoy every part
of it. For those who will be experiencing
Moving Up for the first time this year, it’s
a hectic, crazy, uniquely Mercy tradition.
Moving Up occurs on one of the
last days of school, right before finals
week. Each class sits in its assigned
section: seniors front and center, juniors
on the left, sophomores on the right, and
freshmen crowded into the back of the
auditorium. After the seniors file out
while “Pomp and Circumstance” plays,
all the Mercy girls link hands and form
a massive chain. Led by the teachers,
the girls weave around the auditorium in
organized pandemonium until each class
is sitting in the seats that will be theirs for
the next school year. Everyone literally
‘moves up’ to the next year’s seats, and
then joins in singing “We are Mercy” in
unison.
Moving Up is a central part of the
Mercy experience, and has been from the
beginning.
Sister Nancy Thompson remembers
the ceremony from Mercy’s earliest
days, when Mercy was still at in its first
facilities. However, she remembers
Mercy girls join hands and weave through the aisles during the hectic Moving Up ceremony.
christine larouere
“
Sports Editor
s
“
five by five
Moving Up quite differently than the
chaotic rush that it is today. “We had to
move up in silence. We moved like we
do today, weaving through the aisles,
but we were all silent while the school
song played.”
When Mercy moved to its current
Farmington Hills location, the Moving
Up ceremony stayed with the school.
Dr. Cheryl Kreger, president of Mercy,
is a Mercy graduate of 1966 and was
part of one of the first graduating
classes from the new facilities.
“It’s been a long-standing tradition,”
said Dr. Kreger. “It was done in silence
and we walked to the old school song.
Parents did not come in our day. It was
strictly an event for the girls. It was
a solemn event, like the passing of a
torch.”
After Moving Up, all the girls sing a spirited rendition of the school song, “We are Mercy.”
Both Sister Nancy and Dr. Kreger
graduates from Mercy still remember
“There was a lot more discipline,
vividly remember their old school
Moving Up, and Mrs. Sill did not want
song—“Builders of Tomorrow,” written especially before we switched to
some students to be deprived of this
modular scheduling.” Mrs. Sill places
by Sister Dolores Niertka.
unique Mercy ceremony.
“It was really dramatic. It wasn’t a the changes around the 1970s.
However, something had to
By the time that Mrs. Anne Eddy
spirited song,” said Dr. Kreger.
change, so reforms were made.
The ceremony has changed in a few graduated in 1998, Moving Up had been
“My junior year they tried to
ways since then. The school song is reduced to pure chaos.
reinstate the holding hands to slow us
“My freshman and sophomore years
different, the girls hold hands, and the
down,” said Mrs. Eddy. Reflecting
pace is much faster. It’s impossible we just ran through the aisles and it was
back on it, Mrs. Eddy said, “I think
to pin down a year or even a decade in crazy! It was just mass chaos,” she said.
it’s really nice to take time to move
In Mrs. Eddy’s junior year, however,
which the ceremony transformed from
up because when we did it, it was
solemn to lively, but many of Mercy’s the concerned teachers decided to
over in two seconds.” In addition,
teachers have taught here long enough to become involved. Mrs. Sill remembers
the ceremony is now monitored by
some teachers being displeased with the
notice the difference.
teachers who try to slow it down for
Mrs. Kathy Sill acknowledges disorder, and a few even wanted Moving
reasons of safety.
the changing tradition, and connects Up to be cancelled.
Moving Up is a special tradition
Mrs. Sill, along with many other
the more energetic ceremony to a
that Mercy girls, and our alumni,
more relaxed Mercy in general. She teachers, argued against cancelling such
treasure. It’s another one of Mercy’s
remembers a time when the uniforms an important event.
customs that helps to create our unique
“I said that Moving Up is a Mercy
were more orderly and the hallways were
culture.
tradition,” said Mrs. Sill.
Many
quiet and patrolled by seniors.
Photo Credit: Haley Fox
christina hadley
staff reporter
Katie Rizik ‘15
Photos Credit: Christine LaRouere
Claire Dinan ‘14
MR. Scalzi
Jordan
Zurke ‘13
bianca
‘12‘12
katie yaldo
koehler
ms.gibbons
callan ‘11
maura
Have you ever p os ted Yout ub e vi de os i n hopes to become a Yout ube s en s at i on ?
Haha! No, I haven’t.
Unfortunately no.
Yes, I have spent multiple
Friday nights trying to be
funny on the internet in
hopes of popularity.
I mean, I’ve never really
wanted to be the next
Rebecca Black...
Yes. Especially since the
dance off for Sweepstakes.
5x5
D o yo u pay for m os t of your h ig h s chool ex p en s es ?
No, my parents usually do.
My parents pay for most of
it.
I pay for what I can
because I have a highpaying lifeguard position at
LifeTime Fitness.
Umm, not really. I mean
I pay for some things, but
it’s mostly my parents
that pay for my school
stuff.
Mostly my parents paid
for my high school stuff,
but I did have to work to
save up for college.
W h a t i s your favor i te pl a c e i n t he s t ate of Mi chi g an ?
Probably
downtown
Ann Arbor.
My favorite place is being
at my lake in the summer.
Ann Arbor for sure. I do
enjoy the artsy enviroment
as well as the shopping and
restaurants.
Definitely
Harbor
Springs. It’s the best place
I know.
My bed.
D o you u se a ny tec hn ol ogy, l i ke t he Ni ke ban d, to hel p you s t ay f i t ?
I use treadmills.
I use the Nike App on my
iPhone to learn certain
exercises while I am at the
gym to stay in top physical
condition.
I’ve used the Wii Fit
before, but besides that I
usually just do stuff on my
own.
No, I don’t need to pay for
gadgets to keep this body.
“
“
Do I exercise? No.
W i l l yo u u s e t h e c o m p u te r l a b m o r e i f M e rc y e n d s u p p u t t i n g i n M a c s ?
Yes, for sure.
Oh for sure! Macs are
much easier to use and I
like them much better.
Probably not. To be honest
I have stepped in the lab
once in my high school
career. But hey, Go Mercy
Technology!
Haha I can only imagine
any of the seniors coming
back to Mercy to use the
computers in the lab.
No,
I
am
already
overwhelmed with the
tablet, iPad and whatever
new stuff is coming out.
2012
24
MAY
student life
3
Mercy’s Best and Brightest
Valedictorian Kelly Redmond beams alongside Salutatorians Elaina Weber and Lilliana Haddad as they receive recognition for their academic
excellence and impressive involvement in the Mercy community.
kathleen abenes
WEB EDITOR
F
rom a competitive pool of
12 outstanding students,
Kelly Redmond was named
Valedictorian of the class of
2012, while Lilliana Haddad and Elaina
Weber were named Salutatorians of the
class of 2012.
“I was shocked and surprised
because I had no idea that there was
going to be two salutatorians,” said
Haddad. “It was a moment before the
news set in and I was happy.”
All three seniors have two things
in common: they are each members
of the National Honor Society, and
have balanced school, extracurricular
activities, and service without missing
a beat.
“I was excited and sad when it was
announced,” said Kelly Redmond. “I
was excited to tell my parents the news,
but at the same time, I was sad because
all of the girls in that room deserved to
be honored.”
While only three students received
top honors, the Administrative Team
held a Catherine McAuley Tea
celebration in honor of all the finalists
and their accomplishments at Mercy.
The candidates included: Olivia
Cholewa, Mary Haapala, Katherine
Koehler, Cortney McKay, Emily
Rabahy, Christin Samona, Monica
Shammas, Mary Sheena and Jaclyn
Wilke.
“I was shocked and felt so lucky,”
said Weber. “I worked hard, and it’s
nice to be able to point at something
that shows where my hard work got
me.”
To be considered as a finalist for
Valedictorian or Salutatorian, students
must have a 3.95 cumulative grade point
average. From this highly intelligent
group, members of Administration
interview each candidate and receive
an application to review her criteria
from other areas, including leadership,
service and extracurricular activities.
The senior class and staff members
also provide input on who they believe
should receive these honors.
Involved in a variety of activities,
while maintaining an outstanding
GPA, Redmond’s title of Valedictorian
is well-deserved. Redmond has been
involved in all eight theatre productions
since arriving at Mercy. She been a part
of the cast and has worked behind the
scenes with the stage crew.
In addition to the plays and
musicals, Redmond is also a part of
the forensics team and has attended
Nationals for the past three years.
She has been a mime for three years
as well. Redmond’s involvement in
Mercy’s drama department has led her
to be president of Mercy’s International
Thespian Society chapter.
Redmond has been involved with
Mac Lab
R
!
n
u
a
A lem
h
s
E
Mr.
margeret reaume
staff reporter
A
Photos credit: Mary Kate Winn
spring break last April and looks
forward to her future experiences at the
University of Michigan. Haddad hopes
to attend medical school after graduation
and wants to study HIV/AIDS.
“Thank you,” added Haddad, “for all
the girls who shaped who I am and the
bonds that we formed.”
Like Haddad, Elaina Weber, the
other Salutatorian, was a member and
vice-chair of the Human Relations
Council for three years before being
elected Student Council vice president
her senior year.
Weber has been very involved in
the sports program. She participated in
the soccer program for all four years at
Mercy and is captain of the varsity team.
She also played JV basketball for two
years and was captain her sophomore
year.
She has participated in club soccer
since she was eight and played for Club
Michigan in Brighton.
Weber is a member of the Spanish
Honor Society and also is a Green Club
officer. Additionally, she is features
editor of Newsprint. She has been on the
Sweepstakes committee all four years
and has headed the committee for two
years.
This fall, Weber will be attending
Fordham University in New York
City. She is interested in studying premedicine but has not decided yet.
“I want to have a family and a
career,” said Weber, “but family is really
important to me.”
Weber had some parting advice for
Mercy students.
“Take time for people,” said Weber.
“Don’t just focus on doing well in
everything. These last four years were
life-changing, and I couldn’t have
picked a better school.”
,
r
i
evo
From N15 to
curriculum,” he said. “Students will
take off.” As of next year, Mercy
freshmen will be required to take a
nother stage of Mercy 2.0 course in foundations of design, which
is currently taking place will replace Art Foundations and Tech
behind the scenes, perhaps Overview. According to Mr. Baker,
the most exciting addition “This new class will include material
to the Mercy curriculum. “The place is elements of art foundations with a
digital component, including web
changing,” said Mr. Baker excitedly.
This fall the current tech room, N-15, pages, audio, and video.”
Similar to the current computers,
will be transformed into a completely
different learning environment. The the new machines will have Adobe
new room, which is being re-cabled and software like InDesign and Photoshop.
re-wired this summer, will be enhanced New iWork software, such as Pages,
with 25 brand new iMacs and furniture. Keynote, and Numbers, will also
be loaded on to the new
computers. The combination
of new and old programs
will
allow
students
to
explore
different
technologies while still
being comfortable with
the programs they have
experience with.
“This project will set
the foundation for new
curriculum possibilities,”
said Mr. Baker. “wwI
feel so good about it
Two students use their laptops during Mrs.
Kusch’s accounting class.
because new hardware
The iMacs will be arranged in
a semi-circle with the teacher
positioned in the middle at a
station that Mr. Baker calls
the command center. In this
configuration,
the
teacher
will be able to see students’
screens and will no longer have
to wonder if the students are
paying attention.
This substantial step toward
Mercy’s future is being funded
by a variety of generous sources.
The Mercy Dad’s Club is paying This iMac is similar to the computers stufor the cabling of the room, the dents will use in the Mac lab next year.
Mercy Mother’s Club is paying for
the new furniture, and “Witte’s Wish,” and curriculum are being combined, not
along with a private donor, is paying for just buying cool new tech toys.”
the computers.
Most importantly, the Mac lab gives
Mr. Baker is extremely excited about Mercy students exposure to projects
the Mac lab and believes it can provide and tools they will likely use once they
a big boost for the school’s curriculum.
leave high school.
“Mercy has strong potential to
“This serves 21st century students,”
have a strong graphic art and video Mr. Baker said.
the M-Hub Project since its beginning
and was a co-student director.
This past April, Redmond joined
Mrs. Dennis of Pastoral Ministry and
other Mercy students on the Habitat for
Humanity alternative spring break. She
also volunteers at Summer in the City
and is currently involved with the Army
Cadets of Southridge.
Next year, Redmond will be
attending the United States Military
Academy at West Point, the school she
has dreamt of attending for years. She
will be studying aerospace engineering
and hopes to work in the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, which is responsible
for developing and maintaining the
nation’s water and other environmental
resources.
Like Redmond, Lilliana Haddad, one
of two Salutatorians, has accomplished
much in her four years at Mercy. Haddad
is involved in the athletic program. She
participated in soccer her freshman year,
cross country for two years and lacrosse
for the past three years.
Besides athletics, Haddad is involved
with the French Club and French Honor
Society. Having served as a French
Honor Society officer for the past two
years, Haddad has developed a love of
the language. She hopes to be proficient
in French one day.
Haddad held many leadership roles
during her time at Mercy. She served as
Treasurer her sophomore year and has
been a member of the Human Relations
Council for the past two years. She is
also on the Lore staff as co-executive
social director.
As a senior, Haddad was a Link
Leader and helped mentor the incoming
freshwomen.
Like Redmond, Haddad took part in
the Habitat for Humanity alternative
Photo reprinted with permission from: John Eshlemen
Photo Credit: Mary Kate Winn
Kelly Redmond, Lilliana Haddad and Elaina Weber named Valedictorian and Salutatorians
On one trip to France, Mr. Eshleman explores a castle in Sarlat near the Dordogne river.
mary kate winn
christina hadley
STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER
L
ast summer, Mercy science
and history teacher John
Eshleman and his wife
decided that they wanted to go
to London, England and the Bordeaux
region of France. Just three days later,
their plane landed and their vacation
began. Mr. Eshleman says that this
spur-of-the-moment kind of trip is not
uncommon for him. In fact, he predicts
that he will end up doing something
simillar in the next few years. Mr. John
Eshleman is retiring.
Although some of his vacations aren’t
planned, he often plans his vacations far
in advance, and they take him many
places. Now, as he retires after 37 years
at Mercy, he’ll have more time to travel
as he pleases with his wife.
“The first really big trip my wife
and I went on together was to the South
Pacific,” said Mr. Eshleman. “We got to
snorkel and see some really cool stuff.
We went to Tahiti and a bunch of South
Pacific islands.”
Mr. Eshleman’s travels have taken
him all ove r the world, but he can’t pick
a favorite vacation destination.
“Picking a favorite place I’ve been
would be like picking a favorite child.
You just can’t do it,” he said.
Mr. Eshleman has the same
philosophy about picking his favorite
class to teach. He insists that there is
something special about each class he
teaches.
“I love teaching AP Biology because
the students you get are cream of the
Q&A
crop,” said Mr. Eshleman. “They are all
bright and motivated students. I also love
teaching Biology because you get the
freshmen and sophomores who are eager
to please and just sponges for knowledge.
And then of course American History,
which is like a hobby for me.”
Another hobby is his love of plays
and musicals. However, he says that he
prefers musicals to plays.
“Musicals are better, but a wellwritten play is always good. When you go
to London you can’t avoid going to see
the plays,” said Mr. Eshleman.
Mr. Eshleman looks forward to
watching many plays and musicals as
he travels this summer. After all, as
Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a
stage.”
Is it true you only buy socks from London?
I bought seven pairs of funky little socks from Spencers in London.
But no, I also buy American socks.
Do you prefer musicals or plays?
Musicals are better, but a well-written play is always good.
What is one activity you do for fun?
I love reading. I don’t read books though, I’m usually into magazines
like National Geographic.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
In high school, I got varsity letter in basketball and baseball.
Photo Credit: MTC Wire
ahead of them, the Tigers have been
criticized for the outrageous yearly
salaries many of the players receive,
saying that the team is “paying” for
their wins. Prince Fielder leads the
team, making almost $23 million a
year, followed by Miguel Cabrera
with $21 million and Justin Verlander
in close third with $20.1 million a
year. Overall, the Tigers have the
sixth highest team salary in the MLB.
Whether or not the team is “paying”
for their wins is still up for debate.
Players who play exceptionally well
demand a higher salary, as it is in
any industry. It is not fair to pick
one team and say they are paying for
their wins. But how many high-paid
players are too many? When does a
manager need to take a step back and
decide that the team is strong enough?
Freshman
Mackenzie
Zierau
doesn’t believe all the hype. “I
don’t think they’re paying for the
wins,” she said. “It’s complicated.
Every team pays a lot for their
players, what sets the Tigers apart?”
Playin’ at the College Level
A
t high schools across the
country, 6.9 million athletes
spend hours of their time
practicing to improve their
ability in their chosen sport. Parents are
willing to spend significant amounts of
money for trainers and private coaches
in an effort to enhance their children’s
athleticism and ability in their sport. A
lot of pressure is placed on kids from a
very early age to perform better, faster
and stronger. Sometimes entire families,
including parents and grandparents,
routinely attend each game in which
their child plays. Many parents even
attend their children’s practices.
Why all the money, time, and
pressure? Many young people and their
families dream of the opportunity to play
sports at the college level. Yet, since
so many share the same dream, it has
become increasingly competitive and
difficult to secure a spot on any college
sports team or even to be recruited.
The reality is that the hours spent
playing and practicing may not transfer
into marketability for a college recruiter.
Exposure at the right level is crucial but
other factors may play more of a role
in a recruitment decision. A college
coach may be looking for a player
with a particular height, size, skill or
position to meet his or her team’s needs.
championship and competing in the
regional
and
state
tournaments.”
This year, Mercy welcomed three
new lacrosse coaches. JV coaches Paul
Kahler and Gary Shaw are Mercy dads
who each have a love of coaching and
a desire to learn the sport of lacrosse.
Assistant Varsity coach Courtney
VanAntwerp graduated from Mercy in 2007.
After playing four years of varsity lacrosse
during her years at Mercy, VanAntwerp went
on to play for Michigan State’s team and sees
big things on the horizon for Mercy lacrosse.
“We are stepping up our game,”
said VanAntwerp. “We are a team to be
reckoned with and come states, we will
have a lot of people talking about us.”
Varsity captains Julie Wood, Ally
Shrader, and Alex Connor love sharing
their favorite game with their teammates.
“The team is stronger as a whole
this year,” said Wood, “and there is a
lot of positive energy in the group.”
“We have a lot of talent and
The odds of playing sports in
college are extremely small. Less
than 10% of high school athletes
will play a sport at the collegiate
level and only one-third of those
will receive an athletic scholarship.
According to the NCAA, only 3.1%
of boys and 3.5% of girls will play on
college basketball teams. The sport with
the highest percentage of high school
athletes going on to play at the collegelevel is men’s ice hockey with only 11%.
Much of the focus on high school
sports is a result of the desire to receive
an athletic scholarship to college.
Especially in these hard economic
times, people are pinning their hopes
on an athletic scholarship to finance
their college education. Unfortunately,
statistics make it clear that high school
According to Active.com, here are some tips for
getting recruited and possibly receiving a scholarship:
Make a list of
schools you
could actually
play for.
Create a
video that
proves
athletic
ability
Contact
college
coaches
to express
interest.
Take
classes
required
to meet
NCAA
students should not depend on
receiving an athletic scholarship
to finance their college education.
Many gifted athletes are not being
awarded athletic scholarships.
High school athletes have to
consider the best ways to develop
their talent and market themselves
in order to increase the odds of
being recruited by a college coach.
Register
with the
NCAA.
Increase
game and
exposure at
a university
camp.
Photo Credit: Adelia Davis
chloe henderson
STAFF REPORTER
The bottom line is: receiving a scholarship to play sports at the college level is a rare privilege. High
school students should focus their energy on doing well academically, rather than hoping to receive a
sports scholarship.
enthusiasm on our team,” said Connor.
“Our ultimate goal is to win but we
also want to enjoy the season.”
The JV team also is working hard
to achieve the goals they have set for
themselves. Kahler
and Shaw are
enthusiastic and
encouraging.
With
many
new players
as
well
as
more
experienced
players,
JV
is
focusing
on
learning
the game and
developing
s k i l l s .
“One of our
goals is to have
fun and enjoy the
experience,” said Kahler,
“and our other goal is
to improve and to see if
the girls like the game
enough to continue in
the off season.”
Overall, this
year’s
lacrosse
program is making
a comeback, and a
strong one at that.
Determination,
spirit, and skill are
just a few of the
qualities that will
lead these teams
to victory. As
Mercy’s lacrosse
program becomes
more competitive,
coaches
and
players alike are
looking forward
to a good finish
to the season.
“We do have
some improving
to
do,”
said
Wood, “but I
hope we are able
to accomplish our
goal of winning
Catholic League!” Sophomore Tori Sullivan wins the draw at Mercy’s game against Marian.
Photo Credit: Alex Connor
P
innie? Check. Mid-calf socks?
Check. Lacrosse stick? Check.
Between the gear and the
girls, Mercy’s lacrosse teams
are ready for their big comeback. With
new coaches and a drive to win, Mercy’s
lacrosse program is developing quickly.
Lacrosse is currently one of the fastest
growing sports in the nation. Today, most high
schools and colleges have lacrosse teams and
more add the sport to their roster each year.
Mercy is no exception. With
just over a month left in the season,
Mercy’s lacrosse program is seeing
more and more improvement each
game. The Varsity team currently has
a record of 10 wins and 7 losses. “We are going out there with goals,”
said Varsity head coach Lindsey Hoyt,
“and working harder in each game, no
matter the odds. Some of our goals
include winning the Catholic League
hitters in the league today. He steps
up to bat behind Miguel Cabrera and
plays first base. Miguel Cabrera, too,
is one of the best hitters in the league.
However, his transition to third base
is worrisome to some experts, since
he is infamous for making lots of
errors at that position. And hot off
his best season yet, pitcher Justin
Verlander looks promising as well.
Following his Cy Young Award and
the American League MVP award
last year, Verlander marked his spot
as an important asset to the team.
Although having a repeat of last
season is nearly impossible, he could
come pretty darn close this year.
Despite the strong future they have
Prince Fielder and Andy Dirks share a fist-bump after a successful play.
Sick
Lax
Bro
Mercy’s lacrosse program steps up its game
maggie blake
STAFF REPORTER
took home their first division win
since 1987 last year. After a variety
of injuries last season, the Tigers lost
in the second round of the playoffs
to the Texas Rangers. This season,
there are talks of the Tigers becoming
the next World Series Champs.
Senior Angelina Yonan seems to
agree. “This season looks promising.
They started off strong,” Yonan said.
“And their line-up is really great.”
One name comes to mind when
you think of the 2012 Detroit Tigers
line-up: Prince Fielder. A headlinemaking, nine year, $214 million
contract secured his spot as the one
to watch in the upcoming season.
Fielder is one of the best left handed
Photo Credit: Joseph Novak/Creative Commons
D
etroit has had its fair
share of ups and downs
in the sports world this
year. From the Pistons’
disappointing
basketball
season
to the Red Wings home-winning
streak, and then, great upset in the
playoffs, we’ve seen it all. One team,
however, that the city seems to be
counting on, is the Tigers. Coming
off of an American League Central
win last season and the new (pricey)
additions to the team, the Tigers are
expected to do big things this year.
The team finished first in the
Central division for the first time
since joining the group in 1998 and
ie Bla
ke
I
have seen girls who have
literally pushed themselves to
their physical limit. Torn ACL,
muscle pull, concussions,
and broken ankles are just some
of the physical injuries happening
on the field and from what I have
seen from the stands. Some injuries
can cause life- changing problems
where athletes have had to quit
their sport and ultimately take care
of their health. Now, ask yourself,
are injuries like these worth it?
Many athletes state that pushing
themselves to their physical limit
is what people expect to make it
into the ‘big leagues’ these days.
Athletics would not be as exciting
if we were not watching the best of
the best. Pushing oneself physically
and mentally prepares the athlete for
tough competition. However, how
much is too much? When does it
become too dangerous? S t u d i e s
have looked at the strength of
conditioning staff during off- season
training. These studies have revealed
that some conditioning staff members
mold athletes to have them become
the most physically fit the athlete
has ever been. This means that these
staff members are making the athlete
do drills unfit for the competitor’s
body type. Therefore, it puts the
athlete in danger and the trainer gets
a harsh reputation. So, are trainers
pushing athletes too much to make
themselves look like the best trainer?
Training is vital to almost every
sport, but there are dangers of intense
training and athletes returning to
the field not fully recovered from
injuries. Even when athletes are
injured, they push themselves to
continue playing because of the
mentality created by the sport
world we are living in today. One
is considered ‘weak’ when an injury
does not seem threatening. Yet, there
have been multiple cases where an
injury doesn’t look bad, but one
wrong move of the body could leave
an athlete paralyzed. There comes a
point when more caution needs to be
taken, beginning with coaches and
trainers. Coaches need to understand
that when a player is injured, even
when it is the best player on the
team, it is necessary to allot time
for the player to fully recover.
Mercy has been blessed with
such devoted coaches and awesome
trainers that will take every precaution
to decrease any Mercy athlete’s
chance of getting injured. However,
when the time comes to leave this
athletic department, we must take the
responsibility to protect our bodies
and know their physical limits.
monica shammas
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
: Mag
g
christine larouere
SPORTS EDITOR
MAY
Eat ‘em up Tigers
o Cre
dit
Pushing it
to the Limit
24
Phot
Photo Credit: Erin Pienta
sports
2012
4
5 entertainment
2012
24
MAY
You Tube Stars in Your Own Backyard
Poolside
Reads
megan bolton
STAFF REPORTER
Mercy students have taken to the web to showcase their talents
adelia davis
STAFF REPORTER
S
Photo Credit: Megan Bolton, Graphic Credit: Jessie LaRouere
ummer frees up your
schedule, giving you time
to do what you love. It is
time to curl up on your lawn
chairs and tackle that list of books you
have been promising yourself you
would read since the fall. Here are a
few suggestions to add to your ever
growing summer reading list.
For those interested in inspiring
or spiritual-themed fiction, Mitch
Albom’s novel The Five People You
Meet in Heaven is a captivating story
that recounts the life and death of a
maintenance man named Eddie. After
dying while trying to save a little girl,
Eddie finds himself in the afterlife
where he encounters five people who
significantly affected his life.
People who enjoy popular movies
may find that it is based on a great
book, like Suzanne Collins the Hunger
Games trilogy. For everyone who
has already read and seen the Hunger
Games check out the next book
Catching Fire and Mocking Jay. The
fictional novel continues the story of
Katniss Everdeen, who gave herself
as tribute in place of her sister in the
Hunger Games. Her story continues in
the futuristic nation of Panem.
“If anyone hasn’t read the Hunger
Games, they’re going to want to get
into that,” said librarian Mrs. Corte.
1:15/2:43
A great book for high school girls to
read and learn from is Elissa Schappell
Junior Julianne Williams has her own Youtube channel where she sings and plays guitar to songs by Adele, The Jonas Brothers, and Regina Spektor.
Blueprint for Building Better Girls.
This
book consists of short stories about
Because
jumpstarting
yourself
on
t’s true: YouTube and Mercy girls songs by artists she admires, either a
love of music.
common major issues among female
go together like peanut butter and cappella or while playing guitar. She got YouTube has become such a trend, she
“The best part about having it is
teens. The teenagers in Schappell’s
jelly. From looking up funny the idea to start her own channel when doesn’t think that everyone with an active
being able to share the gift God gave me
stories are spot-on and wonderful;
channel has the right idea.
cat videos, to stalking Rebecca she saw other users who had their own.
with the rest of the world.”
their power struggles, insecurities, and
“I think some people just upload
Black, or even checking out the newest
“I watched other people cover songs
sharp-eyed observance of their own and
Maroon 5 tune, Mercy girls like their and really enjoyed them,” she said. “So videos of themselves to try to make
others’ humiliation ring with wit and
YouTube. But some girls are even on I hoped that by making my own channel themselves famous or to get attention,
truth.
YouTube.
other people would like to watch mine in but not for me. It’s all about the music.”
Local libraries provide teen reading
Sophomore Amy Jenereaux also has
Ever since creating a personal return.”
lists and offer book give-aways. You
YouTube channel to upload videos of
Williams likes to cover ‘the singer/ her own channel, but is fairly new to the
can find a link to Young Adult Library
yourself became the latest fad, people songwriter’ genre, with the occasional virtual vlog world.
Services Association, which offers
“I’ve only had it for about one month,
everywhere have jumped on the virtual pop song. She has covered artists
all kinds of reading lists, by going
band wagon.
Although not every such as Adele, VV Brown, The Jonas but so far it’s been pretty successful,” she
on Mercy’s Media Center page and
single person who uploads a video will Brothers, Regina Spektor and even Ingrid said.
clicking Michigan E Library.
Similar to Williams, Jenereaux
become the next Justin Bieber YouTube Michaelson. She tries to upload videos a
“I’m actually excited to have some
uploads videos of herself singing music
discovery, people can grow quite popular few times a month to be consistent.
free time to be able to read this summer,”
from their videos. Stars like GloZell,
She explains that the best part of and discussing music, as well. She
said freshman Alycia Washington.
Liz&Megan, and Boyce Avenue are now having her own YouTube channel is features both covered songs and original
Spend this summer delving into
known names thanks to their YouTube interacting with the other people who songs. One of her most recent songs is
Snap a picture with your
a
good
book. Here are a few more
a cover of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb”,
start. Some Mercy students are regularly share the same interests.
smartphone of this QR code
suggestions
recommended by the
featured on YouTube accounts.
“I like getting the responses from playing it on the guitar while singing
to go to youtube.com and
watch her cover of Ingrid
Washington Post teenage reading list:
Junior Julianne Williams has her people, but also connecting with people along with it.
Michaelson’s “Far Away.”
• Laurie Anderson’s Wintergirls
Jenereaux’s favorite part of having her
own channel to showcase her guitar and who share the same passion as I do,” said
• Sharon Draper’s Just Another
own YouTube account is spreading her
singing skills. Williams sings cover Williams.
Hero
• Simone Elkeles Perfect Chemistry
• Sarah Dessen’s Lock and Key
• Thomas Fathy’s Sleepless
• Nan
Willlard
Cappo’s
Unaccounted For
QR code created at qrcode.kaywa.com
I
Julianne Williams
ING
Photo credit: Jessie LaRouere
“He really is an inspiration and this
album shows his creativity the most
out of all his albums,” said Battersby.
“All the songs have their own message,
whether it’s deep or just cute. And the
tunes are catchy and make you sing
along too. But my favorites right now
are ‘Hidden Track’ and ‘93 Million
Miles.’”
Another undertone of Love is
the sublime message of saving the
earth. Sometimes you can judge the
book by its cover. One look at Mraz
and he can be easily stereotyped as
an environmentalist. He has recently
grown his hair past his shoulders and
often plays his concerts barefoot.
His green tendencies are especially
evident on “The World As I See It.”
“This spring we’ll plant saplings
that, based on an equation, equals
the amount of carbon emissions that
I release into the atmosphere with
all my flying and traveling with my
entourage,” Mraz said to Billboard.
com. “Our tour would be carbon
neutral and/or go above and beyond
that, and leave a trail of green in our
wake.”
Love Is a Four Letter Word is on
iTunes with a deluxe option available
with additional live tracks. Some say that
Mraz is better live than recorded so the
extra $4 merits the indulgence.
The album is, in one word, mellow.
It has just enough upbeat songs to be
labeled pop, but still has a bluegrass
folk feel that Mraz fans are looking for.
Overall, the album deserves an A- and is
well worth a listen.
Unaccounted For, set in Southeast
Michigan, is written by Nan Willard
Cappo, the mother of a Mercy alumni.
Photo credit: Jessie LaRouere
F
ifteen minutes changed
Jason
Mraz’s
life.
Inspired by a playful
beat in his head and a
sunny afternoon in San Diego,
Mraz put words to a melody
about surrendering to love. After
a quarter of an hour of writing,
he wrote the record holder for
most weeks spent on the billboard
charts, “I’m Yours.”
Four years after the release of
“I’m Yours” and ten years since his
first album, singer and songwriter
Mraz underwent an unforeseen
transformation in his new album
Love Is a Four Letter Word.
Slightly departing from his usual
upbeat acoustic feel, Love delves
into Mraz’s more meaningful blues
and jazz side.
Mraz found success in his radio
hits “I’m Yours” and “Lucky”
during 2008 and 2009. Since
then, he has toured worldwide and
become, essentially, a “hipster”.
Thus, with his new music, Mraz
tries more than ever to distance
himself from the mainstream songs
that most people expect from him.
The cover art for Jason Mraz’s album Love Is a Four Letter Word demonstrates the simplistic
The title itself plays to the message of love throughout the album.
far between.
coated lyrics of his previous album
underlying message in every song:
One letdown of Love is the lack of a
love. In an interview with Billboard. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.,
standout song. There is no extraordinary
com, Mraz said that he wants the album Mraz cuts deeper on tracks like “Who’s
song that is on repeat in your car. It is,
to “celebrate love in a way that all of Thinking About You Now?” and “In
instead, the album as a whole that grabs
us strive to be loved and to love well. Your Hands.” Many songs are meant to
your attention. No song sounds the
But really ‘love’ shows up through our make you sit back and think. It leaves
same, but all have a Mraz feel.
actions and how we help others and how long-time listeners wondering: where
Senior Veronica Battersby has been a
did the fun songs go? The usual playful
we serve others.”
Jason Mraz fan from the beginning.
Traveling away from the sugar- puns and clever one liners are few and
Photo re-printed with permission from: Atlantic Records
jessie larouere
STAFF REPORTER
Four Letter Word
A
OUR RA
T
Mraz Is
Writing by best-selling author Sarah
Dessen, Lock and Key follows the
story of Ruby, a teenage girl who is
abandoned by her mother.
6 features
IS THE PRICE
In this economy, many high schoolers are
relying more and more on scholarships to
help pay for college. But suprisingly, it’s not
only college parents should be worried about.
The cost of high school is on the rise, and
sometimes you don’t know just how much
you’re paying.
All costs are approximated by Newsprint
and all prices were obtained from
Administration. Individuals may pay more or
less depending on the student.
haley fox
STAFF REPORTER
cherima chungag
STAFF REPORTER
Photo credit: Haley Fox
FRESHWOMEN
This is it! After three long years of middle
around $70 each. The six to eight soft cover
school, you’re finally ready for your high
books read in English 9 are about $5 a book.
school debut. However, there are a few
In total, you’ve spent $380 on books.
38 weeks of school, that cost will be $760.
With the initial fee of $13,720, the $380
textbook cost, the $197 from homecoming,
things that need to be taken care of before
Then, homecoming rounds the bend. The
you can continue your education as a Mercy
ticket prices for homecoming are $35 for
lunch budget, the first year here
girl. Base tuition is $10,895--but add the
you and a date. The whole night, including
could cost $16,507--just as
$100 registration fee and $225 activity
boutonnière ($12), dress ($100), and dinner
much as a semester at
the $1,750 from sports fees, and the $760
fee and the cost is $11,220 before you’ve ($50), can end up costing around $197.
the University of
even put on your plaid skirt. Next on the
Michigan.
Say you want to make some friends by
list is the laptop. That, added to the highly joining a sport, for example, ice hockey. Mercy
recommended warranty, costs $2,500. hockey, at $1,750 a year, is in fact one of the
Adding the quick sum of just the tuition and most expensive sports to play at Mercy.
laptop, high school already costs $13,720.
23%
Lastly, a Mercy girl’s got to eat. If an incoming
However, next year’s freshwomen will trek freshwoman has a lunch budget of $20 dollars
the halls equipped with shiny new iPads. At a week and
we have around
around $750, they lower the initial cost from
$13,720 to $11,970-- a $1,750 reduction.
To attend your classes, you need
Let’s
61
9
,
19
$
say
your parents purchased
9
4
0
$2,
$16,335
sophomores have yet to start
School—it will probably be your cheapest.
buying standardized and AP
In sophomore year, the most common costs
testing prep books and paying for
seem to be Mercy swag, tablet repairs, and
college visits. They also already
homecoming and soph-semi expenses.
have their tablet in hand, cutting
“Sometimes, I feel like sophomore year is
more expensive than freshman year,” said
down the cost of their second year
exponentially.
sophomore Dominique Jones. “But when I
Because of the lower cost of
really think about it, freshman year really is
sophomore year, it would be wise for
more expensive because you have to buy a
10th graders to consider buying an
new laptop and you also have to spend a lot
ACT/SAT prep book now, going on a
of money on new uniforms.”
even getting a job in order to
for freshman, sophomores, and juniors,
offset the cost of their next
much less than students in the other two
grades. Unlike
20% expense total:
sophomore
expenses
college tour or two, and maybe
Although Mercy’s tuition is the same
sophomores actually end up spending
by category
Ladies, relish this year at Mercy High
OTHER
Photo credit: Haley Fox
7
$1,
DANCES
four textbooks new for
BOOKS
Total:
textbooks.
freshmen
expenses
two, more expensive, years
at Mercy.
juniors, many
SOPHOMORES
Total:
Photo credit: Haley Fox
$14,565
2012
7
24
MAY
Photo credit: MHS
RIGHT?
32%
00
1
,
45
senior
expenses
Photo credit:
Cherima Chun
gag
$
Gaphics credit: Haley Fox
TUITION
709
TECH
0
9
5
$2,
$71,409
by class
junior
expenses
AP exams. A single ACT plus Writing costs
probably have your license,
$50. Since most people take it three times,
which usually leads to the use of
you’ll spend $150 on the test, not including
a parent’s car or contributing to
the prep book ($25) and tutoring ($50/hour).
a carpool. Since you’ll more than
The AP exam is similarly expensive--$85 to
likely be driving yourself around to
take the test and $19 for the review book.
events, gas tends to be around $50
Your parents might end up paying $529.
In all, junior year will cost around $17,065.
per week, or $1,750 a school year.
And with senior year around the corner, it
You’ve also got another dance on the
may be time to look for
the most expensive dance you’ve encountered
yet with a $75 ticket. Dances this year are going
to cost around $630, should you choose to go
to all of them.
for three years, it’s probably looking a
bit shabby. Laptop repairs, if you don’t
have the warranty, could
Total:
to spend quite a bit of money
on applications, college visits,
and sending standardized
testing scores.
Because of expenses like
commencement services, allnight party, and graduation
video Mercy High School lists
senior tuition at $11,440
vs. $11,220 for the rest of
the school. However seniors
actually end up spending up
to a few thousand more than
their younger counterparts
because of all of the extra
expenses that go into being in
the last year of high school.
stress mess. This year, you’ll
Since you’ve had your Mercy laptop
$17,1
25
Snap a picture with your
smartphone of this QR code
to go to newsprintnow.net
for all prom 2012 expenses
This year also means the dreaded ACT and
all the various practices and social
get
breakdown of prom
Junior year is a guaranteed
calendar. A-Ball (or the Christmas Dance) is
24%
QR code created at qrcode.kaywa.com
$22,384
expensive.
The external battery
(which is usually the first to go)
costs $85, and just replacing
your pen costs $45.
a summer job to help
finance the coming
expenses.
Photo credit: Erica Canavan
:
l
a
t
o
T
QR
spending $1,078, up
from $807 last year.
Go to newsprintnow.
net or scan the QR code for a
breakdown of prom expenses!
“Appearance is everything,
and for prom, appearance
really matters,” Alison Jatlow
Levy, a retail strategist at
consulting firm Kurt Salmon
says in an interview with USA
Today. “You’ll probably see
people spending a little
beyond their means
to make the right
impression. It’s
like your Cinderella
night, so you pull out
all the stops.”
Senior Ashley Lyles
agrees with this sentiment.
“For many people, prom is
the biggest event of their
high school lives. They’re
going to spend a lot of
money if it means feeling
like a celebrity for a
night and impressing
their classmates for
maybe the last time.”
Seniors also have
code
SENIORS
As your high school career
comes to an end, you are
probably more than ready
to move on to college and
start the next phase in your
lives. There are, however, a few loose ends
(and expenses) that still need to be tied
up—one last year of tuition, varsity sports,
last minute tablet repairs, and of
course prom.
Coupon Cabin broke
down the statistics for Prom 2012.
According to a Visa survey, the
prom industry is valued at
$4 billion, with the
average family
JUNIORS
2012
editorials
Newsprint
is . . .
the official student
newspaper of Mercy
High School
a member
of the Michigan
Interscholastic Press
Association
published six times
a year
produced by
Mercy’s Advanced
Journalism class
can’t wait for
the next issue?
click on
NEWSPRINTNOW.net
for more!
E
“
beaten to death and the mother and twin
son were critically injured.
I was dumbfounded. I could barely
wrap my mind around the thought. I
did not know the family personally, but
they were part of my parish, part of my
community, and in some way intertwined
into my life.
Tragedy is a strange thought. It is
hard to fathom that so much evil truly
exists in our world or that someone could
have so much anger in his body to kill
his own father. It seemed impossible that
this was part of God’s plan.
After listening to the homily of
Deacon Gene at St. Fabian Parish the
following weekend, a comment he made
caught my attention. He spoke fervently
about God’s plan and how this situation
was not part of it. It was a choice that
one person made.
Within a week, I received a call from
a friend informing me of another death
in the Mercy community. The father of
The love and support
of the entire community has shown what
belonging to Mercy
truly means.
-Jaclyn Godwin, ‘13
jaclyn godwin
STAFF REPORTER
Photo Credit: Mary Kate Winn
Mercy’s
verything happens for a
reason.
I try to remind
myself that every day. No
matter how many times I
repeat it in my head, I cannot expunge
the encompassing thought of the tragedy
that has yanked at our heart-strings these
past few weeks.
Living through a tragedy is a fate
I cannot even fathom. I would fall to
pieces in the midst of the chaos only to
wake up to the inexhaustible reality that
had become my life. But the strength
I have seen in the eyes of the suffering
and the support of the community has
rekindled a fire of hope within me.
I arose at 6 a.m. one morning to the
blaring noise of the television coming
from the kitchen. I stumbled down the
stairs to find my father listening to news
only to find out that the eldest son of the
Cipriano family had allegedly broken
into his family’s home and beaten them
with a baseball bat. The father was
“
8
24
MAY
Always a
Mercy Girl
Clare Fitzsimons had passed due to brain
cancer. One week was all it took for the
lives of two men to end.
Despite the tears that have been shed
during the past several weeks, the love
and support of the entire community has
shown what belonging to Mercy truly
means. A hug from a fellow Mercy sister.
A candle offered up as a prayer. A smile
reassuring that everything is going to be
alright. Mercy is the foundation of my
life, but I gained a sense a community at
a very young age.
Eleven years ago, my mother suffered
from a brain tumor but to this day she
lives to tell the story herself. At the time,
all I knew was that my mother suffered
from severely painful headaches and
that the doctors were going to perform
surgery to make her better. While she
was undergoing surgery, meals from
fellow parishioners at St. Fabian Parish
were delivered to our home and carpools
were organized to take my brother and
me home each night. The support that
my parents received during this time
was overwhelming. The understanding,
compassion, and love shown to us by
people we may not have known before
was unbelievable.
The sense of belonging to a
community is fully expressed in the
moments in our lives when all hell seems
to break loose. It is those around us that
pick us back up when we are down and
wipe away the tears streaming down our
faces. Our family, friends, and, just as
importantly, our community, do just that.
Being a part of the Mercy community
is a gift I know I have often taken for
granted. Once a Mercy girl, always a
Mercy girl. Through the ups and downs
of life, the community surrounding us
today has been and will continue to be
my support system as it has been for the
Cipriano and Fitzsimons families. God
does have a plan for each and every one
of us, but it is our choices that determine
the outcome, and our community that
builds us back up.
STAFF EDITORIAL
YOLO has swept the nation. From
top trending twitter hash tags to senior
T-shirts declaring the phrase, it seems
every high school student has embraced
this phrase whole-heartedly. But the
question is, why? Why has this simple
expression driven us to the point of
insanity? Why, on earth, is YOLO being
screamed in the halls of Mercy High
School?
Perhaps the reason why we have
embraced this phrase is because it’s our
chance to embrace life as it comes at us.
Especially as a senior, I know that we
are all anxious to grab a hold of what
we have now. Despite what any senior
will tell you, we all have fears about
going forward. Even though everyone
is declaring her disdain for school
and planning for prom, each of us is
desperately grabbing on to these last
newsprint 2011-2012
lynn waldsmith
ADVISER
erin pienta
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
jessica montgomery
ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
kristin lemarbe
DESIGN EDITOR
gina mahaz
MANAGING & COPY
EDITOR
elaina weber
FEATURES EDITOR
cherima chungag
COMMUNITY & EVENTS
EDITOR
moments of high school. We all want
to make every moment matter. From
getting kicked out of the Media Center
for laughing too loud or dancing down
the hallways, these are the moments we
wish would last forever.
We want to remember high school as a
time of fun and laughter and carelessness.
All the movies lied to us. They filled our
heads with unrealistic expectation of
parties and non-stop gratification with
no consequences. YOLO seems to be our
chance to make the most out of our short
time in high school.
As much as we can claim to hate
high school, the teachers, the homework
(okay, maybe we actually do hate that),
there’s always secret love for the things
we hate. With every failure comes a
chance to start over, with every leap of
faith comes a new opportunity, and with
“
YOLO is the opportunity to start
over, to take life
as it comes and
try to roll with it
the best we can.
-Erin Pienta, ‘12
every struggle comes the rush of success.
That’s what YOLO embodies. YOLO is
the opportunity to start over, to take life
as it comes and try to roll with it the best
we can.
Seniors, embrace this phrase. Enjoy each moment as it comes, but
hey, try not to fail. As for the rest of
you, while the phrase does offer some
great life advice, you may want to take
it slow. You still have a few years of
these halls ahead of you, so you have to
remain somewhat focused. Use the time
you have to appreciate all the moments
that make you cry, the ones that make
you laugh, and most of all, the ones that
make you a better person. As for me, I
have to move on to New York City. I’ve
got dreams to make come true. They may
be unrealistic, but YOLO: You Only Live
Once.
christine larouere
SPORTS EDITOR
kellie brue
OPINIONS EDITOR
kathleen abenes
WEB EDITOR
monica shammas
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
STAFF REPORTERS
ou only live once. Otherwise
known as the phrase “YOLO,”
as it is shouted throughout the
halls of Mercy High School.
Drake, who popularized this expression
in his most recent hit “The Motto,” has
captured the hearts of many young fans
who have adopted this phrase as their
own.
YOLO is excuses, but not necessarily
bad ones. It’s the reasoning we put
behind the good and bad actions we do.
In classic Mercy girl form someone will
yell that she is “eating a third lunch:
YOLO” or they “didn’t study for Physics:
YOLO.” It seems that the phrase applies
to everything. I can guarantee that nearly
everyone in school, even those who hate
it, have uttered the phrase YOLO. Love
it or hate it, YOLO is not going to die out
anytime soon.
erin pienta
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Photo Credit: Cherima Chungag
You Only
Live Once
Y
harmful drugs remain illegal nationwide. Yet synthetic
cannabinoids are used in Spice to avoid federal and
state drug laws. John W. Huffman, a professor of
organic chemistry, was the first inventor of synthetic
marijuana. His initials are used to name the chemicals.
For example, JWH-018 is currently illegal nationwide
but producers will sell a similar drug that has not yet
been illegalized.
As said in 1 Corinthians 6, “your body is a temple.”
One should “glorify [one’s] body.” Everyone’s body is
a gift from God. One’s body is something that should
be cherished. Polluting one’s body can, by keeping it
free of illegal drugs and harmful substances, cause a
person to make irrational decisions that not only affect
him or her but hurt others. Using drugs, especially K-2
or Spice, can cause lasting devastation.
These drugs can break families apart and lead to users
being left to account for irrational actions performed
under the high. K-2 can have legal, emotional, and
physical consequences to them that will continue to
haunt adolescents long after the short amount of time
spent using it.
“
T
he harmful synthetic cannabinoid drugs known
as “K-2” or “spice” are rising in popularity but
their harmful effects can have dangerous or even
deadly consequences. Spice contains more than
100 different synthetic cannabinoids that have been
created in laboratories for research purposes. The
effects of this new dangerous drug can be devastating
for the people using them but for their families too. Tucker
Cipriano and his friend Mitchell Young were charged
with one count each of first-degree premeditated murder
and first degree felony murder in the death of Tucker’s
father Robert Cipriano. Spice is said to have been found
in Cipriano’s system during his brutal attack on his
father, mother, and brother. This drug causes and adds
to irrational behavior.
K-2 causes hallucinations and a high similar to the
high caused by using marijuana. However, these drugs
are far more potent than marijuana making them much
more dangerous. They can also severely damage the
nervous system, ability to move, can cause blacking out,
blurred vision, anxiety, and swelling of the brain.
The government is working hard to ensure that these
caroline hartland
megan bolton
kathryn costello
maggie blake
margaret reaume
mary kate winn
jaclyn godwin
tori noble
A SIDE
NOTE:
N ew s print e d i to r i a l s
represent the opinion of
the editorial staff. They do
not necessarily represent
the opinion of Mercy High
School administrators,
staff, or students.
OUR MISSION
STATEMENT
The mission of the Mercy
High School student
produced
Newsprint
is to report noteworthy
events, recognize the
achievements
and
address the concerns
of the Mercy student
and
broader
school
community while also
remaining an entertaining
paper that is pleasing
both to read and look at in
order to help promote an
atmosphere of awareness,
inquisitiveness, concern
for others, and pride in
one’s school.
mariel-christine mulqueen
christina hadley
chloe henderson
jessie larouere
adelia davis
katie denton
haley fox
2012
pro/con
States With Stand-YourGround Law
The states in blue have a StandYour-Ground Law. However, many
states have a variation of the law,
including Michgan. Michigan’s
law, the Castle Doctrine, allows
a person to use deadly force to
protect his or her home.
Source: MCTwire
gina mahaz
managing/copy editor
Photo Credit: Cherima Chungnag
PRO
to stand-your-ground laws. Media coverage of the case has highlighted the
shooting of 17-year-old Treyvon Martin by neighborhood watch volunteer
George Zimmerman. Zimmerman is claiming protection under the standyour-ground law to use deadly force against Martin in self-defense.
Although there is conflicting evidence surrounding the motivation
for the attack and shooting, the media has heavily focused on the issue
of race, though there is no direct evidence of race playing a direct role in
the case. This media distortion has caused much unwarranted criticism
of a law that is meant to protect citizens. After much media backlash,
Zimmerman was eventually charged. However, the media’s portrait of
a racist man shooting an innocent bystander is unfounded and unrelated
to the law, which only permits deadly force under violent attack.
Aside from the controversy, this law has been successful. Florida cites a
23% drop in violent crime over the first five years that the law was in effect,
suggesting that the criminals were intimidated by the law which allowed citizens
to legally shoot their attacker in self-defense. Two years after the law’s passing
in 2005, the number of justifiable homicides jumped from 12 to 40 per year.
Stand Your Ground laws are nothing more than common-sense protection
of victims who are faced with a clear threat to themselves. No victims, in the
pressure of an oncoming attack or break-in, should have to worry about how
the law allows them to protect themselves. Humans have natural instincts to
survive, and occasionally by any means necessary. This law allows civilians
to take their safety into their own hands in the event of a serious threat.
“
The law does not
encourage violence,
but simply unties
civilians’ hands from
behind their back . . .
-Lauren Jackson ‘14
Killing is too severe. There
are usually less extreme
means to protect yourself.
-Isabel Stoick ‘15
If someone is approaching
you in a threatening
manner, you have the right
to defend youself.
-Nicole Ratcliffe ‘13
Although it’s sometimes
difficult to interpret in a
case-by-case basis, I think
it’s a legitimate way to
protect yourself.
-Abby Benard ‘12
The downfall is
that people abuse
the law for their
own benefit.
-Kellie Brue, ‘12
teenage boy walks to the local convenience store for a snack. He
buys an Arizona iced tea and a bag of skittles. With his favorite
treats in hand, he leaves the store. A man sees the boy walking
and suspects that the boy may be dangerous. The Mexican man
shoots the African-American boy despite the victim being unarmed. Now,
Trayvon Martin is dead and his attacker, George Zimmerman, is claiming
innocence using a faulty law as his defense. The stand-your-ground law is
flawed and allows people to perform harmful and unjustifiable actions.
According to My Florida House’s website the stand-your-ground law states
that a person is justified in using force against another when the person believes that
such conduct is necessary in self-defense. It also states a person is justified in the
use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat under certain circumstances.
Some people think the stand-your-ground law is fair because it allows people
to protect themselves. The downfall is that people abuse the law for their own
benefit. Additionally, the law’s promise of the absence of legal action frees
attackers from imprisonment, further influencing them to engage in violent
actions. If someone is hit, self-defense is hitting the attacker back. When guns
and deadly force are involved, that is not fighting back: that is assault and murder.
This law is dangerous because it allows people to act upon their own,
flawed judgment without the risk of being prosecuted or even arrested.
Many states across the U.S. have already adopted this law and other states
are considering it. The stand-your-ground law is illogical because the fact
that it places power in the hands of untrained civilians simply because
they assume they are in danger. Police officers go through several stages
of training chiefly to learn how to use deadly weapons. A regular bystander
does not have the experience necessary to judge when to use deadly force.
Martin was wrongfully murdered. Even worse, his attacker, George
Zimmerman, was initially considered innocent.
He was released from
custody and became a free man.
Fortunately, he is now in custody
and awaiting trial, the outcome that should have initially taken place.
Ironically, the stand-your-ground law applies if and only if the victim is
said to have been using unlawful force. However, Trayvon Martin was simply
walking down the street. He did not pose a threat to Zimmerman who evidently
overacted. Before Zimmerman allegedly attacked Martin, he called the police
who told him not to follow him. Many people believe Zimmerman was suspicious
of Martin simply because he was African-American and wearing a hoodie.
Zimmerman will now be prosecuted for the murder which he claims was done in
self-defense. Undoubtedly, Trayvon Martin’s death was an inexcusable tragedy.
The stand-your-ground law is not justifiable. It extends power in wrong ways
to wrong people. It should be overturned in states where it exists and made illegal.
Stand-Your-Ground In Action
The picture to the right shows Mark
Zimmerman, the man who admits
to shooting and killing Trayvon
Martin. Zimmerman will stand trial
for Martin’s death. He claims that
his actions were justified under
Florida’s Stand-Your-Ground Law. He
said he felt threatened by Martin, so
his use of deadly force was justified.
source: MCTwire
It’s difficult to judge
someone’s intentions.
A
Photo Credit: Kristin LeMarbe
“
“
“
-Mehgan Garrett ‘13
-Clara Pilchak ‘15
“ CON
“
“
“
“
There are other ways to
protect yourself from a
threat besides murder.
My personal safety comes
before anything else.
-Gina Mahaz, ‘12
Is the stand-your-ground law justified?
kellie brue
opinions Editor
“
I
magine walking home and being attacked by someone. Yet in that split second
before it happens, you have a choice to use your weapon that you carry legally
to defend yourself in rare instances like these. You shoot the attacker in fear
for your life, but months later you find yourself in a legal struggle to defend
your decision to protect yourself. You never asked for this. You just wanted to live.
Laws such as Florida’s stand-your-ground law aim to free victims from
the worry of becoming a criminal when exercising self-defense. The law
does not encourage violence, but simply unties civilians’ hands from behind
their back, allowing them to protect their own safety by any means necessary.
Under the controversial law, a person may use deadly force against someone who
intends to commit a violent crime. The law does not protect someone who shoots
someone without due cause. The attacker must clearly have intent to harm others.
If a man tries to violently mug a civilian in an alley and the civilian shoots
him, a prosecutor cannot argue that the civilian should have tried to run away
because the civilian was being personally attacked and was protecting himself.
Opponents of the law state that it promotes violence. But if someone
is threatening you when you are law abiding and minding your own
business, the victim should have the freedom to protect himself instead
of fearing prosecution and becoming a criminal because of his actions.
Marion Hammer, a National Rifle Association lobbyist, said that under
stand-your-ground laws, “the law and their government is on the side of
law-abiding people and victims, rather than on the side of criminals.”
The controversy surrounding Florida’s Treyvon Martin case has called attention
“
“
“
9
“
“
“
24
MAY
Left: When improperly cared for, wind turbines often ignite, posing fire hazards for the surrounding environment. Right: Dams like the Elwha Dam, pictured here,
prevent fish such as these Chinook slamon from reaching their spawning grounds, negatively impacting the surrounding environment.
Not So “Green”
The dangers and drawbacks of alternative energy
H
armful,
dangerous,
ineffective; these aren’t
words often heard when
describing
“greener
solutions”. However, many so-called
“better options” for the environment have
risks and dangers associated with them.
Whether it’s a threat to the environment
or to humans, it is clear that not all of
these solutions are helpful.
As resources become scarcer,
researchers have developed new ways to
produce energy, most of which are said
to be better for the environment. The
three most common types of alternative
energy solutions are wind power, solar
power, and hydro power.
Wind power, made through the use of
wind turbines, also known as windmills,
is said to be one of the most effective and
safest means of power. However, though
it may seem to be the safest, there are
many drawbacks to using wind turbines.
Many turbines are not made to last
and eventually begin to fall apart as they
begin failing, often times with dangerous
consequences
As the turbine fails, blades can either
fall or continue to send large shards of
metal up to 100 yards away. In addition,
when a turbine fails, it is likely that it
may light on fire. Also, moving blades
can catapult fire, resulting in deadly
forest fires.
Caithness USA Wind Corp. reported
that it had over 110 turbine related fires
in only a 20 year period.
Within the last five years there have
been additional fires. In California,
over 280 acres were lost in a single fire
with numerous additional “spot fires”.
Likewise, Hawaii reported a devastating
fire that burned approximately 95 acres of
land. In Australia, 80,000 acres of mostly
national park forests were reported as
being burned after a turbine-related fire.
Wind turbines can also threaten
wildlife. Every year thousands of bats,
birds, and butterflies are killed, when
they mistakenly run into turbine blades.
These deaths occur because most
wind turbines are placed directly in the
pathway of continuous wind currents.
These currents are also commonly used
by migrating species to move more
efficiently to their final destination.
Likewise, solar power has its
drawbacks. The process of making the
solar energy plates used to harness the
sun’s power is extremely dangerous to
workers. To function, the plates must
have photovoltaic cells. These are
developed using arsenic and cadmium,
both of which are deadly and harmful to
humans.
The main element used in the cells
is a material called silicon. An output
of using this product is crystalline
silica dust. This dust is a dangerous
carcinogen. Constant exposure to it can
result in cancer, Kidney disease, Lupus,
and rheumatoid arthritis, and many other
dangerous medical conditions.
In addition, the forming of the plates
Photo Credit: MCT Wire
mariel-christine mulqueen
STAFF REPORTER
Workers at Trojan’s Battery Plant in Santa Fe Springs, California group lead
plates together to be used to make batteries that will power the solar panels.
leaves behind harmful by-products.
This waste is highly dangerous to
the environment and can render land
permanently infertile.
Vast amounts of this dangerous
waste are produced in a disproportionate
amounts to the goods they reap. For every
one ton of the necessary polysilicon
formed, four tons of waste are also made.
Furthermore, solar energy is
extremely costly compared to fossilfuel based methods. On average, it costs
5-20 times more even with government
aid. Likewise, hydro power is another
dangerous and costly green solution.
Hydro power is usually harnessed in the
form of enormous dams built in rivers.
These dams pose dangerous threats
to both humans and the many other
organisms living around them.
Rivers around dams pose a threat
of drowning. Strong currents can result
in numerous boating and swimming
accidents.
Similarly, most dams permanently
alter their surrounding environment
and can negatively affect organisms in
the area. Dams also pose a dangerous
risk of bursting and being the cause of
deadly floods. Burst dams can result
in thousands of dollars of damage and
hundreds of deaths of people living in
the area.
Clearly, such “greener solutions” can
be unreliable, ineffective, and costly.
A Haunting History
Fear-inspiring locations of Michigan
caroline hartland
STAFF REPORTER
Photo Credit: detroitfunk.com
M
ay is scarcely the
time when ghosts are
feared or ghoulish
stories are told—too
soon for both campfire settings and
Halloween paranoia—but, in reality,
the springtime setting and ghost
stories are not mutually exclusive.
The monsters of October and horror
movie plots are often derived from
so-called “haunted” places or things.
Every continent, country, province,
and state has a source of horror-filled
hearsay, and Michigan is no different. Each town—from Northville to
Mackinac—has its own. Though the
season may not be dubbed as “right”
,these feared places and their histories
have hardly disappeared in wait for
autumn.
Ghosts and haunted houses
always begin with a story, made up
or otherwise. And every one of them
is very dismal, involving some death,
fabricated or not.
Every cemetery is claimed to be
plagued by ghosts. The deaths thought
interesting enough make their way
into local legend or beyond.
Michigan has something of
a reputation for its ghost-filled
lighthouses such as Lake Huron’s
Presque Isle Ligthouse or Marine
City’s lighthouse, which is said to be
haunted by the caretaker who once
kept watch for incoming ships.
Multiple shipwrecks have been
discovered within some of the Great
Lakes, and those areas and even entire
lakes have subsequently also been
dubbed as haunted. The SS Edmund
Fitzgerald went down near Sault Ste.
Marie in 1975 without a single distress
signal before or body found in the
aftermath.
Photo Credit: michigan.org
Although spice was developed as an
alternative to marijuana, the two drugs have
striking dissimilarities. While marijuana
is technically classified as a “depressant”
drug, spice is a “hallucinogen,” making
the effect the two have on one’s brain
entirely different.
Spice also poses problems for
government officials because it is
untraceable 42 hours after having smoked
it. It has become common among athletes
who are frequently drug tested, those
who are drug tested for work, as well as
individuals on probation.
Due to the complex chemical structure,
slight alterations in the formula of spice
can still produce the same effects should
one formula be outlawed, as it was in
2010. Since then, dozens of new varieties
of spice have been created—becoming
increasingly dangerous.
“There are a lot of things in them
that people don’t know about. There is
no oversight with these drugs at all.”
says Wetzl. When we take these drugs
into the laboratory, we find feces, dead
animal and insect parts, and unidentifiable
substances.”
The effects of spice vary greatly
between brands, and even batches of the
drug. Certain cases have been reported
where the user experienced extreme
violent episodes, as was the case with
Tucker Cipriano. Drug tests confirmed
that he had ingested or inhaled K2, a form
of spice (as well as other drugs) before
murdering his father in Farmington Hills.
Other cases of violence relating to the
use of spice have been reported, including
one case of a teenage boy chewing out his
own tongue, and another stabbing the eyes
out of cats.
“Spice is very dangerous. You are with
a group of friends and somebody takes
it and becomes violent and attacks you.
How are you going to protect yourself
against that?” Says Wetzl. “The answer is
you can’t. The protection is don’t use it.”
Photo Credit: MCT Wire
Story continued from page 1
MAY
Photo Printed with Permission: reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
Sold At Gas Stations
24
2012
here&there
10
Dangerous Drug
Above: Allegedly haunted tunnels such as the underground tunnels located
within the Northville Regional Psychiatric Center inspire fear among many locals.
Below: The Presque Isle Lighthouse is just one of many lighthouses throughout
Michigan that are rumored to be hang-outs for restless souls of sailors lost at sea
and/or the ghosts of their loved ones.
Le Griffon, a French ship that was
taken by a storm in 1679, is also notable
with wreckage found only within the
last decade and a mystery as to where
and how the crew members truly died.
Michigan’s most famous haunted
places are all over the state. A lot have to
do with accidents or abandoned places
and not murders, but they do cause
enough of a stir to grab both written and
spoken attention.
Northville Regional Psychiatric
Center was one of these buildings, and
has been closed for nearly a decade, but
locals often claim to still see patients
wandering around.
It and several other old asylums and
schools were connected by underground
tunnels that are said to be haunted by the
former people who were transported via
them.
Tunnels seem to be a common
theme, as people have also claimed that
the passageways underneath Michigan
State University are haunted as well. Of
course, there are heavy—monetary—
fines for those who plan to explore
either.
Books have been written, compiling
the best and worst, faintly believable
and frankly unbelievable stories told
about and in the setting of the Great
Lakes State.
Though Michigan Chillers author
Jonathan Rand wrote from his own
imagination, less famous books have
been published based on in-state rumors
and “I swear”s.
Ghosts and Legends of Michigan’s
West Coast, for example, describes
a story surrounding a Mr. Cadillac, a
black cat, and a grim fortune teller at a
party in Detroit, which is said to have
been the start of the city’s long-standing
plight.
Greenfield Village and the Henry
Ford house are no strangers to sightings
of former tenants.
Other much-told legends are based
on the state’s French settlers and Native
American beginnings.
They take place everywhere from
college campuses to middle-of-nowhere
camps and, of course, disused hospitals.
Even though the most eastern borders
are still very far away from Salem,
Massachusetts, witch and witch hunt
stories aren’t unfamiliar topics either.
The need and desire for haunted
houses and thrilling fireside material
waxes and wanes with the changing of
the seasons, but the stories never really
go away.
24
2012
health and beauty
MAY
11
From the Hallway to the Runway
Carly Francavilla graduated from Mercy in 2010 and hopes to one day pursue a
film career in California.
The Future’s Present
jessica montgomery
ASSOCIATE-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Fair Use: New York Times
Nike+ Fuelband
Project Glass functions as a pair of glasses with a built-in camera that has the ability
to monitor the user’s location among other tasks.
Google has invented a pair of
augmented reality glasses called Project
Glass. The glasses stream information to
users in real time, take pictures, initiate
videochats and display directions at the
sound of a user’s voice.
The glasses look similar to those
used in Star Trek. They are wrap-around
glasses with a clear display that sits above
the eye.
According to Google employees, the
glasses will have a built-in camera that
will be able to monitor the world in real
time and overlay information about the
user’s location, surrounding buildings,
and nearby friends.
Project Glass could eventually turn into
a contact lens. One of its inventors, Babak
Parviz, a specialist in bionanotechnology,
has created a tiny contact lens that has
embedded electronics and displays pixels
to a person’s eye.
Many people worry that the glasses
will interfere with users’ lives too much
by constantly streaming information and
distracting users from the real world.
“They look absolutely ridiculous,”
said junior Stephanie
Luther. “Besides, I have a
smart phone and a laptop.
I don’t need the Internet
on my face, too.”
Testers of the product
defend its usefulness.
“They let technology
get out of your way,” said one user. “If I
want to take a picture I don’t have to reach
into my pocket and take out my phone; I
just press a button at the top of the glasses
and that’s it.”
The glasses will cost between $250$500.
Remember all those science fiction
movies that showed people talking to lifesized holographic images? The time has
come for that far-off dream to become a
reality.
A research team from Queen’s
University in Ontario has developed a
video communications system that allows
users to speak with a 3D representation
of the person on the other end of the line
called the TeleHuman.
It works by first capturing a 3D image
of each conversant by using Microsoft
Kinect sensors and 3D camera equipment.
On the other end, a 3D projector casts the
image within an acrylic cylinder equipped
with a convex mirror. The result is two
people talking to life-like projected images
of each other.
Some users have mixed feelings about
the TeleHuman.
“The idea sounds really cool, but I
doubt that it will be able to live up to
consumer’s expectations,” said Luther.
“Time will only tell if it will succeed.”
The TeleHuman is expected to come
out within the next five years and cost
around $5,000.
The TeleHuman (left) is a communications system that portrays users as a 3D representation. Senior Erin Pienta (right)
demonstrates how the Nike+FuelBand can function as a USB cord.
Photo re-printed with permission from: Jeff Rawk
Teacher of the Year
all gray uniforms and excessive
amount of gray accessories,” senior
Kelsey King said.
“But we know she was really referring to our silver-lined personalities and her love for us,” retorted senior Olivia Cholewa.
These girls love Ms. Jamieson
for her witty humor and her love for
each individual student. They love
that she takes the time to get to know
everyone.
“I feel like I know this class pretty well,” Ms. Jamieson said. “They
are a nice group of young women
that are fun to be around. It’s awesome that I have gotten to be a part of
their transformation from freshmen
to women.”
Ms. Jamieson admits she feels
both “excited and nervous” to speak
at graduation because she sees this as
somewhat of a challenge. The only
other speech Ms. Jamieson has delivered was for her acceptance into the
Athletic Hall of Fame at her college,
so she has a few butterflies, she says.
“I’m not exactly all about public appearance,” Ms. Jamieson said,
“but I could not be more honored or
humbled.”
Ms. Jamieson said she is focusing
on bringing her speech together in
a funny yet meaningful way for the
best impact on the 160 seniors going
off into the world on May 31.
“Although it’s not just about the
speech,” Ms. Jamieson says, “It’s
a great honor to share with my colleagues and the class of 2012.”
Do It Yourself:
Tied Jean Cutoffs
The TeleHuman
Photo Credit: Jessica Montgomery
Project Glass
Fair Use: Digital Trends
The Nike+Fuelband is a bracelet
that tracks the wearer’s number of
steps and calories burned as well as the
time. It also tracks the user’s NikeFuel,
which measures the amount of activity
the person does by calculating calories
burned and steps taken, and also factors
the person’s age, gender, weight and
height.
Users can register their band online for
even more features by simply plugging
the USB into the computer. They decide
on a daily goal for the amount of calories
burned, steps taken or NikeFuel earned.
Lights on the band will change from red
to green as users move toward their goal.
They also have the option of competing
with friends for the most NikeFuel.
Although pedometers have existed for
a while, the Nike+Fuelband has gained
popularity with its added features and
sleek look. Nike played on the constant
popularity of rubber wrist bands, like
the Livestrong bracelets, to ensure the
popularity of its product. The clasp
holding the bracelet together doubles as a
USB, making it easy to access the band’s
extra features. It costs $149.
“It’s very useful for tracking how
active you are,” said junior Monica
Mackie. “It’s not very effective for
people who play organized sports, as
most do not allow bracelets.”
Sophomore Madison Denomme (left) and junior Megan George (right) agree that
modeling is more work than it appears to be.
Story continued from page 1
A
s time goes by, new forms of
technology are invented that
people never even thought
were possible.
Just five
years ago, Internet access on phones was
unheard of. Now, almost half of cell
phone users have smart phones. Here are
some of the “latest and greatest” gadgets
that people are raving about.
booked her first job with Jacobson’s
Department Store modeling baby
clothes and has been working
with the same talent agency ever
since. Recently she has been busier
than ever, appearing in an Art Van
commercial, Moosejaw ads and
catalog, shooting various music
videos and working on the movie Oz:
The Great and Powerful (2013).
“I always ask myself if I stopped
modeling tomorrow, would I have
done enough to be proud of myself?”
said Francavilla. “The answer is yes.”
Francavilla’s
dream
is
to
eventually pursue a film career in
California. In the meantime, she
plans on finishing her education at
Wayne State University.
“Education
is
key,“
said
Francavilla. “I’m a proud Mercy
alum!”
mary kate winn
STAFF REPORTER
haley fox
STAFF REPORTER
W
ith spring in full bloom and
summer just around the corner,
the time has come to pull your
shorts out of hibernation. This
summer, instead of sticking to your regular,
boring shorts that you’ve worn for the last
three years, try something new! With a few
simple steps, you can “up-cycle” an old pair of
jeans into a cute pair of dip-dyed jean cutoffs.
They are an easy and fun way to update your
wardrobe. Stylish and edgy, these shorts are a
great look to wear to the beach or to a summer
bonfire.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Tools
-Jeans
-Scissors
-Large bucket
-Bleach
-Meter stick/branch
-Water
-Vinegar
Cut off an old pair of jeans to about
mid-thigh. If you don’t want them
to fray after bleaching, use a needle
and thread to hem the bottom.
Fill the bucket about a third of the way
with a 2:1 solution of water and bleach.
Put your meter stick/branch through the
belt loops of your cutoffs, and dip them
into the bleach bucket. Rest the meter
stick on the sides of the bucket.
Let the shorts sit in the bleach solution
for about 30 minutes. The bleaching
may take more or less time depending
on the darkness of the original jeans,
and it may take a few dips to reach the
desired whiteness.
Once your jeans are bleached to
perfection, let them soak in a 2:1 solution
of water and white vinegar. They will
whiten in the vinegar solution.
Photo Credit: Mary Kate Winn, Graphi Credit: jaclyn Godwin
Photo Credit: Jeff Rawk
W
ith an eye for fashion
and an interest in
style,
sophomore
Madison Denomme
is not unlike most girls her age.
However, she has been able to work
within the fashion industry in a way
most girls only dream about, as a
model.
Only 16 years old, Denomme
has walked in multiple shows,
been featured in many magazine
advertisements, and shot a commercial
for a cheerleading catalog.
It has been, in one word, crazy”
said Denomme. “I missed a ton of
school last semester for trips to see
agencies in New York City and for
shoots.”
She is not the only Mercy girl
gaining attention for working in
front of the camera. Juniors Megan
George and Carly Schneider both
model when they aren’t cramming for
Microbiology tests or eating kickin’
chicken.
“Modeling sort of happened on
accident,” said George. In addition
to print work (advertisements) and
walking in shows, she has acted in a
kids show called The Wannabes, been
featured in a couple music videos and
worked as an extra in a few movies.
“I don’t really like to talk about
it very much,” said George. “I feel
like it makes me sound stuck-up or
something and that is definitely not
the image I want people to have of
me.”
Both Denomme and George agreed
that modeling is not as glamorous as
it looks.
“It takes hours to just get a couple
good pictures, some of my weekends
have been completely consumed
because of it. The days are long and
it’s a lot harder than I thought it
would be,” said George.
Denomme shared some of the
job’s not-so-fabulous cons, such as
constantly being called overweight or
any other combination of unflattering
body-image put downs, yet she says
this has helped her to become “more
confident and irrevocably stronger.”
While the careers of these current
Mercy students are just taking
flight, 2010 Mercy graduate Carly
Francavilla is well on her way to
serious success in the same business.
As a six-month-old, Francavilla
Photo re-printed with permission from: Jeff Rawk
kristin lemarbe
DESIGN EDITOR
24
2012
12
last look
MAY
Purely Michigan
mary kate winn
STAFF REPORTER
tori noble
STAFF REPORTER
Stuck in Michigan this summer? Don’t fret! Michigan is home to plenty
of unique and exciting destinations, as well as some picturesque
places. From the Upper Peninsula to Detroit, Newsprint shows you
some of the best places to spend your Michigan Summer.
*All photos reprinted with permission from their respective owners. From top to bottom, left to right: Tori Noble (staff reporter), wikimedia.com
(licensed by creative commons), Mary Kate Winn (staff reporter), Mary Kate Winn (staff reporter), originalbutterlyhouse.com, porcupinemountains.
com, porcupinemountains.com, Mary Kate Winn (staff reporter), Mary Kate Winn (staff reporter), Mary Kate Winn (staff reporter).
Brevort Lake
Near Mackinac City
Detroit Zoo
Royal Oak
Scan This
For a description
of these beautiful
places
Porcupine Mountains
Ontonagon
Butterfly House
Mackinac Island
Graffiti Alley
Ann Arbor
Petoskey Shopping District and Waterfront Area
Petoskey
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit