Garfield Messenger: Volume 101, Issue 1

MIDTERMS AREN’T MID!

By Leo Carlin and S. Avalon Leonard

The 2022 midterm election is almost upon us which means many among Garfield’s senior class are preparing to vote in their first election. This November 8th, Washington voters will cast their bal lots for representatives and senators to rep resent them at all levels, federal, state, and local. But who are the candidates? What do they stand for? What elections are even happening? And will Patty Murray and Tif fany Smiley be resorting to fisticuffs at their next debate?

One of the most prominent election races is the US Senate election between in cumbent Sen. Patty Murray and challenger Tiffany Smiley. The winner of this election will go on to serve in the US Senate all the way in Washington D.C!

Though much less prominent but no less important than the US Senate, voters across Washington will also elect the entire state legislature, based upon legislative dis tricts. These districts divide the entire state into equal population areas, with many Garfield Students coming from the 11th, 37th, and 43rd legislative districts. Each district will elect one state senator and two state representatives.

The 37th legislative district represents the Central District, International District, Mt. Baker, Columbia City, Hillman City, Raini er Valley, Skyway, and part of Beacon Hill. In the race for legislative representative Po sition 1 are Sharon Tomiko Santos and John Dickinson.In the race for legislative repre sentative Position 2 are Emijah Smith and Chipalo Street.

The 11th legislative district represents SODO, Georgetown, South Park, Tukwila, and the other part of Beacon Hill. Position 1 is up for grabs between David Hackney and Stephanie Peters while Position 2, sits between Steve Bergquist and Jeanette Bur rage.

In the 43rd district, representing Capi tol Hill, Eastlake, Montlake, Fremont, and Wallingford incumbent state senator Jamie Pederson and state representatives Nicole Marci and Frank Chopp are running unop posed.

For more information regarding elec tions around Washington, go to https:// info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/Vote/con tests/candidates.aspx?eid=33.

Graphics by Leo Carlin

STATE SENATOR

One of the most prominent election races is the US Senate election between incumbent Sen. Patty Murray and challenger Tiffany Smiley. The win ner of this election will go on to serve in the US Senate all the way in Washington D.C!

Sen. Murray is the incumbent senator. If she is reelected, she promises to be a fighter for the people by defending abortion rights and advocating for families and workers. She aims to defend Washington residents from those who would “jeop ardize American democracy.”

Smiley swept the Republican Party nomination in the August primary. If elect ed, she promises to protect and serve those men and women in law enforcement. She also aims to address the homelessness crisis “plaguing our communities.”

37TH DISTRICT

One of the most interesting races here is for a state representative position, between Emijah Smith and Chipalo Street. Both first-time candidates are part of the Democratic Par ty.

Emijah Smith is a local community leader committed to healthy families and healthy communities. Smith grew up in the Central District and attended Garfield High School (Yes, alumni!). She has seen first-hand the effects of government policy on this community, such as the War on Drugs. She is determined to be a community leader, serving for and empowering everyone.

Chipalo Street boasts a wide-ranging track record of leadership and problem solv ing. Street has worked at Microsoft, taught computer science curriculum to South Seattle youth, started a small real estate company, and even ref’d international, colle giate, and local soccer matches. He is ready to bring this experience to help serve the 37th district.

11TH DISTRICT

Steve Bergquist is the incumbent state representative in this race. Bergq uist is a public school teacher at Lindbergh High School, and the only teacher in the entire state legislature. With this experience, he has and promises to continue advocating for students, teachers, and the rest of the community.

Jeanette Burrage is a former state representative, judge, and city coun cilmember, and the challenger in this race. Burrage promises to fight for a multitude of issues, but has a particular focus on “Less Crime and Lower Taxes”.

Just because the election isn’t presidential, doesn’t mean it isn’t influential!

GRUB OR CLUB?

Club culture at Garfield reaches an all-time low.

By Marisa Valenzano

Garfield’s new two-lunch schedule has sparked intense controversy among the student body.

This year, instead of the block-day for mat, students attend all six periods contin uously. Advisory is now a part of second period, and SEL (Social Emotional Learn ing) 10 minute breaks were added. Most notable, however, is the change in lunch schedule, which splits students into either first or second lunch depending on their fourth period location.

An email sent by Principal Hart in September explained why the schedule changed. According to administration, the adjustment was mandated by the district, based on the average number of students who eat lunch at the cafeteria every day. By splitting lunch, Garfield’s cafeteria staff could improve its service and lunch offer ings within the cafeteria’s limited capacity. But while school lunch quality improved, according to many students, the new schedule negatively impacts Garfield’s club activities. Normally, clubs can choose any

day of the week to meet. However, with members now split between two lunches, almost all clubs at Garfield are forced to hold meetings exclusively on Wednesdays.

Junior Cole Liffmann, an officer for the Jewish Student Union (JSU), said this change has made it extremely diffi cult for club lead ers. “We have three completely new officers this year in JSU. So, on top of learning how the club operates and how to run it, we are also dealing with record low club membership,” Liffmann said. “Since Wednesday is the only day with a long lunch, it is forcing people to pick between priorities: either going to a club, meeting with a teacher, or visiting friends.”

In fact, Wednesday attendance was so low that JSU decided to switch their meet

ings to only first lunch on Mondays. “Sadly, this means Jewish students in second lunch can’t participate in the club at all. It is truly a lose-lose scenario,” Liffmann said.

In addition to being a club officer, Liff mann herself has had to deal with over lapping club times. In her sophomore year, she was involved in four different clubs: Period Club, Model UN, Student Equity in Jazz, and of course JSU. “This year,” she said, “I was forced to choose between my clubs. It wasn’t hard for me to pick JSU, but I definitely feel for other students trying to make that same choice. It’s not fair.”

The limited lunch schedule especially impacts underclassmen. “Club participa tion looks great for college applications. Younger kids who want to join clubs can only join one club currently, which is un

fortunate,” Liffmann said.

“Ultimately,” Liffmann said, “clubs are a huge part of our school spirit here at Gar field. The two-lunch schedule has divided everyone and made it harder to facilitate that same kind of community.”

Liffmann, like many others, wishes the school could change the schedule to no SEL break/advisory and a 50 minute lunch. “While it’s nice to have 10 minute passing periods, we don’t really utilize them. Most kids just go straight to their class and sit down on their phones for that extra five minutes. I think that replacing the SEL times with a longer lunch would be a great solution, and hopefully could facilitate equitable lunch schedules as well as help shorten lunch lines.”

Graphic By Ali Merz

OPINION: TO BE OR NOT TO BEREAL

A deep dive into the real of BeReal.

By: Mia Andreeva

BeReal: the latest and hottest app on the market. Known for its unfiltered posts, BeReal sends out a notification a day, letting everyone know that it is time to take a photo within the span of two minutes. With the goal of being an authentic social media, BeReal seems to be the next step towards creating a healthier online culture. But just how “real” is BeReal? And what is authentic social media?

Before diving into BeReal, we need to understand the problem. It is no secret that we Gen Z-ers are addicted to our screens, and it’s deteriorating our mental health. It has never been so easy to not only display our lives to an audience, but also fake suc cess. We can now carefully curate our im age online, and embellish every picture we take to create a false life. This creates a dis torted standard for all social media users. Apps such as Instagram are accredited to creating a fear of falling short of social-me

dia worthiness. Thousands of teenagers be come unhappy with their own lives simply because other’s lives look better on their screens.

In recent years there have been numer ous movements promoting a more honest approach to posting on social media. There is a want and need among social media us ers for a better platform; and that is where BeReal comes in.

Originally re leased in 2020, the French app garnered popu larity during 2022. The main idea of BeReal is that everyone simultaneously gets a no tification, every day at a different time, and once the notification is sent out everyone has two minutes to take a picture and post it. There are no filters, and you take both a front and back picture. Of course, late posts

are allowed, meaning some people wait to take their BeReal for when they’re doing something interesting, whether that’s a Harry Styles concert or a tea party. This again allows people to craft their lives on line, leading to a culture of only highlights and comparisons. This begs the question; If people still have the option to be “fake”, doesn’t that defeat the whole point of BeRe al? When asked about BeReal, freshman Eric Stephens Wake field said that while he enjoys the app, “the one thing I think about Be Real is that there is often pressure because the whole thing is “this is what you’re RE ALLY doing”, but I don’t think anyone sees the BeReal [notification] and thinks ‘oh cool let’s take a picture of my couch’… they think ‘let’s find the coolest way of display

ing what I’m doing right now’ … I think that if you accept that BeReal isn’t the most real then it’s fine.”

BeReal’s whole point is defeated by pres sure upheld by other social media. It’s an online culture we cannot seem to get rid of, and it shows through even on the most “real” of apps.

Ultimately, it’s not up to the platform to create a “realistic” posting culture, it’s up to its users. Social media is inherently inau thentic: It’s designed to show the highlights of our life, and we want people to see our good moments. BeReal is just another app. While it doesn’t present the opportunity for filters, or as much freedom with posting; this isn’t groundbreaking for social media standards. It’s just fun.

“IF YOU ACCEPT THAT BEREAL ISN’T THE MOST REAL, THEN IT’S FINE”

FANTASTICAL RACISM

How racially diverse casting fueled a culture war.

By Lillian Small

With the recent release of the Lord of the Rings prequel ‘Rings of Power’, some fans feel angered by the diverse casting of characters – claiming it’s inaccu rate to Tolkien’s original and political “wo keness” has ruined the plot. The cast mem bers of ‘Rings of Power’ released an official statement combating the messages of hate and criticism, emphasizing the importance of diverse representation in the adaptation. They pointed out that an all-white cast would go directly against the intentions of Tolkien, that middle earth is “A world in which free peoples from, different rac es and cultures join together, in fellowship, to defeat the forces of evil. ‘Rings of Power’ reflects that.”

Pushback to casting and even the idea of people of color in fantasy is nothing new. Within the past several months there have been other controversies surrounding fantasy genre adaptations featuring Black leads, such as the new Percy Jackson series

and Little Mermaid live action movie. This particular reaction highlights the weapon ization of the media to mobilize political polarization. In an interview with CNN, right-wing website editor Brandon Morse said “if you focus on introducing modern political sentiments, such as the leftist ob session with identity issues that only go skin deep, then you’re no longer focusing on building a good story.” In a similar vein, Daily Wire host Matt Walsh stoked a twitter debate over the scientific merit of a Black mermaid, writing, “I mean, if anything, not only should the Little Mermaid be pale, she should, actually, be translucent. If you look at deep sea creatures, they’re, like, trans lucent.” His nonsensical take blew up for its absurdity, which allowed Walsh to vic timize himself as being attacked by “thou sands of leftists”. These instances show how the incitement of the right wing by proclaiming diversification of leftist agenda has created a red carpet for

GARFIELD GOES LOCO OVER HOCO

hatred and racism.

Backlash to diverse casting is expected in every Hollywood production, but the realms of dragons and mysticism have a particular irresistible flavor that attracts racist commenters. The genre of fantasy is heavily associated with the writings of Eu ropean authors with settings and influence from medieval Europe, and the prejudices and tropes along with it. Dr. Sherri Wil liams, a diversity researcher writes,”Fanta sy is a genre where writers, who are mostly white, indulge their imagination and create a world that is mystical, magical, ethereal and fantastic but unfortunately that’s not how many of these creators see people of color in real life, so they can’t imagine people like that in a fantasy world… So they end up not being there at all”.”

The original Lord of the Rings trilogy only featured three people of color; all of whom played orcs or ‘witch kings’ – play ing into harmful stereotypes. Sophia Nom vete, who plays Disa in ‘Rings’ commented on the issue, “Now, generations will have what I didn’t have, which is to be able to enjoy the story, and also see themselves staring back at them.” What makes stories like Tolkien’s so captivating is the usage of other-wordly settings and conditions to depict the human experience. That is why for many, diverse representation is a step towards making the genre a more inclusive one.

Fantasy is not just a world where mag ic and mythical creatures exist, it’s also a world that up until recently has reflected the fantasies of the absence of people of color. The argument that tradition, plot, science, or overall integrity of a story is dependent on maintaining whiteness only underlines these desires.

Art by Maile Quenzer

Unorganized Homecoming plans cause chaos days before dance.

By Jessica Onochie and Lea Shaw

On Friday, October 21st, Garfield High is holding its Homecoming dance, the first dance for almost all current stu dents, but the dysfunction leading up to the dance has set everyone on edge. This year’s Hoco is at the Aquarium, and to make up for the money lost on the venue, the school initially limited it to 400 tickets at $30 each. The problems started on day one of ticket sales for the dance. On Tuesday, October 11, the mob of students waiting in line to buy tickets in the commons was a concern ing sight. Rows and rows of students gath ered, swarming the hallway from the front of the school to the right-side reaching the first-floor vending machines. Students were pushing and shov ing to try and get to the front of the line, with no attempts of control from Garfield staff. Those selling the tickets on the first day were checking the student’s sched ule, taking so long that only about 30 out of the hundreds of students waiting were successful in purchasing tickets that day. The next morning students got to school as early as 7:45 to ensure their spot in line. Initially the school was only of fering 400 tickets, which started quite the

controversy amongst students about who should get the limited access to this ex clusive event. Should it be the seniors who don’t get another chance? The juniors and sophomores who are finally getting into the social part of high school? Or the freshmen who want to be part of Garfield culture for the first time?

A dance is supposed to be a fun school event, full of good music, food, and dancing. A time for school spir it and an excuse to dress up. It is also an opportunity for the school to make a little mon ey from selling all the tickets.

Garfield’s HOCO is being held downtown at the Aquarium. The reason the school was initially selling such little tickets was that the original capacity for this venue was a mere 400 people. The problem with such a low amount of tick ets is that the price must be high enough for the school to break even, let alone make any money out of this event. The price being $30 per student, $25 if you have ASB, raises the question of how

equitable these school events really are. Is it fair to charge so much money, especial ly when only cash is acceptable? Or does that lead to a divide between students? Is it okay for students to have different access to school events because of costs like this? Thankfully, the school heard the cries of the stu dents and on Wednesday, October 12th, admin decid ed to raise the amount to 800 tickets, sending out an email saying the demand for tick ets “this year has [exceeded] pre-pandemic demand”. This increase makes tickets much more accessible, and while they’re still a hot commodity, hopefully more of the student body will have ac cess to this magical night.. Although there were now 800 tickets available in all, the line to the attendance office still stretched much of the first floor as students waited eagerly hoping they weren’t too late. While Garfield increased the num ber of student tickets, there were still only 50 guest tickets. Admin explained “Sales should be reserved to Garfield heads only. No additional guest forms available”. These

forms required for purchase were not even available after Wednesday, October 12, the day after tickets went on sale.

The original price and number of tick ets, along with the lack of planning from the school, caused many problems among the students of Garfield, but ticket sales for Homecoming 2022 officially sold out Mon day, October 18th, and even with all the chaos, students seem excited for

Art by Lea Shaw and Franka Schneider

SIX SCARY MOVIES TO WATCH BEFORE HALLOWEEN

By Jada Johnson, Michelle Tong, and Asmaa Bah Graphics by Fiona Real, Souced

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) SCREAM (1996)

Hailed as a cult-classic, Silence of the Lambs certainly lives up to its iconicity. Although the word horror should be replaced with thriller in the genre, the movie still manages to deliver stomach-turning visuals that make you cringe away from the screen and elaborate monologues that suck you into the scene. Silence of the Lambs follows Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), an FBI academy student who is unknowingly drafted into the manhunt for Buffalo Bill, a killer who skins women, by her superior, Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn). Clarice is thrust into Hannibal Lector’s (Anthony Hopkins) orbit when Jack sends her to question the cannibalistic former psychiatrist. Clarice presents a questionnaire to Dr. Lecter, but he surmises Jack’s intent to obtain his help on the Buffalo Bill case. Lecter proposes a quid pro quo pact to Clarice, in which he will help her and Crawford with catching Bill if Clarice divulges personal information about her life. Much of the film’s success is owed to Foster and Hopkins, whose performances breathe life into the plot. Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lector is both off-putting and captivating. His performance pairs chilling monologues that humanize Lector and juxtapose his character with behavior that reminds the viewers he is utterly psychotic. On the other hand, Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling perfectly portrays the naivete of a fresh-faced FBI academy student on her first case, situated in the backdrop of the struggles of being a woman in a male-dom inated field. Silence of the Lambs’ triumph in cinematography lies in the extensive use of the Kubrick stare, which is when a character tilts their face down and looks through their brows. The stare is used by directors to unsettle the audience. Lector’s face is framed in such a way that morphs his personality from eerily observant to absolutely unhinged in an instant. Although Clarice’s main adversary is Buffalo Bill, Lector and Clarice’s fascination with each other overshadows the main storyline. This is shown in the conclusion of the movie—though Clarice has caught Buffalo Bill, it is ultimately Lector who has the last word. With a quip about having an old friend for dinner,he trails his former psychiatrist into a crowded airport and hangs up on Clarice. While Silence of the Lambs is not what comes to mind for horror movies, its captivating storyline and inexplicable fall vibes make the movie perfect for a Halloween night in.

Neither overhyped nor underhyped, Scream is a much-lauded classic for a reason. From victims who scream bloody murder to the comedic and sometimes fatal idiocy of teenage boys, this movie is tailor-made for watch ing before you hit a haunted house on Halloween. Scream follows Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), a teenager whose mother was brutally murdered the previous year, and is currently being terrorized by the killer known as Ghostface. Within her circle are her boyfriend, the mysterious Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), her best friend, the cynical yet innocent Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan), Tatum’s brutish and tactless boyfriend, Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), and their geeky friend Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy), whose extensive knowledge of classic horror is the only reason he survives the night. The ensemble cast is rounded out with David Arquette’s Dewey Riley, a dorky, well-meaning cop, and Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, a strong-willed reporter who serves as Sidney’s adversary for much of the movie. Scream owes much of its success to the phenomenal acting of its cast, without whom the movie would be lifeless and awkward. Although Scream’s pacing may be slow to some, each scene is packed with building the personality of each character and the town dynamics, ultimately clueing in the audience to who Ghostface is. The comedy of the movie lies in the self awareness of each character; many topical horror references are made, from “PromNight” to “NightmareonElmStreet” and “The Silence of the Lambs”. Characters call out horror movie cliches that happen in the next or concurrent scenes, ramping up your frustration level to an 11. Scream’s finale is more hilarious than terrifying because of Ghostface’s psychological breakdown. In a spectacular comeuppance moment for Sidney, the movie literally ends with a bang. If you’re not easily susceptible to a classic jump scare, Scream might not have you screaming, but the chilling ease with which Ghostface infiltrates homes will have you checking behind every door you enter.

What sets a good horror movie apart from the rest is the instant recognizability established with the audience. The second one hears, “Creepy Piano Rift #7”, they know they’re in for a thrill, featuring the infamous Michael Myers. In the start of the cult-classic franchise, viewers are thrown into the Halloween Universe as they are put directly into the POV of the killer for the opening scene. Halloween, as far as the first movie goes, doesn’t build on gore or graphic acts of killing, rather it creates a story for the audience to follow along. Scenes seemed to drag for a smidge too long with efforts of creating suspense, however the effect turned out to be hit or miss. If you’ve seen other movies directed by John Carpenter such as “TheFog” or “Christine”, then you’d be famil iar with his stylistic choice of movie pacing. Watching the movie felt like it was building and building up to this grand finale of an ending, which, by the end, felt elusive and unsatisfying. Forty percent of the movie was spent establishing an unclear background for the killer that was never fully completed even towards the end of the film. Plot points that are relevant to the entirety of the movie franchise aren’t very well defined, leaving the viewer to either have to play a guessing game or to come up with theories as explanations. This movie is not one to knock you off your toes, be it through jump scares or breathtaking cinematography, however if you’re looking for a casual movie to watch as Halloween approaches, add this one to the list due to its notability as a Halloween movie must-watch and classic.

Anyone who doesn’t have an affinity for Halloween and all its magic have clearly never seen Hocus Pocus. The mov ie follows the shenanigans of a trio of revived witches known to the town of Salem as the Sanderson Sisters, Winifred “Winnie”, Mary, and Sarah who seek immortality through sucking the life out of children. Concept-wise this movie may appear grim, but due to the well-established personality of the witches and fabulously executed acting of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, the movie is playful, fun to watch, and enchanting. There is no way to stress the extravagance of the role the witches play in the movie as they one hundred percent make the movie the masterpiece that is it. As the audience is introduced to the Hocus Pocus. world, both past and present, they are met with a vibrancy that carries throughout the entirety of the film. There is really never a dull moment as the snarky remarks of the Sand erson Sisters contrast the wholesome and heart-warming journey of Max and his little sister. What was shocking about Hocus Pocus. is the fact it doesn’t feel dated. Even visually, the special effects are well done and impressive although the movie is nearly 30 years old. The end of the movie is underwhelming, yet it doesn’t discredit the movie’s magic,as it has impeccable qualities in all other areas, even giving the audience a handful of scares. Simply watching the movie for its smile-causing rendition of Annie Lennox’s “I put a spell on you” is enough of a reason to grab a blanket, snuggle up, and get the movie started. Hocus Pocus. is for sure a must-watch for the Halloween season, kids and adults can get in on the fun, and it’s sure to bring a laugh or two, or ten!

TheConjuring, directed by James Wan, tops the charts in terms of horror. The craftsmanship of this masterpiece proves that you don’t need a lot of gore or zombies to create a good horror movie. As it defies the laws of horror story making, the script puts you through an emotional roller coaster as if the viewer is present at the scene. Set in the 70’s, specialists Ed and Lorraine Warren go to help the Perron family with some appalling supernatural events in their home. The Warren’s must help stop this satanic haunting before it spirals out of control. As soon as the film begins, Wan’s use of camera technique and sensual feel is riveting as he moves through each room to create first person interactions. This idea of playing with one’s senses adds to the anticipation and suspense of what’s to come. This tension gives one goosebumps as if the viewer is sitting in the dark waiting for something to pop out at any second. The make up on the scary characters were frightening, but not as chili. as the moments leading up to it. This powerful use of suspense is what keeps the film interesting no matter how many times it is watched. Compared to just seeing bloody images and guessing what’s going to happen the next time, that same build up of anticipation by playing with people’s senses creates fear every time it’s watched. Similarly to going on a roller coaster, no matter how many times a person rides a roller coaster, a person will always feel the adrenalin. Another way Wan makes this film frightening was by avoiding traditional jump scares using music that starts off quiet and gets louder and louder. In stead he builds his own scares in a unique way that makes it feel more real. The way Wan uses sensory detail makes this the perfect movie for this fall.

People who don’t watch scary movies will find that PetSematary might be suitable for their taste. This classic remake of the 1989 novel by Stephen King deserves more credit than it receives. It grabs the attention of the au dience from the very beginning and ties it back together as the movie ends. Not to mention the amount of sym bolism that this film carries, which beautifully ties together the story in a way that leaves the audience ruminat ing. The Creed family, who have just moved into town, begin their journey of understanding a concept typically untouched by humans: death. From the pet cemetery located in their forested backyard, to the truck that killed their cat, the film uses symbolism to prove to the Creed’s family why “sometimes death is better,” as Jud Crandell, their neighbor said. Since death is something that affects everyone, the refusal to accept it harbors more pain for those that are still living. Louis, the father, learns this a little too late despite the warnings from his wife and Vic tor Pascaow, a university student who died from a head injury after being hit by an automobile. When Louis puts his foot on Ellie, his daughter who was killed by a truck, he picks up a shovel to kill her as she struggles to get free, “I thought we could be a family, I wanted us to be a family, but we can’t,” he said. The way the film is pro duced effects its viewers emotionally because it touches on the topic of death, which affects all people mentally and emotionally on different levels. Despite this well-crafted story, the film is not the pee-your-pants kind of scary. There is a lot of gore but not a lot of moments where suspense is present. Although the makeup on some characters like Pascow and Rachel’s sister might just leave you trembling a little, it’s still not enough to cause a real scare. Overall, PetSematary is a great movie for people who are still a little new to the horror movie relm.

The Georgetown Morgue is a popular haunted house ex perience in SODO that thou sands in the Seattle area flock to each Fall. This year, we at the Mess decided to experience it for ourselves to see if it’s as scary as people claim.

The Morgue is a must if you’re looking for some scariness in your life this Halloween season. It will hands down be one the scariest 15 minutes of your life. The moment you arrive, you are immediately immersed in a horrifying scene; eight foot tall clowns and serial killers are just a taste of the characters that you will encounter before you even step inside the morgue. One of the most frightening sights is the seemingly endless line that wraps around the building. How ever, while this line may seem daunting, we promise the expe rience that follows is well worth the wait. If you’re not feeling this waiting time we suggest buying

FALL IN LOVE

5 Fun Fall Date

Ideas.

By Kennedy Greenfelder

Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s school starting back up, or maybe pumpkins are an aphrodisiac. Whatever the reason, as the leaves begin to fall everyone seems to be coupling up. There are a variety of fun date ideas around Seattle, so here are a few to get you a boo before the cold months descend upon us.

Georgetown Morgue

Do you or your crush get a little thrill from being scared? Then a trip down to the Georgetown

GIVE ME MORGUE

The Mess staff take on the Georgetown Morgue.

By Griffin Crabs and Finian Guinney

VIP tickets, or avoid going on the weekend or the days lead ing up to halloween, as the line can reach up to 4 hours long.

From the instant you en ter the haunted house until you leave you’ll be experi encing constant terror. They do not hold back, from bursting air canisters to blaring alarms that may leave you with trouble hear ing after. There were a few tight spaces that might bother you if you are claustrophobic, but they also add a lot to the horror environment. The actors inside are eerily convincing in their various roles-but not too con vincing, as they’ve been instruct

morgue is per fect for you.

And if the idea of haunted houses scares you, what better way to experi ence fear than in the arms of your date?

Pie Baking

If you’re looking for a more relaxing date, there’s nothing wrong with staying in. Have a fun at-home date and bake a de licious fall pie together!

Central Cinema

A cool, fall twist on a dinner and movie date would be taking a special someone to Central Cinema for a scary flick. They de liver food right to you and there’s no pesky

ed not to physically touch you. You’ll want to go in a small group with some friends because if you don’t, you’re honestly a psycho path. Our group had conflicting ideas about which position of the line is the scariest when you go through– in the front, you experience the scares first, but in the back you’ll often have a zom bie, foaming at the mouth, or a bleeding clown chasing you. After going through the haunted house, we were able to get a behind the scenes tour of the George town Morgue. While we don’t want to spoil the fun, it was fascinat ing to see the amount of work that goes into planning and running this sea sonal experience. According to Tim Kolling, who runs the Morgue, they change a substan

arm rest in between the seats, which is per fect for... talking.

Halloween Thrifting

Please, for the love of whatever you be lieve in, do not get your costume from Spirit Halloween. Take your crush and find fun costumes at your local consignment

tial amount of the scares every year to keep people on their toes. This year the house is 83% differ ent from 2021–so don’t worry if you already went to the Morgue last year. He also gave us some insight into the changes they had to make during the pandemic. During that time, they had to transition into more virtual and automated scares, instead of us ing actors. This year, in addition to bringing back the actors, they have also incorporated some of the virtual elements from last year in a perfectly frightening combination.

We would 100% recommend going to the Georgetown morgue this halloween season if you’re up for a spooky time. Tickets to the haunted house are $32 for regular admission and $65 for VIP. You can buy them on the Georgetown morgue websitebut it runs through November 5th, so purchase them soon!

Art By Sydney Steinwinder

Arboretum Walk

Get your hearts pumping and your body moving with an autumn walk through the Arboretum. Maybe the changing leaves will help change your relationship status this fall.

Whether you use one of these date ideas or not, shoot your shot this fall, you never

Art by Kennedy Greenfelder

PLAYOFF BASEBALL AT GARFIELD

The Mariners are back in the playoffs and Garfield is taking it all in.

By Jeremy Cogswell

The 2022 Seattle Mariners historic play off run has had a pronounced effect on the Garfield community; for many Bulldogs, it is their first-time experiencing post-season baseball in Seattle. The Mari ner’s improbable run has created a sense of unity within Garfield, but has also led to frustration that games are being played during the school day.

After being ten games below .500 in June, the Mari ners reeled off 14 straight wins head ing into the all-star break, and parlayed this momentum into one of the top second half records in baseball and a playoff berth. The Mari

ners knocked off the Toronto Blue Jays in a road wild-card series, but then lost to the Houston Astros in the di visional round. While this year’s exit was disappointing, the Mariners have a young core, headlined by Julio Rodriguez, that is sure to keep them in the playoff hunt for a long time.

Benjamin Bennett, senior baseball captain at Gar field, was hap py with his community’s response to the Mariners’ success. “The last time the Mariners made the playoffs I wasn’t born yet, so it means a lot to me,” said

Bennett. The outpouring of support for the Mariners from faculty members at Garfield has created a welcoming atmosphere as a fan, “A lot of teachers realize how much [Mariners games] mean to us and played the games during their class,” he added. There are many Mariners fans at Garfield today that wouldn’t have considered them selves to be supporters a year ago. Bennett said he doesn’t blame them, “We sucked for a long time,” Bennett said, “[But now] we’re accepting of every fan. It’s really exciting to see how fast the baseball community is growing at Garfield.”

The Mariners have clearly brought joy to many students, but there have been complaints with the playoffs games being scheduled during the school day at 12:40 PDT, “I wish the games were scheduled at a more reasonable hour,” Bennett said, “but my teachers have been accepting and sup porting.” It turns out Garfield classrooms

VARSITY GIRLS GOLF COMES OUT SWINGING

How girls in golf overcome discouragement.

By Havana Hakala and Chelsea Li

8.2% of professional golf players are male. However, women have been es tablishing themselves in the game, both in Garfield and worldwide. Garfield’s own girls’ varsity team has been climbing to the top, winning six out of their nine games in the 2022 Autumn season. Unfortunately, it hasn’t all been a victory for the women in this sport.

Being a woman of color in a sport dom inated by people who couldn’t be more opposite is not easy. Nahlyan Orbeck, a sophomore on the Garfield golf team, has had to learn how to combat both racial and gender discrimination by focusing on the support she receives from her team and remembering she is working for. “We have to work together and remember that we are just as good as they are,” she said when talking about the importance of a girls’ golf team. Orbeck believes that girls should al ways be involved because they should be offered the same opportunities the boys

have. Sexist stereotypes plague most things for women worldwide, and there is no dif ference in golf, also known as a man’s sport.

Orbeck recognizes this, “we might have to work extra hard because of our disad vantages [compared to a boys’ team];” as the boys have nearly twice the amount of players, and don’t have to fight against the discrimination girl golfers experience. But Nahlyan Orbeck is not the only teammate to acknowledge a discouraging obstacle in the sport.

Golf’s scoring system makes it easy for players to fall into a negative mindset. Points aren’t won for good performance; Instead, the score increases for each shot a player misses. Although it feels counterintuitive, the lower the final score, the better. Varsity player Iris Too expresses that golf is a “men tal game as much as it is a physical game.”

It’s important for them to stay positive, even if shots don’t go as intended. A missed shot might feel disheartening, but choosing

are not only good places to learn, but also good places to cheer on the M’s.

With the Mariners having brought so much excitement to Garfield, it’s only natu ral to wonder what a Garfield baseball play off run would be like. Garfield Baseball was eliminated early in last year’s playoffs, but Bennett is confident about the upcoming Spring season, “We have a good team this year. We’ve made the playoffs more than once in the last 21 years and I think you can expect a deep run from us.”

to an end, the team will see their three seniors graduate. The team is excited to welcome new girls next year!

While the girls have expe rienced defeats and triumphs this season, the team continues to stay dedicated and encouraging. Throughout the season, they maintained a positive mindset and confidence in their skills. Restrictive and discriminating gen der norms don’t hold them back, instead,

Baseball by zidney from Noun Project

ROCK ON!

The best climbing spots in Washington state.

By Ali Merz

Washington’s mountainous and rocky terrain offers some of the best rock climbing in the whole country, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Even for experienced climbers, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. So here’s a guide to some of the best climb ing locations in Washington state.

The Index Town Walls are a favorite for many Washington climbers, including Ka tie Griffith, a climbing guide who used to coach Seattle Bouldering Project’s climbing team. “…I love the variety of movement,” said Griffith. “In one pitch you’ll find split ter crack climbing, cryptic face climbing, and improbable slab cruxes.” In other words, there’s a vast diversity of climbing styles packed into just one wall at Index.

Index is also well known for having some of the best slab climbing in Washington. Most of the rock at Index is high-quality granite, which creates strong friction with the rubber on climbing shoes. The lack

of footholds lends the routes to climbers more willing to trust their toes and use their balance. And if slab isn’t really your style, there are plenty of other options.

For beginners and climbers new to the outdoors, Leavenworth is a great place to start. Many of its rock formations are shorter and better suited for bouldering, but there are still some high-rising trad and sport routes mixed in. While most of the routes are graded on the easier side, plac es like Icicle Creek Canyon have boulder ing routes spanning from the easiest level, V0, to V12, toward the top of the scale. The time and difficulty of getting to the routes (also known as the approach) is on the easier side, making them very beginner friendly and lower commitment.

Exit 38 in Snoqualmie Valley is another great spot for beginner sport climbing. It’s very accessible, just off I-90, and the routes are generally bolted well. Sometimes there’s a bit of a crowd, as it’s a popular spot, but if

BOUNCE BACK BULLDOG!

you hike farther out, you might be able to avoid it.

According to Jen Dotrong, an instructor at Edgeworks climbing gym, Mazama is one of the best spots for easier to mid-level climbing. “The approaches are super short, and they have different rock than what’s on the west side, so [it’s] cool to climb on,” says Dotrong. In Mazama, routes are formed from metamorphic rock. The difference in rock texture from the granite that covers much of Washington and the gorgeous views from the top of the routes make it a fun place to climb. Most

of the set routes are sport climbs, meaning the routes have bolts drilled into the walls that- with the proper gear- a climber can clip into, enabling them to stay safe when climbing high off the ground. Still, more bouldering routes are being developed to meet the growing demand of new climbers as Ma zama becomes more popular. No matter the destination for a Washington climber, it’s sure to be an incredi ble experience. So pack some snacks, smear some chalk on those hands, pull on a harness, and rock on!

Art by Ali Merz

A look into how student athletes are impacted by injuries.

By Imbie Jones

Injures. The overlooked part of sports, all the excitement, fun, praise and reward turned upside down. The dark, long, and lonely path of recovery. Being an athlete is an integral part of so many students’ iden tities. They truly don’t know who they are without their sport. This situa tion is a current reality for senior girls’ basketball player Malia Samuels. Samuels tore her ACL and meniscus in a tournament this past July, had surgery at the end of August and is now recovering to get back to full strength. It is common athletes downplay injuries first with the typ cal “I’m fine!” But many times, this is not the case. Samuels reflects on the game of her injury. “This was my first serious injury, so I tried to go back in the game. When you haven’t been injured

like that you just think you are lowkey in vincible.”

Although the initial shock of the injury eventually passed, Samuels still reflects on

can provide the perfect time for athletes who have been consumed by their sport to find new things they are interested in, and figure out who they are without sports.

As Samuels does this, she stays focused on physical therapy each day to strengthen her knee. “A lot of leg lifts, calf raises, bal ancing on one leg. I am still learning how to walk again; I am still not fully back to walk ing,” she said. “The most important thing for me is getting on the bike every day, to get the range of motion back,” she adds. Physical therapy is a long and relentless process. Day by day, injured athletes work to try and see progress. Weeks filled with doubt of not coming back the same or not seeing improvement as soon as they want can be very tough, but is rewarding in the end.

ery. When Samuels was asked what she has missed the most, she said, “Just the adren aline of basketball, it is hard to recreate that.”

But with all her new free time, Samuels is “just trying to find new hobbies.” Injuries

Another very important part of injury recovery is the support the athlete receives. “I have felt supported, but there are obvi ously moments where [I] feel alone,” Samu els said. Knowing they have people in their corner can help athletes feel less alone and more encouraged to work towards recov

Art by Delilah Corbett

GARFIELD FANTASY FOOTBALL

By Eli Silver and Amirah Melvin

QB Ej Caminong

Position rank- 1 Average Points- 21.31 % Rostered- 100 Season Stats (through week 5): Passing: 1,304 yds 11 TDs 2 INTs Rushing: 171 yds 3 TDs Total Points: 127.86

Spin: Caminong has been elite throughout the season as the Garfield offense has put together explosive, high scoring, high yardage games. Though the offense at times strug gled against talented Eastside Catholic and Rainier Beach defenses, Jack Sundberg, editor of the Bulldogs Sports Journal believes Caminong has what it takes to come back stronger. “EJ has looked amazing this season…It is clear his hard work over the offseason has paid off nicely,” Sundberg said. In the Bulldogs biggest game of the season against a formida ble Fighting Irish, Caminong projects to come up big.

RB Reylen Witherspoon

Week 8 Projection: 21 points

Position Rank- 1 Average Points- 11.3 % Rostered- 100 Season Stats (through week 5): Rushing- 325 yds 4 TDs Total Points: 56.5

Spin: Freshman Reylen Witherspoon made his highschool debut against Seattle Prep in the 3rd week of the season, and has since put together a string of impressive performances to become Garfield’s leading rusher. Sundberg describes Witherspoon as, “tenacious, break ing tackles and picking up yards after contact.” With 25% of the team’s carries and 4 TDs in his first 4 games, Witherspoon will look to continue his hot streak against the Irish.

Week 8 Projection: 8.5 points

RB Tawaf Aboudou

Position Rank-2 Average Points- 8.8 % Rostered- 100 Season Stats (through week 5): Rushing- 227 YDs 3 TDs Receiving- 1 Rec. 27 yds Total Points: 43.97

Spin: When he’s not out winning track meets, junior Tawaf Aboudou also tends to put up big fantasy numbers. “Aboudou is a quick and agile back,” said Sundberg, “he has prov en to be dangerous when the defense allows him to reach the outside edge.” Though Aboudou does not receive many touches per game, his explosive playmaking should lead to solid points.

Week 8 Projection: 9.3 points

WR Jason Finley

Position Rank- 1 Average Points- 13.08 % Rostered- 100 Season Stats (through week 5): Receiving- 13 Rec. 264 yds 3 TDs Rushing- 20 yds 1 TD Total Points: 65.4

Spin: Senior Jason Findlay plays an important role in Garfield’s fearsome receiving core. “Jason can cover ground quickly and can make moves to beat coverage at the line of scrimmage and create separation,” Sundberg said. If the Bulldog offense can get rolling, as one of Caminong’s favorite targets, Findlay projects to put up big numbers.

Week 8 Projection: 11.8 points

WR Sejhe Jackson

Position Rank- 2 Average Points- 12 % Rostered- 100

Season Stats (through week 5): Receiving- 13 Rec. 290 yds 3 TDs

Total Points: 60

By Mia Andreeva

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese: A beautiful bend of Gouda, Cheddar, Parmesan and butternut squash puree. Perfect for an easy rainy-day lunch.

Pumpkin Spiced Joe-Joe’s Sandwich cookies: This should be the #1 item on everyone’s shopping list. Perfect for snacking on during a Harry Potter movie marathon.

Pumpkin pancake and waffle mix: Perfect for those lazy Sunday mornings. 20 min utes and you have yourself a batch of 32 fluffy pancakes. Mini Maple Walnut Biscot ti: Simple. Decadent. Pairs great with a cup of tea. Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissants: Cheesecake and croissants? Surprisingly works well together.

Spin: Despite 1st year wideout Sejhe Jackson battling injuries throughout the season, he has put up incredible numbers. According to Sundberg, “Sejhe is a great deep ball runner, making catches while keeping his stride. His physicality has led him to come down with catch after catch, even in close cover age.” If Jackson is healthy, he has the potential for a career game, even against a tough matchup.

Week 8 prediction: 14 points

Points Scoring Guide-

Passing: 0.04 points per yard and 4 points per TD. -2 for an interception. Rushing: .1 points per yard and 6 points per TD.

Receiving: 1 point per reception, .1 point per yard and 6 points per TD.

America’s favorite spectator sport meets Garfield Highschool. Here are the top performers entering the Bulldogs season finale that need a spot on your roster.

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