The Paw Print
Novi Middle School's Student Newspaper
Volume 22 Issue 3 / December 14, 2021
NMS IN THE NEWS
Preparing the soundboard
Helping those in need
Performing on stage
Theater Club presents a Wild & Wacky new show
By: Sydney Hartke and Lorelai Raudszus
On December 11, 2021, the Novi Middle School Theater Company produced Wild & Wacky, NMS’s students’ first live in-person production in two years.
Wild & Wacky was on an incredibly tight schedule, as students only had 11 days to organize the show. This was then cut down to four days after the unfortunate school shooting incident and threats toward Novi. This resulted in the loss of three school days and practices.
However, with the help of director Mrs. Burkhardt and tech manager Mrs. Howell, the students accomplished what was thought to be an impossible feat and produced an amusing and entertaining show.
Wacky and Wild was made up of a series of comical monologues, performed individually by each theater club member. They did this with creative costumes, accompanied with the signature show shirt and a variety of props.
The tech crew, also made up of all middle school students, successfully managed the lights, sound, and computer backdrop portrayed on-stage behind each actor.
Audience members were required to bring in a non-perishable food item to donate to those in need within the Novi community rather than pay for a ticket to the show.
Anushka Atchutuni, one of the actors involved in Wild and Wacky, stated, “The play [was] a good opportunity for kids to express themselves and feel free to act with…[our] friends and peers,” in addition to exploring the ropes of the technological support of theater.
The hope is that the Theater Club’s production of Wild and Wacky will be followed later in the year by the traditional Spring Musical as NMS students attempt to dazzle the audience once again.
Paw Print School Newspaper changes with the times
By: Aditya Ambarisha
Ever wondered about the Paw Print’s story, and who created it? Many students have been wondering about these things and more. Let’s take a closer look at Paw Print’s history.
Who, When, Where, and Why was It Created?
It was created as an extracurricular activity for kids guided by Mr. Fenchel. Mr. Fenchel is an 8th grade history teacher at NMS. He arrived at Novi Middle School in 1998 and was hired as the school newspaper sponsor in the winter of 2001. Paw Print only published three issues during 2001 which included articles about the “School Activity Nights” and new additions to the school itself. Back then, Paw Print’s name wasn’t decided. The header of the first issue was simply “????????”.
“We needed a name and had a contest to name the paper after that first issue,” Mr. Fenchel said. “For a number of years, we put the newspaper on oversized paper and then folded it up and passed it out to all students. Each issue was a different color.”
The students had a vote on the newspaper’s name. The Paw Print was the winning vote. The name stuck and the newspaper is still known as The Paw Print over 20 years later.
General statistics:
In previous years, each Paw Print issue was viewed around 200-300 times. However, the first issue this year obtained ~600 views! The Paw Print was globally read from Korea to India. It was also seen in several states such as California and Florida.
How to join:
Login to Schoology (novi.schoology.com)
Click on “Groups” on the top of the screen, then click “My Groups”, then “Join Group” and then enter the Schoology Group Code: RTHM-PZDQ-Z5WCZ.
Oxford incident impacts students near and far
By: Shravya Dumbala and Siddhani Singh
School shootings have surged throughout the U.S, momentarily taking a break during the pandemic, when all the kids were in virtual school. Throughout this year, there have been 48 school shootings for K-12 schools, 32 of them happening after August 1st. The latest one, the recent Oxford shooting, made national news. This scary event has scarred everyone's lives, and has brought to light the real danger these shootings present. Measures have been taken, the first in 1934, but obviously these haven’t completely gotten rid of the problem. Luckily, schools all around have started to take more safety measures.
The 15-year old Ethan Crumbley brought a firearm to school on Tuesday, November 30th, which happened to be bought 4 days prior by his dad. Pretending to be a police officer, Ethan went around knocking on classroom doors, which were locked. He tried to convince the students inside to let him in, but they didn’t open it. After giving himself away, the students safely evacuated. Despite all these safety precautions, he managed to take the lives of 4 people, as well as injuring 6 students and one other teacher. Thankfully, he was restrained in a matter of 3 minutes.
According to CNN, the government has been taking a number of precautions to end gun violence in the U.S. Before leaving office, Former President Obama had issued several orders on gun usage. Trump has removed some regulations since then, and banned the use of bump stocks, a device that can be attached to automatic firearms making it fire much faster. Obama states that there were actions that could have been taken to prevent the shootings. One action was to educate common basics of gun safety/enforce gun safety laws.
These actions and more are helping keep us safe. However, if anything, this recent event has been a reminder that we are not entirely safe. Although school staff and others are doing all in their power to keep us safe, and there really isn’t anything to worry about, there's still a risk. When it happens, it happens, and no one can predict it. There are people that can help with unnerving feelings, like counselors, trusted adults, and friends.
Be responsible, be aware, be kind, and most importantly, be safe.
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
NMS Club Opportunities
By: Lorelai Raudzus
As December begins, most if not all of Novi Middle School’s clubs and activities are up and running. Included in the following are NMS clubs/activities currently running in accordance to the Novi Middle School Website.
Theater Club
The Theater Club has finally returned. The Wacky & Wild NMS theater company comical showcase was on December 11, 2021, and featured a series of monologs performed by a variety of students. As of now, the Spring Musical is in the foreseeable future for this school year. Parents may join the STAGE Boosters, information available on the NMS website. For more information, contact Mrs. Burkhardt, or visit the NMS website, and search under Activities.
Art Club
Art club holds two sessions, and has already begun. Session 1 takes place on multiple Wednesdays in room 314 after school, 3:15 - 4:30 pm. The Schoology access code is: 3JT7-DWFZ-6JB9B. For those who find this inconvenient, Virtual Art club is also welcoming members. The access code is: 6TV6-BPPF-680NG. For more information, contact Mrs. Lieberman, email available on the NMS website.
Chamber Club
Chamber Club is for students participating in orchestra who desire to learn new music, and gain orchestra leadership experience outside of class. Students who perform in this club have the opportunity to participate in events such as the Orchestra Final Concert, Light Up the Night Festival, and the NMS Variety Show.. For more information contact Ms. Farmer, email available on the NMS website.
Dance Club
Dance Club (Beginner/Intermediate) is available to NMS students of any dancer level. Dance styles within the club include Hip Hop, Jazz, and Contemporary/lyrical. The club will begin accepting members again January 13th, 2022. For more information contact this email: ashley.zardus@novik12.org.
GSA Club
GSA stands for Gay Straight Allience. According to the NMS website, “The GSA club is dedicated to creating unity, support, advocacy and is a community for persons who identify as LGBTQ+ alongside their allies,” where everyone is welcome. The Schoology access code is: CM4XKCVZ45BR9. For more information, contact Mrs. Jodoin, email available on NMS website.
Math Club
Math Club focuses on competing within NMS, and eventually moving on to the national level. It began in October and is no longer accepting members. Only the first 60 applications were to be accepted, while the top 30 scorers on the pretest were invited to join this Math Competition. For more information, contact Ms. Kang, email available on NMS website.
Yearbook Photography Club
This club is exactly as it sounds, students photograph other students, staff, and events at NMS to include in the 2021-2022 yearbook. People may notice members of this club taking pictures during school hours, such as at choir/band/orchestra rehearsals. This club has reached full capacity. For more information, contact Ms. Jenson.
Jazz Band
Jazz Band is a club of both 7th and 8th grade students who want to explore more styles of jazz music, including swing, rock, and funk. Students will also learn improvisation and be able to perform at events like the Staff vs. Students Games, the Middle School Variety Show, and the Spring Band Concert. According to the NMS website, meetings begin in December, and occur once or twice a week in the Band room, room 606. For more information, contact Mr. Ronning, email available on the NMS website.
Science Olympiad
The Science Olympiad is made up of a team of students who have the chance to explore many topics including Anatomy, Biology, Engineering, Earth Science, Physics, Coding, and more. These students are chosen to participate in Science Olympiad Tournaments that occur throughout the school year. This club is no longer taking any members, however applications are being accepted for team alternates. For more information, contact Mrs. Jodoin, email available on the NMS website.
How to find information on clubs/activities
Go to the Novi Community School District NMS website by clicking on the home icon in the upper left hand corner of your school account google homepage or visit https://ms.novi.k12.mi.us/
Directions:
Hover over Students and select Activities or Clubs (the only club mentioned in this article that falls under Activities is theater)
Shown are numerous activities and a large variety of clubs at NMS, some of which are not currently running
Spelling bee registration: “Easy as A-B-C”
By: Jyotsna Swaminathan
NMS, the spelling bee is coming! That's right, the annual spelling bee hosted by the Novi Middle School. It's going to take place on Wednesday, January 12, 3:20 - 5:00 pm. This is for students who are currently interested in spelling and who like challenges. Any NMS student is eligible to participate. If students wish to participate, they have to sign up before January 5.
To study for this event, the counseling office has multiple word lists out. All students have to do is pick up a list of words, and they have their study guide. If you don't want to pick out the study list from the counseling office, there is another link in the yellow signs in the hallways that leads to an online study list.
To sign up for this event, students have to take a picture of the informational sheet that is all over the school. Just so these students know, the sheets are yellow in color. Students have to take a picture of the QR code and that will link them to a google form. Students have to fill in the details and hit submit. Then, they are done. Good luck to all the students participating!
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Despite legal changes, plastics continue to have deadly effects on marine life
By: Srijan Agarwal
“100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone,” (Marine & Ocean Pollution Statistics & Facts 2020, Page 1). This is because people throw their plastic items near the ocean when they are at the beach. This accumulation of plastic pollution doesn’t happen all of a sudden, it happens gradually. It starts with one person doing it, and then another person thinks it's okay to throw plastic in that spot because somebody else did too. Eventually, this leads to a HUGE pile of plastic near the ocean and that becomes a threat to sea life.
Each year, China produces nearly 60 million metric tons of plastic making it the largest producer of plastic in the world (Ritchie, Page 1). The third longest river in the world, the Yangtze River, is the major hotspot of plastic accumulation in all of China. The Yangtze River carries a whopping amount of 333,000 metric tons of plastic into the oceans each year (Roth, Page 1). The main concern is that ⅓ of China’s population (about 466 million) depends on the Yangtze for food and water (Roth, Page 1). If a huge amount of plastic is mixed into the water, many people could be affected by serious diseases and some could even die.
The United Nations (UN) has been working on resolving the problem, but we still have a long way to go. The UN “agreed to amend the Basel Convention to make global trade in plastic waste more transparent and better regulated, while also ensuring that its management is safer for human health and the environment,” (Miles, Page 1). This shows that the UN is working on reducing plastic pollution and therefore saving marine animals from becoming extinct. Apart from the UN’s efforts, we ourselves also have to stop tossing plastic near the ocean in order to save innocent animals.
The plastic that is thrown in the ocean by humans can harm marine animals in many ways. Some marine animals get entangled in plastic which makes them choke while others ingest plastic waste which clogs their digestive system and causes death (Musau, Page 1). This shows how marine animals mistakenly get trapped because of plastic. This awakens us to stop throwing plastic materials near the ocean.
The United States government passed a law named “Save our Seas Act” of 2017. This law is still active in Congress and it is aimed towards reducing marine plastic pollution and marine debris (What’s Happening at the Federal Level on Plastic Pollution, Page 1). This act also requires NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to continue its work researching and ultimately preventing trash in our marine environment (What’s Happening at the Federal Level on Plastic Pollution, Page 1). This evidence proves that our government knows about the problems that marine animals are facing.
From 1950 to 2015, the annual production of plastic has increased 200-fold (200 times) to 381 million metric tons of plastic per year (Roser, Page 1). This statistic shows us that we have been polluting plastic more than ever these last few decades. Instead of being more careful, we have been very careless. And, ultimately, this plastic pollution probably increased the most near water bodies, where marine animals reside.
Electronics can cause negative impact throughout the body
By : Samuel Xie
When adults see kids playing with their electronics, their reaction usually is, “You’ll ruin your eyes!” or “You’re wasting your time.”
Electronics have multiple harmful effects. According to healthpointchc.org, “Cumulative and constant exposure to lights on digital screens can damage your retinal cells and lead to long-term vision problems.” Specifically, blue and white lights disrupt your sleep because they suppress melatonin, a hormone that influences your natural processes. Obviously, this isn’t good for anyone, but it is only a small part of the harmful effects that electronics bring. Health risks from electronics include:
Strain on muscles and bones
Neck, shoulder and back pain
Radiation and cancer
Yes, cancer and radiation. Believe it or not, RF (Radio Frequency) radiation comes from the most common electronics, and it can cause cancer, reproductive, neurological, and ocular effects. In a NTP (National Toxicology Program) rat test, when the rats were exposed to cell phones they were more susceptible to tumors, specifically gliomas and acoustic neuroma (a tumor in the brain and ears).
Don’t be so quick to throw your electronics away though. There are measures you can take to be safe from radiation, such as keeping electronics in bags, keeping as much distance as possible, and the obvious, don’t use them as much.
In conclusion, electronics have harmful effects and can cause risks for your health. You should spend less time on them to prevent these problems. Maybe adults are right when they say that electronics can have dangerous risks.
Additional Sources: BioRxiv, New Jersey Education Association
Astroworld concert leaves 10 dead, hundreds injured
By: Anushka Atchutuni and Srimedha Edpuganti
It was a normal day in Houston, Texas until the clock struck 9:00 p.m. With over 50,000 people all being crushed by other people, begging for help, leaving 10 people dead and hundreds injured.
“Nobody could breathe, we were all suffocating.” says the user @brook333lliott on TikTok. “Everyone around you, chins up, gasping for air, that’s all you see around you.”
This all happened at a fest named “Astroworld” which is an annual music festival run by American rapper Travis Scott. The guest limit is 20,000, but this time it went a little over the top with over 50,000 people attending the event. Some people said that Travis had multiple chances to stop the concert and help the people, and some say it was not Travis’s fault as he was not allowed to stop the concert.
“I think that he [Travis] could've paid more attention and I heard in the news that he was actually instigating them.” states Aanya Balaji, student from NMS.
“He [Travis] could have stopped singing his song & helped calm the crowd down.” says Sahana Kallur, a student from NMS.
Many concert goers stated that they were all yelling for help, begging for Travis to stop the show. “Yes, to a certain extent, it is his [Travis’s] fault, because he didn’t stop performing when there were people passing away right in front of his eyes,” says an anonymous student.
Over 300 people were admitted to hospitals, some of the patients were in cardiac arrest due to shortness of air, whilst being taken to the hospital. Bystanders were trying to revive people by giving them CPR. This was a terrible and tragic event, and hopefully, this doesn’t happen again.
COVID UPDATES
Omicron variant: What we know so far
By: Svetlana Ilinich
About the Omicron Variant:
Omicron is a new variant of SARS-CoV-2(COVID-19) detected on November 11th in Botswana, and on November 14th in South Africa. According to the CDC, so far, Omicron has been detected in many places in the United States, including Michigan. The Omicron variant is said to likely spread easier than the Delta variant, and it is expected that anyone with the Omicron variant is able to spread the virus to others even if they have been vaccinated or don’t have the symptoms of it. The Omicron cases are not serious. Current vaccines are expected to help prevent illness; however, breakthrough infections are likely to occur. The emergence of Omicron and other mutations of SARS-CoV-2 further shows the importance of vaccinations and booster shots. Some of the current treatments could prevent Omicron, and others could be less effective. Omicron currently isn’t shown to be more severe than other variants, or be associated with a more dangerous disease.
Staying Safe:
Following the same procedures as usual will decrease the chances of illness. Washing hands often and sanitizing objects could prevent dangerous germs from getting into the human system. Wearing masks averts the spreading of germs and diseases. If people have symptoms or don’t feel good in general, staying home is crucial to prevent exposing others to, and spreading illnesses. CDC recommends for everyone 5 years and older to get fully vaccinated, and for everyone 18 years and older to get their booster shot, about 6 months after they are fully vaccinated. This will heavily decrease the chance of getting infected with the virus, while also protecting others. People can get tested for current infection, so that they can make sure to avert spreading the virus. Make sure to listen to the safety rules and procedures of all places, to keep everyone safe.More people getting booster shot to battle spread of COVID
By: Arianna Huyck
When the COVID-19 vaccine came out in December of 2020, it’s safe to say that almost everyone thought the pandemic was almost over and things could go back to normal. This thought was re-established when the vaccine was approved for those 12 and up in May of 2021.
Currently, COVID cases continue to rise in Michigan, and many people are considering booster shots. This means that, rather than just having the previous two-shot series which many people have right now, people are adding an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Many people wonder, "If one does not receive the booster, are they still considered “fully vaccinate?" Popular questions include, “What kind of booster are most people receiving, Does it protect you against the new COVID variant?” These questions are addressed in the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) site.
As of December 9th, 2021, everyone ages 16 and over may receive a booster shot. This means that anyone ages 16+ can get a booster shot no less than six months after their second dose of the vaccine, according to www.cnn.com. While this is not required, it is highly recommended by COVID-19 experts.
On Wednesday, December 8th, Pfizer and BioNTech released a statement stating that the original two doses of the provided vaccine cannot protect people against getting infected by the Omicron variant. However, booster shots can prevent people from getting extremely sick and having to go to the hospital when affected by said variant; showing minimal severity of symptoms.
According to the statement mentioned previously, getting a booster can protect people almost as much as the two-shot series had protected people against the first strain of the virus. The Pfizer vaccine was about 95% effective against the initial strain of the virus, so the booster gives people a higher chance of recovering from the Omicron variant.
The main thing many people are concerned about is the potential side effects of the vaccine. However, “It’s benefits have been shown to clearly outweigh the potential risks,” Dr. Peter Marks, who is the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, says.
Like the other vaccines, the booster shot is optional, considering that if you don’t get one, you are still technically “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19. However, booster shots help your body remember how to fight COVID-19, which will reduce the risk of people getting hospitalized due to severe infection.
The particular vaccine explained earlier is Pfizer, the most common one in the U.S. However, other vaccine providers are offering boosters as well. Moderna is providing boosters for those 18 and older, 6 months after the initial doses. Johnson & Johnson is a bit more flexible, declaring that people can get any booster two months after their first doses. 16 and 17-year-olds can only get the Pfizer booster shot, but adults can get any type of vaccine for their booster.
Although middle school students are not able to get a booster shot yet, it is highly recommended that they do so when provided with the opportunity so that these young students can keep moving forward in contributing to bringing an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HOLIDAY SEASON
Celebrating Holidays Around The World!
By: Shalvi Bhambare
Not many people know that a southeast Asian nation called Cambodia has the most holidays in the world. Cambodia has over 21 public holidays! Just think of all the school days students could have off! Here, NMS students will find some of the most famous holidays that happen at the end of the year around the world:
Ho ho ho! Santa’s coming to town! Surely everyone has heard of this holiday, which is the most popular and a big favorite: Christmas! Christmas first started on December 25, 366 A.D. It’s a festival that marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God in Christianity. Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends. Some things that people do during the Christmas season include hanging up a Christmas tree, baking cookies, and opening presents during Christmas day.
Chinese New Year is also one of the most celebrated holidays. Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of a new year, according to the Chinese calendar. The new year usually starts between January 21st and February 20th. The date also varies every year. Chinese New year is a fun and exciting holiday around the start of the year. Chinese New Year is commonly celebrated with fireworks, red envelopes for exchanging money and dinner with family.
Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 2nd. It is a popular Mexican holiday which involves family and friends gathering around to celebrate and remember the deceased. People create altars to remember the deceased and also make traditional hispanic dishes. These dishes include: Tamales, Fish Tacos, Mole Mole, and Barbacoa. This festival was originally created to honor the dead.
There are many more holidays all over the world. These are just the most common ones. Different holidays are based on different events or religions but are all fun nonetheless! These holidays are all special in their own way and deserve to be celebrated.
'Tis the season...to remember the environment
By: Yuna Hahm
As December brings the holidays around the corner, snow and Christmas music fill the air, hot cocoa steams flushed faces, the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread wafts through the windows, and “American households generate 23% more tons of waste than in other months” (The Center for Biological Diversity). This waste has long-term negative effects on the environment, animals, and people, but you can take simple steps to make this holiday greener for everyone.
With its little festive holiday patterns, it can be hard to resist that extra surprise to a cherished one’s present. However, by choosing to turn down gift wrap, you can save a lot of trees, biodiversity, and animals. Instead of using paper that’s going to go in the bin soon, you can opt-out and feel good about reducing your carbon footprint, or come up with innovative, yet sustainable ideas.
For example, a Japanese method called Furoshiki wrapping is a great way to reduce your paper waste. This technique reuses old clothes or fabrics to wrap your gifts. You can also add a fallen pine cone, twig, or other seasonal foliage to add that fresh Christmas feel, something unsustainable paper, sparkly microplastic aluminum ribbons, or plastic pull bows can't.
Another big aspect of the holidays is the cookies, cakes, and candy canes. However, the extra packaging and certain ingredients are detrimental to the health of the Earth. Next time someone offers you a mint or candy cane with layers of plastic, little tags, or unsustainably sourced ingredients, think again before accepting it. By refusing a couple of moments of sweetness, you can create so much more harmony and balance in the world.
Winter comes with the stinging chill, fluffy snow, and freezing temperatures. You may crank up the heater and insist on heater blankets, hot water bottles, or plastic wrapping your windows for insulation. All this extra plastic, energy, materials, and water are extremely wasteful, especially when there is a clean and easy alternative: bundling up! You have so many clothes in your closet, tons of unused blankets, and multiple jackets, sweaters, and even cardigans throughout your house. By layering up, not only will you preserve the heat your OWN body is making but preserve the natural, sustainable climate in the world.
Do your part to make this holiday season sustainable and filled with harmony by rethinking extra packaging and bundling up when you can!
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
And the winner of the 2021 FIDE World Chess Championship is…
By: Sanjana Ramesh
The 2021 FIDE World Chess Championship has been very unique. Aside from being pushed a year back due to COVID-19, there have been records broken and blunders made. This championship was held in Dubai, alongside the Expo 2020 in Burj Khalifa. The opening ceremony of the match was held on Tuesday, October 5th. The total prize fund was two million euros; the winner gets 60%, and the runner-up receives the remaining 40%.
The Defender
The defending champion, Magnus Carlsen from Norway, was hoping to be the 1st person to have five undisputed titles. Dubai had been great for him - he earned his first grandmaster title there in 2004 - and it certainly would have been a great place to earn yet another stone for his legacy. He is a calm and strategic player, his rule being that sometimes it's better to wait and let your opponent make a mistake. His opponent, on the other hand, is quite the opposite.
The Challenger
The challenger, Ian Nepomniatchi from Russia, had just finished a fantastic Candidates (the qualifying event for the championship). In the Candidates, he had a performance rating of 2,849, which is two points higher than Carlsen’s actual rating, proving Nepomniatchi has the ability to play at high levels. He is an aggressive player which causes a clash of styles between him and the reigning champion.
Game 6
Almost halfway through the match, Nepomniatchi’s form broke. Up until then, he had been playing games that kept Carlsen on his toes, but finally, the draw streak broke. This was the first game since 2016 to have a decisive result. It was also the longest game in the history of FIDE Chess Championships with 136 moves, breaking the prior record of 124 moves. The challenger tried to imbalance the position in his favor, but after a long game, Magnus pressed on and won.
The End
After the 6th game, Ian Nepomniatchi lost his streak, and began making many blunders afterward. Even before the classical (long time control) part was over, the winner was decided. Carlson had won, and was the first person to have 5 undisputed World Champion titles.
Michigan dominates rival OSU, wins Big 10, heads to playoffs
By: Hasini Teegala
Talking about the Michigan vs. Ohio State matchups in recent history is irrelevant. What is relevant is the 2021 version of the Michigan Wolverines, a team that beat Ohio State 42-27, to advance to the Big Ten Championship game against Iowa.
Michigan won a close game against Rutgers, beat Wisconsin on the road, beat Nebraska in overtime, and won a nail-baiter in Happy Valley against Penn State. And yes, suffered a gut-wrenching 37-33 defeat at Spartan Stadium against Michigan State. All these games are a part of what defined Michigan leading into their matchup against the Buckeyes.
And now beating OSU will shape how Michigan is defined. Michigan had 11 good Saturdays this season, one bad one, but now it’s playoff time. Michigan won a knockout game against Ohio State, sending the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff, ranked No.2 in the CFP Rankings. For OSU, they will go to the Rose Bowl to play Utah, a great bowl, but not what they hoped for.
Where Michigan stands at this current moment, it’s a great spot to be in --- but one slip and their biggest dreams go away just like Ohio State’s did at Michigan Stadium. Michigan beating Ohio State was one of the best atmospheres ever seen at historic Michigan Stadium. For fans and the team, they’ll cherish those moments for years to come.
Linebacker Josh Ross called the win over Ohio State “a movie”, but realizes Michigan has bigger fish to fry--winning a National Championship. Beating Ohio State was a big win over a hated rival.
“We got bigger and better things in front of us, and it’s just exciting to be in the position that we’re in,” Ross said, “ Everything is in front of us and we know that, and it’s just time to go get it.”
Quarterback Cade McNamara called defeating Ohio State one of, if not the pinnacle of his career, but knows they can’t reflect on that triumph. Before Michigan's victory over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, McNamara said, “We’ll come back and we’ll appreciate that game after the season but for now, we’ve got to beat the Hawkeyes and we have to take home a Big Ten Championship because there’s not one dude on this team that has a ring. Definitely not a Big Ten Championship ring. That was one of our goals that we wanted to achieve this season. Now we just have to go on and achieve the next one.”
The next goal is to beat Georgia in the semifinal and then play for the national title.
ADVICE & OPINIONS
Dear Wildcat
By: Lakshmi Bijukumar and Tanisha Paul
Dear Wildcat: There are kids at our school who are bothering and being mean to me online. I tried telling them to stop several times, but they won't leave me alone. What’s the best thing to do in my situation?
-- Traumatized Turtle
Dear Traumatized Turtle: I have a few solutions for your situation. One thing you could try is reaching out to these people and telling them how you feel about the things they say and do. Another option is telling a trusted adult. It could be a parent or guardian or an adult at school, like a teacher or a counselor. I hope you resolve your problem!
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Dear Wildcat: I’m having a really hard time fitting in with my peers at school. I want to make more friends and catch up to the recent trends. What advice do you have for me?
-- Depressed Dinosaur
Dear Depressed Dinosaur: First of all, you should never change yourself just to fit in! Although, I do understand that fitting in can be difficult. Here is a way to help you solve your problem. You should prioritize yourself first, check in with yourself. How do you feel? If you like the way you are, then you’re good to go. Remember, you shouldn’t need to change your appearance or have a social life just to fit in. Always be genuine to yourself and your feelings!
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Dear Wildcat: I’m having a hard time managing my social and school life. My friends are always asking me to come hangout, but I have tons of homework. It’s hard managing everything. What should I do?
-- Sad Shark
Dear Sad Shark: I think the best thing to do in this situation is to try to be a bit more organized when it comes to managing your time. For example, you could plan ahead and make a list of things you need to do. Try not to decline an invite to hang out with your friends; instead you could plan your schedule, and let them know when you're free. If you have a hard time finishing homework, the best thing to do is to reach out to your teacher, and clear up any concerns and doubts. I wish you the best of luck!
Novi Middle School
Email: kenneth.fenchel@novik12.org
Website: https://ms.novi.k12.mi.us/
Location: 49000 West 11 Mile Road, Novi, MI, USA
Phone: (248)-449-1600