Vol. 17, Issue 2

the messenger

VOL 17/ISS 2

SPEAK pg.13

THE MESSENGER | 1

masthead CONTACT US

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF

(770) 497-3828 nhsmessenger@gmail.com 10625 Parsons Rd Johns Creek, GA 30097 nhsmessenger.com

Nithya Mahakala Amanda Beard

Melissa Liu Ben Minder Alexis Oladipo Grace Peng Meghana Ramineni Erin Shin Nikki Skyer Jennah Sooknanan Anshi Vajpayee

PUBLICATION The Messenger is a student publication published for and distributed to the Northview 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 Northview High School, its students, faculty, staff, or administration. Content is edited and controlled by staff editors. The staff will publish only legally protected speech, adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity, and the invasion of privacy.

Mira Sydow Jack Lowrance

NEWS EDITOR

Shashank Ganeshan

SPORTS EDITOR Akshay Nair

FEATURES EDITOR Jennifer Xia

OPINIONS EDITOR Noelle Reid

ONLINE EDITOR Alex Perry

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

PHOTO EDITORS

The Messenger staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, libel, obscenity, and invasion of privacy.

BUSINESS MANAGER

ADVERTISING

Chris Yarbrough

The Messenger publishes ads with signed contracts provided that they are deemed appropriate by the staff for the intended audience. For more information about advertising with The Messenger, please contact the business manager.

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover design: Mira Sydow

2

MANAGING EDITORS

Irene Rho Upasna Kotakonda Kaushal Gandikota

ADVISER

contents 05

EDITOR’S LETTER AMANDA BEARD

06 MONTHLY BRIEFS STAFF

12

27

PROFILE: LAUREN BANKS

STAFF EDITORIAL

AKSHAY NAIR

13* SPEAK

NIKKI SKYER JENNIFER XIA

ANSHI VAJPAYEE

28 THE LOW DOWN JACK LOWRANCE

08

20

29

PASSIONATE POLITICS

FOOD REVIEW

REID BETWEEN THE LINES

MEGHANA RAMINENI

ERIN SHIN JENNAH SOOKNANAN

09

22

GRACE PENG

UPASNA KOTAKONDA MIRA SYDOW

10

24

SHASHANK GANESHAN

MELISSA LIU BEN MINDER

RACE TO STATE

HERE COME THE TITANS

HOMECOMING

NOELLE REID

30 MUSIC

IRENE RHO

FACEOFF

THE MESSENGER | 3

Visit the Legendary 11180 State Bridge Rd., Suite 205 Johns Creek

https://ivydebate.com

www.FEARWORLD.com @netherworldhauntedhouse

4210 Johns Creek Pkwy Suwanee, GA 30024

Visit City Barbeque on Nov. 8th to support the Northview High fundraiser!

Bring in a Northview High ticket stub for a free drink!

4

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

American’t

“O

ne nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all,” a part of the Pledge of Allegiance, a testament to American freedom, or so I thought. In a nation proud of the unity and allegiance it preaches, turning on the news any day of the week depicts a different America, one full of shootings and terrorism. The hypocrisy in America’s ideals does not lie beneath the terror ensuing currently, but the veil politicians and media cover the truth with depending on their political leaning.

In light of recent events, right-wing politicians and news outlets have justified Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s rape allegations from Dr. Christine Ford, who in turn has left-wing liberals and news outlets playing watchdog over her story. Whether it is Fox News blatantly defending all of Kavanaugh’s crude yearbook comments as an “adolescent phase”, or Senator Diane Feinstein holding a confession letter, in which Dr. Ford accuses the judge, until weeks prior to the induction of the Judge, there is a pattern of dedication to one’s party regardless of the details in a case, ignoring any opportunity to be bi-partisan. Each side of the political spectrum has taken a hold of the scandal and begun to use both individuals involved as chess pieces, looking for the quickest way to checkmate.

Granted, the concept is nothing rare or new. During the Obama Presidency, a sim-

ilar situation came to light during the possible nomination of Judge Merrick Garland which ended in a denial due to a majority in the house being Republican. The newfound possibility of having the opportunity to do the same thing presented itself in this scandal, making the possibility of Dr. Ford’s experience turn from highly possible to a method of achieving more power for politicians against Kavanaugh.

The division not only this current scandal is creating, but all the ones previously and to come, are forcing individuals to turn situations that could have been outside of political affiliation into only that. Republican media claims Kavanaugh deserves to be believed because of his reputability or Dr. Ford “should be believed because she is right” according to CNN, every politically affiliated media entity is drawing farther and farther away from reporting the truth and closer and closer to becoming the very politicians they are meant to report on.

The entirety of the situation is a matter intended to be handled with care and extreme deliberation and is instead turning into a political bullfight. It is time this country that preaches unity and freedom of justice, stands behind its words and forgets the red and blue of political parties to adopt the red and blue in a flag that represents this country.

Amanda Beard, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

10/06 After an FBI investigation and a Senate hearing into sexual harrassment allegations, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice.

Since the beginning of this year, Mock Trial has been in the process of preparing this coming year’s team. Most of their meetings thus far have been held to teach the incoming members the nuances of courtroom procedure, as well as the general rules and guidelines for participating in Mock Trial. Returning varsity member and senior Constantin Claassen feels that they have made significant progress since the beginning of the year.

With tryouts approaching fast, the leadership team is entirely focused on recruiting the best incoming members for the coming competitions later this year. Their first competition this year is going to be at Harvard University on Oct. 12.

The one act play is a competition across high schools in Georgia. The competition rules dictate that all entries must be adapted from regular full-length plays. This year, Northview High School will be doing a one-act play adapted from “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. The play is a comedy that is centered on people escaping the hardships of society by adopting alternative personalities.

The performances will take place at 7 p.m. in Northview’s theater. Senior Kabir Gandhi feels that it’s a wonderful opportunity for northview to showcase its talent.

10/16

News in Brief

The NBA season began on October 16.

The Messenger’s monthly digest of events at Northview and around the world

6

Homecoming week started on Monday, Sept. 24 and ended on Friday, Sept.

28. This week consisted of various competitions during lunch, including food competition for Monday, which was a competition based on who can finish the most waffles. Tuesday’s lunch competition was a Trivia competition on Marvel characters since the theme for Homecoming week was Marvel.

Wednesday was a relay race, Thursday was a fashion show, and Friday was karaoke day. Each grade also had themes this year, which they would then base their hall’s decorations on. Freshman had Fantastic Four, sophomores had X-Men, juniors had Guardians of the Galaxy, and seniors had Avengers.

Student Council also came up with various themes for each day, including pajama day for Monday, Character day for Tuesday, twin day for Wednesday, meme/vine day for Thursday, and Pep Rally for Friday. Student Council this year hoped students would be involved, and they certainly were.

MIRA SYDOW, DESIGN EDITOR

The Model United Nations club at Northview High School attended their first conference of the year at Georgia Institute of Technology to kick off the start of their season. Utilizing the trip as a learning experience for newer members, the team had no set expectations leading into the trip but left with four award winners. The team typically has two in state competitions and two out of state, planning to attend The University of Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern University in the coming months.

“It [the Georgia Tech conference] shows new members how everything works because there are very specific procedures in Model UN because it runs just like the UN,” senior Aanya Gorai said. “We are using this conference as a means of also determining who is going to Vanderbilt, and then in the future Northwestern.”

10/10 Hurricane Michael hit the South Eastern United States, devastating thousands of people.

THE MESSENGER | 7

NEWS

Passionate Politics

Student Leadership of Johns Creek takes political initiative MEGHANA RAMINENI, STAFF WRITER

E

ach individual can have a voice at a local, state, and national level. Students of the Student Leadership of Johns Creek (SLJC) program recently took the initiative to participate at a state level.

Specifically, there will be an upcoming debate, held at Northview High School, concerning the elections for the Georgia House of Representative’s 50th District seat. The debate is scheduled to take place in the auditorium on Oct.9, with candidates Angelika Kausche, representing the Democratic Party, and Kelly Stewart, representing the Republican Party, attending. It includes a candidate meet-and-greet, from 6:30-7 p.m., where people in attendance will get the opportunity to talk to the candidates, and the actual debate, from 7-8:30 p.m.

This event was organized entirely by a branch of SLJC, the Secretary of State Ambassadors Team. The Secretary of State Ambassadors program, sponsored by Georgia’s Secretary of State office, aims to promote voter registration and efficacy through organizing events such as this one.

The candidates have their own take on the idea of student leadership and the organization of this debate. Stewart, the Republican candidate, believes it is great that there are students putting together events that af-

8

fect the local community and admires the efforts put into the event.

“It’s remarkable that students would take this initiative and show interest in the political process when some are disenfranchised with politics and government altogether,” Stewart said. “These students are a brilliant example for many others.”

The team began planning this event in early August when they reached out to the candidates, asking them to be a part of this event; this task was not difficult since most members of the team had previously been affiliated with them, through volunteering.

The team has also partnered with the Johns Creek Community Association, a program that hosts election debates in Johns Creek, to host this particular debate. Because the debate is being held at Northview, the team is also working closely with the school administrators to aid in tasks such as setting up the stage. However, a majority of the planning and organizing of the debate has been done by the students. The SLJC team did extensive research into major issues, including ones that pertain to education and healthcare, regarding not only the Johns Creek community, but also the state as a whole, in order to be able to write the questions that will be asked during the debate.

Kausche, the Democratic candidate, admires the enthusiasm of this generation and believes that more young people should engage in such events. She appreciates the students’ efforts put into the debate.

“The issues we as politicians will have to deal with are serious and will last way beyond my time,” Kausche said. “The more students will be involved in local issues, the more they can make their voices heard.”

Additionally, Cherie Sang, one of the main coordinators of this event as well as a junior at Northview High School, believes in the importance of the SLJC program and student leadership because it is what drives the community of Johns Creek to change for the better. Sang hopes that by hosting events like the debate, the team can further the involvement of the Johns Creek community in the governmental process.

“This debate offers students an up close spotlight of the political process at a state and local level, and that’s a valuable experience,” Sang said. “The SLJC Secretary of State Ambassadors team will be hosting more events to encourage voter registration and political participation; we hope that by doing so, we will inspire others to follow our lead, becoming active student leaders in the Johns Creek community.”

SPORTS

Racing to State

Cross Country Varsity boys plan to place at state given a winning streak season GRACE PENG, STAFF WRITER

N

orthview Boys’ Varsity Cross Country team has gone through numerous challenges the last few years. This year, however, looks to be promising for the team as it is one of their more successful years. Led by senior Harman Soor and junior Alexander Byman and coached by Anthony Cianciola, the team now consists of many consistent runners and promising underclassmen. The team has been training hard at practices this year and recent meets have proven their improved work ethic.

“Our boys’ team is very consistent and pretty much the same, but they’ve developed a little more and gotten a little stronger, but competition with other teams has also gotten a little stronger,” Cianciola said.

Usually, after a set of strong seniors graduate, a team has to rebuild. However, this year, the new strong members have continued with the strength of those who

SPECIAL

have graduated. There are several consistent upperclassmen runners on the team, including junior Tyler Cato, senior Jameson Drake, senior Trey Parker, and junior Peter Lu in addition to the team leaders. They push the team in both spirit and speed, as well as being role models for underclassmen.

“As of now, it will be tricky to get past regions, but if we keep on working hard and putting in the work needed, with each team member pushing the other to train harder, we should make it,” Byman said.

The team is considered one of the best in the county, and based on recent meets, have a great chance of making the cut as one of the four out of nine teams in the regional meet. If they qualify, they would proceed to the state meet, where they will compete as one of 32 teams. Last year, many of the times were more scattered, ranging from around 16 minutes to 18 minutes; however, this year, they have averaged to around 17

minutes.

“The environment is definitely better [this year],” Cianciola said. “I think everyone’s gelled together really well, so this is one of the better year’s we’ve had as far as the atmosphere, the comradery, the discipline, the leadership, and all those things which make us successful.”

However, to qualify for the regional meet, the team, most importantly, has to stay healthy, as injuries have notoriously plagued the team. They have to compete against 5 or 6 other potential teams who have an almost equal chance of making it to states. With their continued determination, the Titans look to taste success once again at the state championships.

“We’re always open to sharing our joy with others and spreading love while working hard at practice every day after school to represent Northview XC as one of the best teams in the county,” Soor said.

THE MESSENGER | 9

SPORTS

ALEX PERRY/ONLINE EDITOR

Here Come The Titans

A look into the Northview football team’s successful season SHASHANK GANESHAN, NEWS EDITOR

10

I

n Coach James Thomson’s second year as Northview’s varsity head football coach, the Titans have started off the season strong, after two disappointing previous seasons. Athletic Director Scotty McDaniel notes that the team has been successful because Thomson has had time to settle into a new role and find his niche.

In Thomson’s first season, he arrived in the spring from California and immediately begin implementing his own system. In addition to crafting a new system and integrating players into a new style, Thomson was busy finding a new home and taking care of his newborn child.

“He’s been with them a complete almost year now. Any program will tell you that Friday nights are won in the spring. They’re won in the weight room,” McDaniel said.

Each day at practice Thomson brings

an unparalleled intensity and discipline to practice, which players have thrived in and appreciated. In previous years, McDaniel describes how there was a lot of wasted time during practice, with long water breaks and players standing around during situational drills. Now, however, players are always constantly occupied and improving. McDaniel attributes the team’s enduring force in the second half to the intensity the team maintains in its practices.

The team’s success this year can be traced to the team dynamic and atmosphere the players create on and off the field. The players enjoy practice, enjoy competing, and most importantly enjoy being around one another.

“We enjoy the game, we enjoy practice, we enjoy hanging out with each other. And I think that is a big deal that gets overlooked sometimes with teams with a lot of athletes and those kind of things. We just love football and love each other,” Thomson said.

Senior varsity football players William Caylor and Mac Bolton, both seniors, echo the same idea. Bolton describes how this year the team chemistry has improved greatly, in part due to team bonding activities such as team dinners at local restaurants. In addition, the football spends an extraordinary amount of time together. Through spring

trainings, summer practice, weight training before school, full school days together, and practice after school, the team has grown into what Caylor considers to be a family.

Caylor notes how the coaching staff, namely Coach Thomson, has played an instrumental role in creating that sense of family amongst teammates.

“We are closer than last. With Coach Thompson, his big thing is family. He puts it on shirts and all that stuff. When he says family, everyone feels it,” Caylor said.

While Thomson praises the players for the team’s success, the players give all the praise to the coaches. Caylor acknowledges and emphasizes the role Thomson has stepped up the intensity of practices, which has greatly increased overall productivity. Last year, the team was still trying to learn a new system, but this year, the team has a lot of returners, which puts the team a step ahead of where they were last year.

“Last year, we go helmets and shoulder pads, and we would try to do everything because it was more of a learning year. And this year, we go full pads every day. Coach Thomson’s really stepped it up this year,” Caylor said.

This year, there have been many new additions to the coaching staff: a new receivers coach, new defensive line coach, an a new

quarterback coach. With a full coaching staff, McDaniel emphasizes how each coach can work with each player individually. Bolton emphasizes how all coaches are quite young, and they infuse a great deal of enthusiasm and energy into practice. The players have been able to learn and grow immensely from the experience and knowledge the new as well as previous coaches have brought in year two.

“They all have played at high level football. Whether it is arena football or some play in the NFL, so they all bring that education down to us and what they’ve from their past football experience,” Bolton said.

Looking to the future, the team works towards one goal: playoffs. Ultimately, the players know that they have to continue to work hard in practice and not get carried away with distant fantasies. However, Thomson is even more methodical in his approach towards the team’s goals. He ultimately looks to each practice as the next achievement as it directly impacts the team’s success come Friday.

“We’ve got to have cerebral warfare.

We’ve got to play smarter than other teams,” Thomson said. “Last year we laid the building blocks for that. And this year, I think we’re seeing the fruits of that labor. Hopefully next year we’ll be even better.”

Head Coach James Thomson stands on the sidelines yelling orders to the Northview football players ALEX PERRY/ONLINE EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 11

profile

highlights

Lauren Banks, 11 AKSHAY NAIR, SPORTS EDITOR

F

or most, fencing may not seem like an enticing sport, but for junior Lauren Banks the uniqueness of the sport is what makes it all the more interesting. Banks is relatively new to fencing, only starting her freshman year, but she quickly grasped the necessary skills. Previously, she believed that fencing required little physical rigor; however, when watching the 2016 Rio Olympics, she felt a great allure to the artistic nature of the game. She notes not only the physical endurance needed but also the intellectual battle between opponents as two of the key reasons for her appreciation of the game. “[Fencing] not only requires stamina, strength, and speed, but it also involves lots of intense planning around actions in order to ‘outsmart’ your opponents, which is why it often gets referred to as ‘physical chess,’” Banks said.

Even though fencing is not recognized as a Georgia High School Association (GHSA) sport and lacks funding, the fencing program at school still has helped in her development. Banks has made many meaningful relationships with other fencers, and she can participate in tournaments against other schools in a more low-stress environment. The extra practice has ALEX PERRY/ ONLINE EDITOR

undoubtedly helped her flourish, and she accredits the school program as the reason she was able to gain an understanding of the sport.

“The high school fencing league is a great way to introduce the sport to those who are looking to compete, while still enjoying recreationally, and a great way to help fencers who have fenced prior to high school and improve their skills and compete in more tournaments,” Banks said.

Banks rapid rise can be attributed to her constant training, as she fences both for Northview and at her private club, iMasters Academy. She has already reaped many successes at both state and national tournaments. She gained an E18 national rating, qualified for the 2019 junior Olympics, and will compete at the Summer Nationals in all events. Her strong work ethic is one that head coach Ahmed Fayez admires and uses as a model for other fencers to follow.

“One of her strongest points is that she is a hard worker, and she has a great passion towards fencing.

This passion pushes her in practice to go do more and work harder, “ Fayez said.

While some consider fencing to be an individual sport, the team aspect plays a significant role in assisting players development. Teammates give es-

Competing in all eligible events at Summer Nationals Qualified at junior Olympics in cadet E18 National Ranking sential information on other player’s strengths and weakness and can offer tips on how to improve.

Banks exemplifies a model teammate at both tournaments and practices. Her teammate at iMasters Academy, Mikail Haider, describes how her selfless attitude creates a constructive atmosphere everywhere she goes.

“Lauren is an exemplary teammate and friend.

She is always ready to support newer fencers and lend a helping hand to those who need it. She is an integral part of the team’s success,” Haider said. “ Her friendly and welcoming presence at practice adds to the fencing experi- ence as a whole.”

As for now, Banks is still enjoying her time fencing in school, but she still has one eye on the future.

She hopes to attend fence Division I in college, more specifically at the University of Notre Dame, not only for its first-class academics but also for its world-renowned fencing program. With her continued success, her aspirations could come to fruition.

“Notre Dame is my dream school not only for their academics but their outstanding fencing team. Their school has helped evolve countless World Cup fencers and even Olympians,” Banks said.

12

S

FEATURES

SPEAK Northview’s students and staff join forces to make their voices heard in preparation for the midterm elections NIKKI SKYER, STAFF WRITER JENNIFER XIA, FEATURES EDITOR

MIRA SYDOW/MANAGING EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 13

“

open to becoming politically active.

“It depends on what comes up in the future and what issues I feel the need to take a stand for. I would like to get involved in politics later, and I might become more politically active,” Christiansen said.

Yu, however, decides to take the other side. He understands politics and feels it is necessary for students to stay up to date on the current news, but he stresses that high school students, frankly, are not ready for more. Yu believes that students are not prepared to be politically active and should wait until they are of age to vote, a time where well-rounded opinions may form; adults can and should be trusted with more of the responsibility, while teens should devote their time more so to becoming informed and learning how to be more politically responsible later down the road.

“Obviously it is important for students to be socialized and to understand the world around them, but most, if not all, kids have not fully developed their mental capacity yet,” Yu said. “High-schoolers should not be the front-line for political change because they simply aren’t ready, maturity wise.”

Yu advises that reading and listening to news sources that do not only solely align with personal political views is a great way to stay informed and makes students more aware of the views of others. His strong emphasis on this advice roots from his own experience of being singled out for his political views. Yu does not particularly surround

himself with people who share his values, but he thinks it is important to be confident in his views and be able to share them in the right way for him.

“I don’t hope to be any more politically active because I fear that with the increasingly intolerant culture that I might be singled out because of my political ideology,” Yu said. “I’m content with remaining within my social circle and voting whenever I get the opportunity as that’s what counts the most.”

Although the opinion is not as supported, Northview mathematics teacher Evan Baker agrees to a certain extent that the high school level is too early for students to begin participating in local politics. His main argument stems from the issues involving politics in general, the hesitation to look at both sides of the spectrum, thus causing conflict. Baker willingly pushes for individuals to be politically involved, but he stresses the importance of looking at all the sources before doing so.

“A lot of the times the activism in general, I don’t find that people purposefully seek out the other side to understand someone else’s side or viewpoint,” Baker said. “Activism is good, but it needs to be done in a certain way. I think people speak with too much sheer emotion.”

Activism, to him, is different from the sharing of ideas; it is rather the giving of information in efforts to change someone else’s views to your own or to convince someone that your views are correct. Activism includes looking at both sides of the spectrum to find

“

N

orthview High School is known for its diverse array of cultures and ethnic backgrounds. With this comes a wide variety of students of different political backgrounds and levels of political involvement. For some, political activism is a top priority, however, a majority of students do not acknowledge the impact that political involvement can have. Several students, regardless of their beliefs, are confident that political activism as well as a basic understanding of politics at this age are essential for students interested in pursuing politics.

Other students, however, believe that this should be a thought of the future.

For sophomore Christopher Yu, voicing his opinions on political controversies comes natural as his interest for politics drives him to participate with “friendly” debates with teachers and fellow students. Although this has caused rifts in some of his relationships with his opponents, Yu takes pride in his ability to form opinions of which are backed up with what he has read. However, as he continues his high school career, political activism has taken a back seat compared to his other priorities.

Along with Yu is fellow sophomore Cassie Christiansen. Christiansen is more so less vocal on her political beliefs. That is, until something really prods her along to say something. Both students are known for publicly endorsing their sides of the political spectrum without physically getting involved with the system, but Christiansen is more

IGNORANCE is going to get you NOWHERE

14

-Sonia Kalia

THE LEFT Senior Rishika Singh canvasses for local Democratic candidates and particularly identifies with strong females in the running.

THE MESSENGER | 15

THE RIGHT Senior Shane Mumma is the founder of the American Politics Club, which hosts local candidates and holds bimonthly meetings to get students engaged.

16

“

has expressed concern over the multitude of teacher sponsors as teachers are not willing to be involved with a controversial club that may present a bad image upon them.

“A lot of teachers are scared of being involved in a political club. We’ve actually had four sponsors that have come and left,” Mumma said. “It’s still definitely important for teachers to encourage students to be politically active.”

Even with these precautions for students to be extremely careful with their intents of political activism, students at Northview have participated in some major political activities. The American Politics Club has recently become active with organizing guest speakers with candidates running in the up-

Paralleling such examples of group collaborations are individual students who are passionate about their voice making an impact in the community. Senior Rishika Singh has thoroughly built her own personal views about students and political activism as she feels that it is very important for students to create a strong political foundation while they are young, so that they can put it to use later in life. Singh has already begun her political career, after realizing early on that schools are the starting point for most students’ political lives, and that students should take advantage of their resources and time in school.

“Increasing voter turnout starts in your education and just knowing that what you

“

out all the issues before addressing and potentially correcting. The issue Baker has with early activism is the amount of students who may act with emotion rather than facts, leading politics to where a lot of it is now: a deceitful place to work.

Along with Baker is social studies teacher Raymond Brown, a teacher whose curriculum is affected by politics. Brown believes as well that students need to have all the information, as he sees a lot of uninformed activism performed that is ultimately unsuccessful.

“So frequently I see people express their opinion of one way or another, and I look at them and go ‘that’s not how it works’,” Brown said.

You’re future voters for the most part, so I want to arm you with information and help you be an active and engaged c itizen

-Matt Reeves

As politics comes into play in his own teachings, he encourages political activism, and often allows students to come to him with their political concerns. However, he does this with caution as teachers voicing their own political beliefs to students is extremely frowned upon.

“I personally believe it is 100% immoral for a teacher to express their own political beliefs in front of a student,” Brown said. “It breaks so many barriers and lines, and it is a sacred responsibility of teachers to try and educate without voicing their own opinions.”

These precautions do not only stem from Brown himself as a handful of teachers are hesitant in even participating in political events produced by students. The American Politics Club founder, Shane Mumma,

coming elections. Matt Reeves, a candidate for Georgia State Senate, spoke at an event organized by the club. Reeves spoke of his platform as well as his wish to influence the younger generation that he was speaking to.

It is important to him that the young are well informed in upcoming election seasons so that they can participate. Addressing the students who attended the event, Reeves was excited to learn about the activism the club has participated in.

“You’re future voters for the most part, so I want to arm you with information and help you be an active and engaged citizen,” Reeves said. “I am so impressed with y’all, being involved here in the [American] Politics Club.

This is the way to be involved and really have a positive impact on the people around you”

do has an impact, especially your voting, your involvement, your volunteer hours, all of that sort of ties in because in the end, it is just about putting your morals and values out there,” Singh said.

Singh is an intern on Angelika Kausche’s campaign, a Democratic candidate in the running for the Georgia State House of Representatives. She devotes much of her time canvassing, going door-to-door informing people and campaigning, and meeting other candidates to discuss Kausche’s opposition.

Working with this campaign has allowed Singh to understand real-world politics and to receive a firsthand look at how Georgia politics work.

“I have always been sort of politically active, and in terms of social media and talking

THE MESSENGER | 17

to people about my views, I have always been very vocal,” Singh said. “I thought the campaign was a great opportunity to understand how politics work and actually have a positive contribution to a concrete organization that is going to put my volunteer hours and my effort to good use and can genuinely make a difference.”

Singh is extremely passionate about her political work as she is dedicated to making a difference in the community. She feels very connected to female candidates especially, a part of why she chose to work on Kausche’s campaign. In addition, she supports Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for Georgia’s gubernatorial race. She feels that her views align well with Abrams, and although she does not work on her campaign, Singh denotes Abrams as a role model of what she could do in her future of politics.

Sonia Kalia, a fellow senior, has decided to use her time and effort to make an impact on the community around her, similar to Singh. Kalia, who also interns for Kausche’s campaign, devotes her time to canvassing and ensuring that individuals in the community, specifically students who are of similar age to her, are aware of what is happening in politics and guiding them to make well-rounded political views. She believes that no matter what a person’s political views are, they should voice those opinions and use them for things like voting.

“We are the next generation of voters, and we need to make sure that we are working to make the future of the country as successful as possible,” Kalia said.

Kalia witnesses firsthand the effect that political involvement has on her surroundings through her own work regarding local politics. By knocking on doors and making phone calls, she develops a strong understanding of the needs and wants of citizens

18

while simultaneously focusing on creating a good foundation for her political career, an avenue which she hopes to pursue far into the future. Kalia has not only worked on this campaign, she has also learned things along the way as well. She has discovered information on issues she did not even know existed in Georgia, and is more than happy that she is able to work on problems that have an impact on the people around her on a daily basis.

“After you learn these things, you just start noticing it everywhere,” Kalia said. “You recognize how these issues affect everybody’s lives, not just those who are politically active.”

Both Kalia and Singh work very hard to stay politically aware and ensure that the people around them, particularly their peers, are conscious of local issues. It is imperative to them that people create highly informed opinions and understand the impact of the things that they say.

“Ignorance is just going to get you nowhere, so you have to learn what you are talking about first. Being informed is one of the key steps to becoming politically active,” Kalia said.

The girls accept that they may not be able to make an impact on a huge scale just yet, but that does not stop them from doing everything they can to start their political career now and hopefully make a increase their impact in the future. Singh and Kalia have no doubts that politics will continue to be a large part of their lives, and want to stay devoted to making a change in the world around them. To them, being politically involved is an important asset in ones life, and the issue needs to become for relevant in current day discussions.

“My advice in general would just be to think about it on a local level because there

is not much as a kid that you can do on a national level,” Singh said. “It is heartbreaking to think that, but it is also very true that you need to reach out to people within your community.”

Juniors Aditya Subramanian and Binayak Pandey, however busy with their junior year, still find time to be politically active.

Subramanian is involved with the Kausche campaign as he interns for the candidate, following his work for former candidate Jon Ossoff. Pandey, on the other hand, works with progressive organizations such as Ready for Something, Red to Blue, and Swing Left.

Programs like these are trying to flip State Congress and National Congress from red to blue, from Republican to Democrat. He is currently working on a voter outreach campaign in order to increase the number of votes in the upcoming elections.

The two are less concerned about debating on certain issues, and more concerned about getting the younger generation to be politically active, specifically by voting.

Although they both may lean towards one side of the spectrum, they believe it is still important for everyone to vote. As they are a part of the young who are able to vote soon, they are able to appeal to the newest voters of this election as peers.

“If other young people are trying to get other young people to vote, it probably could be a lot more effective,” Pandey said.

Subramanian and Pandey are both insistent on voting and participating, especially in the upcoming November elections. Regardless of ideology or beliefs, they encourage participation, specifically in the upcoming elections in November: something a piece of Northview students can do.

“You can not complain if you did nothing about it,” Pandey said. “Register to vote now.

Do something, support candidates you like.”

MIDTERMS cheat sheet GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES Stacey Abrams Democrat Rural healthcare Enforcing borders

Brian Kemp Republican

US HOUSE DISTRICT 6 CANDIDATES Lucy McBath Democrat

Gun control P ro-life

Karen Handel Republican

GA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 50 CANDIDATES Angelika Kausche Democrat

Expanding medicaid Lowering taxes

Kelly Stewart Republican THE MESSENGER | 19

Char-Grilled Mexican Style Street Corn

Mavericks Cantina 11030 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite 160, Johns Creek, GA 30097 (470) 395-6140 *this article is not sponsored by Mavericks Cantina ERIN SHIN/STAFF JENNAH SOOKNANAN/STAFF

The Messenger’s monthly digest

Mavericks Cantina Johns Creek’s American-Mexican Style foo ds ERIN SHIN, STAFF WRITER JENNAH SOOKNANAN, STAFF WRITER

M

avericks Cantina, the place to go for a nice get-together with friends and family. A modern restaurant inspired by Southern California and Mexico. It provides a comfortable and casual dining for customers inside and out to enjoy a tasty meal. The restaurant attracts people of all ages due to its Mexican/America ambiance.

The establishment stays true to the name Maverick by slightly straying from classic Mexican cuisine. By creating a menu that serves classic Mexican dishes with an American twist such as the cheeseburger tacos,

20

the restaurant creates a fun dinner spot for friends. These tacos contain ground beef, french fries, and red onion topped with an herb sauce.

Other dishes for lunch and dinner include street corn covered in sauce and cheese, dips, salads, tacos, and so much more to choose from, including Mavericks’ famous drinks from the cocktail bar. As a first-time customer, you can never go wrong with ordering the Fire Grilled Steak or Chicken Tacos with salsa verde, pico de gallo and sour cream, along with the Char Grilled Mexican Style Street Corn. The Taco Salad is a good

choice for a light meal; it is chopped romaine lettuce with guacamole, pickled okra, cherry tomatoes, grilled corn, radishes, queso fresco, and house-made avocado ranch.

While the restaurant has an overall fun and welcoming vibe, with a vibrant nightlife, it also brings a quaint and classy feel to the community. The food pricing is also placed at a very reasonable and affordable price from the tacos, side dishes, appetizers, and the main dishes all being less than $14. Mavericks Cantina is a very close drive to Northview with the different kinds of delicious Mexican style foods.

FEATURES

Fire Grilled Steak Tacos

Steak Taco Salad

THE MESSENGER | 21

Home Coming WEEK Seniors Nathaniel Alemayehu and Rishi ka Singh participate in the Homecoming Week lunch competitions

22

FEATURES

g

UPASNA KOTAKONDA/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 23

18 FACE-OFF

16

24

Should the voting age be lowered to

16?

YES

P

OPINIONS

MELISSA LIU, STAFF WRITER

olitical news has become increasingly easy to avoid compared to the past.

During the second half of the 20th century, political news coverage dominated television. Over the last few several years, however, more and more TV channels have sprung into existence, making it easier to avoid politics by simply pressing a button on a remote. As a result, there is an immense and increasing gap between young adults and senior citizens in terms of involvement in politics. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in recent decades, voter turnout rates of those under 25 have consistently been lower than those of the elderly.

Lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 can help increase voter turnout and bridge the gap of political involvement between the age groups by providing more opportunities to participate in politics. Research from the University of Copenhagen indicates that lowering the voting age will allow teens to develop better voting habits. People usually leave their homes at the age of 17 or 18. Giving 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds the right to vote will allow them to start voting before they leave their homes and establish a life-

NO

long habit of voting.

Lowering the voting age can also increase voter turnout and political interest for other age groups because parents want to set good examples for their children. Reducing the voting age to 16 makes it more likely that a child will leave home after their first opportunity to vote. If a child still lives at home when they come of voting age, their parents will be more likely to go to the polls with them to set a good example. However, if the child moves away from home before coming of voting age, their parents will not feel the need to set a good example by voting, decreasing the likelihood that the child and the parents will vote.

Teens can also influence family members by other means. Allowing 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to vote will increase their opportunities to participate in politics, which will increase their political interest. This makes it more likely that these teens will discuss political issues with their friends, increasing their interest in politics and voter turnout rates as well.

This is the key to democracy. When more people vote and participate in politics, poli-

cies are more likely to reflect the views of the majority. If certain age groups do not participate in politics, then their views are less likely to be represented. Lowering the voting age will allow for more political engagement, which will improve our democracy.

A major concern often brought up is whether or not 16- and 17-year-olds have the ability to vote responsibly. Many people seem to think that teens are too young to make well-informed and mature decisions when voting. However, research from the National Institute of Health indicates that this is untrue. There are two types of cognition: cold and hot. Cold cognitive abilities are what allow people to make decisions in calm situations, when they have an abundance of time to think logically. Voting only involves using cold cognition, as voters have an infinite amount of time to think about their options. According to the NIH, by the time a teen is 16, cold cognitive abilities are fully developed. Thus, 16- and 17-year-olds that are allowed to vote are as capable as older adults of making responsible decisions.

making an important decision.

The lack of political information available to teens is also an issue. They can be easily swayed and are the most susceptible to pandering. If the bar is lowered to allow for more impressionable people to vote, candidates would likely try to appeal to younger audiences in order to swing votes. Everyone has seen candidates try and hop on the latest fad that younger people are into. If the voting age were to be lowered, there would be a larger focus towards the younger crowd, and less focus on important issues. Personal morals would be valued less.

The average teenager does not care enough about politics to vote. Their lives are so busy that voting would likely not be a priority. Many are focused on getting into college, having a social life, and after school activities, that voting would not be given the time it deserves. Those that bother to vote would probably be influenced by their par-

ents. Parents play a large role in determining a child’s outlook on politics. If someone has heard repeatedly for most of their life that there is a right and wrong side, it is very likely they will pick the perceived right side.

Younger age groups have historically voted less often than older people. According to a Cornell study, only 19% of the voters were between the ages of 18-29. The only age group with a lower turnout were people 65 and older, at 16%. The fact is, most people that would be granted the right to vote would not actually vote.

To be clear, these are generalizations. Obviously some teenagers are informed enough to vote, and some would vote, but the majority would not. It is clear that most people under 18 have neither the maturity or interest that voting requires. The pressure of voting should not be put on the shoulders of those that are not ready, and have not had enough time to develop into free-thinking adults.

BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER

Maturity and independence are two key factors when determining if someone can make an informed decision about national policies. While it may not seem like it, there is a large gap in maturity between someone that is 16 and 18-years-old. A majority of 17-year-olds are not ready to handle the responsibility of voting.

People like to think that they are more mature than they are. However, compare almost any 16-year-old to someone who is 18, and it is night and day. While the gap is only two years, many people are still struggling with identity during that period. Some may argue that because the government allows for 16-year-olds to have certain freedoms, that they should be given more. The problem is that many are still getting used to said freedoms, while those who have had them for two or more years become accustomed to them. Extra time allows for potential voters to develop more before they are tasked with

THE MESSENGER | 25

the messenger ONLINE

nhsmessenger@gmail.com

Like our Facebook page facebook.com/nhsmessenger

@nhsmessenger

26

O P I N I ON S

S TA F F E D I TO R I A L

Power Prevailed

F

rom abortion to civil rights to the issue of gay marriage, the high court has ruled on key issues well outside the legislative process. If these controversial issues could not be legalized by voting or by Congress, the Supreme Court- a mere nine people- would do it for us. Such disputable issues are being completely controlled by just the judicial branch, so theoretically yes, the Supreme Court has far more power than it should be granted by the system of checks and balances.

But, the intricacy of this question is, the Supreme Court’s only objective is to use the power of judicial review to rule an issue either constitutional or unconstitutional, but the act of this puts them in a tremendous amount of control over one issue that is greatly impacting the nation. If a case were to come where a mother will die giving birth to her child, would it be considered constitutional to let her terminate the pregnancy?

How would the high courts rule this issue?

This dilemma itself would get into questions of morality, of whose life would be valued more to let live. Letting a small group of people decide an issue with such clashing opinions will inevitably give an overwhelming amount of authority, therefore resulting that the decision made will not reflect the overall majority opinions of the people.

There are other standpoints to why one would argue that the Supreme Court has too much power. The judicial branch should be the one branch where politics is not involved, and with the current news of nom-

inee Brett Kavanaugh’s sexual assault allegations, people are beginning to realize the vast spectrum of politics and the high courts are more entangled than one may think. The system of how federal judges are appointed itself is a political conspiracy, directly from the most influential person in The United States of America: the president. The thing that separates all the intelligent lawyers who would like to become federal judges from the ones who actually become federal judges is most often political connections.

The drama surrounding Kavanaugh’s allegations would be a great example of the impact of political connections. Christine Blasey Ford’s letter sent to Senator Chuck Grassley was only released to the press months after it was sent, only when it could be used for political reasons. The Democratic Party wanted, almost craved, for something that would prove Kavanaugh would never be the right choice, and this was their means to show it. They also decided that if Kavanaugh gets chosen they would accuse him of perjury, lying under the oath, about his drinking habit. This seems like an almost useless reason, which clearly shows the democratic party would use any means possible to put some “dirt” on Kavanaugh.

Whether or not Kavanaugh is innocent, his role in the Supreme Court would still prove the tremendous amount of power the nine justices have, even though the judicial branch should have the least amount of power.

THE MESSENGER | 27

REID BETWEEN THE LINES

Modern Segregation in America How our country's prejudice past currently affects the residents of inner-city neighborhoods

NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR

M

ost Americans do not ever have to think about where their water comes from. Most of us just turn on our showers after a long day or put our glasses up to the faucet of a sink for a drink. But what about the Americans who do have to think about their water supply?

The residents of Flint Michigan have been the answer to this question for the past four years. In April of 2014, when the governor of Michigan decided to switch the water supply of the city from Lake Huron, to the Flint River. This would ultimately result in the water eating away at the pipes used to treat and transport the water, which leaked lead into the Flint water supply. Most us have seen the worst of this crisis, the discolored water and the reports of the lead levels in children’s blood being heightened due to them consuming the water.

It has been four years since this crisis arose and there has been little change in the state of the city. But why is this still an issue for Flint and many other cities like it? The Flint water crisis gave the American public an insight to a greater issue that can easily be seen, however it is often misunderstood.

Those who were the most impacted by the crisis were people who lived in or close to inner-city areas. The buildings and roads of urban areas in American do not usually see

28

as many tax dollars and those who live in these areas often do not have access to basic necessities like clean tap water or even a balanced and healthy diet. Luxuries that we take for granted here, living in an area like Johns Creek, are adequate grocery stores and fresh produce. Part of the obesity epidemic, that we do not realize, is the unfortunate tie between obesity and poverty. Unhealthy food is almost always cheap and easily accessible no matter where you go, and when that is the only option in urban areas, obesity and its related diseases are the ultimate outcome.

In an area like Johns Creek, we do have fast-food restaurants and processed foods, but there is at least a variety of food for us to choose from. These areas can go without grocery stores and/or grocery stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables creating what the American Nutrition Association call a food-deserts. The people who live in these food deserts are often subject to having to eat at fast-food restaurants because that is all that is around and easy to afford.

It is evident that inner-city schools are not up to par by any standards. Classrooms go without up to date textbooks, even their school libraries can be absent of up to date or functioning computers. It seems like the success and education of inner-city children is an afterthought to those in city governments.

If quality education of these children is not a priority to these figures in the local governments, then it is not going to be seen as a priority to these children either. If school is not engaging for these children in urban areas, then they will inevitably stop going to school because it will no longer seem important.

The less than average schools in these urban neighborhoods funnel kids into the American prison system through the school-to-prison pipeline. Because of the poor schooling, the literacy rates in these areas drop, in turn, the employment rates drop as well. When money is scarce and the people are unemployed, people will still find a way to find that money, job or not. The crime rates in urban areas are often higher and this is almost a direct result of poor employment.

Racial segregation in the United States is no longer seen as an issue because it is not outright signs on bathrooms and water fountains that prohibit certain people from using them. But now there is a sense of modern racism that has sneaked its way into these inner city communities which are populated mainly by minorities. This is in part to the racial wage gap which especially affects those who are black and Latino. It is time to open our eyes to these issues and see how we can help.

THE LOW DOWN

Of the Rich, By the Rich, For the Rich

COLUMN

How modern conservatism has been hijacked to subvert the will of the people.

JA C K LOW R A N C E , M A N A G I N G E D I T O R

I

t shouldn’t be a secret that the modern conservative movement hasn’t been perpetuated in good faith. But to a sizable portion of the country, apparently it is. Over the past few years, it has become increasingly apparent that conservative leaders will say and do whatever it takes to get elected and continue on their path to building a government that benefits them and only them.

It’s time to call attention to this and recognize just how toxic such a force truly is to our democracy.

These people aren’t trying to build a better country for everyone-- they’re hijacking our democracy for their own short-term personal gain. They don’t care about the needs of the people. Smashing and grabbing-- they’re goal is to destroy what they can and enrich themselves as much as possible before the rest of the country can realize what’s happened. They don’t want to make the average American’s life better-- they want to form a government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich-and they’re succeeding.

Members of the conservative ruling class are masters of cultural hegemony. While ideas of universal healthcare and sensible gun regulations are considered very moderate positions in nearly every other developed country-- they’re branded as radically left-wing in the United States. To be a moderate in American politics is to be firmly conservative in most other modern countries. Conservative leaders have dragged the entire country toward their radical ideology. They’ve degraded every ounce of our political discourse to better suit their greed.

And now that they’re beginning to realize that they can no longer win on ideas, they’ve turned to white identity politics and straight up lying in an effort to preserve their stranglehold on minority rule. Donald Trump has shamelessly and publicly told thousands of lies according to Washington Post fact checkers over the course of his presidency. And Republicans across the board have latched themselves onto anti-immigrant rhetoric and passively accepted the support of white supremacists

and bigots alike.

Back in 2017, Republican leaders heralded their tax cuts as a boon for the American people. They said that ordinary Americans would see higher wages. That everybody would be better off. But in reality, large corporations got richer and stayed richer and average workers got next to nothing. And what’s especially rich here is that they cried about the deficit for all eight years of the Obama Administration and yet as soon as they seized power of the entire government they moved to enact a tax bill that would make that deficit even worse. As if this weren’t enough, Steve Mnuchin even suggested back in late July that the Trump Administration would act unilaterally to enact more tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy-- a 100 billion dollars worth-- if such a radical cut couldn’t be achieved in the legislature. These people are shameless.

Conservatism has been corrupted. Now, like a zombie straight from a benighted yesteryear, it’s trying to take us all down with it. Nothing is enough. It won’t stop until its greed and selfishness is satisfied. It won’t stop ever.

But that’s because American conservatism is an easy to exploit and fundamentally flawed political philosophy. Sure, protecting against government tyranny is an important value-- but it’s just as easy for an ultra-wealthy person to rise to power with claims that the government is infringing on his economic freedom and that the only solution is to cut taxes so he can once again be free (code for even more rich) again. What we have here isn’t a tyranny of the government, but of the rich and their powerful corporations. They’ve co-opted a flawed political ideology-- gamed the system-- so as to build an oligopoly the likes of which America hasn’t seen since perhaps the Gilded Age or the times of Southern Plantation agriculture-- perhaps even ever.

And let’s be clear, this isn’t a case of “both sides do it” nor is it just a case of excessively bad partisanship. It’s not just a simple disagreement. We’ve

reached a new chapter in American politics and both sides of our political duopoly aren’t equally at fault here. Democrats-- in spite of their many own issues-- are at least trying to form a better government. They’re not white nationalist sympathizers.

They don’t defend sexual predators. They don’t outright deny the greatest threat to mankind of our time just for the sake of enriching oil industry cronies and they don’t passively condone the mass killing of school children to appease gun industry greed. Remember that. They might not always get things right, but for the most part, their hearts are in the right place. It’s clear that they actually want to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.

Meanwhile, the other side has taken a radical-- I would say fascist, because that’s what it really is, but that word has lost all meaning in modern politics-- approach to seizing power. They will literally lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want.

Nothing is out of bounds so long as they get what they want in the end.

The rest of the country has been left in a daze- in denial of the true implications of and motives behind their political opponents’ extremism. We all, not just progressives, but all who oppose radical conservatism, Trumpism and its rank-and-file, and attacks on our dearest values in the name of greed must recognize this dire threat to our institutions and democratic values.

If we want a government which is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people, we must stop deluding ourselves that the various tentacles of selfishness and greed which have hijacked our democratic institutions are somehow the best option for the improvement of our country. They’re not. Congress should be a space for a dialectical investigation as to how to move the country towards a more perfect version of itself-- not a hive of tainted puppets squabbling over how to enrich themselves and the ultra-wealthy donors whom they represent.

But first we must vote.

November 6, 2018.

THE MESSENGER | 29

music

spooktober

IRENE RHO, PHOTO EDITOR

Ghost Duet

October brings the start of preparing for Halloween. With Halloween coming up, Louis Zong’s “Ghost Duet” brings a calm, peaceful atmosphere. It is cute, simple, and has a very calm tune. It’s also easily to hum to and sing along with your friends.

This is Halloween

30

A more classic Halloween song, “This is Halloween” sets the mood through its eerie, dark beats and lyrics. Played in the “Nightmare Before Christmas,” the song was introduced to show the best parts of Halloween.

Can’t Get Over You Joji has become a sensational icon throughout the years from becoming a filthy youtuber to a credible artist. His most recent song, “Can’t Get Over You” is a great romance song. It is upbeat yet not too loud and has a simple and cheerful song. Even though “Can’t Get Over You” is a song about someone stuck in their feelings for another person, it showcases the lovelier parts of having a crush on someone. This optimistic beat sets a hopeful tone for October.

Island Song The popular cartoon, Adventure Time’s, ending credits song sets the tranquil atmosphere for fall. Ashley Eriksson’s “Island Song” may show a summery title, but its mellow instrumental and upbeat lyrics serve as the perfect wake up song for cold fall mornings.

November Even though it isn’t October, this song is the perfect tune to prepare for November. Tyler The Creator’s “November” is a classic for relaxing sonding music and a groovy beat to jam into while driving into the pumpkin patch or the fall festival with your close friends.

THE MESSENGER | 31

the messenger ONLINE AT

nhsmessenger.com

nhsmessenger@gmail.com Like our Facebook page facebook.com/nhsmessenger Follow us on Twitter at @nhsmessenger

32