Vol. 2 Issue 3 by The Chariot

ISSUE 3

gender &

SEXUALITY

FREE / DEC 2017

PREFACE

let t er from t he

EDITOR

elcome to issue three of “The Chariot.” It’s crazy to think that this semester is already almost over, so before finals and the anticipation of winter break consume everyone’s schedules, we wanted to send you off with one more issue of the year. In our third issue, editor-in-chief Niki Dani and staff writer Rohan Lalla discuss the brewing issue of gender and sexuality that has swept the nation, not leaving the diverse student body of Johns Creek High School untouched. This cover story explores topics ranging from national debates plaguing Washington, to local forums giving Johns Creek students a platform for discussing issues on civil rights. Adhering to the theme of gender and sexuality, every section of the magazine covers some aspect of the gender issue pertinent to our society. Staff writer Brooke Halak covers the Me Too Movement, a movement taking the news by storm that empowers women to speak out against sexual harassment and abuse. Features editor Sophie Brandeis reviews the growing trend of androgynous fashion, and staff writer Nathan Goggans explores the controversial topic of transgender bathroom use. The sports section even includes a piece written by staff writer John Posa that challenges gender-normativity in the realm of high school sports. So if for some reason you opened this magazine and missed the bold letters on the front reading “Gender and Sexuality,” a mere few flips through

these pages will reveal “The Chariot’s” coherent emphasis on raising awareness for a topic that often receives less discussion and attention than it deserves. In the middle of our production period, Dr. Zoll announced his retirement from his career as a principal, effective January of the new year. Included in the features section is a tribute to Dr. Zoll’s work as a principal at Johns Creek High School, as well as his recollections on his time here. As always, we “The Chariot” staff try to make our magazine as representative of the Johns Creek student body as possible and try to include the opinions of as many students as we can. We always welcome the feedback of students at our school, and we would love to hear from you about the issues that affect you as a student and member of the Johns Creek community. To wrap up the issue, design editor Caroline Kwon takes a stance on parents lying to their children about Santa Claus and the effects it has on child development. While it is never our intention to promote or feature one religion over others, we thought it necessary to address the hypocrisy behind this common holiday act. We hope you enjoy this last issue of 2017; when you need a break from studying for finals or something to do while traveling during the holidays, take a few minutes to attempt the crossword puzzle on the back cover. Have a fun, safe holiday, and we will see you back next February with our Modern Family issue.

RACHAEL JONES

edit or-in-chief

contents 04. n ews 4. ROUNDUP 6. ME TOO MOVEMENT 8. BOY SCOUTS

DAVID KIM

9. SEX EDUCATION

Staff writer Sam Beagle writes about the connection between tragedy and morale leading up to the Astro’s World Series victory. Page 12

10. sport s 10. COLLEGE COMMITS 12. THE WORLD SERIES AND MORALE 13. GENDER NORMATIVITY IN SPORTS

14. fe ature s 14. COVER STORY: GENDER AND SEXUALITY

DAVID KIM

20. CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Staff writer Morayo Ogunbayo covers the history of slang and its derivation from drag queen culture. Page 23

21. ANDROGYNOUS FASHION 22. DR. ZOLL INTERVIEW 23. RUPAUL AND SLANG 24. MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

26. opinion 26. FACE-OFF: NATURE VERSUS NUTURE 28. TRANSGENDER & BATHROOMS 29. THE SANTA CLAUS DEBATE 30. EXPLOITATION OF SOCIAL ISSUES

BRITTANY AHN Design editor Caroline Kwon discusses America’s biggest lie and the pyschological damage that it could inflict on childhood development. Page 29

THE CHARIOT |3

NEWS

FINLAND

Thursday, November 30, 2017 marks the beginning of the two-day Slush conference in Helinski, Poland as an opportunity for 2,600 companies and 1,500 investors to mingle. This event serves as a stepping stone for the region to compete with the United States technology industry. The conference has been promoted by former Vice President Al Gore and the Duke of Cambridge. In the recent years, Finland has become a prime location for entreprenuers, and this event marks that change.

UNITED STATES

On November 28, 2017, the nominations for the 2018 Grammys were released. The Album of the Year category is recording-breaking for the lack of a nomination of a white male. However, overall the nominations have been critized for being male dominated overall. Rapper Cardi B, whose “Bodak Yellow” snagged the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 has received her first nomination. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTIFY

COLOMBIA

Eight bike riders have tested positive for doping at the Vuelta, Colombia’s biggest bike-race last summer. Most of those who tested positives were amateurs of their bike teams. It has been years since such a large number of riders have been caught for doping in a single race. The tests were called “intelligent-led doping controls” by the UCI which indicates that specific riders from the race were chosen to be tested. 4|

JAPAN

On November 28, 2017, a wooden “ghost” boat was found washed up on the shore in the northern Akita prefracture. Inside the boat were the decomposed remains of eight people. These “ghost boats” that lack a living crew are thought to be North Korean fishingboats and wash on the Japanese shore frequently. Some believe that the boats are an attempt by the North Korean government to solve its hunger crisis. PHOTO COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES TIMES

AUSTRALIA

The Australian Senate passed a monumental bill on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 for the legalization of same sex marriage. The bipartisan bill, passed unamended, is potentially scheduled to pass before Christmas Day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CNN

ROUNDUP

LAUREN GREENFIELD, staff writer

THE CHARIOT | 5-

NEWS

#metoo movement

BROOKE HALAK, staff writer

mpowerment and exposure. This is the genesis of the #MeToo Movement: to empower the survivors of sexual abuse and assault to speak out about their experiences and to expose the magnitude of the problem. After decades of silence, when victims were left masked behind the trauma they suffered at the hands of sexual predators, this thread shines a new light on the matter. “Me too” are two impactful words, bringing together people who share the repercussions of the secrecy and stigma behind sexual harassment, abuse and intimidation. Although this hashtag focuses on the scope

of the situation, it also helps to unveil the lecherous sexual predators who have targeted women and even men, leaving a burden on their lives. Harvey Weinstein is a prevalent name in the media, known for the string of allegations of coercion and rape against him. Over 50 women have accused him of some form of sexual assault, a number that is continuing to grow. This case is only one of the many allegations which have recently come to light about sexual harassment, assault or misconduct within several industries. Fashion photographer Terry Richardson, celebrity chef John Besh, actor Kevin Spacey, editors Lockhart Steel and Leon Wieseltier and news chief Michael Oreskes all prove that this behavior is extremely common today across all industries. These accusations are

monumental in addressing the issue of sexual harassment; as more of these predators are unmasked, more women are empowered to share their own stories. So how exactly does this correlate to the #MeToo Movement? This hashtag symbolizes more than a simple trend on Twitter. It symbolizes the end of the long-lasting stigmas revolving around sexual harassment and assault allowing the victims to have a voice and tell their stories. The hashtag MeToo first emerged when actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, “Suggested by a friend: ‘If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too.’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” Milano’s tweet did not go unnoticed and in just 48 hours, millions of people tweeted the hashtag. Some merely commented #Metoo while others

were brave enough to recount the details of their haunting experiences in relation to sexual assault. #MeToo has become a colossal movement and has compelled others to speak the truth and address this unspoken issue. “It’s my truth and no one and take that away from me. It’s my story,” said rape victim, Haley Jakobson. Haley Jakobson, artistic director and founder of Brunch Theatre Company, told others her story to inspire women to speak out. The bottom-line is that this movement has encouraged women to share their stories in a powerful way, conveying the issue of sexual harassment affecting millions of women. “I think I’m

speaking out now because of the current political climate. Now more than ever people around the world, men in particular, need to see what we women have to deal with. They need to see that there is a problem that must not be denied or hidden,” said Marya Jansen-Gruber, a 47-yearold book editor in Ashland, Oregon. Before the #MeToo movement, she had rarely spoken about her rape story in the past, but she was empowered to do so through the movement and wanted others to acknowledge the struggles she faced. This concept behind this movement can be credited to activist Tana Burke who had the idea almost 10 years ago. When a young girl told her the story of being sexually abused by her stepfather, Burke was speechless, unable to process the information. “I

watched her walk away from me as she tried to recapture her secrets and tuck them back into their hiding place. I watched her put her mask back on and go back into the world like she was all alone and I couldn’t even bring myself to whisper ... me too,” said Burke. It was then that Burke became determined to ensure that all women, young and old, could share their stories without feeling ashamed or alone. Her idea empowered women to uncover the truth in order for others to comprehend the prevalence of this matter today. The #Metoo movement shows that this is an issue that has affected so many for so long within countless industries and aspects of society. Hopefully, it will now lead to more accountability and not be forgotten as just another hashtag on social media.

THE CHARIOT | 7

NEWS

girl scout

fter 107 years of being a solely male organization, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is now allowing girls to join its ranks. Following this unexpected alteration to historic rules, debates regarding whether this choice is a matter of financial desperation of social inclusiveness have arisen. “Girl Scouts definitely do things differently than Boy Scouts, so this isn’t just an attempt at rebranding since their program focuses on different activities and has awards more specifically geared to women. The idea that Girl Scouts be completely disbanded and transferred over into the Boy Scouts program seems unlikely, but a friendly merger between the two would probably be the best way to avoid conflict over which organization is the better for a girl to enter,” said junior boy scout Jason Meng. In July, BSA showed their first step towards social inclusivity in lifting their pre-existing ban on openly gay troop leaders and employees, which would lead one to believe that the acceptance of girls is just an extension of this newfound open mindedness. However, the recent financial struggles of BSA given the decline in membership led to claims that the only reason they are now accepting female members is to help with this economic downturn and that the new progressive thinking is just a disguise for their impending financial crisis. “From what I can tell, the only reason that a girl scout would go to boy scouts is as an excuse to make

their job easier. There are a lot more requirements like a minimum of 80 hours of work and guaranteed sustainability of the project to reach the Gold Award; whereas getting an Eagle Scout is just generally less of this tedious work,” said junior girl scout Grayce Ludlow. Now that girls are allowed into BSA, focus shifts to the incentives as to why a prospective girl scout may choose BSA over GSUSA. There is the general stigma that an Eagle Scout is taken more seriously than any award a girl scout may receive, but there has also been stipulation that the actual work required of a boy scout is more intensive than that of a girl scout. This raises the question of why GSUSA would not change the focus of their organization in order to prevent the loss of many current and future scouts. “I don’t have a problem with the idea of Boy Scouts letting girls in, but I don’t necessarily see why any girl would leave Girl Scouts to go to Boy Scouts. If someone has a problem with their troop, they can find one they like more or that matches their needs better. I don’t see why there needs to be an entirely new program when the one that already existed is perfectly fine,” said junior girl scout Caroline Boyd. The existence of two organizations with similar focuses in opposition to one another creates unnecessary tension that may take the girls’ focus away from their true task of building courage and confidence in themselves and improving the world around them. Rather than encouraging the development of these young women, a feud will just create additional obstacles in the process of becoming a scout.

DAVID KIM

MAURA MCLYNN, news editor

peace out,

Sex Education Then and Now

JAKE PELJOVICH, staff writer

ex education is taught in every American public high school health classroom. Is this relevant? Is this information really going to help? What does all of this mean? Sex education has been taught to students for a long time, but in the grand scheme of things it does not matter how in-depth the curriculum is, rather what areas of the information the curriculum covers. With a wide range of different backgrounds and morals that come with every group of students, there is no denying that teaching sex education to high school students is a complicated dilemma. The fact is: sex education is a must for high school students. The majority of schools in the South have diligently taught abstinence, meaning the avoidance of any sexual activity. Several debates have arisen about what position schools should take regarding sex ed. During the 1950s, sexual education aimed to inform students on sex during marriage and the creation of the traditional family lifestyle. “When I was in high school, I remember my health teacher emphasizing staying away as well as the usual contraception and STD education,” said Coach Derek Segaloff. With changes in society and pop culture, sex education in high schools has evolved to stay relevant and effective. As stated in the Georgia Health education standards, students are taught how abstinence is the most effective means for preventing teenage pregnancies. Along with stressing abstinence, contemporary health classes are also making sure to teach ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs. Georgia health standards also make it mandatory to present a

slideshow showing visuals of various, common STDs. “I was kinda grossed out with all the information we learned on STDs. The pictures they showed us definitely were effective forms of trying to prevent us from doing something we may regret later,” said junior Mitchell Christensen. For students, this information can be a lot to handle. Popular TV shows and movies advertise casual sex. Pop culture sometimes seems like it completely contradicts what is taught in high school classrooms. A recent study shows that 85 percent of movies released between 1950 and 2006 have sexual content, including 68 percent of G-rated movies. This statistic has been steadily increasing and will continue to increase in the future. “It seems like every TV show and movie show explicit content. Pretty much any music that is out there right now sings about sex also, especially rap music,” said senior Cole Hooper. Societal influences make it difficult for high school students to know exactly what to do outside of the classroom when it comes to exploring their sexuality. Modern health curriculum aims to teach students safe practices when it comes to sex so that they are prepared for future situations in life. Being prepared, in turn, prevents future issues from arising in college and beyond. Unwanted pregnancies, STDs and aggressive sexual advances can ruin a young students future and prevent them from achieving thier lifelong dreams. Pay attention in health class because the valuable lessons it provides can have the potential to save futures.

THE CHARIOT | 9

SPORTS

CAROLINE MOHLER: VOLLEYBALL DAVIDSON COLLEGE Caroline Mohler is a right-side hitter for the girls varsity volleyball team. Caroline was one the top hitters on the team. Caroline helped lead the team to a Region runner-up and State tournament final four appearance. Caroline plays club volleyball for A5 volleyball. Caroline is committed to play for Davidson College in the summer of 2017. 1. What helped you decide to commit to Davidson? “The team was the biggest factor for me. As soon as I met them, I knew that was where I wanted to go.” DAVID KIM

2. What was it like playing for Johns Creek? “JCVB has been such an amazing experience, especially senior year. Our team was so close, and we had an incredible season!”

ZACH WILLIAMS: FOOTBALL UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Zach Williams is wide receiver and tight end for the varsity football team. Zach has played in the Johns Creek football program since he was in fifth grade. He was honored as a member of the 6A all-state team his junior season. Zach led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns the past two seasons. Zach committed to attend the University of Arizona this coming fall. 1. What helped you commit to Arizona? “I committed to Arizona because out of all the schools that offered me scholarships, Arizona best felt like home and the coaches had a really good plan for me, and I loved the campus and the student life as well.” 2. What was it like playing for Johns Creek, and what was your favorite memory? “Playing for JC has been unbelievable these past four years and I’m definitely gonna miss it. Best moment was when we upset Alpharetta my sophomore year.”

NATHAN GAUTHREAUX, sports editor

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any Johns Creek athletes have been offered the opportunity to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. After years of practice, hard work and training, they have finally reached the pinnacle of any high school athlete’s career.

Tatum Smith is a member of the Johns Creek swim and dive team. Tatum competes in various freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke races and has won several state championships over her four years on the varsity swim team. She won her first state championship as a freshman in the 50-meter freestyle. Tatum committed to the University of Georgia in the spring of 2016. 1. What helped you decide to commit to UGA? “I visited a few other schools before UGA. I liked them and honestly did not think I was going to like UGA as much. When I visited UGA, the team and coaches were welcoming and made it feel like home. It is also one of the best schools, academically and athletically, so why not go if it’s in-state?”

COMMITTED

TATUM SMITH: SWIMMING UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

2. What was it like swimming for JC the past four years? “Swimming for JC helps me have fun in the sport with people from the school. I swim for Dynamo, and it’s very competitive. When I go to high school meets, I can have fun without the stress from my Dynamo coaches.” 3. What is your favorite memory from swimming? “I honestly don’t have one favorite memory. I do get to travel all over the country. I went to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for a training camp; that was pretty cool.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVIDSON COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA THE CHARIOT | 11

SPORTS

STITCHING A CITY TOGETHER:

HURRICANE HARVEY’S EFFECTS ON WORLD SERIES VICTORY SAM BEAGLE, staff writer

exas, a state known for its intense fondness of football, just established its power in professional baseball. The Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series against the LA Dodgers, but many believe it was no mere coincidence. For years, they have been building up their team to reach where they are today, a seemingly impossible task for a team that lost 111 games in the 2013 season. Sure, the Astros used many physical strategies to achieve what they did, but could that alone have gotten them to the championship in just a few seasons? Possibly, yet some believe that the post Hurricane Har-

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DAVID KIM

vey gave the Astros the boost they needed to take the series. Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 25, later hitting Houston directly on the 27. Harvey displaced tens of thousands of people, destroying towns, buildings and lives in its path. The Astros obviously could not play in Houston, so they temporarily moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. As predicted by expert analysts, their season went extremely well. The Astros had a talented team in a strong group of relief pitchers and stars, such as George Springer and Carlos Correa. Their journey to the Series included a victory over the Red Sox, the Yankees and finally, the Dodgers. The same question arises: how does Harvey have anything to do with this? As seen in sports history, major disasters in cities can provide extra motivation for sports teams to succeed. Take the 2013 Boston Red Sox, for example. Boston is known across the nation for its sports teams, but the 2013 Red Sox weren’t exactly projected to be the victors of that season. They had just acquired a new manager and were in the midst of making their team world class, but they weren’t there yet. They burrowed their way through the playoffs and eventually came out on top in the Series, but Boston’s eighth MLB ring didn’t come with just an amazing team. On April 15 of that year, The Boston Marathon was bombed by two international terrorists, killing three and injuring hundreds of others. Although it is not for certain, the bombing could have given the Red Sox the boost that they had been searching for. Feeling their town’s numbness only made the Red Sox stronger. The Astros are like the Red Sox in the sense that their home town felt major emotional and physical damage, giving them extra motivation to take their team all the way. It could also be argued that it was just coincidence that the Astros won and that Harvey hit only a few months before, yet their triumph was definitely a well needed victory for Houston.

TACKLING GENDER NORMS JOHN POSA, staff writer

ender norms have permeated our society for many years in almost every aspect of life. It is evident in the clothes people wear, the jobs they pursue and even the way they act. Gender even interferes with the way of competing and enjoying certain sports. Girls and boys are told at young ages which sports are acceptable for them to partake in based on their sex. These suggestions discouraged kids to follow their dreams. Sports and competition are used to bring people together while gender roles create confines around these attempts. In recent years, successful progressions have been made to erase the stereotypes that keep young teens from finding their true passion for sports in areas where they would’ve been criticized. Much of the push towards gender-neutral sports comes from the new generation of kids. Many children of our generation have decided to break away from traditional views on gender-affiliated sports and participate in certain sports regardless of what gender is

the majority. There have been many trending stories of female football players on their high school teams and how they are sources of inspiration to others, but this is just the beginning. Boys volleyball is another norm-defying sport that allows male students in certain areas to participate in a sport that is traditionally female-dominant. Many schools in Georgia over the past couple of years have even given male students opportunities to play sports that are statistically female-affiliated. “Many people assume boys volleyball is not a legit sport just because it is played by guys. People assume that I am feminine just because of the sport I play, but I don’t care what others say, so I play it regardless,” said junior AJ Jones. Sports are becoming a way for people to express themselves and be used as a platform to talk about social and political views. This side is just one of the many dynamics of the ever changing world of sports. The increasing acceptance towards certain views in sports seems to be evident and could possibly affect other realms of society.

THE CHARIOT | 13

COVER

COVER STORY

gender

SEXUALITY

14 |

DAVID KIM

NIKITA DANI, editor-in-chief and ROHAN LALLA, staff writer

ver-sensitivity is a term whipped out by those who feel that the societal norms that gender and sexuality advocates take issue with at times tip the scale to trivial. The question arises if it is more beneficial for society to correct norms that appear trivial in an effort to avoid the grim alternative? However, before we take that step, we must determine what is trivial and what is progress. As a generation, it is our duty to question what has been placed before us. Have we progressed a society so much that the questions are too small for us to take the time to answer? The members of the LGBT+ and gender equality movements at our school would wholeheartedly disagree. Though we have achieved monumental steps, the road to equality for many is long and winding. This fight for equity is contingent upon a revitalization of contemporary society that no longer discriminates as it does currently. However, emotional whiplash is frequent in those who grew up in one society and finds themselves suddenly living in another. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a frightening realization for millions when their perceptions of gender and sexaulity have been redefined. Older generations are baffled when something so seemingly frivolous like the bathroom one uses is questioned or when their preconceived notions surrounding gender and sexuality are deconstructed. To our generation, these issues are at the forefront of the fight for equality. The chasmic gap between young and old on these issues has made way for protests that turn to battlegrounds, familial screaming matches and legislative tussles, all between those who want to keep the status quo and those who want to make headway towards true equality. The only path towards the middle ground lies in understanding and open-mindedness. Ignoring the issue or labeling it as unimportant does a disservice to our society as a whole

and only breeds further alienation. The topic of Gender and Sexuality is so broad that it would be immensely difficult to cover all of the issues within the community in six pages. The issues that have been featured in this cover story are those that â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Chariotâ&#x20AC;? feels are up and coming in the communities and relevant to the Johns Creek student body.

THE CHARIOT | 15

COVER

ink is for girls. Blue is for boys. That is the way it has always been. That mindset, while popular, no longer governs societal rules. Currently, the battle of gender rights has been setting the stage for every major news channel and Capitol Hill. This battle has been an ongoing struggle for decades for men and women alike; however, it is just recently that it has impacted legislation. For instance, California’s Governor Jerry Brown signed a game-changing bill for the gender rights movement in October 2017 recognizing a third gender-neutral option on California driver’s licenses: the Gender Recognition Act. The decision is monumental for those advocating for the recognition of genders other than man and woman; some of these advocates are students of the Johns Creek High School community. “Gender has been around forever since the start of society, categorizing people in that way. I think ultimately the best thing would be a society with a lot more flexibility in choosing gender. The rea-

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DAVID KIM

gender son why it is so harmful currently is because it is so rigid, and you are restricting both men and women to very narrow presentations and roles,” said senior Nate Fulmer. The issue becomes more complex when the question becomes what the non-binary conformers should be labelled as or if there should even be a label at all. New York currently acknowledges 31 official gender identities. The debate that ensues is whether the state’s protections to 31 genders is superfluous and overkill or whether this level of protection is necessary to protect all the citizens of New York equally. “More terms is not necessarily better. You should really only adopt terms that are useful. Having a bunch of terms for different gender identities rather than categories I don’t think is that useful. It is useful to have terms such as non-binary, which is neither or gender-neutral, rather than having a lot of very specific terms. It is better to have less terms and more adjectives so that it is easier for people outside the community to understand,” said Fulmer. The situation in New York additionally begs the question: is there any point in having gender as a label at all? A new point of view has emerged arguing that gender itself is not real; it is a social construct. This group argues that while sex is determined biologically through chromosomes, gender is mutually exclusive with biological traits and a concept for how society manages roles and identity; gender was created out of society’s perception of masculine and feminine traits. The redefinition of gender as an identifier goes hand-in-hand with the redefinition of gender roles: a major issue of the fourth wave feminism. T h e fourth wave is here. America saw them with pink hats atop their heads and signs held

fiercely in their hands on January 21, 2017 in protest to t h e inequality faced by 50 percent of the American population. Fourth wave feminism has embraced the rejection of the gender binary, and contrary to the opinions of those who criticize feminism for excluding and hating males as well as tipping favor to females more than males, the fourth wave opposes misandry: contempt for men. “The idea of the gender equality movement is not to put one gender over the other, or any sexual orientation over the other, it’s the idea that everyone should have an equal playing field,” said senior Grace Lee. The Meliorist Club has established a forum for Johns Creek students to discuss issues, such as the struggle for women’s rights, to stimulate progress for human improvement. The right to equal pay frequents the headlines as in 2017; a woman earns 79 cents to a man’s one dollar according to Business Insider. “I think a big problem, even within the feminist movement itself, is the lack of intersectionality and the way that we discuss feminism. If a white woman makes 70 cents to a man’s dollar, a latina woman makes 60 cents, and black women make less than that. Even in these issues, you have white women taking up the space. I think the biggest problem is realizing how race affects, or how sexual orientation affects our feminism,” said senior Stephanie Zhang. In the last few years, a fracture inside the feminist movement has occurred on the basis of race. “White feminism” is described as those who “don’t recognize the greater degree of misogyny faced by women of color, LGBTQ+, women with disabilities and women facing class oppression… white feminism tightly constricts the boundaries of what it means to be a ‘woman’ instead of being inclusive of all women,” said Rebecca Vorick, author of “Feminism 101: What is White Feminism?” and infamous offenders of white feminism include Amy Schumer, Lena Dunham and Jennifer

Lawrence. T h e solution to white feminism is i nte rs e c t ion al feminism: understanding how all women’s identities - race, class, religion, etc, - contributes to the way individual women experience discrimination. “Me, as an Asian, straight female, my experience is not the same as a white, bisexual female or a black female. Not everyone’s experience is the same, intersectional feminism is the idea that we need to be more aware of that. White feminism has garnered the label white feminism because the movements that they have supported or the ideas that they have supported go out mainly to support white women, as if they are the majority. That is not the case. The issue with white feminism is that it is not conscious of the other minorities that exist in the status quo,” said Lee. The modern feminist movement encompasses empowerment and embracing choice. This empowerment comes in the form of body and sex positivity. Sex positivity encourages the expulsion of The Scarlet Letter-esque scenario that has tinted the world for years and supports women in welcoming their sexualities.

THE CHARIOT | 17

COVER

hroughout history, an enduring characteristic within mankind’s psyche has been the romantic attraction between people, the affinity for one another based upon interactions, pheromones and biological aspects, the eternal feeling of love. The magnetic allure between two people is generally celebrated by all humans alike until it reaches a point of unacceptability, until these sentiments are held between two members of the same sex. Today, those who stand on the periphery of heterosexual circles are entrenched in a limbo of discrimination, marginalization and misunderstanding. The LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, etc.) community has recently garnered mainstream attention, as many are eager to detail a history of heterosexism and to hunt for ever-elusive equality. The bumpy road towards egalitarianism has seen its legislative successes, most notably the Supreme Court decision in 2015 that affirmed gay marriage but was tarnished and soiled by numerous soul-crushing woes. A culmination of political neglect, cultural marginalization and social prejudices has left battle scars across those who identify with these labels. However, the tightly knit LGBT+ community hums and thrives, even in Johns Creek High School. “It’s kind of like a sigh of relief when you walk into the door because you know you can say anything... no one will judge you for your identity. It’s just a good place to talk about issues and to be around people who are similar to you,” said junior Katherine Rolader, who is co-president of Johns Creek’s 18 |

DAVID KIM

Gay-Straight Alliance club, a collective that seeks to foster understanding between those inside and outside of the LGBT+ community but also serves as a safe haven for the microcosm of the LGBT+ faction at Johns Creek. These safe spaces represent one of many sources of controversy regarding the LGBT+ rights movement. To those who support them, such realms of free expression, unblemished by the scornful eyes of those who disagree with the campaign, are vital to normalizing sexual orientations that deviate from heterosexuality and provide a space to discuss issues within the community. In the same vein, the community explodes in a flurry of colors every year with Pride parades across the globe. These celebrations of the LGBT+ identit y c o n glomerate to display s e l f worth in the c o m munity, which is dutifully needed in light of the immense internal strife within LGBT+ individuals. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “LGBTQ individuals are almost three times more likely than others to experience a mental

sexuality

health condition such as major depression or generalized anxiety disorder. This fear of coming out and being discriminated against for sexual orientation and gender identities can lead to depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, thoughts of suicide and substance abuse.” The stark discrepancy in mental health levels between LGBT+ individuals and heterosexual, cisgendered people stems from a number of forces, the most potent of which are religion and family. Dogmatic interpretations of what love should be, as defined by orthodoxy and religion, have been instrumental in many’s perceptions of homosexuality. Countless religions disregard homosexuality and even label it as sin. The intertwining nature of family values and religious conviction has proven to be a difficult barrier to overcome for LGBT+ individuals, especially teens who struggle with coming out in fear of a fundamentalist reception from their family. “When I first started questioning my sexuality, it was so hard. My family is Christian, so I remember thinking ‘I’m going to hell, I don’t know what to do,’ and my mom is also Asian, my dad is really old and conservative, so it was like everything at once… it’s a really hard internal conflict to deal with,” said Rolader. Another toxin tossed into the brew of the LGBT+ identity has become society’s ideology that digression from heterosexuality is unusual or even immoral. Even in a world with an increasing population of those who identify with the LGBT+ denominations, heteronormativity dominates the airwaves. Heteronormativity is defined as the assumption that heterosexuality is the “norm” and operates under the conjecture that sexual and marital relationships are most fitting between people of opposite sexes. This harmful notion is apparent in all aspects of everyday life for those within the LGBT+ community and rears its head within all spheres of contemporary media, education and general conversation. “Like ‘do you have a boyfriend? What kind of husband do you want?’ Those small things build up over time to make you feel like your identity isn’t valid because no one will acknowledge it,” said Rolader. Despite the barriers to overcome, the LGBT+ community maintains its resilience and buoyancy, with an optimistic outlook on the future of prospective equality. With anything, there’s support and there’s backlash. However, perceptions are beginning to change, and with it people are becoming more receptive towards other sexual orientations. “It’s a cultural difference. With this school, it is completing accepting, but at other schools, I’ve gotten looks at football games when I’m holding my girlfriend’s hand. It’s a cultural shock for some kids,” said senior Alexa Wadsworth.

THE CHARIOT | 19

FEATURES

Conspiracy Theories of Johns Creek DANI BLANK, staff writer

ost people don’t notice when certain events happen conveniently at the same time and seem to suspiciously affect each other, despite scientists or experts arguing otherwise. The reason behind many of these strange instances is unclear, but some theories provide very strong evidence and reasonable explanations for situations similar to this one. These explanations are called conspiracy theories. Many conspiracy theories today revolve around Apple and their popular iPhones. According to a Common Sense Survey, 90 percent of Apple users complain that their phones start to break down almost exactly two years after purchasing them. “Pretty much exactly at two years, mine started to die when it was at like 50 percent and it would always crash,” complained a junior at Johns Creek. Other students like him describe their iPhones as having similar issues. “My phone never had problems , but when the Eight came out, my screen would just randomly turn blue all the time,” said sophomore Will Adams. Every two years when a new iPhone comes out, the number of Google searches relating to slow iPhones increases exponentially. Apple claims it is a coincidence that the old phones happen to break down right when a new one is released, but a self-proclaimed conspiracy theory expert at Johns Creek argues otherwise. “It might be a coincidence if it happened to a few people, but it happens to everyone! Apple obviously uses this as a way to force people to buy new iPhones,” she explained. Apple, however, is not the only corporation guilty of such questionable coincidences. Starbucks -- a place known and loved for being perfect for studying, hanging out or just grabbing a coffee on the go has also demonstrated suspicious behavior. It is no question that Starbucks more often than not misspells customers’ names. But, what seems strange is that Starbucks baristas are intelligent enough to memorize recipes for hundreds of dif20 | DAVID KIM

ferent drinks, multi-task behind the counter and take orders, but they cannot manage to spell basic names. One conspiracy theory suggests that the managers encourage the workers to purposely spell names wrong because it provides free publicity. The customer will see the hilarious spelling and post a photo of it on social media, and just like that, all their friends see a picture of Starbucks and might be motivated to go there. Theories like these aren’t guaranteed to be true; they are just believed by many people. However one specific theory has so many believers that very few question its validity. It is called the Mandela Effect. The theory gets its name from the death of Nelson Mandela; when he died in 2013, thousands of people came out on social media and swore that they remember him dying back in the 1990s. Since then, hundreds of similar examples have been discovered. For instance, the song “We Are The Champions” by Queen has teenagers everywhere going crazy. They recall the song ending as “No time for losers, ’cause we are the champions…of the world!” Believe it or not, there is no “of the world.” The song just ends at “‘cause we are the champions.” People around the world swear they remember it differently, and discovering this led to uncovering more insane instances like this one. When writing a paper or assignment in pen, it is expected that a word or two will be misspelled or there will be some mistake. So naturally, one would grab Wite-out. Only the product is not called “whiteout.” Look again, it’s just “Wite-out.” There is no explanation as to why so many people remember all of these wrong, but some believe that the names, lyrics or logos changed. However, they never did. Conspiracy theories confuse an enormous number of people, making the population wonder if companies have ulterior motives. Some go as far as to wonder if there are even more strange instances without explanations that have not even been discovered yet. But whether someone believes in conspiracy theories or not, one cannot deny that they do provide a sensible explanation for some very suspicious coincidences.

Androgynous Fashion SOPHIE BRANDEIS, features editor

ust like apple pie and baseball, department stores like Macy’s, JC Penny, Dillards and Nordstrom are classic American staples. For the majority, these giant, mass-marketed stores appeal to everyone: boys, girls, men, women, babies. In fact, these stores take pride in how easy they make their shopping experience. One of the first things people see when they walk into a department store is those giant signs labeling the sectors of the stores reading “men”, “women”, “boys” and “girls.” For the majority, this does make for a quick and easy shopping experience; however, this is not the case for everybody. With a more liberal and younger population replacing the older and more traditional one, the LGBTQ community has begun to acquire a louder voice. That combined with the increasing density of feminists, liberals and other social groups present in society, reform to gender-defining clothes has begun. This call for reform has led to the emergence of androgynous fashion, a style that is rid of all gender stereotypes. The goal of someone wearing androgynous clothing is to look like neither a typical female or male. A bold movement, a social statement, a fierce cry for gender equality, call it BRITTANY AHN

what you will, androgynous fashion is new and trending. “Androgynous fashion is a cool idea.I think it is a good way to express to others that you don’t care about what others think about you,” said senior Azariah Noah. Throughout history, social norms and traditional religious values prevented people from expressing themselves through clothing.Women especially faced societal expectations that forced their wardrobe into conformity. However as time went on, people began to use fashion to rebel. The flappers wore pants instead of skirts; the fashion world began to change. Before the world knew it, fashion designers were pushing out blue jeans and T-shirts for women. “Androgynous fashion allows people to express themselves without the confined barriers of gender roles. This neutrality of clothing is becoming more of a statement and fashion trend and I’m here for it,” said senior Sophia Haynes. Clothing brands like Androgynous Fashion andVeer NYC all support the idea that people should be able to express themselves without having to answer to society’s picture of gender. Androgynous Fox’s motto, “Come as you are and wear what you’d like,” captures the free spirited and liberal atmosphere the movement wants to portray. THE CHARIOT | 21

FEATURES

The End of an Era

RACHAEL JONES, editor-in-chief

n mid-November, Dr. Zoll announced his retirement from being a principal, effective January 2018. He will further his career at the University of North Georgia as an assistant professor of educational leadership.

out to the auditorium, and they sang this beautiful song and gave me cards. I love when the kids are out there performing. I love the drums through the hallways on Friday mornings. I love standing on the sideline on football games. I love all the performing arts things we do.

WHY DID YOU FIRST CHOOSE TO BE A PRINCIPAL? “I loved being a teacher, but I had some folks who said you need to consider this and become a leader. So I became an assistant principal for two years before I became a principal in 1998.” WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT YOUR CAREER CHANGE? “When I got my doctorate a few years ago, I thought when I did retire I would love to work at the college level. I didn’t think it was going to be in January, but this job oppurtunity came up out of the blue. It excites me because I will be working with aspiring principals and assistant principals.

WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BEING A PRINCIPAL? I think the thing I’ll miss the most is that day-to-day interaction with students and staff. Probably the biggest, almost spiritual, experience for me my first year was doing graduation. Because I’ve seen them go from [kindergarten] to walking across the stage getting their diplomas. I’ll miss things like that. Certainly, the people I will miss tremendously. But I intend to make visWe get so caught up in what its, and to come back for graduation.

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we’re saying on the Internet that we forget to just talk to each other. That would be my parting advice: just be kind.

WHAT ARE YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT JOHNS CREEK? I’ve loved being at Johns creek, and it was never my goal to get to high school, but it’s probably the best thing I did. I think what I’m most proud of is we took it from a culture that had gone down and brought it back. I think the atmosphere is a lot more positive, the staff is happier and I think we’ve hired some great folks on top of the great teachers we already have. That’s probably what I’m most proud of--just how we’ve brought the Johns Creek spirit back. WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT JOHNS CREEK? The other day the chorus kids and drama kids called me 22|

ALL PHOTOS: DAVID KIM

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT JOHNS CREEK? I think I have to go back to graduation that first year. It’s just standing up there and shaking each hand and looking at them and realizing this is the end of an era and the beginning of one. It’s just an incredible experience and I had never seen it from that vantage point.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTING ADVICE OR WISDOM FOR JOHNS CREEK STUDENTS? I say it on the announcements and it’s very simple: it’s just be kind to each other. I worry about what people feel free to say on social media to each other without really thinking about the repercussions. We get so caught up in what we’re saying on the Internet that we forget to just talk to each other. That would be my parting advice: just be kind.

slang DRAG CULTURE MORAYO OGUNBAYO, business editor

ith the fast paced environment of the internet culture in this day in age, from memes to vines and everything in between, modern slang can be challenging to comprehend. However, some phrases and terms can stand the test of “internet time” and move from the world of social media to the real world. Black culture has been tremendous in shaping modern slang, and while most have accepted the impact African- American Vernacular English (AAVE) has had on slang such as phrases like “squad,” and “lit.” What many do not know that large amount of our terminology comes from drag culture; the impact of which is often downplayed or unmentioned. The thing that people often overlook is the many words created and popularized by drag queens that have snuck their way into the world’s everyday vocabulary. Wikipedia defines drag queen as “a person, usually male, who dresses in clothing of the opposite sex and often acts with exaggerated femininity and in feminine gender roles for the purpose of entertainment or fashion.” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a popular competition show in which contestants compete to become “America’s Next Drag Superstar.” This show has been instrumental in bringing drag queen culture to the mainstream. RuPaul, the host of the show, once said, “You w e r e born naked and the rest is drag,” and such a mentality can be tied to the slang of the last de-

cade. Many of the words and terms that feel as though they have been here forever are part of language’s “drag.” Examples of drag’s impact on slang are “serving looks,” all the way to referring to something that “gives you life.” When a person is told that they are being “shady,” or when they ask their friend to “spill the tea.” Or when somebody is told that they “slay,” and when they call Rihanna “mom” and Harry Styles “dad.” Even the expressions “Yaaaaaas” and “Gurl” are part of the wide scope that drag has on slang. “It’s definitely become a huge part of my language. It really does form a sense of community for me and a lot of other queer people. It unites you with a super vibrant and diverse community of people who can connect with and understand you,” says senior, Chris Ausburn. After learning of the impact these people have on speech, many may wonder if it is still acceptable to use these terms. As the topic of cultural appropriation comes to the forefront of many discussions, people have trouble deciding whether drag slang is or is not part of the mix. “It’s extremely painful to witness. That entire sense of community and community that is crafted through this slang almost feels violated when straight people use it as a trendy linguistic accessory. It’s frustrating to see straight people pick and choose which parts of queer culture they want without having to confront the reality of being a f*g in America,” says Ausburn. In the end, when knowingly using another culture’s slang, Ausburn explains how one can respectfully use this speech, by replicating the way AAVE has been embraced by our culture and that is by giving credit when credit is due. “People use this slang without understanding how hard our foremothers fought to build this vocabulary and exactly that they had to struggle through to simply exist,” Ausburn states.

THE CHARIOT | 23

FEATURES

entertainment &

Faith in These Lyrics This issue’s playlist combines the music of rap, pop and rock to give off a smooth, mellow vibe for winter studying. We’ve organized this collection to give you a perfect backdrop for pre-midterm cramming, along with an ear to the door of room 258. Over the past month, staff writers and editors have been gathering fresh music and artists, with an emphasis on the LGBT community. Enjoy our holiday gift to you: “[faith in these lyrics]”. AGAIN ABSTRACT VACAY HORAN WILLOW CREATOR DEMARCO LORDE OCEAN DYNASTY CUCO BLAKE LANY RITCHIE LAMAR HAMILTON

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREEN LABEL

Highlight: Kevin Abstract PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPOTIFY

MAREN STEPHENS, staff writer

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evin Abstract, born Ian Simpson, is a black, LGBT musician who brings his own experiences to the arts. As the visionary behind projects like Saturation, Brockhampton and QUESTION EVERYTHING INC., Kevin Abstract has been redefining what it means to be a rapper since 2012. At only 20, the rapper has released over six albums under the names of Brockhampton and by himself. As a queer black man, his voice

brings nontraditional ideas to the table and is never afraid to push normalcy. His songs tackle everything from politics and racism to homosexuality and familial struggle. Simpson sees his voice as an important one for kids like his own younger self to hear, especially after coming out in a small southern community like Corpus Christi, Texas. His unique, wavy indie-rap music is the perfect platform to ask society: what does it really mean to be American?

MUSIC 1. The Sant a Clau s e

Festive Films The holiday season is not complete without festive movies. Here at “The Chariot” we have chosen three of our favorite films that we hope you will find the time to enjoy.

Tim Allen stars as the curmudgeon-turned-optimist in this re-telling of one of the world’s most famous figures, Santa Claus. This light-hearted, feel good is a winner for the staff. Not only does this tale put a twist on the classic tale of Santa Claus, but it encapsulates holiday spirit vibes,

2. Polar Expre s s Possibly the scariest holiday movie in the world, the idea of mixing fantasy trains and the holidays is too hard to resist. The Polar Express tells a tale of hope and belief we all need this winter. Director Robert Zemeckis brings the beloved novel to life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BE@HANCE

3. Batman Returns This superhero film is a family favorite. When Schreck, Selina Kyle and Penguin team up against Batman, unexpected sparks fly between the masked hero and the Catwomen.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

t DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

M O ON TA XI The Tabernacle Dec 30, 2017

MIL K Y C H A N C E Buckhead Theatre Jan 16, 2018

B O R NS The Tabernacle Feb 6, 2018

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

MIGU E L Roxy Theatre Mar 27, 2018

JUDAH AND THE LION The Tabernacle April 20, 2018

EC H OS MIT H Variety Playhouse May 1, 2018 THE CHARIOT | 25

face of f

OPINION

Nature versus nurture: Is biology the primary factor affecting the way people present their gender?

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yes RACHEL GROSSWALD, opinion editor

ow more than ever, it seems as though people are rejecting gender norms that have existed for basically the beginning of human interaction. Fighting the patriarchy is a movement that has become widely adopted by women worldwide. The heteronormative family, with the father as the head of the household, seems almost like a relic of the past. There are no longer societal lines drawn in the sand about things that males should do versus things that females should do, so as society moves towards no longer imposing gender roles, is it safe to say that they will completely disappear? Of course not. Some behaviors are learned, like girls wanting to grow their hair out longer while boys choosing to cut their hair short. In this example, both genders are imitating behaviors that have been constantly present-

ed before them by people that they look up to in society like celebrities and their family members. However, when it comes down to what fundamentally distinguishes one gender from another, there are behaviors that cannot simply be learned by what happens in the world around people. Gender socialization does exist, but the fundamentals of gender behavior can be explained by genes and hormones. According to a journal entry from the “Psychological Bulletin,” both genders are exposed to the same hormones. However, the level at which they are exposed to them is different, and that is what influences gender behavior. Males are exposed to higher levels of testosterone, resulting in behaviors such as aggression, competitiveness and a higher sex drive. Females, however, are exposed to higher levels of

estrogen and lower levels of testosterone; they tend to not display these traits as much. Because the hormones cause behaviors such as aggressiveness, gender roles developed in response. Males are naturally more aggressive and competitive due to the chemicals already inside of their bodies, so they naturally were able to take control which explains how the trend of male dominated gender behavior has developed. Gender behavior has changed over time and is continuing to change, but the fundamentals of gender behavior can be explained simply by the science of things. When it comes down to it, gender roles and the way that males and females interact is primarily driven by hormones, not observed behavior. The difference between two X chromosomes and one X and one Y chromosome is much more than just a letter.

HANNAH FRAZER, staff writer

oys are going to be boys, and girls are going to be drama queens. That’s at least what people have been taught. Everyday expressions can have an impact on a child’s behavior when going through life’s obstacles. According to UNICEF, gender socialization is the way society’s judgement affects people’s behavior, and many people are unaware of the effects it has on young children. Male and female behaviors are learned over time due to factors in their lives. Parents have a major impact on the development of a young child’s performance. As soon as parents find out the gender of their baby, they begin to base decisions off of the child’s sex. For example, if expectant parents

discover the wife is pregnant with a baby girl, they usually decorate the baby’s bedroom pink and fill the room with embroidered blankets and princess stuffed animals. Therefore, the bedroom decorations and paint can guide the child to be “girly” instead of letting her choose her own path. Parents also dress their child with clothing that they believe is suitable for their child’s sex. Parents not only affect their child’s outcome with the environment they choose to raise him or her in, but other adults can also shape a child by their interactions. Adults tend to engage with children in stereotypical ways without being aware of it. Often, people tell kids that “guys love football” and “girls enjoy playing

with Barbies.” In this case, adults are advertising the way their children should behave according to their sex. Also, the expression, “Man-up,” is generally used when a boy is hurt. When boys get injured playing sports, many people expect them not to cry. Even though the boys are suffering from their injury, society pressures them not to get upset. Clearly, these remarks are causing children to behave based on the role society gives them as a male or female. As a result of all the different gender expectations and beliefs, many children learn the “appropriate” way to act. Environment and people that surround a child help to shape him or her into a person that “fits in” with his or her gender.

THE CHARIOT | 27

OPINION

Trans-forming Bathroom Standards NATHAN GOGGANS, staff writer

here are approximately 1.4 million claimed transgender people in the United States, which equates to roughly 0.6 percent of the adult population. A transgender individual is someone who does not identify as the gender he or she was assigned at birth. Recently, American society has struggled to agree on which bathroom transgender people should use. Many left-leaning citizens argue that all public restrooms should be gender neutral, while others, who tend to lean more right, simply do not believe that transgenders should be allowed use to public restrooms at all. The proposed solutions and opinions on the subject are different for everyone, whether it is making all bathrooms gender neutral, making some student gender neutral bathrooms, or not allowing restroom use to transgenders. When it comes to the public high school, a decision must be made for the sake of our country’s youth. Transgenders should be provided with a safe and private place to to use the restroom, and the only way to satisfy

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RACHAEL JONES

this need is by issuing gender neutral student bathrooms. In February 2017, President Trump reversed the Obama Administration’s decision that nondiscriminatory laws allowed high school students to use the restroom of the gender that they identify with. He declared that the decision should be up to the state to avoid conflict in areas with different opinions. This decision left many transgender individuals clueless on where to go to the bathroom. There are countless high schoolers who refuse to accept the LGBTQ community and want to keep just a male and female restroom, whether it is because of their religious beliefs or because they are simply uncomfortable with the transgender. This causes a severe amount of trouble for transgender students because they are either forced to use the restrooms of the gender they identify with and accept the judgement of other students, or they are forced to use teacher bathrooms. The best solution is to implement a small number of student gender neutral bathrooms aside from the male and female ones, thus avoiding the inconvenience for others and allowing for safety and privacy in the lavatory. A request of the transgender community and its supporters is to create all gender neutral bathrooms. Although converting all current bathrooms to gender neutral ones would create a safe and private place for students to do their business, it is simply too difficult for high schools to institute. To satisfy the needs of a large number of high school students, schools would need to implement a multitude of gender neutral bathrooms, or else students would be in line for hours. It would also cost a great deal of money to make this conversion, so this solution is unreasonable. For the sake of transgenders’ privacy and the sake of others’ comfort, schools should implement a few student gender neutral bathrooms. This way, transgenders would not have to use the teacher restrooms. Students would not feel the discomfort of someone using the same bathroom as them who once identified as the opposite gender.

AMERICA’S BIGGEST LIE You better not lie ‘cause Santa Claus isn’t coming to town. CAROLINE KWON, design editor

he holiday season is a time of good food and cheer, but under the sprawling wrapping paper and stuffing lies a fundamental issue in childhood development that we as a society have not only permitted but encouraged - not in Starbucks cups or mass consumerism but in the tradition of jolly old Saint Nick himself. In an article originally published in the Lancet Journal of Psychiatry, two psychology experts raised the question: is it healthy for parents to lie to their children about Santa’s existence? The article was met with indignant insistences that the Santa ruse was a beloved aspect of the holidays and a necessary imagination boost for its young believers. What Santa’s supporters did not mention however is the damning potential for suspicion between parent and child. The Santa act is typically believed until the age of seven, but the early ages are integral in the development of trust between child and caregiver, a trust that is fundamental in the formation of relationships and disposition. This budding trust can be destroyed in one fell swoop with the discovery that one’s parents, who should be the bringers of truth and morality, have lied. The whole act is hardly a good basis for a strong parent-child relationship for impressionable five-yearolds who have now been taught that it is okay to continuously and shamelessly lie if it is in the name of fun. The facts match up: a MIT study found that children become suspicious of authority figures when they learn that they have lied. Congratulations - seven years of Santa fun could lead perfectly into ten years of a distrustful, strained relationship. The threat of coal and promise of elfin gifts encourage children to make good decisions, but as in many cases of conditioning, the habit of good behavior can too-quickly disappear with the reinforcement: in this case, the Santa illusion. With the realization that their parents have been lying for years, children may learn that lying is acceptable, sending mixed

BRITTANY AHN

messages and building confused morals. Even the belief that Santa Claus promotes imagination is a dangerous, mistaken assumption. What is imaginative about blindly believing a fanatically adverrtised fantasy? When children play pretend, they imagine superheroes and royalty, but they know it ends with playtime. But when they hear Santa stories framed as facts, there is no way t o separate him from reality. The adult insistence on Santa’s existence encroaches on the child playworld, forcing them to question their basic foundations of logic.

*The writer of this article is not a psychology expert. The article is based on the writer’s opinion and backed by amateur reseach.

THE CHARIOT | 29

OPINION

CORPORATE CULTURE: SOCIAL EXPLOITATION BRIAN SUI, news editor

ing Confederate flags in their stores or advot this point in time, everything is fragile, cating for the expansion of transgender bathrooms. teetering on the brink of eruption and However, underneath the layers of fanfare and destruction. Small talk is now an extinct public praise, the authenticity of these companies’ pastime as no subject is safe for conversation anyactions comes into question. After all, companies more. People are clinging to their ideologies like exist to generate profit, and the recent explosion of children to their toys and blankets, and across all social issues could just be a ploy for them to coax spectra, we are drifting toward extreme ends and their consumers into buying their products and indeserting the middle ground. All this makes staying vesting in their services. It is possible that we are silent for big corporations on today’s contentious sounconsciously playing along in their manipulative cial movements, such as gay rights and Black Lives game: they are the fisherMatter. This middle ground we men, and we are the fish used to occupy was fertile terlatching onto their hooks. ritory for businesses, allowing Not all companies are genthem to avoid taking stances on uine in their intents, espeissues that could potentially incially when they accessorize stigate controversy and distaste among the public. However, toSmall talk is now an extinct their products with social day, they must navigate through pastime as no subject is safe for movements in televised advertisements. Such is the a complex social topography, conversation anymore. case with last year’s Pepsi making it difficult for the pubprotest-themed commercial lic to evaluate a company’s infeaturing Kendall Jenner tentions as genuine or artificial. abandoning her photo shoot Silence is no longer an option to join a diverse crowd of for large companies. Instead, it is peaceful protesters and heexpected of them to be transparroically saving the day by ent about their beliefs. Many are offering a police officer a can of Pepsi. Immediategrowing into powerful symbols for certain social issues, helping them gain momentum on a national or ly, Pepsi received fiery backlash, for the commereven international scale. For instance, Disney Chan- cial never identified the specific cause it supported, nel recently aired its first gay major character in one imbuing in viewers Pepsi’s sharp desire for finanof its newest television shows, “Andi Mack,” and at- cial gain and clear insincerity for social activism. Companies see their brands as catalysts for social tempted to create resonant connections with viewaction but could also exploit their names for massive ers who also may be struggling with their own comcapital, blanketing them in a cloak of ethical ambiguing out experiences. Moreover, retail companies, ity. Some companies may be more honest in their valsuch as Sears and Target, have taken more direct ues and undertakings, but we can never be too sure. approaches to combating these issues by discontinu-

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PUBLICATION

DESIGN EDITOR

STAFF WRITERS

“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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David Kim

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A S E B P I L E R A S E OMI T NE NS A S O P E E R NU E R E L M A E R OB R S VP E O KAT NI B E E F

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crossword* 1

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14 14

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across

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1. Sport where players have to hit a ball with a bat 2. Tortilla filled with meat, lettuce, cheese 3. Having a disorder of the brain that often results in seizures 4. Vehicle that carries paying passengers; also known as a taxi 5. Object used to rub out something written 6. Time that is still to come 7. Inanimate object able to transfer disease 8. Former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers; demolished in 1960 9. Acronym used for the Network of European Neuroscience Schools 10. Abbreviation for the Sunshine State 11. Momentum indicator by Welles Wilder 12. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, ____. La, Ti, Do 13. Traditional Japanese female entertainers 14. Someone at your own level

15. Reddish-brown dye made from the leaves of a shrub 16. Abbreviation for the Peach State 17. 13th letter of the Greek alphabet 18. Rub out or remove; similar to #5 19. Marketplace in an Arab city 20. A tree of the genus Ulmus 21. Seaworld’s stage name for Orcas 22. Exercises to strenghten the heart and lungs 23. Italian word for “herbs” 24. To reply to an invitation 25. Informal term expressing hesitation 26. Abbreviation for air force officer of rank Commodore or higher 27. Second son of Adam and Eve 28. Arithmetic Log Unit 29. Protagonist of The Hunger Games triogy 30. Guys and ____ is a 1950s musical

down 1. Culinary name for meat from cattle 2. Worn over clothes to protect from a mess made while cooking 3. Someone or something from Thailand 4. Port city in eastern Denmark; also known as Helsignor 5. Bears. ______. Battlestar Galactica 6. Acronym for the Alliance for Potato Research and Education 7. Abbreviation for the country, the capital of which is Vilnius 8. Rope used for life-saving 9. The young of a fox, bear, or lion 10. Plural of a sum paid or charged for a service 11. The ancient Egpytian sun god 12. The condition of being overweight, minus “ty” 13. Title given to Muslim warriors or champions 14. Suspension of breathing 15. The only mathematician to have two numbers named after him 16. Brightly-colored sphere of chewing gum 17. Periodic table symbol for Tin 18. To chop into pieces; mince (past tense) 19. Pole used to steer a boat through water 20. Of or containing water, typically as a solvent 21. Title of respect prefixed to a married woman 22. Chamber used for baking, heating or drying 23. Oil and gas company headquared in London; had a disasterous oil spill in 2010 24. Feminine third-person, singular pronoun 25. Baseball team based in Chicago 26. To the same amount or extent 27. Used informally to express assent or agreement 28. Abbreviation for the Yellowhammer State 29. Plural of an open vehicle used to carry loads; often seen at grocery stores

*answers on page 30