Vol. 17, Issue 3

NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM pg. 15 NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM NORTHVIEW IN

the messenger VOL 17/ISS 3

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MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD MISUNDERSTOOD

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masth masth masth masth masth masth masth 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.

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 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

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MANAGING EDITORS

Mira Sydow Jack Lowrance

Irene Rho Upasna Kotakonda Kaushal Gandikota

ADVISER

Chris Yarbrough

contents contents contents contents contents contents 12 05 contents contents 06 14 contents contents 08 15* contents contents 09 20 contents contents 10 22 contents contents EDITOR’S LETTER NITHYA MAHAKALA

MONTHLY BRIEFS STAFF

JEFF ROSE’S DEPARTURE ERIN SHIN

COMEBACK SEASON MELISSA LIU

FALL SIGNING DAY KAUSHAL GANDIKOTA BEN MINDER

THE GIFT OF GIVING GRACE PENG ALEX PERRY

FOOD REVIEW MIRA SYDOW

NORTHVIEW IN MICROCOSM STAFF

MCCLAIN’S FAREWELL MEGHANA RAMINENI NOELLE REID

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE ANSHI VAJPAYEE AMANDA BEARD

24 FACE-OFF

SHASHANK GANESHAN JENNAH SOOKNANAN

27 STAFF EDITORIAL STAFF

28 REID BETWEEN THE LINES NOELLE REID

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THE LOW DOWN JACK LOWRANCE

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FASHION IRENE RHO

THE MESSENGER | 3

4210 Johns Creek Pkwy Suwanee, GA 30024

the messenger ONLINE

nhsmessenger@gmail.com

@nhsmessenger

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

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

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hungry for Hope

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s Americans gather for our most food-centric holiday, there’s some potentially great news about food — especially for people who have very little to eat.

It’s a new strategy that could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of hungry children every year.

Fifty million children under 5 suffer from acute malnutrition. It’s one of the biggest contributors to the nearly one million deaths each year of children under 5. Malnutrition wears down the immune system, so a child can die from a cold. It also can cause permanent physical and cognitive damage to children who survive.

Acute malnutrition is easy to treat with therapeutic food. The best-known of these is Plumpy’Nut, a packet of peanut butter, dried milk, oil and sugar fortified with extra vitamins and calories introduced in 1996. It’s very effective for children who get it; one or two packets a day can restore a child to health in a few months.

But most children don’t get it.

“At best, we are providing treatment for 20 percent of children with severe malnutrition,” said Victor Aguayo, chief of Unicef ’s global nutrition program.

Why do we fail children so badly? One reason is we aren’t willing to spend the money.

Voluntary donations from governments finance the United Nations’ food programs. The World Food Program is frequently forced to cut food

rations and turn people away. Right now, severe child malnutrition in Africa’s Sahel countries is the highest in a decade, but Unicef has only 35 percent of the funds it needs to treat children.

But another factor is war. It’s especially hard to work in those war and chaos zones where malnutrition is common. Today the most severely malnourished places are Yemen and South Sudan — both entirely man-made crises. The disruption of war means families can’t work, can’t reach crops and livestock or bring them to market. Health and sanitation systems shut down and workers flee.

But there’s a third reason so many children don’t get help — really bad design. The World Food Program and Unicef share responsibility for feeding children.

“There are two protocols, two institutions, two delivery mechanisms, for one group of children,” said David Miliband, the head of the International Rescue Committee, a New Yorkbased agency commonly known as the I.R.C. that works in humanitarian emergencies. “It doesn’t make any sense at all.”

And the system requires desperate mothers to come to the food every week — which can mean walking for miles through perilous terrain, and then waiting for hours — rather than getting the food to them.

The way we save hungry children needs an efficiency overhaul. .

Nithya Mahakala, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

11/13 Camp Fire in Northern California, one of the most deadly fires in California history, has laid waste to thousands of acres of land and killed nearly 30 people.

On Dec. 13, Northview’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes and FLOOD programs hosted a Night of Worship event called “The Jingle and Mingle”. The event was a collaboration of FCA and FLOOD chapters from schools all across the Fulton area. Students came together to hang out, sing songs, and listen to guest speaker Daniel Harper who played football for the University of Georgia. The program was a chance for Christian students to be together and get into the holiday spirit with Christmas snacks and other Christmas related activities. The event was a major success and gave students a chance to have fun and be surrounded with their peers as one community. Students were excited about this opportunity to see their friends from Northview and other schools while having a good time.

11/12 Stan Lee, creator of Marvel Comics, passed away on Nov. 12, 2018 at the age of 95.

News in Brief

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

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11/11 Saudi Arabia has been intervening in Yemen, but since journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s death, there has been an effort to end US sponsoring of Saudi forces.

11/12 On Nov. 6, record breaking numbers of Georgians headed to the polls to cast their vote in the 2018 midterm election. Of the 6.4 million registered voters, 3.9 million voted in Tuesday’s election — the highest rate in a midterm election year in recent history, according to secretary of state records. The election included races for Georgia’s next governor, lieutenant governor, and several legislative and congressional races. This year, there were certain races that were the center of attention for Georgia voters, such as the U.S. congressional sixth district seat, won by Democrat Lucy McBath, and Lieutenant Governor, won by Republican Geoff Duncan. The U.S. House of Representatives majority was overturned to democratic, with the Senate remaining majority republican. There was much controversy surrounding this election, as it was considered quite possibly the most important election of the newest voters’ lifetimes.

11/06

Every year, Northview’s drama department puts on a winter musical around holiday time.

This year, they have decided to go with “Ruthless: The Musical”. The actors and actresses put on the show Nov. 8-11 in the Black Box theater. The musical was a huge hit, and many students and others from the area came out to watch and support the drama department. The production starred freshman Grace Hernandez as Tina Denmark, and many other roles played

by Northview acting students. The musical depicts a young girl who made dark decisions in order to get the lead in the her school play.

Everybody who came to see the show thought it was very entertaining, well-produced, and definitely a success. The musical was a wonderful chance for people from the community to have a good time and enjoy a musical with an interesting plot.

The 2018 Midterm season took off on Nov. 6, and many elections in states like Florida are inconclusive, going to runoffs and recounts.

THE MESSENGER | 7

NEWS

A New Start Jeff Rose steps down from his position as Fulton County’s superintendent ERIN SHIN, STAFF WRITER

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eff Rose, Fulton County superintendent since June of 2016, has announced that he will officially resign from his position. His final day as the superintendent will be on Dec. 20.

In a public meeting on Oct. 25, after the school board returned from a private closed-door meeting, Jeff Rose publicly announced that he would not renew his contract and would instead resign as the superintendent due to personal reasons.

Rose’s initial contract was supposed to end on May 31, 2019. This past summer in June, the school board negotiated an extension to the superintendent’s contract, which gives the school board and the superintendent time to plan ahead.

In June 2018, the school board had an-

nounced that they would extend the deadline to Oct. 31.

“I know what the public knows,” Principal Brian Downey said. “Publicly none of us are ever going to find out what really transpired and what really was going on, that will just never ever be public.”

As for trying to find someone new for the position, it is the school board’s job to hire an outside agency that would help conduct a national search for the next superintendent, through this search finalists would be picked and interviewed.

In May, the Broad Center published a report that found the average superintendent of large districts stays about 6.16 years in the position before departing.

Since June of 2005, Fulton has had

four superintendents and one interim, who held the post in between Rose and Robert Avossa, who left in 2015 for a Florida school district. Before Rose was superintendent, Fulton County’s interim superintendent position was filled for over a year and a half. The school board has yet to decide on whether or not they will appoint an interim superintendent or be able to find a new superintendent before the end of the calendar month.

“I would doubt we would be able to hire someone by Dec. 20, so I doubt we will have someone in place by January so I’m assuming someone will be appointed as interim superintendent until such time when they find a long term superintendent,” Downey said.

“Together, we created systems of support, accountability, and equity.”

-Jeff Rose

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Comeback Season

SPORTS

Northview football makes a drastic improvement in performance from last year, ending their season on a higher note MELISSA LIU, STAFF WRITER

ALEX PERRY/ONLINE EDITOR

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n the last week of the season, the Northview football team lost to Centennial High, ending the season with a record at 5-5. This loss came as a huge disappointment for the players, ending any hopes of making playoffs.

Despite this, the football team has still seen a vast improvement from last year. In the entire history of Northview football, there have only been three years that the team has not had a losing record, and this year was one of them. The team’s improved playing could also be seen in their game against Centennial, one of the top teams in the region. When Northview played them last year, Centennial won 50-7. However, this time around, the score was a lot closer. Towards the end of third quarter, the score was tied at 28-28, but Northview ended up losing with a final score of 38-28.

A major reason for the team’s improvement was the coaching. For the first time in several years, Northview had a full coaching staff, with six coaches who work in the building and four community coaches. This has allowed them to focus more on individual players during practice, instead of having to help multiple players at once. The coaches also did a better job of using time efficiently and had the players constantly working during practice. This, coupled with the players’ continued hard work, has led to a more efficient squad. The team’s success can also be traced back to the players’ motivated and disciplined attitudes, which have pushed them to work harder during the offseason.

“Games are truly won in January, February, March, April, June, July, when football seasons are not even going on,” Athletic Director Scotty McDaniel said. “The individual football players have to become stronger and faster in the offseason.”

Since last year was his first year coaching football at Northview, Head Football Coach James Thompson was still figuring out the nuances of how the school, the region, and the state work. In addition, Thompson did

not get the opportunity to work with the players the whole year, including during the offseason. This year, he has grown more accustomed to things, allowing him to better prepare for games. As a result, the players benefited from a more structured weight training program during the months off. The team chemistry has also improved since last year. Senior varsity football player William Caylor attributes this to team dinners and long hours spent together during practice and weight training.

“Our main thing this year was being a family,” Caylor said. “When I was a freshman, we were all divided. Everyone had their own groups they hung out with, but this year, everyone hung out with everyone, and we were all really close.”

In the end, all of the team’s efforts still were not enough to make playoffs. Before the game against Centennial, the players and coaches were all fairly confident that they could make a state run, so their loss that Friday came as even more of a bitter disappointment to the players.

“It was tough not making it,” Caylor said. “I have been playing for Northview since fifth grade and I have been playing football since second, so having 11 seasons just end like that was kind of emotional, but

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out.”

McDaniel views the loss with no disappointment. He is proud of the players for trying hard and doing everything in their power to win the game.

“The other team was good. Their quarterback is the number one passer in the state,” McDaniel said. “The only thing I am disappointed about is that our seniors will never play another game. It is just very sad knowing you might not play organized football ever again in your life.”

McDaniel notes that Johns Creek and Centennial, the top two teams in the region, are losing many of their players next year, while Northview’s starting quarterback and its whole front line are returning. McDaniel believes that this may improve the team’s standing in the region. The coaches are extremely proud of the players for their efforts and improvement and hope to make playoffs next year. Thompson believes the team has a good chance and wants the players to work even harder next season.

“I do think the team is very likely to make playoffs next year,” Thompson said.

“I believe in our players. They know what it takes, and they are all willing to do that this offseason.”

THE MESSENGER | 9

SPORTS

Fall Signing Day As college application time rolls around, several students sign to schools for athletics KAUSHAL GANDIKOTA, STAFF WRITER BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER

Cam Auerbach Maya Richard Varsity swimmer and senior Cam Auerbach is excited to announce that he will be swimming for the University of Alabama next year. Auerbach is the third brother in his family to attend the university, and he feels fortunate to have been given the opportunity to compete alongside his brothers.

“I’m signing with the University of Alabama, due to the incredible coaching staff as well as how close the team is. My two older brothers already swim for Alabama, and I feel that there would be nothing better than to compete and train alongside them,” Auerbach said.

Auerbach credits his success to the guidance of Coach Cianciola.

“Coach has been a great role model and has helped me with whatever I have needed,” Auerbach said.

In addition to the Division 1 swimming program, the University of Alabama is academically competitive with the third highest average GPA in the Division 1 programs, an important aspect to his decision.

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Varsity basketball player and senior Maya Richards is excited to announce that she will be signing with Charleston Southern on Nov. 13. As a senior, she has spent the last four years playing for Northview’s girls basketball team as they have collected numerous accolades along the way. She hopes to continue this basketball journey with Charleston Southern.

“I’m signing to Charleston Southern, because I love the school, area, and the coaching staff. They also have a really good business program, which is what I want to study in college,” Richards said.

Charleston Southern is also offering Richards the opportunity to simultaneously pursue her basketball career. Richards credits opportunities like this to Coach Yarbrough’s insistence.

“Coach really helped as far as communicating with the coaches and getting me visibility. He stayed in contact with coaches and stayed on top of me to keep texting,” she said.

Ashlee Austin Varsity basketball player and senior Ashlee Austin is eager to announce her decision to sign with Rice University in Houston, Texas on Nov. 14. As a part of the girls’ basketball team for the past four years, she has been an integral part of the team’s recent successes. Her reasons for choosing to attend Rice university are the university’s prestigious undergraduate program as well as the opportunity to work with their head coach.

“I fell in love with the campus, team, and coaches. I love everything that head coach Tina Langley is about and am excited to learn from her and continue to grow as a player.

She has coached at big time programs like Maryland and UCLA and in the four years that she’s there, she has turned Rice into a top-notch program,” Austin said.

Nearly 98 percent of Rice University graduates secure jobs before graduation, and Austin felt that was crucial to help ensure her future success after her graduation from the top-ranked university.

IRENE RHO, PHOTO EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 11

The Gift of Giving A look into Northview’s seasonal charities GRACE PENG, STAFF WRITER ALEX PERRY, ONLINE EDITOR

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t is the holiday season, and roadside charities have popped up on every corner. In front of grocery stores are posted the iconic red hats and ringing bells, red-faced elves stand guard as the gates to charitable acts. Northview is no different, and the annual seasonal charities have risen again to reap the benefits from our charitable students.

For example, Northview’s chapter of Beta, a popular club famous for its large membership and volunteer opportunities, offers its members hours as incentives for donations to clubs like And Still We Rise.

And Still We Rise is a club dedicated to helping alleviate inequalities of metro Atlanta schools by fundraising, tutoring, and conducting supply drives. It is named after a book by Miles Corwin that details a class of academically gifted students in a South-Central school that is prone to gun violence and gang activity. The club benefits from the donations made by students looking to earn hours for other clubs like Beta.

But when incentives are required to motivate students to donate, some students interpret the donations as insincere and ultimately uncharitable. They believe that the intent of the giver subtracts from the meaning behind the gift. “[It] shows that they genuinely don’t care about helping others,” sophomore and

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member of Student Council Jamie Chong said.

Chong is a part of a team of students that run the annual Mimosa Gift Drive, one of the charities directed by the student government. Their job is to collect gifts generally tailored to adults, like gloves, perfumes, and books, then set up a store in Mimosa Elementary where students can shop for their parents. The cozy idea’s output is heartwarming and perfect for the holiday season.

However, Chong is concerned about the motivations behind the donations. According to her, students should focus on their intentions when donating. She wants students to gain something other than hours for a club from their experience. If their intentions are pure, it is more likely that they will continue to give to those less fortunate when there is no incentive.

“Students will gain from performing charitable acts because it allows them to give back to the community that they are not used to,” Chong said, focusing on how Northview’s privilege blinds students to those less fortunate than them.

Another concern with the motivations behind charity is the college application process. Most Northview students recognized that extracurriculars are important to colleges, and by participating in the organization and execution of charities, they are able

to portray themselves as having a naturally charitable character. Along with providing volunteering hours, some community care organizations like Beta also offer scholarships. For some students, these are instrumental in securing their futures.

Principal Brian Downey recognizes that because of Northview’s students’ position, they are all considering how to bulk up their college applications. It’s natural. Downey believes that the experience will stay with his students, regardless of how it was obtained.

“Even the kids who are only doing it for their college applications...are still having that experience,” Downey said.

Singaporean native and sophomore Aayush Umesh wishes that students would start to recognize the motivations behind their acts of charity and change them to better themselves.

“I think that people who donate for their own spiritual fulfillment and satisfaction are admirable and should be models for other students,” Umesh said.

Another one of the clubs that has gotten into the holiday spirit of giving is And We Still RISE. This month, RISE is conducting a book drive, with many of their flyers up over the school.

“I think the most genuine way to help [the students] is to build a free library which can be more inviting, and more open to the

FEATURES

“

“

I think that people who donate for their own spiritual fulfillment and satisfaction are admirable and should be models for other students

Aayush Umesh

people. If you have access, it can be useful for the future,” junior and RISE co-president Jun Kim said.

Kim, with junior Alexander Byman, head RISE and the ongoing drive. They encourage students to donate books-- any book, whether it be fiction or nonfiction in order to create a library for others, providing an opportunity for those who are often underprivileged. To donate a book, a student must write their name, period, and include a short message to the next reader and put it in boxes set in the language arts rooms.

Writing messages in the books to the reader, either about the book or just a positive message, which is a feature that is unique to the drive.

“They [the principals] like the idea that they’ll kind of be able to communicate between different schools. It sort of brings the community more together,” Kim said.

The arrangement is that students from schools that receive the books will read the messages and write a response to it, which will be sent back to Northview and the student who first donated the book.

Regardless of the motivations behind their work, they are giving nonetheless.

“Ask questions about the world around you, challenge it, and do something about it,” Downey said.

70.5%

of students would donate without an incentive

71.6%

of students have donated to a charity at Northview

THE MESSENGER | 13

FEATURES

Cafe Rothem The Messenger’s monthly digest MIRA SYDOW, DESIGN EDITOR

T 3585 Peachtree Industrial Blvd #128, Duluth, GA 30096 www.caferothem.com @caferothem next open mic: Dec. 3, 2018 @ 7:00 pm. *this article is not sponsored

by Cafe Rothem next open mic: Dec. 3, 2018 @ 7:00 pm.

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onight’s theme is voice. Whispers flood the room, murmurs and laughter fill the cozy space, nearly drowning out the steady hum of a coffee machine and the occasional enthusiastic greeting at the door. The atmosphere, though welcoming, is daunting. The main attraction is the stage.

It is low-built and nearly completely covered with speakers, potted plants, a drum set, a piano, and a couple of mic stands. A huge bookshelf featuring American classics, little-known English tales, and modern Korean literature spans an entire wall. The books do not appear to be organized in any particular way, just haphazardly tucked into the bookshelf so that they can (barely) fit. A few spill out onto nearby coffee tables, overlapping old photographs and vintage desk sets. The opposite wall houses several hundred records that are crammed into tiny shelves that clearly weren’t meant to hold the fragile vinyls.

It’s beautiful and a little unsettling to think about the knowledge contained in this room.

Cafe Rothem sits in the corner of a gray Korean strip mall, sandwiched between other bakeries and an acupuncture clinic. At first glance, it is confusing. I can not tell whether the exterior indicates a charming, rustic coffee shop or a modern, minimalist café. The two seem mutually exclusive these days.

A moment of honesty—I have not dabbled much with the menu at Café Rothem.

I skip around on the drink menu a bit, from smoothies to elaborate cappuccinos, but I usually do not do anything more than cast the macarons and cheesecakes a longing glance. The menu mostly ranges from coffee—which I’m not the biggest fan of in general—to meticulously crafted cakes and pastries.

At 7:45, about 45 minutes late per usual Asian etiquette, a new voice introduces it-

self to the soft chorus. He is tall, lanky, and clothed completely in black, a neo-hipster’s dream. He introduces himself as KP and entertains with some beatboxing and a few awkward jokes to lighten the mood. Then he thanks the café’s owners, two aging Koreans who linger behind the counter and flash grateful, wrinkled smiles, and calls the first performer, a 14-year-old girl, to step onto the stage. The night’s performances range from an up-and-coming Indian musician (who boasts that the Chainsmokers commented on one of his Youtube videos) to Andrew Choi, a musical jack-of-all-trades and the son of Café Rothem’s owners. Between performances, he serves coffee behind the counter and makes sure to mingle with all of the performers between their sets. He closes the show with the host, KP, as they improv their way through a bass and piano arrangement layered under a song about the rainy day and Choi’s experience of setting up the café’s new projector with his dad. It’s pure talent, yet somehow utterly lighthearted.

The best acts are unexpected. A middle aged woman delivers poems of war and tragedy from the lens of Kashmiri refugees. A European-Chilean couple combine the flute and guitar in a bizarre-but-welcome ethnic fusion. A well-versed Asian and a timid African American man arrange a Beatles medley.

Once they finish, to thundering applause, they invite customers who haven’t registered the chance to perform. A couple of teenagers force their friends up onto the stage, and the result is a surprisingly well-arranged harmony of high school kids reading lyrics from their phones.

Whether it’s their first time showing up, or if they’re a regular talent, each artist is welcomed with open arms and easily assimilated into the Cafe Rothem family.

THE CHALLENGER THE CHALLENGER THE SHOWMAN THE SHOWMAN THE BREADWINNER THE BREADWINNER T H E A R T I S T T H E A R T I S T T H E G I V E R NT OHRET HFVRI E WNI ND I E T H E WA R R I O R MT H I C E RWOACR O R ISOMR THE PROVOCATEUR THE PROVOCATEUR THE MISUNDERSTOOD THE MISUNDERSTOOD T H E M U S E T H E M U S E FEATURES

Northview students: the ex traordinary in the mundane STAFF THE MESSENGER | 15

B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N you happen to find yourself towards the E B R O W N Ifhead the 400 hall, take a look at the first B R O W N block ofoflockers on the right hand side. Those E B R O W N sticky notes? Senior Luke Brown. If you hapB R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N B R OW N E B R OW N observing these post-it notes in the B R O W N pen to bebefore first period, look to your left.

E B R O W N morning Brown. Most students would recognize B R O W N Luke iconic senior from the advanced drama E B R O W N this he is often casted in, but this eccentric B R O W N shows goes deeper than just “theater kid”.

E B R O W N character The sticky notes started as a joke to reB R O W N Brown of where his locker was. But on E B R O W N mind one odd somebody had moved his origB R O W N inal stickyday,note. of moving it back E B R O W N to where it was, heInstead simply wrote up another B R O W N one with an interesting quip, and stuck it E B R O W N on the locker next to his. Gradually, B R O W N ers began to move the stickies, and strangBrown E B R O W N would just write another note to makeup the MIRA SYDOW/DESIGN EDITOR

difference.

Odd? A little bit. But Brown is also the type of person to carry a roll of duct tape around. Not just in his backpack, but physically strapped to his backpack. To him, it is logical and useful, perfect for when his backpack might fail him, or when a theater kid needs some duct tape,.

Born and raised in Johns Creek, one would think that Brown would have little opportunity for an exciting childhood whose set is classic suburbia. However, within what most would consider an average childhood, Brown has had odd adventures. A faint scar in the middle of his forehead is all that’s left of a traumatic day in his kindergarten year.

Brown likes to tell this story humorously now, but the picture of a child bashing his head open on a toilet seat, creating a cut worthy of stitches, is painfully seared in his mind.

But Brown also has cute and idyllic memories from his past. His family often hosts holiday and neighborhood parties and events, where they aim to bring the community together. Brown has hosted the Neighborhood Olympics before, spending 10 hours on his feet, refereeing the Games as small children vied for plastic trophies.

Looking to the future, Brown wants to continue acting, but have a safe financial choice. Seeing as his brother attends Georgia Gwinnett College, Brown feels that he would be able to minor in acting there, but is still undecided about his major.

Brown has only been involved in acting since his freshman year at Northview, but he’s always been an entertaining person to be around.

VV I RI R AA SA SA HH UU V V I R A SA H U ASAHU HU ira Sahu is an enigma. She’s part of the first wave of the Junior Achievement program, something she actually regrets joining. Not that she had much say about it, since her parents forced her into the program. But to her, it’s always been about what others want. When she was younger, she had to quit gymnastics because her sister could no longer continue. Same with the piano.

If her older sister couldn’t do it, her mother found no value in keeping Sahu on it.

But coming into high school, even part of the restrictive JA program, Sahu found a little bit of freedom to individualize herself within in her electives and her extracurriculars. When she’s in Spanish, she’s able to

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interact with people not in the JA Program, something she values greatly. Sahu has friends in the program, but feels like she’s missing out on the quintessential parts of high school because of it, which is a key part of what motivated her to join JROTC. When one thinks of JROTC, it is not hard to picture a tall, white, All-American boy hailing from a military family. But Sahu does not fit that picture- she is a short Indian girl, a daughter of immigrants. But Sahu still finds a rock solid community within the program.

In JROTC, Sahu likes learning about different military commands and traditions.

Hosting the Veterans Day event was one of

the events that she was able to take part in, in addition to hosting the IDF soldiers last month. She is interested in the military as a career path, something her parents are a little unsure about.

And even though her family sometimes tries pushing her into a corner, one of the aspects that Sahu finds she also had freedom in is religion. Even though her family practices traditional festivals and customs, her family has always been comfortable with her atheist views.

In the future, Sahu does not see herself quitting the JA Program. Instead, she is focused on finding ties to the Northview community in her own way.

K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R

U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K U K E L U K

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K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R K AY L E I G H Y U N -T H AY E R

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ayleigh Yun-Thayer plays tennis. At least, that’s what she’s known for. With a quiet demeanor and soft smile, Yun-Thayer isn’t exactly the headstrong state champion that she could be. She accepts her accomplishments gracefully and constantly strives to do better.

After a winding, seven-year-long journey through sports to find her calling, and after trying her hand in soccer, dance, and swimming, Yun-Thayer realized she felt most at home on the court. It seemed pretty natural; she had been watching her mom play courtside for years.

Yun-Thayer adopted three staples of life from her mother: tennis, culture, and unwavering confidence in who she is. Just like her Korean mom, Yun-Thayer does not hesitate to identify as American. In a world where the 24-hour news cycle feels incomplete without racial conflicts, Yun-Thayer maintains that her race does not define her; her culture and choices do.

Although her family supports her endlessly, Yun-Thayer likes to think that she has found a new family through tennis. Headed by her coach, the older brother Yun-Thayer never had, her team carries her every day

down the road to state and to international competitions.

The team is the most exposure to kids her age Yun-Thayer had for a while. Starting in fourth grade, she wove in and out of homeschool, private schools, and public schools, eventually settling on Northview. Online school offered her newfound freedoms, but it lacked the social component that Northview, however competitive, still provides. Unlike some of her peers, Yun-Thayer cherishes every day at Northview because, as she knows from experience that it is better than the alternative, and she doesn’t succumb to the occasionally harmful culture. She saves her competitive drive for the court.

Tennis may always come first, but after high school Yun-Thayer hopes to exchange her racket for a scalpel. Her caring spirit, and two younger sisters who could use someone to look out for them, lead Yun-Thayer to want to become a pediatric surgeon.

In a school dominated by the desire to be different, whether it’s for college applications, personal fulfillment, or to please parents, Yun-Thayer is one of the rare specimens that just is. Immediately, she’s wonderfully unique without trying.

favorite NBA players, Paul George. Something else Davis is involved in is FCA, a club he got pulled into through cross country athletes. A lot of his communities at Northview are intertwined, and by participating in events like the FCA Jingle Mingle events, he feels at home with familiar people.

Davis was born in Indiana, but he moved to Switzerland when he was three, and lived there for three years. He does not remember much from his life in Switzerland, other than the cold and the mountains. His favorite childhood memories actually come from Johns Creek, where he hung out with his friend freshman Rohit Menon in the woods in the neighborhood, where they built forts to pass the time.

One of Davis’ favorite teachers, Sean Morgan, teaches his favorite class: Intro to Healthcare. Davis chose to his class because he plans on pursuing Sports Medicine as a ca-

JACK DAVIS JACK DAVIS JACK DAVIS A

s a freshman, Jack Davis finds Northview a solid place to learn, with solid people to hang out with it. He often flocks around when it comes to his social life, choosing to move in between groups instead of staying with a defined circle.

However, in one of his social circles, the cross country team, Davis has made a name for himself as “The Bread Guy”. It originally stemmed from an inside joke with other members of the team, who started hyping each other up before meets with the phrase “Let’s Get This Bread”. Davis thought it would be amusing if he brought loaves of bread to encourage the Varsity team before their regions race. Davis found it easy to join cross country, seeing as his sister was part of the Northview team when she attended. His mother also encourage him to participate, seeing that Davis was a sports inclined person.

Davis is also interested in basketball, and is part of the freshman team at Northview.

He’s been playing since 1st grade, but he started taking the game seriously in 7th grade.

Sports-wise, Davis is not sure if he wants to continue basketball past high school, because of the competition at the college level. He plays shooting guard, mirroring one of his

MIRA SYDOW/DESIGN EDITOR

reer. Davis was inspired by the trainers on the sidelines he saw whenever he attended one of his older brother’s basketball games. In the future, he’s looking to be a physical therapist.

THE MESSENGER | 17

C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R C A R LY S H I N D L E R I

f there is one thing Carly Shindler knows more than anything, it is giving. When she speaks, eyes bright, hands in constant motion to emphasize her words, the word ‘college’ does not cross her lips. There is not any underlying motivation, no glory for her.

She does what she does simply because it is good.

Shindler has a lot to say, which is to be expected. She tries to keep herself busy with class council, musical theatre, and helping out around the building. Any way for her to express her voice is a good use of her time.

Although vocal, Shindler is not impatient or intolerant. She practices respect and recognizes that everyone has a right to a voice as loud as hers; some people just need help expressing it.

Shindler’s tolerance and eagerness to help others’ voices be heard works well with her involvement in the CBI program.

Every day during first period, Shindler works with her friends in the CBI program.

She plays every possible role in the kids’ lives:

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an educator, caretaker, and friend. The immense respect she has for the CBI program’s teachers is matched only by the kids’ respect for her. Although the classes only have four kids each, managing each overflowing personality can be quite the challenge for Shindler and her team.

Rather than working on a communal scale, like the rest of Northview’s classrooms, Shindler and the teachers develop intimate relationships with the students. As Shindler recalls a particular friendship she has with a student, Arushi, she smiles. Arushi struggles with remembering numbers, so their chore of managing teachers’ mailboxes can take a while, but it is never an unpleasant experience.

Another one of her closest friends is Achin Chaugh. Though he may have trouble focusing, he is a shameless flirt and a people-pleaser. He does not care about who is watching him or what they think. Chaugh and Shindler share a talkative personality, and she relishes the small inside jokes they

MIRA SYDOW/DESIGN EDITOR

share. Some of her infectious confidence has definitely rubbed off on him. Adjusting to a new school is never easy, but Chaugh masterfully perseveres and savors every moment.

It seems as if Shindler’s involvement in the special needs community is endless.

From teaching her friend Cole, a Northview graduate with autism, at the Johns Creek art center to applying to be a counselor at a Jewish camp that hosts a special needs program.

It does, in a sense, all lead back to her brother. He was diagnosed as on the spectrum at a young age but only sparingly suffered the effects through life. Now, he is graduated from college and is starting on his own life, despite complications. When people like Shindler’s brother enjoy small triumphs, it makes her more convinced that she is on the right path.

Shindler’s most prominent talent is her ability to present. Everything she says immediately becomes important because of her conviction. Her life is a performance, and Shindler is the fantastical, yet humble, star.

ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGHJ ACHINCHAUGH ACHIN CHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH ACHINCHAUGH

JOEY KOVAL JOEY KOVA JOEY KOV JOEY KO oey Koval is a character, that’s for sure.

Pale skin. Straight brown hair. You’ll always see him with a sly smile and a bulky headphones around his neck. He’s fidgety, shifty, and if you don’t know him, it’s hard to determine how old he is.

He’s passionate about few things and generally unmotivated academically. But this has nothing to do with his intelligence. He’s wicked smart and can engage on a variety of topics in depth seemingly out of nowhere. If he is interested in something, he can talk to you for hours about it.

He’s especially fascinated by audio technology and computers-- hoping one day to take over his father’s IT business. A self-described audio geek and lover of nineties music, he’s proud that he can now buy all his own gear with the money he makes running the register at Riverside Pizza.

But he’s also deeply passionate about pol-

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orn to a traditional Pakistani family, all she knew growing up was who she was a mold of who her family wanted her to be.

Fluent in Urdu and preparing to pursue a path bound for a six figure career, the young Pakistani girl was becoming who she was made to be.

But, high school came and new interest sparked her eye. A chance to pursue a career, a life made from her own hands rather than her parents. High school brought its own pressures, pressures to fit in, be another face in the crowd and forgo any previous cares of responsibility. Lost and confused, she searches for herself, outside the expectations set by those around her.

However, she has always been an unconventional girl, never meant to be confined by the principles of others, always told to not speak too loudly, be a lady, enjoy ‘girl’ like things.

How could she? How could she when

itics. And over the course of the past two years, he’s undergone a transformation in terms of his ideology. Originally a Trump-supporting conservative like his parents, he read up on policy and political philosophy and now finds himself somewhere on the left.

He’s particularly frustrated by the pundits whom he deems to be pseudo-intellectual and factually-dishonest and sees it as his mission to expose and trigger them just as they have made a name for themselves doing with so-called social justice warriors.

Challenging those who typically do the challenging is one of his favorite pastimes and it’s clear that he’s not afraid to question the words of authority when he believes them to be wrong. Outwardly, he may appear quiet and passive, but if he cares about something, he is never afraid to speak out about it.

There’s more to Koval than meets the eye-- you just have to get to know him.

MAHAZUBAIRI MH AA HZ AUZ BUA B IARIIR I MA MH AA HZ AUZ BUA B IARIIR I MA MH AA HZ AUZ BUA B IARIIR I MA she spent her free time exploring the U.S.’s M A H A Z U B A I R I foreign affairs in the Middle East?M HowA H A Z U B A I R I could she when she watched more rolls of M A H A Z U B A I R I film and knew more stats than the starM foot-A H A Z U B A I R I ball player? A girl destined to break from M A H A Z U B A I R I the norms, confined to the standards M of theA H A Z U B A I R I world, a coach recognized an unfulfilled MAHAZUBAIRI talent and the potential to guide a M youngA H A Z U B A I R I student.

MH AA HZ AUZ BUA B IARIIR I She knows now she’s not just another M A face in the crowd.

A girl who works for what she wants, M A H A Z U B A I R I MAHAZUBAIRI hoping to pursue sports journalism in college. A girl ready to show her younger sis- M A H A Z U B A I R I MAHAZUBAIRI ter the beauty in being an unconventional woman in a cookie-cutter society. A girl M A H A Z U B A I R I MtoA H A Z U B A I R I ready to ignore the comments of others be herself, in the classroom, furthering her M A H A Z U B A I R I Mis aA H A Z U B A I R I career and understanding herself. She girl destined to be different, ready to change M A H A Z U B A I R I the world wherever she may go.

MAHAZUBAIRI She is Maha Zubairi.

MH AA HZ AUZ BUA B IARIIR I MA THE MESSENGER | 19 M A H AUZ BUA B IARIIR I MAHAZ

Last Curtain Call

Theater director Benjamin McClain departs Northview for fine arts job in state government MEGHANA RAMINENI, STAFF WRITER

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orthview’s beloved theater director, Benjamin McClain, left Northview High School to take on another position as the Fine Arts Specialist for the state of Georgia. McClain, whose last day was on Oct. 31, will be greatly missed by the drama students, as he not only helped build the foundation of Northview’s drama department over the years, but he also built relationships and strengthened bonds with the students at Northview.

McClain, despite his love for teaching, has decided to pursue an important opportunity that will allow him to bring about greater change in the community. Title Four funding from The Every Student Succeeds Act allows the state to create a Fine Arts Specialist position for the state, a role which McClain has been selected for due to his many accomplishments. This position al-

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lows him the ability to expand on the work he has been doing with the county in order to ensure equal access and opportunities to schools statewide. McClain’s selection for this job specifically comes from his success with Northview and Fulton County in supporting new teachers and expanding Fine Arts education.

Not only did the program have accomplishments in the various plays and musicals presented, including a recent GHSA Region award for second place for the play The Importance of Being Earnest, but McClain also achieved the blending of differing personalities among students to create an accepting and encouraging atmosphere.

“Northview has always been very accommodating in allowing for multiple opportunities for the students to perform, and being able to watch students come in to tell their

own stories and bring in their own unique perspectives to a performance is amazing,” McClain said.

This welcoming atmosphere set by McClain has inspired students and has greatly impacted them. Sophomore Emily Benelli recognizes and appreciates the effort McClain put into the theater program through the accepting environment he created.

“The community that he helped build with everyone in the theater program is amazing because everyone’s welcoming, even though theater people can be intimidating, and everyone’s there for each other,” Benelli said.

These successes only scratch the surface of the notable accomplishments that the drama department has achieved under McClain’s influence.

Constantin Claassen, a senior, has worked closely with McClain through a directed study involving just the two of them.

Claassen recalls that this study revealed Mc-

FEATURES

Clain’s true passion for teaching and theater.

“You know McClain cares about the students and that’s such a powerful thing,” Claassen said. “You see it in his love of theater and his love of teaching and his pure passion for the fine arts.”

And so, Claassen feels upset about McClain’s departure, as do many others experiencing this huge change, however he understands that this opportunity is a change for the better and is ecstatic for McClain.

The theater students look with hope towards the future of the school’s theater division, and have congratulated McClain on this opportunity as it is a great change not only for them but for McClain too. McClain’s position of higher influence can be seen as beneficial, as most students now realize, and although his presence will be missed at Northview, the impact he has left behind on the school will continue to influence and inspire future students to come.

“He gave life to Northview,” Benelli said.

“Everyone’s really, really happy for him because there’s no better person to be taking such a position except for Mr. McClain.”

Next on Deck NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR

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arlier this month, the students of the Northview drama department bid farewell to their beloved director, Benjamin McClain. Even though students have been sad about his departure, they are glad that he is taking on the new and higher position of Fine Arts specialist for the state.

It was the passion that him and language arts teacher Elizabeth Lake put continuously into the drama program that helped to make it what the current student body knows it to be. The students of the theatre department, both upper and underclassmen, cherish the memories that they have made with McClain.

“He helped people break their shells and become confident, and now he can provide other students with that opportunity,” sophomore Emily Benelli said. “I respect him so much more because he did that.”

Along with the sadness after he left, there was a slight panic from the students over his potential replacement. Since his departure, there has been a search for someone who would be best to fill McClain’s former role at Northview. A high school theatre director is a very specialized role, and whoever fills this position needs to have the right amount and kind of qualification. Along with professionalism, the person who potentially fills the qualification needs to have the same passion for the fields and the students, just as McClain did.

THE MESSENGER | 21

FEATURES

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE The Messenger’s top picks for gifts this holiday season AMANDA BEARD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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ANSHI VAJPAYEE, STAFF WRITER

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FjallraveN KaNkeN Backpack $80

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SantoriNi Silk Scarf $65

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Hydrate Spark Smart Waterbottle $45

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Free People CasHmere HaNdwear $35

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JaNe WatcH $39

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VaNs CHeckered Slides $35

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Polaroid OrigiNal ONeStep Camera $100

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UrbaN Outfitters Oversized BeaNie $34

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Illume Soy CaNdle $15

10 BPM Retro Wireless Speaker $70

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Tommy Hilfiger Socks $14

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8 10 THE MESSENGER | 23

face-off Should we use

instead of religious holiday sayings?

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OP IN ION S

YES:

SHASHANK GANESHAN, NEWS EDITOR

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n Nov. 1, all the Halloween decorations, pumpkins, and scarecrows are taken down to make way for the upcoming holiday season. As December rolls around the corner, attention turns from the secular festivities of the fall to the religiously-affiliated celebrations that follow. In America, Christmas dominates the late-Autumn and Winter season culture.

Many Homeowners Association’s use of residents’ money fund neighborhood decorations. In addition, the Christmas media advertisements and Santa Claus visiting young school-children are further evidence of how society prioritizes Christmas over the myriad of other winter holidays such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and less-familiar ones such as Day of Innocent Saints and Diwali. Given America’s increasingly diversifying populace, the phrase Happy Holidays is more appropriate than religiously-affiliated terms as the inclusive nonspecific language bridges people with disparate backgrounds and belief systems.

The debate reached national forefront

upon President Donald Trump stating to only use the phrase ‘Merry Christmas.’

While many are fine with either ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Merry Christmas’, the debate is largely symbolic: an acknowledgment of America’s religious plurality. Retail outlets and other corporations have commodified Christmas, trading any religious importance for trees, decorations, gifts, movies, and sweets. Society embeds Christmas traditions into non-religious contexts including work, school, and social life so tightly that many non-Christians forget about the holiday’s religious origins and become consumers themselves. However, Diwali, Hanukkah, Day of Innocent Saints, and Kwanzaa go largely uncelebrated by the majority of people. Thus solely using a religious phrase such as ‘Merry Christmas’ undervalues other festivals that pass by largely unnoticed by a majority of Americans. While it is very appropriate to wish Hindus ‘Happy Diwali’, Jewish people ‘Happy Hanukkah’, and Christians ‘Merry Christmas’, ‘Merry Christmas’ should not be continued to be used to address individu-

als at large, such as from government pulpits Despite the holiday greeting phrase used, the intentions behind the message are typically positive. The phrase ‘Happy Holidays’ is more convenient and all-encompassing than a specific religious holiday greeting.

On the other hand, an intentional use of Merry Christmas, for example, over Happy Holidays demonstrates a disregard for the diversifying American identity. To abate cultural clashes and encourage relationship building between different groups of people, a level of sensitivity is necessary. There is no expectation to tell Christians ‘Eid Mubarak’ during the Eid festivities holy to Muslims or ‘Happy Navratri’ during the special Hindu week.

While the “Happy Holidays” as opposed to “Merry Christmas” is inconsequential for most, whenever possible, it is important to be as inclusive to promote cross-cultural growth, rather than de-facto separation that exists throughout the country. Especially from a place of leadership and power, it is important to be as conscious as possible.

NO:

JENNAH SOOKNANAN, STAFF WRITER

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he first amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that the government can make no law respecting an establishment of religion. If it is such a fundamental pillar to out democracy to allow people to practice religion freely in the United States, there should be no restriction as to what people can say when sending out their season’s greetings.

The phrase “Merry Christmas” should not be used to distinctly separate religious and national holidays because Christmas is very much treated as a national holiday.

Phrases like “Merry Christmas” represent a more religious standpoint while phrases like “Happy Holidays” can represent a national symbol used to represent Christmas.

Even if you are not specifically referencing Christmas, wishing someone Happy Holidays will still allude to it.

Every year to kick off the holiday sea-

son, the famous Christmas tree is put up in Rockefeller Center. The tree lighting ceremony alone gathers the attention of the country. The season also comes with carolers going from door to door singing Christmas carols. Christmas is a holiday celebrated by most of the country. Even some families who do not practice Christianity still put up a Christmas tree and use it as a time to be together.

During the holiday season, companies use Christmas to their advantage by holding Christmas sales and including Santa Claus’ and wrapped presents in their commercials and other advertisements.

They do it because Christmas is so widely accepted across America. On top of this, almost every retail store closes or adjusts their hours for Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which affects employees who may choose not to celebrate the holiday.

One of America´s largest retailers shines their brightest during the holiday season because of their ´Believe´ campaign. Eleven years ago, Macy’s began the “Believe” campaign to help grant Make-aWish Kids’ wishes. In this campaign, children write letters to Santa and drop them into a mailbox in a Macy’s store or online.

For every letter Macy’s receives, they donate a dollar up, to one million dollars to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Since 2008, Macy’s has donated over $15 to Make-aWish.

The holiday season is a very fun and lively time of year, and it is very much so because of Christmas. The holiday is marketed all over the country and celebrated very widely across it. Therefore the phrase “Merry Christmas” is just as casual as saying “what’s up” to a passing friend or acquaintance.

THE MESSENGER | 25

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OPINIONS

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

Caravan Chaos F

or weeks now, one of the most prominent topics in the media has been the caravan traveling towards America.

The 4,000 people, stemming primarily from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, have slowly been making their way through Mexico on their way to the United States border.

The exodus, which started as a small group of 160 in the town of San Pedro Sula in early October, has made headlines in the US because of the current controversy on immigration.

The heightened focus on America’s response could be a strategy to stir up Trump’s base for the midterm elections, but the harsh rhetoric should not be brushed aside. The current administration is taking a hard stance against allowing entry, calling the people “aliens.”

The president has constantly called the movement an “invasion” and plans on treating the immigrants as “criminals,” despite intentions to apply for asylum once reaching the border.

To make it harder to enter legally, the current administration plans to tighten these asylum rules, restricting the entrance eligibility.

For America, this seems like the same story running on a loop. Whether it be Jews fleeing from Nazi Germany or Syrians escaping from the Assad regime, there is an instinctual response to turn our borders away from those facing violence or tyranny. Due to the constant fear mongering used by conservative media, there is a perception that these people

are coming to ruin the lives of Americans, but the truth is that the people leaving their countries are in truly desperate situations. The rumors that gang members are trying to disguise themselves as refugees seems absurd: considering the nearly 4,000-mile journey from Honduras to the southern border of Texas, the members would have to endure. The lives of many Central American citizens are destroyed by violence, corruption, and poverty, and this journey may be their last hope. In reality, the people making the trek are ones who are in situations where they have to leave everything behind due to physical danger and are willing to endure grueling conditions to escape.

As Americans, we should feel a sense of empathy to those facing severe persecution: if not because it is the ethical move but at least so that we do not repeat previous mistakes. The caravan has no deeper motive than to improve their living conditions and pose no threat to the lives of US citizens. The President and his administration have made their stance clear, by deploying 5,000 troops to the southern border; however, with the midterm elections now over and the House of Representatives and Senate being split again, it would take a bipartisan approach in Congress to accept the herd of legal immigrants. While the issue of illegal immigrants could be endlessly debated, there should be no argument on legal migrants fleeing oppression.

THE MESSENGER | 27

REID BETWEEN THE LINES

Inequality in Education How black students are trapped within a faulty system NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR

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round 63 years ago the United States saw a change made for the better with the ruling of the Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board. This case would help to integrate the formerly segregated American school systems, along with eliminating the issue of the horrible quality of the black schools. Even though the discrimination of students based upon race is no longer a blatant threat, it still occurs to minority students. When it comes to race, students who are black and are more likely to be targeted for discrimination. Whether it be a black student receiving increased punitive measures for carrying out the same wrong as another white student or having decreased opportunities in terms of advanced and gifted programs.

These discriminative disciplinary measures places black student in the school to prison pipeline. The school-to-prison pipeline describes how minority students make their way from school to juvenile detention facilities. A factor that has contributed to students moving through the school to prison pipeline, are school resource officers. Police officers being placed in schools is not new, it started in the 1950s at it was to help make kids more comfortable with being around and interacting with law enforcement. However, by the 90s was when it started to become an issue, when more of these resource officers started popping up in more and more inner-city public schools. These urban schools soon started to see more cops in their schools than guidance counselors. This problem also saw a spike after the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, when schools

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developed zero-tolerance policies in regards student behavior.

Even though these policies are in the best interest to keeping students safe and school resource officers do their job for the most part, it can sometimes be used against students. These policies have lead to the criminalization of students, specifically students who are black girls. While black boys are three times more likely to receive extreme punishments in school than white students, black girls can be up to six times more likely to get this punishment than white students to get punished as seen by the Department of Education. There is this misconception that black girls are unruly, loud, or “ghetto” which leads them to be subject to more in school and out of school suspensions, as well as expulsion for things that do not even garner the response, like talking back to the teacher, or even things that they did not do.

This sets black students up for failure before they even have chance to set foot in the real world, and it starts earlier than some may think. Take what happened in Milledgeville, Georgia, to the at the time six-year-old, Salecia Johnson, when she was handcuffed and brought to her principal's office in 2012. The resource officer who arrested Johnson said that she was resisting, but what would she have done that would have resulted in her getting handcuffed? She was only six, a child, there was nothing that she could have done to cause her to be treated so wrongly. How much of this event happened because she was actually being a threat, and how much was because she was just in the wrong skin at the wrong time? When black students are repeatedly treated like criminals, they start to

believe that they are nothing but.

Black students are also often not offered the same opportunities as their white or Asian counterparts. Even though black students make the same or better standardized test scores, and then are not even given the chance to participate in gifted and advanced programs. There is the bias in place that the eligible black students may not work as hard or as well as the other students. This makes it seem like black students are not worthy of even attempting to participate in these programs, which leads the students to believe that this is the truth. Black students not even being given the opportunity to perform at their best levels in schools is discouraging.

With them not performing up to par despite capability and discriminative punishment, school seems like a place that is less and less important or like a place that is only meant for them to get in trouble. Sooner or later, these kids will stop showing up to school, then start turning to crime, feeding the mantra that some lead themselves to believe. The mantra that there are only two places where black children are fit to end up in the future: prison or dead.

Black children deserve better than continuously getting cheated by the system.

Lawmakers and those who hold leadership positions, need to make it so that black children actually have a chance to succeed in the world, including school. Black children deserve the same chances as their white peers.

Black children deserve to be doctors, lawyers, engineers, writers and so on. Let us make it so that these students can get what they deserve.

COLUMNS

Breathe: A Change of Pace

THE LOW DOWN

Why we all need to take a break occasionally

JA C K LOW R A N C E , C O P Y E D I T O R

O

rwell once wrote that there were three reasons that drove a person to write: politics, egotism, and aesthetics. Lately this column has been focused on politics-- and let’s be honest, far too reliant on my own egotistical expectation that people will actually listen to these views. So this month, as a change of pace, I’m going to make an attempt at an apolitical column, because while politics may have a great impact our lives, sometimes we all need a break. Be prepared, this might not be pretty.

Although I made the decision to avoid a political column this month, I still have no idea what to write about if I’m being honest. News headlines this past week have consumed much of my attention.

Midterms. Trump Administration drama.

California wildfires. And maybe rightfully so-- this is serious stuff after all.

It’s important though, I think, to remember to take a step back and breathe occasionally-- not just from politics-- but from any number of the stressors in modern life. Take refuge in something. Nature.

Art. Literature. Your friends. Your family.

Your bed. It doesn't matter. Whatever this refuge may be, find it, and make a point to return. Life is too short to constantly suffer under the arbitrary stress that we inflict on ourselves and each other. Take time to enjoy the leaves as they change. The wind as it blows. The sun as it shines. Take a second to focus on the here and now. If you give it the respect it deserves, the present is the most beautiful place to be-- I promise.

I know I’m not saying anything new.

I won’t pretend that these ideas are original. They’re not. But while these words may appeal to many, very few of us actually take them to heart. We listen and nod our heads and think about how we want to make this change or that about our lives, but very rarely do we take the necessary actions to make something real happen.

If there’s anything that these tumultuous times have taught us, it’s that good can only ever come through the actions that we take. Idealism is nothing but a nice diversion if nothing concrete is done to turn it into a reality.

I write this column today from a place of optimism. Things these days might

not be going as well as we’d like, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get better. The future only looks grim when you allow it to look that way. We have the power to achieve anything-- absolutely anything-with the right amount of determination.

So while I’m sure these words of motivation that you read in our obscure, little high school publication won’t change much, I challenge those of you who sit idly by wondering when things will get better to take things into your own hands. And to those of you who have already done so, I commend you, and encourage you to continue. Don’t let life pass you by. Live it.

Live it because you don’t know how much of it you have left. Live it because you’ve really got nothing better to do. Live it because there’s not a better possible alternative.

I won’t pretend to know the truth, because I can promise you that I don’t have it. And as to whether this column will change anything I’m still not so sure. But let me say this-- I’ve heard taking the initiative to make change is worth it, and I’m inclined to agree.

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COLUMNS

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fash W ion IRENE RHO/PHOTO EDITOR

ith winter right along the corner, the season’s trendiest looks include bright colors, layering, and subtle accessorizing. Although colder seasons usually call for darker, more neutral colors, senior Sydney Yim steps outside of the box and layers bright colors that help her outfits stand out in the cold weather.

“I decided to experiment more with my outfits this season by wearing things I might not have worn before. This includes brighter and lighter colors compared to the more neutral tones I like to wear,” Yim said.

Layering is another important tip for staying warm and still looking chic this winter.

By pairing light turtlenecks underneath outfits, Yim does not have to be afraid of the

cold weather toning down her outfits.

“Layering is another thing I started to try out this year. I took inspiration from people I saw on Youtube and Instagram to layer turtlenecks underneath my dresses or tank tops that I have. This way I can still wear clothes from the summer if I want to,” Yim said.

Another key aspect of helping winter outfits pop are accessories. Hair clips, bracelets, rings, and necklaces help lighter winter outfits continue to stand out.

“I like to wear simple accessories rather than big ones with my outfits because I feel like they might make my clothes look too busy. For winter I keep my accessories simple and focus more on layering,” Yim said.

THE MESSENGER | 31

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