Vol. 20, Issue 1 by The Messenger

THE MESSENGER VOL 20/ISS 1

NORTHVIEW BOLT pg. 08 Rekindling the audio/visual technology program

COVER STORY: THE FIFTH PILLAR pg. 17 How the honor code affects student culture

ANOTHER BLACK MAN DEAD pg. 16 The effect of Ahmaud Arbery’s death on Black students’mental health

THE MESSENGER | 1

staff CONTACT US

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

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.

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: Grace Peng

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Melissa Liu Grace Peng

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Manasa Premanand

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Krystal Wu

COPY EDITORS Bedansh Pandey Megan Serfontein

NEWS EDITOR Ria Dubey

FEATURES EDITOR Disha Kumar

SPORTS EDITOR Nikki Skyer

OPINIONS EDITOR

Anshi Vajpayee

ADVISER

Meredith Evans

STAFF Aditi Bhati Cameron Chappell Gavin Chen Sanjana Gopu Reagan Horne Suhani Mahajan Sydney Mulford McKenna Ryan Kush Santosh Delisa Troupe Brandon Tung Mekayla Upton Carter Willis Casey Wong Kevin Xiang

contents 05

MELISSA LIU

MEKAYLA UPTON NIKKI SKYER

REAGAN HORNE MEGAN SERFONTEIN

EDITOR’S LETTER

SCHOOL SPIRIT

STAFF

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS SUHANI MAHAJAN

MONTHLY BRIEFS

NORTHVIEW BOLT DISHA KUMAR MCKENNA RYAN

JOHNS CREEK LEGACY CENTER KRYSTAL WU ADITI BHATI

PROFILE: SANJANA ARUN SYDNEY MULFORD NIKKI SKYER

ANOTHER BLACK MAN DEAD DELISA TROUPE

17*

THE FIFTH PILLAR ANSHI VAJPAYEE KRYSTAL WU

FACEOFF

R/ANSHI

ANSHI VAJPAYEE

POP CULTURE REVIEW

CAMERON CHAPPELL

STAFF EDITORIAL STAFF

FOOD REVIEW: SUGO BRANDON TUNG

THE MESSENGER | 3

COLUMNS

gallery

The softball team qualified for region and state playoffs. GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER

The football team gets a new head coach, Scott Schwarzer. GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER

GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER Senior Anastasiya Peravalava spikes the ball in a game against St. Pius X. Couples enjoy their Valentine’s Day at Sadies

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Climate Conundrum

ou might dismiss the idea that individual lifestyle changes can make a significant difference as mere naïveté. Some of you may even believe that taking individual action is a counterproductive approach that absolves fossil fuel companies of their sins while distracting us from creating meaningful change through collective political action. To address the first claim: calling individual action unproductive is no different than calling elections unproductive. After all, voting relies on the idea that each individual’s contribution is important. And when it comes to addressing climate change, you vote with your money; every purchase from a fast fashion company, for instance, is an endorsement of highly-polluting manufacturing and a wasteful, throw-away consumer culture. Combined, seemingly inconsequential purchases peddle the very unsustainable practices you may claim to be a fervent opponent of. The simple fact is that individual action has an impact on the environment. Take milk, for example –– from 1996 to 2018, average US milk consumption dropped from 24 to 17 gallons per year according to the USDA. Multiply the difference (7 gallons) by the 2018 US population (328 million), and you realize Americans consumed 2.3 billion gallons less milk in 2018 than they would have in 1996. Since each gallon of milk consumed is equivalent to 17.6 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, that’s 40 billion fewer pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in 2018 alone. To put this into perspective, 40 billion pounds of carbon dioxide weighs as much as 55 Empire State Buildings. The dietary changes of millions of individual Americans combined to make a significant difference, and there’s no reason we can’t continue making these changes to reduce emissions from animal agriculture. To address the second claim: while it’s true that collective political action is necessary to pass policies to fund green infrastructure or hold fossil fuel companies accountable, it makes absolutely no sense to pit it against individual action as if the two are mutually exclusive, when they are, in fact, self-reinforcing.

For instance, calling someone out for racial stereotyping does not detract from your ability to advocate against systemic racism. By the same logic, making sustainable lifestyle choices and calling out those who don’t does not detract from your ability to advocate for green policies or corporate accountability. When an individual makes lifestyle changes to combat climate change, they feel more in control, and thus, more empowered to participate in collective political movements. As self-determination theory suggests, building autonomy can help people become more motivated and passionate. This means engaging in individual action doesn’t distract us from creating meaningful change; instead, it amplifies collective political activism by deepening our commitment to the climate movement and increasing the likelihood of participation on a larger scale. You could even call individual action a prerequisite to collective action. An individual’s lifestyle changes can influence family and friends to make more environmentally conscious decisions, generating the numbers needed for a larger climate movement. A behavioral experiment conducted by Tilburg University found that when consumers were told 70% of their colleagues chose a sustainable product over the alternative, 60% of them chose the sustainable product as well, compared to only 41% when the consumers didn’t know their colleague’s choices. It’s time we stopped hiding behind claims that individual action against climate change is ineffective or counterproductive. Keep fighting for climate justice through political activism--just make sure you also reduce your meat intake and buy more products secondhand. I know I’m asking a lot of you. So do it for the millions of people in developing countries who will lose their jobs, homes, and lives due to the impending food shortages and rising sea levels. Or if not for them, do it for yourself. Do it, so you won’t be inconvenienced by the loss of your favorite indulgences: chocolate, potato chips, coffee, and of course, vacation trips to Cancun.

Melissa Liu, Editor-in-Chief

THE MESSENGER | 5

M O N T H LY

NEWS

BRIEFS

Britney Spears

n Friday, November 12, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny ruled to end popstar Britney Spears’ conservatorship. This comes about after two years of increasing controversy surrounding Spears’ conservatorship. An increase of awareness due to revelations of the inner workings of the conservatorship and the public lead “Free Britney” movement, a social movement protesting Spear’s conservatorship and demanding she be granted autonomy over her life, lead up to this decision. A crucial turning point in this case was earlier this year, when, in her testimony, Spears officially requested that her conservatorship be ended, listing her traumatic grievances against her father, her conservator. From the time that the conservatorship began in 2008 until Nov. 12, 2021, Spears had no control over her financial or personal life. All the shots were called by a team led primarily by her father, Jamie Spears. Until very recently, few details about how the conservatorship operated or how Spears felt about it had made it into the public view. With the conservatorship ended, Spears can now, legally, access her funds and lead her life however she likes, no longer restricted by her father’s guidelines.

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). SIPA US, ALAMY

Britney Spears celebrates freedom now that her conservatorship is over. CHRIS PIZZELLO, INVISION

COP26 Summit

n Nov. 13, 2021, U.N. representatives signed off on a new climate agreement after two weeks of discussion in Glaslow, Scotland at the 26th annual Conference of the Parties summit. The summit commenced on Oct. 31, 2021 and ended with nearly 200 world leaders committing to the Glaslow Climate Pact after heavy compromise and debate. While recognizing every country’s unique circumstances, especially in the most climate vulnerable countries, leaders from all regions agreed on the need to expedite climate action by 2030. Through the Glaslow Climate Pact, U.N. leaders hope for a phasedown of frequent coal use and a phaseout of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. In response, many have both criticized and applauded the U.N. for their efforts. “The COP has turned into a PR event, where leaders are giving beautiful speeches and announcing fancy commitments and targets, while behind the curtains governments of the Global North countries are still refusing to take any drastic climate action,” Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg said.

O Kyle Rittenhouse, center, looks back as Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies enter the courtroom to escort him out of the room during a break in the trial. SEAN KRAJACIC, NPR

Kyle Rittenhouse

n Aug. 25, 2020, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse shot three men amidst a protest for Jacob Blake’s death in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Videos from the night show Rittenhouse travelling among police officers with a semi-automated AR-style rifle, which at the time, was an illegal weapon Rittenhouse carried. Rittenhouse was later charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor, two of which were first-degree counts of homicide. On Jan. 5, 2021, Kenosha County district attorney Micheal Graveley announced Kyle Rittenhouse would plead not guilty. Later, On Nov. 1, 2021, the trail began. A 12-member jury found Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges, citing his reasoning for shooting as self-defense. The trial’s verdict was met with heavy backlash, many of whom feel Rittenhouse was not subjected to self defense.

Local Elections

n Tuesday, Nov. 2, John Bradberry became mayor of Johns Creek, winning 60% of the vote over former Councilman Brian Weaver. With his term officially beginning in January, for now, Bradberry is building his team. Bradberry intends to build a greater sense of community in Johns Creek in numerous ways. His plan is structured around building infrastructure and increasing community events to further Johns Creek from a “good city” to “an even greater community.” By building more sidewalks and trails, Bradberry hopes to foster a greater walkability, and therefore, a greater connectivity. Bradberry also wants to make the Town Center into a “vibrant and unique destination” which will include “a venue for concerts, sporting events and festivals, a residential component along with dining, shopping and recreation anchored by the Legacy Arts Center and tied together by natural features and walking trails.” Bradberry also intends to engage more of the Johns Creek community by hosting more culturally diverse events throughout the city.

Senior Shraddha Bandlamudi writes postcards for local mayoral candidate Brian Weaver. DISHA KUMAR, FEATURES EDITOR

Syringes with needles are seen in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken, Nov. 27, 2021. DADO RUVIC, REUTERS

Omicron

resident Joe Biden halted all travel from South African countries in light of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron. Omicron has been designated a variant of Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Omicron is confirmed to be more transmissible than the Delta variant as well. The variant was first reported on Nov. 24, 2021 in South Africa. While the number of cases seems to be increasing in all provinces of South Africa, as of Nov. 29, 2021 only two cases in North America are confirmed to be of the Omicron variant, both found in Ontario, Canada. The variant might also resist vaccine immunity in those who were affected by previous strains, and the WHO warns the risk Omicron poses to vulnerable countries with lower vaccination rates are especially alarming. The WHO advises individuals to continue taking precautionary measures to combat the Omicron variant, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing and hand hygiene.

THE MESSENGER | 7

FEATURES

Northview Bolt

Students rekindle Northview’s audiovisual technology program DISHA KUMAR, FEATURES EDITOR MCKENNA RYAN, STAFF WRITER 8

Seniors Kevin Alton and Ryan Li filming an episode of Bolt. GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER

ew to the screens of Northview is Northview Bolt, an audiovisual (AV) technology club that aims to teach students more about the production process through the creation of short skits. The film program is no novelty at Northview, but when the school discontinued the AV technology course, it paved the way for a new form of film-making—one that is entirely student-run. The AV technology class at Northview is what kick-started Bolt. Seniors Ryan Li, Bolt producer, and Dhruv Singh, Bolt editor, took the AV technology class until their sophomore year—the final year Northview offered the elective. “[Sophomore year] was the most awful time of my life,” Li said. “That was the worst quality of video Northview has ever seen.” Although Li and Singh were passionate about film-making, they did not get to do much hands-on work in class. Rather walking students through the production process, Cedric Young, the former AV technology teacher, encouraged students to learn on their own by watching online videos. This was a stark contrast to the previous learning style of the elective, in which students would create and present their own production, Northview Morning. This, in part, is what inspired Li and Singh to revitalize the concept of a student-led production. “I learned a lot of basics, but it forced me to teach myself what I know now,” Singh said. “I taught myself how to use the lighting system and [microphones] by just messing around with stuff, experimenting, and plugging things into other things.” Raymond Brown, the sponsor for Bolt, has witnessed the development of the AV technology program since its start. Brown’s best friend, Ian Carroll, was the AV teacher who taught before Young. After teaching the class for five years and building lasting relationships with students, Carroll relocated to Florida, but the impact that he had on Northview’s film-enthused students continues to linger. “A lot of the students who are doing this are so passionate about film, and they want to pursue it as a career because they love expressing themselves through this amazing medium that is film,” Brown said. “It kind of hurt, and I emotionally was distraught to see that program fall the way it did.”

Although the AV technology program under Young was not as interactive as students would have liked it to be, Li noted that it did have its merits. The experience of creating short skits at home during quarantine helped students like

possible while featuring videos that have been submitted by the student body. “One of the most important things to know is that film is a medium for a story,” Li said. “If you want to tell a story, you have got to play on the emotion, which is the most important thing in making a video and editing as well.” After writing the screenplay, the team begins storyboarding, which involves planning how to frame each shot of the film. This provides the basis for the actual shooting, after which is the long process of editing all the shots together. Despite the demanding time commitment required of the program, both crew members and students alike are able to enjoy the resulting product. “My favorite part is probably right after we finish a project because a lot of stuff goes into it,” Singh said. “Looking at the final product feels really good; that’s what keeps me going through the process.” After successfully launching its first three episodes of the year, Bolt is looking forward to recruiting additional members and expanding its presence through social media. Li and Singh are hopeful for what the program has in store for future members. They envision Bolt’s role as both an educational tool and a creative outlet. “I really hope that we can find some people who are just as passionate about this as we are and watch them grow,” Li said.

“For eve ry m i nu te th a t yo u f i lm , you’ re pr o b a b ly ta ki ng f i v e to si x minutes o f e di ti ng ti m e . Th e re i s an ungod ly a m o u nt o f w o rk th a t goes in to e v e ry o ne o f th e se ep isodes , a nd I do n’ t th i nk th a t the stude nt b o dy w i ll e v e r f u lly comprehe nd th e a m o u nt o f h o u rs spen t f o r e a c h o ne o f th e m . ” R a ym o nd B ro w n Li and Singh refine their filmmaking skills, as did Carroll’s mentorship before he left. “A lot of the tenants I carried with me I learned under Mr. Carroll’s guidance,” Li said. “Which shots we put together with which theory, and all the practice we got from [AV Technology I] served as our foundation for how we do things now.” The five to 10 minute segments that students see during Titan Time every month are the fruition of hours of work. Brown, Li, and Singh break down the precise and tedious production process behind each episode. “[Li and Singh] are writing every episode,” Brown said. “They are the production staff. They are the directors. They are the cinematographers. They are the cameramen.” The process begins with writing up a screenplay. This script is based on ideas that students submit and events that are happening during that time of the month. Li and Singh try to involve as many students who are interested as

Senior Dhruv Singh adjusts his camera settings. GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER

THE MESSENGER | 9

NEWS

Conceptual art for the Legacy Center ROBERTSON LOIA ROOF, SPECIAL

Johns Creek Legacy Center How the Legacy Center of Johns Creek’s task force plans to bring the Johns Creek community together through art ADITI BHATT, STAFF WRITER KRYSTAL WU, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

ohns Creek organizations and representatives are planning the construction of the Legacy Center of Johns Creek. It will serve as a gathering place for the culturally diverse community, where members can come together for musical performances and enjoyment. “The main thing is just to really have a community gathering spot that focuses on different ways of the art world,” Liz Hausmann, Fulton County commissioner, said. “But we have long viewed it as not just an arts focus, [but also] an economic development tool.” The goal of the center is to combine Johns Creek centers, such as the Johns Creek Arts Center and the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, in one place. Stephanie Donaldson, executive director of the Johns Creek Arts Center, looks forward to the construction of the legacy center because it will provide more space for her arts center. “With the consistent and projected growth of the art center’s programming there is a definitive need for expansion,” Donaldson said. “Growth in these areas will afford the opportunity to employ additional artistic individuals and to keep all programming under one roof.” Angelika Kausche, State Representative of the Georgia House District 50, explains what

the legacy center will be like in context of other town centers in nearby localities. “The surrounding cities have these great mixed-use areas, which is basically what you think of when you think of Duluth or Avalon, but this would be different,” Kausche said. “This is really like a vision where we create something that is unique to Johns Creek.” Kausche, Donaldson, and Hausmann are on the legacy center task force, a group of city officials and organization heads dedicated to making the center a reality. The task force, assembled and headed by Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra Director Wayne Baughman, discusses how members meet monthly to work out details like funding and city approval, as well as public support and utility. “The sentiment from our public input has been that this absolutely must be a public-private partnership,” Baughmann said. “And that there must be some city buy-in to this project. Whether it’s 10% or 50% or more, that remains to be seen, but the public is very much in favor of having some of their tax dollars spent on building the legacy center.” With the project estimated to cost $50 million, the task force grapples with the challenge of finding the funds to finance it, especially since the city has yet to fund it. The task force

intends to use a public-private partnership, a combination of government funding and a capital campaign through which different private sectors will be encouraged to contribute to the project. Although there is no definite completion date, there has been an initial rendering of the floor plan. “[Fulton County] invested $250,000...the year before last. I honestly had hoped that by now, the city would have invested as well. [The pandemic], of course, put things on a slower track,” Hausmann said. The funds from Fulton County have gone to the public information campaign and data collection efforts, through which the task force collects public input and spreads the word about the legacy center’s creation. Public reception and several city council candidates during the recent municipal election expressed their support for the legacy center. The task force estimates that the legacy center will be built within three to five years, optimistically. “Having civic leaders who recognize the importance and development of a plan to include cultural arts is essential to the vibrancy of our community,” Donaldson said. “Cultural arts are one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for our city to put into place.”

SPORTS

profile

highlights

Sanjana Arun,12

NIKKI SKYER, SPORTS EDITOR SYDNEY MULFORD, STAFF WRITER

s the grass crunched under her feet, Sanjana Arun walked into her first match, bat and helmet in hand. She had not played cricket since the sixth grade, and when she looked around, she realized that she was the only girl on the field. Still, she stayed, continued to play, and fell back in love with the sport. Arun moved to the United States from India in 2012. When she lived in India, Arun played leather ball cricket at Karnataka Institute of Cricket and enjoyed

it thoroughly. But moving came at the cost of putting a pin in her love for the sport. “My coach in India did reference me to a cricket institute in the US, but I was dealing with school and change of scenario, so I couldn’t really pick up cricket again,” Arun said. This year, when Arun heard about the cricket team at Northview, she decided it was time to get back to what she loved and start playing again. She had tried other sports, such as track and taekwondo, but they were just not the same since they did not have the team dynamic that cricket did. “I felt like I used to play with my dad a lot, but after moving here we didn’t really play anymore,” Arun said. “After I heard that there was a women’s cricket team at Northview I thought I’d pick it up again.” Once she joined, Arun became Northview’s only female cricket player. Head Coach John McCombe hopes that other girls with follow Arun’s lead. With enough growth and popularity, Northview could potentially have an all-women’s team in the forseeable future, McCombe explains. “My hope is that maybe not next season but maybe the next year or the following year we can put out a completely [seperate] women’s team to compete in a women’s league, because there is so much interest in it as a sport,” McCombe said. Arun is reaching out to other girls, encouraging them to join the team. She spoke with some of her current friends, as well as some of her sister’s friends to try and get them to join next semester. “I thought it was pretty unique that there was a girl on the team. I always knew cricket was both a guys sport and a girls sport,” Aman Dhamapurkar, a teammate of Arun’s, said. “In the future, I think it will be a benefit for Northview cricket to have a guys and girls team.” KUSH SANTOSH, STAFF WRITER

First female player in Northview history

Nine years of cricket experience

Arun is also planning to join the Johns Creek Panthers next semester, which is a women’s team that is part of the Johns Creek Cricket Association. The league features coaches that are widely known, some at the international level. “I know that the association works really hard and has some really high quality coaches. I knew [some of them] even before I came to know [about] Johns Creek cricket from their role in the international game,” McCombe said. Arun will work with the coaches in the future to improve her skills, but right now she already has a crucial role on the team. Arun offers her team a glimpse into the importance of diversity, and also the capability of women to play the sport through her impressive fielding abilities, as McCombe recounts. “[She has] really been an asset to the team with what’s she doing. I know she is working hard outside of what we are doing as a team between improving her game and becoming a better player,” McCombe said. Dhamapurkar and McCombe both believe that Arun is just the beginning of girls in Northview cricket. The sport can be played by both females and males, and hopefully Northview’s program will grow to include two teams. “I really hope that more girls don’t feel intimidated to join a boys team,” Arun said. “There are so many girls that are interested in cricket, but they’re just afraid to join the team.”

THE MESSENGER | 11

Volleyball gets their last hit over the net against Galloway High School. GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER

State bound Katherine Marshall and Ana Peravalava lead volleyball to state back-to-back years CARTER WILLIS, STAFF WRITER

he Northview volleyball team’s expectations started high this season, after they made state last year for the first time since 2014. This year’s journey back to state, however, was not as smooth as planned. It was only through the strategy of their captains as well as strong outside hitters and setters that Northview volleyball made it back to state this year after building a strong foundation for the program’s future. The team planned to do this with their new coach, Vic Wu, who would help the team with finishing the attack on offense, which would revolve around the outside hitters. “We brought in [Wu], who was the assistant coach of the Chinese national team,” Mike Dixon, the head volleyball coach, said. “He was coming in to be our subject matter expert [with volleyball].” But before the season began, Wu left the country to deal with a family matter, and would not be a part of the team’s season. Wu’s departure led to the co-captains - sophomore Katherine Marshall and senior Ana Peravalava - to step

into a leadership role they were not expecting. “Ana and I were two of the three players that had been on varsity before,” Marshall said. “So we naturally became the leaders of the team with our coach gone and we had to make our roles known so that we could go back to state.” Marshall and Peravalava also had to become experts on the team’s strategy. For both, their position as outside hitters allowed them to revolve the team’s strategy around themselves by being the final hitters on attack. This was done through the setters giving the ball to the outside hitters to finish off their attack by spiking the ball over the net leaving their opposition defenseless giving them the point. “A lot of our success was from our stars that rose up on the varsity team,” Dixon said. “Like Ana Peravalava, one of our outside hitters that was fantastic on finishing. Katherine Marshall’s shots as an outside hitter were also key to a lot of our wins.” The outside hitters were the team’s greatest strength because they were also key on defense by blocking the sides of the court. This strat-

egy ultimately led the team to key wins in the region against Lithonia, Clarkston, Southwest Dekalb, Stone Mountain, and Decatur, where they finished in third place, securing a spot in the state tournament. “Our record was about five hundred on the year, and we had to play a lot of private school teams who could recruit [players],” Dixon said. “When you just look at the region play though we did pretty good with a record of seven and two.” But throughout these key wins, there was one position that went unnoticed: the setters. The strength of these players really came through during region play, because they allowed the outside hitters to make their final move on attack. “I feel like myself and all the other setters really progressed during the season,” sophomore setter Sophia Hernandez said. “Our strategy of setting for the outside hitters really led us to be able to play in state.” However, just when the team got into the flow of their new strategy, they lost the regional tournament to St. Pius. St. Pius slowed down Northview’s offensive strategy when there were blocks by St. Pius players Erin Burke, Isa Boyd, Nina Shaw, and Annemarie Rakoski who is the number one ranked volleyball player in Georgia. “St. Pius is the juggernaut of our region that is always poised to win state, so playing them in the regional tournament was hard,” Dixon said. “They’re always an excellent team so losing to them was tough, but [our team] was facing really good competition going into the state tournament so we did have something positive to take away from that.” But the loss only fueled the team to play better, as they won their next two out of three region games to make it to state. Although they lost in the first round of state, reaching this level itself keeps the team hopeful for next year. “Hopefully Coach Wu will come back next year because he had a lot of insight about the game that our team didn’t have this year,” Marshall said. “As for next year it is definitely a goal of mine to reach the final four of the state tournament.” Despite having to face unexpected moments of adversity with one of their coaches leaving and losing a key region game the team persevered with the team’s player-led leadership and strategy allowing the outside hitters to become stars on the team. In all, the team demonstrated that with the right players and strategy, they were able to come together and fulfill their goals of making it to state back-to-back years as well as building on this season to make a run at state in future seasons.

SPORTS

Northview football sees its highest fan turnout at the homecoming game against Stone Mountain. KUSH SANTOSH, STAFF WRITER

The rise in school spirit After a year online, Northview has started to regain its school spirit NIKKI SKYER, SPORTS EDITOR MEKAYLA UPTON, STAFF WRITER

fter a year of being online, the student sections have begun to reach normality at Northview – namely, through an increase in student participation at games which is being fueled by Northview Nation. Northview Nation has elevated the school spirit in all sports whether it be through large, ornate flags or concise, catchy chants. The group’s work has helped bring out more people to games and made the student sections much louder than they have been in the past not just at football games, but also at the games of other fall sports such as volleyball and softball. For sophomore volleyball player Lillian Pendergrass, the increase in support is incredibly motivating. This is her second year playing volleyball at Northview, and she finds the difference in student participation astounding. “[Playing a sport] is so mental, and if you have people that are judging you, it’s hard for you to bounce back,” Pendergrass said. “But if there are people that are cheering you on in a crowd, it’s so much easier to come back.” Pendergrass is not the only one who feels this way about the relationship between student support and team performance. “The school spirit impacts how I play the game because knowing that I have friends and family waiting for me to make the next move makes everything more fun,” Nora Daklouche, a freshman softball player, said. Daklouche noticed both an increase in spirit and student turnout as both a fan and

a player themself. They explained that prior to this year, the crowds were markedly lacking in the amount of students who attended, with it being composed mainly of the kin of the players . “The crowd before this year was mainly grandparents and parents just there because they have to be,” Daklouche said. “But now there are people who actually have a school spirit and care about the people on the team in the sport itself.” The increase in school spirit was clear to the football team as well. For sophomore quarterback Coda Woolstenhulme, the increase in fans helped his performance on the field. “In previous years, we wouldn’t have much of a student section or much of a support group out in games. And I think it helps when we do,” Woolstenhulme said. He also attributes this rise in school spirit primarily to the senior class, which he says is the group that cheers the loudest and shows up in the most numbers at the games. “I think the senior group this year is just way more outgoing. And so because of that, they just have more friends and stuff for people who support them to come to the games,” Woolstenhulme said. “Our senior group is really a big reason why we’ve had a student section this year.” But for Woolstenhulme and many others who have taken note of the increased participation in fall sports, the question of whether

or not this fervor will remain in the seasons to come is still to be seen. “I think the school spirit will continue because towards the end [of the fall season sports] we were starting to get the hang of [showing out to the games]. And the underclassmen started to participate more in the themes [for each game],” Jack Davis, a member of the Northview cross country team and a leader for Northview Nation, said. “I feel like we got enough underclassmen into [school spirit] that we will have Northview Nation continue [beyond] this year.” According to Davis, the student section used more competitive chants at football matches, oftentimes decrying the other team, whereas the volleyball chants were more uplifting. One of the chants Davis and the rest of Northview Nation often used when Northview was winning was “I believe that we will win.” “The chants started off as just a few people, but as we got more of a turn out, more people joined in,” he said. Though the increase in school spirit has been biggest in football, it is also noticeable in other fall sports due to Northview Nation and a re-energized student section. “I think [school spirit] will increase as the years go on,” Daklouche said. “I think as more freshmen come through and more parents get involved with the sports, there’ll be more school spirit and larger student sections.”

THE MESSENGER | 13

[ NORTHVIEW EDITI ON ] The Messenger explores the stories of some pets of the Northview community SUHANI MAHAJAN, STAFF WRITER “[My sister] asked me ‘Would you help pay for a hedgehog if I find one?’, and I said ‘Sure,’ thinking that it would never happen. Then, she texts me one day, telling me that we’re going to get a hedgehog, so here we are,” AP Psychology and American Government teacher Stephanie Roche said. Roche co-parents her hedgehog, Mochi, with her sister. Four-year-old Mochi is a calm creature who enjoys being wrapped in fleece and cuddling with Roche. Though hedgehogs cannot see very well, they have an acute sense of smell and taste, which is what Mochi uses to identify people. “She’s pretty good with strangers,” Roche said. “She’s okay with being picked up and held.” The texture of Mochi’s spikes, Roche describes, laughing, is more like over-gelled hair than needles. But, be warned—they can still be uncomfortable to handle, especially if Mochi gets spooked. Funnily enough, however, it’s usually Mochi doing the scaring. Roche’s sister’s dog is still apprehensive of the little hedgehog, darting away from the bundle of spikes when it gets too close. Be that as it may, Mochi is an essential part of the family, bringing Roche and her sister together as life goes on. “We like the sharing idea,” Roche said. “My sister and I used to live together, and now she’s further away, so Mochi keeps the bond. We get to trade off on hedgehog duties.”

1 4 waiting for belly rubs. Chouquette JULIETTE SALAH, SPECIAL

Small, but mighty, Mochi in her bed. STEPHANIE ROCHE, SPECIAL

“There was a litter of cats in a cage with hammocks and food bowls. Chouquette was the one who fell from hammock to hammock, flipped over all the food bowl (essentially the most chaotic one you could find), and we pointed at her and went ‘we want that one!’” senior Juliette Salah said. Thus, the Salahs brought home the newest member of their family—a black cat they named Chouquette. A lively cat, she enjoys climbing curtains and skidding across hardwood floors— with, of course, the occasional crash into the furniture. Chouquette loves chewing “cables, chargers—anything that has wires,” and Juliette suspects that perhaps this love for nibbling is why Chouquette treats her brother, sophomore Paul Salah, kinder. “[He] feeds her! It’s the only reason,” Juliette said. One of Juliette’s favorite memories with Chouquette is the instance when the playful cat intervened into her plans. At her mother’s request, Juliette had brought her purse to her room. However, a little while later, her mother complained that the purse was not upstairs. Turns out, Chouquette had taken the liberty of bringing the purse back downstairs to the exact place it had been—a caring gesture of love, no doubt. After all, Chouquette is a very friendly cat. She basks in attention as much as other cats bask in the sun. “I’ll be in my room, and the door will be closed,” Paul said. “And Chouquette will stick her paw under the door and wave it around like ‘Hey! Let me in!’”

Sasuke slithering his way onto the page. ALICE LEE, SPECIAL

“For a whole month, my parents just didn’t knoww about him. Then, one day, my mom came into my room and was really shocked to see him. She was like, ‘Oh! we have a snake!’” junior Alice Lee said. When Alice was in middle school, she developed a passion for reptiles. Wary of any scaly creature, her parents always turned down her requests for a pet snake. But, one day, Alice’s sister took her to a reptile shop. “‘Just to see,’ I’d told her,” Alice said. But, Sasuke, her now five-year-old ball python, was too irresistible to leave behind. Though most people are scared of snakes, to Alice, Sasuke is “sweet and friendly.” When handled outside of his cage, he winds his way around Alice, enjoying resting around her shoulders. Sasuke features in Alice’s pictures and is her tool for wrecking (playful!) havoc amongst her friends. “Some of my friends are scared of snakes, but I’ll bring him out when we take pictures,” Alice said. “[The pictures] turn out pretty cool too.”

“My parents established that I’d have to take [any dog I got] with me to college, so I did a bunch of research on dorms and whatnot before deciding on Meka,” senior Riya Sachde said. Riya adopted her tiny puppy, Meka, last year. Since Meka did not interact with very many humans in her early life, she tends to be apprehensive of strangers, but she has warmed up to the Sachde family and Riya’s friends. The tiny dachshund is endearingly apprehensive of gutters and will drag her owners around a 10-foot radius of any gutter they encounter on a walk. So, the Sachde family goes on hikes instead, where Meka feels more comfortable jumping and playing around. Although she was originally intended to be solely Riya’s, Meka quickly won over the entire family. “Now, my parents are saying that they’ll keep her when I leave home,” Riya said. “‘We will bring her with us when we come to visit you,’ they say.”

Meka making use of household appliances. PHOTO COURTESY OF RIYA SACHDE

Bentley looking cute as always. VIRAJ AHUJA, SPECIAL

“My brother likes cars, and we wanted something rich and posh, so we named him Bentley,” senior Viraj Ahuja said. Last year, the Ahuja family decided to get a dog: an adorable mini poodle named Bentley. In just a short while, he’s become an integral member of the family. “He’s very protective. About five or six times, he’s seen a deer while we were on a walk, and he dragged me behind him as he tried to chase it,” Viraj said. “I’ve taken several rounds around the neighborhood just like that.” Bentley spends most of his time cuddling with Mrs. Ahuja, looks to Mr. Ahuja for his dinner, and curls around Viraj when he does his homework, ever the constant companion. When Viraj’s brother comes home from college, Bentley gives him all his attention, glueing himself to the familiar guest. But, Bentley doesn’t have a favorite family member! As the newest addition to the family, Bentley has brought the family together. He’s even pawed his way into the role of the youngest grandson. “Because we’re all busy in our own lives, my Dadi (grandmother) doesn’t really have anyone to talk to,” Viraj said. “So, she talks to Bentley all day or just spends time with THE MESSENGER | 15 him, cuddling him. I think he’s the favorite grandchild.”

NEWS

Another Black man dead

The effect of Ahmaud Arbery’s death on Black mental health

DELISA TROUPE, STAFF WRITER

hmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, loved to run. He was a former high school football player, someone who would have celebrated his 26th birthday that May. However, on Feb. 23, 2020, around two miles from his home in Glynn County, Ga., Arbery’s life ended when a bullet grazed the inside of his wrist and two bullets shot through his chest. Arbery was jogging when he was cornered by Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, their confrontation ending in the loss of Arbery’s life. Cases like Arbery’s are not mere statistics or stories. Those who loved him will remember his death, even if others forget. His life was no less valuable than that of anyone else, but when the news, social media, and other outlets constantly broadcast the deaths of Black people, it is hard to not look away. While seeing the death of another human being on screen has shocked the nation, it has hit the Black community even harder, including the one at Northview High School. “I almost shield myself from watching, listening, and reading the news just because it’s so depressing. I hate the world we’ve come to—the fact that we turn on the TV and it’s another shooting or it’s another hate crime,” Aaliyah Guthrie, senior and President of Black History Club, said. “How am I supposed to

grow up in a world like this?” Although he was not operating under a badge when he killed Arbery, Gregory McMichael was a former police officer and retired investigator with the Brunswick District Attorney’s Office. He insisted to police after the incident that he believed Arbery was the man involved in several recent break-ins. Without any proof, he grabbed his son and his guns and pursued Arbery. Jackie Johnson, a prosecutor for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, recused

poor people do? What do black people do?” Guthrie said. Arbery’s case has been compared to a modern-day lynching and abuse of Georgia’s Stand Your Ground Law, which states that citizens can use deadly force to defend themselves, other people, or property if they believe it is necessary to prevent death, bodily injury, or a felony. After Arbery’s death, Georgia’s House of Representatives voted to get rid of the law. Yet, Arbery’s case follows that of many others, with another black man shot dead preceding a push for reform. “This is constantly happening. We had George Floyd and people before that, and we’re gonna have people after that. It’s a constant cycle,” senior Tetianna Smith-Drysdale said. “I shake my head. Of course, I’m upset. Maybe even parts of me are angry about it, but in a way, you kind of become numb.” As the nation closely watches the ongoing trial, the Black community continues its fight for justice. Each and every case is another fight, another story, and another death. “Ahmaud was unarmed—he was just running, jogging, and exercising, and he was doing it in a public area. He wasn’t posing a threat to anyone,” junior Jenna Sapong said. “They didn’t have to kill him.”

“I sh a ke m y h e a d. O f course , I’ m u pse t. M a yb e even p a rts o f m e a re a ng ry about i t, b u t i n a w a y, yo u k in d o f b e co m e nu m b . ” T etian na Sm i th - Drys da le

herself from the case because Gregory McMichael had worked in her office, but only after allegedly helping to shield the McMichaels from the Arbery investigation, including directing officers to not arrest the pair after the incident. “How can you trust a system where, if you have money or if you have power, you’re not held accountable for your actions? What do

FEATURES

pstttt...

The Fifth Pillar Students discuss how the honor code affects their school lives KRYSTAL WU, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER ANSHI VAJPAYEE, OPINIONS EDITOR

The answe. r to #5 is..

THE MESSENGER | 17

t the end of Ellen’s* sophomore year, severe test-anxiety prompted her to secretly use Photomath and search up test questions during an algebra exam. Scared at the possibility of failing her test, Ellen’s nerves got the best of her, but her teacher was quick to reprimand her. He walked her out of class and calmly explained she would receive a zero on the assignment and would have to complete two sessions of Titan Opportunity School, each for two hours. Fast-forward to her senior year, Ellen feels her punishment was not a deterring repercussion, and now more than ever, she continues to violate Northview’s honor code in hopes of a higher grade. In fact, when asked on the Common Application if she had ever “been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the ninth grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct,” her counselor advised her to respond “no.” Though she had been formally reprimanded through Titan Opportunity School, according to Principal Brian Downey, honor code violations are only recorded within school and thus are not formally mentioned on any external applications. “I've read it past my counselor at least five times. And she said you say ‘no’ [on the Common Application],” Ellen said. “But, she said if you want to get it off your chest, then do it. And, I do, but I'm not going to get into college if I do that.” When a student receives an honor code violation, their teacher will confront their parents and give the student a zero on the assignment. Then, depending on the severity of the violation, Northview’s administration determines a fitting punishment. The standard for most violations is Titan Opportunity School. While the protocol is strictly enforced when

cheating occurs, without concrete evidence, it is hard to establish if a student violated the honor code at all. “The thing that bugs me, though, is that it is understandable, but man up and say ‘I was an idiot. I made the wrong choice. I panicked. I ran out of time. I got scared. I took the lazy way out.’ Just man up. But the kids argue with me, and their parents argue, but you know and they know that they did it,” a teacher said. In order to combat cheating, teachers take measures within their classrooms. For assessments, such as tests and quizzes, there are almost always multiple versions, and teachers typically survey the classroom while testing occurs. Even then, Northview students have found a way to work around this by noticing that some classes, especially those in STEM, repeat their tests every two years, according to senior Jane*. However, some teachers who have experienced repeated violations of the honor code now take stricter measures. Jane discusses how AP Microeconomics teacher Lincoln Silver installed a camera in his classroom that could record students’ actions. “As I've seen, there's a camera in the classroom,” Jane said. “And, I've heard from other students that [Silver] does record us. I'm not sure if it's there to scare us, but he's supposed to catch us cheating.” At the beginning of the school year, Silver had his AP Microeconomics students grade each others’ quizzes. He soon found out students from all class periods were cheating by changing answers for their friends during grading. The camera is situated on a cabinet that allows him to view the entire classroom. “I think people violate the honor code because of the pressure created in Northview’s high academic achievement environment where a lot of the community, parents, and staff expect Northview students to succeed at

*Bill, Mary, Jane, Ellen, and Robert are aliases for Northview students who have chosen to remain anonymous. The Messenger staff has chosen these names for them in order to protect their identities. Any similarities to real student names are purely coincidental.

a particular level,” junior and frequent cheater Robert* said. According to Downey, the majority of Northview’s honor code violations are committed by high-achieving students in AP and honors classes. Ellen notices that in her on-level classes, for instance, students do not cheat as often and take extra measures to thoroughly understand the content. “AP and honors teachers already assume that you know a lot of the content, which I get is somewhat of a reasonable assumption,” Ellen said. “I see them rushing through content really quickly, just for the sake of getting a test done on time to follow the curriculum versus moving a test so that the kids are properly prepared.” When Bill*, a senior in all AP and honors classes, regularly commits honor code infractions, more often than not he is simply thinking of his future and chance to attend a top-20 university. Bill believes students have created this environment for themselves, one that is only furthered by Northview's reputation as a high-achieving school. “At Northview, to keep up with those academic achievements, you need consistently intelligent individuals,” Bill said. “In order to have that many smart people, you need people who are not smart to protect those smart ones. The reason Northview is able to uphold such a high academic image is because it is possible to fake being smart through cheating.” Downey recognizes that honor code violations are rampant at Northview, and the number of reported violations fails to fully encapsulate the severity of cheating. Especially during remote learning in the 2020-2021 school year, with no way to monitor students during assessments, Downey understands that students have found more and more creative ways to commit academic dishonesty. Taking advantage of apps like Discord, students have used screen-recording features to share exam questions and help each other answer unfamiliar questions. “I’m sure you know what Discord is. There are these things called servers where you can create channels and group calls where you can stream. One person from one period would share their screen and then other periods would come watch too, including people from their own period,” Robert* said. “Then, they would do their work together, and I would help them finish the problem in case they didn’t know how to do it and to double check with them.” Robert and his friends are just a few of the many who cheat; within every grade, there exists an interconnected web of students using social media apps to fuel cheating. These

“ If

you can’ t be a t th e m , j o i n th e m , b * tc h . If y ou th in k we get a n u nf a i r a dv a nta g e b y c h e a tin g, wh y do n’ t yo u j u s t do i t, to o ? ” * B i ll group chats rely on a transactional system, where one student, for instance, might post AP Physics tests answers in exchange for AP Calculus BC quiz questions. Students in these friend groups have dubbed themselves “honorcoders,” and Northview’s honor code is now the subject of frequent mockery among them. “If you're sitting online behind a computer screen, you could just copy and paste a question into Google, and congratulations, you found the entire test,” Bill said. “Through Discord, also, and then, another congratulations—you’d message someone, and they’d do the whole thing for you.” For some students, like Bill, the honor code does not prevent cheating from occurring. As students develop in their schooling years, they are more likely to continue any bad habits they have picked up into their adult years, according to Ellen. However, at Northview, honor code violations are not reported outside of school. This year, the punishment for violating the honor code is receiving a zero on the assignment, with no recovery option, and attending Titan Opportunity School. According to Northview’s school records, in the 2021-2022 school year, only 13 students have received formal repercussions so far. “Even in school, there’s only so much you can do about cheating,” Bill said. “At the end of the day, if I take physics first period, and someone else has it second period, there’s no way for [administrators] to stop me from meeting up with them in the halls and writing the answers on the back of their hand.” If anything, Bill believes systemic changes in the mentality of students are required to absolve the academic pressure that prompts more and more Northview students to violate the honor code. “At Northview, it is commonly considered that a GPA under 95 makes you very dumb. In any other school, a GPA between a 90-95 would be like ‘put it on your fridge,’ and then your mom buys you an ice cream sundae, and your dad gives you a car,” Bill said. “At Northview, that’s not the case. Eventually, one person will get so far ahead, people will feel the need to keep up; they cheat, they get

ahead, and then everyone else follows because nobody wants to fall behind.” Ultimately, academic pressure to succeed pushes Northview students to take drastic measures to ensure they receive the highest grades possible. Though Jane often feels guilty about her frequent acts of academic dishonesty, she believes it is necessary to uphold the standards she has set for herself. Bill, however, feels little to no guilt and accepts it as a regular part of his school life. “If you can’t beat them, join them, bitch,” Bill said. “If you think we get an unfair advantage by cheating, why don’t you just do it, too?” Unlike Bill, Mary* believes students should only be reprimanded when they are frequently caught cheating. Though Northview’s current policy says students who receive an honor code violation cannot join honor societies and other academic clubs, both Bill and Jane personally know various students who have received formal punishments and still actively participate in an array of honor societies. Mary feels it is unfair for frequent cheaters to still be allowed to participate in such clubs. “The whole concept of giving an honor code to only one person who gets caught is

a bad idea. Rather, you can give them other forms of remediation to help them understand their mistake,” Mary said. “That honor code violation could be the one situation someone did in their entire life, but then there are people who are repeatedly doing it and just getting away with it.” Mary argues that even ethnic background plays a role in fostering an environment of persistent cheating, as do Bill and Ellen. According to them, Northview’s Asian students in particular are influenced by the emphasis their parents place on the importance of education and high grades, which creates immense pressure. In the 2020-2021 school year, Asian students were reported to have 38 confirmed cases of honor code infractions, compared to 10 cases for white students and 12 cases for Black students. Since cheating was heightened during remote learning, Jane notices that students are struggling to catch up from the learning loss from the last school year and now take further measures to cheat. “Everyone’s talking about transitioning to a post-pandemic world,” Jane said. “But, the real pandemic isn’t the coronavirus; it’s cheating.”

Incidents that resulted in a finding of student violating honor code 70 48

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

THE MESSENGER | 19

Of reported honor code violations in the 2020-2021 school year:

61.3% 19.4% 16.1% 3.2%

were from Asian students were from Black students were from white students

were from multiracial students

Referrals by month (2020-2021) 15

Jan.

Feb.

March April

1 May

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec

Sugo Food Review The Messenger’s monthly digest BRANDON TUNG, STAFF WRITER

idden in the corner of the Bella Palazzo on Wilson Road and Medlock Bridge Road is a traditional, rustic Greco-Italian restaurant that goes by the name of Sugo, which, in Italian, means sauce, or more specifically a traditional tomato sauce. The atmosphere of Sugo is very cozy, with a relaxing, subtle ambience created by the dim lighting and Contadino décor. The hospitality is more than what one would expect at a family restaurant, with a younger, yet still highly professional staff, who are friendly, mature, and hospitable. Looking at the menu, they offer Italian classics, such as the Meatball Al Sugo and Beef Ravioli, whilst the Mediterranean roots are clear as well, including dishes such as Bacon Wrapped Dates, Hummus with Braised Lamb, and Flatbreads. For starters, I and my compatriot ordered the Meatball Al Sugo and the Maialino Flatbread. Before our appetizers were served, the waitress had brought us a basket of well-seasoned bread, which was greatly appreciated. The appetizers came with no delay, and they were nothing short of amazing. The meatball was very unique: it was a meatball made with Italian sausage, which gave it that defining texture whilst keeping the idea of a meatball. The sauce Al Sugo complimented the dish very well, as the acidic, lightness of the tomato base helped calm the strong, herbal senses of the meatball. The Maialiano flatbread was

KUSH SANTOSH, STAFF WRITER

sensational as well, and it became clear that the chef had developed a very strong theme in his dishes: balance. The flatbread came in a generous portion, about a plateful, almost too much for my companion and me. The combination of the white balsamic reduction, the roasted tomatoes, and the arugula perfectly complimented the ricotta salata and the slow roasted pork. The flatbread was almost crispy, which added another layer of texture and flavor to an already outstanding dish. For entrées, my associate and I ordered two very different dishes; I went with the Malfadine Amatriciana, whilst he went with the Eggplant Parmesan. I will be honest, I was not sure what to expect out of a dish even the waitress could not pronounce, but whatever it was, it beat that expectation by tenfold. For starters, the sauce was delicious. The pasta complimented the sauce very well, as it allowed the flavor to simmer in and really make a mark on both the chicken and the pasta without overpowering anything. The chicken ragu was almost melt-in-your-mouth, and the light, herbal ricotta brought the whole dish together. If you have never had a good ragu, I would highly recommend this. The Eggplant Parmesan was well-crafted as well. It took the idea of an Eggplant Parmesan, and made it better. For starters, it wasn’t greasy, or mushy, or unappealing. In fact, it was quite crispy, and the cheese did not impact the crunch at all. To even more balance

out the dish, the fresh vegetables brought life and color to the plate, making the presentation infinitely more attractive and completing the dish. This is probably, with no exaggeration, the best Eggplant Parmesan I have ever had, and I’ve had a lot of Eggplant Parm. Overall, this hidden gem gets a 5 star rating from me. Everything, from the environment to the staff to the food, was phenomenal, and I would not change anything. The restaurant lives up to its name, and has the best sauce in town. If you are ever looking for a nice dinner, but don’t want to be intimidated by over formalities or fanciness, then Sugo is your place to go.

10305 Me dl o c k B ri dg e R d, J o h n s Cre e k, GA 3 0 0 97 ( 7 7 0) - 8 17 - 8 0 0 0 * Th i s a rti cle i s n o t spo ns o re d b y S u g o . THE MESSENGER | 21

Are municipal elections more important than federal elections?

OPINIONS

YES I

REAGAN HORNE, STAFF WRITER t doesn’t come as a shock that most people respond with a “no” when asked if they voted during a local election. People, especially those in younger generations, still remain blind to the significance of local elections in their communities. National elections have stolen the limelight, and citizens seem to believe their votes only really matter during presidential elections, which is false. National elections occur every four years, while local elections occur every two years, meaning the urgency of voting is far more important than waiting every presidential election to cast their votes. New bills are passed, urgent issues surface, etc. Municipal elections are important because local governments have the ability to affect day-to-day issues; police training, education funding, local infrastructure, and more all fall under the jurisdiction of local elected officials. By voting in local elections, citizens determine who they want to fight for their rights, improve their children’s education system, and reform

the criminal justice and jail system. With the rise of gun violence and police brutality in recent years, it is increasingly urgent that citizens exercise their power to influence the policies that will affect them most. During the current mayoral election in Johns Creek, candidates tackled their views and intended action on pressing issues in the area that included; affordable housing and public safety. Once elected, either good or bad change will rise to the surface. The Harvard Political Review, which partook in the debate over the importance of national versus municipal elections, found that though the federal government attempted to acknowledge detrimental issues, it rarely passed policies that effectively addressed said issues. In Georgia’s recent municipal elections for mayors and city council members, voter turnout declined significantly compared to the turnout for U.S. Senate races during the 2020 national elections. Due to early voting, the

turnouts at the elections decreased by 3.8% to increase in turnouts to 3.1%. The low voter turnout in local elections demonstrates the current lack of motivation and responsibility citizens feels towards improving their communities. The time to act is now. It is crucial that voters recognize the challenges their communities face, and that to wait for a new president to be elected is irresponsible, when there are urgent issues local officials can resolve in the meantime. Understanding mayoral and city council candidates’ potential for enormous impact on daily life is more important than deciding a new leader for the country every four years based on his or her political party. Citizens across the nation must wake up and realize that the controversy stirred up by national elections has blinded them to the events that truly matter.

this means it is too late for medical interference. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that 26,000 people a year die because of lack of insurance. Since public healthcare is a federally-run program, votes in national elections decide whether thousands of Americans live longer, healthier, and happier lives or die preemptive deaths. While local school boards and city councils may decide how to allocate funds to individual public schools, the bigger issues in education, especially regarding higher education, still fall under federal jurisdiction. Currently, 43.2 million Americans face some form of student loan debt, with an average of $30,000 of debt. For the average American, it takes about 20 years to pay off a bachelor’s degree and 45 years to pay off post-graduate degrees. As a result, many skip out on the opportunity to pursue a higher education and instead fall victim to a cycle of

continual poverty. The dismissal and cancelation of student loans, a move only the federal government can make through the federal bank system, would allow for a more educated and larger workforce. The issues of healthcare and education are decade long battles that affect almost every American and can only be solved by voting in federal elections. Meanwhile, the impact of local elections are limited to cities or towns, and sometimes the issues don’t even really affect the people who live there. Although local elections can help fix the daily hassles of life, federal elections are a means for citizens to protect their families and neighbors from facing life-altering or even life-and-death situations. The traffic issues on Rogers Bridge Road don’t hold a candle to the choices made during federal elections.

NO A

MEGAN SERFONTEIN, COPY EDITOR dding lanes on McGinnis Ferry Road, fixing the storm water runoff issues, or even restructuring waste management are tasks the Johns Creek City Council and various mayors have debated over for years. But beyond the minor inconveniences of life that municipal elections can fix, national elections are the ones that matter when it comes to grim life or death issues. While citizens should always vote, missing out on a city council election carries less consequences than missing out on a congressional or presidential race. One of the most important issues in almost all national elections is healthcare. According to the 2020 Census, 34.8% of Americans with healthcare, or roughly 106 million people, were on some form of public health insurance. For many, the difference between having and not having insurance means refusing to seek medical assistance help until emergencies arise. Often,

THE MESSENGER | 23

Techno-orientalism How Hollywood has distorted the perceived identity of Asian Americans CASEY WONG, STAFF WRITER

ou’ve probably watched movies like “Blade Runner” or “The Matrix,” maybe even “Ex-Machina.” You might’ve remarked at the quality film-making and the flashy and futuristic technology in these films. But behind such bright, flamboyant sci-fi scenes lurks a subtle prejudice you probably glossed over –– techno-orientalism, a phenomena in which Asian characters in Hollywood movies are portrayed as heartless and cold-blooded yet extraordinarily intelligent. Think about it for a second. Remember how in Shang-Chi, Shang-Chi’s father is depicted as cold and violent, training his son from a young age to be an assassin? Or Blade Runner’s depiction of a cyberpunk city that is eerily similar to Japan? That’s techno-orientalism on full display. But then what’s the issue with techno-orientalism? Well, just consider the sharp contrast between the way these Asian characters and western characters in these films are portrayed –– while Asian characters are cold and calculat-

ed mass producers, the Western characters are presented as benevolent, passionate creators. Though incredibly demeaning, it’s worth noting that this is nothing new. It dates back to the 19th century through the idea known as the yellow peril, in which it is believed that Asians constitute an economic and intellectual threat to the West. Techno-orientalism is simply a modern manifestation of the yellow peril, where the East is a technological dystopia, but there aren’t any actual Asian characters like in Blade Runner. Aside from techno-orientalism being entirely myopic when compared to the depiction of western characters, consider, too, how it whittles down the diversity of Asians into a monolith, and the effect this can have on individuals who deviate from the stereotype. Neurodiverse or LGBTQ+ Asian Americans are often seen as “less Asian,” “white-washed,” or westernized because ownership of one’s sexuality and neurodivergence directly oppose the narrative that Asians are robots. These ‘faults’ would not

be found in a machine, and as a result, Asian Americans are the least likely to be treated for learning disabilities such as ADHD or ADD. Despite these pretty clear drawbacks, don’t get me wrong –– Techno-orientalism can and does exist as an art form or for solely entertainment purposes. It doesn’t just have to exist as a means of bigotry, and, I’ll admit, is really well-portrayed in many hit films and novels such as Neal Stephenson’s “The Diamond Age”. The problem stems from when it is the only representation Asians get in the film or work of literature. The bottom line is this: Asians shouldn’t be conceptualized as beacons of entertainment rather than individual human beings. Gay, neurodivergent, disabled, impoverished, plus size, transgender, etc. Asians exist as just that. Not either or. Being Asian, identifying with other communities, and experiencing aspects of humanity, are not mutually exclusive. Asians are not a monolith and should not be viewed or treated as such.

OPINIONS

Saving the world, one infographic at a time The rise of infographic activism and surface level action SANJANA GOPU, STAFF WRITER

ocial media activism, or infographic activism, is the act of posting or reposting an infographic or aesthetic looking post regarding a social issue. The heated debate over the effectiveness of social media activism remains unresolved because though this type of activism may have shortlived benefits, there are many long-term consequences to go along with them. While we see issues come into perspective for younger audiences through infographic activism, it allows room for another issue: corporations, influencers, and average people alike using social media to benefit themselves rather than contribute to the cause. Many corporations engage in a tokenism, emphasizing their support for progressive causes to appear “woke” and improve their reputation in the hopes of increasing revenue flow. But the problem extends much further than this--people all across social media,

from social media influencers to your mutuals on Instagram, often post an infographic or “woke quote” once, only to never advocate for the cause again. This is the embodiment of tokenism; it’s clear the intention of these occasional posts is to receive social validation and to prove to others that the poster cares about the issue presented, in order to fend off accusations of ignorance or lack of concern for injustice. People ridicule others regarding this “involvement” in activism and pressure them to show interest in social justice causes, especially recently. This behavior has caused a surge in performative activism and directly contributes to tokenism. In correlation with tokenism, the watering down of movements into aesthetics also contributes to the ineffectiveness of social media activism. You may have seen a post on social media saying two words only, like

something as simple as “stop misogyny,” in an eye-catching way. Content like this lacks substance and takes away from the depth of a social issue, making it seem far less serious than it really is. This form of activism doesn’t educate or actually push a movement--it simplifies the issue into a graphic that is “presentable” on social media by disregarding the experiences of injustice. Taking these downsides into account, the surge in activism has actually helped younger generations stay informed about what’s going on in the world and get more involved in advocacy before it’s too late. But it’s also important to hold those who take advantage of movements accountable, because their efforts to validate themselves and invalidate others negate the beneficial impact social media activism has on people.

THE MESSENGER | 25

COLUMNS

r/ANSHI

Honor Code Why do so many students resort to cheating? ANSHI VAJPAYEE, OPINIONS EDITOR

mmense academic pressure has untethered consequences at Northview. It is undeniable that our students turn to academic dishonesty at times of distress - the worry of a single failing grade is too much to bear, a grade that some students might feel will ultimately determine the course of their entire life. Failing a single test has a domino effect: it means failing the course, which means a low GPA, meaning lower chances of admission at a highly selective college, and so forth. The temptation to cheat is as easy as asking someone about test questions from a previous period or finding your sibling’s test from a year ago and memorizing said answers. It is worth noting that the cause of academic dishonesty at Northview differs from those of students on a national level. A grim mix of procrastination, laziness and poor test-taking skills might be a reason for most schools worldwide, but the Northview students who cheat the most are usually the ones who already have high grades. Unwavering pressure to outperform your peers often leads to cheating, and a continual pattern of this turns into a cycle of outperforming or being outperformed. Northview culture is wholly built around this, and the infamous “honor code violation” is now a mockery of North-

view’s virtues of academic integrity. It is unfortunate that the culture at Northview is increasingly dominated by numerics and further amplified by pressure to get into a top college along with expectations by families to meet grade thresholds. As a result, cheating is everywhere and anywhere. Most students have tame attitudes about academic integrity - either they partake in it or know it is taking place around them - but have no desire to turn in those who do. Very few carry a holier-than-thou mentality, mostly because the reason behind cheating is one that most students can relate to on some level. According to a Center for Academic Integrity 2016 survey of 74,000 high school students, 64% of high school students admitted to academic dishonesty on a test, and 95% reported participation in some form of academic dishonesty, like copying homework. Culture, as in ethnic background, seems to play a part in fostering increased academic stress at Northview as well. Studies have shown that Asian-American groups in particular are most affected by the pressure to succeed. The infamous and stereotypical “tiger mom” might affect some students, but a pre-existing pressure to succeed at school created by parents is multiplied tenfold when peer pressure factors

in. The fact of the matter is that students have created this environment for themselves, and there is no one to blame but the Northview student culture. And partly their parents. Placing a higher burden on academic achievement rather than learning pushes students to do things they themselves would have never imagined. Conscience is not to blame here either; the numb mentalities that students now have towards academic dishonesty were once feelings of guilt and shame. But now, it’s anything for the numeric. It is now a matter of pros and cons of what is more economically rational for students to do with their time to achieve the highest possible grade they can. Northview’s administration has struggled to combat academic dishonesty. It is too deeply rooted in the very foundations of our school for the administration to enforce any deterring repercussions of substance. Receiving an honor code violation will not deter students from cheating, it will simply make sure next time they are more careful. Simply promoting the Four Pillars isn’t enough; Systemic change both in mentality and courseload is required to absolve some academic pressure between students - and consequently, cheating.

music

CAMERON CHAPPELL, STAFF WRITER

Return of Aaliyah

aliyah, arguably one of the most influential R&B artists in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, has made a resurgence today. Her death in 2001 left a void that has yet to be filled in the music community, with many fans wishing for more music and film appearances. Aaliyah died just as she embarked on a highly-anticipated film journey with a debut movie release. Her influence on fashion has spanned decades, from her notable baggy pants and crop top looks to her edgy style mixed with a hip twist. She made a groundbreaking impact with her sophomore album “One in a Million” in 1996 and final self-titled album “Aaliyah,” giving listeners a chance to hear a new sound that paved the way for the music industry for years to follow. Following her death, Aaliyah’s family dis-

agreed on whether or not her music should be on the market or streaming services for all to hear. The ongoing battle between her estate, run by her mother, brother, and uncle, has spanned decades and is still followed by many to this day. Aaliyah was signed by her uncle Barry Hankerson’s record label, Blackground Records; he owned the masters to all her music until he sold them in 2012. Aaliyah’s fanbase has been vocal for years about wanting her music released to allow new generations to listen to her songs. Over the past decade, fans have been left with only a makeup collection in collaboration with Mac Cosmetics in 2018 and a wax figure at Madame Tussauds in 2019. This August, the long awaited announcement of her music release came and trended for days on social media sites. Aaliyah’s entire discography is now available on all streaming platforms and as physical copies, along with official merchandise; her legacy is finally on display for new music lovers to discover and for returning listeners to grasp a piece of nostalgia and enjoy what she left behind.

Cover of 2001 “Aaliyah” album. ALBERT WATSON

Styles sings “Watermelon Sugar.” ANTHONY PHAM, GETTY IMAGES

Love on Top

T Cover of 1996 “One in a Million” album. MARC BAPTISTE

Styles performs at the Harryween Fancy Dress Party. KEVIN MAZUR, GETTY IMAGES

he Love on Top Tour is undoubtedly the most talked-about and hottest tour of 2021. Harry Styles announced his second world tour in 2019 for his album “Fine Line,” and the delay of concerts caused by the pandemic left fans, also known as “Harries,” outraged. Styles’ shows, which started in September, are set to end in late November in New York. His flamboyant outfits have made headlines and been labeled as controversial, as he bends gender roles by dressing in skirts and dresses with bright colors and flashy jewelry. The “Harries” are now one of the biggest fan bases amongst teenagers. They have continued to sell out arenas across the country and even wear the retro outfits Styles’ has popularized again. The weekend of Halloween, the tour took the name of “Harryween” as fans dressed up for the holiday in various forms. Harry Styles’ music and fashion continue to influence millions today.

THE MESSENGER | 27

STAFF EDITORIAL

Gun Control

n Oct. 20, Parkland, Fla. shooter Nikolas Cruz pled guilty to the 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder brought against him due to the gun massacre he started at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School three years ago. The surge in gun violence in recent years truly displays the necessity for stricter gun control laws in the United States. Not only would it result in an overall decrease in the mass shootings, but it would also decrease gun-related incidents on a smaller scale, such as domestic violence and accidental firings. Cruz’s actions left a lasting impact on thousands, not just those directly involved with the shooting. Today, students across the nation fear for their lives as they step into their schools, and unfortunately, the Parkland shooting is not the only reason for this; approximately 3 million children experience, to different extents, school shootings each year. As of Sept. 30, 2021, there has been an unprecedented rise in school shootings, reaching its peak since the 1970s. In fact, since the end of 2020, there has been a 55.44% increase in gun violence at schools (statista.com). School shootings are not the only instances where firearms are a threat to the general public, there has also been a rise in mass shootings overall. So long as people carry and utilise these weapons as they see fit with minimal restrictions, these numbers will rise, putting more and more innocent people at risk each day. Should gun control be further implemented, such attacks would see a rapid drop as the perpetrators themselves would be unable to obtain the firearms. Unfortunately, mass shootings are not the only way guns harm society. Each year, approximately 500 people die due to unintentional shootings. A lot of times these deaths are those of children who happened to come across someone else’s weapon. One such tragedy was that of 2-year-old Antho-

ny Thorpe. On Nov. 1, young Thorpe grabbed a gun left by his visiting father, and fired, fatally injuring himself in the head. According to Statista, there have been countless other such cases with the number of unintentional shootings by children rising to 259 in 2021, resulting in 104 deaths and 168 injuries across the nation. A number far too high for anyone’s comfort, were there more controls on the sale of guns, perhaps Thorpe and the many other victims would still be alive. Those who are against gun control cite the Second Amendment for their rights to bear arms, and use the argument that guns are essential to self defense to support their argument. However, it is important to consider other alternatives first. There are several non-lethal self defense methods to be used such as tasers and pepper spray. In fact, there are several states that have stricter laws for pepper spray, a non-lethal, temporary self-defense tool, than they do for guns. For instance, in Minnesota, people can carry guns with a license from 14 years old, but the minimum age requirement to possess or buy pepper spray is 16 years. Additionally, Wisconsin has no size restrictions on gun magazines and allows them to be openly carried without a permit; however, they establish a strict canister size limit for pepper spray and do not allow them to be carried when concealed. There is an enormous hypocrisy at play here, when the people who demand the right to firearms at the call for safety place more restrictions on non-lethal self-defense weapons than they do on the life-threatening firearms. Firearms are dangerous and should not be so easily distributed to the general public. Gun control is a simple solution to a problem made unnecessarily complicated by people who refuse to look at the consequences of their actions and should be implemented as soon as possible.

gallery

Students dress up for Homecoming week festivities. GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER

GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER Northview’s fall play, Hammered, captivated audiences.

COLUMNS

The girls volleyball team had a successful season. GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER

GAVIN CHEN, STAFF WRITER Senior Kelsea Moody strikes the ball.

THE MESSENGER | 29

the messenger ONLINE AT

nhsmessenger.com

nhsmessenger@gmail.com Like our Facebook page facebook.com/nhsmessenger Follow us on Twitter at @nhsmessenger