Volume 15 Issue 3

the next big thing pg. 19-23

masthead CONTACT US

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF

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

Maggie Brenan Tarun Ramesh

PUBLICATION

NEWS EDITOR

Katie Armstrong Grace Chung Megan Cistulli Shashank Ganeshan Aniruddha Gupta Sarah Jang Suchita Kumar Lina Levitt Sherry Liang Ben Minder Akshay Nair Alex Perry Sruti Sajja Erin Shin Jennah Sooknanan Ramanuj Srinivasan Mira Sydow Sheetal Tadiparty Justine Ulrich Morgan White Sravika Yerneni

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS The Messenger staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, libel, obscenity, and invasion of privacy.

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

IN THIS ISSUE Cover design: Tarun Ramesh

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MANAGING EDITOR Sally Pan Amanda Beard

SPORTS EDITOR Will Claussen

FEATURES EDITOR Nithya Mahakala

OPINIONS EDITOR Jack Lowrance

ONLINE EDITOR Sarika Temme-Bapat

BUSINESS MANAGERS Evan Moody Joseph Ni

ADVISER Chris Yarbrough

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RAMEEN FORGHANI

MORGAN WHITE EVAN MOODY

MAGGIE BRENAN

FOOTBALL COACHING CHANGE

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STAFF

ALEX PERRY

BEN MINDER NITHYA MAHAKALA

EDITOR’S LETTER

MONTHLY BRIEFS

ATHLETE SIGNINGS

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

FACEOFF

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ANIRUDDHA GUPTA RAMANUJ SRINIVASAN

MEGAN CISTULLI

STAFF

STRESS AWARENESS WEEK

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS

STAFF EDITORIAL

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JOSEPH NI

SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT

JACK LOWRANCE

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SHASHANK GANESHAN

STAFF

STAFF

ALCOHOL BUSTS

NEW HOME FOR WRESTLERS

FOOD REVIEW

STUDENT INNOVATION

THE LOW DOWN

COLUMNS

THE MESSENGER | 3

the messenger

ONLINE

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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A Holiday Plea

n today’s world, everyone seems to have a cause - and rightfully so. The laundry list of problems in our society that need solving or patching up or eradicating is endless: poverty, hunger, suicide, mental illness, social issues, and diseases (all of the cancers included). However, our concept of “awareness” for these issues has become dangerously warped, largely due to social media. From the Ice Bucket Challenge to No-Shave November, our popular culture has seen these “trends” of awareness come and go, yet our laundry list remains unchanged.

Undoubtedly, I praise the charitable organizations who proudly wave their flags and promote their causes regardless of the adversity faced. Certain organizations have even made waves in favor of their cause; for example, the Ice Bucket Challenge of 2014 took social media by storm, educated people on what began as a lesser known disease, and raised funds that led to the discovery of a new ALS gene. What I fail to understand, though, is the concept of “awareness” for diseases or other plights that are widespread and already well known. I fail to understand how walks and campaigns with the goal of “raising breast cancer awareness” or “raising awareness for poverty” are benefiting their cause. The problem is in the branding, and our popularization of such campaigns.

For lesser known causes, the concept of awareness is right and just. In order to find a solution, people must first be educated about

and then become dedicated to the cause. Such was the case with breast cancer awareness in the 1970s. The disease was heavily stigmatized and even sexualized, simply because it began in a woman’s “private parts.” Women fighting this disease needed help from others, and the disease needed to destigmatize before people could take it seriously, and only then could people could begin to donate money towards the cause. However, “breast cancer awareness” in 2016 is pointless. Millions of people are very much aware of and many of them very passionate about the disease. What we need more of is not education, but funding for the cause. Awareness campaigns on social media where participants are encouraged to post their bras on Facebook are no longer able to bring us any closer to a cure for the cancer, and are slowly stigmatizing the disease by turning a serious ailment into a laughable fad.

So, in the spirit of the holidays, I ask you to donate. Sure, pay homage to the causes that are still underground and continue to educate and appreciate, but then find a charitable organization that could use your help and make a veritable impact. Plenty of children need Christmas or Hanukkah presents, plenty of disease researchers need funding, and plenty of homeless shelters and Goodwills need warm winter clothes. You have the power to change the world. Changing your Facebook profile picture for the month could potentially be a good first step, but we need more.

Maggie Brenan, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

NEWS

IN BRIEF On Nov 16 and 17 HOSA, health occupations students of America, and FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America held a fall leadership conference for the 2016 school year. FLC, Fall Leadership Conference was taken place in Athens, GA and provided different workshops to learn more about FBLA and HOSA. Budding new skills, getting real life experiences, and a monopoly tournament, where the proceeds would go to the March of Dimes. Students involved in business had the opportunity to get together over a very similar interest during the conference.

11/1 Gilmore girls makes a debut in netflix’s new picks for November

11/2 Cubs win the world series for the first time since 1907

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11/5 The Northview girls volleyball team organized the annual Ace for Abbey event, held in honor for a former lady titan volleyball player that passed away. The event consists of the girls splitting up to make individual teams of boys that volunteer to play and compete head to head.

“We are very grateful that Northview provides the opportunity for a tournament in our daughter’s name,” (actual name of Abbey’s mom) said. “Abbey loved the school and all the kids she saw there everyday. We hope to convey Abbey’s message of courage and kindness, and accepting everyone for who they are.”

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

11/9

11/8 As of November 8, 2016, Donald J. Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States of America.

Along with the presidency, many local elections occurred as well. Johnny Isakson was elected to senate for the state of Georgia. Special Purpose Local Sales Tax, also known as TSPLOST, was voted yes in Johns Creek. TSPLOST is a tax of 1% to help funding for public facilities in the county..

Donald J Trump is elected as 45th President of the United States of America

11/4 Dr. Strange surpasses expected box office sales

11/10

Johns Creek wildfires spread during a mild drought and prevent any burning of outside fires for the time being.

11/13-14 Supermoon is the closest the moon has ever been to the earth and will not happen again until December 25, 2034 THE MESSENGER | 7

Finding the Balance Northview’s Beta club works against the stress epidemic among students with puppies and yoga.

ANIRUDDHA GUPTA, STAFF WRITER

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riven by academic success, Northview’s community and culture poses constant pressure on its students to focus purely on academics and to outdo one another at all times. Students are often stressed because they are competitive in nature and compelled to take the hardest classes like the peers around them. To try and remedy these problems and to encourage positive habits, Northview’s Beta Club created and has since continued the school’s yearly tradition of Stress Awareness Week for 6 years.

In past years, Beta Club realized that Stress Awareness Week did not have long lasting effects on Northview’s students.

Tests and quizzes had been piled on the week before and after stress awareness week. Therefore, instead of taking a load off of students, the load was simply being shifted. After the week, students went back to their normal lives full of competition and workload. This year, Beta took a different approach.

“We wanted to partner with more outside organizations,” senior President of Beta Club, Bill Zhang, said. “Events in the past that were organized along with outside organizations got the most attention and enthusiasm.”

This year, Beta Club partnered with Summit Counseling, which provided stress counseling for the students. They also brought in Furkids, which gave students the opportunity to play with puppies during lunch. These outside organizations helped make Stress Awareness Week memorable for students, the goal being for students to be more open about recognizing the stress

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in their lives and working on alleviating and better managing their stress throughout the year.

Another new option offered during stress awareness week included a thirty minute stress free break between second and third period.

“I am curious to see what [the stress break] looks like and feels like, in order to

One of th e b e s t ways to al l eviate s tress is to fos te r c o l la b o ra ti o n an d fo cu s m o re o n te a mwo rk.

-Bill Zhang see if it was helpful or not helpful,” Downey said. “If that day is helpful, it is a day we can repeat much like a community night.”

During the break, students were given the option to attend a yoga or basketball session. However, there was confusion regarding the sign up for these events. Without signing up, students were not able to join the sessions.

“I liked the idea of a stress free break,”sophomore Vishruth Singireddy said. “I just wish that next year, Beta Club better announces that they have a sign-up sheet.”

As an attempt to remove the stressful negative competition that students face

for many years, Northview has taken class ranks out. The school hoped to remove the harmful competition students were facing when they tried to constantly do better than their peers.

“Bad competition is inevitable if you want any competition at all. If you want to eliminate competition, then you are eliminating all the bad, but also all the good,” Zhang said. “One of the best ways to alleviate stress is to foster collaboration and focus more on teamwork.”

Stress Awareness Week was planned out and executed by Beta Club. The club believes that there is much room for Northview, however, to improve and lessen the stressful atmosphere that students are exposed to constantly. The problem stems from many complex causes that make it hard to totally eliminate the stress at Northview.

“It’s the million dollar question,” Downey said. “How do we make this school and therefore our students live and work in an environment that is healthy and at the same time, high achieving?”

NEWS

The Dark Side of Stress Awareness RAMANUJ SRINIVASAN, STAFF WRITER

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his year’s 5-day sequence on stress awareness week was yet another failed attempt at relieving high school students of the stress they face at certain points in the first semester. This year, stress awareness week consisted of themed days to somehow encourage and console students as they worked through their academic struggles. Unfortunately, the primary message of this event was lost due to loopholes and simply ineffective methods.

The first day of the week was “Pajama day” which was supposed to simulate a feeling of home and comfort. Unfortunately for a lot of students at Northview, every day is pajama day. Simply, changing attire had no contribution to relieving some of the stress students were going through because the workload they had remained the same. Understandably, Pajama day ended up being a regular school day with the mere banner of a stress-free day.

The next day was “Counseling day” whereby students were given individual time to talk to their counselors to discuss any stress they might be succumbing to.

While the idea of getting counseling on a day like that sounds great, it only works on paper. Theoretically it would be a great way to address any issues one might be facing during the school year, but given the timing of this day most seniors headed to the counselors to take care of their college applications. Consequently, the only

thing seniors thought about that day was one of the things they were supposed to avoid thinking about: College.

The next day was “yoga day” which might have been the only effective day throughout this entire course since it genuinely gave students some time to relax.

However, the next day was “community night” which was supposed to give students the opportunity to spend the entire day without any regards to school work.

The concept was that no work would be assigned on that day so that students can go home and simply relax. But effectiveness of this day was diminished through loopholes in which any work that was assigned prior to stress awareness week was still due the next day.

Finally, the last day was “puppy day” in which students were invited to play with puppies for a while during the day to have some fun during the school day.

This, yet again, sounds amazing on paper but there were a few discrepancies that diminished the point of stress awareness week. Students were only played to with the puppies for 5 minutes in groups of 25 students and 5 puppies in total. The quantities weren’t quite proportional which led to a quite ineffective way to relieve students of stress for the day.

All in all, while the concept of stress awareness week was developed in good spirit, it has turned out to be quite the ineffective means of arriving at the destination we needed.

THE MESSENGER | 9

NEWS

Sobering Up An insight into the efforts b eing made against substance abuse at Northview.

JOE NI, BUSINESS MANAGER

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ver the years, Northview has faced its fair share of alcohol and drug incidents. The administration has implemented policies to help control the presence of illicit substances - many students, for example, are familiar with the presence of breathalyzers at homecoming dances - but incidents still occur.

“As much as we are a high achieving special place, we still have teenagers who still act like typical teenagers - which they should.”

Principal Downey said, “we do have students who will make a quote and quote bad decision and come to school or a school event either in possession of or under the influence of alcohol or marijuana.”

Typically, incidents are alcohol or marijuana related, but the school has seen worse before; in past years, there have been occurrences involving opioids and even heroin.

This year, fortunately, nothing related to hard drugs has happened at school events.

With that being said, however, alcohol related incidents have stepped up this year, to the point that new policies are being implemented to curb them. Unlike many other local schools, Northview has not traditionally enforced no container and no bag rules at large school events like football games. This year, however, due to the uptick in students being under the influence, especially at Friday night football games, this relaxed policy has changed. For the foreseeable future, at any school event where a large crowd is anticipated, football games for example,

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students will not be allowed to bring in any containers like water bottles. Furthermore, students’ bags will also be prohibited at football games.

“It’s a reasonable policy.” band captain Jonathan Martin said, “even more so for a high school given the apparent climate of alcohol consumption.”

In addition to football games, the no container policy may apply to basketball games.

“When I say there’s heroin in the school, people are shocked. But the reality is, there’s heroin in the community” Principal Downey Students should, however, be able to escape the bag ban at basketball games due to the fact that students often linger in the building after school waiting for them. Furthermore, the tighter nature of the crowd in a basketball game allows for the rule’s relaxation.

“Basketball is very different from football in that basketball’s much smaller, and in a gym it’s harder for a kid to hard amongst a crowd.” Downey said. “However, we may ask students to open their bags and let us peek in, just out of an abundance caution.”

Next year, Downey seeks to be more proactive with his policies. Primarily, he seeks to improve awareness of the rules.

This includes improving the timing of his no alcohol informational reminder email to parents. This year, he regrets sending out the email only after several alcohol related incidents had occurred.

“I prefer to be proactive in the hope that we don’t deal with any incidents, rather than being reactive and just [figuratively] punching kids.” Downey said. ` Next year, he plans to send the email to parents at the beginning of the football season, in hopes that earlier heightened awareness of rules and consequences will help discourage further incidents. However, Downey and the student government acknowledge that such occurrences are expected in a teenager environment.

“I think that it’s just a regular high school thing” Student President Austin Meng said, “There’s no real “root” other than usual teenage behavior.”

Downey, however, expresses concerns over denial in the community, especially among parents. He emphasizes that Johns Creek, despite its affluence, is just as vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse as other neighborhoods.

“When I say there’s heroin in the school, people are shocked. But the reality is, there’s heroin in the community,” Downey said. “I think as a community, we need to come to grips with reality.”

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Wrestling Shed’s Revamp The Wrestling Shed b ecomes an athletic facility for all sports.

SHASHANK GANESHAN, STAFF WRITER

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fter years of serving as a both practice space for the wrestling team and a weight room,the wrestling shed has been converted into fullfledged athletic facility that can be used to benefit all sports at Northview, leaving the wrestling team a traveling band of vagabonds. This change has been made under the direction of Athletic Director Scotty McDaniel. When he first arrived at Northview, one thing he noticed was missing from Northview was a sense of unity and pride amongst athletes. The wrestling shed in particular stood out to him because it lacked adequate equipment and did not foster an enthusiastic environment for working hard and improving. As a result, numerous additions and upgrades have been made to convert the old shed into a full-fledged speed, agility, and strength training complex. Half of the room will consist of weights and the other half will be designated for speed and agility training. After budgeting meticulously last year, the school has been able to purchase new weight equipment, medicine balls, hurdles, speed and agility ladders, and new turf that is to be installed. The goal is to cultivate an attachment and pride to where Northview athletes are working out and where they attend school. The enthusiasm and energy a team brings to their season is developed during offseason workouts which take place in the wrestling shed. The incoming freshman had been working out at the wrestling shed during the summers before they even started attending Northview, so it is imperative to ensure the first impression of the school on athletes is a good one.

Shashank Ganeshan/STAFF

Junior Randy Li wrestles against his partner in their new practice space.

“I’m trying to create a place where they can feel pride in where they’re working out at and where they are,” McDaniel said.

Currently the wrestling team is practicing in the old computer lab, room 336. This is not particularly unusual, as most other schools around Georgia do not practice in a designated wrestling building. Instead, most teams, including Coach McDaniel’s old state championship winning wrestling team at Dacula, typically practice in classrooms or trailers. The Northview wrestling team, however, will likely move to the cafeteria after cheerleading finishes because the computer labs are being converted into personal device lounges. McDaniel does not think that the changing of locations will impact the team very much because all the wrestlers need is a mat and somebody to wrestle with.

“Whether you [wrestle] in a trailer, in a large building, in a classroom, it’s still you and somebody else one on one on a mat,” McDaniel said.

Similarly, Coach MacDonald, the head wrestling coach, remains optimistic about the situation as well and believes that the team can persevere beyond all the changes they are facing. He believes the change from practicing in the wrestling shed to practicing in the school building will in fact be a positive change, since practice can begin more directly after school,

which was not the case in their old location. This allows the team to maximize their time together and be more productive. The team did have to adapt to some aspects of their new environment, however. For example, the team had access to a rope which they would climb regularly to develop strength, which is no longer an aspect of their workouts. But, since the most important part of their training is running and cardiovascular exercise, their quality of practices have not been compromised greatly.

“You always have to adapt your training program. These kids they are not going to be affected about having two less ropes. The important thing is conditioning,” MacDonald said Some of the wrestlers, however, like sophomore Simon Shuster, feel that their practices are suffering. He notes that the size of the lab makes activities such as sparing almost impossible. He compares the wrestling team losing the shed to the football team being kicked off their field or the swim team being kicked out of their pool.

“Us losing the [wrestling shed] is a serious blow to the program. And if the people who are in charge could find it in the hearts to allow us to return to the wrestling shed it would mean the world to me and my team,” Shuster said.

THE MESSENGER | 11

Changing of the Guard Northview’s head football co ach Chad Davenport resigns after 7 seasons RAMEEN FORGHANI, STAFF WRITER

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ead football coach Chad Davenport has resigned as head coach, following a 2-8 season in what was predicted to be an easier region.

“I think it was just time to step aside.

Sometimes, when a coach has been somewhere for too long, it is just time for change, and I think that time has come for me,” Davenport said.

After almost consistent progress over six seasons in which the football team bettered their record, the Titans peaked in 2014, boasting a 7-4 record and reaching the state playoffs for the first time in school history. Davenport followed that up in 2015 with another playoff appearance on the back of a 6-5 record.

“Every team is going to have a down season. It seemed kinda quick to give up on Coach Davenport after consistent progress in his years before,” Otaluka said.

S P O RT S The 2016 season was the first in which the team saw regression. Coming into the season, the coaching staff knew that the offensive line was going to be problematic and that they had lost some talent defensively that they would have to recover from.

“I knew that this was kind of going to be a rebuilding year coming into it.

I saw the seniors that we had lost, and knew that we would need to work on finding the right combinations of players early on,” Davenport said.

Other administrators in the Northview community had similar expectations.

“I wouldn’t go so far as to call his an unacceptable season, no. I think we always expect our teams to go out there and be competitive and win, but you also have to look at the hand that you’re dealt,” principal Brian Downey said.

Davenport started out as an assistant coach at Peachtree Ridge High School, where he won a GHSA championship in 2006 in a perennially powerhouse team.

Davenport took over the head coaching duties at Northview High School in 2010.

Davenport took over a floundering team in 2010, the Titans having only amassed one win in the past two seasons.

However, over his tenure, he has been able to mold a program that includes aspects such as offseason conditioning and involvement with the junior Titans. Davenport has also seen success in signing players to continue their careers collegiately, sending Ben Everett and Otaluka to the Naval Academy and Jair Anderson and Joseph Macrina to Georgia Tech.

“We did a good job here. We took the program from a one-win team and saw growth every year, except for my third and this {season},” Davenport said.

However, Davenport has struggled to build support around him in some matters not between the white hashes. He has often been unable to compile a full coaching staff, like those of some other schools around him. In the 2016 season especially, Davenport was hampered with the inability to bring assistant coaches to the program. This was manifested in athletic director Scotty McDaniel stepping in to be an assistant coach, and Robert Lumpkin joining the staff mid-season.

“The teacher turnover is very low here at Northview High School. We just

don’t have the teaching positions available that some other schools do to bring over assistant coaches, and that is something Coach Davenport has had to contend with for many seasons now,” Downey said.

Additionally, Davenport has felt the added pressure of losing fan backing in the 2016 season. Gate fees for Northview have categorically declined as the season went on, starting from an $8000 home opener to a measly $3300 towards the back half of the season.

Powerhouse football schools such as Roswell and Grayson consistently pull in tens of thousands of dollars a game.

Other region high schools, such as Johns Creek and Chattahoochee, have averaged $10200 and $8320 a game in gate fees, respectively, compared to Northview’s $5700 average.

“I know that the gates have been declining, and I know the importance of football gates. I have been athletic director here before; I know that football drives a lot of the sports here, and everywhere, and that the gate fees are not where they need to be,” Davenport said.

McDaniel and Downey now have an opportunity to reshape the culture of Northview Football with the hiring of a new head coach.

“I am going to post the job in a week or two on the forums, and we will meet with the booster club and start talking to and interviewing candidates from there,” McDaniel said. “We really have the opportunity to go out there and try to find the best candidate for our program. People have already been contacting me, from different states even, wanting information on the job.”

However, one of the biggest issues that has hampered Davenport in the past seems to be a selling point to attract a new coach this year. Only defensive line coach Gary McCoy and linebackers coach Tom Kratowicz remain on staff. Downey anticipates there being three to four new positions opening up at the end of the school year, whereas not only can he hire a new football coach, but also have the flexibility to bring a couple of assistant over also.

“Hiring a new head coach is one of the top priorities,” Downey said.

Season Recap AKSHAY NAIR, STAFF WRITER

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fter reaching the playoffs the past two seasons, the Northview football team failed to qualify for the postseason this year. They finished third to last in the 7A region with an unconvincing record of 2-8 with their only wins coming against the bottom two teams: Dunwoody and North Atlanta. The young offensive line struggled to maintain consistency and unity which cost them numerous opportunities for good field position. The running game also suffered due to the inconsistency of the line, and thus restricted them into obvious passing situations where defenses can easily stop the offense or sack the quarterback.

“We have our young offensive line, our front five are young, they aren’t meshing as well as last year because they haven’t been playing together as long, so that’s forced us into some deep situations where we’ve had to pass more than we’d like to coming into the season,” quarterback Colton Mcdaniel said.

Similarly, the defense has also had to endure through inexperience. The team started nine players on defense who had not played the season before.

Throughout most of the season, the defense was unable to mesh together and play as a single unit which was one of the primary reasons they conceded 28 or more points per game. This inefficiency prompted head coach Chad Davenport to fire defensive coach Ryan Buchanan.

The change in defensive coordinator and the extra year of playing time will hopefully change the way the defense performs.

Other than the mental inexperience, the team was physically smaller than Northview’s past teams. With the offseason focus largely on physical growth and mental development coupled with many returning players, next season the more mature football team looks poised to recover from the past season and make another run in the playoffs.

THE MESSENGER | 13 THE MESSENGER | 13

College Signings

Five student athletes signed to colleges on Novemb er 16 in Northview’s media center ALEX PERRY, STAFF WRITER JUSTINE ULRICH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cade Auerbach Swimming

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ade Auerbach commited to the University Of Alabama. Auerbach has been swimming competitively for ten years and holds the Northview’s reconds in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. During his sophmore year, he and his relay team broke the state record for the 200 freestyle relay.

“I was incredibly happy when I heard the news.”, Susan Auerbach, Cade’s mother, said.

Auerbach is pictured with his mother, father, and brother, Cam.

Kyra Lockhart Softball

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yra Lockhart has commited to the University of Alamaba after playing on the Varsity Softball team for a year. She’s has played softball for 9 years.

Lockhart has been named an All-American for softball in addition to numerous state and region awards.

“We were excited because of the way Alabama treated Kyra.”, Al and Geri Lockhart, Lockhart’s parents said.

Lockhart is pictured with parents, Al and Geri Lockhart.

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SPORTS

Jeremy Yuan

Tennis

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ivision III tennis player Jeremy Yuan has commited to the University of Chicago.

He’s been playing tennis since he was four, and has been a member of the Varisty team since his freshman year. Yuan is in the top five tennis players in the south and ranks second in the state of Georgia.

“The tennis team at the University is one of the best teams in Division III in the state.”, Jun Yuan, Jeremy’s father said.

Yuan is pictured with his family and coach.

Matthew Terry Tennis

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ennis player Matthew Terry has commited to Cleveland State University. Terry has been a member of the Men’s Varsity team since his sophmore year. “We’re just glad this long process is over”, Diane Terry, Matthew’s mother, said.

He’s been playing tennis since he was seven, picking up numerous awards along the way. His more recent achievements include winning a Southern Closed Championship and participating in a National Regional this fall.

Terry is pictured with his mother and father.

Mitchell Perry Tennis

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itchell Perry has commited to Virginia Wesylan. He has been playing tennis for ten years, and has been a member of Northview’s Varsity team for two years. Perry qualified for state last year in doubles and was a part of Northview’s state tournament win.

“Mitchell has a bright future ahead of him, and I’m very excited,” Ellen Perry, Mitchell’s mother, said.

Perry is pictured with his mother and father.

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Basketball

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Girl’s

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Boy’s

fter a disappointing 2015-2016 season for the Northview boys basketball program, head coach Steven Bombard looks to a brighter future with the return of junior Justin Brown and new incoming players such as Joseph Jones coming from St. Louis. Multiple players reiterate the same team goal which is going to be working together and maintaining mental composure when the game is not always going the team’s way. This season, the team hopes to make it to the playoffs and believes that team chemistry and working together are the keys to success.

“I’m going to try to lead my team to some victories this season,” Brown said.

Most off all, the influx of new players to add to the handful of talented basketball players at Northview is exactly what Northview needed so that the boys varsity basketball team will have a shot at the state playoffs this year.

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he Lady Titans Basketball team is optimistic this season and has set their sights high, with some big goals of taking down a region championship and progressing deep into the state championships this year. But before that can happen, the head coach Chris Yarbrough and the team know that the key to progressing is to work to get a little bit better every day and strive to make improvements before those key games come up.

“You’re always looking to have a better season than the one you did before, and I feel that this is one of the most talented squads we have ever had at this school.

Our first goal is to improve everyday, and we hope that we can advance further in the state championships since we got bounced first round,” Yarbrough said.

The team looks stronger with some new, young blood, and they hope that the new players will overall lead to a more athletic team. After losing some key three-point shooters who graduated, the coach hopes that some new players such as AJ Ennis and Mickeyla Davis can step up. Also, with a powerhouse player in Shannon Titus on the team who is looking to break some school records this year, the team is posed to have a solid season.

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Swimming

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Girl’s

he girls swim team has their first meet on November 10. With brand new freshman swimmers joining the team this year, the girls swim team will be young with some older outliers such as Gracie Clough and Ana Vetrosky.

Head Coach Tony Cianciola believes that this inexperienced team will need this year to grow.

“There are going to be really good freshman on the team this year,” Vetrosky said.

Since swimming is a more individual sport, most all of the individual swimmers have a common goal of getting their times down in order to make it to state individually. Overall, this year’s young team will use this season to practice and gain experience while the upperclassmen will more than likely make it to state.

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Boy’s

ith a fast approaching first meet on November 10, the Northview boys swim team is excited to see the outcome of the new team. Losing multiple, valuable seniors last year will be a challenge for the team this year, but good year round swimmers who are upperclassmen remain in the program.

“We have a very young team…but we have a good group of freshman swimmers coming in this year,” varsity swimming team head coach Tony Cianciola said.

Cianciola believes that the team has a lot of depth which helps them for growing purposes for years to come especially if they are not contenders this year. Star swimmers that will have a great shot at making it to state include Cade and Cam Auerbach. With a mixture of a few talented returners and a handful of new inexperienced freshman, this season will be a time of improvement and a time for the returners to make it to state.

Wrestling

T

he Northview wrestling team is looking forward to their first tournament on November 12. After getting moved out of the wrestling gym and getting a new coach, the team will have a hard time adjusting to these new conditions and doing well this season. Also, there are a handful of beginners this

year as well as missing weight classes.

Head coach John MacDonald says that, like last year, this year will be a rebuilding year especially because there are only two returning wrestlers.

Gabe Garcia and Simon Schuster “We are a very young an inexperienced team,” MacDonald said.

The main issue that the team will have this season is lack of experience and going up against bigger schools especially with the region change.

Wrestlers and MacDonald believe that the most effective way to win this year is making Garcia and Schuster training partners for the rest of the guys in order to succeed this season.

THE MESSENGER | 17

FEATURES

Evan Moody/STAFF

Writer’s Digest

Drem Waffles

*This article is not sponsored by Drem Waffle and Coffee Bar.

The Messenger’s Monthly Food Review SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, ONLINE EDITOR

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indows let light into the small cafe. The menu dominates an adjacent wall, where customers choose how to dress their waffles. Wooden tables and what minimal decor there is give the space a warm and cozy feel.

At $3.50 for a small waffle without toppings, meals at Drem certainly cannot be called cheap, but the toppings, which run from $.50 to $2.00, prove filling. Unique specials range from the savory smoked salmon waffle (smoked salmon, cheese, capers and dill) to the sweet ice cream waffle (two scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate, and caramel sauce). With other waffle toppings that include fresh fruits, nutella, and nut butters, Drem is sure to satisfy just about any craving. The huge variety makes for a seamless transition from breakfast to lunch and features an option for just about everyone.

Drem’s high quality, made-from-scratch waffles are the foundation of its menu.

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The cottage cheese, chive, and radish waffle juxtapose the salty crunch of radishes, with the soft, fluffy, slightly sweet cottage cheese waffle in a simple, satisfying combination. Fresh, crispy bacon and a sunny side up egg top another maple-syrup-soaked waffle special, completing the quintessential brunch experience. Drem caters to a range of coffee tastes-from the classic European espresso, to the cream and sugar saturated lattes that resemble Starbucks frappuccinos.

Drem plays into the desires of the American consumer, with its popular comfort foods and sweet beverages, while exuding all of the easy elegance, intimacy, and quality of a European cafe.

Being privately owned, Drem could have a leg up on chain run competitors by creating a more personal, friendly experience. But the staff fails to capitalize on this opportunity, providing reliable and prompt, but limited service. Nevertheless, with its cozy feel, convenient timings and

location, and high quality, satisfying waffles and coffee, Drem has emerged as a failsafe brunch or coffee option for local students and families.

3590 Old Atlanta Rd Suwanee, GA 30024 www.dremwaffles.com (678) 807 7346

features

THE NEXT BIG THING

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y

innovation MIRA SYDOW, STAFF WRITER SHERRY LIANG, STAFF WRITER SUCHITA KUMAR, STAFF WRITER Innovation. To make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products. Northview students use what they learn in and out of the classroom to create, experiment, and explore; beyond any set curriculum, they delve deeper into their fields of interest, charting their own path for learning and creating.

THE MESSENGER | 19

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Sai Maddali

hile most students use apps on their iPhones, senior Sai Maddali creates and shares them. As a young boy, Sai Maddali knew his future was going to be in business. Today, he is the president of Northview’s FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) chapter and serves as the vice president for the robotics team.

Maddali’s path toward business began just last year. He first started out by using online resources to further his knowledge in computer science.

“I decided that I really wanted to learn some programming languages, so I signed up for online courses on Udemy and Treehouse and then ended up learning languages such as Swift, Java, HTML, TSS,” Maddali said. “Then I competed in competitions such as hack-a-thons or FBLA’s mobile app competition and placed nationally within those.”

Since then, Maddali has also been doing freelance work by making websites for startups and creating email newsletters for nonprofit groups. He has especially worked hard to leave an impact at Northview by setting up a set of speaker series through FBLA. Students now have the opportunity to listen to thriving business magnates and obtain information pertaining to certain fields within business itself, such as entrepreneurship.

“We’re having an internship fair in the spring, and just being able to create what

Coding Essentials 1. Mac Book Pro

20

we can,” Maddali said. “I’ve actually been through two internships; I saw that the company tweeted that they were looking for a position and then ended up applying for both and just got them.”

The Internship Fair is a four week long continuous program where two speakers come to talk about different programs such as marketing or branding. Maddali is currently working hard to bring one of the founding developers of the King of Pops to come discuss brand development. He has plans to call in the director of the digital developers of the Braves to explain digital marketing as well.

Maddali also strives to start a hackathon at Northview. A hackathon is a large gathering of people who collaboratively code and create programs.

“It’s basically working with a group of students that you’ve never met before to create a company or product and pitch to an investor,” Maddali said. “It’s a great way to practice entrepreneurship or at least understand that you don’t have to have a groundbreaking idea to start something.”

Maddali gained his interest in business and computer science when he joined robotics his freshman year and drifted onto the business side when he and his team raised sponsorships, went for community outreach, and basically promoted their team. He even tried running for president of the robotics team.

“I ended up not becoming president as I expected. I learned it was because I wasn’t technical enough,” Maddali said.

“That really made me understand that I wanted to grow my basis in technology, learn some programming, and learn to be a manager for others too.”

Maddali now attributes his success to his networking skills.

“When I’ve gone to working events or

2. GitHub

fairs or conventions, just the fact of being able to say that I’m a high schooler will get me connections with the people that matter,” Maddali said. A major accomplishment for Maddali was being accepted into a youth entrepreneurship course called Taeyong Entrepreneur freshman year. This course taught him how to connect and grow with successful entrepreneurs as they were being mentored by a new one each week.

“That program really allows you to understand that being a high schooler doesn’t mean you can’t be an entrepre-

Evan Moody/STAFF

neur and gets you to go out there,” Maddali said.

Maddali also received help from one of his many connections, someone who also became his major inspiration.

“Kurt Mueller, the CEO at my first internship, really taught me leadership,” Maddali said. “He gave me a book and it taught me that leadership is not just about making the company’s peak at your control, but being able to sustain it. It’s about personality and being kind.”

Maddali’s future plans include earning a computer science degree and continuing on with his understanding of programming. He also hopes to build a tech startup that creates a difference in computing.

“I’m starting to learn that I have a real natural ability to make friends with people wherever I go,” Maddali said. “I would rather spend my education learning computer science rather than trying to

learn the business aspects.”

Maddali’s family stays supportive in his goals and acknowledges his consistent hard work to get where he is.

“He is very goal oriented, a perfectionist, focused, excellent in networking and highly competitive,”Aruna Maddali, his mother, said. “He has been a curious and outgoing person since he was child, and his entrepreneur skills and leadership qualities have been grown a lot since he started high school.”

Maddali’s teachers also acknowledge his perseverance to excel.

“Sai is determined student with a positive attitude; he will always give you his best effort,” Jennifer Niehaus, an AP Statistics teacher at Northview, said.

Maddali continues to pursue his interest in business and technology, and leave an impact in the digital world. With his app-making skills, software knowledge, and various business connections, he will venture further into the field of management.

ABOVE: Senior Sai Maddali codes in HTML trying to complete a project for his new app.

3. Coffee

THE MESSENGER | 21

Matthew Jung really felt a connection to the instrument that I didn’t feel with the violin or cello,” Jung said.

In the time between fifth grade and sophomore year, Jung’s consistent practice and devotion to the bass has led to increased recognition as a bassist in the metro-Atlanta area. Almost immediately after playing the instrument, Jung was accepted into allstate in sixth grade, a tradition continuing throughout middle school, and in eighth grade, Jung stepped further into the music world and was admitted into the Atlanta Justine Ulrich/STAFF Symphony Youth Orike many successful musicians, sophomore chestra. This year he is going into his third year Matthew Jung had his first exposure to mu- as third chair in the orchestra. sic at a young age when his mother enrolled “The first moment I could truly recall my him in violin lessons when he was four. This ear- appreciation for music was the first rehearsal of ly familiarity would play a pivotal role in fostering ASYO in eighth grade. I was just in an environment where people my age had a genuine drive his growing passion for music.

As a piano teacher, his mother recognized and passion for music,” Jung said. the importance music would come to play in By the time Jung came to Northview as a Jung’s life. At first, like many young kids, Jung freshman, he was already an accomplished basswas reluctant to practice, but with his mother’s ist, but the diverse environment of the school continued insistence, music became a hobby, still had a profound impact on his outlook on and soon his innate musical ability became ev- music.

“I really appreciate Northview’s passion for ident.

“I didn’t know whether he would like music music, at least in the orchestra, because Mr. Auor not. I taught him the C scale at 32 months, coin is very dedicated to his job and teaching just as a test, but surprisingly, he understood us,” Jung said. “Just the fact that Northview is every bit of it,” his mother Chaeyun Jung said. interested in all these arts is inspirational to all of “That’s when I knew he had a real talent in mu- Northview’s musicians.

Orchestra teacher Tim Aucoin recognized sic.”

Although Jung was first introduced to music his potential from the beginning, and over next through the violin, when he moved from Korea the two years in his class, he has witnessed Jung to America, he quickly transitioned to the cello, transition from a musician to a leader.

“He works with other students, he helps but finally committing with the bass.

“I switched from the cello to the bass in fifth them to improve, he understands that music is grade, and although I was hesitant to switch, I like a lot of other teams: you’re only as good as

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22

your weakest link, and if he can help pick up the people who are struggling, he can help build a stronger team,” Aucoin said.

While most student musicians at Northview only focus on one instrument, Jung has expanded to the music production industry. His greatest inspiration for music production is the success Northview alumni, Rishi [last name], whose music, produced under the name Ninth Parallel, has gained extensive success and recognition over the past few years. Jung, too, is making a name for himself in the music production industry under the pseudonym Synthion. Since its humble beginnings with poor quality YouTube tutorials and cheap editing software, Synthion just recently hit 1,000 followers on soundcloud and got verified on Spotify.

“I started in 8th grade producing my own music and making my own songs. I’ve gotten on to record labels, and I’m now a manager of a record label called dreamscape. We release amateur music production on a professional basis on platforms like iTunes and Spotify,” Jung said.

Even though it is evident that Jung has an innate sense and talent for music, he insists that the most important quality for any aspiring musician is determination.

“Determination is a really important characteristic because you need to be determined to practice, determined to keep playing your instrument, and determined to constantly be willing to challenge yourself in different ways,” Jung said.

In the future, Jung expects that music will always be an integral part of his life, hoping to continue pursuing music in college and beyond.

LEFT: Sophomore Matthew Jung works on his new chamber orchestra sheet music, hoping to incorporate certain elements into his new single.

Composing Essentials

1. Rythmn 2. Pitch 3. Dynamics

I th

Jasmin Gao H

er entire life, Jasmin Gao, a Northview senior, has learned about important, innovative women in science. Now, Gao is on her way to becoming one herself. By the start of her senior year, she already secured an internship at Georgia Tech, became a finalist for the Siemens Award, and started a class to assist young girls venturing into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields .

“I think that people in STEM have this sense of curiosity about the world.

There is this desire to understand how and why something works and how that could apply to other things,” Gao said.

“It is this hunger to understand and apply knowledge that often motivates STEM people even through the most tedious aspects of the job.”

Lab Essentials 1. Lab Notebook

Gao earned her spot as a research intern at Georgia Tech through hard work and determination. Alamgir Lab in the School of Materials Science and Engineering accepted her after several emails to professors whose work she admired.

Dr. Alamgir’s research includes using platinum to make fuel cells more efficient, what Gao is currently researching.

“There are so many resources and opportunities out there to help you research what you are interested in or do what you are passionate about and you just have to put yourself out there,” Gao said. “When I emailed Dr. Faisal Alamgir, he generous-

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ly took me in and allowed me to join his research group as a high school intern.”

Gao is also a contender for the prestigious Siemens award, an extremely difficult competition pitting top high schoolers in STEM fields against each other for scholarships. She was required to submit an original research paper related to STEM innovation.

Gao’s research paper examined the effects of fibrin gels on dental stem cells.

She spent close to two months of her summer researching at Stony Brook University in New York and turned in the research paper in the fall.

She was motivated for this project and for others by her desire to learn new skills and apply them to problems in the real world. Rebecca Bingham, a chemistry teacher at Northview who has known Gao since she was a freshman, also spoke of her spirit of inquiry.

“She’s a hard worker, but she’s also curious,” Bingham said. “And when she gets hold of a problem, she doesn’t let it go until she understands it.”

Since she was in ninth grade, Gao has had a passion for science, succeeding in science fair as a freshman. Mentors such as Bingham have encouraged her to keep working on projects and not give up, motivating her to improve her research.

Bingham notes that Gao worked hard to become the accomplished person she is today.

“She’s gotten better at organizing her thoughts,” Bingham said. “She can break a problem down and explain it and come to a logical conclusion.”

Though she learned a lot from Bingham, Gao also looks to well known female leaders for guidance. Gao draws inspiration from strong female scientists like Marie Curie, Nancy Grace Roman, and Rosalind Franklin.

in

“I wanted to encourage other girls to fight against the gender roles in STEM fields just like those iconic women,” Gao said. [They] are really inspiring because of their battle against all the gender roles restricting them.”

She and a few classmates formed a club called Girls in STEM, which holds classes for middle and elementary school girls and drive them to pursue STEM jobs. The monthly sessions bring young girls together by encouraging them to defy gender expectations. Together, they use this rare opportunity to teach younger kids to put themselves out there.

As a young child, Gao didn’t have the access to as many STEM opportunities, but she remained inquisitive and intelligent throughout her younger years. Nancy Wang, Gao’s mother, watched her daughter’s naive curiosity transform to the innovative tenacity she possesses today.

“She makes a good student because of her inner drive and motivation, she push herself to be a better student and to achieve greater and better things,” Wang said. “She was always curious, asked lots of questions and was extremely creative.”

Gao’s perseverance, both as a woman in STEM and as a high school student in a college internship, allows her to be the best she can be.

2. Safety Equipment 3. Test Subjects

THE MESSENGER | 23

FEATURES

holiday gift guide 2016

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Jawbone JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Jawbone 52

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Bath Bomb collection Amazon 39.99 More than meets the eye eyeshadow palette Sephora 36

Christmas Blanket, Amazon 30

leather watch urban outfitters 32

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THE MESSENGER | 25

faceoff SHOULD WE INCREASE OUR INTEGRATION OF STEM CLASSES IN SCHOOL CURRICULUMS?

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OPINIONS

yes N I T H YA M A H A K A L A , F E A T U R E S E D I T O R

W

hen it comes to education reform in America, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is the term that is usually at the tip of the tongue of every policy maker, teacher, or school advocate. For its opponents, STEM is a buzzword that signifies an increase in standardized tests and a decrease in emphasis on humanities education. But for its proponents, STEM education represents an increased dedication to making American schools globally competitive — preparing students for a job market that is becoming more reliant on science and technology skills.

Workers in such fields drive our nation’s innovation and competitiveness for generating new ideas, new companies and

new industries. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17.0 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations.

However, businesses frequently voice concerns over the supply and availability of STEM employees. If the United States is to maintain its economic power, then we will need a STEM-educated workforce that can meet the demands of business in an increasingly complex and technology-driven economy. To ensure this rise, our country’s developing dependency on these fields must be compensated for inside classroom walls.

Today’s students are taught to be tomorrow’s leaders. We grow up with an in-

nate sense of curiosity built in. It is important to introduce the various concepts of STEM at a young age, so children grow up learning more about them. Not only does this help job outcomes, but it also gives each child a brighter future. In addition to higher earnings, workers in STEM occupations on average experience lower unemployment rates than workers in other fields.

Integrating these courses into school curriculums across the nation can also help shed light on the voices that are often suppressed in the STEM field. Currently, women hold less than 25 percent of STEM jobs. It is necessary to bridge the education gap between genders, an initiative that can be fulfilled by introducing STEM topics at a younger age.

disadvantage and not as good of an education as someone that wants to go into a STEM subject.

Some may argue that the extra attention is needed because students that want to go into STEM fields are generally better off because their jobs are harder and require more time and effort to master. A study done by Americans for the Arts showed that students who gravitate toward the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. In addition, they are also four times as likely to participate in a math or science fair, and are three times as likely to be elected for class office which gives them skills to become future business leaders. So the idea that STEM is in any way more important or that it gives students more practical experience fails to hold up to litmus testing. One of the major components of STEM is rote learning which in many cases hinders the student’s ability to think freely on a subject. While in the arts, students are allowed to come to their own conclusions,

rather than being force fed them repeatedly.

Budget cuts are an inevitability with increasing STEM funding. Unfortunately, these cuts ill lead to students not having career coaches, or any career based guidance for better performance in the future. Once again, the unbalanced attention towards STEM careers gives an unfair advantage to those students. If more students are discouraged from taking arts, it will eventually lead to the oversaturation of STEM subjects, which will leave many with no job openings, and an unhealthy focus on sciences.

There is no denying that STEM subjects are important in today’s world. However, going forward people must be careful not to give too much time and money to STEM subjects, because the effects can be very harmful to those not wanting to go into that area. As long as there is a healthy balance between art and science, everyone will be able to get the education they deserve and society as a whole will be better because of it.

no B E N M I N D E R , S TA F F W R I T E R

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urrent STEM subjects have evolved away from the abacus, arithmetic of the past. In today’s highly technological world one might think it would be appropriate to have students focus the most on these subjects since they have become a big part of our daily lives. While it is clear that these subjects have a place in the school system, it is also important to ask if they get too much attention.

In the past ten years, STEM job openings have emerged for these fields. So the next logical step for the government is to increase funding because the demand is higher. On paper, this seems fine. When this is put into practice however, it becomes less than optimal. The funding and focus given to STEM subjects makes liberal arts and other fields less appealing to students. Extra funding for STEM subjects mean less funding for arts and are generally taught by less experienced people and are ran poorly in general. This gives those that want to go into the arts a

THE MESSENGER | 27

OPINIONS

STAFF EDITORIAL

Alt-Wrong

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ecently, the alternative right or the alt-right has garnered support around the nation as it hit mainstream media with the propulsion of advocates like Stephen Brannon, the editor of Breitbart News, into the presidential circle of advisors. The term, itself, coined in 2008 by Richard Spencer, a columnist for the think tank National Policy Institute, built itself upon the idea of identitarianism. This polar opposite of multiculturalism emphasizes racial and cultural homogeneity within a country creating nation states rather than multi-national countries. The Palestine Liberation Organization, Kurdistan representatives, along with various other ethnocentric adovation groups seek to enact identitarianism on a global level. The alt right movement cannot be described as monolithic with certain tenements and focuses. Instead, it ranges across the conservative political spectrum relying on anarcho capitalism and hard-line immigration reforms, but centers around the safekeeping of Western civilization. Like any other discourse over political ideology, identitarianism has its merits and consequences just as multiculturalism does. However, the corruption and hijacking of certain parts of the movement to focus on the preservation of ‘traditional white identity’ leads to incendiary statements and beliefs that seek to devalue and often times antagonize or demonize individuals who do not fit into a homogeneously white America.

Of course many supports of the movement follow less extreme versions, while others are simply internet ‘trolls’ on websites like 8 chan hoping to provoke a response. For countries like Finland

28

and Iceland, homogeneous populations allow certain programs like debt relief, standardized healthcare, and government run federal schools, but for diverse communities in the United States, a push back against multiculturalism and a “get out” campaign fails to address any meaningful issue or advance the country as a whole. The warped views from factions of the alt-right argue for a segregated America, but the hypocrisies of individuals in the extremes of the movement necessitate deliberation and discussion. Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor at Breitbart and a figure often times equivocated with the alt right, argues in his commentary and columns against the naturalization of lesbians while at the same time, demands equal protection under the law as a gay activist. The apparent contradictions delve deep into the alt-right with white nationalists protesting against government policies that often discriminate against minorities like the Dakota Access pipeline. Here, the anarcho capitalism falls into opposition with identitarianism.

The movement of the alt right heralded the rise of populism in America, but the movement represents something far greater: a grab to prevent a shift of power. According to recent population trends, by 2060 the United States will become a minority-majority country with non-whites representing a higher percentage of the population than white Americans. Regardless of its intentions and purposes, the alt right pulls American egalitarianism into the past instead of propelling equality into the future.

COLUMN

THE LOW DOWN

Shake Hands: It’s Over In the wake of a nasty and divisive election, it’s crucial that we take a step back and remember the realities of life.

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

I

n the wake of one of the nastiest, most divisive elections in this nation’s history, it is imperative to take a step back and remember that the voices of the politicians, pundits, and extremists that set the polarizing tone of a duopolistic choice do not represent the vast majority of people in this country.

The rhetoric of a select few does not and should not define the vast majority of honest, benevolent people in this country.

No, not all men act like Mr. Trump. Not all of us are proponents of sexual assault.

Not all of us believe a woman’s sole value to society should be reduced to her looks. Not all of us are okay with the notion that a locker room should serve as a safe space for sexism.

To the women questioning this, please remember, not all men feel this way.

No, not all white people are racists. Not all of us believe that Mexican immigrants are drug dealers, criminals, and rapists. Not all of us believe that our former president was born

in Africa solely based on the color of his skin.

Not all of us believe that a person’s creed, kind or color should keep him from being included in this pluralistic and all-inclusive nation that we call the United States of America.

To those questioning this, please remember, not all white people feel this way.

No, not all Christians are homophobes or islamophobes. Not all of us have an irrational hatred for the LGBT+ community. Not all of us believe that every Muslim is a terrorist.

Please do not get the wrong idea- most of us do not feel this way.

No, not all natives hate foreigners. Not all of us believe foreigners to be terrorists, job-stealers, drug-dealers, or rapists. Not all of us want to ban the very people from our country that our constitution protects. To those questioning this, please do not get the wrong idea.

We, as a society, need to accept that our fellow citizens can be wrong, but not bad peo-

ple. It is the only way. Democracy can only function if differing points of views exist.

Everybody wants the best for our country.

Disagreement exists in the methods by which people believe we get there. We need to remember that it is not bad to disagree.

This election has tested the moral fiber of not only our entire electoral system, but the general population as a whole. After all that has happened, we need to remember to take the high road, even when we see those around us going low. We cannot give in to stereotypes fueled by a select few. E pluribus unum- out of many, one: these words matter now more than ever, this nation is the greatest melting-pot on the face of the Earth, we cannot neglect this quality, it is crucial that we embrace it. We need to remember to treat each other with respect. To do unto others as you would have others do unto you. There is always room for a little more love, now more than ever.

THE MESSENGER | 29

music

COLUMNS

WILL CLAUSSEN, SPORTS EDITOR

1. Black Beatles - Rae Sremmurd

ft. Gucci Mane 2. Closer - The Chainsmokers

ft. Halsey 3. Starboy - The Weeknd

ft. Daft Punk 4. Caroline - Aminé

Winter Top 5

5. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars

Childish Gambino

A

rtist, actor, and most of all musician has begun to tease fans by releasing a few tracks from his new and upcoming album “Awaken, My Love!”. Outside of the music world, his new show Atlanta, has become critically acclaimed and successful enough to be already confirmed for a second season. His first episode garnered over one million viewers and received acclaim by both critics and viewers world wide. He found inspiration for his new album from childhood memories listening to Funkadelic music played by his parents, and the feeling of not quite understanding its meanings.

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24K Magic

A

lmost four years after his last full album, Bruno Mars has returned to the forefront of the music world with his new 80’s and 90’s R&B inspired album, 24K Magic. This album builds off of the new and charming sound that he tried to bring back with his single Uptown Funk. The track list features nine new songs that all somewhat veer away from the flirty and smooth sounds of this early career by featuring artists such as Boyz II Men or James Brown.

fashion

COLUMNS

LINA LEVITT, STAFF WRITER

vul•gar

/ˈvəlɡər/ adjective lacking sophistication and good taste

S

ince the beginning of time, fashion has gone through endless cycles of thrilling the public with new trends. The new looks excite the younger generation but disgust our elders, who pronounce these trends “vulgar”. The Barbican, a London art gallery, opened an exhibit called The Vulgar: Fashion Redefined. This exhibit dives in to the history of fashion, displaying looks that were too risque for their time, from scandalous ankle flashing dresses of the 1800s to the shocking slip dress of the 1990s.

The Vulgar has provoked a movement throughout the fashion industry, making people wonder if fashion has gone too far. Some argue that the trends that we see today compare to the controversy of pants for women in the 1920s. They say that we fear what we do not know; and one day the trends that are so scandalous to us now will be the norm. Other fashionistas preach that these new looks can be offensive and borderline pornographic. It is up to us to decide if these trends are progressive or just vulgar.

THE MESSENGER | 31

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m o c . l o M O o .C L h O c O H S C S p P V isitVA o O t l l LT L ISIT A