THE
MESSENGER
APRIL VOLUME 97 ISSUE 7
TUTORING & TEST PREP
Lessons by Chris Morris-Lent • GHS ‘06 • Columbia ‘09
Math • English • ACT/SAT • College Apps
Guaranteed gains: +200 SAT • +4 ACT • 1 academic letter grade
“
Chris has a terrific sense of which colleges match which personalities.
”
—Carl M., parent of Ben, accepted to Whitman and 2 other colleges
“
Our daughter’s SAT score soared by 500 points! We unequivocally recommend Mr. Morris-Lent’s tutoring services to others.
”
—Jyoti N., parent of Karisma, accepted to the University of Washington
“
”
An absolute master at explaining difficult concepts. —Nate S., parent and software engineer
Learn more at www.seattlesbesttutor.com chris.morris.lent@gmail.com • 206-551-7843
FIND THE BULLDOG Somewhere hidden in this issue is this drawing of a tiny GHS bulldog. The first person to find it wins a PRIZE! If you find it, take a photo and email it to garfieldmessenger@gmail.com. There is no second place prize so snap a pic and send it quick!
ART BY ARLO VANLIEW
2
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
Supporters of The Garfield Messenger Benefactors Nancy Chapin Real Estate Patrons Allen Cheadle John Hoyt and Aana Lauckhart Tana Lin and Paul Holland Carol Rava Jennifer Kerns and Greg Van Liew Phebe O’Neill Bridge Partners, LLC Elana Jassy Friends Catherine and Scott Henson Jill Hostetter Lisa Chrysanthakopoulos Avery Paddock Diana Peterson Allen Draher Jamie Katz and David Sharp Smidchens Family David Lundsgaard Heather and Chris Mefford Melanie Nalbandian Dana Armstrong Ilana Guttman Karin Brookes and Simon Woods Hannah Marshall Penelope West Kathleen Pape Sabrina K. Seward Anonymous x6 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
CONTENTS
ISSUE 7, VOL 97
Cover by Ana Matsubara
A&E
NFO 4 4 5 5 6
GET TO KNOW Devon LingEfird
NEWS BRIEFS Valerie Barreto
EDUCATING THE MASSES Simone Cielos
A NEW SCIENCE PATHWAY Camryn Soo
BUDGET CUTS
GREEN THUMBS
7
Téa Fortune
POST NEW ZEALAND MASSACRE
8
12 13
Milena Haile
TIME TO PANIC MEANS TIME TO ACT
9
14
Tova Gaster
10
BLACK IN BUSINESS Hailey Gray and Sara Javkhlan
Izzy Lamola and Sophie Reichert
14 15 15
STUDENT SUBMISSIONS
SPORTS 16
Various
SPRING CALENDAR Cecilia Hammond
FORWARD MARCH Millan Philipose
THEY’VE GOT THE BEAT Mena Bova
ALL ABOUT US
17
Sam Treat
READY.SET.GO! Ava Klubberud
17
BOX SCORES
18
BOULDERS AND BRIDLES
18
A MARCH MIRACLE
19
READING BETWEEN THE SIDELINES
Jaya Duckworth
ARTIST OF THE ISSUE
FRESHLETES
John Volk
Jefferson Ashby
Jaya Duckworth
Molly Chapin
Arlo Van Liew
STAFF Arlo Van Liew Ava Klubberud Camryn Soo Cecilia Hammond Clara Neville Devon Ling Efird Grady Canty Hailey Gray
Izzy Lamola Jaya Duckworth Jefferson Ashby Ke’Von Avery Mena Bova Milena Haile Millan Philipose Molly Chapin
Sam Treat Sara Javkhlan Simone Cielos Sophie Reichert Sophia Chrysanthakopoulos Téa Fortune Tova Gaster Valerie Barreto
EDITORS Julia Lin • Editor in Chief Lily Laesch • NFO John Volk • Sports Delphi Drake-Mudede • A&E Freya Wiedemann • Photo Ariel Cook • Graphics Izzy Woods • Business
NEWS
GET TO KNOW: LUCY BERLIANT
Stunning student self-portraits. By Devon Ling-Efird
INTERNATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS By Valerie Barreto
Europe Bans Single-Use Straws ART BY LUCY BERLIANT
The European Union has voted to ban single-use plastic straws as part of its effort to decrease water pollution and the deterioration of marine environments. The decision comes after China moved to ban all its processing of imported plastic back in April of 2018. As countries scramble to find a processing alternative, Europe has taken the lead in reducing plastic waste by not only banning straws, but cotton swabs, single-use plastic cutlery, and stirrers. Some products packaged in plastic will not be banned but will be required to warn their consumers about plastic’s detrimental impact on the planet.
Cyclone Idai Leaves Southeast Africa in Ruins
T
o most people, a selfie is just a casual photo: a quick Snapchat reply or another post to your Finsta. For Lucy Berliant, a senior at Garfield, her “selfies” are best described as works of art. Combining creativity, Photoshop, and commitment, Berliant creates unique and beautiful self-portraits. “I take almost all of my photos my self,” Berliant said. “I’ll set up a camera, usually outside, pose, and then click a button on my phone and it takes it from the camera. And then I use Photoshop to put other elements in and play with the lighting.” Books, among other things, play a large part in Berliant’s inspiration. Berliant grew up reading and painting her ideas. Now, elements from Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Coraline can be found in her photos. Makeup plays a large role, too. “My friend Julian Stoller, he’s an Instagram makeup person, he and I work together a lot,” Berliant said. “He’s someone who inspires me and keeps me motivated.”
4
In addition to being an artist, Berliant also plays the guitar, sings, and participates in numerous charity events. She was just at the Literary Lions Gala in March where she sang and played to raise money for homeless people. As someone with dyslexia, Berliant’s school experience has always been challenging. “School had always been difficult for me because I had learning disabilities,” said Berliant. “I struggle with reading and writing, and I always have to work ten times harder to get a passing grade.” However, art and music provided an escape from school and a way for Berliant to feel comfortable about herself. “I’ve always struggled with self love, and I never liked photos of myself,” Berliant said, “but I liked the art I could create so by putting myself in art it was a form of self appreciation. I’ve always had art as a way to be myself and be unashamed of it, and it has really helped me be proud of who I am as a person.”
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
Despite the difficulties, school and learning have always been something Berliant has had a passion for, science in particular. Taking Oceanography and Environmental Science at Garfield has furthered this interest and Berliant is heading to Alaska Pacific University next year to study both environmental and marine science. “I always knew that I was interested in sustainability,” Berliant said. “I’m planning to actually use my art to spread more awareness about environmental issues in the best way that I can. A big goal of mine has been to show people the planet and the nature we’re in.”
LUCY’S ART CAN BE FOUND AT @LUCYBERLIANT
Even though nearly two weeks have passed since Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, the crisis continues to deepen as a broken country attempts to grapple with the wreckage. Official numbers indicate nearly 460 people died in Mozambique; however, according to UNICEF, more than 3 million people across Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe are in need of aid. Daviz Simango, the mayor of Beira, says the Mozambican government could have done more to prevent the devastation and casualties, as authorities failed to warn rural areas that were at risk of flooding. In the wake of the first cases of cholera, a waterborne disease, countries like Norway and the United States have increased their humanitarian aid effort.
Saudi Female Activists Temporarily Released from Custody Three of eleven female activists have been temporarily released as their trials are put on hold, Saudi authorities announced. The women have been identified as Aziza alYoussef, Ruqayyah al-Muharib, and Eman al-Nafjan, members of the region’s rising feminist movement. According to the Washington Post, the women were charged on communicating with foreign human rights groups and journalists, branded as “traitors” by the state-controlled press, and reportedly suffered abuse and torture while in custody. The remaining eight women are still being held on charges related to their activism.
NEWS
EDUCATING THE MASSES
SAAC takes on Seattle Public Schools.
O
By Simone Cielos
n March 14th, in front of all Seattle Public school health teachers, Garfield’s own Sexual Assault Awareness Club, better known as SAAC, presented what could be the new standard for consent education and awareness in our schools. In recent months the club has been cultivating and practicing a presentation aimed at underclassmen coming into Garfield. The slideshow went through everyday ways to include consent into your life. To the club’s surprise, they were given an uncommon opportunity: to educate our educators. “That’s where we found out they really love the content and they would love for us to come visit,” said Senior Arlo Van Liew, one of SAAC’s officers referring to the upcoming Seattle Schools tour. The unique experience given by the SAAC members could be encapsulated in the reverse effect of the student teaching the teacher. Seeing those you look up to, looking up to you. “It was really nice having the teachers feedback. It showed that
they had questions as well, and that themselves, they did not have the answers,” said Sophomore and SAAC officer Nina Tran. The presentation explains the ways people can incorporate consent into everyday life. “We cover it to really prove that if we are incorporating consent into everyday interactions, the whole attitude around consent in terms of sexual encounters will just slide into place,” Van Liew said. In general, incorporating consent in its entirety into the health curriculum is part of the goal, to show that consent is not constrained to only sexual encounters, and to make people feel comfortable in a space that they know is safe. All in the hopes that Garfield could become that space. Starting with underclassmen coming in, the goal is that as a school, we can all become a part of a healthy consent culture. “Since the content is so valuable, we are not trying to limit ourselves to just freshmen,” said Junior Egeljin Myagmarsuren, another one of
SAAC’s officers. “Our whole end goal is just to create a safer space for everybody.” As the path of Seattle’s consent education unfolds, only a certain amount of effort can be put in from the members of SAAC. The final push must be done by the rest of SPS, our teachers, our students, and our admin. “I do think that there is change happening,” Van Liew said, “but it’s fairly slow. I can see the wheel turning and I can see some things getting better, some things are getting worse, but its all for the gradual betterment of the education system.” With one presentation down and many more to go, SAAC waits eagerly to present to more SPS members, and possibly to do much more. “I’m really excited for the tour. Its to give people language and start conversations,” Van Liew said. “I’m just hoping to give people a baseline of information to start being able navigate and to start being able to implement consent into their every day actions and behaviors.”
Garfield SAAC officers Nina Tran (left), Egeljin Myagmarsuren (middle), and Arlo Van Liew (right). PHOTO BY JEFFERSON ASHBY
A NEW SCIENCE PATHWAY
Get your questions answered here. By Camryn Soo Starting next year, Garfield High School, along with many other schools throughout the district, is implementing a new three-year science track. One of the biggest changes students will see will be the combining of chemistry and physics classes. Following this new track, first-year students will take one semester of physics and one semester of chemistry, called ChemA/PhysA. The course will look very similar to the first semesters of the current full-year physics and chemistry classes. The decision to put these two fields together was intentional. “One reason why Chem and Physics are in back-to-back semesters is to have kids see these different disciplines of science aren’t separate,” said Mr. Johnson, co-chair of the science department at Garfield. Year two of this track will be a full year of biology with slight changes from the previous curriculum. Year
three will cover the second semesters of Chemistry and Physics, known as ChemB/PhysB. Having biology in between ChemA/ PhysA and ChemB/PhysB will allow teachers to make connections between disciplines of science which will help students understand biology better. “It allows us, as teachers, to keep revisiting these concepts and strengthen them,” said Dr. Finley, the other co-chair of the science department. Reinforcing concepts will be especially important for students in the Class of 2021 and below. This is because t h e y w i l l h a v e
to take the new WCAS—Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science—standardized test at the end of their junior year. The WCAS will require students to meet Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) that were adopted by Washington State in 2013. These standards require students to be well-versed in physics, biology, chemistry, and earth sciences—all of which will b e covered in the n e w
pathway. But what will students do who are currently in chemistry? Do they still have to take ChemB/PhysB? The answer is no. Sophomores and freshmen currently in chemistry should be aware that although they will not be required to take physics next year, they will still be accountable for passing the WCAS test. Passing this test will become a graduation requirement. The Seattle Public Schools website remains unclear as to what graduation alternatives will be for students who do not pass the test until after it is taken. “We are not just shifting what gets taught when with these new standards, but we are also trying to shift how science is taught,” Johnson said.
ART BY KE’VON AVERY
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
5
BUDGET CUTS A
BY SOPHIE REICHERT AND IZZY LAMOLA
few weeks ago, questions about the proposed Garfield budget began to spread around school. Is my teacher getting cut? Why are they doing this? What will next year at Garfield look like? The Garfield budget is determined by the BLT (Building Leadership Team), a group of people who help Mr. Howard create the proposed budget plan for next year, that he will then present to the Seattle Public Schools district officials. The BLT is given an estimated amount of money from the district to fund the next school year and then create a proposed budget plan based on that amount, even though it may be subject to change. “This is the ugly part of my job,” said Howard. “Not having enough money and sitting down to try to make this work.” With the opening of the new Seattle High School, Lincoln, Garfield’s projected enrollment is down for next year, as many prospective students from the North End will be funneled there. It is estimated that 281 fewer students will be attending Garfield next year. Also, the district reduced the money allocated to fund programs and support to aid the class of 2021 and onwards in earning their 24 graduation credits. It was reduced from $715,584 to $158,431. To understand the consequences of these cuts, the Messenger looked closely at the Science Department. “[Because the budget is] based on the number of students Seattle Schools projects that we are going to have enrolled, it was decided that the science department only needs 8 full time teachers,” Dr. Rachel Petrik-Finley, co-chair of the department, said. Next year’s budget is 75% of this year’s, and will result in staff displacements in various programs schoolwide, especially those who are part time teachers. “It’s really upsetting that up to 18 teachers are being displaced from Garfield. I think this will really be traumatic to our community,” Jesse Hagopian, a beloved teacher of the Ethnic Studies course, said. “It’s outrageous really that in a city with as much wealth as ours, we can’t find enough resources to build a stable faculty and the kind of community that you can only have if you’ve been working together for years.” This directly affects Garfield administration’s goal to increase fac-
6
ulty diversity. “We went out and did that,” Howard said. “We brought in more people of color. The way the contract is set
“IF PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED THEY HAVE TO DIRECT THEIR OUTRAGE, AND I HOPE PEOPLE DO, TO THE LEGISLATURE TO LIFT THE LEVY CAP AND FULLY FUND EDUCATION” up is: if you’re first one hired, you’re the last one removed.” This is evident in the displacements in the Science Department. “We as a science department have tried to increase the diversity of our teachers and that came with the new hires and new teachers from last year,” Petrik-Finley said. “It’s really frustrating to see that be taken away.”
AS OF NOW
TEACHERS WILL BE
and is now waiting while administration meets with departments to discuss displacement and a plan moving forward. Staff did have the opportunity to reject the budget. If this had occurred, the BLT would have attempted to rework the budget with the allocated money. This could have also resulted in mediation with the district and the
NEXT YEAR GARFIELD WILL HAVE A
SMALLER BUDGET
DISPLACED
NEXT YEAR
The displaced teachers will have the opportunity to apply to other schools within the district, but this does not mean they are guaranteed a position elsewhere. “It’s been really hard. The past three weeks have been really awful, because I don’t know where I’m going to go,” biology and chemistry
union, which occurred last year. The Garfield Science Department is not fully funded from the district, as it relies on donations from students to buy the needed materials. Even as the ratio of students to teachers decreases, and the required funds decrease, there are still consequences. For example, the Science De-
“I FEEL LIKE GARFIELD IS MY SECOND HOME. I COULD POTENTIALLY LAND A SECOND TEACHING JOB IN THE DISTRICT BUT IT WON’T BE IN MY COMMUNITY. ” teacher Stephanie Edmisson said, who is currently displaced. However, if Garfield receives more funding from the state, some displaced teachers may be able to re-
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
turn and will most likely fill gaps in core classes. Mr. Howard presented the budget to the district for formal approval
partment may not be able to offer a fourth year science classes, instead prioritizing the three years of credits that students need to graduate. This solution comes with downsides.
“If students need three years of science to graduate and we’re unable to offer a full load of fourth year science classes it restricts the ability of students who have not earned a credit in science, to retrieve that credit,” Petrik-Finley said. What is happening in the science program is occurring all around Garfield. Threats of new and old teachers being displaced are present in almost every single department. “I feel like Garfield’s my second home,” Hagopian, a Garfield High School graduate, said. “I could potentially land a second teaching job in the district but it won’t be in my community. And even that is uncertain, that I can find another part time position, especially teaching Ethnic Studies.” Because this is Garfield, an activist response is already forming. “If people are outraged they have to direct their outrage, and I hope people do, to the legislature to lift the levy cap and fully fund education,” Petrik-Finley said. Howard echoed this sentiment. “If you’re going to fight, you’re going to have to talk to the state,” Howard said. “It’s not the school district. It’s not anybody here in the building. It’s at state level.” Rose Clarke, a sophomore at Garfield, is one of those students taking action. After learning about the budget cuts, she organized a day, Friday the 22nd, for students to call their legislators. “We want to get people more informed about why the budget cuts are happening and we also want people to get active with contacting their legislators and trying to make change,” Clarke said. In the meantime, the BLT must utilize the funds they are allotted as of now. The current plan is to pad the budget by asking the PTSA for support. A restoration plan is in place, created by the district. The first priorities include funding the librarian to a full time position and restoring the third Assistant Principal. The displacements and final budget plan should be solidified by spring break, as estimated by Howard. All programs and classes should still be in place, however the master schedule will ultimately determine what will be offered. “I don’t anticipate classes being dropped. But it’s still too early to say,” Howard said.
GRAPHICS BY SOPHIA CHRYSANTHAKOPOULOS
FEATURES GREEN THUMBS
A look inside Garfield’s gardening club.
W
By Téa Fortune
hen you walk down the hallways, there is a cut out corner that is hard to ignore. This is the Garfield greenhouse: a relaxed and clean atmosphere for students to experience a new shade of nature and grow their green thumbs. Built in 2007, the greenhouse has been incorporated into Garfield’s culture and has been a frequent inhabitant for the gardening club. The gardening club is a group that was created in 2016 grows plants from birth to adulthood. Gardening club meets every Wednesday at lunch to make plans for future projects and take care of their outside garden. “We mostly tend to the garden and water the plants” said Jacob Orser, a senior and co-president of the gardening club. “Sometimes we’ll talk about [projects], like right now we’re planning on making corsages for prom to raise money for the club.” In past years Gardening club had created a new system to grow green beans. “We made an aquatic system last year and started one this year where
they are self sufficient to a point. The fish and plants feed off of each other” Orser said. The gardening club is always helping out and spreading joy in the Gar-
“If they bring them to us we re-pot them, fertilize them, and put them under a grow light. When we send them out it’s often a grown plant that holds up well without water and sun,
ART BY MOLLY CHAPIN
field community. They give flowers to teachers and even offer to help those teachers who need emergency help with their plants.
so the teachers don’t have to do a lot” Orser said. Dr. Finley, who teaches AP environmental, also advises the Gardening
club. “I love being around all of the plants and the relaxed atmosphere. I wish this could be a part of my day everyday because it’s comforting” Dr. Finley said. “[The greenhouse is a] hidden gem that we don’t take advantage of and a lot of teachers could use this in a bunch of different ways.” We live in an urban environment where it can be hard to find places to grow food. Through spaces like gardening club and other farming organizations, we can begin to change the way we look at growing and consuming food. Green Plate Special is an example of an urban farm not only just grows their own food and raises chickens, it also teaches elementary and middle school students how to grow and cook their own food in an urban environment. “[Urban farming is about] connection and community” Dr. Finley said.”I think that gardens and community farming has this great way of bringing a lot of people together around growing food.”
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
7
OPINION
POST-NEW ZEALAND MASSACRE
How this country admirably reacted to a tragedy.
O
By Milena S. Haile
n March 15th, a terrorist entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand murdering 50 civilians and injuring 50 others. 34 people are hospitalized and 12 are in critical condition making this New Zealand’s largest massacre since 1943. Images spread over the world of affected families mourning and others standing in solidarity. Women wore hijabs on news networks and in public appearances to grieve with the families. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the attack as one of New Zealand’s darkest days. A day after the attack, Ardern respectfully met with the Muslim community in C h r i s t church to grieve, saying “This is not New Zealand”. Ardern’s actions following the shooting that have further emphasized the dismissal of the shooter. Ardern refused to say the terrorist’s name, whether in press interviews or throughout speeches. She dismissed him as an extremist and never gave him the satisfaction of being known. What is unique and admirable about
this is that too often during these tragedies the light is shone on the terrorist. Who he was, his upbringing, his mental health, anything to explain why he did what he did. We try to empathize and find meaning or an explanation.
This d e t ra c t s from the true victims: their lives, their story. Ardern never publicized or advertised his story, a way of truly honoring the victims. Ardern then promised that New Zealand gun laws would change. On the Thursday following the attack she made good on that promise. Assault rifles and semi automatic guns are now banned in New Zealand. This also includes high-capacity magazines and parts that cause a firearm to generate. “In
short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country,” said Ardern. She is also initiating a buyback scheme, in which current owners would be fully compensated. At first, it is obviously easy to watch New Zealand’s re-
sponse and look to the U.S with raised eyebrows. Many told the leaders of this country to take notes, a very reasonable and normal response. In a country where guns are deeply rooted in culture and have become a
part of mainstream society however, it becomes difficult to apply the solutions of New Zealand to the U.S. Constitutional protection, governmental set up and cultural differences are just a few of the many reasons the U.S might not be able to fix its lack of gun control as quickly as New Zealand has. However although reforms might not be enforced or enacted as promptly does not mean that there’s nothing to learn. Guns have become a very real and seemingly normalized thing in American society, to a point where a gun can even be brought to school with unconcerned reactions from civilians. It’s scary to see how easy it is to be in danger of gun violence without ever knowing it. So frankly, reactions like New Zealand’s are a very refreshing and hope bearing thing. Guns should not be normalized and be seen as the dangerous weapons they are. Although the U.S might not be able to control guns as quickly or strongly as New Zealand has, there is still a lot to learn about gun safety in vulnerable places such as schools, malls, churches and mosques. ART BY SOPHIA CHRYSANTHAKOPOULOS
SENIOR WILLS
A CHANCE FOR ANY SENIOR TO WRITE A FINAL FAREWELL TO GARFIELD AND THE FRIENDS THEY HAVE MADE ALONG THE WAY, OR SHARE A PICTURE COMMEMORATING THEIR FOUR YEARS IN THE DAWG HOUSE.
DATES, GUIDELINES, AND PRICING TO COME!
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
8
TIME TO PANIC MEANS TIME TO ACT
What comes next after the Climate Strike? By Tova Gaster
M
ore than 15,000 students all over the world marched out of schools on March 15th because our lives are in jeopardy due to climate change. Images of teenagers and young children taking to the streets poured in from over 120 countries, signs in hand imploring elected officials to take action before it’s too late. School Strike for Climate, a movement started by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, has become an international movement of youth standing up for our right to a livable future. I went to the Seattle rally at Cal Anderson park that Friday, but I left feeling frustrated and disappointed. The typical speeches and chants drove home the need for immediate change, but left me and others I talked to feeling at a loss for what we can actually do to avert humanity’s disaster course. Climate change is something that causes me anxiety daily, a completely rational terror as we have 11 years, according to United Nations climate scientists, to drastically reorganize society and our way of life before the damage to the atmosphere becomes irreversible. That means more smoky summers, more hurricanes and droughts, and an escalating refugee crisis as more of the earth becomes unsupportive of human life. I walked out of school hoping to alleviate some of that anxiety by taking action. Youth are the demographic that will across the board be most impacted by climate change, and we aren’t represented in the political process. Attending a rally obviously isn’t a real fix, but it’s better than nothing, right? However, this event’s formulaic speeches brought home that going to a park, doing call-and-response cheers, and going home is not a sufficient reaction to the scale of crisis we face. The main call to action was to lobby legislators to support the Green New Deal, the revolutionary program to avert climate catastrophe proposed by New York congresswoman Alexandria OcasioCortez and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey. It’s the only resolution moving through national politics right now that feels anywhere near hopeful, as it presents an actual plan for transition to a more sustainable society and economy. But beyond phone-banking to senators that, despite marketing themselves as progressive and climate-friendly, have not yet signed on to the Green New Deal, what can we do? We can make our own communities as sustainable as possible to help us get closer to a world which can support us. “I recommend [peope] work on food, learning how to grow food, doing it together,” said local activist Zarna Joshi, who helped found the direct action group Women of Color Speak Out. Sustainable farming within communities can help promote self-sufficiency, and healthier relationships with land and with food. Despite the image of environmentalists as white middle-class hikers, climate change is above all a social justice issue.
Sea-level rise is disproportionately affecting poorer countries in the Global South, which are the least responsible for the climate crisis. Countries close to sea level such as Guam and Puerto Rico emit comparatively small amounts of carbon, yet are being hit the hardest with destructive superstorms and flooding. Within the United States, institutional racism puts communities of color in elevated danger from the effects of climate change and pollution. From Hurricane Katrina to the water crisis in predominantly-African-American Flint, Michigan, the government is less likely to prioritize the needs of communities of color. This is especially true for Native communities: The Dakota Access Pipeline was rerouted to run across Sioux native land to avoid contaminating the water of the predominantly white city of Bismark. Activists protecting Sioux land from the Dakota Access Pipeline were arrested and peppersprayed. The environmental degradation in the Americas is the direct result of US colonial exploitation of land taken from indigenous people. In our generation, people often engage with the impending crisis either with depressed apathy-“the world is already screwed, there’s nothing I can do”-- or with denial of how severely it will actually affect us. How do we find a middle ground, channeling our dissatisfaction at the state of the world into meaningful change in the present, without getting burnt out? Joshi emphasizes the importance of building a community around activism and making change. “Work together in a way that builds community. Share your feelings about being afraid, about not feeling hope. If you can share those feelings together, it makes it easier to process them and move past them,” Joshi said. “We can’t be sustainable without sustaining each other.”
REGISTER TO VOTE! TILTH ALLIANCE Their mission is working to build a sustainable and equitable food system. With farm locations in Rainier Beach, Wallingford, and Mt. Baker, Tilth provides opportunities to learn about sustainable gardening, food justice and cooking. Learn more at tilthalliance.org. Youth Service Learning Work Parties are on the second Saturday of every month at the Rainier Beach Urban Farms and Wetlands. Sign up at seattletilth.org.
OPINION WAYS TO TAKE ACTION CALL YOUR SENATORS Patty Murray: (206) 553-5545 Maria Cantwell : (206) 220-6400
REAL RENT DUWAMISH Seattle’s existence on stolen Duwamish land is often acknowledged, but you can making actual reparations by paying rent to the Duwamish tribe at realrentduwamish.org.
WOMEN OF COLOR SPEAK OUT WOCSO is a direct action group emphasizing intersectionality in climate justice. Look them up to learn more about the interconnections between racism, patriarchy, and climate change, and to learn more about events and ways to get involved.
SOUTH SEATTLE CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK SSCAN, a South Seattle-based environmental action group, is inviting youth to help organize a town hall for state representatives, scheduled for this fall. If you’re interested in a chance to confront legislators about climate change, email admin@southseattleclimate.org SSCAN is also holding a screening of climate activism documentary Paris to Pittsburgh, with youth activist speakers, on 3/28 at 6:30 pm. Go tonsouthseattleclimate.org for more information.
SUNRISE MOVEMENT Sunrise Movement is a nationwide group organizing for the Green New Deal and lobbying legislators against taking fossil fuel money. There’s a lobby day in Olympia on April 11th. Email sunrisemovementseattle@gmail.com to get involved and find out more!
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
9
b l a
IN Business By Hailey Gray and Sara Javkhlan
“
c k photos courtesy of jefferson ashby, donna moodie, tougo coffee, ezell’s famous chicken, and nate robinson.
why are black-owned businesses integral to the longevity of black communites?
She came to town and was asking for a place to get some good food...they would say ‘of course, you got to try Ezell’s,” said Lewis Rudd, owner of Ezell’s Famous Chicken. “She called up on a Saturday and she wanted to have Ezell’s chicken delivered to her hotel downtown.” At the time, Ezell’s Famous Chicken had a delivery service that brought their finger-licking delicious chicken to individuals and businesses in the Seattle area. “[The person on the phone] said ‘Hey, we don’t deliver Saturday’... the next voice he heard said ‘this is Oprah Winfrey, and I want some of that chicken and I want it now!” Ezell’s Famous Chicken, perhaps the most notable business of the historically Black Central District, has become a local celebrity and a staple fried chicken joint. The classic crinkle cut fries, tender chicken strips, and sweet and fluffy rolls are just a few examples of the fresh and delicious food Ezell’s strives to serve the community every day. The flavorful food, the welcoming atmosphere, and genuine employees have all allowed Ezell’s to gain popularity and adoration amongst local residents, news platforms, and big name celebrities. Although the business started in the Central District, Ezell’s has spread to various surrounding neighborhoods and cities, such as Wallingford, Bellevue, Rainier Valley, Renton and more. Ezell’s and other Black-owned businesses in the Central District are integral to the continuation of Black culture and community. These businesses have helped to grow and shape the community throughout the years, providing ample job opportunities to local residents and cultivating a tight-knit community. Due to their impact, the success of Black businesses and their owners deserve to be highlighted and praised. Decades of institutionalized racism and anti-Blackness have made it so Black people have to face a multitude of obstacles on a daily basis, especially when creating strong and profitable franchises. Because of the difficulty establishing and maintaining a Black-owned business, there are several reasons as to why it is crucial to support the ones that do exist.
One prominent form of societal oppression that Black business owners face is inequity that often comes through banking loans and realtor policies. “The systems are sometimes designed to hold back certain people, and Black people have experienced that and we have experienced that,” Rudd said. Redlining —a practiced form of segregation from the 1930s - 1970s that refused banking or home loans based on race or ethnic makeup— contributes heavily to the inequity that plagues the aforementioned policies. ore recently gentrification has been a primary system disproportionately impacting Black businesses. “There are a lot of Black business owners that close their doors… a lot of Black businesses that move to the South: Renton, Tacoma, Kent” said Earl Lancaster, the owner of Earl’s Cuts and Styles. Generally, increased rent prices and competition with newer, predominantly white businesses have made it difficult for many business owners of color to have a strong grasp for their business or company growth. As a result, many Black business owners have struggled. “Not a lot stay here because to be a Black business, you need Black customers,” Lancaster said. Because many communities have been greatly affected by redlining, gentrification and institutionali ed racism, highlighting Black culture and achievement can be quite influential. Black businesses have a uni ue way of emphasi ing Black excellence, struggle, history and heritage in their work. For food establishments, this often comes in the form of bringing comple flavors and spices from the South, Latin America, and other Black communities across the globe to local communities. Without these businesses, the impact that Black culture and history has on many communities, especially the Central istrict may not be recogni ed or appreciated. “In the C.D., Black businesses are important so we can remain a community,” Lancaster said. Aside from highlighting Black culture and history, Black businesses are essential because they stimulate local economies. Large corporations and companies are motivated solely by profit which decreases their motivation to provide or invest in smaller, local economies. Supporting Black businesses directly feeds into the wealth and em-
ployment rates within our neighborhoods, communities, and cities. According to the Civic Economics Study in Grand Rapids, Michigan, if you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays in the local economy. If you spend the same at a large business, only $43 stays in the local economy. Such implications are huge for Black communities. The strengthening of local economies, especially in communities of color, can increase the average income and access to resources — education, health care, child care, etc.— for individuals. Having prosperous local economies can greatly increase the availability of jobs for residents. “Having more employment opportunities for the Black [population]...[is what] makes for a healthier community,” Rudd said. Black people have a higher than average unemployment rate in the United States because, amongst other reasons, many companies and organi ations e hibit racial
“Black business owners...are employing people from our communities, [as] we understand our own people and some of the struggles they are faced with,” Rudd said. side from ell s another e ample of a thriving Black business with a positive impact in the area is Marjorie, a Northwest bistro serving residents since 2010. Its owner, Donna Moodie, was inspired to cook from a young age after spending most days admiring her mother’s comforting Jamaican dishes. In addition, Moodie’s mother sought inspiration from a variety of global cuisines. Moodie’s upbringing certainly inspired the eclectic-style cuisine of Marjorie where dishes from around the world are served with locally-sourced ingredients. As a prosperous restaurant, Moodie gained local recognition for her unique menu. However, when she moved from Belltown to her current location, she faced some adversity and racism from investors. “I’ve had investors walk into my restaurant for a meeting, walk past me and approach an employee instead. It’s hard for them to believe that someone like me could run such an establishment,” Moodie said. This is an experience that is felt by many Black business owners. Despite the claimed progressiveness of Seattle, blatant racism is still embedded in the history and culture. Because of this, Moodie and other Black business owners can be seen as role models because of their intelligence, strength, and willingness to combat stereotypes and societal systems of oppression. Despite the changes that accompany gentrification in the entral District, we are still home to some prospering and powerful Black businesses. Black businesses are essential to the longevity of the culture, history, and community of Black folks. Without these businesses as a cornerstone, cultural and historical knowledge surrounding Black Americans may be erased. The Black businesses featured in this article all strive to preserve the Black history and culture rooted in the Central District. To aspiring Black business owners, these businesses provided advice about creating influential Black businesses. “I would say have mentors. Continually educate yourself, and don’t take no for an answer,” Moodie said.
“In the Central district, Black businesses are important so we can remain a community.” biases during the hiring process. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6.2% of Black Americans are unemployed, whereas only 3.3% of white Americans are unemployed. In order to combat traditionally higher Black unemployment rates, it’s important to encourage Black entrepreneurship and business to counteract the discriminatory effects of capitalism in the United States. Black businesses being located within the heart of their communities is highly beneficial as they can be used as a job resource for residents in the community. ell s is known for providing ample work opportunities, particularly to local youth. Employment for a young person of color can be a highly rewarding and empowering experience. “We can bridge that gap by helping to build [youth of color’s] selfesteem, encouraging and inspiring them to do better,” Rudd said. The influ of local job opportunities not only decreases unemployment rates and strengthens the local economy, but it can also decrease the nited tate s raciali ed wealth gap as Black businesses tend to be more likely to hire employees of color.
blackowned businesses to support Nate’s Wings and Waffles 1224 E Jefferson St. TOUGO COFFEE CO 1410 18TH AVE Marjorie 1413 E Union St Earl’s Cuts and Styles 2203 E Union St. Unit 103 Ezell’s Famous Chicken501 23rd Ave. Taste of the Caribbean 1212 E Jefferson St. Simply Soulful 2909-B E Madison St. cheese platters and more 2717 E Union st. Meskel ethiopian restaurant 2605 e cherry st
A&E
Student Submissions Chapter 2: The Day I Couldn’t Fly It was my first day of school, I was nervous and excited at the same time! When my alarm went off, I turned it off and got out of bed. I did my usual morning routine for school, and then I chose my outfit for the first day. My outfit was this beautiful, red dress that had spaghetti straps. Since it was fall and freezing outside, I put some black leggings under my dress and finally, a black leather jacket. Before I went to have breakfast, I took one last look in the mirror and said to myself, “Girlfriend, you look so cute!”. When I got to the kitchen, my parents were cooking one of my favorite breakfast foods, French toast. Both of my parents laughed as they realized I was excited they were cooking French toast. We had our breakfast with fruit. After eating, my parents kissed me good luck. Then I waited outside for my bus to show up. After awhile... it finally showed up. Before getting onto the bus, the bus driver said “Hi” to me, as I said “Hi” back. When I was seated on the bus, the bus driver said that she was gonna pick up a few more kids. I said, “Okay.” When the bus departed from my house, I took out my earbuds and my phone, put on some music and tuned out... After picking up a few more
kids, we finally arrived at the high school. The was called Central Valley High School, home of the mountain lions! Once the bus stopped, the bus driver put the lift down for me and the two other students who also use a wheelchair. After fourth period was over, it was my favorite class of the day- guitar! Even though I did love playing the guitar, that wasn’t the only reason I loved the class. There was this boy named Drew Vader. He had short, black hair and brown eyes. Since I was short, he was taller than me, which I loved because who doesn’t like tall guys! When class started, Mr. Carson, our guitar teacher introduced himself to the class. He was a tall, bald African-American teacher. He was funny too, all the students loved his sense of humor. Finally, school was over which meant my first day was officially over. I went to the nurses office to park my wheelchair for tomorrow, as I was about to leave out of the doors, Drew grabbed my arm and called my name, “Juliet, wait up! do you have a minute? I want you to listen to a song.” “Can you please give me a ride home after this?” I asked him. He nodded and quickly pushed my wheelchair inside
the school. “Dang boy, slow down! Do you want me die?” I asked him. He laughed when I said that. I realized he had a pretty cute smile - then he notice that I was staring at him, and that smile turned into a smirk. After awhile, we made it to the music room. Drew put the key inside to open it. As he turned the knob, I asked him, “Where did you get the key for the music room?” He said, “The custodian gave an extra key to practice after school, we’re pretty cool with each other. Once Drew turned on the light to the room, he pulled up a stool into the middle of the room so he could sit and play the guitar at the same time. I sat next time to him as he started playing his acoustic guitar. Then he said, “This song is called Running Around In My Dreams by Tyrone Wells” I replied, “OMG! I love that song. It’s such a cute song!” Drew smiled and said, “A cute song for a cute girl!” I blushed really hard when he said that. - After he was done playing his guitar, he packed his guitar into his guitar case. Then I realized it was almost 10:00 pm! I told Drew that I really had to get going. Then, he turned my wheelchair and kissed me...
-Josephine Nguyen
Want Your Work To Be Featured in The Messenger? Submit it to GarfieldMessenger@gmail.com
12
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
Soar Build an armor around your heart, Cause even in the best days, There will always be a darkness lingering in the shadows. Don’t get your hopes up. The higher they are, The quicker and harder they fall. Don’t let your emotions take over your logic, Your past actions may never be outlived Do things for yourself not others. Smile! Always smile. Smile to cover your past wounds That have been ingrained into your heart. Remember who is important to you. Because in your darkest days they will be there to cheer you up. Hide away the feelings that have chained you down, Pretend they aren’t there, And soar.
-Nicole Wang
A&E
Spring Calendar
By Cecilia Hammond
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
13
A&E
FORWARD MARCH
Garfield and reco ers rom a mon h By Millan Philipose n January 18th, the Garfield Band program was thrown off its beat. Forced to leave due to a family emergency, former Band Director Tomisha Price-Brock became the second Garfield band leader to resign in under twelve months. While administrators scrambled to secure a long-term substitute, band members were forced to endure weeks of unstructured classes taught by unqualified teachers. Junior Henry Neiman, a member of the Garfield marching band, describes that time as a long string of wasted class periods. “There was about a month where it was just study hall, a free period,” Neiman said. “We all got together and decided that until someone bailed us out and got us a teacher, we’re not doing anything — because we just couldn’t.” These weeks of inactivity came at a cost. Unable to carry out daily rehearsals, the marching band was forced to stay home while the girls
O
ho
basketball team went to the state championship. Neiman worries that the lost time will continue to hobble the band well into the future. “It’ll probably take a year or two for us to get back to where we were,” Neiman said. “We’re definitely back on track, but we’re nowhere near what we used to be. The rest of the year is completely up in the air.” To Neiman, the lengthy gap between Price-Brock’s resignation and the appointment of a long-term sub is indicative of a larger problem in the way Garfield treats its band program. “We felt like no one remembered us and no one cared about us,” Neiman said. “It was a pretty big blow to our notion of how people thought of us as a band.” But administrators insist that the month-long teacher vacancy was not meant to punish the Garfield band. “Most people don’t understand that there’s a hiring process, that we have to follow certain rules,” said Assistant Principal Katrina Hunt. “We
a eacher. can’t just hire someART BY ARIEL COOK one off the street — they have to go through the process of an application, they have to get a background check. Hunt That takes several weeks.” e n c o u rages Though the band now has a longband families not term sub, administrators have faced to worry. obstacles in hiring a full-time re“A lot of times placement for next year. The hirparents just ing process became much more difsay, ‘get a ficult after the district announced band teachsevere budget cuts in the 2019-2020 school year. Administrators began to er!’” Hunt conduct interviews for a new band said. “Easier director as early as February, but said than they were forced to take down the done! job posting to ensure that the posi- You want tion would be available to displaced s o m e b o d y teachers from elsewhere in the dis- that’s musitrict. It remains unclear whether cally talentGarfield’s new band director will be ed in front a fresh hire, or whether they will of your transfer in from another Seattle high kids, and I take school. that very seHunt hopes to reopen the band riously.” teacher position before the end of the school year. In the meantime,
THEY’VE GOT THE BEAT loo n o he G
record ng ar s s d o.
By Mena Bova f you walk into Room 118, you’ll be transported into a mini-world within Garfield. In one corner, students listen to music and analyze the lyrics; in another, students huddle together over computers, taking their headphones off just long enough to discuss a possible change before turning their attention back to the computer. The grind doesn’t end once the bell rings. Come into the room during non-class time and you’ll still see students hard at work. This is the recording arts studio, located on the first floor of Garfield. There are five recording arts classes taught by teacher Paul Schoen, but the studio is open to all students, regardless of if they’re currently enrolled in a recording arts class. Recording arts classes have been offered at Garfield for three years. The classes aim to let students analyze the way music plays a role in their life and the cultural significance it has, while giving them access to recording technology and the chance to create their own music. Outside of the class, the open door policy of the studio has led to the creation of a dedicated group of
I
14
students who come into the recording arts studio outside of class time weekly to work on projects and collaborate with others. One of those students is junior Dorian Magee-Petti, who comes into the studio almost daily. Magee-Petti has been interested in music from a young age, crediting that to his mom’s influence and his elementary school experience at Madrona. “I go to the studio almost everyday at lunch. Sometimes I like to mix and master my beats, and other times I like to record other people onto some tracks that I’ve made, or that they want to record to,” Magee-Petti said. A community has arisen from these students who are consistently in the studio. Magee-Petti has noticed trends in the closeness of the community based on the layout of the room. “I think the people who are closest to the computer have a tighter bond, because they’re all working around
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
one person, all chipping in, so even if they’re not directly talking to the person who is using it and working on the stuff, they kind of are still a part of it. The other side of the room is mainly quiet, but sometimes if it’s really good, then
you’ll see people dancing in the back, or just bobbing their heads,” Magee-Petti said. While the recording arts studio has a dedicated population, as part of the budget cuts for the 2019-2020 school year, recording arts classes will not be offered next year. Magee-Petti sees this as a big loss for Garfield. While he will still have access to studio space, he recognizes that many of the students who consistently use the Garfield recording arts studio won’t. “I’m really sad that recording arts isn’t being offered as a class next
year, because teacher’s a cool guy and a lot of experiwould have been pass that knowloff. Plus, having only recording arts in all of the district really a privilege,” gee-Petti said.
t h e really he has ence, so it good to edge the class was Ma-
Regardless, the recording arts studio has already given many students access to technology they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Beyond that, it’s helped created a community of students enthusiastic about music and the creation of it. Magee-Petti agrees. “[Working with people is] really a pleasure, because you just get to see everyone, and you can see how good everyone is, and it’s a good feeling to be apart of that kind of thing.”
A&E
ALL ABOUT US
A review of Jordan Peele’s new horror movie. By Jaya Duckworth
W
hen the trailer for Jordan Peele’s Us was released last December, the song “I got 5 on it” was tainted forever. The ominous remix of this classic song in the trailer is a perfect example of what the movie does best: seamlessly blends pop culture with hair-raising suspense and a warped sense of reality. Us is the second film by director Jordan Peele, following Get Out, the academy-award winning thriller that quickly became a cultural phenomenon after its release in 2017. Peele’s latest film has already broken records at the box-office: it became the most successful opening ever for an original horror movie after earning $70.3 million on opening weekend. Us stars Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide Wilson, a young mother who travels to Santa Cruz for vacation with her husband Gabe (Winston Duke), and their children, Zora and Jason (Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex). While there, the Wilsons are attacked and stalked by their murderous doppelgangers, the nightmarish and animalistic embodiment of themselves.
Throughout the movie, Peele creates chilling suspense through stylistic visual symbols, ominously mixed music, and stark, haunting imagery. Peele intersperses squeamish scenes with humor and authentic familial interactions, making the Wilsons warm and relatable. The siblings bicker, the parents lovingly tease each other, and Duke’s performance is riddled with hilarious dad jokes. The result is an honest and endearing picture of a family just like many of ours, making the horrors they face that much more palpable. The brilliance of Us lies in Peele’s ability to subvert common horror movie tropes while still staying true to the genre. Instead of making the film’s villains into savage monsters, Peele duplicates the protagonists themselves, challenging the classic hor-
ror archetype. These villains are revealed early on in the movie in a head-on confrontation with the protagonists, yet they become no less shocking to viewers as the plot continues. The entire ending sequence is shot in broad daylight, and yet it still features bloodcurdling jump scares and shivering suspense. Ultimately, Peele proves that the things which are most apparent, predictable, and similar to us may in fact be the most terrifying. The movie ends with a plot twist, delivered to the audience through a series of flashbacks, and the curtain closes on a nauseating cliffhanger. The audience is left dumbfounded, forced to grapple with the idea that they may have been rooting for the villain the whole time. Peele challenges our preconceived ideas about evil, blurring the lines between villain and victim. “The best monster movies ... allow
their villains to have these different layers. You are meant to be terrified ... but also to relate to them on some level,” Peele said in an interview with the LA Times. Similar to Get Out, Us has a broader social message that spotlights tensions and divisions in American society. Peele was inspired by the xenophobia sparked in the wake of the 2016 election and used Us to create social commentary about what happens when we as a society suppress our demons and fail to hold ourselves accountable for our wrongs. The result in the movie is a confrontation between a group of people that comfortably enjoys their privilege and an oppressed group that seeks a rapid and violent liberation. “If you suppress guilt, hatred, negativity, you’ll punch a wall someday,” Peele said. “As a collective, as a society, when we suppress something together, our part in something — we get extraordinary atrocities.” Peele gives oxygen to these extraordinary atrocities in Us, artfully scaring us into empathy and self-reflection. ART BY ARIEL COOK
ARTIST OF THE ISSUE: ARLO VAN LIEW
“I draw inspiration from dreams” The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
15
SPORTS
FRESHLETES: Spring Edition
WOMENS LAX
MENS BASEBALL
WOMENS TENNIS
By Sam Treat
WITH SPRING SPORT SEASON KICKING INTO FULL SWING, IT IS TIME TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE FRESH FACES WHO ARE HELPING PROPEL GARFIELD SPORTS TO GREATNESS. WHETHER THEY ARE TRANSFERS OR FRESHMEN, THERE ARE MANY NEW FACES HELPING VARSITY SPORTS WIN. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR FRESHLETES.
16
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
Annika Harding is looking to take the tennis court by storm. As one of the only freshmen on the womens varsity tennis team, she is looking to help bring the womens program lots of success. Harding describes the program as very inclusive, and gives credit to tennis veterans for helping her out. Tennis prowess runs in the Harding family, as Annika’s sister, Katie, is a junior on the varsity squad. This fa-
While he is not a freshman, sophomore transfer Nate Korahais is new to Garfield. Having joined Garfield after leaving O’Dea, Korahais says that Garfield baseball has welcomed him with open arms. While he is one of only two underclassmen on the varsity squad, Nate is prepared for the challenges ahead. “I was a little worried at first, because I had to get used to the norms. But I think I’ve ended up fitting in
Even after playing competitive lacrosse since the third grade, Ada Carr still finds something new and different about Garfield womens lacrosse. She says the program isn’t filled with the typical ‘lax gals.’ “It’s really fun and I really look up to the upperclassmen who are such great
ANNIKA HARDING
milial connection has made the varsity experience a lot easier and more fun. Even as a newcomer, Harding has high expectations for the program and herself, her ultimate goal for the season being a win in Metros. Harding has been playing tennis since she was three years old, and her experience is helping her adjust to the rigor and commitment of varsity sports. After playing on many
really well,” Korahais said. Part of his nervousness has been inspired by the fact that the varsity team currently has 13 seniors on the roster. While intimidating, it has allowed Korahais to absorb knowledge from some of the best. “I look up to [Stanford Baseball commit] Owen Cobb. He represents where I want to be in a few years,” Korahais said. “I was really happy to make varsity because it meant I could
leaders.” Carr said. While she’s only a freshman, Carr has already found a close-knit community on the team. Carr acknowledges that the team has a ways to grow this year, but still has high expectations goals for the program. “I want girls lacrosse to get full recognition and funding as a Garfield school sport,”
teams, she said, “the people on the team, and the ability to represent Garfield at our meets [separate Garfield tennis from the other teams].” Teammates have high opinions of Harding as well. “[Annika] brings a fun energy and is a great addition to the team this year,” junior Clara Neville said. Make sure to pop out to a tennis match and watch Annika destroy the competition.
NATE KORAHAIS
watch and learn from him, and kind of pick his brain to mimic what he does.” As a catcher and shortstop, Korahais is captain of the infield, and he has high goals for the squad he seems poised to lead in the coming years. “As a team, our goals are to make the state playoffs.,” Korahais said. “They almost got there last year, and we have a really strong group of seniors this year, and we definitely have a chance.”
ADA CARR
Carr said. While she acknowledges that being a freshman on a varsity sport can be difficult, she is hopeful that she can contribute to the teams playoff hopes. “I hope I can continue the legacy left by the strong group of seniors we have this year,” Carr said.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SUBJECTS
SPORTS
Spring Box Scores
READY. SET. GO!
Softball (10-0) Eastside Catholic 1
The womens 4x200 is ready for more. By Ave Klubberud
S
peeding down the track, relay teams skillfully pass their baton to one another while still trying to come out on top. Unlike other individual track events, the relay relies on effective teamwork for success. At Garfield, the womens track and field team has some of the strongest student athletes in the entire school. Garfield has a long history of strong track athletes. After placing at state last year, the women’s 4 by 200 meter event is primed for another successful season with teammates Jyotika Chung, Lyric Harris, Ella Parker, and Gemma Walker. Aside from the relay, all of these athletes also take part in individual events from the 100 or 200 meter dash to the triple jump. Despite excelling in their individual events, the team relay holds a special place in their hearts. “I think most of us would attest to the fact that we would rather get a first in the relay
than any other event because it is better to do it together as a team,” Parker said. Going into this season, the athletes are reflecting on their past and what they think they can accomplish this year. “One of the cool things is that we know we have a relay com-
ing back that can go to state,” Parker said. “Last year we were a wild card but this year we know we can place.” Coming together as a group has proved to grow their abilities as individuals and as a team. “As a relay, the more time you
Jyotika Chung ‘21 Other Events: 100m Sprint 200m Sprint 4x100m Relay
run together, the more stronger you get,” Harris said. “I definitely think we are a stronger team [this year],” echoed Chung. Compared to other relay groups, Garfield has an edge due to their strong bond as well as their athleticism. “I feel like the reason we placed was because we are all so close,” Ella Parker said. Compared to years before, this relay has a much stronger bond, free of drama, that allows them to run fast, have fun, and avoid conflict. “The team before got away with it because they were so fast, but I think it started to show in their performance,” Harris said. As a senior, Harris is excited to compete for Garfield and represent the school. “It’s really nice to compete in something for Garfield and put on that jersey,” Harris said. “Even though it sounds really corny.” PHOTOS BY AVA KLUBBERUD
Ella Parker ‘20 Oher Events: 100m Sprint 200m Sprint 4x100m Relay
Garfield
6
Monday, April 1 Garfield High School 4:00 PM
Upcoming:
Nathan Hale
Baseball (4-5)
Friday, April 5 Meadowbrook 4:00 PM
Eastside Catholic 7
Garfield
2
Saturday, January 19 Chief Sealth High School 7:00 PM
Upcoming:
Nathan Hale
Soccer (4-1-1) Garfield Roosevelt Upcoming:
Friday, April 5 Meadowbrook 4:00 PM
1 2
Wednesday, March 27 Magnuson Park 4:00 PM
Ingraham
Tuesday, April 16 Memorial Stadium 4:00 PM
Track and Field Upcoming:
Garfield vs.
West Seattle and Ingraham
Gemma Walker ‘20 Lyric Harris ‘19 Other Events: 200m Sprint Triple Jump
Other Events: 200m Sprint
Note:
Wednesday, Aprill 17 Ingraham High School 2:45 PM
Several games finished bewteen printing and publishing of The Messenger. Visit metroleaguewa.org for updated scores and standings
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
17
SPORTS
BOULDERS AND BRIDLES
Student athletes pushing the limits.
A MARCH MIRACLE By Jaya Duckworth
By Jefferson Ashby
Sophomore Sam Halmrast competes in a verti- very limited amount of time.” cal world of neon plastic. Halmrast competes for While climbing is inherently a physical chalthe Stone Gardens climbing team and was a fi- lenge, the sport is just as much of a mental chalnalist at divisionals in 2018 (with climbers from lenge. Alaska, Washington, and Oregon). He began his “Most climbing is really more of a mental climbing career only a few years ago. test than physical,” Halmrast said. “The climb“Over one summer ers who understand their I did a climbing trip,” limitations the best are alHalmrast said. “When I ways the ones who end up got home I took a bunch winning.” of my friends climbing However, climbers still for my birthday and need to have a strong that was right when I body to keep up with their was turning 14 — and technique. then I joined team” “When you’re training When he initially for climbing you’re trainapplied, there was no ing every different muscle room on the team for group, sometimes all at PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM HALMRAST once,” Halmrast said. him. However, Halmrast persisted. Although climbing is “I just kept showing up anyways, 5 days a growing, for now it remains a niche, and new, week to like all the team practices basically and sport. they made an extra spot for me” Halmrast said. “Competitions have only been around for Competitive climbing is not scored on speed. maybe 20 years at the most,” Halmrast said. Instead, competitors are scored on their ability Halmrast has high hopes for the sport, but to complete difficult routes within a time limit. urges more people to get involved. Scores are therefore based on how far the climb“I haven’t brought one [friend] to a gym who er is able to get up the route. didn’t like it,” Halmrast said. “Even if you don’t “The difficult part of competitions,” Halmrast want to climb at the level that I do, I just think said, “is reading the correct path up the wall in a that more people should try climbing.”
While many kids are at home watching Seabiscuit, Junior Helena Clements is living that dream. Clements has been riding horses since 6th grade as a horse jumper. She believes one of the PHOTO COURTESY OF HELENA CLEMENTS most special aspects of equestrianism is the relationship with the horse. “I think it’s just unique,” Clements said. “You get to work with an animal and have a partnership with an animal. It’s really fun to have that bond.” Competitions usually take place over three days, with the riders participating in multiple jumping classes. The classes determine the format of the competition, but they all take place on a course of obstacles with many twists and turns. “I usually go in the morning, around 7:00 am and I’m there until like 5:00,” Clements said. “I’m mainly there all day watching other people go and then I’ll compete.”
18
The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2019 garfieldmessenger.com
One of the reasons for the relative obscurity of the sport might be the price. “It’s an expensive sport so a lot of people might not be able to do it,” Clements said. “Also, I think that when many people think of horseback riding they think of racing so they don’t really understand the other side of the sport.” There are some misconceptions about the sport, which also hinder its’ popularity. “Many people, if you asked them, they won’t think it’s a sport because they think the horses do all the work and that as a rider you don’t really do much” Clements said. Helena hopes that people will begin to appreciate the sport more. “Many people don’t give the riders enough credit,” Clements said. “It’s harder than most people think and it’s just a really fun sport.”
PHOTO BY JACK HOLT On Friday, March 22nd, Team Draco rolled to a 20-17 victory over You Got Schooled in the championship game of Garfield’s annual March Madness tournament, ending a week of thrilling three-on-three basketball. Both the teachers and Team Draco flew through their first three games, blowing out opponents offensively and locking down on defense. You Got Schooled was led by Tre Simmons, a Garfield staff member who has played both college and professional basketball. The veteran teacher team shot effectively throughout the tournament, thanks to Mr. Lee and Mr. Willis, who were both successful from the three-point arc. With such strong all-around playing and a considerable size advantage, the teachers were expected to soar to another tournament victory. They were hungry for the win after facing a tough loss in last year’s championship game. Enter Team Draco, the scrappy and confident group of ballers from the Isopods division. Draco played tough, complementing their aggressive style with cheeky taunting and intimidation. Despite fierce competition from the staff team, Draco was able to pull out the win due to Joshua Davis hitting his shots, Caleb Anglin driving to the hoop, and Henry Garrett playing aggressive defense. When asked what the key to Draco’s success was, Anglin said, “Just playing defense, and not letting teams score a lot. And upping the score so we didn’t have to worry about them coming back.” Team Draco saw the entire tournament, including the battle with the teachers, as a walk in the park. “It was pretty easy. We smacked every team we played,” Anglin said. As a defending March Madness champion, Anglin was glad to polish off his legacy with another tournament trophy. His final advice for the fans? “J-How, keep your feet up.”
SPORTS
READING BETWEEN THE SIDELINES
Garfield’s librarian soccer coaches.
A
By Molly Chapin
t first glance it may seem like an unlikely coincidence that two of the men’s soccer team coaches here at Garfield are also librarians. If you ask new coaches Tyson Manzin and Gabe Rapier, however, it turns out that coaching and librarianship may have more things in common than first meets the eye. Manzin, Garfield’s own librarian, is also the head coach of the JV men’s soccer team, and Rapier, retired after 15 years as Douglass Truth’s head librarian clerk, is now the head JVC soccer coach. “In a short time I’ve witnessed Coach Manzin’s commitment to specific aspects of his team’s play,” Rapier said, “no surprise when I later discovered he was also a librarian, as they both embody a focus on organization and meticulousness.” This focus on the details is how Rapier finds common ground between these two very different aspects of
his life. Being able to use this skill to make connections with people was and is what makes him excel in both jobs. “I balance the two aspects of each job by centering my attentions on the individual,” Rapier said. Manzin shares a similar sentiment — that these two jobs go beyond their surface level features and to a deeper degree depend on a commitment to people, whether they are library patrons or soccer players. “You really have to work in a way that’s holistic, you’re not just worrying about people’s physical states, you’re also working on emotional and mental states,” Manzin said. The shared philosophy of a com-
mitment to individuals has deep roots for both Manzin and Rapier, who similarly started playing soccer young and have always associated it with a sense of community. “Soccer was the first team sport my childhood friends played,” Rapier said. “Soccer set in motion my life long love for team sports.” For Manzin, not only his love for the sport but also for coaching grows from childhood memories with his father. “My dad was never one of the most community oriented types of people, but where he really gave to the community was through his coaching,” Manzin said. Getting the opportunity to work with student athletes in both aca-
demic and athletic areas gives these coaches a unique opportunity to see a more three dimensional version of their students and players. Although he is retired from his work as a librarian, Rapier still uses this perspective to help him within his coaching. “The term ‘student’ precedes ‘athlete’ and should never be confused. My current team all have 3.0 GPA’s or higher and it prides me greatly to know that I have high functioning players both on the field of play and in the classroom,” Rapier said. In his own approach, Manzin echoes this value. “I like that it’s student and then athlete… there’s so many more arenas if you focus on the student part and make that the main thing, and then the athletics and other community oriented activities just really make a holistic person,” Manzin said.
11th Grade: 12th Grade: Nyima Gonzales Sophie Josephson
MESS GUESS
9th Grade: Evan Piccola
10th Grade: Mona Li
Title
(12-7)
(9-10)
(10-9)
(8-11)
(10-9)
NBA: Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Heat
Heat
Heat
Heat
Heat
MLB: Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Brewers
Cubs
Cubs
Cubs
Brewers
NHL: LA Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks
Kings
Ducks
Ducks
Ducks
Kings
Womens International Soccer: Spain vs. Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Spain
Brazil
Brazil
High School Softball: Garfield vs. Nathan Hale
Garfield
Garfield
Garfield
Garfield
Garfield
WEEK 5
Staff: Mr. Stever
A tough fourth week of Mess Guess starts to bring some clarity to this year’s standings as the freshmen soar back into first while the seniors fall back to the cellar behind a 0-4 record last month. Ninth grader Evan Piccola tries to hold onto the top spot while Sophie Josephson attempts to bring her class out of the hole. As junior Nyima Gonzales and science teacher Mr. Stever duke it out to break the tie for second, the sophomore class continues to do their own thing with Mona Li at the helm. The Garfield Messenger 04/05/2018 garfieldmessenger.com
19
milk & backpage - jaya, milena, delphi, sam, ariel
He was big But not As big as Me That’s why he Was on JV -sam treat
We used to Have Froshing Until We didnt Look What happened When it stopped. -anonymous
He was lice I was mono Together we were The Orsers -keaton and jacob
I was iMessage 8-ball But he Had an android -anonymous
Walking down The halls Phones screens Lights flashing No one Pressed The reset button -admin
He was my advisory pass But it wasn’t A travel day -anonymous
I was your TI-83 But you said DOMAIN ERROR -Ms Cohan
Bugs crawling In greasy hair Lice shampoo And they Were gone -class of 2021
I should have known that I was March. And she was madness. -Jhow
He was trash But I Was his compost bin -APES student
G T V Give (women) the voice GTV -asb
I was your fafsa But you missed the deadline -The college and career center
We went on a date To the 2nd floor Bathroom Too late No more pods - a sophomore
I wanted to take the PE test But my name wasn’t A Through L Guess I wasn’t FITT to graduate -anonymous