The Northridge Reporter March 2016

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406

est. 2003

THE MARCH 31, 2016

NORTH RI D GE

www.northridgereporter.wordpress.com

REPORTER

The student voice of Northridge High School

VOLUME 13 ISSUE 6

Students, teachers wage war in can drive

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EGINNING IN LATE JANUARY, the announcement was spoken over the intercom every morning: bring cans of DelMonte sweet peas to your first period class. The class to obtain the most sweet peas would win a doughnut party.

The collection was part of a ‘can-struction’ project, Suzette Puzinauskas, art teacher, said.

“It’s a STEAM [science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics] competition beginning in elementary school, and lasting until college. This school has never participated [in this competition], but the Board of Education wanted the schools to participate this year,” she said. “The purpose is multifaceted: to encourage students to think analytically, and to be engaged in the community and give back to the community.”

At the end of the can collection, teams from each school participating would assemble the cans into sculptures at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, a downtown art gallery. Following this art installment, all cans would

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WE bloodsucking vampiresses DON’T NEED OUTSIDE HELP.

be donated to the West Alabama Food Bank, Puzinauskas said. The sculpture Puzinauskas’ team decided to create was a Leaning Tower of P’s, after the initial of her last name.

“I had a team of nine students participate in the event,

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TRINA BUSBY, ENGLISH TEACHER

AT A GLANCE GOGO GIRL

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HE MESSAGE ARRIVED for the school’s 39 AP Literature students at 1:17 p.m. Feb. 18.

“Johnson unequivocally tells lies,” it read. “I’ve NO sheisty alliances & his penchant for slander pales only 2 his fear of peeps & vampires...beware.”

Trina Busby, English teacher, had sent this Remind 101 to her students, after Scott Johnson, math teacher, had done likewise to his first period AP Statistics class.

The mission of their respective classes was simple enough: collect as many cans of peas of possible.

What had started as a friendly competition, however, quickly became heated. This wasn’t just students and teachers having fun.

This was war.

and basically it was a food drive. Because we started later than the other schools, we collectively decided on something simple,” Puzinauskas said.

Other schools in the Tuscaloosa City system had been collecting cans since August, however, and once Puzinauskas decided to participate in the project, she realized she needed all of the help she could get.

“She [Mrs. P] had only 493 [cans], and she needed 2000. I thought we could help her, and our students could get participation points as well,” Busby said. “I am really competitive, so it was all about making sure our cans were better than the other two schools’.”

Little did Busby or Puzinauskas realize that this can collection would quickly become something much more.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know that Mr. Johnson was competing. In the past, he always wins. But I had already beaten him once this year, so I thought we’d give him a run for his money. When I first decided to participate, it was for the class having participation points, and it was for a good cause,” Busby said.

As Johnson began to mobilize his first period class, however, the pressure intensified. Johnson’s class made alliances with other teachers to siphon off their cans, but Johnson gave no points to any of his students for providing cans. Busby, meanwhile, was accused of doing so.

“Participation points,” she said. “I give them points for participating in Northridge High School programs, including cultural events such as plays. I believe we should embrace the arts, and this is an arts program.”

The competition didn’t stop there, as a rumor spread among Johnson’s class that Busby had made an alliance with psychology teacher Erin Heck. Johnson began sending his class Remind 101’s on the competition.

“We bloodsucking vampiresses don’t need outside help,” Busby said.

“Mrs. Heck and I never had a conversation. Not once.

We’re not an alliance. The only Remind I sent was in response to Johnson’s litany of abuses.”

When collection finally ended, Johnson’s class had produced over 700 cans, and their victory was assumed.

But the controversy didn’t stop there, either.

TRACK page 10

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Photo illustrations by James Niiler

“I was overwhelmed and blown away by the contributions.

We had very few cans, and not until the Thursday before the event did we receive our cans. That was the last day, and Busby withheld a bunch of cans. My team was laying them out on the floor, and Busby dropped hers off,” Puzinauskas said. “They were already counting...and we couldn’t tell the difference between a Busby can and a Johnson can. It was chaotic. We felt we should honor both teams, and awarded both a doughnut party.”

Both Johnson’s and Busby’s classes were somewhat unhappy at this verdict.

“Puh-leeze. That was a calculated plot,” Busby said, laughing. “That was everyone piling on cans for Johnson.

They even stole from Mrs. Moore.”

Despite the clash between the classes, the pea collection ultimately ended well. The tower built by Puzinauskas’ team was seven feet high and four feet wide, and was composed of over 2000 cans, more than that of any other school’s, Puzinauskas said.

“Truly we’re so grateful,” she said. “I was more than pleased with the amount of cans. My team was the shining star. We worked together as a team and made new friends.

We had so much fun, and we’re looking forward to next year.”

There is one change Puzinauskas wants to make to next year’s can-struction project, however.

“It will be mandatory teachers count the number of cans prior to delivery,” she said.

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I think that to move to a different school with different people and a different environment will be hard on me. I also feel like I would miss some of my closest friends who I grew up with.

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JAMES NIILER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ALLIE MCMILLAN, SOPHOMORE

See story on PAGE 7

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OPINION

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

OUR THOUGHTS

School rezoning necessary and long overdue

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fter eight years of seemingly endless controversy and too little concern for its students, the Tuscaloosa City Schools has finally decided to rezone.

Since 2007, it has seemed that interests both in the city and in the school system have paid more attention to the fears and worries of adults, rather than what is best for the school system’s students. But finally, it seems this is beginning to change.

Of course, this rezoning project is not perfect. Many students are resentful that their lives are to be disrupted in such a prominent manner. The fact that this rezoning directly affects

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DEAR EDITOR,

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here are a great many people (especially in our area) who believe Obama has been a terrible president. If you’re someone who doesn’t really care about politics, this is perfectly understandable, but after the President’s State of the Union address last January, an article appeared in this paper which delivered, in a contemptuous tone, a scathing critique of President Obama’s record. I have no doubt that the author of that piece believed the things he was saying, but the claims made in the article demonstrate a profound lack of understanding of the state of our nation.

Take for example the idea that attacks by ISIS mean that America is militarily weak, and that the President was lying when he said “no nation dares attack us or our allies directly, because they know that is the path to ruin.”

Whatever they would like to believe, the Islamic State is not a nation. They’re an army of maniacs smaller than the NYPD, who run around high on meth shooting civilians with machine guns. They don’t fear us because they have no fear; they think that if the US invades Iraq, God will strike us down and trigger an apocalypse that will send them to paradise.

To put the power of ISIS in perspective, American citizens inspired (not actually sent) by ISIS have killed nineteen Americans. In Iraq and Syria, ISIS has sickeningly beheaded three American captives. Since the day they murdered James Folley, the Obama’s coalition has killed 20,000 ISIS fighters, and the Islamic state has lost Kobane, Sinjar, Ramadi, and dozens of other cities amounting to a total loss of 40% of its land in Iraq and 20% of its land in Syria.If we’re going to glorify these murderers by calling ourselves “at war” with them, I’d certainly say they’re losing.

Another misconception that some seem to have is that Obama has crippled our military. The example in last week’s paper, that forty 40,000 troops have been sent home, may be true, but is put seriously out of context. According to the Department of Defense website, the budget for 2017 (the last one the President had a say in) funds a total fighting force of 1,748,100 active duty and reserve sailors (and incidentally adds twenty ships to our battle fleet, at the administration’s request). If, over the course of his two terms, Obama has reduced that number from 1,788,100 to its current 1,748,100, I

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staff members...

AGREE.....11 ABSTAIN.....4

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only current high school students, and not rising freshmen, is also highly inconvenient.

How much this rezoning will affect racial diversity and the burden of overcrowding is all too uncertain, and it is upsetting that only some, but not all, students in the system are being granted the power of choice.

Rezoning will be a difficult and bumpy process, but it is our hope the positive changes it promises to bring can be effective. Though it is imperfect, we commend the Board of Education for attempting to make our school system more fair and accessible for the community at large.

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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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personally won’t feel any less safe.

A quick comparison of our military to that of our supposed-rivals, China and Russia, reveals how laughable the competition really is. Not only does America have the biggest Air Force in the world, but the air division of our navy is itself the second biggest air force in the world. The aircraft carrier is the brunt of the modern navy; without one, as a former British Royal Navy captain recently put it to me, “you might as well not have a navy.”

Most countries of any note have one: Russia has one, China recently bought an old Soviet carrier from Ukraine (that’s still not sea-worthy), bringing their total to one; America has twelve. That’s more than the whole rest of the world put together.

As for America not being able to build a wall across the Mexican border, there seems again to have been a misunderstanding. It wouldn’t be impossible, just stupid.

But the most mistaken idea of all is that Obama has somehow ruined our economy.

When Obama took office, America was losing 800,000 jobs per month. In February, we created 242,000 jobs. We are today (and have been for two years now) 1,000,000 jobs a month better off under Obama than we were under his predecessor. Meanwhile the stock market is breaking record after record, its occasional and brief downturns, says NPR’s Market Place are caused largely by the tremendous uncertainty in China’s economy.

And last year, noted Forbes business analysis, America surpassed Russia in oil production for the first time. In fact under the Obama administration the American oil industry has enjoyed, said Forbes, “more growth than in any other single presidency.”

If it were President Mitt Romney presiding over 4.9% unemployment, an oil boom, and soaring stock market, would Republicans be as angry at him?

SINCERELY, BERT

MCLELLAND

McLelland, senior, was former Opinion Editor of The Northridge Reporter.

DEAR EDITOR,

I

wish to report an irrational double standard that denies my First Amendment rights. For the past several months, my partner Thomas Lee and I have grappled with the censorship of my story, “History of the Future: Jack’s Travels.”

To accommodate the school board’s requests, I’ve removed all bodily harm and religious symbols from the trailer I wanted to work on in animation class. Currently the most violent part is an airship being destroyed by missiles, in which no gore is shown.

Keep in mind my teacher actually likes my project.

Recently I was shown in class Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot,” in which British soldiers and

colonial minutemen are torn apart by musket fire, and worse. This is a double standard: why can we be shown a movie where a guy gets a cannonball to the head, and yet I can’t show an airship exploding in a way that’s not out of place in a “Transformers” cartoon?

This is the time for my friends and me to take our stand: for our dreams, for our ideas, for our thoughts on society, for the First Amendment. Thank you, and God bless you all.

SINCERELY, JACK

FOXFACE

The writer of this letter requested to be identified under a pseudonym.

est. 2003

THE NORTH RI D 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 Asst. Sports Editor Jordan Hutchinson

News Editor Destiny Hodges Entertainment Editor Sumona Gupta Infographics Editor Sumona Gupta Opinion Editor Rebecca Han

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.

Advertising and subscriptions: Contact The Northridge Reporter at (205) 759-3734 ext. 295 or rlane@tusc.k12. al.us to advertise in or subscribe to our paper.

Copy Editor Thomas Mullins Art Editor Rebecca Han Head Photographer Camri Mason Business Manager Sumona Gupta 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.

Rhonda Lane, Adviser James Niiler, Editor-in-Chief Visit us online at northridgereporter.wordpress.com Follow us on Twitter @NHSReporter Follow us on Instagram @northridgereporter Visit our Facebook page, ‘The Northridge Reporter, 2015-16’ Check out our YouTube channel, ‘The Northridge Reporter’ See our paper ONLINE at issuu.com, ‘The Northridge Reporter’

OPINION

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

Art by Rebecca Han

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Rezoning plan flawed and disruptive

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CEDRIC BROWN STAFF WRITER

oming out of middle school, many upcoming freshmen know what high school they’re going to attend the following year.

As some middle school students attend high school sporting events, they get a glimpse of high school life and imagine what they could do to improve the school.

But what if that changed?

On Feb. 11, the Tuscaloosa City Schools Board of

Education passed a strategic plan to rezone a majority of their students to a different high school.

However, all upcoming seniors have the chance to stay at their current high school.

Upon the announcement many students complained.

As a person affected by the rezoning (despite being an upcoming senior), I don’t like the plan.

It relocates a good number of students to Paul W. Bryant High School—many of which saw the school as a rival.

If you have a substantial amount of people going over to a different school because the current one is “overcrowded,” then explain how moving these students to a different one won’t overcrowd the new one.

There are many flaws in this plan, but the main one is that they aren’t equally distributing the students. If you have a problem with the growth of the school, then take some of it away.

The key word here is some. There isn’t a reason for you to take half of a school’s population away and say you’re fixing it. It’s not justifiable… at all.

You have to think of the students as well. Some students

may only have friends at Northridge, and if you move them away, it could create a massive emotional toll on them.

Others may have personal rivals at the other school and that could just bring more violence. But that is ‘fixing it.’

With this change also comes change in the region’s athletics. Most of all of the schools’ athletes are going to Paul W. Bryant because of the rezoning, leaving the school with barely any athletes.

After one of Northridge’s best years in sports, that record will now be tarnished and will soon be a dream without our athletes. This is one of the major issues brought up by students.

Along with general student confusion, many teachers are unsure about their future home.

Many teachers have been at these schools for years; if you move them across town to unfamiliar territory, how would that make them feel?

There are too many things that can go wrong, and not enough that can go right. I can’t see this school system moving forward if they keep thinking backward. Things need to change, and they need to change fast.

the CO2 levels every year for the last 650,000 years. In the late 1800s, the level continues to rise and never goes down.

By 1950, it exceeded a point that had not been passed for 650,000 years. Along with this, temperatures began to rise.

2014 was the hottest year on record until it was beaten by 2015 - and this year is supposed to be hotter. 14 out of the 15 hottest years on record have happened in the 21st century.

To put all of this heat into perspective, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies reported a calculation showing that the energy trapped by man-made global warming pollution is now “equivalent to exploding 400,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs per day 365 days per year.” And 93 percent of the extra heat goes into the oceans. The temperature not only produces massive droughts, it causes ice caps to melt, seawater to evaporate causing frequent severe storms, and also threatens the ecosystem. Take ocean life, for example.

Temperature is paramount for breeding, and when it is too hot, fish do not breed and the species die out. This is not good; now sharks are having to hunt closer to the shores near people. This is not something to brush off and ignore; rather, we need to acknowledge this for what it really is: something that could change our world and civilization as we know it in just a few decades. This is something that our leaders have refused to do willingly.

Last year, Florida Governor Rick Scott ordered Florida Department of Environmental Protection workers to not even use the words “climate change” or “global warming.”

A year ago, Bart Bibler, an employee for the DEP said the words “climate change” at a teleconference and proceeded to speak against the Keystone Pipeline - a controversial oil pipeline that would extend from Texas to Southern Canada. Afterwards Bibler was forced to take a leave of absence and “seek a mental health evaluation.” Does this not seem extreme?

Climate change is affecting us right now. While weather is different from climate, the climate is affecting the frequency and severity of the weather. There are massive floods throughout the South. California and Puerto Rico

are going through serious droughts. The heat that caused the North Pole to be 50 degrees warmer than normal last Christmas was the same heat that caused the tornado in Birmingham and the other storms that week. However, not all of this is our fault. Climate is a measurement of the average temperature over a year, weather is random. That is why it would be stupid for a politician to hold a snowball and claim climate change is not real. Oh wait, that actually happened when Senator James Inhofe pulled out a snowball so he could exploit “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” But there is still hope.

Last year, 150 world leaders, including President Obama, came together in Paris to discuss the issue of climate change. The ending agreement was to try to keep the world warming under two degrees Celsius. And here in the U.S. we could do this. Using clean energy like solar and wind, we could significantly lower the need for fossil fuels and natural gas. Fun fact: the sun gives us enough energy every hour to fill all of the world’s energy for a year. In December, Germany used renewable energy to generate 81 percent of its electricity. Why are we not doing the same when we know we can?

The world is getting hotter, and that’s a fact. The greenhouse effect exists, and that’s a fact. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, and the rate at which it has become more abundant in the air has caused global effects that could soon become irreversible; both of these are facts. Something that always fools the country is when a politician says that they are not a scientist and they will leave the science to the scientists.

This is their excuse to backing away from scientific truths, but a politician doesn’t need to be a scientist to know climate change is real. I’m not a scientist, but I know the earth is round; I’m not a doctor, but I know injecting yourself with heroin isn’t good for you; I’m not a historian, but I know that slavery existed in America. “I’m not a scientist” or “The science isn’t in yet” aren’t excuses. The science is in; it’s the politicians who are out.

Threat of climate change inevitable

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WILL MCLELLAND STAFF WRITER

here is some bad news for the planet. The world is getting hotter. But the word ‘news’ is not a really a good word. We have known about this since the early 20th century. Scientists over the years have been trying to tell us, but our greed and our easy access to things like oil, coal, and natural gas stopped us from listening.

In case you do not know the science behind climate change, let me explain it. As we know, we get energy from the sun. Heat from the sun goes through our atmosphere and keeps the surface of the earth warm. As the temperature increases, heat from the surface is sent back into the atmosphere. This heat is then trapped by gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide.

These are also known as greenhouse gases.

That is how world gets hotter, but what do humans have to do with it?

Remember how I said carbon dioxide traps heat? Well, our industrial society has been emitting billions of tons of CO2 into the air for years.

According to NASA, between 1751 and 2003, the world has emitted 466 billion tons of carbon dioxide. NASA has also found that on average, the whole industrial world emits 30 billion tons of CO2 every year. If that is not enough for you, they have collected ice cores and direct atmospheric measurements which have been able to show what the climate was like centuries ago. One of the graphs showed

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NEWS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

Graphics by Destiny Hodges

Photo by Rebecca Griesbach

PLAY ON Tony Polion, senior; Justin Mucha, junior; and Rashawn Moore, junior, perform the winning act in the Mar. 8 talent show.

“Three Man Band” wins talent show REBECCA GRIESBACH MANAGING EDITOR

With the help of a spare Kenny G. saxophone track for added ambience, the theatre’s lighting and sound technicians set the stage for the school’s annual talent show on Tuesday, Mar. 8.

Its participants ranging from solo singers to a young Harry Houdini, the show displayed a diversity of talent. “[ Judging] gets harder when you have more than one person in an act…” judge Clifton Baker said. “We had to step back and break it down.”

Baker and fellow judges Meghan Truhett and Olivia Wilkes were given a scorecard on which they rated contestants on their “stage presence,” “technical ability” and whether or not they seemed “practiced.”

During a brief intermission, they tallied their scores and gave them to emcees Elizabeth Danner and Isabelle Buettner, seniors, to declare the winners.

Third place went to sophomore Natalie Jacks for her interpretive sign rendition of “Oceans” by Hillsong, while sophomore Jennifer Sudduth won second place for weathering a faulty microphone and a couple interruptions from the “magic man” (who had apparently left the stage with his microphone still on). She shed a smile and continued to sing and strum her ukulele to the tune of “I Can’t Help Falling In Love” by 21 Pilots, a resilient effort that reflected in her scores.

With few contestants left in the lineup, the “three man band” of juniors Justin Mucha and Rashawn “Easy” Moore, and senior Tony Polion, was awarded a first place prize of 100 dollars.

Ride a mile, smile a mile REBECCA HAN OPINION EDITOR

For sophomore Max French, many milelong cycling trips are no rare occurrence; on Sunday, May 21, however, he’ll be biking for a cause. Participating in the Ride of Love bicycle ride for the first time, he’ll be riding 150 miles “through the back roads of Alabama” (as stated on the organization website) in a ride starting from the Tuscaloosa IHOP and ending at Lake Martin in Alexander City.

All proceeds from the ride will be donated to Camp Smile-a-Mile, a summer camp dedicated to providing young cancer patients in Alabama with an exciting summer experience at no cost to their families. The ride is emphasized as one done in a group setting, in which bikers support and cheer each other on in the spirit of the camp. French is no stranger to the event, both his parents having been sponsors since its inception in 2001.

Though exposed to riding at a young age, he did not decide to compete until last year, when he became the youngest participant in the history of the ride and was featured on WVUA News.

“I’d been at the start of the ride as far back as I can remember, and one day I just decided to do it. It was probably around 8th grade when I decided to start training for it,” French said.

Although French is no cycling amateur—he judges he’ll likely be biking in a race

every other week starting Sunday until about the middle of May—this is the first time he will participate in a ride for a charitable cause.

French makes sure to ride every day, yet he only trains for about half of that time. Some days involve interval training, with intervals from 10 seconds to 10 minute endurance intervals. He tends to ride alone, but enjoys the company of others as well.

“Last year,” he said, “the whole ride took about 10 hours, along with rest stops and lunch breaks in between.” A less intense ride is also offered, lasting only 75 miles as opposed to 150.

The organization requires participating cyclists to have raised a minimum donation amount of $250. Its websites urges riders to set fundraising goals for themselves and get the word out to as many people as possible.

Money can be donated through check, cash, or online.

Last year, French, was able to raise around $250; this year, he’s aiming for $500. He does not exactly foresee a career in biking, though.

“It’d be nice if I became a professional athlete, but I wouldn’t be exactly devastated if I didn’t. The cool part of this ride is that [the camp] is free for the campers. Their funding comes from fundraisers like this. It’s not the biggest [fundraiser], but it’s one of the major ones,” French said.

To make a donation, visit https://runsignup. com/Race/Donate/AL/ TuscaloosaRideofLove.

“[The boys] started strong, and they finished strong,” Wilkes said. “...Beyond sheer score, they commanded the audience the best.”

After learning that Wilkes prided the boys on seeming the “most prepared,” Mucha let out a laugh.

“We really didn’t practice,” Mucha said while the boys returned their instruments to the band room. “We came in here like 30 minutes before the show and just fooled around.”

In fact, most of the boys’ performances, Mucha said, are impromptu; the boys tend to play around with a few riffs and “figure out licks here and there” before school gigs with the jazz band.

“During concerts [band director John] Cain says, ‘Just play,’” Mucha said. “...and we play.”

Mucha and Moore have have been playing a range of instruments since they were five years old. For Polion, he’s been drumming all his life.

Mucha, who plays the French horn, sousaphone, mellophone, guitar and piano, glanced around the band room, a room that he said had an air of nostalgia. “[Moore and Polion came] here [first] and they’ve been jammin’ [ever since]. When I got here, I just brought my guitar one day and started playing with them.”

Polion referred to “Easy” and Mucha as his brothers.

“These boys are very talented,” he said.

“They are very musically inclined. We love what we do.”

“This is our circle,” Moore said.

“It’s just us,” Mucha said. “It’s always been us.”

SUPER TUESDAY Trump wins Alabama WILL MCLELLAND STAFF WRITER

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n Mar. 1, Alabama got a front-row seat to the political show. It wasn’t just Alabama—eleven other states also got to vote this year for both local and national elections. This is all a part of something called “Super Tuesday.”

Every election cycle since 1988 has had a Super Tuesday. This is a part of the election that was designed to get a representation of what the United States as a whole thinks about the candidates.

This usually starts to shrink the number of candidates in the race because of the extreme number of votes coming in.

Which brings us to delegates.

Delegates are people who are chosen to vote for the nominees at the convention. Some are chosen by the ‘winner takes all’ method; others are chosen relative to the number of votes that the candidates get. Alabama is unique, because not only do the citizens of Alabama vote for the candidates, they also vote for eight specific delegates.

The Republicans in Alabama had 50 delegates to go to the convention and the Democrats had 53. However, this does not count superdelegates.

Superdelegates are strong tools for Democratic candidates. Rather than being chosen locally, these people have had or still have political power in their lifetime. They include governors, members of Congress and so on. There are 712 of them nationwide available to the Democrats.

Superdelegates, unlike regular delegates, are not required to stick to their candidate at the convention, so at the last minute, they can change their mind if they like. Republicans do not

UPDATE: Sanders and Trump have since climbed rankings, while Rubio and Carson have dropped out of the race. have superdelegates, but they do have unpledged delegates, who play the exact same role. The main difference is that unpledged delegates have less than half the amount of power over the primaries than superdelegates because there are fewer of them.

Alabama’s presidential primary results are as follows: on the Republican side, Donald Trump won with 43 percent and 36 delegates; Ted Cruz came in second with 22 percent and 13 delegates; Marco Rubio came third with 19 percent and 1 delegate; Ben Carson came in fourth with 10 percent and no delegates; and John Kasich finished last with 4.4 percent and no delegates.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton won with 77.8 percent and 44 delegates, and Bernie Sanders finished with 19.2 percent and 9 delegates.

ENTERTAINMENT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

A NIGHT IN ATHENS

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“Midsummer Night’s Dream” impresses with both acting and effects REBECCA HAN OPINION EDITOR With pomp and splendor, laughs and tears, the Actor’s Charitable Theater (ACT) brought to the stage William Shakespeare’s oft-dramatized “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” one of the iconic playwright’s strangest yet most memorable works.

Fairies in fantastic garb cohabit the stage with quarreling young lovers and swaggering craftsmen-turned-actors in a tale that begins with the entry of King Theseus and Queen Hippolyta (played by Britt and Melinda Marshall, respectively), making preparations for their wedding with the Master of Revels, Philostrate (Margaret Crowe). They soon welcome Egeus, an Athenian nobleman, who has chosen Demetrius (Tristan Hallman) to wed his daughter Hermia (Porsche Kemp), who instead loves Lysander (Harrison Thompson).

Meanwhile, a troupe of actors led

by Peter Quince (Carol DeVelice) is preparing to perform before the king for the festivities, most notable among them the ostentatious Nick Bottom (Will Henson, junior). In the mysterious forest, the king of the fairies, Oberon, seeks revenge against his Queen Titania over her withholding an Indian boy from him, sending his troublesome agent Puck (Eva Hutto) to do the work.

Havoc and confusion ensues, with Puck accidentally enchanting both Demetrius and Lysander to fall in love with Helena (Marissa Hayes), longtime unrequited lover of Demetrius himself. Along the way, Puck also happens to turn Bottom’s head into that of a donkey. The story is one of innumerable twists and turns, with multiple subplots occurring at one point, navigated skillfully by the actors and no doubt aided by the impressive stage work.

The set itself seemed simple initially; white sheets drape the platforms as the curtains open, with red, green and blue hues dancing upon the shadows. As they were whipped away and Puck was slowly lowered onto the stage, seemingly by magic, the audience emitted an audible gasp which quickly turned to a resounding cheer. Long, branching vines

overhang the ceiling as the light creates an ambient mood, reminiscent of what but midnight on a hot summer’s day.

The magical folk were garbed from head to toe in leafy branches and flowers, depending on their identity. Puck, arguably the play’s central character and portrayed spectacularly by Eva Hutto, wore two horns atop his head and open heeled shoes that almost resembled hooves.

Yet amidst all the play’s technical accomplishments and spectacles, what made “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the acting; from small roles, like Crowe’s Philostrate, to larger roles, notably Hutto’s Puck and Henson’s Nick Bottom, performances were filled to the brim with vigor and humor. Hermia, Demetrius, Lysander, and Helena brought to life the troubles and quarrels of young lovers, filling each word with passion and emotion. Bottom merrily bounced around the stage in his fits, swinging his fist in fury one second and jumping from one platform to the next. Puck danced around the mortals in glee, merrily setting his tricks into motion and making faces at Oberon behind his back. The cast did an excellent job bringing to life the ups and downs and emotions of a play written so long ago, and drew the audience into the action.

There was no shortage of laughs in this stage production. The play applied its own spin to the story, infusing it with fresh humor as Queen Titania falls madly in love with the donkey-headed Nick Bottom and Francis Flute (Harvey Lipscomb) emerges from backstage in a dress and gaudy makeup, portraying Thisbe in a play within a play.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” may be a play fraught with Elizabethan language and humor, yet nothing feels incomprehensible or stale in the ACT’s rendition. With its lively performances, immersive sets and costumes and plethora of laughs, the play is one that can be enjoyed by all, regardless of age.

It is Puck’s murmurs to the audience that wrap up the antics of love and loss: “If we shadows have offended, think this, and all is mended, that you have but slumbered here…no more yielding than a dream.”

Photos by Flashed Photo and Desgin

TOP Eva Hutto gets into character with makeup and wrdrobe. MIDDLE LEFT Porsche Kemp and Harrison Thompson share a scene together. MIDDLE RIGHT Glen Johnson and Eva Hutto wacth as Tristian Hallman and Harison Thompson (BOTTOM) fight over Helena, Marissa Hayes.

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FEATURE

3

1

schools

71% district

proficient

inmath

andreading

2770 students

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

graduation rate

73%

BOARD FINALIZES CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO

F

DESTINY HODGES AND JAMES NIILER NEWS EDITOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

or the first time since 2007, the Tuscaloosa City Schools system is to be rezoned.

“Plans for rezoning started 21 months ago as a part of the first report regarding overcrowding at some schools and under use at others by DeJong-Richter, [a data collection firm],” Earnestine Tucker, Vice Chair of the Tuscaloosa City Schools Board of Education, said in an email interview. “It was decided to rezone this year because of the need to address overcrowding at schools north of the river.”

Not only overcrowding, but the issue of race and socioeconomic status has played a major role in determining how the system’s schools should reflect the general population, Tucker said. The decision to rezone the schools this year is a direct reaction to the zoning that occurred in 2007 - a decision that was mired in controversy, especially over gerrymandering school zones and the racial segregation of Central High School.

“What the school board is facing today is the result of what was done in 2007. Rezoning was not done based on what was best for children but on what was best for adults,” Tucker said. “Families living in Morashire, which is down 69 South in 35401 zone, should never have been zoned to 35406. They live less than half the mileage to BHS [Bryant High School] than to NHS. Students living across from UPMS [University Place Middle] should never have been zoned to schools in the western zone. They live across the street in walking distance from UPES [University Place Elementary] and were changed and bused to the western zone. The overcrowding at schools was simply created by the sitting Board in 2007. Mr. [ James] Minyard and I were the only two blacks and voted against the plan because of its unfairness.”

Despite past controversy, Tucker is hopeful the new system will be beneficial.

“It is my hope that the advantages as well as disadvantages will be consistent among all schools affected by rezoning. Athletics will

be affected by all; some will gain and some will lose. Teachers will be shifted with units consistent with enrollment, money will follow the students,” she said. “Demographics will certainly change regarding race/economic statuses. NHS will have fewer black students as will RQMS based on geography/zones/ neighborhoods. CHS [Central High] will have an increase in diversity because middle year IB [International Baccalaureate Programme] will be there, and families living in the Forest Lake area will be zoned for WMS [Westlawn Middle]. UPMS will be resolved and WMS becomes the neighborhood school, leaving [students] there to attend CHS. Economics will change, but equity in teaching and learning should not impact these changes.”

Tucker said that although the Board submitted a final plan, it was not without its internal disagreements.

CHOICE “The board was in agreement in alleviating the overcrowding and balancing attendance zones based on residency or neighborhood schools. The issue of choice was the problem,” she said. “White board members supported allowing certain neighborhoods to continue having choice, which was not recommended by DeJong-Richter.

Our position was choice for all or choice for none. While others would have to attend zoned/ neighborhood schools, downtown and Country Club residents should do the same. The four blacks voted no twice because of the choice issue, and were prepared to vote no the third time until we agreed that choice would be for all students and not a select few. Community leaders worked through their school board district representative and were given the opportunity express their opinions in open meetings.”

OUTSIDE INFLUENCES The segregation of Central High was investigated by professional journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones in an award-winning 2014 article, “Segregation Now,” and The Northridge Reporter also

where we stand

on DIVERSITY:

investigated the students and cultures of Central and Bryant High Schools by participating in Tuscaloosa’s first-ever interscholastic exchange in the spring of 2015. These significant events actually seemed to have “little if any” impact on the school board’s decision, Tucker said. “[This was] mainly because students were not included in the process of developing the plan.

Input from students would have been helpful!” she said.

Tucker said she believed enough fairness was given to adults in expressing their opinions over rezoning, however.

“Board members were given to opportunity to recommend individuals for both the advisory and steering committee. Unfortunately, participation was very poor from the black community throughout the planning process. Multiple meetings were held with citizens being permitted to expressed their view from both sides,” she said.

“This process gave the community more than adequate time for input. Members from the white community were more vigilant in attending these meetings. Some community members voiced opinions after the final plan was presented for board approval.”

RAISING QUESTIONS Kyle Ferguson, principal, said the concerns he heard at our community meetings from a lot of parents was “why don’t we just transition the rising eighth graders since they’re all going to a new school anyways.”

“That’s the thoughts that I’ve heard from parents, but I’m not going to question the board or my superintendent because one thing that we all must realize is that this has been a two year study. We’ve paid a company a lot of money to come in and really dig through the data and make decisions based on it,” Ferguson said. “There’s always a lot of things that go into their decision making process that we’re not aware of that have

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a big impact on the decisions they make. I’ve asked myself, ‘Why are we doing the massive wholesale change? Why are we doing all of this at once?’ But it might have a lot to do with finances and expenses and cost because part of all of this plan is that they’re shutting down buildings and schools that are being underutilized. If you have a building that’s made for 800 students and you’ve got a 150 kids in it, man you’re wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars there every year just running air conditioning and heat for 150 kids.”

OVERCROWDING Ferguson said the whole purpose of rezoning the high schools was to level enrollment.

“At one point, [Northridge] had 1,359 kids this year, and Bryant had about 900, and Central around 600, so their intention was to level enrollment, and the plan that they first put into place that they passed would accomplish that by the number

now that all of the Central students will have the option to stay, it’s kind of causing a big delay. I really think that we’re still going to be over 1,200 students at the end of the day, but you know it’s definitely going to have an impact on the school,

and I hate to lose any students that we already have.

STUDENT REACTIONS Ferguson said he is beginning to see resentment in students.

“I’ve heard a few comments like ‘what’s it matter, I’m not gonna be here anymore anyways.’ It’s hard to continue, for a lot of kids, to

C

of kids we’re getting from Bryant and the number of kids that Bryant’s getting from us. You know after the dust settles,” he said. “Of course we have students transitioning to Central as well, but

have pride in your school when you know it’s not gonna be your school anymore, and that’s tough...There’s a lot of anxiety.”

Ferguson said one thing he’s looking forward to is adding

northridge

63% totalminority TOTAL ENROLLMENT

863

b

TOT

FEATURE

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

ACT

score

outof

studentson free/reduced lunch

23

3

and SPEAKING

O REZONE CITY SCHOOLS new programs that could not be obtained due to overcrowding.

“Right now our building capacity is supposed to be 1,139, and we’re well over 1300. One thing that we don’t have that Bryant and Central have is ROTC, and that’s a big stress for their kids because so many of their kids are in ROTC, and when they come over here, they’re not gonna have it, but when we see a

NORTHRIDGE

because we don’t have room for it, so I’m hoping that we see some additional programs as a result. The smaller your student body, the more opportunities that students get to do things like basketball. It’s a lot easier to make a team when you have fewer people trying out.”

Ferguson said he and Dr. Linda Harper, principal at Bryant, had the opportunity to meet with the students they are receiving from rezoning.

“I think Dr. Harper has done a good job of communicating with our students. We made sure that all of our kids who have been rezoned were able to meet with her when she came over. She’s a great lady, she cares about kids.

She’s actually a great close friend of mine, so we talk a lot about it, and I don’t have any reservations about the fact that she’s going to take care of our kids, and I think she’s excited about getting our kids because we have great kids,” Ferguson said. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet with some of their students, and it seems like, just from my first impression, they were very respectful and they listened attentively when I met with them.

My promise to them was that I wasn’t going to let them down when they got here. I had fun with them, but I’m already

CENTRAL

BRYANT

reduction in our population, [there’s a possibility],” he said. “Right now we don’t have a spare classroom anywhere. We don’t have any place to add any programs. I want to add ROTC here, but we can’t have it

begging them to play sports and to be in the band, and to get involved in extracurricular activities.”

STIGMAS While meeting with the students who will be transferring from Bryant, Ferguson said he ran

bryant

86% totalminority TAL ENROLLMENT

into misconceptions about Northridge.

“I asked [the students] about their perceptions of Northridge,and a lot of [people had] some big misconceptions about our school you know…

One of the questions I asked them was, ‘What do y’all think Northridge’s make up is?

Mostly white? or black?’ and they all said, ‘Y’all are mostly white,’ and I’m like *buzzer noise* ‘Wrong!’ I said, ‘Did y’all know that we have more black students than any other school in the district?’They were like, ‘What?’ I said, ‘We have more black kids than you do. We also have more white kids than you do. We just have more students, you know.’”

F

erguson said that the rezoning not only brings about hard times for students and teachers, but for parents too.

“All we can do is continue to take care of our kids while they’re here and encourage them, and I’ve really tried to do that and help our teachers understand the kind of stress that their kids are in - and parents. Your high school is a big deal. That’s your sense of pride. I’m a T.R. Miller graduate, and every time somebody says, ‘Where’d you go to high school?’ I’m like, ‘T.R. Miller baby, a tiger for life,’he said. “It’s such a big part of who you are, and that’s a hard thing for students to grasp when you’re half way through it, but I do know that this too shall pass, and that they’re gonna be okay. It’s just a stressful time to go through.”

Lee Garrison, Chair of the Board of Education, said he believes that people will start to see the positives of rezoning.

“No one wants to change schools, but with time I believe the students and community will see this as the big step our system took towards greatness… Down the road, I believe we will see this plan thrive,” Garrison said.

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Students voice concerns surrounding relocation

environment,” Hardy-Furr said.

Atkins pointed out the difficult effects of rezoning on coaches he idea of rezoning and teachers.

“This is extremely cruel to the next year has angered coaches who have put a lot of many students. their effort into shaping their The rezoning is taking place teams.

I also think teachers and between three high schools: coaches should at least be able to Northridge, Bryant and Central. work in any school they wish to Sophomore Allie McMillan, work in,” Atkins said. who has a possibility of rezoning The rezoning is also impacting to Bryant, stated that she was the lifestyles of the students uncomfortable with the idea of attending Tuscaloosa City changing schools.

Schools, but it might be for the “I think that to move best in the future. to a different school with “Although it will be difficult different people and a different at first, we might get used to it environment will be hard on me. I someday, I think it will still be a also feel like I would miss some of very life changing experience for my closest friends who I grew up all of us,” Hardy-Furr said. with,” McMillan said.

For longtime science teacher Kaylee Atkins, Beth Allaway, the sophomore, was departure of many upset about her students is deeply friends being I THINK IT saddening. rezoned to a WILL STILL BE “I’ll be sad to see different school. them go,” she said.

A VERY LIFE “I think “I would just add that rezoning CHANGING on to the building.” will be weird EXPERIENCE Lamenting the because people FOR ALL OF US. overcrowding at transferring Northridge and SHAMIA HARDY-FURR from school to other city schools, school will have she also spoke of different school the long distances sports teams and some students must travel to have inner school rivalry which attend school and mentioned that means there won’t be any school some action was necessary. spirit. I also feel like sports teams “Some students travel a long will be very different compared way to get here,” she said. “Some to now, and the hallways would travel from way south of Lowe’s... seem quieter or more awkward.” we are over capacity by about 300 Atkins said. to 400 students, so something McMillan was irritated by the needs to be done.” sudden thought of rezoning.

The plan will take a toll on “I feel like the upcoming Northridge’s sports programs, freshmen should be rezoned and including the football team, a not us. I am so used to Northridge blow to many coaches who have that I cannot imagine myself seen students grow and become in a whole new school. It’s very better athletes. frustrating to start all over again,” “I know that as a coach I’m McMillan said. going to miss those kids. We’re Shamia Hardy-Furr, losing a bunch of great kids, I sophomore, is also stressed about hate to see them go,” football rezoning to a different school coach Kyle Smith said. because of the pressure it might He, like everyone, was not sure put on her. of the exact number of children “I think that it is not fair to that would be leaving, but move away from the majority of reluctant to see most go. the people you grew up with from “Not even just talent-wise, but kindergarten. I mean this stress people that you want on your that the schools have exerted on us team,” he said. might cause social anxiety, which is not healthy in an educational SONIA MUZUMDAR STAFF WRITER

T

central TOTAL ENROLLMENT

“

“

2

avg.

7

Data from Niche.com Graphics designed by Rebecca Griesbach Figures are approximate and subject to change.

99% totalminority

8

ENTERTAINMENT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

YO U G O , G I R L !

Drama department’s production of ‘The Really Hip Adventures of Go-Go Girl’ was far-out pageant, as contestants Mavis, Oma, Phoebe and Nanette are told that they have all won. Just as their plane to Miami Not really knowing of what to expect takes off, however, it is caught in the tail of the school’s version of the play “The of a passing comet. The lights faded to Really Hip Adventures of Go-Go Girl,” black, and when they come back on, a few friends and I attended opening only Phoebe and Nanette are left. They night. I knew a few members of the cast, encounter High Priestess Marge, the ruler and I asked them a couple days before the of a distant planet, Sniggle O’Chesse. play whether it would be worth seeing. The girls find that Oma and Mavis have Of course, they said yes, but the feeling become conjoined by their bouffants. of anxiety still lingered before the play Marge tells the girls that their landing actually was viewed by the public. Come was prophesized, and that Oma and Mavis opening night, I found that the audience must go in search of ‘Mystery Formula X’ would sit on the stage with the perfomers in order to save her planet. As the fused themselves - something I was not familiar twins go off to find the Mystery Formula with. My curiosity was now at its peak, X, Moo Goo Gai Pan is sent to help them and I was ready for the play to begin. on their journey. Despite her being of The play opened with a 1960’s beauty Asian origin, she had an obvoius Brooklyn CAMRI MASON HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

accent, parodying the casts of 60’s movies.

After they take off, we meet Babs Broadway. Babs, a ‘normal’ college student, attends Nancy Sinatra State University with her plucky best friends Skip Steele and Muffy Midway. Skip and Muffy are oblivious as to why Babs disappears so often, but the audience knows why -Babs is secretly the superherione Go-Go Girl. Although Go-Go Girl’s only disguise is a cape, the two never catch on, adding to the hilarity.

Meanwhile, the fusion twins and Moo Goo Gai Pan plot to eliminate Go-Go Girl so that she will not stop their plans of obtaining Mystery Formula X. To get close to her, they pretend to be foreign exchange students from Peru and plan to kidnap Skip and Muffy. The evil space space vixens succeed at kidnapping them, luring Go-

Go Girl to them. Go-Go girl, being a good friend, risks her life to go save the two, fighting Marge in an exaggerated fight scene. With some help from Moo Goo Gai Pan, Go-Go Girl steps into action, defeating Marge and the space vixens and saving her friends. In the end, Babs figures out what the mysterious Mystery Formula X is; it was just hairspray all along!

She agrees to give them all the hairspray they need, and they part peacefully.

The story, purposefully zany, is a funny play on the the low-budget space movies of the sixties. Though the theater worked with limited props, the play’s unique interaction with the audience and fast quips made up for it, making for a night of laughs and far-out fun.

REALLY HIP! (Center) Daryn Lewis, senior, stars as Babs Broadway, A.K.A GoGo Girl.

(Clockwise from left) Jarrod Worley, senior, and Sarah Pierce, freshman, play Babs’ happy-go-lucky friends Skip Steele and Muffy Midway.

High Priestess Marge, the leader of the evil space vixens (Sally Ozment, senior) poses a threat to the planet .

The audience was able to participate in the play, standing just feet from the performers .

Zemirah Edwards, junior, plays Princess Dancing Squaw, GoGo Girl’s perpetually hungry sidekick .

Moo Goo Gai Pan (Collier Lunsford, junior) chooses good over evil, attacking Marge, who she previously worked for .

Baylor Russell and Emily Mcguire, juniors, play Mavis Lautenburg and Oma Beautmont, former beauty queens turned conjoined space vixens.s.

Photos by Rebecca Griesbach

ENTERTAINMENT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

Shark’s offers ‘character,’ great fare for low prices WILL HENSON STAFF WRITER

Shark’s Fish and Chicken has recently moved to a new location that is slightly less ominous.

The new location shares a space with Japanese restaurant, Teriyaki. It features a much more open floor plan, and, in what’s probably the biggest change between the old location and the new, windows.

Upon entering the building, it was clear that I would not be in for a fine dining experience.

The metal tables and chairs, the bright fluorescent lights, and the fastcasual style ordering booths created a style reminiscent of a school cafeteria, which for most is not a welcome sight.

However, the staff was very lively, and the customers seemed content. It wasn’t loud, as one would expect from such an atmosphere, but it wasn’t so quiet that parties were fearful of their conversations being overheard.

I saw these things as a sign that I was about to have a good meal. A firm believer in dives and holes-in-the-wall, I always prefer cheap restaurants with good food and a little character over the trendy, expensive venues that seem to be a dime-a-dozen these days.

I ordered my food, and after a pleasant exchange with the employee taking my order, I went to fill my cup and sit down in one of the cold metal chairs.

While I waited on my ticket number to be called out,I sat in silence and took in the scene.

Although I was alone, I felt like I had company in the diverse assortment of characters with me in the building. It was interesting to see a restaurant that catered to the tastes of so many different types of people.

My food took about fifteen minutes,

which is more than some would prefer to wait for ‘fast’ food, but the wait was absolutely worth it. The fried chicken with lemon-pepper seasoning, the dish that Shark’s is probably best known for, was all but still sizzling when it was handed to me. I was already hungry from the wait, but as I brought the dish back to my table I could hardly contain myself, even going so far as to risk burning my mouth on the freshly cooked chicken. For seven chicken tenders, the price was very modest.

The first bite was incredible. The chicken was crunchy, but at the same time, it almost seemed to melt in my mouth with a burst of flavor. The lemon-pepper gave it a slight tang that distinguished this chicken from all the rest, and created a nice contrast between the sweet and salty, a flavor combination that I do not normally find appealing.

The chicken was so good that it hardly needed any extra dressing to enhance it, but for those so inclined, a combination of buffalo sauce and ranch provided the best complement, with honey-mustard trailing as a close second.

The fries that came with the meal were decent. They were also made hot, which made them better, but without the seasoning that made the chicken tenders perfect, the fries would be of about the same quality as in other venues.

By the time I made my way to the seventh and final chicken strip, I could tell that I was very full, but pushed through anyways, determined to enjoy every bite.

Shark’s Fish and Chicken is a place that stands out to me even through all the dining options that Tuscaloosa now offers. It may not be high-class, but it is a restaurant with character, good food, and great prices.

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Photos from Tribune News Service

GO FOR THE GOLD ‘Race’ tells the true story of Alabama native, Jesse Owens, an Olympic champion who fought against racial prejudice in the US and in Nazi Germany.

Reviewer finds “Race,” the story of Jesse Owens, entertaining and educational JORDAN HUTCHINSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The movie “Race” provides a very familiar concept to a very familiar and often talked about period in history: the 1930’s. The 1930’s was a decade infamous for widespread American depression, crazy hierarchies, and crumbling world politics that began World War II. “Race” shows the story of Jesse Owens (Stephan James) and his rise to fame as the fastest human alive, his other accolades in broad jump, and the four-man relay in the 1936 Olympic Games. However, it strays from the typical path of every sports movie by including the world politics involved with the Olympic Games. It provides a dual plot, if you will, that shows the behind-thescenes of Jesse’s performance.

The cast was decent. I was not a fan of Jason Sudeikis as Jesse’s coach, as I would have liked to see an older and more serious actor. Every time I saw him, I thought of his more comedic roles such as his role in “We Are the Millers.” For me, it took away from the very serious feel of the film. Stephen James, I thought, played a magnificent Jesse. The rest of the cast played their roles very well, though some of them were a little

bit over the top.

The cinematography was fantastic. There was a scene where Jesse was standing in an arena and the camera just circles him for a good thirty seconds. It showed the crowd perfectly, and made me feel nervous at how many people were there. There were no awkward cuts or bad lighting at all. It felt like I was just spectating his life standing right in front of him, instead of through a camera lens.

Overall, “Race” is a fantastic film chronicling the life of Jesse Owens from his start at Ohio State to the pinnacle of his achievements. While it was a more typical sports film, it was also about a real person, making it hard to deviate too much for fear of inaccuracy. The issue of ethnicity has the potential to be powerful in movies like “Race”, and this film has the right amount of racial struggles included. “Race” reminded me a lot of “42”, a recent film following the story of Jackie Robinson, which I also enjoyed very much.

In conclusion, “Race” is a fantastic retelling of the story of Jesse Owens. I would recommend it to anyone, whether you know everything about Jesse Owens or you have never heard his name. Either way, you will learn something.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE KIDS’ MOVIE ‘Zootopia’ is Disney’s most culturally relevant movie to date SUMONA GUPTA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Before the movie started, I told my friend that we should buy our tickets on Fandango, just in case. It wouldn’t hurt.

And, lo and behold, when we walked into Auditorium 7, it was jam-packed with jittery kids and their less-than-ecstatic parents, sitting in wait to watch “Zootopia,” Disney’s latest animated offering. We were late, and the theater was already almost full, so we settled down in the second row, craning our necks upward. I told myself that this movie better be worth the neck pain in the days to come, as I’m getting a little too old for movies like this.

After a few trailers for some other upcoming kids’ movies (apparently the “Angry Birds” movie is still happening) the movie began. The screen fades to black; a helpless bunny hops through a forest, unaware of what we see, the ferocious tiger crouching in the underbrush, ready to strike.

Just before it does, however, we realize that the scene is not real. It’s revealed that this is just a crude simulation from a children’s play. But in this case, the “children” are baby animals, wearing costumes on a stage for their parents’ entertainment.

They explain that long ago, animals were separated into “predators” and “prey,” living in fear and violence. Now, they say, all animals live in peace, and they can be whatever they want to be. The little tiger (who formerly played the ferocious one), says that he would like to be an actuary

when he grows up, wearing a suit and tie.The bunny proudly proclaims that she would like to be a police officer, but her costume solicits chuckles from the parents watching the play, to her dismay. Even in this world, it is apparent that it would be ridiculous for a bunny to be a cop. This bunny, Judy, is the main character of the story, and her unrelenting goal to make her world a better place is the driving force of the movie.

When Judy grows up, her dream does not falter. She is still determined to become a police officer, and dreams of moving from her humdrum life in Bunnyburrow to the bustling, glittering, eponymous Zootopia, where animals of all kinds live in harmony.

Her parents, both carrot farmers, ask her to stay behind with them and her hundreds of siblings, warning her about the predators— especially foxes—in the big city “because it’s in their biology.” But she brushes this off, saying that she knows plenty of foxes that are nice and plenty of bunnies that are mean.

This sentiment is one that is surprisingly familiar on two fronts. For women and girls who leave their families when they go to college or move to a big city, these words are almost exactly the same as the ones we’re told. But another more timely and more important theme is (not so subtly) hidden in these worlds, that of prejudice.

This is explored more deeply later.

Judy takes a train to the colorful city of Zootopia, which is cleverly designed to accommodate animals of all kinds (something that older viewers can appreciate). It is split into districts, each

representing a different biome (for example, there is “Sahara Square,” “Tundratown,” and “Little Rodentia”). The animals, all anthropomorphic and of all shapes and sizes, are something younger viewers would like. Disney’s animation team, once again, makes this world engaging enough for people of all ages to enjoy.

The storyline, however, is what makes “Zootopia” stand out. Judy, who worked hard to graduate at the top of her class in the police academy, finds herself belittled (sometimes literally) by her colleagues, as they dwarf her with their size. At every turn, she is told she is too small, “cute,” or even a “dumb bunny.” Zootopia is like many children’s movies in which the underdog perseveres through adversity.

However, it is different in the way it presents the underdog, as the language used to put down Judy is familiar to women in the workforce. In fact, female police officers were brought in to talk to Disney filmmakers during the writing process, telling them the challenges they faced being taken seriously, much like Judy.

Though Judy is realistically disheartened, she continues on, taking a case against her superior’s wishes. She is given an ultimatum, to solve the case or to lose her job. To accomplish this, she blackmails a sly fox named Nick that had conned her before, as he is the only lead she has in the case. Though he is her natural enemy, the two get along pretty well, bantering entertainingly in their new adventure.

Things get complicated when the

“predator” and “prey” groups become divided after a conflict related to Judy’s case. The prey, explained as the majority population of the city, become wary and prejudicial toward the predators, saying that they are justified because of the predators’ “DNA.” Even Judy, who seemed to be the moral compass of the movie, inadvertently shows her ingrained prejudice by saying that predators are reverting to their “primitive, savage ways.”

This conflict, again, is a not-so-subtle reference to conflicts we face in the real, human world, this time, race. The majority population of the city (the prey) could be compared to white Americans while the minority (predators) could be compared to black Americans or other minorities.

With police brutality and hateful rhetoric toward minorities coming to the forefront of the political landscape, this movie is timely in its portrayal of harmful prejudice that could be compared to the kind that currently plagues our country. It delivers it simply and bluntly, in a way that is literally easy enough for a child to understand.

Of course, oversimplifying the issue is expected when the message is delivered to children. I didn’t expect the movie to have any relevant message at all, so the fact that it did at all was a pleasant surprise. The point is that it gave a very important and timeless message, perseverance and togetherness.

The movie, though it has a message, is still clever and cutely funny. To my surprise, however, the movie had more laughs for adults than it did for

10 SPORTS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

Track team excels in invitational meet SUMONA GUPTA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The school hosted the annual Jaguar Invitational track meet on Saturday, Mar. 26. Twenty-eight schools across Alabama competed in running events like the 800, 400 and 100 meter relays; low, high and intermediate hurdles; the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs; and the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes. They also competed in field events like long jump, shot put, triple jump, javelin throw, pole vault, high jump and discus.

The team opened the season at the University of Southern Mississippi High School Invitational earlier this month, the boys placing second and the girls placing fourth. The boys placed first and the girls third in the Hoover Optimist Relays on Mar. 4. On Mar. 12, at the Winfield Ice Breaker Track and Field Meet, the boys won and the girls placed second.

Jeff Sparks, track coach, said that afterward, the team competed in the Homewood Invitational at Samford University on Mar. 19.

“We were on spring break, so we didn’t have a great meet – we didn’t even have everybody – but here we are, at home, with the Northridge Invitational, and the guys and girls have never not won the Northridge Invitational. It’s been thirteen years, and we’ll see if we can keep that streak going.”

Kameron Miller, freshman, participated in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and the 4 x 400 meter relays. Miller said that he has high hopes for the team’s performance in the coming season.

“We have a good program here and we have talented kids. We’re moving on up,” he said. “I think we have a good chance of [competing in the] state [competition] this year.”

Fred Bates, senior, competed in the triple jump, long jump, high jump and javelin throwing events. He said that he was confident that the team would place well at the Jaguar Invitational.

“We will win, because we always win. We haven’t lost a track meet here in thirteen years, and we’re going to keep that going,” he said.

Of the team’s chances for competing in the state invitational, Bates said they have their work cut out for them.

“The only thing now is focusing on getting to state and beating Opelika [High School] because that’s the only team that stands between us and first place,” he said.

The team ranked first place overall in both mens and womens competitions at the Jaguar Invitational. They are set to compete next on Apr. 2 at the University of Alabama Track High School Invitational, Apr. 9 at the Central High School Falcon Invitational, Apr. 15-16 at the Mountain Brook Invitational and Apr. 19 at the West Alabama High School Championships at Central High School.

Photos by Destiny Hodges

ACTING WITHOUT EXPECTATION Alexious Cooper and Sydeny Woods, seniors, and Shameria Simmons, sophomore, starting off 100 meter dash race (TOP).

“I plan to work extremely hard, getting as amny scholarships as possible,” Simmons said.

“Track has shaped my high school experience in many ways. One is making such an awesome friendship with my fellow mateson the track team,” she said. “Also, the start of a wonderful future career for myself. With the help of Coach Jeff Sparks, anything is possible.”

Simmons said working at meets is fun beacuse she is surrounded by her friends.

“I do meet a couple new people,”she said. “It is easy to get along, becasue we all have something in common.”

In the Homewood meet, the girls placed first, over all schools invited to the meet.

“I personally think my performance wasn’t my best,” Simmons said. “I don’t think I did as good as I know I am capable of, but next meet, I am striving for better,” she said.

RUNNING TO OVERCOME Brooke Gaines, freshman, said she has been running since 2007. (BOTTOM) “[Running in track] allows for me to express myself,” Gaines said. “I run because [it] proves to myself that I can overcome any obstacle.”

SPORTS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM JAGUAR INVITATIONAL Photos by Destiny Hodges

Whitmer finds future in horseback riding ADDIE AKINS STAFF WRITER

Freshman Abigail Whitmer has found joy in competing in horse riding competitions across the nation.

“Horse riding has always been a part of my life, but around two years ago in the spring I gained interest in showing at higher levels and competing for national points and horse shows,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer has been riding since she was eight years old. She started competing at high level shows at age 12. She has gone through at least nine horses in the past two years.

“I buy horses that I can work on and make better. When we think they’re good enough, we show them, and then sell them for as much as we think,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer has competed in some of the top 30 nationwide horse shows in places like Washington D.C. “Only the top 30 in the country get to go, and I’ve been once,” Whitmer said.

Her first horse show this year was on Feb. 25­-28 in Fairburn, Georgia. “We decided to go to this early of a show because I can’t

show during the whole month of March,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer said she usually competes in the Junior Hunters Championships, which consist of 16­-18 year olds.

Whitmer is taught by trainer Ashley Morrison, or Jenny Darst when Morrison is not available.

“Ashley not only teaches me, but she’s always there to support me and the others trained by her,” Whitmer said. “She knows how far to push you and when to just let you have an easy day. Jenny always tries her hardest to make sure that you’re prepared, as she says, ‘Second is the first loser.’”

Whitmer plans on going to national horse shows later in the year with Morrison and Darst. She plans on riding and competing throughout her college years. In the future, she wants to own a barn and train horses and advanced riders.

Despite her success in competitions, her love remains on the riding itself.

“I can’t go a day without riding. It is my life. My love. Other girls enjoy softball or soccer, but I will always stick with horse riding no matter what,” she said.

Photo by Addie Akins

JUMPING HURDLES Abigial Whitmer, freshman, competeing in the junior class divison for hurnter round on Feb. 5.

MacVicar, long time golfer, says golf ’s not just for guys

FATEMA DHONDIA STAFF WRITER

driving, the long shots.

“I can’t really hit far,” she said.

MacVicar is a senior and plans to continue golf in The first time Ryan MacVicar started playing golf, she college. was seven years old. She quickly learned that golf is an “I plan on playing for Wellesley College, which is right unpredictable sport. outside of Boston,” she said. “It’s really small and they “The first time I played golf it was very confusing, and don’t offer sports scholarships, but they can difficult, and also a little frustrating,” she said. support the application. It’s kind of like a “Neither of my parents played golf, but we heard scholarship but without getting the money.” about a program from some friends and that’s MacVicar does not think golf is a very how I started playing golf.” common sport among females.

MacVicar has been competing since she was “There is definitely a difference between in seventh grade. male and female golfers and because females “In a school week I train 24 hours; 10 hours don’t play that much golf, people think that in the week and 14 hours in the weekend, and we don’t take it seriously,” she said. “But I on the holidays I train 30 hours in the week,” would like to encourage more girls to play MACVICAR she said. “Golf is very time-consuming, but I do golf.” participate in Young Life and I like to spend The unpredictability of golf makes the time with my friends and family.” sport a lot more fun for MacVicar.

She thinks her biggest strength is chipping, the short “I like the challenge and that it always brings something shots you make on the green where the goal is. new,” she said. “It never gets boring.”

In contrast, she thinks that her biggest weakness is

“

I like the challenge and that it always brings something new.

”

RYAN MACVICAR, SENIOR

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the moderate’s dilemma

election 2016 THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER MARCH 31, 2016

s the presidential race heats up, Democrats and Republicans are trying to obtain every demographic possible. As a new generation comes up to participate, young voters have the potential to sway the race in either way and dictate who the next president is.

Unfortunately, it seems that the active student voting population is barely above 50%. This is extremely surprising considering that many students are quite vocal about their political stance.

Social media is littered with posts about political stances

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Why are students not voting?

trying to sway voters, but voting stalls are almost void of young life. It is quite sad that so many people are so passionate about politics, but when it comes to actually participating and committing to those ideas all the passion seems to be dead.

Not all things are bad, though. When looking at the nation as a whole the youth voting count has increased to about one third of total votes. This includes ages from 18 to 29, showing a positive increase to the youth participation from past years. Hopefully this trend will SETH CUNNINGHAM continue to increase as the year goes on, making sure that our generation gets the voice it deserves.

Low youth voter turnout dismays columnist

the youth vote

he 2016 Presidential election has turned into something a little on every issue, progress cannot exist.

It is easy to complain about President Obama’s lack of action, but short of reality television. Practically all the major news outlets after weighing the fact that he has been continually vilified by the have commented on this fact, and not without reason.

Republican majority in Congress, it seems much more reasonable.

Some would say the tone of this election has been influenced by the A president should be able to bridge the gap between parties, which pervasive instant-gratification culture that exists in the United States is a difficult undertaking when the opposing party aims to block any today. and all actions he takes, no matter how reasonable.

However, the issue runs much deeper than that. Partisanship has Ronald Reagan, a man often seen as a hero by the Republican taken a firm hold on this country.

Party, did not employ these obstructive tactics when faced with a Although they might claim otherwise, people no longer vote for Democratic majority in the House and the Senate; he people; they vote for parties. This leads to an increasingly was willing to work with the Democrats on issues and fewer number of moderates left. make compromises that acted in favor of the people, not Think for a moment about all the potential candidates the party he belonged to.

As a result, the Democratic in this election. Not a single one comes anywhere close majority was willing to work with him. to moderate.

Regardless of his policies, it is clear that this is the The leading candidate in the Republican primary, mark of a good president, and the Republicans of today Donald Trump, is as conservative as a candidate could should realize that this tactic, not passionate and hateful possibly be -- and an actual reality TV star. rhetoric, is what created Reagan’s image as a paragon of On the opposite end of the spectrum lives Bernie the Grand Old Party.

Sanders, the Democratic-Socialist senator from WILL HENSON The media has not helped this problem, spewing Vermont. emotional hate towards the candidates of the opposite There are many who do not wish to vote for such a party.

The golden-age of journalism in America has long radical left-wing candidate. since passed.

It’s sad that in a time where we have an infinite wealth Whether leaning liberal or conservative, moderates don’t appear to of information at our fingertips, it takes serious effort to find a news have an immediate alternative. Eventually they are forced to pick one source that reports without bias. extreme over the other, or to not vote at all. The third option is to George Washington, the first great statesman of the Union, warned vote independent, but many people see this as wasting a vote, which is against partisanship in his Farewell Address. “The common and another issue in itself - leading to an embarrassingly low voter turnout continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the in 2012 at 54.9 percent. interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.”

As moderates cease voting, or merge into one of two extremes, the It is almost a surreal experience to read Washington’s words today, two political parties become more separated. and to realize that we failed him. Partisanship has won in favor of the Compromise is supposed to be a chief component of our system, but common man. when the politicians of differing ideologies strive to fight each other

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Bad choices abound in ugly political landscape

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Graphic designed by Sumona Gupta

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MARCH 31, 2016 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 6