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Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Al• 35406
December 30, 2013 • Volume 11 • Issue 4
Search for principal starts in February Safe and Sound Renu Pandit Editor-in-Chief
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r. Isaac Espy, principal, announced that he would be returning to his alma mater, Tuscaloosa Academy, at the end of this school year, causing the board of education to search for his replacement. Espy said that the superintendent will identify a process for selecting a principal. “This typically involves a committee that includes parents, teachers, etc., to provide a short list of candidates from the applicants, usually 3 or 4. [The superintendent] will ultimately make the final selection,” Espy said. He said the plan is to advertise the position in February, interview in March, and select in April. “My guess is that if the principal is selected in April, the board of education will act on the recommendation at the early May board meeting,” Espy said. Espy said a successful principal “should have positive experience in leading another school, be a leader in academics, have a plan to address the challenges we face, understand athletics and work well with people.” “I am not sure of the exact role that I will play in this process, but from all indications, I will participate,” he said. Brittany Johnson, senior, said she hopes the new principal will carry many of the qualities Dr. Espy has. “Dr. Espy did a great job of encouraging and recognizing students’ successes through awards ceremonies and the All Academic Team, and I just hope the new principal continues that,” she said. “The new principal should be a great leader with a clear vision for how to run the school. Dr. Espy is both determined and kind, which is a great combination that I would love to see the new principal have.” She said the new principal should also continue to take action on some of the problems the school faces. “Northridge has a few issues including school cleanliness and a drug problem, and I would love to see the new principal continue to deal with it,” Johnson said.
She said that ultimately students need to have a say in deciding the next principal “because students are directly impacted by the principal every day.” Kailey Bissell, senior, disagrees. She said she thinks that students do not need to have a say in deciding the new principal. “We can’t really understand what’s truly best for the future of our school and community,” Bissell said. She said principals should be both reliable and lenient and should be flexible to the needs of students and teachers. “They should focus on meeting the graduation requirements and getting more students to pass their classes and should be involved in the school by getting to know the student body like Dr. Espy did,” Bissell said. “If we could just clone Dr. Espy that would be great.”
New security measures enforced; mixed feelings about practicality
Sumona Gupta Infographics Editor
The new security measures planned at the beginning of the school year have now been put in place. Students may now notice the large gate at the bus entrance, and that parents and visitors are required to present their driver’s license at the front office. Jessica Ballard, sophomore, said she feels like the gate is more of a hindrance than a help. “Every day after sixth period, people coming from TCT are locked out. We always have to wait for someone to See editorial on page 2 come open the door for us,” she said. Seth Gipson, sophomore, said however that the gate secures the campus better. “I feel like I’m protected better now,” he said. Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said the gate has worked well. “We were exposed with an open entrance in the back of the school,” he said. Espy said that since events like the Columbine shooting in 1999, schools have made extra precautions in order to protect those inside. “The days of open campuses are over. Buzzer systems, locked entrances, and school officers are now standard in most schools,” Espy said. The school’s buzzer system is soon to be completed. The new check in system in the office has been in use since the beginning of the year, but it will be mandatory to check in once students return from Winter Break in January. It allows all visitors to check in and prints an ID badge for visitors to wear. Espy said that students play an important role in keeping the school safe. “The single most effective and important component of school safety and security is not cameras, locks, police officers, or buzzer systems. It is the students who share their concerns, observations, and information with school administrators and other personnel. We 82 students polled. Information always take action on information that is provided,” complied by James Niiler. Designed he said. by Renu Pandit.
What quality is most important for a principal to have?
Leadership
19
Attentiveness
42
Personality
21
Common Core initiative makes ACT test mandatory for juniors James Niiler Feature Editor Beginning this school year, all eleventh grade students will be required to take the ACT. Shannon Bogert, Secondary Reading Specialist for the Tuscaloosa City Schools, said, “The ACT will be used as a state assessment for Alabama students.” However, juniors won’t have to worry about making a certain premeditated score. “‘Passing the ACT is not a requirement,” she said. Elizabeth Tiley, counselor, said, Common Core, the newly adopted interstate education standards, prompted this change. “Part of the Common Core is that we will start administering the ACT to eleventh graders. New tests will replace many that have been previously taken, [even in middle and elementary school]”, she said.
The ultimate motivation for the requirement for juniors to take the test was for their productivity later in life, Tiley said. “I believe [the testing requirement was adopted] because when our students graduated high school, they didn’t have the necessary skills to be successful in college or the workforce. [The State Department of Education] is wanting to increase the standards and rigor of education to prepare students,” she said. Tiley said taking the ACT will provide several benefits for juniors. “[Juniors] get to take the ACT once for free [during the school day,] she said. “The ACT may encourage them to apply for college or move in a similar direction.” However, accommodation policies have changed as well. “It’s going to be different than it was in the past,” Tiley said. Instead of requesting
Swimming Page 7
Music Page 4
special accommodations from the school, students will now have to appeal directly to the ACT management. Erin Green, junior, said he knew of the new policy and is prepared to take the test. “[I’m taking] ACT prep classes, and some of the teachers are practicing with us,” he said. Green said taking the ACT will be beneficial for him and others. “I like it because they’re paying for it, and it’s an easy way for us to raise our ACT scores,” he said. “It will give us a better chance to get a scholarship for college.” Not all juniors, however, are as confident. Mary Long, junior, said that although she is prepared for the test, only “a few” teachers have discussed it during classes. “They haven’t really gone over it a lot,” she said. Both the multiple-choice and writing portions of the test will be administered to the eleventh grade on April 23, 2014.
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Do you think making the ACT required is a good idea? 40 30 20
10
No
Yes
50 students polled. Information complied by James Niiler. Designed by Renu Pandit.
2 Opinion
The Northridge Reporter December 30, 2013
Our Thoughts
Committee must choose wisely in search for new principal In the search for a new principal, it is absolutely vital that the committee responsible for hiring Dr. Espy’s replacement take into consideration the needs of students, teachers and parents of our school. Running a high school of over 1,200 students is no easy task. Therefore, the person selected to be our school’s chief administrator should be willing and able to handle whatever crises the job brings. Having an efficient administrator will be necessary for our school to continue to do well. Communication, too, will be essential, and should be presented clearly to students, teachers, staff and parents. A principal should also be conscientious and fair, and an upright and ethical person who empathizes with others. He or she should not be an abuser of power or a tyrant, but rather someone whom everyone will feel comfortable talking to as a person. A principal should have a clear and future-oriented vision for the school, consistently being aware of problems or issues, and trying to the best of his or her ability to remedy them. Under a competent principal, the school should always be growing upwards in the things that really count: academics, a safe and comfortable environment, and being a real community.
agree (10) disagree (0)
Art by: Lauren Cuttner-Smith
‘War on Christmas’ is contrary to spirit of season
It’s that time of year. Not just for caroling, giving and receiving gifts, and spending time with family, but the ‘War on Christmas’ has begun—once again. It kicks in around Thanksgiving, and lasts to about New Year’s. Why anyone wants to constantly fight during the holiday season is beyond me. But for as long I can remember, I have heard yearly about these epic wastes of time. Whether it’s an atheist group in North Carolina trying to get a public school to stop its participation in ‘Operation Christmas Child,’ or people planning to boycott their favorite clothing retailers, because they are now greeted with ‘Happy Holidays’ rather than a ‘Merry Christmas,’ it’s an American phenomenon that’s becoming out-of-control. Those who have the time and privilege to fight in this war do, and nobody wins. In fact, needy
children go without. Although the ‘War on Christmas’ is largely imaginary, both sides of the sociopolitical spectrum have contributed very real elements to it. The politically correctobsessed Left has a seemingly strange desire to remove every trace of Christmas from the public sphere. Hence, it’s no r longer even ‘Happy Holidays’—it’s ‘May you have a pleasant Winter Solstice Festival/Kwanzaa/ whatever!’ Traditional carols and Nativity scenes can go too— everyone knows that Christmas has nothing to do at all with religion, and as a matter of fact, most of the holiday has roots in ancient pagan tradition. The Right, too, deserves its hefty share of blame. Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday and ought to be treated by such by the observant. Yes, most Nii le
James Niiler Feature Editor
politically correct speech in relation to ‘the holidays’ is utter garbage. There is no excuse, though, to prohibit others from celebrating this time of year as they see fit, and respect their celebrations appropriately. If someone is pagan—fine. By all means, observe the winter solstice! Are you a part of another religious minority? Why should wreaths and lights on your house on the 25th be a problem? Besides, is it really worth it to run boycotts of businesses, constantly petition a city government to put up a Nativity scene, or explicitly demand that a public school sing “Silent Night” in an assembly? Because of that pesky thing called the First Amendment, which satisfies one side to their own end but allows them to demonize their opponents, there will most always be a conflict between the appropriate balance
of religion and secularism in America. We should not forget, however, that Christmas is a season of generosity and love, and ought to be a time of joy shared by everyone. Let’s try to be more respectful of each other, and keep it that way. Merry Christmas.
Those who have the time and privilege to fight in this war do and nobody wins. In fact, needy children go without.
Cartoon by: MCT Campus
Journalist of the Year 2013 • Bailey Thomson Award for Editorial Writing 2013 • Rick Bragg Feature Writing Award 2009 • NSPA 6th Place Best of Show 2013 • NSPA 5th Place Best of Show 2012 • NSPA 1st Place Best of Show 2011 • NSPA 5th Place Best of Show 2008 • NSPA 8th Place Best of Show 2008 • NSPA 9th Place Best of Show 2006 • CSPA Gold Medalist 2005-2011 • SIPA All-Southern 2003, 2005–2012 • ASPA All-Alabama 2003–2011 • NSPA All-American 2004, 2008, 2011 • Best SIPA Newspaper in Alabama 2003–2007 • NSPA News Story of the Year 2005 • SIPA First Place News Story 2007• SIPA First Place Review 2009
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Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295
*Denotes state, regional and national award winners Entertainment Editor Copy Editor Artists Twitter Editor KeamBria Washington Lauren Curtner-Smith Sumona Gupta, Rebecca Griesbach Lauren Curtener-Smith Sports Editor Asst. Copy Editor Business Manager Facebook Editor Camri Mason Sophie Fairbairn Sumona Gupta *Renu Pandit Asst. Sports Editor Infographics Editor Photographers Adviser Keshaun Byrd Sumona Gupta D’Aja Patrick, Camri Mason *Susan Newell Beat Editor Art Editor Web Master Sophie Fairbairn *Renu Pandit James Niiler Editorial Policy: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and Advertising & Subscriptions: Contact The Northridge Rethose of the students and not of the faculty or administra- verify allegations. The newspaper is distributed monthly. porter Staff at (205) 759-3734 ext. 235 or snewell@tusc.k12. tion of Northridge High School or the Tuscaloosa City Board al.us to advertise in or subscribe to The Northridge Reporter. of Education. It is the policy of The Northridge Reporter to Tuscaloosa City Board Policy: It is the official policy of the Tuscaloosa publish all non-obscene, non-libelous, signed letters to the City Board of Education that no person shall, on the grounds of race, editor, regardless of the opinion expressed in them. Letters color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, age or creed, be excluded School population must be submitted to Susan Newell in room 109 or emailed for participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subject to discrimi- Students: 1238 nation under any program, activity or employment. Faculty and staff: 90 to northridgereporter@gmail.com.
Editor-in-Chief *Renu Pandit Feature Editors James Niiler News Editor Rebecca Griesbach Opinion Editor KeamBria Washington
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Entertainment “Hunger Games” sequel thrills reviewer
The Northridge Reporter December 30, 2013
James Niiler Feature Editor
I had one of the best experiences of my fall break by attending the incredible film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” after my Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 28. Being a “Hunger Games” fan, and knowing from others that this movie was excellent, I knew I was in for a treat. I just didn’t know how so darn good it would be. I can say that it was one of the best, if not the best, movie I have ever seen. “Catching Fire” was an emotional roller coaster, filled to the brim with intensity. It
fully revealed all emotions, from suspense, to terror, to humor, to great sadness and poignancy. This is certainly not a film for the faint-of-heart. “Catching Fire” picks up immediately from where its predecessor left off. In the movie, Katniss Everdeen has returned from her horrific experience in the arena, but her troubles are far from over. She must travel on a Victory Tour to the 11 other districts of Panem, as a reminder of the control the Capitol holds over them. At the same time, she must pretend to be madly in love with her fellow victor, Peeta Mellark, for the
sake of political stability, while experiencing conflicting emotions over her not-quite-boyfriend at home, Gale Hawthorne. Things really get out of hand when her arch-nemesis, President Snow, declares that for the next year’s Games, the tributes will be drawn from the collective body of victors. Katniss and Peeta are once again plunged into the arena, where more death and destruction await, and nothing is quite as it seems. The film tended to stay remarkably true to the book, which made for an extremely engrossing viewing experience. This also made the film somewhat long, at nearly two and a half
hours—but in the grand scheme of things, who cares? The actors, too, fulfilled their roles perfectly. Jennifer Lawrence once again didn’t fail to deliver the moodiness, despair, and hostility Katniss often feels. Stanley Tucci, who played the cheerfully obnoxious TV announcer Caesar Flickerman, had many moments in which he positively shone. Donald Sutherland very capably portrayed the ever-expanding role of President Snow. And Elizabeth Banks, as Effie Trinket, revealed that underneath the Capitol pettiness and glamour, she really does have a heart.
Photo by: MCT Campus
May the odds be ever in your favor: Katniss and Peeta prepare to enter the arena in “Catching Fire.”
Junior uses musical gifts for performance, teaching KeamBria Washington Opinion/Entertainment Editor
Photo by: KeamBria Washington
Strumming away: Morgan DeWitt, 11, plays the guitar in Beth McGuire’s class on Dec. 16.
Junior Morgan DeWitt, pianist and guitarist, was classically trained at the age of five on how to play the piano and picked up a guitar during middle school. “Seventh grade was my first time playing a guitar, and I actually taught myself,” DeWitt said. DeWitt said that her godparents inspired her to be musical. “They were both opera singers and played a lot of music,” DeWitt said. She said the support from
her godparents help her keep “I teach guitar lessons on accomplishing the music career McFarland at a store called that she started. EATMYBEATS from 3:30 p.m. “They have always been most to 7:00 p.m,” she said. supportive to me,” DeWitt said. DeWitt has other hobbies that DeWitt said that music is her she does when she’s not teaching life and everything she does music. has some “I teach connection Sunday school Music is a language that can be with it. spoken by everyone. Everyone from 9:00 p.m. “My life until 12:15 r e v o l v e s can relate to it and take heed p.m. at a church to it. around music called Temple because music Emmanuel,” is a language that can be spoken she said. by everyone. Everyone can relate DeWitt’s mother, Pamela to it and take heed to it,” she said. DeWitt, said she was thrilled DeWitt said she also gives when DeWitt picked up the guitar. guitar lessons. “She was playing the piano for
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eight years at the time, and I was glad she was getting interested in something else that was musical,” Pamela said. Pamela said she first noticed DeWitt’s interest in music when she was three. “She was constantly banging on pots and pans; she took spoons and beat on the kitchen cabinets to a beat,” Pamela said. Pamela said DeWitt used to make tunes with her mouth when she was a baby. “She used to hum from a really early age, and her godparents saw her talent and took her under their wings,” Pamela said.
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Feature
The Northridge Reporter December 30, 2013
MUSIC TO OUR EARS
Senior finds musical passion from guitar, performing for others Now, Evans usually plays his guitar by himself, but on special occasions he pairs with former student Jameson Hubbard. “He’s a versatile musician. We work well Parker Evans, senior, is an enthusiastic musician who plays the acoustic and elec- together because we can go in a number of musical directions depending on where we tric guitar. Evans said he started playing the guitar are playing and who we are playing for,” Evans said. officially the summer before third grade. Irene said that Parker practices often. He was inspired to start playing the in“When someone asks him to perform, he strument when he visited Tyler Carter, former student, at the Alabama Blues project, is ready. Quite often, he practices at home a non-profit organization that teaches kids on his own and occasionally with friends at the importance of blues music with a spe- their homes when he will be playing with cific focus on Alabama’s contribution to its other musicians,” Irene said. Some of the venues Evans has played history. Evans thought it was impressive that in are the farmer’s market at Canterbury someone such as Carter who was just a few Chapel Episcopal Church and the River years older than him could make such a big Market. “I’ve also played at people’s parties impact in and the fall festival the comEverything I’ve done has pretty at Northridge with munity with his much been discovered by acci- Jameson [Hubbard], Hayden Murphy, and music. dent or by watching others. Abby Armstrong,” “I went Evans said. to see him several Parker Evans, Senior Laura Worley, times. I am nowhere senior, visited Evnear his level, but I ans at the Farmer’s wanted to make an market this past impression like him summer. too,” Evans said. “I didn’t recognize many of the songs, Evans took guitar lessons for about a but he [Evans] and Jameson [Hubbard] year. “Besides that, everything I’ve done has played really well together. Jameson pretty much been discovered by accident played the harmonica while Parker sang or by watching other people,” Evans said. and played guitar. The twangy music made Irene Evans, Evans’s mother, said that it feel more upbeat,” Worley said. Marianne Martin, senior, also visited EvEvans’s music influences their home life when he shares new music with the family. ans at the Farmer’s Market. “I liked the songs he played even though “His twin brothers, Henry and Neil, love to accompany him, of course, on occasion they aren’t what I usually listen to. I was (Henry on harmonica and Neil on percu- surprised because I didn’t know Parker sang and played guitar. I would recomsion!),” she said. Lauren Curtner-Smith Copy Editor
Photo by: Irene Evans
Rock on: Senior Parker Evans performs at the 2013 Fall Festival (left), and with senior Jameson Hubbard (above) at the farmers’ market at Canterbury Chapel in July 2013. Photo by: Katherine Duckworth
mend going to see him play! He is very talented!” Martin said. Evans said he has been supported by his parents. “They’ve helped me buy my equipment [such as my amplifier],” Evans said. Evans does not write much of his own music that he is happy with. Evans said he probably plays too much Bob Dylan. Evans said he does not have a favorite musical artist. “Parker has said that our rather eclectic taste (from Louis Armstrong to Jimi Hendrix) has in fact influenced him and led him to explore a variety of genres. And, we might add, that Parker has certainly introduced us to a lot of great new music for which we are grateful,” Irene said. Evans usually switches between genres when listening to music. “Usually, when I find an album I like, I’ll listen to it until I burn myself out on it,
and then I spend several weeks looking for something new to revive me,” Evans said. Evans said he does not think a career in music is necessarily realistic, but if the opportunity arises he might pursue it. “I’ll definitely try to play in college since I’ll have more opportunities to expand where I play and what I can play with new people,” Evans said. Evans said he enjoys making music because it gives him the ability to recreate songs he listens to. Evans said he enjoys being on stage rather than a spectator because it gives him something to do so he doesn’t have to sit or stand still for too long. “Also, I am self-centered and while people don’t usually pay much attention to me in the places I play, being elevated by my mic and guitar is enough to satisfy my ego,” Evans said.
3301 Highway 69 South Beside McDonald’s
Feature
The Northridge Reporter December 30, 2013
Junior practices out of love for violin
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Sophie Fairbairn Assistant Copy Editor
“I used to be in the Northridge orchestra, but I am no longer on that level of music,” she said. Junior and Tuscaloosa Youth Orchestra Hatfield has auditioned and passed concertmaster Lainey Hatfield has envel- through the All-State Festival Orchesoped her life in the art of the violin. tra for the past seven years, during which Ever since Hatfield saw Fiddlers per- she has been a first violinist three times, form at her school-hosted rodeo in Texas, and concertmaster twice. Hatfield passed Hatfield has had a passion for the violin. through again this year, making it into a “I play because I love music,” Hatfield higher orchestra and second violin. said. “I find it to be enjoyable and a good “The competition was harder this year, release.” and a lot of people didn’t make it at all,” Lainey was only six when she began she said. practicing. Hatfield has had many performances, “My first violin was so tiny its body was and she has won Solo and Chamber Musmaller than sic medals at the your foreI play because I love music. I find Alabama Honor arm,” Hatfield Strings Festiit to be enjoyable and a good said. val, as well as a Hatfield takes release. scholarship for lessons every week a music camp Lainey Hatfield, Junior and plays for an over the sumhour every day. mer. “It takes a lot of Kyle Gaddis, practice and discipline,” Hatfield said. junior and supporter of Hatfield, has heard “But it is really fun and worth it.” Hatfield play “four or five” times and has Over the years, Penny Hatfield, Hat- been to “three or more” concerts. field’s mother, has made sure to provide “She is an amazing violinist and plays the Hatfield with good instructors whose per- music extremely well every time,” he said. sonalities complimented Hatfield’s. Though Hatfield puts much of her time “I made sure she practiced properly and and effort into practicing the violin, she long, especially in elementary school,” does not plan to make it her profession. she said. “I’m not planning on using it too much, Hatfield practices in order to advance not as a job,” Hatfield said. “I’ll just have into a higher caliber of musicianship. it as a hobby.”
Photo by: Penny Hatfield
Virtuoso: Nine year-old Lainey Hatfield, junior, plays the violin in a recital in San Antonio, Texas in 2006. Hatfield has done All-State Festival Orchestra for seven years.
Jazz band provides musical fun for students
Photo by: Camri Mason
The sound of music: Members of the jazz band practice in the auditorium during third period on Dec. 11. The jazz band played last on Dec. 10. They hold 5 to 6 concerts per year.
two years. James Niiler “I went to one of their concerts in the Feature Editor tenth grade, and it looked really fun to be in,” he said. The jazz band, a school musical The jazz band is “working on mostly establishment, is known for its eclectic blues-type music right now,” Cook said. mix of instruments as well as its talent. Pieces include “Blue Monk, “Blue “We have a unique instrumentation,” Train,” “All the Things You Are” and jazz band director, John Cain, said. “Song for Consisting of My Father.” approximately 10 students One of the things I like about T h i s from all grades, the jazz jazz band is that it allows stuyear marks band includes a trumpet, dents to have creativity. Cain’s sixth trombone, saxophone, John Cain, Band Director in directing clarinet, guitar and drum the jazz set. band, which has been in existence since the “In a typical jazz band, you would have founding of the school. a trumpet section, a trombone section, and The jazz band plays in five to six concerts a saxophone section,” Cain said. a year, the most recent being on Dec. 10. Due to the limited number of players, “One of the things I like about jazz however, “we fill in with a clarinet. We band is that it allows the students to have (sometimes) have someone fill in a bass creativity” in arrangements, solos, and line on a tuba,” he said. improvisations,” Cain said. “It taps into Senior Jake Cook has been playing the their creative side.” baritone saxophone in the jazz band for
A Whole New World Gorg siblings take on school in America
Sarah Gorg
Photos by: Rebecca Griesbach
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News
The Northridge Reporter December 30, 2013
Michael Gorg
Sarah Gorg paves new life, moves to America in hopes of better education KeamBria Washington Opinion/Entertainment Editor
S
arah Gorg, who was born in Miami Florida, endured lifestyle changes as she and her family migrated from the United States to Germany and back to the United States once again. “My father is full German, and my mother is Cuban American; my mother’s parents emigrated from Cuba to Miami where I was born,” Gorg said. Gorg said her new life in Germany was hard to adapt to. “When I was 7 my family decided to move to Germany.
It was a hard and rough time because I had to learn how to speak German, which was really hard,” Gorg said. Gorg said she was bullied for being an American in the village that she lived in. “I lived in a place called Stotten am Auerberg in Bavaria, and there I got bullied because of my culture; people made fun of me all the time, poked me, called me mean names. People didn’t really treat me and my family right,” Gorg said. Gorg said she only had one friend the whole time she lived in Germany. “My friend and I used to do fun things together; in Germany,
you can catch trains almost to any place, and we used to catch them and go to the malls or other cool places,” Gorg said. “After we moved to Germany, I went to German school which consisted of three grade level schools: Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium,” Gorge said. “After you have completed Hauptschule, you can go into the working field.” Gorg said she was picked to go to one of the schools called “Hauptschule,” which is a school that consists of children from grades fifth through tenth. She said that Germany’s school system is different from our school system; there, every child
is not given an opportunity to be what they want to be, so I feel like America gives everybody an opportunity,” Gorg said. Gorg said she loves how our school system is different from schools in Germany. Gorg said she also loves the teachers here. “The teachers are very supportive, and they really help students to achieve in school. In Germany, the teachers are nice, but don’t help as much; students and teachers have more of a friendship relationship [here], while in Germany, it’s more of a work based relationship,” Gorg said. A friend of Gorg’s, Kayla
McEwen, senior, said she thought Gorg was quiet when she first saw her. “Once you get to know her she’s full of laughter,” McEwen said. Yara Akl, junior, started taking classes with Gorg at the beginning of the year. “She turned out to become one of my best friends, even though she was acting shy,” Akl said. Another friend of Gorg’s, Demario Plott, junior, said Gorg looked like a beautiful Cuban. “Sarah is very talkative now that she knows everyone; she’s a happy outgoing person,” Plott said.
Michael Gorg overcomes language barrier, excels in school, exceeds expectations James Niiler Feature Editor
For German student Michael Gorg, 9, America has already met his expectations. “In America, the people are much more (nice), the food is better, the school system is better,” he said. “They cut some slack more in America.”
Gorg, who was born in Miami, moved to the German state of Bavaria where he lived for several years. When his dad got a job with Mercedes during the summer, Gorg returned to the United States. He is impressed by American hospitality. “(People) have been helping me in school a lot,” he said. “(Mrs. Cook) went through a test
and gave me an A.” He also said Mrs. Darnell gives him “extra papers to study.” Gorg’s favorite subject is history. “I like learning about the past,” he said. Gorg said there’s “not really” a language barrier, although reading and writing in English are giving him some trouble.
However, his English Second Language teacher, Kava Smith, thinks differently. “He is excelling, doing topnotch work, even out-performing English language speakers,” she said. Gorg currently doesn’t play any sports, but enjoys texting friends in Germany, watching movies, and going to the pool during his
spare time. “You can do more stuff in your free time [in America],” Gorg said. Gorg is assimilating back into American life very well, Smith said. “From my limited exposure of him, he seems like a happy-golucky, social teenager. He seems like a unique kid,” she said.
Sports
The Northridge Reporter December 30, 2013
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Morgan gets new job Softball coach adds wrestling to his list of coaching duties Sophie Fairbairn Assistant Copy Editor
Photo by: Beth Allaway
Fly Away: Thompson Schille swims in the AHSAA swim competition on Dec. 6. He swam the competitive event called Freestyle.
Harris, Schille compete, place in AHSAA swimming competition Camri Mason Sports Editor
The schools swim team had two swimmers: freshman Jewels Harris and senior Thompson Schille to compete in the Alabama High School Athletic Association state swim competition on Dec. 6. Harris came in 2nd place in 500 yard freestyle in the AHSAA competition. Schille came in 6th place in 500yd. freestyle. He also came in 9th place for the Individual Medley Beth Allaway, biology and anatomy teacher is the swim team coach. She helped prepare them for the competition.. “They train all year round [with Crimson Tide Aquatics]. They have been swimming since they were three or four,” Allaway said. To train they have to do specific stretches to help them swim better and to stay fit. “I do push-ups, sit-ups, a lot of core
exercises,” Harris said. “I also run and [do] squats [too].” The swimmers practices every Tuesday and Thursday for three and a half hours, and they also do individual practices as well. “I swim about thirteen hours a week, and that’s without stretching and other stuff,” Schille said. Harris said she also swims every Mon, Wed, Fri, and, Sat, for two and a half hours. Harris and Schille both not only swim for the school, they also swim with “Crimson Tide Aquatics”. “I swam at Swim Kids at 2-years-old and with Crimson Tide Aquatics at six,” Harris said. Besides the exercises, practice and training, the team also has fun together. “I really like my team, and without my team I wouldn’t be able to go through a week,” Schille said.
the opponent. “To gain points you can use tactics such as ‘Take Downs,’ ‘Escapes,’ ‘Reversals,’ or ‘Bag Points.’” Morgan said. “Take Downs are earned when the opponent is tackled inside the center circle, ‘Escapes’ are earned when the wrestler manages their way out of the control position, ‘Reversals’ are earned after the wrestler has been in the control position, and ‘Bag Points’ are earned when the opponent is almost pinned to the floor, but the shoulders are not quite on the mat.” Using these tactics, as well as pin downs, Morgan’s wrestling team was able to win 18 matches and face the defending champs, Thompson High and Gulf Breeze High School in their first tournament. “We finished 11th out of 16,” Morgan said, “which is good for a first year team.” Although there is a wrestler to represent each grade, the team consist mainly of underclassmen. “We have 13 to 14 wrestlers, and we want more recruits,” Morgan said. Morgan whips the boys into shape by making them practice every day after school and puts them on a veggie and protein diet. “We do high intensity workouts with high reps,” Morgan said. “We work 20 or more different drills every day. I like to change up the drills to practice situational routines and pinning combinations.”
Michael Morgan whips the wrestling team into shape as he adjusts to his new title as head wrestling coach.. After Don McNabb stepped down from coaching wrestling, Michael Morgan, current softball coach, stepped up to take his place. “They needed someone to continue the program,” Morgan said, “and I had the expertise on how to build up a program.” Morgan has had earlier fundraising experience through coaching softball, baseball and football. “Program building is one of the biggest things to know when becoming a coach,” Morgan said. This is the first time Morgan has ever coached wrestling. “I used to wrestle with my brother and watch the Olympic wrestling team, but I’ve never had any real wrestling experience,” Morgan said. Morgan said wrestling was not as complicated as football. “It’s basically common sense,” Morgan said. “The main goal to wrestling is to pin your opponent to the ground for three seconds. You have to take down, control and pin.” Morgan said if the opponent is an experienced wrestler and is difficult to pin, you can earn points instead, as long as you do See February paper for wresnot punch or grab the face, hair or groin of tling story on the players
Fans devastated over Iron Bowl loss blame for the loss,” Nicholson said. The head coach is usually the one to blame for a loss in a big game, which can The pain exiting the visitors’ locker lead to criticism or maybe even him getting room was obvious after the Iron Bowl on fired, but because of Nick Saban’s track reNov. 30, but it was heartfelt at home here cord that won’t be the case. “Surprisingly, I don’t in Tuscaloosa for Alabama blame Nick; I blame the fans at least. referees,” Brown said. The 109-yard field-goal As Auburn defenreturn that ended the game sive back Chris Davis and left Alabama with a 24ran up the left sideline 38 loss stunned fans. many households were Most fans were speechdistraught; others were less. Others were full of anspeechless. ger about how the game endCarlisle said there was ed. Others felt Alabama had “a lot of foul language no one to blame but itself. and violence,” at his Seniors Kennan Nicholhome after the loss. son, Jonathan Carlise, and A lot of people did not Jacarious Brown, are all expect that type of ending huge Alabama football fans. Photo by: MCT Campus to the game or any game Nicholson said he was We were here: Coach Sa- for that matter, which upset about the final play. ban holds the crystal foot- means no matter which “It was a garbage call; ball after winning the 2013 side you were on you we should’ve thrown a Hail BCS National Champion- were caught by surprise. Mary,” Nicholson said. ship game against Notre “It was straight garbage; Some people wanted to Dame 42-14. Due to the loss he clearly stepped out of point the finger at whose against Auburn on Nov. 30, bounds,” Carlise said. fault it was that Alabama Alabama played in the Sug“My house was silent, lost the game. ar Bowl on Jan. 2, losing to [There was] complete si“I give Cade Foster 90% Oklahoma 35 to 41. lence,” Brown said. and Nick Saban 10% of the Keshaun Byrd Assistant Sports Editor
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Beat 8
always on the floor. “Flush the toilet,” Williams said. “No one wants to go in a dirty bathroom.” Karlar Hughes, custodian, said students need to remember that the bathrooms are provided for their use. “It all comes down to respect,” Hughes said. “Respect and value what is provided for you. Keep it clean as if it was your own home. Put things where they are supposed to go: put paper towels in the garbage, and put toilet paper in the toilet.” Wiggins said he wants students to feel comfortable enough to report things to him and other custodians.
Photo by: Camri Mason
Flush: Willy Crawford, custodian, cleans the toilets in the boys bathroom after school from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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put toilet paper over a BM and clogged it. The same thing happened the next day in the same stall, so you know they were doing it on purpose,” Wiggins said. “I’ve seen a BM in the urinal. Sometimes they take whole rolls of paper towels and try to clog the toilets. It’s kind of cruel; it’s lowdown.” Why, though, would students take the time out of their day to vandalize the bathrooms? “’Cause they’re crazy,” Crawford said. “That’s it. They’re just plain crazy. As long as they know someone is cleaning up after them, they don’t care. I think [the administration] should make the students clean up the bathrooms themselves, so they can see what it’s like.” Wiggins said students need to take consideration of their classmates. “When you waste the soap, and it runs out, other students don’t have the opportunity to wash their hands. When visitors come, [the bathroom] stinks because some students don’t flush the toilets,” Wiggins said. Most students, like Wiggins said, fall victim to the actions of those who don’t clean up after themselves. Jessica Outlaw, sophomore, said the worst thing she has encountered in the bathroom was “poop on the toilet seat.” “Students need to be sanitary,” Outlaw said. “They think it’s funny to mistreat the restrooms, but it’s not.” Bryant Williams, sophomore, said he doesn’t want to use the restrooms because students don’t flush the toilet and urine is
Custodians ask students to treat bathrooms with respect Rebecca Griesbach News Editor Clogged and overflowing toilets, paper towels on the ground and obscenities on the walls are things our custodians encounter daily as they clean the bathrooms. Cleaning the bathrooms is custodian Willy Crawford’s sole responsibility. He arrives at 4:00 in the afternoon, spends about 25 minutes per bathroom, and does not finish until 8:00 at night. Crawford said that although the conditions of the bathrooms have improved over the past year due to the school hiring more janitors, students should begin to “take responsibility” for their mess. “The worst are [the bathrooms] near the cafeteria,” Crawford said. “I think it’s because [the students] get stopped up during lunch time. The toilets overflow a lot, [students] don’t flush their stools, and they try to cover it up with brown paper. They slam down the seats, but they don’t know how fragile that fiberglass is, and they break the seats.” Crawford said it’s not just carelessness of the students that leads to messy bathrooms. Some students put forth effort to deliberately mistreat school property. “There’s always writing on the walls. This right here, we had to paint over a couple days ago,” Crawford said, pointing to a patch on the wall of the bathroom outside Ms. Box’s office. Arthur Wiggins, custodian, has also had a fair share of experience with messy bathrooms. “I went in the boys bathroom, and they
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December 30, 2013 Volume 11 Issue 4
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