the messenger
VOL 15/ ISS 2
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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TARUN RAMESH
ANIRUDDHA GUPTA AKSHAY NAIR
ALEX PERRY MIRA SYDOW
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STAFF
PIPER CHANS
AMANDA BEARD JACK LOWRANCE
EDITOR’S LETTER
MONTHLY BRIEFS
SPORTS BRIEFS
ATHLETE PROFILE
STUDENT DIRECTING
FACEOFF
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JOSEPH NI
STAFF
STAFF
BOOSTING LITERACY
ELECTION COVERAGE
STAFF EDITORIAL
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RAMANUJ SRINIVASAN
AMANDA BEARD
JACK LOWRANCE
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JENNAH SOOKNANAN
SUCHITA KUMAR
STAFF
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
MISS GEORGIA
FOOD REVIEW
TED TALK
THE LOW DOWN
COLUMNS
THE MESSENGER | 3
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Keeping Hope Alive
his election season has fueled drama reminiscent of Keeping up with the Kardashians, but regardless of the turmoil and polarization, the resilience of Northview’s student body shines brighter than the growing divisions within our country. Within these concrete halls, a political discourse filled with arguments over nuanced policy occurs, whether it be discussing the role of government in Economics classes or highlighting the merits and costs of gun regulations in Literature. However, political discussions outside of Northview have turned into a mudslinging contest rather than a true debate over ideology. All of the apocalyptic rhetoric in this cycle paints a horrific depiction of the United States, where neighbors turn on neighbors in an instant, contrasting with the relative safe haven of Northview. In this spirit of hope, the Northview Messenger Staff would like to dedicate this issue to the voices of our students who have turned the tabloid worthy events of this election into a real political discussion. On a more personal note, the irony of this political cycle struck a chord in me. For two completely opposite ideologies, the far left and the far right have converged on a multitude of issues. The far right is as anti-trade as the far left (both in opposition of the Trans Pacific Partnership) with Trump
and Sanders demonizing a multilateral trade pact. Stein’s Anti-Vaccers are equally as anti-scientific as Trump’s ‘Global Warming is a plot by the Chinese.’ Both sides fall into the same nativist sentiment by refusing to accept refugees, continuing drone warfare, and sustaining the War on Terror. These similarities regress intellect and fail to progress society. A strong primary system that highlighted the rifts between races, economic levels, and genders ingrained in policies gave way to a disappointing general election filled with empty words rather than policy options. However, the primary turned the spotlight to our policy making process. The outdated electoral college system favors predominantly white, upper middle class suburbs while gerrymandering continues to exploit urban areas. A lack of campaign finance regulation generates opacity around Washington and begs the question of who are politicians truly accountable to- big businesses or their constituents. The general election has swept these details under the rug as Clinton’s newest pant suit or Johnson’s Aleppo comment captures headlines instead. In the face of a hate filled election season, I am glad there is one glimmer of hope amongst the rubble. I can look at the diversity and talent around me and know that our future as Titans will be bright.
Tarun Ramesh, Editor-in-Chief
THE MESSENGER | 5
NEWS
IN BRIEF Northview’s annual homecoming dance takes place on Oct. 1. In spirit of the event, the week of September 26-30, leading up to the dance will be filled with fun activities and crazy themes. Each grade level is given a specific theme, to decorate their hallways and surrounding windows accordingly. The freshman theme is Bikini Bottom, sophomores are Emerald City. The junior theme is Hogwarts, and the senior theme is Gotham City. The overall homecoming dance theme will be Alice in Wonderland. During the week, each decorated hallway will be judged and a winner will be selected. Competitions will be held everyday of the week as well. The day themes are: Pajama day, twin day, character day, tacky day, and spirit day, all in preparation for the homecoming dance Saturday night.
The Northview band has been preparing since the start of school for the concert that is to be held on Oct. 13. The band director, Kelly Dickerson, has been preparing Northview bands for near perfect performances for 17 years, and this year is no different. The band believes that they are a few tweaks that they need to make before they are impeccable. “We really need to focus on the dynamics more and articulation part of things with the instruments in the songs,” Anthony said. The band has been progressing since they first got together on the first day of school and been rehearsing for several weeks to prepare for the concert. Songs they will be playing include “Liberty Fanfare” and “Go!”. 6
9/25 Famous baseball player Jose Fernandez dies in a fatal boating accident.
9/28 Hurricane Matthew hits Florida and causes mass destruction
The Messenger’s monthly digest of events at Northview and around the world
Recently, in Shelby County of Alabama, a colossal pipeline leaked, resulting in a major loss of gas. Colonial Pipeline first reported of a leak found in the interstate gasoline pipeline, causing a shutdown that severely disrupted gas distribution. This pipeline poured away thousands of gallons of gasoline since the discovery, and it is still unknown how long the pipe leaked prior to the spill. Officials say that there is an extreme loss. “I think this is a huge deal not just for all the states experiencing these gas price increases, but to students at Northview also. Especially for people that drive; a lot of students drive to school every day, but now the number of people that drive to school might decrease because of the higher prices.” “It is unreasonable for officials to increase the prices, and there is nothing we can do about it, and we shouldn’t have to pay.”
The Northview Orchestra Concert will be held on Oct. 17 in the main auditorium. Orchestra teacher, Timothy Aucoin has been having practices with the orchestra and is working on songs from Mozart, and even a song he wrote himself called ‘Elegy to the Crescent City’. “All 4 orchestras are sounding fantastic,” orchestra teacher Timothy Aucoin said. “We have a very wide variety of music, all the way from the Baroque period to 21st century music.”
10/10 Shailene Woodely arrested for criminal tresspass during a peaceful protest for a Dakota oil pipeline THE MESSENGER | 7
NEWS
Looking at Literacy
In light of recent data, Northview is taking a new approach to literacy Joe Ni, Staff Writer
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s part of its new initiative to engage in personalized learning, Northview recently conducted STAR testing among its student body. According to the test’s producer, Renaissance, STAR provides interim data on students’ reading skills, so schools can set goals, respond quickly to student needs, monitor progress, and maximize growth. Northview sought this data primarily in order to identify each student’s baseline reading level, which would allow it to gear more custom curriculum around each student’s needs. When the school’s administration and staff reviewed the testing data in the spring of last semester, they found results that were in-line with expectations. Northview students tested on a normal bell curve, indicating that a small group of students demonstrated an above average reading level, the majority of students fell in the middle, and a small group of students performed below average. “A bell curve is totally normal; it would make sense that not all of our students are
reading at the same level,” assistant principal Amy Booms said, “Some of our students are not reading at the level that maybe they should be, so that’s why we’re doing this whole personalized learning.” In addition to reviewing STAR data, Northview administration and staff also reviewed End of Course Test data for more information. They found that 67 percent of Northview’s ninth-grade literature students were reading at proficient or exemplary levels, beating Fulton County’s average of 44 percent and Georgia’s average of 39 percent. Nonetheless, the mediocre results indicated much room for improvement— one in three Northview freshman was not reading proficiently. “At elementary levels, there’s a lot of work around literacy, but when we get to high school, we just assume [students] have the ability and skill base, and we just launch into other stuff,” Principal Brian Downey said, “We have recognized that there are gaps, not all of our kids are at grade level in
1 in 3 Incoming Northview freshmen are NOT reading at on above their grade level
One Half Of incoming Northview juniors are NOT reading at on above their grade level 8
reading and comprehension.” The data spurred efforts by Northview’s School Governance Council, leadership teams, and administration to create the “Literacy Across Curriculum” initiative, an effort to increase literacy within all courses and students. The initiative’s new strategies will place heavy emphasis on improving the literacy level of students who scored below the bell curve. It will not, however, be traditional in the sense that it will involve mountains of test preparation packets. Instead, Northview is seeking new, different approaches. In fact, some Language Arts teachers, including department co-chair
Ashley Ulrich, Sarah Darling, Kiersten Isaacs, and Megan Gray, have already introduced new, innovative ideas to improve literacy. Darling, for example, is shifting away from requiring her students to read from a traditional list of mandatory texts in her on-level literature classes. “Reluctant readers lose what shred of interest in reading they have left when they have to read books they don’t enjoy,” Darling said, “Most students just don’t read then, and do not practice those critical reading skills for most of high school.” In order to encourage reading and reinforce reading skills, she is trying out a
new idea: each day, students get 10 minutes of silent reading time to read books of their choice. Then, Darling grades their reading based on time elapsed, not pages progressed. She hopes that this strategy will allow students to read at their own pace comfortably and build confidence and stamina for more difficult texts they will encounter in the future. Furthermore, she is dedicating more class time to practicing widely applicable writing strategies and reading skills instead of analyzing individual novels. Although some traditional elements still remain—the class will still read through one mandatory text together per semester—Darling hopes that these new strategies will not only strengthen her student’s skills, but also rekindle their passion for reading. The other Language Arts teachers are starting to follow in suit by introducing similar strategies. “The ultimate idea is that if students get into a habit of enjoying reading, by reading things they like every day, that helps them
develop stronger reading skills through practice and can translate to better success with reading in all areas,” said Language Arts department co-chair Ashley Ulrich. “Research proves that when students are strong readers, it benefits them not only in ELA classes, but in all subjects.” Principal Downey is working with higher administration levels to encourage innovative efforts like these. For his RFF— Request for Flexibility—to Fulton County this year, he is seeking additional professional development days so other teachers to work together on strategies to contribute to the literacy initiative. Interestingly, Northview High School is leading Fulton County with its new program—these efforts are not county-mandated. However, according to Student President Austin Meng many specifics are still in the works. “The plan will certainly include a new approach to teaching,” Meng said, “[but] as of right now, there is no set date.”
67%
Northview
44%
39%
Fulton County
Georgia
9th graders reading at or above their grade level
50%
African Americans
35%
33%
Hispanics
Economically Disadvantaged
Northview’s most disadvantaged readers reading at or above grade level
THE MESSENGER | 9
NEWS iPad
Northview’s New Online Community County mandated “Digital Citizenship” course prepares Northview students for responsible use of new technology RAMANUJ SRINIVASAN, STAFF WRITER
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he launch of the four day digital citizenship course was a procedure of the utmost importance in regards to preparation for the arrival of new technology at Northview. While seniors, who will only be in possession of the aforementioned technology for a handful of weeks, have been outspoken about the redundancy and common-sense based material of the course, the younger minds of Northview were educated on the importance of online responsibility. This course, mandated by Fulton County, held more importance this year, than it would have last year. Northview media specialist Darryl Paul confirmed the arrival of new technology. “According to the county timeline, [we will receive Personalized Learning devices] in January or February,” Paul said. “Right now, we’re in the process of figuring out who wasn’t here, who was missing, and to make sure that they get covered,
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and once we’re done with that, we’ll submit it and the county will be able to give us our selection kit with the devices that they are offering.” The primary motivation behind this course is to inform students about cyber bullying and create a safe environment for students in preparation for the this new technology and its impact on the school, to be seen second semester. However, part of the program taught students to not violate copyright regulations and get in trouble with plagiarism. “Another point of it was to deal with copyright and to make sure the everybody understands how copyright works on the internet and how not to violate that,” Paul said. While some of the student body used digital citizenship as a learning experience, others, namely the seniors, have yet to be convinced of the importance of the program. “This wasn’t helpful at all because we could have spent our
time on literally anything else and it would have been more useful.” senior Shardul Deshmukh said. Although some may find the practicality of the course debatable, the decision to partake did not lie in the hands of Northview administration. “If it were up to me I wouldn’t make the seniors do this because at this point you all already know this stuff,” Principal Brian Downey said. “And if it were up to me I’d make this course take place in a class where students know each other and not in a class like homeroom, but this is a County mandated procedure and I cannot change that.” Even though the expediency of this project is unclear and the occurrence is inevitable, it is the method that was under our control. Administration and faculty found a way to make the program more student friendly and accomplished the goal of educating students on digital citizenship.
A Miss Georgia With Familiar Roots
NEWS
Alumnus Patricia Ford wins Miss Georgia Pageant Jennah Sooknanan, STAFF WRITER
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n June 18 this past summer, one of Northview’s esteemed alumni, Patricia Ford, was crowned Miss Georgia 2016 at the River Center for the Performing Arts. The Class of 2011 graduate attended college at the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated in 2015 for a career in business and marketing. “At Northview, I learned the importance of working hard and always pursuing excellence,” Ford said. “However, I also recognized that failure is inevitable and it is OK if and when you fail at something.” While she was a student at Northview, Ford performed Chinese folk dance at International Night each year and was president of the Chinese Club. Ford also participated in freshman basketball cheerleading team as well as the junior varsity football cheerleading. “She was consistently at or near the top of her class academically – she liked to tease me about my Bronx accent,” Sol Aboulafia said. To begin the Preliminary competition in the Miss Georgia pageant, Ford had an individual private interview with the judges. The purpose of the interview is mainly so the judges can get to know the contestant one-on-one. Next there is a lifestyle and fitness competition that showcases the contestant’s determination to pursue a healthy lifestyle. “I’ve come a long way understanding what a healthy lifestyle looked like for me,” Ford said. “All I had to do here was have fun and show off all my hard work,” The talent portion of this pageant involves each contestant performing any talent of their choice. They are scored on technical ability and entertainment value. “I’ve been dancing ever since I was
Matt Boyd Photography/SPECIAL
Patricia Ford performs in the talent portion of the Miss Georgia pageant. four so performing on stage was nothing new to me. I’ve always been a good performer and love showcasing the talents God has gifted me with to others,” Ford said. “My dance is fun and sassy so it was easy to channel some positive energy and go out and entertain. I felt great about my dance and afterwards I knew I performed well.” To showcase the contestant’s onstage confidence, the last event is an evening wear competition. “I had been feeling peace and confidence all week so all I had to do was smile and enjoy,” Ford said. At the end of the Preliminaries, judges narrow it down from the top fifteen to the top five, and each contestant competes in each competition again. “I knew I had performed well all week and was so excited when I was called last in the top fifteen line up,” Ford said. After the top five have been selected, then comes the on stage question portion that counts for twenty percent of the contestant’s final score. Ford was asked a question on current events and given a
time limit to answer. “I was really nervous for this portion of the competition [...]. I got a question about Hulk Hogan which I knew nothing about,” Ford said. “But, I didn’t panic, I kept listening to the question and learned they were asking should celebrities have the same right to privacy as regular civilians.” Ford emphasizes that Miss Georgia is not just a “beauty” competition, but that it is more important to be a well-rounded individual. The Miss America Organization encourages this tenant and is the largest provider of scholarships to women in all of America. Ford graduated debt free from Georgia Tech with the help of the Miss Georgia Organization, which promotes women in STEM fields and recognize teenagers and young adults for their talents, character, and scholastic success. “Miss Georgia is not about the beauty and fame, it’s a service position,” Ford said. “I love teaching others about the importance of understanding and respecting others who come from a very different culture, language, and history than them.”
THE MESSENGER | 11
sports in brief Northview’s fall sports begin their ring chasing with fall practices, workouts, and early games A K S H AY N A I R A N D ANIRUDDHA GUPTA, S TA F F W R I T E R S
CROSS COUNTRY
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ith a clear goal in mind, Northview’s girl cross country team is working extremely hard to finish strong at the state championships this season. The girls team is placing well at meets and is focusing on pack running for upcoming tournaments. The girls has performed well thus far, but since the team is really young, they focused more on learning from the experience. “The girl’s team this year is a little bit weaker than what we had last year. So they need to improve on staying focused and understanding that they are still young, that they have a lot of potential going forward,” head coach Tony Cianciola said. For the boys, they are hoping to improve at the state competition this season.On the boys roster, there are many experienced runners such as Michael Smith, Joe Whalley, and Bryce Meyer. Experienced runners are key to help maintain a positive atmosphere and motivate underclassmen to do their best. “I use [the] seniors to help me, to push
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me. As a team, we motivate each other. That’s how we urge each other to do good in the heat [of the moment],” sophomore Harman Soor said. With the boys and girls both focused on getting more mature and experience, both of the Titan teams hope to use this to compete for a state championship.
VOLLEYBALL
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he girl’s volleyball team looks forward to the positives after falling to Chattahoochee high school in the regional tournament. Northview entered the tournament bottom of the region standings with an meager record of 7-23 with a 1-6 record in region play. After starting 3-4, the season went downhill as the team could only muster four wins in their remaining 23 games. The team faced group and personal problems during this losing stretch, and if they are not fixed, these problems will continue to pose neg-
ative consequences on the team next year. “We have faced problems with working as a team and overcoming personal issues for the good of the team to succeed. To help this, we have planned team bondings, given constructive criticism and advice, and divide our time to come together and share we think would help,” senior Aria Ragas said. Although the season may have been disappointing, the seniors provided the underclassmen with helpful leadership this season. They have molded the path for talented underclassmen such as sophomore Sarah Peterson and junior Piper Chans. With experience and practice, the younger players on the team may be able to lift the team into a championship contender. “We are competing a lot tougher with teams which last year we couldn’t compete with. [However] we haven’t really gotten over that hump of beating those teams. We’ve been in some tight matches, but we haven’t really beaten those teams yet,” head coach Christopher James said.
S P O RT S
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SOFTBALL
he softball team (5-12 overall, 4-10 regions) has a largely inexperienced roster this year. The roster contains five freshmen, four sophomores, four juniors, and one senior.Creating a strong bond within the team seems like a daunting task for head coach Evan Baker; however, he has a different perspective. “Improving with consistency is one of the biggest things with a young team,” Coach Baker said. “Next year, it looks like we will have almost everyone back. That helps in the building process...and raises their softball IQ.” The team has numerous areas they hope to improve on this season. As a young team, communication is one of the biggest issues and bad communications can result in careless mistakes and errors. “As a team we plan on increasing our communication and talking on and off the field during a play. We need to communicate what to do with the ball and get the plays done,” junior Sophia Hamill said. For many underclassmen, practices and games serve as learning experiences
and a way to grow in the sport they love. As the experience and practice adds up for the younger athletes, it furthers their potential for seasons to come. “My goal for this season is to grow each day of practice and at games and ultimately end up better than how I started at the beginning of the season,” sophomore Eve Chapa said.
FOOTBALL
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fter making it to the playoffs the previous two seasons, the Northview football team is in jeopardy of not making it back. Staying in region 6-AAAAAA while bigger teams moved up in class has not made the challenge of winning games any easier. The team has started 1-4 with a 0-2 region record. They have given up at least 30 points in their first four games while only scoring an average of 11 points per game.
One of the key differences from last year is the lack of experience as the roster features many underclassmen and first time varsity players. “The amount of young players playing has changed. We have experienced miscues on defense and offense, and we want to [this] improve by working hard everyday at practice and more repetitions in practice,” senior Chike Otaluka said. The inexperienced players sometimes make careless mistakes which older players might not make, but these mistakes should be eradicated with more game time and repetitions. As for making the playoffs, the players are not looking too far ahead. They are focusing on the small picture to enhance their performances in the long run. With more experience and their minds focused on the details, they may be able to turn their season around. “ We [want] to focus on one play, one half, and one game at a time instead of trying to look at the bigger picture,” sophomore McIntyre Bolton said.
THE MESSENGER | 13
profiles
highlights
Kyra Lo ckhart, 12
M
oving from Scotch Plains, New Jersey to Johns Creek, Georgia seemed like the right move for senior Kyra Lockhart, especially if it meant being closer to the college of her dreamsthe University of Alabama. When Lockhart was only 15 years old, she received a full offer to continue her softball career collegiately. “I always had a dream of playing at the highest level at one of the top schools in the country,” Lockhart said. Lockh a r t ’s scholarship completely covers the cost of tuition and other incidental expenses, such as meal plans and living expenses. She will get to live in the Riverside N o r t h Dorm, a suite style dorm, with three other athletes. “It’s pretty Justine Ulirch /STAFF awe-
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some to be sharing a dorm with another softball player as well as two other athletes from different sports; that just seems so cool to me,” Lockhart said. Last season, the University of Alabama finished seventh in the national softball rankings, with a record of 51-14, and the previous year finishing sixth overall. In 2012, the Crimson Tide won the women’s National Championship, and has won 10 SEC titles. “I don’t think I’ve reached my full potential yet, and there is so much room for me to grow as a player and as a person, and I feel the University of Alabama is a great program to help me grow. I am excited to see the kind of player I will be four years from now,” Lockhart said. The road to her scholarship was not a walk through the park. Lockhart had two supporters who influenced her the most and pushed her more to pursue her dream of continuing to play collegiate softball. “From the start of my career, they told me I can do anything I set my mind to. At times I didn’t think I would be able to play at a big university for softball, but they really kept me on track and helped me maintain my focus,” Lockhart said. To increase her appeal to college recruiters, Lockhart felt the need to focus on being a more all around player rather than a strong one in only a few aspects of the game, but one of her strengths stood out the most. “The main factor that helped me achieve a scholar-
Committed: University of Alabama
Position: First Base
ship was my hitting that I had worked really hard on so I could stand out to college coaches, especially Alabama,” Lockhart said. Lockhart has already made a large impact on the team, even though it is only her first year with the ladies. “Kyra is a great teammate, she is constantly picking everyone up and is always trying to bring the team together,” junior Katie Armstrong said. Lockhart’s positive attitude stands out to her teammates both on and off the field. “Whenever I see Kyra, she always has a smile on her face and is so friendly to everyone,” sophomore Madison Malvin said. This season Lockhart is playing mainly first base and will probably play some more third base in the future. Lockhart has already hit four homeruns over only five games. “She brings a lot of high-quality softball to this team and has a lot of experience,” head coach Evan Baker said. Lockhart works hard to improve every day; she refuses to stop working now just because she has a scholarship to one of the top softball programs in the country. “She struggles with some things in games, just as everyone does, but specifically with scooping and throwing the ball, but with Kyra we saw a significant growth from her in being able to apply those little things she works hard on in practice to games. She is constantly trying to be the best she can be,” Baker said.
features
THROWING r i e th
HATS
into the
Ring
Some of Northview’s students search to find a way to input their own opinions on the presidential candidates, while overcoming personal and political obstacles. NITHYA MAHAKALA, FEATURES EDITOR SHASHANK GANESHAN, STAFF WRITER SHERRY LIANG, STAFF WRITER THE MESSENGER | 15
D
espite efforts of household name celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Katy Perry to increase engagement of America’s youth in politics, high schoolers still express apathy towards the affairs of government. Whether it stems from fear of peers’ judgments or inability to meet voting requirements, the younger generation continuously fails to make a significant impact on Election Day. With the 2016 presidential election right around the corner, students at Northview are attempting to keep their political voice alive. Taylor* is a junior at Northview High School and is a strong supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump. He cites his parents and his family dynamic as the main influences on his ideology. His parents legally immigrated to the United States in a
participating and attending in rallies or interning in a political campaign is something that would interest Taylor. Him and most other students, however, are busy and preoccupied with their school and extracurricular activities, hindering them from being an active participant in the election process. In this election, the American population is clearly either pro-Trump, representing the conservative ideologies like pro-life and lower taxes, or pro-Hillary, representing liberal ideologies like supporting energy conservation projects and aiding the poor. However, voters frequently side with Clinton not based on her leadership and ideas, but rather their anti-Trump sentiments. Living in Johns Creek and attending Northview restricts Taylor from confidently expressing his political beliefs because of
bid to maintain his anonymity. “Most of our students here live with the preconceived notion that Trump is a racist and a sexist,” Taylor said. “But I’d much rather have a person who’s brutally honest and willing to do something, than someone who’s been in office for 30 years and has done little to nothing.” Taylor’s outward display of support for Trump has frequently been met with disparaging remarks from fellow classmates and peers. On one instance when Taylor left a Trump poster in his teacher’s room for the school day; the teacher told him her students refused to talk to her after assuming she supported Trump. Similarly any time a Northview student expresses support for Trump or the Republican party, they draw dirty looks from their peers. It is understandable though, he admits, as Hillary does a better job at appealing to the student population. Trump’s blunt Twitter remarks are slightly offsetting not only for students, but also people of all ages from various backgrounds. “ [ T r u m p ] speaks his mind. And that’s just something in our society we can’t live the predominantly liberal community. Sup- with,” Taylor said. porting Trump has attracted negative atten- Teachers should teach both sides of tion towards him solely because his views the election objectively, evaluating both conflict with those of his peers. the pros and cons of each candidate. The views of parents are also reflected in Ms. Pope, an AP Language teacher at students’ ideologies, with overwhelming in- Northview, plays devil’s advocate, arguclusivity of minorities, the LGBT commu- ing for and against both candidates, and nity, and others. While other schools in the ultimately leaves it up for the students south are predominantly conservative, the to choose. Despite these efforts to didiversity of races and cultural backgrounds minish bias, students typically side with at Northview fosters a liberal environment. Hillary and dismiss Trump for being Trump’s outspoken nature has defini- racist and sexist. tively divided students’ opinions strongly “It just happens that in our society for or against him. For this reason, Taylor today, in my belief, if you’re not standing refuses to outwardly express his support. As with the left, you’re just not right accorda result, his political voice is hindered in a ing to them,” Taylor said.
“You have a lot of different perspectives that you do not normally get in a typical southern American setting.”
Kristin Terry
difficult financial situation, and he respects the adversities his parents overcame with honesty and integrity to achieve the quality of life they have today. For this reason, honesty has been an integral quality of their family’s values. The candid and confident persona of Republican candidate Donald Trump fits into Taylor’s family’s expectations for a future president. “Donald Trump is just really honest and really straightforward. He doesn’t go around corners and he’s straightforward with his words,” Taylor said. “I’ve been raised in a household where lying is something that is just unthinkable.” In regards to political participation,
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for more information visit Georgia Voting @ https://www.mvp. sos.ga.gov/MVP/ mvp.do
Re t u r n fo r m t o of f i c e
Ballot * http://sos.ga.gov/admin/ uploads/absentee_ballot_app_201431.pdf
Ma i l i n yo u r absentee ballot
Fill out vo t i n g fo r m
YO U C A N N OW VOT E
social media people
allows more
to comprehend what’s going
on in the
ELECTION -Kristin Terry
Peer pressure, disinterest, and lack of understanding often plague students from entering the political arena. Even if they push past such barriers, students are left with the unresolved obstacle of not meeting the eligible age to vote. However, many still get involved even if they cannot participate in Election Day, such as senior Kristin Terry who has found alternate ways to express her voice. “Even though I can’t vote, I can influence others who can vote. Even when people say your voice doesn’t count because you can’t vote, that is not true,” Terry said. For her, this means supporting Hillary in any way, ranging from political discussions with classmates in school to being politically active and aware on social media. Her support for Hillary stemmed from being involved with the Sanders
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campaign. Like others her age, Sanders’ views on education and open personality attracted her. However after he was out of the running, Terry focused her support on Clinton to prevent Trump from winning the election in November. “I still think honestly [Sanders] would’ve been a better candidate, but I am aware that he is not the candidate chosen. So, people who want to write his name in as a third party are only dividing the democratic vote,” Terry said. “And it is going to take two votes for Hillary to beat one of Trump. If you are not voting for Hillary, you are voting for Trump.” Another contribution to her ideology is Terry’s own household, where she grew up with parents strongly supporting the Democratic Party in past elections. “My dad specifically is big on politics and he is an enormous Obama support-
er. Just being in that environment introduced me to it,” Terry said. “Then, in my 8th grade class we debated politics, and I realized how much I enjoyed it.” Terry is also influenced by social media, an integral factor of the upcoming election, especially for connecting to the younger generation. From using it to express her own opinions to educating herself on policies, online networks helps high schoolers form unique connections to the election and its candidates. “Social media allows more people to comprehend what’s going on in the election. Because if it wasn’t for social media, people would not understand the policies and what’s going on,” Terry said. Many high schoolers, however, are not as exposed or interested to politics, which she sees as an inherent flaw in a high schooler’s perspective of politics. This
By the Numbers
*statistics from a poll given to Northview students
85%
5:8
Ratio of Trump to Clinton supporters at Northview
60%
Northview students believe this election will have an impact on them
Northview students feel that school has influenced their political views
demographic breakdown Total
Female
30-49
No College Education
Donald Trump
Black
Hillary Clinton Male
White 18-29
College Grad
*All statistics from Pew Research Center THE MESSENGER | 19
political apathy comes from the misconception that the results of the upcoming election will fail to significantly impact their lives. Only 19.9% of 18- to 29-year olds cast ballots in past 2014 elections, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, the lowest youth turnout rate ever recorded in a federal election. Few students in America, like Terry, believe in political participation from a young age. “I think politics definitely impacts the lives of high schoolers, even more so than other people because we are going off to college soon. And a lot of time the policies will affect us in college, and how we pay for college, and our lives after college,” Terry said. By not participating, young adults are poorly represented in the outcome of elections and dissatisfied with the results.
For Terry, living in Johns Creek and going to school at Northview has affected her ideology from various angles, allowing her to see the election from diverse perspectives. The different backgrounds enables her to look at politics through many lenses. “I think Johns Creek is such a multicultural community and I love that about Johns Creek. So you have a lot of different perspectives that you don’t normally get in a typical southern American setting,” Terry said. This contrast of ideas allows people to see various perspectives and develop their own ideas. People of various cultural backgrounds are also affected differently by the policies, so their reactions influence Kristen’s overall understanding of each candidate, expanding her view and influencing her to fight for policies not
exclusively affecting her. Other students at Northview have also witnessed the potential effects living in this community has on students. “Northview has people from all types of backgrounds, all types of ideologies, but it’s definitely an environment where people can get more active in politics,” junior Anirudh Thatavarty said. To senior Charles Leng, however, the diversity of Northview is more skewed towards affluent families in upper middle class living standards, sheltered from the ills of society. “We live in an area that for the most part does not have to deal with poverty or significant racial tensions. Without exposure to America’s ills, students are much more likely to view those problems as either overblown or not of their concern,” Leng said.
Ev e r y t h i n g B u t E x p e r i e n c e JACK LOWRANCE, OPINIONS EDITOR
T
he 2016 presidential election, a common thread across many voters is a hatred for the establishment. Though this anti-establishment movement may be warranted, it throws the baby out with the bathwater in that a lack of political experience is viewed just as favorably as someone with a fresh platform of ideas. The office of the presidency is one of the most complex and stressful jobs that a person can hold. Though it may seem novel, a president with a magnetic personality, but limited experience, will leave many Americans regretful in the coming years. The most common argument among anti-establishment supporters, especially those who lean conservative, is that the government needs to be run like a business, and no career politician can do that. This may sound appealing, but the government is not a business. The government is not trying to turn a profit on the highway system, the post office, public schools, or the library – indeed, these are
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services for the common good. Sure, efficiency and transparency are always things that our government should strive for, but any politician claiming to run the government like a business is a charlatan– simply appealing to unsophisticated people in order to score cheap political points. A business turns a profit; government does not (if it does, someone should be going to jail). Every president in the history of the United States has either previously held a political office or a position of leadership in the military. Men like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson would be rolling in their graves if they knew that a major party candidate’s qualification were that of a dubious businessman and reality T.V. star. Some presidential traditions should to be broken, like the election of women or people of color, but the necessity for experience is not something to be trifled with. In any other job interview, a lack of experience is considered to be unfavorable, even dis-
qualifying, the presidency should be no different. Skill sets do not transfer as well as many believe. Nobody would hire even the world’s greatest plumber to perform open-heart surgery. Nor would someone hire his yard crew to cater his wedding. Success in one field of work doesn’t always dictate success in another field. But the American electorate has evidently forgotten this notion given the lack of experience that certain candidates hold. Many Americans cannot seem to differentiate between anti-establishment and lack of experience. This is not only perilous, but unfortunate. A president needs to be ready to lead from day one. But this simply will not happen if a president does not know what he’s doing. It is the responsibility of the people to elect the person best fit for the job. A superficially attractive personality should never be the single thing to dictate the outcome of an election. If anything, ignorance invites tyranny.
FEATURES
Evan Moody/STAFF
Writer’s Digest
The Chocolaterie The Messenger’s Monthly Food Review AMANDA BEARD, NEWS EDITOR
A
fter eating dinner under the twinkly lights in the quaint streets of Downtown Duluth, The Chocolaterie provides satisfying desserts for the end of a perfect evening. Located in the Historic District, The Chocolatier is a local artisan ice cream and chocolate shop, filled with different sweets and delectables to choose from. The ambiance of the shop starts outside with a large, hand painted picture of a girl on a brick canvas, and available seating for guests. Once inside, the smell of melting chocolate and smiling cashiers, greet you at the door The walls of the shop are filled from head to toe with mugs, food baskets, and funky socks, giving off a coffee shop vibe. At the counter, there is a display of hand-crafted gelato that changes every four days to keep customers on their toes. There is also an alternate option for adults looking to spice up the evening with ice cream flavors spiked with various alcoholic beverages.
Not only are there creamy frozen desserts, but stacks of home-baked cookies are ready to go along with a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Another unique attribute to the shop, is a variety of chocolate bomboms and chocolate covered fruit. While the store provides a wide array of sweets to choose from, the prices tend to stay the same, with most menu options four dollars or more for the smallest size cup. Also, the small space is cozy, but can feel packed with several groups of people inside at a time. All together, The Chocolatier is the perfect space to wrap up a date night or go out with the family. Although it is not the best option for those looking for a quick sweet on the way home, it is suitable for an enjoyable a quiet evening in Downtown Duluth.
*This article is not sponsored by The Chocolaterie.
Evan Moody/STAFF
The Chocolataterie
3099 Main Street Downtown Duluth, GA 30096 http://www.thechocolaterie. com/ (678)-513-2700
THE MESSENGER | 21
Titan Ted Talk Northview Senior presented with the oppurtunity to speak at the TEDx convention on the topic of artificial intelligence SUCHITA KUMAR, STAFF WRITER TEDxPeachtree/SPECIAL
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A
nimesh Koratana recently received an astounding opportunity: the chance to give a Ted Talk at the Peachtree center on Friday, Sept. 30. His substantial research on computer science and artificial intelligence captured the attention of the Ted Talk Organization, a global nonprofit organization that holds conferences to spread valuable scientific ideas by new scientists and researchers. “I would be able to take my ideas and share them with people with more expertise. In this way I would learn a lot, even from the audience themselves,” Koratana said. “It’s also a great way to get your name out there.” Koratana’s research first received attention when he entered the science fair with his Fluid Intelligence project last year. His work won him the Georgia State Pinnacle Award, also known as the Grand Prize. He went on to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair and placed third in his category. “After that win, he was nominated to speak at TED,” his mother, Shubhangi Koratana, said. Koratana’s research focused on predicting trends. He and Professor Mark Dredze of Natural Language Processing from John Hopkins determined a way to predict health issues, such as flu strains, purely on social media data from a site called Yik Yak. This helped many scientists understand public health in a whole new way. His work then moved toward neuroscience, and attempting to map the anatomy of the brain using the developed artificial intelligence. This project caught the eye of Stanford’s Department of Computer Science. “From there, I got an idea on how to solve the problem with natural processing, called contextual sensitivity,” Koratana said. Contextual sensitivity allows computers to understand data based on the context of the program instead of just basing it upon pre-defined data. From there, Koratana delved into independent study and research on developing contextual sensitivity, and worked on computational neuroscience in terms of reading data. The road to becoming an actual TED speaker was rocky. The pool of potential speakers was distilled to about a thousand, and each applicant had three over-thephone interviews with their work being reviewed immensely. One by one, applicants
FEATURES were turned away until about a hundred applicants remained. “TED started conducting face-to-face interviews and I was required to be part of two of them. Later I was notified that I was chosen to give a speech at the Peachtree Center downtown,” Koratana said. Koratana was assigned a speechwriter to help him organize his ideas into a speech that everybody could understand. Not everyone in the audience could comprehend the technical terms within programming and neuroscience, so he had to define them in simpler terms to get through to his audience. Koratana wrote about 20 drafts of the speech to make sure he could give the best possible talk. “The key was to get everybody there to connect to my ideas, understand them, and take it in a way that I did not think of before,” Koratana said. He worked to find a way for questions from the audience to be answered quickly and efficiently. About ten to fifteen thousand people livestream each Ted Talk, so it is impossible to answer every question thrown at him. For this reason, Koratana published his paper in the Triple AI publication on artificial intelligence so that more people could understand how he formulated his ideas. Koratana believes that this Talk will benefit him greatly in regards to exposure and developing his work further. “I can reach many people in different domains with my ideas, and enable them to connect it with the real world and many other scientific fields,” Koratana said. Through Ted, he will get to meet new people with different perspectives on his work. This could help him improve his thoughts on how to best develop artificial intelligence that can be used for many purposes, as well as a matrix that could allow computers to read text similar to the way humans could. Koratana has received much support from his friends and family, even though his ambition and hard work were the main characteristics that drove him to great lengths. “Animesh has a very self driven, self-motivating personality. The only thing that we did was introduce him to new possibilities and things he might have been interested in,” Shubhangi Koratana said. “Sometimes this kid overwhelms us with what he can do.” Due to his committed personality,
Koratana put in a lot of work to get his research to take off. He spent his rising junior and senior summers writing and collaborating with Stanford and John Hopkins to reach a higher level within his work. In addition to his hard work, though, Koratana had cultivated his passion for science from a young age. “All his toys growing up were always some kind of engineering kits,” his mother said. Animesh’s rebellious nature did not allow him to back down from challenges that were difficult to solve. Because of this, he became attracted to programming. “I taught myself how to code in seventh grade,” Koratana said. “After that, it became natural.” Koratana’s parents and family were not directly involved with his work, but they remain supportive and proud. “Animesh always puts in a hundred percent of his effort into whatever he
“ Th e key was t o ge t eve ryb o dy t h e re t o c o nne ct to my i d eas [ . . . ] a nd ta ke [ t h em ] i n a way t h at I d i d no t th i nk of t h em b efo re.” Animesh Koratana does, and he really inspires me to strive for greatness,” his sister, Anushka Koratana, said. On Sept. 30, Koratana’s friends and family, including his girlfriend, Kate Henn, were present along with hundreds of others to see Koratana reveal his new developments regarding artificial intelligence, and what it means for the future. “Animesh will change the world by a way of working for the good of everyone in furthering his vision,” Henn said. “He is not going to do anything just for the betterment of his own personal goals, but [he is going to] working for something bigger than himself.”
THE MESSENGER | 23
SPOTLIGHT ON: THE ONE ACT PLAY
Northview’s theater department prepares to put on a strong performance in the upcoming One Act Play MIRA SYDOW, STAFF WRITER ALEX PERRY, STAFF WRITER
T
he director of the One Act Play, an hour long production by Northview students, is drama teacher Brian McClain. McClain grew up surrounded by theater he frequently watched performances with his family as a child. “My first performance was in the third grade doing Selections of Shakespeare.”, McClain said. During his early years of education, McClain attended a fine arts school, where he found the atmosphere to be more unified than a bigger school with students of more diverse interests. For college, he first attended Berry College, where he studied theater and ran the scene shop. Afterward, he went to the University of Florida, where he focused on classical theater. He joined Northview’s staff in 2005 after running into a Northview staff member who had a position in the Drama department at the time. When McClain first arrived at the school, he quickly became invested in the Drama program. “It was fledging, but everything at this school was fledging at that point. The school had only been open for 3 years, so it was small but there was a structure to work with and we’ve been building on that ever since,” McClain said.
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McClain’s students respect him for being a responsible director and teacher. “He’s a really good teacher. He can be really tough when he wants to be, but I think it’s for the best,” freshman Shrimayi Karanam said. Though she does not participate in the One Act Play, Karanam recognizes McClain for his efficiency on and off stage. As the director for “Dancing at Lughnasa”, McClain essentially controls the entire show, coordinating everything from choreography to scenic design. However, student cooperation and leadership is also needed to run the One Act successfully. Senior Natalie Skinner is the stage manager for “Lughnasa”, the One Act Play. Skinner has taken theater classes at Northview since she was a sophomore. She started in acting I in tenth grade, then took advanced drama and tech theater. “I took acting I my sophomore year after seeing the Edgar Allen Poe Halloween Show and was blown away by how good it was,” Skinner said. Three years later, Skinner now gets to manage productions. Throughout her years of drama, Skinner worked in various aspects of productions to form her well rounded skill set. Now, as stage manager, she has to know how to do everyone’s job, from backstage to blocking. “I got to act and be involved in the plays, but also build sets and design lighting and sound,” Skinner said. She was selected to be stage manager at the end of last year because she’d proven to be responsible and had a wide range of skills. Skinner read the One Act for the first time over the summer to prepare for her role as stage manager. “A stage manager keeps track of everyone’s attendance, keeps a record of every rehearsal, is in charge of the tech crew, and designs for the tech, lighting, and sound of the show,” Skinner said. The stage manager is also the link between the director, McClain, and the cast and crew. Skinner takes messages back and forth and makes sure that everyone is doing their job. “It’s a big responsibility, but it’s worth it when you get to see the finished product that you put so much work into,” Skinner said.
FEATURES
[ [ “It’s a big responsibility, but it’s worth it when you get to see the finished product that you put so much work into”
Natalie Skinner
The One Act Play has been an annual event at Northview since the school’s doors opened in 2002. A One Act Play is a short drama in which the cast uses a bare stage and mobile sets to tell a story. This year the play is “Dancing at Lughnasa”, which was written by Brian Friel, a popular Irish playwright. The play is about a complicated family, a story of being thrust into the real world. Every fall, Northview students present the One Act to judges and compete against other schools for a prize. “While most schools choose easy plays to perform, we use the One Act Play to explore unique genres and styles that will benefit the students,” Director Brian McClain said. With the One Act competition approaching on Oct. 29, Stage Manager Natalie Skinner and McClain have to work together to prepare. A team of students cast by McClain and managed by Skinner will perform “Dancing at Lughnasa” in the annual competition held by the Georgia High School Association. The students have an hour to set up, perform, and clean up the production. “It’s a really cool opportunity to see different types of theater and see kids your own age with similar interests,” Skinner said. McClain and Skinner both value the strong relationship the cast and crew have with each other, as well as the learning experience that comes with the One Act.
Dancing at Lughnasa
T
he One Act Play has been an annual event at Northview since the school’s doors opened in 2002. A One Act Play is a short drama in which the cast uses a bare stage and mobile sets to tell a story. This year the play is “Dancing at Lughnasa”, which was written by Brian Friel, a popular Irish playwright. The play is about a complicated family, a story of being thrust into the real world. Every fall, Northview students present the One Act to judges and compete against other schools for a prize. “While most schools choose easy plays to perform, we use the One Act Play to explore unique genres and styles that will benefit the students.”, Director Brian McClain said. With the One Act competition approaching on Oct. 29, Stage Manager Natalie Skinner and McClain have to work together to prepare. A team of students cast by McClain and managed by Skinner will perform “Dancing at Lughnasa” in the annual competition held by the Georgia High School Association. The students have an hour to set up, perform, and clean up the production. “It’s a really cool opportunity to see different types of theater and see kids your own age with similar interests,” Skinner said. McClain and Skinner both value the strong relationship the cast and crew have with each other, as well as the learning experience that comes with the One Act.
THE MESSENGER | 25
faceoff
WA S T E
t o Vo t e f o r T h i r d P a r t i e s ?
26
OPINIONS
yes A M A N DA B E A R D, N E W S E D I T O R
T
heodore Roosevelt is one of our more revered past Presidents holding a sacred place on Mount Rushmore. What many people do not know, is that after sitting out for four years, Roosevelt ran for office again in 1912. Only this time, Roosevelt did not run as a Republican like before. Unable to secure the Republican nomination, Roosevelt ran as a third party candidate. This former two term President with a distinguished military career and one of the most wellknown names in the country only managed to secure 27% of the popular vote. This is proof that a third party candidate will never win; and, therefore, a vote for a third party candidate is a wasted vote. The two party system started with our Founding Fathers. When drafting the Constitution, the Founding Fathers ran into disagreements about how much power the government should have, and what kind
of a democracy the newly formed country would be. The debate fell into two camps: anti-federalists, who did not want a constitution because they believed it would give the federal government too much power, and federalists, who believed a central government was necessary to unite the various states and establish the U.S. as a world power. Today, the fundamental beliefs of the two major political parties, Democratic and Republican, even if the names have changed, still fall along these lines- power to the federal government, or power to the states. It is in our genes. Third party candidates have gained some notice from time to time. Ross Perot almost reached 20% and made it to the debate stage in 1992. Being conservative, it is generally accepted that had Perot not won, George Bush, Sr. would have beaten Bill Clinton. Ralph Nader also made a significant impact, likely costing Al Gore the
election in 2000 against George Bush, Jr., the closest election in American history. Some people point to Bernie Sanders, however, Bernie was technically not a third party candidate for President. Being an independent for many years as a Senator, Sanders ran for the Democratic Party nomination and declined to run third party afters seeing there was no chance of winning. The large campaign financing only gives its money to Democrats or Republicans because they want to bet on a winning horse. Those candidates get the money, so they get the airtime. When they have the money and the airtime, they get the media coverage. So when stepping into the ballot box, you can cast a vote for Gary Johnson or Jill Stein or one of the other unknowns that will be on the ballot; or you can make your vote actually count by voting for someone that can win rather than taking a vote away from them.
no JA C K LOW R A N C E , O P I N I O N S E D I T O R
T
he odds that an individual’s vote in the upcoming presidential election will be a deciding factor in any state are, on average, one in 60 million. This means that an individual is more likely to be struck by lightning, die in a car crash, or be attacked by a shark, than cast a vote that itself will decide an election. Collectively, sure, our votes matter, but on an individual basis your vote is statistically meaningless. Voting should be about expressing your opinion regarding the bestfit candidate for president; however, the two-party duopoly has taken a stranglehold on the American people, and forced them to believe the notion that we must settle-for the lesser of two evils. This is not a choice, it is a trap. In the 2012 presidential election, California, a notoriously “blue” state, cast its electoral votes for Barack Obama as expected, but nearly 5 million out of 13
million voters cast a ballot for Mitt Romney. These people voted for the candidate they believed in, despite expecting to lose. What’s the difference between voting for a major party candidate and expecting to lose, versus voting for a third party candidate and expecting to lose? The fate of democracy is doomed if the general population is under the impression that a vote should be cast for the candidate with the greatest likelihood of winning, instead of the candidate best fit for the job. John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, once said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” Adams’s remarks embody the spirit of voting for a third party, especially apposite considering the unconventionality of the 2016 election. Voting for the lesser of two evils will still yield terrible results– voting
third party relieves the pain of consciously contributing to bad governance, even if that contribution is, on its own, effectively meaningless. Voting for a candidate that you don’t believe in completely defeats the purpose of democracy–– why not just succumb to a dictatorship? American democracy is not invincible. Electing a candidate slightly less bad than the other will still hurt. Lincoln’s words remain true: “A government for the people, by the people, and of the people shall not perish from this earth.” If our nation elects leaders on a second-toworst basis, how will they ever truly represent the people? Forget party loyalty, forget the lesser of two evils– it’s nonsense. Democracy can only function if a nation collectively arrives upon a leader capable effectively of representing the people. Vote your conscience, the fate of our democracy depends on it.
THE MESSENGER | 27
OPINIONS
STAFF EDITORIAL
To Censor or Not to Censor
M
any people in today’s world have started to heavily censor what they say in order to not offend certain groups of people. This is not entirely their fault, as people now more than ever are overly sensitive to certain subjects. It has become harder to determine what is considered newsworthy and what would go over the reader’s head, or would offend them enough to not want to read it. Some people might see this as a good thing, pointing out that everything would be a bit better if there were not disturbing or hateful things in the news. Though ignorance may be bliss, it is only making the problems society faces on a daily basis worse. In this day and age, society as a whole has become overly critical of differing opinions from those who fall under the veil of not normal. For example, news anchors often leave out key information from stories that might be labeled as controversial or might be easily disagreeable. These fears are justified, as many people cling to what is socially acceptable instead of embracing others for who they are and for being brave enough to accept what might be foreign to them. How-
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ever, people that find themselves in similar situations should not be afraid to show who they truly are. When those of different nationalities and sexualities choose to change themselves in order to appease a larger group, or isolate themselves because they fear their differences will be laughed at, it segregates people and keeps others from hearing different ideals and opinions. Society needs to bring to light different opinions in order to move forward. The more diverse society becomes, the more collective knowledge and perspective are available to all. The division plaguing our society currently will only get worse if we succumb to self-censoring ourselves. Whether the public agrees or disagrees with what some may say or believe, everyone has the freedom to speak their mind. People should not be silenced solely for holding an unpopular opinion. If everyone could keep an open mind, and not take everything people say in the worst way possible, society as a whole would have thicker skin and be more open to criticism. Society needs to force itself to embrace different opinions in order grow and expand the knowledge of the world we live in.
COLUMNS
THE LOW DOWN
Looks Can Be Deceiving Donald Trump is many things, but conservative is not one.
JA C K LOW R A N C E , O P I N I O N S E D I T O R
I
f American conservatism is ideologically about good governance through small government and unleashing the power of the free market; Donald Trump, an ardent proponent of high tariffs, jingoist nationalism, and big government, is an odd choice to be the nominee of the major conservative party in this country. A party that once claimed to vehemently oppose authoritarian regimes at all costs is now attempting to elect a strongman figure, a politician shamelessly claiming that he will consult himself regarding tremendously complex geopolitical issues, because he has “a good brain.” His rise to power seems eerily similar to that of strongmen in countries like Venezuela and Cuba who once appealed to the masses in similar fashion. If anything, Trump preaches fascist-tinged populism– his supposed conservative ideology is simply a facade. It has long been a key tenet of conservative ideology that free market trade is an effective economic principle to be fostered by the government, stimulating innovation and creating an appealing environment for businesses. Trump, a self-proclaimed conservative, apparently believes, however, that free trade is bad. He believes that we need to build a wall to keep out immigrants who come to our country to fill jobs that Americans are not willing to do. He believes that we should trash the TPP and NAFTA and halt the trade that helps this country thrive. Yet, the most galling thing about his proclamations is the fact that his company took advantage of the very things he is bashing in that he chose to produce Trump branded clothing, glasses, perfume, and cufflinks in China, Bangladesh, and Honduras, instead of his beloved U.S.A. Not only is this hypocritical and dishonest, but this is not conservative.
Trump claims to be a man of the people, but in reality that is wishful thinking. A billionaire who lives in a nearly 700-foot-tall tower in the midst of Manhattan cannot possibly understand the trials and tribulations of typical Americans. It is not as if he ever struggled to keep the lights on, or to put food on the table. He dodged the draft five different times and has cheated common people numerous times in shady business deals. He complains mercilessly about the country’s supposed demise, while having the audacity to pay zero federal income taxes over the past 18 years– real patriotic Donald! He has never truly had to work for anything. He’s only in this election for himself. The presidency is just another step on the egotistical rampage that is Trump’s life. A cornerstone of conservatism is accountability and transparency in government. If the American people are giving their hardearned money to the government, it should be efficient, honest about its actions, and transparent in its workings. Not according to Trump though; he flip-flops on issues so often that it’s impossible to trust him. He supposedly believes in transparency, yet he is unwilling to release his tax returns like every single major party candidate since 1972. Switching between political parties at least five times since 1987, who is to say whether or not a president Trump will suddenly change his mind again to suit his selfish interests of the moment. Americans cannot be sure that he is not just pandering to a constituency that feels disgusted with the so-called establishment in order to rise to power. Trump is many things, but conservative is not one of them. Most of the authoritarians that have risen to dictatorship throughout
history have all shared a few characteristics: they appeal to the fears of the masses, they scapegoat certain minority groups and ideologies, and they position themselves as the only person that can mend their broken country. Trump has claimed that he wants to “make America great again”, he has incited fear in the American people claiming that Mexicans are drug-dealers, criminals, and rapists (immigrants statistically commit less crimes than native-born Americans), he wants to ban Muslims from entering the country despite a full-scale genocide in Syria because he believes that terrorists could sneak into the country (almost 800,000 refugees have been admitted to the country since 2001, only three have been arrested for terroristic related charges, none of which had any significance), and he asserts that he is the one man that can fix it all. The old saying goes, if it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. Trump might not be Hugo Chavez, but the similarities between the two are profound. Trump is not a conservative. He claims to be for conservative ideological values, a man of the people, and the only person that can fix our apparently broken system, but in reality he just says these things to further fuel his narcissistic world-view. This is the only explanation for the myriad of inconsistencies between words and deeds. He claims to be pro-life, yet in the next breath has the gall to voice support for the death penalty. He claims to be for small government, yet believes we should build a giant wall, round up millions of immigrants, impose ridiculous tariffs, and trash valuable trade agreements. If you are a real conservative, you simply cannot vote for Trump. Find someone else, party loyalty be damned. The future of our democracy depends on it.
THE MESSENGER | 29
COLUMNS
culture
SRAVIKA YERNENI, STAFF WRITER SHEETAL TADIPARTY, STAFF WRITER
Billboard’s Top 10 01.
EXO
Cheap Thrills- Sia
Cold Water- Major Lazer Ft. Justin Bieber and MØ This Is What You Came For03. Calvin Harris Ft. Rihanna
02.
04. Heathens- twenty one pilots One Dance- Drake Ft. Wizkid and Kyla 06. Closer- The Chainsmokers
05.
Northview’s Top 10
07. Ride- twenty one pilots Don’t Let Me Down- The Chainsmokers Ft. Daya Can’t Stop The Feeling09. Justin Timberlake 10. Send My Love (To Your New Lover)- Adele
08.
Sia
01.
Monster- EXO
Don’t Let Me Down02. The Chainsmokers Ft. Daya
03.
Cheap Thrills- Sia
Cold Water- Major 04. Lazer Ft. Justin Bieber and MØ
05. 30
Panda- Desiigner
06. Save Me- BTS 07.
Fire- BTS
Send My Love 08. (To Your New Lover)- Adele Into You09. Ariana Grande
10.Butterfly- BTS
fashion
COLUMNS
LINA LEVITT, STAFF WRITER
Spring 2017 New York Fashion Week
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very fashion lover looks forward to September. It is the month in which the world’s biggest designers reveal next spring’s newest and most exciting fashion trends: it is New York Fashion Week. In the heart of New York City, some of fashion’s greatest leaders put on fantastic shows in innovative locations (from libraries to Russian tea rooms) to showcase their collections. Sleek is the key word for this season. This sporty style was illustrated with long, straight lines and glossy, giving fabrics. The mix of sportswear and daily-wear outfits was executed beautifully throughout many runways including DKNY and Victoria Beckham. Prabal Gurung’s oversized sweatshirts are a must-have look for the
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season. They create an easy, urban style that anyone can wear. One of the most exciting looks seen in New York Fashion Week is the mix of western with punk. Anna Sui and Coach did an amazing job of making the “cowboy rockstar” aesthetic come to life. Dark bandanna prints, studded cowboy boots, dark, sheer, floral patterns and leather fringe strutted down the runways. One of the hardest looks to pull off is pattern mixing. When done incorrectly your outfit can look tacky and juvenile, but done well, pattern mixing can look intriguing and give an impression of exceptional taste. This New York Fashion Week, pattern mixing was a major theme. Prozena Schouler presented her use
01. Altzuarra 02. Coach 03. parabral gurung 04. DKNY 05. Monse of pattern mixing with thick, bold prints, while Altuzarra demonstrated their take on pattern mixing by using smaller, pastel prints. Their outfits flowed flawlessly, creating inspirations for fashion lovers to strive for.
THE MESSENGER | 31
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32 | OPINIONS
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