The Northridge Reporter April 2016

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406

est. 2003

the April 30, 2016

north rid ge

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The student voice of Northridge High School

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 7

Physics student makes difference in lives of others

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he fourth period bell has just rung, and students file into the lab, talking and taking their seats. But this isn’t a normal class. While waiting for the final students to enter, Brian Binion McCoy, senior, describes the day’s lesson. “[We’ll be] talking about distance, time and velocity,” the AP Physics student says.

“A lot of visual stuff. We’re gonna use some rulers, do some hands-on stuff, and use video. Balancing chemical equations.

Now they’re getting into the physics part of physical science, which is probably my favorite,” he says with a smile.

This is McCoy’s second time to teach Dr. Victoria Evans’ fourth-period physical science class - a class which “consists of students with very different backgrounds and experiences than those in third period AP Physics,” Evans, who requested to be interviewed by email, said.

“Many of them are very smart and bring a lot of knowledge to the table. However, many have been plagued by relatively low expectations and little consistent structure.

Sure, there are bad choices being made daily by some students. But that is only part of the larger picture,” she said.

Evans said Brian was inspired to teach by a former Northridge student, who shared with the AP Physics class her own story of overcoming drug addiction.

“One day when Brian was saying how much he enjoyed Kaley Price (NHS alum and friend) coming and sharing her story with third period AP Physics, the conversation moved into me saying I wish I could get more students motivated to set long-term goals and work hard in fourth period,” she said. “We talked about issues in education, since Brian is considering a career as a science educator. Then Brian offered to come talk to fourth period! To share his own story, and to try to connect with some kids in that class. I took that offer very seriously, and we planned it! We both agreed that if he reached just one or two students, that could make a huge difference for those kids - so it was a worthwhile expenditure of time and energy.”

Today is McCoy’s second time to teach the class, but he’s already spoken before, sharing his personal testimony of the struggles he and his family have faced.

“I know that in education, there’s a dis-

parity between white and black people, and those who come from a lower social class.

I’m both of those. I come from a family of five boys, and my mother and father instilled in me the importance of education.

The obstacles were very visible.

“This is my second time teaching the class, but before that, I talked to the class and told them my story and my opinion on their situation,” he said. “I told them that at some point in time, you have to say, ‘This bad cycle ends now, and something good begins here.’ I told them that opportunity comes from having the chance to fail. You seize the opportunity, and you don’t care if they don’t look like you.”

When asked which figures inspire him, McCoy paused for a moment.

“That’s a lot of people,” he says. “My mom and dad, Dr. Evans...those people care for other people. Social activists - I personally admire Fredrick Douglass. Even though everyone tried to deny him that higher education, he persevered.”

McCoy said his biggest struggle in teaching is his “closeness in age” to the students.

“I don’t want to have this sense of ‘I’m your superior.’ But at the same time, I want them to know, ‘I’m here to help you; I’m here to mentor you.’ [But my] biggest success - them coming in and saying, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ I’m a memorable face, and some of the things I’ve said probably stuck.

They’ve probably never heard this stuff before, and they’re hearing it from someone who looks like them,” he said.

As McCoy begins his lesson on distance, time and velocity, Evans stands in the background, occasionally whispering advice to him as the class eagerly responds to his queries. According to Evans, McCoy’s speaking abilities have increased “quite a bit!” since he began teaching.

“He is learning to anticipate questions, wait patiently to give students time to think and respond, and to have a good sense of timing - also not to assume anything,” she said. “Still, he is a natural.

“The most successful [aspect of him teaching] - as far as what can be immediately observed - is the interest that some students in fourth period have regarding this collaboration. They tend to really pay attention when Brian is talking, and they ask about Brian often when he isn’t there.

Some of them really appreciate an older black student pointing out that AP classes

Physics fun Brian Binion McCoy, senior, helps students in Dr. Victoria’s fourth-period physical science class with an outdoor lab examining distance, time and velocity (above). McCoy answers a question from a class member on the bellringer lesson he is teaching (right).

Photos by James Niiler

are not just for white kids.

“Brian has a gentle way and a nice sense of humor, and he is very straightforward with students about working towards goals.

Students realize and appreciate that Brian is spending some of his time with them, which means a lot. It is also successful for some of these students to see a situation where a teacher and a student are working together with shared vision to help them achieve,” she said.

McCoy’s students appear to agree with Evans’ assessment of his skills.

“I feel like he’s a good teacher. He works at a steady and slow pace,” Ladenya Nolan, sophomore, said. “Yes, I think he’d be good at being a teacher. He makes sure everybody’s got it. He asks if we have questions at the end, if everyone needs help still.”

“I like that he takes his time, and he comprehends things,” said Nick Henry, sophomore. “I learned how to do [a lot of ] science things, like physics and measuring things, and things like that. [He’s] the same

AT A GLANCE batman v. superman zpage page 8 8om-

softball page 11

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as a teacher.”

Evans said that thanks to Brian’s efforts, the students are starting to believe they can be “agents of change in their own lives.”

“Forming the idea of ‘good student’ as part of your identity can be unbelievably hard for some people. Having Brian come in to speak with and to teach the class has a subtle but yet very real impact. Students start to be able to see themselves setting goals, working hard, and taking advantage of educational opportunities which are available,” she said. “Some of these students have stopped playing so much, and have stopped being so angry about my high expectations for both behavior and academics. I really do credit Brian for helping a lot with that.”

McCoy himself says he simply wants to “make a difference.”

“Through it all, it’s how much you want it,” he said. “And you can’t let labels others put on you stop you from what you were put on this earth to do.”

Sometimes we gotta go through a little storm to see a good sunshine.

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JAMES NIILER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ZEY JACKSON, SENIOR

See story on pages 6-7

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opinion

The Northridge Reporter APRIL 30, 2016

senioritis!

Student dismayed by struggle of senior year

JORDAN HUTCHINSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

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enior year. The last hurrah. The home stretch.

It is my last semester of high school and it is different to every other semester in one way: it is so slow. High school has flown by and freshman year seems like it was just yesterday. However, my last semester could not go any slower. It has been a slow crawl to the finish line and it is almost unbearable.

Getting up in the morning is an immense struggle. I usually find myself staring at the ceiling when I wake up and audibly say, “Nope.” Days get harder and harder as the year progresses. The more I hear about college the more I want to go. Motivation gets harder and harder to find. You will ask yourself every day, “Why am I here?”

The important thing to note is that colleges and universities have the right to rescind your acceptance to their institution. If you have a scholarship, they can take that away too. That’s the only thing that motivates me every day: I was accepted and given a scholarship by my dream school, and the fact that I could lose the opportunity of a lifetime scares me into doing my work. I have to succeed: failure is not an option, because failure means staying home.

Although I love my parents dearly and appreciate all they have done for me, staying home for another four years is not very appealing to me, hence the reason why I chose to study out of state. So, to all you juniors already feeling an early dose of senioritis, and to all you wide-eyed freshmen that still have a pure heart that are ready to work, get ready. Senioritis is real. For all underclassmen reading this column, get your GPA up while you still can, because eventually you will feel like that test tomorrow is not as important as it would have been last year. More homework assignments are left blank in your binder. You will find yourself getting sleepier and more bored in important classes. Basically, once you get to your last semester, everything becomes harder to do.

Once I got a taste of college, I could not go back to high school without looking at it minus the rose-colored glasses. After being accepted to Morehouse College and deciding that is where I want to spend my undergraduate education, I just want to leave high school and start a new chapter in my life.

Art by Rebecca Han

our thoughts It’s a good thing for students to function as a support system

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hen our classmates lose their parents; when we lose a classmate and friend; and when some of us go through hard times, teams, clubs and students band together to support and uplift each other. You never know when the person right next to you could be going through some of these hardships, so it is always a good thing to be ready to embrace and love others.

In times of crisis, we as a staff feel confident that there are people in the school to help us. We feel that as a student body, we should all be there for one another, and for the most part, we are. Whether it is our classmate, friend, teammate, teacher, counselor or coach, there is always someone to talk to and help us through hard times. We should come together and be there for one another regardless of our races, opinions and other differences.

We can be there for each other by lifting each other

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up when we’re down. It does not take much to be there for someone: sometimes it is simply just asking someone how their day was, or how they are feeling. We should be a support system for each other, a community of people devoted to ensuring everyone’s well-being. The solidarity and power of a community can help us prevail over adverse circumstances, because it is when we are together that we are our best.

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Want to submit YOUR letter to the editor? Stop by room 109, or contact one of our editors or Mrs. Lane!

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est. 2003

the north rid g e reporter The student voice of Northridge High School

Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295 Managing Editor Rebecca Griesbach Feature Editor Rebecca Griesbach Sports Editor Camri Mason Business Editor Sumona Gupta

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Opinion disclaimer: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or administration of Northridge High School or the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education.

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Copy Editor Thomas Mullins Asst. Copy Editor Will Henson Art Editor Rebecca Han Head Photographer Camri Mason Letters to the editor: It is the policy of The Northridge Reporter to publish all non-obscene, non-libelous, signed letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion expressed in them. Submit letters to Rhonda Lane in room 109 or email to rlane@tusc.k12.al.us.

The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations. The newspaper is distributed monthly.

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3 Mass shootings sadly not rare opinion

The Northridge Reporter APRIl 30, 2016

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s everyone knows, on Friday, Mar. 25 the school got wind of a bomb threat in the bathroom saying that someone was going to blow up the “skool” at 10:14. The school went on a lockdown for roughly an hour.

The school was never bombed, and the person responsible has yet to be identified, but frankly, whether the person wanted to be stupid, get out of a class, or whatever, this was not funny, especially since it occurred two days after the Brussels attacks.

Most of the student body probably took it very lightly. But those of us who didn’t know during the lockdown that it was for a bomb threat, the procedure might have triggered the serious thought of a school shooting.

The shootings that happened at Columbine High School and Sandy Hook Elementary have made me think about how possible it is that the same could happen anywhere else, including the schools in our community. While many were not given large coverage, there were 64 school shootings in the U.S. in 2015, according to the BBC. And to add to that, there have already been 15 school shootings this year.

What makes this even more concerning is the amount of mass shootings we have per

year. Many people believe that mass shoot- lock that stuff up and keep it away from ings are rare and they that politicians and children.” the media are exaggerating these occurMaybe I am wrong, but to me this seems rences; however, this simply isn’t true. like a major design flaw. This will make a According to Mass Shooting Tracker - a killing machine practically invisible. program that catalogues mass shootings in I do have to ask the question, Why is it America - there were 372 mass shootings that we are the only developed nation with in 2015 alone, and there a high rate of mass shootare only 365 days in a year. ings? How is it that we And if these numbers are have mass shootings on a not making you realize regular basis, but the last how serious just school mass shooting in Austrashootings alone are, I’m lia was in 1996? What is it not even done yet. that the rest of the world Towards the end of last is doing that we are not? month, Ideal Conceal, It seems to be the due to a a Minnesota company, lack of gun control. anounced they had created There is something I a fold-up pistol that looks should make clear: I do WILL MCLELLAND like a smartphone. This is not want to take your STAFF WRITER only making the shooter’s guns, and I don’t have job easier. The company any clear solutions to this actually said that it “will be virtually un- problem, but being a curious and cautious detectable because it hides in plain sight.” person, I have done research. In America, Many Americans know that we have a the words ‘gun control’ seem to be dangerhistory of children taking firearms and kill- ous, but let’s question this. ing people, but the company reassured its Take a look at our neighbor, Canada. costumers with this statement: “So if you Many guns are perfectly legal in Canada, have a pistol and you have children any- but their licensing program is much stricter where near you, it’s your responsibility to than ours. According to Business Insider,

“It takes sixty days to buy a gun there, and there is mandatory licensing for gun owners. Gun owners pursuing a license must have third-party references, take a safety training course and pass a background check with a focus on mental, criminal and addiction histories.” As a result, they’re gun homicide rate is much lower than ours. Of the murders in Canada, 31 percent is related to gun violence, compared to our 60 percent for the U.S. For those who disagree with these numbers or feel like I am attacking you, I promise I am not. There are only two things I am trying to do here. One is to show you my research, and to see what you think of it.

The other is to emphasize that this is a serious issue. There may be a day that comes where we are on lockdown for an active shooter in the building instead of a stupid bomb threat.

I have spoken with school administrators, and they are very confident in their new training to address these problems.

But they are also well aware that a horrifying event is a possibility. All I have to say it that we should be very concerned that these acts have almost become the norm in America.

Photo illustration by Fatema Dhondia

A freshman’s perspective on staying positive

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chool. It is not always the place you you have tests or essays due, try to take some want to be, especially when you know time for yourself. Go for a walk. Listen to you are really close to the end. some music or do something you love. Try It can be fun, but also intimidating. But not to procrastinate on essays or anything you have to stay positive during school the that is due soon. That will only cause more last few months you have left. You have stress. Of course, you will not be able to do to try to make the most out of these last these things during school before you take few months. Try to spend time with your a test or have a presentation, so try to find a friends, because you may not see them way to keep yourself calm. during the summer.

What also works for me is to think about But that does not mean you should stop something nice or take a few big breaths doing any schoolwork and let your grades before I start. You should try to make time suffer because that will do no good. The for yourself every day—not just do homelast few months also mean that this will work. Go out and spend time with friends be one less year before you and family. Reward yourself. graduate and move on.

Give yourself treats or breaks For seniors, this is your when you are working on last year. The four years things. For example, when you have in high school you are studying for a test and will never come back, so you have to read, try to give you want to have some yourself five minute breaks good memories to think and give rewards for every about years later. You do chapter or paragraph you not want to remember read, like candy or ice cream. your high school years as Also, try not to look at only studying. Try to have your phone every time you FATEMA DHONDIA fun in the years you have work. Look at your phone STAFF WRITER left and make some great during one of your breaks. memories to remember.

You should try to do your You have to try to stay optimistic during work immediately when you come home school. First of all, you need to start your and not wait too long before you start; not day with a positive attitude. Then you only will you have time to do fun things will be a lot happier during school. Look in the evening but this will also help you forward to the fun things you will get to because everything you learned will still be do even if it is as simple as meeting your in your head. Keep a goal for yourself and friends. I always listen to music in the work towards it. Your goal can be as simple morning, and it makes me a lot happier as graduation or something else. When you than just waking up and doing my work. finally reach your goal you will be happy, You also should not be stressed during and trying to reach your goal will keep you the school year. If you are stressed because motivated to go and reach it.

Photo from Tribune News Service

Brussels attack reaffirms horrors of ISIS

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n Mar. 13, Brussels, Belgium part.

This attack, just as the others, are a experienced three sporadic despicable inglorious stain on human terrorist bombings: two in the culture. airport and one in a nearby metro station.

Why not bond with people to show The first bombings happened at 7:58 p.m. and 9:11 p.m. in the international them that your ways are what they want to live their life, but instead departure hall within the you insist to kill people.

Airport of Zaventem.

As a person who has Once again, infamous a heart, this is just an terrorist organization ISIS unacceptable way of doing took claim for these brutal things. attacks.

Can we all just get along?

These attacks are only As these days go by and four months after the the unanswered responses attacks in Paris which to these attacks continue killed 130 people. to be silent.

The Islamic State of I really ponder what’s Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a next for this terrorist terrorist group originating organization. in the Middle East for CEDRIC BROWN They have done too one goal: serving their STAFF WRITER much damage and leave it conception of Allah until and the world in sorrow he returns.

Back in the December issue, I referred to mourning the loss of loved their ones.

It’s sad to see our own mankind witness ISIS as “self-proclaimed saviors,” and how they need to save themselves before their these things first hand and want to be able to do something about it but just can’t. inevitable destruction.

Things like this is why I constantly Even today, this disgraceful group of bloodthirsty terrorists insist on killing the question the state of our world.

For the people in Belgium and Paris, the innocent to get their point across to people.

How exactly does that get your point aggravation of these events must have filled you with anger and given you a want to do across?

Going by their logic, killing a widespread something about it.

Be peaceful until your time comes. This amount of people is supposed to have people turn to their side and follow them? disgraceful group will eventually have their day of self-destruction and when they do, No. the world will have a day of peace as it has This does not persuade anyone!

To kill others because they do not believe long waited for. how you do does not show good on your

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news

The Northridge Reporter April 30, 2016

Second annual ‘ACT bootcamp’ aids test takers’ scores

On Apr. 6-7, Cambridge University held an ACT (American College Testing) “boot camp” in the school auditorium to help students improve their ACT scores.

Principal Kyle Ferguson said he found this boot camp to be very beneficial to students trying to increase their ACT score.

“Last year when we offered this boot camp, I got positive feedback from students and parents so we decided to get it again this year. This boot camp promises at least a three- to four-point score increase, so for some students who are sitting at a 27, 28, or 29, this is very crucial for them,” Ferguson said.

Assistant Principal Sherri Shuttlesworth said the boot camp helps students learn ACT test-taking strategies.

“It’s like a jump-start; it gets students excited and it helps them realize how important this test actually is. They can learn useful strategies and ask essential questions about the test. They should leave the boot camp feeling more confident about themselves and the test,” Shuttlesworth said.

Junior Helen Chwe said the boot camp was very useful because she gained some valuable strategies about time-management and guessing.

“He showed us how to eliminate incorrect answers and choose between the remaining answer choices within very little time. That is going to help me spend less time on each question and ultimately get more right answers within the time allotted, so hopefully I will get a higher score,” Chwe said.

Junior Shardasia Kennedy said she liked the boot camp, but it was too long.

“I’ve never taken the ACT before, so I got some good strategies on time-management and how to answer questions I know nothing about. The only bad thing I have to say is that it was really long. Towards the end, I was getting tired of sitting there for three hours,” Kennedy said.

Junior Runa King said she thought the overall strategies and tips were helpful but

buzz!

the boot camp lacked depth towards the actual concepts presented in the ACT. “The overall strategies and general tips presented were nice, but I don’t think the presenter budgeted his time very well. He spent too much time on the reading and very less time on the other sections. We have a very strong English department but I feel like we struggle in math, so I wish he would’ve spent more time on the math section,” King said.

Sophomore Mary Katherine Winfield said she participated in the boot camp because she heard from people who attended it last year that their score increased three points.

“My friends who went to the boot camp last year had good results come out of it, so I am really hoping it will help me,” Winfield said. “The best tip he gave me was to do what interests me first. Like if I happen to run out of time, I should run out of time on things I don’t like or don’t know how to do. I gained a lot of helpful tips and confidence about taking the test after I went to the boot camp.”

Art by Riley Thomas Ferguson said that despite the huge price of the boot camp, it was definitely worth it ¡viva! Riley Thomas, junior, submitted the above artwork for competition at the annual convention of the Federation of Alabama Spanish Clubs, held this year on April 8. to see his students benefit from it.

“The price of this boot camp for two days was $8000. It’s expensive but if it helps at least one student go from a 29 to 30, then it’s definitely worth it. We want to see our students do the best of their abilities,” Ferguson said. amsetty.

SETH CUNNINGHAM The costumes tend to be a favorite VIDEO EDITOR among convention participants. “The part I I’ve never taken the ACT before, ¡La convención de español es aquí otra vez! look forward to the most was seeing all the so I got some good strategies on The yearly Spanish convention returned costumes,” said Brooking.

The theatre section of the Spanish conthis year at the University of Alabama’s time-management and how to vention was also very popular, having an Ferguson Center on April 8. answer questions I know nothing “Spanish convention is a competition interactive portion where “the actors get about. The only bad thing I have with schools from across the state covering the audience to chant ‘sacrifice!’ for an Azareas such as grammar, vocab, verb, talent, tec reenactment,” said art competitor, juto say is that it was really long. art, music, and lots of others,” said Spanish nior Riley Thomas.

Meeting other students who loved Spanteacher Rebecca Brooking.

Although the Spanish Honor Society ish was also a pivotal part of the Spanish didn’t do so well at this year’s convention, convention experience.

SHARDASIA KENNEDY, “We had a great time and got to meet they are still hopeful for next year. “We JUNIOR didn’t win any competitions, which is kind people from all over the state who enjoyed of sad, but next year we will do better!” said Spanish also,” said Brooking.

The Spanish sight reading team, juniors junior vocab competitor Sue Peramsetty.

The society members did get to immerse Emma Bradford and Helen Chwe, shared themselves in the culture, however. “The Brooking’s excitement with meeting other experience was great fun to hang out and people who are enthusiastic about Spanish.

“Waiting in the line for my competitions see the culture at the convention,” said juwas really cool because we were all crowded nior Courtney Mobbs.

“The art was really nice, and the music in a little room and we got to be able to was great. The costumes were really au- socialize with all the people who also enjoy The team has been preparing for a couthentic!

Everyone went all out,” said Per- Spanish,” Bradford said. ple of years for the convention. “We had to practically start over after my freshman year,” McLelland said.

Ballard was one of the first to contribute to the rebuilding of the team when they “needed someone who specialized in pop culture and mythology,” Ballard said.

You don’t have to know a lot of trivia to be a part the team, however.

“Personally, I don’t know that many questions but I just love being a part of it, learning new knowledge,” said Peramsetty. McLelland agreed, telling new members that “it is a fantastic experience, not a whole lot of practice is required, it’s fun, it’s intense, and you really learn how to work as a team.”

“It’s really fun, I like the people, I’m glad I get to use this otherwise useless trivial knowledge,” Ballard said.

Jennifer Canterbury, organizer of the scholars bowl, said that the team is “a great team-building experience.”

“I am really proud of the team this year,” she said.

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RESHU CHANDRA STAFF WRITER

Scholars Bowl team has fun while dominating competition SETH CUNNINGHAM VIDEO EDITOR

Northridge High School buzzes in with another win!

The school’s Scholars Bowl team has done exceedingly well in their season this year. The team has won first in the district competition and second in the regional.

The team is also heading to “a national convention this summer, which is like semifinals for the finals,” said senior and team captain Bert McLelland.

Sue Peramsetty, junior, explained how the competitions work.

“We first pick six people to represent us, four people to go on stage, and two extras.

If we get the first question right, which we call a toss-up, we get a bonus question.

There are 20 toss ups split into two halves of ten. After that, we do a worksheet in which all six people on the team talk about before answering,” she said.

“I’m really excited to be competing,” senior Jessica Ballard said when asked about the national convention.

Honors students celebrate Latin culture at Spanish convention

news

The Northridge Reporter April 30, 2016

5

Senior recognized as National Merit finalist

THOMAS MULLINS COPY EDITOR

On Feb. 13, senior Rachel Emig got a call from her dad about a letter he found in the mail.

She was on a college visit to Mississippi State when she heard her dad tell her over the phone that she was being recognized as a National Merit finalist.

“My mom and I were surprised when he told us. He wasn’t, because he had already read [the letter] through the envelope,” Emig said.

The process of being chosen as a finalist began when Emig took the PSAT during her junior year. After reviewing PSAT scores, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recognizes about 16,000 of the 50,000 highest scorers as semifinalists. One of those 16,000 was Emig. According to the NMSC, the semifinalists’ next steps involve completing an application, having a consistently high academic record, writing a self-descriptive essay, and being endorsed and recommended by a high school official.

Emig has chosen to go to Mississippi State University and is using her status as a National Merit Finalist to help out with the cost. “As far as college goes, all I really needed for Mississippi State was to be a finalist, because when I became a finalist,

Photo courtesy of the Emig family

STAR STUDENT Rachel Emig, senior, embraces her partents after being recognized as a National Merit finalist at the Board of Eudcation meeting Mar. 22. [the school] offered me basically every- a pretty amazing person and it is great to status. It seemed like the waiting was endthing for four years’ tuition, books, fees, see her get recognition for her gifts and tal- less, and then I ended up finding out [that ents,” Emig said. “She has always done well I was chosen] at the last minute, and only everything,” Emig said. had a day or two to complete the appliIf Emig is recognized as a National Mer- in school, even as a young child.”

Although her mom has always had con- cation for finalist status, which was pretty it Scholar, the corporation will give her a fidence in her daughter’s abilities, the pro- complex,” Emig said. scholarship of $2,500.

Emig expects to be notified by the Emig’s mom, Elizabeth Emig, has seen cess was still stressful for Emig.

“Basically the most stressful part of the NMSC in May if she has made National excellence in her daughter since she was whole experience was waiting to find out Merit Scholar status. young.

“We have always thought that she was whether or not I had received semifinalist

Student-athletes face challenges, opportunities due to rezoning Students getting rezoned to Central and Bryant High Schools have the opportunity to try out for sports and other extracurricular activities at their new schools.

Sophomores Maddie Horton and Desiree Ferrell both tried out and made Bryant’s color guard and believe it was because of their passion for this activity.

“Color guard is just one of those things I can do well besides tennis. Also, just the whole band atmosphere is awesome because I’m around my classmates and friends. We be turnt and have school spirit all at the same time. I love the different music and dancing, and the long bus rides and having singalongs,” Ferrell said While Ferrell’s passion came from the experience she had being on the team, Horton’s passion was inherited from her aunt, grandmother, and mother.

“I guess it runs in the family. My mom, auntie, and grandma were all on color guard,” Horton said. “When I get out there on the field for halftime, I just feel like the happiest person in the world. It’s hard work, but I try my best everyday to be really good at it, and hopefully I’ll be able to do color guard in college.”

Ferrell says she is looking forward to the different culture at Bryant.

“I hear that Bryant is very fun; I need more fun in my life, and I love their college-bound attitude,” she said.

Both Ferrell and Horton will miss their teammates and coach dearly because of the strong bond they have developed.

“I have built a bond with everyone on the squad, and we have shared great memories.

Also, before the rezoning, [the team] had already discussed what the upcoming season was going to be like and how much fun we were going to have,” Ferrell said. “I will

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I will miss my teammates; half of the team were seniors and they’re basically like my sisters.

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JABRIA COLEMAN STAFF WRITER

Maddie Horton, sophomore miss them all dearly, but I built the biggest bond with one of my closest friends, Tiana, because she sat right behind me at the games. We were ‘seat-buddies’ on the bus.

[I’ll miss] the pep rally shenanigans and her funny stories. I will also miss my coach, Ms. Wilkins, because she taught me a lot on the field and off the field.”

“I will miss my teammates; half of the team were seniors and they’re basically like my sisters,” Horton said. “In all honesty I’m going to miss my whole band; we were a family.”

Both Ferrell and Horton believe that the team will be even stronger after they leave.

“I believe it’s going to be stronger. We have an old color guard girl that graduated from here in 2008, and she made us way better,” Horton said. “If they follow her orders then I think it’ll be a good team this year. We talked about how we were going to be a tighter squad in a stricter, more traditional way,” Ferrell said. “We also talked about how we were going to start working out more before rezoning.”

Horton said one of the most difficult things about being rezoned is starting over and making new friends.

“I was really nervous at first because I had to get comfortable with a whole new group of girls,” Horton said. “So far, it has been amazing. All the girls are really cool, and they’ve been super nice to me. I really think they’re going to make my first year at Bryant a great one.”

new perspectives Students interview for Forerunners, experience struggles of poverty WILL MCLELLAND STAFF WRITER The leadership program Forerunners gave interviews last month. This program is designed to give students leadership experience and a new perspective on their community.

Students are interviewed in their sophomore year. The program lasts only one year and the students meet once a month, during which they go through simulations and some excursions that are very unsual, compared to regular programs.

One of the activities involved students having to pretend to be poor, and go to the soup kitchens because they were not able to afford other goods.

“It really made me realize what it would be like to live a life like that. It was a perspective I wouldn’t have been able to have without the program,” said Katie Tindol, junior.

The students who participate in this program all seemed to have the same reasons for joining.

“It just seems like a great opportunity, it looks good on college applications and it’s a great way to learn more about Tuscaloo-

sa and about all the things that happen in the community,” said Sujatha Perainsetty, junior. “Because as a high school student you are sheltered, but Forerunners lets you go out into the community and actually do things.”

She talked about how once she was given a scenario where she was a poor, 66 year-old woman with diabetes and she had to go to DHR to get food stamps. She said the experience taught her about the realities of being poor in Tuscaloosa.

Another student in the Forerunners program, Maya Campbell spoke about her most memorable simulation, forming a society. Campbell talked about how the activity made her think about how hard it is to work a real-life society.

“You get a bunch of people, put them in random groups, put them in a room for eight hours, and you simulate a society,” Campbell said.

“During lunch time, the middle class got to eat sandwiches while the rich got to eat Zoe’s Kitchen, and the poor had to make their own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with week-old bread and peanut butter that was not name brand. They treated us like each social class,” Campbell said.

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The Northridge Reporter april 30, 2016

the team : Four years

S THE GAME

Rebecca Griesbach & Sumona Gupta Managing & Entertainment Editors

hamarkus Kennedy fouled out. Ross Hardin fouled out. Marquise Foster fouled out.

“It was me and Kalex in the game, and Chris, Ty and Tommy,” Demarcus ‘Peanut’ Jernigan, senior small forward, said.

The basketball team was up against their longtime rival, Bryant High School, in the subregionals, and the two were evenly matched.

“It was loud...We were tied [73-73] with a little less than five seconds left,” head basketball coach Bob Brantley said. “...And we called a timeout and set up a play. And the play was supposed to be run for Ty because he’s the shooter – not necessarily to shoot a three [pointer], but I knew he would be open.”

“When we ran that, they like, they came out on me hard,” senior guard Ty Bright said.

Bright was double-teamed with less than 16 seconds left on the clock. “...[Ty] found me open, and I turned around.

I shot it. I missed, but I got fouled,” senior small forward Chris Golston said.

“So now, we’re down to 0.4 seconds, tie ballgame, in triple overtime, and Chris has the ball on the free throw line,” Brantley said.

“So, you know I made the first free throw, real clutch,” Golston said. “...you know boys on the bench say ‘it’s over with,’ they already knew he hit it, you know,” Brantley said.

“Brantley told me to,” Golston laughed, “I missed the second one on purpose.”

“He thought we were just crazy,” Brantley said.

“But if you make it, the clock doesn’t run. If you miss it, the clock runs.”

At the sound of the buzzer, the team beat Bryant by one point.

“Everybody just ran up to the court. Throwin’ me everywhere,” Golston said.

“Biggest moment ever. Sweatin’ bullets,” Jernigan said. “...Our fans actually stormed the court, jumpin’ up and down.”

“It took us forever to finally get to the locker room,” senior center Shamarkus Kennedy said.

“And even when we got in the locker room, Coach Brantley, Coach Edwards, they’re all jumpin’ around, throwin’ towels,” Jernigan said.

“We’re throwin’ water. It’s just crazy. Crazy.”

THE BEGINNING

There’s a saying that the people you start high school with won’t usually be there for you in the end.

Bright said that for his team, this sentiment is

not true.

Jernigan, for one, has known Golston since they were six years old. “...We played on the same Little League football team…” he said. “I was the quarterback and he was wide receiver and I used to always, always pass him the ball. And he used to always score touchdowns. Ever since then, we’ve been friends.

Well, brothers, really.”

Their connection didn’t stop at football; Golston started playing basketball in the fifth grade, and he said the two haven’t stopped playing since.

“My momma put me in the church league,” Golston said. “Ever since then, I’ve just been practicin’, just kept going.”

At three years old, Bright started playing basketball – before he learned his ABC’s.

“I’ve known Ty basically all my life,” Jernigan said.

Jernigan, Bright and Hardin, like some of the members of the team, attended the same elementary school together, their bond made stronger through the years.

Jernigan said most of the current members, while they attended different middle schools, were able to play together on a combined Southview/Rock Quarry Middle School team in the seventh grade. When they reached eighth grade, however, the teams were split up by individual schools.

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), though, brought them back together.

“I’ve known Chris since eighth grade AAU,” Zey Jackson, senior point guard said. “And we’ve been friends ever since – brothers, brothers for life.”

Golston explained the Union as an organization that allows athletes to travel throughout the year, showcasing their skills in front of an assortment of coaches. “...[You] get a lot of exposure,” he said.

AAU also allowed for basketball players across district or state lines to become acquainted, as Golston described.

“My first AAU game, I had went over to Ty’s house, and I was gonna ride with him to the game,” he said. “And we just started bonding like that and ever since then, we just been real cool.”

Upon entering high school, some of the members of the team knew each other from AAU. “...All of us came our own separate ways,” Jackson said.

Chuck Hardin, former AAU basketball coach and father of senior power forward Ross Hardin, said the connection he observed in his son’s team “was really special.”

“The thing about Northridge is, you don’t pull from one neighborhood, you don’t pull from one school,” he said. “These kids kinda came together; some live on the West End, some live down 69 South, some live in the Southview area, some live north of the river. And I think that’s kinda unique among the schools that kids from all over the city came together, wound up

playing that hard, sharing all these experiences together and really forming a bond, and really becoming a team. “...I don’t know that teams in the future will have the same type of experience that this team had.”

A ‘ROCKY TRANSITION’

Now seniors, the remaining members looked back on their sophomore year, a defining season that turned their game from “scrappy ball” to the real deal. “...three years ago, when [the senior players] were sophomores, for one reason or another, we got in a situation where people either quit, or I kicked ‘em off. It was time to clean up the program, and I took nine sophomores and put them on varsity. And you can imagine how that year went,” Brantley said.

Instead of a smooth transition from junior varsity to varsity, the team made a “rocky” one, going 1-21 in the 2013-2014 season. “...I mean, you’re gonna be the most talked about topic in the city, only winning one game,” Jackson said. “...Bob Brantley was losing sleep, ‘cause we was losing games. He probably pulled out his hair a couple times, looked in the mirror like, ‘What am I doing here?’”

As the season progressed, the team’s morale was faltering. “[Losing] affected us a lot,” Jernigan said. “... practice wasn’t as fun, it wasn’t as good… It was a really tough time.”

That summer, the team had their work cut out for them.

“I think that was the hardest running we ever did,” Jackson said. “...I was in bed and I couldn’t move.”

But they didn’t leave, and that is what Brantley said made the team stand out among the others he’s coached throughout the years.

“Somebody could have transferred, could have quit, but they kept fightin’,” he said.

Jernigan, who has known Brantley since his brother was on the team, was able to put trust in his coach.

“I think [Coach Brantley] had to know that everything he was doing and everything he was going through was gonna come to something good,” he said.

“You just learn from it, that’s it,” Kennedy said. “We learned from all our mistakes and everything, and we finally corrected it and showed what we can do.” “...Sometimes we gotta go through a little storm to see a good sunshine,” Jackson said.

THE TEAM

“Bus rides,” Kennedy said.

“The bus rides, they’re hilarious,” Jernigan said.

“Everybody’s serious before the games –” “– Everybody’s chillin’, just sleepin...’”

“– But after, we’re goofin’ off. Whether we win or lose –” “– That’s what Coach always gets mad about.

‘Cause if we lose, we’re probably quiet for the

first five minutes, then –” “– We’re goofin’ off. He’s ticked to the max, he’s like, ‘Why are you guys laughin’?’ He’s ready to make us run suicides as soon as we get off the bus!

At like 11 p.m.!”

For the team that’s spent bus rides, away games and countless practices together, no one memory stood out in particular.

However, Jernigan laughed as he reflected on one of their games against Bessemer City. “...we were warming up, and Chris’ auntie is actually standing on the court with the camera recording him, and every time he shoots a layup she’s like, ‘Chris! Chris!’ and he’s like, ‘Man, get off the court! Get off the court!’ She’s standing right in front of the Bessemer City coach and he’s like,” Jernigan copied Golston’s gesture, waving his aunt away, “and she’s just like taking pictures and all. It was so funny. So funny.”

For Jernigan and Kennedy, coming to know their team was the key to their later success. “...if you know the player that you playin’ with –” Jernigan said.

“– Know their strengths, know their weaknesses –” Kennedy interjected. “ – Yeah, like ‘I know he’s gonna be here, so I need to pass the ball to him...’” Jernigan said.

Brantley said that he and all 13 players of the current team are “pretty tight.” “...Sad, nine of them are leaving, they’re seniors,” he said.

Jernigan and Kennedy described some of their teammates’ distinct roles on the team, which were not necessarily their positions.

“Me and Chris are the class clowns,” Jernigan said.

“Max is always the leader, always serious,” Kennedy said.

“Yeah, he’s like the grandfather of the team, the grandaddy,” Jernigan said.” He’s actually the oldest one too.”

Jernigan laughed when he got to senior point guard Marquise ‘Little Bit’ Foster.

“Little Bit is the hot tempered one,” he said.

“Let’s say there’s a foul, and he don’t think there’s a foul, he’ll go at the referee –” Kennedy started to explain.

“He probably led our team in technical fouls!”

Jernigan said, still laughing.

“First game of the season, he already mad!”

Kennedy said.

They turned their attention to the rest of the team.

“Ross is more or less of the goofy one,” Jernigan said.

“Ty and Tommy, they always playing before the game start. Playing during the game, one on one at halftime and before the game!” Kennedy said.

“BJ was always quiet…” Jernigan said.

After a grueling sophomore year, the team had reached their “breaking point” that next season, winning 20 games in “one of the toughest schedules in Tuscaloosa.”

“You know, we’re beatin’ everybody,” Jernigan said. “Hoover, all the big teams or whatever. So, yeah it really broke through during the summer with us put-

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The Northridge Reporter april 30, 2016

7

ears of trials & trium p hs ting in the work.”

The team got used to playing bigger, more experienced players, Kennedy said, and they soon learned to all “pitch in and do their part.”

“It was hard in the beginning because everybody counted us out,” Foster said. “...We just kept our heads up.”

For the boys, basketball is more than just a game. “...it gets our minds off all the tough things in the world,” Foster said.

TY

For Bright especially, basketball served as a way to get through the circumstances he was facing.

“I don’t wanna say it was like a cover-up, but it helped him get through a couple of obstacles,” Bright’s girlfriend Pricila Lopez said.

Bright’s mother Celeste had been diagnosed with colon cancer and was going through chemotherapy for years. His father Willie Reedy Jr. passed away when he was in the fourth grade. “[Celeste] was just always sweet to me. She backed up everything we said,” Brantley said.

“She was just a – she was a sweetie pie.”

“We called her Candy,” Golston said. “We had a real strong relationship. She was real funny, real cool. She would do anything for you. She was like a second mother.”

Celeste tried her best to make it to the games, he said, even when she had to come in a wheelchair. “...you know, it was hard for her to be here when she was really sick,” Brantley said. “But she would always get better, you know what I mean?

And, so, she would get better, she’d fight that chemo, we thought she was alright. She’d be good for a while, but she had several setbacks over the years. I think Ty thought that this was just another setback – Mom was gonna be okay.”

Celeste Bright passed away on Sept. 17, right before the boys’ senior season.

“Coach Brantley pulled me aside,” Jernigan said. “He had a team meeting, and we met up to be there for [Ty].” “...It was real crazy, cause like, she died on a Thursday,” Golston said. “I remember, ‘cause I was at hospice with her that Wednesday night before.

And it was real crazy, ‘cause I hadn’t never seen her bad like she was then. You know, she usually liked to joke around, you know, talk a lot....”

“When it happened, the whole team met up at [Ty’s] house to support him,” Kennedy said. “We played games the whole night to try and get his mind off it.”

“Ty’s house was full of boys,” Golston said.

“Everybody he knew was up there. That’s how you know they had love for her, that’s how you know she had love for them. Some of everybody knows Ty.” “When we got there, just for a few minutes, we noticed how he was hurt, but he was happy the rest of the night,” Kennedy said.

Lopez and Bright’s teammates noted that he was able to push through the tragedy.

“When his mother passed away, he was, just, really steady. I thought he would go off, but he just stayed positive and he stayed strong,” Lopez said. “...you know at practice and stuff he was off to himself, you could tell it was on his mind –” Jernigan said.

“– He’s real strong, though,” Kennedy said.

“As a team, we all texted him, checked on him,” Jernigan said. “If he needed anything, our parents, we were there for him.”

The Hardins, who had known Celeste as long as they’ve known Bright, had previously offered Ty a place in their home when his mother was travelling to Georgia for her chemotherapy treatments.

“She trusted me with them. They became like another pair of godparents,” Bright said.

“Ross’ family, they were always there for him,” Kennedy said.

“They not only helped Ty, they helped all of us,” Jernigan said.

The Hardins were responsible for pregame meals, and Chuck has also coached some of the members in AAU games.

“We certainly wanted to do as much as we could for such a special group,” Chuck said. “I love ‘em to death.”

The Hardin family also asked Ty to live with them when his mother passed away.

“I love Ty Bright. I would do anything for that young man,” Chuck said. “I think of him as an adopted son.”

Like the Hardins, Bright’s teammates feel a familial connection with Bright.

“I call all of my teammates my brothers, but he’s one of my closest,” Jernigan said.

While he may seem somewhat reserved to the people who don’t know him, Bright has come to be known as a “team clown,” lightening the mood before tough games.

“Ty does this funny voice before every game that gets everybody energized and pumped up,” Foster said. “...he has a ‘joke of the day’ that he tells me every day. It’s a little silly...I think he pre-searches them,” Brantley chuckled.

On the court, though, Bright is strictly business.

“He’ll play hard, but he’s got no emotion. He’ll joke around like before and after the game a little bit, in the locker room, but on the court, he don’t really say nothin’,” Golston said.

“I have seen him be verbal, but that’s not his character,” Brantley said. “...I think basketball’s the way he’s expressed himself.”

CHRIS

“There’s no comfort words to just say to somebody to make them feel better, because if you haven’t experienced that yourself, you really don’t know what they’re going through,” Jackson said.

Jackson and the team all shared this feeling – that they couldn’t truly know what Bright was going through unless they shared his exact circumstances. Halfway through the season, though, those circumstances became a reality for Golston as well.

“Ty… he knew his mother was sick and struggling, but with Chris’ mom, It was just out of the blue,” Chuck said; he had known Golston’s mother from his job at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, where she worked as a judicial assistant to Judge Elizabeth Hamner.

On Saturday, Jan. 30, Golston’s mother Alice White passed away at DCH Northport. “...this was the last thing I expected. You know, before [Chris’ mom] passed, I had just gave her a hug like four or five days before,” Jernigan said.

“Ty was just on the phone with [Chris’ mom] the other day before it happened, and I was just sayin’ hey to her,” Kennedy said.

“That really shocked me, cause I still have messages in my phone from Chris and her,” Jernigan said.

Shortly before her death, White had a severe toothache, forcing her to get medication for the pain. “...we didn’t know the severity of what happened to her,” Jackson said.

In actuality, he said, White was battling a full body infection. “...it just made her weak, real, real, weak,” Jackson said. “...they said her heart kept stopping and restarting, stopping and restarting…She actually kept fighting...we all thought she was going to be okay because we were up in [the hospital waiting room] laughing, joking around.”

White coded 11 times.

“And then the doctor walked in, and I thought he was going to tell us that she pulled through,” Jackson said. “...but he told us she died… It turned from a moment of…us being happy and just cracking jokes and stuff like that… to sadness and just – deflation.”

“We all sat in the hospital, for probably –” Jernigan said. “ – all night,” Kennedy said.

“Probably ‘til about one, two something in the morning,” Jernigan said.

The waiting room was full to bursting, Golston said, and it “wasn’t no ordinary [sized] waiting room.”

“All my teammates were there. Family there.

Friends there. Some people I didn’t even know were there. Everybody showed up. Couple from Central, couple from Bryant,” Golston said. “My momma knew a lot of people. She knew a lot of my friends, she had a good relationship with them too.”

Like Golston, Brantley and math teacher Scott Johnson all recalled that the waiting room was full of life, reflecting Golston’s mother’s personality. “[She was] a goofball,” Golston laughed. “She loved everybody, she was real caring, real loving.

She’d do anything to help somebody out. She worked hard.”

“Chris’s momma...had three brothers and five sisters. And all five of those aunts were there,” Brantley said. “It was a big wild – I’m talking about when that whole family got together in that waiting room in that hospital, listening to all those stories…” “...She was a very well-loved lady. She was a great person, a really good mother,” Johnson said.

Johnson had known White through his wife, Dana, who worked with her at the courthouse for 20 years.

“They were good friends,” he said.

The Johnsons have also known Golston since his childhood.

“I been knowin’ Mr. Johnson since I was a baby, he been knowin’ me since I was a baby,” Golston laughed. “He cool forreal! He cool. Not that he ain’t cool in school…”

After White’s passing, Johnson said that he and Dana wanted to help Golston in his preparation for college. “[Chris] was looking at possible athletic scholarships, and his mother was in the process of helping him with that and getting his ACT scores and all that stuff when she died. So we wanted to make sure we got him through that,” Johnson said.

They then had the idea to start an account on GoFundMe, a fundraising website, for Chris and his brother Renard Blount, who is 16.They spread word of it through social media and emails, and it also went out to PTA members. “...it ended up raising several thousand dollars for him and his brother,” Johnson said.

The Johnsons have continued to support Golston and Blount by getting groceries for them on occasion, either using money from the fund or from their own pockets.

“They know they can call us whenever they need us or anything,” Johnson said. “You could tell from the support that [Alice] was really doin’ right by the kids, and we just wanted to kind of continue what she had started and give them somebody that they could lean on if they needed to.”

Jackson said that seeing support from so many people showed the magnitude of the bonds Golston and his mother had.

“From that experience, I think Chris has really, truly seen the love that he has around him,” he said. “So we ended up going to both funerals the same way, as a team. We picked a time that all of us should be there, and we sat together, as a team, for both of them.”

Golston’s teammates described him the same way Golston described his mother. “[Chris is] goofy, all the time! A lot. Very playful. And always, always laughing. Never really too mad or upset...he really always has a smile on his face and is laughing a lot,” Jackson said.

In the game, however, Golston’s personality reflects his dedication.

“When it comes to basketball… He’s very serious,” Jackson said. “Sometimes, I won’t lie, we have our goofy times… but this is something he really wants... It’s not just in his actions, like when you talk to him, sit down and talk to him, you can hear it in his voice, you can tell by his body language...this is what he loves to do.”

Jackson said that Golston, like Bright, is more of a shower than a teller.

“I’d say he isn’t that much of a vocal person... he’s just more action...he’s leading by example instead of leading by his words,” he said.

In Jackson’s view, Golston relies on intuition. “...it’s better for him to play, rather than him trying to do plays. Just give him the ball and let him go to work,” he said.

Golston is known to do well when the pressure’s on, Brantley said, and that made all the difference in that subregional game against Bryant.

BROTHERS

“[Ty and Chris] both have the winning attitude, I would have to say, on the court,” Tommy

Bryant, senior small forward, said.

The boys found more motivation in the tragedies they suffered, rather than letting them take over. “…I think after Chris’ mom died, we hadn’t lost a game,” Jackson said.

“We all knew that [Chris’] mom was proud and that she would have been there for that game if she could. He made her proud, and he made us proud too by stepping up like that,” Bright said.

Bright’s and Golston’s teamwork in the game-winning play against Bryant was an “unplanned situation,” Brantley said. “...the ball was in the hands of the two guys that lost their momma to send us to the state playoffs,” he said. “Ty, being unselfish, when he caught the ball, he was supposed to shoot it... So he passed, Chris catches it, and it’s just the craziest thing ever.”

Neither Bright nor Golston were starters on the team, but their contributions were certainly acknowledged after that night.

“For two young men who had worked so hard and maybe not had the recognition of being starters, to win that game and overcome, I just think is a tremendous tribute to them,” Chuck said.

A “self-motivated” player, Bright stayed humble – something he learned from his family.

“They’re a humble family. They know where they come from...If Ty ends up being something big, they know that he knows where he came from,” Lopez said.

Much like Bright, Golston stayed grounded, his mind always on the team rather than himself.

“The outcome of the game was probably more important than his own glory,” Brantley said.

Fueled by their win against Bryant, the two were ready to take on Homewood High School in the regional championship in Montgomery, AL. “They went in like they were on a mission,” Bryant said. “I think Chris was playing for his mom that night. They went in with something on their mind.”

The team had always talked about winning state, and this was their last chance before they moved on to college.

“When… we became seniors, we knew that that was the next step for us,” Jackson said. “See, the scary part is, we had [tried to] knock on that door our junior year… we didn’t even reach to like the semis or the championship game.”

When they got to Montgomery, though, they knocked on that door, but “they didn’t push through it,” he said “I mean, if we wouldn’t have met them right there that day… we would have had the chance to win the regionals,” Brantley said. “Just had to run into the wrong team at the wrong time.”

Homewood beat the team by seven points and ended up winning the entire state championship, Brantley explained. He hinted that the team may have had a shot if they hadn’t played Homewood so early.

“We played hard, just came up short in the end,” he said.

The bittersweet ending to the team’s high school careers was a testament to not only their skill, but to their support of each other in the good times and the bad.

“I think the best thing for Chris and Ty...was just playing basketball. Because, if that hadn’t happened really to take their minds off the pain, all the suffering, you don’t know what could’ve happened,” Jackson said. “Having that family support, your teammates, because ...when stuff like that happens to you, your mind is just thinking crazy things. Like you’re probably thinking, ‘Why me?

Why her?’”

Bittersweet because of the struggles, the memories, the losses and the wins, the bonds they kept through things larger than just the game.

“The way they cared for each other. It was just a special group of boys that, for the most part, put the team before themselves,” Brantley said. “It wasn’t one person. It was all of them.”

If being on the team taught him anything, Jernigan said it was how to find a family with those of whom you share no blood.

“It really taught me how to be a brother, how to be a real good friend, you know,” he said.

Photos by Mallie Humber

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Entertainment

The Northridge Reporter April 30, 2016

“Batman v. Superman” ‘bland’ and ‘uninspired’

Will Henson Assistant Copy Editor

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the follow-up to the 2013 Superman film, Man of Steel. Zack Snyder was hired to reprise his role as director, as if Batman wasn’t dark or gritty enough already.

The movie failed to breathe new life into the franchise, a fact shown most prominently in the first scene, in which audiences are treated to the origin story of Batman for the umpteenth time in cinematic history.

Even from the beginning, it was clear that the movie took itself entirely too seriously, with dream sequences that not-sosubtly compared Batman to Jesus Christ, as he literally rose out of a cave and was reborn into the famous vigilante.

Following the brief, but tedious introduction to The Bat, the camera zoomed out from a close-up shot of the Jeep logo, to a collapsing city. Viewers of Man of Steel would recognize this as one of the final scenes of the 2013 movie, but from the perspective of Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck). The scene stands out as an interesting point in an otherwise bland film. It takes something the audience can recognize and turns that on its head, but even so, it suffered from the same artistic downfalls as the rest of the movie – the drab colors, CGI mess of explosions, and jarring camera movement make the action scenes impossible to follow. But perhaps this was for the best, otherwise audiences might have realized how little substance these scenes actually possessed.

Bruce Wayne/Batman saves some people over the course of the film, as superheroes typically do, but the movie was incredibly

Photo from Tribune News Service

FACEOFF DC’s two most popular superheroes, played by Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill, go head to head in Zack Snyder’s new film, “Batman v. Superman.” unclear on the morals of either of the two main protagonists and not in a positive way, either. Superman (Henry Cavill) spends most of the movie complaining about Batman doing bad things, as he continues to do essentially the same things that made Batman ‘bad’. Batman, on the other hand, spends most of the movie complaining about Superman doing bad things, as he continues to do essentially the same things that made Superman ‘bad’.

It almost appeared (and this probably is

miracles

“Walking Dead” season finale leaves fans on edge REBECCA HAN OPINION EDITOR AMC’s hit series “The Walking Dead” capped off its sixth season April 3 with its finale episode, “Last Day on Earth.”

Plagued by the looming threat of Negan, arguably the show’s biggest non-zombie threat as of yet, Rick & Co. hit the road to get medical help for Maggie, who fell ill in the last episode. Meanwhile, Morgan still searches for Carol, who has gone rogue after seemingly becoming unable to cope with the consequences of her relentless killing.

In a six season-long run, it’s inevitable that a show about the zombie apocalypse has to find other methods to keep its audience engaged. Multiple threats have emerged and been pushed to the sidelines this season alone; first it was dissent in the settlement of Alexandria, then it was the Wolves (where have they gone, by the way?), and now it is the notorious Saviors, who comic book fans are all too familiar with. The tension is there, from the first episode to the first time the name ‘Negan’ is uttered; around that one name alone exists an incomparable air of dread and mystery, or so the writers would have it seem.

Yet the show itself feels almost gimmicky and tired, a problem that began to manifest one or two seasons ago. Storylines are begun and discarded with no reason as characters shoot and kill their way through the wasteland, seeming to no consequence. The most notable examples of this stagnant storytelling are Glenn and Daryl’s ‘almost’ death early on

not too far from the truth) that the entire movie was based around the idea of Batman and Superman fighting, and the writers had to work backwards from there. The motivations behind the fight were uncharacteristic for both parties and only existed because the plot demanded it.

Despite almost an hour and a half of buildup to the big fight, it is quite underwhelming and only lasts about 10 minutes, ending only due to the contrived revelation that [SPOILERS] Batman and Super-

man’s moms have the same first name.

Batman-Superman conflicts in the past have done well to make Batman dark and pessimistic and Superman the optimistic antithesis, signifying hope and goodness in mankind. But instead of using this highly successful dynamic, Batman v Superman simply made Superman serious and dark, and Batman even darker still. To support Batman’s increase in darkness, the movie takes away one of the most significant parts of his character: Batman can kill people now.

However, most of these criticisms pale in comparison to the horrible mistake the studio made in hiring Jessie Eisenburg to play Lex Luthor, the main villain of Batman v Superman. At the best of times, Eisenburg’s Luthor came across as a cheap imitation of The Joker, and at the worst, was so terribly uncharismatic that it was uncomfortable to watch him perform on screen.

As if it wasn’t already obvious that this movie was a simple cash grab, several other superheroes from successful DC franchises were introduced towards the end, in a very clear setup for Justice League, being released in 2017. The hasty manner in which this was done only serves to call attention to the similar, but much more strategic release of Marvel’s The Avengers in 2012 and the years of superhero introduction movies building up to it.

These days, superhero flicks tend to be the best way for big film companies to make a quick buck, and that trend does not seem to be ending anytime soon. But for the time being, we can only hope that any future releases are at least a little more inspired than “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

Photo from Tribune News Service

this season. Simply put, main characters are now effectively invincible, eliminating any danger or actual risk. Rick may be involved in a shootout, Daryl cornered by a horde of walkers, and everyone will walk out in one piece because the writers are too afraid to add any real risk.

This rule of invincibility, however, does not apply to the show’s supporting cast, who are all too susceptible to sudden deaths. Herein lies the problem; characters enter and exit the stage too fast for the audience to even care. As Alexandria’s lone doctor, Denise was just beginning to come into her own, taking charge when need be and overcoming her own fears. Suddenly, on a run with Rosita and Daryl, she is killed. With a continuous flow of disposable supporting characters, who cares about their separate fates?

[SPOILERS] In the final moments of the episode, we finally get a glimpse of Negan, portrayed excellently by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He pulls out his famed bat, Lucille, and proceeds to beat down one of our heroes from a first person point of view, introducing another cliffhanger that is intended to leave audiences hanging for another several months, a questionable move at best. In the comics, the unlucky victim is none other than Glenn himself, but is this so in the show? Will audiences even care when the big reveal comes? One can only hope.

Spiritual film inspires, moves reviewer JABRIA COLEMAN STAFF WRITER

This past weekend, I went with my family to see the film “Miracles from Heaven.” It is a very inspiring movie that changed my life and many others.’

The heartbreaking film was based on the true story of Anna Beam, who suffers from a rare, incurable, intestinal disorder.

Because of her illness, Anna was unable to eat normally and dealt with the constant struggle of using feeding tubes for every meal. She struggles with constant stomach pain and massive vomiting.

Tired of suffering from her illness, Anna, and her mother (Christy Beam) fly to Boston, in hopes of seeing top pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Samuel Nurko.

Desperate to cure Anna, Christy tries to go to overbooked specialist and beg for her daughter to be treated. The heartbreaking scene of the movie was seeing Christy forcefully pleading on behalf of Anna to nervous, first time employee while trying to fight a stream of tears.

Beam’s efforts payed off (which is a miracle!); however, they did take a toll on the family financially, driving from their Texas home to Boston.

Ultimately, the film is about the possibility that miracles can happen. One day, Anna encounters a near-death experience

that cured her from her disorder and allows her family to become stronger in their faith.

Both her and her older sister, Abbie, climbe a big cottonwood tree and sit on a branch. The branch begins to fall, and Anna dives in the hollow tree trunk for safety only to fall 30 feet to the ground, head-first.

Actress Jennifer Garner, who played the role of Christy Beam (mother of Anna Beam), sees the inspirational film as an opportunity for people reconsider their beliefs.

“I think we have to pour some positivity back into the world,” Garner told The Christian Post. “I think it’s so necessary to focus on what’s wrong and how can we fix it, but it’s also so incredibly important to see the beauty that’s around us all the time so that. We can raise and lift up the importance of the smallest miracles that happen around us every day.”

Film producer DeVon Franklin believes that it’s going to change the hearts of many unbelievers. “People are going to feel like God is real, that faith works, that miracles are everywhere,” Franklin told The Gospel Herald. “They’re going to hug their families, they’re going to thank God…They’ll realize that miracles are all around them, the miracles of love, the miracles of kindness, the miracles of joy.”

Entertainment

The Northridge Reporter April 30, 2016

9

New restaurant provides genuine, homestyle cookin’

THOMAS MULLINS COPY EDITOR

Photo by James Niiler

Traditional Thai cuisine found in unlikely location JAMES NIILER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“Rice noodles tossed in peanut sauce, served with beef and expertly sliced vegetables; what’s not to love?

“

Though hundreds of miles away from large, cosmopolitan cities, Tuscaloosa is no stranger to exotic cuisine often found in those locales. The restaurant Ruan Thai is just one example of the numerous ethnic offerings to be found in the Tuscaloosa community.

Located across the street from the arguably more famous Surin of Thailand, on the Strip on University Blvd., Ruan Thai, or ‘House of Thai,’ is a name most appropriate for this venue—it is indeed located in a converted historic home. The interior is elegant, though not stuffy or pretentious, and is beautifully decorated with Thai artwork.

Traditional Thai music is usually playing inside, and an outside patio provides the perfect place to enjoy one’s meal on a warm evening.

Thai cuisine tends to be light, and it makes heavy use of unconventional combinations of fruits, vegetables, sauces, meat/tofu and rice. Curries, or rice and meat dishes in colored sauces, are typically thought of as Indian, but they feature prominently in Thai cuisine as well. Shrimp, tofu, chicken and beef are often served over a bed of soft rice noodles with combinations of herbs, vegetables and sauces—the most well-known example of such a dish is the ubiquitous pad Thai. A personal favorite of mine, pineapple fried rice, is beautifully presented in a hollowed-out pineapple shell with chicken, shrimp, pineapple chunks, bits of scrambled egg and raisins. Unconventional? Yes, but delicious? Absolutely.

I’ve been to Ruan Thai numerous times before, and have varied between ordering the more ‘tame’ and ‘adventurous’ items on the menu. On my most recent visit, however, I decided to go with some old classics: pad Thai with beef, spicy fried wontons, and Thai iced tea.

Thai iced tea is everything you love about sweet tea—but it’s better. Very strong black tea is brewed with an ungodly amount of

sugar, and served topped with coconut milk, providing a tropical twist on what is traditionally thought of as a Southern classic. I don’t even like sweet tea, but I’d die for Thai iced tea.

Fried wontons, the appetizer, came next.

Small, crispy dumplings stuffed with herbs, potatoes and beef, they come with a sweet and spicy plum sauce for dipping. The wontons are very hot, but not spicy, and are addicting. Thankfully only a few are provided, allowing the appetite to be whetted rather than satisfied, before the main course is even presented.

At last came the pad Thai itself. Rice noodles tossed in peanut sauce, served with beef and expertly sliced vegetables; what’s not to love? The portion was neither too large nor too small, and the meal was further enhanced with the addition of condiments from the complimentary spice tray.

Another evening, another perfect meal at Ruan Thai. With friendly and helpful service, reasonable prices, a beautiful atmosphere and (of course) excellent food, it’s no wonder that Ruan Thai has been one of my favorite Tuscaloosa restaurants for years, and promises to remain so for years to come.

I was driving down University Boulevard a while back and noticed a building on the corner I had never seen before. Intrigued by the décor, I investigated and found out that the building would soon house Miss Dots, a restaurant meant to give visitors a taste of genuine, homemade, down-South cooking.

The restaurant is based on the cooking of Leola “Miss Dot” Rogers, the cook of former Zoe’s Kitchen and current Maki Fresh CEO John Cassimus’ resort, Sawtooth Plantation.

When Cassimus opened the new Miss Dots restaurants in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, his vision was that they would give hungry customers a trip to Rogers’ kitchen, with her delicious, homemade fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet tea. Having finally experienced the restaurant for myself, I can say that Miss Dots is everything that it was said to be.

I got to the restaurant at 11:04 a.m. (four minutes after it opened), right before the rush that followed me. I knew that something had to be right when I looked at the line of people that came in after me.

The man at the counter was incredibly kind, noticing immediately that I had never been there, and leading me through the menu to his favorite items. I went with the 15-piece chicken bites, a collection of boneless fried chicken pieces, and squash casserole as a side. The food came out quickly, and it was fresh. When I looked at the tray of food I was given, I was so pleased: the food looked imperfect. I could see how the chicken didn’t have a uniform color and it wasn’t perfectly shaped. This may not sound like the best thing to mention—but it looked like chicken that would come out of the fryer at home. It looked homemade. That’s what I was looking for.

I got my food, got my sauce, got my drink (which featured the classic crushed ice everyone loves), and went to my seat.

There were six sauces provided: ranch, honey mustard, ketchup, Crystal hot sauce,

‘White Lightning,’ and ‘Dat Sauce.’ I’m sure it isn’t worth mentioning which sauce I chose first—I had to see what these signature sauces were all about. ‘White Lightning’ is the restaurant’s take on white barbecue sauce, giving the classic Southern sauce a spicy kick that I loved. The ‘Dat Sauce’, though, blew me away. One taste immediately brought to mind the classic sauce restaurants like Zaxby’s are known for, but there was a delicious twist: it had a strong hint of A1 Steak Sauce with a spicy aftertaste. I was amazed. I could drink A1, but I would have never imagined such a beautiful combination.

The meal went well. At first the size of the chicken bites concerned me; they seemed to be a tad small. This, though, was only a side effect of going to restaurants where sizes are blown wildly out of proportion. The food was the perfect amount, and I was starting to feel full before I finished the chicken. The bites were perfectly juicy underneath the crunch of their breading, and tasted delicious on their own. The Dat Sauce made them even better, though. I found halfway through that the Dat Sauce mixed with a dash of Crystal would soon be my staple. The bites, along with the cheesy squash casserole, were a wonderful meal.

As I ate, I was asked from the counter if I liked pie. After a “yes” boomed through the room, I was brought a piece of pecan pie, being told by the man that he wanted to know what I thought about it. I love this kind of service, not because I got free food (that is also nice), but because I love to see that there is a genuine care for the thoughts of the customers. The pie was wonderful; the hard crunchy outer layer of pecans contrasted magnificently with the soft inside.

It was a perfect exclamation point for a delicious first meal.

After a lunch like that, I definitely expect to go back soon. Miss Dots is a restaurant that I know will be wholeheartedly welcomed to Tuscaloosa, and will be here for years to come. I don’t know much about 5-star restaurants, but I know a lot about good home cooking, and Miss Dots does it well.

Photo from Tribune News Service

10

Sports

The Northridge Reporter April 30, 2016

Soccer team advances to playoffs DESTINY HODGES NEWS EDITOR

The boys and girls soccer teams have been making their way to the playoffs.

The varsity girls team have a record of 18-3.

Carter Hill, head soccer coach, said he is very proud of the girls.

“Of course I’m proud of them. The girls got to the final four last year, so some of the time it’s hard to kinda do that again, but they’ve done very, very well,” Hill said.

Team captain Annika Struckworth, senior and right wing and attacking mid, said she thinks the soccer team has what it takes to make it to the playoffs this year.

“I think we have shown this year that we have what it takes to make it to the final four. We were there last year and came home disappointed in the way we played.

This year we have the chance to redeem ourselves,” she said.

Struckworth said the team is going to the playoffs with a different attitude this year. “[Last year], we went in with a mentality that we had already won because we beat the team earlier in the season. This hurt us because we didn’t play as hard as we should have. We thought it was going to be an easy win, but the other team showed up with a stronger desire to beat us this time,” she said. “[This year], we want to play our best game no matter how good or bad the other team is. Our performance should not be based on the other team. As long as every player puts their best foot forward, I think we have a good chance at redemption.”

Team captain and goalkeeper Catherine Spence, senior, said she hopes they make it to the final four this year.

“My hope is that we will make it to the final four again, but that can only be achieved if everyone continues to work their hardest and play their best,” Spence said.

Spence said it’s the team’s bond helps them work together.

“The team is very energetic, and we all care about each other very much. If anyone needs something, the whole team will be there for them,” she said. “We work together great on and off the field. The [team’s dynamic] as a whole is amazing, and it’s amazing to be a part of such an awesome, loving team.”

Sophomore Carol Johnson, left back,

IN WITH THE KICK Morgan Roberts, junior, battles it out for the ball with a County High player at the Feb. 24 game. said the team’s chemistry helps their performance. “[With our chemistry], we can communicate better on the field, and we don’t have a lot of drama, which is good,” she said.

“We all trust each other, so we can trust that we’ll make the plays and win.”

The varsity boys have a record of 9-7-2 with two ties.

Hill said both teams have been playing well.

“Besides the teams in Tuscaloosa…all the teams they’ve played are either in the top five or top ten in their classification, so [both teams] have done fairly well,” he said.

Hill says he’s looking forward to the rest of the season.

“Hopefully [we see] more wins. Hopefully [we’re] going to the playoffs,” Hill said. “We’ve already claimed the region championship for both the boys and the

girls. We’re 3-0 in the region. We still have to play Bryant, but it wouldn’t even matter what that result was. We’re still going to the playoffs, so hopefully further down the road… second, third round of the playoffs.

If possible, [the final four].”

Junior and varsity player William Arnold, center defensive end, said he hopes the team makes it to the playoffs.

“I think we’re going to get a lot of wins later on in the season, and hopefully we make a long run in the playoffs,” he said.

Arnold said he thinks the boys’ team is doing well this year.

“We’re doing really good. We have a lot of chemistry, and we have a lot of skill,” Arnold said. “We’re all really good friends. We can connect a lot of passes and stuff.”

Captain of the boys’ team and center midfield Will Baker, senior, said he’s proud of the boys this season.

Photo by T-Town Photos

“Yeah [I’m definitely proud]. We have pulled off very good results against difficult teams and shown significant improvement,” Baker said.

Baker said he thinks the boys have a chance of making it to the final four.

“Judging by our play, I think it is definitely possible [to make it to the final four], yes,” he said. “If we put forth the effort we have the ability to reach the final.”

He said the team reflects the sport of soccer.

“Soccer is a team sport and I feel like our team reflects that… As a team we collectively make decisions and play in a manner that benefits the team as a whole,” Baker said.

The first round of the playoffs will be held at the school on Fri., April 29, when the boys and girls teams will play Bessemer City.

Sports

The Northridge Reporter April 30, 2016

11

Kennedy goes to top Super Five RESHU CHANDRA STAFF WRITER

Photo by Addie Akins

BATTER UP! Pitcher Mary Katherine Winfield, sophomore, throws a strike into home at the softball team’s Bryant game on Mar. 30.

Shamarkus Kennedy, senior varsity basketball power forward, has been selected to play in the Super 5, a pick of the five best basketball players in West Alabama.

Kennedy said he feels very honored to be selected as a member.

“It feels great [to have been selected].

I have always been trying to accomplish this goal in high school and I was very disappointed to not get it last year, but I was blessed with the opportunity to be picked this year,” he said.

He said his coaches have helped him to improve his skills.

“My coaches have really helped me to develop and get better and to be able to be a candidate for the Super 5,” Kennedy said.

He said his dad is the biggest basketball influence for him, because his dad has always pushed him to do his best.

“My dad has inspired me because he

SWINGING

girls

tennis stats

SPIRIT

Softball team bonds while competing against Bryant

Addie Grace Akins Staff Writer

The softball team played Bryant and had a devastating lost after playing a long and competitive game on Mar. 30. Despite this loss, the softball team has many players that strive for excellence no matter what the score. This loss was just a motivational wake-up for some of the players, but for others, this loss was taken to the heart.

Mary Margaret Wilson, outfielder, enjoys watching the team grow close and play better every game.

“Our team has already grown so close and we are like a family,” Wilson said. “I love to get out on the field and compete for my teammates.”

Playing first base, Brooke Weatherby, senior, always plays her hardest no matter what the score is. She strives to get better every game and practice.

“My expectation for each game is to try our hardest and to never give up,” Weatherby said. “I always try my hardest no matter the score because anything can happen and the outcome can change dramatically if you always try.”

By the fifth inning, Northridge was down 6-2, but was still playing their hardest. Rock Quarry Middle School came to watch the team and cheer them on. Many parents also came to support their girls as they played.

“This Bryant team is much improved over their teams in the past. They have a new coach and it is obvious she has worked with the girls to improve their game,” Michelle Cheshire, mother of Lindy Cheshire, said. “Northridge has a young team and no doubt will be even more competitive in the next few years.”

Allie Darden, outfielder, loves bonding with teammates and enjoys playing the game with the girls.

“My expectations for the games are diving for balls and battling at the plate,” Darden said. “I try my hardest no matter what the score is.”

Softball is a life passion for each of the players and they will play no matter what.

The players grow closer every day and encourage each other no matter what.

“I was so proud of my team!” Wilson said. “We played so hard and and competed the whole game.”

singles final

F U L L

Gabbi Fernandez sophomore

India Woods sophomore

Tyler Salekin sophomore

Izzy Nolan sophomore

doubles final

I N

always just sits me down and talks to me about getting better academically and on the court, and getting ready for the next level,” he said.

Senior Marquise Foster said he’s very excited for his teammate to play in the Super 5.

“It’s great that my teammate has this opportunity. I’m very happy for him,” Foster said.

Assistant coach Ethan Lawler said Kennedy deserves this opportunity.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Shamarkus. He is a great player and an even better person. It’s amazing to see an athlete [of our school] be successful.

All the success he gets is warranted and I am very proud of him,” Lawler said.

Kennedy said he’s trying to choose between two colleges to play for.

“At this point, I honestly don’t know [where I’m planning to go]. I’m still trying to decide between Chipola and East Mississippi but peer pressure from my family and my coaches have been the problem,” he said.

Grace Evans sophomore

Izzy Nolan sophomore

and

and

India Woods sophomore

Isabelle Buettner senior

whole team

wins sectionals Information compiiled by Addie Akins Infographic designed by James Niiler

The Northridge Reporter april 30, 2016

Appreciate the people you have in your life.

Never feel as if you have to go through tough situations alone.

“

Photo illustration by James Niiler

veryone has experienced grief and/or despair.

Some may handle it better than others, and that’s why it is always helpful to have people to rely on in your time of need.

The subject of grieving can be a touchy topic when it comes to losing loved one, because it is hard for one to open up about what they are feeling. It feels almost as if no one ever knows who is being affected with emotions they cannot explain. Grieving can make someone completely shut off from the world, and make that person distant to their friends and family.

As a school, we have been struck with grief since the passing of many loved ones within our school family and outside of school. We have people in the school who have lost family members, parents, and friends in tragic ways.

As a student body, we have overcome many obstacles in our years together. We have gathered for the sake of our classmates who have lost people from their own families and reached out to help them.

From my standpoint, I have had my fair share of death experiences. Whether in my family or not, no one has gone unmissed or forgotten. The loss of Ariel Backstrom, however, struck the most.

She was a best friend to not only me, but to other mutual friends as well. It hurt more to see my friends who were also close to her be saddened by her death. The day of hearing the news is still fresh in my mind, and I honestly felt alone knowing she was gone forever. As we all gathered together teary-eyed, we all reminisced about our times with Ariel.

No doubt about it, we all missed her as we began to tell stories of her wild adventures at the school. Despite the feeling of despair lingering, it warmed my heart to know that we can all come and be with each other when the time is right.

In life there are situations that are out of people’s hands, but that should not hinder us from working together to overcome tough obstacles. If it was not for loving friends and family, life would be harder than it needs to be.

Life is becoming too short to hold grudges and built up anger. Appreciate the people you have in your life. Never feel as if you have to go through tough situations alone. It is always easier said than done, but when times get rough, talk to someone. There are always reliable people in the school to help guide someone when they feel lost.

As everyone goes through their daily lives, remember to help those who cannot help themselves and become your brother’s keeper. A little kindness can go a long way if one is willing to help those in need.

E

camri mason photographer

Let’s be there for each other in times of grief

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Photo illustration by Sumona Gupta

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