Vol. 16, Issue 6

the messenger

VOL 16/ ISS 6

the

sound of

VIOLENCE pg. 25

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 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

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MANAGING EDITORS

Alex Perry Chris Yarbrough

contents 05

EDITOR’S LETTER NITHYA MAHAKALA

18

TENNIS GIRLS UPDATE MEGHANA RAMINENI

35

FRENCH EXCHANGE STUDENTS JENNAH SOOKNANAN

06

19

36

ERIN SHIN

SHERRY LIANG

MONTHLY BRIEFS

SPORTS PROFILE

08

20

38

AKSHAY NAIR

KAUSHAL GANDIKOTA SOPHIA RIVERS

STAFF

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

GIRLS BASKETBALL

NOELLE REID

10

SCHOOL WALK OUT

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OPINION

FACEOFF

40

JENNIFER XIA

FOOD REVIEW BEN MINDER

14

25*

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KYNDAL DICKEY

STAFF

STAFF

NEW TRACK COACHES

THE SOUND OF VIOLENCE

16

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MEGAN CISTULLI

SUCHITA KUMAR

BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

OPINIONS STAFF

COLUMNS

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ADVERTISEMENT STAFF

THE MESSENGER | 3

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Never Again

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ach year, The Messenger publishes a unique edition of our monthly newsmagazine, an in-depth exploration of a single theme of our choice. In light of recent events, The Messenger Staff would like to dedicate this thematic issue towards the many individuals who have been affected by acts of gun violence in our country today, towards the activists who protest, fight and go above and beyond so we feel safe in the hallways of our very own schools, and towards the young students who have not let the sound of bullets silence the sound of their voices.

Adults are supposed to take care of children — not only keep them safe, but make them feel safe. Schools are essentially an extension of the home, in that sense, providing sanctuaries of learning, of nurturing and care. But after years of attacks by people with weapons of war, us students cannot feel safe and are demanding that adults end years of complaisance and act.

We are not asking for our schools to become armed garrisons. Rather, we want those weapons to be brought under control. And un-

like too many adults, the young people who lead the walkouts on March 14 at schools around the country — inspired by angry, motivated students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were killed by a former student with an assault weapon — have had the courage to take on the industry responsible for blocking every reasonable measure to limit access to guns, including those that make it all too easy to commit mass murder.

As Stoneman Douglas junior Florence Yared said in front of the Florida State Capitol late last month, “You adults have failed us by not creating a safer place for your children to go to school. So we, the next generation, will not fail our own kids. We will make this change happen. If not today, then tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, next year. Take it from us. You created a mess for us, but we will make this world safer for our children.”

Young voices are being heard. How will the nation’s adults respond? Hopefully, by amplifying their demand: Never again.

Nithya Mahakala, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

NEWS

IN BRIEF 3/13

On March 13, President Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson via Twitter.

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The Northview mock trial team´s reign of winning came to an end with their loss at the state championships. Despite not placing at state, the team still continues to display a positive attitude while working on preparing for tournaments next season.

“This season we were second in regionals and first in district, but at state we lost both rooms and did not advance, However, it was all a good journey and that’s what really matters,” senior Jiale Zheng said.

This past season, the team has undergone many changes with the addition of eight new members. The extension of the team has changed group dynamics, but also made the group closer and stronger as a whole.

Although the season has ended, the mock trial members are not done as they work hard to prepare for next year’s season.

3/17 Northview’s Child Rights and You clubs annual Holi festival was celebrated on March 17. Taking place at Shakerag Park, the yearly event consists of a fun-filled afternoon of playing with colored powder and enjoying food and family-time. Originating in the Indian culture, Holi represents hope and love in a community.

“Cry Holi is a great annual event where we celebrate the festival of color with friends and family, while fundraising for the underprivileged children across India and America,” Mehak Jain, sophomore co-president of CRY club said.

All the money collected from the raffle and ticket sales and food will go to underprivileged children across India and America to give them a chance at the best life possible. Sponsors are also a big element of this event, and the CRY club has worked very hard to maximize fun and funds with their partners. This year the event will be bigger than ever with over 400 people planning to attend.

“This year we are going to have a lot more people attending Holi, so we have amped up our t-shirts and the amount of food. I think [the event] is going to be great with more people coming,” sophomore Avni Mahatme said.

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

3/15

March Madness began on March 15.

Recently, selective students from Northview’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter participated in the yearly State Leadership Conference held at Hyatt Regency Hotel. Each participant competed in various events such as accounting, business calculations, economics, business ethics, etc., with the goal of placing as a top state winner to compete at the National Leadership Conference held in the summer in Baltimore, Maryland. FBLA’s competitive events recognize merit in a scope of business and career fields. These events are made to prepare students for successful jobs by creating a work-based environment.

3/4 The annual Oscars took place on March 4.

The mega retail store, Toys R Us, began closing stores due to its bankruptcy.

From March 8 to 10, Northview’s HOSA organization for future health professionals attended the annual State Leadership conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis hotel. Each participant studied to place in top three to attend International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, this coming summer. Many of the students’ hard work paid off, with several members placing in the top five for objective tests or presentation events.

“This is my second year going, and it’s a really great experience.

Placing top 5 shows you that your hard work pays off in the end, and it’s a really proud feeling,” sophomore and secretary Manavi Rao said.

The winning competitors are eager to show off their hard work at ILC this summer and portray the potential of hardworking Northview students.

THE MESSENGER | 7

New Paths of Achievement Next fall, Northview will implement the Junior Achievement P rogram, creating a school within a school NOELLE REID, STAFF WRITER

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orthview High School provides many elective classes and clubs for its students to pursue their interests in certain fields. However, some of the students at Northview feel as if there is not an opportunity for them to fill an interest in business and entrepreneurship. Other students would also like to have a more handson experience in high school. Due to these interests and concerns, Northview is adopting a new system of learning that cater to these wants and needs. This system of learning is being held through the Junior Achievement Program which aims to give students an understanding of how courses in school apply to real-life.

“Junior Achievement of Georgia... is partnering with schools, to help kids,” Principal Brian Downey said.

The Junior Achievement Academy will be open to around 150 rising ninth graders in August to start the new school year. This program will include all of the core English, Math, Science, and Social Studies courses that are needed to graduate, as well as Advanced Placement and Honors courses. All of these students will be sharing the same few teachers for the same subjects and going

about the day with each other.

“5-6 Teachers hired per grade level (4 core courses: 1-2 electives)- hired from standard funding formula,”Junior Achievement Vice-President Niambi Sampson said.

However, these courses are based on a slightly different curriculum as the students in the program are going to be learning five to six real-world case studies each year from corporate companies that have collaborated with the school through the program.

Students in this program will also go on off-campus field-trips to the business that would be holding the case study for the students.

“Students will engage in a continuum of learning experiences structured around relevant case challenges, site visits to corporations and colleges, internships, and more,” Sampson said.

This program will be located on the Northview campus, as a sectioned off part of the school building. Yet, the part of the school that is sectioned of the school for Junior Achievement, will need to be large enough to accommodate the new flow of students. The students in the program will still have access to all of the features of the

600

students by 2022

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school facility.

“What that means and looks like at Northview High School is that we will be creating a school within a school,” Downey said.

Junior Achievement students will also have the opportunity to be a part of the school’s available electives. They will also be able to take any of the art and foreign language courses offered at Northview. Junior Achievement participants are required to take an elective called ‘Business Technology” and they will also have more opportunities to take career, technical, and agriculture education or CTAE elective courses.

Hopefully, the program grows during the next four years as the 150 ninth graders move up in high school, gaining new members each year as more students are introduced to the program. Estimating to have around 600 participants by 2022 when the up coming freshmen are seniors. As of now, there is not a selection process set in place when it comes to gathering students. The current system is simply signing up for the program. To open its aim to all students in the county, the program will also accept middle school students from schools other than River Trail.

one hundred fifty ninth grade participants

The Achievement Trade-Off

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SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

espite the excitement and promise of the launch of the Junior Achievement Academy at Northview, some aspects of the program are at odds with the core values of our high school and the longstanding we as a school should be seeking to address.

There is much to be said for an approach to education that centers around business cases: namely, the applicability of this mode of education to a job, which may work to motivate students, as they see the real world function of the skills they learn in the classroom. However, there are some vital lessons students should learn in school-despite not being directly applicable to a business case. It remains to be seen whether Junior Achievement students will still read “Romeo and Juliet”, or “Of Mice and Men”. These works of literature may not impact the quarterly profits of IBM, but they have long been valued for their insight into the human experience. Next fall, Northview students and teachers will have to confront the question of how to value business skills against a more traditional exploration of curriculum. While many students will be eager to focus more heavily on practical concepts, educators must carefully weigh the exchange of one for the other, being careful not to sacrifice lessons for their lack of bearing on a business case.

While Northview touts an impressive selection of AP courses and its students frequently seek out extracurricular enrichment opportunities, standard on-level courses at Northview are frequently overlooked as an opportunity for innovation and improvement. But instead of focusing on Northview’s foundational classes, we have yet another initiative to provide specialized opportunities to those with highly specific interests. While the program has the potential to provide unparalleled opportunity and access to its participants, providing internships and hands on experience for a select group, who commit to this career-oriented path as early as ninth grade, it may prove to be alienating and even disadvantageous to the majority of students who choose the traditional high school experience.

For years, spectator sports at our school have struggled to rally an attendance at games. This points to a lack of school spirit, by most traditional measures of the term. Without large turnouts at frequent school sporting events, Northview students rarely rally around a shared purpose. One wonders if the Junior Achievement Academy, by creating a different curriculum and setting aside distinct teachers and a hallway for its students, would only further the feeling of disunity at our school.

Northview is great at building on its strengths, and a large number of high achieving students working towards their futures is one of these. But where school spirit and an emphasis on improving the quality of on-level classes is concerned, Northview is seriously lacking.

The Junior Achievement Academy seems like yet another initiative our school has put in place that will do nothing to solve these issues and instead has the potential to aggravate them. While the Junior Achievement Program hold promise to bring a group of motivated students closer to their career goals, administrators and teachers will have to work hard to make sure the program does not detract from the environment of the school as a whole.

THE MESSENGER | 9

NEWS

Voices Amongst the Silence Northview students openly express their voices as school shootings b ecome a growing issue.

JENNIFER XIA, STAFF WRITER

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n light of recent events sweeping across the nation, students have begun to rise above the politics and peacefully protest to honor the 17 lives killed earlier this year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Northview students have expressed grief and frustration over the increase of school shootings, even experiencing a scare at home with

a social media threat. With such tension in mind, a group of socially active seniors prepared the school to participate in the National School Walkout, a movement that has rapidly gained speed since the Florida high school shootings.

“It’s just us saying that all of us kids around the country can stand together and

IRENE RHO/STAFF WRITER

AMANDA BEARD/COPY EDITOR

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use our voice,” Maria Garcia, one of the seniors leading the movement at Northview, said. “It’s kind of like a baby step, just the beginning of the change for us.”

Even with Northview being one school out of millions in America, Garcia and senior Kristen Harold are passionate about speaking out against the lack of action taken by leaders of our country. The backlash for the movement has been clearly expressed across multiple types of media, either from specific ideologies or people doubting any impact from the protests. As both Garcia and Harold are emotional about the topic, something that hit close to home, they do not hold back on the criticism towards skeptics, both believing that the students can make a difference.

“I feel like so many people look down on our generation of kids, and now that they can see how strong we are and the difference we can make, it should change a lot of minds,” Harold said.

Northview’s walkout was planned for March 14, the one-month anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, and the day hundreds of thousands of schools across the nation were planning to protest. If they wanted to participate, students were supposed to peacefully walk out of class to the campus softball field where speeches and a 17 minute moment of silence were to be held in honor of the 17 lives tragically killed. Unfortunately, obstacles had to be overcome, one of which was the size of the crowd.

“It’s definitely hard to organize something with over 500 kids,” Harold said. “It’s hard to get the word out. And it’s hard to get everyone to be on the same page.”

With a school of over a thousand students, Northview definitely has a diverse amount of kids with varieties of opinions.

Of the several that wanted to participate vocally, only two students were able to voice a

full speech as it is difficult to organize multiple with little time to hold a protest. Leaders also had to be careful of controversial political topics in order to go through with the peaceful protest idea. Drew Hoffman, a senior who made a speech, had to be especially careful as he was afraid he may become the “face” of the walkout if things went wrong.

“The push, surprisingly, from the entirety of the initiative is very much more of a neutral stance, not leaning too liberal or too conservative, but just speaking to the desire of most Americans, “ Hoffman said.

Above opinionated and organization issues, there were the technical school issues. The most prominent was whether or not students would be disciplined for participating in the walkout. Talks about suspension, unexcused absence, and even marks on college applications were raised once the event was beginning to form. This matter caused a slight decrease in those who were going to participate. However, Superintendent Jeff Rose later issued statements regarding a change in schedule to accommodate the walkout, easing the minds of some who wished to participate.

Northview Principal Brian Downey also addressed the issue as he was asked for approval by leaders. Downey remained hesitant to give specific answers about punishments, support, or teacher participation. He would often coin the phrase “We can neither encourage nor discourage our students.”

Students were pleased with how Principal Downey handled the situation, knowing that

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he was doing what he could without violating rules that have been set in stone.

“I think they’re doing the best they can,” Garcia said. “Downey can’t really say he supports us or say he doesn’t support. But he did say that he’s proud we’re using our voice and standing up for something we’re passionate about and we believe in.”

Despite the initial drawbacks, the walkout plan continued to form. The issue regarding discipline blew over quickly, as most began to realize that with the amount of supporters already confirmed to show up, pun-

ating an almost somber mood amongst the crowd. Hoffman then delivered his speech on the need for activism from legislators.

Hundreds of students standing in the bitter cold stayed in silence until 10:17 am, honoring the 17 lives lost in the Florida shooting.

Following the protest, students had all different thoughts in mind;some were positive towards the outcome while others were about not even attending.

“I think it was a good first initiative for our school and other schools around us, and we should lead by example so that hopefully this message will spread through the entire country, “ Freshman Anoushka Misra said.

On the other hand there were those who did not participate, whether it was for not believing in the walkout or some other reason.

Junior Amy Tao expressed her trouble as she was in the middle of a test when the walkout was happening. Not wanting to risk her grade, Tao did not show up to the protest, but she did show support for the movement.

“I would have went if I was allowed to,” Tao said. “But I do support the movement.

I feel like if more schools were to walkout, it would definitely have more of an impact on a national standpoint.”

The walkout, being a first for Northview, came to be a success for those who supported the movement. Students were able to voice their opinions in a manner understandable to both authority and activists. Following this protest, students hope to continue with their freedom of speech, specifically on the next planned day, April 20.

It’ s j u s t u s s ayi ng th a t al l of u s ki ds a ro u nd th e cou ntry c a n s ta nd to ge the r a nd u s e o u r vo i c e .

Ma ri a Ga rc i a ishments could be nearly impossible. Those who were more involved personally even criticized the ones doubting.

“There’s always a consequence for your actions, and if you really believe in something, that consequence shouldn’t matter,” Harold said.

At promptly 9:45 am, students dressed in orange, white, and burgundy, left second period and walked to the softball field. Freshman Noelle Reid delivered a powerful poem on her feelings towards the shootings, cre-

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AMANDA BEARD/COPY EDITOR

THE MESSENGER | 11

JUSTINE ULRICH, PHOTO EDITOR

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The Northview community rallies to rememb er the 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.

THE MESSENGER | 13

New Track Coaches

Track starts off the season headed by new talent KYNDAL DICKEY, STAFF WRITER

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fter losing the majority of its coaching staff, Northview High School’s track team welcomes six new coaches to its ranks. Ryan Buchanan, Paige Gaillard, Courtney Harris, Danny Young, Derrick Harris, and Cara Reilly will head the program this spring. With roughly 160 athletes, the sport requires a huge coaching staff to take the role as leaders and mentors.

The new coaches plan on giving the new role their all whether it be learning new techniques to teach their athletes or motivating the competitors during practice and meets.

Courtney Harris has prior experience with coaching track for two years in Kansas, but coaching track at Northview will be her first experience mentoring athletics in Georgia.

Courtney Harris currently specializes in hurdles and sprinters, bringing years of coaching

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experience to the team. Courtney Harris will continue to help the runners who are new and inexperienced with their skill in hopes of cultivating the program for years to come.

With an emphasis on technique, specifically maximizing performance using blocks, core strength, and form, Courtney Harris hopes to give the young runners the tools they need to excel in the future. She makes her responsibility getting to know all of the athletes better each day at practice.

“When you have new blood come in, it gives the kids an opportunity to try something different,” Courtney Harris said.

Derrick Harris lacks experience with track but plans on devoting his time to help his athletes improve exponentially. He attended a throwing clinic at the University of Georgia in hopes of developing techniques

to share with his athletes. With many athletes showing promise, Derrick Harris plans on continuing to push the team further in the future. Derrick Harris plans to bring the team to some region meets and place in state whether it be individually or as a team.

“Overall we have a pretty great casting crew,” Derrick Harris said. “This year we hope to make a lot of noise.”

Paige Gaillard teaches math and is the new assistant Northview JV coach for sprinters. Gaillard is focusing on the athletes self-discipline and self-drive throughout the season; she believes in developing a better bond with each individual, allowing her to relate to the stress experience when they plan extra curricular activities. Thus, athletes can look up to her more when it comes to the all around aspect of being a student because she

SPORTS understands their stress level.

“Balancing academics and sports is hard, but anyone who tries will succeed,” Gaillard said.

Buchanan is a new Northview track coach in charge of boys sprinters and long jump. He ran track in high school allowing him to understand the mechanics of running and lifting as well as the nutrition on athlete needs. As this is the first year for the coaches, they will learn how to break the team into groups and who should coach each group. Buchanan’s goals are to find out what event is best for the athlete and what they want to run.

Learning how to accomplish hard techniques is one of Buchanan’s goals.

The coaching staff now has a great idea of what being a coach is and learning how to coach with each other.

Want more than to just say okay guys lets go out there and do the best we can.

“The characteristics I brings to the team are confidence, skill and technique. I’m not worried much about how one athlete runs but how we run it,” Buchanan said.

Reilly previously possessed the responsibility as her dad’s manager on the track team when she was in high school, as well as hosting track camps during the summer and all throughout college. Reilly’s primary focus this season is working with the distance

runners on the team. She instills that working hard every day will get them far within the sport of track. She expects her athletes to be there ever day and to demonstrate their commitment to the team. Reilly also runs marathons in her free time.

“It is important that the athletes know they are a part of Northview first and

gram, all of them can get behind and follow Young’s message.

“Every kid is important and once we get to know their talent their specific placement will be based off of what is best for them,” Young said.

Hedgecock is partaking in his fourth year here as a track coach at Northview High School. He has 42 years of experience coaching track and cross country in New York. Hedgecock’s responsibility as a track coach at Northview is to work with the distance runners, focusing on helping those kids who are interested, to become the best runners that they are capable of becoming.

“Each day’s work done well leads to success,” Hedgecock said.

“Those kids who show up every day, work hard, and remain injury free will improve.

Those with talent will improve even more,” Hedgecock said.

The fresh faces on the coaching staff will surely make profound changes to the track department at Northview. The addition of the new coaches should hopefully further help the athletes thrive on the track in an already promising program. With the state meet fast approaching, the impacts of a revived staff will soon be seen.

It is important that the athletes know they are a part of Northview first and they represent all of us, and a part of that is working hard every single day.

-Coach Danny Young

they represent all of us and a part of that is working hard every single day,” Reilly said.

Young is the new head coach but his specialty is jumps and mid-distance for track. He has had experience as a head track coach for eight years where Young led his teams to place in state. He brings an attitude focused on work ethic, knowledge, and being positive. Since every coach is new to the pro-

THE MESSENGER | 15

SPORT S

UPAS

Soccer Titans

Boys’ cope with lack of experience on the team while the girls’ chemistry is leading them to victory MEGAN CISTULLI, STAFF WRITER

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s both Northview Titan soccer teams kick off their seasons, the girls’ team proves to be a top competitor in the region while the boys’ team continues to cope with the lack of experience on their team.

Although the boys’ program has a lot of rebuilding to do over the next couple of years, the coaches are confident the team will be able to compete this year and finish with a strong record.

“We no longer have the numbers to keep a JV team so all we have in our program is what numbers we have on varsity,” head coach Jennifer Bar r said.

cent games, we have made tremendous strides as a team in that area,” senior Michael Owen said.

Although the girls might be facing some easier region competition because of the Developmental Academy players leaving, they continue to str ug gle with having younger girls on the team who totally lack experience, causing dysfunction on the field.

Further more, the newer and younger players have yet to get a feel for var-

that a big str ug gle for the team will be having young and new players that do not have that higher-level experience in the sport. Even though they may be considered underdogs, they are solely focusing on their game and improving. Through all the str ug gles, both teams have cultivated a healthy team environment with leaders paving the way.

“My captains have really impressed me with their leadership skills and their ability to nurture their teammates yet hold them accountable on the field this year,” Bar r said.

Both the girls’ team and boys’ team have similar backgrounds but have two separate outlooks for the long seasons ahead of them. While the girls’ team feels somewhat confident in their region, the boys feel like this will ultimately be another growing year for them to build a strong program. The coaches from both teams agree that the continued decrease in number of students wanting to play soccer will be their big gest str ug gle, specifically the foundation of younger teams to grow the programs. The coaches main focus right now during the season is training varsity making it difficult to prep younger kids for the speed of varsity games.

This season, like most others for the Northview soccer program, will be a roller coaster with both teams working hard to achieve their goals.

“My captains have really impressed me with their leadership skills and their ability to nur ture their teammates yet hold them accountable on the field this year”

PASNA KOTAKANDA/STAFF

On the girls’ side, the captains, seniors Shelby Shepherd and Rachel Nichols and junior Sydney Dachs, credit the bulk of their success to the way they play together on the field and acknowledge the fact that many opposing teams have lost a big portion of their skilled players to the United States Developmental Academy, which is a soccer league for top tier soccer athletes looking to further their career in soccer. The boys, on the other hand, were not so lucky.

“The big gest str ug gle this season has been adapting to others playing styles and molding as a team. In re-

Barr

sity level competition and really find their spots.

“We are ver y excited and can see a ver y good region record, and we hope for a deep r un into playoffs,” Nichols said.

On the other hand, the boys’ team started of the season with a region win against Chattahoochee. After watching and analyzing the game, the coaches, like the girls’ team, know

THE MESSENGER | 17

SPORTS

Work Together, Win Together Girl’s tennis starts the season strong and hopes to win a state title MEGHANA RAMINENI, STAFF WRITER

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orthview’s varsity girls tennis team is off to a very strong start this season. They have played six matches and gone 7-1; in fact out of the 30 lines they have played, they have only lost five of them.

The team has a variety of grade levels allowing for a mix of both youth and experience and is composed of three seniors, four juniors, and five sophomores, along with the addition of two freshmen this year. The two freshmen, Kayleigh Yun-Thayer and Sarah Yang, who are both highly ranked in the state and in the southern region, have brought about new skill that has become a great asset to the team.

Every practice, the girls work diligently and develop their skills after every game, whether they win or lose.

At the recent match against Cambridge High School, who won last year’s state Championship, the team fought valiantly, but they unfortunately could not pull away, and the final score was 2-3. Although it was a rough day on the court because of the weather conditions, the team maintained a positive outlook, striving for improved play next time.

“We had to keep in mind that they had to endure through the same conditions. For the future, I have a very strong feeling that

"

we will do much better against that strong team,” Yun-Thayer said.

The variety of skills among the advanced tennis players this year has made Coach Donna McCarthy, as well as the girls, excited for the future in terms of reaching their goals this year. After making it to the final four last season, the team strives for an even greater

supportive atmosphere can benefit the relationships amongst the team members and between the players and the coach.

“My team members cheer me on while I play, and they support me whether it’s a loss or a win,” junior Annie Feng said.

In this environment, new friendships can be created and the already strong bonds can become even stronger.

McCarthy strives to create a thriving environment and is the driving force behind the enthusiasm and aspirations of the team.

“Coach McCarthy is a very determined leader. She shows her incredibly nice side, but she also has this expressive motivation to reach our goal.

This spreads throughout the entire team,” Yun-Thayer said.

As tennis is largely an individual sport, the players have barely any practices and in-school coaching. However, as the team progresses throughout the season, each individual girl will contribute in their own way, which will hopefully yield another successful season. As the team continues to strengthen their relationships and work harder during practice, they hope to become as great as they can be in order to reach their full potential for the season.

My team members cheer me o n w h i l e I p l a y, a n d t h e y s u p port me whether it’s a loss or a win,

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-A n n i e Fe n g

goal this season: to reclaim a region title and then the state championship.

“I really see the potential these girls have,” McCarthy said. “I believe that we can do better than last year with these girls.”

In order to achieve their goals for the season, team bonding and creating strong relationships are key. Creating a friendly and

profile

highlights

Sarah Yang, 9 ERIN SHIN, STAFF WRITER

W

ith many years of hard work prior to coming into Northview High School’s varsity tennis team, freshman Sarah Yang is already setting the bar high. Although she is a very talented tennis player now, tennis was not her first option.

Yang played soccer but eventually chose tennis over soccer, drawn to the individual competition the sport provided. Despite choosing tennis, Yang gives a lot of thanks and credit to soccer.

“I played a lot of soccer when I was younger, which actually helped my footwork in tennis and made me faster,” Yang said.

Yang’s first encounter with tennis took place as a young girl playing with her dad

and sister at six years old. The rest is history as Yang instantly fell in love with the sport quickly excelling in various matches set up for young peers interested. Having played tennis at an early age created a dear advantage, giving Yang time and practice to work on her craft. Now in high school, she is more committed than ever to working harder, especially as a varsity player. Head girls varsity tennis coach, Donna McCarthy, knew she was a talented and special player when watching her at tryouts.

“You could see that she is a talented player and would be a definite asset to our team,” McCarthy said.

As an athlete, Yang and her coach both know how competitive she is, but her competitive spirit not only shines on the court, but off the court as well, knowing school and academics are just as important to her for the long run and for college. Being only a freshman, Yang is all for getting better and knows what to do and how hard she needs to work in order to help her continue to play throughout high school. Whether it’s analyzing her opponent’s strength and weakness before the game or watching their techniques and habits during warmups, Yang is constantly looking for ways to better herself. She

Played in Super National Hard Courts and Clay Courts Played for the Georgia team in Southern Cup Longest match: 4 1/2 hours

always enters the court with confidence and a strong willed mind set to beat her opponents.

“Sarah analyzes her opponent’s strengths and weakness and then forces on exploiting her opponents weakness,” McCarthy said.

“She appears strong mentally. As we get further into the season, her mental toughness will be tested,” Sarah’s teammates know well what Sarah can do on the court and knows she has a lot to offer the team and how it will benefit them throughout the rest of the season and along with future seasons.

“Every single match she plays she always finishes so quickly and with ease, which makes the rest of the team laugh.

Overall she just brings smiles to the other teammates,” teammate and senior Suma Yarabarla said.

Sarah is planning on playing all four years in high school and plans on competing at college levels. Even as a freshman, Yang has her mind set on an Ivy League that can provide both a rigorous athletic and academic experience for her.

“She has the skills to play college level tennis and anything beyond that is always a possibility with lots of hard work,” McCarthy said.

THE MESSENGER | 19

Finishing Strong Girl’s basketball finishes another strong season making it to the final four AKSHAY NAIR, SPORTS EDITOR

G

oing into the season, the girl’s basketball team expected to once again make a deep run in the state tournament. Despite losing graduated senior and leading scorer, Shanon Tittus, they managed to procure new talent which allowed them to produce another fruitful season.

The team finished the season 24-7, going 14-2 in region play, and marched into the final four before losing to eventual champions, Lovejoy High School. After making it to the semifinals last year as well, they hoped to make it further this year, but the team’s inexperience in the big stage led to them coming up short when it mattered most. Although on paper it may seem like the team remained stagnant from last season, the players and coaches have seen improvements in many areas.

“It may not have seemed like we succeeded much because we went to the same place and lost two times, but in reality, we

20

did. We overcame a lot this season,” sophomore Asjah Inniss said.

The Titans had numerous individual and team accolades throughout the season.

Overall, they improved from last year in points per game at 57.7, field goal percentage at 42%, and assists per game at 14.8.

The emergence of freshman guard Eden Sample and the continued rise of fellow sophomore guard Inniss, who was named to the region 7 first team, has increased the proficiency of the offense in terms of scoring and moving the ball around. Along with the two underclassmen handling the ball in the backcourt, the continued dominance of juniors Maya Richards and Ashlee Austin in the frontcourt has made the Northview offense a powerhouse, and there are no easy shots inside the paint because of the size and length of the two. Averaging nearly 17 points per game and 10 rebounds per game, Austin was named the Region 7 player of

the year and feels the award as validation for her hard work and as motivation for the future.

“Getting that award really felt like validation that the blood, sweat, tears, and love I put into the sport didn’t go unseen, and now, the goal is to push even harder to hopefully win more awards next year,” Austin said.

For the Titans, region play began on Nov. 28, and they started strong, winning five successive games before suffering their first loss to Alpharetta High School.

Despite holding a 44-42 lead entering the fourth quarter, they were outscored 9-17 in the final eight minutes. Learning from their mental mistakes in the tough defeat, the Titans went on another mid-season streak rattling off eight more wins in a row. They once again faced Alpharetta on Jan. 30 seeking vengeance, but they unfortunately once again came up short 46-54. Despite the two

SPORTS

losses ruining the chance for a perfect region record, the humbling lesson taught by the losses greatly helped the team in preparation for the region tournament.

“It showed we’re not unbeatable. The year before we cruised through the region; we had a couple tough games, but for the most part, we weren’t really challenged night in and night out,”head coach Chris Yarbrough said. This year it was a lot different, so we have to know that we’re going to get everyone’s best effort every night.”

The regular season provided an immense amount of practice and experience for the region tournament. They scraped by Johns Creek High School in the semi-finals 5753 and coasted through Pope High School in the championship game 65-43.With the dominant performance, they were able to win the tournament and lock up their spot in the state tournament.

In the state tournament, the Titans

breezed through their first two opponents, Gainesville High School and New Manchester High School respectively, with both victories coming at over 20 points. In the quarterfinals, however, they faced stiff opposition from Coffee County. It took an imposing double-double from Austin with 24 points and 15 rebounds for the team to scrape by the Trojans 61-57. When it came to the final four matchup against Lovejoy high school, the Titans knew they had to be excellent in every aspect of their game. Like Northview, Lovejoy made it to the semifinal last year but was bounced out by the eventual champions; however, this year they came back stronger and were determined to lift the title. The Titan’s game was marred with turnovers, and the fast pace of the opposing guards caused numerous problems.

Furthermore, early foul trouble for Austin allowed for Lovejoy’s frontcourt to dominate the paint and set the tone early on. At

times, Northview was able to keep the score close, but the final score ended up being a blowout: 70-42.

“Lovejoy was a tough game because we had a game plan, and we knew that we had to play our best possible game, but it just seemed like everything went wrong.

No shots were falling, [there were] too many turnovers, and we were simply overwhelmed,” Austin said.

With another semi-final finish under their belt, the Titans can use their final four appearances as motivation to come back next year even more determined and compete for their first state championship in school history.

“We [want] to build off of the great connection we had this year and learn from our mistakes on how we can grow more as a team and individually, and it’s going to take a lot of hours in the gym, but we all want this more than anything,” Sample said.

THE MESSENGER | 21

MIRA SYDOW/MANAGING EDITOR

crispy fried pork

Food Review Masterpiece Duluth’s unique and diverse Chinese cuisine BEN MINDER, STAFF WRITER

C

hinese food is generally accepted as a go-to option for dinner. Most people have something they like, and there is an abundance of these locations around town, situated in the most unexpected places. This month, tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, we found Masterpiece.

Aptly named, this Sichuan sit-down was full of richly crafted surprises. We were able to sample the array of different delicacies that it had to offer.

Well attended but sufficiently intimate, Masterpiece’s interior stands in stark contrast to its drab window front, wedged between a QuikTrip and Buford highway. Its slogan: “no frills Chinese dining” couldn’t have been more spot on, and while the surroundings may not have been the ideal for a romantic

22

date night or a formal occasion, the food exceeded all expectations.

The first thing that came to the table was the Crispy Fried Pork. A tantalizing starter, the serving left me wanting more. The dish came with a variety of spices, but you can choose to leave them off if they are too overwhelming. However, I highly recommend adding as many spices as you can handle, as they added a level of depth to an already appetizing pork. The Crispy Fried Pork was a promising start to the meal.

The next dish we ate was the Pork Intestines. This dish was spicier than the last, and its chewy texture sharply contrasted the dry, crispy pork. It was tossed with pepper, onions, and an exotic blend of spices. The intricate interplay of flavor was a fitting chaser to

the crispy pork, but it was not filling enough to satisfy our hunger. Although this dish did not compare to its crispier counterpart, I would still strongly recommend ordering this dish for its subtle yet mouthwatering taste.

After two pork dishes, we were hoping for something a bit lighter, and that came in the form of the Fried Squid. It was surprisingly tender, tossed with greens, peppers, and once again, many other spices. It had a golden color, and the squid was perfectly fried.

Not only did we fight over the last piece, but at one point we completely forgot we were eating squid. It was also served with Mala, which is a Chinese pepper that leaves a tingly sensation on the lips. After eating it, it leaves a cooling sensation whenever you take a breath. However, don’t be put off by the

FEATURES

*This article is not sponsored by Masterpiece

Masterpiece 3940 Buford Hwy, Duluth, GA 30096 (770) 622-1191

fried squid pork intestines spice; it enhances the flavor of the dish by providing depth to the dish.

The last thing we ordered was Vegetable Fried Rice. While there was nothing that stood out about it, the dish stood on par with the rest of the meal. The rice was well-done, and the mixed vegetables in it complemented the food. This was the only thing we ordered that was not very spicy, but it was still above average compared to other restaurants.

Overall, Masterpiece was a very pleasant surprise. It does not look like much when viewed in passing, but every aspect of our meal tasted amazing. Even if you are not a big fan of Asian cuisine, I would still recommend it, as the variety of dishes could appease to any palate.

THE MESSENGER | 23

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the soundof violence features

SHERRY LIANG, FEATURES EDITOR JACK LOWRANCE, OPINIONS EDITOR SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THE MESSENGER | 25

aftermath.

O

n Friday Feb. 16, Northview students and teachers were recuperating from the shock of yet another mass shooting, but for most, this one hit closer to home. A school that everyone once considered to be a safe haven suddenly evolved to a place of high alert and paranoia. The shift of a desk, the dropping of a textbook, a slam of the door were all enough to send students scrambling out of their seats.

The ring of the fire alarm, however, was the absolute tipping point.

Just days after news broke out of the shooter’s methods in using the fire alarm, the shrill ring became a call for panic, provoking a chorus of sobbing and screaming from emotionally exhausted students. Clutching their friends and calling their family, the parking lots flooded with anxious students and teachers, while parents scrambled to get in touch with their children.

The source of the panic traces back to Wednesday afternoon when county maintenance came to replace six valves on the air conditioning units above the band room.

While the fire alarms were going off during the reparations, eventually everything was resolved and seemed to have returned back to normal.

On Thursday afternoon, a social media post from November began circulating on Instagram. The post warned Northview students “not to come to school tomorrow,” with a picture of a boy holding a rifle. Although Johns Creek Police and Northview administrators later concluded that the outdated post was directed at a Northview High

"“

already on edge given the events of the past week, and before all concerns regarding the social media post were formally resolved, at approximately 12:45 pm Friday afternoon, a valve in the air conditioning unit above the band room malfunctioned, triggering the alarm to go off.

On any other day, students would have filed out of the building in organized lines; however, on this day, the fire alarm interjected whispers of rumors and threats, provoking a tense environment to its limits. Many students were still at lunch with no direction from teachers. People sprinted to their cars and scrambled to contact family and friends as they struggled to make sense of the eerie sequence of events in the past 48 hours.

While all of the chaos unfolded, Principal Brian Downey was in a plane on his way to Colorado for a weekend vacation with his family. Since this Friday was previously scheduled as a day off for students and teachers before the inclement weather, Downey planned a weekend ski trip to visit family; however, what he could not plan was the series of unfortunate events that ensued, one after another.

In Downey’s place, Assistant Principal Robert Hunter and Secretary Barb Rettker

T h e r e’ s a l w a y s c o n s e q u e n c e fo r y o u r a c t i o n s , a n d if y o u b e l i e v e i n something, that conseq u e n c e s h o u l d n ’ t m a t t e r.

26

-Kristin Harold School in Dothan, AL, between the nearly 2,000 students at Northview, the post began spreading like wildfire, while anxiety and doubt permeated through each student who came across the post.

The following day, just two days after the incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the morning after the circulation of the social media post, everyone was

"

*

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Jan. 31 Philadelphia, pa feb. 09 Oxon hill, MD

feb. 01 Los angeles, cA

mar.20 lexington park, md

Jan. 23 benton, ky feb.11 Nashville, tn Jan. 22 italy, tX

feb.07 Birmingham, al Jan. 22 New Orleans, LA

*

FEb.14 parkland, FL

S chool s h o o t i n g d ef i n e d a s an i ns tanc e in wh ic h a weapo n was f i re d on s chool gro un d s a n d re sul t e d i n at l eas t o ne pe rso n b ei ng sh o t

took over communications, working around the clock to quell the panic of students and parents. Rettker, who also works closely with the front office, responded to endless phone calls of concerned parents.

“It made a bad situation with the social media post escalate to an even worse situation because it was a mimic of what had happened earlier in the week with the Parkland shooter,” Rettker said. “We did have quite a few kids leave campus that day; understandably so, nobody can put blame on anyone who’s feeling threatened or afraid.”

The panic that day only reaffirms the wave of paranoia following the Parkland shooting with students and parents alike. Rashmi Pandey, mother of sophomore Binayak Pandey,

has been paying close attention to the recent events, and as a mother, her perception of safety in schools is gradually evolving. Her son is also extremely involved in the Northview Walkout movement after being inspired by other students, and witnessing the effect of these incidents on her son and students across the country, Pandey is changing the way she views the future of safety in America.

“I think the aftermath of Parkland shootings has hit us harder than ever before.

I don’t think I would be reacting the same way [to the fire alarm] if it weren’t for that heart wrenching event,” Pandey said. “I just hope and pray that what happened in Florida would be the last school shooting, and I truly believe that the new generation will definite-

ly bring a revolution.”

While the paranoia brought a needed level of awareness to the issue of school safety, it also brought attention to a rise in sensitivity in day to day conversation. Junior Austin Chen recently received Titan Opportunity School for posting a comment on Google Classroom, which was reported as a threat. Quoting a famous line from the movie Taken, another student misperceived his intentions and filed a report, leading to his punishment. While everything was eventually talked through and sorted out, it was still a wake up call for him to be more conscious of the way other people may perceive the things he says.

“I obviously wasn’t happy with it, but I could understand why,” Chen said. “It

THE MESSENGER | 27

was during a very sensitive time for everybody, and my teacher told me to think about what I say before I do it.”

However, the heightened paranoia for another school shooting is not an outlandish concern, considering the handful of threats in Georgia alone. On Feb. 28, Dalton High School made national headlines after a teacher fired a gunshot inside a locked classroom, and at Peachtree Ridge High School, a group of students exploited the fear of the student body in order to wrongfully accuse another student for imposing a threat. Over a month later, many students are responding to their fear with resilience and activism, and for some, their connections to the tragedy extend well beyond just being a high school student.

Seniors Giulia Jackson and Laura Rincon have both lived in Florida near Parkland, and many of their friends were directly affected by the shooting. Because of this, both of them have spearheaded the movement at Northview High School, inspired by their personal connections to make a change.

Jackson was going to attend Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School before she moved to Johns Creek, and many of her friends relayed their experiences of those harrowing moments.

“I was getting updates from my friend and little sister, and she was telling us how she was hiding in a closet,” Jackson said. “She couldn’t text us in case her phone notification went off, so while it was happening we were getting the updates from her, and that was terrifying.”

Rincon personally knew one of the victims of the shooting, and this incident sparked a yearning in her to inspire change

in society.

“To me this whole movement has been a personal issue. It’s something I want to make a change for because it hurt a lot, and it’s something tough to get over with,” Rincon said. “If he can’t fight for this I can.”

While the natural reaction of the student body was initially fear, many students have taken this to fuel a different emotion, one that is beginning to demonstrate the potential of this future generation. As this high school generation nears closer to the voting age, teenagers are taking a stand to shape the future they want to live in. Freshman Ishani Datta found a calling in the movement at Northview, and as she enters high school, she is witnessing the importance for students to speak up.

“The continuation of activism will let our congressmen know that we are not too young to take a stand,” Datta said. “No child should have to walk into their school and feel concerned for their safety.”

As a principal, as a father, and as a figurehead for the Northview community, Downey finds himself in a precarious position between leader and protector for the students and staff at Northview; however, at the end of the day, all of Northview is working together in fostering a safe environment to learn, to teach, and to care for one another in.

“I preach to our teachers, and my team, and myself to get to know the kids, care about the kids, love on the kids, be compassionate about our kids, and let that be the basis of everything else,” Downey said. “If we can create that atmosphere where our kids can trust the adults and our kids can trust each other, then we can take off and do some amazing things.”

guns

threats

to student safety

due to

in G eorgia in

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2018

ACTIVISM. W

hen Kristen heard the news, she wept.

She read the stories. Watched the videos. Social media let her to hear the sharp ‘bang,’ ‘bang,’ ‘bang’ of the AR-15 interrupting Parkland student’s screams for mercy as if she were right there with them.

She was rattled to her core.

Looking at her, you could tell she was in over her head. Her hands trembled. And the pace of her voice picked up as she continued to talk. She normally stays out of politics.

But enough was enough. She was tired of being afraid.

“I don’t want anyone to ever have to feel

like that,” Kristen said.

And then there’s Maria. She sat crosslegged. Never took her backpack off. And she fixed her dark brown eyes on a distant spot on the wall as she spoke. But her priority wasn’t eye contact. She wasn’t trying to make anybody feel good. She was here to articulate her vision. She wanted action.

When Maria heard the news, she felt numb. The shock factor of past shootings was nonexistent with Parkland. It was just another one. Just another tragedy to add to a long list of tragedies. She felt hopeless. But then she listened to the speeches. She watched the

videos. And read the stories about the survivors. All at once, the emotion came storming back. She knew something needed to be done to end the bloodshed. It was up to her and her friends to take a stand.

“We don’t want more kids dying,” she said. “It’s enough. We’ve had enough.”

That night, Maria opened up her phone to find a discussion about walking out in the Senior Class GroupMe. She liked what people had to say. But she sensed an undertone of apathy. It’s rare that she ever sends anything in it, but this time was different. She was done.

It started with one text.

THE MESSENGER | 29

“Are you guys willing to do this or not?” she said. “Because we shouldn’t have felt the way we felt today.”

And then things started to snowball.

Maria and Kristen and their friends Giulia Jackson and Laura Sofia were serious. They started a seperate group chat to organize their protest. First, it had 60 people. After an hour or so, 200. Within 24 hours, it was full at 500 members.

At first, they had some difficulty in rallying everybody around one central message.

“It’s hard to keep everybody on the same page,” Maria said.

There were lots of false rumors. Plenty of doubters. And they felt like everybody wanted to interject their opinion as to how they should run things.

They also struggled in convincing their fellow students that the punishment for walking out was worth it. Fears circulated about possible suspensions, unexcused absences, and grade penalties. Regardless, they think the protest is well worth it.

“There’s always a consequence for your actions,” Kristen said. “And if you believe in something, that consequence shouldn’t matter.”

Fears about possible punishment proved to be unfounded.

And ultimately, they were able to unite everyone around one plan.

On March 14, one month after the Park-

land massacre, Kristen, Maria, Giulia, Laura, and around 750 other Northview students walked out of class. They had finally gotten the protest they wanted. They battled the blistering wind and frigid morning temperatures all the way down to the softball field. Senior Drew Hoffman gave a speech.

And junior Noelle Reid recited a poem to the crowd. Parents congregated on the sidewalk just past the fence at the top of the hill.

Trucks honked their horns in support as they passed the crowd.

But this is just the beginning. The young activists plan on staging more and more protests until they get what they want.

“For us,” Maria said. “this is just a baby step.”

They hate to hear pundits and politicians try and discredit their movement because of their age. They think it’s their turn to step up and demand change because the adults in charge have failed. All they want is to feel safe at school again.

Maria and her friends hope that politicians are paying attention. They promise to fight to vote stubborn politicians out of office.

“They should know we’re not going to stand down,” she said. ”We will come for you.”

They plan to stage another protest on April 20. They’re furious. And don’t plan to rest anytime soon.

NRA

the amount of money the

donated to

Donald Trump in the 2016 election:

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$31,000,000

30

A

lthough many students vocally expressed their dissatisfaction at the perceived lack of action in Washington, many are less pleased with the changes made on a school wide level. Hats and hoodies, though they have never been officially condoned, are now strictly forbidden. School entrances are now locked and closely monitored; students entering late must buzz in at the front entrances. The halls are locked down during lunches, administrators stand at posts in the larger corridors.

“I think they’re excessively restrictive,” Jose Altrista, a senior, said of the new lunch period policies limiting student movement through the school. “Instead of protocols monitoring the halls there should be protocols about entering and leaving the school.”

Understanding the student body’s dissatisfaction with these changes, principal Downey has expressed a level of reticence to exert this amount of control over the school building.

“There’s a fine line between making sure things are tight and our kids are safe, and creating a prison-like atmosphere,” Downey said.

Nevertheless, enforcement remains unwavering, as students must now carry passes to traverse the halls, and many teachers now give out detention to students caught entering through a side door.

“Every time we tighten up or change something that impacts the student body, I wrestle with: ‘Are we changing this because of one kid?’ So the other 1800 kids can’t do anything. It’s that one percent that scares us and keeps us up at night,” Downey said. “We don’t want to lock the doors either, but we do.”

ACTIon. avoid.

DENY.defend.

THE MESSENGER | 31

In addition to stricter rules and accountability for students, administration has worked closely with local law enforcement to promote better communication and adequate preparation- all with the hopes that the training never has to be put to use. Although Northview is technically under the jurisdiction of the Fulton County Police Department, in case of an emergency, the Johns Creek Police and Fire department, based just down the road, would be the first to respond.

In response to increased concerns regarding school safety, the Johns Creek police department has increased their own level of preparedness.

“The Johns Creek Police Department has been and is currently updating our training and response to active shooter incidents,” Officer Ken Kennebrew said. “Our training consists of responding safely to the scene, entering the building, building clearing and engaging the shooter, and rendering aid to the injured. I feel that by being proactive in out patrol routines and giving extra attention to our schools, will assist in deterring someone from entering our schools and hurting our kids.”

Part of maximising the swiftness and effectiveness of the Johns Creek police’s response to a threat, is working to familiarise themselves with the layout of the school.

“Looking at a black and white piece of paper of a school layout is nothing compared

32

to actually walking the halls and getting familiar with the staff, offices, classrooms, gymnasiums, cafteries, exits, and entries,” Kennebrew said.

The attitude of increased vigilance and cooperation between administration and police was seen at the student walkout on March 14, where police were stationed just outside of the perimeter of Northview’s campus.

As unsettling as it may be to watch administration and law enforcement preparing their response to the threat of a school shooting, students will be tasked with considering their own response as well.

“If you guys are old enough and worldly enough to protest, you guys are old enough to know, how should we respond… if there is an active shooter in the building,” Downey said. “And I’m so, sorry, to have this conversation with our kids.”

Despite the difficulty of the conversation, of even considering the implications of such a situation, the Parkland shooting and all too similar events before it have left little room for silence surrounding the issue.

“What I have already delivered to staff, is a protocol to respond to an active shooter. So, the worst of the worst has happened, we’ve heard a gunshot. What do we do?”Downey said.

In the case that an active shooter were to assault the school, students are directed to consider three courses of action: Avoid,

Deny, Defend. C.R.A.S.E. (Civilian Response to an Active Shooter Event) are classes taught through the Johns Creek police department, that demonstrate this course of action. Community education is key, since the emphasis in the event of an active school shooter is on individualised responses, based largely on location and access to an exit.

“It’s not a school wide decision; it now becomes a localised decision. Meaning we, in this classroom have to decide for ourselves how we respond. The idea of doing a school wide protocol does not exist. Because what’s happening on one side of the building might be vastly different than what’s happening on the other side of the building. The response for what happens on the one hundred hall, should be different than what happens [in the 700 hall],” Downey said. “Protocol may not be the right word. We have a response.”

“My first response should be ‘can I get away’. Do I have an escape route. Get away Leave.Evacuate.Run. Evade,” Downey said, describing the avoidance step students should take if the assailant is at a part of the school far enough away to afford them a relatively safe path of evacuation. However, if the assailant is sufficiently close, making this impossible, students are directed to move to the deny step.

“Deny. What that means is deny access.

If something is going on, right down the hall.

We do everything and anything possible to

deny access to us. We’re grabbing desks, we’re grabbing chairs. We’re locking that door,” Downey said.

This classroom barricade is meant to block out an assailant, preventing their entrance to the classroom, but in the event that the assailant should gain access to the classroom, students must proceed to the third layer of response: defence.

“And the third is-and I’m going to get choked up here- you’ve gotta fight. If you can’t get away, you can’t deny, you’ve gotta fight. We have to be the aggressors at that point. We grab what we can grab, to hell with all the rules. We fight,” Downey said.

The fact that these conversations are necessary for student’s safety does not make them any easier for the parents, teachers, administrators, and for children who are forced to consider what they would do if the worst of the worst came to pass.

“I’ve discussed ‘what if ’ scenarios with my child when it comes to her school and what to do if faced with life of death situations,” Kennebrew said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t worry about her, it means I’ve given her knowledge to help herself and others survive.”

The three-tiered individual response plan, “Avoid deny defend”, is just that- knowledge to help students defend their own lives.

“That’s something I have to put in front of the student body and I’m dreading that,” Downey said.

Feb. 14: 17 students are killed by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz in Parkland, Florida Feb. 21: NRA representative Dana Loesch and Senator Marco Rubio, among others, speak to communities exposed to gun violence Feb. 21: White house listening session with Parkland students and parents

Mar. 9: Florida passes the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act which addresses mental health, firearm safety, and school safety

Mar. 14: Walkouts are held across the country to advocate for safer schools and increased gun control

Mar. 24: An estimated 800,000 people attend The March for Our Lives event in Washington D.C., and millions more march around the world.

Apr. 20: Marches are planned across the country to enact change in gun laws THE MESSENGER | 33

FEATURES

Shining a Light

How struggles from the past affect struggles in the future SUCHITA KUMAR, STAFF WRITER UPASNA KOTAKONDA/ STAFF

B

lack History Month, celebrated all throughout February, is a time of racial recognition and cultural celebration. The past is remembered for its progress, and industrious individuals such as Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks are honored for their sacrifices. Though major issues such as slavery and segregation have been dismantled from a once pernicious society, the recollection of such events allows us to prevent the exploitation of other minorities and maintain a degree of harmony.

Northview’s Black History Club aims to promote their ideals by uniting the student body and educating them about the historic struggles and triumphs of African Americans. Club members strive to use those experiences to positively impact the community through raising awareness of discrimination that may exist in today’s society.

Black History Club president and Northview senior Christyn Carr works diligently in organizing events for the club throughout the year. Through research regarding black oppression throughout history, she and her officers were able to put together the Black History Show last month. They made sure to exemplify black pride through the various scenes and interpretive dances.

“We also have meetings during which we

talk about common things we have all experienced as black students in our world and how we can make change,” Carr said.

Members of the club have benefited from having a group to support their perspectives as well. Junior Keren Kapwadi has experi-

Rights museum in Atlanta. About 40 members went on the trip spent the day learning more about civil rights, how specific minorities have overcome oppression, and the battles African Americans still face today in the workplace and politics.

A few members of the club also put together a dance performance for Northview’s annual International Night.

The step team represented Nigeria and the Congo through a step routine they had practiced for months. Their goal was to produce an act that represented a part of Africa as well as incorporating their own cultural heritage.

Altogether, the Black History Club advocates for black pride in order to prevent the history of African Americans in the United States from repeating itself. They have emphasized the significance of the mixing pot of cultures in the United States and the need to fulfill the clause of equality regardless of skin color.

The club has reached new levels of maturity and self expression though their mission and will continue to expand their sphere of influence.

“Knowledge is power. As our community learns more, we are empowered to avoid bigotry and make wiser choices regarding our relations with one another,” Kapwadi said.

“I had several racist experiences during which I felt ashamed of my race.”

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- Keren Kapwadi

enced racism when being schooled in environments inside which African Americans had been a minority, but being apart of the club has enabled her to express herself candidly.

“I had several racist experiences during which I felt ashamed of my race,” Kapwadi said. “Being a part of this club has allowed me to feel proud and to voice the community’s issues freely.”

Black History Club took a field trip to the National Center for Civil and Human

FEATURES

France to Atlanta

Northview opens its campus to 22 French students as part of an annual foreign exchange program JENNAH SOOKNANAN, STAFF WRITER

E

very other year, about 20 French students come spend a week or so at Northview’s High School, where they live with their assigned host family and experience both school and home life in Johns Creek. Last spring, Northview sent 22 students to France. This exchange program allows students to improve their language skills and gain first-hand experience with a different culture. Exchange programs can open the international door for students and spark interest in study abroad programs. While discussing this years exchange Northview French teacher, Radhika Godbole expressed that, “The exchange program gives students the opportunity to experience the French language and culture beyond the classroom.

Students gain a better and deeper knowledge of the everyday life in a French city - when you experience another culture, it usually makes you more open-minded and respectful of cultural differences,” Godbole said.

While the students who visited Northview this March already had a good idea of the American culture through the media and

their own English classes, they were also appropriately matched to a Northview student and their family in a way that fits their personality and allowed them to be comfortable in a new environment.

Northview students had an image of what French culture was from their own French class but in preparation, they were also required to attend two meetings where they were informed of common French etiquette that they should respect along with popular French customs.

Sophomore Joshua Laurent was matched with his French equivalent named Thomas.

Laurent was hoping to learn more about the French culture and what it would be like to know someone who was from somewhere as different as France.

“Most of the kids, including myself were nervous at the beginning of the program because we had never had experience with a foreign student, so we did not know what was coming. The French kids turned out to be really good English speakers and shared a lot of the same interests that we did. They listened to the same music, liked to eat the

same food, etc,” Laurent said.

The exchange at Northview began with an organization called Junior Diplomat, which allowed students to take part in exchange programs over their school break.

When this received an initial positive reaction from students and their parents, the idea came to light of a school exchange that would open more opportunities for students in an educational setting. Ten years ago, a school in Toulouse took advantage of the agreement between the Georgia Department of Education and its French equivalent in northeastern France and began the exchange.

Since then, there have been four exchanges with a school in Thionville, France. Teacher’s motivation to keep the program running comes directly from the reactions they see from students, “When we see how invested the students are on this trip and how positively it impacts them we are motivated to keep doing this exchange program,” Godbole said.

Plans for next year are already being put in place to take a group of 22 Northview students to France again in the spring of 2019.

THE MESSENGER | 35

AMANDA BEARD/MANAGING EDITOR

Striving for Freedom Given the recent string of school shootings, America is in need of a wake-up call in gun reform SHERRY LIANG, FEATURES EDITOR Parents rally in support of their kids during the walkout March 24, standing on the road due to restrictions on being allowed on campus.

H

ow will they remember me?

Will they lie and say, “She always had a smile on her face and loved everyone she talked to”? Or, will they model their obituary off my college resume and say, “She was a hardworking senior, president of several clubs, played Varsity tennis, and was ready for college”?

Or worse, they’d say, “What a coincidence. She was the girl who just wrote an article about our gun control laws. And no one did anything to save her.”

Tomorrow morning, I will wake up and go to school, and my parents will see me out the door, as they’ve done for the past twelve years. At the end of second period, Principal Brian Downey will tell me, “It’s a great day to be a Titan.” To some degree, I will believe him.

I believe him because I trust him. I trust him because I know that Northview will give me the quality of education necessary for me to succeed, that my only job is to work hard, and the rest will fall into place.

The unspoken truth, however, is that I trust that Northview will keep me safe. My parents trust that it will keep me safe. My friends trust that it will keep them safe. And on Feb. 14, 2018, our school system failed us. America failed us.

36

America failed my family and friends around me. It failed my peers and teachers who work so diligently to make their mark in this country. But most importantly, it failed those seventeen lives, and it failed the lives lost before them. Those lives live in classrooms, in families, and on sports teams.

Those lives are students awaiting their college acceptances or teachers waiting to go back to their families. Those seventeen lives have taught, laughed, and lived in the walls of every high school, but that day they were silenced.

Please stop saying “he would’ve done it anyway” or “it’s not a gun issue; it’s a mental health issue.” Maybe all of those things are true, the one thing no one can deny is that he did it with an AR-15. An AR-15: a semi-automatic, legally purchased military-grade gun, which was used in Sandy Hook, which was used in Santa Monica, which has been used in San Bernardino, Orlando, Las Vegas, and now Parkland, Florida.

No, I don’t have a one-time, fix-all solution. If you sent me to Capitol Hill right now, I wouldn’t be able to come up with a comprehensive plan or bill. I wouldn’t be able to take the AR-15s out of the hands of the mentally ill or the hands of die-hard NRA lobbyists. But I also don’t get paid an

average $174,000 every year to protect our nation. I am seventeen-years-old, and all I have is a life ahead of me, which I need politicians to protect me for.

Mental health reform, tighter security, thoughts and prayers, whatever it takes, but if, for one moment, someone tells me again that gun control won’t do anything, tell me why we should be giving normal citizens military guns. Tell me why, in the last few mass shootings, the same mistake was made over and over and over again by the FBI, the gun stores, the shooters’ friends and neighbors. Why their suspicious backgrounds were overlooked, why their licenses were not checked. Why purchasing an AR-15 was as simple as buying ice cream from a store.

We’ve succumbed as a nation at the hands of a few mentally ill and an amendment written over two hundred years ago.

The second amendment is not freedom.

Freedom is walking outside my house knowing that my country has done all that it can to keep me safe. Freedom is not having to worry that guns have legally been placed in the hands of mentally unstable individuals.

Freedom is knowing our desperation will be heard, and action will be taken.

Freedom is living free of fear, and for now, freedom is dead.

OPINIONS

“Best Friends” During Northview’s walkout on March 24, freshman No elle Reid delivered a slam poem, five minutes b efore a moment of silence for the lives lost NOELLE REID, STAFF WRITER

I

like looking at people’s eyes whenever I talk to them I can gauge a sense of who they are Through all of their lack of eye contact and facial movements I gauge a sense of who they are Like my friend, Kayla She has the wildest bright blue eyes I’ve ever seen Like indigo dyed strands of wool Weaved into a cerulean blanket Eyes that remind me of water that crashes on the beach we walk on when I visit Reminds me of azure text bubbles sent about communist Russia As Orwell is her favorite author.

But her dad has dark brown eyes like my friend, Briana Her eyes are framed by purple bangs In sunlight, you can see all the swirls in it them Swirls that make them look like coffee art Her eyes light up even brighter, They twinkle like stage lights when she talks about the play she’s gonna be in this April Then there’s my friend Taylor, who has a twin brother named Thomas They have the same hazel eyes like their mother, shaped like their almond eyes They raise their eyebrows as if to communicate in Morse code I looked into the eyes of the victims of the parkland shooting

Looking at their pictures was like looking in a funhouse mirror All of them looked like me, but not like me simultaneously.

Looking at their pictures made my stomach turn Made my insides a ferris wheel My heart a gymnast Made my skin err-put into goosebumps Made me shiver Their smiles pierced my soul like bullets Knowing that Thomas could’ve have been Nicholas And Taylor Alyssa Kayla, Meadow And I feel bad My mouth is some demented party hat That I can draw the names of victims out of to get my point across I’m angry That kids who look like me and my friends are killed by people who looks like them I’m scared that I will no longer have animate eyes to look at Scared that all will be left is a picture and a fading memory Scared that people will forget who they were and remember their killer instead Scared that all will be left to look at Is a gravestone.

THE MESSENGER | 37

face

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ff

OPINIONS

yes

SOPHIA RIVERS, STAFF WRITER

F

ive days a week, 175 days a year, parents all over the United States send their children to school believing they will come home safely each day. But when a place meant for education becomes a warzone, who will be there to protect our nation’s children?

Arming our teachers and training them to use firearms properly could save hundreds of innocent students’ lives. The reason we allow police officers to carry weapons is because they are trained professionals who save lives.

Even the knowledge that teachers are armed could prevent the conflict of school shooters.

Every second counts when it comes to a school shooting. The average school shooting lasts 12 minutes, and it takes 18 minutes for the police to respond and arrive at the location. So many fatalities could have already occurred. However, teachers being armed could determine if they can keep protecting those kids longer than a bullet or two. In some in-

no

stances, teachers have the ability to become the first responders due to their immediate discourse.

Scott Beigel unlocked and held the door open for students to flee the shooter. Aaron Feis selflessly shielded students from the bullets. Both of these teachers are from the Parkland school shooting, not including the large number of teachers that also saved students lives by giving up there own. They died heroes, but maybe they could have lived to tell their stories themselves if they were armed.

Teachers should not be unsure whether or not they will be able to send the students back into the arms of their parents safe and sound at the end of each day. Some teachers may have oppositions to carrying a firearm on school grounds, but allowing teachers to volunteer to carry rather than mandatory carry may provide as a compromise.

A picture of a young man holding a

gun, was posted and shared on social media threatening students to not come to Northview the following day back in February. After that scary social media threat, students have been left feeling uncomfortable if what is supposed to be a welcoming environment.

If teachers were armed and at the ready for any threat students would feel safe in a school facility.

If this was a perfect world we would not have to take such drastic measures to be able to keep children attending school safe. However, safety is the highest priority in the current state this country is in, especially when it comes to students being in a school facility. Children’s lives are placed into teacher’s hands every day and now a daily threat hangs above them. Five days a week, 175 days a year, teachers are protecting students all around the nation. Now, let’s give teachers a chance to change a student’s life in a new way.

KAUSHAL GANDIKOTA, STAFF WRITER

O

ne of the major topics of controversy going on right now is whether teachers should be armed so that in the event of a school shooter threat the teachers would be capable of defending their students. As a human being, more importantly a student, that idea could not frighten me more.

Education is crucial to an individual’s success in the modern day, and the preferred medium of education happens to be in schools for the majority of the population. As a student in one of the most vibrant and successful communities in America, my childhood was blissfully oblivious to the dangers that were present in less fortunate communities. My only concern during the school day was my education. That is how education must be, and lawmakers and politicians need to realize that by arming teachers we are creating a new social norm of fearing school shooters as well as an atmosphere of impending danger in schools across the nation.

The tangible and immediate consequences of arming teachers present a major problem themselves.

In Kansas, schools are insured by EMC companies which insure around 85% of the state’s districts. The idea to arm teachers was brought up in Kansas around four years ago, and the insurance company shut the idea down immediately. Handguns being allowed on campus presents a major liability risk for insurance companies. They responded with a statement that insurance will not be provided to schools, legalizing the possession of handguns on campus, and any schools currently under their insurance policy will not be renewed should they adopt the proposed handgun policy.

A series of chain reactions would be set to follow in the event that the schools were taken off insurance policies, and that combined with the risk of guns on campus is a recipe for disaster.

The financial situation of education institutions

across America vary, with a number of schools struggling to afford educational resources, such as books and crayons. The idea of arming teachers, if it were to be implemented, would require training the teachers on how to operate guns.

That itself is a hefty cost, both financially and in regards to the time that teacher’s spend working.

Arming teachers across the nation requires purchasing guns for every individual certified to possess a weapon on school grounds. The government would be investing a significant amount of money into an endeavor that has no proven guarantee of working in the event of a school shooter crisis. Numerous psychological flaws also exist in the plan of arming teachers, for example it has been proven in studies that the level of aggression in conflicts increases with the mere presence of arms on campus. The solution to America’s school safety problem is not arming teachers; instead the rather simple solution to the problem is proper gun legislation.

THE MESSENGER | 39

OPINIONS

Changing the American Prison System The U.S. lacks the resources and funds to take the steps necessary to reform prisons and give inmates a b etter hope for rehabilitation.

AMANDA BEARD, MANAGING EDITOR

I

n light of the recent events involving the Parkland school shooting, I have, along with many others, been in a state of incredulity towards the evil this world has come to know. Yet, as I wonder how our communities can strive to prevent this behavior from developing, I can’t help but acknowledge the lack of care America has for focusing on rehabilitation for those in the wake of a criminal offense.

According to the United States Department of Justice, the government spends a total of roughly $80 billion annually to fund the American penitentiaries, despite the exponentially dropping statistic depicting the ineffectiveness in which prisons are rehabilitating their inmates. Despite many programs attempting to be instituted amongst penitentiaries, felons are being sentenced to a lifelong serving time, giving no opportunity for an attempt to join society after a consequential learning time.

Taking into consideration the vast amount of money funneled into funding the bare necessities required to operate a prison

40

(not taking programs into account seeing as most are provided by nonprofit organizations), the prison system lacks the money and resources to truly make a difference in the lives of those it claims to be changing for the better. Regardless of the crime committed, individuals placed in these confinements are expected to be corrected and learn from their mistakes, but aren’t given the opportunity to do so. Prisons no longer focus on rehabilitation and assist in bettering the lives of their convicts, but now facilitate harsher consequences accompanied by unhealthy environments to grow.

As unhealthy as the current prisons are, the government lacks funds to help promote a more effective system. Yet, many businesses have come forth suggesting the opportunity to privatize jails to create a healthier, more adequate institution. By allowing the government to take a step back in the process, inmates would be given an atmosphere necessary to eventually become a part of society again.

Many countries, such as Japan, have seen

tremendous success take place through privatizing jails, such as more inmates getting jobs and making higher salaries. By creating an incentive for companies to partake in through a ratio regarding the more successful ex-convicts are, the more money and resources are given to the businesses, these private institutions will find a compelling opportunity to help aid the prison system.

Legislation has been proposed in the past year in attempt to rally support for the change, but has been pushed to the back burner as more imminent problems reach the desk first. Yet, in order to properly deal with these individuals and help prevent travesties from plaguing our communities, awareness and attention to the matter must surface in an attempt to solve the ongoing problem.

Whether it’s privatizing the system or taxing more to fund penitentiaries, jails are in dire need for a new focus, a focus on instills rehabilitation rather than incarceration; a focus that provides consideration rather than consequences; a focus that cares for a better tomorrow rather than an easier today.

OPINIONS

Remembering Victims We need to change the way we talk about tragedies and their victims NOELLE REID, STAFF WRITER

W

hen we find ourselves in midst of a national or international tragedy, we turn to media, specifically news outlets, to get details on said tragedy. We want to know “what happened?

When and where did it happen? How many people were killed and who did it?”

However, the media frequently abuses their ability to provide accurate statements about a large crime. Whether it’s sensationalizing a tragedy, invoking excitement from the public or through glorifying the actions of perpetrators that result in lost lives and/or innocence, news sources tend to focus more on who did it, rather than those who were affected. Outlets can also be found sometimes sympathizing with a mass killer, keying in on their ‘broken pasts,’ that somehow excuse their actions, or provide a suitable motive for their horrific behavior.

The ameri-centric discussion on tragedy needs to be changed. When something like bombings or shootings takes place somewhere else, we are quick to be firm on identifying the offender as a horrible person. But when something like that happens here, in the United States, we often try to justify the killers actions.

The atomic- bombing of Hiroshima was

devastating for the citizens living in Japan during World War II, people were killed instantly or developed horrible diseases from the radiation resulting in a short, painful life coupled with a long, excruciating death.

But as Americans, we see it as the president at the time, Harry Truman, just doing what was needed for the benefit of his country. That could be said about many other world leaders who were responsible for the death of many. Why is the conversation any different for American leaders who cause tragedy?

The way we learn about tragic events from the past needs to changed as well, such as being shown pictures of extremely underfed people when learning about events like the Holocaust during Hitler’s rule or the famine in the Soviet Union caused by Joseph Stalin. As if their strife is a tool to show just how awful a tragedy is, exploiting those who have suffered is a teaching technique, somehow. There is no basic information on who the people in those pictures are.

When looking at the face of tragedy today, however, a pattern of forgetfulness surrounds the victims. Many of us can recognize the names and/or faces of school-shooters and puppet masters behind foreign terror attacks.

But not many can recognize those killed.

The faces of victims get forgotten within a day, while the criminal is lamented in a textbook. People will remember the face and the name of someone like Adam Lanza, the Sandy-Hook Elementary school shooter, but we also need to remember the face and the name of Jesse Lewis, a six-year-old little boy. His mother Scarlett Lewis loved him very much and though highly of him. “[He was] full of light and love that was unmistakable in his presence.”

While Lanza was reloading his weapon, Jesse thought quickly and bravely as he managed to save about six of his classmates, being shot and killed in the process.

In light of the recent events in Parkland, Florida, we need to recognize how we as high school students at Northview High School, resemble the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. We are swimmers, soccer players, and Junior ROTC members. We are brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. We are the friends and family members of others, just like the victims. It is important that we take the time to compare ourselves to those who have been affected by tragedy because we don’t know if we could end up facing the same circumstances.

THE MESSENGER | 41

Fallacies on the Gun Control Debate As the gun control movement gains momentum in light of recent events, new supporters hypo critically raise their voices ALEX PERRY, BUSINESS MANAGER

A

s school shootings dominate our 24-hour news cycle, citizens in our nation suddenly find themselves passionate about the safety of our schools in relation to guns. Our youth has erupted into a gun pandemic, shouting for assault rifles to be made illegal and for the confiscation of guns from law abiding citizens.

However, the problem lies within our large government, creating policy after policy, tangling up the bureaucracy with red tape.

The Parkland tragedy was caused by the ineffectiveness of our bureaucracy. The shooter was mentally ill, yet was able to acquire a gun. This wasn’t the fault of the policies put in place, but the employees of the bureaucracy not taking their job seriously enough.

One argument used in favor of gun control laws is the assumption that those not in favor of gun control simply do not care about the lives lost in tragedies like Parkland and Sand Hook. To demonize the

42

other side with feelings rather than looking at the statistics is one of the most common tactics used to pull apart an argument. In the CNN Townhall, Parkland victims told legislators that they “had the children’s blood on their hands”. It was morally incorrect to blame the NRA, an organization that supports the 2nd amendment. No, the members of NRA don’t have blood on their hands because they didn’t pull the trigger.

The NRA backs the 2nd amendment for self defense and hunting purposes. Guns have been used to defend homes, which is an important distinction to make when considering gun control laws. Guns are a tool used to kill people. People kill other people using tools. It is not the gun that chooses to shoot a student, but the carrier of the gun. For every school shooter, there are thousands of law abiding gun owners.

Our second amendment rights help stop crime. When we bring up gun trage-

dies, no one ever mentions the law abiding citizen who stop the Texas church shooter in 2017. On the topic of guns, handguns are used to commit more crimes than AR15 rifles.

With the shock of Parkland, masses of people crawled out of the woodwork, suddenly coming out as lifelong supporters of gun control. Something I’d like to ask these supporters is where they were when children were getting shot on the streets of Chicago? Or Detroit? Why are the 17 children in Parkland who died by assault rifle more important than the hundreds of lives lost to handguns every year?

Gun control policies would be ineffective due to the culture of freedom surrounding the very grounds America was built on.

We should stop blaming the tool and start finding ways to deregulate our system so we can more effectively screen potential gun owners.

OPINIONS

Cashing in on the Court College athletes shouldn’t b e paid for playing; it simply isn’t worth the cost MIRA SYDOW, MANAGING EDITOR

I

n the storm of emotions that accompanies March Madness, the joy, the sorrow, the anger, the betrayal, it’s easy to forget that your favorite college athlete doesn’t get paid to play. Some colleges provide stipends to athletes, but a regular, mandatory salary is not required.

With some teams racking in over eight million dollars a year, there’s definitely money to spare when it comes to compensating students, but throwing cash at teenagers creates more issues than it’s worth. Funding to college athletes outside of granting scholarships robs college of its primary purpose: education.

If students retain a monetary incentive to focus more of their energy on athletics, they spend less time perfecting skills they spent 14 years in the education system developing.

Yes, for many of these students, playing in the NBA is a viable option for the future, but, like any career choice, they should not be paid money for volunteering their time at the collegiate level. Arguably, students qualifying for a college on the basis of an athletic scholarship is similar to being paid for their

contributions. In this instance, the student is receiving money which is immediately put into paying off a debt. Athletic scholarships average at about $10,400, but some scholarships for women’s and men’s basketball offer full rides. Payment for college athletes, especially in D1 and D2 schools, in addition to full ride scholarships overvalues the players.

The costs of maintaining the players’ health and preserving or improving their skill level, like meals, physical trainers, and coaching, can add up to more than $100,000 per year.

By absolving the individual students of paying this cost, colleges are already providing more than enough compensation for their roles on the team.

While scholarships and salaries definitely place players in a position to gain more money than they’re worth, the value of each player is difficult to determine and too complex to develop into a formula for payment.

Because each game differs and each player’s participation time and contribution to the team fluctuates, it would be too tedious to establish a method of distributing money to players.

Specific instances that draw attention, like scandal surrounding a player, that contribute to their payment. If a player scores well but is accused of cheating or has a tarnished track record, like Duke University’s Grayson Allen, there is too much debate around how their pay will be handled.

Other red tape crops up when calculating the pay of college athletes. Even the highest grossing NBA players, though they receive tens of thousands of dollars a year, retain only around 50% of their gross pay. For college athletes, the percentage would easily be less. If college athletes need financial aid to attend their college and participate in a sport, there are other programs to provide substantial support if they qualify.

With other school activities, the issue seems black and white. Academic college teams don’t even raise the question of payment, so it’s unreasonable to assume that college basketball teams, or any college sport, should receive money, especially when accompanied by the privileges of an athletic scholarship like professional and private training both athletically and academically.

THE MESSENGER | 43

music SYDNEY YIM, STAFF WRITER

Remember Me

T

he 90th Academy Awards ceremony, also known as the Oscars, were held on March 4 in Los Angeles. Five songs were nominated for the “Academy Award for Best Original Song” and Remember Me sang by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez was the overall winner of this category. This song came from the Disney movie “Coco” and it integrates a mixture of Hispanic culture with mainstream music today.

“M

Mighty River

ighty River” was one of several nominations for the category and it was sung by Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, and Taura Stinson. This song came from the movie “Mudbound” which displays an African American family struggling to live on a Mississippi farm with two new workers who just came back from war. It displays the hardship these characters had to go through to get by from day to day.

Stand Up for Something

C

ommon and Diane Warren were nominated for their song “Stand Up for Something” which came from the movie “Marshall,” encouraging people from around the world to speak up and show their voice to the world. This song empowers people to voice their opinion on certain events and to take action for it.

This also highlights recent events relating to politics.

Mystery of Love

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usicians performed “Mystery of Love” at the Oscars this month, and it came from the movie “Call Me

by Your Name” which shows the relationship between a boy and a doctor that met in Lombardy, Italy. Throughout the movie, it shows the progression of their relationship and this song displays their connection and their feelings for one another.

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COLUMNS

fashion

EVAN MOODY, STAFF WRITER

Dress for Our Lives

Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas make t-shirts to rally support around their Parkland, Florida community, remembering the lives lost

On Women’s Day, women wore cat ears as a symbolic message mocking the too commonly used phrase, associated with cats, as a means of degrading women.

T

he best part about being an “adult” is that we get to make our own decisions and establish our independence.

As kids we are essentially told to sit still and look as if we are the poster child for good behavior. When we act out we get put in a corner and told not to move until we have thought about what we have done. Once we move into our teenage years, we begin to steer away from being told what to do, what to like, and how to live life. One of the bigger statements we make is what we wear. For many years, society has used fashion as a way to defy what the “socially accepted” way for people to dress. Recently there have been several trends that you may or may not have noticed. During the #MeToo movement, thousands of women around the world wore shirts with hashtag MeToo written across the front.

Following the Stoneman Douglas shooting, students across the country made shirts honoring the fallen kids that read SDStrong. A little less than a month later, on International Women’s Day, women around the world wore cat ears to mock the derogatory name for women. When the time comes, we find a way to wear our support.

In light of recent cases of sexual harassment, women band together under the movement #metoo to convey a message of solidarity and hope for a better tomorrow.

MIRA SYDOW/MANAGING EDITOR

Senior Giulia Jackson stands behind the fence in the Northview softball field where students stood during the annual walkout day on March 24.

THE MESSENGER | 45

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COLUMN THE LOW DOWN

What the Walkout Means to Me Enough is enough. It's time for change.

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

T

he most vivid thing I remember was the look of terror in the eyes of my classmates. The eerie moment of stillness as the fire alarm sounded and we stayed glued to our seats, unsure of what to do.

Was this really happening? Was there really a school shooter?

Thankfully, there wasn’t. We were lucky.

I’m writing, of course, about Northview’s own Friday scare that took place several days after the senseless massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida. A threat aimed at a different high school in Alabama was confused for one made toward our own and a faulty sensor set off a fire alarm at perhaps the most inopportune time. The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School weren’t as lucky as us though. Nikolas Cruz used his legally purchased weapon of mass murder to end the lives of 17 innocent people. With the pull of a trigger, blood was spilled, loved ones were lost, and evil shook the nation to its core. I tear up just thinking about it.

But it shouldn’t be a question of luck as to whether your school will be shot up or not.

It shouldn’t happen-- period. Not here. Not anywhere. Absolutely nobody should fear for their life in a place of learning. Nobody.

Apparently, though, the politicians in charge of our government disagree. They kowtow to gun lobbyists, hypnotized by campaign donations, and ignore the very safety of the people they took an oath to serve. They seek no change. Hoping, ostensibly, that everything will blow over in a couple of weeks-- that people will forget once again.

But I refuse to forget. This senseless violence ends now. And that’s why we walked out.

We walked out to say enough is enough.

We braved the blistering cold to honor those who should still be with us. We stood tall and kept our chins up and looked apathy right in the eye-- laughing, because that apathy is no more. We want change. And we won’t stop till we get it.

I’m proud of our protest, but I hope I don’t remember it vividly. In twenty years, I hope it’s eclipsed in my mind by memories of more and more protests. By memories of change. By the overwhelming sense of relief that it is to have sensible gun laws. I want to remember the smiling faces and bright eyes of an American people who feel safe again.

I don’t want the protest to be the center of attention. I’m tired of adults harping on

how important it is for us to use our voice.

We get it. The point isn’t that we’re protesting-- it’s that too many innocent people are dying in this country. Listen to what we’re saying. Please. Just listen. And to any politicians who happen to be reading this-- you’re either actively working to solve this problem or you’re part of the problem. No amount of rhetorical jiu-jitsu can get you out of this one. If you choose not to act, we will vote you out of office. I promise.

It’s funny. Typically, being a rebel is risky-- dangerous, even. Yet the very thing we’re protesting for is safety. We want to feel safe at school. I don’t want the last words I say to my mother to be an ‘I love you’ text as I stare down the barrel of an AR-15. I’m sorry. This is the United States. We’re better than that.

In parting, allow me to leave you with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

This is just the beginning my friends.

This is just the beginning my friends. This is just the beginning.

THE MESSENGER | 47

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