February 2019

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406

est. 2003

THE FEBRUARY 2019

NORTH RI D GE

www.northridgereporter.wordpress.com

REPORTER

est. 2003 The student voice of Northridge High School

VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN Students reflect on longest government shutdown in history WILL MCLELLAND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The government shutdown, which ended last month, directly affected the lives of 800,000 federal workers and their families, including a few Northridge High School students or their families.

Government employees across the country were left unpaid for 35 days, some furloughed and some not. One department that was heavily affected by the government shutdown was the Transportation Security Administration. Senior Esclavon Prewitt’s cousin, who is an airport employee at the Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, was greatly impacted by this shutdown.”

“It was hard,” Prewitt said. “She had to get a side job just to take care of her two children since she wasn’t getting paid.”

Since the government reopened late last month, Prewitt said he doesn’t have the same level of trust that he had before the shutdown started. “[This] major shutdown had many consequences,” Prewitt said.” “It affected people who are living paycheck by paycheck and [that have] a family. It also affected people who don’t even agree with why the shutdown happened.

[Before the shutdown, the government] was pretty efficient to me. It kept us safe and workers were getting paid their wages for their services.”

One student affected by the shutdown was senior John Mucha. Mucha’s family was able to make ends meet, but his father was furloughed by the government.

“My dad is in the [Navy Reserves,]” Mucha said. “He almost didn’t go to drill [in New Orleans], and then he didn’t get paid for a while. He didn’t get paid for about two weeks because you get paid every two weeks. He has two government jobs - he works for the VA hospital here [and] was fine.”

Prior to the shutdown, Mucha had plans to serve in the military, but after seeing what happened for over a month in the government, he is starting to have second thoughts.

“It kind of changed my views because I was planning to go into the military right out of high school,” Mucha said. “I’m kind of iffy about it now with the way this country is going.”

Mucha supports President Trump’s pro-

SIGNING WITH WASH-U

SEE PAGE 7

posed border wall and wants to see it be built, but he disagrees with the way the White House tried to gather the funds for the wall.

“I feel like [President Trump] is kind of abusing his power,” Mucha said. “He’s kind of shutting down the government because of what he wants, not because of what everyone else wants. There [were] a lot of people not getting paid, [and] a lot of people out of jobs [during the shutdown] and stuff because he wants the wall.”

Although he doesn’t agree with the Pres-

don’t agree with people being able to come into our country, not pay taxes, take our jobs, and be free loaders. I’m not against people becoming citizens of our country; I just don’t agree with people coming to our country and living here and taking our jobs and not becoming U.S. citizens.”

Another student, sophomore Elizabeth Webber, was fortunate enough not to be seriously affected but had the shutdown continued her family could have seen major impacts. “[The government shutdown] didn’t

OPEN FOR BUSINESS President Trump announces the temporary reopening of the federal government after the longest shutdown in history. (Photo from Tribune News Service) ident’s methods of leaderimpact my family as much, ship via tweets and conbut there was a lot of wortroversial statements, ry,” Webber said. “[My he does see the need mother] is the bankfor a wall at the rupcy administrator for Southern border. the federal courts in “I’m half Mexithis district. She never can,” Mucha said. missed a paycheck be“My mom’s full cause the federal courts Mexican, and my are still funded by the mom is a Trump supfederal government, but porter, and my mom they are in a lot of ways agrees with the wall as self-sufficient, so they could well. I even have cousins find money from [their surhere in plus] and America they could that are il- NEGOTIATING Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and pull it to legal that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi leave the White House after be able to live in Tex- meeting with President Trump in attempt to end the govern- pay all their as, and I ment shutdown. (Photo from Tribune News Agency). workers.

HALL OF FAME

SEE PAGE 3

TCS ART SHOW

SEE PAGE 6

Fortunately, every two weeks they were like, ‘We will be able to pay you until this day,’ and we got lucky enough that the shutdown ended just in time for them to have enough [money].”

Webber was disheartened by what she saw in the news concerning the shutdown.

Instead of money being spent on a wall, Webber said that she wished the money would be spent elsewhere.

“We don’t need a wall,” Webber said. “[There are] things we can do instead of wasting money on that. We could fix the root of the problems that [are] causing people to immigrate like doing foreign aid projects that could help the world as a whole as opposed to just shutting people out. This whole thing has been about the immigration debate, and what I think a lot of people don’t think about is [that] we are a nation of immigrants. America’s culture is built on the cultures of other countries around the world. We’re not American because we’ve lived here for longer than others have; we’re American because someone before us came from somewhere else, often trying to escape things like poverty, to build a better life. Shutting the government down over trying to keep people out of our country who are trying to seek a better life for them and their children I feel is really wrong.”

Webber said she has a clear interest in politics ,and she has expressed to her friends that she may one day want to run for office herself. Observing the political atmosphere around the shutdown only seems to intensify Webber’s enthusiasm.

“It’s everyone’s job to vote once you’re able, but even more so, if you’re able to, serve your country,” Webber said. “Trying to positively impact other people’s lives in any way should be something that all of us as Americans want. Being able to impact things such as reopening our government, and making sure that American families and those that want to become American families are protected, and that their rights are protected. I feel like that’s something I really want to do with my life.”

HUMANS OF NORTHRIDGE

SEE PAGE 8

2

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER FEBRUARY 2019

OPINION

OUR THOUGHTS

On the dangers of blanket cynicism This past January saw the end of the longest government shutdown in history.

During that 35 day period of hundreds of thousands of innocent bystanders not getting paid to do their jobs, some form of these phrases have been said over, and over, and over again: “Both sides are acting like babies,” “People on both sides need to put aside their differences and come to the table.” “All politicians are being irresponsible.”

To those who have said something along those lines, it is possible that you genuinely believe in that statement. Yet there is something you should take into account before beginning to repeat that sentiment; do you really believe that, or is that just what is the most convenient for you to say in the moment?

Every year, especially during an election season, you might hear, “I don’t care about politics that much,” but then when something needs to be addressed by our leaders, they complain to their heart’s content about how messed up politicians are. This isn’t the wisdom of the independent thinker; it’s the cluelessness of faux bipartisanship.

It is a good thing to always try to make a compromise with someone you disagree with in a civilized way, but some things are worth taking a stand on. The wall “or whatever you wanna call it” as the President now says, is one of those things where you can’t just give up in the spirit of bipartisanship. The government did not need to be

[

shut down over something that ultimately led to nothing.

Last year, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would have funded the entire government without funding for a border wall, and that was expected to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the President. However, the President changed his mind when rightwing columnist Ann Coulter criticised him for failing to build the wall he promised.

The President let one loud voice get to him, and to gain back respect he cut off the the incomes of 800,000 people.

So put yourself in the Democrats’ shoes.

In the face of last month’s shutdown, do you not allow $5.7 billion to be spent on the downpayment for a wall that was born from xenophobia, that without a doubt will not work because the overwhelming majority of undocumented immigrants travel on airplanes and overstay visas, and let down the majority of Americans who do not want a wall and who you were elected to represent… or, do you give up and agree because that’s what will make you look good to people who probably do not know your name and will not vote for you?

Saying that both sides are dysfunctional is a way for people to pretend to care about what’s going on in government while simultaneously being politically illiterate. As hard as it is, we have to accept that one party shutdown the government to keep a hollow promise, and the other one stood for what was right. One party stripped families

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

SPECIAL THANKS TO

DR. APRIL LANE

of their income, took medicine away from those who needed it, made people file for unemployment benefits while working full time, put our national security in jeopardy, and wasted $6 billion, and the other represented the people who elected them and

“Dam it Donald!”

[

staff members...

AGREE.....7 DISAGREE.....1

kept their promises. Faux bipartisanship is easy and accomplishes nothing but make you feel good - taking a stand is hard and protects those who cannot fight for themselves.

Artwork created by Luke Martin

[

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER est.

THE NORTH RI D G E REPORTER The student voice of Northridge High School

est. 2003

Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3590 ext. 3432 Managing Editor Addison Taylor Feature Editor Emily Matthews Sports Editor Kennady Kidd News Editor Grace Jeong Opinion Editor Luke Martin

Editor-in-Chief Will McLelland Art Editor Luke Martin Cover Editor Emily Matthews Entertainment Editor Addison Taylor Front Page Editor Will McLelland

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.

Head Photographer Emily Matthews Website Editor Sylvia Maples Twitter Editor Luke Martin

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.

[

Visit us online at northridgereporter.wordpress.com Follow us on Twitter @jagsreporter Follow us on Instagram @northridgereporter Visit our Facebook page ‘The Northridge Rep’ See our paper ONLINE at issuu.com, ‘The Northridge Reporter’

ENTERTAINMENT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER FEBRUARY 2019

3

Netflix’s ‘Bandersnatch’ capivates viewers ADDISON TAYLOR MANAGING EDITOR

After months of teasing a new season and a feature-length film, Charlie Brooker and the creators of Netflix’s Twilight Zone-esque series, “Black Mirror” released “Bandersnatch,” an interactive film released Dec. 28 on the streaming service, Netflix. Taking inspiration from traditional chooseyour-own-adventure type stories, the movie is entirely interactive, and the outcome of your film is decided explicitly from the choices made by the viewer.

Taking place in the UK in 1984, the story duration follows the central protagonist, Stefan (Fionn Whitehead) a young aspiring video game designer.

From the opening scene, viewers are faced with quick decisions that will instantly and directly affect the remainder of the immersive experience. Even the seemingly trivial decisions, like what cereal you choose for Stefan and what music you decide for him to listen to on his walkman,

will alter some aspect of the branching narrative.

As the story progresses, some choices lead the storyline to become entirely meta, reminding the viewer of the brazen yet self-aware sense of humor that has become signature of that of Brooker and the “Black Mirror” team.

Many critics have scrutinized new media’s reliance on audacious self-aware humor, like that displayed in many “Black Mirror” episodes, but in the case of “Bandersnatch,” it does not appear to take away from the immersiveness of the story.

The plot, although lacking in some development and depth, is understandably not central to the concept as a whole, as the primary focus of the film was its ability to introduce nonlinear, individual choice making to the viewer, rather than a comprehensive and in depth plot.

The characters are complex and distinctive, and each adds much to the story and its different outcomes. They are wellthought out, many leaving the viewer torn

between their true motivations and intentions in Stefan’s story.

The character, Colin Ritman, (Will Poulter) is an incredibly complex addition to the story, and adds a level of humorous cynicism, along with aiding, (or rather hindering) Stefan in his journey.

Of the numerous plots attainable by the viewer’s personal decisions along the way, many are incredibly engrossing, as after the story progresses the viewer begins to feel responsible for the outcome of Stefan’s story. We begin to feel affected by the decisions that cause an impact on Stefan’s life, as they begin to affect us equally.

Overall, the concept was overwhelmingly successful, and lacking in some aspects, but still proved cohesive to Black Mirror’s signature cryptic parable format of storytelling.

SNATCHING AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION “Bandersnatch” offers a unique interaciton for its audience. (Photo from Tribune News Service)

Elliott enters hall of fame

HALL OF FAMER Missy Elliott becomes the first female rapper in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. (Photo from Tribune News Service) GRACE JEONG NEWS EDITOR

Missy Elliott was included in the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Jan. 12 as the first female rapper for her numerous hit songs.

Elliott is one of the six new members at the organization of talented songwriters.

Around five percent of the 865 winners of Songwriters Hall of Fame are women.

The first rapper, Jay Z, was inducted in 2017 making Elliott a unique figure who starts new history for rappers and women.

“I want kids of this generation to see that everything is cool, that there’s some kind of unity in hip-hop.”

Elliott has won five Grammy Awards with U.S. sales of 30 million dollars. She has collaborated with more than 20 artists, including Beyoncé and Whitney Houston.

She has hits such as “Get Ur Freak On” and “Work It.” Elliott has been previously quoted on her advice for the younger generation.

“I want kids of this generation to see that everything is cool, that there’s some kind of unity in hip-hop,” she said.

4

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER FEBRUARY 2019

FEATURE

LIFE BEFORE AND

Teachers’ diverse roles outside of school

BEFORE 3:45 P.M. Jason Bothwell, teacher, finishes a small amount of paperwork as he prepares for his career prep class. Bothwell’s goals in both his career prep and law and society classes focus on strengthening students’ independent living and thinking skills to prepare them for life as an adult. (Photo by Will McLelland) WILL MCLELLAND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND GRACE JEONG NEWS EDITOR BEFORE 3:45 P.M. When the bell rings for first block on a Friday morning, a class of about 25 students sit down at their desktop computers, make small talk with their friends, then direct their attention to their teacher.

“On Monday, we’re going to talk about robbery and accessories,” Bothwell announces.

Jason Bothwell is a career prep teacher, a law and society teacher and basketball coach at Northridge. Every day he walks into his classroom and teaches students about the very basic aspects of adult life, such as how to apply for a job or plan a budget, and for three semesters he has taught an introductory law course.

THE LESSONOn this particular day, Bothwell has a conversation with his law and society class regarding two very different topics: student clubs and juveniles in serious crime. He waits to talk about the second topic for the end of class because he has very “up close and personal” experiences to share.

Bothwell reads from his notes about a Supreme Court case in which a high school senior in Nebraska asked her principal if she could start an after school Christian club. The principal rejected her request citing the Establishment Clause. Then Bothwell passes the question off to his class. “Is this a fair answer to a student’s request to start a club?”

A student speaks up.

“No, because if it’s after school, and it doesn’t disrupt - what they do after school is kinda like in their free time, so if they just wanna organize it at the school and have it in that location, then it should be fine,” she said.

Bothwell challenges her, not because he

disagrees, but so she can strengthen her case, which she ultimately does. Bothwell explains to his class why the student from the case had the right to form her own religious club, citing the court’s decision that once a school allows a club that has nothing to do with academic activities, then the door must be open for student led religious and political clubs.

Bothwell makes the point that for a club to be strong, it needs to be student led and not interfere with “the establishment of a regular school day.” As an example, he talks about a club, organized by an outside group, that he had when he was in high school which promised all expenses paid trips, as long as they signed up. After the trips, it would turn into Bible study - that’s what Bothwell called its “catch.”

“They took us skiing - I had never been skiing in my life,” Bothwell said. “That was my first time - had no clue what I was doing, but it was a free trip! So in my neighborhood, there’s a club that’s taking us skiing for free? All we [have to] do is show up? We went! But then Monday when we

DIVERSE PROFESSIONS OF NHS FACULTY

JENNIFER CANTERBURY

came back, and we had morning meetings, we had breakfast, we drank orange juice, and then they pulled out a Bible, and it turned into church like really, really fast.

Not that we had an issue with it, but it was just like, ‘Oh, this what we doin?’ So then because of that, people stopped going.”

After that anecdote, Bothwell goes back to his piece of paper and explains the rest of the case in detail. When he is done, he asks, “Everybody follow?” then immediately changes the topic from the dispute over a school club to whether or not a teenager can be sentenced to prison like an adult.

“Kent vs. United States 1966, juveniles and serious crimes - teens can be tried as adults,” Bothwell quickly reads off his paper. “Who disagrees with that? That a teen can be tried as an adult?”

One student promptly answers saying that he disagrees with that statement because he does not believe that teenagers should be held to the same level of accountability that adults are for smaller crimes. “Okay,” Bothwell replies, patiently.

Then another student says that in some

BEFORE 3:45 P.M.

BEFORE 3:45 P.M.

Spanish teacher

Gym teacher

AFTER 3:45 P.M.

AFTER 3:45 P.M.

“On the side, my husband and I are trivia hosts. We work with a group called Brain Blast Trivia.”

ANQUETTA SHEALEY

“I have a cheerleading and dance studio. It’s in Northport, behind DCH. This is my tenth year.

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER FEBRUARY 2019

FEATURE

5

AFTER 3:45 P.M.

cases teenagers should be tried as adults for serious crimes, which is the only time that ever happens.

“I agree with you 100% on that,” Bothwell said.

Bothwell clarifies what the second student said and elaborates on what goes into a teen’s sentencing. If the crime is malicious and premeditated Bothwell says, then the sentencing will almost certainly be equivalent to that of an adult offender. Then Bothwell consults his sheet and goes into the dark context of this case. The person in question, Morris Kent, after being on parole since the age of 14 for burglary was arrested at age 16 for three home burglaries, three robberies, and two counts of rape.

As he goes down this list of charges, Bothwell’s tone intensifies because he wants everyone in the room to realize how serious this case is. He goes over how and why the crimes Kent committed led him to be tried as an adult, and uses that to lead into what he mentioned earlier about his personal experiences with this topic.

ple surrounding the building - craziest thing you’ve ever seen before in your life.

Because of [the level of the crime] he was tried as an adult,” Bothwell said.

Once again, Bothwell gauges the room and asks, “Y’all follow?” then claps his hands, jumps off his stool, and says “Happy Friday.”

Bothwell’s method of teaching is focused and organized, yet almost improvised at the same time. Over the course of his lessons, Bothwell jumped from the paper in front of him to his students continuously. When he left the paper, Bothwell’s tone shifted from that of a basic instructor to an invested teacher. When a student walked in the room and returned some keys

home with his grandfather, who had over 40 years experience in “the trade.” Being in that environment where his grandfather was constantly providing a needed service to people was intriguing to Bothwell and made him consider going into the profession himself.

“I know a lot of people look at it [and think] ‘Oh, it’s the dead,’ or ‘Oh, it’s a lot of grieving people [and] crying people,” Bothwell said. “It kind of brings comfort to me to be a comfort to someone else. It’s an acquired taste nonetheless, but it just does something for me to be able to help them.”

What Bothwell appreciates about his job is his environment - it’s quiet and not fast paced. Everything he does

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES “Prior to coming to Northridge, Northridge was not necessarily a culture-shock for me, but it was a little slower than what I was used to when I first got here,” Bothwell said. “So I had a number of students that would come through my room. Most of the time they didn’t stay that long because they were probably out awaiting trial or something to that effect.”

Bothwell recalled a student in Montgomery that he knew when he was a student-teacher, who was arrested for a robbery that ultimately got the victim killed.

That student went to jail but was released and was ordered to go back to school until the date of his trial. The second person Bothwell talked about was a student he referred to as “John.”

“John had this guy he would buy antique stuff from with his extra money - don’t know why,” he said. “So John bought something, took it back to the neighborhood, showed his friends and his friends were kinda joking on him saying that it wasn’t real. So John got mad, went back and asked the guy for his money back, and the guy said ‘no.’ Well John got mad, pulled his gun out, demanded his money back, and the guy gave it to him, then told him ‘You keep what you bought, and here’s your money, go ahead and go about your business.”

Bothwell said that John got scared and shot his gun, killing the man he just robbed; then in a panic, he dismembered his body in the woods, and “came to school the next day like nothing happened.” John was soon arrested on the campus and is now in a correctional facility in Kentucky, according to Bothwell.

“When I tell you school looked like something off “Law and Order,” the amount of police cars, the amount of peo-

PERFORMING A SERVICE Jason Bothwell wears his uniform at Ross Clayton funeral home in Montgomery, Alabama. (photo provided by Jason Bothwell) that she had borrowed from Bothwell, he took them back while looking at another student directly in the eyes as they added something to the conversation, not missing a beat. It’s a level of focus that he carries with him not just when he is a Northridge employee.

AFTER 3:45 P.M. “I work as an apprentice funeral director in Montgomery at Ross Clayton Funeral Home,” Bothwell said.

Every other weekend, unless his basketball schedule does not allow it, Bothwell travels to Montgomery and orders caskets, removals, plans services, and assists in the embalming process.

Bothwell had been exposed to the profession ever since he was a child when he would visit his grandfather at Lumsey Funeral Home in Bessemer. He reflected on how he spent many summers at the funeral

requires his full attention, so he can just focus on doing his job properly and not on other things clogging his mind. Something where he needs to pay close attention to detail would be the embalming of a body.

He admitted that his job is not for those with “light stomachs” and that there is a “gory” element to it all, but as long as you can understand the science that goes into the embalming processes, then it’s something that can be handled. When he recalled his first time ever embalming someone, the one word he used to describe his initial feeling is “nervousness.”

“At the time I was in mortuary school,” Bothwell said. “You can talk about it in class - it’s almost like dissecting something; you can talk about dissecting it all day, but once it’s right in front of you and you have to perform, it becomes a different situation.

You don’t want to mess anything up, you wanna follow all of your steps, and that’s

where that whole focus factor comes in because right now the only thing you have to focus on is right here.”

Of the two mortuary schools in the state of Alabama, Bothwell went to the one at Birmingham State Community College in 2013. He finished his first semester, but once he had teaching and coaching obligations he stopped taking mortuary classes.

Bothwell described being a mortuary student as being “pretty close” to a medical student given the amount of science classes you have to take, and juggling that with his aspirations to be a teacher was not possible at the time.

When he got his job at Ross Clayton funeral home, Bothwell was a student-teacher in Montgomery who knew the ins and outs of the mortuary business but was not fully licensed. His boss at the time encouraged him to stay on at the funeral home as long as he kept his apprentice’s license up to date, which he has done.

Bothwell does have to see lifeless bodies and grief stricken families, but he said that his job has become fun. He doesn’t feel like he is working at a “regular job;” he feels like this is something he gets to do. He is able to find something pleasant in a situation as solemn as a funeral.

“In the African American community, our funeral rituals or traditions are a little different because of the aspect of the cars,” Bothwell said. “Most funeral ceremonies don’t require a limousine. The thing that I get the biggest kick out of is driving a limousine when there’s a younger kid - a child that’s never ridden in a limousine before. I normally tend to gravitate to them or them to me, and they have all the questions in the world. I get them in the car and let them sit in the front seat, or turn on the strobe lights or play with the radio.”

What Bothwell does every other week is something he finds rewarding. He puts on his suit, and comforts the family members and friends who have lost someone. In a single afternoon he forms relationships he would not otherwise have and performs an unpleasant but necessary job in the best way he can.

When he talked about how much he enjoyes his job at the funeral home, he made a small yet significant comparison.

“I think of it like teaching.” Bothwell said the feeling he gets from comforting those in grief is the same feeling he gets from being a focused teacher. That’s how he conveyed his lesson. That’s how he took his keys back from someone without missing a beat. The values he has acquired from the mortuary industry are the same ones he brings to the classroom.

“If you treat people right, right will follow - and it has, definitely,” he said.

BEFORE 3:45 P.M.

BEFORE 3:45P.M.

Career Prep teacher

Math teacher and baseball coach

AFTER 3:45 P.M.

JOSEPH MOORE

“I like to dress nice. So I found a tailor in London. He made a shirt and pants for me. Somebody asked about it saying, ‘Hey, you sell it?’ and I said ‘I will, if you want it.’It turned into a small business. I have a few clients I make custom clothing for.”

AFTER 3:45 P.M.

HUNTER GREGORY

“Usually during the summer, I’ll do lawn care, umpiring, and [coach at] baseball camps.”

6 Northridge responds to the effects of ACT Prep

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS

TORY POLION STAFF WRITER

Students, grades 9-12, have worked on preparing themselves for the ACT by doing a program during zero period called USATestprep, which has raised ACT scores for many.

Through the program, students are given videos, questions, and vocabulary terms that give them the skills that they need to achieve higher scores on the exam. The idea of using this program was given by Assistant Principal Sherri Shuttlesworth and Library Media Specialist Marcie Irvin.

“Ms. Irvin and I researched many programs, and USATestprep offered everything we needed in a program,” Shuttlesworth said. “The program offered videos by real teachers, ACT vocabulary

and practice questions.”

The modules and assignments are given to the students through the teachers that oversee them while they work. If students do not participate or refuse, they run the risk of failing the class, since it has become a credit course. Teachers strongly suggest that students work on preparing themselves because their futures are not too far away.

Career preparedness teacher Joseph Moore is among several teachers who agree that this program has helped students understand the ACT as a whole. Students understand how to navigate through the program, see what assignments need to be done and know what grades they have been making on their work.

“I was cool with using the program,” Moore said. “It’s a great asset for those who need help.”

Shuttlesworth said that there are many advantages that are given through ACT prep that help students succeed in academics.

“Scoring a benchmark or higher on the ACT allows students to choose the college they would like to attend and opens the door for more scholarships,” Shuttlesworth said.

On the other hand, many students are not interested in the program and have a hard time trying to focus on it as well.

Students constantly worry about different assignments while trying to juggle other classes and extracurricular activities. Some students wanted the class to become an elective and not an accredited class.

“I think it’s probably like having to stress about, ‘okay, I have to get this right or else my grade is going to fall,’” said freshman

Mira Akl. Assignments, normally five to six, are given weekly with deadlines for the class.

After a student does their assignments, they automatically get a grade identified through green, yellow or red dots.

“It’s a good practice, but it’s very time consuming,” said junior, Lindsay Roberts.

Even though some students seem to have a hard time with the program, they think that it has affected them in a positive way.

Some have not taken the ACT yet, but they still think they have taken away different lessons that they can apply to the exam.

Based off of a survey taken by juniors and seniors during zero period, many students felt that they benefited from the work.

“I definitely don’t enjoy it, but down the road it will help me,” junior Evelyn Brumfield said.

Northridge students honored at superintendent’s art show ADDISON TAYLOR GENERAL MANAGER Senior, Ethan Sneckenberger, won second place for his illustration during the Annual Superintendent’s Art Show on Jan. 10, held at the Harrison Galleries.

Sneckenberger will be honored at the State House on Feb. 14.

“It was really enjoyable,” said Sneckenberger. “It was cool to see the art progression.”

His winning work was a charcoal piece exploring photo realism. The photograph, captured in Italy, features the French-Swiss actor, Alain Delon.

“It reminded me of my time in Italy, and I could relate to it,” said Sneckenberger.

Sophomore, Jacob Crotts, was also honored at the event.

“It was a really great experience for me, and I really appreciate what the schools are doing to promote the art department,” said Crotts. “I’ve always loved art, especially the art classes at Northridge, so it felt great to be recognized.”

A variation of artwork was on exhibition

during the show, all of which were created in art classes throughout the TCS system by students from kindergarten through grade 12. The students were able to work alongside their teachers to choose pieces to submit to the program. During the ceremony, awards were presented, which are selected by a panel of judges. The winning pieces are taken to the state art show.

“The art was judged on artistic excellence,” said Sandra Wolfe, a judge on the panel and executive director of The Arts and Humanities Council. “This is a great way to showcase the talents of our students.”

Superintendent Mike Daria said he was proud of the work that TCS students produced and enjoyed hosting the event. Daria has hosted the ceremony for the past three years.

“It has been an enormous honor and privilege,” Daria said.

Christopher Taylor, D.M.D

Report of threat results in lockdown EMILY MATTHEWS FEATURE EDITOR

On Jan. 22 the school went on a lockdown due to a potential outside threat.

“The individual was in all black, and he parked in the student parking lot and he went across the road,” said assistant principal, Keith Jackson. “A person that was on the track saw him out in the woods and saw him in the black jacket and they were adamant that he had a gun even though that was confirmed not to be true.”

Students and faculty were instructed to stay in their classrooms, and no one was allowed to leave as the situation was being investigated. “We’re going to make sure we keep everything inside the building, and we evaluated the situation to determine if it was an actual threat," said Jackson.

Despite the situation, most students felt safe.

“I felt safe here,” said senior, Landon Smith. There were plenty of cops around, and we were safe in classrooms.”

In the end, it wasn't a threat but a misunderstanding.

“It turns out that the person that was in the woods had dropped off a student at the middle school then,” said Jackson.

“They got an urge to use the restroom and couldn’t seem to make it to a restroom, so they parked in our parking lot and had gone out into the woods to use the restroom.”

DA VINCI IN THE MAKING Senior Ethan Sneckenberger stands with Superintendent Mike Daria. Sneckenberger won second place for his illustration and will be honored on Feb. 14 at a luncheon in Montgomery. (photo from TCS facebook)

Brant Gentry, D.M.D Phone: (205) 750-8008 Fax: (205) 750-8152

300 Towncenter Blvd., Suite A Tuscaloosa, Al 35406 Toll Free: 1-866-384-4254 www.smiledesigncenter.net

1663 McFarland Blvd N Suite G5, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 www.wagnerdmd.com

SPORTS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER FEBRUARY 2019

Richardson wrestles away gender stereotypes

7

KENNADY KIDD SPORTS EDITOR

She’s dealt with it before.

“A guy looked at me and said, ‘girls can’t wrestle,’” said Jorie Richardson, Northridge’s only female wrestler. “Then, I won a match to prove I can. Leaving the mat, they know that they can’t let their guard down just because I am a girl.”

Richardson, a junior, joined the wrestling team this year when she moved here from Virginia. Her dad introduced her to wrestling at a young age, and since then, she has continued to wrestle with the immense support of her family and has made wrestling a priority in her life. She explained the difficulty of pursuing a male-dominant sport.

“In Alabama, there are no girls,” Richardson said. “People look at me like I’m not there to wrestle. They think that I’m there to just be with the guys. They don’t think I’m there to compete and succeed. I was at one of the first tournaments here. They [opponents] think they have an advantage

on me, but they underestimate me.”

In Alabama, there isn’t a woman’s wrestling league, so Richardson is setting an example to any young girl that wants to pursue success in a male-dominant sport and inspiring many others.

The rest of the team really enjoys the talent that she brings.

“I thought it was gonna be a little awkward at first, but she is really fun to work with,” said senior Drake Cross. “She is a very good wrestler. She has great technique, and she is really quick. It’s fun watching her wrestle guys that she works two times harder than.”

Wrestling demands a daily physical and mental strain.

“Jorie is a tough competitor,” said E.J. Love, wrestling coach. “It takes somebody with a certain personality to go one-onone with a boy. They have to have the confidence. They know if they lose, it’s on them.

If they win, that’s on them too.”

HEAD-TO-HEAD Junior Jorie Richardson battles it out with an opponent. “It takes somebody with a certain personality to go one-on-one with a boy,” said wrestling coach E.J. Love.

(Photo by Amanda Richardson)

The team made it to the playoffs this season, and concluding the playoffs, they were ranked top 16 in 6A schools across the state, and second in the region.

Over the next couple of weeks, they will be preparing and competing at sectionals

for the third and fourth week of February. Andrew Thigpen, junior, will be competing in the state championship on Feb. 16 in Montgomery.

Walker signs with Washington KENNADY KIDD SPORTS EDITOR

1470 Northbank Pkway, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

Walker Ferry, senior, signed with Washington University, on Jan. 23, supported by his family, friends, and coaches.

For over 13 years, Ferry has trained and competed in swimming and is taking the next step at Washington University. While he continues to train, he is planning on studying biomedical engineering, but he says that may change. Ferry’s mother, Ashley Ferry, is looking forward to his future at Washington University.

“I am so excited because I had such a great experience there, and he will have such a great athletic and educational experience,” she said. “We are really proud of him in school and in the water.”

Ferry is excited to go to Washington University for many reasons including that the university is one of the top in the country.

“It is a work hard, play environment, and there are so many traditions and fun things to do year round,” Ferry said.

Not only has Ferry excelled in athletics, but he has also excelled in academics. Ferry is also a national merit scholar finalist.

Ferry said a piece of him will always be at Northridge High School.

“I have been very thankful to be at Northridge for the past four years,” he said. “Once a jag, always a jag, but I’m excited to be a bear.”

COMMITED Senior Walker Ferry takes the next step, signing with Washington University (Photo by Emma Bissell)

Down: 1: CARD 2: GIRLFRIEND 4: VALENTINE’S DAY 5: CHOCOLATE 7: FEBRUARY 9: SINGLES 10: HEART 12: RED

4851 Rice Mine Rd NE Suite 540, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

Across: 3: VALENTINE 5: CRUSH 6: CUPID 7: FOURTEENTH 8: LOVE 9: SWEET HEARTS 11: FRIEND 12: ROSES Crossword Answers

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER FEBRUARY 2019

Polion)

LEFT “My dad, [is someone I admire] he, like, explains stuff and just makes stuff seem easy. He’s honest about it.”(Photo by Tory

ABOVE “I lived in Atlanta till I was 12. And then, before 6th grade, I moved here. It was probably the worst experience of my life, but I’m glad I moved here now. So I’m glad it happened. It’s just at the time, it was hard. I’m glad I’m here now, because there are a lot more opportunities in Tuscaloosa than Atlanta like the soccer team. I probably wouldn’t have made the soccer team and band. [In band,] I probably wouldn’t have been there to help as much, because the bands where I would’ve gone to school had 300 people. Middle school band would have two hundred people or some other crazy number. So I’m glad I didn’t have to do that. However, I did miss my friends for a few years. But I made new friends.” (Photo by Grace Jeong)

SOUTH 5005 Oscar Baxter Dr. Tuscaloosa 205.343.2225

When you reach the front of the line, you receive a text to let you know you’re next.

NORTH 3909 McFarland Blvd.

Northport WE ACCEPT 205.333.1993

Now you can wait where you want.

With our new online check-in, you don’t have to. We text your estimated wait time.

Why sit in a waiting room when you’re not feeling well?

RIGHT “I like to travel, and I’ve been to a lot of places. This past Christmas I went to Las Vegas Nevada, where I went on this ferris wheel that was designed to take exactly 30 minutes to go around, and I lost my phone on the ride.

But it turns out, I didn’t really lose my phone, my mom just had it the whole time. She was trying to teach me a lesson about responsibility.” (Photo by Sylvia Maples)

GLIMPSING INTO THE LIVES OF STUDENTS

HUMANS OF NORTHRIDGE

8

BEAT

THE

NORTH RI D G E

est. 2003

LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER 3:45 P.M.

REPORTER

www.northridgereporter.wordpress.com

FEBRUARY 2019 VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4