Volume 15 Issue 6

the messenger

VOL 15/ ISS 6

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masthead CONTACT US

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 Austin Meng 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.

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: Will Claussen

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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

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EDITOR’S LETTER MAGGIE BRENAN

MONTHLY BRIEFS STAFF

CBI PROGRAM MIRA SYDOW

SPORTS BRIEFS MEGAN CISTULLI KATIE ARMSTRONG

WILL TO LIVE PARK SRUTI SAJJA

GIRLS SOCCER AND MCKENZIE WORTMAN BEN MINDER

ATHLETE PROFILE SHASHANK GANESHAN

UNSUNG HEROES SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT SUCHITA KUMAR

VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN SHERRY LIANG

FOOD REVIEW MORGAN WHITE

CHROMEBOOK CRITIQUE JOE NI

FACEOFF NITHYA MAHAKALA ALEX PERRY

STAFF EDITORIAL STAFF

THE LOW DOWN JACK LOWRANCE

COLUMNS STAFF

THE MESSENGER | 3

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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The Home Stretch

s second semester seniors in high school, large numbers of us not even having turned 18 yet, we are faced with monumental decisions that often seem far too daunting. We function in a twisted system in which teenagers, most of whom are not even old enough to buy lottery tickets, are forced into already making some of the biggest decisions we will ever make. We must decide where to go to receive our secondary education, where we will live for the next four (plus) years, the amounts of money we are willing to spend on that education, and, more or less, the path we intend on taking to our lifelong career.

This pressure and fast moving cycle causes us to make decisions for which we don’t yet even know the consequences.

As our society and our system of education progress, we seem to be set on moving as quickly as possible. To think that it is considered normal to be taking up to 10 college level classes during our high school career is concerning, based off of what we know about the basic brain development and maturity levels of high school students. Moreover, colleges, especially the most competitive breed, prefer to see a certain path being followed in terms of course and extracurricular activities towards a desired career. High school students no longer feel like they are even afforded the luxury of four experimental years at college to discover

their passion. Instead, changing their major for the first time after discovering that a pre-med track may not be as perfect for them as they may have once thought makes front page news.

In this sense, it is becoming increasingly overwhelming for our teenagers to think about and try to plan their future.

One of the other major injustices of our current education system is the mammoth price tag slapped on almost every place of secondary education in our country. Though there are scholarships, the competition, especially for “prestigious” schools, has become unbelievably stiff, and it brings to light the question of whether or not top tier education is worth it. Although students are always told to simply focus on their academics and worry about admission into schools, it us unfair to brand our students with either the guilt or debt of the oversized price tags.

As we traverse our final semester of senior year, my classmates and I proceed with excitement and nostalgia, but also great worry and stress. Though we are lucky to have received such a coveted Northview education and to have the opportunities to continue our education at prestigious institutions, we feel stuck in the pressure cooker. The future is closer than it seems, and every decision we make for the next handful of months will determine how it unfolds. Wish us luck.

Maggie Brenan, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

NEWS

IN BRIEF 2/25 3/8

Actor Bill Paxon dies on February 26 at age 65S

On March 8 “A W o m a n ’ s D a y ”, women gather in the streets and refuse to attend work for one day to support womans equality in the workforce.

On March 6th, Northview high school will be introducing Chromebooks for each individual student to make the process of learning easier in classrooms. For example, the teacher will be able to send out a message to each of the students’ laptops which will automatically receive the message and go to the website.

“These Chromebooks will allow students to access more information quickly and collaborate together to learn in an efficient manner. We hope it will allow the teachers to integrate better strategies and to make their jobs easier,” principal Brian Downey said.

With technology becoming such an important aspect to everyday life, the new Chromebooks allow for schools to reach students in a modern and innovative way.

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

2/22

President Donald Trump reverses the transgender bathroom law, making it a state decision

On Mar 12, Northview’s Future Business Leaders of America will attend the annual student leadership conference in Athens, Georgia. The two day event will be filled with leadership workshops, presentations and many other business related activities.

Students will be able to learn about business and marketing, talk with professionals and explore possible career pathways. Thousands of students from all over the state compete in over 50 topics, ranging from simulation programming to journalism.

“This year nationals will be held in California, so I’m crossing my fingers that we get a decent amount of students to go,” FBLA sponsor and marketing teacher Katie Morgan said.

On Mar 9, Northview Health Occupation Students of America students will be attending the well-awaited HOSA leadership conference. Students will travel to the state capital to participate in competitions, attend various activities and explore downtown Atlanta with their friends.

The three day event will be held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, where Georgia HOSA members will mingle and compete for nationals. Besides the main event; the competitions, the conference also offers students the ability to listen in on lectures, attend workshops and visits health exhibits.

3/14 March Madness begins March 14

Beauty and the Beast debuts in theaters March 17

THE MESSENGER | 7

NEWS

The CBI Program

Northview welcomes Community Based Instruction to aid students with learning disabilities MIRA SYDOW, STAFF WRITER

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ith the new school year in August, new programs arrive at Northview. Next year, Northview is initiating Community Based Instruction, a program to aid students with special needs.

Currently, the CBI program in effect at Fulton Country schools such as Centennial and Alpharetta high schools, causing Northview students with special needs to be displaced.

These students, although zoned for Northview, must attend other high schools that have the CBI program.

“Historically, Fulton County has used what we would refer to as ‘center schools’ to support these kids,” Principal Brian Downey said. “The county made the decision that these students would be better served at their local school of attendance.”

Learning alongside their peers and sharing a community near their home is a convenient alternative to being sent to another school for students who qualify for the CBI program. While the transition may be jarring at first, staff members such as Renee Bowe have already met some of the kids.

“Some of them are very verbal and want to get along and say hi and do just what any other kid would do,” Bowe said. “I think it’s important that everyone embraces different people.”

The special education program caters to very specific needs of students, not only coaching standard, academic topics, but also

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teaching them life skills such as doing laundry, cooking, and other skills that most able bodied people take for granted. Assistant Principal Nikol Boyd agreed that the CBI program has proved to be beneficial because it walked students through most basic processes in life.

“One of the reasons why it’s called community based is because they’re learning how to be productive citizens in our community,” Boyd said. “That includes jobs around the school and going out into the community.”

In order to help these students confidently perform tasks at stores and businesses, the CBI program has a ‘transition teacher’ with the purpose of guiding students through public, daily tasks. Though the teacher has not arrived at Northview, Boyd confirmed that the new teacher has already begun preparing for the program.

“She’s already reached out to us and is looking in the community, trying to find some stuff, local places, to partner with us,” Boyd said.

The transition teacher is not the only new staff member as a result of the CBI program. Northview is also welcoming two or three teachers, as well as two or three paraprofessionals to aid students in the CBI program. The role of paraprofessionals in the program is specifically important because they work so closely with the students throughout the day. The paraprofessionals

help with everything from getting off the bus, to finding the bathroom, to eating lunch.

“They’re the hands on people that are right there in the trenches working with the students to ensure that they have everything they need to be successful,” Boyd said. “It’s a job that is often thankless, and they aren’t paid a lot.”

With the combined efforts of new teachers and paraprofessionals, special needs students will be in a better environment to get the education they need. Staff is not the only major change CBI is making though.

Along with a new program and new teachers, Northview will also get a new hall.

The 400 hall is set to be converted into the perfect space for students to learn life skills. Along with full sinks and showers in the additional space, the classrooms will to have other appliances to help learn life skills.

“Because it’s community based instruction, a lot of what they’re learning is also life skill based, so one of the rooms will have a full kitchen, oven, washing machine, that kind of [equipment],” Downey said.

With a batch of new students and staff and a large renovation just around the corner, Northview’s staff and students await the arrival of these students with open arms.

“Everyone is really excited to accept them here,” Bowe said. “I think we’re ready for the change and I think that they belong here with us.”

Junior Cody Lu prepares to hit a volley

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Girl’s Tennis

he Northview girls tennis team beat North Atlanta soundly on Feb. 28. After losing to Cambridge on March 2nd, the girls are hoping to win in their rematch on March 9.

“The plan for success is coming up with strategic lineups that will to our teams strengths, and hopefully we will have a ring by the end of the season,” senior Aria Ragas said.

From practices to games, head coach Donna McCarthy inspires her players to always put in 100% of their effort at games and practices. The juniors from last spring have to step up this year and take leadership, since the seniors from last season are gone. It really changed the leadership on the team, but the team still has strong chemistry.

Now the only two seniors on the team, senior Sasha Timokhin and senior Aria Ragas have the weight on their shoulders to carry and lead the team to success.

Justine Ulrich/STAFF

SPORTS IN BRIEF

MEGAN CISTULLI AND KATIE ARMSTRONG, STAFF WRITERS

Justine Ulrich/STAFF

Girl’s Soccer

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s the girl’s soccer season progresses, so does the girls’ team chemistry and record. After a bad loss to Collins Hill, they came back strong with an 8-0 win against North Springs. They still have a few problems mixing player talents together.

“It’s still hard to mesh talents on our team because we have some people who play club year round and others who just play for the school,” sophomore Sydni Dachs said.

The only other problem is that the team is inexperienced and young, but the coach and players believe that they are stepping up and playing more mature than they may actually be.

As the season progresses the team will gain more experience and become more mature which will have a positive effect on their season and provide a spark in the region tournament.

Sophomore Amy Au holds the ball during practice

THE MESSENGER | 9

Will Claussen/STAFF

Boy’s Tennis

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he boy’s tennis team has had a strong start to the season even with the loss of senior star player and Cleveland state commit, Matthew Terry.

They are on a 5-0 run with a solid line up. The

new additions to the team have been stepping up and filling Terry’s spot as well.

“Gavin Segraves is stepping up this season, like expected,” head coach Tracy Ramage said.

They are still on the road to the state playoffs and plan to crush all of the teams that they face. The team believes that they will not face any real completion until their last region match against Chattahoochee, and will hopefully bring home Northview’s 18th state championship.

Junior Sugeeth Kandikattu serves the ball in a match against Pope Sophomore Preston Rhodes carries the ball during practice

Boy’s Lacrosse

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Shashank Ganeshan/ STAFF

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he Northview boys lacrosse team got off to a rough start record-wise, with an overall record of 0-3. They played a game against Lambert on Feb. 24, and it was one of their worst games this season.

Lambert dominated the scoreboard, ending with a score of 13-1.

“We have a lot of players on the team that haven’t seen varsity level play yet. I think that it will take a few games before they are able to play to the best of their abilities,” junior Noah Johnson said.

Since many of the players aren’t used to the

intense level of varsity players, with practice, hopefully they are able to improve.

“We’re taking it a step at a time, because we are not 100% sure where we are at yet, the players are still learning our coaching styles, and pretty much just getting to know their habits and getting to know what they can do and can’t do,” Coach Steve O’Hara said.

Even with the losses, the boys’ defense seems to be improving, hence at the end of games, they seem to be preventing their opponent from scoring as many goals as at the beginning of the game. Against both Lambert and Buford, their defense became stronger towards the end of the game.

SPORTS

Baseball

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he boy’s baseball team has had a strong start to the season, with only two losses to strong teams in Cambridge and Alpharetta. According to the players on the team, Norcross is the best that they will face all year, although they will also face some tough in-region opponents.

Coach Aaron Wilkens is confident that the boys will excel in the region that they are because in their pre-season games, they have done well.

“Chemistry is the key to any team, and we have a lot of it,” junior Colton McDaniel said.

Although now graduated players Tommy Trautwein and Joseph Macrina were two big voices on the team that brought the boys together, the team is packed full of seniors that are really stepping up and performing well.

At their early season Norcross game, senior Matthew Pacifico struck out the side in the last inning in order to pull out the win. Pitching is still Wilkens’ main concern for this season, but seniors Colton McDaniel and Avery Thomas will have to do their best to control the speed of each game with pitching.

Girl’s Lacrosse

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ven though the girls’ lacrosse team started with a close loss of 12-14 against Cambridge, it didn’t stop them from beginning a successful in-region run. With an overall record of 4-1, the girls team is undefeated in the region.

“We are looking forward to seeing more progress than we did last year. The only possible struggle we would have this season is playing the game to the very end. We sometimes give up on ourselves and hold our heads down and don’t play as well as we know we should,” junior Ananda Thomas said.

The girls’ lacrosse the team continues to destroy teams this season. They crushed Lanier by a score of 22-2 on Feb. 27.

“Our plan for success is concentration and communication while keeping up our passion for the sport and staying calm even through the hard parts,” junior Madi Wangle said.

With the continuation of working hard at practices, the girls’ lacrosse team is headed for a successful season.

Track

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o far this season, the Northview track and field runners are facing lots of competition this year, but still running strong.

“Some key players are Sarika and Michaela Davis, and the practices are going super well, especially for the people hat trained over winter break,” junior Elizabeth Burton said.

Many runners on the Northview track and field team agree that everyone has to work on specific characteristics in order to better their performances. Many players this season seem to be getting injured, but hopefully they return to health.

Coach Davenport has a great bond with the short-distance runners, and this will be very beneficial to helping the track team towards success.

“Coach Davenport pushes us hard during practices and inspires us to do our best during meets,” sophomore Rohan George said.

Justine Ulrich/STAFF

Boy’s Soccer

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he boy’s soccer team had a great start to their season with a win against Collins Hill. After that, they had three consecutive losses where they scored zero points. According to the players, this season has been relatively unsuccessful so far. Their new coach is helpful and encouraging because of his professional experience, but there is still no communication on the team.

“People don’t have a purpose when they pass the ball,”sophomore Saba Iranikhah said.

The way to get back on track is to build team chemistry, especially since the

team feels so separated.

There are still plenty of games to go, including senior night at the end of March, but coaches hope that the younger players will start to step up and build the team for seasons to come.

Sophomore Cole Michel kicks the ball during practice

THE MESSENGER | 11

A field reinvented

Northview’s baseball field welcomes a new and improved score board, and takes on the name of one of its most dedicated sponsors

SRUTI SAJJA, STAFF WRITER

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fter suffering a heartbreaking loss in 2010, the Northview community took it upon themselves to make sure their friend’s legacy would never be forgotten. Will Trautwein passed away on Oct 15, 2010, and his voice is still being heard years later. The Will to Live organization was founded in 2010 by John Trautwein; the foundation is dedicated to preventing teen suicide and calling attention to mental health awareness. Northview’s Will To Live club encourages teenagers and all adolescents to recognize the love and hope that exists in each other.

“It’s about having life teammates,

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SPORTS high schools and middle schools across the country, including every public school in Fulton County. With the help of corporations such as State Farm, The Ripken Foundation, Catch 25 Foundation, and Northview high school, the foundation has raised over $1,000,000 through events, fundraisers, and donations. A large contributor to the success of the organization is a result of all their supporters and sponsors; Northview and the Will to Live organization have worked together for seven years, each helping the other achieve maximum prosperity. Even before the start of the foundation, the Trautweins actively took part in the high school.

“This is [the school where] all four of us kids went- we all play baseball, and my dad, he’s played baseball his whole life. It [is] what he loves, and now he is mixing it with something else he loves. My mom is

foundation, and we have purchased new scoreboards for our baseball teams and softball teams,” Principal Brian Downey said.

In addition to that, Northview will be renaming its baseball field in honor of the foundation. The field will be called ‘Will to Live park’ in honor of the family and foundation. After the organization’s endless efforts to do everything they can for the students, teachers, and faculty, this is their recognition.

“It was really [Downey] and Coach Wilkens’ idea. They saw that the foundation has done so much for the school, and they wanted to give back,” Michael Trautwein said.

This move is bound to expand awareness of the organization. With milestones like this one, the foundation can only expand.

“It’s really amazing to see that we’re going to be advertised at every baseball game, every softball game, and all these ac-

“ Part of our strategic plan is about the mental health and well being of our students. It was a nice way to honor the work that they are doing, but also to remind of us the work we should be doing,” - Principal Downey Justine Ulrich/STAFF

and that’s including sports,” Senior Matthew Pacifico said. “The friends that you make in high school and on teams will forever be your friends, and if you think of them as teammates and as always being on your side, and being with you no matter what, it’ll help in the long run.”

This foundation was the family’s way of leaving Will’s mark, and using the tragedy to spread a message far bigger then any of them.

“It’s helped me and my family through so much, being able to cope with such a tragedy we went through, it’s great to see it’s helping other people,” junior Michael Trautwein said.

The club funded the acclaimed Signs of Suicide (SOS) program for more than 2,000

the her her for

same. She [has] been around baseball whole life, been around Northview whole life and she coached lacrosse a little bit,” Michael Trautwein said.

The Trautweins made it their duty to ensure this community is a safe and caring environment. From WillStock to the Where There’s A Will There’s A Way 5K, they do everything in their control to establish that security. Recently, Northview and the foundation have collaborated in order to bring the high school’s baseball and softball teams new scoreboards.

“We, as a school, have partnered with our booster organization and a significant member of our community, the Will To Live

tivities. People are going to be getting the message, even if they don’t know what it means. They will see it, and within a bit of research [our message] will be spread even more,” Michael Trautwein said.

At Northview, the mental health aspect of the students is important. This organization promotes the kindness and compassion of others, and for this reason, the collaboration between Northview and the Will to Live Foundation is eternally important.

“Part of our strategic plan is about the mental health and well being of our students, so it was a nice way to honor the work that they are doing, but also to remind of us the work we should be doing,” Downey said.

THE MESSENGER | 13

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SPORTS

Wortman Works Wonders Mackenzie Wortman is a valuable addition to the girl’s soccer team BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER

James Nichols/SPECIAL The teammates celebrate during their win against Berkmar

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he Northview Varsity womens soccer team is known for their fierce 18 players always donating the field. But, what some may not realize is the crew behind the scenes that helps the team from the sideline.

Senior Mackenzie Wortman assists the team after school everyday at practice by making sure the girls have water and cheering them on at every game. It was in eighth grade when her friend, Hannah Edwards, first invited her to their middle school soccer game when Mackenzie realized she wanted to be a part of the team.

“My neighbor, Hannah Edwards, invited me to a game,” Wortman said. “After I saw them play, I wanted to be part of it, so I asked coach Barr to be a trainer and she said yes.”

The only thing keeping Wortman from being on the field is a physical disability called cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy, or “CP”, is most commonly caused by an injury very early in the brain’s development. CP most always results in loss of motor function to varying degrees. While CP can be seen in

physical aspects, the disorder does not affect one’s mental or learning ability. Wortman is able to easily maneuver around in a wheel-

“If she wasn’t a part of our team, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” -Olivia Mitrovich chair and neither the cerebral palsy nor her wheelchair have ever proven to be an impediment to her goals and following her dreams.

“If she wasn’t a part of our team, we wouldn’t be where we are today, our team is extremely close which is part due to Mackenzie’s support,” senior Olivia Mitrovich, Mackenzie’s teammate said.

As a Northview freshman, Wortman approached Coach Barr and asked to join the Girls’ soccer team as a trainer and had been a valuable asset to the team for the past three years. The team agrees her contribution is invaluable , and only happy

memories come to mind thinking of their trainer. Many of her team members have shared a favorite memory or story regarding Wortman and how she has inspired them and helped to pick up the team in times of defeat.

“She helps with all the pasta parties and never fails to be at our games on the sidelines screaming ‘Go Northview’,” senior Taylor Mitchell said. “She is always there for our team bonding and basically just makes it her job to always be there for us.”

Even though Wortman’s job as trainer only entails making sure the team is always able to practice with whatever materials they need, Wortman goes above and beyond. By being at the field every day for the past three years and never failing to have a smile on her face, Wortman proves that there is nothing prohibiting her from doing what she loves.

“She shows us that no matter what disabilities you have, you can do whatever you want,” Mitchell said. “She always tells us during half time that we are doing a good job and she is always there for us.”

THE MESSENGER | 15

highlights

profiles Taylor Stalheim, 10

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n the girls’ soccer team , sophomore Taylor Stalheim has exhibited excellent leadership qualities, responding well to demands about needing her to step up and lead the team. Stalheim plays Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), a club level organization, exposing her to a high level of play, and she has brought this same level intensity that they practice

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with at ECNL to the Northview soccer program. By increasing the intensity and productivity in practice, newer members have improved considerably in order to keep up with upperclassmen and talented players, like Stalheim, who continue to gradually raise the bar in practice and increase expectations during games. This has been important because the team is young and lacks proper depth, and it requires leaders like Stalheim to close the experience gap between the upperclassmen and the less experienced members. “ Taylor is a big part of the team.

She’s been a glue between underclassmen and upperclassmen,” sophomore Grace Erickson said. “She is good spirited, joyful, and fun to be around. She always brings a positive attitude to the field.”

The girl’s soccer program did not have enough athletes to field a Junior Varsity team, and thus, they have had to restructure their team to maximize the team’s capabilities. Senior, Olivia Mitrovich, like Stalheim plays goalie, but Mitrovich has needed to adjust and play as a midfielder this season. This has allowed Stalheim to step up and take on more responsibility as a goalie. The head coach, Jen Barr, has noted that Stalheim has responded to this challenge well and provided a solid backline to the defense. She understands the game well and brought an air of confidence to the field. Teammate, Grace Erickson, emphasizes the importance of leadership from the goalie position because there is only goalie on the field at a given time.

“As a goalie, you can’t be timid and not talk because if you do, you put the team in harm’s way,” Stalheim said.

Erickson highlights that Stalheim is a caring teammate that who always brings an infectious positivity to the field, carrying a charisma that automatically raises her teammates’ spirits. Even when

ECNL 2015/20160.565 goals allowed per game (over 55 games)

139 Career Saves Club team - 1st in nation (2015) and 10th in nation (2016) being vocal and commanding teammates, Stalheim never comes across rude, but rather focuses on the team’s success.

Coach Barr has noticed that Stalheim earns the respect from her teammates through her exceptional goalkeeping talent and compassion for her teammates.

Stalheim appreciates how her teammates are comforting and care about her on a personal level, and she cherishes that she is able to interact and bond with her teammates in school, outside any soccer environment. Erickson considers Stalheim to be a future team captain for Northview, and she expects big soccer accomplishments from Stalheim in the future, Coach Barr believes that she has a bright future in Division 1 soccer because she is already being scouted by multiple schools, despite being so young.

“She has the qualities that set up her up for success in the future. The sky’s the limit for her; there’s no ceiling for her,” Coach Barr said.

The Unsung

SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, ONLINE EDITOR SUCHITA KUMAR, STAFF WRITER

Northview paraprofessionals lead the path to success for many of the student body. Such individuals strive to be of greatest assistance, even if their help can be shielded from the public eye

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hen Northview students graduate, they often see the ceremony as the culmination of the many years of their personal hard work and individual efforts. For Jackie Blue, graduation is the most rewarding aspect of her career, because when her student graduates this May, not only her student’s work, but also years of her own efforts, will come to fruition.

Blue is a paraprofessional. Her role is to assist special needs students with tasks that would be difficult for them to perform independently, allowing students to have the best academic experience possible with minimal restrictions due to disabilities.

“There are several different types of parapros, but their primary function is to support the education in the classroom,” Northview Principal Brian Downey said.

“Some do that by providing direct support to a particular student. So we have some students in the building who require just an extra level of support in order for them to be successful, and the parapro is the person who will do that.

Then we also have instructional parapros that will support a classroom of students.”

Paraprofessionals can also perform simple classroom tasks, such as filing re-

cords, making copies of worksheets, and other clerical jobs. More importantly, they are able to read to the children, and if the children become frustrated, they can take them outside for a walk as a break from learning. Some students may suffer from ambulatory issues; therefore, some paraprofessionals are needed to walk these students to their classes, as well as help them to the restroom. Paraprofessionals follow around and hand out tissues to the kids when they are sick; the comfort of these kids is highly prioritized to provide a non disruptive learning environment.

As IRR department chair, Renee Bowe often acts as the bridge between parents, teachers, and administration in managing students, attending meetings as well as teaching classes of her own.

“We would be lost without them.

They do the things that people don’t notice: they assist students… with their daily needs. If you have a student with a disability, that person needs more assistance,” Bowe said. “That person may have trouble getting to the bathroom, grabbing a tissue after sneezing, or squirting hand sanitizer; daily tasks that we take for granted.”

For the last four years, this is the role Blue has played in her student’s educa-

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tion. This semester will be Blue’s last with the student whom she has assisted throughout high school.

“The student I’m working with now, I’ve been working with her since she came in the ninth grade and she will graduate. It is very rewarding to start with them when they enter high school and see how much they grow and achieve so they can graduate and go on to the next level,” Blue said. “They’re getting ready to transition into the real world.”

Blue is like many paraprofessionals and assistive educators who work alongside teachers to meet student needs, in that she is assigned not to a classroom, but to a student, who she follows and assists throughout the day. Throughout her career, Blue has followed students, often for several years with one student, becoming in tune with their specific needs and familiar with their learning style.

“The first student that I started working with- in the third grade- I followed him through middle school, through high school and then he transitioned and graduated. So that was very rewarding,” Blue said. “Also being able to work with different teachers at the different levels and helping to get them ready for that particular student and helping them understand how that student learns, so that transition is very good for the student as well as for the teacher.”

For some special needs students, the path after high school can vary from the traditional four year college route. Where the students go largely depends on their individual needs and disabilities.

Paraprofessionals like Blue help students see a future after high school, and prepare for their next step.

“Some go on to technical schools. The main thing is it depends on their level, what their academic level is, what they are capable of, what their disability is. Some are able to go to four year schools. Some

We would be lost without them REnee bowe

work on their job skills and become job ready,” Blue said.

In anticipation of these post secondary endeavors, practical, daily life tasks are incorporated into high school curriculum for these special needs students, putting an increased educational emphasis on learning career skills instead of academic knowledge.

“They’ll count change, they’ll see if you have this many quarters and dimes, how much is it to buy this? Or one person is a hostess and one is a waiter and they had to go around to each student and ask ‘what do you want?’” Northview paraprofessional Wesley Hughes said.

The Community Based Instruction program that will be implemented at Northview next year will be paraprofessionals’ best tool in equipping students with real life skills. “[Community Based Instruction] is life based versus academics, so [students] can still learn to live by themselves,” Hughes said.

Recently transferred here from Chattahoochee, Hughes follows his assigned student throughout the day, building skills by practicing tasks and helping

around the school.

“If you can learn to live on your own you’ll be somewhat successful,” Hughes said.

For Hughes, this knowledge is the job’s greatest reward. Watching a student as they progress, aware that the skills learned in high school have the potential to help student navigate life afterwards, and facilitate a level of independence and accomplishment that may not have been possible without parapros.

Blue also finds that although every student grows at a different rate and has different strengths and areas that need work, she finds a sense of accomplishment in seeing her students’ growth.

“I love working with kids. To be able to help the kids to learn to be better citizens as well as helping to educate them,” Blue said.

But just as the job is personally rewarding for paraprofessionals, who have the opportunity to watch as their students develop and learn, the demanding career brings its challenges. The major obstacle in teaching kids with special needs is a lack of focus.

“The biggest challenge is kids don’t

want to be here. No kid wants to sit in school 8 hours a day and sometimes it’s even worse for children with special needs,” Hughes said. “It is just a focus thing.”

There is no one size fits all approach to special needs students, so education plans and day to day activities vary by student and often look different from those of regular education classes.

“I believe that each student is unique, so working with students who have a paraprofessional is no different from anyone else. I have high expectations for all students,” Northview paraprofessional aide Diane Whitlach said.

It takes a measure of perseverance to work around attention issues that face many students. When a regular education format is not compatible with some students’ abilities and needs, paraprofessionals work with teachers to create a specialized education plan for them. Paraprofessionals must adapt lesson plans and learning strategies to each student, customizing their learning experience.

“Teaching students as a paraprofessional requires a much more personal

THE MESSENGER | 19

Justine Ulrich/STAFF

teaching experience. I need to know the “The parapro is essentially like hav- comes to comprehending algebra, since personality, likes, dislikes, and preferenc- ing another teacher because they have it is an abstract concept,” algebra teacher es of each student I help,” Northview the ability to work one on one with a Donna Powell said. paraprofessional Stephen O’Hara said. student, breaking things down, and at a For many students this means an “For example, if a student does not work slower pace,” Bowe said. increased use of technology to work well in groups, then I can let them work Paraprofessionals are often able to around disabilities and enhance learning independently.” options, for which parapro O’Hara is another fessionals must be profinew paraprofessional cient in the use of the latest this year. Both his parassistive technologies. ents were teachers, so ed Speech to text software ucation was a big part of helps alleviate some of the his life. With schooling added struggles to achievand a degree, he decided ing progress in an academic to become a paraprofessetting; students are able to sional in order to secure write their own papers witha permanent teaching out much help from their

Brian Downey position at Northview. paraprofessionals.

“Although I have “Our main goal is worked similar jobs in to help kids with special the past as a Teacher’s needs to realize what their aide and a Teacher’s Asstrength and weaknesses sistant, this is my first year as a Parapro- approach difficult concepts for students are, helping them to work on both, and fessional,” O’Hara said. “If a teacher from new angles, using creative strategies to be independent: independent socially, asks me to teach a lesson, nothing chang- until students comprehend the material. academically, and mentally,” Blue said. es. I do my best to fill in when needed.” “They might adjust the assignments This educational objective neces Often, paraprofessionals spend extra if they see the kids are struggling, or sitates the all hands on deck efforts of time working one on one with students might use concrete things to help the teams of teachers, administrators, and when they cannot understand assign- students understand the concepts. They paraprofessionals, working to meet indiments. use blocks and place values when it vidualized goals for each student.

We have kids that would not be successful if not for that individual who is helping them throughout the day.

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As Blue has learned in her years on the job, two of the paraprofessional’s most important traits are flexibility and good communication, which are vital when working in teams.

The coordination of the teachers and the paraprofessionals is not an easy task; both faculty members have different periods of planning, so planning classroom activities proves to be a daily challenge.

“There are times when I would like the paraprofessionals to understand what to do during a lesson, but often I have to stop a lesson and discuss with the them to make sure they are on the same page,” Powell said.

The nature of special needs education is such that whereas regular education teachers may be able to stick to a rigid schedule and plan, special ed instructors must be willing to change plans and adapt.

“No day is ever the same,” Bowe said.

Especially in the fluid dynamic of a classroom, paraprofessionals are required to be constantly alert and adaptable.

“As a paraprofessional, you need to be able to think on your feet,” O’Hara said. “Lessons do not always go according to plan, so when a teacher changes something up in the lesson, you need to be there to assist in any way.”

But time and experience bring a synchronicity between paraprofessionals and teachers, when paraprofessionals can efficiently assist the students, anticipating their needs, without much instruction from the teacher. To be accustomed to their student’s needs, they usually have spent a lot of time together caring for him or her. While each paraprofessional works individually with the child, the teacher will be rotating to help certain groups when necessary.

“One of my ParaPros knows how to start the student off every morning and help with transitions, so I don’t need to help her as much,” Powell said.

Over time, as teachers and paraprofessionals fall into modus operandi, their teamwork and cooperation contributes to the smooth functioning of the classroom and enhanced the classroom ex-

perience for students. Having worked on both sides of this partnership, Diane Whitlach knows just how game changing this teamwork can be. Whitlach started her career off as a paraprofessional, but has been working as a teacher for the last twenty years. As a teacher, she now works side by side with paraprofessionals.

“Having another adult in the room is great because we can bounce ideas off each other and make the learning experience better for all of our students,” Whitlach said.

With patience and ingenuity, paraprofessionals like Hughes, Blue, and O’Hara collaborate with teachers to work around disabilities and provide their students with the best high school education possible.

“We have kids in this building that would not be successful if not for that individual who is helping them throughout the day,” Downey said. “I believe in that mantra of ‘success for all.’ For every single one of our kids, and they’re those people in the building that help us achieve that.”

Professions by pay:

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By the Numbers

THE MESSENGER | 21

The Val and Sal SHERRY LIANG, STAFF WRITER On Monday February 13, Principal Brian Downey gathered Northview Class of 2017’s Junior Marshals to announce Bill Zhang as valedictorian and Irene Zhou as salutatorian with a difference of only three-tenths of a point.

T

a stigma that suggests a life devoted to achieving the highest grades, but senior Bill Zhang sets out to prove otherwise. While his exceptional grades and academic success culminated from hard work, him becoming valedictorian is merely coincidental, as his goals have always been focused on his interest in learning over the numeric outcome.

“Becoming valedictorian, while it is significant, has never been my goal, and it was never something I consciously strived for,” Zhang said. “The grade comes with the work and the work is what you should be looking at instead of the grade.”

As a child, Zhang recalls his sense of admiration for discovering the unknown.

Flipping past children’s shows and movies, he would watch Animal Planet and spend his days immersed in National Geographic and Eyewitness books, mesmerized by the subject of marine biology. While his interests have evolved, the same zeal remains throughout his current endeavors.

Zhang’s father, Feng Zhang, witnesses firsthand the development of Zhang’s ap-

proaches to learning throughout his childhood years, encouraging him to challenge himself, while maintaining his underlying motivations to learn.

“Bill has taken the most rigorous courses in high school and even some college courses, always pushing his academic limits and learning for the fun of it,” Zhang said. “It is the best feeling in the world for a parent to know that their child is ready to step into the real world, and we fully believe that Bill will excel in everything that he does, in college and beyond.”

While Zhang initially focused on math and science, as he progressed throughout high school, he began to expand his horizons into the humanities, fostering an appreciation for Liberal Arts subjects. Attending the Governor’s Honor Program in Georgia, more commonly referred to as GHP, as a Communicative Arts major this past summer opened his eyes to a plethora of discoveries beyond his comfort zone.

As both his honors literature teacher freshman year and his AP Language and Composition teacher junior year, Ashley

Ulrich nominated Zhang for GHP Communicative Arts, recognizing the scope

JENNA SOOKNANAN AND ERIN SHIN/STAFF

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of his potential. His unique enthusiasm across all subjects is reflected in his work ethic in the classroom.

“He loves to learn and he is passionate about learning new things, and that is in pretty much any field I’ve seen him work in,” Ulrich said. “Not just in english fields but in science and math fields as well. He’s got that drive to want to learn and do new things.”

Beyond the classroom, Zhang’s friends see him as more than the valedictorian. In addition to juggling academics and extracurriculars, Zhang is a dependable friend, always available and eager to help his classmates succeed. To senior Leonardo Tang, Zhang is not only an empathetic friend, but also an influential figure in his life and others.

“As a friend, Bill is extremely sympathetic with others and always makes an effort to keep everyone happy even when the mood is less than ideal,” Tang said.

“As a student, Bill is busy answering the questions that most students do not even know to ask, which is why he excels in what he does.”

Zhang recognizes his responsibility as valedictorian to set an example for current and future students of Northview High School. Achieving the highest grade in his class was only one aspect to a multitude of experiences in high school, most of which would have been irreplaceable by a path set solely on the outlook of grades.

“The message I’ve always tried to send in high school to those around me was to have a good work ethic and to learn for the purpose of learning, not so much for the sake of the grade,” Zhang said. “I think that focusing so much on the grade takes away from all the potential you could be, realizing with yourself.”

W

hen she was in only kindergarten, Northview High School senior Irene Zhou’s innate intelligence set her apart from her peers. It became evident that her maturity was well beyond her years, and she was propelled an entire two years ahead to second grade.

While the jump seemed natural to her parents and her counselor, the significant shift from learning the ABC’s to practicing multiplication proved to be a shaping factor in her later years.

“I had kind of a hard transition between kindergarten and second grade,” Zhou said. “There was also a social aspect: I had to leave all my friends in kindergarten behind, so I had a rough time making friends, but after a few years I got used to it.”

Although the change in environment was hard at first, eventually Zhou adapted well into the newer mature environment, which stimulated her potential throughout the years, and today, her age is just a number, until someone brings it up.

“I don’t think it’s something people should take into account,” Zhou said.

“I skipped from kindergarten to second grade a long time ago, so I basically have had the same life as they have, but people still treat me differently.”

While a two year age difference may seem intimidating to others, Zhou embraces it, taking her youth and unexpected maturity to her advantage, using her age as a key strategizing element in college applications and interviews. But at the end of the day, Zhou carries an inherent sense of independence and dedication, which fuels her desire to learn, regardless of her age. Zhou’s passion for learning is rooted in STEM-related subjects, acknowledging her parents as an influential factor in her interests in math and science.

“My parents have always been really focused on math and science,” Zhou said.

“Writing can be subjective, social studies can be subjective, so they were really scared of discrimination, and they were like ‘nobody can discriminate against you if you are doing math and science.’”

Zhou’s mother, Haomin Wang, was one of the first people to notice Zhou’s exceptional potential, crediting Zhou’s cu-

“

FEATURES

She has been always a self-motivated hard worker and is a good leader through her advanced ability and motivation on group projects

”

-Haomin Wang

riosity and motivation as the driving force herself, but to help others as well. behind her accomplishments. Wang has “She’s someone we could always also witnessed Zhou’s independence as a depend on as a friend and as a classmate,” leader to others as a classmate and friend. Zhang said.

“She has been always a self-motivated With an acceptance letter from the hard worker and is a good leader through Massachusetts Institute of Technology, her advanced ability and motivation on commonly referred to as MIT, and the tigroup projects,” Wang said. “She is nice tle of Northview Class of 2017’s salutatoto everybody, and always helps people rian in the bag, Zhou is well on her way to who really need help.” achieving her goals by changing the world.

As her AP Chemistry teacher, Rebecca In the fall, she will be a freshman at MIT, Bingham has also seen Zhou’s fervor in two years younger than her peers, proving the classroom. Zhou’s interest in science that age is really just a number, while a is reflected throughout her work ethic and spark for learning is an eternal passion. success as a student. Even though she was at a disadvantage going into AP Chemistry, since she took only the bridge course for honors Chemistry, she still excelled in the class.

“She was determined not to let the material defeat her, and she just worked harder than everybody else,” Bingham said.

Zhou’s hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed by her peers. As people began to see her for more than her age, she opened up and established her significant role as a leader and friend. From the moment they became friends, Junior Anita Zhang noticed Zhou’s JENNA SOOKNANAN AND ERIN SHIN/STAFF zeal for success in not just

THE MESSENGER | 23

FEATURES

EVAN MOODY/STAFF

The Nest Café

The Messenger’s Monthly Foo d Review

*THIS ARTICLE IS NOT SPONSORED

BY NEST CAFE

MORGAN WHITE, STAFF WRITER

L

ocated at the far end of Canton street in downtown Roswell sits the Nest Cafe, a charming upscale style restaurant that brings the perfect offset to the southern lively atmosphere just a few blocks down the road. Wedged between newly constructed apartment complexes makes this an ideal location for a quick bite before the day begins. Upon entry, the modern wooden accent walls complemented with marble counter tops and dark steel chairs provides its customers with a taste of Atlanta-style dining not too far from home. The aromatic smells of leftover coffee from the morning rush as well as the eye-catching Bohemian lights draped above leave a cozy yet trendy tone to resonate within its customers. Serving both breakfast and lunch, the Nest Cafe offers a wide variety of choices ranging from classic eggs and bacon to a large array of freshly-made sandwiches. The service is refreshingly friendly and welcoming to its locals and to newcomers. However, it is restricted to mainly cash register service, and any customer looking for a traditional

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waitress style experience may be somecertain aspects, are sure to leave customers craving what disappointed. The chicken cesar salad more. sandwich, placed strategically on a sweet croissant bun matched with the savory delights of traditional chicken cesar salad provides the perfect balance of flavors. The sandwich is matched with freshly sliced apples and a dash of honey inside the salad, adding to the uniqueness. A side of waffle fries in its own small aesthetic basket compliments the plate’s display. A taste from New Orleans resonates with their signature beignets. However, the price ($ 9.95 per order) for these pastries may be a bit pricer EVAN MOODY/STAFF for those who wanted the traditional french treat. Matched with an assortment of berries and a rich dark chocolate dipping sauce, the beignets lack the conventional crunch needed to completely satisfy. Yet, the dessert’s soft and chewy center that, dipped in 58 Canton St #101, Alpharetta, GA chocolate, is still delectable nonetheless. The 30097 Nest cafe, overall, is an aesthetic city style Evan Moody/STAFF https://www.thenestcafe.net/ cafe that brings together the upscale swift678-231-2477 ness of Atlanta with the southern charm of rural Roswell. Their dishes, though pricey in

The Nest Cafe

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OPINIONS

S A R A H T E W /C N E T

Chromebook Critique Northview’s chromebook initiative has its ups and downs JOE NI, STAFF WRITER

A

s a member of Northview’s iSchool (now dubbed, SWAT) team, I have been privileged to test out a Dell Chromebook 11 two weeks ahead of the main deployment. In this time, I have developed a mixed opinion on the device. For school purposes, the device is adequate, but there are several issues that will bug students throughout the school year.

At first glance, the Chromebook’s utilitarian matte gray plastic shell inspires no excitement. Indeed, for school purposes, it is not supposed to inspire excitement; this Chromebook is a tool, not a toy. It is pretty light at 2.8 pounds and according to Dell, tested for military standard (MIL-STD 810G) durability, extreme temperatures, shocks, vibration and spills. From my experience, the device feels sturdy, with rubber edges and a solid plastic frame; I would not be too worried if I dropped it accidently. Input/output is relatively accommodating, offering two USB ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. The speakers are loud, but produce flat sound with no bass. The keyboard’s format is easy to transition to, but the keyboard itself is lackluster; with a soft mushiness and lack of travel (1.3mm). Noticeably, the keyboard lacks a backlight, so

students will not be getting any work done in dark environments. The trackpad is responsive and accurate, but a bit too small for comfort; I found myself giving up and using a mouse consistently. Dell also cut corners on the small, 11 inch 1366x768 display, which brightens sufficiently but fails miserably on

At first glance, the Chromebook’s utilitarian matte gray plastic shell inspires no excitement. viewing angles and color accuracy--bright greens and vivid reds became dull and lost their “pop.” Furthermore, the screen is small and cramped; multitasking a-la Windows 10 splitscreen style is out of the question. If you are doing assignments on the Chromebook, you will have to have them open one tab at a time. Thankfully, the phenomenal battery life helps compensate for the minor issues.

I have squeezed out two days of light to medium usage from the Chromebook, so if you forget to charge it one night you should

be okay the next day. And if push comes to shove, the included charger is fairly light and compact.

The software experience is comfortable.

ChromeOS is basically the Chrome browser, so anyone who has ever used Chrome will easily get into the flow. The Chromebook boots up in seconds, so beginning and pausing work is a breeze. The device’s performance is sufficient for school, I did not notice any lag until more than 15 tabs were open --more than enough for school purposes.

However, when Google says a Chromebook is just the web, they mean it. There is no LoggerPro, there is no Adobe CS, there is nothing other than watered down web app substitutes.

Thus, the Chromebook is arguably the ideal school device and nothing more. The small screen limits you to one assignment at a time, and I found that using it for longer periods of time would lead to eyestrain. The lack of a backlit keyboard limits use outside of a well-lit school environment, and the subpar display and mediocre speakers will disappoint users seeking entertainment. To sum it up, if a Macbook was to a swiss army knife, a Chromebook would be to a fixed blade. This is an sufficient tool for school assignments, but it cannot do much more than that.

THE MESSENGER | 25

faceoff:

Should taxes be increased to raise teacher and parapro salaries?

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yes

OPINIONS

ALEX PERRY, STAFF WRITER

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ost of the United States youth receive their primary education in public schools. In legislations, since the focus is often on the students, legislators often forget to recognize and reward the individuals making all this possible, such as paraprofessionals and teachers. These educators play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of Americans and increasing their compensation recognizes their crucial work to improve the lives of our nation’s youth.

Although most paraprofessional jobs do not require a degree, paraprofessionals form a support system that our schools desperately need. Many paraprofessionals work with special needs kids, and are able to give the one on one care that regular teachers do not have the ability to provide. They also serve as teacher’s aids and provide additional support to them in the classroom. With the work parapro-

fessionals do, schools are able to increase the educator to student ratio, and teachers are able to focus on a smaller set of students.

Paraprofessionals get the short end of an already short stick and are often not given the recognition they deserve.

They often work with kids who need extra support, and some paraprofessional jobs sometimes do not require any degrees or education. This forces them to rely on their own knowledge and on what basic courses provided by the county have taught them. Although some positions lack higher education, their work requires extensive knowledge that teachers with many degrees cannot perform. For providing this one on one attention, paraprofessionals should be rewarded with a nationwide pay raise funded by our taxes.

There are around 3 million teachers and paraprofessionals currently employed

in United States, and 171.3 million people who are required to pay taxes. If those 171.3 people pay five dollars more on their annual taxes, then there is enough money for a pay raise for teachers and paraprofessionals nationwide by 285 dollars. While it seems to be just a small increase of pay, educators certainly deserve it due to the crucial role they play in our society.

Teachers go through colleges and get degrees in education. They are dedicated to their students and put in all this hard work to make sure our future has a good education before getting sent off to college. For the work that teachers and paraprofessionals do, they should be rewarded, for not all their skills are skills easily obtained by regular people. They go above and beyond to provide for our children and Congress should go above and beyond for them.

no NITHYA MAHAKALA, FEATURES EDITOR

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he controversy over whether or not to increase teachers’ salaries remains unwavering, but it does not stem from a lack of wanting. Instead, many fear the negative consequences propelled forward by it.

For example, any such increase in teacher pay would require either that we drastically raise taxes or rearrange spending priorities — exceedingly unlikely — or that we cut other major expenses in school budgets.

Should class sizes be much larger? Should sports programs be canceled? Will administrators agree to take a pay cut? In the education context, roughly doubling teacher salaries would involve asking taxpayers to bear an extremely large up-front cost for a very slow payoff down the line.

Paying teachers more money will not only

cost us more in tax, but it will also siphon intellectuals from fields they are better suited for. Those who are good at teaching already become teachers more often than not.

We do not need some guy with 100 degrees who’s just there to get a paycheck teaching the new generations. We need people who have a passion for teaching, and who are actually there because they care about the kids’ future.

Right now, whether a teacher works long hours or how much her students learn has no influence on how much she is paid. Instead, teacher pay is based entirely on years of experience and number of advanced degrees. Unfortunately, research consistently finds that those attributes are unrelated to a teacher’s effectiveness. Simply increasing the amount of money that a teacher is paid

for earning a master’s degree or sticking around another year will not motivate her to improve her effectiveness in the classroom.

The demand and supply for teachers are at equilibrium, so the price should not be changed. All the incentives - the fairly good salary, the standard work benefits, the fact that you can be off work when the kids aren’t in school, the fact that you can work a summer job for extra money, the fact that it’s a fulfilling job for a lot of people, the fact that businesses offer discounts to teachers, and the fact that many people make it as a ‘safe’ choice - these all lead to us having enough teachers at the current pay rate. To raise the pay rate would create unemployment. Remuneration should be accorded according to one’s level of education, workload and experience, among others.

THE MESSENGER | 27

OPINIONS STAFF EDITORIAL

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Pipe Dream

ays after taking office, President Trump reversed the federal government’s approach on pressing environmental concerns after signing two executive orders that clear the way for two major oil pipelines, including the Keystone XL pipeline, that had previously been blocked by the Obama administration. This followed Trump’s pick in December for the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt. Pruitt, a climate change skeptic is a self-described “leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda.” His personal email show ties with Devon Energy, a major oil company. The EPA originally advised President Obama to block the Keystone XL pipeline as the project would not lower oil prices, create long term jobs, or affect energy dependence, and would be harmful for the environment. The re-opening of the Keystone XL pipeline construction poses threats to the environment that simply cannot be ignored.

The conservative agenda of the EPA under Pruitt and in the Trump administration has yet to warn about the environmental harm posed by the Keystone XL. TransCanada would build the pipeline from the oil fields in Alberta, Canada to Steele City, Nebraska, where it will be connected to a pipeline going to the gulf coast. This will allow Canada to have a port from where to refine and export the oil because the oil fields in Alberta are land locked. President Trump said that the construction would create 20,000 jobs and the pipes would be made solely from US steel. The Keystone Pipeline XL will not use U.S. steel despite Trump’s pledge. However, what the conservative administration fails to admit is that the pipeline project produces few permanent full time jobs. Most of the workers will go back into unemployment after the construction.

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They could have focused their laborious efforts on becoming qualified for better paying full time jobs.

The Trump administration also fails to realize that the pipeline is being constructed and privately financed by TransCanada.

Trump is simply issuing a permit for the company. Therefore, the United States has no say on the source of steel for the construction. President Trump says that the construction will be of US steel in order to make it seem as if his government is directly involved in the construction thus giving Trump better ratings among the right blue collar workers. His actions indicate that the new administration will ignore scientific evidence presented by the EPA in Obama’s administration. It is imperative that the country understands the significance of climate change-the truth may not be what free marketeers want, but climate change is harming our environment and should be of utmost priority.

Everybody should resist the Keystone XL because the Alberta oil sands are an unconventional energy source that require much more fuel, water and carbon emissions to extract than conventional oil and gas. The oil is found as bitumen, a tarlike gooey mixture. Water and natural gas pump steam into the sands to extract the oil, creating toxic environmental runoff. When oil companies strip-mine the sands, and heat them to release the oil, they destroy acres of Alberta’s forest. Trump’s America is not a great place for environmentalists especially when the “forgotten people” and the president believe that global warming is a hoax created by the Chinese. With Pruitt as our advisor to President Trump, the future for the left-wing combating climate change seems bleak. Trump’s America is not great for everyone, it great for business elites.

COLUMNS

THE LOW DOWN

Dear Mr. President...

If you truly want to ‘Make America Great Again’ then climate change must be a top priority.

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

D

espite typical partisan squabbling and the much deeper political divisions that have arisen as a result of the recent election, politicians generally want the best for our country. The lone exception centers around one massive problem: climate change. With his travel ban and Russian connections dominating the news cycle, President Trump’s ambitions to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and gut important E.P.A. regulations have largely gone unnoticed.

So Mr. Trump, as you consider these perilous changes, I plead with you to forget the political cacophony of your party and opponents. Instead, I ask that you look back to the principles on which this country was founded.

The United States was the first country to be founded on the liberal ideas of John Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers.

These ideas centered around democracy, laissez-faire economics, and social contract. But most importantly, the protection of life, liberty, and property. To roll back these climate regulations would be a direct

affront to the very principles on which our nation was founded. And to jeopardize the livelihood and well-being of millions would be, dare I say, un-American.

You have stated time and time again that your primary goal as president is to ‘Make America Great Again,’ but it’s easy to understand why the residents of cities like Miami, New Orleans, and New York will see you as a failure if you do indeed choose to scrap these regulations. As sea levels continue to rise, many American cities will be underwater in only a matter of decades. Millions of people will be displaced from their homes and jobs. Their lives will be profoundly changed. This is how impactful your decision will be, Mr. Trump.

And if you still don’t believe this matter to be so serious, just look at the events that are happening around the world. In Australia, the changing climate has brought on a series of brutal heat waves; the small Pacific nation of Kiribati may be underwater in a matter of years as sea levels continue to rise; and hundreds of thousands

of economic migrants in the West African Sahel are being driven from their farmland as warmer temperatures make even subsistence farming impossible.

The year 2016 was the hottest year on record, and it will not be at all surprising if this decade as a whole is record-breaking as well. In fact, I would bet my house that it will. But the point is that this isn’t ‘a total hoax,’ ‘pseudoscience,’ or ‘bullshit,’ as you were quick to mention on the campaign trail–– this is already a brutal reality for many, and Americans are next.

The very fabric of our existence is being threatened by a changing climate, and the world as we know it will be irreversibly changed forever if we don’t act immediately to combat it. As the lone world superpower, the embodiment of freedom and hope, and the paragon of democratic society, it is the obligation of this nation to protect ourselves and the world of which we call ourselves a part from the potential woes of climate change.

The song is called ‘America the Beautiful’–– let’s keep it that way, Mr. Trump.

THE MESSENGER | 29

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

T

LORDE

E

ven though they have not released music in almost a decade, the Gorillaz have been revamping their group and have announced an album to come out later this year. With lots of anticipation and hype for their upcoming work, they released a single earlier this year to regenerate interest in their group, but unfortunately didn’t get the traction they were hoping for. The song Hallelujah Money had their classic melodic yet some what offbeat feel, but didn’t capture the same passion which made their music popular before. Their music was very popular in the early 2000’s and the late 90’s with songs such as Broken or Clint Eastwood.

The group has also announced that they will be hosting a music festival in order to generate more interest. Demon Dayz Festival will be coming later this year with the group performing as a headliner. The event will take place in the UK and is hosted by Red Bull with the promise to bring in many other top shelf acts along.

30

Melodrama

he New Zealand singer Lorde has set a release date for her new album Melodrama to come out later this summer. This is the first that has been heard from her since her 2013 debut album release Pure Heroin which was very well received and was even nominated for a grammy in the category of Best Pop Vocal Album. She has recently released two of the tracks, Green Light and Liability, which have both been received very well by both listeners and critics. Both songs embrace her very indy and hypnotic feeling and sounds and remain very true to the brand she had created with her previous works. Even with that, the rest of the album is believed to possibly sound different with a new producer on board who has done work for artists such as Adele or Florence. After the first two songs, there is a lot of hope for a great album to come this June.

TOP 5 SONGS 1. Mask Off - Future 2. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran 3. That’s What I Like - Bruno Mars 4. Love on the Brain - Rihanna 5. Paris - The Chainsmokers

TOP 5 ALBUMS 1. Divide - Ed Sheeran 2. Future - Future 3. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars 4. HNDRXX - Future 5. Culture - Migos

THE MESSENGER | 31

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