Gay marriage will come to Michigan: Opinion

By Steven Keene
Opinion Editor

Over 46 years ago, Loving v. Virginia set a standard for what Americans define as contemporary marriage. The landmark Supreme Court case determined that the Commonwealth of Virginia could not legally prevent interracial marriage, as this denied life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to Americans, as well as denied a certain portion of the population equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court was unanimous in striking down the ban; Chief Justice Earl Warren even wrote that marriage was one of the “basic rights of man” in his opinion on behalf of the Supreme Court.

One would think that with the progressive actions during the Civil Rights Movements and thereafter, our country would overcome its discriminatory policies towards innocent Americans and treat every citizen equal under the law. Still, as seen by the remaining opposition to gay marriage in the United States, we’ve yet to further equal rights towards millions of those living in our country.

However, there’s a chance for redemption, and it hits close to home. On March 7, the trial to determine the legality of Michigan’s ban on adoption by same-sex couples concluded, and presiding federal judge Bernard A. Friedman stated that he hoped to rule on the case in two weeks.
The case follows a wave of victories for equality in the United States; just during the past four months, four gay marriage bans (in Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia and Texas) were struck down in U.S. District Courtrooms across the country.

Though the rulings were stayed, meaning that they were suspended until a higher court (such as a Circuit Court) could rule upon the issue, they show that gay marriage is inevitable in America’s near-future.

The courts’ rulings were the same of Loving v. Virginia’s. The rulings determined that equal protection and due process, each guaranteed to Americans under the United States Constitution, are denied when any gay marriage ban is on the books. Judge Friedman will find the same.

However, Michigan will be different. The reactions to the gay marriage rulings across the South were bigoted and savage; in a state like Michigan, where recent polls conducted by local news organizations, Equality Michigan and Glengariff Group Inc. show that a strong majority of Michiganders support the legalization of gay marriage, almost all reactions will be positive.
Though the case is about parenting rights, it’s clear that it’s developed to be much more. In the upcoming week, Judge Friedman will allow gay Michiganders to marry their partners.
There won’t be a stay or red tape surrounding the decision. Michigan will soon join the number of states that treat its residents as equal human beings.

86th annual academy awards

By Kelsey McDougall
Copy Editor

Hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, the 86th Annual Academy Awards were both memorable and eventful, filled with legendary performances and celebration.

“12 Years a Slave” came out on top, winning the award for Best Picture and beating the movies “American Hustle,” “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Gravity,” “Her,” “Nebraska,” “Philomena,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

Despite its star-studded cast, great reviews from critics, and ten academy award nominations, David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” did not win any awards in any of the categories. However, “Gravity” won seven awards, including Best Director, Alfonso Cuaron, and Best Original Score.

Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”) won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, beating Christian Bale (“American Hustle”), Bruce Dern (“Nebraska”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), and left fifth-time nominee Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) with yet another Oscar disappointment.

“I am highly disappointed. Leo got robbed of an Oscar with his amazing performance in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street.’ It was a sad day. Tears were shed,” said Canton senior Sasha Cucuz.

Despite nominations for his performances in the films “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” “The Aviator,” “Blood Diamond,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” for which he was nominated for Best Actor as well as Best Picture as the producer, DiCaprio has never won the Oscar.

Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”) won the academy award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, defeating Amy Adams (“American Hustle”), Sandra Bullock (“Gravity”), Judi Dench (“Philomena”), and Meryl Streep (“August: Osage County”).

Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, beating opponents Barkhad Abdi (“Captain Phillips”), Bradley Cooper (“American Hustle”), Michael Fassbender (“12 Years a Slave”), and Jonah Hill (“The Wolf of Wall Street”).

Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”) won the award for Best Supporting Actress, defeating opponents Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”), academy award-winner Jennifer Lawrence (“American Hustle”), academy award-winner Julia Roberts (“August: Osage County”), and June Squibb (“Nebraska”).

DeGeneres kept the crowd on its toes, cracking jokes and poking fun at various stars and ordering pizza that was enjoyed by Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence, and many others. She also took a selfie that allegedly shut down twitter for a brief period of time.

John Travolta also made social media history when he butchered Idina Menzel’s name while announcing her performance of “Let It Go,” calling her ‘Adele Dazeem.’ The song from Disney’s “Frozen” ended up winning the academy award for Best Original Song. “Frozen” also took home the award for Best Animated Feature.

“That was the funniest part of the show. The fact that John Travolta couldn’t take five seconds before he went on stage to figure out who he was introducing is a little sad, but it was definitely entertaining,” said Salem senior Shannon Burke.

Travolta’s mistake created a social media uproar, including the creation of a website where people can have their names be ‘Travoltafied.’

In addition to Menzel, the show included performances by Pharrell Williams, Karen O and Ezra Koenig, U2, and Bette Midler.

News update: current events in Ukraine

By Nick March
Business Manager

A revolution began in Ukraine shortly after its former President voted against an association agreement with the European Union. With this decision, the Ukrainian people began to fight against their government with hope of taking down the leaders that have pushed them to revolt. Protests began in mid December as Pro-European protest organizations were able to take over Kiev and occupy state buildings. With Kiev taken by the people, government opposition was sent in through the form of riot police. As tensions began to heat up, it became clear a peaceful solution was going to be harder to reach.

The people of Ukraine are torn between three political parties. One is the uprising of Ukraine that would be controlled by the people who believe this is Ukraine’s civil war. The second is the Ukrainian people who support current government leaders and hope the uprising is brought to a close as quickly as possible. The third are Ukrainians hoping for the Russian government to step in. With no certain leader, it became hard to tell where the future of Ukraine was heading.

Through the winter, Ukraine was in a political stalemate between the uprising of the people and their corrupt government. In mid January, laws were passed that said no protester could wear a mask nor were they allowed to set up tents without police permissions. The laws were then later repealed and the Prime Minister Azorov stepped down.

February kicks off as the most violent month as protesters and police clash harder than ever before. Then the Ukrainian government started to make deals with protesters, such as Kiev were to be released from the opposition for the exchange of the release of over 200 imprisoned protesters. After a few days of peace following the release of Kiev, the people started to fight the police yet again. As violence continued, Ukrainian President Yanukovych fled the country on February 22 and Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister, was released from jail. Days later Ukraine created a temporary government and gave Olesksandr Turnchinov presidential power. The new government then created a warrant for Yankukovych’s arrest.

As February comes to an end, Yankukovych was found in Russia. Yankukovych has been colluding with the Russian government and Vladimir Putin since he declined the trade agreement between Ukraine and The European Union. In December, Russia had announced they were buying fifteen billion dollars worth of Ukrainian government bonds. With Russia having a bigger role in this than was thought people became uneasy over the future of Ukraine.

Now, in the beginning of March, Russian soldiers take over Crimea, which is a peninsula connecting to Russia and the Ukraine. With the fear of Russia taking over all of Ukraine Obama and the U.S. government promise there would be costs for such an aggressive move. Secretary of State John Kerry then traveled to Kiev and promised a one billion dollar loan to help regain assets. With the Russians still in Crimea and no decision from the United Nations Ukraine could be the start of a much bigger issue as tensions across the world increase.

Plymouth Wrestling has a record breaking season

By Hailey Foster
Sports Co-Editor

The 2013-2014 Plymouth wrestling team made history on Feb 21 by becoming the first team in Plymouth history to make it to Team States in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Wildcats worked hard and spent endless hours preparing for this feat. At the meet they pulled an unlucky draw and had to battle their first match against Detroit Catholic Central. They were out their first match but they lost to the eventual winner of Division 1, Catholic Central.
“It was an amazing experience being there. I have been going for the past seven years as a spectator so to be in the actual event is incredible. The grand march was the best part,” said Plymouth senior Daniel Ahearn.
Plymouth had wrestlers accomplish great feats throughout the season and prove themselves beyond expectations. They were a strong team with a lot of depth throughout all the weight classes.
It was a successful end to a great season. But it isn’t over for everyone. Plymouth had six state qualifiers whose seasons continued at Individual States held at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Thursday, Feb 27.
Plymouth proved itself this season by winning districts, moving onto both Team and Individual States, and ending the season with fantastic record. They proved to everyone that even a young school can make history. Plymouth hopes to continue this success on the mat next year.

Dealing with Michigan winters

By Morgan Birman
Staff Writer

Most Michigan citizens have referred to the cold winter and icy roads as just a part of the “Michigan winters”, but the extreme temperatures we are currently experiencing in Plymouth-Canton and the metro Detroit area are not typical. Fox News reported that we are seeing some of the coldest air since 1999. Metro Detroit has also broken the January record for snow with 37.1 inches, exceeding the previous January record of 29.6 inches, set in 1978. The amount of snow emergencies has risen with Canton and Plymouth Township urging people to move their cars off the streets because of icy conditions.
Michigan State troopers handled over 1,500 complaints due to the weather this past weekend and answered over 130 accident calls, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Drivers have been advised to be prepared for any emergencies during the cold weather. This means keeping a pair of gloves, hat, scarves and winter boots in the car at all times in case you go off road or experience trouble starting the car. Keep spare jumper cables, flashlights, ice scrapers and tires in your car at all times. Highway drivers should also look into keeping a food and water kit in the back seat when driving on the highway in case of off-road emergencies. Travel experts recommend replacing your Antifreeze every two years, making sure that your radiator does not rust. It is also advised to frequently check tire pressure and oil amounts. Cars should be turned on and running a few minutes prior to actually driving them. Allow extra time to make it to your destination, and always wear a seatbelt. To avoid skidding, brake slowly and early when driving on icy or snowy roads. A safe distance of at least five seconds behind trucks plowing the road or other vehicles is advised. Lastly, maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season for emergency preparedness.
With the cold weather comes school closings. The Park has had five school day closings so far, exceeding the number of snows days we’ve had in the previous years. Plymouth-Canton school busses wouldn’t start, and it was deemed “too cold” for younger students to stand outside waiting at the bus stop. Park students have voiced a large amount of negative opinions about walking between schools on campus during the harsh weather conditions.

Review: Lie to Me

By Raquel Allen

Could you imagine yourself working for someone who had the ability to interpret micro expressions through facial gestures and body language? Someone who could tell what emotion you’re feeling at anytime? On an American crime drama series called Lie to Me, Dr. Cal Lightman and his colleagues work for a private company called The Lightman Group in a popular Netflix show.
The characters take on assignments from local and federal law enforcement to help solve crimes. The main characters primarily focus on reaching the truth in every case they take on.
“I think it is a great show, I recommend watching it. It’s a great show about how to catch people lying, so if you want to know how to catch people lying you should watch this show,” said Jack Driscoll, Salem Senior.
“Even though I’ve only seen one-eighth of an episode, I was so intrigued and thought those skills would come in handy in high school,” said Kerry Breen, Salem senior.
The stars of the show are Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, Monica Raymund, and Brendan Hines. These actors and actresses do a good job making you feel like a part of the team. As the first season starts, you get a better understanding of the psychology behind the profession. They take you through every step it takes to solve a crime and explain how they’ve come up with their conclusions.
“Lie to me is really a phenomenal show. I’ve caught all kinds of people in lies after studying the show,” said Brady Cole, Salem senior.
The riveting crime drama does not only entertain, but teaches its viewers how to tell what emotion a person is feeling based on their body language. The shows inspiration is from Paul Ekman’s expertise on the psychology of facial expressions. He’s a professor at the University of California San Francisco, school of medicine. He has assisted in anti-terrorism groups and advised police work to help solve crimes. He’s also written 15 books, the most popular ones include ‘Telling Lies’ and ‘Emotions Revealed’.
The show aired in January of 2009 and ended in January 2011. It was a short lived series, but it’s not uncalled for that Netflix has resurfaced the shows first three seasons. There was talk of continuing the third season, as it ended with only 13 episodes, evidentially the show never picked up again.

New classes are offered at the Park

​By Breana Noble
News Editor

As students begin receiving their folders to select new classes for next year, you might want to know about some new options that are available.
​Getting college credit in high school is helpful, and the school aims to grow its access to classes that will help students to get this credit. Pending school board approval is AP Physics 1 (Course 11180). The College Board, the organization in charge of AP exams, designed this course to replace AP Physics B and C. It covers what a student would learn in a first semester algebra-based physics course; however, the class is designed to cover a full year in order to gain a deep understanding and develop skills through inquiry labs. The course covers physics material from kinematics to rotational motion and angular momentum to mechanical waves and sound as well as introductory circuits and much more. A quarter of the class must be designated to time spent in labs.
​“Students should take this course if they have an interest in physics and/or the topics listed in the AP Physics 1 description in the program of studies,” Angela Brown, Salem Physics teacher, said.
​Sophomores learn the history of the United States, but now students will have the opportunity to dig deeper into the past more locally. In Michigan History: A Local Look (Course 12145), students will spend a semester taking a thematic look at Michigan while studying its geography, natural resources, work and labor, cultural and military affairs in addition to other elements of Michigan’s past and present. The class will include a project that documents vital aspects of Michigan’s storied past. Students will present and display their findings in a public forum at the end of the semester to demonstrate their research skills and a deeper understanding and appreciation of their home state while making contributions to our society. The 2014 to
2015 school year will be dedicated to a thorough examination of our community’s use of the site where Central Middle School currently rests.
​According to Canton counselor Bridget Kocurek, this class has been popular in the past, but is now being revamped in order to appeal make it more interactive.
​After sitting at a desk for more of your day, get up and relax by taking one of the three new physical education classes. Replacing Jogging and Aerobics and Team Sports, these new classes will be more specific and allow for student input.
​Salem physical education instructor Roxane McCormick said, “These classes will be student driven. If students in Team Games want to play cricket, then they will play. If they want to continue playing, then they will.”
Dance and Rhythmic Movement (Course 10110) will consist of hip-hop, Zumba, cultural dances and other rhythmic activities based on student interest. The class is designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility. Students will also design and perform their own routines.
Yoga and Pilates (Course 10117) will include yoga, Pilates, body sculpting, stretching and relaxing techniques based on student interest. This course is designed for students interested in improving their mental health, flexibility, body toning, strength, coordination and posture. Relaxation, proper form and breathing technique will be stressed.
Team Games (Course 10157) will include kickball, whiffleball, dodgeball, basketball volleyball, floor hockey, softball, Frisbee, cricket and flag football based on student interest. Based on the weather, activities will be done inside and outdoors. This class incorporates fitness, agility, fundamental skill work, coordination and teamwork, as well as promoting lifelong activities in many games.
​More information on these courses and the other diverse variety of classes offered at P-CEP can be found in the Program of Studies on the Park website under counseling. Don’t forget; if you’re interested in writing for “The Perspective” next year, take Advanced Journalism (Course 04290 and 04292).

Using consumerism to make a difference

By Breana Noble
News Editor

With a community of over 6,500, the Park has a powerful voice. One of the most impactful ways we can make a change is through our buying habits. The power of the purse affects what is produced and how it is produced. That is why we should use our power of consumerism to do good.
One way to do good is by giving back. Do you shop online? One popular site to do shopping over cyberspace is Amazon.com. With seemingly countless products from Kindle eBooks to apparel and home décor, Amazon makes shopping easier. However, there’s a way to do that purchasing while giving back: AmazonSmile. Type smile.amazon.com into the search box instead next time you go to buy something online. Using your Amazon account, you make your typical purchases, but using AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of your order of valid purchases to your choice of over a million participating charities, which include the American Red Cross, Charity: Water, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Mercury One. It is a simple thing to do and could make a large impact.
Another way to show support in your community is by purchasing from Peace Iced Tea. This business sells all your favorite flavors of iced tea, from Razzleberry to Green Tea to Sno-berry and much more. What it is special about this company, however, is that it supports musicians and artists. Participating artists have designed the labels found on the tea cans, and more can be found through Peace Tea’s website and social media accounts.
Use your money to do good; whether through these companies or others, use your power of consumerism to make a difference.
With a community of over 6,500, the Park has a powerful voice. One of the most impactful ways we can make a change is through our buying habits. The power of the purse affects what is produced and how it is produced. That is why we should use our power of consumerism to do good.

Review: ‘Frozen’

By Jana Boster
Staff Writer

Since being released Nov. 27, Disney’s latest animated film, Frozen, has been a huge success. The movie won the Golden Globe award for Best Animated Film, beating nominees The Croods and Despicable Me 2. The song “Let it Go,” performed by Idina Menzel (Queen Elsa) in the movie, was also nominated for a Golden Globe award. Sections of the movie had also been nominated at the Academy Awards and the Oscars. The movie’s professional success is not the only thing that makes it a great movie; it has touched the hearts of many through its relatable characters, relevant morals and humor suited for all ages, which is why many people have paid to go see the movie in theaters more than one time.
The story begins with a royal family whose heir to the throne, Princess Elsa, is cursed with a sometimes-uncontrollable power to freeze things with her touch and thoughts. After her sister, Anna, almost lost her life due to these dangerous abilities, Elsa is forced to keep her powers a secret and isolate herself from everyone because of her fear of hurting someone one day. After her parents’ deaths, Elsa is forced to take the throne, and her coronation goes horribly wrong; her powers get out of control, she sets off an eternal winter and she can no longer hide her curse. Panicked, she runs away into the wilderness, and Anna goes on a quest to bring her back home and stop the freezing winter she has caused.
Despite the beautiful palaces, the great adventure and the magic, the movie Frozen is still relatable and easily connected to the average teenager’s life, particularly young women. Posts about the film clutter girls’ Twitter, Facebook and Instagram timelines; it has become a hit among young women across the country. Anna’s charming awkwardness makes the audience laugh while seeing reflections of themselves in her characteristics. Every teenage girl can relate to the embarrassing moment of getting tongue-tied in front of a cute guy they barely know, and Frozen assures people that it is okay not to be perfect, and people should embrace themselves and their uniqueness not matter what kind of challenges they may face because of it.
Not only can people relate to Anna; they can relate to Elsa as well. The “conceal; don’t feel” theme of the movie, which connects the most to her character, has applied to most people at some point in their life. Whether someone battles against anxiety, depression, discrimination, low self esteem or difficulties with expressing himself or herself, chances are they have felt the need to hide something about themselves at one point in his or her life. Even if someone is a generally happy and healthy person, they probably still know the feeling of going through a problem and not being able to go to someone about it. This is why Frozen can be an inspiring movie for anyone, regardless of age, even though it is a children’s movie. The part where Elsa sings “Let it Go” particularly encourages people to accept themselves and do everything in their power to make themselves happy.
Frozen is still showing in theaters, and going to see it is worthwhile. Those interested in the movie can also buy it on DVD in March.

P-CEP’s most popular AP classes

By Jonathan Jan
Staff Writer

Each year, many Park students enroll in at least one AP course. Now, as the time comes again to make course selections for next year, many students ponder on what AP courses to take. After all, students want to balance out the difficulty of their course load to ensure that they are not burned out.
This year, AP Psychology has the highest number of enrollments of any AP course, with 339 enrollments spread throughout ten classes. Mary Lychuk, Lindsey Mette, and Kathy Stark are the teachers for the AP Psychology classes.
“I think that Psych is so easily applied to everyday life and living that they’re intrigued and interested in it because it’s about them,” said Lychuk. “It’s the most fun class I can possibly teach.”
“My friend suggested that I would like Psychology and I wanted to see if I may consider pursuing a career in the Psychology department,” said Ahsan Ansari, Canton senior.
In recent years, AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics have seen a rapid increase in enrollment. Two years ago, there were only five classes for each course, taught by Dan Colligan, who is currently the Coordinator of Assessment Services in the district. This year, Nicholas Fotiu, Derek Southwick and Jeffrey Richards are the three teachers that are currently teaching the ten AP Microeconomics classes. There are 332 enrollments for AP Microeconomics and 329 enrollments for AP Macroeconomics.
“I’m happy that there’s a demand for the class,” said Fotiu. “We’ve seen the class grow from only three sections to now ten just within three years, so I’m excited to see that this class has grown so much and that students have a real interest towards economics.”
AP United States History, taught by Patrick Ignagni, Richard Mui and Michael Ziolkowski, is another popular course among Park students, with 7 classes and 208 enrollments. The AP Calculus courses, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC, are extremely popular as well, with 7 total classes and 206 total enrollments.
No matter the popularity of an AP course, however, it is ultimately up to the student to decide which courses to enroll in.