Vol. 16, Issue 4 by The Messenger

the messenger

VOL 16/ ISS 4

pg. 15 Sleep deprivation in high school students

pg. 22 Northviewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2017 Titan of the Year THE MESSENGER | 1

masthead CONTACT US

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF

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

Nithya Mahakala Sarika Temme-Bapat

Atenea Caldera Megan Cistulli Kyndal Dickey Kaushal Gandikota Aniruddha Gupta Arib Husain Upasna Kotakonda Suchita Kumar Nikki Lokhande Ben Minder Evan Moody Meghana Ramineni Noelle Reid Irene Rho Sophia Rivers Sruti Sajja Erin Shin Jennah Sooknanan Sheetal Tadiparty Jennifer Xia Sravika Yerneni Sydney Yim

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

Amanda Beard Mira Sydow

NEWS EDITOR

Shashank Ganeshan

SPORTS EDITOR Akshay Nair

FEATURES EDITOR Sherry Liang

OPINIONS EDITOR Jack Lowrance

PHOTO EDITOR Justine Ulrich

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

BUSINESS MANAGER

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.

ADVISER

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

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover design: Mira Sydow

MANAGING EDITORS

Alex Perry Chris Yarbrough

contents 05

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LETTER

FOOD REVIEW

MORE THAN JUST A HASHTAG

NITHYA MAHAKALA

06 MONTHLY BRIEFS STAFF

JACK LOWRANCE

NOELLE REID

15*

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS STAFF

26 FACEOFF

KYNDAL DICKEY BEN MINDER

TITAN OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL UPDATE

NEW YEAR, NEW ME

STAFF EDITORIAL

ATENEA CALDERA SRAVIKA YERNENI

KAUSHAL GANDIKOTA SRUTI SAJJA

JACK LOWRANCE

SHERRY LIANG

STAFF

SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT SOPHIA RIVERS

SPORTS BRIEFS

FENCING FIGHTS BACK MEGAN CISTULLI

JENNAH SOOKNANAN MIRA SYDOW

TITAN OF THE YEAR

OPINION

STAFF

THE LOW DOWN

COLUMNS

THE MESSENGER | 3

Designer Cleaners

6250 Abbotts Bridge Road #200.300 Johns Creek GA, 30097 Phone: 770-232-7379

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Outrage Undone

emember the heady days of early 2017? One year ago, 24 hours after the inauguration of President Trump, more than 2.5 million women and their allies turned out to express their disapproval at Women’s Marches across the country and around the world. They wore pink hats and carried subversive signs, and the crowds grew into the largest single day of protest in U.S. history. The sheer volume of outrage was momentous, remarkable in and of itself. But it’s 2018 now, and we’ve learned something along the way: Outrage is not enough. The impact of the original Women’s March remains real and significant. With the emergence of grass-roots networks around the country, activism has flourished and women are organizing. They are running for offices large and small, and the number of women in Congress has reached an all-time high. “Indivisible” and similar movements helped to stymie destructive legislation such as the proposed Affordable Care Act repeal. Outside of the political realm, it’s not hard to draw a line from the outrage expressed en masse to the newly emboldened voices of the #MeToo movement. There, women have brought down powerful abusers and opened a frank discussion about sexual harassment and assault. And as the visibility of women’s anger has increased, feminism has finally gone mainstream. More women’s stories are being told, and by women themselves.

But not all women have shared in this progress equally. In 2017, millions marched for the cause of “women” writ large. In 2018, those same marchers should direct that energy toward more specific complaints. Women who style themselves activists should go beyond donning pink hats and raising signs, and lend their support to causes that may be outside of their usual sphere of interest. This should be a year for deliberate solidarity with women of color, with underpaid workers, with disenfranchised voters and with mothers who need help. When it comes to issues such as racial disparity, economic inequality and a shrinking social safety net, unfocused anger is not enough. While outrage changes attitudes, solidarity is crucial to concrete policy advances. The women helping one another run for office should also push for policies that allow more men and women to vote — especially those who are fighting disenfranchisement in advance of the 2018 midterm elections. High-profile women who now feel enabled to take action against their abusers should take up the cause of those with fewer resources; the #TimesUp legal defense fund is a promising example. And rather than reflexively discounting women with more conservative politics, it’s time to listen — and to find pro-women policies on which all can agree. In 2017, women voiced their outrage. The work of 2018 will be to support the women whose voices still aren’t being heard. Nithya Mahakala, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

NEWS

IN BRIEF 01/08 The University of Alabama beats the University of Georgia in the college football National Championship game.

The Betas will be attending the Beta State Convention from Jan. 24-26. They will be taking about 70 club members, including officer Arya Vajpayee, who will be running for state Beta Secretary. Northview Beta has recently been named a School of Distinction from the National Beta Organization. “It is an incredible honor to receive,” Northview junior and President Jasmine Hsieh said. “Volunteering for the community is the best feeling in the world.” The club is working towards volunteering for the Johns Creek City Council. “We are working on effectively organizing new volunteer events throughout this year,” Hsieh said.

Northview Model UN is preparing for their UGA conference which is set to take place from Feb. 9-11. They have been meeting every Monday and Wednesday to prepare for their conference by holding mock debates and researching their committees’ topics, which range from the empowerment of women to international security. Northview junior and Secretary Chloe Devre hopes that the Northview delegation will achieve distinction and bring home more awards this year. They are also preparing for their out-ofstate conference in Philadelphia in the upcoming months. “MUN is striving to improving our public speaking and critical thinking skills while having fun,” Devre said.

01/07 The Golden Globes featured many women taking a stand against sexual assault and gender disparity in Hollywood.

The Messenger’s monthly digest of events at Northview and around the world Bitcoin, once surging in stock price, has recently surged below half its value from mid-December.

01/17

Theater sports is one of the many types of shows that Northview’s drama department puts on. This type of performance is, “in its entirety, an improv show.” In other words, everything is made up as the scene progresses because nothing has been written beforehand. The students who take part in this performance are split into teams, and each of the team captains choose which game to play. These performers can choose to play something from a wide range of improv games, such as Three Rooms, OLD, Hitchhiker, and Freeze, in order to give the scene structure and form. In fun shows such as this one, the “audience should expect to be involved”, such as in instances when the performers ask for scenarios or problems from the audience. More importantly, this performance is meant to allow the audience and performers to have fun and laugh!

01/20 The government shut down as Congress failed to pass a funding bill.

A false missile threat warning devastated the people of Hawaii on January 13.

THE MESSENGER | 7

Titan Opportunity School continues to replace in-school suspension in an effort to increase learning time SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SOPHIA RIVERS, STAFF WRITER

[ [

n a Wednesday afternoon, the old in-school suspension room is empty aside from the two high schoolers and a single teacher. Both students sign a piece of paper to confirm their attendance and take their places in the row of desks that face the wall, the kind with the side blinders that create a private, isolated cubicle. The room is silent, but for the low hum of the climate control systems and the sounds of their pens, scratching out responses to the three page reflection sheet that asks them to reflect on their offenses, directly address the teacher or peer who they affected with their wrongdoing, and plan a more responsible course of action for the future. And on a Wednesday afternoon, the clock is set at two hours, and the countdown begins. This is Titan Opportunity School (TOS),

Northview’s newly implemented replacement for in school suspension. The former system took students out of class. Additionally, since teachers and administrators were typically looking for a way to discourage cutting class

ing our students out of classes, and It was driving them further behind and normally what brought them here is that they were behind, creating kind of a snowball effect,” Northview teacher Camille Janess said. Titan Opportunity School holds anywhere from one to 20 students for a mandatory two hour period after school, typically as a consequence of failing to attend class or honor code violations. Now, instead of missing class periods, students either miss out on afterschool activities, like social hour, team practices, and club meetings, or are simply forced to stay in school when they would have otherwise gone home. Janess acknowledges that this is probably the biggest factor to contribute to TOS’s effectiveness as a deterrent. “Any time you take time from someone,

“In te rm s of di sc i pli ne , i ns tead of go i ng fo r th e ne g a tive, we sh o u l d do so m e po s itive rei nfo rc e m e nt, po si ti ve teach in g . . . a nd re wa rdi ng ki ds for that b e h av i o r.”

-B ri a n Do w ney

and excessive tardies, and removing students from class to serve, In School Suspension was ultimately counterintuitive. “The problem with ISS is that it was tak-

NEWS

“[In T OS] I d o n’ t fe e l li ke I’ m i n th e room with b a d ki ds . Th e se a re yo u r eve ryd ay k id s w h o we re ca u gh t a t doin g some thi ng . G o o d ki ds do b a d thin gs.” -Me ga n Gl o e de

that’s the one things we can’t get back,” Janness said. “And it’s quiet and you think of all the things you could be doing.” In addition to students being held in a two hour sentence, teachers also devote time to supervising TOS. Janness and Northview math teacher Megan Gloede, both volunteered to spend one day a week, every week for the entire school year. Janess sees TOS both as a duty and an opportunity to positively impact the students who attend. She often pulls aside students the last few minutes to talk about leadership and encourage them to do better. Janess’s emphasis on positivity reflects the ideological shift behind Titan Opportunity School’s enactment. “We all make mistakes, there are so many times that people judge others for the mistakes that they’ve made,” Jansess said. “If that’s one person that won’t come back then I’ve done my job.” Principal Brian Downey believes the more students actually attending class, rather than skipping, the more successful those students will be. Compared to ISS, which is during school hours, TOS is outside of school during students’ free time. Additionally, the number of students that go back to

Titan Opportunity School are greatly outnumbered by the amount that repeat ISS. “In terms of discipline, instead of going for the negative, we should do some positive reinforcement, positive teaching... and rewarding kids for that behavior. So the big, philosophical, pie in the sky shift has been let’s be proactive, let’s try to keep them in class,” Downey said. Indeed, the atmosphere surrounding detention has also done a 180 since the switch to TOS. According to Gloede, this shift away from negativity is palpable. “I think ISS had a stigma. I felt like ISS was for the bad kids,” Gloede said. “[In TOS] I don’t feel like I’m in the room with bad kids. These are your everyday kids who were caught at doing something. Good kids do bad things.” Compared to ISS (In School Suspension), Titan Opportunity School has had a significantly lower repeat offender rate. When put into ISS, the students that were most likely caught for skipping, are taken out of class to ISS. By getting caught skipping class, they were put in a program to miss more class. “Way back three years ago they use to

have a ISS list that was sent to all the teachers, and you would see the same names on it again and again and again, because those kids did not care about missing classes,” Gloede said. “But they do care about sitting two hours quietly after school.” Inside the room, students seem more resigned and bored than resentful. And for both the teachers monitoring TOS and the students in attendance, the period acts much like a study hall, time that would have been used to school work anyway. “It’s after school two hours and I got to study so I was fine,” freshman Sreyaash Das said. But while Titan Opportunity School may be more in line with the educational philosophy of Northview, and practically do more to keep students out of trouble and in class, the fact remains that many offenses that would result in TOS go unnoticed and unpunished across Northview on a daily basis. “There are students who take true responsibility for their actions and there are many students who basically say it’s not theirs to take,” Gloede said.

THE MESSENGER | 9

B r i Sports in

ATENEA CALDERA, STAFF WRITER SRAVIKA YERNENI, STAFF WRITER

Swimming:

The varsity swim team has had a fairly successful season with many members making state cuts and the overall team improving its times. Although the loss of top senior members and the cancellation of meets have taken a toll on the team’s performance, they are working to maintain their success and get ready for the end of the season. “We are doing pretty well considering we lost a lot of good seniors. A couple of underclassmen rose the bar, and we are all working hard to keep the team on track,” junior Nidhi Pai said.

Due to the recent snowfall, the team’s biggest meet- the state meet- was canceled. Despite the cancellation, the team has been pushing forward and working hard to improve their times for next year’s meets. “ We have been practicing really hard and we’re really excited for our meets next year. And although the state meet was canceled there’s still finals,” sophomore Riya Gupta said. Although there is a lot of emphasis on hard work and dedication in swimming , the coaches believe in balance and try to help the

Wrestling: The Northview wrestling team hopes to continue its promising streak into the new season. This year, they hope to prolong their success through hard work and dedication. While the team has not had any major accomplishments, they have grown closer and many of them have placed in tournaments this season. “This season has been going pretty well, there has been major improvement from all of the wrestlers and we have all gotten more united as a team. Everyone has an amazing mindset to push themselves and go for the win,” sophomore Jayden Lee said. Despite their overall success, the team is still facing financial and spacing hurdles. They are lacking funding, spacing and off season access, as they are one of the smaller sports teams at Northview. “We are getting better as a team, but we due to lack of funds and space we are losing time and talent,” Lee said.

athletes balance their time with schoolwork. With two weeks off before winter break, the coaches hope a refreshed team can be successful moving forward. “Swimming requires a lot of personal commitment and discipline, and to many swimmers it has paid off. For 2018 we only have two meets left for swimmers to qualify, so hopefully they have been staying in shape during the break for them to meet those times,” coach Stephanie Rogman said.

e f Boy’s Basketball:

The Northview boy’s basketball team’s disappointing streak is quickly approaching an end. They kicked off the season with their first game against Woodstock, and although it was a loss, the team played competitively and possessed the lead until the last quarter. The team’s performance instilled a great deal of motivation. The Titans had a string of losses in the first part of the season, but their Christmas tournament was a turning point for the team. After beating Greenbrier, one of the top 10 teams in the state, the

team went on a roll kicking off South Forsyth and three other teams before eventually succumbing to Pope. Senior Ian Ricks reflected on the tough loss to Pope. “We were selfish while playing; we didn’t move the ball, and we didn’t make shots,” Ricks said. He along with others on the team hope that their loss will provide a spark of energy and motivation going forward. With the recent emergence of junior Joseph Jones and sophomore Matt Davis, the team has promising hopes for the remainder of the season and for the future.

Girl’s Basketball:

The girl’s basketball team has had an up and down season thus far, having some unexpected losses. After winning the region last year, they started off the season promisingly winning a majority of their games. However, when they faced rival school, Alpharetta High School, they took a devastating loss, after going in confidently. “It was really a wake up call for us,” junior Maya Richards said. “We aren’t used to playing at our level since we usually face teams with skills inferior to ours.” Rather than letting the loss haunt them, they took the loss as extra motivation and an opportunity to improve. One of the problems the team has faced is that with an influx of talent, the team has had problems sharing the ball and with team chemistry. However, as the season progresses the team has steadily improved on this issue. They hope they can resolve any previous issues in order to make another deep run in the playoffs. “There’s so much talent on the team it’s hard to see past ourselves sometimes and focus on the overall team,” junior Ashlee Austin said. “I think we’ve really been doing a good job this season especially with adjusting to all the new girls added to the team this year.”

THE MESSENGER | 11

SPORTS

NHS Fencers Fight Back Northview’s fencing team fights for their place in the sports spotlight MEGAN CISTULLI, STAFF WRITER

s one of Northview High School’s more unknown sports, the fencing club looks to overcome numerous struggles to excel in the sport arena. After losing coaches Dorothy Cornwell, a Princeton University graduate and fencer, and Julio Diaz, another talented fencer and coach, the Northview fencing team has gone from

being ranked second in the state to fifth in the GHSFL, Georgia High School Fencing League. Along with the loss of two stellar coaches, the Northview fencing team graduated some powerhouse seniors from the 2016-2017 graduating class. Despite the odds stacked against them, the current team continues to improve for the remain-

der of their season. Although the rankings may say otherwise, the fencing Titans see nothing but a positive remainder of the season ahead of them and going forward. Many of the fencers miss the old coaches, and their unique and effective fencing styles. It has been a struggle to adapt to a new environment with new coaching.

However, the training is still top notch, and the players are excited for the rest of the season with the two new coaches. Adding on to the culture of change, the missing senior leaders that graduated left a gap that needed to be filled. This did not affect the team statistically as much as it did mentally with the need for strong leaders. Maia Lum, Northview senior and second year team captain, took it upon herself to fill that role of team leader this year. “I help coordinate and plan practices

Although the state is unable to recognize fencing as a sport in Georgia high schools, athletes on the team such as Lum have a different view on the sport. As a member of the team since her freshman year and a club fencer outside of school, Lum sees a bright future for the sport particularly at Northview with the increase in talent on the fencing team as a whole. “I’ve always thought that fencing was an interesting sport, and we continue to improve as the season progresses,” Lum said.

stop us from working hard and trying to win at tournaments though, and both our men’s and women’s fencing teams are currently in the top five among our district of the Georgia High School Fencing League.” For now, all the team can do is continue to maintain a high ranking in the GHSFL and raise awareness for the sport as a whole at Northview. They continue to improve their own chemistry and work to rebuild as the season progresses. Although the team has faced numerous struggles, they embraced

“

People don’t seem to think of fencers as Northview athletes without the official ‘sports team’ title. This doesn’t stop us from working hard and trying to win at tournaments though Maia Lum

with the coaches, lead practices and workouts, teach new fencers technique and fencing etiquette, and work to unite the team and encourage the team spirit during practice and tournaments,” Lum said. Alongside the challenge of a changing coaching staff and new team leaders, a main struggle that continues to haunt the fencing team is finding a place to practice. The constant struggle of having to find new training places puts them at a disadvantage compared to other schools. Being labeled a club at Northview due to the lack of state recognition, the team has resigned to practice in empty hallways or under the bus canopy. If they are lucky, the cafeteria is sometimes vacant and available for practice. Not being included in the pool of GHSA, Georgia High School Association, sports results in many hurdles for this team to jump over. “Any of the GHSA sports will trump us, and we will get kicked out of wherever we are practicing,” club sponsor Barbara Rettker said.

Despite Principal Brian Downey making it clear that Northview views fencing as a sport, despite the GHSA’s lack of acknowledgment, the school can not offer the same privileges that other sports would receive. “The state identifies fencing as a club, but that is not a distinction that Northview makes,” Downey said. This inability to be properly funded or promoted has created an environment in which fencers are not taken seriously and not given their due credit. Students on the team believe that fencing, through the eyes of their Northview peers, is seen as a hobby rather than a competitive sport. Despite the demeaning perspective, the team makes sure this perception does not affect them, and they continue to excel regardless of what others believe. “We aren’t taken seriously, in that most of Northview doesn’t even know fencing exists or doesn’t know anything about the sport. People don’t seem to think of fencers as Northview athletes without the official ‘sports team’ title,” Lum said. “This doesn’t

the change and are trying to use the past challenges as motivation rather than quitting and being subdued. As the team continues to grow and develop, it looks primed to be back at the top of the GHSFL.

THE MESSENGER | 13

FEATURES

Food Review North Fulton’s diamond in the rough

JACK LOWRANCE, OPINIONS EDITOR

ollet is the kind of place that you could easily take for granted. Hidden in a secluded strip mall right around the corner from downtown Alpharetta, nothing about it is especially wow-worthy. It’s not edgy. It’s not sexy. And it’s definitely not flashy. But that’s exactly what makes it great. Collet is understated. Nuanced. It’s the little things that Collet does right-- and trust me, they couldn’t do them more right.

The Collet French Pastry Café

2225 Old Milton Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004 (678) 770-6066 *This article is not sponsored by Collet

OR IT

D SE

N IO

N PI

C JA

W LO

Cheese and Broccoli Quiche Served warm, the broccoli and cheese quiche makes for a thoroughly satisfying afternoon snack. Its flaky crust coupled with a hearty center strikes a nice balance that you wouldn’t initially expect to notice. The flavor is subtle and seasoned with a nuance that is sure to please even the most sophisticated of palates.

Macrons Wrapped in glossy plastic with a curly ribbon, the colorful pastries have a delicate crunch unlike anything else. And with notes of coconut and almond goodness, Collet’s macarons are sure to satiate even the strongest of your pastry desires.

The Napoleon Somehow both delicate and tough, Collet’s take on the Napoleon is so pretty, you’ll almost feel bad eating it-- but please do, because it tastes like heaven. The balance between the flaky puff pastry and creamy custard is just about perfect.

FEATURES

SHASHANK GANESHAN, NEWS EDITOR JENNIFER XIA, STAFF WRITER

THE MESSENGER | 15

t the beginning of the school year, junior Morgan Spencer rear-ended another car in the Northview parking lot because the night before, she had gotten little to no sleep completing homework and studying for numerous assessments the next day. Though the accident itself was minor, the situation demonstrates a worsening epidemic among Northview students: sleep deprivation. Spencer receives between five to seven hours of sleep on average, significantly

less than the eight to ten hour range recommend by doctors. When faced with an overwhelming nightly workload, she sleeps only three hours, if at all. Moreover through her interactions with her peers, she has come to realize that her situation is not unique. The consequences of insufficient sleep schedules have devastating effects on students’ overall well-beings, experiencing detrimental health scares from sickness to headaches. Students regularly skip school or leave early due to sheer exhaustion and an inability to perform and participate in all six of their classes. “I have had to go home a couple times because I haven’t been able to make it through my day because I was so tired,” Spencer said. “I have also seen my mood change depending on how much sleep I get. People in my classes also struggle from this, especially people who take harder classes.” With little time for anything other than school work, many students have been forced to forgo participation in extracurricular activities and furthering their passions in a variety of areas: dance, music, arts, and sports. These students are frequently faced with the hard choice of giving up their passions for AP classes that are often unreflective of the students’ interests and that usually have no bearing on future career pursuits. For Principal Brian Downey, this phenomenon of giving up passions and future desires has been consistently troubled him throughout his years as an educator. Many students have a certain passion that they have been cultivating for years to which they have dedicated a lot of devotion, but in a highly competitive and stressful academic climate, it has been difficult to pursue such interests. “I enjoyed playing basketball. Now after quitting, it’s hard

to watch my friends play without me,” Spencer said. “I’ve been dedicated to the sport for the last five or six years. Having to spend all my time worrying about school instead of doing something that I enjoy is not ideal.” Sleep deprivation can be attributed to a variety of factors, but it is a significant product of the honors and AP classes of Northview students. AP Physics teacher James Kemp and Principal Brian Downey have observed a direct correlation between the number of AP classes a student takes and the severity of their sleep-deprivation: more AP courses taken equates to greater sleep deprivation. AP, or Advanced Placement, classes are college level courses offered to high school students by the College Board. Previously, few AP courses were offered, and few students enrolled in those courses. Kemp took two AP courses and finished among the top students in his class, earning him acceptance to Georgia Institute of Technology. However, today, college acceptance has become exponentially more competitive, and students have taken it upon themselves to enroll in more AP classes in order to separate themselves from their peers. This trend and colleges’ increasing emphasis on course rigor has resulted in a an arms race for the most rigorous schedule. “In my time, AP classes were few and far between. Your top kids took two AP classes when they graduated. Here we’re taking seven, eight, nine, ten,” Downey said. If he were in high school today, Kemp does not think he would be accepted into schools like UGA and Georgia Tech had he exerted the same amount of time and effort as he did when he was actually in high school. AP classes today have become the norm, but most students cannot handle the workload. Few students are able to thrive under the circumstances. Each year countless motivated, hardworking students dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to a class, yet despite putting forth their fullest efforts, many students still find themselves under-performing on tests. The reality of AP courses is that effort does not equate with success, often proving as a futile mission in causing stress and poor grades. “For those students [who are struggling in the class], you continue to give positive encouragement as much as you can,” Kemp said. “But then you also recognize that [AP Physics] is not easy. It’s a challenging subject, and so that’s why for me a B is not a bad grade in the class. However, I know for Northview students that may not be the case.” Another significant influence on sleep deprivation is a student’s personal drive

and goals. Northview is known to have an arduous environment where students are pressured to complete an impossibly demanding checklist for colleges. Throughout her years of teaching, literature teacher Jordan Kohanim noticed that students are constantly pressuring themselves to the point where a healthy night of sleep is insignificant in relation to their schedules. To her, sleep deprivation is not something that only teachers and parents can control; students are a part of that equation as well. Head Counselor Sandy Owens shares a similar sentiment, witnessing the sacrifice students take in prioritizing school and extracurriculars over

you are going to continue to have this kind of culture.” Despite the obvious effects of such difficult classes, there have been mixed responses in terms of limiting student enrollment in those classes. Certain parents have approached Downey asking him to provide more opportunities to expand academic rigor, but on the other hand, other have parents demand the school cut back and reduce stress for students. For Kemp specifically, he believes the decision to enroll in an AP class should be an educated decision students and parents make together,

come a more of an observed problem over an expressed one. A disproportionately low number of students who are sleep deprived consult administrators or teacher about the issue. Instead the staff at Northview have to rely on their own observations of students sleeping in class or their lack of attention to detail. Due to students’ hesitation, teachers, counselors, and other administrators have difficulty diagnosing the issue. “Sleep deprivation in particular is not something I’m hearing about

"THe

STUDENTS DRIVE the

Culture."

-Sandy Owens

grades. However, Owens believes that this issue is not limited to Northview; rather, it is a generational issue. Courses are increasing in rigor, and students strive for perfection, which might not even be enough. While parents may play a role in influencing their children, it is mainly the students that are pressuring themselves to do more. “The students drive the culture,” Owens said. “As long as you have students who demand the rate and access to these types of rigorous courses and them demanding to have five or six AP courses in their schedules,

carefully judging the likeliness of success in the class. On the other hand, if he had the power to do so, Downey would limit the number of AP classes a student is allowed to take. “If I had my way, I would limit the number of AP classes that I would allow you to enroll in a given year. I would mandate you have to take some sort of class like PE or theater where you have that outlet before you fall apart,” Downey said. At Northview, sleep deprivation has be-

a lot,” Owens said. “ I wonder if teachers are hearing it, and I wonder is other students are hearing it.” Northview has implemented a series of reforms in order to combat this growing issue. Community Night is a monthly event where students have no homework or assessments due the following day, dedicated

THE MESSENGER | 17

to eliminating stress and consequently sleep deprivation. To further this mission, many teachers have modified their teaching style over the years, often reducing the amount of graded homework collected and instead providing a more liberal approach in the classroom, allowing students to determine the practice they need in order to succeed. “I give fewer problems than I did my first few years of teaching. My first few years, I felt like more problems was better. But as I worked with other teachers, went to conferences, and talked to veteran teachers, I realized often times less is more is kind of an approach,” Kemp said. “In my class webassign is a minimum, but then if you need more practice it’s there. If you don’t need more, then you don’t have to do it.” In another effort to decrease sleep deprivation issues, Northview has employed a policy for the past eight years to allow students who are struggling with lack of sleep to recover in the clinic. The clinic previously allowed students to come during lunch for a quick nap before returning to their hectic schedules. Students were allowed to sleep on the cots for 10 to 15 minutes as an opportunity to regenerate, and if more time were needed, an administrator would determine the course of action. Nurse Jean Apps views the issue from a more health-focused lens, fearing that students are developing these harmful sleeping habits. She worries that students do not think enough about their health because of the expectations they hold themselves to. “I think that students should reevaluate their habits and see if staying up all night and taking a test the next day is worth it,” Apps said. “Did they do better on the test compared to if they had slept eight to nine hours.” Teachers have recently began to accommodate their teaching methods to encourage a healthier sleeping schedule for students.

Kohanim adheres a philosophy of homework from the National Education Association, which states that amount of homework students have should equate to ten minutes of multiplied by the grade level they are in. In other words, a freshman should have about 90 minutes; a sophomore should have about 100 minutes, and so on. However, there is a flaw to this. Teachers often forget that students do not only have one subject to worry about, so in the end, one subject’s homework takes up a majority of the allotted time that should cover all subjects. “I am definitely guilty of that, so I try to use that phi-

overfocus on something, it’s actually detrimental,” Kohanim said. “It’s not good for you. It’s not good for your learning, and it doesn’t help in any situation.” Ania Thomas is halfway through her senior year, a year that is supposedly one of the best years of high school; however, Thomas admits that she only gets about two to three hours of sleep on average. Being president of Mock Trial, Thespian Troupe 6577, and Improv Club is a feat in itself, but Thomas also takes AP classes and college courses. Despite Northview’s efforts in decreasing levels of sleep deprivation, it is an inevitable side effect to an epidemic plaguing its students. “Northview almost causes sleep deprivation,” Thomas said. “As a school where they want you to emphasize the arts, academics, and athletics, by the time you’re finished being involved with all of those things, there is always something else to do. It almost becomes a norm to be sleep deprived.” H i g h school serves as a pivotal role in the development of students from adolescence to adult. Now there is a concern that students are being forced to grow too fast, experiencing the stress previously reserved for adulthood. Sleep deprivation and stress diminish the high school experience, forcing students to sacrifice their passions, leisure time with friends and family, and schools events such as Friday night football games in order to juggle their other responsibilities. Most students have a success-at-all-costs mentality; however, this begs the question as to whether or not students will ever find a chance to relax and enjoy what life has to offer in the moment. “When you’re an adult and you have a mortgage, career, and your own kids, that’s when you should be stressed, and that’s when you should be sacrificing the fun time. [Students] shouldn’t be sacrificing. [They] shouldn’t be missing out.. [or] cutting that passion [they] have in dance so that [they] can take that extra AP class,” Downey said.

"If I had my way, I would limit the number of AP classes that I would allow you to enroll in a given yeaR"

Brian Downey losophy as a reminder to myself that it is necessary to give critical, hard, heavy work,” Kohanim said. “A lot of it happens at home because of reading, but a lot of it needs to happen at school too.” Although these solutions may be implemented, they are not entirely effective in eliminating the issue. She often finds her students telling her about how Community Night is merely a chance for them to fit in extra study time, which ultimately backfires on the idea of “no-stress”. “That to me is not going to help with anxiety, and if you study too much, if you

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THE MESSENGER | 19

FEATURES

new year, new me Six hopeful students navigate a fresh start

JENNAH SOOKNANAN, STAFF WRITER MIRA SYDOW, MANAGING EDITOR

“I want to work harder in school, be more athletic, and eat better. I also want to learn how to put myself before others and learn how to drive!” NICOLE DIAZ, 10

“I just need to turn in my homework man, my grades would be so much better if I did that” ELIJAH HERNANDEZ, 10

“I want to push myself a little harder this semester to get all of my B’s up to A’s. I kinda let myself be too lazy last semester.” LOGAN BROWN, 11

“I want to bench press 315 pounds. Right now I’m doing 290.”

BEN HOSSEINI, 12

“I think last year I became more of the person I wanted to be, so this year I just need to sharpen my edges, li ke bring my grades up just a couple more points:” KADEEM SHABAZZ, 12

“I want to watch G ossip Girl all the way through again” KAREN KAPWADI, 11

THE MESSENGER | 21

TITAN OF THE YEAR Titan of the Year senior Michael Trautwein represents Northview students as an academic and athletic leader KAUSHAL GANDIKOTA, STAFF WRITER SRUTI SAJJA, STAFF WRITER

ith over 600 students attending Northview High School, each student has their own story, passions, and talents, and standing out in such a crowd is no easy feat. “If you’re the one that stands out, you’re a great role model and you exemplify everything we think is neat about this place. I think that’s an incredible honor and an incredible recognition,” Principal Brian Downey said. This year, the Messenger’s editorial board bestowed that recognition upon senior Michael Trautwein for his contributions in demonstrating the qualities of being a Titan. Not only is

FEATURES

MICHAEL TRAUTWEIN/SPECIAL

he a dedicated student, classmate, and teammate, he is also a talented athlete, a passion that secured him a spot on Northwestern University’s Division 1 Baseball team. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play baseball as a job, and I’ve done everything I can to make that dream a reality,” Trautwein said. Trautwein has been an athlete for practically his entire life. Growing up in an active family, he had dabbled in almost every sport there was, but baseball became his sport of choice. He partially attributes this to his dad, who was a professional baseball player himself, as a major influence on his decision to pursue the sport. While the sport constitutes a great significance in his life, Trautwein also recognizes the equal importance in maintaining academic excellence at school. Throughout high school, between balancing baseball and schoolwork, he has learned to achieve the perfect balance between academics and athletics. In pursuit of that goal resulted in sacrificing the typical high school social scene, but it is a trade-off he is willing to take.

The most prominent aspect that separates him from his peers is his work ethic, dedicating his time and efforts in establishing goals and perfecting them during his time at Northview. His hard work goes hardly unnoticed by his peers and teachers, and literature teacher Kierstan Isaacs has witnessed his perseverance in the classroom throughout the last two years of his high school career. “He gets really great grades and that’s because he works really hard. A lot of kids just don’t have the motivation to work that hard,” Isaacs said. While the competitive environment at Northview is certainly daunting, Trautwein recognizes its importance in shaping his person today. From academics to sports, Northview’s environment has challenged him and encouraged him to pursue a greater purpose in high school and beyond. “The two things I learned at Northview were to always put everything you have into something you’re doing, whether it be sports, school, family or relationships. And second was that the best way to live is in the matter you think is best,” Trautwein said.

From being a four-year varsity athlete to representing Northview as a Junior Marshall to leading the initiatives of the Will-To-Live club, Trautwein has established himself as a prominent figure at Northview. In pursuing his own passions and encouraging his friends along the way, Trautwein embodies all the pillars that Northview prides itself on, serving as a role model for all members of the Titan community. “I’m pretty comfortable having Micheal stand as a representative of Northview. I think he represents the class well, the school well, and he certainly represents him and his family well,” Downey said. Looking ahead to the next four years across the country, Trautwein acknowledges the impact Northview will have on his future. Although these past four years have challenged him in every way possible, come August, he knows he will be more than prepared to face this next chapter of his life, and while he will be representing a different mascot for a different school, deep down inside, he will always hold the true meaning of being a Titan.

THE MESSENGER | 23

OPINIONS

Political Pardon

How sexual harassment has rattled Capitol Hill to its core SHERRY LIANG, FEATURES EDITOR

n Oct. 8, 2017, Harvey Weinstein was the first of many to be fired in the resistance against sexual harassment in the workforce. What began as an isolated event soon sparked a movement, ousting high profile figures from actors to journalists. From the condemnation of Kevin Spacey to Charlie Rose, the movement threatened to undermine traditional workplace environments in not only media but also institutions across the country. Politicians, however, remain suspiciously unscathed by the upheaval of abusive power dynamics in the workforce. Billy Bush immediately resigned following the leaking of the infamous Access Hollywood tape, which exposed Donald Trump for boasting about his crude treatment of women; however, just under a month later, America elected Trump as the 48th President of the United States. Over a year later, 19 women have come forward accusing Trump of sexual harassment, 19 women who have become victims to not

only Trump’s abuse of power but also the corrupt nature of justice in politics. Sexual harassment issues among politicians has only recently come under speculation; however, unlike media companies and corporations that possess full authority in the hiring and firing of their employees, the status of politicians is shrouded by greater conflicts of party alignment and political gridlock. For no other reason than to maintain party loyalty, Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, still appeared on the ballot despite being accused of sexual misconduct by eight women, many of them under-aged at the time of the assault. However, that isn’t to say that Washington D.C. is not experiencing the effects of the movement. Politicians such as Al Franken have been forced from their long standing positions on Capitol Hill, and despite appearing on the ballot, Roy Moore’s accusers were heard, allowing the election of Democrat Doug Jones to the Senate seat.

The president, however, is inherently more immune to losing his position due to the consequences of politicians turning their backs to him. In this age of political gridlock and irreparable divisions, pointing fingers at Trump only backfires in a sole mission to obey to party loyalty. While senators and representatives openly urge each other to back down, Trump’s precarious position as the leader of the Republican Party allows him to overlook these seemingly disregarded allegations. We have come to an age where our president is allowed to uphold a lower standard of behavior than the citizens who elected him, where his power overshadows the 19 women accusing him of sexual harassment, where Bill Clinton gets to be called President, while Monica Lewinsky will only ever be known as Bill Clinton’s mistress, and where a desire to preserve party lines overshadows the basic principle of democracy to preserve human rights.

OPINIONS

More than Just a Hashtag A revolutionary online movement improves the environment for sexual assault victims across the United States NOELLE REID, STAFF WRITER

eporting a crime is a lengthy and anxiety-inducing process, whether it be a robbery, burglary. For these crimes, there is little to no hesitation when it comes to reporting them. Yet for sex crimes, it is a different story. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one out of every four women and one out of every six men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. But what is even more worrying and quite frankly, upsetting, is how many rapes are not reported to the police. 63% of these rapes will go unreported to the police making rape the least reported crime in the United States. How is it that so many people in this country are sexually assaulted, and then continue to not say a word about their experience? A traumatic event causes traumatic anxiety. Lingering anxiety in the back of the survivor’s head that no one would believe that what actually happened truly did. The fear that they would receive backlash from the perpetrator’s family, or perhaps their own. Or that going to the police would only make the situation worse, and that they would do

nothing to help. Among members of minority groups, such as women, people of color, LGBTQ+, among others, there is lost hope as the United States police systems seems to fail them time and time again. We as a nation should strive towards a society in which going to the police for a sex crime, should be as easy as going to the police for a burglary or robbery. The fear of reporting such sexual assault, needs to be eliminated much as the act of itself needs to be. In late 2017, however, the United States saw a spike in reports of sexual assault and abuse. The main cause being the flood of accusations made against famous, film producer, Harvey Weinstein. These accusations sparked the creation of the hashtag ‘Me Too’ movement, causing women and men across the country to speak up about their experiences. This internet hashtag has formed a sense of security for survivors, to know that if well-known, a-list, celebrities can talk about their experiences, so can they, regardless of how long ago it happened or perceived ‘weight’ of the situation. The effects of #metoo do not belong to the movement alone. In previous years, women internationally made sure their voice was heard. For example, in

the countries of Latin America, women yelled out about the issue of ‘femicide’ or the killing of women solely for their sex. It is inspirational to see a movement giving a voice to those who may not have had the opportunity to speak out in the past. Seeing that sexual assault and abuse is surfacing is pleasant for the time being but, if the effects of the hashtag extend beyond this year, as many internet hashtags do not, it would benefit us the most. The American people cannot forget something that is so important to everyone. It is crucial that we see more people in high school talking about sexual assault as well, despite the weight of the topic. We should be engaging in the crucial conversation, whether it be our own experiences, education on staying safe,or prevention from becoming an accused rapist. Things are slowly progressing. More and more people are able to gather the courage to make allegations against anyone. But, currently, the country needs quicker change so victims no longer are afraid to speak up for themselves. So victims no longer have to work alongside their rapist, or worse,see their assaulter become president.

THE MESSENGER | 25

faceoff:

MIRA SYDOW/MANAGING EDITOR

yes:

OPINIONS

KYNDAL DICKEY, STAFF WRITER

arsh as it may sound, the success that we strive for is worth the sleep deprivation it demands. Success is a product of the hard work that goes in to making dreams a reality, regardless of the consequences. The effects instill a drive and hunger enforced by the brain to help students achieve more. It is hard to disembark on the goals everyone strives to achieve because of one outlying effect that could take action after. The outcomes produced from the distinct effort put in makes one strive harder in a way that is different, yet useful. The culture surrounding school in the society we live in today treats education like a competition. To purists, this may sound like a corrupting agent, but realistically, the world we live in today expects just as much, only taking the smartest, fastest and most talented. In an environment where most students strive towards the same end goalsnamely colleges with limited seats- competition is inevitable. Both in the workplace and

no:

in the school system, this competition is intensifying. And to achieve some standards of success, the hard work one chooses to put into an activity only creates a better outcome. This affects one’s future and how far they go to achieve goals. By creating a standard that everyone needs to meet or exceed allows for students to compete in order to transform into the most successful versions of themselves. Putting in more effort in a class gives one more satisfaction after the results are given back. A study recently administered by a group of Harvard scientists investigating the effects of sleep deprivation found surprising results. The prefontal cortical function in the brain controls the most basic activities of the human mind, consisting of remembrance of thoughts and actions. When put to the tests, most students with less than six hours of sleep along with caffeine before an exam performed better than those getting over eight hours and no caffeine. While multiple variables could have

potentially altered results, a pattern still prevailed when test after test produced the same result. Looking at a shorter stretch of time, students perform more effectively under the pressure created from a lack of sleep. The brain is able to function in a similar way that adrenaline is known; the senses become more aware and the impossible appears more possible. While the effects of no sleep cause many long term issues, a few sleepless nights allow for a few higher tests. Sleep deprivation’s effects can push one to become something much more exhilarating than they ever thought they would be. An impulsion fills the body and makes one thrive in putting in more effort. Though the effects of sleep deprivation can be hurtful, they create more hard work. Even with the effects one can use them to pursue a dream that involves hard work to achieve it. The effects of sleep deprivation are worth the success given to one because of the determination that instills their body to be the best that it can be.

er workloads. Repeated nights of little sleep can lead to lack of concentration or ability to think clearly, high blood pressure, weight gain, weakened immune system, and mood swings. With most students already being stressed out over getting into college, and the competitive atmosphere that high school provides, adding sleepless nights cause even more stress and is not worth a slightly higher average. School work should not be neglected. It is very important and should be done to the best of one’s ability. However, there is something to be said about always choosing school work over health and well-being. Here is a common example: Jimmy takes four AP classes and plays tennis after school. Jimmy gets home at 6 p.m. and does all of his homework and studying. He usually goes to bed around midnight, not including basic needs such as showering, eating, and family interaction. One day Jimmy receives a project that is due by the

end of the week. This project will take at the very least 30 minutes a day to complete. He also has a test that Friday and spend an extra hour everyday studying for it. That already puts him going to bed around 1:30 a.m. It is very common for a student to have more than one test a week. If more tests and projects are added to Jimmy’s workload, he starts going to bed later and later. Before long, he is staying up all night doing work that fails to help him during the day and can lead to the previously mentioned side affects. Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that can lead to many health problems. And there is no simple solution. Sleep and school work are both very important, yet it’s even more important to balance one’s schedule so that students are not having to go without sleep and putting themselves at risk. Students should not have to regularly give up sleep to pass a class.

BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER

very high school student has had to stay up all night to finish their homework at least once. Regardless of the class, students are forced to put work over sleep on occasion. One time might not be a huge deal as the human body can go without one night of good sleep every once in a while. However, in most cases, it is not one time. Students tend to stay up several nights a week finishing all the work they have been assigned. With continual work pile-up, sleep becomes less of a priority. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 14-17 year olds should get between eight and ten hours of sleep every night. Yet on average today’s high school students usually get between four to six hours, depending on their workload. It is not uncommon for students to get less than four hours of sleep when taking Advanced Placement (AP) or honors courses, as those classes tend to come with heavi-

THE MESSENGER | 27

OPINIONS S TA F F E D I TO R I A L

New Year’s Resolution: Be a Teenager

he day starts before the sun is up. Wake up at four to get two extra hours of studying in. Get in the car and drive to school, despite the risk of getting behind a wheel with less than five hours of sleep (proven to have similar effects to alcohol intoxication). Shuffle into class, stomach rumbling, because stopping to eat breakfast would have taken too much time. Mindlessly go about the day being fed more information than capable to withhold. As soon as school is over, it’s either practice for sports, music, or extra tutoring. Shovel down dinner once home, but there’s no time to stop and talk to family. Hours are spent cramming more information in, not being absorbed, but memorized long enough to survive a day full of exams, quizzes and presentations the next day. Friday nights are spent at home doing everything that will be due Monday because Saturday and Sunday are jam-packed with “free-time”. Repeat. This cycle is neither surprising nor startling to high schoolers of this generation. The average amount of sleep teenagers today are receiving has dropped drastically since 20 years ago according to The National Sleep Foundation. Sleep is being sacrificed for all night studying. Time with family is never a priority. Our houses become train stops full of people coming and going rather than creating memories. If time wants to be spent with friends, it has to be planned weeks in advance in order to insure that academic and extracurricular demands will not interfere. Even when we force ourselves to spend time with those around us, the intent is a lost cause. With technology and social media growing, basic communication skills are being neglected just as quickly. Year after year there is a new platform to “connect” simply to allow us to disconnect more from each other. Snapchat replaces small talk. Instagram becomes a resume of how picturesque your life is in comparison to other teens all playing the same

game. We can’t even look for other people in person in order to find someone we like, not while Tinder lets you swipe left or right. Year after year, it’s the same. No sleep, less communication, insurmountable amounts of stress and nothing seems to be stopping it. A well known film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” follows a storyline in which a high school boy ditches school for the day along with his friends and partakes in a series of unrealistic adventures. While the movie’s ‘adventures’ seem to be out of the question in today’s terms, taking your parents nice car downtown and going shopping it hardly qualified as rebellious at the time. The culture surrounding what it means to be a teen has changed so drastically, that a staple ‘teen film’ can’t even be considered accurate anymore. It’s no longer worry about “how long before Mom and Dad notice the car is missing,” but rather stress about how “a 33 on the ACT is not good enough to go to a college that will lead me to a six figure salary.” With a new year having arrived, the atmosphere is not filled with post-holiday cheer, but the imminent deadlines of college applications and fast approaching AP exams. But, there is prom, spring break and graduation. There are long weekends to be spent with family. Winter melting into spring. The new year brings with it all the stresses of the past year. No resolution, new workout plan, or a different kind of to-do list will rid us of these realities. But we do have the opportunity to say no sometimes. No to letting school ruin our sleep and no to study time running into family time. No to the things that prevent us from being teenagers in a world filled with people telling us to grow up. In parting, let me leave you with a quote from Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

COLUMN THE LOW DOWN

Living Separately: My Segregated World How Johns Creek fails us.

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

hen I moved to Johns Creek several years ago, I was astonished. My neighborhood of nearly 650 houses had only one entrance. Long stretches of road had no sidewalk-- if you wanted to go somewhere, you needed to drive. And despite an astonishing degree of ethnic diversity, socioeconomic diversity seemed to be nonexistent. The majority of people living in our town are here for the same things. The schools are well rated. The Johns Creek Technology Park is so close that what would otherwise be a hellish commute into the perimeter is a relative breeze. Crime rates are low. And the economy is booming like the sound system of a lifted pick up truck-- of which, by the way, our town has many. From the outside, it’s easy to see the attraction of Johns Creek. On a USA Today list of the best cities to live in the United States, Johns Creek was ranked third. It is the wealthiest town in the state of Georgia-- and one of the richest in the nation. Upscale shopping centers and expensive restaurants dot the terrain. Bubble tea shops and rolled ice cream joints crop up almost fast as people can move here. And organic grocery stores are everywhere you look. But really, what we have here is merely just a collection of strip malls and cookie-cutter subdivisions. Of wide roads and mega-churches. There is no community. No sense of togetherness. It’s every man for himself. I’m not trying to attack any body’s way of life-- that can only do more harm than good. But there has to be a better way to organize our community and others like it across the country. Undoubtedly, part of the current division that plagues our nation must stem from the trend that towns like ours are a part of.

I suppose, though, it’s easy to dismiss my words as the ramblings of an angsty teenager. My opinion isn’t supposed to matter. After all, I’m closing in on my senior year of high school. It’s almost a cliche for teenagers to find fault with their hometowns. My father tells me he felt the same way about his hometown too. But I have to believe that our circumstances are different. We are at a unique stage in American history. People are divided. Socially-- and physically. Johns Creek is on the forefront of a dangerous trend of socioeconomic segregation in the United States. Our town is an affluent enclave-- basking in the glory of our financial success and turning a blind eye to the woes of typical American life. Meanwhile, though, a once robust American middle class is eroding. Income inequality is the highest it’s been since 1928. And working-class people continue to be neglected by our leaders in Washington. Our town prides itself on being the exception. In 2014, we went as far as making it our town slogan. ‘Be the exception.’ But at the moment, we’re no exception. What we really are is pompous. Condescending. Selfish. We lock ourselves away in our big houses and fancy S.U.V.s and say to hell with everybody else. Of course, nobody will admit to this. And why would they? In Johns Creek, we have the unique privilege of ignoring the everyday problems facing many Americans. People in Flint, Michigan may not have access to clean water and the opioid epidemic may be so bad that it’s literally lowering the life expectancy of your average American, but hey, that’s not our problem. The Johns Creek life is blissful. But it’s also sickening.

Yet we continue to wonder why class resentment and socioeconomic division is so high at the moment in this country. And don’t be fooled, Johns Creek didn’t turn out like this naturally. The city seceded from the surrounding towns to have more control over its affairs. Subdivisions are far removed from commercial areas so as to keep away undesirables. And the city refuses MARTA expansion-- ostensibly to disconnect itself from the region as a whole. It’s time that affluent enclaves do their part in the United States and open themselves up to being more inclusive. A town that cuts itself off from the problems of its neighbors, wants only the brightest and the richest to attend its public schools, and actively shuns the beauties of public transportation shouldn’t be viewed as a successful town. A place like this is an abomination. Socioeconomic diversity is important. It makes life more interesting. It’s humbling. And such an exposure to people of a wide variety of backgrounds is sure to help mend the complex divisions afflicting our nation at the moment. Yes, Johns Creek may fall in its quality of life ratings. Schools might not be rated as well. Median income statistics might go down. And not every front yard will be manicured to perfection. But what it loses in these, it gains in moral fiber. In the United States, everything is connected-- whether you like it or not. It’s time for towns like ours to quit being the exception and start being part of the solution. We need to foster a culture of acceptance and neighborly love. It’s time to own up to our social-- and patriotic-- responsibilities. The

fate of our country depends on it.

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C O LU M N S

music

S Y D N E Y Y I M , S TA F F W R I T E R

Kendrick Lamar

umble” from Kendrick Lamar swept across the country and also hit the Billboard top charts. He also performed this song at the VMAs and MTV Video Music Award. Kendrick Lamar became a well-known artist in 2017 and also signed to perform in the college national championship during the halftime show.

Cardi B

ardi B aspired to be a rapper for most of her life and after her hit song “Bodak Yellow” came out she rose to the top of Billboard’s music charts very quickly. Towards the end of the year, Cardi B received recognition by Billboard as one of few artists to have their first three top 100 hits in the top 10 along with The Beatles and Ashanti.

Taylor Swift

ook What You Made Me Do” from Taylor Swift was one of the first songs that she released from her new album “Reputation”. This was her response to the rumors surrounding previous stories that happened to her earlier in the year. The song was well received and led her to hit the top charts once again this year.

A Recap of the New Year

BTS

TS, also known as Beyond the Scene, made headlines in America and performed in the American Music Awards. At the Billboard Music Awards they won the award for “Top Social Artist”. “DNA” was one of their most famous songs yet, bringing them world wide stardom and as a boy band coming from Korea, appearing in America their popular culture has greatly broadened their appeal.

1. Bodak Yellow- Cardi B 2. DNA- BTS 3. Look What You Made Me Do- Taylor Swift 4. HUMBLE - Kendrick Lamar 5. 1-800-273-8255- Logic, Khalid, Alessia Cara

Khalid, Alessia Cara, Logic

-800-273-8255 brought awareness to depression and gave a voice to those struggling with its effects. In 2017, Khalid attended the MTV Video Music Awards and received the Best New Artist Award, adding on to his music career. Logic brought much of peace, love, and positivity to encourage many of his supporters to help others. Alessia Cara made an appearance in the American Music Awards with her new songs she created in 2017.

fashion

COLUMNS

EVAN MOODY, STAFF WRITER

W hearts

for hart

hen I wrote about Northview High School’s most fashionable faculty, literature teacher Megan Hart brought it to my attention that I hadn’t included her in my list. When she asked why I didn’t have an answer other than the fact that she just wasn’t a teacher I had in my years at Northview at the time. Since she is now my teacher, I am having an amazing experience getting to know her and understanding her creative sense of style. Hart is, without a doubt, the most fashionable teacher in the building. I only wish I had her for a teacher earlier so I could have had her on the spread back in May. From her sensational tops to the snazzy shoes on her feet, Hart embodies one of the best senses of style inside and outside of school. She strolls into class every day with her own unique creations and rocks it as if she designed it. Being in Hart’s class has truly been a treat; not only does she do an amazing job of teaching and rocking her best look, she tops it all off with a mile wide smile. As Charles Strouse once said, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”

THE MESSENGER | 31

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