Vol. 17, Issue 4 by The Messenger

the messenger VOL 17/ISS 4

ICD-10-CM

T74.52

Child sexual exploitation, confirmed. 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 Amanda Beard

Melissa Liu Ben Minder Alexis Oladipo Grace Peng Meghana Ramineni Aayush Shah Erin Shin Nikki Skyer Jennah Sooknanan Anshi Vajpayee

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

Mira Sydow Jack Lowrance

NEWS EDITOR

Shashank Ganeshan

SPORTS EDITOR Akshay Nair

FEATURES EDITOR Jennifer Xia

OPINIONS EDITOR Noelle Reid

ONLINE EDITOR Alex Perry

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

PHOTO 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.

BUSINESS MANAGER

ADVERTISING

Chris Yarbrough

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

Irene Rho Upasna Kotakonda Kaushal Gandikota

ADVISER

contents 05

EDITOR’S LETTER AMANDA BEARD

06 MONTHLY BRIEFS STAFF

08 NEW DRAMA TEACHER GRACE PENG

SCORING THROUGH SETBACKS

IT’S NOT MY FAULT

JENNIFER XIA AKSHAY NAIR

SCOUTS

NIKKI SKYER

FOOD REVIEW MELISSA LIU ANSHI VAJPAYEE

MEGHANA RAMINENI

25 STAFF EDITORIAL STAFF

26 FACEOFF

MEGHANA RAMINENI ANSHI VAJPAYEE

17*

ALEX PERRY

MIRA SYDOW NOELLE REID

NOELLE REID JACK LOWRANCE

LUNCH DETENTION

E-SPORTS SATIRE ALEX PERRY

SEX TRAFFICKING

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

COLUMNS

30 MUSIC

IRENE RHO

NITHYA MAHAKALA

THE MESSENGER | 3

the messenger ONLINE

nhsmessenger@gmail.com

Like our Facebook page facebook.com/nhsmessenger

@nhsmessenger

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

A Call to Action

ccording to the Polaris Project, sex trafficking is defined as a form of modern slavery, where adults and children are coerced into doing commercial sex acts against their will. This exploitation of men, women, and children represents the second largest transnational crime, a business producing billions annually. It is estimated that roughly 21 million individuals lay victim to this particular kind of business currently, not including former victims and only considering those the United States government is aware of, hopefully explaining the staggeringly low budget in which the nation has set aside to stop the issue ($150 million annually.) And Johns Creek is becoming one of the top hubs for the business. For the January issue of The Messenger, the staff has chosen to discuss and bring to light the realities revolving sex trafficking and its growing concern in the area. As high school students there is a deeper concern as the average age for victims rests within between 10 and 18 years old. In a generation where it is seemingly easier to carry a conversation screen to screen rather than face to face, the industry

is transforming from what it used to be, one significantly more advanced and accessible to the ideal target: us. While many of these issues appear to be far away problems, with Northview appearing as a protective oasis at times, it is imperative to take responsibility to not only inform ourselves of the state of the community and world we live in, but also of the ways in which we can contribute to the prevention/awareness of said issues. Looking for signs of sex trafficking occurring, online or in the area, can make all the difference in a victim’s life. There, of course, is the possible path of silence, living in blissful ignorance in hopes the issue will be resolved. News flash: it will not. After the multitude of shootings grew to be too much, accumulating to Parkland, students rallied in hopes of raising their voices in attempt to finally be heard. To stop the tirade of an issue, students banded together in hopes of making change, all due to the overwhelming care. So, I ask you Northview students. Let us band together once more to put an end to this epidemic. There is time for change to happen; now, let there be a care to act upon it. . Amanda Beard, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

ALEX PERRY/ONLINE EDITOR

01/17 The Rise club is new this year and is run by juniors Alexander Byman and Jun Kim. Their club focuses on reaching out to students at schools that do not have that many opportunities as we do when it comes to education. One of Rise’s projects is focused on Elkins Pointe Middle School in Roswell, Georgia. The club is collecting new and used books to create a free library for the students there. Byman and Kim have had the pleasure of speaking on the school’s morning announcements, and they were featured on their Facebook Live stream to tell students and parents about the project. As of now, they have collected over a thousand books, and about two hundred of these books will be donated to Elkins Pointe. Many students at this school consider English their second language and because of this, many of them are reading at lower levels than the average middle school. The main goal of this club is to create a large positive impact on schools in poorer communities that shows them the importance of reading. Their work at Elkins Pointe was completed on Dec. 17.

01/07 The Clemson Tigers shocked the Alabama Crimson Tide by defeating them by a score of 44-16 to secure a national championship title.

News in Brief

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

01/31

Year after year, the Kaleidoscope Club puts together an evening that showcases the many cultures and ethnicities that exist in our community. There are many cultures present in the halls here at Northview, and International Night is their time to shine. Each year, hundreds of students and parents show out to celebrate the numerous traditions of the cultures represented at our school. Performances during the show include singing, dancing, and an array of instruments. This year, Emily Benelli will be singing accompanied by the piano. Junior Sabrina Sisto and seniors Logan Wallace and Kabir Gandhi will also be singing. To end the night, the seniors will carry on the tradition of performing the finale.

NEWS

President Trump addressed immigration concerns and emphasized the importance of a border wall in a televised national address to the American public.

On January 27, Northview High School will be experiencing the annual rendition of Theater sports, an improvisational act which relies heavily on the involvement of the audience. This year Theater Sports will be completing 14 years in production. Improvisational theater has no set script for the actors to follow, so everything seen on the stage is spontaneous. The performance is essentially two improvisational teams that are competing against each other to win in various “theater sports”. “The emphasis placed on audience involvement should be present in all forms of theater, but it really shines with this particular production,” Kabir Gandhi said. All proceeds from this production will be donated directly to Broadway Cares.

01/06 On January 6, the 76th annual Golden Globe Award Show took place, recognizing the year’s top movies and TV shows.

THE MESSENGER | 7

New School, New Drama

Anna Pieri takes charge of theater department GRACE PENG, STAFF WRITER PHOTO: UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

ith the leave of Northview theater director Benjamin McClain, a search for someone who could fill the challenging, specialized role of Northview theatre director has taken place. The new head of the drama department requires the right amount and kind of qualification as well as a certain dedicated passion for the field and for students. Actress Anna Pieri has spent years expressing herself on the stage, and recently has undertaken a new role as Northview’s new theater director. “She is super nice. At first I was worried that she would not live up to Mr. McClain, yet she is so kind and sweet. She knows what she is doing and is determined,” freshman Grace Hernandez said. Pieri, who is a Colorado-born but grew up in North Dakota, has been passionate about acting since childhood, and has years also incorporates her unique teaching style ample, if you plan on being a mechanical enof experience in the field, acting in numer- when it comes to acting. gineer, you should still take theater because ous works. She is a graduate of North Da- “Just play! I think that when acting, it helps, it comes back when you are making kota State University, from which she has you should channel your inner child and just something that could help,” Pieri said. earned her Bachelor’s degree in Northview and the theater Fine Arts, and moved to Geordepartment welcome Pieri with gia to pursue her degree as a open arms. Students are enthu“I think theater helps you, even if you do not Master of Fine Arts at the Unisiastic to be working with her, versity of Georgia. plan on pursuing it as a career... it comes back enjoying the new ideas that she “I like to put my life exwhen you are making something that could offers. Many also enjoy the new, periences into my acting. For refreshing environment and help” example, some of my friends in hope to accomplish more as the North Dakota have never been theater program progresses unto New York, but I have, and I der her direction. Pieri, as well, like to input that into my actis excited to be at Northview, ing and use that to my advanwho has already expressed great tage,” Pieri said, describing her play,” Pieri said. excitement and awe at Northview’s intensely acting style. Students who do not take theater, she dedicated environment and student ethic. As a teacher, Pieri is excited to be takbelieves, should try it, and students who do “We learned from the same amazing ing on the role of new Northview theater ditake it, leave with much more than an ability teachers at UGA. Ms. Pieri is organized, dedrector, amazed by the intelligence and dedication of Northview students. She enjoys to act. On top of the gained experience of icated, and engaged in providing students a comedies and plans to incorporate them into participating in a reputable theater program, diverse array of theatrical opportunities, so I the theater program this semester. Wishing they also learn the importance of teamwork can’t wait to see how our program will grow to build on what McClain has created with in an inspiring atmosphere. now that she is part of it,” Elizabeth Lake, the students, Pieri hopes to connect with “I think theater helps you, even if you also an alumni of the UGA Theatre Departthem herself, a major goal for the year. She do not plan on pursuing it as a career. For ex- ment, said.

Anna Pie ri

NEWS

Tardy Troubles

Northview cracks down on students arriving late to school ALEX PERRY, ONLINE EDITOR PHOTO: MIRA SYDOW, MANAGING EDITOR

dministration has decided to roll out new tardy and dress code policies starting Jan. 7, with the goal of cracking down on students who arrive late to school and students who violate the dress code with hats and hoods. Tables have been stationed at all major entrances of the school, with administration poised and ready to hand out lunch detentions as students arrive at 8:20 or after 8:20. Lunch detention is not a new concept to Northview, albeit an obscure one. During the teacher workday on Jan. 4, Principal Brian Downey took time to spread the new tardy and dress code policy with staff members. Language Arts teacher Kierstan Deis was previously aware of the lunch detention option as punishment, however during her years at Northview, she has not seen a serious implementation effort until now. Students had a rude awakening on the first day of second semester, when students like junior Adelaide Shenoy were told to sign in at wooden tables, upon arriving to school late. Like her, most students were shocked when confronted with the lunch detention sign ups. Students were later formally introduced to the policies during an announcement during homeroom, when Downey addressed the apathy of students who arrive late. “We were relaxed about these policies before,” Downey said, then laid out the strict policies intended planned on further discouraging tardies and dress code violations. His motivation stems from observing students who arrive late and those who violate the dress code. A similarity that he noticed with the offenders was that they were

mostly people who had repeat violations and constantly took advantage of the administrations leniency. Because Downey and administrators hoped for first semester to be a time period when students should have been acclimated to the schools policies, he was disappointed with the results this morning, seeing over 100 students were tardy. Expecting results later on in the semester to be different, administration correctly predicted the number of tardies to cut in half after the first day as the number went from 100 to 52. However, students that found themselves in detention felt like the new policy was useless. According to them, Downey’s goal to punish repeat offenders has ultimately failed, because many first time offenders were swept up with the wave of those chronically late. Junior Nicole Ban, who arrived at school at 8:20 on Tuesday morning, found herself in B lunch detention, the first time she has faced disciplinary action from the school. “I think it’s unnecessary and ridiculous,” Ban said. “There are people who are specifically tardy all the time, but why are you penalized everyone for being tardy?” Ban suggests that a short grace period should be instated, because many students like her were caught up in traffic on the way to school. Senior Lindsay Bennett, another person swept up in the Tuesday tardies, also suggested that the tardies that morning were caused by an unusual wave of traffic, filled with last minute students attempting to avoid a lunch detention. Junior Nayantara Hareesh deemed the

new policy as counterproductive, because having to wait in line to sign up for detention prevented her from getting to class. “I had to wait even longer to sign in, and that made me later to ceramics, my favorite class of the day,” Hareesh said. When looking at the severity of the punishment, many students said that the relaxed environment of lunch detention would not deter them from being late again. “It’s not that bad, and I wasn’t late on purpose,” Bennett said, “It was traffic.” Ban, Bennett, and Hareesh were all assigned detention for tardiness, however a portion of the rules that have been ignored is the dress code. It has been a source of contention for many students, since they do not see the purpose of ‘no hats, no hoodies.’ On the second day of detention, more students were present because of dress code infractions than tardiness. “I understand tardies, but hoodies I don’t get. Some of my friends got detention for the first time,” junior Reuben Samuel said. Other students agree with the mandates, but believe that inconsistent enforcement is the main problem. They have seen relaxation of enforcement of the rules with certain students, but strict enforcement with others. “They aren’t being very consistent, there should either be warnings, or no warnings,” junior Sam York said. “They are taking away the only time we have to relax and socialize at school.” Nonetheless, the effectiveness of the detention policies is clear, seeing that tardy rates have dropped steeply since their introduction. But only time will tell if the policy remains effective in the long run.

THE MESSENGER | 9

Emily Wei, 11 ERIN SHIN, STAFF WRITER PHOTO: UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

ith many years of hard work, junior Emily Wei understands the struggle and challenges she has to face in the future and currently. With ten years of experience with swimming, swimming was not her first option. Wei tried out skating first when she was sixyears-old but eventually gave up. After giving up on skating, Wei’s mom got her started on swimming at Lifetime Fitness for a few of years and she also joined the summer swimming league. In second grade, Wei broke her elbow and had to take time off swimming, but after she recovered, decided to start swimming competitively for Swim Atlanta. Swim Atlanta started to become more important to Emily as she quit the summer league in middle school to focus on one area. After breaking her collar bone in middle school, Wei once again had to take a break from swimming due to the lengthy recovery time. “Swimming is definitely a challenging sport because you are constantly moving every muscle of your body,” Wei said. “Even taking a few days off can affect your progress. I, for one, know a lot about that because I have had three broken bones.” As an athlete, Wei is all for getting better in the future, and she knows what

SWIM

profile

she needs to do to be successful at swimming. Wei is constantly looking for ways to better herself, practicing as much as she can so she makes sure that she can succeed in her career. After years of swimming for Swim Atlanta, Wei decided she wanted to swim for Northview. As a freshmen, Wei enjoyed every bit of being a part of the team, learning from the more experienced upperclassmen. Head coach, Anthony Cianciola, notices Emily’s hard work and determination. “She’s definitely improved from last year. She was really good; this year she even improved more, that right there shows me that she’s working hard,” Cianciola said. Emily’s teammates know her skills when it comes to swimming and what she brings to the team and how she will continue be an important asset. “She’s one of the best on the team, she practices everyday, if not most days, and is incredibly diligent about maintaining her training over breaks,” friend and teammate, junior Anushka Koratana said. Emily wants to continue swimming throughout college, but has no plans on going professional. Instead she plans on doing sports medicine but still wishes to continue to be around the sport.

SPORTS

Satire: Pulling the Plug on E-Sports Fulton County cancels the college aspirations of Northview’s’ Geeks ALEX PERRY, ONLINE EDITOR

ith popularity and prom dates just within reach, Northview’s gamers’ dreams of Varsity athlete notoriety have been forfeited to the predictable problem of Fulton County’s red tape. Because of the school system’s duty to parent children, Fulton County has deemed it necessary to procure various over-regulations before bringing E-Sports into play. The School Board is also considering how schools with poor performing football teams will react. The traditional jocks of the school now fear their titles may soon be conceded to pizza faced geeks. Sophomore Kaden Lee, second string quarterback of Fairburn High, is one of these jocks. “Look, I’m not the greatest athlete, but I’ll be damned if a freshman letters before I do,” Lee said. “Especially some geek.” For Lee, football is a pathway to CTE and hot cheerleaders. But if the school decides to fund a high-performing Varsity E-Sports Team, Lee might lose his future. As players like Lee start to realize this, students such as Eugene Brass have finally found a legitimate pathway to college. Brass is used to using his computer abil-

ities to hack HAC to boost his 4.0 GPA to a 4.2. Due to the GHSA sanctioning Gaming as a sport, he now spends his time honing his League of Legends skills. “I’m a Silver 4 mid laner right now, but if I switch up my builds and hire a coach, I’ll be fine,” Brass said. Brass is not the only nerd eager to join the potential Varsity sport. The competition for spots on the team is expected to surpass the memberships of swimming, cheerleading, and freshman basketball, all combined. As STEM oriented careers have become more popular, E-thletics have become a reality for those searching for careers within the technology niche. Emily Hurston is the Vice President of Johns Creek’s Pear Technologies, in addition to being a mother of two sons. One graduated from Northview in 2012 after lettering in Golf and Cross Country, later choosing to pursing computer science at Dartmouth. Upon hearing about the potential for a Gaming team at Northview, Hurston pushed her youngest son to start training in Fortnite, and even hired a coach. She believes that if her son spearheads the movement to bring a Gaming team to Northview, he will have an

edge in his college admissions process. “Look, everybody plays football, everyone does swimming,” Hurston said, “But if he becomes captain of a new team at Northview, he’ll definitely go to Yale, you know?” Bailey Hurston, who is currently in 8th grade at River Trail Middle School, is used to his mother forcing him to participate in extracurriculars. But he enjoys this, as avoiding school work in favor of gaming is something that he already does. “I once had a paper due the next day, but I needed to rank up, so I just gamed the entire night and didn’t go to school the next day,” Bailey Hurston said. Students like Hurston are not only interested in the resume boost that Varsity athletics would give them, but also their popularity in school. “I think I’ll actually have a date to prom,” junior and level 102 Grandmaster on Wizard 101, Kris Thurber said. “Maybe I’ll have multiple to choose from.” For years the athlete stereotype has allowed technology-oriented thrill seekers to suffer under titles such as “nerd” or “geek”. But if Fulton County chooses to bring Varsity Gaming to Northview, that may soon change.

THE MESSENGER | 11

SCORING through

SETBACKS Northview’s basketball team sees talent from unlikely places JENNIFER XIA, FEATURES EDITOR AKSHAY NAIR, SPORTS EDITOR

ew to Northview her senior year, Markiema Lancaster storms the basketball court. After making the Second Team All-Region last year, she quickly cemented herself as a centerpiece for the Titans with her versatility on offense and commitment on defense. Despite being a recent transfer from Johns Creek High School, her outgoing nature clicked with her new teammates and caught the eye of head coach Chris Yarbrough. For her infectious personality that boosted the team’s spirits, Yarbrough deemed Lancaster has a captain for the coming season. “Markiema has been a huge addition to the team. Her fun demeanor and tenacious play has provided a great spark. She is a great player who has made an immediate impact,” Yarbrough said. But the story behind Lancaster’s consistent positivity is one unimaginable for someone who presents herself as she does. Beginning in middle school, Lancaster’s family began having financial issues. The main problem centered around her parents inability to procure homes that lasted more than a few months. “My dad was in and out of jobs while I was growing up until my sixth grade point,” Lancaster said. “When sixth grade got out, my parents said we were going to move up a little bit in Gwinnett County, so that we could have a fresh start.” The so called ‘fresh start’ began a set of spiraling events leading to even greater housing issues and mental health scares. Her new school, Hall Middle School in Gwinnett

County, was the first place Lancaster really cultivated her passion for basketball. It was somewhere fairly stable where she could pursue athletics, keep up with academics, and make some close friends. Within a couple months, however, bills were unpaid and rent began to pile up. Tension between family members at home reached a breaking point as the family of nine was struggling to make ends meet. “During my sixth grade year, there were just so many complications throughout my house with my parents being jobless,” Lancaster said. “They [her parents] were very stressed, and they would always argue and just yell at each other about everything everyday.” By the beginning of her seventh grade year, Lancaster had experienced her first eviction as she found her belongings scattered in the yard and a locked house as she got off the bus. The search for a new house involved countless flea infestations or dirty carpets. The main goal at this point was to remain close with her siblings as the pressure of finding a new house put a heavy strain on their relationship with their parents. Eventually, Lancaster and her family began living in and out of hotels, some quite far from the school district, causing a long commute. “We did not have anything, and it was really hard staying focused on school and sports when you have to commute an hour and a half away just to get there,” Lancaster said. Again, her family was forced to move as Lancaster began school at Autrey Mill Mid-

dle School her eighth grade year. The same set of events continued occurring as money was a constant issue in her household, bringing her and her six siblings from district to district and home to home. Basketball grew to be a refuge for Lancaster, providing a welcome escape from the worries at home. “Basketball really helped my mind go blank, and I felt relaxed while playing,” Lancaster said. As she began high school, the problems only got worse. Lancaster was enrolled at Johns Creek High School her freshman year along with her older sister and brother. Making the varsity team as a freshman was uncommon, but Lancaster’s skills proved her capable. She developed a close relationship with her basketball coach, Evan Deis, who became someone she could talk to on and off the court. “Throughout the season, he trusted me to be able to come right in and fit in with the varsity team, and he gave me a starting position,” Lancaster said. “I felt like he was a very good resource throughout school too.” Deis was very open to Lancaster’s family situation, which he learned over the course of the season due to mandatory fees and complications, yet her hard work and drive never faltered in spite of family complications. “She was always receptive to new ideas and threw herself into situations head-first, and with her physical abilities, her quickness, and her aggressiveness, she quickly became one of our strongest guards,” Deis said. Deis expressed heavily the overwhelming

x1 perception everyone is rich, everyone is taking all of the AP classes, everyone is talented in sports, or art, or music, and everyone is going to their dream college at Johns Creek and Northview. He felt bad for Lancaster as her family situation prompted her to not fit in with all of this stereotype. “Those assumptions had to weigh heavy on Markiema even as a freshman, so I can only hope that I helped her in some way tackle any fears that year and made her feel as if she were good enough,” Deis said. While her coach praised her efforts on and off the court, Lancaster herself did not feel as if she had done enough her freshman and sophomore years as so much was going on at home that her focus was lacking on the court. Basketball-wise, she could have been more engaged, but there was so much going on at home, the reality of Lancaster’s situation prevented her from being able to work as diligently on the court. While Lancaster was still an underclassman, she went through a dark patch where her mental health took a hit because of her situation. She described this as a time where her focus on basketball and school was foggy as she could not help but worry about her family situation. At this point, her family continued to move around hotels and rental homes as her parents relationship fell apart, pressuring her and her siblings to choose sides. “It has been hard not giving up just because of everything I have been through and all the unstable movement,” Lancaster said. “I still tried to make our presence and appearance okay, but deep down inside I really was not okay.” Putting on a brave face has become a norm for Lancaster, though she is still a very

SPORTS

positive person. Lancaster’s best friend and teammate, junior Asjah Inniss, are so close they consider each other family. Inniss has been with Lancaster for about a year and a half through basketball and church. She admires Lancaster’s persistence on the court, and her strength that has gotten her through her situation. “She gives everything she has out on the court. You would never know what she has been through just by looking at her,” Inniss said. Coincidentally enough, when Lancaster came to Northview she saw a familiar face. Kierstan Isaacs-Deis, a language arts teacher, knew Lancaster as her husband was Lancaster’s freshman coach at Johns Creek High School. She is now Lancaster’s language arts teacher and close friend. “I feel like Mrs. Isaacs is someone I can go to to get a sincere answer,” Lancaster said. “She really understands me, so I feel like our relationship is different from my other teachers.” Isaacs-Deis sees great things in Lancaster as she has spent the semester with her closely, specifically through helping with the college application process. Lancaster’s struggles has allowed her to mature earlier than the average students, something advantageous to her application. As her teacher and someone who has seen her play on the court before, Isaacs-Deis praises her work ethic.

x2 “She actually wants to learn. I see that with her on the basketball court as well seeing where she started as a freshman and where she is now,” Isaacs-Deis said. “Her experiences help her show she is a really well adjusted young adult which based on the things she has been through is really impressive.” Rather than being bound down by her past, Lancaster uses her previous circumstances as motivation to succeed in high school. She has thrived with the change of scenery at Northview, and her basketball has clearly improved as a result. Looking ahead, she hopes to use her athletic talent to secure a scholarship and to receive higher education, so she can provide a stable environment for her family unlike the childhood she was provided. “I am praying to this day still that sports is my outtake of high school, so that I can go to a good school and get a good education so I can get a good job,” Lancaster said. “Northview has made me a happier person. It made me more engaged with school and sport. The past definitely does dwell on me but I am going to keep moving forward.”

THE MESSENGER | 13

FEATURES

Scout’s Honor Northview’s Girl and Boy Scouts grapple with climbing the ranks and gender integration NIKKI SKYER, STAFF WRITER

n high school there are many extracurricular activities that students participate in, whether it is to take a break from the academic stress or to have something to put on a resume. One of the extracurriculars that often gets overlooked are Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, as students, especially Girl Scouts, begin to drop out of the programs around middle school. However, there are many people who stick with scouting throughout high school, like seniors Caroline Davis who has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and Lance Cone who has been a Boy Scout for six years. For Davis, scouting has been a big part of her life for as long as she can remember. All four of her brothers reached their Eagle Scout ranks, which Davis believes is what ultimately pushed her to work towards her Gold Award, which she earned in May this year, the highest award that a Girl Scout can earn. “My twin brother and I had a competition to see who would finish faster, just so we would keep on track. So now we have four Eagle [Scouts and a Gold [Award],” Davis

said. Even though Davis was able to finish and receive the Gold Award, it was with much difficulty. She had to balance the academic responsibilities of high school, sports, and commitments for her church and completing the Gold Award, which almost lead her to quit the program all together. She did not believe that the actual project was the tedious part about the Gold Award, but rather the interviews and the paperwork that went along with it. “Actually sitting down and thinking about Girl Scouts was really hard,” Davis said. Davis knew that it was hard work from the beginning, but she chose to stick with Girl Scouts because of her passion for her work and her project. Cone, a Boy Scout, has similar views of the program. He is on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout and is currently enduring some the same issues that Davis faced this past year. “The process of writing up the plan is pretty tedious, with constant back and forth

between a guide to check for errors or details missing,” Cone said. Cone enjoys his Boy Scouts work very much with all of the different activities and community work he participates in. He plans to stick with it into the future and hopes to make a large impact on the world around him. Davis has been much more aware of the decrease in Girl Scouts into high school, as it has had a large impact on her and her troop. She began Girl Scouts with 18 girls in her troop, and that number has gradually come to three, a very prominent and unfortunate difference. “A lot of people chose to drop out in middle school because they thought it wasn’t cool or they got busy. The people that really wanted it, though, stuck with it,” Davis said. Davis knows how Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts operates, as she has four brothers who are currently members of the organization or have been in previous years. Cone however, is much less mindful of how Girl Scouts functions. He understands that there is a decline in the number of Girl Scouts who continue

OPINIONS

with the program, but he does not exactly see why Boy Scouts has much less of that issue. “I don’t have that much knowledge of what Girl Scouts do, but I imagine it to be similar to what Boy Scouts do. Although I have heard that membership in Girl Scouts is declining, I’m personally not sure why,” Cone said. Both students are very invested in their work with Scouts and have enjoyed the major role it has played in their lives. Despite there being somewhat of a stigma and lack of continued interest in high school, they are proud of what each has accomplished, planning to use the skills they have learned far into the future.

Real Equality What if the established system was more equal than the new one?

ast October, a decision was made by the Boy Scouts organization to allow girls into their ranks. Thousands have since joined the organization, and in May of last year, the organization unveiled its new name: Scouts BSA. While many rejoice of Boy Scouts being stripped of its gender barrier, Girl Scouts its still exclusively female. One must wonder why Girl Scouts is not following the Scouts BSA example and tearing down the walls dividing boys and girls. The Girl Scouts mission is to provide an environment with opportunities for girls to become strong and independent. However, with Boy Scouts now being all inclusive, girls now have two environments to be strong and independent, and boys now only have one. If one were to argue that girls need their own space, free of boys, to learn to be independent, then why are young boys no longer allowed the same freedom? There is nothing wrong with Boy Scouts becoming more inclusive, but there is a problem with Girl Scouts not reciprocating. If the goal of scouting is to be accessible to everyone, it seems like a crime that Girl Scouts not be expected to do the same.

BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER Many see the all-inclusiveness of Scouts BSA as a win for girls, but it could easily turn into another case of women fighting for themselves in a male-dominated space. With the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts being separated, it allowed for both groups to develop with 100% attention to them. There was never a problem with having to divert attention to care for the needs of the opposite sex. The most optimistic outcome of this is that both boys and girls receive 50% of the attention, but it will most likely be the leadership from Girl Scouts focusing on the girls, and the Boy Scouts leaders focusing on the boys. It is hard to blame them for doing this as it is what they know best. Girl Scouts leaders will likely not know how to care for the boys and vice versa. There are always outliers, but in general, a troop will stay in their respective sections, with little interaction. The inclusion of girls into Boy Scouts fails to establish equality between boys and girls. The girls that join a troop of boys may face ostracization for doing so, and the Girl Scouts not allowing boys to join is hypocritical if they want true gender equality.

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FEATURES

Food Review:

Chaba Thai

Unique cuisine in Johns Creek’s backyard ANSHI VAJPAYEE, STAFF WRITER MELISSA LIU, STAFF WRITER PHOTO: ALEXIS OLADIPO, PHOTOGRAPHER

(678) 417-7111 9700 Medlock Bridge Rd #102, Johns Creek, GA 30097 *This article is not sponsored by Chaba Thai Restaurant 16

ocated in a large plaza, Chaba Thai, a compact yet comfortable restaurant, sits between Luv-a-Bowl and Masti, boasting its traditional Asian cuisine. The exterior of the restaurant itself is not very noteworthy; however, upon entry, we immediately felt a sense of coziness. The dim lights, rustic wooden walls, fairy lights, and tightly-packed seating all contribute to the warm aura. The massive, gorgeous golden chain tree occupying the center of the restaurant complements the tone well. The service was slightly disappointing, as the servers were friendly, but unhurried, if not a bit sluggish. Our waitress took her time coming over to the table and taking down our orders, and at one point during our lengthy wait, we began to question whether the restaurant even had a waiter at all. Food preparation took longer than expected as well. Although they did not arrive in a timely manner, the dishes were definitely worth the extensive wait. Chaba Thai offers a wide selection of authentic Thai cuisine, including curry, noodles, rice, and seafood. With many options offered on the menu, we finally settled for the green curry. We could smell the enticingly-fragrant aroma wafting from the green curry dish as it was set in front of us. Simmered for just the right amount of time, the curry was filled with tender pieces of chicken, eggplant, carrot, bell pepper, peas, and bamboo shoots covered in a creamy, savory, and mild spicy sauce. The finely-chopped basil sprinkled on top added just the right tang, completing the dish. The sauce was slightly too greasy for our taste, but

overall, the green curry was a highly palatable dish. We also ordered the Fried Soulfish Panang curry. Panang itself is a traditional thai curry made primarily of peanuts. The dish was topped with bamboo shoots, bell peppers, carrots, chinese eggplant and obviously, deliciously fried soulfish. The soulfish was crisp to the touch outside, yet deliciously gooey on the inside. This was the first time we had soulfish, and the dish certainly did not disappoint. Although both dishes were curries containing similar vegetables, they still had distinct textures and flavors to them, which complemented the other ingredients surprisingly well. Upon trying the soulfish curry, we realized the importance of balance. We expected this dish to be spicy like the green curry, but the panang soulfish completely surprised us. It felt creamy and rich, while still leaving a hint of tang, sweetness, and spice. This combination was unexpected, but it added a certain feeling to the dish. Each time we took a bite it felt like a new dish, leaving our palette bursting with flavor. The balance of the crispy fried fish with the extremely buttery and smooth curry was beyond enticing. In a nutshell, this dish left us wanting more. For food so delicious and made with such high-quality materials, the dishes were set at reasonably to low prices. What Chaba Thai lacks in customer service, it makes up for it with its appetizing dishes, comfortable setting, and reasonable prices. Whether you are looking for an authentic Thai meal or just a unique and enjoyable experience, Chaba Thai is the place to go. Just make sure you have time to spare.

state of insurgency F E AT U R E S

An increase of sex trafficking accompanies the Super Bowl, but with it comes resistance

NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR MIRA SYDOW, MANAGING EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 17

$290

million S

ugar Mill. The Homestead. Two homes, one owner. And one alleged sex cult. R. Kelly, accused of multiple counts of sexual abuse, sparked speculation about an underground sex ring of minors in Atlanta. The list of his offenses is a mile long, from marrying a 15-year-old girl to locking women in his homes and filming himself exploiting them. It does not describe the polished, diverse community that Northview students have come to know, but a dark, seedy underbelly that is reality for many Atlanteans. After all, ignorance is bliss. Sex trafficking. The words themselves are a blend of jarring slips of the tongue and hisses through closed lips. While tax cuts and transportation dilemmas fail to pique the interest of the av-

Atlanta’s sex trafficking revenue

erage citizen, the word sex drips with a promise of purpose. It’s not just another part of the political agenda, it’s manipulation driven by the rawest of human emotions. Immediately, the issue becomes familiar. It’s the massage parlor your neighbor keeps recommending, the coach at the high school that lets out during your commute home, the company whose emails you keep sending to your spam folder. It’s an industry that--until exposed in your community through the local police’s most television-worthy stunt of their career--flourishes in the shadows. Kenyette Tisha Barnes is a local activist and, as her Twitter bio appropriately states, Legislative Empress. Her primary mission is to raise awareness for the issue of sex trafficking (and serve as a staunch defender of the vulnerable, young members of her community). Her secondary mission, less evident but still imperative, is sprinkling some emotion into the monotonous routine of local politics. To know Barnes is to know the truths of every abuse she’s encountered. Forever a warrior for victims of sexual abuse, Barnes co-founded an organization called Mute R. Kelly, which serves to support the alleged victims of the musician’s sexual abuse streak. Kelly’s presence in Atlanta and public sex crimes against women make him Barnes’s polar opposite--and part of the reason she keeps fighting. MuteRKelly mobilizes supporters to get R . K e l l y ’s songs o f f

air, share Time’s Up messages, and boycott the alleged sexual abuser’s concerts. With the recent documentary about Kelly’s abuse, Barnes has been an integral part of real change. There’s so much on her agenda because she hasn’t yet encountered a heart-wrenching cause that she has the strength to ignore. Barnes is also a member of Fulton County’s Sex Trafficking Task Force, which was created by Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts with Atlanta’s sex trafficking problem and Super Bowl LIII in mind. It’s more familiar than the seemingly untouchable, faceless power that controls Atlanta’s peripheral from a golden domed fortress. The Task Force is composed of community members ranging from energized bureaucrats offering more support than their job details to non-profit and business owners rising above their basic duty as citizens. Georgia is ranked sixth in the nation for sex trafficking, with the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport serving as a hub for illegal activity. The Task Force must collaborate with private organizations and the police force to tackle the extra influx of sex trafficking due to Atlanta’s ever-rising popularity. In an interview with NPR, criminal investigator Marc Chadderdon recalls tracking down sex traffickers in rural Minnesota after the Super Bowl was held in Minneapolis. Minnesota, per its reputation, has one of the lowest rates of sex trafficking in the country. However, during the Super Bowl festivities in 2018, Chadderdon recounts finding girls as young as nine being sold by their own parents. Pre-Super Bowl, Atlanta shamefully boasts a rate of sex trafficking nearly four times Minnesota’s. “Currently, every county in Georgia has

sex trafficking,” Barnes said. “While it might seem as though your community is immune, understand that you are not.” Georgia House Bill 200 outlines the consequences of sex trafficking, but the Super Bowl demands additional attention from the government. Like most political situations, it’s immediately more delicate because of the involvement of minors. Most sex trafficking cases occur in the suburbs to high school students with rocky home lives. Activists like Barnes, who inject a degree of sympathy into sex trafficking, advocate for the special protection of children in these situations. Tightening regulations around the Super Bowl are the first step, but regulations need to stay in place once the major threat has passed. “I’d like to tell sex traffickers that their time of exploiting innocent children and vulnerable adults is coming to an end,” Barnes said. “The days of a ‘slap on the wrist’ for prostitution are over.” Representative Angelika Kausche is a fresh-faced, newly elected Georgia General Assembly representative from Johns Creek. She’s the kind of attentive, hands-on politician who can spare the time to meet with a flustered high school journalism class. With her every word poured over by political adversaries and admirers alike, Kausche’s discourse on sex trafficking is brief but effective. She notes that Atlanta’s diversity and sprawl can be easily utilized to gain access to a sinister market. “It’s not just the people who are inside Atlanta, it’s people who are being trafficked in from other parts of the country too [through the airport],” Kausche said. Slightly wary in the face of daunting statistics, Kausche emphasizes that there is

nothing wrong with prompting a response from other legislators about sex trafficking. In particular, she mentions Georgia House Bill 401, which mandated the district’s sex trafficking awareness education for teachers and administrators. “If you have questions about the bill, contact the people who wrote it,” Kausche said. “The more you start reaching out to your representatives, the better.” In the new age of youth participation in politics, her call to action definitely hits home with several students. The already politically active members of Northview’s community scribble in sex trafficking on their social justice agenda and keep fighting. For some, like Junior Jordan Scavo, the prospect of being a victim is nothing new. While it can happen to anyone, victims of sex trafficking are disproportionately minorities, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. By these standards, Scavo is overqualified. She has been under fire for her idiosyncrasies her entire life. The topic of sex, as it is for most self-aware teenagers, is somewhat under wraps. Most likely the fault of her upbringing or education, Scavo never got much exposure to the dangers of sex trafficking or sex in general. “I’ve grown up in a very sex-negative environment which may contribute to the dis-

comfort I feel on [the topic of ] sex trafficking,” Scavo said. Already quite the activist, Scavo recognizes that her experiences with sex education and sex trafficking are a gateway to the broader goal of becoming a more welcoming, accepting society. It’s easy to list the ways Scavo will be subliminally discriminated against in her life because of her differences, but she sees it as an opportunity to introduce a new, controversial voice to the mix -- her own. She bears her individuality with pride and harnesses the ability to advocate for multiple minorities. “I have certain privileges that allow me

THE MESSENGER | 19

25% of human trafficking victims are children 75% of human trafficking victims are women or girls to be heard more easily, such as being half white, bisexual, and within an affluent community,” Scavo said. “It’s less of an obligation to me and more of a privilege within itself.” In a minority-majority city like Atlanta, one of the gayest cities in the country, Scavo’s campaign for higher awareness of sex trafficking in marginalized communities is a relevant call to action. Due to the target age of sex traffickers--young, vulnerable students--Northview’s teachers are uniquely poised to handle the issue. On the two teacher

work days before winter break ended, January 3rd and 4th, many teachers around the metro Atlanta area and across Fulton County were required by Georgia House Bill 401 to receive training to spot potential victims of sex trafficking in their classrooms. The community outreach is a step in the right direction. Their moral obligation and employee obligation is rendered less effective without the proper notes to identify signs of sex trafficking. Literature teacher and concerned parent Megan Hart-Sekman was mildly surprised at the Super Bowl’s correlation with the abuse. Although it presents a huge issue for law enforcement officials, public awareness is relatively low. Most Northview students do not consider sex trafficking a threat in their community, even though it is most common in suburbs and among minorities. The awareness is sadly lacking. Teachers like Hart-Sekman always keep their eyes and ears open for concerns from students, whether it’s problems with schoolwork, fitting in, or external factors, but sex trafficking is a new animal. The potential for violence and scarring mental effects distinguish it from daily school-related concerns that plague students. Hart-Sekman recognizes that when it comes

to such a dangerous topic, there is safety in numbers. “Having as many people as you can to recognize the signs and get children out of that is essential,” Hart-Sekman said. Although she seems to be mainly talking about her students, it’s evident that Hart-Sekman has her kids in mind as well. They’re still young--not nearly old enough to be independent--but Hart-Sekman knows that children much younger than hers are sold into the sex trade all over the world. However, there is a line between parenting and educating. Hart-Sekman is careful to warn her children about drugs and strangers but takes on a less overbearing approach with her students. “I will take a more active role as a parent when I talk to my kids about these things, while as a teacher I may not directly talk to my students about that because it’s a classroom,” Hart-Sekman said. “It’s not quite my role.” Teacher Raymond Brown shares Hart-Sekman’s concerns about sex trafficking. He handles the delicate situation with some reluctance, hoping that, while he will keep his eyes and ears open, he never has to face sex trafficking in one of his students. “If I could stop that, that would be great. Hopefully I never have to, hopefully that situation doesn’t arise,” Brown said. Overseeing his staff with a watchful eye and full heart is Principal Brian Downey. While he is used to running a tight ship, lunch detentions and all, he recognizes that the problem of human trafficking is a much bigger threat than vaping in the bathroom, but it could be just as common. The most terrifying threats to his students are the ones he doesn’t see coming. “Even on an adult level, this is upsetting and disturbing.” Downey said. “It was eye-opening for me.” While his responsibility is to look out for Northview’s students,

the most susceptible ages for sex trafficking are actually a bit younger than the freshmen. Thankfully, older students, though not immortal to rash decision-making, are more aware. The children most often targeted are closer to the age of Downey’s own children, which he found the most shocking aspect of his briefing by far. “The average age is 12-14 for girls and 11-13 for boys,” Downey said. “I have a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old.” It’s easy to blame social media for the woes of Gen Z, but in this case the claim actually finds some traction. Downey recalls a situation from the district training, describing how a girl in a healthy, supportive family can become ensnared by sex trafficking easily online. This sentiment is reflected in local police operations, where sex traffickers are baited online. The entire cat-and-mouse game occurs virtually, until it culminates in a distraught girl running away from home into the arms of her captor. Unfortunately, there’s not much administration can do. “The district does have the capability of monitoring key words and phrases, but [social media] is hard if not impossible to monitor,” Downey said. Although only staff received training to observe the signs of human trafficking, Downey stressed the importance that students also play a role in pulling victims out of the world of human trafficking. There is no single authority when it comes to sex trafficking; it requires communities to come together and depend on one another, so Downey does not dismiss the power of the close-knit community of students at Northview. “You guys have a better idea of what’s happening with the student body than I ever will, than the teachers ever will, than the police ever will,” Downey said. “You guys know before we do.” This kind of dependence is reflected

in the way the government works with local organizations to provide resources and relief to victims of sex trafficking. While there is rarely any interaction between the two groups, there exists an understanding that they must each do everything they can. “Because of the criminal aspect, it has to be a law enforcement issue, but how we support afterwards is where those social agencies and community organizations come into play,” Downey said. It’s a critical balance recognized by the Fulton County Sex Trafficking Task Force, restated by one of the fiercest members: Barnes. “The purpose of the task force is to convene a group of stakeholders from law enforcement, social justice, juvenile justice, mental health, legislative and policy, and survivors to come up with a systemic means to address domestic minor sex trafficking in Fulton County,” Barnes said. It is a synergistic solution that banks on each member of the community pitching in. Per her outstanding personality, Barnes concludes her interview with underlying message about combating sex trafficking, or any abuse, in a community. “Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat” Sun Tzu. It lingers at the tail end of her email, a subtle warning. Separately, the Angelika Kausche’s, Brian Downey’s, and Kenyette Barnes’s of the world cannot solve the issue of sex trafficking alone. Their combined, relentless efforts are our only hope.

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Presidential Shakedown

The recent government shutdown fails to justify leaving hundreds of thousands Americans in an unsolved crisis NITHYA MAHAKALA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

s the government shutdown enters into its second month, its consequences are becoming more visible in American life. The hidden costs are quickly becoming visible in President Donald Trump’s latest presidential shakedown. An estimated 800,000 federal workers have had their lives upended by this latest presidential temper tantrum. Some 420,000 of those, deemed “essential personnel,” are working without pay. This includes upward of 41,000 law enforcement officials, 54,000 Border Patrol agents and 53,000 Transportation Security Administration workers. Another 380,000 workers have been furloughed, including 28,800 employees of the Forest Service, 16,000 in the National Park Service and 16,700 at NASA. Even as the federal shutdown continues to exact an uneven toll on 800,000 federal employees and the U.S. economy, it may yet produce an even greater toll through a government breakdown that

could affect large numbers of Americans. If Trump would take the time to check in with what’s happening in the real world, he might read about the divorced Army veteran who’d worked “three jobs to survive” before getting hired as a paralegal at the Federal Trade Commission — and who now has no idea if he’ll make the rent. He could hear from the single mother who says that she’ll have enough for rent — but not for food. He might be moved by the wife of a corrections officer wondering how her family will handle their “mortgage, day care and car payments” while her husband is working without pay. Or by the disabled Air Force vet who, having waited more than a year for “service-connected surgery,” cannot get final approval for her procedure until the shutdown ends. The longer the stoppage continues, the more people will feel the squeeze. Already, the Small Business Administration has been shut down, delaying the processing of loans. A growing number of nation-

al parks, museums and historic sites will need to close, disrupting tourism for the sites and for surrounding businesses. At some of the parks kept open during the holidays, even as many rangers and other support staff members were furloughed, there were reports of trash piling up, toilets overflowing with human waste and episodes of vandalism. Routine screenings by the Food and Drug Administration are being put on hold, and the Federal Communications Commission is set to halt most of its operations on Thursday. The situation on Indian lands is about to get dire. The list goes on and on. Once again, Trump seems not much interested in either the public will or the public good. For him, this shutdown is a self-declared point of pride— a gaudy display of his boldness, his manliness and his political steadfastness. Hopefully though, there exists a limit to how much Trump can make Americans suffer for an empty political gesture.

OPINIONS

It’s not my fault. Victim blaming remains an issue despite social movements MEGHANA RAMINENI, STAFF WRITER

he freedom to control yourself and your actions, to be your own individual, is the foundation of not only what it is to be a human but also what it is to be an American. But, imagine if this were taken away in five minutes. “Slut”, “Whore”, “Prostitute”. These words have been heard over and over throughout Twitter feeds and news articles, despite movements like #TimesUp and #MeToo occurring in the present day. The world seems like it’s slowly progressing towards a time where sexual assault does not exist, yet multiple stories continue to come out every day and countless more remain locked up within the victims themselves, who still fear ridicule and dismissal. When addressing rape culture, the narrow mindset presented is currently perpetuated through victim blaming, toxic masculinity, and objectification. Not only do these factors continue to contribute to the biased circumstances victims must face in finding justice and salvation from the physical, mental, and emotional effects of sexual assault, but they also instill certain victim stereotypes about how they should look and act, therefore inhibiting people from coming forward or recognizing that they have been assaulted. Rape is a crime in which the offender may use physical force and manipulation to engage another in sexual intercourse against their will and is portrayed as a crime typically committed by men. This definition explicitly states that the force used by the perpetrator is imposed upon a victim. In a significant amount of cases, little to no action is taken

by the police, as these cases usually entail situations where reputations or fame have to be protected. If the police, the enforcers of justice, cannot be objective when investigating this demonstration of force, who can be trusted? And so, sexual assault is not only a social issue, but also a political one, specifically within the criminal justice system. It is not an impartial system if reputation takes precedence over justice for a violent crime. On the other hand, this definition of rape has issues that inherently describe various problems with perspectives on sexual assault. The idea that it is typically committed by a man explicitly implies that sexual assault is not something that men can face, or that women can commit. However, sexual assault is not just an issue for cis-women and is not just committed by cis-men; sexual assault can occur between anyone, no matter sexuality or gender. By perpetuating such heteronormativity- the assumption that people should fall into distinct genders and carry out natural roles in life- within the broad issue of sexual assault, as well as dictating who should be the victim and who should be the perpetrator, as seen within the Oxford definition, the experiences of people who have faced assault are erased in face of the stereotypical understanding of what this crime should look like. Sexual assault is not a crime that can be explained by passion or desire; it is a violent demonstration of power and control. It is the subjugation of the victim’s self in favor of the perpetrator’s motives. It is the stereotypes that push victims to internalize

their horrific experiences in fear of retribution and allow perpetrators to go free on account of their race, gender, and class. It is the perpetuation of a certain picture of what a victim should look like, excluding the experiences of people who are victims but do not fit. Many attempts to raise awareness of this issue have been made, but this problem is still prevalent and more needs to be done. Despite college practices of attempting to educate people, despite Hollywood continuing to call out various people for their crimes, still, of the hundreds of thousands of assaults that occur, 90% of all assault cases are seen as “consensual”and only 2% of all perpetrators actually get convicted. But the thing is 100% of assaults are not consensual. The risk of sexual harassment looms over our heads as well as the people we care about. The sheltered environment of Johns Creek, and more specifically Northview, tends to allow us to forget that violence is happening right here, right now. What people do not know, is that it can happen to anyone. What people do not understand is that the shielded environment only supports our lack of awareness, not our safety. And what people truly cannot imagine is what victims of this crime have to tragically endure in that moment when they lose control of themselves and their actions. Change needs to happen; by holding ourselves and others accountable for their actions, by teaching new generations what consent means early on, by enforcing stricter sentences for sexual violence, we can fight to end assault from happening, in all communities.

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OPINIONS

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

Unprotected Press I

n December 2018, Time magazine announced they would be honoring news reporters who have been targeted for their work in investigative journalism. Referring to institutionally suppressed journalists as “The Guardians”, Time seeks to raise awareness for the growing number of reporters being silenced through imprisonment, torture, or murder. The four featured on the cover of Time include Jamal Khashoggi, Capital Gazette’s staff, Maria Ressa, and Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo’s wives. Our news media started on its path to its current state in the early late 19th and 20th century filled with yellow journalism, controversial titles, and foundationless speculation. We are blasted with millions of articles each day, spreading our focus thin amongst numerous news outlets. The majority of the information disseminated is in fact a writer’s opinion on a topic. We have shifted from an over-reliance on opinion based articles, which disincentives exploration and investigation. The incredible availability of knowledge in reality tires readers. Despite the veil of interconnectedness social media and 24/7 news outlets provide, sound bites and incredulous headlines diminish the inherent complexity of issues and preclude healthy discourse. The appreciation for the work of journalists such as those featured by the Time is dwindling. The field of journalism democratizes knowledge and information, but we fall into the trap of revenue seeking media

outlets by willingly limiting our scope and care for intricate issues. Oversimplifying topics misconstrues critical issues and leads the public to believe that simple answers exist for poverty, corruption, and violence. While society perpetuates this downwards trend, few journalists like Khashoggi and Lone remain, and they serve as a reminder of what journalism should be. For example, polarized liberal and conservative media outlets reinforce beliefs of specific ideologically oriented individuals and provide no reason for us, as consumers of this information, to question what we believe. The Capital Gazette staff, Khashoggi, Ressa, Lone, and Soe Oo force us to reconsider our values, society, and government by discussing treatment of Rohingya Muslims or Crowned Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s suppression of other journalists. Society needs to place greater value in such journalists by prioritizing what we value in journalism. Representative reporting is the cornerstone of a civil society, and if the government is the construct of men and women, then the government should not be able to consistently suppress such news. If we demand greater representation and diversity in journalism, we force our social institutions to grow and improve. Time’s recognition of journalists will springboard society’s improvement, encouraging us to promote quality journalism rather than profit-seeking corporations.

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FACEOFF: Should prostitution be legal in the United States?

OPINIONS

YES

ANSHI VAJPAYEE, STAFF WRITER

udging the morality of selling sex is a matter for churches, family members, and employers to decide- legislation comes nowhere in this formula. It is simple enough to put it this way-- criminalisation does not help people get out of prostitution, and legalization does not trap them in it. If prostitution were to be criminalized completely, the means of by which people would pay for services would only harm. The black market would inevitably flourish at this time of confusion. Besides, engaging in pleasure for which one is paying for is a choice- a right that should not be taken away. In many countries including Germany, prostitution is legalized and taxed. This is not only protecting the right to choice, but this “crime” is also making a huge economic plus. Why throw consenting adults in jail for private sexual conduct when this can be turned into something that only helps this nation at a time of debt? This choice made

NO I

by an individual, whether for recreation or an exchange or goods, should remain in private and not be subject to criminal matters. As adults, the choices made for one’s benefit should not apply to anyone else but the individual themselves. The fact that many forms of sex work are criminalized in many countries shows that sex workers cannot rely on the police for protection. As a result, many groups of people, such as the LGBTQ+ community, and young women in poverty, who are overrepresented in the sex industry, are more subjected to criminal sanctions. Prostitution itself is already looked down, and for many workers, reporting crimes during their course of work means putting themselves at a risk for criminal offenses. In many countries, law enforcement has the authority to harass, extort and perpetrate physical and sexual violence against them. This is not only completely immoral, but also implying that harassment

against people for their profession is alright and regulated. Hateful stereotypes against sex workers only speak for harm. As society, we choose to believe certain things or not. As long as workers have a legitimate choice in a situation they can thrive in, why does it matter what profession they work for? Does it even matter so long as it is consensual and it’s a choice made independently? Workers in the sex industry deserve just as much security and recognition for their work as other people, because, after all, this is a legitimate career and recognition is long overdue. With the right rules and regulations put upon people working hard everyday, the sex industry can easily become a growing and thriving community. The right to choice is an extremely important aspect of life, something that cannot be limited. Limiting someone’s choice of profession is a way the right of choice can be taken away.

MEGHANA RAMINENI, STAFF WRITER

t is shocking that our society has allowed us to become so desensitized to the daily occurrences of exploitation and corruption, as the practice of prostitution seems to be dismissed as merely a method of unconventional employment as opposed to a method of oppression and abuse. By taking advantage of someone’s life, by putting a price on someone’s body, by reducing the value of a person to simply a financial transaction, prostitution encourages neglecting other humans and their freedom to make a choice. Furthermore, it perpetuates health and economic consequences of the structural oppressions that continue to marginalize various communities within the US. The main argument of those who believe that prostitution should be legal in America is that it will decrease unemployment by providing a new field of jobs for people, therefore positively impacting the economy. Although legalizing prostitution would indeed provide a new source of employment and would supply aid for families in poverty, the price for selling one’s body is far too high. It is important to realize that

prostitution cannot be considered a legitimate business because it is a show of abuse as it is purely sexual exploitation. Although prostitution cannot be directly defined as slavery since money is involved, adding a price to a person is still the commodification of one’s body because it can be something that is bought or sold. The prostitution industry exploits the most oppressed of them all, and as a result, the people living in poverty, who are forced to make a living no matter what the job, stand as the most vulnerable groups of all. The capitalist structure of America allows not only for people living in poverty to be exploited, but also for people to profit from the bodies of others. By legalizing prostitution, the government is enabling a greater scope of freedom to the people, which could lead to unforeseeable consequences on the economy, and most likely a rise in health issues such as STDs. The topic of prostitution is not something mentioned here in Johns Creek often due to the socioeconomic status of our community, which creates a bubble of

protection from the societal pressures others face. It can be hard to remember that in the shielded environment of Johns Creek, we are able to so easily disregard the fact that issues such as prostitution are concerns that should be addressed even if they do not directly affect our community. In terms of health, marginalized communities that do not have privilege within the US are more at risk for the social and health issues that come with sex work, including STDs, sexual abuse, and the stigma against sex work or having STDs. These communities are marginalized due to the power dynamics within the US and the structural oppressions put into place, including gendered racism, racism, and classism, which places these minorities at the bottom. Therefore, these minorities are disproportionately affected by these issues as well as prostitution, and the overall impact of this could negatively impact America’s health care system. Prostitution should not be legalized. Let us not be complicit in the structural oppression affecting society by legalizing prostitution.

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REID BETWEEN THE LINES

More than Racist One of the many issues that falls under the multi-faceted problem of racism NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR

he problem of racism is slowly but surely reaching a point of elimination in the United States, however, there are still many issues that stem from racism, even centuries after slavery has been abolished. An example of this is the issue of colorism which is the discrimination or preferential treatment of people of color based on how light or dark their skin is, and usually happens between people of the same racial or ethnic group. Colorism is both physically and emotionally harmful and deserves to have more attention called to it. The skin bleaching industry is the direct result of the deep rooted issue of colorism worldwide, as it is unfortunately a very large industry that is only anticipated to grow further with the next few years. It was worth $10 billion worldwide in 2009, and the Global Industry Analysts estimate it reach $23 billion by the year 2020. Skin whitening products on their own have been proven to harmful to the skin. But there are many internal, emotional effects that can be as equally damaging and long-lasting. The marketing techniques used by these companies, can be what makes these products so emotionally damaging, running along the same line as weight-loss products. As Americans, it can be easy to distance

ourselves from the industry, because it is bigger in countries in Africa and Asia. However, when we take American celebrities like reality-star and entertainer Blac Chyna, who premiered the campaign for a line of skin lightening products with company “Whitenicious” in Nigeria, it shows that the issue is not isolated to one area, and can span continents. Nigeria is a country where 77% of women use skin-lightening products, there is no way that Chyna launched her campaign there on accident. In the United States, the current colorist beliefs instilled in many communities stem from beliefs that came about during the slave-trade and slavery. Darker skin was seen as inferior, ugly, and dirty. Lighter skinned slaves often worked inside the house taking care of children or cleaning the house while darker skinned slaves would pick cotton in the hot sun until their fingers bled. But this practice has left a lasting impression on our culture, and it is a bit more subtle in black television shows and movies with light-skinned female characters often being seen as protagonists or love-interests. On the other hand, the darker-skinned women are the best-friend, side characters and/ or a sense of comic-relief, never getting a story of their own to tell. This can

be harmful to younger viewers, especially younger black girls, as the lack of accurate representation does not give these girls a chance to see themselves in a way other than loud or “ghetto.” These principals can also go in R&B and rap music videos. Colorism can also be seen when photos that are retouched for magazines. Over retouching magazine photos is already an issue regardless of race or skin color. But many companies have come under fire time and time again for editing their photos to make models or even celebrities of color skin lighter. Then there is the not so subtle side to American colorism in the black-community with trending social-media polls and hashtags debating which is better, darkskinned or light-skinned boys or girls. This debate often goes beyond just being a preference, as a strong disdain often accompanies the skin color that they would not date for being “problematic.” There is nothing wrong with having a preference, however, once a preference is used to degrade those who do not fit the standard then, it becomes a problem. As minorities, we should not use century old beliefs to oppress ourselves. We need to hold each other up and fight inequality together.

THE LOW DOWN

A New Era for Atlanta

COLUMNS

Reorganizing the Metropolitan area’s approach to government for the sake of the people JACK LOWRANCE, MANAGING EDITOR

ip-hop. Delta. Coke. Atlanta is known for lots of things. And while the city’s reputation may be improving on the national stage with the recent MLS cup win, its emerging music and film scene, and continued economic growth, the reality is that hiding behind these newfound successes, the city and surrounding region are still deeply flawed in their management and unsustainable in their organization. Atlanta is one of the most sprawling cities in the world. While the metropolitan area has a population approaching 6 million, roughly the size of the Washington or Philadelphia metropolitan areas, the city government itself only has dominion over a population of under 500,000 people. Of course, some of this can be attributed to the city’s typical sunbelt car culture, suburban orientation, and lack of geographic barriers to limit far-reaching low density development. But I’d argue that racial and socioeconomic segregation have also played a role in this disparity. The cityhood movement that has taken much of the metropolitan area by storm over the past twenty years has fractured local governance to the point of immobility and made it nearly impossible to implement solutions that the region truly needs. Starting with the racist effort to build up Sandy Springs as a separate city rather than be annexed by the city of Atlanta like Buckhead was (two Sandy Springs spokesmen at the time claimed they would “instead build up a city separate from Atlanta and (its) Negroes and forbid any Negroes to buy, or own or live within (their) limits.”) and continuing with the creation of our town Johns Creek, Roswell, and others around the metropolitan

area, the region has fragmented itself into oblivion over bigotry and classism instead of trying to govern with the best interests of the people in mind. While Los Angeles has a footprint of around 468 square miles and New York has one of about 302, Atlanta’s city limits only cover an area of about 133 square miles despite the fact that it’s one of the largest agglomerations in the whole country. The host of the world’s 1996 Olympic Games, meanwhile, only has the ability to govern an area roughly the size of Kansas City, Kansas-yeah that’s right, not even the Missouri side- despite the fact that the population center spreads across nearly 29 Georgia counties. To solve this issue, perhaps the best option would be a New York style borough system. The city of Atlanta would oversee different districts like Buckhead, Sandy Springs, South Fulton, North Fulton, Dekalb, and East Cobb as a sort of compromise between the dire need for efficient, unified governance and localized control to appease the potency of the cityhood movement and its supporters. Even a metropolitan authority covering nearly five times what the current city government controls wouldn’t be that unrealistic considering that Greater London’s government covers around 600 square miles. Now, you may be asking why we can’t turn to the state government to solve traffic, sprawl, and the various other issues facing the region, but there are two problems with this. The first is that two Georgia politics have forced many state level politicians to bash the metropolitan area in order to appeal to rural voters who resent the success of Atlanta and are under the impression that the state government leaves the rest of the state behind in

favor of the city-- so because of this, Atlanta is often neglected by the state government because of the many politicians who must work against its success and starve the city of the resources it needs just to be re-elected. The second reason is that while much of the metropolitan area overwhelmingly votes for liberals and progressives, the state government is ruled completely by conservatives. Any reforms on the current state of the metropolitan area by these politicians would be imposed by a government with very different priorities than those of the people who actually live in it-- and minority rule is certainly no way to run a society. Time and time again the metropolitan area has failed to produce adequate solutions to traffic, infrastructure issues, suburban sprawl, and the various other woes of sunbelt living because the fragmentation inherent in having dozens of city governments trying to coordinate one effective solution to an issue ultimately stops anything worthwhile from actually being implemented in a manner that it could improve people’s lives. We can barely depend on one government organization to improve people’s lives-- why would we ever allow ourselves to rely on dozens? We need to stop thinking as isolated enclaves and individual cities, and instead act as a region to solve our issues. Nearly everyone living in the region is here precisely because of Atlanta, so for rinky-dink suburbs like Johns Creek and Sandy Springs to act as if they can solve all of their issues internally is patently ridiculous. We’re all connected. It might only be catching up to us now, but that’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it’ll always be. Why fight it?

THE MESSENGER | 29

music IRENE RHO, PHOTO EDITOR

ith 2018 ending and 2019 starting, take a look at some of 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exceptional and influential artists and their albums. Bazzi and A$AP Rocky started late spring/early summer with their albums producing multiple summer bops. Ariana Grande and Travis Scott kicked off the fall season with their highly praised albums, and the 1975 made their long awaited comeback with their third studio album.

Travis Scott ASTROWORLD

Bazzi COSMIC

Ariana Grande SWEETENER

A$AP Rocky TESTING

The 1975 A BRIEF INQUIRY INTO ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS

COLUMNS

no. 1 Luv Bug - Wassup Rocker Bloom - Troye Sivan It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You) - The 1975 Loving Is Easy - Rex Orange County The Story Never Ends - Lauv Floating - Alina Baraz ft. Khalid Coffee - Beabadoobee Falling for U - Peacy! ft. mxmtoon

no. 2 Bad Religion - Frank Ocean Hostage - Billie Eilish Call Out My Name - The Weeknd Gondry - HYUKOH Ghost Town - Kanye West Come Thru - Joji

Special Mention 88rising Head in the Clouds

8rising is a mass media company, but they are also known for the artists they sign to their label. Head in the Clouds is the collaborative album between the artists at 88rising including Rich Brian, Joji, Higher Brothers, Niki, and Keith Ape. The album includes collaborations with artists outside of 88rising as well such as Playboi Carti and Famous Dex.

Special Mention Beabadoobee Patched Up

8 year old Bea Kristi, also known as Beabadoobee, is known for releasing simple yet lyrically touching songs. Beabadoobee came out with her EP Patched Up at the very end of 2018, keeping her authentic and simple instrumental touch with her cozy lyrics. Patched Up exhibits Beabadoobee’s growth in writing her own lyrics as well as experimenting with different instrumentals to amplify the beauty in her simple melodies.

THE MESSENGER | 31

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