Vol. 18, Issue 4 by The Messenger

THE MESSENGER VO L 1 8 / I S S 4 $ 1

COVER STORY: GAME CHANGERS pg. 15 Northview’s new esports team shakes things up

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY pg. 21 Highlighting the huge impact that strong women have on Northview’s cul ture

LOVING THE CHANGE pg. 08 Northview’s Yearbook staff brings back the Sadie Hawkins dance

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staff CONTACT US

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF

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

Mira Sydow Jennifer Xia

Kristina Carlson Selena DiBiase Dylan Duque Rachel Everett Ripley Simone Kennebrew Siddharth Kolichala Lia Kolt Suhani Mahajan Reetu Maran Daniel Martinez Grace Nguyen Sean Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal Tanner Owens Bedansh Pandey Manasa Premanand Adiva Puttnam Zainab Qadri Isha Rastogi Megan Serfontein Rayyah Shakur Delaney Shear Erin Shin Caleb Smith Anshi Vajpayee

PUBLICATION The Messenger is a student publication published for and distributed to the Northview community. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire staff or those of Northview High School, its students, faculty, staff, or administration. Content is edited and controlled by staff editors. The staff will publish only legally protected speech, adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity, and the invasion of privacy.

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.

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

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover design: Mira Sydow Graphics: Vecteezy

MANAGING EDITOR Alex Perry

COPY EDITOR

Melissa Liu

NEWS EDITOR Grace Peng

SPORTS EDITOR Nikki Skyer

FEATURES EDITOR Meghana Ramineni

OPINIONS EDITOR Noelle Reid

PHOTO EDITOR

Upasna Kotakonda

BUSINESS MANAGER Jennah Sooknanan

ADVISER

Meredith Evans

contents 05

EDITOR’S LETTER MIRA SYDOW

FOOD REVIEW ALEX PERRY

FASHION ERIN SHIN JENNAH SOOKNANAN

15*

STAFF

SUHANI MAHAJAN JENNIFER XIA

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY STAFF

STAFF

MONTHLY BRIEFS

SADIE HAWKINS DANCE RACHEL EVERETT NOELLE REID

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY MELISSA LIU BEDANSH PANDEY

PROFILE: GRACE KIM LIA KOLT

ESPORTS

STAFF EDITORIAL STAFF

GALLERY

FACEOFF

SEAN O’NEAL CALEB SMITH

OP-EDS

NIKKI SKYER ANSHI VAJPAYEE

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the messenger @nhsmessenger

@nhsmessenger

nhsmessenger@gmail.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Congrats, You Made It!

ey you. Yes, you. You did it! You’re going to be one of the women on The Bachelor! You should be excited; it looks like you check all of our boxes. You’re white, I mean, most likely. If you’re not white, this is awkward, but at least you have white features. Maybe you’re a meek, black woman with a stick-straight build and a tiny mouth, or a non-controversial asian with a bridged nose and noticeable eyelids. You don’t have curly hair — god forbid — but if you do, and that annoying little detail somehow slipped past us, you can fry your locks to a crisp for the next few months so the kink is undetectable. As for your body, don’t worry! We’ve already rooted out the chunky girls that The Bachelor can’t pick up and swing through the air like he’s an Olympic discus thrower (maybe he is, and we’ll get some discus-themed entrances from the other contestants, but we guarantee that only Tammy the Wrestler’s heard of discus before now). But it’s not just what’s on the outside that matters. Despite your good looks, you’re actually really smart! Well, you’re kind of smart. You went somewhere safe and familiar for college, like a lesser-known SEC, or somewhere in Texas. Certainly nowhere better than Iowa State University (although there are a few Bachelors who went to Duke?). You need to be able to put The Bachelor in his place with your feminine intellect but be utterly submissive at the same time. As for your career, that’s negligible, but make sure that we get a good clip of you helping an old woman cross the street or something, or whatever it is you do. If you think that a cushy, self-made career makes you better than anyone else, you’re wrong, and we’ll make you wish that you’d never told the other girls that you were a lawyer, Kelley. But wait! We almost forgot! Regardless of your profession, you (or your family) need to rake in enough dough to buy new, unique dresses and makeup each week. Somehow, you’re going to

have to wear a different color than all of the other girls; we can’t have another Victoria-Kelsey-Final-Four debacle this season. Now, let’s talk a little bit about your background. You have a story. Normal people can’t find love, but ex-homeless people? Poor people? Pageant queens? (And we guarantee you’re at least one of those) The epitome of tragedy. Perfect kindling for a fiery romance. Then, there’s your family. You love each other, a little too much sometimes. You sit around the dinner table, holding hands, and issue original, thoughtful compliments to one another every night. Really, if you couldn’t marry The Bachelor, and have a whirlwind courtship that rivals that of your parents, you’d just live with your family forever in compassionate bliss. Finally, let’s talk about the man of the hour. He’s bland, but like, unique, you know? There hasn’t been a Bachelor named Justin yet, or Ryan, but maybe the latter is a bit too edgy. He’s white, duh. Tall frame, short hair. Artful scruff. Jawline. Ripped, but working out isn’t like, his *thing*. He’s passive and caring, or he’s forceful and dramatic, we don’t really care. He lets us film him crying, and that’s about all we look for after 25 seasons. The point is: he’s perfect. He’s a bad boy and a church-goer. He can go four times in a row in a windmill, and he tells your dad that he’ll respect your boundaries. He’s the guy you’ve always dreamed about, or, at least 60% of him. So, are you ready to meet your soulmate? You’re fresh out of college, don’t have an apartment of your own, and you’ve never filed taxes. He’s incredibly desirable, but somehow he hasn’t found a longtime girlfriend without throwing himself to she-wolves on television. What the hell is wrong with him? Let’s find out! Good freaking luck. With love, The Bachelor producers

Mira Sydow, Editor-in-Chief

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M O N T H LY

NEWS

BRIEFs

Black history Month

his year, Northview’s Black History Club performed its annual Black History Month play in the auditorium on Feb. 21, during both A and B lunch. The performance, called The Umoja Awards, parodies an award show. In this play, club members honored inspirational African American figures through poetry, song, and dance. “This year’s performance is special because we’re really trying to incorporate our theme for the year in the performance, which is Umoja. Umoja means unity in Swahili,” junior Josh Baker said. Unlike last year’s performance, which honored and highlighted the underdogs of black historians, the club presented something new. Taking three months to prepare, club members had to brainstorm ideas, write scripts, hold auditions, and schedule rehearsals. Luckily, the club has both old and new members to assist in the preparation process. The Black History Club is inclusive to all and encourages those who are interested in African American history to join. Anyone who wishes to honor influential black figures and immerse themselves in the African American culture are welcome to participate.

Black History month puts on the show, The Umoja Awards. MELISSA LIU, COPY EDITOR

Math by parts

espite Northview’s rigorous math curriculum, calculus has never recieved much attention from high schoolers due to the challenges it presents. However, this year, the Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society for high schoolers, organized the school’s first Integration Bee. The Bee took place Friday afternoon, in Northview’s Media Center, attracting 21 students from Northview, Alpharetta, and Johns Creek High Schools. The intense tournament consisted of questions covering several different types of integration, including polynomial, trigonometric, and hyperbolic. However, despite the close scores, the coveted first prize went to Soham Jain of Alpharetta High School. He was presented with a trophy and a cash award of $100 by Alan Tao, the event organizer, completing 27 out of 36 total problems correctly. With the success of their first Bee, Mu Alpha Theta hopes to continue it in the years to come.

Preetham Thelluri, Ananya Shetty, and Christopher Yu integrate. REETU MARAN, STAFF WRITER

T Officials calculate precinct totals at the Iowa caucuses. PETE MAROVICH, NY TIMES

Politics

he uproar of the Iowa caucus meltdown as a result of technological errors gave a questionable victory to Pete Buttigieg and kicked off a tumultous start to the 2020 elections. The New Hampshire primary days later, however, threw many polls off. While Bernie Sanders’ victory was expected, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, who had long been considered the leading candidates prior to the state primaries, only earned a small fraction of the votes. The biggest surprises were Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, whose more moderate and less radical ideas had left them long out of the spotlight. The next primaries will be on March 2, Super Tuesday, in which 15 states and territories will vote.

CORONAVIRUS

riginating in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 has spread around the world, with over 60 confirmed cases in the United States, and fear of it is already evident in Georgia; in Atlanta, the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has already begun screening passengers. Worries of members of the Johns Creek community were intensified by Chinese New Year, a time when many travel to China to visit family. Rumors of an infected person at Northview became so widespread that the issue received news coverage from CBS News. In response, many parents withdrew their students from school. Principal Brian Downey immediately sent out an email to parents, saying that “there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Georgia,” and student attendance has remained at normal levels since.

A family wears a mask to avoid infection. PAUL YEUNG, BLOOMBERG NEWS

TJ Brown and Michael Izzi prepare to run at the Will to Live 5k. ISHA RASTOGI, STAFF WRITER

WILL TO LIVE 5k

he 10th annual Will to Live 5K was held on Feb 1. The 5K is a marathon fundraiser for suicide prevention, held every year in early February. This year, over 1,500 people showed up and raised over 120,000 dollars in total. This event is held at River Trail Middle School by John and Susie Trautwein in honor of their son, Will Trautwein, a former Northview student whose suicide had shocked the community. “I go to the 5K and all Will to Live foundation events to spread the awarness of suicide and to show you always have your life teamates with you,” freshman Claire Lee said. The 5K grows more every year; students from Johns Creek, Chattahoochee, Northview, and Lambert High Schools as well as River Trail Middle School all attend and also have Will to Live clubs at their school, another example of the extent at which the foundation has reached many lives.

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NEWS

Loving the Change

Northview students embrace a renewed tradition by attending the Sadie Hawkins dance NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR RACHEL EVERETT, STAFF WRITER

“

ly began to spread across the U.S. and Canada. The first recorded event similar to Sadie Hawkins was on Nov. 9, 1938. Within a year many more events began to pop up. Eventually, this concept would eventually be coined “Sadie Hawkins.” Throughout the years the name of the dance has changed from region to region.

Columbia University that hosted a seminar about advertising and sales. In class this year, they brought their ideas and knowledge from the convention to the yearbook room and drafted the idea for a Sadie Hawkins dance. The yearbook staff members were thinking about new opportunities for students to unwind and have a fun time. Originally the dance was going to be held on Valentine’s day, which was the Friday of a long weekend, so many members of the yearbook staff saw Thursday as the better option. “It would be fun to bring back because prom is mostly for juniors and seniors and freshmen and sophomores are only able to go to homecoming,” Mendicino said, “so we thought it would be nice to have another dance.” The yearbook staff were also able to get help from Brian Rawlin, the adviser of the yearbook. Because of his experience with planning homecoming with Northview’s student council, he was able to mentor the staff

The hardest part ... has b een advertising it and letting everyone know that you don’t need a date to attend. There’s a stigma that you can’t come dateless.

“

Sadie Hawkins dance is a high school event much like that of a homecoming dance or a prom, but the trademark of a Sadie Hawkins that sets it apart from other school dances is the fact that girls are encouraged to ask the boys to the dance rather than the other way around. For the first time in six years, Northview opened up it cafeteria doors for its students to attend a Sadie Hawkins dance on Feb 13. While many people know the concept of a Sadie Hawkins dance, the history of it is often unknown to people. The original idea behind Sadies came from a comic strip that was published around the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The comic was set in the town of Dogpatch, U.S.A where a young woman named Sadie Hawkins lived. She couldn’t wait to be married and her father, not wanting her to live at home, set up a day where Sadie could “chase around” the bachelors of the town, promoting the idea of women talking to men first. The idea of women asking men out quick-

Shreya Raj

In the midwest, it’s called Morp (Prom spelled backward). Up in the Pacific Northwest, they call it a Tolo Dance after the Tolo Club, an all women’s honor society. In the northeast, “Sweethearts” is a common name. Junior Shreya Raj, an editor for the yearbook, and a few more of the yearbook’s staff members were inspired to host a Sadies after attending a student journalism convention at

NEWS

Queen of Hearts Tofumi Abimbola celebrates a fun night. MNEMOSYNE STAFF, SPECIAL

and guide them through the process. He also served as a conduit between the students and the help of other adults. “He’s there to make sure things go well and as planned. He handles stuff with the people because we’re younger and can’t call them and make certain payments and reservations,” Mendicino said. With the school staff being prepared, the Mnemosyne’s staff started preparing themselves for the dance as well. Raj believed that working out aspects of the dances such as the date, a venue, decorations, and music were difficult, however those elements got figure out they had to tackle advertising the dance to the student body. “The hardest part of planning the dance has been advertising it and letting everyone know that you don’t need a date to attend,” Raj said. “There’s a stigma that you can’t come dateless.” Preparing for a school dance is not just stressful for the students, but for the adults who work at the school, there is a completely different set of worries that come along with a school function. Before any details could be finalized school staff and security had to make sure everything was safe. Whenever there is a school event out of school hours it must be properly staffed. There needs to be faculty and police officer ready to handle any situation prepared for anything. “We’re all there to be visible so you guys

will know we’ll be there but also to be on the reactive side. We have to be equipped to handle anything,” Principal Brian Downey said. The Northview and Mnemosyne staff members are not the only ones who had to make plans for the dance. Whether it be creating plans for pre-dance dinner with friends, arranging meet-ups for pictures, or coming up with clever jokes to put on a poster, students, especially female students had plenty of preparing to do for the dance as well. In sophomore Eliza McCloud’s friend group, the girls do not typically ask the boys to school functions. “I liked asking him better because I like getting creative and making a poster was really fun for me,” McCloud said. Despite having a few homecoming dances under her belt, junior Susie Browder said that the Sadies dance was the first time in her high school career that she had the opportunity to ask a boy to a dance. “It’s a new experience that I haven’t done in high school yet,” Browder said. Usually, boys are expected to ask their female friends or girlfriends to school functions, so when they were ones on the receiving end of chocolates and posters, it was a weight lifted off their shoulders. Sophomore Parker Gonzalez was asked to the Sadie Hawkins dance by one of his female friends and he was excited for the shift in norms. “Its a nice change for girls to ask guys,” Gonzalez said.

Hawkins’ History F

or many, a Sadie Hawkins dance is simply an opportunity for girls to ask boys as dates to a dance. Some see it as a way to empower girls, since it encourages them to not only step out of their comfort zone but the bounds of societal norms. Decades ago, however, the character “Sadie Hawkins” was a character from the comic “Lil Abner” written by Al Capp starting in the 1930s and ending in the 70s. She was more of a sexist caricature than an empowering figure. She was depicted as unattractive, with masculine features and buck-teeth, and she was aggressive in the way that she would take the initiative to approach men. In creating the Sadie Hawkins character, Capp gave people the idea that women who step out of their place in society, are ugly and unwanted by men. This concept is not new in the slightest. When women protested for their right to vote in the 1910s, critics who were most often men, would take it upon themselves to make horribly sexist political cartoons that would do the same thing as Capp in his comics. It is crucial that we remember the history of things like a Sadie Hawkins dance. Sure, it is fun to enjoy another dance with friends, but we should never be blind to the prejudices that those who came before us had to endure.

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Kyle Warmack signs to Morehouse College MELISSA LIU, COPY EDITOR

Signing Day Student athletes commit to colleges in February MELISSA LIU, COPY EDITOR BEDANSH PANDEY, STAFF WRITER

arsity football player Kyle Warmack committed to Morehouse College on Feb. 5. It was a difficult decision for Warmack to make because he not only had to choose between whether he wanted to play football or rugby in college, but also between the different schools that reached out to him. Ultimately, he committed to Morehouse because the school had a good balance of football and academics, something Warmack values in a college. “I realized that football would give me the best opportunities in life, and the school would set me up for a long time after football,” Warmack said. “I’m just excited to see where it takes me and see what doors it opens. I’m excited to be a college athlete.” Warmack’s parents were supportive of his decision, especially since Morehouse had al-

ways been a top choice for them. “Morehouse has a rich history and an outstanding academic reputation,” Marilyn Warmack, his mother, said. “I’m extremely proud for him to put his academic career as well as his athletic career in a better place. It can’t get any better than that.” When he began playing football in third grade, everyone, himself included, were unsure about whether football was the right sport for him. At Warmack’s signing, his friend Kawaski Brown recalls how he improved through hard work over the years and earned a position on the Northview football team. “I remember Kyle before he started playing football, and I was like I don’t know if this football is for Kyle,” Brown said. “But over the years I’ve seen him grow tougher. He will be the best center or guard Morehouse has ever

seen.” Football Coach James Thomson echoes these sentiments, praising Warmack for persevering through the difficult times in his football career instead of giving in. “I can’t tell you how many times I said that football’s not for him,” Thomson said. “There was nobody that played with more ferocity than him.” Even as he stood among his family, friends, and fellow teammates, humbly accepting their congratulations with a sheepish grin, Warmack only thanked the people who had stuck with him through thick and thin. “Football is a hard sport, but I’ve got all these people supporting me,” he said.

enior Chloe Brown is a perfect example of Northview’s athletic excellence, as exhibited by her endeavors as a tennis player. She recently signed with Rutgers University to play for the tennis team, opening a new chapter of her sports career. Rutgers University is one of the top 25 public universities in the United States, and its tennis team ranks high in the nation as well. Prided for not only its academic rigor but also its athletic ability, Brown feels that the university will be a great fit for her and her abilities, but the process itself was neither an easy nor a simple one. It all began in March of her junior year when Rutgers University scheduled Brown an official visit to the campus. After touring the New Brunswick campus and growing quite fond of the environment, Brown became interested in being a part of the Scarlet Knight family. She also did research on her own and found that the university offered not only esteemed athletic opportunities, but also academic ones. “With an incredible alumni association, a strong conference (Big Ten), endless leadership and internship opportunities, and impressive outreach programs; I knew this was

SPORTS the place for me, ” Brown said. “My decision had been made before my arrival to Atlanta from my official visit to Rutgers.” But this determination was not made on her own––her friends and family played a very large role during the process. Her mother, Samantha Brown, explains the difficulties that had occurred prior to signing. “The biggest hiccups were coordinating her travel tournaments with the need to take her recruiting visits. It was a struggle to get it all accomplished,” Ms. Brown said. “I was a sounding board as she went through the process, reviewing her options academically and athletically.” Although balancing her athletic life while also touring universities she was considering was the only logistical problem, there was also a much larger one at hand; Brown was worried that she might not get the offer she wanted. “But, interest is merely interest; there were so many talented girls bringing so much to the table and competing for my desired spot on the Rutgers tennis team,” she said. In the face of this challenge, Brown worked hard to earn a place on the tennis team. Her perseverance paid off, and she finally received

the offer she had been waiting for. “After lots of torturous back and forth and many tears, I finally received the offer I’d been praying for. Coach Ritchie’s words almost felt surreal in the moment,” Brown said. “I cried, and I smiled, danced, and gave thanks. I felt the type of joy, happiness, and freedom you can only dream of feeling.” On May 23, 2019, Brown made what she believes to be the best decision of her life, officially committing to Rutgers University. This was one of the greatest moments for her life as both a student and athlete for Northview High School. “I have absolutely no regrets, nor have I ever,” Brown said. “My mind was settled and my heart was full.” When the fall of 2020 comes, Brown will officially begin a new chapter of her life in the north. But even there, Brown’s success as a Titan will forever be ingrained in the history of Northview.

Chloe Brown signs to Rutgers University ZAINAB QADRI, STAFF WRITER

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profile Grace Kim, 10 LIA KOLT, STAFF WRITER

Kim poses with her lacrosse stick. LIA KOLT, STAFF WRITER

ince Grace Kim began playing lacrosse, it has always been a time-consuming, demanding, and tiring passion of hers. However, no matter the physical or mental hurdles that she has to overcome, she has always risen above and faced the challenges head-on. There are many reasons why she chose to pursue this sport and continue playing at the high school level. "Lacrosse helps me because it’s a stress reliever for me. It is a lot of exercise every time I play and practice, and I always get to meet new people at camps,” Kim said. “It's just something that I've grown to like a lot, and I've been playing very consistently since third grade, so it's something I'll keep doing.” Aside from excelling at high-school lacrosse, Kim also plans on playing at the college level if given the opportunity. “I think all around I’ve just improved because I’ve been practicing all year, and I’ve played club so I also play during the summer and the fall as well,” Kim said. “If I have a chance then I definitely do plan on playing in college.” For Kim, a big element of being a good teammate and player is the ability to recognize growth in the team setting. "I'm looking forward to this season because I think we have a higher chance of making playoffs than we did last year,” Kim said. “Our schedule is a lot easier than last year, and I think we have a little bit of a stronger team than we did last year.” Another important aspect of being a growing lacrosse player

highlights

5 goals in her first game

1 assist in her first game

Played for Korea in U19 Women's World Cup

is the skills and athletic ability that players must acquire over time. Kim's coach, Desmond Royal, noticed this in her and decided to place her on the team. “Grace is very fast. She’s definitely athletic, and her skill level is very high. She can play defense and offense. You can basically put her anywhere and she’ll get the job done,” Royal said. “She just has the ability to do a lot of things on the field.” As Kim moved up in the lacrosse hierarchy, there were a few teammates that stuck with her through thick and thin. Holyn Trautwein, another sophomore at Northview and a teammate of Kim’s, has been playing with Kim since the fifth grade. “Over the years she’s just gotten so strong, and she just immediately learned the sport and understood how to play well. Grace does a good job of getting everyone involved on the field and doing things that will help the team during practice to grow together as a family,” Trautwein said. “She’s always an option for me during a play, and I can always count on her to get the job done.”

FEATURES

The Messenger’s Monthly Digest

Honey Pig

Open Everyday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. 3473 Old Norcross Rd #304, Duluth, GA 30096

ALEX PERRY, MANAGING EDITOR

oney Pig is an imm i g r a n t ’s identity crisis with an on-and-off switch. If you’re looking for a restaurant that’s grounded in the extremes of the assimilation spectrum, try one of the many other Korean barbecue restuarants part of the cluster of authentic Asian cuisines offered in the Pleasanthill Road scene. 9292, Breakers, and Iron Age have established their idenitities as resturants clearly, whether it be family oriented, late night eats, or sensory overload. Honey Pig exists in a murky corner of barbecue gastronomy: bouncing back and forth between traditional and experimental, with both lacklusters and hits effects of their ventures. This restaurant, located in an offshootof the commonly backed-up Pleasanthill Road, is for adventurous foodies who enjoy a little leash to traditional inspirations. Its offerings, which range from family style entrees to ala carte barbecue to AYCE, are energetic, but slightly miss the mark in its mission to cater to the American (or Americanized) crowd. For example, consider the main banchan offered here: a limp “spicy” salad soaked in a sweet brown liquid. Huddled in a shallow tin bowl, the flavor impact is as elusive as its nutritional value. To the waiters, I would rec-

who enjoy their kimchi cold, I reccomend that you save a cluster on a separate dish, the vegetable heat up easSenior Cherie Sang reaches for some meat. ily and become more ALEX PERRY, MANAGING EDITOR sour the longer they spend on the wok. We started with comend introducing this appetizer-like dish favorites: spicy chicken and marinated beef after the pickled sliced daikon, the most flabulgogi. While a $30 meal is costly and chickvorful and impactful small dish offered. Eaten is one of the cheapest meats available, you ing slices of white radish as opposed to cubes, pay for the experience (and the marinade). which are more commonly offered at KoreThe sweetness of the beef perfectly countered an restaurants, makes the meat all the better, the spicy chicken, for the radishes can be eaten by itself or with The spicy chicken, which can be ordered meat wedged between them. Banchans such on both All You Can Eat menus and as an as the sliced rice cake came out tough and entree, is tender and chewy. Because most gritty. Experienced chopstick users won’t have of their meats are intially cooked on tin foil trouble navigating this, but it does take some before being moved to the metal surface, patime to get used to flat chopsticks, a penchant trons of this establishment have time to chat, of Korean cuisine that is unlke the round laugh, and gossip while their food cooks in chopsticks used in Chinese and Japanese culfront of them. ture. Returning to the banchan offered, the This caters to their entertainment value, steamed egg, dashed with green onions and yet Korean barbecue cannot be likened to brought to us with vapor still rising, lacked Japanese hibachi. In Johns Creek, consumsalt, but is a solid dish to munch on with ing Korean barbecue is a mode of retaining white rice and gochujang. quality and traditional roots while extending A warning: portions here are not catered yourself to “trendy” and “pop culture”. towards the size of the group. Our waiter, in Honey Pig’s greatest weakness is also its an attempt to make up for the lack of salredeeming quality. It can easily flip from an ad, overcompensated by filling our inverted enjoyable brisk walk to an energetic, passionwok, the cooking surface, with soaking kimate envirnoment catered to a younger, more chi and sweet beansprouts. These eats are the hip crowd. only ones cooked on the surface. For people

THE MESSENGER | 13

www.SPEEDYMEN.com (678) 894-8355

4255 Trotters Way #6b, Alpharetta, GA 30004

the messenger @nhsmessenger

Northviewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new esports team is redefining the stereotype of a high school athlete, ushering in a new type of athletic dominance. SUHANI MAHAJAN, STAFF WRITER JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PHOTO: GRACE PENG, NEWS EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 15

FIRST GAME STATS Gold per Minute....................2k Gold Earned..........................39k KDA..........................................40 Eliminations............................77 Respawns...................................4 Assists.......................................83

SEASON STATS

5-0 matches*

*two games per match 16

enior Arnav Kabra is a flourishing STEM mind. He is an aficionado of anything math or science-related, one of Northview’s hidden intellectual gems. He is almost graduated, about to enter college, and not really in the best position to undertake new, time-consuming activities. But he games. So, when Northview’s new esports teams needed a League of Legends strategist, Kabra put his mind to work. He advises two of the three teams, formidable cohorts in the fledgling realm of Georgia gaming. Kabra now tracks and analyzes hours of League gameplay, making a note of each player’s strengths and weaknesses to improve their performance. In between rounds, they bond over anime. This non-traditional breed of student-athletes is chasing glory not on a track or a field, but rather on a screen. It is composed of 15 players and four alternates eager to participate in competition. They are already garnering fans. Principal Brian Downey and Athletic Director Scotty McDaniel, both avid gamers themselves, have supported the teams’ ascent to state-wide gaming fame. “It’s something that I’m personally excit-

ed about being here because I know it’s something that our students want,” McDaniel said. McDaniel and Downey started looking into starting esports at Northview in the spring of last year. Unfortunately, they underestimated the difficulty of starting a program as novel as esports, hitting several roadblocks that resulted in canceling the proposed fall season. “Our infrastructure wasn’t capable of handling it, nor was the district on board with it,” Downey said. Georgia officially sanctioned esports last year, and the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) runs it like any other sport with a few minor differences. Most notably, while other GHSA sports compete in levels categorized by school size, esports teams compete within levels due to the present lack of participants state-wide. While initially hesitant towards an esports team due to internet security reasons, Fulton County allowed the sport this year and Northview became the guinea pig for this endeavor. As a pilot program, the Northview eSports Team has many concerns about certain details. “There’s a lot of pressure on us right now and a lot of eyes watching how we operate this season and how seamless it is,” Brown said. “It’s all trial and error this first season.” Brown is extremely thankful for the sup-

port he has received from the school. He is confident that with this support, esports will have a very successful future here at Northview. “The school is very much supportive of this program, that’s the best part of this, I’m not having to fight for anything. Mr. Downey and Coach McDaniel are fully supportive of this. They are our biggest champions,” Brown said. “This is going to be a very Northview sport. It’s very compatible with our school and our student body.” Part of its buildup was acquiring equipment. Computers, monitors, and gaming chairs were all ordered for the upcoming season, ready to be played in the cozy Mac Lab in the media center. The school invested more than $30,000 into the team, and though angering some, esports has a very different spending schedule than other sports. “Esports, outside of this initial investment, there’s going to be virtually no cost. We invested some dollars up front, and then we’re not expected to invest for a couple of years when the technology is going to need an upgrade,” Downey said. “Over the course of time, it’s not going to be that expensive.” With most of the technical aspects being sorted out, players will be ready to practice and compete on the system PlayVS, the official platform and league for high school and collegiate esports. Northview’s esports team is set to have three games: League of Legends, Smite, and Rocket League. The latter, however, is not active this coming season as not enough interest was garnered. With two League of Legends teams and one Smite team, Northview supports a total of 19 players. The League of Legends teams, Navy and Green, practice daily along with weekly competitions, and are currently undefeated. Brown

“

I got contacted by UC Irvine and UC Berkeley to play for them.

Tyler “Phaxi” Frym and his players have high expectations for the team. He is highly optimistic about his team’s chances of winning the state championships or at least placing. As the only high school esports team in Fulton County, the closest competition the team has is Lambert, who won the state champion two seasons ago. “We’re really going to come into this and destroy. Northview will be the esports team to beat,” Brown said. Fred “WalnutSenpai” Dai, a senior on the Navy League of Legends team, shares similar

sentiment about the upcoming season. However, he and his teammates, are wary of being overconfident. “We’re going to try our best. We’re going to practice as much as we can and play seriously,” WalnutSenpai said. “We have some good players on the League of Legends team. It’s just all the other schools have really good players as well.” As with any new team, there have been mishaps. Lack of communication and unfa-

miliarity messed with them in the beginning stages. One issue in particular was practice times, which were difficult to create due to the players’ busy schedules. Fortunately, the team bond increased for the better. “There were some mishaps here and there, but we solved it in the end. I feel like if we keep on solving these problems then it’ll go down fine,” WalnutSenpai said. “There will always be new problems within a team, but the best we can do is try to solve that with a calm mind and resolve it as adults.” Ryan Yard, 3DE teacher and coach of the Smite team, is also inclined to win with his team. He has a special respect for the sport because he was once a player, and his son is also a gamer. Yard is excited to support Northview’s esports teams and assist by creating the right foundation for them to work off of. “There’s a lot of teamwork and collaboration and strategy that’s involved, and I feel like this is such a brilliant student community, and it’s a huge win for us to be one of the first to get in on this,” Yard said. Along with the two adult coaches are student coaches. As strategists, these students are just as part of the team as the players are. Kabra attends games and practices to help decide the best course of action for players prior to their games. Equally as competitive, Kabra helps bring the teams together to receive a better outcome post-game. “You cannot solo win a game where the other team has communication because it’s like war — communication decides a lot of things, and communication can turn the tide of the battle very easily,” Kabra said. One of the players Kabra strategizes for is Emylin “Yunicchi” Yu. Northview’s esports team is predominantly male, but Yunicchi is the exception. She plays on the League of Legends Green team where she is well accepted

THE MESSENGER | 17

Do Kwon Kang, 12 The great apple Top

Fred Dai, 12 WalnutSenpai Jungler

Tyler Zhang, 11 swaggerthelagger Support

Arnest Uddin, 11 Arny ADC

Jun-ha Jung, 12 Wistly Alternate

Raynold Ying, 11 Rykuu Jungler

Stanley Wang, 9 ADC2K18 ADC

Vibi Chari, 12 Abinav62 ADC

Cole DiPietro, 12 TheCoolDurka Alternate

THE TEAMS

Allen You, 9 Sushimir Top

Darren Li, 12 Daray21 Solo

Tyler Frym, 12 Phaxi Mid

Emylin Yu, 10 yunicchi Support

In true gamer fashion, Stang100 declined to have his photo taken.

Steve Tang, 12 Stang100 Mid

Kevin Su, 12 Dogemane Support

In true gamer fashion, Flash Rapier OAS declined to have his photo taken.

Jaemin Cheong, 9 Flash Rapier OAS Mid

Shawn Seo, 11 applesaurusrex123 Alternate

Abinav Chari, 10 DonzCrashPlz Jungler

Kingsley Fong, 12 SimplyViper Fill

and treated no different than any other player, earning her spot on the team because of her skills. “They don’t really say that because I’m a girl I can’t play,” Yunicchi said. “I don’t really care what people think.” Her laid back attitude is reflected by others. With esports being so new to Northview, it is inevitable there will be backlash: Should esports be considered a sport? Downey acknowledges the criticism but he could care less about those mocking esports. “There is that generational gap of knowledge as to what’s really going on,” Downey said. “If that perception exists, quite frankly, who cares because the kids are being supported in what they can do.” Kingsley “SimpłyViper” Fong expresses how Northview is not the type of school to gripe about the topic as much and he is not as worried about it anyway. SimpłyViper is also lucky enough to have a supportive parent. Another concern was whether parents would understand what esports entails. SimpłyViper’s mother, Chiki Lau, encourages him to do what he pleases as long as it makes him happy. “I think it’s a good experience for him. I do support him as he has shown that he could earn money through streaming,” Lau said. While others are less worried, Brown thoroughly addresses the stigma towards esports

hopes the start of esports at Northview will help those younger than him receive more opportunities to enter the field. “I got contacted by UC Irvine and UC Berkeley to play for them and work for their program,” Phaxi said. “I do think it’s the beginning of something really great for Northview,” Along with the enthusiasm for Northview’s esports teams advancing to state championships, there is also some hope to see esports grow at the school. McDaniel loves the sport as a whole and wants to see it become as big as traditional sports. His vision for the game eventually extends beyond the four walls of the Mac Lab. “I look forward to the day that I have more people coming to our gymnasium because we have a huge screen up on the board, and we’re broadcasting the esports game and people are actually paying to watch,” McDaniel said. Now, with their first season coming up, all there is left to do is wish them luck. During a pilot year, here will always be shortcomings and mistakes, but Northview is extremely excited to have esports within its walls. “This is clearly the future of sports,” Brown said. “It may not be the future of sports that people who are more athletically based expected, but there’s no question about it.”

We’re really going to come into this and

Northview will be the esports team to beat.

Raymond Brown

“

being considered as just video games. Seeing that not everybody acknowledges esports as a legitimate activity, Brown has a clear distinction between the two words. Because video games normally have a negative connotation, and Brown’s main goal is to steer clear of the word and strictly adhere to “esports”. “We’re really trying to be a proponent of ‘This is a sport’,” Brown said. “We are governed by the state of Georgia, the same governing body that governs football, baseball, golf, tennis. Changing that mentality that this is a sport is needed to be recognized.” Brown is also very passionate about sharing the benefits of esports. While traditional sports help students learn to compartmentalize time and prioritize what is important, esports does as well. Esports also offers scholarships to players, along with opportunities to play professionally. This is one of his major selling points to hesitant parents of players. “One thing that helped was me saying that League has $10 million in scholarships last year - that turned a lot of frowns upside down,” Brown said. “Every year that number is exponentially increasing. Some serious, serious life-altering money can be made working for these leagues.” Senior Tyler “Phaxi” Frym, who plays on the League of Legends Navy team, has already received multiple scholarships for esports. He

THE MESSENGER | 19

WOMEN OF NORTHVIEW

Women continue to strive at Northview in the student bo dy as well as the staff

MANASA PREMANAND, STAFF WRITER MEGAN SERFONTEIN, STAFF WRITER MEGHANA RAMINENI, FEATURES EDITOR PHOTO: UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR THE MESSENGER | 21

orthview has a multitude of student-run clubs, where students of any gender can experience being in a position of leadership. Junior Erica Scutt exhibits the diligence of a leader in sports. While her dream is to play in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), she is still an involved student, captain of the varsity golf team, and a devoted sister and daughter. Scutt, who started playing golf when she was 4 years old, was introduced to the game by her father. This is her third year of being on Northview’s varsity golf team and her second year as captain. Outside of school, she plays in the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Tour, which allows girls to compete in high-level competition while acknowledging the shorter distances and greater game time needed for girls’ play. In 2019, Scutt competed in nine tournaments, winning six and co-championing one, and was named Georgia Junior PGA player of the year. Scutt’s family is very supportive of her athletic endeavors and know her as a motivated, diligent, young woman. Her mother, Amy Scutt, has always helped her daughter by attending her tournaments, finding good coaches to work with her, and giving her the proper practice equipment. Amy Scutt is especially proud of her daughter’s good sportsmanship and caring attitude. “Erica has continued to become even more mature, respectful and responsible with each

passing year,” Amy Scutt said. Scutt is motivated by the idea that women can accomplish whatever they want to if they put in enough effort and energy. She wants to encourage younger girls to join sports by helping them to find one they are passionate about. “I want to be perceived as a hard worker and somebody that doesn’t make excuses,” Scutt said. Scutt’s qualities are mirrored in senior Christine Jeong who is the embodiment of student involvement in organizational extracurriculars. As president of three clubs at Northview — Beta Club, Latin Club, and Science Olympiad - as well as being a major participant of National Latin Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Northview Chamber Music Society, Jeong has a plethora of responsibilities to manage. “I try to make time [for clubs] even though it means sacrificing my other time,” Jeong said. “Usually, clubs are one of my priorities, even before homework.” Megan Hart-Sekman, Jeong’s former literature teacher and Beta sponsor, commends Christine on her time management. “I think she has to have a very tight schedule because she does not miss things. Things do not fall through the cracks with her,” Hart-Sekman said. In addition to having expert time-management skills, Christine is also extremely artistic

and passionate about her art, participating in events to showcase her skills. “There aren’t words for the kind of art she’s doing. I’m amazed by her artistic ability,” Hart-Sekman said. Jeong’s successes in her passions did not come without any hardships, however. During her time in Latin club, the club had three teacher turnovers, leaving it in a difficult position. Jeong notes that due to constant change in teachers, the club had to adjust to new teaching methods and styles of arranging events. Moreover, Jeong has also seen firsthand the differentiation between males and females in STEM subjects and feels upset by this distinction between genders. “In Science Olympiad, I’m one of the only females in the club, because science is a ‘guy thing’. I guess, as a girl within the STEM field, it’s hard to get used to those ‘masculine subjects’,” Jeong said, “And to see other people comment that it was a man thing rather than the female makes me upset.” Despite all the roadblocks Jeong experienced throughout her path to success, she still remains motivated to make further progress in subjects she is passionate about and finds her progress to be a source of pride for her, rather than her success. “I think it also makes me proud of other people because there are people who are be-

UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

Five women at Northview share their incredible acheivements.

hind my passion and progress,” Jeong said. “To see them also follow my passion makes me feel like it was worth it, that there’s something that I have to chase,” Jeong said. Although Northview High School is most widely known for its rigorous academics and intense environment, one of the school’s three main focuses apart from academics and athletics is the arts. Literary magazine, more commonly known as lit mag or The Muse, is an annual school publication that shares expressive writing and vivid artwork. Leadership of the staff falls under the Editors-in-Chief. This year, seniors Kristen Harriott and Jordan Scavo take on the role, sharing the weight of huge responsibilities. Scavo admits that her reserved personality was a challenge in being a leader but acknowledges incredible growth from where she was to who she is now. She recognizes leadership comes from experience, patience, and confidence. “I have had to learn how to take charge. I have had to learn confidence,” Scavo said. “It’s hard to be in a leadership position if you’re not confident in yourself and don’t believe in your abilities.” Both Scavo and Harriott believe that being Editor-in-Chief means being able to be simultaneously assertive, supportive, and compassionate. To them, lit mag is a second family, but they also understand the weight of their responsibilities. This mindset of being both compassionate yet insistent at times is what Harriott believes makes a good leader. “You can be a leader, but doesn’t mean that you are good. You have to be vocal, persuasive, cooperative, and communicate well,” Harriott said. Harriott has learned how to be a good leader from her mom. As her biggest influence, she has taught her the value of hard work and opportunity, and Harriott feels as though her mom’s hard work has encouraged her to strive for the same qualities and success. “My mom was an immigrant, so there are struggles that come with moving to the U.S. [My mom] had to single-handedly raise me, my sister, and my little brother,” Harriott said. “Her sacrifices pushed me to be the person I am today, and I feel like I should work hard to make her sacrifices worth it.” Harriott and Scavo both agree that what they have been able to accomplish as a pub-

lication is due to their advisor, language arts teacher Tania Pope. They both recognize and are inspired by her ability to show compassion and diligence in the work she does. The girls’ favorite memory with Pope is when they went to a convention in New York. “We went to the Stardust Diner and Pope’s favorite song ever is “Shallow.” We’re sitting at the diner and the song comes on and Ms. Pope just starts singing,” Harriott said. “Although she is an adviser, she’s also present at heart like she is a human.” Inspiring students is a part of a teacher’s job, but with Pope, she often finds herself inspired by her students. In between teaching her students Hamlet and

school. At Northview, she recalls two instances in which her students came to her because of unfair treatment based on their genders. She told them that they should remember what happened and learn to speak for themselves in the face of gender bias. These efforts are part of her belief that being feminist does not mean being a woman, but being one who believes in equality and freedom of choice for all. Outside of being a teacher, Pope loves her other job - being a mom to her two children, Tessa and Ryan. Just as she encourages her students to be who they want to be regardless of their gender, she is doing the same with her kids. Pope recognizes the challenges that she has faced as a working mom, such as society’s judgment for not always being there for every school event. She overcame this by recognizing just because she can not be there for every event does not mean she loves her children any less. “School had been a priority bright throughout my life. My career was my everything,” Pope said. “And when the children came along, my family became my everything, but I think I have a good balance now.” Being a teacher is Pope’s true passion. Every day, she looks forward to stepping into her classroom to spend her day with students that inspire her. “I think I’ve really been able to provide that opportunity to inspire students to become who they really are and have them carry that into college,” Pope said. Because of all this, Pope brings a unique and experienced perspective to her duty as lit mag advisor. In lit mag, Pope has seen the Harriott and Scavo grow into their roles of leadership over the years. She admires how their leadership styles and personalities complement each other. Pope is really impressed with Scavo and Harriott’s abilities to teach themselves the necessary applications for lit mag and how they carry that with them into their futures. She hopes that both continue to use their leadership and creative skills in the world beyond math and science. Pope is hopeful that all students, regardless of his or her gender, sexuality, or race will have every opportunity to be who they want to be and the skills to stand up when the system is not just. “It doesn’t matter what gender and what sexuality you are but rather whether you are respected,” Pope said. “What you have to say matters.”

matter what gender you are, it’s “ Itjustdoesn’t an equal opportunity for anybody if this is what you want to be and who you want to be then you can be it.

”

Tania Pope

analyzation skills she learns from her students how to be a better mom, teacher, feminist, and individual. Pope, who grew up in traditional, conservative South Africa, found herself being quiet and not standing up against injustice she faced. She experienced a cultural shock when she came to America, surprised by the confidence of women around her. Soon, she became more comfortable with the new environment and found herself being thankful for the protection and opportunities that came with being in America as a woman rather than South Africa. Seeing her students comfortable in their identities is really what Pope enjoys about the Northview culture, regardless of gender. “It doesn’t matter what gender you are, it’s just an equal opportunity for anybody if this is what you want to be and who you want to be then you can be it,” Pope said. Despite the positive and encouraging environment that Northview has created for female students, Pope still recognizes that there is still work to be done in terms of gender equality. Whilst teaching in South Africa, she faced being dismissed by the male leadership of the school and she often heard male staff making sexual comments about the female staff of the

THE MESSENGER | 23

faceoff

ESPORTS

a sport?

Tyler Zhang plays Support on Northviewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Navy League of Legends team. MIRA SYDOW, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

OPINIONS

YES SEAN O’NEAL, STAFF WRITER

n accordance with Charles Darwin, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Over the course of the past century, countless technological changes have been made. One of those changes is the evolution of entertainment — the rise of esports. In spite of the surface-level differences between an ‘Electronic Sport’ and a more traditional sport, esports are just as deserving of the label of ‘sport’ for the aspects and qualities which comprise it. The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” There is little question that the athletes partaking in esports are skilled — of the total 27 million player base for League of Legends, only 40 total players are earning salaries in the North American League for the game. Physical exertion is present as well; the American Community Survey’s public usage data set demonstrates that the 14-hour workday of esports athletes adds up to one of the longest

workweeks held by any career across the United States. The work is intense. Having drills, running scrimmages, workshopping new techniques — these athletes labor more hours than they rest. The effects of these rigorous efforts are highly visible. According to CNBC, professional athletes in esports are have an average career length of six years — critical injuries from overwork or stress regularly end careers. These career lengths match those of traditional sports; the NFL has a career length of three years, the NBA has five years. Athletes in both traditional sports and esports are young workers, required to submit themselves to grueling trainingy to maintain themselves or otherwise succumb to career-ending injuries. This is indicative of the physical toll esports athletes suffer over the course of their career. These comparisons do not end there; the core mechanisms behind esports and traditional sports are identical. Coaches train players in techniques, study opponents’ strategies, and devise countermeasures. Esports teams and soccer teams receive branded sponsorships

from large corporations. Organizational bodies govern the rules and abilities within the sport - the NCAA moved the college football touchback line in 2018, and Riot Games releases patches for League of Legends. Even the terminology itself is demonstrative of comparison: a ‘game’ of football is played to decide the winner of the Super Bowl, while a ‘game’ of Dota 2 is played to decide the winner of the Dota 2 championship, The International. In all major aspects, esports and traditional sports are mirror images of one another. Esports are already sports. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) have acknowledged that esports are to be termed sports, and have hosted forums to discuss its potential representation within the Olympic Movement. The International ESports Federation has 56 member nations across the globe. Every factor that comprises professional esports is indicative of its legitimacy. In the wisdom of Charles Darwin, the wisest action to take would be to adapt to the change.

those in an actual sport. Esports only require quick reaction and unique coordination in fingers. Sports involve hours of training and practicing to improve and players can never take a break from training because they may regress. When just playing on a screen, the players are not using nearly as much energy when you play a sport. Most sports involve intense and complicated movements to get points, but in video games the character is doing the work while you are controlling it with a mouse or controller. The players are supposed to feel at loss of energy in some way shape or form from training or playing, but when you sit and watch a screen, energy is being lost from sitting down all day and playing. Your entire body is moving in one fluid motion when playing a sport, not just their fingers. Esports do have competitions like sports, but the way players get ready is what defines

it as a sport. In order to get better at it, all you have to do is play more, while a sport requires hours training, working in the gym, and practicing to get better. Some people think that a sport is just using your mind and body going against another team or person. There is a lot more to what defines a physical sport than most people realize. While there is still an ongoing conflict about whether esports is a sport or not, many, many of its aspects suggest it is not.The amount of skill involved in esports is not as much as the skill required by regular sports. Much less energy is consumed when all you are moving is your hands. The only way to get better at esports is to practice playing, but without all the effort regular sports players have to input. Although in some ways esports can be considered a sport, many of its aspects do not fit in with those of other sports.

CALEB SMITH, STAFF WRITER

hen you think about sports, you think of football, soccer, tennis, etc., but another genre of sports has always been around, and now it’s more popular than ever. The number of esports has grown exponentially over the years from the development of video games. Many gaming Youtubers and Twitch streamers have been involved with esports for a while and are bringing more and more people into it. While an increasing number of people believe that esports is a real sport, there are several reasons it should not be considered one. A sport involves intense physical and mental ability, but esports does not, it is just a game. In basketball involves speed, agility, and quick thinking. Playing on a PC or console requires little to no physical movement. While both esports and sports require skills, the skills required in video games are very different from

THE MESSENGER | 25

To Game or Not To Game

Gamers are people, too.

ANSHI VAJPAYEE, STAFF WRITER

dmit it, the stereotypical persona of a gamer — immature, a young adult, nerdy, socially inept, and possibly even misogynistic - is undoubtedly the face of online gaming in the eyes of nongamers. Their only task is to game, spitting “trash talk” and slurs with great indifference, and they’d much rather prefer a dimly lit computer over a social gathering. They find comfort in pixels and state-of-the-art, overly sexualized characters, latching onto them as their only true source of contentment. Frustrated with personal issues, they lash out on the opposing players instead, and competitiveness and cyberbullying are their holy-grail. However, these are far from actuality, and negative stereotypes keep players away from uniting for the greater good of online gaming, often scapegoated into the supposed societal issues gamers face. For instance, trash talk is a typical and integral part of gaming culture where one player boasts their skills while insulting the other, and vice versa. Usually assumed to be lighthearted and consensual, the act of trash talking evokes strong feelings of motivation

and excitement to outperform your opponent. Instances where this form of self-aggrandising is taken too far is evident when personal information, addresses, real name, and birthdays are leaked in the form of doxing, usually with malicious intent. However, more and more companies are taking initiative by censoring content, limiting access, and regulating video games due to the occasional toxic nature of their content. More than anything, though, addiction to gaming skirts as the most popular oversimplified image of an average gamer. In fact, even the World Health Organization recognizes a “gaming disorder” as a medical health condition, described as an addiction where gaming takes precedence over other daily activities despite its negative consequences, resulting in a withdrawal from routine and impairment in personal, social, and professional lives. Are there actually cases where people experience raw addiction to gaming, damaging their lives until they seek medical help? Absolutely, but for the majority of occasional gamers, addiction is a distant state of irreality. Immersing

yourself completely with such affectionate intensity and losing track of time in a video game doesn’t make you an addict, otherwise medics would be flooded with worrisome parents seeking help. In fact, it’s not a stretch to conclude this as a personal attack from mistaking passion to addiction, only adding to the mounting amount of negative stereotypes. So, what’s my point? To leave behind our derogatory assumptions, and instead let the gaming community thrive and learn from their “fatalities” on their own. The fact of the matter is, the world of gaming continues to exponentially grow, in total revenue and in popularity. A new wave of gaming influencers on social media, like Ninja and PewDiePie, pursue gaming as a hobby and shed light on the humor and exhiliarion of gaming through live gameplays and casual commentary on applications like YouTube and Twitch, not its toxicity. Above all, online gaming is simply a fun activity, one engaged with full enjoyment and devotion.

OPINIONS

Ignoring Hate The world’s lack of concern for antisemitism. NIKKI SKYER, SPORTS EDITOR

nti-Semitism, a certain perception of Jewish people which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, has always been present in society. But now more than ever, anti-Semitism is making itself known, and without much response from the non-Jewish world. According to the Times, anti-Semitic attacks, attacks in the three largest cities in the U.S. are expected to reach numbers higher than they have been in over 18 years. Of the hate crimes reported to the New York Police Department in 2019, over half were directed at Jews. However, the general public does not even seem to be aware of these terrifyingly high numbers. Children in schools across the world are experiencing anti-Semitism, incidents ranging from swastikas posted on social media to middle schoolers getting beaten up and called slurs based on their beliefs. Many Jewish students are expected to hide their religion and culture due to the fear of being hurt, both physically and emotionally. The rise of anti-Semitic acts affects Jews on a daily basis, making it hard to attend school, work, or places of worship, places where people should feel most at home. There has been very little done to show the Jewish

community that they are not alone in this scary time. Antisemitism goes unnoticed and is not mentioned nearly enough in society. Schools rarely educate students on any current events, let alone Antisemitic ones such as the eight attacks that occured against Jews on each night of Hanukkah this past December, or the hateful writing in cities across the world on the 75th anniversary of liberation of the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz. The question of why members of other religions rarely educate themselves on, stand up against, or spread awareness for hate crimes against Jews is then asked. It is reasonable to assume that there are not resources available for them to be properly educated to help fight this hate? However, in areas with high Jewish populations and the most resources to become educated on the topic, the highest number of Antisemitic acts are occuring with little reaction from others. In a country like America, where only around 2% of the population is Jewish, outside support and help is vital in order to end these attacks. People must learn that without the help of others, humanity cannot and will not move in a positive direction. Many non-Jewish members of society do

not realize the true level of hatred against Jews today. The blatant lack of attention to this rapid increase in hate crimes is a clear representation of the amount of hatred around the world. It is impossible for society to advance as a whole when the priorities of individuals are those that only impact them directly. It is crucial that kids are taught from a young age that it is not okay to draw swastikas on desks or make Holocaust jokes around their friends. It is not okay to make others feel like outsiders solely based on their religion or any other factors like race, gender, sexuality. Now more than ever, anti-Semitic acts need to be recognized and never tolerated under any circumstances. It is essential that all people understand the extent to which these acts affect the Jewish community. Recent attacks have made Jews feel more vulnerable than ever. Ceremonies and rallies are being held by the Jewish community across the world in an attempt to fight back against this hostility, but they cannot fight this battle alone. To stand up in the fight against Antisemitism, regardless of religious background, shows the sense of strength and courage that is necessary to defeat hate in today’s world.

THE MESSENGER | 27

COLUMNS

fashion Noreen Ali pioneers a minimalist look with roots in comfort and practicality ERIN SHIN, STAFF WRITER JENNAH SOOKNANAN, BUSINESS MANAGER

< Ali pairs minimal pieces that

combine a subtly conservative look with pastel colors UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

ith Georgia’s ever-changing weather, the warm yet chilly days still brought out some of the trendier looks to the Northview students. During the wintertime, wearing more comfortable clothes is key, and junior Noreen Ali is striving to make her outfits more comfortable and yet still look her best. “I don’t love standing out too much, but rather looking my best with minimal effort,” Ali said. Fall and winter are Ali’s favorite seasons to dress with the neutral colors for an overall more comfy style of clothing. Making simple outfits look cute is how Ali would describe most of her outfits.

Fashion has always been an interest to Ali, and she uses it as a form of self-expression. She loves how clothes can differentiate yourself from others. Ali wants to challenge herself when it comes to her choices of clothing to make it more appealing to her. She wishes to be comfortable at all times no matter what she is wearing, so she doesn’t feel like she has to change. Ali also emphasizes that being all dressed up isn’t the only way to look good, but rather keeping it simple and casual can still make you look at your best. “Even if I don’t always wear the most dressed up outfits, being put together boosts my confidence level and excitement for the day,” Ali said.

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Love Is Still In the Air

alentine’s Day is a day for both love and loneliness, yet, regardless of our relationship status, our expectations are influenced by childhood memories of teenage-love fantasies shown in movies like High School Musical, Camp Rock, or Teen Beach. These films enforce unrealistic perceptions that a relationship should be dancing in the rain, nailing a musical performance, or wearing your significant other’s initials. Nowadays, relationships are completely different. High school flings are reduced to “Snapchat relationships,” where there is no actual love or connection. The relationship only exists “for the clout,” or simply to fit the set of expectations that everybody has been brainwashed into believing, to project popularity or conform to social norms. However, this cheap relationship results in a lack of self-esteem for both people involved. Guys feel like they can break a girl’s heart with ease, and girls can just as easily break other guys’ hearts, leaving the relationship to spiral in an all-out, over-dramaticized, back-and-forth loop. We all want to have our Troy or Brady that

will swoop in and take our breath away with some grand gesture, but sadly, that will almost never be the case, thanks to the current, social-media-heavy superficiality of teenage love. Modern romance is dead, with no grand gesture and no real lovemaking existing for this generation’s loveless age. However, it isn’t the end of the world to not have a boyfriend or a girlfriend on Valentine’s Day, and one can be single yet still surrounded by the love in friends and family. There is no shame in spending the day with your loved ones, which is why people have picked up other Valentine’s Day rituals. For girls, there is a Galentine’s, where a group of girls give each other Valentine’s Day gifts and bring the group closer together. In the end, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about spending time with only your one, already designated, true love that will shower you with roses and chocolates and teddy bears for the rest of your life; it’s a day to celebrate all of the people you love, including your friends and other people you care about.

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Students cluster for pictures at the Balloon Wall MNEMOSYNE STAFF, SPECIAL

MNEMOSYNE STAFF, SPECIAL Junior Tofunmi Abimbola celebrates winning Queen of Hearts

COLUMNS

Friends pause between songs on the dance floor MNEMOSYNE STAFF, SPECIAL

MNEMOSYNE STAFF, SPECIAL Couples enjoy their Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day at Sadies

THE MESSENGER | 31

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