The Northridge Reporter Volume 14 Issue 3: November

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406

est. 2003

THE NOVEMBER 2016

NORTH RI D GE

www.northridgereporter.wordpress.com

REPORTER

The student est.voice 2003of Northridge High School

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 3

Faculty organizes mock election to inspire students to vote Out of 349 voters....

WILL HENSON MANAGING EDITOR

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On Nov. 7, the day before the presidential election, stu- to participate in Mock dents were given the opportunity to participate in a mock the Vote. In addition to election, called “Mock the Vote.” According to Nancy taking part in the mock Canterbury Reed, social studies teacher and department head, the idea election, was “to do something in house to get our students excited voted in the national presidential election. “It about the election.”

“We tried to provide our students with a somewhat ‘real’ was a really cool feelfor experience with the 2016 Presidential election. One of the ing to vote in the actual PRESIDENT Donald Trump biggest deficits in the United States is low voter turnout,” election. To be able to said Reed. “We are ranked near the bottom in the world. walk into the polls and VICE PRESIDENT Mike Pence One way to remedy this would be to start getting kids in feel like an adult was rethe habit of participating and emphasize why it is import- ally neat,” he said.

While Canterbury thought ant to vote. I want them to understand the importance of the voting process and why it’s such an awesome right that Mock the Vote was a great idea for we have as American citizens. Regardless of our election students to learn about the politihistory in the State of Alabama, if you want change of any cal process, he commented on the kind, you have to show up at the polls. Let your voices be differences between the mock election and the real election. “I think heard.”

for Reed said that Mock the Vote was a “collaborative ef- Mock the Vote does a good job of PRESIDENT Hillary Clinton fort,” but it came about because Mallie Humber, yearbook making the students who can’t vote VICE PRESIDENT Tim Kaine adviser, wanted to have a voting section in the yearbook, feel included and excited for when then “Ms. Oatts took the reins and made it come to life,” they can, as well as encouraging the eligible students to vote in the real Reed said.

GREEN PARTY Surprisingly, Mock the Vote was executed in a very short election as well,” he said. “[But] time frame. “We actually planned it in one day,” said Reed. Mock the Vote was a lot PRESIDENT Jill Stein sim“Ms. Oatts had SGA LIBERTARIAN PARTY create everything and VICE PRESIDENT Ajamu Baraka PRESIDENT Gary Johnson since she is so organized, everything came VICE PRESIDENT William Weld together rather quickpler and less time consuming. It was had a dead tie,” said Canterbury. One possible cause for ly.” also a lot less serious and less pri- the high Clinton vote in the senior class was the surprisVoter turnout was 28 vate.” percent for the whole ing popularity of third party candidate, Gary Johnson.

Canterbury says he plans on vot- Johnson received 17.3 percent of the senior vote, 11.6 school, but Reed was ing in the next election as well. not discouraged by this percent higher than the average Johnson vote from the Both Reed and Canterbury said number. “I was very other classes. that the mock election results from pleased overall since it Overall, Reed believed Mock the Vote to be a great the junior and senior classes were was our first time doexperience. “I loved every second of it,” she said. “I loved unexpected. The junior class was ing this school-wide,” seeing our kids getting involved, and I personally enjoyed divided equally between Trump and working with the other ‘precinct captains’. We had some she said. “I wish that we had a little more THE POLLS Students cast their ballots in mock election Clinton, with 36 votes each, and great conversations and had a lot of fun. I cannot wait for the senior class voted Clinton by a participation, but hav2020!” margin of 9.2 percent. “I was surprised that Hillary won ing the turnout we had was not that bad.”

Christopher Canterbury, senior, was one of the students the senior class but even more surprised that the juniors Photos by Nancy Reed

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ALABAMA’S DROUGHT

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ALABAMA’S DROUGHT

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ASSASSINS PLAY

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[Ariel] was very energetic, always smiling, and made everyone feel better just by her being around.

NICK BLAIR, SENIOR

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AT A GLANCE

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See story on PAGE 10

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OPINION

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER NOVEMBER 2016

OUR THOUGHTS On liberalism in the paper

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think it is very important to respond to some recent criticism we’ve faced from the student body. The Northridge Reporter is something I care about deeply, so it’s difficult for me to hear insults such as “propaganda” and “liberal rag,” among others. That said, I also feel that these criticisms are not totally unfounded. Throughout this year, The Northridge Reporter has published an overwhelming number of liberal-biased articles with very few right-wing counterparts. Even the most conservative pieces have tended to be more moderate than anything, proclaiming that ‘both candidates are bad.’ Because I strongly believe in non-biased reporting, I can’t help but feel like this has been partially my fault. But the fact remains that

Staff members

while we’ve been trying to find contrasting political views to print, we’ve simply come up short due to the fact that the majority of people on our staff who want to write political columns lean more to the left. I’ll take my share of the responsibility, and I will work hard to help create the unbiased paper you all deserve; however, I will also put some of the responsibility on you. We encourage you to reach out to us. Write a letter to the editor, or ask if you can be featured as a guest writer. We love receiving pieces from the student body, and we will do our best to print it. It’s important to me that the Northridge Reporter is a voice for the entire student body -- not just those of one political ideology -- and with your help, I’m sure that can be achieved.

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

AGREE: 15 DISAGREE: 0

Finding a Middle ground

s an honors class too difficult? Is a regular class too easy? Should there be a class in between?

The choice between taking an honors class and a regular class can be difficult. With an honors class you move at a faster pace while going into more details about the things you learn and talk about. In a regular class you learn the same material but at a slower pace and not in as much detail. While honors classes are harder, they come with benefits. They prepare you more for college than a regular class would, and your grade point average, or GPA, can be weighted in an honors class. A person in regular classes can have GPA ranging from a 0.0 to 4.0, while a person in honors classes can have a GPA ranging from a 0.0 to 5.0.

But some schools have a class in between.

This class moves at a bit slower pace than honors but not as slow as regulars. And the GPA ranges from a 0.0 to a 4.5. With a three tier class order, people could still graduate with an advanced diploma but not have a low grade on it. So if you think that the regular classes are too easy, but the honors classes are too hard then maybe this is the class for you. One small problem with this is that Northridge High School does not offer this class.

And they probably never will. If they did add these classes, they would have to find teachers to teach it and times for students to take it. And with the schools still changing, it might be difficult. They would have to find a teacher to teach a mid-level English for all grades, amid level for all types of history classes, a mid-level for all types of science classes, and a mid-level for all types of math classes. Basically, anything that has an honors class would then also have to have a mid-level class. And finding teachers and times for all these classes would take a lot on the school’s behalf. Not only that, Central and Bryant would have to add in these classes too, making approval more unlikely.

Northridge needs a class in between honors and regulars, as many kids are not happy with the classes they are taking, but they probably won’t ever put it in since it would take so much effort to do so.

let’s screen your ideas first. ( Just for clarification, all those issues are real problems; I’m not trivializing them.) But this double standard is real--if you have conservative beliefs, you are encouraged to shut up. If you do decide to speak up, then, in the words of a woman who is praised by the Northridge Reporter, you are “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic--you name it.” Congratulations, you are a member of the “basket of deplorables.” (Surprisingly, you can’t buy a membership card for that group on her website.) As an NBC anchor said on election night, if you support the Donald [and thus are most likely conservative], you probably drink Budweiser.

(What’s wrong with Budweiser?)

And this issue is not confined to these examples. It pervades society. Let me be clear: Donald Trump has said some terrible things about women, minorities, and people with disabilities. But, even after I’ve said I disagree with Trump, I’m still nervous about writing this article because I don’t want to be labeled as racist. Another example can be found in the whole Mr. Johnson issue. Would the same backlash have occurred if he had made a “liberal” comment? Maybe, maybe not.

Regardless of which example you choose to use to prove this point, this issue boils down to this: if you’re conservative, shut up. If you’re liberal, keep on talking. Is that really the American way?

COLLEEN MCNORTON STAFF WRITER

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

BY SAM BREWBAKER

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ISCLAIMER: This article may make you “triggered.”

It is not a liberal article. It is not leftist propaganda. It is not pro-Hillary Clinton. If you’re looking for any of those things, move on to the next article.

I have a Donald Trump shirt. I don’t wear it often. I bought it as a joke. I don’t even like Donald Trump all that much (but he is our president now, so I guess we all need to accept him). And yet here I am: the owner of a t-shirt that reads: “You’re hired!

Make America Great Again.” And on

Tuesday, Nov. 8 (Election Day), I thought it’d be funny to wear it. I wore it for 20 minutes, and then I felt so ashamed that I took it off. (Good thing I brought an SMU shirt to school as well.)

But why was I so ashamed to wear it?

Numerous people in the lunchroom had on Hillary shirts, and nobody seemed to care or even to notice. But then I pulled out mine, and I felt pressured to put it away.

And therein lies the double standard. If you have a conservative idea or belief, you are, subtly or openly, encouraged not to share it. Now, if you have a left-wing idea, go on and talk about it. Want to talk about wage gaps? Be our guest. Income inequality? Sure. Illegal immigration? Hold on,

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

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Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295 Managing Editor Will Henson Feature Editor Rebecca Han Sports Editor Sara Lang News Editor Will Henson

Entertainment Editor Fatema Dhondia Opinion Editor Will McLelland Copy Editors Will Henson & Will McLelland Asst. Copy Editor Reshu Chandra

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.

Art Editor Rebecca Han Social Media Editor Reshu Chandra

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 Rebecca Han, 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’

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER NOVEMBER 2016

OPINION

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NEWS

Drought leaves Alabama bone dry WILL MCLELLAND OPINION EDITOR

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he last time there was measurable rain in Birmingham was on Sept. 18, 2016.

For Tuscaloosa, it was Sept. 13.

For the last several weeks, Alabama has been experiencing the worst drought in the state’s history since 2007. According to Alabamawx.com - a state weather blog, Birmingham’s record for having no measurable rain, set in 1924, was 52 days. As of Nov. 7, 2016, Birmingham has experienced 49 consecutive days of no measurable rainfall.

To understand more about the nature of this historical drought, the Northridge Reporter was able to contact three local meteorologists: ABC 33/40’s James Spann, WVUA’s Richard Scott, and CBS 42’s Mark Prater.

“The cause of our local drought is simply from the upper air pattern,” Scott said. “The jetstream has been in a blocking pattern for some time, with a nearly persistent ridge over the southeast since August. The ridge tends to block storm systems from reaching our area and bringing rain.”

While many Alabamians have seen places in severe droughts such as California, they are not accustomed to its effects.

“It affects a lot of people in different ways. Obviously the problem is water issues and the lack of water resources. You have some water systems that are now in drought emergencies where they are very close to running out of

water,” Spann said Spann added, “Another big issue is wild fires. We’ve had over a thousand wild fires in the last thirty days (as of Oct. 4). All it takes is a spark or a cigarette butt and you might wind up with a hundred acres on fire. The other problem is agriculture. For those people in the growing business, it’s just catastrophic. Those are the three issues: water, fires and agriculture.”

Though Alabama is not at risk of becoming a desert, it will take some time to recover.

“I would expect it to last at least through the end of November. Hopefully I’m wrong about that, but weather patterns right now just don’t offer a whole lot in the way of change because we have air that’s sitting on us right now which is high pressure, and it’s tough to move those sometimes,” Prater said. And this is the general consensus of all three weather men.

They all agreed that this drought was a serious one and that the whole state, especially small central Alabama towns are going to have struggles. Tuscaloosa for the most part will be fine because of its large water supply, but surprisingly, a big city such as Birmingham will take a hit.

Birmingham has a population of over 200,000 people, and their water source, is 75 percent its normal volume. Eventually, Alabama should start to get some substantial rain in late November or early December, but the state is likely to recover from the drought in the spring.

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER NOVEMBER 2016

Seniors, Humber take gold in homecoming competitions REBECCA HAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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esults of multiple Homecoming competitions were announced at the pep rally held Oct. 27.

Among the announcements were the results of the 5th period door and float decorations, while the homecoming court was revealed at the game against Central High School the following night.

History teacher Mallie Humber’s door took the first place prize, with Erica Reynolds placing second and Suzette Puzinauskas third. The senior class won first in the float decorations with their Christmas themed rendition, placing ahead of the sophomores, freshmen, and finally, juniors. The 2016 Northridge Homecoming King and Queen was Ojay Gibson and Jordan Walker.

Humber’s 5th period yearbook class hoped to wow the judges with a display unlike anything else in the school, transforming their door into a Netflix description for the fictional show “Blue is the New Black,” a play on acclaimed Netflix prison drama “Orange is the New Black.”

Senior Annika Horne, who helped work on the door, said, “At first we had a few ideas, then [sophomore] Janie Murdock came up with the idea of doing a Netflix season. We wanted to be a little different about it. One of our choices was “Bachelorette,” then “Survivor.” We decided to do “Orange is the New Black” because, well, it’s a really popular show and a lot of people watch it.”

Upon receiving the award, she recounts a bit of surprise.

“We were kind of surprised.

Mostly, we were worried that people wouldn’t get the idea, because with our door, you kind of have to look and think. We figured we

placed, though, just because we spent so much time on it.”

Senior Mychi Tran, also put plenty of work into the door and its artistic components.

She said, “I just got bored, went to the board, and started sketching out ideas. Then, I did it. I actually didn’t realize the deadline was that Friday - I thought it was the week of Homecoming. I found out two days before it was actually that Friday, so I just kind of scrambled those last two days.”

For Humber, the true victory lay in beating out longtime rival and classroom neighbor Nancy Reed.

“I was first, really excited to beat Ms. Reed. We had talked about the door for a day or so, threw around some different ideas, then we decided on this one because we didn’t think anybody else would be doing something like this. It took us a couple of days to plan.” Echoing Tran, she said that the last few days before the judging began was chaotic, with four people working on the door at a time.

“It was a scramble for sure,” she said.

While door decorations were underway, each grade level was also scrambling to complete homecoming floats, displayed in the courtyard and near the theater. The seniors’ float displayed a Northridge jaguar version along with a Christmas tree with presents beneath it. Senior Rasmia Azam recounts the initial excitement at the Christmas theme.

“We just really wanted Christmas. Everybody liked that, so when we chose our theme, we were all on board. For our presentation, we wrote a story that went along with “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” but it was called ‘Twas the Night Before Homecoming, and we had Mrs. Claus

reading the story, and a snow machine, and some elves.”

Though completing the float was a bit of a scramble, Azam believes the group was much more prepared than in the past.

“It felt really good to win.

We’ve worked a lot over the past four years, and it was good to win for once,” she said.

When Homecoming Queen Jordan Walker was first nominated, she believed it to be a simple prank.

“I didn’t ask anybody to vote for me, so I thought it was a joke.

Some friends told me about it, but I didn’t know that they were being serious until I actually saw the ballot. I was not expecting to be nominated at all.” Though a surprise, she described the experience as something truly incredible.

“It was really cool. We didn’t know for sure that I was gonna be it so it was cool to experience that in front of everybody,” Walker said.

JAGFLIX Ms. Humbers homecoming door

wins the prize by imitating a favorite pasttime of Northridge students.

Tuscaloosa Belles hold 5K to raise money for scholarships MAYCI HARTLEY BUSINESS MANAGER

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he Tuscaloosa Belles held a 5K on Oct. 29 to fund their scholarship program as well as raise money for the senior gift.

This is the third year that the 5K has been the senior project. The girls get to choose what their senior project will be. “The seniors are presented on Mother’s Day, and then the juniors have their last meeting of the year alone and are asked what they want to do

for their senior project the next year,” Pamela Marshall, lead advisor and race coordinator for the Belles said. While the girls get to choose what they will do for the senior project, their idea must be better than a 5K. “The 5K is a great way to teach girls lessons that they can take with them to college, and it is very important to me. It is also the fundraiser that has raised the most net profit,” Marshall said. The seniors have not always had a race for their senior project, but it has been the best project. “The first year we did

a fashion show. The second year we did a scavenger hunt. The third year we did an old-fashioned carnival. The fourth year we decided to do a 5K and that’s what we’ve done since then,” Marshall said.

Each senior, including Runa King, Belles president and senior, must work and help plan the event. “I am on the equipment committee, and our job is to find tents, an ambulance and EMT, and put together the race packets,” said King.

The first year that Marshall took the position as lead advisor

they started having the senior and junior projects. “In 2008 the economy still hadn’t picked up, and I wanted to do something for girls who couldn’t afford the fees,” Marshall said. “I went to the board and asked them if we could do a scholarship, and they told us that if we could fund it then we could do it, so that year we started doing the project so that we could fund a scholarship. That year we raised enough for two scholarships as well as start a scholarship for one senior that goes with them to college called the Alice-McClean

Steward Award. Since then we have funded a scholarship every year as well as have a senior gift,” Marshall said.

For those who did not know about the race or for those who do not run but would like to donate to the senior project fund, Marshall said there is still a way to help. “They can write a check out to The Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society or to TCPS and it must be designated to the belles 5K.” Marshall said. “We can give W9s because we are a 501-C3 because we are a nonprofit.”

NEWS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER NOVEMBER 2016

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School gains needed color through murals MAYCI HARTLEY BUSINESS MANAGER

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ccording to some, when walking the halls of Northridge, the bland colors make it feel almost institutional which is why the school will be painting murals around the school.

“We will be painting the murals to improve the school’s culture and climate. We want to make it more aesthetically pleasing and engaging,” said Kyle Ferguson, principal.

Suzette Puzinauskas, art teacher, said that the goal is to stimu-

late the students to want to learn.

“People learn better in a pleasing environment and it enhances the learning. We want the building to be uplifting and exciting like our students,” said Puzinauskas.

The murals will be on all the hallways, and a big part of the paintings will involve the word excellence.

“We have a theme for the content in the hallways,” Ferguson said. “There will be other words painted about character building such as ‘integrity, humility, and kindness.’” While all the murals will involve a commonality, they will vary depending on the hall they are in. “The common theme

is excellence; every department is striving for that. We will use excellence as our theme so that there will be a flow. We will incorporate the mascot and make it tie into that department. The faculty has been sharing their view for their department,” said Puzinauskas.

While the hallways will involve different words, there will be other types of murals around the school.

“Upstairs, Ms. P is working on a jungle mural,” Ferguson said.

During the entire process the faculty has been incorporated.

“The whole faculty has been involved. The students and faculty will be painting [the murals],” said Ferguson. “The murals are

Trump wins in major upset WILL MCLELLAND OPINION EDITOR

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he final weeks before the election were full of October surprises, waves of polls and statistics, and an overall belief that Hillary Clinton would win the presidency. Hours before the election The New York Times gave Hillary Clinton an 85 percent chance of winning against Donald Trump’s 15 percent. Writer for The New York Times Josh Katz went on to say, “Mrs. Clinton’s chance of losing is about the same as the probability that an N.F.L. kicker misses a 37yard field goal.” Several pollsters and political pundits were under the same idea, at least until the night of Nov. 8.

Uselectionatlas.org was keeping track of the presidential election by the hour that night. By 6:00 p.m. Central Time, Donald Trump had Kentucky and Indiana to begin his electoral count, and Hillary Clinton had won Vermont. Within the hour, South Carolina and West Virginia were called for Trump, giving him a 30 point lead over Clinton. This first hour was a moment of no surprises. Trump had a significant lead, but it was only the beginning of the night, and both candidates states were predicted to be won by them.

7:00 p.m. - Clinton had a swarm of wins: Delaware, Washington D.C.,(which counts even though it is not a state) Mas-

sachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Maryland.

Along with Trump’s five more wins, the score of the race was Clinton 75, Trump 72.

8:00 p.m. - seven more states were called for Trump, while Clinton only won New York. Two hours later, the race took another turn when Clinton won seven states, including California, Oregon, Washington State, and Virginia. But even though she won those states, the polls did not look like they were going the way she wanted.

Trump already won the swing state of Ohio, and television polls were showing Trump would likely win Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, and even North Carolina, giving him 60 more electoral votes. It would be a matter of minutes before he won three of them.

The night that was expected to be the election of the first female

president was slowly becoming less of a reality. By 11:00 p.m., the score was Trump 244 Clinton 209 in a race that needs 270 electoral votes to win.

In the early hours of Nov. 9, Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States. The President-elect won by 62 electoral votes; however, he did not win the popular vote. Hillary Clinton had 795,170 more votes than Donald Trump. President-elect Trump gave a victory speech at 2:30 a.m., congratulated his opponent on a hard fought campaign, and vowed to be president of all the people.

Hillary Clinton publicly conceded to Trump later that morning and told her supporters that they need to give Donald Trump “a chance to lead.”

President Obama met with Trump the following Thursday at the White House, and he will be inaugurated Jan. 20, 2017.

Photo from Fox News

270 Donald Trump gives his signature ‘thumbs-up’ during his victory speech on Nov. 9

a part of big renovations on the agenda for the next few years.

“Some things we won’t be able to do with our faculty and students like vinyl and fat heads.”

Puzinauskas said that the murals are a project that she hopes will bring people together. “We want it to be a community project. We want students, faculty, and anyone else affiliated with the school like the Parent Teacher Association,” Puzinauskas said. “The murals are focused on community space which it is really important that we have everyone involved. I really like that people are excited that the murals are going to be a reflection of who we really are.”

The first mural being painted by students is upstairs.

“The mural upstairs is ‘Welcome to the Jungle.’ It’s our first shot; I am really excited,” Puzinauskas said.

However, the murals will not be completed for a few years. “The process is going slowly, but I think it is wise to go slower,” Puzinauskas said. Annika Horne, senior, is helping paint the ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ mural. Horne said that the murals are needed because the school needs some color. “We started about a month ago and it should take about another month to finish,” she said.

Homecoming Changes Two seniors given unexpected chance to crown king and queen

Will Henson Managing Editor

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omecoming at Northridge this year was very different from homecoming last year in a lot of ways. One of the smaller of these differences had a big impact on two students.

Jewels Harris and Skylar Griffin, senior class officers, were given the opportunity to crown the 2017 homecoming king and queen, Ojay Gibson and Jordan Walker. Normally the former king and queen return to do the crowning “[There were some] some complications with last year’s king and queen, [Shapyra Butler and Max Holt], being able to come back and make it in time, so Ms. Oatts came to me and Skylar,” Harris explained. “They were coming from about an hour away and didn’t realize how late they were going to be.” Griffin added, “It was just a big mix-up.

[That’s why] Ms. Oatts came to us right before and said that as class officers, she wanted us to crown the king and queen.”

Both Griffin and Harris were very excited about the change. “I crowned Jordan Walker and Skylar gave Ojay Gibson his sash,” said Harris. “Skylar and I were so excited to be able to crown, and it’s definitely something we won’t forget. Between the seniors winning the float building and us both being in SGA to actually plan everything about homecom-

ing, the crowning made our senior homecoming and our last senior game that much more special to us.”

While Harris was glad to have the opportunity, she said at first she was “stressed out about [Butler and Holt] not being there,” but was quickly reassured by Ms. Oatts. “I was worried things wouldn’t go as smooth as they did,” she said. “But Ms. Oatts knows how to keep the show running as best it can, and she did a good job.”

Griffin, on the other hand, was never worried about Butler and Holt being late. “I was just really excited,” she said.

Apart from their own experiences, Griffin and Harris commented on some of the other things that made this homecoming so different from ones in the past. “Float-wise, we had more people show up and everyone was way more involved. I think everyone was less stressed this year; they just wanted to have fun,” said Griffin. “And the class officers got to walk the field this time, which was a huge difference. Also, we didn’t have a formal pep-rally this year because the game was on Thursday. I think [the Thursday game] was so the football team could go to the dance and everyone could enjoy homecoming.”

Harris wasn’t totally sure why these changes took place, “but it seemed to work out a lot better this way,” she said.

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ENTERTAINMENT

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER NOVEMBER 2016

Thanksgiving traditions around the world FATEMA DHONDIA ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

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hanksgiving is all about family, being thankful and of course the food. However, Thanksgiving isn’t the same everywhere. In China they celebrate the August Moon festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. In this tradition lovers speak their hearts out to each other under the moonlight. Instead of the famous pumpkin pie, the Chinese dessert is moon cake.

Friends and family show their respect to each other by gifting moon cake.

The Roman harvest festival in Rome, also known as Cerelia is similar to Thanksgiving. The festival was celebrated in honor of the goddess Ceres (goddess of the corn).

The festival is celebrated on Oct. 4. It is tradition to give produced fruits, grains and animals to the goddess. Music, parades and sports are added to extend the happiness of the celebration.

The Thanksgiving in Brazil is quite modern compared to the American Thanksgiving. When the national cathedral of Washington D.C. invited the ambassador of Brazil, he was fascinated by the idea of Thanksgiving and brought the idea to his hometown. In the south of Brazil this tradition is to express gratitude to almighty to thank him for a great harvest.

In Korea the celebration falls on Aug. 15 and is called Chu-Sok (fall evening). The celebration starts on Aug. 14 and goes on for three days. The Koreans make a dish called ‘songpyon’ which is unique for this occasion and is made out of rice, beans, sesame seeds and chestnuts. Before they have food the family comes together under the moonlight and remember their ancestors and forefathers. The children dance in a circle with a desire of their blessing while wearing a long-prescribed dress.

In Grenada Thanksgiving is celebrated on Oct. 25, and even though it’s around the same time as the Canadian and American Thanksgiving, it’s unrelated to either of those traditions. The Thanksgiving in Grenada marks the anniversary of the U.S. led invasion in 1983.

There are also other places who celebrate Thanksgiving the same way the Americans and Canadians do; one example is Leiden which is a city in the Netherlands. On the morning of the American Thanksgiving people in Leiden go to the Pieterskerk (St. Peters church) a Gothic church in Leiden and note the hospitality the pilgrims received in this city on their way to the New World.

But out of all these Thanksgiving traditions the Thanksgiving in the U.S. is the most iconic, where family gets together, eats turkey and of course we can’t forget about the pumpkin pie.

Picture from http://www.deviantart.com/

REBECCA HAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Actors’ Charitable Theatre put on its production of “Assassins,” the Tony-award winning musical by Stephen Sondheim, on election weekend at Eat My Beats. Telling the story of nine American assassins (would-be assassins included), the story wove through multiple eras of American history as the individuals united across time and space to provide their own take on the American dream.

Some, as the tagline boldly declared, just wanted “the right to be happy,” while others hoped to cement their names within the ranks of history, alongside such “heroes” as Brutus. For, as the killers ask one another and the audience, does not everybody have the right to happiness, as guaranteed in the land of the free? The question is continually raised and answered in the ensuing two hours, in which each assassination plays out along with the preceding events. Interspersed between these pivotal scenes, the characters freely converse with one another in tones that range from goading to mocking to sympathetic. John Hinckley (Benji Stockton) writes a ballad to Jodie Foster and is taunted by crazed Manson follower Squeaky Fromme (Genevieve Smith) for his imagined love; she asks him if his “girlfriend” truly loves him like Manson loves her, to which he tells her to shut her mouth.

Each actor brilliantly realized the subtleties of their characters in ways that invoked sympathy for even the most horrid of deeds, turning sometimes obscure characters into more than just a footnote in history. Royce Garrison’s John Wilkes Booth, who shot Abraham Lincoln at the theater, extolled passionately on the true motives of his murder and his desire to preserve the Union that Lincoln had so callously ru-

ined. In one of the high points of the song, ture of a disgruntled tire salesman tired of he demanded for the truth to be told, writ- the lies of politicians and the paradox of ing his ideas down in a notebook only to the world. Dan Maguire’s Giuseppe Zanhave the sheet ripped out by the Balladeer gara, who had aimed for Franklin D. Roo(Matthew Cornelson), whose singing and sevelt yet missed, provided an exceptional narration accompanied every scene. monologue in Italian as his fellow assassins Polish immigrant Leon Czolgosz (An- translated. Last but not least, Northridge’s drew Livingston) own Donna Wright lamented of the state and Genevieve Smith of the industry workwere captivatingly deer in America at the ranged as Sara Jane time, giving an impasMoore and Squeaky sioned monologue on Fromme, respectively, the price of producing followers of Charles one Coca-Cola botManson with extreme tle. After listening to ideologies and unpreseveral speeches given dictable moods. by anarchist Emma Along with the Goldman, he is inoutstanding acting, spired to shoot Presithe stage work and dent William McKinsets of the play were ley. Stockton brought extremely immerto life the delusional sive and innovative. love of John HinckThe actors’ shadows ley, who attempted danced across the to shoot President wooden planks as Ronald Reagan in an flashing red lights effort to impress his shone through the true love Jodie Fos- KILLING IT Donna Wright as Sara Jane Moore floor to create the ilter. Charles Guiteau (Charles Prosser), lusion of fire. American flags draped across assassin of President James Garfield, was rails and the entire background, creating introduced to the audience as a seemingly an ironically patriotic atmosphere amidst level-headed man who only wanted to pro- the horror of the acts. On the dinner tables mote his book and become Ambassador to were bullet casings; it was small details like France. Unfortunately, his request is laugh- these that made the night. ingly denied, leading him to shoot the presThough first performed in 1990, the ident and then be executed in a morbidly ACT breathed new life into “Assassins” whimsical musical sequence where Guite- through the help of wonderful acting and au switched between the happy, go-lucky exceptional stage work. The topic is dark tune of “Look on the Bright Side” to the and murderous, with gunshots and yells, mournful line of “I am going to the Lordy.” yet the material was humorous and captiAndrew Smith’s monologues as wannabe vating. Especially now, with the chaos of Nixon assassin Sam Byck were brilliantly the current presidential election, the play unhinged yet captivating, painting a pic- remains more relevant than ever.

SPORTS

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER NOVEMBER 2016

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KARA GOFF RECEIVES SOFTBALL SCHOLARSHIP is anticipating the stress that being on a Division 1 softball team can cause. enior Kara Goff re“I am going to prepare ceived a partial softball as much as I can and do scholarship to Louisiana everything I can to get State University. “I am very ready,” Goff said. “At the excited to play softball on first game I’m going to a scholarship,” Goff said. “I play in, there will be a ton play second base the most, of people there. I may be but I also play right field.” a little nervous.”

Goff, who has been playing Throughout her 12 softball for 12 years, has alyears of softball her faways desired to play college vorite memories are of softball. “Ever since I was her hitting out of the little I would always watch park home runs. “The college softball,” Goff said. first at bat I had to sac“It was always a dream for rifice bunt,” Goff said. me to play ball in the South“The next at bat I had a eastern Conference.” home run over right field.

Goff decided to go to The last at bat I had a Louisiana State Universihome run over left field. ty after her first visit to the We won the game 20 to campus. “I loved the tradi3.” Although most of her tions at LSU. I also felt evsoftball memories have eryone has support for each been great, she has had GEAUX TIGERS Kara Goff (pictured above second from left) sits with her family on signing day other,” Goff said. “It’s very her fair share of injuries. unique because of the way everyone respects each which helped us get scholarships and recruited.”

“Just in the last year, I was hit 20 times while at bat,” Softball is just one of the many sports Goff par- Goff said. “One time I got hit in the ribs, which really other there.” Goff felt that if it was not for her travel team, The Mariucci Patriots, she would not have been ticipates in. “Other than softball, this year alone, I hurt. I was bruised pretty bad and I was unable to as visible to scouts. “Through these teams we trav- have been on the school volleyball team, and I am play for a week.” Regardless, Goff said she is lookeled all over the country,” Goff said. “We even went playing basketball for the school,” Goff said. “I also ing forward to the challenge. “ I cannot wait to play to California, Oregon, Texas, and Florida. At these lift weights and work out during my free time.” Goff softball for LSU,” Goff said. “It may be challenging at tournaments college softball coaches saw us play, is excited for this next step in her life; however, she first, but I will work hard and play great.”

PATRICK JOHNSON STAFF WRITER

S

GOING OUT WITH A BANG

Northridge leaves the season with a home victory

CEDRIC BROWN SPORTS EDITOR

W

ith a subpar season of football away, the Northridge Jaguars aimed to end the season with a victory and defeat their cross city rivals, Central Falcons, in the team’s homecoming game. Coming into the game with a 2-7 record, the Jaguars were determined not to be defeated by the 2-7 Falcons.

The two teams haven’t played each other since the 2007 football season where the Falcons came out on top 33-31.

Running through the tarp with a Season the Falcons caption, they tore through as a herd and with the crowd roaring behind them, the Jaguars spirit was higher than it has ever been this season.Starting off the game in the first quarter, the Jaguars came out

with a tremendous start as they converted many first downs leading to a score by senior tight end Brodric Martin with a catch, ending their first drive with a touchdown. Coming off of that score, they knew that they had their stride back to come and win this game for the home crowd.

After the Jaguars successful drive, the Falcons aimed to match the Jaguars with a complete drive.

However, the Jaguar’s defense seemed to be unstoppable as they stopped the Falcons from a score on their first possession.

The crowd roared as they saw their Jaguars back in their winning form.Throughout the night the Jaguars defense and offense seemed superb as senior Jimmy Anderson led the team with six defensive tackles.

With the amazing performance behind them, the defense held the Falcons as they were unable to convert

all night and left the game with 13 points.

On the other side of the ball, the offense matched the defense as the picked up numerous amount of touchdowns. They scorched the Falcons defense as they were unable to catch up with the Jaguars offensive tempo. With all of the hype, the Jaguars ended up winning the game 48-13, improving their record to 3-7 and leaving the Falcons season with a 2-8 record.

As the game ended, fans breathed a sigh of relief as the dissapointing season came to an end. Ending the season with a tremendous victory reminded fans that the Jaguars never give up.

As the next season of football arrives, the Jaguars are certain to reassure their fans that they will come back better and stronger.

THE NORTHRIDGE REPORTER NOVEMBER 2016

Backstrom, Kaya Wilkinson, was impacted dearly by the news as Backstrom was one of her closest friends.

“We met in 8th grade in a baton throwing class for majorettes, and we’ve been friends ever since,” said Wilkinson.

Through the class they formed a friendship and their relationship became stronger as both Backstrom and Wilkinson joined the band.

“Ariel was well liked. She got along with everyone, and she was a band favorite,” Wilkinson said.

Backstrom was more than just an average student at Northridge. Her attitude and her altruistic spirit towards everything made her one of the schools most recognized students.

“She was very energetic,

Stephens, Kaya Wilkinson, and Emmie Barnett bow their heads.

Photo from Amy Howard Duncan

smiling, and made everyone feel better just by her being around,” senior Nick Blair said.

In band, she was one of the hardest working members.

During each practice she made sure she was prepared for the performances.

“At practice, she always was a perfectionist. If she didn’t get it right the first time, she’d keep practicing until she got it right,” Blair said.

“As she performed, she was on point. She always hit her cues and made the most of every Friday night performance,” Blair added.

Ariel Backstrom will be missed by student, staff and faculty.

She was an essential part of the student body, and her passing leaves a mark on all of Northridge.

Photo from Maria Potts

PAYING RESPECTS Juniors Brianna Hyche, Brianna Dunn, Jade Johnson, Caleb Toshcoff, Jessie Kate Joiner, Jacob

BAND SHOWS SUPPORT THe Northridge Band makes a formation of Ariel’s name.

During the Northridge vs.

McAdory football game the marching band dedicated its halftime show to former majorette, Ariel Backstrom, who died in a fatal car crash earlier this year.

On Jan. 28, while coming to school, the car she was in lost control, resulting in Backstrom’s fatality around 7:00 a.m.

The band performed “We Are Family” and “Crazy in Love” in dedication to their former band member.

“I felt good performing for her family. It felt great for me to show her family that her daughter was well noticed at Northridge,” said junior Monique Peters.

The sudden tragedy shook the entire student body and staff.

“It hit me hard. She was great and always was fun to be around, and with her gone things weren’t the same anymore,” said senior Tavion Lee. Many months after the tragedy Backstrom’s character still leaves an impact on many Northridge students’ lives.

“She taught me a lot; she taught me that you can do what you want and be fine with it,” added Peters.

Friend and fellow majorette of

CEDRIC BROWN SPORTS EDITOR

Band organizes halftime tribute in memory of Ariel Backstrom

REMEMBERING ARIEL

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NOVEMBER 2016 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 3