Volume 13, Issue 3 - Nov. 2014

the

essenger

Northview High School Volume 13 · issue 3 · November 2014

Purugulla prepares to leave Northview – P. 8 Wrapping up a successful football season – P. 13 Black box theater receives warm welcome – P. 22

COGS IN THE ADMINISTRATION MACHINE

masthead Email: nhsmessenger@gmail.com Phone: (770) 497-3828 ext. 176 Website: nhsmessenger.com Address: 10625 Parsons Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097 PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION The Messenger is a student publication published for and distributed to students, faculty, staff, and the Northview community to promote readership of the students’ current events and issues.

The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire staff or those of Northview High School, its students, faculty, staff, or administration. Content is controlled and edited by staff editors, with a high-priority on celebrating the achievements of its readers as well as events occurring within the circulation. 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 advertisements 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, Meredith Keisler, and assistant business manager, Tarun Ramesh, at nhsmessenger@ gmail.com.

IN THIS ISSUE Cover design: Jessica Ma

EDITORS-In-CHIEF Marri Kang Jessica Ma MANAGING EDITOR Nancy Coleman NEWS EDITOR Rachel Williams SPORTS EDITORS Maggie Brenan Rameen Forghani FEATURES EDITOR Sneha Gubbala OPINIONS EDITOR Andrew Teodorescu PHOTO EDITOR Hui Lin DESIGN EDITOR Connie Xu ONLINE EDITOR Bryan Liang COPY EDITOR Maggie Xia BUSINESS MANAGER Meredith Keisler ASST. BUSINESS MANAGER Tarun Ramesh STAFF WRITERS Shelby Bradley Tommy Bui Manasa Chimpiri Megan Cistulli Sophia Choi Ryan Daigle Milika Dhru Chad Johnson Annie Kong Jooeun Lee Justin Leung Tanisa Mahalingam Austin Meng Lindsey Moon Sally Pan Caroline Pennington Sumit Sohani Parnia Vaghef Eashaa Velamuri Justin Westbrook Sabrina Wilson Connie Xiao PHOTOGRAPHERS Nabila Khan Brittney Neser Tiffany Xu

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table of

contents

2 masthead 5 Editor’s Letter 6 news 10 sports 16 cover story 21 features 26 FACEOFF 28 opinions 29 STAFF EDITORIAL 30 staff columns

10

Tiffany Xu/STAFF

articles 6 News briefs / STAFF 8 Vijay Purugulla leaves Northview for county job / TANISA MAHALINGAM 9 Bill Thompson acts as interim vice principal / JOOEUN LEE 10 Cross-country wins state for second year / AUSTIN MENG 13 Football team makes playoffs for first time in school history / RAMEEN FORGHANI 16 COVER STORY: Analyzing the effect of Northview’s recent flurry of administration changes / SALLY PAN and MAGGIE XIA 21 Will-to-Live bow tie wins national competition / SARAH JANG 22 Northview unveils new Black Box theater / TARUN RAMESH 24 Habitat for Humanity club restarts / SABRINA WILSON 26 Face-off: Do administration changes affect students negatively or positively? / ANNIE KONG and PARNIA VAGHEF 28 Academic requirements for sports / RAMEEN FORGHANI 29 Staff editorial / STAFF 30 Music and fashion columns / EASHAA VELAMURI and CONNIE XU 31 Comments / ANDREW TEODORESCU

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(Cat)calling all women

n October 27, anti-street-harassment group Hollaback! posted a video that has since gone viral. The video, the result of a collaboration between Hollaback! and marketing agency Rob Bliss Creative, shows trimmed footage of actress Shoshana Roberts walking around New York City and becoming the target of harassment, primarily in the form of catcalling.

Six days later, CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield hosted a discussion about the video, its authenticity, and its controversial inclusion of mostly black and Latino men. The debate between stand-up comedian Amanda Seales and author Steve Santagati quickly veered away from its intended course, however, because the two guests disagreed on the social implications of catcalling.

According to director Rob Bliss, the overrepresentation of men of color in the edited video was unintentional and did not serve as an accurate sample of the 108 instances of street harassment that were captured during ten hours of filming.

Hollaback! also stated later that “street harassers fall evenly along lines of race and class.” Critics of the video argued that it unintentionally linked street harassment to black and Latino men as the primary offenders. The ratio of white to non-white men in the video may call into question its accuracy as a representation of a woman’s daily experience with street harassment in the city, but there is no room for debate on the demeaning and objectifying nature of catcalling itself.

Which is what makes the CNN discussion so infuriating. Despite the host’s attempts to steer the argument back onto its original topic, Santagati’s refusal to recognize catcalling as an offensive practice and his denial that men are at fault stalled the conversation. His notion that catcalls boost self-esteem, that the highest compliment a woman can receive is to be told that she is pretty, is, quite

frankly, disgusting. Even worse is his suggestion that women simply move out of the city or carry a gun in order to evade street harassment, which he claims is both acceptable and inevitable.

Unfortunately, street harassment and other sexist behavior may very well be unavoidable in the near future, thanks to men like Santagati and the negative perception of feminism that exists today. Time magazine even included the word “feminist” as an option in their annual word banishment poll, which asks voters to choose one word—usually a buzzword that has recently emerged and become obnoxiously overused—that they should “ban” in the upcoming year. Time eventually apologized after receiving heavy backlash on social media, but the very idea that the word belongs among terms like “yaaasssss,” “bae,” and “turnt” in the first place reveals a collective view of feminism that is far from supportive.

According to the Google Ngram Viewer, which allows users to compare the use of certain words in books over time, the words “feminist” and “feminism” peaked around 1996 and then began to decline steadily in the English corpus. Sadly, this decrease is most likely due to a misunderstanding of the meaning of feminism. On the red carpet at Equality Now’s Make Equality Reality event on Nov. 3, famous Latina actress Salma Hayek told People magazine that she does not identify as a feminist because she believes in gender equality— when, in fact, that is the simplest definition of feminism. A Facebook “community” called Women Against Feminism currently has 27,775 likes and again draws lines that do not exist between feminism and equality.

Evidently, we still have a long way to go before we reach gender equality—street harassment and opposition to feminism still run rampant today.

And that, in our progressive 21st-century society, is truly frightening.

Jessica Ma, Editor-in-Chief

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Tiffany Xu/STAFF

FINISHING STRONG Freshman Sarika TemmeBapat embraces her father as the Northview cross country girls celebrate their second consecutive victory at the GHSA championships.

NEWS

TANISA MAHALINGAM, Staff Writer

T

he approaching end of the fall semester will also mark the culmination of Dr. Vijay Purugulla’s brief role as Assistant Principal. Purugulla will soon leave his administrative position at Northview and begin his new job as the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Director of the Fulton County School System.

Purugulla’s recent promotion follows his first-time work as an administrator at Northview. Although he worked at Northview for less than a year, his passion for education and his cooperation with students and staff have made a lasting impression on the Northview community.

Purugulla taught for over 14 years before becoming an administrator.

During his teaching career, Purugulla taught science classes in Cherokee County, Gwinnett County, as well as at Georgia Perimeter College and the University of Georgia. Over his many years teaching at different institutions, Purugulla has taught Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, Anatomy, and Physiology. He additionally taught a course on Multicultural Education at Piedmont College.

“Northview was a great transition, from teacher to administrator, because it is a great school. The kids at this school has been my favorite part of the job. Everything from the different events and extracurricular activities here such as Black History Month, to International Night, to what the BVP kids do, to the athletics, and just the overall dynamic of the kids.

That’s what I’ll miss- the interactions with the kids,” Purugulla said.

Purugulla also admires the diversity and cooperation of Northview’s student body especially because of his own contrasting experience in high school.

“I went to school in Gwinnett County and for a while, I was the only colored kid in my whole grade. It’s cool how at Northview it’s totally the opposite. There are cliques, but I see kids working together no matter what,” Purugulla said.

He appreciates the fact that even though the kids here are of different backgrounds, they are still collaborating and working together, As an administrator, Purugulla was specifically (and pleasantly) surprised by the lack of behavioral problems at Northview.

“My first day at Northview, when I asked a kid to take his hat off, he replied ‘yes sir.’ I’ve been at other schools where that would have become a battle,” Purugulla said.

If there was one small issue Purugulla noted at Northview, it would be the domineering focus on academics at Northview. He thinks the majority of kid focus too much on their grades, and need to learn to be versatile like some of their other peers. Instead of focusing solely on academics, Purugulla thinks Northview kids need to learn how to balance other aspects such as clubs, volunteer work, athletics, etc. along with academics.

“It’s finding something you love, pursuing it, and still doing well in academics,” Purugulla said. He notes that this isn’t an issue based on laziness or lack of motivation, but it’s an issue that stems from the cultural and societal pressure to have perfect grades which has been at Northview for a long time. He recognizes that in fact, relatively, Northview kids are more balanced than the student bodies of other high schools. He’s simply offering a little bit of advice to help improve the already excellent student body here at Northview.

8 | NEWS

Leaving a lasting mark

Asst. Principal Purugulla promoted after less than one year at Northview

Nabila Khan/STAFF

In his new position as STEM Director of Fulton County School System, Purugulla will be supporting STEM primarily from the science side.

In other words, he will basically oversee science for the whole school district. In regards to his new position, Purugulla looks forward to getting kids from the elementary, middle, and high schools engaged in science and able to understand an important part of their world, and making teachers comfortable in teaching their subjects.

Purugulla has been one of the most popular administrators in Northview history, and his friends at Northview will miss his presence. As a farewell statement he wants Northview students to make the most out of high school because they can never get it back, rise above their struggles, and most importantly keep it real.

NEWS

stepping Into status Nabila Khan/STAFF

New Interim Assistant Principal Bill Thompson lends a hand JOOEUN LEE, Staff Writer

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wo of Northview’s assistant principals, Latoya Miley and Vijay Purugulla, have transitioned into new positions within Fulton county. Suddenly short two administrators, the school currently relies on the county’s interim system.

Any time a school is short-staffed in a critical area for a period of time, the interim process begins. Fulton County provides a pool of temporary staff members for the school to reach out to until the new staff is recruited. Ideally, the interim staff member would be a retired principal or assistant principal who is able to return to the school and work for up to 90 days, half of a school year.

Principal Brian Downey had certain qualities in mind as he searched for a temporary staff member to fill the vacancies left behind by Miley and Purugulla.

“I was looking for [...] someone with an easygoing personality who could step into this building and quickly establish good relations with the kids [but] at the same time, someone who had some credibility with the teachers already,” Downey said. “Someone who could step right in, not try to change things, but instead come in support me as a principal and someone who could relate to the kids real well and also help out our teachers. I did some background checks and research, and Mr. Thompson, who is here, came highly recommended. So I reached out to him and asked him to come in and just kind of fill the gap and help us out until we’re able to hire some new people.”

The new interim assistant principal, Bill Thompson, is a retired principal who worked in Fulton County for 38 years and also worked as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal throughout his career. His experience has helped him adjust to working at a new school so quickly.

“I love Northview. I was principal of Hopewell, which is west of 400, and Hopewell feeds into Milton, and now Cambridge High School. I also worked at Taylor Road Middle School, which used to be part of this population so I’m familiar with the area and I’m liking being here very much. It’s a great student body, good faculty, easy to work with, so I’m enjoying it,” said Thompson.

Currently, Thompson is mainly occupied with disciplinerelated assignments and cafeteria duty, trying to remain visible in the halls and familiarize himself with the students. Near the end of the semester, he will begin conducting walkthroughs and formative observations for teachers. Thompson has enjoyed his time at Northview so far.

“The full time staff here, I’m sure, [is] anxious to get new people hired because everybody is having to do a little extra work with two [assistant principals] being out,” said Thompson.

“But it’s a great experience, so I’m enjoying it very much.”

Despite the recent short-staffing, Thompson’s presence at the school has helped the administration to run smoothly.

NEWS | the messenger | 9

SPORTS

Tiffany Xu/STAFF

LADIES FIRST

Cross country girls claim second state championship AUSTIN MENG, Staff Writer

10 | SPORTS

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n Nov. 8, 31 different high schools from all across the state convened in Carrollton, Georgia for the Georgia High School Sports Association Girls AAAAAA race. With 213 runners competing in the state championship, the Northview girls were unsure of what the outcome would be at the end of the 5,000 meter race.

“We moved up classifications, so it was going to be a lot more challenging in the post-season,” said junior Lindsay Billings. “We had high goals of winning state. We knew it was a stretch,but we went in everyday knowing that was our goal, and we would have to work hard for it.”

The team had been practicing from the first week of school until early November, and even before, as most runners began training during the summer. After long hours of hard work at practice, the team competed in eight meets leading up to the state championships, having promising results throughout.

In comparison to the team from last year, there have been a few changes. “We gained a really strong freshman this year, and

“You have to be thinking about what's going on behind you and in front of you.”

- Lindsay Billings

Left: The Lady Titans cross country team poses on the podium to celebrate their victory.

Right: Junior Lindsay Billings approaches the finish line to win her second consecutive state title, 27 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

she has become one of our top runners on the team,” says Billings as she describes freshman Sarika Temme-Bapat.

There was an additional change with the coaching staff on the cross country team. Sophomore Bryce Meyer said, “Coach Cianciola and Coach Jordan stepped in taking charge quickly and swiftly which was fantastic of them. They are honestly great coaches, and I can’t thank them enough.”

With Carrollton High School being about an hour away from Northview, varsity runners ventured there on Friday in order to prepare and preview the course before arriving the next morning.

After anxiously waiting for their race, the Northview varsity girl runners lined up at the start line at 2:05 p.m. Despite the incalculable number of hours of training throughout the season, the results could have gone either way.

During any given race, runners are constantly fatigued, in pain, and seeking the finish line more than anything else. “You always have to be thinking about what’s going on behind you and in front of you,” said Billings. “It’s a lot of planning and executing.”

“The state course is definitely a great test of a runner. There isn’t a single moment in the race that you can rest and catch your breath,” said sophomore Joe Whalley.

Throughout the duration of the’ championship race, Billings led the girls team to a strong start in the first 100 meters. From then on, she continued to hold off rivals Avery Bussjager from Walton High School and Liz Galarza from West Forsyth. Closing in on the finish line, Billings distanced herself from the rest of the pack while tirelessly pacing ahead.

As Billings crossed the finish line with a time of 18:29.73, the reigning state champion reclaimed her title in the new classification, proving her dominance once again. The second North-

Tiffany Xu/STAFF

view runner to finish, junior Anna Barefield, crossed with a time of 19:40.63 being the eighth runner overall. Freshman TemmeBapat came in shortly after with a time of 19:59.70.

Regardless of the high scores of the team, the Northview girls were still unsure of the final results and did not receive the scores immediately. “We had to wait for them to tally up the scores, so it was probably about ten minutes. The girls had been the last race of the day for Northview,” said Billings. “Then, some of the team ran over and told us that we had gotten first, and some of the girls definitely cried, and it was an exciting moment because having to wait that little bit built up the suspense.

It was definitely an emotional moment for us.”

Once again, the Northview girls team made school history with their second state championship title. The first time that Northview had ever won a cross country state championship was at the previous year’s GHSA class AAAAA state meet.

Now that the Lady Titans have added multiple trophies to their assemblage of accomplishments, Billings said, “I would definitely hope to defend our state champion title.”

In hopes of future success and achievements, Meyer said, “For the guys, I knew this season would be a building season; many teams are losing their top runners, and I know we are gonna be an extremely strong team next season since we aren’t really losing anyone.”

While cross country and running in general do not require a specific skill set, runners practice with discipline. “It requires a different kind of dedication,” said Billings. “Some days can be rough, but the team is always there pushing each other, and I think that’s how we’ve been able to succeed. Whenever we’re feeling like we don’t have the energy or the effort to put in work, our team is right beside us and they’re counting on us as well.”

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Hui Lin/STAFF

ONE & DONE

Titans reach state playoffs for the first time in school history RAMEEN FORGHANI, Sports Editor

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SPORTS

Tommy Bui/ STAFF

Junior wide receiver Ricci Nuckles brushes past a Milton player in the playoffs on Friday, Nov. 14.

T

he Northview Titans came into the season with high hopes and a taste of what it needs to become a playoff team.

A solidified defense and a high-scoring offense headlined the Titans hopes of besting last year’s accomplishments. Seniors at quarterback and wide receiver helped set the cornerstone for putting points onto the scoreboard. New acquisitions on the defensive side of the ball helped the Titans shore up their secondary. Coming into this season, the Titans had high hopes- even though nobody else around them did.

Last year, the Titans ended their season in agony. Putting themselves in a situation to reach the playoffs with a win, the Titans lost to Riverwood 40-37. The season was over in a flash, falling short a field goal. The seniors played their last game at home, their last memory of high school football being the agonizing defeat that they had suffered, with the taste of making the playoffs fading away from their outstretched arms. The Titan seniors stayed on the field for long after the game. Kneeling and crying, their hopes for making school history were dashed.

At the end of the 2013-2014 athletic season, word came that because of increased enrollment at Northview High School, the Titans would be reclassified from AAAAA to AAAAAA, a monumental jump considering 6-A football is the highest classification. With the new division, the Titans were predicted to end at the bottom of their

region. Coming off of a 5-5 season and heading into a new division with all of the ‘big boys’, Northview was expected to have yet another lackluster year.

This year, Northview had placed themselves in the same situation as last year. It all came down to the last game of the season, a road game against region foe Centennial. With a win, the Titans would take the fourth seed in the Region 6-AAAAAA football playoff bracket.

With a loss, the Titans would be out; instead, their victors, the Centennial Knights would take the fourth seed and reach the playoffs.

However, always retaining the bitter taste of defeat in the back of their palate and the goal of reaching the playoffs in the front of their minds, the Titans set many milestones this year. They shattered the previous school mark for the best record (previously 5-5) and, with their new over.500 winning percentage, reached the – Nate Phillips playoffs. However, one thing still remains elusive. A playoff win.

This year, the Titans have ended up in the same situation that knocked them out of playoff contention last year. Facing a game at Centennial, the situation was simple: win and you’re in. A loss would leave you on the outside, looking in. The Titans fought a heavily contested first half, falling behind at the half after a late touchdown. However, after the Titans reenergized their playoff dreams and modified their game plan, their offense came out in full force in the second half.

“ WE FINALLY MADE IT. ”

14 | SPORTS

“Basically, play smart. Don’t have penalties and come out and win,” said junior Josh Moran, speaking about the halftime adjustments.

Primarily keeping the ball on the ground, the offense was able to pick up large chunks of yardage as the running backs found the gaping holes in the Knight defense. With six rushing touchdowns in the second half, four of them coming on runs of 20 yards or more, the Titans downed centennial with a dominant score of 54-26, advancing to the playoffs for the first time in school history.

“It feels awesome,” said running back Nate Phillips after the victory. “We stepped up. It could’ve been my last game, but we stepped up and we got it. We finally made it.”

“It was a great experience. It was awesome for the school,” said Moran.

The Titans reached the playoffs as the fourth seed, being paired up to face Milton, the number one seed for Region Six, at home. The Titans received the ball to start, but, could not do anything meaningful with their first quarter possession, remaining tied with Milton at the end of the first quarter. However, the Eagles started to pick apart the holes in the Titan defense during the second quarter, scoring two touchdowns and adding a third with only one second left on the clock in the half. The game didn’t get better for the Titans, as the Eagles added two more touchdowns and a safety in the second half to end the game with a final score of 37-0.

The playoff game versus Milton culminated a season of inconsistencies for the Titans. The offense was yet again unable to score for the duration of the game, being shutout for the fourth time in the season. The inability of the offense to get points on the scoreboard left the defense vulnerable. Never having a lead, the exceptional Titan defense had their backs pinned against a wall the entire game, and eventually broke.

Contributing to the offensive difficulties, star wide receiver Matty Biondich was inactive for most of the second half of the season.

Without Biondich’s explosive playmaking ability and the safety net between Pearson and Biondich, the offense often times struggled to complete passes.

“I think it’s the comfort level between DJ and him [Biondich].

With them playing together for so long, D.J. no longer has that go-to guy,” Davenport said.

Looking forward to next year, the Titans will have to rebuild in the offseason. Losing seniors who have started at key positions, such as quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and cornerback, the Titans will have to find a new way to continue to build the football program. The probable forerunner for the new offensive system next year includes using Moran as a quarterback in a read-option scheme.

Total Yards

212

115

162

361

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NEWS

SHIFTING

GEARS Over the past few years, Northview has undergone multiple staff changes SALLY PAN, Staff Writer, and MAGGIE XIA, Copy Editor

16 | COVER STORY

D

espite the many recent changes in administration and staff, Northview students’ academic achievements have not wavered.

Northview has consistently ranked in the top three high schools in Georgia for the highest SAT scores in the past four years, surpassing public and private schools alike. With an average SAT score rising over the years, from 1751 in 2011 to 1779 in 2014, students’ test scores demonstrate their academic abilities.

Northview has experienced numerous administrative position changes in the recent years. Vijay Purugulla, new to Northview just last year, has left his position as the assistant principal to be the stem director for the county. Paul Brannon, the past principal, left last year, leaving the opportunity for the former assistant principal Brian Downey to be promoted to become the principal as of this year. Former assistant principal Latoya Miley left her position to become the chief of staff in the superintendent’s office, as has Kibbey Crumbley, who left to become the principal at Centennial High School. Tiffany Butera has also left, as starting the beginning of last year, she moved to fill the part time position as the school’s curriculum director. Amy Booms is new to the assistant principal position this year, and Bill Thompson is serving as the interim assistant principal, but the school is still down two assistant principals.

Northview is not the only school that has experienced administrative changes. In the past five years, Chattahoochee High School has had two assistant principals and two secretaries change positions. Johns Creek High School has a new principal, and a new secretary of two years. Alpharetta High School has had numerous administrative changes, with nine assistant principal and two principal changes.

Principal Brian Downey has voiced his opinions about the recent staff changes at Northview.

“Any time that you deal with change, no matter if it’s large or small, it’s unsettling on some level, and that’s true on a personal level, and that’s true on a school wide level. With change comes uncertainty, and that’s what creates the anxiety,” Downey said.

However, the statistics over the past few years seem to show that Northview is still going strong. Veteran teachers are confident in the school’s ability to move forward.

“I’m really sorry to see the administrators go, because I highly respected the administrators and I thought they were wonderful, but I have faith that our current administrators will be replacements who are just as capable,” math teacher Megan Gloede said.

Similarly, science teacher Jill Tucker is confident that the new administration and new teachers will continue to maintain high academic standards for Northview students.

According to Tucker, Jessica Sampson, a recent addition to the science department, has revitalized the environmental program.

Gloede sees an opportunity to learn from the newest members of the Northview faculty.

“I love working with young teachers because I feel like I can learn so much from them and I get really excited [...]

having the young teachers in here to help me grow and learn as a veteran teacher,” Gloede said. “I like having a diverse age group within the department.”

Lorissa Edwards, who joined the language arts department this year, is adjusting well to the high rigor academic environment of Northview and holds her fellow ELA coworkers and administrators in high regard.

“I love my department and my students. I have been surrounded by supportive colleagues who are all as eager as I am in seeing students achieve great things,” Edwards said.

So many staff and administration changes can pose difficulties, with different policies and teacher evaluation systems, but many new Northview teachers have adapted quickly.

“Since I am a veteran teacher, I am very used to being evaluated, so I am not affected by [new policies] in a negative way. In the event that constructive feedback is given, I will adjust so that the needs of my students can be met,” Edwards said.

Northview students like sophomores Animesh Koratana and Michelle Liu have reacted positively to the recent staff changes, believing that the new teachers bring new ideas and insights to the school that, in turn, improve the learning environment for the students.

“The new teachers at Northview are more adaptable and dynamic in their teaching methods and are able to teach with more energy,” Koratana said. “Older teaching methods sometimes can offer redundant, and [...] unnecessary repetition. I tend to enjoy and learn the most from teachers who give the most meaningful and thought provoking homework. Students are apt enough to recognize whether homework is just a ‘time filler’ or actually helpful... and more times than not, students will actually do the homework they see as worthy.”

Liu appreciates the fresh perspective on learning that the new teachers have brought to Northview.

“Personally, I think it’s helped me learn better because I’m exposed to many other ways of learning,” she said.

Northview students have welcomed new administrators and teachers with open arms and recognize their ability to enhance and refresh their learning experience.

Purugulla was known for his sociability and humor. Senior Puja Tripuraneni, was familiar with him while he worked at Northview.

“He’s intelligent and kind, and as an administrator he was helpful and approachable to a lot of students. He made sure students were on the right path in academics and just in general,” she said.

Though he has left, he will be greatly missed for his guidance and approachability. However, the new assistant principal, Booms, is just as supportive and will definitely fill in his shoes.

“She always greets the students coming in from the senior parking lot and helped me out when I had a parking issue,” Tripuraneni said. “ I’m sure she’ll fit right in as a Northview administrator.”

COVER STORY | the messenger | 17

2011: #6, 1694

*

C H AT ta Hoochee

2

assistant principals

2

SECRETARIES

2012: #9, 1674 STATE RANK AND AVERAGE SAT SCORE

2013: #9, 1667 2014: #7, 1680

2011: <20, 1595 2012: #4, 1729 STATE RANK AND AVERAGE SAT SCORE

2013: #6, 1709 2014: #6, 1991 18 | COVER STORY

JOHNS CREEK

NEW

PRINCIPAL &SECRETARY

*

2011: #8, 1679 2012: #10, 1660 STATE RANK AND AVERAGE SAT SCORE

*

ALPHAR E T TA

2013: #7, 1672

ADMINISTRATIVE C h a n g e s EVERY YEAR

2014: #4, 1704

* NORTHVI EW

8

2011: #3, 1751 2012: #2, 1769 STATE RANK AND AVERAGE SAT SCORE

2013: #1, 1773

ToTAL CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATION

2014: #2, 1779

*

changes made in the past five years COVER STORY | the messenger | 19

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FEATURES

Tied to a Cause

Northview’s Will-to-Live Foundation hits a home run with their bow tie featured in the World Series SARAH JANG, Staff Writer

N

orthview’s Will-to-Live pushes a positive message, aiming to raise awareness of surrounding care and support during both the best and worst of times.

Constantly reaching new milestones, Will-to-Live recently met its widest audience yet: a feature on the national television for viewers of the World Series.

Through a non-profit foundation known as the BowTie Cause, each organization or cause is able to tell its story through its own custom bowtie.

On Facebook, Will-to-Live submitted their own bowtie and entered an online contest to be represented during the World Series. Along with associations including LUNGevity and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the WTL were among the top eight voted bowties, which were worn by sports announcer Ken Rosenthal on live television at the World Series.

“At this year’s World Series, once again, I won’t be pitching or playing, nor will I be in the dugout or the stands. But for the first time in all these years, a part of me will be on Baseball’s greatest stage,” John Trautwein wrote on his Will-to-Live site, having pitched for the Boston Red Sox himself in 1988.

Inspired by John Trautwein’s daughter Holyn and her drawing, Will-to-Live created a bowtie titled “Life’s Teammates.”

“While we were giving Will’s eulogy, all of Will’s high school teammates were in their lacrosse jerseys,” John Trautwein recalled during his interview with Rosenthal. “It hit me that all of these teammates are the best friends in our lives. And if they know that, and if they recognize that, maybe they’ll turn to each other a little more frequently in times of need.”

“Personally, I think that ever since I started with the ‘Love ya man’ phrase and the [idea of having] life teammates, I think it’s good for everyone to realize that everyone is there for each other,” sophomore Lauren Cox said, “and that even if they’re having a bad day, they’ll always have their life teammates, so to say -- they can always depend on someone else to be there and bring them up.”

Following this turning point for the Trautwein family and

the Will-to-Live Foundation, they were also awarded the Community Champion Award of the Month, along with a $5,000 check and live interview in recognition for their great efforts that paid off.

“So many years ago, I dreamed that I was going to be like Tom Seaver – a world series hero to kids everywhere – hopefully making a positive impact on them, just as Tom Seaver did on me,” John Trautwein continued on his post. “That dream is long since gone, but it’s been replaced by a new one.”

FEATURES | the messenger | 21

FEATURES

[

T H IN K ING O U T SID E THEBOX

]

Black Box theater brings a whole new dimension to Northview theatre TARUN RAMESH, Staff Writer

A

dditional space within Northview’s new band building has allowed for the creation of a Black Box Theater found within the old orchestra room. The Black Box Theater is a simple room painted entirely in black that allows the actor to turn their surroundings into anything they see fit. The neutral color does not clash with any costumes, lighting, or scarce set design which helps the actors mold the scene to suit their script.

“This allows the actor to be as creative as he wishes and explore new forms of performing,” sophomore Advanced Production student Shreya Ramineni said. The theater is capable of an innumerable amount of configurations which can be extremely valuable in experimental performances where varieties of staging and seating are imperative.

“There is a fantastic relationship between the performer and the audience […] you cannot hide behind set design not when the audience is right in your face,” Ramineni said.

The Black Box Theater places less stress on technical elements, including set design, lighting and sound, and instead emphasizes a more

22 | FEATURES

intimate writing style to form a connection with the audience. The close proximity to the audience can be scary for the theater’s tech crew.

“It’s a lot more nerve racking, because if you mess up you can’t react to it because you are really close to all the audience members,” said junior Lizzy Newman, lighting director.

However the proximity to the audience can have its perks for the lighting and sound crew. In the auditorium they are usually found within a tech box which is secluded from the rest of the theater while in the Black Box they are sitting in plain sight.

“It’s kind of nice because you can see everything and you can see what your work is looking like,” said Newman.

Similar to the simplistic stage design, the light and sound systems are extremely rudimentary compared to the auditorium’s systems.

“In the real theater we have all cables and all the microphones and all the batteries and all that stuff while in the black box we just have the light and sound board. That’s it,” said Newman.

The new performance space is considerably smaller, accommodating 100 patrons to cooperate with fire code regulations.

“Our normal stage is a Proscenium arch stage which can seat

about 500 people, but the Black Box can seat a hundred people and is now a more intimate house for smaller shows,” senior Amber Scales said.

Scales performed in the fall musical, [title of show], which was the first show to open in the Black Box. With only five cast members in the musical, the smaller theater gave the show a more intimate setting, according to Scales. “[The show] is made for a smaller house so that the audience can really bond with the actors,” Scales said.

The new space also allows students in the Advanced Production class to have an additional room to rehearse in aside from the existing theater.

“I love it,” Scales said. “[Advanced Production teacher and director Paul] McClain can run his own shows on stage while we can have performances in the Black Box.” Many Northview students and teachers are excited to experience the new, unique style of the Black Box. “It is really exciting seeing how Northview is updating styles[…] very few schools have such a dedicated and great program and now the Black Box Theater will make performances even more engaging,” sophomore Aarushi Jain said.

This recent theatrical innovation has its basis in the 1920s when Swiss designer Adolphe Appia spent his life trying to change the relationship between the audience and the performer through the introduction of flexible staging. This design was based on directors switching away from the large separation between performer and audience and instead creating a space where the performers could engage the audience in a more personal degree.

Later in the decade, the first experimental theater was built within the living room of director Gilmore Brown. Unfortunately, this theater did not gain much popularity and Black Box experimentation ceased until the 1960s. Prior to the 1960s, performers were usually shifted between wings of the theater away from the audience, creating a chasm between the audience and performer.

There was little interaction between the two groups which was criticized by a faction that wanted to revert to a more simplistic theater. The original Brown venue was updated to become the first American contemporary Black Box called the Playbox Theater.

Black Box Theater has been adopted by the Fringe theater community as a space that is very versatile and easy to change between performances. The flexibility of the area allows it to be situated in warehouses and cafes.

The Black Box theaters have revolutionized drama at the college level. The inexpensive cost for building and maintaining make it an ideal space for rehearsals or for smaller productions.

The Purnell Center of Arts at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama has one of the most prestigious collegiate drama production in the United States. The school boasts a 140 seat Black Box theater that leads the collegiate drama world in experimental productions. Ramineni hopes that the popularity of the Black Box amongst college theater programs can be attained at Northview.

“It can forge a strong relationship between the audience and the performer that no other contemporary theater can,” Ramineni said.

Making a name for Mcclain TARUN RAMESH, Staff Writer

E

dgar Allen Poe’s Mystery Theater premiered on October 28, 2014 with an all Georgia cast centered around Northview’s theater director Paul McClain as Poe. The premiere investigated Poe’s “bizarre” characteristics.

“The audience is supposed to decide if Poe was a mad man or a true genius,” said sophomore Emma Rowe.

As he paced across the wide stage lecturing about the importance of facial expressions, Northview Drama teacher Paul McClain made a grand first impression on the then freshman Emma Rowe. A year later McClain made another powerful impact on Rowe through his lively performance of Edgar Allen Poe. “It was really weird because I noted and recognized all the facial expressions that he uses when he teaches us so it all came together for me,” Rowe said.

The special emphasizes a melodramatic theatrical performance rather than a realist showcase proven through the extensive usage of a multitude of facial expressions and verbal tricks to communicate a double meaning to the audience.

“Poe used many short stories during the specials time periods to explain the deep feelings he had…

McClain used a variety of methods to get that across to the audience,” Rowe said.

Rowe is excited to learn new techniques to further heighten the connection between audience and performer.

“McClain on television is a whole other medium through which we learn from,” said Rowe.

Language Arts teacher Ashley Ulrich believes that McClain’s performance can have a strong positive influence on his classroom.

“It is an amazing opportunity for someone from our school get recognized on a national scale for his acting talent and the professionalism he brings to the classroom,” Ulrich said.

FEATURES | the messenger | 23

FEATURES

ONE HOUSE AT A TIME Habitat for Humanity committed to community service

SABRINA WILSON, Staff Writer

S

urrounded by large houses and elegant gated communities, it is easy to forget that there are still people who sleep on the streets. They wrap themselves in thin layers; they sleep in the cold and the rain. All these people need is a helping hand to put a roof over their heads. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that believes everyone should have safe, affordable housing.

“Helping people out of homelessness is a really important issue. We’re very privileged to live in this area, but not everyone has the same opportunities as we do. I think it’s important to give back and help those who need help,” sponsor Patricia Rodriguez said.

“Habitat for Humanity is a club where we provide shelter to people without it. We build homes or collect blankets and other essentials that a homeless family would need. We also do volunteer work at soup kitchens and homeless shelters,” senior Oohaa Vennapusa, co-vice president of the club, said.

Northview has been involved with this organization for many years, although they have had some difficulties along the way.

“Northview had a Habitat for Humanity club a few years ago, but unfortunately it disbanded. Eashaa [senior and club president Eashaa Velamuri] wanted to start it up again, so she came to see me to be the sponsor. She’s done a ton of work on it; she goes to all the meetings, she does a lot of research, and worked very hard.

That’s why we were able to start the club again,” Rodriguez said.

Habitat for Humanity sponsors many builds where members volunteer to help build houses around Johns Creek.

“My favorite event was a build I did with my brother. Some people don’t have a roof over their head, or blankets when it’s cold, or food,

24 | FEATURES

and I think it’s important that we provide since we have the time and money to do so,” Vennapusa said.

The club will be sponsoring a Homelessness and Poverty Awareness Week after Thanksgiving Break in order to raise awareness, funds, and essential supplies.

“We’re basically spreading awareness and trying to raise money for people who don’t have blankets or food or other essentials. We’re going to do a jeans drive; if everyone gave a dollar or some old clothes that would help out a lot,” Vennapusa said.

“That’s what the whole awareness week is about - school-wide involvement. It’s a way of letting the whole school know what’s going on out there. [The club] is going to make [posters] and things like that to give everyone an idea of the work Habitat for Humanity does,” Rodriguez said.

“People need to realize how fortunate we are to have a roof over our heads, and we waste so much food on day-to-day occasions. I think we should be more respectful for those who don’t have that, or at least dedicate a little more time to helping those in need,” Vennapusa said.

Although Habitat for Humanity gets a lot of support from students and other members of the community, their goal remains to spread awareness and increase school-wide involvement.

“A lot of people show up for our meetings. They’re interested.

The only hard part is age restrictions on some of the builds, so we’re trying to look for more opportunities [...] I want to do more schoolrelated fundraisers, like a school build,” Vennapusa said.“There is always work to be done. However, I think what we’re doing right now -- building houses -- goes a long way for providing for families. If you just put time into something, you can really make a difference in someone else’s life.”

THE WALK TO SUCCESS

FEATURES

Senior Jaya Prathusha struts into the spotlight to begin her modeling career.

MILIKA DHRU, Staff Writer

S

enior Jaya Prathusha’s charming personality and innate talents allow her to pursue her passion for modeling and beauty pageants. Although she began receiving advertising offers at the age of two, Prathusha’s parents decided to wait a few years before kick starting her modeling career. Her interest sparked again in middle school when she was influenced by the modeling and fashion world.

Prathusha’s journey began two years ago when she started accepting calls from local modeling agencies.

“I don’t work for a single company, I just take offers as they come along,” Prathusha, who recently worked on a modeling project in association with North Point Mall, said. She topped in the talent portion of the competition and now has the opportunity to model for well-known brands like Macy’s and Dillard’s.

Prathusha’s parents have played a significant role in her modeling career. Her mother, Suneetha Rao, described the influence modeling has had on Prathusha. “[Modeling] definitely boosted her self-confidence, sharpened her outspokenness, shed her fear of public speaking, [gave her] incredible strength and courage to face the odds and build outstanding communication skills.” Rao includes how her daughter’s passion for modeling was in-born. “I [firmly believe] that decisions that are [based on] passion from within bring out utmost satisfaction and joy.”

“I like Tyra Banks because she’s really confident and loves herself--I think everyone can learn something from her.”

The two most significant events in Prathusha’s modeling career are the iLink Miss, Teen, and Mrs. India Beauty Pageant and the IACA

Beauty Pageant, which are held by the Indian community of Atlanta.

“These events build stronger personalities for the participants and also allow them to search within themselves to bring out and exhibit inner beauty,” Rao said. iLink’s Miss, Teen, and Mrs. India Beauty Pageant takes place in the form of a statewide summer program that trains young women in our community through the intricacies of grace, talent, and poise. The IACA beauty pageant, which was held this past summer, provides the opportunity for contestants to showcase their talents to a much larger audience while gaining corporate exposure and having the chance to perform at Atlanta area Fortune 500 company events and events organized by different ethnic groups.

Prathusha’s father, Pavan Kumar, explained his perspective on his daughter’s modeling career: “I don’t have any goals for Jaya specifically at this moment until she finishes her graduation in fashion design degree, but [I know] modeling has improved Jaya’s personality, leadership and communication skills to a great level.”

Prathusha idolizes popular television personality, author, producer, actress, and former model Tyra Banks.

“I like Tyra Banks because she’s really confident and loves herself--I think everyone can learn something from her,” said Prathusha, who aspires to pursue a career in fashion design.

“Modeling is mainly just for fun,” she said. “I want to model alongside the activities I’m doing in college.”

FEATURES | the messenger | 25

OPINIONS

HAVE THE

RECENT

ADMINISTRATIVE

CHANGES AFFECTED THE ?

STUDENT BODY

the correlation between the cyclical rotation of administrators and student performance remains unclear.

26 | OPINIONS

yes: ANNIE KONG, Staff Writer

A

dministrators are the ones who decide the consequential aspects of the school system that directly affect our learning and achievement. Our school curriculum, school budget, teacher evaluation, and other substantial aspects of the school are determined by the administrators. They are the foundation of the school; when the foundation is altered, the whole structure is shaken.

Along with the new principal came a fresh policy change: no-homework days. The new policy has notably altered the way students, as well as teachers, work. Teachers shift their quiz and test schedules and, instead of struggling with a pressuring flow of homework, students get one steady day of relief once every month. When the no-homework day comes around the corner, quizzes and tests are squeezed into the later part of the week, to avoid additional home-based work, but students get to relax afterwards.

The effectiveness of a school’s administration is considerably dependent upon the cohesiveness of the staff members. When

new administrators cannot transition smoothly into the administrative staff, it causes tension and strain among teachers, which can then directly affect student performance. Multiple extreme changes, such as a new principal and two new assistant principals in the same year, fray staff cooperation and the sense of community shared in the school. Luckily for Northview, our new principal, a long-time former assistant principal, is a familiar face on campus.

Along with the other changes, there has been an addition of an entirely new position: Dean of Students. Among other responsibilities, she is in charge of implementing a fair discipline policy; in other words, she determines the punishment for those who get in trouble. Depending on the flexibility of honor code policies, which are benchmarked by the Dean of Students, a discipline infraction can dictate a student’s entire academic future.

Administrators are not robots, they are people—unique and all with different ideas. Realizing this, it is evident that change, directly brought by new administrators, is inevitable.

no:

PARNIA VAGHEF, Staff Writer

N

orthview has repeatedly expanded the boundaries of expectation with all of its accomplishments throughout the years. From Beta’s stress awareness week to the flawlessly executed, annual homecoming dance, to the miraculous SAT and ACT scores we reel in year after year, there is no doubt Northview is capable of brilliance. None of these accomplishments would have been achieved if it were not for our remarkable student body.

In the recent years there have been many administration changes, but with these alterations one thing has yet to change: the excellence of our students. We continue to reap the outstanding scores that Northview is known for, we are still creating programs to better the academic environment for everyone, and we are still progressing as a student body everyday. No occasional shift in our administration will change that.

The new administrators, concerned with general aspects of the school, such as the choosing the curriculum and conducting teacher evaluations, are more responsible for maintaining the structure of our school rather than improving upon it. Even the administrators themselves realize how miniscule of an impact, if any, the administrators have on the students.

Our teachers, who are directly interacting with the students in

the classroom setting on a daily basis, have a significantly greater impact than the administrators that tend to work in isolated offices throughout most of the day. Our teachers, who continuously inspire our students to strive to better themselves, encourage us to smash the records that have been set before us.

The only aspect of the recent changes that could have a marginal impact on students’ daily life lies in the counseling department. With long-time counselor Steve Creel leaving us, as of this new school year, students who built a strong relationship with him over the years, especially seniors, will have to rebuild one with the counselor that has taken his place, Letitia Graham. Although this may seem like an inconvenience for those of us who need strong letters of recommendation, the degree to which this affects the students in the grand scheme of things is quite miniscule.

Other than the monthly no-homework days that were implemented by the administration as of this year, there have not been many other tangible changes to the academic life of the student body.

With the active schedules of our overachieving students, it is no surprise that we remain indifferent to the trivial effects of the inevitable administration changes.

OPINIONS | the messenger | 27

OPINIONS

THE Student ATHLETIC DOUBLE STANDARD athletes’ careers come at a cost

RAMEEN FORGHANI, Sports Editor

S

ports and academics do not commonly go together. Although we refuse to believe it, they often hold conflicting views. We live in a society where political correctness and participation awards are the norm. As more pressure is put on schools to do the right thing, and student athletes to serve as role models, the line between school and home becomes finer. The school handbooks are filling with disciplinary procedures about what to do if a student commits a crime off-campus. With a legal system to fight crime outside of the school system already in place, it is completely unnecessary for schools to regulate students’ out-of-school activities.

Sharing many of the same discipline policies, Northview’s athletic department serves as a microcosm of the NFL. With the same protocols, such as a personal conduct policy and a clause granting the commissioner supreme power to discipline members of the league acting in a manner detrimental to the league, the NFL also makes it a habit to insert itself into its players’ off-field lives. Take the case of Adrian Peterson. At the start of the 2014 football season, he was accused of, and charged with, assaulting his child after evidence showed that he beat his child with a switch, leaving marks over the child’s body. The NFL decided to place Peterson on the exempt list, paying him while he was barred to play. Upon the resolution of his case, commissioner Roger Goddell decided to ban Peterson for the rest of the 2014 football season without pay until he can prove his remorse through a twostep counseling program.

Similarly, Northview has dealt with off-campus violence issues itself. Northview student-athlete Keewan Williams was expelled from the school and consequently barred from participation in the sports he played: football and wrestling. After pushing head coach Chad Davenport on the sidelines of a football game versus Chattahoochee High School, Williams not only had disciplinary action taken against

28 | OPINIONS

him by the school, but also by the criminal justice system.

In this unfortunate situation, Williams was punished by both the school and the legal system, creating an unfair instance of double jeopardy. The right against getting tried for the same crime multiple times was one of the fundamental liberties granted to us by our Founding Fathers. However, this is not the extent of the school’s infringement in our out-of-school lives. For example, pursuant to policy in the Fulton County Student Handbook, one that both students and parents have to sign at the beginning of the school year, states that students may be disciplined for out-of-school crimes, including, but not limited to, suspension, expulsion, or forcing attendance to an alternative school.

Evidently, the NFL and our school systems operate in the same ways. They both enjoy wielding power, giving themselves the right to supercede the criminal justice system and freely discipline any student as they feel fit. If anything, using a player’s tribulations at inopportune times to make an example improves the schools public image at the cost of the student’s academic and athletic future.

S t a f f

I

e d i t o r i a l

On the brink of religious war

t was early morning at the Kehilat Bnai Torah synagogue in Jerusalem on Tuesday, November 18, when two Palestinian men attacked the congregation.

Wielding knives, axes, and a gun, the assailants murdered four men and injured several others. Two police officers were also wounded; one later died from his injuries.

Jews around the world mourned the loss of the victims, three of whom were rabbis and dual AmericanIsraeli citizens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Obama, and Pope Francis all issued statements in regard to the tragedy. Yet, in Gaza and the West Bank, some Palestinians reacted differently.

There were seven casualties total—including the attackers, who were killed by police. A holy place was desecrated, and in a holy city. Eyewitnesses described prayer books and synagogue walls covered in blood; the victims were wearing traditional prayer shawls when they were killed.

The scene was horrific. The tragedy was unspeakable. And while the rest of the nation and world was grieving the losses of innocent civilians at prayer, some Palestinian citizens took to the streets to celebrate. Seven families had one less loved one at home that night-but somehow, a terrifying and fatal attack was viewed as a religious victory instead.

It is hard to describe what happened that morning. A victory, however, is definitely not the correct description.

There have been plenty of occasions of violence stemming from both sides in the past few months.

This past summer, multiple bombings occurred in Gaza, with several attempted bombings happening in Israel. Israel recently reinstated their security policy of demolishing homes as a counterterrorism measure after a Palestinian driver hit and killed a baby and young woman. The policy is controversial, with the main debate being whether or not the effects of demolishing homes as a safety precaution is worth the destruction.

In Israel, both sides of the conflict live in fear. Jews worry about violence caused by Palestinians; Palestinians worry about violence in retaliation by Jews. The recent tragedy was the most violent attack in Jerusalem

since 2008, and the violence is continuing to escalate.

There seems to be no end in sight.

Living in a country with religious freedom, reading and hearing about this conflict is difficult to process.

In America, we have the ability to practice our religion freely. The two most prominent religions in Israel and Gaza are Judaism and Islam—both of which have spent centuries, fighting for their right to voice their religious beliefs without fear of persecution or restrictions. And yet, the two sides now seem to be turning on each other and doing exactly what they have each feared would happen to them for so long. It is illogical and tragic that a conflict such as this would occur, especially one that stems from so many years of both Jews and Muslims experiencing prejudice and hatred.

The conflict is really fueled by the fight over the right to pray in place that both religions hold dear. In Jerusalem, Jews and Muslims have long disputed over the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.

While the fighting originates from this region, the persecution has spread outside of the Middle East.

Even though we live in a country with the right to religious freedom, there are still plenty of widespread stereotypes regarding American citizens who practice Islam. Others are fearful, too: Jews in the Atlanta area were shaken when the FBI issued a warning to the MJCCA (Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta) after finding bomb materials nearby. The warning was given the same day as the attack in Jerusalem.

As violence continues to escalate in Israel, the country is on the brink of religious war. Citizens who practice both religions are living in fear. Peace is improbable.

The only way to attain peace in this area is for both sides to become accepting of each other. Without a peace offering, the casualties and injuries spurring from hatred and discrimination will only continue to grow.

Maybe the area is close to achieving peace. Maybe the citizens will not have to live in fear for much longer.

But until the two sides can attempt to become peaceful together, there will be no end in sight.

OPINIONS | the messenger | 29

MUSIC

CONNIE XU, Design Editor

EASHAA VELAMURI, Staff Writer

T

he Hunger Games : Mockingjay, Part 1 released on November 21st based of the last book of the Hunger Games series and as the third installment of the film franchise. The album echoes the gloomy themes of the movie. Of the fourteen artists that are featured on the album, eleven are female.

Lorde who has an incredible single “Yellow Flicker Beat” is featured on four of the fourteen tracks.

HASHEMI SHIREEN

MOVIE

FASHION A

s the fall season comes to a close, the cooler air brings a shift away from the earth tones that represent the October and November months. Blues, greys, and blacks tend to dominate this transitional color scheme. Minimalist winter streetwear styles incorporate this combination well with sleek and functional pieces, with a focus on shoes and outerwear. Complete a modern look with technical sneakers, dulled pants, and solid-colored outerwear. Or, for a retro-inspired outfit, use jerseys, boxy sweatshirts, vintage sports apparel, bold outerwear, and simple sneakers.

SHIREEN HASHEMI

T

aylor Swift’s new album 1989 has just hit two million sales. Swift described her fifth studio album as her “first documented official pop album”.

One of the most catchy songs on the album is “Blank Space” with its catchy hooks and uptempo beats. The music video for it came out for it in earlier this month and was Swift’s idea. In the video, Swift mocks how the media perceives her as a serial dater. It’s entertaining and shows a different side of Swift, a musical approach that is she carrying on from her album.

01. H&M JerseyShirt, Madewell Jeans, Low Converse AllStars 02. Thrifted Color-

block Coat, J.Crew Oxford-Collared Button-Down, H&M Boyfriend Jeans, Low Converse All-Stars

ALBUM

03. Olive Fishtail Parka, Poolhouse Jersey -Shirt, H&M Velvet Sneakers

I

HIGHLIGHT

n this month’s highlight of the month, Daniel Radcliffe, known for his role as Harry Potter,shows off his musical ability by rapping “Alphabet Aerobics” by Blackalicious as Jimmy Fallon dances hilariously in the background.

Blackalicious is known for its multi-syballic and complex songs. The fast paced song is notoriously difficult to rap completely, but Radcliffe does it perfectly. If you are looking for a video that will keep you laughing during finals week, this is the one to go to.

THROWBACK 01.

Led Zeppelin officially releases untitled fourth studio album, the fourth best-selling album of all time, on November 8, 1971.

Genre: Hard rock, Heavy Metal, Rock and Roll

02.

Michael Jackson releases the classic “Thriller” on November 12, 1983.

Genre: Disco, funk

03.

Destiny’s Child released their fourth and final studio album Destiny Fulfilled on November 10, 2004.

Genre: R&B

30 | OPINIONS

ANDREW TEODORESCU 01. J. Crew

Heathered Hoodie, H&M Slim Chinos, Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+ Sneakers

02. Nike ACG Anorak, A.P.C. Petite Standard Jeans, Vans Old Skool Shoes 03. Thrifted Sweatshirt, H&M Slim Chinos, New Balance M990BD Sneakers

Comments: LOyalty to royalties Streaming services and Internet piracy jeopardize the entire music industry ANDREW TEODORESCU, Columnist

F

ollowing the release of her new album, one of the biggest names in pop music, Taylor Swift, made a bold business move in early November by choosing to remove her music from the popular streaming service Spotify. While other popular artists usually refrain from streaming their new albums for a few months following release, Swift, claiming that she received less than one-twelfth of her expected six million dollar payout from Spotify, is the first major artist to decisively end her ties with the company. This sudden break from the norm of streamdependence brings the shaky structure of the entire music industry into question. The music industry is no longer dependent on the relationship between artist and listener; with the introduction of the Internet, we struggle to find the balance between the roles of the artist, record labels, streaming and distribution services, and the consumer.

The Internet provides a sort of twisted duality. While new artists can spread their work quicker and easier, the piracy of their work has also become quicker and easier. This rise of piracy has attacked all types of media: movies, television shows, books. Music, like other media, is an art with both downloadable and physical copies. However, music is the only form of media where the majority of people have no preference of the physical copy over the downloadable copy. While people are content with paying for a movie ticket, a cable subscription, or for a physical copy of a book rather than having a downloadable copy, the same does not apply to music.

Vinyl records and CDs are nowhere near extinction, but they are undoubtedly far surpassed in sales by music downloads. Although select artists give other items included in the sale of their physical albums, such as free posters, many consumers prefer the convenience of simply downloading music. And they are right to have that belief.

The problem arises in the convenience of illegally downloading music.

Surprisingly, most Internet providers, with the exception of Comcast, do not warn, punish, or prosecute their customers for torrenting or downloading from sharing sites. Illegal downloading and torrenting sites are so widely available, accessible, and easy to use that congressional legislation has even been introduced to end it. The SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (PROTECT IP Act) bills, proposed in early 2012, attempted to give permission to the government to strictly regulate online piracy but fell hard to the protests of the general public and never were passed for multiple reasons. Firstly, the bills were vaguely worded and could have allowed government probing into the Internet privacy of the non-threatening users; thankfully, we currently have the NSA fulfilling that role. Secondly, almost half of all Americans casually pirate media online on a regular basis, so the advocation for the removal of their host sites would be detrimental

to their sweet, sweet moral wrongdoings. Finally, Americans love their freedom and privacy more than the welfare of capitalism itself.

The greatest issue in music piracy is not necessarily that it’s morally wrong to steal from others, it’s that it offsets the natural balance of the music industry. Since most artists need the assistance of a record label, they are obliged to serve the interests of their partnership. Specifically, record labels demands sales and numbers that are based on the inputoutput value of their investments. If a rising, newly-signed artist plans on releasing their debut album through their label, the label has definite expectations that are make-or-break for the artist’s career. Even if the album only has 1,000 sales within its first week of release, but 10,000 illegal downloads, the record label only looks at the legitimate sales. This causes an imbalance in the demand for music. The record label might drop an artist from a temporary contract because of poor performance in sales when, in actuality, the demand for an artist is much higher than direct sales.

Although the actual impact that media piracy has on the American economy is rather vague, the true impact falls on the future of an artist’s career. Fans that illegally download music create a self-destructive pattern for the fate of their favorite rising artists. The artist may get dropped from his record label, limiting his ability to make music in the future by restricting availability to recording equipment, business connections, producers, and collaboration efforts.

Music streaming services, and Spotify in particular, are the new compromise between the greediness of record labels and the greediness of consumers. Although streaming services may seem like a fair trade between piracy and purchases, these services must also respect the value of music, too. As seen in Taylor Swift’s latest revolt against streaming, her and Spotify are probably never, ever getting back together.

Ultimately, if you are either paying for downloadable music in some form or listening to advertisements periodically, you are probably getting your music legally. Unfortunately, without tight government provision, the protection of intellectual property rights—in English, the ability to own a form of media—is left up to the moral good of consumers. Capitalism will eventually find the natural balance between the artist’s willingness to produce, the record label’s willingness to finance, the streaming services’ willingness to reasonably pay royalty rights, and the consumer’s willingness to pay for music. At the moment however, Taylor Swift’s latest move seems to foreshadow that the interests of all parties involved are diverging. Until consumers accept music as a legitimate art form that should be paid for, the music industry will continue it’s revolt.

OPINIONS | the messenger | 31

For the best teachers, the best learning environment, and the best results CLASSES OFFERED

Math and English classes for all levels Intensive SAT, PSAT, and ACT classes Competition math classes (AMC, AIME, ARML, etc.)

Remote live class session available (new)

PROGRAM BENEFITS

CONTACT US (404) 388-6303

10475 Medlock Bridge Rd, Suite 505 Johns Creek, GA 30097 Email us at teacher@alltopschool.com

Multimedia, high-tech, interactive teaching environment Instant feedback, dynamic online homework system Over 500 students enrolled in program Strategies and tactics proven to increase test-taking skills High rates of winning top three places in the last several yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; national competitions, including AMC 10/12 and Mathcounts. High rates of perfect scores on the SAT.

TEACHER PROFILES Math teacher: Main instructor Dr. Chen, Math Ph.D. Five years of experience as university professor in China China Mathematics Olympiad coach Over 15 years of experience teaching math in the U.S.

English teachers: Honors and AP Language Arts teachers from local high-ranking high schools

NOW HIRING English teachers and teaching assistance

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