Volume 15 Issue 5 by The Messenger

the messenger

VOL 15/ ISS 5

C O UR F R E N T FA C E HA TE pg. 21

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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF

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

Maggie Brenan Tarun Ramesh

PUBLICATION

NEWS EDITOR

Katie Armstrong Grace Chung Megan Cistulli Shashank Ganeshan Aniruddha Gupta Sarah Jang Suchita Kumar Lina Levitt Sherry Liang Ben Minder Akshay Nair Alex Perry Sruti Sajja Erin Shin Jennah Sooknanan Ramanuj Srinivasan Mira Sydow Sheetal Tadiparty Justine Ulrich Morgan White Sravika Yerneni

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.

LETTERS TO THE 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.

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IN THIS ISSUE Cover design: Will Claussen

MANAGING EDITOR Sally Pan Amanda Beard

SPORTS EDITOR Will Claussen

FEATURES EDITOR Nithya Mahakala

OPINIONS EDITOR Jack Lowrance

ONLINE EDITOR Sarika Temme-Bapat

BUSINESS MANAGERS Evan Moody Joseph Ni

ADVISER Chris Yarbrough

contents 05

TARUN RAMESH

SRUTI SAJJA

MIRA SYDOW

EDITOR’S LETTER

WOMEN’S MARCH

BROWN AND BOUJEE

STAFF

KATIE ARMSTRONG MEGAN CISTULLI

AMANDA BEARD

ALEX PERRY

ALEX PERRY BEN MINDER

MONTHLY BRIEFS

NEW READING INITIATIVES

SPORTS BRIEFS

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

SRAVIKA YERNENI

MOCK TRIAL JOSEPH NI

GIRLS BASKETBALL AKSHAY NAIR SHASHANK GANESHAN

FOOD REVIEW

FACEOFF

OPINIONS STAFF

AMANDA BEARD MAGGIE BRENAN

RAMEEN FORGHANI

STAFF

25*

TARUN RAMESH SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT

SHERRY LIANG SALLY PAN NITHYA MAHAKALA

ACLU LAWSUIT

CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL ELECTION

NEW FOOTBALL COACH

A LOOK INTO HATE

COLUMNS

EDITOR’S LETTER MAGGIE BRENAN

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

We Stand Together

n light of recent executive actions and a wave of hatred towards certain marginalized groups, The Messenger Staff would like to dedicate this special, thematic issue towards those who have a dark pit growing in their stomach, towards those trapped across seas, hoping to see their relatives one last time, towards those who work in their monotonous 9am-5pm job, but join protests after night falls, to those who fight for the rights of all Americans, and most importantly, The Messenger dedicates this volume to those who fear for their future. There is little historical precedent for such overt nativism, but President Andrew Jackson gives us a short glimpse of an overpowered executive beholden to his own personal whims rather than to the Constitution. From his unrelenting persecution of Native Americans— culminating in genocide through the Trail of Tears— to his delegitimization of the nation’s Judiciary — by stepping over Worcester vs Georgia— his actions, all on the backs of populism, warn us to be wary of unchecked executive power. However, the largest change from 1800s Colonial America and the modern era remains in the proliferation of media and the massive amounts information available to the public. Now, the media acts as the perfect check on unrestricted power in Washington, but the president’s efforts to discredit CNN, New York Times, and other news agencies impacts the effectiveness of their messages. The other check on presidential authority lies in the Senate, but the Democrats’ fear of socialism via Senator Sanders and Senator Warren grips the party, and their Republican counterparts march on, supporting the President’s agenda

in the name of tax cuts. But, this momentum can shift and has begun to do so as many Republican Senators have been shocked by resistance movements across the nation. The Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, has developed a back bone, strong enough to distance himself away from the executive branch, but the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, continues to serve at the President’s behest. Of course, this problem runs rampant on both sides of the aisle as Democrat leader Senator Chuck Schumer wastes precious political capitol trying to reign in the left wing of his party rather than focusing on checking the President. Politics aside; this specific targeting of a group in America has been lambasted as ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘un-American.’ From its inception, the United States has unequivocally targeted groups in order to perpetuate a perception of control. From labeling loyalists with marks on doors to illegal surveillance that used COINTELPRO to target the Black Panthers, America has been a nation filled with hypocrisy and marginalization, but for all its mistakes this country has supported immigrants throughout all walks of life. Turning away from the core tenements of this nation should shock us into changing how we respond to this new attack on American ideals. To all those affected by the current political environment, I am deeply sorry for the fear mongering and culture of hate that has gripped this nation, but I am hopeful that as this crisis progresses, we remember one thing: whether we may be red or blue, black, white or any shade in between, we are all fundamentally American.

Tarun Ramesh, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

NEWS

IN BRIEF 1/2 President Donald Trump appoints Jeff Sessions as the new Attorney General

2/2

2/24 Northview High school celebrates Black History month through many aspects such as the annual Black History month performance. “This month is a great way to give attention to all the positive contributions African Americans have provided us with in history. Everyone needs a positive role model to inspire them and help them know that they have the potential to accomplish whatever they put their mind to, and knowing what others have done can inspire them to know that they can do worthwhile things too,” literature teacher Tania Pope said. The experience of African Americans in our history can be a further inspiration to give hope from the incidents of the past.

Northview’s annual international night brings together all of Northview including students, faculty, and administration, to celebrate the diverse cultures in Northview through a night filled with food and talent. Northview High School’s Kalediscope Club, sponsored by Laurel Rogers, hosted International Night on Thursday, Feb 2, succeeding in putting on the most heavily attended event at Northview. The Taste of Cultures section started at 5 p.m. and the first show began at 6 p.m.,( the second show was at 8 p.m.). During the Taste of Cultures, teachers, students, and parents brought in food from their native countries to share with the whole community. “I think it is a great reminder of how good we can be as a society when we embrace and celebrate all [cultures],” Principal Brian Downey said. “I think this is what makes our society so great; we live in world in which we accept these [different cultures] and embrace [different cultures].”. 6

1/8 Adele wines ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2017 Golden Globes

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

1/17

1/24

As the buses approached the bus canopy at Northview High School on Jan. 24, Northview students were surprised to find the side wall at the band building spray painted, displaying profanity regarding Principal Brian Downey and the school. There was graffiti on the side of the school near the band room and on the concrete near the basketball court. While it is common for principals of Northview to be attacked by students writing graffiti on the walls, this occurrence was an unexpected attack on Northview and Downey. “The first time my name was on a bathroom wall, I was like alright, I have arrived, I am a teacher now, and you have to learn to not take these things personally,” Principal Downey said. “What bothers me about it is that the individual, it was one individual, had a platform; they were given a voice because we did not cover it up quickly.”

2/1 People protest outside of airports against President Trumps new Executive Order, the travel ban.

2/26 On February 26, Jimmy Kimmel hosts the 89th annual Oscars.

The Falcons go to the Super Bowl against the Patriots to then lose devastatingly in the final quarter.

1/28

The annual Will To Live 5K provides an enjoyable and fun experience for everyone in the family while fundraising for the foundation. This event was held at Shakerag Park in Johns Creek and is the biggest event the foundation does, and raises the most money out of all the foundation’s events. The foundation is proud of the hard work all the teens have put in, and all the money it has raised to raise awareness. This annual event incorporates many aspects the foundation emphasizes such as being with your teammates, family, friends, and loved ones. “It’s not necessarily focused on the suicide prevention, whereas it’s more directed on coming together as a community, which is what we try to achieve, to bring everyone together,” junior Michael Trautwein said. THE MESSENGER | 7

NEWS

Re-igniting Reading Northview takes on a new reading program SRAVIKA YERNENI, STAFF WRITER

ith the 2017 year starting out, Northview high school is implementing many new programs in the curriculum including a new reading program. Literature teachers are allowing students to spend a few minutes in class reading their favorite novels, as an aim to encourage kids to build a reading habit and challenge themselves. This change allows for students to feel more welcome to the concept of enjoying literature in the classroom. “We want for kids to have access to books that they want to read, that they are enjoying, to try to help build that love for reading and that ability to continue to challenge themselves with reading, ” Literature teacher Ashley Ulrich said. The program is currently being “tested out” in on-level tenth and eleventh grade language arts classes in hopes that it will expand to all on-level literature classes and potentially honors classes as well in the following years. The inspiration came from Penny Kittle, a writer and professor and at the University of New Hampshire. Kittle created a workshop model where students are pushed to think outside the box and be responsible for their individual learning. The literacy program varies from class to class, but the main idea is the same; to make reading more enjoyable for students so they read more texts. Teachers are also trying to incorporate personal libraries in their classrooms, creating convenience and easy access for students to borrow books. “It’s also nice that [the library] is right there in the classroom, so you’re seeing

JUSTINE ULRICH/STAFF

those books all the time, ” Literature teacher Sarah Darling said. By having a full, personal library the Literature teachers hope to peak an interest in their students. “I love being able to see all my reading options and having so many options.

It is also nice that [the library] is right there in the classroom, so you’re seeing those books all the time - Sa ra h Da rli ng I already have a list of the books I want to read” Anuhya Kasam, one of Ms. Hart’s student said. The funding for these personal libraries and the program’s activities come from Fulton County and Northview. The money currently is going towards purchasing books, so the classroom libraries will be fully stocked for student by next

year. Last year each literature class was given some extra financial support from the county to make the reading program a reality. Besides financial support, the support from Principal Brian Downey was also a key reason in the implementation of the program this year. “The assistant principals do the day-to day things, but I’m involved in the vision setting and the long term goal planning, ” Downey said. The program not only focuses on promoting student reading, but it also on student reading fluency ability to interpret for college. To do this, classes are splitting the semester into three parts. The first consisting of, students being able to chose any book and in the last one they are required to read a book chosen by the teacher, to fit the curriculum. The student’s are also given reading checks and written projects to ensure they are learning and doing the assignment. “I was literally just in high school so I know how it feels to be assigned books you don’t want to read, ” said Darling. “Thats why I want to make reading a fun learning experience for my students now.” Will this program increase student’s passion and reading rates? Only time will tell.

NEWS

Trying Times For Mock Trial Northview’s Mock Trial Team tackles new challenges Joe Ni, Business Manager

his year, Northview’s illustrious Mock Trial team ended a five year winning streak, during which the team won regionals all five years, entered state finals for three, and even won the state championship in 2015. Despite another strong performance at the regional competition this year, the team did not advance. “We’ll get back there, I’m not worried that we’re not going to,” advisor Elizabeth Lake said. “But you can’t necessarily expect to win every single year, especially in a state as competitive as Georgia.” Georgia boasts quite a few other strong Mock Trial teams, including those from Grady and Jonesboro, that frequently place top ten in national competitions hosted by the National High School Mock Trial Championship. These teams simulate an actual jury trial, with students playing attorneys, witnesses, and other court roles. Students learn the courtroom procedures and processes of the American justice system -- Georgia’s mock trial teams, in particular, actually follow exact federal rules of evidence. “The rules we’re learning in mock trial are the exact same rules that actual attorneys use in the actual courtroom,” Lake said. In early October, the State Bar of Georgia released a case to the Mock Trial teams across the state. At that point, Northview’s team shifts to preparing students for varsity and junior varsity tryouts. Once selected, the varsity team goes on to tackle the case in competitions organized by the State Bar, which are oftentimes hosted by real judges. Competition winners are not determined by a court’s ruling, but rather by a point

2012-2016 5 regional wins, 1 state championship

based system. Each adjudicator over a trial— often a real attorney or judge—has ballots where he or she scores teams out of 10 in different categories of competence. The team whose ballot has the higher score “wins” that adjudicator’s ballot, and the team that wins the most ballots wins the “room,” or round, and advances to higher ranked rooms. Northview’s style in the courtroom is traditionally aggressive; at their nationals level competition a few years ago, a Buzzfeed reporter described the team as a fast, loud, and objection heavy team. This year, that intimidating personality in the court room appears to have caught up with them.

the adjudicators. In addition to reflecting upon a real trial, where the “likeability” of a prosecution or defense lays a critical role in the jury’s decision, the category also helps break ties between two similarly trained and professional teams, a common occurrence in Georgia, where each team’s skillset is up to par. “Sometimes [aggressiveness] can be annoying to judges and jurors. They might feel like you’re interrupting the flow of trial by objecting all the time, or showing off by citing rules numbers all the time, or being mean when you make the other teams witness cry,” Lake said. “You have to be aware. You want

“The rules we’re learning in mock trial are the exact same rules that actual attorneys use in the actual courtroom.” Advisor Elizabeth Lake “This year [our style] was not preferred. Our scores were higher than past seasons and on par with what we usually get, and we still got [individual] awards,” co-president Karsyn Archambeau said. “Our performance wasn’t lackluster, it’s just that [the judges] liked the other team better.” The qualitative nature of Mock Trial is highlighted by the category on each ballot called “team points,” which acts like a wild card. Adjudicator’s award points in the category based on the “feeling” of a team—these feelings can be as arbitrary liking the team’s clothes or liking the team’s niceness—no justification or explanation is required by

2017

regional runner-up

to be strong and fight for your case, but you don’t want to do so at the expense of likeability, and that can be a struggle because you don’t want to play down but you don’t want to be too aggressive.” The team is also faces the challenge of losing seven veteran seniors in the graduating class of 2017. Principal Downey, who chaperoned their trip to the national competition in 2015, offered some words of encouragement. “Don’t pack it in. Don’t quit.” Downey said. “It’s what you do after that matters.” To that end, the team has been working furiously. Lake has signed up for a local tournament, hosted by Grady, for teams who did not advance past regionals. She intends to send a team composed completely of lowerclassmen, so they have a chance to gain some valuable experience in a real competition. The team has faced similar difficulties in the past, so Lake states that they are ready to tackle the challenge.

THE MESSENGER | 9

NEWS

Ascending ACLU The American Civil Lib erties Union takes the battle for immigrants and privac y to the next level by challenging the travel ban AMANDA BEARD, NEWS EDITOR

n a press conference on Jan. 27, President, Donald Trump discussed steps the nation needs to be taking in order to create a safer country. The statement created skepticism, yet not many knew what the statement entailed until later that same day. President Trump signed an executive order banning travel from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan for 90 days and a 120 day suspension of all refugee admissions. The abrupt executive order enacted by President Trump placing a ban on seven major countries in the Middle East due to their ‘higher levels’ of terrorism created a larger outburst than expected. The immediate suspension resulted in confusion and chaos in airports across the nation, two in particularly consisted of multiple protesters. One in Washington DC and the

other in Atlanta. The Hartsfield-Jackson airport consisted of many protesters, mainly from a group called “A Stand For Refugees and Immigrants” who earlier that day released a Facebook post announcing when and where the protest would be held. A similar issue occurred in Washington as a different group stated when they would protest at Washington Dulles airport. “I staunchly denounce the President’s ban on refugees seeking to come to the United States,” Atlanta Mayor, Kasim Reed, said after the executive order was put in place. “Fulton County’s strength is in its diversity and we pride ourselves on welcoming all citizens, including immigrants.” Reed is one of many individuals to respond to the travel ban with opposition. The Amer-

150,000 new ACLU members

QUICK FACTS

ican Civil Liberties Union, a group of advocates that selectively defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties of American citizens are included amongst those individuals. After President Trump released the executive order, the organization retaliated in defense for all affected by the ban through several lawsuits questioning the constitutionality of the President’s order. Since the ban, the ACLU has had 50 affiliates file coordinated Freedom of Information Act requests seeking information from Customs and Border Protection field offices regarding how the Muslim ban is being implemented in airports across the country. The organization has received financial support in the fight as well. Since then, the ACLU has received over 79

356,306 invividual donors donated to support ACLU

million dollars with, over one million supporters have donated online. Supports for the organization can be seen not only through dollar signs, but through a growing number of advocates. Over one million people followed the ACLU’s facebook page and the number of Twitter followers have tripled for the group. “The protests across the country, in the streets and at airports and courthouses, have been truly exhilarating,” Executive Director of ACLU, Anthony D. Romero said. “I was stunned to come out of the courthouse in Brooklyn following our emergency hearing last week to stop the Muslim ban and find hundreds of people chanting, ‘A-C-L-U! We are here to stand with you.’” A large dispute among supporters of the ban and protesters is the question of whether or not the ban is a hate against all muslims. “President Trump did his presidential duty by enacting the ban on people of those seven nations, and there is nothing wrong with the combating of terrorism, even when it means to extreme measures,” Sophomore Amaan Supariwala said. “However, when people who don’t have any ties to those countries,

hardworking people who want to just come into the United States without trouble, are stopped and questioned at the Canadian border just because they are of a certain religion, then it stops becoming politically savvy, geographical travel ban, and starts becoming a discriminating muslim ban.” More organizations are joining together in spite and in advocacy regarding the travel ban and many other executive orders and decisions President Trump has recently made. Although there is much anger and decisiveness while current actions are being put into place, freedom to disagree will always be a part of America. “We can’t take two steps backwards after finally being able to say we’ve recovered from 9/11 and taken a step forward in the progression of equality for Muslims,” Supariwala said. “The enforcement of this travel ban is threatening the respectable acceptance that America was once known for.”

2/3 of all donors who have supported ACLU are first timer donators

Airport Protest MAGGIE BRENAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ne recent January weekend hosted a flurry of activity in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. On Saturday Jan. 28th, 11 Muslim-Americans were detained by federal immigration authorities in the airport following the signing of President Trump’s executive order suspending travel from seven predominantly muslim nations for 90 days and immigration of worldwide refugees for 120 days. All detainees were green card holders, and thus it is suspected that customs officials were improperly briefed and unprepared for the arrival of such travelers the following day. Nine of the 11 detainees were released by 10 p.m. on Saturday night. The following day, protesters flooded the scene. Thousands of protesters, mostly affiliated with the group “A Stand for Refugees and Immigrants,” congregated at Delta’s South Terminal at 4 p.m. on Sunday, in opposition to the actions of the previous day and the President’s executive order. Notable attendees of the protest include U.S. Representative John Lewis (Dem.), candidate for Tom Price’s Congressional seat John Ossof (Dem.), and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Reed “[condemned] the president’s executive orders on immigration.” “We are a community which has stood up for the civil and human rights of every person, and we will not waver now,” Reed said in his official press statement. The airport acted on plans to handle the expected massive influx of protesters, and there appeared to be no significant flight or travel delays.

ACLU raised nearly seven times as much as the annual amount THE MESSENGER | 11

NEWS

RACE FOR THE

SIXTH

Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan (R) TARUN RAMESH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

fter Representative Tom Price’s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 6th Congressional District has leapt into a frenzy over the special election designed to replace Price’s seat in the US House of Representatives. In a field of over 16 candidates, Dr. Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan stands out as the potentially first Muslim Republican Congressmen elected in the United States. While he has no prior experience in politics, his campaign has emphasized public-private partnerships as corner stones in his proposed platform with his ties to small business, higher education, and non-profits. “I understand the complex political, cultural, religious, and economic issues around the world. I have two MBAs, a Ph.D. and over 25 years of executive level experience with extensive local, national, and international experience,” Bhuiyan said. “This will help me to take steps that will help spur economic growth and strong defense to ensure our country’s leadership around the world.” While his platform focuses on economic imperatives, Bhuiyan has portrayed himself as a faithful family man with an ‘America First’ agenda to prevent criticism from the right wings of the Republican party. However, his faith has played a part in his political agenda from his pro-life with exception stance to his two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestine dilemma. “Above all, I am an American first and fully committed to America’s security, prosperity, individual freedom, and greatness,” Bhuiyan said. From his refusal to take campaign contributions from large business and corporate ties, Bhuiyan has tapped into the same populism strain that helped boost both President

Donald Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaigns. Here, however, the similarities with the current executive end. From supporting a healthcare that works for all and his acknowledgment of environmental implications of domestic energy as well as his support of trade agreements, Bhuiyan potentially brings a multilateral business approach to a Republican Congress that has mostly supported the president’s pivot towards protectionism. In regards to the Travel Ban, Bhuiyan has firmly supported a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution and the judiciary as a medium to decide the constitutionality of such predicaments. “I strongly believe in the US Constitution and that is the only document that is relevant for this country and nothing else,” Bhuiyan said. ““Freedom of Speech” is guaranteed in our constitution and we all must honor that.” In his career, Bhuiyan has served as a professor and later Vice President at the Tuskegee institute and currently serves as the CEO of the Leadership Needed Foundation. However, his past organization of the 2015 Nobel Peace Summit in Atlanta met with severe concern and tension with the mayor’s office, highlighting a conflict of interest between a potential Congressman and current Mayor Kasim Reed. “There is no path forward with Dr. Bhuiyan as the leader of the effort,” Reed said in response to alleged fraud. The conflict reached an apex with a flurry of letters exchanged between Reed, Bhuiyan, and Ekaterina Zagladina— the Per-

manent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates at the time— going as far as the mayor’s office officially withdrawing Atlanta’s name from consideration. Bhuiyan escalated tensions by threatening legal action against the City of Atlanta and specifically Reed. “From what I have known about him in the past, he has had some issues with the city of Atlanta, more specifically Mayor Reed. Reed seemed unwilling to work with him during the Nobel Laureates conference, which ultimately did not end up happening because of this disagreement,” Senior Zara Inam, a Muslim, said. The scandal could have a drastic impact on Bhuiyan’s ability to comprise, but many conservatives have heralded the stand off as a

“Above all, I am an American first and fully committed to America’s security, prosperity, individual freedom, and greatness” - Bhuiyan response to an overreach by the mayor. With his own campaign website clearing up confusion over the Abrahamic religions and fact checking stereotypes of Muslims, Bhuiyan could act as a much needed check on the far right’s drift towards intolerance. “I think it is interesting that a Muslim is running as a Republican,” Inam said. “Because it allows the more conservative Muslim community to have a voice and to partake in politics.”

THE MESSENGER | 13

NEWS

Johnathan Ossoff (D) SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, ONLINE EDITOR

democratic candidate for Congress in the Georgia 6th runs on a platform diametrically opposed to Trump’s. With a population close to 700,00, the district includes Roswell, Johns Creek, Tucker, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, and Dunwoody. The Georgia Sixth has been represented by Tom Price, a staunch Republican, since 2005. On February 10th, however, Tom price was confirmed by the Senate as the 23rd United

Ossoff ’s liberal agenda also promises to oppose many news limits on immigration and discrimination against Muslims. “Jon believes it is a violation of core American principles to slander entire religious groups and that it’s unconstitutional to ban anyone from entering our country on religious grounds,” Ossoff ’s campaign said. “Jon will fight tirelessly against discrimination, hate speech, or violence against Americans on the basis of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or place of birth.” Ossoff has come out strong for social justice issues, attending and speaking at the Women’s March on Atlanta. His campaign also emphasized education and student debt reform, an important issue for the suburban, school centered communities in the district. “Jon will work to make college more affordable. Student debt shouldn’t prevent young Americans from saving, investing in their careers, and reaching their potential. Jon will work to reduce the burden of student debt on young Americans,” Ossoff ’s campaign said. “Jon will promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education for Georgia’s students and professional education to qualify young Georgians for the workforce after high school.” The effort to flip Tim Price’s seat has reeled in massive donations and endorsements from key political figures. “Ossoff has been endorsed by U.S. Reps. John Lewis and Hank Johnson and has lined up more than $250,000 in

“ Flipping this seat would signal a shift in traditional politics. It’s time to take the fight to Congress”

- Shrivastava

States Secretary of Health and Human Services, under the Trump administration, and his seat opened up. The special election to replace Price will be held on April 18th. Despite the district’s long Republican lineage, Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans alike are rallying behind one Democrat in particular. John Ossoff, a 29-year-old former manager of an anti-corruption firm, has stepped up to become the latest face of liberal opposition to Trump. “In this era of “fake news” and “alternative facts,” we need leaders who will back their claims with real evidence and call out politicians who lie for short-term gain,” Ossoff said.

financial commitments from supporters,” Ossoff ’s campaign said. Recently, Stacy Abrams, a Georgia State House representative, has added her support to the pool. “I think it’s really exciting that a progressive is gaining momentum in a traditionally red district,” Senior Komal Shrivastava said. “Someone needs to stand up to this over reaching executive.” Ossoff ’s campaign could be seen as more than a representation of the voters of the Georgia Sixth. Rather, as the special election falls so soon after Trump took office, the result could be seen as an indicator of public opinion on Trump’s performance during his first few months as president. For others unhappy with the result of the presidential election, the special election presents itself as an opportunity to show opposition to Trump. With the election being seen as a kind of progress report for the Trump administration, the stakes are only rising. “His life experiences are so multi-faceted that it would make him a really great representative,” Senior Rhea Rawla said. However, because the District has been historically Democratic, the Democratic Party has been slow to mobilize support for Ossoff. In addition, low voter turnout and low political awareness are sure to hurt the Democrat’s chances in the Sixth District. However, in the Presidential election, Hillary narrowly trailed behind Trump, an optimistic result for Democrats if they are able to mobilize liberal voters and raise awareness. “Flipping this seat would signal a shift in traditional politics,” Shrivastava said. “It’s time to take the fight to Congress.”

Supports world peace and a two state solution. . Taught as a professor at Savannah State College.

An immigrant himself, Bhuiyan supports immigration with strong, secure borders. Bhuiyan is an economist and believes the national debt is “not sustainable” and campaigns on the promise he will seek to reduce it.

Pro-Life “with exceptions”.

Two M.B.A’s and a PhD. Advanced leadership training for Harvard and MIT.

Supports the Second Amend. ment and a “strong national defense and offense.”

Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan (R) f Lo

Bachelor’s Degree from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and a Master’s in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics.

Jonathan Ossoff (D)

Campaign platform opposed to Trump administration values.

Supports Medicare and Social Security.

Experienced as a national security staffer in Congress as well as a Congressional aide.

Endorsed by notable politics figures such as John Lewis and Stacey Abrams. CEO of an anti corruption film firm that exposed political scandals in Africa. .

Spoke at the Atlanta Women’s March on January 21, 2017. Defends “women’s access to contraception and a woman’s right to choose.”

THE MESSENGER | 15

NEWS

Women’s March

Supporters of women’s rights protest across the country SRUTI SAJJA, STAFF WRITER On Jan 21, protesters gathered in the streets of Washington DC, Atlanta, and many other major cities across the country to rally for women’s rights and equality. Atlanta’s march took place in the metro downtown area and was populated by President Donald Trump’s opponents, who wished to demonstrate their lack of confidence in his antifeminist rhetoric. The inspiration for the march began with a Facebook post only hours following this year’s presidential election. Protesters gathered together in opposition to new political policies and, more specifically, previous statements the President elect previously has made regarding women. The movement quickly grew, gaining attention nationwide. Organizers initially predicted crowds of about 250,000, but on the day of the march, more than two million riders arrived at The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The turnout exceeded the crowd at Trump’s inauguration. The Women’s March on Washington and its sister protests dominated social media with both positive and negative opinions. The goal of the movement included protecting the rights, equality and independence of women and all American citizens, and to recognize the vibrant and diverse communities that are the strength of our country. The protest has gone down as one of the biggest marches in American history. Thousands of people visited both cities in attempt to take a stand. “The march was a way to stand up and say, ‘no we’re not letting it happen,’” senior Mari Jacobson, an attendee of the Women’s March in downtown Atlanta, said. “It definitely showed that we’re not going to be beaten down that easily. There’s a lot more of us then there is of them.” President Trump is most well known for previously released recordings portraying woman in an inappropriate light and for labeling himself as an individual with a largely misogynistic mindset. Many feminists have been outspoken regarding the comments made by the president many years ago, especially recently, since his win in the

A S H LY N S TA L L I N G S / S P E C I A L US Presidential Election. “The woman’s march was a retaliation against a lot of things Trump is for,” senior Shreyas Kumar, an attendee of and protester in the Washington DC Women’s March said. While the inspiration for the march stemmed from anger and retaliation against the president and all opposed to feminist view points, the

“It brought us hope.”

–Mari Jacobson march created an opportunity for unity amongst a time of decisiveness. People of all walks of life joined together in support for a cause many Americans feel truly passionate about. “To go and be with so many people like us, and just feel the electric energy together, it brought us hope,” Jacobson said. Several students happened to be in Wash-

ington D.C. during the march for a school trip sponsored by Raymond Brown and Mike Dixon. In previous years, a Roe v Wade march had been held, but this year The Women’s March took its place. The teachers and students were compelled to attend by the masses of attendees. “It was kind of hard to avoid because it was so big,” senior Komal Shrivastava, attendee of the trip and Washington march said. While the movement originated in the US, as the issues being protested were mainly in contention in the US political landscape, the sentiment spread around the world. Protests took place in England, Australia and many other countries to rally and show their support for the cause. “It was really enlightening,” Kumar said. “If you just see it in the news, you don’t get how impactful and significant it is until you’re actually at the march and you can just see miles of people together.” Lately, in a time full of hate, a large majority of protests include burning cars and smashing windows. The protesters involved in this march seemed to take the opposite approach in handling the situation and expressing their opinions. They advocated for their cause using the oldest type of peaceful protest known to man, and in doing so took part in something much larger than each individual.

Girl’s Tennis

he Northview girls tennis team is putting in hard work at practice in hopes of doing well this spring. “We may have struggles beating tough opponents but I know we will do well. The plan for success is to come up with strategic lineups that will play to our teams strengths,” senior Sasha Timokhin said. Coach Donna McCarthy encourages and motivates the girls during practice and games. Losing the seniors from last year changed the leadership on the team. The juniors from last year had to step up this year. Now the only two seniors on the team, senior Timokhin and senior Aria Ragas have the weight on their shoulders to carry and lead the team to success. The Northview girls tennis team hopes to succeed this season and bring home championship rings.

SPORTS IN BRIEF MEGAN CISTULLI, STAFF WRITER KATIE ARMSTRONG, STAFF WRITER

Boy’s Lacrosse

he Northview boys lacrosse team is starting off their season by playing Wesleyan their first scrimmage on Feb. 9. The captains that lead the varsity team consist of senior Noah Shiffman, junior Noah Johnson, and senior Kevin Siatkowski. Head coach Steve O’Hara is excited to see what the seniors are capable of this year. “The guys have really adapted and changed to what we’ve thrown at them, and with the new coaching staff I’m really looking forward to seeing what these guys can do,” Coach Steve O’Hara said. The new coaching staff consists of Coach Steve O’Hara and Coach Ned Kaish. They both played lacrosse together in their previous college years, which led them to wanting to coach together at Northview. “We all work really well together and that’s a lot better than just having a few key players. Hard work and going out everyday with a goal is my plan to get better,” Junior Noah Johnson said. Due to having new coaches this year, the struggle of getting to know everyone on the team and what each individual players weaknesses and strengths are will be a challenge.

THE MESSENGER | 17

Girl’s Soccer

he girls’ soccer team had a rocky start to their season, beginning with a loss to Collins Hill 5-1. Girls on the team believe that this is a growing year because the team is so young. Junior Brooke Bolton says that the upperclassmen like herself are really going to have to step up and mentor the less experienced players. “Adjusting to the new, young team, and the players that we lost will have a big impact on us,” sophomore Sydney Dachs said.

Boy’s Tennis

fter a state championship win last season, the boy’s tennis team has high expectations for this season. The team knows that the loss of Cleveland State University commit, Matthew Terry, will hurt their line up, but there is a new tenth grader player, Gavin Seagraves, who will bring a lot to the team in order to fill Terry’s spot. “Losing Matt hurt us, but we have Gavin coming in which will help a lot and fill that hole,” head coach Tracy Ramage said. A main goal of the team this season is winning the region championship, since last year Johns Creek snatched that title away from them even

The chemistry on the team is unbalanced because of the new influx of players. Senior Taylor Mitchell is one of the captains this season and will be a big part of leading and teaching the new underclassmen. “The team captains are really good at rallying up the freshman and underclassmen,” junior Brooke Bolton said. This growing year will also be effected by injuries on the team and torn ACL recoveries, but overall the team meshes well together and has skill to be successful, if not now, then in the future.

though Northview went on to win state. There are four returning seniors that have been on the varsity team since freshman year, which is extremely impressive according to Ramage because of the high level of competition for tennis at Northview. These four players will be in the starting line ups and will help in the double and singles matches. The target on their back will make their competition only that much harder. “We just have to start strategizing right off the bat,” Ramage said. The Northview boy’s tennis team will have a solid season, much like last year, as long as they execute and take all teams seriously no matter their rank.

Track

he Northview track team is running and conditioning as much as possible to prepare for their upcoming meets. “Practice is going well, Coach Davenport is a really good coach so he has special days where we might do conditioning work or speed work. He is a one-man show and he really tries to make practice fun for everyone. He makes us work hard, sincerely because he wants to see us succeed” senior Malik Harper said. The senior leaders know what they are doing in leading the team, especially because they are mostly 4th year varsity athletes. Leaders like senior Malik Harper, senior Faith Simmonds, senior Gabe Sanders, junior Sophia Hamill, and senior Arah Cho contribute to keeping the team in check during practice. “The plan for success this year is working on long distance runs! Most of our events require a lot of endurance, so Coach Davenport has already started pushing us as long distance track athletes” senior Arah Cho said. The want to win and putting in the time and work from hard practices Monday to Friday every week will bring the Northview track team to a road of success.

Girl’s Lacrosse

tarting with scrimmage win on Feb. 11 against Westminster high school, the Northview girls lacrosse team is excited to start their season. The girls lacrosse team is working hard to have another successful season. Last spring the girls lacrosse team had a successful season, with their overall record at 14-5. The girls expect to face more difficult teams this year, but still expect to make a run into the state tournament. The captains, senior Maggie Brenan, senior Sophie Kopec, and junior Leah Ruby are leading the girls lacrosse team this year. “Alexis Bell is one of the best defenders Northview has this season and Kendall May stepped up to the plate when she was a freshman, and became an integral part of the team,” junior Ananda Thomas said. Losing senior Colleen O’Connell last year has affected the team, since O’Connell was extremely valuable as a 6 foot tall draw control specialist. The girls’ plan for success is using concentration and communication on the field.

Baseball

he boys baseball team is looking forward to a successful season thanks to a team loaded with eleven seniors. The team will be as good as or better than the last year’s team. The few problems that they face will be handled easily by their experienced leaders. “A problem we will have is pitching,” senior team captain Matthew Pacifico said. Head coach Aaron Wilkens says that the loss of first basemen and pitcher Tommy Trautwein will be a devastating blow to the team. “Words cannot describe what he brought to the team,” Wilkens said. His energy, skill, and attitude will be hard to replace, but with his younger brother, Michael Trautwein, a junior and Northwestern commit for baseball, stepping up to a captain position this year, he should be able to help the team tremendously. As the season kicks off, the team looks to advance as far as or further than they did last year in playoffs.

Boy’s Soccer

s a start to the season, the boys won in an opening game against Collins Hill by a score of 2-1. This season is organized and well put together unlike last season. “It was a tough season last season, but now we have a new assistant coach, so it [may] be better,” senior Jun Cho said. The loss of a few seniors last year was not detrimental to the team because there are about eight seniors on the team this year. Another thing that will lead to the success of the Northview boys is a community coach by the name of Sean Greenfield who has a lot of experience playing professionally overseas. This

helps bring intensity to practice. “He brings a lot of flare and creativity to the team,” Cho said. With the combination of a new, talented outside coach coming in and the stacked senior team, the Northview boys’ soccer team has a promising season ahead.

THE MESSENGER | 19

College Signings Seven student athletes signed to col leges on Fe bruary 1 in Northview’s media center ALEX PERRY, STAFF WRITER JUSTINE ULRICH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Morgan Muzi, Soccer

arsity soccer player and defender Morgan Muzi signed Loyola College in Maryland to play soccer. She has been a part of Northview’s Varsity team for three years after taking a one year break to focus on academics. “She always has a smile on her face,” Coach Jennifer Barr said.

Muzi is pictured with her mother, father, and coaches.

Olivia Mitrovich, Soccer

livia Mitrovich, senior captain and goalkeeper for the Varsity Girls Soccer Team, committed to Georgia State University. “I’m happy that her hard work paid off.” James Mitrovich, Olivia’s father, said. Mitrovich has been playing soccer for 15 years, and has been a member of the varsity team since her freshman year. She is currently on the Ambush RPL team after transferring from UFA. “She’ll do great things no matter where she goes.” head soccer coach Jennifer Barr said.

Mitrovich is pictured with her mother, father, sister, extended family and coaches.

Jun Cho, Soccer

arsity soccer player Jun Cho has committed to playing soccer at Concordia College in New York. Cho has been playing soccer for 13 years, and has been on varsity since his freshman year. He also has experience with club soccer on teams such as Alpharetta Ambush and Concorde Fire. “No matter what he does he’s also trying his best,” Coach John McCombe said.

Cho is pictured with his mother, brother, coaches, and Athletic Director Scotty McDaniel.

SPORTS

DJ Poteet, Baseball

arsity baseball and basketball player DJ Poteet has signed to Wake Forest University to play basketball. He has been ranked within the top 120 in the country, and has been on Northview’s varsity team since his freshman year. “DJ Poteet is gifted as there is,” coach Aaron Wilkens said. He has also played with several scout teams including the Georgia Giants. Poteet is pictured with his mother, brother, and Coach Aaron Wilkens.

Michael Harps III, Football

arsity football player Michael Harps III committed and signed to Nichols College. Harps has been on the varsity team for three years after transferring to Northview his sophomore year, the same year in which he won the ‘Hardest Hitter’ award. “I’m very excited [for] him,” Chad Davenport, former head varsity football coach, said.

Harps is pictured with his mother, Coach Davenport, and Athletic Director Scotty McDaniel.

Chike Otaluka, Football

arsity football player Chike Otaluka has committed to the Naval Academy. Otaluka has been a starter and crucial member of the varsity team since his sophomore year. Before choosing to sign to the Naval Academy, he had received offers from many other schools. “He’s really worked hard and gotten better every year.”, Chad Davenport, former Head Varsity Football coach, said.

Otaluka is pictured with his mother, father, and coach.

Sophie Kopec, Lacrosse

ophie Kopec has committed to playing lacrosse at The College of William and Mary in Virginia. Kopec has been playing lacrosse since fourth grade, and has been a part of Northview’s Varsity team since her freshman year. “I am super excited and proud of Sophie having a future in her hands.” John Kopec, Sophie’s father, said.

Kopec is pictured with her mother, father, coaches, and cousin, Scott.

THE MESSENGER | 21

Shashank Ganeshan/ STAFF

The Titans huddle in a timeout during round of 16 game against Valdosta

Northview vs. Everyone The Northviewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girls basketball team finishes historic season going 25-3 and winning their region AKSHAY NAIR, STAFF WRITER

he Northview girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball completed the most successful basketball season in school history amassing a record of 25-3 with an impressive undefeated 16-0 record in the region. After finishing 16-13 in 2015, the confidence of having a winning season for the first time in five seasons along with the combination of youth and experience enabled the team to have a high powered offense averaging 55.9 points per game this season (nearly a 10 point difference from last year). This heightened offensive play coupled with

Team Stats: 25-3 overall record 16 steals per game

59.9 points per game 16-0 record in the region the improved defense clinched them the number one seed in the region, a feat which had never been accomplished at Northview. The offseason workouts and training were critical to the team’s success. One of the key elements head coach Chris Yarbrough has preached is the idea of teamwork and trusting in each other which has greatly contributed to the improved offense. “One of the most important things is that the girls have bought into from the beginning of the year is the idea to work hard and to really trust each other on the floor. We’ve really improved offensively. Overall we’re up 10 points a game that’s a lot of difference between wins and losses, “ head coach Chris Yarbrough said. The team chemistry has allowed for more people to be present on the score sheet. No one person has dominated the stats. The spreading of the ball among numerous players precipitated an increase in the number of assists from 11 to 14 per game compared to the previous season. As such, four of the starting five players have scored seven or more points per game. This, combined with a decrease in turnovers and an increase of defensive efficiency, created a team that Northview fans find exciting to watch. Even principal Brian Downey has high praise for the Lady Titans. “They have personified the definition of teamwork. They have a lot of

talent, but no one person has been more important than the team. They all work together; if you look at the scoreboard, the scoring is pretty even across the team,” Downey said. The team entered the region tournament riding a 10 game win streak and averaging 64 points per game over the stretch. This streak secured the Titans the number one seed in the region while also earning them the 11th rank in the state. In the region 7-AAAAAA tournament, the Titans dismantled the Dunwoody Wildcats 76-43 in the quarterfinal and beat Pope high school 56-35 in the semifinals. In the finals, they faced stiff opposition from Alpharetta but prevailed 58-38 to win their first region championship in school history. For the second time in two years, the team will play in the state tournament; this time they will enter as the one seed from the region. The accomplishment of winning the region has been a bonus to an already successful season; however, the mindset and approach to the state tournament remains the same, and with their hard work and determination they look poised to make a deep run in the state tournament. “It helped us realize what we are capable of doing and how far we can go in the state tournament. We all need to get mentally sharp and focus on our main goal of winning state,” sophomore Ashlee Austin said.

SPORTS

Player Spotlight: Asjah Inniss SHASHANK GANESHAN, STAFF WRITER

sjah Inniss, a freshman on the girls’ varsity basketball team, has contributed immensely to the team’s success this season. Sophomore teammate, Maya Richards, notes that Inniss is incredibly talented despite being so young and has played the point guard position with great poise and maturity. Richards mentioned that Inniss has a great shot and extraordinary vision on the court. “She’s going to mature as a player and an individual, and I think that’s going to help the team as far as her decisions,” Richards said. Having Inniss as point guard has freed up Senior teammate, Shannon Titus, and allowed her to be more versatile and comfortable on the floor. The team, as whole, has averaged 12 more points per game than they had last year because of Asjah’s addition. More importantly, Inniss brings an infectious amount of positive energy and encouragement to her teammates. “We told her ‘yeah you may be a freshman, but we need you to play like a junior or senior quicker’, and she has really responded to that challenge,” Coach Yarbrough said. Inniss cherishes the close relationships that she has developed with her teammates who she describes as humble and hardworking. She respects each and every one of her teammates and values their input despite being the controller of the court, a title inherent to the point guard position. Inniss also looks toward the future with immense enthusiasm because of their potential to accomplish amazing feats in the future. “I expect great things in the future. We’re going to push harder and excel,” Inniss said.

THE MESSENGER | 23

SPORTS

Thomson Takes Over

New football co ach at Northview promises a changing chap ter in Titian history RAMEEN FORGHANI, STAFF WRITER

JUSTINE ULRICH/STAFF

Coach James Thomson prepares to lead the football team next season

he Northview Titans have hired James Thomson to take over the role of head football coach. Thomson most recently comes off of a year-long stint at the University of California- Los Angeles, an NCAA Division I school that competes in Pacific-12 Conference. Under the direction of head coach Jim Mora, Thomson was an assistant running backs coach. “You learn a lot. The knowledge I gained... I can’t even tell you. I learned more in a year there [at UCLA] than in the past 20 years of my life,” Thomson said. Thomson is already in discussions to bring in multiple assistant coaches to form “one of the best staffs in the state”. Thomson will be a graduation coach for the remainder of this year, before he is expected to transition into a physical education teacher next school year. Even though he most recently spent a year at the next level, transitioning back to high school football shouldn’t be burdensome for Thomson, who previously coached at DeLand, Gainesville, and Cornerstone Charter High Schools in Florida. “I’m at the point in my life where I want to settle down, and I want to coach football.

College football is a very competitive profession,” Thomson said. “It is something that I enjoyed, but I think I had more impact in high school, so the opportunity to give back at the high school level and give back to a community as awesome as this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” Thomson underwent a rigorous interview process, which included multiple rounds of interviews with principal Brian Downey and a committee consisting of athletic director Scotty McDaniel, current Northview coaches, a representative from the football booster club, and rising seniors within the football program. The hiring of Thomson was announced to a group of seven rising seniors on January 30; Thomson officially joined Fulton County Schools on February 6, and was introduced to parents and the community in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the remodeled weight room on February 8. “His strength is networking. He obviously has those connections with UCLA. He was just at the Senior Bowl last week; that is what he does. He has a large network and lots of connections,” McDaniel said.

These strengths will hopefully be a great asset to Titans’ football. “We had a coach, one of our graduate assistants, his father was the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, Ed Donatell, and he spoke highly about this area. Our tight end coach, Rip Scherer, is building a home here in the Johns Creek area,” Thomson said. “According to them they have been all over the country traveling and this is the best area. When I saw the job available here, I was intrigued.” Thomson replaces former head coach Chad Davenport, who resigned earlier in the year. Over seven seasons at Northview, Davenport amassed 27 wins, which makes him the most victorious coach in school history. Davenport led the Titans to two consecutive state playoff berths in 2014 and 2015 amidst a body of yearly improvement before suffering a 2-8 season in 2016. “He is fired up, energetic, and ready to roll. I was impressed with his presentation of the X’s and O’s. He has a lot of expertise, and is a good, hard-nosed guy that is here to work,” Downey said. “I have charged him with building a rock solid program here.”

EVAN MOODY/STAFF

C OV E R S T O R Y

A LOOK INTO THE CURRENT FACE OF HATE From stereotypes to student advocacy, the following features package creates a necessary space for discussion and dialogue, one that emphasizes collaboration and unity over conflict and resentment. SHERRY LIANG, STAFF WRITER NITHYA MAHAKALA, FEATURES EDITOR SALLY PAN, MANAGING EDITOR THE MESSENGER | 25

I. STER·E·O·TYPE /‘sterēe,tīp/

noun

1. a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

hen senior Zara Inam was religious and attend mosque every week; other than dress, which is empowering to only in sixth grade and others are non-practicing. Some Muslim them. In the Quran, women are also very Osama Bin Laden had re- women wear a headscarf, or hijab, and empowered,” Inam said. cently been killed, a close others do not. The diversity recognized With increasing controversy over the friend questioned if she was an evil per- in the Christian or Jewish American com- wearing of the hijab and other cultural son for being Muslim. munities is also reflected in the Muslim clothes in common areas, young women Several weeks ago at work, she once American community. in America struggle to balance maintainagain heard ignorant remarks from peers Similarly, the actions of certain in- ing their own religious identities in the along the lines of “Shut up, you Muslim”, dividuals in such a large, varying popu- public’s eye. as if it were a derogatory label rather than lation do not represent the entire group. “I understand that when people see a religious title. With terrorist organizations such as ISIS women who wear traditional garb, they This represents only a fraction of striking in the Middle East, people often may assume that it is forced upon them,” the stigma propelled towards the Inam said. “However it is not, and I entire religion. Muslims in America understand that it may be an issue for experience the impact of these stemany to wrap their heads around, but reotypes in a myriad of forms. What I noticed that you can truly underfirst appears as harmless comments stand this concept if you spend time Muslims current reside in the US in the culture.” in hallways can easily culminate into violent vandalism in mosques and Is For junior Arsheen Kudchikar, Islamic centers, as Islamophobia takes lamophobia does not deter her from root systemically. Muslims are left trying associate the hostility of these propor- expressing religion in her own way either. to show others the reality of what they tionately small groups with the 1.6 bil- As a high school student who wears a hibelieve in by breaking the bonds between lion Muslims living in the world. jab, she is accustomed to lingering looks Islam and its stereotypes. “Just like the KKK is not represen- in public and uncomfortable questions. In Inam’s case, it has morphed into tative of Christianity, terrorist organiza- “People stare at Kroger or outside. a continuous battle of proving that vio- tions are extremists who twist the name They’ll ask questions, but not rudely. It’s lence is not, in fact, associated with Is- of Islam. According to the Quran, those just to be curious. Sometimes, I ask mylam. extremists who call themselves Muslims self why am i doing this and question it. “It is a shame that extremists who are anything but Muslim,” Inam said. But I know that it’s what I stand for and commit horrendous acts in the name of “Unfortunately, there have been many what I truly believe in,” Kudchikar said. Islam believe that is what Islam is and people who portray Islam as being a re- “In the end, it was my decision.” that that is the way to heaven,” Inam said. ligion of violence and hatred, when it is She attributes her lack of fear over “In the same way, it is a shame people fact the opposite.” being harassed to Northview’s diverse clihave grown up continuing to believe that As a proclaimed feminist, Inam’s big- mate and open arms. Teachers and classmy religion actually promotes violence.” gest struggle with stereotypes lies in prov- mates have never made Kudchikar feel Many Muslims are born in the Unit- ing to others that Islam does not compro- out of place for her religious choices. ed States; others are immigrants or the mise on gender equality. “Ms. Pope once told me that if I ever had children of immigrants from dozens of “It’s important to know that even problems I could always come talk to her. countries, such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, though Islam encourages modesty, the Hearing that from an adult definitely helped Turkey, Somalia and Guyana. Some are women are able to dominate in forms me feel more comfortable with who I am and

3.3 MILLION

45%

According to a study from the Shorenstein Center, 45% of non-Muslim, white respondents put Muslim-Americans as “inherently violent”

27% of Northview students believe that politicians should associate Islam with terrorism

According to the FBI, 6% of terrorist attacks on US soil from 1980-2005 have been conducted by Muslims.

who I project myself as,” Kudchikar said. Students in the Johns Creek community are exposed to a variety of cultures from a young age and are taught to embrace the diversity. Principal Brian Downey takes note of the respect peers hold for each other. “At Northview, I rarely see the negative impact of stereotyping in our student body. From my seat, I see a school that greatly respects the diversity within our walls, and it’s to a point where we celebrate it,” Downey said. “That’s not to say it doesn’t exist. That’s not to say our kids aren’t faced with it, but in our day to day operations we don’t deal with it that much.” For students who do face problems with stereotypes, several resources are set in place at school to help eliminate the problem. The Northview Counseling Department is equipped with handling such situations and dealing with victims and perpetrators. “In my opinion, school should be a

safe place where students should come to feel supported and celebrated. I don’t want any students to come and feel like they cannot be accepted for who they are,” Northview counselor Letitia Graham said. However, personal encounters with Muslim stereotypes remain common for other members of the community. When Purvi Charaniya, a Northview parent, heard about her older son’s run in with campus police at the University of Georgia, her alarm over her family’s safety increased disproportionately. “A student reported him to campus police saying they felt threatened by him. All he was doing was discussing a research topic he was working on for a class and it happened to be related to Islam,” Charaniya said. “I am fearful as to what my children might face in the current climate.” Her family was also forced to rethink a trip to Pakistan because of current events in politics. Charaniya hopes for a future clear of stereotypes and religious

50 “

COUNTRIES in the world are muslimmajority

27%

conflict. “I feel that people always tend to be afraid of things they are not familiar with. If everyone kept an open mind and made an effort to get to know their Muslim neighbors then there would be less conflicts,” Charaniya said. “They should get to know a Muslim first before making any assumptions. It is very important for us all to form our own opinions.” Downey shares the hopeful sentiment about students combating stereotypes their own way. “I think what sets us apart is that you guys have grown up with that diversity. If you go to other communities, they don’t have that diversity so that stereotype exists out of ignorance,” Downey said. “You guys know the kids sitting next to you and you’ve developed that personal relationship and then that therefore destroys any stereotype because you know better. For you all, it’s been a teammate; its been a classmate; it’s been a best friend.”

I am FEARFUL as to what my CHILDREN might face in the current climate - PURVI CHARANIYA THE MESSENGER | 27

II. TRAVEL BAN

President Donald Trump’s immigration executive order has sent shockwaves throughout the global community and its impacts have had far reaching consequences even at Northview high school.

students, families, businesspeople, and refugees from seven countries in the Middle East and Africa found their futures suspended on January 27, 2017 after President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order temporarily preventing citizens from the Muslim-majority countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from obtaining visas to travel to the United States. A week later, US District Judge James Robart in Seattle suspended it nationwide, challenging the ban by allowing barred visitors to enter the U.S. pending an appeal by the administration. However, it is still unclear as to what the administration will do next in retaliation. The ban comes during a time of heightened political and social turmoil following President Trump’s bigoted campaign rhetoric. Among those directly affected are Northview student Muhammed Ali Abdallah Aljaber and his mother, Farzaneh Latifi. Before President Trump’s inauguration, Aljaber’s maternal aunt and uncle had planned to visit the United States. Obtaining a visa in a foreign country, especially in Iran, is a complex process, requiring months of planning and exorbitant travel expenses. “I haven’t really seen my relatives in a long time; the last time I saw my family was 4 years ago. I know Trump’s ban is temporary as of right now, but I don’t know if he’ll extend it

again. Depending on how it plays out, it could potentially be another four years before I get to see them again, which is really heartbreaking and devastating to me,” Aljaber said. Latifi, a single mother, raises Aljaber and his younger brother in a traditionally Iranian household, teaching them cultural values and cooking them Persian cuisine. “Because my mom is a single mom and she’s the one who’s raised me, I’ve never really talked to my dad or any of his relatives. When i think of ‘aunts’ and ‘uncles’, I don’t think of going down to Miami, which is where my father is originally from and where his family is. The only family i think of when i think of my aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas is in Iran. They’re all I have. All I have here are my brother and my mother,” Aljaber said. The hateful rhetoric that President Trump’s campaign set into motion has also manifested itself into the daily lives of Aljaber’s family. Latifi’s coworkers at River Trail Middle School have started treating her differently, and she has seen mixed reactions in schools and from her friends. “I don’t think that the world sees Islamophobia the way that America does right now, but I’m afraid that Trump is influencing other countries to some extent. It’s even affected my youngest son, with some of his teachers and classmates treating him differently just because

of his background,” Latifi said. “It’s saddening that teachers are doing it and my coworkers shouldn’t be doing that either just because they think the ‘leader’ is on their side. But when there are kids doing it in middle school, it’s just disheartening to see that kind of discrimination in the younger generation.” For other people, however, the situation is not as black and white. Northview High School Principal, Brian Downey, and Tania Pope, a Language Arts teacher, hope that education will help to foster a sense of tolerance and acceptance. “Within the walls and confines of this school, I’m in charge. Not the president, not congress, not the governor, not the mayor— the principal is in charge. And I am tasked with creating the environment, the culture that exists here at Northview,” Downey said. “I hope to lead an environment where all feel welcomed and supported and loved, no matter where they’re from or what their background is.” By reminding students that they are always welcome inside her classroom, Pope expresses her willingness for conversation and concern for her students’ wellbeing. Schools are venues for various ideas, thoughts, and beliefs—places to debate, expand mindsets, and inform opinions. “I would just want for students to know that in my classroom, who you are and where

IMMIGRATION HISTORY IN AMERICA The Page Act is America’s first exclusionary law on immigration

1875 28

1882

Chinese Exclusionary Act bans Chinese miners

Anarchist Exclusion Act bans individuals based on political ideology

1903

1907 Immigration Act bans physically and mentally disabled individuals

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We must ensure that our security measures do not become an ATTACK on those who practice a different RELIGION - TANIA POPE

25.8%

of Northview students support the Travel Ban ASHLYN STALLINGS/SPECIAL

Emergency Quota Law limits number of entries per nation

1921

1965 Immigration Act gets rid of nationality quotas but sets a limit based on ‘hemisphere’

President Trump signs Executive Order banning immigration and visitation to and from 7 countries

2017

*Information from infoplease.com THE MESSENGER | 29

you come from is important. Your culture is valued. That to me is the most important part of being who you are in this school. You are valued, you are important, and you are welcome,” Pope said. To the delight of many progressives, by upholding the rule of law and their understanding of the role of the constitution, the court followed through with the American expectation of the judiciary branch as both a separate entity and a check on an overreaching executive. “Trump can succeed on his travel ban if he fights the right fight. Making it an attack on Muslim countries is not helping his cause,” Pope said. “If the Trump presidency wants to protect Americans, then the travel ban should be instituted against people who align themselves with terrorist organizations, not people who align themselves with a religion. We must ensure that our security measures do not become an attack on those who practice a different religion.” Globalization has created a need to find comfort in what is known and a fear of the unknown, thus the fear of refugees and immigrants coming into our communities. This idea of xenophobia is imprinted into the genetic code, but with the progression of humanity, the importance of evolving past primitive behavior remains a tool for survival. “The biggest thing that trump’s immigration law has changed in comparison to previous immigration laws is that it took away the whole idea of America as this great, free land where everybody’s welcome and everybody’s loved,” Latifi said. “Now, people from places like Central and Southern America, Mexico, places like that—they won’t come to America. Even the ones that are already working here won’t feel as

7 COUNTRIES IMPACTED BY THE TRAVEL BAN

if they belong as much as they used to. It kind of takes away this whole idea of a ‘free America’ as a great land where everyone is loved.” Every culture plays its own role in the shared human experience. Individuals may look different or have different upbringings and experiences, but they also share a lot of those experiences no matter where they come from. Pope tries to spread that message in her classroom that the world lives in tolerance, understanding, and respect; it is through ignorance and stereotypes that people develop intolerance. “If we see people grouped in as ‘one idea’, then that intolerance is going to be developed. But if we can recognize that there is a multifaceted aspect to every culture, and that there’s no one person creating a vision of what that culture has to be, that every student in the classroom, every voice, every culture, should be respected, whether you are white, Middle Eastern, South American, Hispanic, or Asian, then who cares?” Pope said. “When we talk and have those discussions, we discover and realize that our values actually are the same. We share very similar human experiences, but we just sort of practice them in a different way.” Whether or not a line between security measures and religious freedom exists, religious freedom is a basic right of every American, and security measures should be applied to those who intend to inflict violence on Americans. “To those who argue that the peaceful majority of Muslims do not commit terrorist attacks, I say that the peaceful majority is irrelevant; in fact, by being complacent with the ac-

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tions of the radical minority, they are implicitly supporting those actions,” Jack, an anonymous student, said. Thus, this further necessities the importance of having open and honest conversations about differences in culture and learning from them. By educating citizens about both the positives and negative of each culture, students could be more accepting to others. “I think that what President Trump is trying to do is very honorable and right, as he cares about our security and wants us to be safe. I respect that he is trying to have a safer America and safer home. It’s very honorable and smart, but the route he is taking is incorrect,” Latifi said. “There are better ways to have a safer home without causing discrimination, hate, turmoil, or separation.” For Aljaber, Latifi, Pope, Downey, and millions of individuals affected worldwide, Islamophobia and culturally-motivated actions continue to play a significant part in their lives. For Pope, people from all backgrounds and ideologies should focus on collaboration, acknowledgment, and acceptance in order to continue advancing forward. “I can make a promise to our students that within here, within the school day, within the school community, I will do everything in my power to make sure that you are loved and supported and cared for,” Downey said, “and to hell with everyone else.”

YEMEN

BREAKING DOWN THE BAN

BANNED

EXEMPT

Visitors, Students, and Workers

Green Card Holders and Special Immigrants

EXEMPT

Dual Nationals and Diplomats

BANNED New Immigrants

BANNED Refugees

9TH CIRCUIT APPEALS COURT RULING AMENDMENT I

Ruled that executive order violated Establishment and Equal protection clauses and promoted discrimination against a specific religious minority

AMENDMENT V

Deemed that the Due Process clause applies to all US persons including aliens regardless of legality or status as well as those attempting to reenter the US

3-0 UPHELD INJUNCTION

THE MESSENGER | 31

ASHLYN STALLINGS/SPECIAL

III. STUDENT ADVOCACY

he false concept of teenage apathy has long plagued the reputation of students and activism, lessening the impact of their message. This idea stems from the misconception that teenagers are not mature enough to get involved in social issues; however, often times social movements are built on the open-minded, pioneering outlook, that younger generations have, in addition to their ability to initiate change. Senior Kristen Terry encourages her peers to take part in deconstructing these labels and to recognize their potential in bringing change to not only the present community, but also for the future. “If we do not participate, then our voices cannot be heard, and it is the groundwork for our future that is currently being laid,” Terry said. “So if we do not speak now then we don’t get to have a say in our future.” Social media has revolutionized the face of advocacy, which has become especially evident with the passing of the recent election season as politicians began to take notice of the potential impact adolescents have on voters and the outcome of the election. From social media campaigns targeted at young people to increased activity on their accounts, politicians have been levering this newfound platform to widen their influence. As expertises of this burgeoning plat-

form, social media is providing a new avenue for teenagers to voice and express their opinions. Students like Senior Tawil Charaniya see this as an advantage students have over other demographics. “Adults or other demographics, they may not know how to use [social media] in an effective way,” Charaniya said. “They still voice their opinion, but it may not be heard by as many people, and it may not be as effective.” Often times social media plays a critical role in popularizing activist movements, most notably with the recent Women’s March, which culminated from a chain reaction in retaliation against newly elected President Donald Trump. The movement spread by word of mouth, and soon what began as a Facebook event transformed into the largest protest in American history with a record 2.9 million people participating, including Terry, who was inspired to attend the Atlanta Women’s March after her friend in participated in Boston’s Women’s March. To Terry, the march was symbolic of measures far beyond her personal struggles, advocating for the representation and rights of those less privileged. “The march was a show of solidarity in the face of the election, and it was a reminder that no matter what we are not going to sit down and watch people be discriminated against,” Terry said. “When any one group is marginalized,

66%

of Northview students believe that High School students should be politically active

88.1% of Northview students believe that social media is an appropriate forum for political expression

79.9% of Northview students felt more politically aware during the 2016 Presidential Election

we all are put in danger; this is everyone’s fight. As President Donald Trump’s recent political claims and actions hit closer and closer to home, Northview’s diversity encourages a unique environment in which teachers set an example for students to exude kindness and acceptance, a quality senior Class President Pavan Bharadwaj finds crucial in invoking students to speak up and defend their personal beliefs in the face of discrimination and prejudices. “From inside Northview it feels like people are more conscious of those issues, and despite what teachers aren’t supposed to do, they’re not supposed to talk about it,” Bharadwaj said, “but a lot of them do and they’ve shown that they show compassion to their students.” Social Studies teacher Raymond Brown was one of the chaperones on the recent DC Closeup Trip during the inauguration and witnesses firsthand the power and magnitude of the will some of the students at Northview have to ensure their voices are heard. A fundamental value he employs in his teaching curriculum is stressing the imperfections in American society, emphasizing the importance for students to continuously challenge and amend any outdated and discriminatory patterns in American policies. “One thing I truly, sincerely believe in, and I hope is the backbone of my course are the ideas that essentially all men are created equal, that ideal is the backbone of our society and the backbone of our country,” Brown said. “We’re not there yet; we’ve never been there. But if we keep focusing on that

being the foundation, we can keep pushing towards that.” At Northview, student advocacy is evident through various platforms. Junior Abbi Page expresses her messages in subtle means through her slam poetry. As a member of the Literary Magazine and an avid participant in the various performances throughout the year at Northview, Page deconstructs stereotypes from her vantage point as an African American woman, seeing poetry as an outlet to relay her ideals to her peers. “Advocating through art makes my cause more relatable and more reachable to the audience I’m presenting to,” Page said. “I think that art is something we all share so through it we can also share our viewpoints and our needs.” Whether it is accomplished by participating in informal hallway debates or expressing through art, student advocates at Northview have not gone unnoticed by Principal Brian Downey, who recognizes the effect students have in contributing to the overall accepting environment in the halls of his high school. “What I have seen our students do is take action, have a voice, and stand up for something,” Downey said. Aside from all their respective messages to convey, the similarity all student advocates have in common is their ability to recognize the importance in preserv-

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ing the younger generation’s voice in a political and social world dominated by adults. Bharadwaj believes that the diverse, close knit community at Northview contributes largely to the demonstration of teamwork by his peers in an effort to strengthen the influence of their voices combined. “Northview is a special experience, and if you have someone going with you through that experience, you have a bond,” Bharadwaj said. “It’s when things like that happen with prejudice, it’s different when it’s to your friend.” While student advocates must inevitably face the unwanted labels and doubt from others, the payoff is irreplaceable, generating a sense of accomplishment and pride in their contributions to furthering their causes. “The most rewarding part is when you see the things you stand up for actually happen,” Charaniya said. “You’re doing it to make a difference, and it actually worked, seeing what you believe in come into place.

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THE MESSENGER | 33

Night of Lights The annual celebration of International Night showcases Northview’s diversity MIRA SYDOW, STAFF WRITER

very year, International Night brings hundreds of students streaming into Northview’s auditorium. The night is filled with ethnic food from around the world and musical performances from a variety of cultures. Each annual International Night ends with its largest performance, a group of seniors performing a mix of American and Indian numbers to top off the night. “It’s the senior class’s responsibility to get a group of friends together and start this whole fusion dance,” senior Ashna Bhardwaj said. The senior dance is a way for Northview’s graduating class to leave a mark on the underclassmen by proving how powerful the school is because of diversity . It bonds the members of the group together like family. Since the seniors are graduating at the end of the year, they have a last chance to show their school

spirit and celebrate uniqueness through International Night. “Spending so much time with those guys and girls, it turns into a family, and that was the best part,” senior Pavan Bharadwaj said. “It’s what makes Northview, Northview.” The seniors spent five months practicing twice a week to prepare the dance. Each practice was three hours of intense work. They worked diligently to pick songs, choreograph, and practice, only having barely any dress rehearsals before their final performance. “We had people who were good with choreography focus on that and then just practiced a ton,” senior Sachi Puri said. “[It] was really stressful.” Leaving Northview, the seniors can look back on their experience at International Night and be satisfied with the impact they

left on the other students. The senior group combined more traditional Indian dances and songs with modern music in an interesting twist and received a standing ovation from their peers. “At Northview, since we have so many cultures and so many common aspects of our lives, I feel like I’ll miss having that connection with basically everyone in my school,” Bhardwaj said. The entire night was coordinated by the Kaleidoscope Club with the purpose of showing off students’ talent while presenting the audience with a fresh view of the many ethnicities at Northview. Co-President of the Kaleidoscope Club, Puri, participated in the dance while helping to organize the whole event. “The slogan for our club is ‘Unity through Diversity’ and that’s something that definitely

FEATURES

“ W he n you ’ r e e xpos e d t o th a t , t h e r e a r e n o s te r e o t yp e s . It br e a k s it d o w n a s q u i c k l y a s po s s i bl e .” -P r i nc i pal Br i an Dow ney inspires me,” Puri said. ‘Unity through Diversity’ is shamelessly broadcasted at International Night, packing students of all backgrounds into the auditorium to view their talented peers together. Especially with current political tension regarding minorities, International Night shows Northview that variety should be embraced. Each of the students on stage is proud to be performing and sharing their culture with the rest of the student body. “Right now it’s really tense regarding other cultures, and i think it’s a good celebration of our school,” Puri said. Pushing past preconceived notions of certain nationalities makes Northview’s students

stronger and prouder. International Night is a place where the traditional Indian dance duet gets the same amount of applause as the Elvis cover band. “When you’re exposed to that, there are no stereotypes. It breaks it down as quickly as possible,” Principal Brian Downey said. With the whole school watching, nobody was judged for their heritage, only for their talent. By combining various art forms from different countries around the world, International Night empowers minorities. “My favorite part would have to be seeing

the audience and seeing how supportive they were, and seeing the teachers and parents and friends,” Bhardwaj said. “All of them came out to support this awesome night of just indulging in all of these different cultures.” The audience contributes to the performance by giving the performers confidence to show their talent to the school. Since it started at Northview, International Night is focused on removing cultural boundaries for students and teaching them to express themselves without the fear of being judged. “If you walk into that thinking that Asians can’t sing country western, and then you see Jay up on stage, knocking it out of the park, well that’s a stereotype that’s gone now,” Downey said.

THE MESSENGER | 35

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The Vincent Bakery The Messenger’s Monthly Foo d Review AMANDA BEARD, NEWS EDITOR

*This article is not sponsored by The Vincent Bakery EVAN MOODY/STAFF

ne of the best aspects of The Vincent Bakery is its location. Placed only five minutes away from Northview High School, the cafe provides an ideal meeting ground for a quiet Sunday afternoon full of coffee, sweets and studies. Walking into the cafe, the aroma of bread baking and the quiet hiss of a cappuccino machine indulge the senses. The low lighting and soft background music mixed with the smells automatically creates a quaint environment. As soon as the warmth and smell of the cafe take effect, worries are a thing of the past as the shop creates a new found sense of peace. A large wooden table placed in between the seating area and the display cases consists of sweet breads and other delectables that can be purchased in larger quantities to go. In the display cases, a wide array of cakes and desserts are lined up, row after row. A few of the desserts include a sweet

The Vincent Bakery 10900 Medlock Bridge Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30097 http://vincentbakery.com/ (770)-476-7534

tart pastry, a fluffy New York cheesecake and an oreo mousse. The shop not only provides sweets, but refreshments as well. An endless selection of different kinds of espressos, lattes and cappuccinos cover the menu. Hot tea and cold tea are both options as well including the ever so popular bubble tea, coming in multiple flavors and sizes. While the cafe exceeds expectations as far as quantity and quality, the cost of the savory sweets is steep. The cheesecake cost $5.30 and the smaller tart still only $5.00. A small cup of plain coffee cost $2.00. The food provided is always served with a smile and on a decorated dish, making the price seem worth it. As far as the layout of the restaurant, tables are strategically placed around the cafe to create individual study nooks while maximizing the available space and not being too cramped. The space resembles a ‘coffee house’ with the many high schoolers placed around the shop studying and munching on the wide array of sweet delectables to choose from. While the cost might put a damper on the experience, The Vincent Bakery has options for everyone that will create an enjoyable experience for a postdate desert or a quick coffee run.

AMANDA BEARD/STAFF

THE MESSENGER | 37

faceoff: Should race be taken into consideration at airport security checkpoints? 38

OPINIONS

yes BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER

ince the events of September 11, 2001, airport security and border policing have become focused on the racial backgrounds of criminals. Some people may find racial profiling to be discriminatory, and while this may be the case. It is the price that must be paid for national security. While it may be a controversial subject, in order to effectively do their jobs, they must be able to associate suspicious individuals with their cultural and racial groups. Our police’s job is to prevent people from getting harmed. While it may be labeled as racist and ignorant thinking, there is no denying that statistics and empirical evidence shows that people of certain ethnic groups are more likely to commit crimes. Using

airports as an example, many people believe that there is an unfair bias towards Muslim people. While Muslim people are more likely to be checked more thoroughly, the TSA is only doing its best to protect those that are on flights that day. It is safer to check a group of people that are statistically more likely to cause trouble than other groups that have not committed these acts. In 2013, 4,379 African-American people were arrested for murder. In contrast, only 3,799 people of either Hispanic or Caucasian race were arrested for the same crime. Racial profiling is often seen as a prejudice, but the police and other security are simply trying to stop as much crime as possible. They must pay attention to statistics and consider the

story they tell. For example, when considering airport security, some believe that followers of Islam are unfairly targeted as a result of generalization and stereotyping. However, this thorough checking and profiling is not driven by discriminatory thinking but is instead the cause of the TSA’s commitment to keeping the country safe. While it may produce cultural tensions and controversy, it is absolutely better to be safe rather than sorry. While national security systems are not perfect, security officials and servicemen are obligated to protect and serve to the best of their abilities. They therefore, must keep in mind the categories of people statistically prone to illegal activity, even if such a category is labeled as race.

attacked by all the countries in the world, although out government still focuses on the people whose origins are from countries the United States has been in conflict with. Using a country as a front for banning a certain type of religion is cowardly and disgusting. It is hiding racial profiling under the excuse of a country whose majority religion and should not be allowed at all. Racial profiling at its core is looking at the color of one’s skin, but this is another level of discrimination. Racial profiling used to depend on was what a police officer or a TSA agent can tell from one glance at you. A person could be a fourth generation citizen in the United States but still look like they fit the racial profile that law enforcement has been told to ‘pay special attention to’. Racial profiling is known to be used in airports due to the nature of them being high risk targets and previous attack targets. However, studies have repeatedly shown that although people of color are more likely to be stopped, white people are more likely to be a threat, because they are able to hide within

the group less targeted. Using the lifted travel bans as an example, foreigners from certain countries were not even given the chance to show their background or histories. The United States was built on immigrants and we still are. If the federal government wants to ban people of a certain religion, they shouldn’t hide behind the excuse of a country. Each person is an individual and should be judged by their actions and not by their color or the actions of their fellow countrymen. It is not fair for a person to already be marked as more likely to commit a certain crime because of the way they look. The average person does not have control over the way they naturally appear to others, and to be judged before a police officer looks at their license, or before a TSA officer checks their background is unfair and prejudicial. This is why instead of profiling people racially; law enforcement should look at backgrounds and past actions instead of judging a person by the color of their skin.

no ALEX PERRY, STAFF WRITER

he concept of racial profiling reasons that if a person who has committed this crime is of a certain race, then people of that race and more likely to commit the same crime. This is a situation more commonly known as the association fallacy, where because one individual who is part of a group has a characteristic, there is a faulty causation to the entire. Racial profiling is ineffective and an immature way of identifying criminals or terrorists. Connecting one’s actions solely based on his race is prejudicial and leads to strengthening stereotypes and people’s perception of certain demographics. Yes, a select few people within this race take part in a certain action, but it does not mean that all people of this race act that way. Believers in racial profiling claim that two people of the same race will act the same and do the same things just because they have similar racial backgrounds. Some may even argue that it is not because of these people’s races, but because of their country of origin. It is fair to say that America has not been

THE MESSENGER | 39

OPINIONS

The Demise of Print Many may find print media’s decline to b e a sign of progress; however, its effects do more harm than goo d RAMANUJ SRINIVASAN, STAFF WRITER

he newspaper industry has been on the decline since the introduction of the television in the 1950s. However, the most intense decline of print media has been seen in the 21st century with the integration of media outlets and internet online journals and records. Since the introduction of the internet, most advertisements have been appointed to webpages such as Craigslist instead of being posted in the newspaper. Since newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wallstreet Journal depended on the classifieds for 70 percent of their ad revenue, this decline in revenue led to a huge loss in the financial department of major print media outlets. With the rise of the internet and the exponential decline in revenue for the newspapers, funding has become a huge issue in terms of supply for print publications. From 2000-2007, Craigslist alone managed to cost the newspaper industry a total of $5.4 billion. After the launch of ‘online-only’ news

publications such as Tronc and The Independent have been implemented in the United States, newspapers have not only been overshadowed by other media, but also lost their principal sources of profit. Parent companies often sell or eradicate certain sectors of the media departments to fully convert them into online news providing services which can establish higher revenue stream. For example, the diversified media holding company overseen by Rupert Murdoch, was hit, forced to write down much of the value of newspaper publisher Dow Jones & Company that it purchased for $5 billion in 2007. Unfortunately, the decline of print media is not something that can be replaced with a sudden rise and boost in online reforms and civilian participation based news outlets such as Tronc. Even the news channels on television use print publications as their sources for backing up all their main stories. A study conducted by the Los Angeles Times showed that approximately 80 percent of the stories

covered by television news are supported by evidence gathered by investigative journalists that work for print publications. If these publications are replaced with online databases of information that are not only mass produced and identical to information found in media in every state, but also the reason for thousands of job cuts, our daily intake of information would plummet. The newspaper industry is declining because of lack of funding and decreasing profits. The people partly in fault to this are those who get their news from sources such as Youtube, or those who steal their neighbors’ newspaper. There are bound to be even those who are reading this story on a copy of The Messenger they just found lying around instead of actually subscribing to it. By subscribing to publications such as the AJC, and Johns Creek Herald, every individual would actually be helping in the movement to keep journalism alive, which print media is an essential part of, to say the least.

OPINIONS

Hateful Hypocrisy With its backing of many state-level religious liberty bills, the Republican Party may seem to be a champion of first ammendment rights, but this is not the case. JACK LOWRANCE, OPINIONS EDITOR

ith the onslaught of conservative-backed religious liberty bills last spring and the continual right-wing opposition to laws which require, for example, a Christian to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple; the less discerning among us might be led to believe that the GOP is championing the protection of civil liberties. However, this is certainly not the case. For example, across the country, there have been numerous cases of mosques having building permit applications rejected by Republican majority city councils. In most of these cases, like that of the Islamic Center of Culpeper, VA, almost every church with a similar request was granted approval. This is pure hypocrisy. But even worse, it’s the sinful byproduct of Republican fear mongering, Islamophobia, and cronyism. Of course, many of our readers will respond to this argument in a fashion similar to Marco Rubio’s reaction on Fox News after former President Obama’s 2015 address on national security. Rubio said: “The cynicism! The cynicism tonight, to spend a significant amount of time talking about discrimination against Muslims. Where is there widespread evidence

that we have a problem in America with discrimination against Muslims?” But, Mr. Rubio’s argument is patently false. The ‘widespread evidence’ starts right from the top. Such as when the current Republican President sought to ban innocent refugees from Muslim majority countries, solely based on their religion (and yes, it was based on religion, quit pretending like it wasn’t). Or when he praises a secret, discriminatory NYPD Muslim spying program, or claims that the world has ‘a muslim problem,’ or even has the gall to attack former President Obama for feeling comfortable in a mosque. Yes, Mr. Rubio, there is an islamophobia problem in this country. Though this hateful and hypocritical rhetoric is concerning, what might be even more disturbing is the apparent motivation behind it. Muslims have become the scapegoat of Republican politicians solely for scoring cheap political points. These politicians have drummed up a fear of Muslims, because they know if people are afraid of something, they are more likely to buy a gun or support a war. And when more people invest in firearms and the country goes to war, major defense contractors and the gun industry benefit.

That is why major gun rights advocacy groups and defense contractors donate overwhelmingly to the GOP. This is classic cronyism. So to summarize, cronyism leads to fear mongering, and fear mongering leads to islamophobia–– simple. All of those on the right who have been calling for religious liberty, and the right to refuse service if it violates someone’s religion have invalidated their own argument. It is ridiculously hypocritical to complain about Christian religious liberties, and then go on to perpetuate islamophobia and hinder other people’s right to this same freedom. It seems that the very people claiming to be more patriotic than the rest of us, are really just the opposite. The first amendment to the United States Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” These rights do not only apply to a select few. They apply to everybody.

THE MESSENGER | 41

OPINIONS

A Night to Remember The Oscars is meant to b e a night to honor some of the b est films and filmmakers across the world WILL CLAUSSEN, SPORTS EDITOR

ward shows have always been a night to admire the finest acts and works of the year, and give praise to those who have created something memorable. The tech crews, producers, directors, actors and actresses who have shown their skill in their craft are rewarded with 60 seconds to accept their award and say a few words about what it means to them. However, it’s now taken the form of a 60 second plug to spout whatever political views these career artists seem to have. Whether it be Beyonce’s Grammy speech about diversity or Meryl Streep’s lash at Donald Trump, actors and actresses have now taken their award speech to millions of viewers as their time for a political ser-

mon of their beliefs. And since celebrities populate awards shows, their idolized nature and innate ability to influence people exponentially increases as they now are able to speak to an unusually large audience. These people, whose expertise lies in the realm of being someone they’re not or orchestrating the scene, now believe it is their duty to expouse their political views to the masses. With a world of impressionable people and with the media’s image being in all forms of the word “questionable,” the words that the award recipients choose can leave a lasting impact on society. Those words, however, come from some of the most unqualified people to give them, but due to their status get treated as scripture. The award recipients

have an abundance of knowledge in what they are being awarded for, not for their political opinions. The Academy Awards has seen a peak of 44 million viewers domestically at once (hosts are told to act as if they are speaking to almost a billion), an audience that has tuned in to be entertained. If people wanted to get a political opinion, there are hundreds of news outlets bound by the rules of journalism to get information from and who most likely have some credibility to back their claims. Award recipients are abusing their platform and relaying the news and their feelings about it without any reason to. The award shows need to get back to the roots of what they are meant for: to entertain.

OPINIONS

Resist, Resist, Resist P resident Donald Trump’s election could serve as a potential catalyst for progressive change TARUN RAMESH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ith change comes inevitable resistance: President Obama’s first election was met with protests and grassroots conservatism via the Tea Party, but most Democrats and Progressives championed the success of diversity and tolerance with a positive and uplifting message of peace. Now, fast forward eight years and the momentum has shifted with the establishment turning red, while protesters march under the flag of equality and opportunity. Looking at this election from the lens of the resistance highlights the birth of a movement that radically challenges mainstream politics and the populace’s commitment towards holding elected officials accountable for their actions in Washington. For too long, polarized politicians — on both sides of the aisle— have placed their own personal career over the well-being of the American people, yet with politically motivated resistance through a variety of mediums across the nations from protests at UC Berkeley to call-ins to Senator Isakson regarding the DeVos confirmation, the American people have monolithically responded to President Trump’s constitutionally dubious actions with outrage. However, this movement

could not succeed single handedly. Private sector resistance— like Lyft’s donation to the ACLU— coupled with civilian opposition have the ability to retake Washing-

Eve ry o b s ta cl e ne e ds s o m e o ne to ch a l l e nge th e s ta tu s qu o ton away from the elite and devolve power back to the constituents. Of course, the President’s recent actions have disproportionately affected marginalized and disenfranchised populations, but they have also propelled those impacted groups into the public and media’s eye. From SNL’s political skits and college protests to feminist outrage and the ACLU, each progressive line item has been depicted as the golden speck of hope against the wave of despair and hatred from the administration. Take the DeVos confirmation, for example, from its ini-

tial ‘grizzly’ hearing to post-confirmation, the education secretary has been crucified on social media, turned into countless memes, and literally blocked from entering a school. After her confirmation, angry constituents have viciously attacked Republican senators, who voted for her confirmation. Time Magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post along with several other news agencies published extensive lists of Republican senators who received donations in the millions of dollars from her family. Senator Marco Rubio heads this list and many Republican voters have turned away from him in disgust. This sharp reaction to any political decision as minute as cabinet confirmation is virtually unheard of in recent history. For progressives, this election felt like a set back of 50 years, but the ability to take a play from the Tea Party play book remains a golden opportunity for the resistance to effectively end hate in America. Every obstacle needs someone to challenge the status quo. No single woman or minority can break the glass ceiling; only with a nation-wide resistance can that ever elusive glass ceiling be ruptured for good.

THE MESSENGER | 43

C O LU M N S

music

W I L L C L A U S S E N , S P O RT S E D I T O R

deleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most recent album, 25, has become an enormous hit, just like her last album 21. The album swept the table at the Grammys and took home five different awards. The deep and touching songs all provide possible a personal connection and are able to separate themselves from much of the music that is being released today. The album has been record breaking and will remain a staple in the music industry.

Adele

Chance t he Rapper

Coloring Book

ver since his first mixtape, Acid Rap, Chance the Rapper has produced very unique songs that have been topping the charts. With his most recent album, Coloring Book, he was able to secure a Grammy for the best New Artist of the Year. He has been able to remain true to himself and has even turned down multi-million dollar recording deals with labels so that he can maintain the freedom that has made him into the popular and unique artist that he is.

fashion

COLUMNS

EVAN MOODY, BUSINESS MANAGER

the magic of thrifting

oday, if you ask most teenagers where they buy their clothes, the answer may likely be “Goodwill,” instead of “Forever 21,” or “American Eagle.” In recent years, thrifting has become a tremendous trend in teenage culture and in the world of fashion. Thrifting is essentially recycling for clothing. People will donate or sell their old clothes to consignment stores or donation centers, giving the clothing a chance to start over. These stores will then sell the items in order for people of more modest means to be able to buy clothing. Not only is thrifting good for the environment, but it also contributes to the economy. Stores like Goodwill hire people who maybe don’t have the capabilities to work other jobs, and they currently employ 105,000 employees between the United States and Canada. Living in a metropolitan place like Atlanta, there are an abundance of thrift shops in the area, and Natalie Wagner makes full use of them. “I was always comfortable with buying things secondhand because I was always interested in different styles growing up. You can see where clothing now gets inspiration from clothing in the past,” Wagner said.

THE MESSENGER | 45

COLUMN

THE LOW DOWN

A Losing Strategy In their attempts to silence those with whom they disagree, activists are unknowingly harming themselves as well.

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

he moral high ground was lost when the protests over internet provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos’ appearance at UC Berkeley on the night of Feb. 1 turned violent. Unfortunately, this was not a one-off phenomenon, but rather another occurrence in what is becoming a larger trend as seen in the riots outside the California state Capitol in Sacramento and the protests in Charlotte. These violent outbursts defeat the purpose of protest in that they try to silence those with whom they disagree instead of simply expressing their dissent. Though I consider myself to be progressive, and wholeheartedly disagree with Yiannopoulos’ hateful rhetoric, I absolutely support his right to speak his mind because without this fundamental principle, liberty itself cannot exist. It was Frederick Douglass who once wrote: “Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which

they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason of righteousness, temperance, and of a judgment to come in their presence.” Douglass’s remarks perfectly represent the importance of freedom of speech. It serves as the backbone to everything that we hold dear in this country. And what the protesters in Berkeley and their apologists fail to realize is that by attacking the rights of someone with whom they disagree, they are hurting themselves as well. Authoritarian-minded leaders, like our current president, adore a culture in which silencing those with dissenting opinions is promoted over one where all are allowed to speak their minds. It solidifies the strongman’s power and allows him to justify further infringements upon our civil liberties. Furthermore, the tables may turn for the protesters. It is not entirely implausible that the very people these protesters

are trying to silence, may exercise future power to silence the protesters. While the left might find shutting down someone as despicable as Milo Yiannopoulos worthwhile, it only gives our constitutionally illiterate president more ammunition to use against his opponents. Sure, one could point out that obviously Yiannopoulos’ discriminatory rhetoric is very different from Frederick Douglass’s noble argument for abolishing slavery. But that shouldn’t matter. Reserving freedom of speech to a select few would defeat its purpose. It is meant for all. Hopefully, the violent protesters across our country will realize the degree to which they are damaging their own rights in their efforts to silence those with whom they disagree. In an age of rising authoritarianism, we cannot afford to discredit the importance of the freedom to speak our minds. Much damage has been done already, but it is certainly not too late to stop the bleeding before we reach the point of no return. For the nation’s sake, I hope we can.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

A Night of Nights

have considered myself an active member of the Northview community for the entirety of my four high school years, but somehow, until this year, I had been absent from Northview’s most prized and anticipated event: International Night. I had heard the raving reviews from all sorts of diverse communities of students, but had never quite understood why Kaleidoscope’s annual International Night was the biggest and most paraded night of the entire year -- until I took the liberty of attending. International Night was and continues to be a perfectly representative celebration of everything Northview stands for as both an educational institution and a community. It represents diversity and individuality, but most importantly, it represents camaraderie and solidarity. It is a beautiful example of, though it may sound tawdry, a body of students and their subsequent families who put aside all differences to focus on a stellar showcase of the diversity in our community, and how it has contributed to each students uniqueness -- even those who did not see their own culture represented on stage. Looking around among the crowd in either performance yielded surprising results: an audience almost as diverse as the performers

flawless movements on stage. The most touching part of the entire experience, though, was the pure excitement and pride evident on the face of the performers to be able to share their culture with their peers in a way that continues to be so eagerly accepted, and even anticipated. At a time where diversity is being paraded as the source of our country’s maladies, International Night was the cliche shining beacon of hope. It made me realize how fortunate I have been to have been raised in this very community. Diversity has made me tolerant, and though I cannot empathize with the plights of those around me during this time of apparent turmoil in our country and throughout the world, I do sympathize, constantly. On the day before International Night, my peers and friends were attacked by a public figure who seems to have mustered up the courage to voice his nasty hate and prejudice against those whose skin is a different color from his own. I am grateful that International Night, one of my best memories at Northview to this date, was so aptly timed, and I will forever be grateful for the ingenuity and talent that I have had the pleasure of interacting with and learning alongside from the diverse members of our esteemed community.

Maggie Brenan, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 47

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