ISSUE 5
THE VICE ISSUE Inside Johns Creek’s Abstract Drug Culture
FREE / MAY 2017
MASTHEAD
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PUBLICATION The Chariot is a student-run publication printed for and distributed to the Johns Creek community. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire staff or those of Johns Creek High School, its students, faculty, staff or administration. Content is edited and controlled by staff editors, in collaboration with the staff adviser and the administration. The staff will publish only legally protected speech, adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and the invasion of privacy.
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CONTACT US
470-254-2138 jchschariotmagazine@gmail.com 5575 State Bridge Road Johns Creek, GA 30022
COVER DESIGN Leila Farhan Mitchell Odendahl EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Emma Brown
Maaha Rafique
Clay Voytek
DESIGN EDITOR
MANAGING EDITOR
Sophie Spiegel
Mitchell Odendahl
COPY EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
Caroline Kwon
Brian Sui
STAFF WRITERS
Morayo Ogunbayo
SPORTS EDITOR
Neha Bhatia
Raina Parikh
Sophie Brandeis
Niki Dani
FEATURES EDITOR
Nathan Gauthreaux
DESIGNERS
Natalie Siegman
Rachel Grosswald
Leila Farhan
OPINION EDITOR
Josh Gurin
Alex Levine
Reed Carlson
Rachael Jones
PHOTO EDITOR
Maura Mclynn
ADVISER
Katherine Shin
Jamie Miller
Todd Hedden ALL PHOTOS: MITCHELL ODENDAHL & KATHERINE SHIN
CONTENTS
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome to the fifth issue of the Chariot magazine. After receiving a “superior” ranking from the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, winning best in the state for the cover of our Money Issue, and completing our penultimate volume in three weeks, we were feeling pretty good about our final issue of the year. Our staff puts countless hours of work into making sure this is the best publication it can be, and the year so far has reflected just that. This issue, on the other hand, was an unprecedented comedy of errors. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we pushed back our final deadline twice, and designed this entire issue on two laptops. Regardless of how we did it, you’re now holding the last volume of the school year, and arguably the most incendiary edition we’ve put out. “The Vice Issue” was an idea we first conceptualized at our start-of-theyear editor meeting, and we decided to table it for this very issue. I cycled through a few cliche angles, and eventually settled on the article we’re publishing — a candid look at the school’s drug culture, upheld by anonymous interviews with real Johns Creek students. In keeping with the vice theme, we have opinion pieces on caffeine use and drugs in music, a sports feature on high school steroid use, and a features article on adolescent tattoos. We also have a fascinating interview with a young pilot and an analytical look at memes to close out the issue. It’s been my distinct privilege to be a part of The Chariot for the last four years, and I can’t believe it’s coming to an end. In high school, it can be hard to find your niche, but newspaper has been a constant, valuable source of growth and engagement from year to year. I’m not the same person I was when I joined the staff, and I like to think The Chariot isn’t the same either. Rachael Jones and Nikki Dani will be at the helm of the publication next year, and Emma and I are more than confident in their ability to maintain and improve the magazine we’ve worked so hard to build. Our team of editors, writers, designers and photographers have spent the year to create something we’re all proud of, and I know we’re all ready to put this final issue out and end on a strong note. Please, enjoy The Chariot Vol. 5 and have a great summer. -Clay Voytek, Editor-in-Chief
NEWS 4 Round Up
6 Alpha Loop 8 Suntrust Park 9 M3 Math SPORTS 10 Atlanta United
Steroid use is a growing issue in high school athletics. Staff writer Maura Mclynn explores Johns Creeks attitudes. Page 12
12 Steroids FEATURES 14 Drug Culture 19 Fashion 21 Vegan/Tattoo 22 Spencer Clark 24 Music/Entertainment OPINION 26 Caffeine Face-Off 28 Lack of Thought 29 Drugs in Music
Josh Gurin loves meat. For this issue, however, he took on the challenge of going vegan for a fiveday school week. Witness his struggle to resist all animal products, and subvert his insatiable desire for meat. Page 20
31 Meme Culture
Spencer Clark, a senior at Johns Creek and aviation instructor, sits down with features editor Natalie Siegman to discuss the unique lifestyle that doubles as his business. Page 22 THE CHARIOT | 3
NEWS
United States Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed legislation to approve the campus carry bill, allowing college students to carry concealed weapons on their respective campus. The bill does not allow guns in greek life or athletic buildings, dorms, or any area designated for childcare or dual-enrolled high school students.
Venezuela
After a supply shortage and record high inflation, protests against President Maduro have turned violent. The PHOTO COURTESY OF AFP/GETTY IMAGES president recently announced a decree to rewrite the constitution, and the death toll nears 40 as the violence escalates. One video of a military tank rolling over a crowd of civilians has sparked world-wide outrage.
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France The 2017 French presidential election offered voters the farright candidate Marine Le Pen and opposing democratic Emmannuel Macron. Macron won the election, in a departure from the current political climate of Europe.
Antarctica A new crack has branched off the 110 mile long rift in the Larsen C ice shelf, located on the eastern coast of the Antarctica Peninsula. Glaciologist suspect this new crack is likely to cause the entire shelf, roughly the size of Rhode Island, to break off within the next year. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SONNTAG/NASA
India Last month, India launched a satellite to improve communication services within South Asia. It is meant to serve the eight countries part of the SAARC by offering telecommunications, weather forecasting and disaster management. However, neighboring Pakistan has not offered its support on the project, contributing to more unrest between the two countries.
ROUND UP: IN THE NEWS EMMA BROWN, editor-in-chief & JAMIE MILLER, staff writer
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In The Loop Alpharetta confIrms plans to imitate atlanta beltline in million dollar project NEHA BHATIA, staff writer & CAROLINE KWON, copy editor
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he city of Alpharetta recently revealed its plans to build the Alpha Loop, or its own version of the Atlanta BeltLine, as proposed by Mayor David Belle Isle. The Loop will connect key locations around the city, including downtown Alpharetta and the Avalon. As of now, there remains a plethora of further planning before construction can begin. “We just approved the project in principle. We, the city council, recently voted and said we think this is a good project and we should move forward on it, so now we’re going to hire designers and consultants to design the trail, the exact path of it, and how it’s going to be constructed. That’ll take about a year to design it, and, once that’s completed sometime next year, we’ll hire a company to begin construction, which will probably take anywhere from another two to five years,” said Alpharetta city councilman Mike Kennedy. While the process for building the Loop is still in its early stages, the city council has revealed a basic layout, as well as their hopes for its success. “It’s two trails. One will be like an inner trail around downtown Alpharetta, which is about three miles long, and then there will be an outer loop, which will be about five miles long. It will be a little bit wider and, you know, encompass more of the city. It’ll be mostly a concrete trail where people can walk or run or ride their bikes and be a way to get around the city without having to drive. Now we’re going to start working
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on the design of it, like exactly where it’s going to go and how it’s going to cross the streets,” said Kennedy. The large-scale project is estimated to cost between $8 million and $10 million. It will be funded by a partnership between the city government, which will pay for a portion of the development over the course of the next five years, and private property owners. Despite the lengthy process and high cost, the Loop is predicted to be a popular addition to the Alpharetta area. “I think that there is a desire among people nowadays to get around in ways other than their cars. People like to walk. People like to ride their bikes places. There’s a desire for alternative ways to get around. I think it’s going to be really popular in the city of Alpharetta to be able to go from Avalon to the restaurants downtown to the restaurants near Haynes Bridge and 400. You can get around to all of those places without having to get in your car once it’s
The proposed Alpha Loop will connect various points of interest around Alpharetta, including the Greenway trail, pictured above.
news completed,” said Kennedy. In addition to changing the nature of transportation in Alpharetta, many residents are hopeful that the Alpha Loop will provide a unique opportunity to promote local art in the city, much like the BeltLine did for Atlanta. When the Atlanta BeltLine was commissioned in 2009, it became the site of Atlanta’s largest temporary public art exhibition, displaying over 100 works by professional and emerging artists. “I think that [the Alpha Loop] sounds like a good idea because there are multiple organizations that are involved with creating meaningful art and are KATHERINE SHIN trying to use this art to tell a story, and I think it would be really cool for this area to be able to express creativity,” said junior Lauren Garrett. The development of the Alpha Loop is also noteworthy for its role in promoting recognition of the power of well-planned urbanization as an engine for sustainable development. “Urbanization, at least in this world, is important because it creates an evener platform across cities so that it’s not just one area that’s super urban while other areas are left underdeveloped. Every area should be developed to ensure that people have equal opportunities,” said junior Anika Garg. The Alpha Loop represents the beginning of a rising trend of urbanization in the Alpharetta area, and further steps are also being taken to further the development of Alpharetta’s City Center project. The city’s real estate partners are expected to break ground within the upcoming month on the $80 million project that will add office, retail and residential space along Main Street. “In Alpharetta, we have a 25-year land-use plan which plans what’s going to be developed where between now and the year 2035, so it’s a 20-year land-use plan which basically outlines where future development is going to be. There will be higher density development along GA-400, around the Avalon, and we anticipate a little more in the downtown Alpharetta area as well,” said Kennedy.
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news
M3: Johns Creek Seniors Apply Mathematics BRIAN SUI, news editor
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n April 24, a team of seniors from Johns Creek High School competed in the last round of the prestigious M3 (Moody’s Mega Math) Challenge in New York City at Moody’s Corporation World Trade Center Headquarters as one of the six finalist teams, chosen from 5,100 candidates across the nation. After two rounds of strict scrutiny and deliberation, Johns Creek students – Daniel Bodea, Alex Hammond, Anshul Tusnial, Akhil Vaidya and Jamie Wang – made history by being not only the first qualifying team from Johns Creek High School but also from the entire state of Georgia. Every year, the M3 Challenge distills the untapped power of applied mathematics with a pressing issue modeled after a real world situation. Students are required to devise and corroborate a variety of mathematical models that may consist of serial equations that string together concepts from calculus, geometry and advanced algebra. In the past, the prompts challenged students to consider optimizing profits in the stock market, recalibrating undercounted populations to more fairly draw Congressional districts and minimizing residual waste in different recycling methods. This year, students analyzed sea level changes in major U.S. national parks in response to global climate change and assessed associated potential factors, such as the occurrence of detrimental weather events and its successive financial consequences. Over the course of 14 contiguous hours, high school juniors and seniors all over the United States compete within a specifically designated period of time, known as Challenge Weekend, by downloading the problem from the website. Once the problem is opened, teams immediately
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begin collaborating on ideas in an attempt to produce and submit a sound research paper replete with collective data, layered mathematical solutions and intricate explanations before time runs out. Specifically, the Johns Creek seniors encountered difficulties midway through the problem set and fragmented the entire task to better gauge their time. “It got tense. It was really hard for them to come up with an equation that would answer the question. That took the majority of our time. We were all working in different stages too. [Anshul and Alex] were still working on the first part. Daniel and Jamie had moved on to the second part, and it got to the point where they were using so much time that Jamie moved onto the third part, and I was writing stuff down. We were all in different places, and that’s where it got really difficult. We literally submitted in the last 30 seconds,” said Vaidya. The rigor involved in the challenge showcases the vision and end goal of the competition’s creators, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM): to allow students to apply the knowledge they have learned in school to solving current national issues. For many students, the competition represents an outlet to extend their passion for mathematics and to evaluate the possible career paths available to them in the future. “[The competition] reinforced my career plans – it showed me one of the potential applications of a career in math and made me so much more keen on majoring in math in college. Math modeling is a lot of fun, and I would love to do things like this as a career,” said Tusnial. Among the 425 scholarship prizes that equate to a grand sum of $150,000, Johns Creek students received $10,000. The awarded money is equally distributed among team members and will go toward paying college tuition and fees.
Six Johns Creek High School seniors placed third at the national finals of Moody’s Mega Math Challenge, a competition that encourages students to implement various mathematical concepts to calculate solutions that combat current issues.
braves New home completed NATHAN GAUTHREAUX, staff writer
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urner Field, originally built to host the 1996 Olympics, has been the home of the Braves for the past twenty years. Through the highs and the lows, Fans have migrated to Turner Field to support the Braves. For an entry price of only fifteen dollars, Braves games are a popular destination for many high school students throughout metro Atlanta. A quick ride down Marta and a shuttle to the stadium makes everything affordable and effortless. For many fans, however, things are changing. As of the 2017-2018 season the Atlanta Braves will be playing in the newly built SunTrust Stadium. “I would normally go to about six games every summer, we would get a large group of friends and buy cheap tickets in the highest section. It was just a good time hanging out with friends with a little bit of baseball,” said senior Neal Sharma. A report from the chairman of the Braves claims that the cost of renovation and upkeep of Turner Field was too high and led to the decision to build a new stadium. Construction started in September of 2014 and the park officially opened for its first regular season game on April 14, 2017. The new stadium stands as the new center point for the Cumberland area, ten miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Vice president of the Braves, Mike Plant, claimed the new location will be better for fans due to reduced traffic and better parking. The team claims the new ballpark lies in the geographical center of the fan base. Along with the stadium, the surrounding area
is being transformed into a $400 million dollar entertainment district. “I’ve made a lot of good and bad memories at Turner Field and I’ll definitely miss the experience of trekking out to the Field, watching the game and hanging with friends. But I’m also excited to see what Suntrust park is like. Something new is always exciting and hopefully it’ll be more fun,” said senior Kate Batchler. The Braves have struggled to make the playoffs in recent years, only winning 147 of their last 324 games at Turner Field, roughly forty five percent. The Braves administration hopes to boost the team and fan morale by building the new stadium. The new look will give the Braves a spark and mark the end of a rebuilding period for the team. Some downfalls of the stadium are that it holds around 8,000
ALL PHOTOS: KATHERINE SHIN & MITCHELL ODENDAHL
Construction workers leave for the day at the Brave’s new Suntrust Park. The park opened on April 14, fewer seats than Turner and some Field and does not allow work is still outside food inside being done. the stadium. The base price of a general admission ticket for the new stadium is about ten dollars. The new stadium attempts to provide an experience that goes beyond just the baseball game. The area surrounding the stadium is being renovated to provide shopping, food and entertainment to both fans and residents of the area. “Personally I’m excited for the new stadium. It’s not that I didn’t like Turner Field but I feel like going to games at SunTrust will be more fun. This year I think that the Braves will be a little better than they have been recently. I also think that I’ll probably go to more games now that they are in a new stadium,” said senior Christopher Sullivan.
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sports
ATLANTA UNITED:
ATLANTA’S NEW SOCCER TEAM BRINGS THE CITY TOGETHER SOPHIE BRANDEIS, sports editor
he depressing lack of athletic success that is currently looming over Atlanta could possibly come an end with the emergence of the Atlanta United soccer team. Funded by local celebrity Arthur Blank, the Atlanta United soccer team is the first major league soccer team to ever play for this city. Many citizens are counting on the team to bring some patriotism and morale to the city that is far to used to losing. “The fans were really passionate and part of the stadium had fans who had drums and huge banners and everyone was yelling at the refs and opposing players. When we scored our first goal the entire stadium pretty much erupted. This team is probably the sports team that has the best chance to end the drought of championships in Atlanta,” said junior Farid Nat. Led by Coach Gerardo Martino, the team is pushing a winning record with five wins, three losses and two draws. Top scorers on the Atlanta United team include Héctor Villalba, Miguel Almirón, Kenwyne Jones and Jacob Peterson. Their season so far is exceeding expectations and bringing positive energy to Atlanta. “The team looks good, and they are fun to watch. Some very speedy younger players up front and on the
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wings and a strong veteran back line with Parkhurst and Garza. If nothing else, the high-press, quick-counter style is fun to watch The injury to Josef Martinez leaves a hole, but we still have Villalba, Kenywyne Jones and others. The decision to go with a world-class manager appears to be paying off,” said Johns Creek citizen, dad and die-hard fan Chris Turner. While having a winning team to root for would be amazing, the Atlanta United team brings more than just athletics to the city. So far, the team has brought citizens from all walks of life together and has brought some popularity to soccer, the most frequently played sport worldwide. Looking at their first game alone, the team brought in 55,297 spectators, making the turn-out the fourth largest attendance of any soccer game in the world this year.
“U.S. soccer fans from Atlanta have been waiting 20 plus years for an MLS team. To see it fInally come to fruition was a dream come true.”
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGAN EUREK
Fans flood Bobby Dodd Stadium, where Atlanta United will play until construction is completed on Mercedes-Benz stadium in July.
“The experience was absolutely electric being one of the 56,000 people in a sold out Bobby Dodd Stadium. U.S. soccer fans from Atlanta have been waiting 20 plus years for an MLS team. To see it finally come to fruition was a dream come true,” said Johns Creek cross country and track coach, as well as a dedicated Atlanta sports fan, Morgan Eurek. After years of being the only Atlanta sports team to have their main season during the spring and summer, the Atlanta Braves are finally going to have a run for their money. Contrast to the southern staple of the classic
baseball game, several United fans have described the vibe in Bobby Dodd Stadium as upbeat, exciting and even electric. “I was surprised by the number of Atlanta United shirts, flags, etc. There are a lot of soccer players and soccer fans in Atlanta, so it appears that many of us have already adopted Atlanta United. The crowd generated a lot of noise so the level of energy in the stadium was high. I think everyone is still figuring out chants, songs, etc., but that can only get better. Everyone picked up the ‘A-T-L’ chant pretty quickly,” said Turner.
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sports
COVER STORY TIE-IN
Steroids in Sports: All the Rage Some local high schools, including Johns Creek, do not test student athletes for steroids. MAURA MCCLYNN, staff writer
“If you can’t perform naturally, are you really a true winner at all?”
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MITCHELL ODENDAHL
ersonal trainers, nutrition experts and state-ofthe-art facilities make up only a portion of the resources available to some of America’s most fit athletes. However, the side of athletics that revolves around the immense availability of drugs involved in achieving this level of fitness is often left out of the topic. “I hate the fact that people turn to steroids for athletic improvement. We as people get too worried about who we should be that we don’t concentrate on who we are and becoming better people. Everyone has a level they can get to, and they should be happy about that,” said girls varsity basketball coach Kirk Call. Enter steroids: a seemingly optimal option for rapid muscle development and enhancement in athletic performance. While these performance enhancing drugs may bring an immediate improvement in athletic ability, it can also bring long-term problems such as mood swings, aggressive behavior and paranoia, as well as the unfair advantage it gives athletes opposed to competitors who play fairly. “It is important to be really sure about what you’re saying in regard to suspected steroid use because if it is just an accusation and there is no proof, then that could cause a lot of trouble in high school since there isn’t testing. I think it is difficult to prove the use of enhancements at this level, but if it were proven that someone had taken them, they should immediately become ineligible to play,” said Coach Call. One primary problem with steroid use, particularly in regard to high schools, is the lack of a mandatory drug test. This makes it difficult, even here at JCHS, to accuse an athlete who is suspected of drug use, seeing as the choice to conduct a test is up to the individual’s guardian. When an athlete becomes reliant on performance enhancing drugs to succeed, they run into major trouble at the college
level because steroid usage is now monitored, and this even playing field causes athletes lose the competitive edge they once had. “The main reason an athlete would take an enhancement is to try to get ahead. However, with steroids, I don’t think you’re getting ahead, I think you’re setting yourself back because it’s a short, quick fix for a long-term problem,” said boys varsity wrestling coach David Burton. Coach Burton, who has been working in Fulton County for 15 years, witnessed the effect steroids had on two collegiate athletes. “Two teammates of mine took steroids for a short time in college and almost immediately displayed their effects. Of course they showed the short term problems like acne, but the most noticeable difference was the change in their temperament. These athletes were looking for a sense of wealth in these enhancers, but once they started exerting, they lacked the endurance to sustain their new strength ,” said Coach Burton. The portrayal of the country’s most successful individuals as well-toned and in ‘ideal shape’ has become the basis for the level at which many plan their own fitness routine. However, without the same opportunities as the rich and famous, this level of fitness is unrealistic. Once this realization hits, many people turn to steroids as an easy replacement for the true work needed to attain this level of athleticism. The use of these performance enhancing drugs leads to many health problems and an ultimate discredit to any prior accomplishments of an athlete. “The use of steroids is a waste of time and not worth the risks that come with them. It seems the main reason that an athlete turns to steroids is to break records or heighten their recruitment appeal, but so many athletes get caught using these enhancers, which causes their past achievements to no longer be recognized because of this dishonest behavior. If you can’t perform naturally, are you really a true winner at all?” said junior wrestler Daniel Hajduk. THE CHARIOT | 13
cover story
THE DRUG DILEMMA CLAY VOYTEK, editor-in-chief Editor’s Note: Story may be offensive to some readers. All sources are anonymous, and none have consented to identity disclosure. The Johns Creek Chariot has every intention of providing its readers with factual, pertinent information. In an academic climate, however, a level of delicacy is required. The administration of Johns Creek High School has approved this article for publication, though they do not condone its content. Accompanying photographs were staged by the Chariot staff.
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ost high school students have similar weekend plans: de-stress, have fun, maybe study. The difference, however, is in the details. Teen drug use is a taboo, especially in affluent suburbs. Despite this, when the weekend rolls around, bottles will be opened and blunts will be lit. Every high school has a drug culture, and Johns Creek is no different. Unfortunately, teen drug use is an abstract, only definitively characterized by a lack of understanding on both sides of the issue. As the nation’s attitude towards soft drugs shifts, and with legalization on the horizon in many states, there is a group of American teenagers that is being affected more than others. Around 20% of Americans between twelve and twenty report current alcohol consumption, and more teens now smoke marijuana daily than cigarettes. These statistics have always alarmed parents and administrators, but the culture behind high school hedonism is far more nuanced, and human, than Channel 2 reports.
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I. “Who Gets Excited For Anything Anymore?” terms of adolescent self-gratification, drinking alcohol is Instatistically most common. Underage drinking is illegal, but
teenagers have been testing the limits of the law for decades. Behind alcohol’s semi-acceptable veneer lies an entire culture of drug use. Ultimately, what drives teenage behavior is varied. Alcohol abuse and drug abuse can go hand in hand, and the two are often motivated by the same factors. “For me, I got into drinking, at first, because of curiosity,” said a Johns Creek junior. “A lot of it is curiosity and teens think, ‘Oh I’m in highschool, I’m supposed to experience this stuff,’ and then, peer pressure is real, but not as real as people think. It’s almost like you pressure yourself into it, and parents think it’s from your peers, but it’s really from yourself. So you can fit in. We feel like everyone is going to judge us if we don’t do certain things, but really we judge ourselves.” The intrinsic forces that motivate kids are often downplayed in order to vilify “peer pressure.” In reality, the two already potent incentives combine, creating a hazy tipping point. “I’d say it’s kind of dead at Johns Creek, drug wise, but everyone’s into drinking, which I guess every high school does,” said a senior. “Johns Creek isn’t really that big on weed, but everyone seems to be drinking these days or trying fads that aren’t exactly hardcore, like CBD and whippets1 and vaping, so it’s like baby steps.” The normalization of nicotine addiction due to an uptake in vaping is not news. As more high school students begin to use cannabidiol (CBD), however, marijuana seems to be moving in a similar, alarming direction. CBD is a chemical compound found in the Cannabis plant, and unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it is non-psychoactive. Locally, CBD has seen a sudden rise in popularity. Several studies have found that the chemical compound is safe to use, but two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration warned certain brands not to make medical claims about the oil. Discrete and easy to intake, CBD can be consumed anywhere, even at school. Users do not feel the psychoactive effects of marijuana. One Johns Creek student described the experience. “The way I put it is that your critical thinking stays in tact, but certain things change. Your body releases endorphins, and you get
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cover story more of a body high,” he said. “The thing about it is you can use it, but you can work, and you can function. I’ll be completely honest, I don’t think kids should do that in an academic setting. I’ve done CBD in the bathroom before, and I definitely think it’s a distraction. I think you’re just trying to find ways to make school more interesting, and if you have to do something like that, then your priority obviously isn’t learning. That can be fine; I have no problem with that, but keep it in mind.” CBD’s surge, alongside the longevity of underage drinking, is just the surface level of the culture. The bedrock is marijuana — usage of which has steadily increased among American teens in the last decade. Smoking weed is not only illegal, but it also has immoral connotations, due in large part to an immutable societal stigma that began with Nixon’s War on Drugs2. As such, deranged drug fiends and the ensuing “reefer madness3” of smoking weed are cultural mainstays in 2017. Despite this perception, getting “high” is not the most dangerous part of a night smoking weed. Participants put themselves in a unique situation when buying drugs. “You never know what to expect when you’re picking up4, but you should be prepared for anything,” a student said. “Obviously some people will try to finesse5 you, but others are very chill. It’s like, you’re in a situation of vulnerability, and oftentimes people in this area aren’t used to it. You don’t necessarily know what will happen. That’s the nature of any illicit behavior; you have to take responsibility for yourself.” Drug use can be visceral for the teenagers hardwired to indulge. Participants in this lifestyle are often portrayed as solipsistic children, but their motivations are not that simple. When asked why he smoked weed, a student offered his thoughts. “You know when you’re a little kid, your threshold for excitement is so low. But who gets excited for anything anymore? [Weed] helps me appreciate things a lot more than I normally would… Why would I not do that? Drugs are a way of being social, relaxing, opening your mind, getting things done,” he said. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance by young people in America, and nearly 70% of American teenagers do not
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view regular marijuana smoking as harmful. Those statistics, combined with numerous internal and external motivators, give life to the culture, despite remaining societal concerns.
II. “Attempting To Have A Good Time” he heterogeneous nature of Johns Creek T makes it difficult to delineate the school’s drug culture. Profiling the typical “stoners”
of a high school in 2017 is nearly impossible. “To be honest, I don’t think most people have a fully developed idea of what the drug culture at Johns Creek is, because it varies so much,” said a former Johns Creek student. “It’s such a diverse school that if I found out someone I knew was doing drugs on a daily basis, I would be simultaneously shocked and not surprised at all. Typically, it’s more like a bunch of people are sitting in some kid’s basement, drinking or smoking or whatever, attempting to have a good time.” One current student argues that various social groups can actually intersect in the pursuit of a good time. “The thing with the culture… is that it’s dissipating,” he said. “It’s not monopolized by one social circle like it used to be. At this point, it’s embraced by every circle I can think of. And that’s part of what makes it so great nowadays. Smoking is relatively low risk6, and it’s enjoyable, and that’s why people engage in it… What I will say is that short term, I don’t think there is anything else for bringing people together… I’ve stood in some of the most diverse circles you can imagine, and we’re all there for the same thing. It’s like finding out someone likes the same band you like.” The culture is expanding, in spite of school and community initiatives; last semester Johns Creek had a local advocate for opioid recovery speak to the school in a special assembly. As the culture grows, there are objective downsides. Drug use can be especially problematic in a competitive, academic environment, where goal-driven philosophies push some to the edge. “Once we start using alcohol and drugs to treat depression and anxiety, like once you start using these things as a coping mechanism, that’s when it turns bad,” said a junior. “It all depends on how you use it. Like, I think it’s completely fine to party with your friends, but if you’re getting to the point where you have to drink to forget something, that’s not good.” There is a dark surface over this lifestyle as more teenagers today face depression and anxiety; the increased acceptance of drugs can be an issue. Not every teenager that drinks or smokes weed is self-medicating.
“People need to ask themselves, ‘How many of my friends would still be my friend if I didn’t smoke them out and get [messed] up with them?’”
Sometimes, it really is just about pleasure. And as with any human endeavor, there are small glimmers of empathy and harmony beneath the exterior. But sometimes it is just dark. The United States has seen an appalling upswing in prescription drug addiction in recent years, and the problem has become a favorite nightly news headline, especially as it relates to white, suburban kids. Young people experiment with readily-available, pill-packaged opioids, and addiction to them is a biological inevitability. Prescription pills are the third most commonly abused substance in young people, behind alcohol and marijuana, and are by far the most deadly. The life-shattering realities of hardcore drug abuse are somber, but there is another facet of the culture worth exploring, one that theoretically has a broader impact on the average teenager drug user than addiction. The relationships formed when smoking and drinking are not necessarily genuine, and a false sense of friendship can grow quickly when people do something illicit together. A Johns Creek senior has noticed this trend as high school has progressed. “People need to ask themselves, ‘How many of my friends would still be my friend if I didn’t smoke them out and get [messed] up with them?’” she said. The concept of “smoking friends” is not new, and it is an undeniably large part of the culture. Likewise, any school “with money” is in a unique position. The issue of affluence affects the culture at the school to a degree. “It’s not like everybody is broke and scraping for a bowl. Some people are buying felony amounts of weed, literally all the time,” said a student. “Some kids in the student body can just sink so much money into drugs, and it’s not that big of a deal to them, really. Their parents don’t know they’re enabling them.” Drug use at Johns Creek is not going anywhere, but the culture is experiencing a diaspora of sorts. As social groups merge and the archetypical
ALL PHOTOS: MITCHELL ODENDAHL
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cover story
stoner all but disappears, the only definitive statement that can be made on drug culture at Johns Creek is that it is constantly evolving — an abstract no longer defined socially, but intrinsically.
III. “If I Have A Pack Of Gum” For some individuals, drug culture goes beyond having a “good time.” In teenage drug culture, friends are a frequent source of drugs, and adolescent drug dealing is customary7. Where there is money to be made, and an ever-present market, some passive participants cannot resist the temptation to sell drugs. “There are a few aspects to selling drugs,” said a senior and former drug dealer. “There’s the money making, which is ridiculous and unreasonable for people our age. The other part of it is that you’re constantly paranoid, and you’re constantly stressed. At the same time, you act with this reckless abandon. There’s an adrenaline that comes with it.” To act with reckless abandon is to be careless of the consequences of one’s actions. Some former dealers, however, were hyper-aware of their situation, recognizing the danger that exists on the other side of the law. “[With drugs], I’d made a lot of friends, a lot of good and bad relationships,” said a younger student. “You have to be careful. People will rob you, hold guns to your head. People say they’ll kill your family. In the drug business, people owe money to each other, and it is a business, so money comes first. You can be as buddy-buddy as you want with someone, but as soon as you owe money or something like that...” Selling drugs is not an experience that most will have, and the stress that comes with the job is significant. Extrinsic threats are just one of the cognitive adjustments this dealer had to take care of. Abrupt social changes are guaranteed, and can be even more overwhelming. “From what I’ve noticed, once I started selling, a lot of people became friendlier towards me. People want to start talking to you, and I guess they think you will smoke them out8 or give them better deals,” he said. “Then there are those who just use other people, but they’ve been here for centuries. It’s not just drugs. Like, if I have a pack of gum, people will want to talk to me so I’ll give them a piece of gum. But then, as soon as I don’t have any more gum, they’re just all gone, and it’s the same with drugs… I know these two guys who are the biggest bums, and they just hang out with people for alcohol, or weed, or rides, and if you don’t have anything, they won’t talk to you. You find out who your true friends are.” What happens when casual smokers turn personal relationships into business 18 |
is surprising to some, but self-evident to others. “If you’re going to trap9, you are symbolically a source. That’s what you are,” said a senior. “That overrides anyone’s image of you. You’re making your friendships professional. When you engage in business with someone you consider your friend, there’s a level of cognitive dissonance between the two parties. One person’s image of the other is distorted by being the habitual source of pleasure. Who cares about an iPad that’s out of battery? It’s useless, and that’s what [dealing] can be like.”
IV. “Medium of Public Satiation” Ignorance and a lack of self-awareness are multi-faceted issues when it comes to drug culture. Many on the outside are in the dark, and many participants are passively accepting things without critical thought. One Johns Creek senior feels strongly about what this means on a deeper level. “Drug consumption and its relationship to today’s society is no different than any other medium of public satiation, be it Snapchat, Taco Bell or PornHub,” he said. “How people choose to use it is unique to them; however, the students of Johns Creek need to understand and make a rational judgement about how comfortable they are with the risk involved in its consumption. Many students lack a strong understanding on what drugs represent in the scheme of their lives, and it’s because of this ignorance, and this lack of self-awareness, that drug abuse becomes a societal problem. Being aware of the consequences and educating people on the intrinsic significance of drug use is the best way of combatting its grip on society as a vice.” The culture behind the school’s teenage drug use is invariably nuanced. Troubled, but carefree. Dangerous, but harmless. Pleasurable, but hedonistic. Like any human recreation, there is clear good and clear bad. Ultimately, the culture of drug use within Johns Creek is distinctly Johns Creek. That is not to subscribe to stereotypes about the area’s affluence, but rather, to highlight the diversity in thought and action that makes the school. Johns Creek is made up of two-thousandodd individuals from every walk of life — and some of them use drugs.
Notes: (1) A “whippet” is a small canister of nitrous oxide gas, used recreationally for its dissociative effects. The resulting high lasts approximately a minute, and can be fatal in some instances. (2) In May of 2016, Harper Magazine published a 22-year-old interview in which one of Richard Nixon’s top advisers said the war on drugs was created as a political tool to fight “blacks and hippies.” Likewise, the United States is now the world’s leader in incarceration, with people of color disparately affected. (3) “Reefer Madness” is an antimarijuana propaganda film released in 1936. Like many exploitation films, it has since become a cult classic for its melodrama. (4) “Picking up” is a colloquial expression for buying drugs from a dealer. (5) “Finesse” is a slang term not meaning to steal or rob, but rather to trick someone or talk someone out of things that belong to them. (6) Smoking marijuana has relatively low health risks when compared to other drugs, but objectively, the psychoactive components of the drug can impair healthy brain development in teenagers. (7) According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins’ researchers. (8) To “smoke someone out” is to provide them with marijuana free of charge. (9) To “trap” is to sell drugs.
FASHION
Hey there, hot stuff
The Chariot design team identifies summer’s biggest fashion trends.
ALEX LEVINE, designer & SOPHIE SPIEGEL, design editor
KATHERINE SHIN
Trends from left to right: Adapted button down Culottes Bright mules Poplin Pinstripes Mule slides Millennial pink Colorful sunglasses Ascots Gingham Flatfoms Metal accents Metallic slides
THE CHARIOT | 19 THE CHARIOT |9
features
KATHERINE SHIN
As vegan, paleo, and ketogenic diets grow in popularity, it can be difficult to discern if one is right for you. Chariot staff writer Josh Gurin was challenged to go vegan for a week. The notorious meat-eater was up for it, however, and met unique challenges JOSH GURIN, staff writer
illfully avoiding food that has meat or animal byproducts has become more popular with time. In an attempt to put myself in the shoes of a social justice warrior/animal lover/allergy-ridden individual, I vowed to take on a vegan diet for five days and document my experiences. When I learned that I would become a temporary vegan, I immediately made my mom go buy the assortment of produce and nuts that would keep me alive for the impending school week. I’m normally a health-conscious eater to begin with, but I am still a huge fan of cheese, potato chips and other off-limit foods that would have to be temporarily replaced in my meals. My mom brought home tree nuts, brown rice, vegan-friendly bread, a remarkable amount of peanut butter along with a few other things. With this arsenal of ingredients and snack foods, I stood tall, ready to face whatever this highly restrictive regimen had to throw at me. I was very optimistic the first day. I began the morning with some almond milk and a clementine, and though I was a bit famished by the time lunch rolled around, I had an insulated bag full of carefully-selected foods to satisfy my hunger. The final meal of the day was a delicious medley of rice and tofu. The beginning of this diet was not an easy adjustment, but I had no problem scraping together three tasty meals with some snackage in between. The subsequent day was similarly
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effortless, as I had planned each and every bite. By the time the second half of my culinary journey rolled around, my new ideas had run dry and I was forced to eat the exact same cuisine that I did the first time around. I was getting sick of the taste of almonds and hummus (pretty much the only two snack foods I could indulge in) at a frightening rate. I wasn’t hungry or even bothered, but it was more a constant feeling of severe inconvenience. The week dragged on and I began to see meals as more of a necessity than a tasty opportunity. I began to think of cheese and eggs as these holy grails, resting on an untouchable pedestal: their appeal increased tenfold. Eating out posed serious dilemmas as well. When I went to Panera after school one day to study, for example, I had to skip out on my favorite dishes in favor of a veggie sandwich. A menu with a few dozen choices suddenly only had three or four. Unfortunately, this situation got the best of me. When a study buddy ordered some delicious chicken from the nearby Zaxby’s and brought it into our study space, I was entranced by the delicious smell of the fried poultry. When my peer threatened to throw away two perfectly good morsels of chicken, however, I was unable to restrain my hungry self and gobbled them up. I am ashamed that temptation got the best of me, and this embarrassing episode proved the unparalleled difficulty of a vegan diet. This diet, despite the health benefits, was far from easy. I challenged it head-on but left a defeated man.
A TASTE OF INK
More and more high school students get tattoos as soon as possible; here they explain.
MAAHA RAFIQUE, production editor
A
though getting a tattoo is a terrifyingly permanent commitment to some, others at Johns Creek have already made the decision to get inked. Interviewing students who have taken this step reveals that the ones who have made this choice do so for a variety of reasons. In Georgia, getting a tattoo becomes legal at the age of 18, but even after reaching this milestone, students differ on their opinions about when it is best to take a trip to the local tattoo parlor. While some are content to wait and ponder their forthcoming decision, others are willing to get a tattoo as soon as they are able. One of these students is senior Tori Shapiro, who got her tattoo the day of her 18th birthday. What does your tattoo look like? It’s on my right ankle and it’s wildflowers. I got it because I like to go hiking, and whenever I go I get wildflowers from the same place and collect them, basically, so I got it because it meant something for me. How was the process of getting it? I got it on my 18th birthday and I went in beforehand to get it quoted and see if there were any artists at the shop who could do the design I wanted. It’s pretty quick; they sit you down on the chair, ask you if everything’s okay and start tattooing. I’d definitely go in beforehand and plan it out to make sure your artist is doing exactly what you want since it’s on your body forever.
CARTOON BY LEILA FARHAN
Have other people’s opinions influenced you? I actually babysit for this really religious family, and I was wearing shorts. The little girl was like, “Why do you have a drawing on you?” and the mom was a little judgy about it, but at least [my tattoo] isn’t anything super inflammatory that could offend people. Do you have any regrets? Would you get another tattoo? Overall, it was a really good process, and it hurt a lot, but I would definitely get another one.
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features
FLYING HIGH WITH SPENCER CLARK NATALIE SIEGMAN, features editor
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MITCHELL ODENDAHL
hat are your plans after high school? Where are you going to college? What are you majoring in? These are all questions seniors know too well. Plans after high school vary for everyone, but for senior Spencer Clark, his plans include traveling the world and teaching people to fly. After becoming commercially certified, Spencer obtained his flight instructor license so he could share his passion of flying with others. Spencer is a co-owner of a flight school and teaches people of all ages how to fly. How can an eighteen year old do all of this? Spencer took all online classes during the first semester of his senior year and “graduated� in December. His days include instruction and travelling wherever and whenever he wants with little apprehension while also taking online college classes through the Embry Riddle online program to obtain a Professional Aeronautics degree.
Can you tell me a little bit about your business? 90% of it is flight school, but we do some charter work. The business really works because Rohan and I are basically brothers, so the job doesn’t always feel like work. We’ve kind of grown organically - we didn’t start with 10 airplanes or anything like that. The business has grown through word of mouth. Rohan started the company and I just hopped in. Initially it was a very small operation, we did not have an office at the airport, we just rented different planes, but it has grown naturally over the years. We teach people from six years old to forty years old how to fly. Of course, being a young instructor, sometimes it’s hard to gain respect from other pilots and people often think I’m the student, but the people I work with are great.
What’s your favorite place you’ve ever flown?
NS: How did you get into aviation? SC: Flying is something I have always wanted to do since I can remember. So I knew I had always wanted to be a pilot, but didn’t really know how I was going to get there. I decided to pursue it, so when I was eleven years old I did summer camp with who was going to be my instructor and now current business partner, Rohan. From there I thought that flying was awesome and from that point I decided that this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I began taking lessons around that time and when I was thirteen or so I began to teach lower level classes. That was my foot in the door on the business-side of flight. I had never intended to own a flight school; it just happened. I’m actually glad because I do not want to fly for an airline. I started volunteering and getting involved, so with natural progression my passion grew.
So with this lifestyle, it’s one of those things where let’s say you wake up in the morning and decide you want pizza. Well the best place in the world to get pizza is New York, so we just get up and fly to New York and get some pizza and fly home. Sometimes, we stay for awhile, but that’s the beauty of the job - the flexibility. Sometimes we’ll go to New York for lunch, then fly to beach for dinner. That could be any typical Thursday. We’ve gone all over the place - LA, Key West, Europe, Antarctica. Why do you not want to fly for We have a lot of foreign students, so we’ll fly internationally and train them overseas. Five an airline? There is not much freedom when you fly for years ago I would have never been able to an airline. I did not want to live that lifestyle. guess this is my life. With my career, I can be in control of my What’s a day in your life like? own schedule, control my own business, My day probably starts at 5:30AM-6:00AM, and I get to travel a lot more. depending on the weather. Then I go to the So what are you currently doing airport and have my first student at around 7:00AM and end up flying six or seven times with your passion? I’m an instructor, so 70% of my day is a day with different students. We typically fly instructing students and teaching them from the Doraville area to around the [Johns how to fly. The other 30% of my day is Creek] area. Most days I fly over Johns Creek administrative things, such as taxes and High School and look down and say “Ha!”. If a student is further along in their training, invoices. we’ll fly to Chattanooga as a requirement. What does it feel like to you to I’ll finish up with all instruction around 9 or 10PM depending on the day. Weekends are be in the air? One way to put it is “you’re in control of the busiest, though. But everyday is different. your own rollercoaster”. Most of my day, I’m And that’s what I love about all of this - the not the actual one flying, I’m instructing. spontaneity.
THE CHARIOT | 23
music S O U R
kendrick Lamar CaN DO No WRong
S O U L
When making a summer playlist, it’s tempting to pack it with obvious heat; “Slide” by Calvin Harris is a clear candidate, as is that song DJ Khaled’s kid made with Justin Bieber. Consider this a digression. This playlist opens with pop-punk icon Jeff Rosenstock, and then meanders its way through lo-fi garage rock, indie, and jazz-inspired hip-hop. With a unified condemnation of solipsism, twenty-one very different songs come together to make a true, alternative summer playlist.
*scan QR code for
1. nAUSEA / JEFF ROSENSTOCK 2. In the aeroplane over the sea / neutral milk hotel 3. BUTTONS / THE WEEKS 4. LET MY BABY STAY / MAC DEMARCO 5. DRUNK DRIVERS/ KILLER WHALES / CAR SEAT HEADREST 6. trouble / cage the elephant 7. YOUR BEST AMERICAN GIRL / MITSKI 8. LUST. / KENDRICK LAMAR 9. WEIRD FISHES/ ARPEGGI / RADIOHEAD 10. XO TOUR LLIF3 / LIL UZI VERT 11. KIDS WITH GUNS / GORILLAZ 12. SOUR SOUL / GHOSTFACE KILLAH 13. OLD FRIENDS / PINEGROVE 14. LAY ME BACK DOWN / PORTUGAL. THE MAN 15. WE’VE BEEN HAD / THE WALKMEN 16. TEENAGE ICON / THE VACCINES 17. GLORIOUS YOU / FRANK TURNER 18. ART SCHOOL / REMO DRIVE 19. OMAHA / TORO Y MOI 20. MARQUEE MOON / TELEVISION access to Spotify playlist 21. TRUTH / KAMASI WASHINGTON
kamasi washington returns with new track + SHORT FILM
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Last month, contemporary jazz saxophonist, composer, and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Kamasi Washington released a new song “Truth,” from his upcoming EP “Harmony of Difference.” Washington also released an ephemeral short film to accompany the six-movement suite. The captivating film blends multiple vignettes, including a young boy washing his face in the living room and two men wrestling on a bed of flower petals.
CLAY VOYTEK, editor-in-chief
K
endrick Lamar has nothing to prove. No artist today has bridged the gap between critical acclaim and commercial success in the same way, and he is a messianic figure in modern hip-hop. With an artist as intentional and prolific as Lamar, it’s important to view his work in the context of his recent discography. Good kid, m.A.A.d city is a west coast revival album with a narrative arc that cemented Kendrick’s status. To Pimp A Butterfly is a sonically-challenging album about the black experience, inspired by preceding black genres. DAMN. is different, and it can’t be captured in a sentence. Kendrick’s fourth studio album is fluid, and his penchant for repetition and juxtaposition make it even harder to pin down. Brazen trap beats are made to be perfectly wonky and unique on “HUMBLE.” and “DNA.” Contrasted with trade-mark introspective Kenny on tracks like “FEEL.,” the end result is a distillation of rap’s recent trend towards self-representation. Kendrick’s entire discography is layered and allegorical, but with DAMN., his storytelling abilities are used in the context of contradiction. Kendrick has the unique gift of being able to verbalize poignant anxieties and experiences. He’s a storyteller above everything else, and his best work manifests in his vulnerability. Rap’s anointed savior isn’t a man without sin, yet he approaches his craft acutely self-aware. DAMN. is Kendrick Lamar’s reckoning. This is a platinum-certified album, but it’s also a candid conversation with God about his cursed people. Kendrick is an outlier in hip-hop’s current landscape in that he has no apparent philosophy; his spirituality drives his art. He doesn’t reckon with christianity, a man-made construct — he reckons with God and his attitudes as a self-proclaimed Israelite. The nebulous nature of DAMN. is fundamentally a result of his identity taking precedence over any ideology. Another man’s view of his own humanity and shortcomings isn’t inherently accessible, however, and, as such, no artist today demands rewinds the way Kendrick Lamar does. Even his most commercially viable track (“LOVE.”) is hypnotizing and nuanced. Every track is smooth like bourbon, while ON REPEAT maintaining the healthy burn invariably present in Kendrick’s pen. 1. PRIDE. As the album winds down, and well after P r o d u c e d B y : A n t h o n y “ T o p Kendrick has seemingly proved his point, D a w g ” T I f f i t h , S t e v e L a c y DAMN. culminates in “FEAR.,” a seven- S a m p l e s : E c h o e s / P i n k F l o y d minute triptych in the same vein as “Sing T h e H e a r t P a r t I V / K e n d r i c k About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst.” Still, L a m a r none of his work is innately intuitive. With it’s swirling soul samples, 9th Wonder 2 . L U S T . produced, “DUCKWORTH.” is the P r o d u c e d B y : B A D B A D N O T G O O D , Sounwave, DJ Dahi most important song on this album. The S a m p l e s : K n o c k K n o c k / R AT story of Tony, Ducky, and coincidence BOY encapsulates the circumstances that shape 3 . F E A R . Kendrick’s worldview: the wickedness P r o d u c e d B y : T h e A l c h e m i s t and weakness of life in Compton. With S a m p l e s : P o v e r t y ’ s P a r a d i s e / the final gunshot on “DUCKWORTH.,” T h e 2 4 - C a r a t B l a c k samples from the entire album accelerate T h e H e a r t P a r t I V / K e n d r i c k in reverse, almost prompting the listener to L a m a r rewind the album. Rewind the album. Interpolates: Die / Beanie Sigel
entertainment CLAY VOYTEK, editor-in-chief
game of thrones: the best show of all time returns n July 16, Game of Thrones will return to Sunday O nights on HBO. The seventh, and penultimate, season of the acclaimed series promises an unforgettable race
for control. Cersei, Jon and Daenerys are shown in the season trailer, hauntingly soundtracked by 90s British rock anthem “Sit Down.” The trailer we’ve seen so far is bad-ass. The three most powerful figures in Westeros take to their respective thrones, looking directly in the camera (I squeal every time I see Kit Harington). The perspective shifts, however, when it’s revealed that the white walkers are watching; there is a terrifying common enemy. Objectively, there are episodes of Game of Thrones that are better than most big-budget studio films. The way I see it, season 7 could be a toss up. Many fans complained about Season 5 being slow, but the payoff was huge when Season 6 explosively tied up the existing narrative arcs. Regardless, I’ll be watching on July 16. Just writing this has gotten me excited, actually, and I’m going to start back from Season 1 right now.
concert review: radiohead rguably no group in music is more A innovative than Radiohead. For over twenty years, the English art rock band
has been pushing boundaries and making phenomenal music. Since I’ve known him, the Chariot’s own Mr. Hedden has maintained that there is no better live band. On April 1, thanks to a friend, Daniel Bodea, I took him up on that and saw Radiohead perform at Philips Arena. Visceral and enlightening at the same time, I can honestly now say: I’ve never been to a better live show. I’m not a die-hard Radiohead fan (I had to google the members’ names as I was walking in), and their discography is vast and intimidating. But you don’t need to be a Radiohead fan to get something out of one of their shows. The groups theatricality and musical ability is evident. Even decades after the group’s inception, Radiohead in concert is indistinguishable from the Radiohead in my headphones; there is no group performing today with better sounding live music. Seeing the group was as much a trip as hearing them. Frontman Thom Yorke squirms and writhes as he sings; Jonny Greenwood walks off stage over and over again as he switches instruments; And the group requires two (two!) separate drummers because their later albums are so rhythmically complex. During the concert, I was personally bummed that they barely played any songs off In Rainbows, my favorite of their albums, but no part of the show was objectively disappointing. The show was so dissociative
CLAY VOYTEK
that I didn’t even realize they hadn’t played their most popular songs when they came out for their encores. The group played “No Surprises” and “Paranoid Android” from OK Computer during the first encore, my favorite Radiohead track “Bodysnatchers” during their second encore, and their most famous song (we don’t talk about “Creep”) “Karma Police” during their third encore. That’s right. My dad is Thom Yorke’s age and he goes to sleep at 8:00 p.m. But Radiohead can still play three encores. By the time they got to “Karma Police,” I was slumped in my seat, as close to ego death as I ever hope to be.
Math rock accompanied with psychedelic visuals and experienced with nearly 20,000 like-minded people is an experience. I personally find it hard to enjoy larger-thanlife, arena rock shows, and I make it a rule to only pay for tickets where I can get a more intimate feel for the artist. I will say now, however, that Radiohead is the exception to the rule. The music was masterfully performed, and the group hasn’t missed a step since they turned forty. If I ever get the chance to see them live again, I’ll do whatever it takes, and I’ll probably see Mr. Hedden there. THE CHARIOT | 25
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MITCHELL ODENDAHL
opinion
YES:
RACHEL GROSSWALD, staff writer
A
ccording to the FDA, caffeine is not only a food additive but a drug. You may think that this drug is harmless, but the abuse and overuse of caffeine can be detrimental to a person’s health, especially when used at a young age. Consequently, teens must be more aware of the real cost of caffeine consumption. Teenagers are always warned about the harms of drug use and addiction. In countless seminars and health classes, teens are told to avoid alcohol and addictive drugs, but adults fail to warn teens about one of the most widely abused drugs around the world-because they abuse it too. From an early age, people everywhere
are becoming addicted to a substance that is seemingly harmless. Many, including stressed and overworked people like students at JCHS, have so much to do that they rely on caffeine to stay awake and finish their work. Even if they drink a caffeine product in the afternoon, it can mess with their ability to fall asleep at night, causing them to stay up even longer. Because they stay awake for so long, they end up being unable to stay awake, forcing them to rely on caffeine just to make it through the day. As a result, teens across the country enter an endless, dangerous cycle of dependence. Everybody’s body responds to caffeine differently, though generally
it can cause bad headaches, nervousness, dehydration, higher blood pressure and jitteriness. Not only do these effects plague those who abuse caffeine but when people become addicted to caffeine, the withdrawal symptoms can be even worse. Caffeine is one of the least recognized but most widely abused drugs. It is imperative that more people become aware of the highly addictive nature of the drug that is caffeine and that younger people are taught the consequences of caffeine abuse. How can the effects of caffeine continue to be ignored when it kills more people per year than a drug like marijuana?
because of the often overwhelming amount of homework, studying and extracurriculars they have to balance on a daily basis. Their “addiction” is superficial at best, simply blocking adenosine receptors (which let our bodies know we’re tired) and releasing adrenaline for a temporary jolt of energy. In fact, categorizing caffeine as a highly addictive drug trivializes the truly serious issue of addiction to hard drugs, like cocaine and meth, which create much worse physical effects. Even in the original 1994 study that first raised the issue of caffeine as addictive, analysts warned the public that the compound was mildly addictive, at most, and should not be compared to nicotine or alcohol addiction.
Caffeine’s benefits to our society have far outweighed any potential health risks. From tea to Red Bull, beverages containing the substance have fueled the innovation and research that has propelled our country to the top. Coffee alone contributes more than $225.2 billion to our economy every year. Caffeine abuse exists, but anything can be dangerous if used inappropriately or in excess. Additionally, instances of caffeine abuse are isolated, lowimpact and easily treatable. Restricting the caffeine intake of teenagers is a pointless exercise of authority that will only hurt their academic careers and, as with any restricted item, make them even more determined to acquire it. Leave the youth and their coffee alone. I’m sure their grades will appreciate it.
NO:
RAINA PARIKH, staff writer
F
or many of us, our coming of age comes not in the form of bar mitzvahs, quinceaneras or cotillion balls, but rather in the pivotal moment when we take our first sip of coffee. It’s the drink of late nights and rushed essays, first dates, study dates, group hangouts and peaceful mornings. It thrums with productivity, efficiency and yes, caffeine. As a result, the labeling of caffeine as a drug unfairly gives the drink a negative connotation. Caffeine drinkers are not weak-minded or dangerous, nor are they all rich suburban kids trying to escape the boredom of their privilege. These supposed “drug users” are just everyday people who need a boost of energy to get through the day. Teens who drink coffee actually need it
THE CHARIOT | 27
opinion
REED CARLSON, opinion editor
t’s interesting to think that thousands of young Americans go through the same public school program, though each individual comes out with a different education. More generally speaking, the overall lives of most Americans aren’t even that different from one another; however, there is still a tremendous variance in each person’s success and contentment. The catalyst for this phenomenon is surprisingly underwhelming; it’s in their thoughts. As a result, it is clear that the most productive way to live life is with deep thought; continually challenging the status quo and putting every effort into questioning why something is a part of your life. Imagine, during a race, placing a child in a pool and not telling him that the objective is to get to the other side as swiftly as possible. Maybe they go diving for toys instead, or maybe they start playing with their floaties after wading in the pool for awhile. This may as well be the same scenario that most children find themselves in when enrolled at any given school. Lately, it’s more common than not to find students worrying over their grades because they truly believe that they are in school for that very reason, to get high grades. Regardless of a student’s grades, however, everyone goes to school to accomplish the same work, whether it be homework, listening in class or taking notes during a lecture. Though there is no real value in completing these tasks unless the central objective
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of education is recognized, and realized, after analytic thought. In this case, the reason for a public education is to learn how to learn, not to come out with knowledge of calculus or biology, but that’s beside the point. Referring back to the prior analogy, the child will lose the race unless he thinks about why he was placed in a pool with lane lines, a block and a starter. Yes, there are other variables involved, such as strength and conditioning, and sometimes it may not be as easy to identify the aim of something. In a similar way of thinking, a student without the correct thought process will lose out in several ways too. The point is, knowing why something is being done is extremely valuable. Aside from school, this truth is present in virtually every aspect of life. And this is not to say that a person will experience a major change or success in their life after sitting down to think about their life. It’s going to be difficult no matter what; success and contentment do not come easy. It’s just that living a life without thinking, without questioning why, is a life wasted. Don’t be the kid still wading in the pool looking for his floaties; go out and win that race.
Migos, Mike Posner, and Music’s True Lack of Negative Influence MORAYO OGUNBAYO, staff writer
n January 8, 2017, Donald Glover was epidemic becoming more common in the United States. awarded a Golden Globe for his work on However, even the title of the song suggests an unattainable the show, “Atlanta”. Though his speech lifestyle for most, considering an Ibiza nightclub is the was rather run-of-the-mill, a single line type of place most can only wish to attend. Most listeners brought it to next morning’s headlines : have trouble resonating with the extravagance Posner “I really want to thank the Migos... for describes when he sings, “I’m a real big baller ‘cause I making ‘Bad and Boujee’.’ Like that’s the best song ever.” made a million dollars, and I spend it on girls and shoes.” Another popular song that expresses unreachable status Although the statement was unfamiliar to most of the Golden Globes audience, it is a sentiment held by a large or fantasy was Travis Scott’s ‘Antidote’. The entire song references the glamorous life in Hollywood percentage of millennials and Twitter users. Hills coupled with the significance of The chart topper had the rest of the population “I really want marijuana use. However, ‘Antidote’ makes clutching their pearls, as it had been the first in to thank the weed, one of the most obtainable drugs some time that a song that mentioned drugs so Migos for on the market, seem completely out flagrantly, had reached widespread attention, of the average music listener’s league. even to have reference from an award-winning making ‘Bad Drug use is not new to the realm of pop celebrity. The backlash to the song came and Boujee’.’ culture. Drugs are frequently presented in from the fear of drug use rising in youth. television as well. But crystal meth use did Like that’s The problem with this assertion comes not spike during the heyday of ‘Breaking straight from the hook of the song itself. the best song Bad’ because most people understand ‘Bad and Boujee’, like most other songs ever.” that they are not Heisenberg. ‘Narcos’ has that chronicle drug use, expresses such an not led to a rise in cocaine use because extravagant and unreachable lifestyle that no one resonates with Pablo Escobar. the average listener is not affected. Even the title of the song creates the fantasy of a person who is People feel the same type of disassociation to music. Ultimately, drug use in music does not contribute to not only an avid drug user, but insanely wealthy as well. In recent years, the mention of drugs has gone from only drug use in teens because we are far less impressionable the most vulgar of songs to almost all genres of popular than adults believe. We look to the lifestyles presented music. Just last year, ‘I Took a Pill in Ibiza’ by Mike Posner in our music as a type of pipe dream, a way to see how was a seemingly inescapable song. The conspicuous “the other half lives.” Teenagers understand that it is reference to opioid use was shocking to many, as it is an all part of a large fantasy- one that we are not a part of.
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ALL PHOTOS: CLAY VOYTEK & MITCHELL ODENDAHL
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opinion
THE REAL MEANING OF MEMES Inside the social phenomenon that’s gone haywire h, memes – the 21st century’s A most innovative contribution to history. Over the course of the
past decade, this particular social phenomenon has not-so-quietly infiltrated almost every faculty of our daily lives. Memes are all over social media, friends send them to each other as a playful means of communication, and even adults attempt to relate to the modern fad by creating their own or tacking up relatable work memes. However, caught up in the thrill of these hilariously captioned images, the memeloving population has overlooked a painful consequence of allowing everything from trite, everyday problems to even the most sensitive topics to be reduced to a silly picture with a joke stamped on it. In exchange for a degraded version of Richard Dawkins’ original creation of the meme (Seriously, look it up if you don’t know what that is.), we have allowed our lives to become equal to a joke – a meme. A prime example of this is last year’s presidential campaign. A selection process for the next leader of the nation is not meant to be taken lightly in the slightest, yet it became instant fodder for countless memes. Most notably, these memes made fun of the eccentric Ken Bone, named Ted Cruz as the Zodiac Killer, and continuously picked at the flaws of both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. As a result of the candidates constantly being
referred to as memes, the entire campaign seemed like a neverending SNL skit from an alternate universe. Unfortunately, this allowed many people to ignore the severity of the elections and possible future consequences; instead, they transformed the presidential race into one that focused on the caricatural qualities of the candidates, sometimes even more than their actual political agendas. Yes, memes are an undeniable source of pleasure and offer a humorous take on mundane events; some might say they offer relief amidst socially and politically tumultuous times. Furthermore, some have even found ways to utilize memes for good causes, and others have made memes in unexpectedly creative ways that prove their worth as a cultural phenomenon. However, the unfortunate reality is that one can find a quite concerning parallel between an inability to assess the severity of a situation and the levity of memes. While it isn’t necessary to unfollow all meme accounts and suddenly reject all forms of memes or jokes, please keep in mind that reality is not nearly as trivial as memes tend to make it out to be. Often times, they can detract from an important message or debase a critical issue. As such, proceed with caution and think twice before mindlessly consuming the never ending flow of memes.
Katherine Shin, photography editor
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inside the chariot
This cover came from a photo shoot for our cover story, in which The Chariot’s editorial board tried to capture the essence of high school hedonism. We didn’t end up choosing this one, though, because we used a similar photo on page 17. There was also a lot of blank space on the photograph we couldn’t fill.
Chariot designer Leila Farhan painted this representation of the duality of Johns Creek’s drug culture for our cover. We planned on using this as our final cover, as a cut out head on top of a psychedelic background. Unfortunately, when it came time, it was impossible to cut the head out, so we zoomed in on the face. Ultimately, we decided the graphically designed cover was a better option.
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