All – The Northern Light

Teachers should allow cell phones in class within reason

Gavin Stevens, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

The use of smartphones in the classroom is currently among the most highly-debated issues plaguing public schools today.While some schools have banned their use entirely in order to decrease disruptive interruptions and distractions, others have supported the use of smartphones as a technology tool to enhance...

It’s time to de-emphasize the standardized test scores

Shawna Sawall, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

A few weeks ago, my school counselor came into my class in order to provide my fellow classmates and I with information about the SAT, as well as how we should go about preparing for it. You’re probably assuming I sat there and listened attentively to the important information being told but, in reality- I...

Barrier: pregnancy discrimination in the United States

Katie Knight, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

Kimberly Knight is about to become the receptionist for a local massage therapy clinic. She is a warm and welcoming woman, exactly the type of person you would imagine cheerfully greeting customers at the receptionist’s desk. She only needs to wait for the manager’s call and answer a few questions...

Maybe school uniforms aren’t all bad

Natalie Grinder, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

According to the Department of Education, 15.5 percent of public schools required uniforms in the 2007-2008 school year. This is an increase of about 6 percent from a decade earlier. Schools should have uniforms: a uniform does not define anyone, it is just an outfit for the time school is in session, and ...

Protesters should not be filling Bronson Park

Abigail Vanderberg, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

Bronson Park is a scenic park, named after Kalamazoo’s founder Titus Bronson. In the summer the public area is filled to brim with flowers of every color and shape. The trees are filled with green leaves of every shade that could be pulled from the human head. In the winter, Bronson part has even m...

The lie behind “High School Musical”

Ana Haurie Ustaran, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

According to movies like High School Musical, Twilight or Mean Girls, American high school is a place where every athlete is handsome and popular, bullies lock you in your locker and the first day you will be walking in the corridor and you will hit someone, then your things will fall to the ground ...

A late start would benefit high school students

Hailee Clark, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* You find yourself slowly opening your drowsy eyes looking at your dreaded alarm clock going off, with the time lighting up at too early o’clock. As you roll yourself out of bed, all you can think of is snuggling back up into the comforter. Young people don't get eno...

We should be more careful with the plastic in our oceans

Melissah Morris-Adkins, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

The average person consumes 4.6 pounds of garbage a day. The average four person family consumes 18.4 pounds of garbage a day and a family of four produces 570.4 pounds of garbage a month. Within a year, the household produces 6,844.8 pounds a year. Just in the US alone, we produce 254 million pounds o...

Scroll with care: how social media ruins the brain

Astrid Code, Journalism 1 Writer

October 14, 2018

Filed under All, All, Byline, Opinion

Someone snaps a picture of themself, and swipes through the filters until they find the right one. Post. Hours later, still no one has liked their picture. They thought the picture was okay, but now they look at it again and see all their flaws.They feel ugly and will second guess everything before ...

Huskie soccer prepares for regional tournament

Malcolm Gaynor, Sports Editor

October 11, 2018

Filed under All, All, School Sports, Sports

In the first round of the league tournament, the Huskie soccer team fell 1-0 against rival Portage Central. PC went on the beat Mattawan 3-1 to take the league title, while the Huskies won the third place game against Gull Lake 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by sophomore Isaiah Spillers in the final mi...

Men’s tennis gets ready for regionals

Jackson Graham, Staff Writer

October 11, 2018

Filed under All, All, School Sports, Sports

The Portage Northern men’s tennis team capped off an undefeated season with a 6-2 win over Byron Center in the last match of the regular season, and will now turn their attention to the regional tournament on Thursday, October 11. For each match that a team wins at the regional tournament, they earn on...

PN men’s tennis team earns historic win over PC

Jackson Graham, Staff Writer

October 4, 2018

Filed under All, All, School Sports, Sports

The Portage Northern men’s tennis team beat Portage Central for the first time in school history on September 11. The Huskies beat the Mustangs 5-3 with wins from one, two, three, and four singles as well as four doubles. In 53 years, they have come close, but have never been able to cross the fi...