that was in town. If you wanted to get started, all you had to do was talk to these people. We kept playing shows during the pandemic, and that was a big no-no for them. But, we were very careful and made sure to keep the crowds small. After that, people graduated and moved away, and the old scene was dismantled. We’re just part of the new era of it now. Your debut album, Self Titled Disaster was recently released. What was that process like? Noah: It’s been a work in progress for a really long time. Some of those songs were ones we wrote in the dorm room over a year and a half or two years before that. Caleb: We went into the studio, and we did it in one weekend. We spent many hours there. It was a great experience. Ben: We felt like rockstars. Caleb: We would definitely like to do it again. The theme of our tenth issue is mayhem. The punk rock genre has a lot of chaotic, hardcore connotations. How do you feel about these associations? What does mayhem mean to you? What do you think it inspires? Northy: A part of punk rock is certainly chaos and rebellion, but
it’s often not anarchy just for anarchy’s sake. It’s a rebellion against the unfair and cruel parts of the world. Many of the people at the forefront of social issues in the 90s and early 2000s were members of the punk community. Despite negative connotations some people might have, it’s a community we’re proud to consider ourselves a part of. What are some of your future goals moving forward? How would you guys want to contribute to the scene? Ben: I want to inspire people in the same way that I’ve been inspired by the bands that I liked growing up. Noah: Inspiring others, you know? Keep the music going. I want to play a show with a band that I listen to. Mayday Parade is from Tallahassee, and I would love the opportunity to be able to open for them. Northy is only one of many punk rock bands that have been building up their name in Tallahassee. This interconnected network of bands uplifts one another and empowers each other to be successful. Northy claims to want to inspire others just like they have been inspired themselves. And yet, they are already doing so by serving at the forefront of the new era of punk rock in Tallahassee.
MISSING
IN THE MEDIA WRITTEN BY GAVIN PINTO EDITED BY KARINA MCCARTHY & LEXI FERNANDEZ Thousands of missing persons cases remain unsolved every year, leaving families and communities devastated by the grief and hardship of loss. Such devastation intensifies when the media selectively deems certain cases as newsworthy, leaving others unheard of. The racial disparity in missing persons cases is as clear as day with the overwhelming majority of those who receive less than adequate resources to find justice being non-white individuals. The case of the missing woman, Gabby Petito, serves as a contemporary example of such disparities. After the twenty-twoyear-old travel blogger was reported missing by her family after not hearing from her for an extended period of time, the media quickly curated theories regarding what may have led to her disappearance. All eyes were on her fiance, Brian Laundrie, and his family as a result of persistent news coverage and public speculation. In true crime junkie fashion, many took to social media in an attempt to uncover what happened to Petito. Cries for justice were amplified to ensure that everyone was made aware of the situation; however, this is not the reality for thousands of other missing individuals. It is no secret that minority groups are often targeted by both the media and law enforcement, suffering from false accusations and ridicule from the public. Members of racial and ethnic minorities are
more likely to face racially motivated acts of violence, sex trafficking, and police brutality. In contrast, they are less likely to have their stories broadcast by leading media outlets. The lack of attention minorities receive further conveys the disparities they face in their everyday life. Exemplified in Petito’s case, our criminal justice system, the media, and society can take a situation and dictate the validity. Minority families are left with few options and often take to social media in an effort to raise awareness, begging for others to notice. In 2016 alone, there were nearly six thousand reports of missing Indigenous individuals, yet there was a noticeable lack of response from news outlets. Breaking down the barrier will allow us to achieve a reality of fairness for all. The tragedy of what happened to Gabby Petito is something that will be remembered for years to come; however, it is not the case for all missing persons. The unfortunate reality is that race and ethnicity play a prominent role in our justice system; it is a painful line that only minorities have to walk. The inadequate efforts put into the discoveries of non-white individuals do not represent the resources we have. Our justice system promises equivalent opportunity for all, and it is due time that we make such a commitment truthful.
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