The Garfield Messenger: Volume 95, Issue 4

Volume 95 Issue 4

December 16, 2016

An open Forum for Student Expression

Supporters of The Garfield Messenger Benefactors Melissa and Richard Albrecht Susan Byrnes Patrons Tona Lin Ad Paul Holland Beth Britt Ellen Chestnut Gabrielle Coulon Harry Cheadle Hazel Pearson Karen Santos Kim & Michelle Gould Tana Lin & Paul Holland Friends Ann Hollar Argeres Family Carolyn Pinkett Dale McAlister Deborah and Keith Ferguson Deborah Nimmons/ Frank Martinez Devlin Zuckleman Elana Jassy Hannah Marschell Heath Foster Janet Gwilym and Bing Tso Jay & Alicia Edgar Jillian and Ciaran Okelley Joseph Hurley Julie Wohle and Rick Kolpa Karin Brooks and Simon Woods Kerry Bubb Kristen Rooks Laura Gardner+ Hiroshi Matsubara Lauri and Mark Milodragovich Margaret Sullivan Nancy Cohen Nancy Sapiro and Lincoln Miller Phebe O’Neil Shelton Family Smidcheus Family Porter Family Thury Gudmundsdottir Tracy Rowland and Larry Reid Trina Blake Umbach Family These contributions help make the production and publication of The Garfield Messenger possible. If you would like to support The Messenger, please contact us at garfieldmessenger@gmail.com

Editorial and Letter Policy The purpose of The Garfield Messenger is to present student perspectives on issues and events related to the Garfield High School community. The Messenger’s editorial responsibility lies not in presenting a particular viewpoint or agenda, but in representing a variety of opinions. Views expressed in publications by The Messenger do not necessarily represent those of our staff, supporters, or the Garfield High School student body and faculty.

The Garfield Messenger welcomes responses to our publications as well as opinions concerning issues relevant to Garfield. Please send editorials, opinion columns, or letters to the editor to garfieldmessenger@gmail.com Contact The Garfield Messenger The Garfield Messenger Garfield High School 400 23rd Ave Seattle, WA 98122 Phone/Fax: (206) 252-2270 E-mail: garfieldmessenger@gmail.com

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The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Contents

Volume 95 Issue 4 December 16, 2016

NEWS

A&E

News Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

NYE Flare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

by Charlotte Gong

by Ann Shan

Get To Know: Gisele Fox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Cuffing Szn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

by Alex Ferry

by Alex Ferry

Success in Unity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Kris Kringles Jingles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

by Josh Chestnut & Quinn Sullivan

by Sydney Santos

America’s Worst Fear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Seattle Teen Internships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

by Delphi Drake-Mudede

by Kiki Manning

Upstander of the Issue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

by Quinn Sulivan

by Claire Boudour

2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 bySusana Davidson

Winter Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

by Elena Orlando

FEATURES

Viva Vera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

A “How To” on Allyship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

by Susana Davidson

by Jessica Morales, Allani Seals, & Bella Rowland-Reid

How To Give Back This Holiday Season. . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

by Jilia Lin & Flora Taagen

Do You Know Your Snow?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

SPORTS Say Hello to the NCAA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

by Charlotte Gong

By Esther Chien

Look Back At It. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Confidence, From The Top! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

by Kiki Manning

Presents With a Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

by Lily Laesch

by Cipher Goings

Skating Through Seattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

by Delphi Drake-Mudede

A Winter Sports Wonderland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

by Sydney Santos & Julia Lin

Purple Haze’s Purple Reign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

by Emma Cooper

Writing Executive Bella Rowland-Reid Graphics Executive Cora Andersen Bicknell Graphics Editor Elliott Hoppe Section Editors Hannah Tacke • Quinn Sullivan Elena Orlando • Emma Cooper Business Executive David Willner Webmaster Miraya Horton Advisor Corey Allan Martin

Writers Alex Ferry • Allani Seals • Ann Shan Charlotte Gong • Cipher Goings • Claire Boudour • Delphi Drake-Mudede Esther Chien • Flora Taagen • Jessica Morales • Josh Chestnut • Julia Lin • Kiki Manning • Lily Laesch • Susana Davidson • Sydney Santos Photographers Freya Wiedemann • Peter Kubiniec Ruby Seiwerath Illustrators Brianna Kleckner • Ana Matsubara Business Staff Paulette Argeres • Julia Reguera

Cover by Cora Andersen Bicknell

Skating Through Seattle pg. 17 Art by Ana Matsubara

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News Get To Know

News Briefs By Charlotte Gong

Gisele Fox.

Muslim Student Assaulted at UW On November 15th, a muslim student, Nasro Hassan was struck in the face with a bottle while walking on campus. The suspect is still indeterminate, but Hassan suffered from serious bruising to her face and a concussion. University of Washington campus police were unable to determine if the incident was on the premise of hate or bias, and have since handed the investigation over to the FBI. Nonetheless, this incident sparks important conversation both about the presence of Islamophobia on college campuses, and safety for Muslim women.

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n the past few months, Bulldogs have been buzzing around with black and yellow bracelets, that say “Save The Bees.” The masterminds behind this environmental movement at Garfield is thanks to sophomores Freya Wiedemann, and Gisele fox.

“We started selling bracelets at the beginning of November,” said Fox. “We’ve been really successful so far and would like to expand to start making more products.”

One of Gisele’s favorite hobbies besides track, modeling, and saving the world, is crocheting – which is why she started making bracelets to help fund the movement.

“We have a whole process to raise money for the bees,” said Fox. “The funding will go to Planet Bee – an organization that helps to build hives and teaches kids the importance of bees.”

Aside from this project, Gisele is an all around environmental activist.

“I’m doing my health research project on how AP Environmental Science and Garfield club Earth Corps affect Garfield and if they do things to help the environment after learning about it,” said Fox. Fox herself would show positive results among that research, as she has not only been apart of earth corps for three years, she is has translated her learning to her life.

“I really like upcycling projects. When I was in seventh grade I made a bag out of old textbooks. Stuff like that is fun and good for the environment,” said Fox. Her interest in upcycling piqued her quest

A Brazilian Tragedy On November 28th, a Brazilian charter plane with the Chapecoense Real soccer team crashed into the Colombian countryside. A total of 71 people died in the crash with only six survivors. This incident has hugely devastated Brazil, and hit at the hearts of dedicated fans, in an event unparalleled in Brazilian history. The cause of the crash is still being investigated, but the most probable cause is a lack of fuel leading to electrical failure. The Bolivian government has made two arrests of suspects accused of wrongly authorizing a license for the plane, which did not have a full tank of fuel, and being partially responsible for the crash.

Photo by Peter Kubinec for organizations that were doing the same.

“I found out about this company called Thread. They pay people to collect water bottles polluting Haiti and make thread from them,” said Fox. “I’ve been wanting to buy some of their fabric and get into that because it’s one hundred percent recycled bottles.”

Gisele has found her passion for the environment, and she’s doing her best to spread that passion. She leads her life with her go to mantra, “Just figure it out.”

Well Gisele, looks like you’ve done a pretty good job figuring things out so far. Let’s all try to do the same. -AF

Is Snapchat Going Public?

The highly popular app Snapchat has recently filed to make its stocks publicly available for investment. With an annual revenue of $366.7 million in this year alone, Snapchat, now Snap Inc., is on track to reach $1 billion in revenue in 2017. Along with a rapid growth, they also plan to release a pair of “smart glasses”. These glasses, called Spectacles, will have the ability to film 10 second videos, which upload straight to the app, and will be sold for $130.

They will be available in several different bright colors, and light up while recording video.

Oakland Fire On December 2nd, a warehouse in Oakland, California, called the “Ghost Ship”, caught fire, resulting in the death of 36 people. The victims were attending an electronic music concert, when the building went up in flames. They included musicians, students, and artists, many of whom were members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms are still finishing up on site investigation; the explanation for the fire has yet to be determined.

Garfield Girls

Come learn about lacrosse and our club! No experience or gear required!

Captains Practices: Dec 6- Feb 17thTue/Thurs 3:30-4:45 at Garfield’s turf field

Pre-Season informational meeting: Tuesday, Jauary 10th, 2017, 6:30pm- 7:45pm Douglass Truth Library, 2300 E Yesler Way Lacrosse Season: February 27 - mid May, 2017 Practices M-F, 5-7 PM with some 3-5 PM practices Montlake & Genesee Fields

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The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Head Coach: Caitlin Holzhauser Asst Coach: Aly Johnson Senior Captains: Cora Andersen Valeria Bermudes Camille Fain Sage Kalil Katherine Proulx Linda Vong For more information contact Team Managers: Willemijn de Clercq at willdc@sheltonfamily.com, (206) 250-6595 or Bill Shelton shelbt@sheltonfamily.com

News

Success in Unity

Ricardo Lockette spurs conversation at Garfield.

By Quinn Sullivan and Josh Chestnut

S

tudent athletes packed into the au- to Lockette’s speech, emphasizing that ditorium on Tuesday, December 6th, she quickly began to feel disheartened. some eager to escape fourth period “At first I was a little confused and I think and others excited to celebrate new pro- a lot of female athletes in the audience were grams at Garfield. confused too because These programs, the SLAY program “It is an opportunity to dig in Coaching Boys into we just didn’t focus Men (CBIM) and deeper and have more on females being vicStudent Leaders authentic conversations.” tims,” said Orlando. and Athletic Youth “[Lockette] didn’t talk (SLAY), promote about the empowersexual assault prevention and the ment of women in athletics or in the school.” rejection of gender stereotypes.

Some young men also felt as Retired Seattle Seahawks wide re- if Lockette misunderstood ceiver Ricardo Lockette was the first of the female empowerment three guest speakers at the assembly. His and sexual assault prespeech appeared to be directed at the vention messages that young male athletes in the audience, yet SLAY and CBIM convey. sparked great controversy among stu“He was reinforcing a dents, during and after the event. Lockette lot of patriarchal views that did not respond when asked to comment.

Sterling McLennan, an athlete and SLAY participant, explained that Lockette’s words were simply not meant for young women.

“He was speaking to the men and especially African American men who are told constantly that they are not going to be successful,” said McLennan. “He’s doing stuff beyond sports and a lot of the black kids here don’t get to hear in the public and media that [they] should be active in [their] community.”

Senior football captain Keith Edwards, a young black male, related personally to Lockette’s speech.

“Hearing what he has gone through it’s somewere not rething that I am also going ally related through, like struggling with to [Coachthe house and money,” said ing] Boys into Edwards. “It made me think Men,” said cross that there are people that I can country runner listen to and it really inspires me.”

Henry Milodragovich.

However, junior volleyball playHowever, some er Julia Olson questioned Lockette students believed that during his speech and an exchange bethose who walked out tween the two took place, that was the were disrespecting Lockfocus of KOMO News and The Seattle ette and the athletes he addressed.

Times headlines. After the short discus“[Garfield students] often feel like we sion, Olson and other students, offended should always speak up, which is great, but by what they perceived to be ‘patriarchal there is always a time and place for things like and misogynistic’ values, walked out. that,” said McLennan. “I commend [Julia] for Sophia Orlando, a junior wrestling speaking out, but it might not have been the captain, explained her initial reaction best time to do so. You can’t do it in the mid-

dle if you haven’t heard the entire speech.”

After being ushered back in by administration, many of whom declined to comment, the students who walked out were booed by others in the crowd. Edwards experienced the discomfort felt by many in the audience.

“I didn’t feel the division until [the students who walked out] came back,” said Edwards. “That’s when the room was all separated. There were people that were with them and people that were against them.”

Although many audience members believe that there were misogynistic undertones to Lockette’s speech, some, including SLAY developer and leader Rebecca Milliman, recognize that there is a more complex issue at hand.

“I absolutely believe Ricardo Lockette came

Milliman emphasized that for this reason, “It is important for us to really listen to the voices of youth, women, people of color, LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities. My hope is that we use this event as a catalyst and a tipping point for change.

It is an opportunity to dig deeper and have more authentic conversations,” she said.

Amidst the audience, there were dozens of students who believed Lockette’s speech was coming from a place of sincerity and compassion. Lockette spoke of bringing the community together.

“He was right and [Julia] was right

Art by Cora Andersen Bicknell

here with the best intentions and that he cares about this issue and the community,” said Milliman. “Unfortunately, his choice of certain words was off-message from the programs’. I can understand how this can happen especially on a topic that is difficult and personal for many people.

Milliman, the Prevention and Education Coordinator at the Harborview Center for Sexual Assault, has helped to implement both programs at Garfield this past year.

Following this heated event, many students challenged their own initial reactions.

Maya Bui, a junior volleyball player acknowledged that although much of what Lockette said offended her, his ideas were not meant to be harmful.

“I walked out, in the heat of the moment,” she said. “But throughout my day I realized I was also in the wrong because different oppressions shape the way you view your reality. I don’t think he meant to [offend people], there are just different cultural norms for different cultures.”

[about women being strong] because in both cases you need each other to be successful,” noted Edwards.

Many students seemed to reach a similar conclusion: everyone should consider all perspectives before determining how to react.

“I think the people who are claiming it very sexist need to reevaluate the situation and take a step back to see how other people think about it,” said Bui. “And the same thing goes for the people that booed the volleyball team who also need to reevaluate how it came across.”

The conversations that followed this controversy allowed students to reflect and better understand alternative perspectives. In the end, this connected to Lockette’s overall message about the importance of unity.

“I think Lockette was right in saying that one person [cannot succeed] and I agree with that, but that doesn’t mean that one’s voice needs to be silenced so that one can overtake the other,” said Orlando. “I think it’s more powerful if the voices are heard together.”

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News

America’s Worst Fear

Upstander of the issue

The true dangers of Islamophobia.

By Quinn Sullivan

By Delphi Drake-Mudede

W

ith each passing year, we see more large scale violence by way of gun or other weapon on campuses and in other public places.

When looking at the reactions and consequences, it becomes difficult to ignore the reality that entire groups of people can be punished for the acts of a few.

With the rise of terrorist organizations based in the Middle East and an openly anti-

“

were able to escort Roof off the scene unharmed, and then give him food and.

Roof then went on to plead insanity, which he was denied. A year later, Roof is still in court, with the ability to represent himself (act as his own lawyer). Roof managed to avoid being charged with terrorism, though his antiblack intentions were clear to the public.

According to CNN, only 1 in every 10,000

One time this white male came over to us and he was screaming about us being terrorists and telling us to go back to our country.

Islam president elect, there has been a visible spike in Islamophobia in the US. Last December, then presidential nominee Donald Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.”

Many of his supporters relish this idea, due to the belief that America is under siege from immigrants and Muslims. Anti-Muslim rallies, hate crimes, and racial profiling have increased in recent years.

In 2014, Muslims surpassed atheists as the countries least accepted religious group.

Last month, a student at Ohio State University injured thirteen of his peers by plowing through a crowd with his car and proceeding to pull a knife on the crowd.

The student, Abdul Razak Artan, was a Somali immigrant and a Muslim. When these

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Muslims living in the US is likely to be associated with radical terrorism, but Muslims across the country experience the dangers of Islamophobia, which is the hatred or fear of those who practice the religion of Islam.

Sophomore Jennet Mitikie is a muslim student who has faced the negative effects of Islamophobia. “At Garfield we do a really good job of addressing all peoples needs and not just a certain race or religion, but there will be sometimes when I’m downtown and people will look at me weirdly, or won’t sit next to me,” said Mitikie. “But I don’t really take it personally because they are stereotyping me without knowing me, and that’s really their own fault.”

Jennet hopes that in the future people will be more accepting and tolerant of her

Be educated and spread awareness.

If you hear someone saying something that is untrue just call them out on it.

aspects of Abdul were discovered, he was promptly labeled by multiple media outlets as an ISIS associate without any concrete evidence. A police officer immediately shot and killed Artan at the scene of the crime.

In June of 2015, Dylann Roof, a blatant white supremacist, opened fire in a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, murdering nine people.

The police, who knew Roof was armed,

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An Upstander is someone who acts to make positive change. Junior Jaya Duckworth recently wrote an article on multi-racialism that was published in the Seattle Globalist. She is also an advocate for social justice and equality. Here is one among many reasons that Jaya is an Upstander: Why did you write about multiracialism?

I’m getting a lot more interested in multiracial stuff. We talk a lot about these types of things at home. And also Twitter honestly - getting exposure to lots of people’s ideas really quickly and looking at multiple ways to approach inequalities has made me a lot more opinionated. I’m also part of Multiracial Student Union.

What positive reactions have you gotten from others?

”

religion. She would like everyone to be educated about not only the struggles that Muslim people face, but also the religion itself. “I think that before anyone fights for anything, just be educated. Don’t go to a rally if you don’t know what it’s about.

Don’t fight over things that you don’t understand. Be educated and spread awareness.”

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Photo by Ruby Seiwerath

One of the most rewarding things for me is hearing that other people really identify with this. Multiracialism in the world is increasing. And statistically, more and more people on surveys are not recognizing they’re multi racialists, even if they biologically are. It’s called the multiracial identity gap. I think that multiracialism is something we do see a lot in the media, but it’s not addressed or identified. You don’t really think about it and how it affects the people.

What role does your identity play in helping others?

Sometimes I [think]: “Who am I to be talking about this because I’m not oppressed?”

But other times I think that I might be the only person who can [speak out] because a white person can’t say it and a person of color might not be listened to. Because I come from a lot of educational privilege and socioeconomic privilege I think I am able to have an opinion that is validated - close to the equivalent of what people of color are feeling, but also understood by white people.

What is the aim of your article and similar social activism?

One of my goals is to help other multiracial kids realize that there is this community of people who are really important and have this unique experience. I [also want] allies to realize the more nuanced version of these issues and that this population is growing.

Check out Jaya’s article here: http://www.seattleglobalis t. com/2016/11/21/please-select-one-growing-up-with-amultiracial-identity/59185

Features

A “How-To” On Allyship A guide for the privileged.

By Jessica Morales & Allani Seals

1. TAKE A FEW STEPS BACK (or just stay in the back) As an ally, sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between when to speak and when to stay silent. Silence is only violence when you are passive. It’s important to create space for marginalized people to voice their feelings and opinions, and as an ally (a person who supports a marginalized group) to listen. It’s important to use your privilege (the rights and immunities you have as a result of your whiteness) in situations where marginalized people can’t defend themselves. Mental health is equally as important; refrain from sharing triggering videos or speech on your social media, and check in frequently with your friends about their mental state.

Marginalized people aren’t always looking to talk about issues that affect them.

Sometimes white guilt causes white people to bring up the latest incident of police brutality or Donald Trump’s islamophobic comments. Continuing to speak about the problems we already know about can be triggering for many.

2. CALLING OUT FAM AND PALS It starts where the dirty laundry is at! Before you take it to the streets and mobilize with oppressed groups, you need to fix yourself, your family, and your friends. Not being racist is about more than not using racial slurs or agreeing with racist notions. Being racist is internalized and subconscious, similar to homophobia or misogyny. Recognize when you might be upholding oppressive behaviors, and call out your family when

4. STOP SUGARCOATING Often times being privileged means one can’t fully understanding how the oppressed or disadvantaged feel. With the recent election of Donald Trump, it can be easy for one to say “Love Trumps Hate,” but in reality, it might not be that easy to say for someone who will be directly affected by his presidency. By saying “Love Trumps Hate,” intentionally or not, it is invalidating the anger of oppressed people and suggesting that loving their oppressors is the better option.

ist family members over Facebook instead of conversing with them, we are part of the problem. As white people, we must use our privilege not to speak above our marginalized peers, but instead rally behind them and use our voices to echo their thoughts, not our own perceived notions of what we may think they do or do not believe.

5. DON’T BE A SAFETY PIN

Courtesey of Karen Quiroz

they are also normalizing oppression. Normalizations can include degrading slurs for womxn, disabled people, people of color, LGBTQ+ community, usually used and seen as slang. Entertainment shows and media also normalize oppression, however, most people excuse it and claim it to be “satire” and “just a joke.” When your friends are being racist or sexist, call them out. Stop protecting people that are being problematic just because you know and love them, that isn’t helping the fight for marginalized groups. It’s important to call people out as an ally because the oppressed won’t or aren’t always around to defend themselves.

And stop looking to marginalized people to educate you; there’s a thing called Google, and it’s free to use.

3. STOP THE FIVE SECONDS OF FAME As exciting as being on the 7 p.m. news can be, using those opportunities as an Instagram or Twitter photo opp instead of taking action minimizes issues to nothing but likes and retweets. Yes, it’s always important to maximize the visibility of protests and marches, but posting a picture as an aesthetic for your Instagram shows nothing but your overcompensation for white guilt and emphasizes that you’re a supporter and really not a racist. Being there is enough; you don’t need to prove solidarity, unless of course there’s a reason to? Hmm.

A recent movement suggests that allies wear a safety pin on their shirt to symbolize standing in solidarity with those that are considered vulnerable under current president-elect Trump. While the gesture is sympathetic, the safety pin is passive and may cause the wearer to feel they they don’t have a responsibility to take action. A safety pin won’t organize or mobilize, it’s equivalent to remaining silent. Minimizing struggles to safety pins can feel demeaning and minimizing for people who are oppressed.

6. “I HAVE BLACK FRIENDS, I’M NOT PROBLEMATIC” Nowadays, even the smallest notion of acceptance toward minority groups gives the illusion that their years of oppression are over. For instance, many people came to the conclusion that racism was over when Barack Obama, a black man, was elected as president. Of course this was an astounding feat in the black community, but how could one notion of presidential diversity eradicate centuries of racism and discrimination of black people? It couldn’t, and it can’t. It’s important to realize that these things are systematic; they are imbedded in American society. Having three black friends won’t eliminate the racism they face; it simply creates the illusion that it’s gone.

An Open Letter to White People

By Bella Rowland-Reid If you are white person reading this, you might be inclined to say that you’re in the clear: you speak out for others, call out problematic friends, and protest alongside your oppressed peers. However, sometimes our actions contradict the exact messages we try so hard to communicate. When white people push to the front of demonstrations organized by people of color, when we speak over people of color in spaces that are not our own, and when we decide to delete rac-

The government works for us. The prison system, the education system, the political system were all created by and for the benefit of white people in America. Because we have such immense privilege, we cannot stand idly by and Tweet #BlackLivesMatter once or twice a year -- instead, we must work with and behind our marginalized peers to elevate their voices in our white communities, because when activism is just one privileged group speaking to themselves, we are excluding the most important narrative of all -- those oppressed by our privilege. Next time you go to a protest, stand in the back and support your peers fighting against their oppression. When you’re in a safe space talking about oppression that is not your own (i.e. racism, sexism, queerphobia) remember to take a step back and listen to the thoughts of those marginalized from the same systems you benefit. And most of all, remember that in such a time of injustice and violence, passivity is a form of compliance.

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Features Homeless Shelters

As easy as it is to get wrapped up in the endless hot cocoa and candy canes of the holidays, it’s important to focus on the bigger theme of the season: giving back.

During the cold winter months the number of homeless enlisting in shelters, seeking hot meals and communal environments, dramatically increases. Helping out local communities by volunteering, donating goods, hosting parties or drives, and building relations with residents at shelters can be extremely rewarding, especially during the holiday season.

Mary’s Place

The nonprofit, Mary’s Place, provides services to women, children, and families throughout the Seattle area. According to Mary’s Place’s website, their ultimate goal is to “empower women to reclaim their lives by offering community, acceptance, hope and dignity.” Mary’s Place not only provides those in need with basic amenities, such as clothes, shelter, and nourishment, but also presents access to employment and housing.

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission is dedicated to providing emergency care and long-term aid to the city’s homeless population. The shelter began during the Great Depression, serving soup to the homeless of the neighborhood. Now, Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission has broadened its services and number of homeless who enlist in them, acting as a staple shelter for men, women, and children.

YouthCare

YouthCare is a Seattle shelter that is devoted to supporting homeless youth. According to YouthCare’s communications specialist, Brittny Nielsen, the shelter provides a wide array of services for its youth, including outreach, basic amenities, emergency shelter, housing, counseling, education, and employment training. “[We seek to] stabilize them with housing and shelter, and prepare for their futures through education and employment”, she shares.

HOW TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

By Flora Taagen and Julia Lin

Pocket Rice Pocket rice is a free app that combines the fun of Trivia Crack with the giving spirit of the holiday season. You simply choose a subject (anything from geography to movies) and if you answer the question correctly, you earn 10 grains of rice that you can donate to people in need.

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Charity Miles Charity Miles converts your workouts into money you can donate to a charity of your choice. The app tracks your distance traveled each day and you earn money as you move. Biking earns 10¢ per mile and walking earns 25¢ so you can earn money for charity as you walk the halls at school!

Random Acts of Kindness - Smile at someone in the hallway - Tell someone how much you appreciate them - Compliment someone on their personality - Send a letter or baked goods to soldiers Art by Ana Matsubara

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Features

Do You Know Your Snow?

Snow lovers, listen up.

By Charlotte Gong

“snow day” has yet to make its appearance.

Despite Seattle’s shifty winter track record, this season has good odds of experiencing higher amounts of that ohso-lovable white and flaky precipitation.

But how do we know? Due to a principle called the El Niño effect, explains University of Washington professor David Battisti.

Climate patterns of the Tropical Pacific - the stretch of ocean from Indonesia to Peru impact weather here in our very own Pacific Northwest. By studying climate patterns in that region, atmospheric scientists can predict whether it will be an El Niño or La Niña winter up here. El Niño winters mean slightly warmer average temperatures, and la Niña winters mean slightly cooler ones.

Battisti explains that the El Niño phenomena affects temperatures primarily, which de-

What was Garfield like before we got here?

By Kiki Manning Emily McLaughlin graduated from Garfield in 1995, and now works in theatre while contiuing her work in visual art.

A

blizzard of sparkling snow crystals dance through the brisk air. You stick out your tongue out to catch a few flakes. Cars are idle and blanketed in white. People walk through the streets in warm coats carrying sleds, and snowmen line yards and sidewalks. After a long day, you go inside from the cold to enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Although we have already experienced a delayed start due to snowfall, the rare and dreamed about

Look Back At It

work. I get to use my hands, my mind, and my soul. I get to work with lots of amazing people.

What type of activities were you involved in at Garfield?

So here’s the good news for snow lovers: scientists have already predicted that we’ll get a La Niña winter in the Pacific Northwest this year. Statistically, this means lower temperatures, and overall, a greater chance of snowfall. On top of the short-lived snowfall we have already experienced, Seattleites can look forward to likelihood of a snowy holiday, and potential snow days throughout the season. For skiers, there is a season of plentiful powder ahead at local ski resorts.

Senior Gabe Curhan is particularly hopeful.

“The winter of 2014 ended a long stretch of

I did writing for the Pen, and at one point I was also apart of the AIDS Education program. It was partnered with Planned Parenthood, that was just down the street at the time, so we did things like sex education and contraception options. But poetry was my main thing, I went to a lot of poetry slams and events outside of school and took poetry classes at El Centro de la Raza. I did my own artwork, there wasn’t a lot of art at Garfield at the time, so I didn’t do much of it there. I was involved in theatre, that was before the renovation of the school so it was in the auditorium which at the time only fit maybe 300 people, so you couldn’t have much. I wasn’t into music, but I loved the jazz band and the orchestra.

What did you like about Garfield?

good winters and started an abysmal 2 year stretch,” said Curhan, who has been skiing since he was two years old. “This season has been different already; hopefully we are going to have a phenomenal winter and this early season snow will continue.”

Though this winter may be chillier,

I really liked the people and the interesting mix of cultures and backgrounds. From talking to other people, it sounds like Garfield was not the typical high school experience. I honestl felt that there was lots of groups of people that you could talk to and get to know their world view. It sounds like at other places there is much more of a homogeneous student body.

Art courtesy of Emly McLaughlin

What was the highlight of your Garfield experience?

Well, graduation was fun. Especially after a year of Running Start and not being at Garfield much of my senior year, being around my friends was amazing and we had a really good time together, whether it was at theatre of after school, it was great. Overall I loved it.

What do you do now and what do you like about it?

termine whether we get more rain or snow.

“If it’s warmer than normal, it means the snowline, or level where snow turns to rain, is higher than normal on average,” Battisti said. “Basically, in an El Niño year, the snowpack won’t be as good as a La Niña year.”

A La Niña winter doesn’t just mean cooler temperatures in the Pacific Northwest; there are global effects, specific to each region of the world. For example, this La Niña winter will mean warmer average temperatures for the Southern region of the U.S.

it isn’t all good news for the snow enthused.

For future winters, rising global temperatures are set to impact snowfall greatly.

“As the planet warms, the snowline will continue to go up,” Battisti said. “All the predictions show that by 2050, Stevens Pass will look like Snoqualmie Pass does today.”

I work at the Seattle Children’s Theatre, I’m a fulltime wardrobe staff member. I work in other theatres around town, mostly in wardrobe or as stagehand. I’m also a visual artist, my work is in galleries around town.

During the summer I’m one of the costume dePhoto courtesy of Reynaldo Candela signers for SCT’s summer season, I’ve also done a lot of costume design around town. I like the fact that I work in hands on creative

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

9

1. Fight Hunger

$25

Do you have family or friends that are constantly snacking? Give them a pack of This Bar Saves Lives Granola Bars. For every bar purchased, a life-saving packet of food will reach children through humanitarian aid organizations. Every year, severe acute malnutrition kills 2.6 million children. Although preventable, this is an incredibly serious condition that threatens the lives of children worldwide. Give a box of these fair-trade, non-GMO granola bars to help fight hunger. Purchase a 12-pack from thisbarsaveslives.com or from Target for $24.99.

End Domestic Violence

$38

For the jewelry fanatic in your life, give a unique and elegant bracelet from the Alex and Ani Charity by Design collection. Twenty percent of profits will go to the National Network To End Domestic Violence, an organization whose main goal is to support victims and change the way society perceives domestic violence. Within the United States alone, twenty people are abused by their partners every minute, which adds up to more than 10 million victims every year. This season, help end this vicious epidemic that is deeply rooted in our society. The bracelet can be purchased at Nordstrom or online at Alexandani.com for $38.

Pres wit Purp

3. Support Refugees

We all know that one friend who is never without a hot cup of tea. Make their day by giving them ethically sourced and all natural loose leaf cranberry tea this winter. Currently, the organization RefuTea is donating 10% of their profits to refugee resettlement agencies. RefuTea profits go to help mainly Sudanese, Bhutanese and Burmese refugees rebuild their lives and support their families in Michigan. Purchase this Cranberry Cheer tea from RefuTea.com for $6.99.

$24

2.

By Lily L Art by Matsu

$7

Help the Homeless It is estimated there are 100 million homeless people worldwide, including more than four thousand without adequate housing here in Seattle. One of the most significant barriers for those who are homeless is finding work that can provide a stable income. These fair trade lemongrass and bamboo candles are made by women transitioning out of homelessness in Los Angeles. Buy an Hermosa candle from Ravenandlily.com for $24.

4.

5. Save Animals

Satisfy a loved one’s sweet tooth with a bar of Rescue Chocolate this holiday season.

All profits of this rich dark chocolate go to the No Kill Advocacy Center, which helps to save millions of healthy animals in shelters nationwide. Purchase online from RescueChocolate.com or from the Casita International store in Capitol Hill for $6 a bar.

$6

Invest in Education $38

For the avid traveler, consider gifting this sturdy and fashionable duffle bag. For every one sold, a backpack filled with school essentials is donated to a child in need in the United States.

Forty-two percent of children in America live in low-income families which can greatly affect both their learning and the ability to purchase the necessary resources for education. Be a part of changing the way poverty impacts education in this country while giving the gift of stylish air travel for to loved one. Purchase this grey State Duffel from SocietyB.com for $38.

6.

7. Empower Assault Survivors $54

Fashionable and comfy Sudara Punjammie pants are made by women in India who have survived sexual assault and human trafficking, and are now working to create a new life for themselves as well as their children. Eighty percent of trafficking victims in the world are female and fifty percent are children. In India, families will often sell their own daughters into sex trafficking with the youngest children having the highest value. Sudara employs survivors and gives them hope, freedom, and a stable income. Purchase Sudara pajama pants online at Sudara.org for $54.

sents th a pose

$20

For the outdoor enthusiast, give them a practical and thoughtful gift; a Life Straw water filter.

The filter removes 99.9% of waterborne bacteria by trapping microbes in the inner fiber layers of the straw. For every Lifestraw filter purchased, a child in a developing country will receive clean drinking water for the entire school year. One in nine people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. Unclean drinking water is incredibly detrimental to children especially, risking their health and even their lives. Purchase a Life Straw water filter for $20 from REI or Amazon.

Laesch y Ana ubara

9.

Provide Clean water

8.

Protect Wildlife For every holiday gift purchased from The Body Shop a square meter of rainforest will be restored in Vietnam, Malaysia, or Indonesia. These regions have some of the highest deforestation rates in the world because of factors such as resource demand and political corruption. Currently, the company has restored more than 7.8 million square meters of rainforests in these regions.

Make a difference this month by giving a limited edition hand cream trio. Purchase from The Body Shop stores in Downtown, Bellevue, Tukwila or online at TheBodyShop-usa.com for $18.

$20

$18

Conserve our Planet Nearly 14 billion pounds of trash are dumped into the ocean every year as the population and pollution continue to rise. For each product purchased from them, fair trade organization United by Blue has committed to removing one pound of trash from rivers, streams, and beaches. Buy a United by Blue pencil pouch for $20 from REI or unitedbyblue.com.

10.

A&E NYE Flare

The best places to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks.

by Ann Shan

Twice a year, Seattle’s skyline erupts with color. 2017 is just around the corner, and the city will once again break out the fireworks to welcome it. While they can be viewed from the comfort of home via television and live webcasts, noth-

Seattle Center

ing is the same as seeing them in person. Here are some of the best spots to watch fireworks when bringing in the new year.

When the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s Eve, the Space Needle will light up with its annual fireworks display. And what better place to watch then from the base of the Needle itself? The only problem is, thousands of people will have the same brilliant idea, making for a crowded night at Seattle Center. For those who want to be close to the action but not quite so close to other people, try hanging around the McDonald’s across the street from the Space Needle.

But beware: traffic will be a nightmare well into the new year.

Lynn Street and 5th Ave N Tucked away at the end of Lynn and 5th, this quiet neighborhood corner offers a panoramic view of Lake Union.

The site may only be the span of a long driveway, but it will still be less crowded than other well known viewpoints in Queen Anne like Kerry Park. But with only one bench and limited space, get there early or be prepared to stand.

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, Southern Portion

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, Northern Portion

For all those who’d prefer to This section of the six mile avoid the guaranteed crowds at loop around Lake Union Gasworks and the bridges, the contains the infamously southern perimeter of the lake crowded NYE fireworks may be the answer.

Often overviewing location Gasworks shadowed by its northern counPark. But Gasworks isn’t the Art by Brianna Kleckner terpart Gasworks, Lake Union Park sits at the southern only place on the trail with a tip of the lake and boasts just as good of a view. Along the prime view of the action. The trail itself are dozens of pocket parks, so get a headstart on that New Year’s resoFremont and University bridges are popular spots, so lution to exercise by walking or biking around the lake to find the perfect mini get there early to fight off the crowds and watch the firepark.

Eastlake sports quite a few, from Terry Pettus to Roanoke Street Mini Park. works explode over Lake Union. Parking spaces in the area are limited, so don’t show up late.

Cuffing Szn

Naughty

Advice to find a holiday companion.

START

Your perfect mate is...

Ice skating

by Alex Ferry

Best Holiday Date...

Throwing snowballs at couples Home Alone Assume it’s coal and chill and throw it away

Fave Holiday Drink?

Best gift to recieve is...

Hot Cocoa

Warm Water Egg Nog W/ an extra spice ;)

The Grinch

Alone time

The Candy Cane

Ca$h

You can’t decide if you’re naughty or nice...

You’re looking for a naughty because your both! You’re classic but also companion, however it’s hard to a heartbreaker. Don’ settle for the perfind ms/or mr right when your the son that will just use your minty magic best. A grinch companion is perfect to fix their problems; wait for the perto cozy up next to the fire with and son that will savor your sweetness.

Art by Ana Matsubara hate on the holidays.

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The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Nice

When you recieve a gift you...

Return the favor ;) Love!

Return the favor!

The Gingerbread

You have to be careful when choosing a mate because you’re easily broken, but soon you will realize that that special someone is worth breaking for. Your mate will be hard to catch, because everyone wants a taste of their sweet flavor–run fast.

A&E

Kris Kringle’s Jingles The secret Christmas songs that really “sleigh”.

By Sydney Santos

T

ired of torturing yourself with that scratchy old CD of prehistoric Christmas music that your great-grandparents listened to? Is Mariah Carey haunting your dreams, saying that the only thing she wants for Christmas is you? Feeling uncontrollably emotional every time you hear Rudolph being bullied? Don’t worry-I’ve done the favor for you and found some of the quintessential, yet largely unknown, holiday bangerz that are sure to light up your Christmas playlist. And for you Jewish kids, be sure to check out the Dreidel Dreidel Trap Remix on Youtube.

When Christmas Comes-Mariah Carey and John Legend You may think that the sole zenith of Mariah Carey’s Christmas career is “All I Want for Christmas is You”, but you would be wrong: as the undisputed Queen of Christmas, Carey has plenty of equally amazing holiday tunes to jam out to. This one is particularly special with the addition of John Legend’s soothing voice. When mixed with Carey’s enormous range, it’s enough to make any naughty person turn nice.

Oh Santa!-Mariah Carey Yes, this is another Mariah Carey song. But if the duet with Legend is a calming peppermint tea, this song is more of a triple-shot eggnog latte to get you straight out of bed Christmas morning. “Oh Santa!” is a call for Carey’s lost lover, whom she wants to get back by taking advantage of Santa’s gift-giving. She even says that she believes in St. Nick, which obviously means we all should too.

Underneath the Tree-Kelly Clarkson In her first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red, Kelly Clarkson produces several top-notch tunes, however “Underneath the Tree” is a true holiday anthem. The song is remarkably similar to “All I Want for Christmas is You” in it’s ability to make you want to

jump up and down like an elf on steroids.

Winter Wonderland/Here ComesSanta Claus-Anna Kendrick and Snoop Dogg This song is most famous for it’s appearance in Pitch Perfect 2, where Kendrick helps Snoop out with his newest Christmas single by adding a fresh beat. But the most mind-blowing part about this remix is that it’s basically a package deal: the tune takes two modern, catchy versions of Christmas classics and seamlessly blend them together like the red and white stripes of a candy cane.

River-Cee Lo Green For anyone who’s acquainted with “River”, you’re probably wondering if Cee Lo could possibly have created an adaptation of the heart-wrenching ballad that deserves to be in this prestigious article. To answer your intrigue, the singer-rapper performs the song so successfully that it rivals the soulful effect of Joni Mitchell’s 1971 original. His voice effortlessly slides right down your chimney and into your heart. Be sure to grab a box of kleenex and a chocolate-filled advent calendar in order to combat a serious case of the feels.

Anything Trap If you’re only going to listen to one thing one thing on this list, look up “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Trap Remix” or “Carol of the Bells Crystalize Trap Remix” on Youtube. If you do this, I guarantee you that this holiday season will be the best one yet (even though you may feel like Grandma laced your hot cocoa and made you trip hardcore).

Photo by Elliott Hoppe

Seattle Teen Internships Get to work.

By Kiki Manning As 2016 comes to a close, the new year brings application season for many summer programs and internships. Internships, whether paid or unpaid, are a great way to acquire new skills, explore different fields, and get involved in your community. Sure, you might have to give up your usual summer of sleeping until noon and watching Netflix, but an internship can both boost your resume and help you network and make connections in industries.

Arts While it is difficult to make it in the arts, internships are a great place to start. Seattle Children’s Theatre offers unpaid high school technical assistantships, where you work with college interns and theatre professionals to produce SCT’s summer season of student shows. Also, Young Americans’ Theatre Company, an entirely youth run company, issues production assistant internships in the summer, with the opportunity to be appoint-

ed to the board of directors at the end.

a great way for kids to make money in the summer and develop lifelong skills,” said Horton.

Public Works The city of Photo courtesey of ZooCorps Seattle has Environmental multiple poZooCorps at sitions for the Woodland youth. Seattle Park Zoo is a volCity Light and unteer program the Port of Sein which teens attle both have learn about envicompensated ronmental conopportunities servation and for teens. The teach visitors Seattle Youth about the zoo’s E m p l o y exhibits and ZooCorps volunteers bond. ment Program habitats.

The is a paid internship program that employs volunteers work through the school year and young people, and is a part of the Mayor’s during the summer. Applications for the proYouth Employment Initiative. Interns get gram are now open and close on January 17th. placed at various organizations in Seattle, one being the Seattle Center. Junior Miraya Medical Horton worked in Seattle Center’s call cenFred Hutch provides students with inter over the summer through SYEP. “It’s terest in research an eight week long paid

internships to explore the medical world.

Working with professionals in the field, interns get hands on experience in labs, and are exposed to a variety of careers in health and science, such as biostatistics and epidemiology.

Tech Microsoft offers a ten-week, full time internship for high school junior and seniors.

Interns work in various departments within the company, and develop tech and coding skills. Microsoft also has an apprenticeship program as an alternative to university.

Although applying can be stressful and overwhelming, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Rejection isn’t the end of the word and you can learn from it and improve yourself. It’s good to take advantage of the internship opportunities Seattle has to offer. Happy applying!

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

13

A&E A year in review.

By Claire Boudour 1. Juju on that beat 2. Mannequin challenge 3. Bottle flip 4. “None of them” 5. Dub challenge 6. Grey sweatpants challenge 7. Andy’s coming 8. Huhhhhh 9. Backpack challenge 10. #nameapencemusical

1. Inner Kermit 2. Barack Obama and Joe Biden 3. Garfield Class of 2020 Facebook Page 4. Bone Apple Teeth 5. Harambe 6. Arthur fist 7. Thanksgiving clapbacks 8. PSAT 9. Pepe 10. Blurry Mr. Krabs

tS o Ch cia all l M en ed ge ia

1. Taylor Swift and Kanye West 2. Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian 3. Kanye West and Amber Rose 4. Shabazz breaking up 5. Drake and Rihanna 6. Brangelina breaking up 7. Meek Mill and Drake 8. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber 9. Melania Trump and Michelle Obama 10. Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna

e Mem Best

Be s

1.Closer, The Chainsmokers feat.

Halsey 2.Too Good, Drake feat. Rihanna 3. Formation, Beyoncé 4. Starboy, The Weeknd 5. Broccoli, D.R.A.M. 6. Sweatshirt, Jacob Sartorius 7. Caroline, Aminé 8. No Problem, Chance the Rapper 9. Hotline Bling, Drake 10. ShaBagelBites, Shabazz Crew

Bes t So ng

2016

Wo

Best Celebrity Drama

Best Mov ie

Wo

Bes t TV Sho w

V

T r st

n shio st Fa Wor

Wo r

ow

Sh

g

on

S r st

st

Mo vie

d Tren

1. Fuller House 2. Teen Wolf 3. The 100 4. Pretty Little Liars 5. Rob & Chyna 6. The Walking Dead 7. Snapped 8. The Cleveland Show 9. Empire 10. Fresh off the Boat

1. Stranger Things 2. Grey’s Anatomy 3. The Get Down 4. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 5. Bob’s Burgers 6. Orange is the New Black 7. Luke Cage 8. The Walking Dead 9. American Horror Story 10. The Great British Bake Off

1. Closer, The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey 2. Sweatshirt, Jacob Sartorius 3. Treat You Better, Shawn Mendes 4. shAbAck in bAzness, Shabazz Crew 5. Anything by 21 Pilots 6. Starboy, The Weeknd 7. Anything by Meghan Trainor 8. Cake by the Ocean, DNCE 9. Can’t Stop the Feeling!, Justin Timberlake 10. 24K Magic, Bruno Mars

1. Cultural appropriation 2. Trump gear 3. Fenty slides 4. Crocs 5. Septum piercings 6. Fake freckles 7. Oversized hoop earrings 8. Socks and sandals 9. Huaraches 10. Lace-up shirts

1. Deadpool 2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3. The Bee Movie but Every Time They Say Bee it Gets Faster 4. Zootopia 5. Finding Dory 6. Arrival 7. Moana 8. Zoolander 2 9. Suicide Squad 10. Star Trek Beyond 1. Suicide Squad 2. Batman v. Superman 3. Dirty Grandpa 4. The Bee Movie but Every Time They Say Bee it Gets Faster 5. Sausage Party 6. Ouija: Origin of Evil 7. The 5th Wave 8. Ghostbusters 2 9. Meet the Blacks 10. Kung Fu Panda 3

2017

Earth Friendly Tip!

A New Year’s playlist

By Claire Boudour and Julia Lin

By Susana Davidson The passing of each coming day brings us closer and closer to the much-needed end of 2016. For all my fellow 2016 haters, this year brought pain, disappointment, and an all around mess -- so why not party that it’s over? Check out the playlist to the right and have fun spending your last days of 2016 jamming out into the new year!

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The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Giving back to Mother Nature.

The holidays tend to be a wasteful time for all of us, as uneaten foods and used wrapping paper is sent to landfills by the ton. In the US, 25% more trash is generated between Thanksgiving and New Years than any other time of year. This extra garbage amounts to 25 million tons during the festive Winter, or about 1 million extra tons per week! If you want to do your part to minimize all of this unnecessary waste, use your copy of The Messenger to wrap your gifts! It replaces wrapping paper, and reuses something you’d normally throw away!

A&E

Winter Calender

By Elena Orlando

December 17th Sam Lights at the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Live music and refreshments included! The event is from six to nine pm.

Cost: Free

December 17th Menorah Mania at the Stroum Jewish Community Center includes activities like making your own Menorah, and a life-size dreidel game.

Cost: Free (Reservation required)

January 1st Last day to see Wildlights at the Woodland Park Zoo. Open from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Cost: $9.95

December 18th 12k’s of Christmas Holiday Run at Heritage Park. The 12k begins at 9:30 and the 5k starts at 9:35.

Cost: 12K – $25 | 5K – $20

December 24th Last day to see Diving Santa at the Seattle Aquarium.

Mr. Claus enters the water at noon.

Cost: $24.95

December 28th Last day to see George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at PNB. Cost: Starts at $36

January 2nd Last day to visit Seattle Center’s Winterfest Ice Rink.

The rink is open from eleven am to eight pm.

Cost:$7

January 1st Last day to see the Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Hotel. This year’s theme is Harry Potter!

Cost: Free

Graphic by Peter Kubiniec

Viva Vera

Get to know Seattle’s all ages music venue.

By Susana Davidson The Vera Project - a non profit music venue, screenprinting studio, art gallery, recording studio and audio training facility - has set itself a complex task: provide a safe space to foster creativity, that also caters to people of all ages. Despite the obstacles it faces, mainly a lack of funding, Vera has managed to create a truly one of a kind venue that delivers fully on its mwwission to provide a “personal transformation through collaborative, youth-driven engagement in music and art,” (according to their mission statement).

The Vera Project was created by two University of Washington students, James Keblas and Shannon Stewart, back in 2001. “Two of our founders went and studied abroad in Holland, and there is a club over there called Vera,” says 19 year old Shoreline College freshman and Vera participation coordinator Jessica Schollmeyer. “ They run on a volunteer model and they get help from the city for their funding and support so James and Shannon brought that back over here and worked with the City of Seattle to create a space.”

Surprisingly, all ages venues were scarce in Seattle at the time. This was due in part to the Teen Dance Ordinance, a controversial Seattle law that made it very difficult for proprietors to open their doors to people of all ages. During its existence from 1985 to 2002, they required a one million dollar liability insurance policy, 3 off duty cops, and an age limit from 15 to 20. Even now, although most venues host some all ages shows, there are few exclusively all ages spaces in Seattle. This means that those un-

der the age limit often miss out on valuable experiences.

All music lovers know the feeling: finding out your favorite band is visiting your city, scrambling to get tickets and then, with a sinking feeling, noticing that little 21+ in fine print at the bottom of the page. This can be particularly crushing to younger concert goers, who are deprived

age and help out with other shows in the future.

“I have more experience with working merch, or box office and money handling. So if my friends are looking for a merch person, they’ll ask me to help out. I’ve worked merch at other places like the Moore and other venues with friends bands,” she said.

Apart from learning about the music industry from her experiences, Aubrie has also met some Photo courtesy of The Vera Project of her best friends through her time at Vera.

“Everyone’s very close with each other. We are always very open, everyone becomes friends.”

Another aspect Vera prides themselves on is their safe space policy. “We are all about safe space, for example our pre-show meetings include their name and their pronouns.

We want to make sure everyone is comfortable and is safe and so we work around you and your comfort level,” said Aubrie.

Jessica agrees. “It’s definitely important, especially in our current political and social climate, to have a space where people can go A band performs at the Vera Project. to express themselves in any way they want.” of opportunities to learn, listen, or be a part of the show.

By fusing the arts and music with a focus on youth em“They are the ones trying to go to shows, buying powerment, The Vera Project has established a comthis music and supporting our culture,” says Schol- munity unlike anything else. So, next time you find lmeyer. “Youth are the future of the music industry yourself looking for something to do on a Friday night, and we want them to come in on the ground floor.” or just happen to be perusing Seattle Center, stop Aubrie Kralis, a 17 year old Center School stu- by and see for yourself the world they have created. dent Vera intern/committee chair says that Vera You can also find more information on their website: has given her the experience she needs to man- www.theveraproject.org.

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

15

Sports Say Hello to the NCAA An introduction to the athletic college recruiting process.

By Esther Chien

G

arfield has an illustrious history of college bound athletes going to top schools, with even more being dispatched from the class of ‘17. Applying to colleges is not an easy task, but for athletes aspiring to be recruited, there’s even more work to be done. Official visits, meetings with coaches, and persistent communication with the schools are just a few things to name. These three athletes share their recruiting experiences ranging from the University of Washington, to Yale and Stanford.

Photos by Ruby Seiwerath

WORDS TO KNOW Official visit: A visit taken to a college. All expenses are paid for by the college, including lodging, transportation, meals, and entertainment. For Division 1 and Division 2 schools, up to 5 officials during senior year are allowed, and each visit may last no longer than 48 hours.

Although the NCAA regulations vary between each sport, the process of athletic recruitment can be divided into 3 generalized periods: Contact Period: Where a college coach can contact athletes and their parents in person, and watch the player compete.

Evaluation Period: Where the coach can continue to assess the player’s performance, but contact is no longer allowed to be face-to-face. The coach must write or telephone the athlete if he/ she wishes to contact the player.

Dead Period: This is when a coach may no longer watch the athlete perform, but continue to contact them via writing or phone calls.

Commitment: The last step in the entire process, this is when the athlete signs a contract (National Letter of Intent) with their chosen school and officially commits to the school for their sport.

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Daejon Davis: Basketball.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Sophie Boyd-Fliegel: Rowing.

STANFORD

Q: What do you look for in a college in terms of athletic recruitment?

A: Initially, it was just about getting offers and having the hype, and then as you get closer to making the decision you realize, “This is where I’m going to live, these are the people I’m going to be around for possibly the next 4 years, almost all the time, these are the coaches I’m going to trust to help me achieve the goals I want to achieve.”

Q: What was the recruiting process like?

A: I definitely have to put myself out there all the time. There were lots of periods junior year where the school I was talking to wouldn’t respond to me in a couple weeks and I got really nervous, [so] I’d send another email. The thing that kept me going was that there’s no reason to be deterred by that… so I kept at it, and I eventually got officials to those schools. They’re really busy with a lot of stuff and I didn’t really realize that until I got a closer look at the schools.

Q: How did you get recruited by colleges for basketball?

A: I played on the Nike Circuit. People like to think of it as the NBA for high school players. It’s the best high school league in the EYBL [Elite Youth Basketball League], and that really helped me, along with Jaylen [Nowell, Garfield Student and UW Commit] and other people on the team, get noticed.

Q: Can you describe the recruiting process?

A: I was being recruited by Stanford, so for Stanford you had to submit an application. For most other schools, it’s just a matter of keeping a reasonable GPA up to be eligible for the NCAA. I got pre-approved into Stanford, and then my application [didn’t get accepted], so that got them out of the conversation. I committed [to UW], and then three days later, I signed.

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Q: What do you look for in a college in terms of athletic recruitment?

A: I looked at the stats of the school, how they competed at the NCAA championships for the past five years. I knew I wanted to row at a top tier school and because I figured that if I was going to be putting in twentyfive hours a week, I wanted to also win.

Q: What is your advice to other students who are trying to get recruited for sports?

A: My advice to anyone who’s trying to get recruited is to never sell yourself short or be deterred by a lack of response, because the best success stories are from people who keep at it, and that is analogous to the sport itself. I started off really weak, and was pretty discouraged at first. I’d always been pretty good at whatever sport I was doing, because I threw myself into it. Looking back on the four years and last year’s recruitment, I’m glad I kept at it.

William Laird: Track & Field & Cross Country.

YALE Q: Can you describe the college recruiting process you went through?

A: For athletes, you can look for colleges, but a lot of times colleges will look for you.

For Yale, I had to give my GPA, transcript, test scores, and also personal information.

After that, I got an email from the coach introducing himself. Eventually we would text, and he’d asked me how my races went or how I was feeling after certain workouts.

He was pretty interested in me, and eventually it got to a point where we were consistently talking on a phone once a week. He proposed to fly me out for an official visit at the end of my cross country season. I went on the visit, [and] I was pretty impressed.

Q: What happened after the official visit?

A: After the visit, the coach explained to me that he wanted me on the team, but he was only looking for 6 recruits total.

He already had three, and he was going to add a 4th one pretty soon. Those were more of cross country, 10k guys, longerdistance guys, and he was looking for 2 middle-distance guys, so I was one of them.

Q: What about Yale stood out to you?

A: They had a beautiful campus- academically. You can’t get much better than Yale.

The team was a great group of guys; they had some adversity they had to go through this season, but they stuck together and they’ve taken care of each other. Their coaches produced some fabulous middle distance guys which is what I would like to run. That’s what stood out to me.

Sports

Confidence, From the Top! And a 5,6,7,8.

By Cipher Goings t’s time to slay! The Garfield dance team, has been bringing the heat with amazing hip-hop choreography to the Garfield spirit day assemblies and basketball games for the last two years. Last year, the Dog Squad came in second place in the district wide competition, Bubblin Brown Sugar. The dance team emphasizes confidence and recruits people not only to show off their amazing dance talents, but to bring out the dancers’ personalities.

The dance team has been a component of Garfield for many years. For the last five years, due to lack of a coach, the dance team was non-existent. That was until a Garfield student alumni, eager to bring dance back into Garfield, found coach Kisha Vaughan. Vaughan is professional dancer who’s performed with notable artists.

“I’ve danced with Breaking Point Dance, Seattle Storm’s hip hop, Purple Lemonade, and most recently I was a back-up dancer for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis,” said Vaughan.

This year, the dance team is striving to be less exclusive. Dog Squad wants to be

I

used as a way to bring people with different art backgrounds and give them new opportunities to use their gifts.

“I want this to be an overall art experience, so even if you’re not a dancer, if you like music, or film, costumes, etc.

I want to work to bridge those connections,” said Vaughan.

Vaughan also has developed a peer mentorship in the dance team, which allows the captains to be lead-

“As a captain, my role is to build the team up, making sure we look good, and make sure we view ourselves as a team,” said Mclemore.

T h e peer leadership has a positive impact on many of the newcomers on the team as well as the school. Freshman Adanech Muno feels that the dance team has taught her a lot about being confident in herself through her movement.

“Being someone who wasn’t as good as

Photo by Ruby Seiwerath ers amongst the others. Senior cap- Dog Squad members flaunt their skills everyone else, Coach tain Roialty Mclemore’s Keisha as well as the capgoal is to push confidence onto her team- tains have taught me it’s about the heart and mates and develop the team community the passion[that make a dancer],” said Muno.

Performing for anything can be intimidating, but Vaughan and the captains are teaching the new recruits to use their anxiety as a motive to perform even more.

“Sometimes, we work on building confidence so we’ll do simple things like walking and looking at each other and developing the mentality of being a performer,” said Vaughan.

For many members on the team, dance gives them an adrenaline rush when performing, giving them that boost of confidence, and makes their audience want more of what they’re seeing. “When I’m performing I like to think I’m going to kill it. I’m going to either give it my all or nothing because that’s what the audience wants,” said Mclemore.

The GHS Dance team is always looking for new recruits and is willing to accept anyone willing to dedicate their time and effort. It’s also another way to get P.E. credit. Practices are every week on Mondays and Wednesdays after school in the commons. See you there!

Skating Through Seattle

A review of the recreational ice rinks in Seattle

By Delphi Drake-Mudede Bellevue Ice Rink:

The Magic Season Ice Arena at the heart of downtown Bellevue is only a twenty minute drive from Seattle’s Central District. The rink is furnished with adorable inflated Christmas icons, and although decorations are a nice touch, they are all entirely marketed towards those This Ice who celebrate Christmas. Aside from just being exclusive, the Christmas-heavy nature Arena in will cause the rink will completely lose its magic when the holiday season is over.

Shoreline is For the less advanced skaters, walkers are available to people of all ages and sizes. quite unlike the This unquestionably helps to prevent accidents on the ice. The rink has a lot other two rinks I testof perks, but it also has a downside. The rink lay underneath a large white ed.

Although it’s a bit of a tent, so it is always chilly. In order to use the restroom, you have to voyage from Seattle, the areleave the rink and go to a “Luxury Restroom Trailer” outside. There Art by Ana Matsubara na is reasonably priced, at $7.50 is a distinct smell of mothballs, which left me feeling unsettled. per person (excluding skate rentTo my surprise, this rink was the least luxurious and upscale. al).

The arena is open to the public 365 Seattle Center Ice Rink: I wouldn’t say it was worth the $12.00. 2/5 snowflakes For most of us days a year, but most frequently used by here at Garfield, the Winterfest ice rink at the Seattle Center is closcompetitive figure skaters and hockey teams. est to home. Because of its availability only during winter time, the Fortunately, this meant that the quality of the ice rink is always decorated with dazzling snow themed lights, and playwas up to par, and that the rink was sizable. Unforing charming holiday music. Of the three, the Seattle Center ice rink tunately, it meant that the arena was not decked out in has the most reasonably priced tickets, at only $8.00, including skate the same winter cheer as the Seattle center rink. Though rental. Though the rink itself was lovely looking, but the quality of the the arena itself is of excellent quality, the building the arena is ice was not as up to caliber as I was hoping. Because the rink lacked a in and the area surrounding it, are very poor looking. There aren’t Zamboni, a machine used to resurface the ice, the ice was bumpy and many places to eat in or near the arena, unless you’re looking for a unkempt. The walkers were only available to people under the 4 feet Jack in the Box or a Little Caesars. If you are only looking for a day full tall, so accidents on the ice were unnecessarily common. Every minof skating, and only skating, I would recommend this rink. 4/5 snowflakes ute or two, another person could be seen falling on their face. Overall, I would recommend this rink to anyone looking for a fun day Highline Ice Arena out in Seattle, but I would suggest going in the evening, when there are less toddlers to run into you. 3.5/5 snowflakes The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

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Sports

A Winter Sports Wonderland

By Sydney Santos and Julia Lin

WRESTLING

For the boys and girls of the wrestling team, winter means discarding warm layers, whipping out singlets, and taking the world on one match at a time. But following the loss of thirteen ‘016 wrestlers this season, the team needed fresh talent.

According to junior captain Rogan Zangari, the search for young wrestlers has been successful: “We recruited around thirty freshmen this year, so we have a super young team,” said Zangari.

Among these freshmen are Lief Griem and Rinn Schepman, both pictured.

Both new to the wrestling world and

initially hesitant to joining the team.

When Schepman’s mom told her she had to participate in a winter sport, Schepman didn’t know which program to sign up for.

This changed when the girl’s wrestling captain approached the young freshman in the fall: “She told me to join wrestling, so I decided to do it.”

She doesn’t regret this decision in the least. “Everyone is a family and is very supportive,” said Schepman.

Griem, like Schepman, also sees the team as especially nice community to have as a freshman.

“It’s a good way to get introduced to the school. I would recommend it to everyone,” he said.

The freshmen have a lot to live up to; last winter, the girls team took home their second Metro championship in a row, and the boys ranked high in their league.

But they’ve began the 2016 season with a good start, winning both of their first two matches against Franklin and Eastside Catholic, the latter a challenging opponent that sends many wrestlers to State.

“I think we’re going to be very good team this year,” said Zangari.

GIRL The girls basketball team is hungry for success this year. With captan Juanita Agosto, who has been on varsity for all four years at Garfield and is already committed to Eastern Michigan University for basketball, they are looking stronger than ever going into the season.

“I think this year we’re going to get further than we have within the past five or six years” said Agosto.

Additionally, since Agosto herself is making her way back from an injury last season, she has extra motivation to end her

high school basketball career with a bang.

How will they do it? This year, Agosto has two things in mind for the team to work on: “staying composed and positive”.

New coaches and new motivation seem to be helping the team so far, they’ve started the season with a promising 2-0 record. The addition of freshman Cari Davis, pictured will also help keep the team on their toes.

“She’s really energetic, fast, and good at defense” said Agosto. And off the court, “she’s super goofy”.

Although Davis has played with some of the girls on varsity before, the level of competition is still a big jump. “Training is faster and more intense” she said.

As the only freshman on the team, Davis brings fresh energy and excitement to the group. Her goal for this season?

“Winning the state championship”.

Although we don’t know quite what to expect from other teams in the league this year, Davis is still confident in the team’s ability to have a killer season: “We’re going to do great,” said Davis.

BOYS BASKETBALL The boys basketball team has big shoes to fill. Lucky for them, this season they’ve picked up freshman Tari Eason, pictured, whojustmovedtoSeattlefromLosAngeles. ]“He’s the only freshman on varsity and I think he’s going to be a great player for us” said team captain, junior J’Raan Brooks. “He’s a hard nosed player. He’s still learning the ropes of varsity but skill wise he’s going to be very good.”

Eason is aware of the team’s past success and is ready to be a part of it. “I searched up good high school basketball [when I moved here] and this place showed up” he said. “It’s an honor.”

Both Brooks and Eason have high hopes for the season. When asked how he thinks the team is going to do this year, Eason replied confidently. “State for sure” he said. With three wins under their belt

already, the team is off to a good start.

To get to state, the team will need to work as hard as ever to prepare to face off against tough competition, including Nathan Hale and Rainier Beach.

The boys are working hard and keeping their end goal in mind in anticipation of tough competition. “Training is rigorous. I’ve never done anything like this,” said Eason. “But it definitely pays off.”

SWIMMING The annual strip tease isn’t the only thing to look forward from the boys swim team this year; last season, they ended with a record of 6-1, sent four athletes to State, and are only getting better.

“We didn’t lose a bunch of seniors, and there are a lot of new kids with potential that are super fast,” said senior captain Alek Reid.

Remy Freeman, pictured, a freshman new to the team, is one of the

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promising underclassmen who train with a club team year-round.

“I have been swimming for awhile, like four years...I swim for Excel [club swimming team] in Sandpoint,” said Freeman, a short distance swimmer that prefers freestyle and breaststroke.

The addition of freshmen is one of several new aspects of the team. Last season’s assistant coach, David Johnson, has become the head coach. This

change in staff has pushed the swimmers harder than in previous years.

“It’s pretty intense,” said Reid. “You come in at 6:45 in the morning and get into the pool at 7.” Reid added that in all four years he’s participated in swimming, this season’s workouts have challenged him like never before.

To see if these hard workouts are paying off, come to the swimmer’s home meets at Medgar Evers.

Photos by Freya Wiedemann

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

Sports

Purple Haze, Purple Reign

Undefeated boys’ ultimate team accepts bid to Nationals.

By Emma Cooper

A

fter an undefeated regular season, the Garfield boys’ ultimate Frisbee team has accepted a bid to Nationals, an invitational for the top sixteen Frisbee teams in the nation. This is the inaugural year of Nationals, which replaced the former regional tournament system.

“We heard about this tournament all the way back in June of last year, so it’s kind of been on our minds since then, but we had no idea how well we’d do and if that would even translate to getting a bid,” said senior captain Tony Goss. “To be one of those [teams] is a huge honor, in of itself, no matter how well we do at Nationals.”

Over the course of the season, Garfield, known to the Frisbee world as “Purple Haze”, defeated many of its former rivals, including Nathan Hale, Franklin, and Cleveland. The team attributes its strength to trust and cohesiveness among its players, facilitated through extensive team bonding.

“The night before our [state] tournament, we all slept over at someone’s house and had a good Drake session, where you get in the feelings,” said Goss. “We got to know each other more as people and I think that really helps our team chemistry.”

Purple Haze finished third in state after a dramatic semifinal loss to Lakeside, who Garfield has lost to in all three playoff matchups. Purple Haze came back from a five point deficit in the semifinals to tie the game at 10-10, but were unable to clinch the win.

“We started off pretty slow [with] pretty bad turnovers at the beginning of the game, which they capitalized on, so they took a big lead,” said junior player Ben Kass-Mullet of the game. “But then we just really started grinding them into the ground and working harder than them and we came all the way back, and then they just had a couple lucky plays at the end.”

outside of Garfield, so I’ve had the chance to travel to Minnesota and Canada and Oregon and some other places,” said Goss.

“But for some of the players on the team, who aren’t as experienced and don’t play as much, they’ve never had the chance to do anything like this. For those guys, I’m the most happy for, because they’ll have an experience that’s once-in-a-lifetime.”

A drawback to the new tournament is accessibility. It costs $750 per player to go to Nationals, and the Garfield team, which is not an official school team, will have to fundraise extensively to ensure all of its players can participate.

“Our team comes from a lot of different backgrounds, just like most of Garfield. So we have some people who can for sure afford a trip to Nationals and [for] some people it’s just completely out of possibility,” said KassMullet. “We need to fundraise so that everyone can go, and there’s no way we’re going to leave anyone behind.”

Ultimate Frisbee can only become an official school sport through action at a statewide level. Currently, all ultiPhoto courtesy of Vicki Mullet mate Frisbee teams in Washington Purple Haze at the State Tournament state can only become clubs at best, and do not receive school funding.

Lakeside won the state championship, could give us another level of energy.”

Purple Haze will compete in Nationand has accepted a bid to Nationals. Senior Nationals present the opportunity for als in June, after the rest of the councaptain Cameron Crawford described Lake- Garfield to redeem itself against Lake- try has had their ultimate seasons. The side as Garfield’s “greatest enemy” and Goss side and Cleveland, but it also gives Garfield girls’ ultimate season is also in spoke of plans to “beat them so hard they’ll ultimate players a chance to play di- the spring, and they have the possibilgo home and cry to their math tutors.” verse teams from around the country. ity to receive a bid to Nationals as well.

The only other team that Purple Haze “Personally, I’ve played a lot of ultimate

Mess Guess

lost was Cleveland, in the Seattle Public Schools’ Championship. Garfield had beaten Cleveland in all other encounters, and may face them again at Nationals.

“If we play Cleveland at Nationals, it will be probably one of the most interesting games,” said Crawford. “We’re comfortable with how they play, and that could make us be more lax or it

Emma Cooper 13-2

Alex Ferry 7-8

Josh Chestnut 12-3

Bella Rowland-Reid 6-9

Lily Laesch 6-9

Alabama

Washington

Alabama

Washington

Alabama

Fiesta Bowl: Clemson v. Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

NCAA Vball Semifinals: Nebraska v. Texas

Nebraska

Texas

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Men’s Basketball: North Carolina v. Kentucky

Kentucky

Kentucky

North Carolina

North Carolina

Nebraska

Women’s Basketball: South Carolina v.UCLA

South Carolina

UCLA

South Carolina

South Carolina

UCLA

Peach Bowl: Alabama v. Washington

It’s business as usual for this round of Mess Guess. Emma “I’m Branching Out” Cooper continues to win, while Josh “Are You Sure I Have Three Losses?” Chestnut limps behind, fruitlessly attempting to nurse his young infant with his right nipple. The other competitors are spiralling downhill fast. Bella “Is It Baseball Season Yet?” Rowland-Reid and Lily “Satin Sash” Laesh are locked in the kind of death battle similar as to when Voldemort and Harry Potter jump off the cliff together to look dramatic in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Alex “I Have To Get Into College” Ferry is falling, but she’s taking her time on her ride. At the very least, some of the current competitors will not be returning to Mess Guess next season.

The Garfield Messenger 12/16/2016

19

The Backpage

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Political Cartoon by sophomore Hannah Marschell

Comic by Brianna

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A Christmas Snake!

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