Vol. 18, Issue 3

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THE MESSENGER VO L 1 8 / I S S 3 $ 1

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pg. 10 To student supporters of sports: Why?

ISSUE pg. 17

pg. 14 The Messenger’s annual Holiday Gift Guide

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staff CONTACT US

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

STAFF

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

Mira Sydow Jennifer Xia

PUBLICATION

COPY EDITOR

Jyanyha Brown Elizabeth Caragher Kristina Carlson Selena DiBiase Dylan Duque Rachel Everett Ripley Simone Kennebrew Siddharth Kolichala Anna Lowrance Suhani Mahajan Reetu Maran Daniel Martinez Nancy Nguyen Grace Nguyen Sean O’Neal Alexis Oladipo Tanner Owens Bedansh Pandey Manasa Premanand Adiva Puttnam Zainab Qadri Isha Rastogi Megan Serfontein Rayyah Shakur Delaney Shear Erin Shin Caleb Smith Anshi Vajpayee

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.

Alex Perry Melissa Liu

NEWS EDITOR Grace Peng

SPORTS EDITOR Nikki Skyer

FEATURES EDITOR Meghana Ramineni

OPINIONS EDITOR Noelle Reid

PHOTO EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Upasna Kotakonda

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.

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

IN THIS ISSUE Cover design: Mira Sydow Graphics: Vecteezy

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MANAGING EDITOR

Jennah Sooknanan

ADVISER Meredith Evans

contents EDITOR’S LETTER

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MONTHLY BRIEFS

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08

14

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JENNIFER XIA

STAFF

PUFFS

MEGAN SERFONTEIN

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ACES FOR ABBEY RACHEL EVERETT

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STUDENT SUPPORTERS SEAN O’NEAL SUHANI MAHAJAN

PROFILE: JUSTINE BOICE NIKKI SKYER

WRESTLING

KRISTINA CARLSON DYLAN DUQUE

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE GRACE PENG ZAINAB QADRI

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22

FACEOFF GRACE PENG TANNER OWENS

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OP-EDS

MANASA PREMANAND JYANYHA BROWN

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REID BETWEEN THE LINES NOELLE REID

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FOOD REVIEW: HANSEL & GRETEL BAKERY CAFE

FASHION

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MEGHANA RAMINENI

ERIN SHIN JENNAH SOOKNANAN

HOLIDAY REPRESENTATION

STAFF EDITORIAL STAFF

STAFF

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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I Shouldn’t Have to Write This

walked into class a couple of weeks back, welcomed by these dreary words: “There was another one.” You would think that the “one” in question was perhaps an ant or someone’s second idea or concept, but now school shootings have joined the list of follow-up phrases.

For more context, the editors watch the news during journalism. That particular day, CNN was broadcasting live updates of the Saugus High School shooting, minute-by-minute coverage with reports constantly coming in, featuring details of what was happening in Santa Clarita, California. A student opened fire before school had even started, shooting five students and then himself. Three of the victims survived. The remaining two and the shooter died.

I remember sighing. Then came the frustration. And then a sudden urge to cry. After listening to some of the students’ interviews, I ended up planning out a hypothetical shooter situation the period after while I should have been reading an assignment. Where would I go? What would

I do? I shouldn’t have been thinking that. We shouldn’t have to consider that.

Why do we live in a world where children are afraid to be at school? Why are we subjected to becoming sitting targets for the next tragedy?

People told me I was too emotional. “Johns Creek is such a safe city. Don’t worry so much.”

Annoyingly enough, there are still those who find it comical to quip about the subject. Unfortunately, this past decade was riddled with shootings. Enough so that people are scared. But the problem is that school shootings are so prominent now, that even Northview may be a target. That’s why the school has taken so many precautions since Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Honestly, it’s exhausting listening to the tireless news reports on another shooting. It’s like those stories on annual events: too repetitive. What can you do though?

You can write to a representative. You can vote.

You can be an activist. You can be aware. That’s the most important. Be aware of where we are now.

Jennifer Xia, Editor-in-Chief

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M O N T H LY

NEWS

BRIEFs

Students brave to cold to show support JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHEIF

PINK ON, PLAYOFFS

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n Nov. 1, Northview played a home game against Pope High School, beating them 42-7. This victory secured Northview a spot in the playoffs for the first time in several years. While the student turnout was low, those who did attend showed tremendous support for the football team, dressing up in all pink. Some parents also participated in the pink-out game and showed an extra dose of team spirit from the bleachers. Northview’s victory, combined with the win from the Centennial game a few weeks ago, boosted the national ranking for the school up by 504 places. The football players are more focused on the games after the increased rate of training and practicing this year, allowing for more wins like the one against Pope.

Northview students volunteer at the Mimosa Gift Drive MNEMOSYNE STAFF, SPECIAL

mimosa gift drive

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very year, Northview Student Council organizes a gift drive for Mimosa Elementary School. The community around the elementary school does not have access to all the resources Johns Creek has. Most of the kids in the area do not get new toys or clothes for Christmas, so they really look forward to this day. Student Council goes down to the school and helps kids pick out presents and wrap them for their parents. Northview students donate acceptable and new gifts for their parents including lotions, perfumes, gloves, toolboxes, socks, water bottles, and blankets. The goal this year is to have the perfect amount of gifts or even excess donations, so every kid can pick something out.

VETERAN's day

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n Nov. 11, Northview student body honored veterans at the annual Veteran’s Day assembly. Students left class during second period to honor and pay tribute to the military members in attendance. This year, Northview had more decorated veterans attend the ceremony than ever before. John MacDonald, a colonel and current social studies teacher at Northview was the guest speaker this year, recounting his past experiences. Northview JROTC honored the veterans with a presentation of colors along with music from the band and chorus.

Colonel MacDonald talks about intestinal fortitude JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nancy Pelosi introduces the impeachment inquiry ANDREW HARNIK, PRI

POLITICS

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whistleblower’s complaint of “urgent concerns” of the president’s apparent phone calls in late July with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, sparked the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. The inquiry was launched Sept. 24 by the House of Representatives, beginning with an investigation that involved many testimonies from members of the president’s staff. The House entered in evidence that the president’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and his attorney general were involved. The first televised public hearing was held on Nov. 13, involving Ambassador William Taylor who testified to overhearing a call between the Ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, and Trump. On Nov. 14, Colonel Alexander Vindman, a veteran from the Iraq War, raised concerns about requests made by Trump to Zelenskiy. Sondland’s own hearing was on Nov. 20 on orders to work with Giuliani to push Ukraine for assistance in Trump’s 2020 political campaign. These hearings have resulted in the notion that Ukraine, not Russia, was involved in the 2016 election; however, the inquiry is still in process.

THE MESSENGER | 7

Puffs

The colorful cast of Puffs performs UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

Northview Theater is first (or nothing) to present the off-bro adway comedy, P uffs MEGAN SERFONTEIN, STAFF WRITER

O

n Nov. 14, Northview Theatre put on the comedic stage play, “Puffs.”

Written by Matt Cox, the show is connected to a magically-sourced text, but it is not directly tied to it. The original show recently finished its off-Broadway run in August.

The Northview Theatre cast and crew worked tirelessly to bring the story to life, thrilled to be sharing it with the community. Northview will be the first high school cast in Georgia to perform this play.

While the performance was only three days in November, the work put into the show was far more extensive, tracing as far back as to last spring when director and language arts teacher Elizabeth Lake read through the play and applied for the rights to set up a con-tract agreement with the publishers.

After an agreement with the publishers, the next step was to hold auditions. The actors chosen began working on blocking, running lines, and character work while the crew began with their technique processes.

In final preparations for opening night, dress rehearsals and tech week ran for long days and nights before the show. Stage manager Alice Ware was in charge of that cohesion as she works with everyone on the cast and

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crew to keep everything running smoothly.

Ware spent rehearsals making line notes. She goes through each line in the play, noting if an actor has paraphrased or even missed the line completely. This helps the actors know what they need to work on and what they already have down. She also writes these notes for the crew to ensure that the cues are there so scenes are incomplete.

“As the stage manager, it’s really my job to not only keep everyone on track but also make sure we are doing everything and everyone has the materials that they need to be successful,” Ware said.

The actors were responsible for working on the development of the story and their character. They made choices based on what they felt their character is like. While this is difficult enough, “Puffs” is unique in the sense that almost all of the actors play more than one character. They must seamlessly switch from acting as one person to acting as someone completely different. Some scenes even involve improv, forcing the actors to create their own scenes.

“Improv has been really fun. There are a few scenes that call for improv so that’s been fun to work on and develop,” Timothy Yakovlev, who plays Wayne Hopkins, said.

Everyone involved was really excited for the audience to be added to the mix. As “Puffs” is a comedy, the cast was eager to see how the audience will react to their jokes and acting.

The true thrill of live theater is the change in the audience from night to night.

“Whether you absolutely love the story of the certain boy wizard or you hate them and think they’re dumb or you have never read the books or seen the movies, you will still be able to appreciate the story on its own,” Lake said.

The cast, crew, and director agree that the truly special part of “Puffs” is the people putting the work into the show. For many actors, it is their first time acting at Northview. Some others have never had major roles before. The students feel they are having a great time since everyone in the cast and crew is so supportive and encouraging of everyone else. They work incredibly hard but also have fun doing it and are elated to share their hard work with everyone who comes to see the show. The cast was really excited for the audience to hopefully relate to the concepts in the play.

“Everybody, even if they’re not actually a Puff, everyone has a little bit of Puff in them,” Lake said.

NEWS

Aces 4 Abbey Continuing to honor her memory RACHEL EVERETT, STAFF WRITER

I

n high school, students tend to group together based on common interests.

Often, they have trouble connecting and merging together as one cohesive friend group.

The fundraiser Aces 4 Abbey exists to change that. With inclusive teams and a chance for kids to unwind, Aces 4 Abbey is a great opportunity for everyone to meet new friends and to have a place where they feel accepted.

Aces 4 Abbey got its name from volleyball player Abbey Rice, who passed in an accident while on a volleyball team retreat. Rice was an avid player and, she always prioritized community. Her mother, Roxanne Rice, started the Aces 4 Abbey club with the purpose of not only bringing people together but also giving back to the community in the form of scholarships. Anyone who plays in the tournament is eligible for a scholarship. Coach Christopher James, the current volleyball coach and sponsor of the club, came midway through the year that Abbey passed. Despite not knowing her personally, he could see that her death had an impact on everyone including the volleyball girls.

“I think it was difficult first because they had lost a teammate, and more importantly they had lost a friend. It was difficult putting themselves back into that situation,” James said.

On Nov. 9, four teams competed in the Aces 4 Abbey tournament. People came out to just enjoy themselves, cheer on their friends, and enjoy a nice day. At the end of the day, the Tune Squad won. The Tune Squad went on to compete against the girl’s volleyball team. Out of that game, the girls’ team came out victorious.

In the past, only boys would play because girls were usually refereeing, coaching the teams, line judging, or helping out. The tour-

The Tune Squad prepares to set a point

nament was organized like a Powderpuff game where a sport typically played by one gender is played by the opposite gender. This year, however, both genders participated. The teams played each other before elimination matches began.

“I think it was difficult first because they had lost a team-mate, and more importantly they had lost a friend. It was difficult putting themselves back into that situation.”

Coach Christopher James The fundraiser is hosted by the club Aces 4 Abbey. Cliques in high school are inevitable, but Aces 4 Abbey tries to address this problem by allowing students from different social groups to interact. In the club, members try to embody what Rice stood for. She tried to be inclusive of everyone which is seen through the fundraiser. It is not only an event but a

ZAINAB QADRI, STAFF WRITER

place where friends and family can come relax for a little bit and create memories.

“Aces 4 Abbey kind of mimics that in a way that different types of people can come together and they can have a day where they can have fun, play with their friends, and just be together,” Aces 4 Abbey President Ashton Whitman said.

The club also promotes an important message: to create a happy legacy for Abbey. Aces 4 Abbey is not a memorial service; it is an exciting place where the things Abbey stood for are incorporated. Most people at Northview including students and staff were not there when she died, but the message the club puts out can be there forever.

“Students have embraced what was a tragic event and turned it into a positive message for the rest of us. For those of us that weren’t here for that, it’s not a message of being sad or sorrowful, it is to embrace life, embrace what we have. Embrace that love,” Principal Brian Downey said.

As of now, Aces 4 Abbey will continue on creating an inclusive space for anyone to come and feel included and have a good time. They will also continue to promote a happy message and encourage people to live their lives.

THE MESSENGER | 9

Students come out in pink to support Northview’s football team.

UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

NEWS

Student Supporters A look into the most dedicated of the dedicated SUHANI MAHAJAN, STAFF WRITER SEAN O’NEAL, STAFF WRITER

I

t is common knowledge that there is a high school football game every Friday in the fall season. Football is a huge part of American high school culture - everyone goes all out at the end of every week, dressing up to match the theme and cheer on their school. Things are no different at Northview, where the student body attends both the home and away games.

Parker Poteet, a senior, goes to almost all of the football games with a group of his friends. As a former football player, he likes going out to support his old teammates. Poteet tries to watch at least one game of every sport - from football to lacrosse - only missing a few in the spring because he plays baseball.

“I go more for the game, just because it’s fun to watch,” Poteet said.

Senior Katherine Gorham carpools with

get together and celebrate the end of the week.

“It’s so fun to go out there, see everyone play, and hang out with everyone. We all like to go out there and have a good time,” Gorham said.

“It’s a fun thing we do on Friday nights, all getting together.”

Along with weekly spectators attending the games, the football team is always accompanied by the marching band. Sophomore Joseph Cunningham juggles cross country with marching band, but he always makes sure to stay free on Fridays so that he can make it to the games.

The marching band community is diverse in their reasons for loving the games. For Cunningham, the actual football aspect of Friday night games is not as important to him as getting closer to his new friends from marching band.

"You make really good friends along the way - some of the best people I’ve met."

Joseph Cunningham

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Poteet occasionally to get to away football games. Gorham loves the energy present at the games, both home and away, as well as hanging out with her friends. For Gorham and her friends, Friday nights become a relaxing way to

“You make really good friends along the way - some of the best people I’ve met,” Cunningham said.

The heart of student supporters at Northview - the key foundation of this unique culture - is found right in the name: support.

Being able to support and encourage the team that you are behind is a major piece of enjoyment for fans of each and every sport. When the people in the stands cheer out loud, it amps up the energy across the field. Every solid play, every scored point lends itself to bringing the energy levels up a notch, making the game more fun for the supporters. This simple act of cheering on the players, knowing you are inspiring and motivating the members of the team, creates the experience that brings fans back, game after game. Supporting the players is a crucial part of the draw for them.

“It’s fun to watch just because it’s my school. I just like to show them support - it’s fun to support the school that you’re at,” Poteet said.

The energy level that the fans bring is exciting for the fans themselves, but also serves a purpose for those on the field and the sidelines. A core component of the supporter’s

culture is based on camaraderie. This camaraderie, this banding together with one another, forms the backbone of a team’s inspiration.

It is the same with a professional sports team as it is with the high school athletes - with a crowd of supporters behind them, the players on the field and the cheerleaders on the lines feel motivated. They feel encouraged to keep going, keep trying as the night wears on. It is a mutually beneficial relationship, between the athletes and the cheerleaders and the band and the fans themselves, where everyone benefits from each other’s energy.

“I feel really empowered when they come and they show up to our games. Seeing a full stand and seeing all those people makes us feel really good,” said Mia Cline, a senior cheerleader on the varsity cheer team.

For this crowd of people who come back time after time, the entire experience in and around the game is what draws them back. The sports are exhilarating and entertaining, the communities are tight-knit and inspirational each and every aspect involved in it culminates together in an exciting piece of their schedules that they won’t give up for anything else.

Students throw baby powder into the air during a white-out themed game.

JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

OPINIONS

From The Bleachers What unites everyone in the stands DANIEL MARTINEZ, STAFF WRITER

T

he allure of high school sporting events to the student population is the immediate manifestation of the larger forces which draw spectators to follow their favorite teams on the national level. Even so, the confusion persists, as students still question why anyone would take time out of their week to watch a high school game.

First, there is the obvious reason: supporting the players. Amongst the spirited crowd of supporters at any game, a great many are the families and friends of an athlete on the field.

For professional teams, these are the self-proclaimed Tom Brady fanboys and Cristiano Ronaldo supporters who sport their respective idols’ jerseys and take pride in them. If this player were drafted by another team or, as is more common in high school sports, relocated to a different district, expect these fans to shamelessly shift their allegiance.

In contrast, loyal fans of the team stay grounded in their team colors through it all.

Despite a decidedly bad season or a game conflicting with the high school Homecoming, these fanatics are there and ready to cheer.

While the Northview Titans are evidently less widely recognized than a team like the Patriots, the support behind our school’s athletics is undeniable, as students demonstrate their school spirit.

A glance at any Northview game, football in particular, will reveal the variety of motivations spectators look for in the bleachers. They are united, however, by school pride. At any given game, you might find a sea of pink in the student section, or one of black, gold, or formalwear; whatever the theme, students are ready to embrace it.

The student section of a high school sports game is a wild environment where students can freely show their school spirit, support their peers and loved ones on the field, and find joy in the enthusiasm of the community around them.

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highlights

profile Justine Boice, 11 NIKKI SKYER, SPORTS EDITOR

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ustine Boice is a dedicated gymnast who has been participating in the sport since she was around 12-years-old.

Boice is a junior who is not only a part of the Northview team, but also an outside team that helps to keep her growing in the sport. She loved the sport since she witnessed her older siblings pursue gymnastics, and she continued to enjoy it for herself. Boice loves being able to spend time with her friends while practicing and competing, and she looks up to her coaches and teammates for mentorship and advice.

“The fact that my coaches believe I have the capability to do something that I don’t think I can do is really motivating,” Boice said.

Jeff Boice, her father, supports her through her successes and failures alike. Mr. Boice no-

Boice practices on the beam RILEY BILLIOT, SPECIAL

12

tices and recognizes his daughter’s commitment to the sport and understands that she takes pleasure in staying active in the sport. He enjoys seeing his daughter participate in a sport that she is passionate about, and although he believes she would make more friends in other sports, Mr. Boice is glad she has found something she loves.

“She really enjoys gymnastics. Even if she completely flops an event, she will most likely be smiling on the sideline again soon,” Mr. Boice said.

Boice has created many strong connections to other girls in the sport. Although the team is relatively small, she has one particular friend: Riley Billiot, a senior at Northview who has competed with her for three years. Billiot is a

35.925 all around personal best

9.6 score on bars at most recent

35.150 all around score at 2019 G eorgia AAU State Championships year older than Boice and feels that Boice is a positive influence for herself throughout their time working together. Boice is very optimistic and a good role model for the younger girls.

The team particularly enjoys the energy Boice gives off during practices and competitions.

“She is really hard-working and really supportive of the other girls, and she will help out when she sees an issue with the team. She is overall a great teammate,” Billiot said.

Boice currently plans to continue gymnastics through high school and into college. She is not certain of what may come, but she is ready to work and stay dedicated to the sport.

Her fellow teammates and her family are all excited to see what the future holds for Boice.

“For the future, I hope for her to be confident, happy, and satisfied with her life,” Mr. Boice said.

Boice has been able to use gymnastics as an escape from the outside world and something to take her mind off of other stress. She enjoys going to the gym regularly to have something else to focus on that she truly enjoys doing.

Regardless of the outcomes of Boice’s competitions and seasons, she chooses to push forward and strives to become better with every practice. The Northview gymnastics community is excited to see what is in store for Justine and the rest of the girls.

Freshman Ansh Misra wins a match ANOUSHKA MISRA, SPECIAL

Comeback Season Northview wrestling looks towards a bright future

SPORTS

UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

KRISTINA CARLSON, STAFF WRITER DYLAN DUQUE, STAFF WRITER

T

he Northview wrestling team, although fiercely competitive, had trouble in the last two years getting themselves back to where they used to be. Senior Aaron Redmond, who has been wrestling for four years and plays a leadership role for the team, thinks that it could be due to the lack of commitment throughout the team in the past few years.

Redmond shares that when he first started as a freshman, the team had a very strong bond because of a high level of commitment displayed by the wrestlers, therefore, allowing the team to excel and have a successful season. Last season, lack of advertisement and interest caused the team to fall back, and the team had a rough start even before the season began. Unfortunately, it ended up being an unsuccessful season, something the team hadn’t experienced in the past.

“In wrestling, you have to have a certain amount of people to practice with in your specific weight class, and not having many people or anyone in that weight class just limits your ability to really practice and improve yourself,” Redmond said. “Not having a strong commitment really kills the sport, but this year we are getting a lot more people involved so I think we will be on a good track this year.”

There was a lot of discussion over the summer about whether or not there would be a wrestling team this year because of the lack of space provided for the team and the situa-

tion of finding a new coach. Thankfully, they have found space in the indoor weight room to hold practices, and Athletic Director Scotty McDaniel has stepped up to be the coach for this upcoming season. As of now, they have 13-14 male athletes involved, in addition to a couple of female athlete, which is a completely different start compared to the previous season. If the current leaders and staff now involved in the team continue to work this hard, they can ensure a positive result by the end of the season. Involving others and creating a new family amongst the team is above all an important key to success. More than anyone, senior Arjun Sreekumar hopes to establish this in his last season and make it the best it can be with the team he has.

“Before matches we always pick a partner in our same weight group to practice with and basically have mini practices before we compete. This helps us to get to know each other more and to prepare,” Sreekumar said.

Both Redmond and Sreekumar agree that to improve themselves this season, they need to commit fully to practices and giving their all in matches as well as try to make their bonds with their teammates stronger. As of right now, the future of the wrestling team is looking bright, and slowly but steadily they are on their way to a good season if they have the full commitment of coaches and athletes. They now need to convert this interest into full-commitment from everyone.

THE MESSENGER | 13

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FEATURES

(770) 667-7884 1291 Old Peachtree Rd NW, Suwanee, GA 30024 *This article is not sponsored by Hansel & Gretel Bakery Cafe

UPASNA KOTAKONDA, PHOTO EDITOR

Hansel & Gretel The Messenger’s monthly digest MEGHANA RAMINENI, FEATURES EDITOR

W

hen going to a restaurant or bakery, the experience is not just based on the food ordered, but also the atmosphere and service. Walking into Hansel & Gretel, I expected the decor to match the name, however, I was surprised by the modern design. The walls were a simple cream color, the wooden tables spread out in a sensible manner, with lights dangling from the ceiling in some areas, giving the bakery a sort of elegant yet casual feel. A feeling of nostalgia quickly rushed over me, as the setting reminded me of a bakery I went to as a child, and I was filled with the same sense of excitement and eagerness to explore the menu and try the food.

Immediately after entering, it was not hard for me to find the first place my eyes, rather my nose, wished to take me: the bread and pastry section. Although the food was prewrapped, the smell of fresh bread along with the sweet aroma of the pastries filled the air around me. Despite their simplicity, the fruit pastries caught my eye, as they looked different from the classic round pastry I had envisioned.

Even though I felt conflicted due to the vari-

ety of options, I went with the blueberry and chocolate decorated fruit pastry.

I then wandered to the area near the checkout counter, where I stumbled upon the most beautifully decorated desserts. Here, I wanted to try everything; however, a select few desserts caught my eye. Once again, I wished to try a simple food, a cream puff, labeled as a fresh cream roll. Above it, there was the strawberry fresh cream and the 24k green tea, both of which looked amazing.

The servers were very welcoming and patient while I decided, and once I was satisfied with my selection of pastries and desserts, I ordered and found a place near the window. The light from the window illuminated the vibrant colors of the beautiful design on the plate. I was ready to dive into the food.

The moment I bit into the fresh cream roll, I was overtaken with a sense of happiness and surprise at how delicious the cream filling was.

The bread was extremely soft, and the cream filling melted in my mouth. Next, I moved onto the strawberry fresh cream, and once again, I was not disappointed. The cream be-

tween each layer was perfectly proportioned to fill a person’s mouth with the right amount of sweetness and had a smooth texture to it. The sponges between the layers of cream were very moist, yet also fluffy, and were filled with the classic strawberry flavor. There was a strawberry on top intended to add to the aesthetic, but it also improved the taste of the entire piece, as it was coated with honey. The serving size of the strawberry fresh cream roll was perfect as the light, airy sponges and frosting filled it with flavor however were not too heavy. Next, I wanted to open up the fruit pastry. I expected there to be the standard filling inside, but when I took a bite into the pastry, there was a mix of the standard custard filling along with blueberry jam, and the combination of these fillings with the fresh blueberries on top was a delicious take on the classic.

After finishing up, I realized Hansel & Gretel is the perfect place for any group of people, whether it be family or friends, due to its welcoming nature, helpful staff, reasonable prices, and selection of different desserts, the taste of which is definitely worth it.

THE MESSENGER | 15

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FEATURES

ALL I WANT for christmas

IS MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF SEASONAL FESTIVITIEs FROM

VARIOUS CULTURES, ALL OF WHICH PROMOTE TOGETHERNESS, SELF-REFLECTION, AND THE CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL INDIVIDUALITY, BECAUSE WHEN NORTHVIEW STUDENTS CAN CATCH A BREAK FROM CRAMMING FOR THEIR MIDTERMS TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND, THE REFRESHING DIVERSITY MERITS RECONSIDERATION OF TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.

(BABY) RIPLEY SIMONE KENNEBREW, STAFF WRITER REETU MARAN, STAFF WRITER NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR PHOTOS: MIRA SYDOW, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE MESSENGER | 17

NORTHVIEW has a reputation for hosting and embracing a variety of cultures, ethnicities, and religions. This melting pot is especially prominent during the holiday season, when different cultures celebrate their respective holidays. Northview’s diversity is one of the things Principal Brian Downey finds most unique about the school.

“We should embrace the diversity because it gives a different perspective and educates us for the better,” Downey said. “The strength of Northview lies in our student community.”

Northview students in various religious organizations work hard to put an end to assumptions about minority religions in an effort to promote cultural literacy. But even though the Johns Creek community tends to be more aware of different beliefs, there are still some religions, like Judaism, Buddhism, and Jainism, that are not well-represented or understood.

LAuREN SIEGEL S

ophomore Lauren Siegel is a reformed Jew and finds her religion to play a large role in her life. Many of her friends say that without religion Siegel would not be herself. Her friends have seen her grow throughout the years and have witnessed Siegel to be most happy when she’s participating in some religious activity.

Because Judaism is not well-understood by many, Siegel has taken many different actions to try and bring more awareness to Jewish culture and holidays. Siegel participates in the Jewish Student Union to educate others about the origins of Jewish culture and the way in which Jews practice their religion. Despite this, Siegel has come to terms with the fact that some cultures have more familiarity than others.

“When they were playing Christmas songs

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for Beta Club, I did not really feel left out per say, maybe just a little forgotten,” Siegel said.

Even though people are aware of Jewish culture and religion here in the Johns Creek community, this situation is not the same in many other places. Siegel is grateful to be able to grow up in such an accepting community where everyone is able to express their religion and views freely.

“Being at Northview has definitely helped because you do not experience antisemitism like other places,” Siegel said.

Siegel’s family roots trace back to Judaism from over a 100 years ago. Her mother and father are both Jewish and they taught Siegel about Judaism since she was little. She finds that Judaism connects her with a lot of her family and friends.

“I don’t know what I would do without Judaism and neither would my family,” Siegel said.

Siegel and her family are extremely active in their religious community, from participating in services to helping educate the younger generations about Judaism. Siegel’s family attends prayers weekly and they participate in many Jewish holidays over the course of the year.

Even though Christmas may be one of the most popular holidays, many do not celebrate it. Siegel and her family specifically celebrate Jewish holidays despite the appeal that certain Christian holidays may have.

“We decorate the house for Hannuakh, and we get together with family,” Siegel said.

Hanukkah, one of the most popular Jewish holidays, changes based on the Jewish calendar, which has one extra month. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year which is preceded

by Yom Kippur. On this holy day, Jews express repentance for sins committed over the past year. Siegel and her family take the day off from school and work to be together. Often times she even visits family outside of Atlanta during this time. Christmas and other Christian holidays may seem appealing to some, but Siegel finds her greatest joy in following her religion and being able to celebrate these Jewish holidays with her family and friends.

FEATURES

Nicole Davison J

unior Nicole Davison believes that Christianity has become the default in American culture due to the long history of European colonization, leaving hardly any wiggle room for diversity.

“When I was little, I was Christian, but as I grew up, my mother was more of a spiritual person,” Davison said. “I followed her footsteps, and she just told me to do my own things and develop my own faith.”

Despite her Christian upbringing, Davison no longer identifies with a certain religion, as practicing faith in a structured environment does not suit her anymore. With the guidance of her mother, she was able to truly expand her horizons. Currently, she follows spirituality in a more individual sense, believing that being in touch with herself is just as important as being in touch with a higher power.

“I didn’t want to tie myself down to a certain religion. It promotes self-confidence, and it just helps me become a better person,” Da-

vison said.

She appreciates Northview’s religious diversity, and although she feels as if many people at Northview do not understand her beliefs, she does not mind.

“My beliefs are my beliefs, and their beliefs are theirs,” Davison said. “Northview is a very diverse school, and that’s one of the things I love about going here.”

During the holiday season, she and her immediate family celebrate Christmas and New Years, although not in the traditional Christian sense like some of Davison’s more distant relatives. For Christmas, Davison and her family put up a Christmas tree, open gifts on Christmas Day, and share a Christmas dinner.

“Some people in my family are very religious and like to stick to the Bible. When it comes to Christmas, they celebrate it in the religious aspect,” Davison said. “Me and my immediate family at home celebrate in the sense of giving gratitude and showing appreciation to one another.”

Although Davison’s family and others like them may not adhere to a specific religion, they can still appreciate the full value of religious holidays, like Christmas.

THE MESSENGER | 19

RYAN JAY E

volving into a better person can be a result of practicing faith for many, including junior Ryan Jay, who identifies as a Buddhist. With the help of his parents, who share the same beliefs as him, Jay developed his current perspective of the world.

“Being a Buddhist was a family thing,” he said. “I never really had a different idea in regards to my religion because I always thought of it as one single idea.”

He believes that practicing Buddhism has helped him better himself, as its teachings promote inner peace.

“It has honestly influenced me a lot,” Jay said. “[Buddhism has allowed me] to just be the best person I can be and always help others as much as possible.”

Instead of celebrating the typical Buddhist holidays, his family celebrates Thanksgiving and Christmas during the holiday season.

“We celebrate Thanksgiving and all the other holidays,” Jay said. “Usually my family never celebrates specific traditions in Buddhism except for Sinhalese Buddhists New Year.”

Although he believes that many people in the Northview community only have a shallow understanding of what Buddhism is, Jay finds that the few people who are well-informed greatly appreciate the religion.

“Not a lot of people really understand what [Buddhism] truly is,” he said. “The people who know what Buddhism is respect it a lot.”

AESHA SHAH I

t may be hard for some people to express their own individuality based on their religion, but freshman Aesha Shah, a Jain, uses her religion to shape who she is and who she

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wants to become.

“I express my individualism by embracing my culture and implementing it my life. I haven’t ever wanted to stray from my religion [because] it shapes my relationships with my family and peers,” Shah said. “Religion guides my virtues and values and helps me become the person that I strive to be.”

Shah respects herself and those around her by practicing Ahimsa, a Jainist tradition which promotes nonviolence and discourages attachment to materialistic things. Like many of those who practice Jainism, she is vegetarian and also does not consume eggs, mushrooms, and fish. Shah shares the same religion and traditions as her family.

“Everyone in my family has the same beliefs as me, and we follow most of the Indian traditions including celebrating holidays like Diwali, Navaratri, Holi, and New Year,” Shah said.

During the autumn holiday of Navaratri, she worships the goddesses in Jainism, called Devis, by participating in traditional folk dances called Garba and Dandiya, the latter of which involves using colored sticks. Shah celebrates Diwali, which is typically between mid-October and mid-November, in honor the 24th god in Jainism.

“On this day, we celebrate the attainment of liberation of Bhagwan Mahavir,” Shah said.

“He gained Moksha, which is the highest status of enlightenment.”

The day after Diwali, she and many other jains celebrate the New Year, wishing each other well wishes and a prosperous year to come.

Shah believes that although Jainism isn’t very well represented at Northview, those who understand the religion respect it. She prefers to interact with peers who are open-minded with regard to religion.

“Often the people that I surround myself with accept my views, and I accept theirs,” Shah said.

FEATURES

ALEXA SHUSTER F

or Senior Alexa Shuster, the community can feel small at times because of the lack of representation and communication about Judaism. She acknowledges that because her religion is a minority, she often feels left out.

“During stress week, they played Christmas music. I feel like they could have added at least one Hanukkah song,” Shuster said.

“It’s hard when I miss school for a holiday, and people just assume I was sick because no one talks about different beliefs people have.”

Shuster believes that when people are not educated about religions other than their own, they make assumptions and stigmatize certain beliefs. To combat this issue, Shuster participates in clubs that promote awareness about different religions.

“I am a part of the Jewish student union,” Shuster said. “Our club is super open to anyone coming, no matter what religion. We like to teach students about our upcoming holidays and traditions we have.”

Shuster does not consider herself fully Jewish, as she has stopped adhering to certain traditions.

Instead, she views Judaism as a small part of her identity.

“I went to Sunday school and had a bat mitzvah, but since high school, I have become less spiritual,” Shuster said.

“I don’t pray, but I still consider myself Jewish, even though I don’t believe everything an ideal Jewish person does.”

Shuster believes that every person is unique in their own way, and that Judaism may interfere with her individuality due to the constraints it places on individuals.

“My religion is a piece of me but not a big one,” Shuster said. It’s one of the many but tiny things that have shaped me as a person.”

However, she still enjoys participating in religious activities with her family. During the holiday season, Shuster’s cousins join her family to celebrate Hanukkah.

“Every year, we have a family Hanukkah party with jewish food like latkes, koogle, bagels, and lox,” Shuster said. “We light the menorah and then do a big gift exchange.”

Shuster likes to surround herself with a group of religiously diverse people because she enjoys learning about different cultures and connecting with people who are different.

“I have never had many Jewish friends, and I think it’s because I really love hearing different points of view,” Shuster said. “I never had many Jewish friends because they were too much like me, and I like people who are different.”

PAMELA ALATRISTA S

enior Pamela Alatrista, a Christian, regularly attends Sunday church and celebrates Christian holidays with her family.

“Sunday church is the most consistent tradition of the church my family keeps up with,” Alatrista said. “We also celebrate holidays having to do with the church, like Christmas.”

However, Alastrista feels that religion does not have a great impact on her life because she sees it as only one part of her identity. Alatrista does not associate her religion with school much, viewing them as separate from each other.

“My religion doesn’t really mix with my school life,” Alatrista said. “At school, religion isn’t something that I feel is represented because of the diversity in beliefs.”

She appreciates how her fellow students embrace people with different beliefs instead of criticizing them.

“I feel like people at my school are accepting of the diversity in beliefs,” Alatrista said. “I haven’t ever faced any negativity towards my beliefs.”

THE MESSENGER | 21

Should holidays be federally recognized?

Sophomore Lauren Siegel and Junior Nicole Davison belong to different religious groups but respect each other’s cultures MIRA SYDOW, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Should holid ays be governmentregulated

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Yes TANNER OWENS, STAFF WRITER

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country is defined by its people, and a people is defined by its culture. One aspect of culture is the days they mark for celebration, for memorial, for mourning; in turn, one of the most important ways a country can be identified is through the federal recognition of different holidays. Almost every single country in the world has at least one regulated holiday, and many, like the United States, regulate numerous holidays that mark several reasons to commemorate.

Take our own, for example. We have traditional holidays such as Christmas that are shared with many other cultures of the world, providing a brief, shared moment of joy and peace amid the international chaos. While many may argue that Christmas excludes religious minorities and promotes only a certain religion, defeating the purpose of the laws that American history has tried so hard to follow, one must consider the recognition of the domestic advantages this holiday merits. Christmas is our connection to the outside of our

American bubble, in a world that has been predominantly Westernized and Christianity is the most popular religion, and by a large part.

Recognizing Christmas creates a something in common that we share with many other countries; America’s acceptance of this universally recognized time of pacifism shows that it is part of the modern world.

Federally recognized holidays often honor an individual or moment in time that has been critical to the development of one’s country.

The United States alone has several of these, ranging from MLK Day, honoring the man who fought for equality of man, to Independence Day, honoring the day we became a country. This is an ubiquitous tradition found in nearly every civilization in the world, because a society takes pride in their peaks. Venezuela? July 24, the birthday of Simon Bolivar, their “Liberator”. Russia? Victory’s Day, on June 12. Zimbabwe? February 21, Robert Mugabe National Youth Day. We not only honor our history when recognizing these hol-

idays, but we also tell our children that these people will forever remain momentous in the future of our country.

A holiday can also be used to honor the present. In the United States, we have Veteran’s Day, a day that resonates with the approximately 56% of families in the United States that have someone in the military (America’s Promise). Because there can be fighters of many different kinds, other holidays of honoring a major group of people are federally recognized. Cuba, for example, honors International Women’s Day, and it is only one out of 100 countries. In addition, China also recognizes International Children’s Day, to promote the importance of the younger generation.

Governments must recognize federal holidays if they want to keep there promise of a social contract, that they “exist to serve the people.” A holiday provides a time that the entire country can share, whether it is to celebrate as part of a religion or honor the past, present or future. Because how can there be a people if there is no shared culture?

one unchanging universally-agreed text, and the image of God is always singular, male, white, and flawless.

Schoolhouse Rock’s popular 1977 song “The Great American Melting Pot” metaphorizes a country that is a blend of nearly all cultures in the world. Yet Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Sikhs are generalized as exotic and “interesting”, but their beliefs are preached as eerie compared to the pinnacle that is Christianity. While Hanukkah and Kwanzaa may enjoy more conveniences as part of the federally recognized “holiday season,” other holidays are not so lucky. From the girl who is dying in P.E. from fasting for Ramadan to the boy whose shirt is stained with powder from throwing colors in Holi to that family who must escape the chaos of school to enjoy Rosh Hashanah, it is clear that it would be impossible to declare every celebration of every sort of belief a federal holiday.

The only effective solution would be to recognize no holiday. If everyone is created equal, then no one belief should be prioritized above the rest. While the majority may create a

generalization, the minority must be acknowledged. But this principle does not fall to the United States alone.

Great Britain is one country that enjoys a moderate amount of diversity of belief; however, unlike most countries, its government does not recognize a specific holiday. This is surprising, considering that it has an established Church of England, but the federal level has decided to honor its history of the loss of unification of its empire and the diversity of people in that empire by seeing all holidays as dependent on the people. Denmark is another country that does not recognize national holidays, even if the diversity of its people is not as great as the United States or the United Kingdom.

While some may celebrate their own holidays, its ignorance of a national holiday is a contributing factor to its dominance in the World Happiness Report, an annual survey based on citizen’s satisfaction with their social norms, conflicts, and government policies. Both countries are evidence that a more successful society is dependent on the equality of its people, not the forced unification of celebration under one holiday.

No GRACE PENG, NEWS EDITOR

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n the document that declared our country as a government of its own, bringing in principles of the greatest philosophers in history, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Federal approval of one holiday is an illegal act of its own, breaking the very fundamental that today’s society is founded upon - the idea that every human, no matter how different their belief may be, is equal.

Take the United States, for example. The basis of this argument lies in the history of our country. Christianity pervades our society so that any person who was not raised in the belief is an outsider, and the percentage of our population in this category rises more as the United States reaches unprecedented levels of diversity. Our country has Christianity rooted so deeply in our culture that its advantages often go unnoticed; the federally recognized Christmas barely scrapes the surface. Allusions to Jesus and “sins” and “blessings” are commonplace, the explanation for everything is

THE MESSENGER | 23

Holiday Hustle Employees face the decision of whether they should work on holidays or not MANASA PREMANAND STAFF WRITER

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hanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. To most Americans, the mention of these festivals invokes memories of family gatherings, vacations, or leaves from school or work. While holidays are most certainly times for rest and relaxation, they can also be used efficiently as a time to focus on one’s career without the distraction of coworkers, assignments, and bosses. Many Americans choose to utilize these days as vacation time, but working on holidays has many valuable benefits.

It is understandable that one would not want to work on a day dedicated to rest and relaxation, and sleeping in. After all, when compared to spending time with family and friends, dealing with grumpy clients and demanding bosses sounds unpleasant. Nevertheless, working on holidays has its perks. One of these benefits is that most employees who work during festivities have a larger paycheck than those who do not. According to a study from Bloomberg BNA, 85% of companies who have their employees work on Memorial Day offer some sort of extra pay. If employees are struggling to pay their bills on time, being paid extra to work on a holiday would be of great assistance to them.

If payment incentives are not reason enough for employees to work on holidays, then a chance of gaining recognition in the

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workplace may help strengthen this case.

Many individuals who start off at a lower position at work must make their way up their workplace’s “social ladder” and prove that they are ideal candidates for higher positions. An exceptional method to work one’s way into the hearts of their bosses and coworkers is to display passion and commitment towards their job by working on days meant for relaxation.

Many employers are looking for workers who are willing to go the extra mile to show how passionate and driven they are about their career, and working on a supposed vacation day is the perfect opportunity to display avidity towards one’s job.

Moreover, many individuals enjoy having downtime throughout the year and working during the holidays can be a great way to have an early start on future work. After the holiday season is over, especially around the end of the year, workplaces will be jam-packed with new assignments, projects, and plans for the upcoming year. By choosing to work during the holiday season, not only could a worker display dedication, commitment, and passion towards their job, but they would also be able to get ahead on all the tedious, time-consuming projects for the new year. This ensures that while one’s coworkers are scrambling to meet deadlines and working overtime to finish proj-

ects, they can relax at home, having finished all upcoming work beforehand. Furthermore, such free time provides the opportunity to take vacations during a cheaper and less chaotic time of the year.

Additionally, while most may expect workplaces to be barren and desolate during festivities, companies still have staff and security guards working. For example, referring back to the study from Bloomberg BNA, on Labor Day, 97% of employers allow their employees to have this holiday off, however, more than 40% of businesses will still be open and have staff members working. The study revealed 56% of nonbusiness organizations will have employees working on Labor Day as well. This means that if one chooses to work on a vacation day, they will most likely not be the only individual at their workplace, as they will have colleagues to keep them company.

Choosing to work on a holiday would be a wise decision for any individual to make.

With the endless benefits that arise from opting for another day of work oversleeping in at home, one would be sure not to regret their choice. Promotions, pay raises, and cheaper, better vacations all await those who decide to put in a little extra effort to wake up at 6:30 a.m. and rush to work, knowing that it is a holiday.

OPINIONS

Plastic or Misfit?

Plastic waste is detrimental to the earth JYANYHA BROWN, STAFF WRITER

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any of our local grocery stores, gas stations, clothing stores, and other public places use polluting plastic bags. After these plastic bags are used, they end up in landfills, sewers, and harming or killing animals and their habitats. According to the United Nations Joint group of Experts about sixty five to ninety percent of the waste on our earth is made up of plastics. Plastic bags have a big contribution in polluting our communities, and these bags use 8 percent of our oil resources. If we stop the use of all plastic bags, our environment will be cleaner, safer, and healthier.

Neglected plastic bags negatively affect our environment’s overall health. These neglected bags result in unnecessary waste floating around our oceans, streets, and in animals.

A plastic bag takes up to 1,000 years to de-

compose, and the majority of people do not recognize how long this process takes. Photodegradation is the process when these plastic bags can officially decompose, as they come in contact with ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Others may complain about their needs and uses of plastic bags in their everyday lives.

In small instances such as picking up after dogs, and transporting and containing public goods such as groceries, there are many alternative solutions for these uses. Newspaper, pooper scoopers, and flushing are all easy alternatives for picking up after your dog or other animals you may have. However, the alternate for the use of plastic bags while shopping or other uses is reusable bags.

In 2014, California became the first state to ban the usage of plastic bags. This law did not last long after being temporarily put on

hold. “The debate centered on a proposal to charge 10 cents for each single-use checkout bags at retail and grocery stores, in an effort to encourage customers to bring their own,” Michael Gonchar of The New York Times said. This proposal also applied to paper bags, because their was more of an expense for businesses to purchase these bags.

Bag ordinances have been adopted by the Los Angeles County unincorporated areas, about one hundred and thirty-eight cities and counties have enacted bans on the usage of plastic bags. The more supporters of the ban of plastic bags, the more we could stop the polluting of our environment. Using your own reusable bag can be less costly for businesses, and it protects our planet.

THE MESSENGER | 25

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COLUMNS

REID BETWEEN THE LINES

In the Shadows Ways that American institutions fail black women

NOELLE REID, OPINIONS EDITOR

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eventy-five thousand. As of 2018, that is the number of black girls under the age of 18 that have gone missing in the United States. Many of these girls will be shackled in the system of sex trafficking and/ or end up dead. 13 percent of the American population is black and female, yet 36 percent of missing juveniles are black girls. This is simply chilling.

These are people’s sisters and daughters; they are children that will lose years of their life due to the sex trade if they even make it out alive in the first place. This should be enough to not only make the police care but the rest of us as well. None of the public can name at least one of these girls who has gone missing and has yet to be found. The American police system routinely shows that it does not seek to aid the black community, and this is but one of the many examples. Sometimes it seems that they do not do so much as bother to look for these girls. Perhaps they do not have the time, or maybe they just do not care.

The passive attitude surrounding the safety of black women and girls has an extensive history in the United States, especially in the court and medical systems.

James Marion Sims, the so-called “father of modern gynecology” had a statue in New

York’s Central Park for centuries despite having mutilated and tortured slave women and girls in the process. He did all of his experiments without anesthesia even though it existed for years and was readily accessible to him because he was under the assumption that black people did not feel physical or emotional pain. This belief has not been eradicated and it causes medical professionals to have a bias when it comes to treating black women and this bias can be fatal. “[Black women] are not monitored as carefully as white women are. When they do present with symptoms, they are often dismissed,” Dr. Ana Langer, director of the Women’s Health Initiative at Harvard, said.

According to the Center for Disease Control black women are three to four times more likely to pass away from complications due to childbirth than their white counterparts.

World-renowned celebrities like Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Serena Williams both almost died after having C-sections. Their celebrity status most likely saved their lives but other black women are unfortunately not so lucky.

Or instances like the R. Kelly cases for example, where the R&B singer regularly sexually abused and physically and psychologically

tortured dozens of girls, many of them black and minors. Even another popular R&B artist of the time, Aaliyah, fell prey to Kelly; he married her in 1994 when she was 15-years-old.

People often blame the parents of these girls for leaving them alone with Kelly, but every single adult that allowed these children to be violated is just as guilty as Kelly. The Chicago court system failed these girls as well by giving him a slap on the wrist for causing irreversible damage to these girls. Many believe that if these girls were white, this would not have happened for nearly as long if at all.

We tell our girls to be careful when walking home. We tell them to walk with friends getting off the bus, or if they’re walking home alone to put their keys in between their fingers.

We give them bedazzled pepper spray holders and teach them how to shoot pink guns and scream “fire” instead of “help.” For black girls this talk is given at an early age, accompanied by instructions on how to talk to the police.

Life is a marathon, but for black girls, it is like running for our lives. It’s time that we started seeing the true value of our black girls and stop discounting them so that the life they are running for can be a few years longer.

THE MESSENGER | 27

fashion ERIN SHIN, STAFF WRITER JENNAH SOOKNANAN, BUSINESS MANAGER

Annemiek Kessels

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nnemiek Kessels, also known as modedamour on Instagram, is a fashion blogger and influencer from the Netherlands. Kessels has a vintage taste to her style along with her unique aes-

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thetic. She captures a variety of different art and architecture for herself and her audience.

Inspired by her love for clothing and fashion, Kessel started various blogs and social media outlets to share her own personal style. On

these blogs, Kessels posts styles with themes of neutrals, white, and black colors in her clothing. Through her love for fashion, Kessels have been able to inspire people with her fashion and successfully create a brand name for herself.

COLUMNS

STAFF EDITORIAL

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Normalizing Gun Violence

he war on gun control has been on the rise ever since the United States first mass shooting back in 1949. Since then, poorly restrictive gun laws and acts of violence involving guns, have had the opposite effect of what we would expect. Instead of taking quick action to change the requirements to obtain a gun, the government has deemed the safety of the public unimportant. In turn, the American society has begun to anesthetize itself to such horrid events.

In this day and age, technology has become the primary source of news output. Those who have the privilege of Internet access stay connected through the different media platforms. However, this has had the opposite effect.. More and more, we are becoming disconnected to the reality of those that are not our own. Furthermore, this disconnection from others has affected the progression of gun reform. It has become increasingly

“normal” to see the “latest shooting” on the news and continue to move with our lives after tweeting menial words of condolence. We have begun to normalize gun violence and further reduce the importance of human lives.

Although the newer generations have taken stronger stances and actions towards guns, the results do not account for this. The Columbine Shooting, the Sandy Hook Shooting, the Aurora, CO Shooting, the Parkland Shooting and numerous others, should not be familiar names to us. It has become normal to expect these shootings to continue happening because we have seen no change in our laws. We have become desensitized to the pain and suffering of those who either lost their lives or their loved ones to gun violence. It is unfortunate to gradually see our nation lose hope and motivation in its own government because the lives of the public are being ignored.

THE MESSENGER | 29

gallery Junior Justin Watson recovers from a game JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Northview practices during a time-out MIRA SYDOW, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF During stress awareness week, bands played through lunch on Oct. 8.

JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Northview readies for a play JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Coach Thomson directs the team JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

COLUMNS

Junior Anuhya Kanchibhatla dances in Color Guard JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Junior Cathy Lin plays in marching band during the halftime JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Northview Seniors participate in White-Out JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Seniors Brandon Bryant, Jake Salkin, and Abby Strickland pose at a game JENNIFER XIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE MESSENGER | 31

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