Vol. 17, Issue 6

the messenger

VOL 17/ISS 6

four of a kind

Northview’s emerging music scene pg. 17

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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

Aazan Khan Melissa Liu Ben Minder Alexis Oladipo Grace Peng Meghana Ramineni Aayush Shah 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

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MANAGING EDITORS

Irene Rho Upasna Kotakonda Kaushal Gandikota

ADVISER

contents 05

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EDITOR’S LETTER

GIRLS BASKETBALL

AMANDA BEARD

NIKKI SKYER

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STAFF

MELISSA LIU MEGHANA RAMINENI

MONTHLY BRIEFS

ROBOTICS TEAM

24 OP-EDS

JOEY KOVAL LEIGHA WHITRIDGE

26 FACEOFF

BEN MINDER ANSHI VAJPAYEE

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HIGH Q

FOOD REVIEW

REID BETWEEN THE LINES

GRACE PENG

SHASHANK GANESHAN

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17*

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JACK LOWRANCE

AKSHAY NAIR

JACK LOWRANCE JENNIFER XIA

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STAFF

STAFF

IRENE RHO

PROFILE: MARK MCLAUGHLIN

TITAN SPORTS

NOELLE REID

MUSIC CULTURE

STAFF EDITORIAL

THE LOW DOWN

MUSIC

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

College Conundrum

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s graduation draws closer and closer, seniors are spending the last few months of high school focused on determining their future plans post-high school. As the college process has grown into a monstrous process, the idea of students hurdling the barriers of academic success, extracurricular talents and service time simply because of a parent with a ready check book and promising connections, begs the question of what kind of culture is being perpetuated amongst the rising generation.

On March 13th, celebrities Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, only two of the 50 individuals were accused for involvement in the largest college admissions scam ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice. These, mainly parents, were allegedly paying college prep organizations to take standardized tests on behalf of students (such as the ACT and SAT) as well as bribing college admissions officers to allow their children priority acceptance. While some of these students were not aware of their parents negotiation tactics, many played as accomplices to the major production, spending their weekends yachting with the admissions officers rather than being concerned with the mundane obstacle of achieving a merit based acceptance.

The scandal provides as a sore spot in the nation, highlighting the unhealthy means to which an individual may go to given the opportunity to rise above someone else. Given as college acceptance rates have dropped over 10% in the past five years, according to a recent study conducted by Harvard Institute,

the pressure to mold into the type of student capable of finding a spot within the decreasing percentage is growing to become impossible. There is an important note to be taken in the fact that this scandal is in fact the largest this nation has ever seen, easily correlating with the surmounting pressure not only students are facing, but that parents are now taking it upon themselves-their child’s future becoming a much more burdened responsibility.

Therefore, the criticism towards the parents and families involved in the scandal, while in no way should be condoned or bear no consequence, have to be viewed in a proactive manner. The root cause for these underhanded dealings are due to the stress adolescents are faced with upon entering the college conundrum, trading passion for AP’s, sleep for GPA and family time with SAT prep classes. There should be no wonder as to why a parent, given the opportunity, would not choose to put their own child ahead.

Yet, the question then must be asked as to why this behavior is being promoted in schools and at home?

While the families involved in these allegations deserve and will receive the burden for their actions, it is necessary that as a nation and as a people we shift our focus from pointing fingers to those who slipped up and use our hands to construct a world capable of fostering education unafraid of ‘fitting a mold.’ It is time to stop discussing the punishments of those who have already made mistakes and rather have conversations regarding how to prevent future ones-how to prevent another college conundrum.

Amanda Beard, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

News In Brief PHOTO: UPASNA KOTAKONDA, STAFF WRITER

March 15

Congress strikes down President Trump’s National Emergency Declaration about immigration on the U.S. - Mexico border.

Exceptional March 4-8 Children’s Week Exceptional Children’s Week started on March 4 and lasted until March 8, with many students participating in the ‘one color a day’ event. The purpose of wearing a different color each day was to raise awareness for a different mental disability or issue. With the help of Beta Club, the CBI program coordinated the week’s plans for the entire school. Each morning’s announcements were accompanied with a different student from the CBI program reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every day during the week.

“The kids made a bunch of posters to put up. We want everyone to see the ability of the kids rather than the disabilities they have, ” junior and CBI peer facilitator Tyler Cato said.

In addition to the color coordination, the students in the CBI program as well as the special education programs researched notable celebrities who have disabilities to illustrate that the odds they faced did not keep them back from achieving notable successes.

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The Northview theater program put on “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” as its spring musical. This play, based on the Charlie Brown comics, will be one of the most family friendly musicals Northview has performed.

Set as an ordinary day in Charlie Brown’s life, Northview’s theater program aims to put out a piece that everybody can look upon with joy. The theater program aims to put out a piece that people of all ages can relate to and enjoy.

This musical, directed by Fine Arts and Theater Director Anna Pieri and literature and drama teacher Elizabeth Lake casts senior Kabir Gandhi as Charlie Brown with many other seniors in high level roles including Emmanuel Charles, Lindsay Bennett, and Logan Wallace. This also happens to be the second to last play of the season and thus one of the last ones for all the seniors in the program.

“This show has been such a blast to learn so far and it includes wonderful songs, dance numbers and acting,” sophomore Aayush Umesh, who will be playing Shermy as part of the ensemble, said.

March 25-29 Teacher Appreciation Week

March 22 “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Opens

The festivities of the Teacher Appreciation Week come from a necessity to have educators feel appreciated. Without their hard work and dedication to teaching, students would not receive anywhere close to the high quality of education that Northview has consistently offered for years.

This year’s theme for teacher appreciation week is ‘Road Trip.’

The teachers and faculty will receive a variety of items including keychains, a credit card holder with numerous coupons, free coffee, catered lunch, and numerous other things to make their week special. One of the most sentimental pieces is a simple candy bar, with the wrapper listing out all the accomplishments the teacher has been part of, another small gesture Northview is taking in hopes to show appreciation to their educators.

“Anytime you can make your staff feel valued for what they do is an uplifting experience for not only the teachers, but for everybody involved as they recognize someone they care about and appreciate,” Secretary Barbra Rettker said. “It’s just one of those nice things we do every year to make sure that they feel appreciated for what they do.”

March 14 Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign manager, was sentenced to 7.5 years for conspiracy, obstruction,and fraud.

THE MESSENGER | 7

NEWS

Northview High on High-Q Northview Quiz Bowl team wins on lo cal TV GRACE PENG, STAFF WRITER

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orthview High School has a notorious reputation for its extremely hardworking students, studious learning environment, and competitive high scores. The competitive Quiz Bowl team only reflects this spirit, and this year, they have continued to demonstrate their academic excellence.

The Quiz Bowl team earned their spot on WSB-TV’s High-Q, a show is that consists of only 4 people out of the many participants in the club. The club, like many others, is student-lead, meaning that students are the ones who schedules meetings, practices, and sets the curriculum.

Since the team studies a variety of topics, each member of this team, seniors Aakash Para, Amshu Chakragiri, Ayush Nene, Evan Ouyang, and Varun Vangala, has dedicated himself to researching, learning, and memorizing information in their designated categories. This includes reading books, online sources, and questions that have been given in the past. Most of the academic team’s success results from this meticulous process, and since member connect his learnings to the questions they are asked, similar to the

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way students study for tests. More than once, questions have recurred in competitions, so looking back at previous material has proven one of their biggest parts in the preparation process. Becoming accomplished in their specific subject requires huge time dedication, and it has resulted in the success during competition.

“Each person takes it upon himself to be as knowledgeable as he can in that certain subject,” Para, the team captain, said. “Sometimes, it is something we have no idea about, so we discuss those [questions] more.”

After spending hours upon hours delving deeper into their specialized area, they attend practices in Mark Anderson’s room on Tuesdays and often at each other’s houses during the weekends, especially when competition season nears. Practice sessions, in general, are informal and laid-back; members of the team talk and joke around even, rather than constantly answering question after question.

However, in the weeks before tournaments, practices become more intense as they begin competing. In practice, they improve speed and accuracy by hitting buzzers, discussing questions, and checking their answers after

speaking.

The Quiz Bowl team competes in a series of regional competitions before it becomes eligible for the county tournament. Having won, the team qualified for the privilege of being on TV; the TV station, seeing their season standings, contacts the team and gives them the filming dates. Season 33-- this year’s season-- consisted of more than 30 teams from around the Greater Atlanta area, who competed on March 2. Northview won, advancing to the state and national championships.

“It’s fantastic. This is another vehicle for our kids to shine. Our academic team has been on High Q for quite a few years, and they have historically performed very well.

It’s always fun to see the Northview name on TV, and I’m sure for the kids involved, it’s always fun to be on TV, and it’s always fun to do that and be successful,” Principal Brian Downey said.

Last year, the team won the state championships and placed 12th at nationals; this year, they are hoping to improve upon that finish, working hard once again for the upcoming state and national championships.

SPORTS

profile

highlights

Mark McLaughlin, 12 93 mph fastball

AKSHAY NAIR, SPORTS EDITOR

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fter months of deliberation, Northview senior pitcher Mark McLaughlin has inked his commitment to play baseball for the University of Tennessee.

Like many kids, McLaughlin tried his hand at numerous sports such as football, basketball, swimming, and baseball, but over time, his passion for the other sports dwindled, and he grew closer to baseball. Entering high school, he primarily played as a hitter, but the coaches quickly saw his potential as a pitcher, and he began to transition into that role. McLaughlin credits the Northview coaches and his teammates for encour-

aging him to change positions and helping him through the adjustments that came along with it.

“The players and coaches at Northview have helped me throughout my career in a drastic way. They have helped me grow and help me through the struggles of baseball when it was needed,” McLaughlin said.

His determination and willingness to learn soon made him a premier pitcher for Northview. He, along with graduated pitcher Colton McDaniel, powered the team into the round of 16 in 2017, where they lost to eventual runner up, Lee County High School. While last season was marred with disappointments and growing pains under new coach Tom Kratowicz, the team is confident they can regain their winning ways with more comfortability in the new schemes. McLaughlin’s ability to change the game with his pitching usually ensures that the score can be kept in check and gives his teammates confidence they are never out of it.

“He has come a long way since we started playing together freshmen year and has improved tremendously. He is the best pitcher on the team no doubt and with him pitching he keeps us in every game, and we know we have a shot to win,” senior teammate Ryan Blake said.

“His numerous personal accolades landed him the top 500 nationally ranked recruits, and his individual success has been used by several underclassmen as a gold standard to follow. His dedicated work ethic and personable character make him a locker room favorite.

Whether it be motivating players to perform at their best or providing humor to calm nerves, he mirrors his excellence on the

top 500 recruit in the nation

Preseason Underclass All American 3rd Team field off the field as well. Teammates look to him as a leader on both aspects of the game.

“Mark is a great guy to have around in the locker room; he always has a helping hand to give. He has a good character around the locker room and is extremely goofy,” senior teammate Jaysen Dower said.

While it is not uncommon for top baseball players to declare for the MLB draft straight from high school, McLaughlin opted for the more conventional choice to play baseball in college. While he considered entering the draft, he feels the University of Tennessee provides a unique culture and an environment where he can perform at his maximum potential. While as of now, he is focused on competing at a high level for Northview and Tennessee, he knows that the possibility to play professionally is an option, and he is keeping that door open.

“Tennessee was the perfect home for me right when I got on campus. The atmosphere there was like no other, and the culture that the new coaches and players are creating is something that I want to be a part of,” McLaughlin said. “My aspirations for college and beyond is first to win championships at the University of Tennessee and rewrite history. After, I would like to be drafted into the MLB and have an amazing career.”

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SPORTS

at a

GLANCE PHOTOS: UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR GRACE PENG, STAFF WRITER ANSHI VAJPAYEE, STAFF WRITER JUSTINE ULRICH, SPECIAL

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SPORTS

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A Strong Finish Lady Titans end the season’s positive streak in Region Quarterfinals NIKKI SKYER, STAFF WRITER PHOTO: UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

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or the past few seasons, the Lady Titans varsity basketball team has been incredibly successful with numerous deep playoff runs, and this year was no different. During the offseason, they held intense workouts and made an effort to develop chemistry, and the effort only continued during the season. Their hard work was rewarded with a perfect record in the region, and they stormed into the state tournament as the number one seed after winning the region tournament. They played New Manchester High School in the round of 16, and despite head coach Chris Yarbrough not being present at the game, the team was able to edge out a close 43-54 win. The elite eight game was against the Lovejoy Wildcats from Hampton, a foe Northview was all too familiar with. The Wildcats routed the Titans with a final score 70-42 in the final four, en route to winning the tournament, and the team was excited to avenge last season’s bitter end.

“The team was really excited and ready to prove ourselves and to get revenge from last year when we lost in the final four to the

Lovejoy girls team,” Sophomore Eden Sample said.

This season, the Lovejoy was ranked number three in Georgia, while the Titans were ranked number 11, so it was bound to be a difficult matchup, but the team was ready to taste postseason success. The girls went in with an optimistic attitude and worked hard to keep the score close during the first half; however, they ended the half down 24-35. The second half saw the Wildcats hold a ten point lead throughout with the final score ending 53-65, and for Lovejoy, the season ended with a runner-up finished.

For Northview, the loss was a bittersweet end for many of the talented seniors, one littered with countless records and memories. “[We were] disappointed. We had an opportunity to do something special, and there were some calls and missed chances, but I think after we reflected on this season and the four years for the seniors, they realized it was something special,” Assistant Coach Madigan said.

Despite the tough loss to end the season, the Titans can look back with a positive lens.

season eight 12

The team went out knowing that they had done their best at all times and competed at their maximum capacity every time they stepped on the court. For the seniors, it marked the end of their high school playing career, and they know that they will be leaving having left their mark on Northview.

“My four years on the team were really amazing. We grew as a team and as a family every year, and we really put our whole hearts into it and played our hardest,” Senior Mitchel Alex said.

The returning players have used the defeat as motivation to come back stronger, and they could not be more optimistic for next season. They have pushed themselves the past few seasons, but are willing to go that extra mile to win a state championship. Both the coaches and players are excited to build back up as many of the starting spots were taken by seniors and will need to be replaced.

With proper development and the continued growth of the returning players, the 2020 season could be the year Northview breaks through.

consecutive region champs highest scorer:

ASHLEE AUSTIN

SPORTS

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DAVID LIU/SPECIAL

Engineering Progress Northview’s robotics team breaks down barriers and the competition ANSHI VAJPAYEE, STAFF WRITER MELISSA LIU, STAFF WRITER

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orthview’s robotics team, the Techno Titans, just started competition season after six weeks of building their robot, and will now spend the next six weeks competing. During the first competition of the season, the team won eighth place for the qualification matches and the entrepreneurship award as well. A team member also became a semifinalist for the Dean’s List award. The recipient was sophomore Michelle Heo, one of the only two girls in leadership on the team, and one of the 11 girls on the team.

The idea that STEM is heavily male dominated is a mindset instilled into students from a young age, due to the misconceptions surrounding girls in this type of field. And despite Northview’s accepting environment,

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the stigma around girls in STEM still exists at large. Northview’s robotics team faces this diversity problem, as a majority of girls tend to be discouraged from pursuing anything in STEM. Theresa Dixon, a mentor for the club, admits that over the years, the number of girls in their club has been low but increasing. She reveals that most girls hesitate to join simply because of the small number of girls interested. And once on the team, Dixon has observed instances where girls have been pushed away from the main action.

“We did have a situation where some of the guys who were in higher positions were not allowing the girls to do as much,” Dixon said. “It may not have been intentional, but that is just how it happened.”

Despite instances like this one, the stig-

ma around girls in STEM did not stop the 11 girls in the club this year, especially the two in leadership. Senior Nidhi Pai and sophomore Michelle Heo are the only two girls on leadership, and both influence the team greatly. For Pai, robotics was something she realized she loved freshmen year, when she joined the Techno Titans.

“A lot of times it’s because girls tend to communicate with girls and so they probably wouldn’t feel comfortable in this kind of environment or they would get intimidated by the guys,” Pai said. “But it is most likely because a lot of girls don’t have a someone to look up to like I did.”

Pai, who came into the club with the idea of doing programming, has expanded her skillset to encompass the vast amount of

FEATURES skills one can learn on the team. She has even become the president of the club this year, and feels as if more girls would get involved in leadership if they had a positive role model, just like she did.

“It is important for the members to not only be active on the team and educate themselves, but to also want to learn more and inspire others to learn about engineering,” Pai said.

Now a senior, Pai hopes to leave the club with a stronger sense of acceptance than before. She hopes that more girls will join to help break the stigma around girls in STEM. Heo has also experienced this gender bias against females, both intentional and unintentional, in the robotics field, causing her to be more hesistant about taking leadership.

“Females were not seen as leading figures of STEM careers, including robotics,” Heo said, “I was terrified of making a fool of myself while being a leader. This seems to be something that females experience more because of the unbalanced treatment of girls in robotics.”

Heo started participating in robotics her freshman year. As a semifinalist for the Dean’s List, she is in the running for a prestigious award given to outstanding student leaders in the ‘FIRST’ Robotics Competition, and will move on to compete for state finalist in April. Heo secured leadership positions as safety captain and project manager, even

work skills in a way I could not have without robotics.”

Principal Brian Downey echoes this view.

He supports of the team’s efforts to recruit more girls and hopes that more girls will be able to participate in robotics and reap these benefits in the future.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for our kids to apply all they are learning in a different environment. It is team building, problem solving, and creativity,” Downey said.

“The more girls that we have involved, the better.

There is no reason females can’t be successful in those fields. They are and they should be. They bring a lot to the team.”

The Techno Titans have accomplished great things over the years and continue to expand their skillset. However, they have a greater potential for success. By providing equal learning opportunities for females and males in STEM, the barrier that prevents many girls from joining and getting more involved in clubs like the Techno Titans can be broken down, leaving a stronger and greater team of people with the ability to accomplish more.

“It is a wonde rf u l o ppo rtu ni ty fo r o u r kids to app l y a l l th ey a re l e a rni ng i n a diffe rent e nv i ro nm e nt. It i s te a m bui l d in g, p ro b l e m so lv i ng, a nd c re ativity. T he m o re gi rls th a t we h ave involved , th e b e tte r” B ri a n Do w ney though they are usually reserved for juniors and seniors. Her involvement in robotics, especially her role as a leader, has helped her grow immensely.

“In the beginning, I was very tentative, especially when it came to major decisions, but through robotics, I learned to be strategic and careful about every decision because every step counted,” Heo said. “I have grown not only in technical skills but also in team-

THE MESSENGER | 15

Divine Coffee The Messengers monthly Foo d Review SHASHANK GANESHAN, NEWS EDITOR PHOTO: MIRA SYDOW, MANAGING EDITOR

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ivine Coffee’s serene, but vibrant space has attracted consumers of various ages and professions. Just off of McGinnis Ferry Road, the restaurant stands brightly lit, providing a space to conduct meetings, finish group projects, or socialize with peers. Divine Coffee’s homely environment contrasts the hustle and bustle outside as cars furiously speed down McGinnis, weaving through lanes. A right turn into the new constructed complex and entering the building instead provides a relief from afterwork and afterschool stress.

Once arriving to Divine Coffee, I saw two friends laughing on modern lounge chairs and a student working intently on his laptop. This first impression set the tone for my experience. Walking past the friends and the student, I greeted three employees at the counter. I learned that Divine Coffee serves a various flavors of coffee, espresso beverages, meals according to the time of day, pastries, deserts, and sandwiches. All pastries are created fresh daily and delivered from a French bakery. Furthermore, all purchases at Divine Coffee can be taken out or delivered to the

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proper table after preparation.

Under the advice of my friends who accompanied me and the baristas from Divine Coffee, I ordered a Lemon Bar and Vanilla Latte to-go and a Caprese Sandwich for dining in. The Lemon Bar cost a modest $2.86.

The latte was about $4, and the sandwich, accompanied with a packet of chips, cost approximately $10. After a approximately a six minute wait, I received my latte and Lemon Bar, and after finding a table, the employee from the counter delivered the caprese sandwich 12 minutes later on a white porcelain dish along with stainless steel silverware.

The caprese sandwich contains tomato, mozzarella, onion, and a touch of parsley or basil between slices of Ciabatta bread that coalesce into culinary wonderment. The delicious combination of savory flavors complement one another, without the cheese or freshness of the vegetables overpowering. The tomatoes, onion, and cheese are the right texture for the bread. The only drawback of the food being made freshly each day is that the bread hardens later in the evening resulting in an unexpectedly tougher texture to the

7725 McGinnis Ferry Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30024 (770) 417-8759 *This article is not sponsored by Divine Coffee

otherwise smooth sandwich.

Furthermore the Vanilla Latte brought smooth and creamy supplement to the Caprese Sandwich. The latte tastes like a regular espresso but with a dash of sweetness that did not overwhelm with a sugary burst. It balanced the sweetness and flavor well. Along with the latte, I snacked on the Lemon Bar which like the latte had the right amount of sweetness. However, the lemon flavor was just slightly overpowering. Furthermore, the bar was prepared as shortbread with a lemon cream on top. I would have appreciated a thicker shortbread crust to provide more substance to the very creamy dish.

Overall, my experience at Divine Coffee exceeded expectations as the food, service, and ambiance were excellent. I enjoyed a productive evening sharing pastries with friends between homework problem sets. The two hours I was there flew by.

Divine Coffee has filled a local need by bringing the community an exciting place to gather and dine with friends and colleagues in a clean, spacious, and well-furnished environment.

FEATURES

four of a kind

JACK LOWRANCE, MANAGING EDITOR JENNIFER XIA, FEATURES EDITOR PHOTOS: UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

MIRA SYDOW, MANAGING EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 17

Josh Libatique

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alm and a little reserved, junior Joshua Libatique is easily recognizable in his signature beanies, something Northview has prohibited him from wearing due to rules regarding no hats. Beanies have become a part of his personal style and even his identity. Feeling an unmatchable comfort and peace as soon as a beanie is put on his head, Libatique feels safe.

Something his school has not taken away is his passion for music. Early influence stemming from his father, a former band member, Libatique took up a variety of instruments, starting from learning how to lay down a beat on his dad’s old drum set. He began piano, guitar, and ukulele, all from a love of music caused by ratty old disks in his basement.

“I picked the cheapest guitar I could find online and started trying to shred,” Libatique said.

Guitar eventually led to electric, acoustic, and classical, widening his range of musical talent. What began it all, though, was his love of rock. From Jimi Hendrix, to the Beatles, Libatique credits so many artists as influencers for what has become his passion. Most of all, Libatique praises his peers for understanding and inspiring his own art.

“I got into the whole trap and rap scene, hip hop, jazz, and alternative art through

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friends. I also fell in love with the whole indie scene,” Libatique said. “My friends got me to expand my music taste as much as possible as we’d talk about genres we love and explore so much new music together.”

To encourage more students in the music scene to share their art, Libatique has started his own music club at Northview, Clique Musique. Even requesting a lunchtime jam session, Clique Musique has helped people like Libatique to be able to share and create music freely.

“We just meet up to play music, write music, and listen to music together. It’s a safe space for Northview’s usually highly introverted music community to express themselves together and feel comfortable,” Libatique said.

Like his friend Nicole (also featured as part of this cover story), Libatique is indifferent about the need to impress colleges with things he is not interested in. He believes in playing music for who he really is.

“A lot of people play because they’re pressured to and to show colleges who you are.

I feel like inside of musicians is this innate drive to express ourselves, and for some of us that self is pretty much just musical,” Libatique said. “A lot of us just want to be solo artists or to have creative freedom.”

While having participated in multiple bands, Chinarose, The Mac DeMarco Experience Fan Club, Auralist, Sephirath, and The House Band, Libatique has found burden in releasing solo music. Although he is extremely hopeful in finding the courage, he has not found the right opportunity to begin releasing on platforms yet.

“I plan on having a crazy release of music, but I just don’t know the right moment to jump in. It’s scary because the industry doesn’t care until they know who you are,” Libatique said. “Hopefully I can be bold for once and say, ‘Hey, here’s my art, and I hope you guys like it.’”

Aside from music, Libatique does not plan to forget his studies. His second passion is psychology, and he is set on tackling a double major in the near future. As long as he does not abandon everything else, he is all in on pursuing music. For now, Libatique wants to be creative, chill out and make the music he so dearly loves. Strumming his treasured ukulele, he writes soulful love songs, pouring out his passion into that safe creative space.

“For any creative space dream is to not have to work and just to do what doesn’t feel like work for a living,” Libatique said. “I just want to be doing my passion and spreading my art.”

Anna Hu

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f sophomore Anna Hu is anything, she’s humble. Quiet but not timid, she wears lemon yellow crocs and faded black sweats. She has a kind smile and a blunt way of saying things. She’s subtly funny and smarter than she gives herself credit for. She loves to play the violin-- and according to everyone but her, she’s really good.

Raised on the Chinese folk music that her mother played around the house when she was younger, she started playing the violin at age seven after she heard the song “The Butterfly Lovers” and realized that she wanted to learn how to play something as beautiful as she perceived the song to be. Neither of her parents had a background in music, but they were very supportive of her desire to learn. They paid for lessons and bought her a violin and, well, the rest is history.

In the decade since, she’s been very successful-- but she would never tell you that.

Chosen to be concertmaster for Georgia’s All State Orchestra in eighth grade and then again this year as a sophomore, it’s clear that she has great talent.

But she doesn’t have the competitive edge to her that you would expect.

“I don’t mind it, but I prefer learning in non-competitive environments. I don’t really learn a lot from just playing, I learn a lot from looking at people play and hearing them play and learning what tactics they use when they practice,” she said. “It doesn’t really help me to play in a really competitive environment because people are always hiding things from each other and I’d rather be more open.”

This is part of why she doesn’t want to continue professionally. She doesn’t like the hyper-competitiveness and subjectivity that exist in the realm of professional orchestra.

But that doesn’t mean that she ever thinks she’ll grow apart from music.

“If I have kids I want to teach my kids,” she said. “And I might join a casual orchestra where I can still play and practice, but I don’t want to have to be competing for a job like that.”

When school isn’t in session, she often plays the violin for upwards of four hours a day. But during the school year, music be-

comes a refuge from the high pressure world of endless work and arbitrary grades that exists at Northview. And so even during the school week, she tries to play for an hour or two in the afternoon after she gets home.

“When I’m really sad or stressed from school I try to play a little bit to make me feel better,” she said.

But while some people have complex reasons that go into why they’re passionate about something, Anna doesn’t. Her passion is simple. She loves the beauty in playing.

She doesn’t care who’s playing as long as it sounds good. She doesn’t have any specific favorite composers, just whoever writes music that sounds good. She craves good music-- nothing more, nothing less.

Anna isn’t sure about a whole lot in her life, but she’s always been sure about music.

Since day one, she has wanted to play and hasn’t had any doubts about continuing in the near decade that she’s been playing since.

She loves how she can make people happy when she plays, but she also just loves the art of playing-- it’s the most beautiful thing she can think of.

“Well, when it sounds bad, it sounds like I’m killing a chicken and the chicken hasn’t died yet,” she said. “But when it sounds good, it feels like I’m making some kind of magic, it feels like what I’m playing isn’t actually me playing, it’s like some superhuman thing just coming out of my hands.”

Outside of music, Anna likes to read fiction and the occasional history book, she runs for exercise, takes pictures of things she finds beautiful, and likes to be in nature when she can. She likes school and enjoys learning-- particularly the concrete, only one right answer aspects of science and math.

But she wrestles with the notion that her true passions won’t be things that can support her in the future.

“I’m just trying to live in the moment-but I also need to figure out the future because I don’t want to be homeless,“ she said.

Even as a sophomore, she feels the pressure to figure out how she’ll support herself in the future. But if it were up to her, she’d rather just focus on music. That’s what makes her eyes light up. That’s what fuels her fire.

THE MESSENGER | 19

N

icole Yakovlev, a senior at Northview, is still trying to find her chill and she’s not going to stop until she finds it. There’s really no other way to put it. Unsure about college and fed up with the stress of school, she’s taking a gap year next year in order to further pursue her aspirations of having a career in music. She has doubts everyday, but deep down she knows that it’s worth it. It’s who she is and she can’t deny it.

A calm voice and the slight slouch of a cool kid as she talks, you can always spot her in her trademark, long, flowing floral skirts.

She’s down to earth and friendly and trying to live in the moment, even if it’s not always going how she plans.

The daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, her parents moved to the Atlanta area from Kiev in 1999. Music is a big part of her family and an important aspect of Ukrainian cultural roots-- she’s been immersed in it since she can ever remember.

She started playing the piano at age four,

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but regretfully confesses that she’s not very good at it now after years of little practice.

She’s also learning to play the guitar and enjoys the ukulele as well. But where she really shines is with singing. Her voice is sweet and her words drip with passion. Just watching her practice, you can tell that her music, in all its chaotic rhythms and unconventional melodies, really brings her joy.

“I don’t view it as practicing, I’m really just aimlessly screaming, singing, or annoying my parents with my guitar,” she said. “I try to play everyday because it’s what keeps me sane.”

If there’s anything she hates, however, it’s structure. She improvises almost all her music, with hundreds of recordings of free flowed melodies, lyrics, and original songs that she stores on her cellphone. But her dislike of structure extends to almost every aspect of her life. You’ll almost never actually see her at school because she takes all of her classes online through dual enrollment. As a result of this burn out, Nicole has decided to forgo college next year in favor of taking a gap year, sorting her life out, and further pursuing music.

“I want to take a gap year because I can’t do this anymore,” she said. “School drained me; Northview drained me.”

Thankfully, however, she’s not doing it alone. With the support of her family and

the push of her friend Josh (also featured as a part of this cover story), she’s taking the leap of faith with a steady support structure to keep her grounded.

But she’s also encouraged by the response that she receives when she performs.

At Northview’s last international night, she sang to a thunderous, ear-drum-bursting crowd. And she is motivated to continue by the compliments she receives after singing at various open mic nights around the Atlanta area.

“Random people don’t need to lie to me so that means there must be some truth to it, right?” she said. “That inspired me to do more.”

She especially likes the open mic format because of its inherent lack of structure.

“I found that a mental block with me for school and singing and everything that I do is that if I over prepare I screw up,” she said.

“So open mics are kind of the perfect opportunity for me to prepare a little bit and then just be in the moment.”

But in a perfect world, Nicole really just wants to focus on the music. She’d rather not be concerned with impressing anyone, making connections, or any of the other arbitrary baggage that goes with trying to make it in music. If it were up to her, she’d just play.

“Everything about music fascinates me.

It confuses me. It makes me cry. It makes me laugh. I’m fascinated with artists and how they can capture a moment in a song and bring it all together into this perfect little package,” she said.

Since her freshman year, she’s known that she loved music-- it’s the only endeavor that she’s ever felt truly felt like herself doing.

“With school, I used to be a good student, but that wasn’t me, it was a projection of what other people wanted me to be,” she said. “I realized that music is the thing for my soul. It’s something that I finally felt like myself doing.”

Nicole Yakovlev

A

t 13, on his friend’s small setup, Sidney Oladipo, a senior who is better known as rising rapper Sid Shyne, began his now soaring career on just a laptop and cheap microphone. Shyne first released in 2014 on free platforms like SoundCloud for possible recognition through close friends, not knowing that five years later, he would be opening for shows and releasing albums.

Shyne, writing and performing first for his elementary talent shows, now has the opportunity to take his music to a bigger scale. For years now, he has those times in his middle school recording sessions to thank for starting something that he is so passionate about.

“I would just play around with it, re-

Sid Shyne

cording on it, and just seeing how it turned out. That’s how I really got interested and fell in love with it,” Shyne said.

Releasing music and promoting it through his friend groups, Shyne realized how popular his music had become.

“I was just dropping music through my SoundCloud and promoting it through my friends. Once I saw that people actually listened to it and liked it, I told myself “This is cool” ,so I kept on doing it,” he said. I kept on releasing singles, and they were getting thousands of plays, so I kept on going.”

Now without the small setup in his room, Shyne has a studio in Gwinnett County to record and collaborate, sometimes with his biggest influencers. Shyne’s older brother, Sultan Oladipo, is also a

part of the music industry under the name $ODAMAN. With the help of his older brother and other underground rappers in Atlanta, Shyne has been able to release music and perform music.

Recently, Shyne opened up for the Interstellar Tour in downtown Atlanta, one of the many gigs he has booked. He also hit the milestone of receiving more than 100,000 plays on SoundCloud along with other platforms he releases on: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube. But all of this is just the beginning.

“I want to hopefully do more shows and get my name out there,” Shyne said. “I just want my name to be known in the city of Atlanta first and then to spread. Hopefully, in a couple of years I’ll be mainstream.”

THE MESSENGER | 21

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OPINIONS

STAFF EDITORIAL

Pantsuit Up

W

ithin the transition from adolescence to adulthood we often find ourselves questioning to what extent our generation should adopt the traditions of the generation preceding. While some of us are stuck in an eternal conflict with childhood, those of us involved in pre-professional clubs at Northview have dealt with this challenge head-on, and with its most detailed nuances. Some of these nuances are more noticeable than others, but dress ware is arguably the most important.

The eternal pantsuit debate has been speculated at on a national level, most recently and most notably in the 2016 Presidential Election news coverage. It brought a magnifying glass to the most minute of choices each candidate made—and this included fashion.

Majority of the coverage focused on Clinton, but is the speculation within itself sexist?

One may look at the coverage and deem it sexist, for it does detract from the substance of a candidate. However, it is important to reflect on the smallest of choices women make in the professional world. After television became mainstream, political candidates running for office suddenly seemed fitter, and better looking. It’s these small choices that are made that portray a certain image to us. The generation above us seem obsessed with pantsuits and the

perfect combination of femininity and professionalism. But as a rising generation, we are able to take the stereotype by the reins and perhaps change the ‘ideal.’

When that stereotypical image calls for high schoolers to question their own professional dress wear is when we are able to decide to change up the status quo.

During competition off-season, the women of these clubs; FBLA, mock trial, and debate, find themselves in the annual conundrum of skirts versus dress pants. We intend to send a message of confidence and power, whether the occasion be delivering an opening statement, or conducting a mock interview. But is the illusion of pants being more professional conducive to the idea of feminism?

To reclaim our femininity and use it to our strength, we must not discourage women from wearing skirts. It is a symbol of power to be able to reclaim the fashion. Like the flappers of the 1920s, women have the ability to take control of their fashion and bend promiscuity to their will. Not that sexuality has a place in the workspace, but that the rules should not limit the way we should dress.

What type of message do us women intend to send?

THE MESSENGER | 23

How Capitalism Drives Imperialism And why both must fall for the ultimate freedom and lib erty of all JOEY KOVAL, SPECIAL

T

he current globalist bourgeois society that reigns supreme has created a system to justify the imperialist exploitation and domination of the third world by confusing the narrative as a problem that can be walled off or fixed by reform. Created by the powerful governments of the world, and the bourgeoisie has no incentive to end the evils of imperialism. Those who have the power to end imperialism are the ones to benefit, so do not confuse yourself that your vote is of more value then the millions that the bourgeoisie give to run your representatives.

The anti-imperialist liberals who say policing the market and banks will never be able to fix the problem because capitalism will not fall until imperialism has fallen as well. Only once workers are united under one cause of ending exploitation and destroying the bourgeoisie, capitalism will fall-- as it rightfully should and inevitably will.

Imperialism creates marginalized and exploited groups of people that are usually of a certain nationality, class or religion. As exploitation and imperialist wars destroy the socio-economic status of the workers living in the those areas, radical ideas are born as people move to radical ideologies and religion.

This inherently creates a culture clash between the nation that is taking advantage of them for economic gain and the people being exploited. The borders of first world countries will be flooded with refugees from catastrophes that they created, and use the radical ideologies they created to justify nationalism and limited immigration policies.

The first world countries that exploit and destroy third world countries have no care for the pain and suffering the people have in the

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third world, as they see them as the reason for their own downfall and justify even more exploration as it “gives more jobs”. Imperialism prevents people from overthrowing capitalism, as capitalism prevents people overthrowing imperialism with the benefits they gain from it and the division of workers it creates.

Reformists must recognize that the real problem is imperialism, and that it is not something they can reform because it will never be fixed unless a real revolution takes place. The United States is the new center for imperialism in the 21st century. The politicians we have elected support coups and fund political far right wing death squads (Venezuela, Honduras, and Colombia), imperialist wars for oil and natural resources (Middle East), weapons and cash for open American investment (Saudi Arabia and Israel).

The free economy we love to be proud of has failed. Banks and huge companies have created an monopoly on the world, controlling the governments and the lives of millions that have none and say that we that have should be proud to have “freedom”. Freedom is not taken from those who were born into poverty working in inhumane conditions and having to live on less than two to three dollars an hour so Americans can have cheaper products. The landowner does not have true freedom to do what he desires if he acquires it from the slaves he restricts it from.

The problem with many first world countries and “freedom” loving America is that they only really support the mechanized system of oppression and restriction of real liberty and freedom to those who do not have. The idea that America truly believes in freedom and democracy in Venezuela and

that is the only reason the government has intervened is false, if the American government really cared about democracy and freedom, America wouldn’t be giving massive amounts of weapons to Saudi Arabia. Opposition to the American imperialist system is often seen as a attack on “freedom” and those who protest the system and are among the few who benefit from it are seen as privileged and unappreciative.

Vladimir Lenin states in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, “Private property based on the labor of the small proprietor, free competition, democracy, all the catchwords with which the capitalists and their press deceive the workers and the peasants are things of the distant past. Capitalism has grown into a world system of colonial oppression and of the financial strangulation of the overwhelming majority of the population of the world by a handful of “advanced” countries. And this wealth is shared between two or three powerful world plunderers armed to the teeth (America, Great Britain, Japan), who are drawing the whole world into their war over the division of their booty.”

To conclude, Capitalism needs imperialism and the division of workers to survive, as imperialism needs capitalism and the division of workers to survive. It is impossible to reform the modern day monopoly of imperialism and power that the few bourgeoise control.

The working class has nothing other than the shackles of systemic oppression and capitalism imperialism. It is time to break the shackles and revolt against those who oppressed and exploited us. We must not only see to the freedom of Americans but the freedom of the whole world.

OPINIONS

The Right to Choose Death A new perspective to the seemingly inescapable abortion debate LEIGHA WHITRIDGE, SPECIAL

T

his year brings even more controversy to the heated debate of abortion with shocking new legislation, extending and limiting a woman’s right to choose to kill her child. New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, signed the Reproductive Health Act, permitting third-trimester abortions at the discretion of any health-care practitioner. Meanwhile, Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran’s disturbing bill was shot down, which would allow abortions after dilation begins and without proof that the “impairment to the woman’s health would be substantial and irremediable.” However, as regulations become more lenient in some states, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi fight for the “Heartbeat Bill,” which prohibits abortions after a heartbeat is detected, except during medical emergencies, to become law. And in Alabama, teen Ryan Magers is suing the Alabama Women’s Center after his ex-girlfriend aborted his 6 weekold child, despite his pleas for the pregnancy to continue. Judge Frank Barger is allowing Magers to name the child as a co-plaintiff, making this case the first of its kind, as Magers fights for his child and the unaddressed rights of fathers.

There are women who have unimaginable circumstances, like one woman forced to choose between her fetus and her cancer treatment. No one can decide what is right for anyone in a situation like this, even though the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which is supported by over 30,000 physicians, states that it is “never necessary to intentionally kill the fetal human being in order to save a woman’s life” after 20 weeks. I question the women who

abort their child in self-interest. A disheartening BMC Women’s Health survey found that only 12% of abortions are health-related; the sad majority occur because of sickening reasons that revolve around a woman’s wants, and not a child’s needs, such as bad timing, career plans, and unintended pregnancy.

What should be a debate concerning the constitutionality of killing an unborn child is a women’s rights issue, causing abortion rights to continue to reach too far and too freely. Virginia governor Ralph Northam said, “Legislators, who are mostly men, shouldn’t be telling a woman what she should or shouldn’t be doing with her body.” Although women decide to have an abortion, the decision affects her child’s body, simultaneously striping her child of the right to choose what to do with their body. The self-contradictory nature of abortion is apparent as the mother’s reproductive rights ultimately trump any rights, future or present, that the baby has. The Constitution is supposed to protect rights that we have for merely existing, but abortion denies us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness until we are born. In response to the Reproductive Health Act, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “We’re saying here in New York, women’s lives matter. We’re saying women’s decisions matter.” But if female lives really matter, we should not kill them off just because they are unborn. All I can hear is that the idea of “choice” matters more than human life.

Northwestern professor Katherine Watson also commented, “We have to understand abortion as an equal-rights issue…

The politics of respect would say that the pregnant woman determines the moral status of her fetus or embryo, and weighs that assessment against her own reasoning.

Why is later abortion not just a matter of what doctors would or wouldn’t do?” However, this attitude equates to entitlement.

Womanhood does not mean that a woman can devalue human life just because she is willing, for a woman’s, or man’s, mere willingness to do something is not automatic justification. The politics of respect holds that we cherish human life, no matter how young. The politics of sympathy holds that a mother sacrifices at least 9 months for her own child, which every woman knows is a possible consequence of sex. Every argument that paints abortion as a women’s rights issue fails to accept what abortion really is- and that is the right to kill. The term abortion should not be so interchangeable with reproductive rights, for it undermines the true implications of abortion. Whether or not one sees justification, the outcome of abortion is constant: a child’s death. The true principle of abortion is not liberty or equality, but death.

People rarely change their stance on abortion. I still write so that you can see abortion from the perspective of the innocent human life that is so much more than a woman’s right to choose death, so that we can cherish human life when it begins, not only when we want to accept it. Perhaps I write only out of hope that far from now, people do not look back at us and ponder how a society could forsake their children for convenience, could kill their sons and daughters because it is their “choice.”

THE MESSENGER | 25

FACEOFF Should artists be separated from their work?

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YES

OPINIONS

BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER

P

eople often stitch an artist to their work like a Siamese twin, but both an artist and their work are more complex than the other. A piece of art, whether it be a film, painting, music, etc., is never just a carbon copy of the person that made it.

Rather, it is a completely separate entity that should be judged on its merit.

When a bad song is on the radio, seldom does the person listening think the artist is a bad person, but rather the song is criticized for its inadequicies. Yet the art did nothing wrong, and it becomes mired in controversy that it had no part in. When John Lennon came out in 1980 about his abuse of his wife, people were rightly critical of him as a person. However, people still bring him up as one of the greatest musicians of all time, and The Beatles continue to sell plenty of records.

John Lennon is far from the only art-

NO T

ist that has been outed for being a bad egg.

More recently, people such as Kevin Spacey, Bill Cosby, R. Kelly, and several others have been outed for doing disgusting things in their personal lives. People are not rioting in the streets because Baby Driver was nominated for three Oscars, because the movie was so much more than one person. At the end of every movie, everyone that worked on the movie is credited, and rarely is it just a few names and then a black screen. Art itself rarely has one voice attached to it, and it is unfair to blame numerous innocent people for the acts of one.

Kevin Spacey is a good actor, and John Lennon is a good musician, but people suddenly feel bad when they realize what these people have done. They completely disregard the art they loved in favor of feeling self hate and loathing. Upon hearing the news that an actor one previously enjoyed the work of,

is accused of any number of things, often tends to overeact and wield a torch instead of a knife. The enjoyment felt after watching is discarded in its entirety, rather than taking the good with the bad, and enjoying the movie, song, etc., on its own. The message a movie sends out does not become meaningless. The lyrics of a song do not resonate any less with people because of the person who sings them. Audiences should not feel bad for enjoying things they like, whether they are created by an accused rapist or not.

Art is complex, and that is generally why it is loved. Any form of art should be praised for its quality, and not for the artist. A director is not the physical embodiment of his movie, and an author is not a reincarnation of his characters. Art is rarely just one person or idea. It is often something that is derived from immense talent by multiple parties, and should be treated as such.

ANSHI VAJPAYEE, STAFF WRITER he idea that we must not abandon works of art solely because of the misdeeds of their creator is a newly generated popular belief. This belief is often used as a defense mechanism to rationalize listening to their music- and continuing to enjoy their work- regardless of past behavior. Frankly, it is quite appalling. It is difficult to listen to an artist without feeling a slight sense of guilt knowing the astounding wrongdoings behind the pleasant, harmonized music. The truth is, it is simply impossible to separate the intangible bond between an artist and his/her artwork, let alone to admire it from a distance.

It is common to mourn the “drain of talent” amid recent allegations among artists, and many argue one’s art should stretch beyond the scope of punishment. Though, in today’s growing environment, the artist’s personal life has become unquestionably relevant to appreciate their work. Followers now tend to first connect with the artist’s story, then their music, revealing a distant yet close link between both parties. The artist provides a platform for which even

the most sensitive and relatable content is revealed, often hidden in the lyrics and evoked by the symphony and tune. This platform is the only means by which the story of that artist is acknowledged, which usually ends in an overwhelming amount of affirmitory and supportive feedback. This is an endless chain each artist contributes to, and separating their work from themselves will shift the balance and promote strong resistance from both fans and the artists.

For as much as we like to imagine art as something higher, something greater than the petty concerns of this world, in reality every work of art is deeply concentrated with external influences beyond the work itself. The artists themselves do not separate their work from their names, so an approach to conclude that the artist’s work is divided from the artist is ignorant and foolish. Though not everyone feels the dissonance when listening to a convicted artist’s work. The fact of the matter is that in our current fame-driven world, the presence of an idol places that person in a tremendous amount of influence, which

put in the hands of many people, can affect their sentiment when listening to the work of that convicted artist. Although this is not true for everyone, most people will feel this sense of dissonance remarkably easily.

Take R. Kelly, a popular American singer and songwriter, for instance. His recent allegations of sexual abuse against four women, three of whom would have been minors at the time, has created a tremendous amount of backlash from fans, while being recently bailed from a Chicago jail. Stories and lawsuits define Kelly as controlling and emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive. How could anyone continue to listen to a person like Kelly, knowing that behind the scenes he is a destructive and reckless person who has put lives of some in grave danger? Yet still, countless people have the audacity to “separate the artwork from the artist.”

Though musician R. Kelly’s story is truly outrageous, he is only one of many.

It is our duty as fans and listeners to realize that an artist and his or her work are impossible to separate.

THE MESSENGER | 27

REID BETWEEN THE LINES

Playing Like a Girl It's not what you think.

NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR

A

s March is Women’s History Month, many take the time to recognize the many outstanding women that have managed to help shape the world into what it is. Many stigmas and stereotypes surrounding women are starting to dissolve as time progresses. Women no longer have to fit that mold of being submissive and docile, which is something that deserves recognition as well in it’s own right. However, sometimes, the societal effort to make sure that women are treated equally in this world can feel more like a trend than a movement.

Thanks to Title IX, the national legislation that was passed just in 1972 that prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender, the number of girls who participate in sports has increased and will most likely increase in the future. Even though this legislation was passed almost 50 years ago, women in sports still face discrimination no matter if they are on a field, court, gym or on the sidelines. It can still sometimes feel that women are not taken seriously or have their achievements undermined in comparison to those of their male counterparts. Gender discrimination in sports is no longer refusing female athletes the right to play sports in high school or booing professional female athletes before

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they even get the chance to show what they are capable of.

It now comes in the form of microaggressions, little jabs that are not outright sexism, but still have the hint of an intent of being sexist. This can be shown in the “is cheerleading a sport?” debate. It does not exist because cheerleaders are not exceptional athletes or do not work as hard as other athletes, this cheerleading is a sport that is dominated by girls and women, therefore it is not taken as seriously as a sport. Microaggressions are also pushed on professional athletes that happen to women by also professional sports and news reporters. Reporters calling female players “over-dramatic” when celebrating a win, or suggesting that the athlete is menstruating if they get frustrated or angry with a loss or calls made by referees. Or thinking it is necessary to comment on the bodies of female athletes saying that they are “too bulky” or “too manly.” The job of athletes, regardless of gender, is to take care of their bodies and make sure that they can function to the highest of their capability, so naturally, muscle is going to build.

Why are women with toned muscles seen as manly, when the muscles are on a female body? Beauty is not limited to femininity and

strength is not limited to just masculinity.

Things are changing though, with the ideal female body type shifting in the past couple years from being extremely thin to more athletic. Body shaming comments made about female athletes are not gone, but they do have less power than they may have had five to ten years ago, which is probably due to this change in body ideals for women.

In 2017, Sport’s Illustrated premiered their swimsuit issue with three different covers, with three different models of differing body types, of the same issue. One of the cover models was former champion boxer Ronda Rousey, who had previously experienced body-shaming comments about her athletic figure. When she was interviewed by Cosmopolitan magazine about the cover, she spoke about her previous struggles with body image.

"Now that I’m older, I’ve really begun to realize that I’m really proud that my body has developed for a purpose and not just to be looked at,” said Rousey. when younger female athletes have the opportunity to see themselves, whether it be on magazine covers or Nike ads, it is just as important to help defeat the wave of microaggressive sexism and body shaming, as it is too speak out about it.

COLUMNS

THE LOW DOWN

Anticlimactic Why we can’t gain any traction in the fight against climate change

JACK LOWRANCE, MANAGING EDITOR

W

hile I’d like to think that I dedicate a good bit of this column to criticism of corporate tyranny and its government lackies, I haven’t been anywhere near as vocal about environment justice as I ought to be. The forces that have and continue to destroy our beautiful earth are the same ones that force good people into lives of wage slavery and misery. Corporate tyranny reaches its tentacles into every corner of modern life-- and therefore, fighting for the economic rights of working people means recognizing the need for environmental justice too.

So with this in mind, I’d like to address a problem that hasn’t received nearly enough attention in these pages, and specifically, the issues with our current strategy to solve it.

Most people don’t have the means to be environmentally conscious. Electric cars are expensive. Sustainably produced food is expensive. Rooftop solar panels are expensive.

Being environmentally conscious has become a status symbol of the upper middle class. And the path of least resistance-- or perhaps the only choice-- that many people have is to continue driving gasoline powered cars, eating non-sustainably produced food, and throwing their plastic waste into landfills. Yet as a global society, the burden of saving the environment before it’s too late continues to be placed squarely on the backs of ordinary individuals-- perhaps by design.

A cultural hegemony driven by sociopathic corporate greed at the top of society has convinced the public that the only feasible route

to stopping climate change is on the level of individual consumers.

And don’t get me wrong-- these individual efforts are better than nothing. But only barely. Nearly 80% of humanity lives on less than $10.00 a day and about half of the entire global population lives on less than $2.50 a day. Two and a half billion people lack access to clean and readily available water. And four and a half billion people lack safely managed sanitation. When so many people are forced to live like this around the world, it’s not simply an ineffective solution to place the entire burden of fighting climate change on individuals, but unfair, irrational, and critically dangerous to the future of humanity. Government action is the only solution and our only hope. While changing your methods of transportation, buying sustainably produced products, and other green lifestyle habits certainly help, the best thing that you can possibly do for the environment is to vote-- by far.

We must elect government officials who recognize the existential threat that climate change poses to humanity and have the courage to enact the kind of radical policies that will actually save us from our doom before it’s too late. Climate deniers must be ridiculed and rooted out for the puppets of corporate greed that they are. Climate inactionists, though seemingly more benign, should be shunned just the same-- just for acknowledging that the problem exists doesn’t automatically make one part of the solution. Vote

accordingly.

What should the government be doing though? The simple answer is a hell of a lot and fast. The long answer looks something like this: a carbon tax to deter polluting businesses from continuing in their ways, a total and complete shift from oil and gas to solar and wind energy, massive development of a usable national high speed rail system, free and green public transportation in the country’s largest metropolitan areas, programs to ease the transition of displaced workers from the oil and gas industry to the new green economy, and a Manhattan Project-style effort to develop robust carbon capture technology and implement it on a global scale.

Longer term projects should include the development of fusion energy generation technology, a total market shift to sustainably powered transportation in all forms, incentives to focus on developing dense, livable urban areas, rather than sprawling low density metropolitan areas; and the viable and widespread production of clean (lab grown) meat.

Climate change is the greatest threat to humanity of our generation. It’s time for our government officials to start acting like it-- and it’s even more imperative that we demand it from them as loudly as we possibly can. The Green New Deal Resolution is certainly a good start, but urgent, all out action is the only thing we as citizens must accept.

Time is running out-- vote, vote, vote, protest, yell, and yell a little more. We have no other choice.

THE MESSENGER | 29

music IRENE RHO, PHOTO EDITOR

NIKI NIKI grew up on 90’s R&B such as Destiny’s Child and Aaliyah. Her influences can be shown through her powerful vocal cords in songs such as “I Like You” and “Vintage”.

Billie Eilish Eilish came out with her new single “wish you were gay”. The highly anticipated song received backlash for “queerbaiting, but many still praise the song for its mellow beat and Eilish’s soft tone.

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Christian Leave After going viral from Vine, Leave decided to pursue a career in music. His songs such as “Understand” and “You” show off his musical talents and creative use of instrumentals.

Berhana Born in Atlanta, Berhana (whose full name is Amain Berhane) grew up on Michael Jackson and was inspired by many different cultures from Japanese disco funk to American television to create his self titled 2016 EP.

COLUMNS

Conan Gray

Born in a small town in Texas, Conan Gray made his debut EP “Sunset Season” in his tiny bedroom at age 18. His EP has been highly praised ever since its release in November with singles such as “Crush Culture” and “Idle Town”. Mostly singing about youth and love, Gray perfectly embodies these fleeting moments through his songs through lush sounding instrumentals and his unapologetically romantic lyrics.

Marina Diamandis

Marina Diamandis, who used to go by Marina and the Diamonds, took a hiatus from music and changed her stage name to simply MARINA afterwards. She returned to the music scene in 2018 and released the lead single “Handmade Heaven” for her upcoming album.

Diamandis portrayed her style early in her music career through electropop and made up personas. But after dropping her “and the Diamonds” part of her stage name, she has begun to create music that focuses a little less on visual concepts but instead heavily emphasizes her distinctive voice through artistic lyrics and midtempo beats.

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MAY THE Fourth be with you PRoM 2019

Tickets available for SENIORS ONLY:

APRiL 17, 2019

$70 per ticket*

Tickets available for JUNIORS AND SENIORS ONLY:

APRiL 18 - May 3, 2019 $80 per ticket*

*Visa and Mastercard are accepted

1. To purchase tickets:

Go to https://osp.osmsinc.com/fultonga/

2. To get physical tickets:

Print out a receipt and deliver it to room 508 the day after paying for tickets

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STAR WARS