The Northridge Reporter December 2014 by Susan Newell

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406

EST. 2003

the DECEMBER 12, 2014

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The student voice of Northridge High School

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 4

After-school tutoring program benefits students SUJITHA PERAMSETTY ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR

he after school tutoring program started last month by Principal Kyle Ferguson has sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ferguson said the goal of the program is to give additional help to students. “A lot of students don’t have transportation, so we provided buses for them,” he said. Ferguson said even though the focus is “on math and language arts because those are two areas of accountability,” students who need help “in other areas can stay as well.” Lytrice Washington, math teacher who helps with after school tutoring, said the program is very beneficial.

“[Students] come in, and I ask them to get out whatever they are working on in their class. Then, I go around the classroom and ask them what they need help in,” she said. “It gives a little extra help to students instead of [them] going home and trying to figure it out themselves.” Caron Pate, Spanish teacher who also tutors after school, said the bus is an important part of the program. “We couldn’t do it without the bus,” she said. “Every child that I’ve been tutoring needs a ride home.” Senior Shameka Tubbs said the first session went well. “I learned a lot,” she said. “I understand a lot more.” Ashley Ford, senior, said she loves tutoring. “It’s the only thing that’s going to

help me graduate,” she said. “Math is my most struggle subject, the one I need the most help in. [Mrs. Washington] is very helping.” Pate said she already has “students whose grades have gone up after two sessions.” She said a small group showed up for her tutoring session. “We did one-on-one drilling. Students get a lot of one-on-one help and help in pronunciation,” Pate said. Washington said she thinks “as time goes on probably more [students] will show up.” Ferguson said the program will continue until funds run out. “We have $15,000 allocated for this program,” he said. “It costs $1500 a month.” Ferguson made tutoring mandatory for failing students. “If a student refuses to do their work in

class, we will assertively encourage them to come. If they don’t want to take advantage of this opportunity, they can in ISI. Failure is not an option,” he said. Pate said she thinks mandatory tutoring is a good idea. “We have to show [students] we’re serious about it,” Pate said. “At some point everyone needs to make a decision about school because it’s their decision. At this school, with all the things they offer, you can choose to be anything you want to be.” Tubbs said she thinks students “should come if they need extra help.” Ford said she encourages tutoring. “Everybody needs it,” Ford said. “You may feel that someone is going to talk about you [because you’re going to tutoring], but no one is. Tutoring should be for everybody.”

Reed’s class wins canned food drive, donations lower this year

The canned food drive:

JAMES NIILER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

now

vs.

then 1,327 items

page 8

Humber takes the 2013 victory with approximately 1000 items

Photo by James Niiler

party time History teacher Nancy Reed’s fourth period Honors Economics class celebrates their win of the canned food drive with a pizza party Nov. 21. school collected 681 items, of which 274 came from school partner Capstone Bank. Last year, 1,327 items were donated, she said. “Emails were sent through PTSA [this year]. Other than that, we were pretty much doing the same stuff [to publicize],” Oatts said. Oatts said she was unsure why donations were so low. “I really don’t know, other than people donated less,” she said. History teacher Nancy Reed’s Honors Economics class won this year’s drive, collecting 146 items, according to Oatts. Reed attributed her success to the use of

AT A GLANCE ‘mockingjay’ review

Information compiled by James Niiler Infographic designed by James Niiler

talent show page 5

the group messaging service Remind 101. “They had just pure motivation from me,” Reed said. “I sent my fourth period Remind 101’s, and that pumped them up.” Honors Economics student senior Kayla Lawson credited her class’ success with Reed’s eagerness to win the competition. “Maybe it was Mrs. Reed’s enthusiasm about it,” she said. “She pushed us to bring more stuff.” Lawson said she was overall happy about her class’ win. “I’m kinda neutral about it, but it does feel great to win this because we get free stuff. But at the same time, we’re helping out for a cause,” she said.

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681

items 407

2013 2014

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he annual SGA Thanksgiving canned food drive, in which fourth period classes compete to collect as many items as possible for the West Alabama Food Bank in return for a pizza party, did not receive as much attention or participation as in past years. Scott Johnson, math teacher, said his AP Statistics class collected only “a few dozen” cans. “We haven’t really done a whole lot with [the canned food drive] this year. Teachers have so much to do now and don’t have time for anything fun. It’s all work and no play,” he said. Saying the drive “has not been a contest this year” with history teacher Mallie Humber, with whom he traditionally competes, Johnson said he hoped the drive would be successful nevertheless. “I believe it’s a good project to do,” he said. Humber said her U.S. History 11 class collected “zero” items, in contrast to her class last year which collected “between 800 and 1000” items. “In general, this class just isn’t as participatory as others,” she said. Like Johnson, Humber said being occupied with other activities took precedence over participating in the drive. “I had the first yearbook deadline and club pictures,” she said. “People are trying to finish up content and do tests before Thanksgiving, and I think that contributes to it, probably.” Kathleen Oatts, SGA adviser, said the

Reed’s class wins for its first time, collecting 146 items

Amount of student donations; 274 items came from Capstone Bank

Stress is a never-ending cycle. julia cain, junior

See story on page 7

opinion

The Northridge Reporter December 12, 2014

our thoughts

After-school tutoring helpful

ince Principal Kyle Ferguson and the school’s administration have initiated an after-school tutoring program, dozens of students have received the benefits of educational assistance and more will doubtlessly take advantages of this in the future. The administration and teachers have been very generous in allowing students to stay after school, gain the help they need in subjects they struggle with and even arrange transportation for students to go home the evenings tutoring occurs. English and math are two subjects vital to success in today’s world, and students who request help in these areas are wise to take their futures into account. Our school’s administration and teachers should be commended for their dedication to student success and willingness to volunteer time to be sure students receive the help they need for not only their schoolwork but their lives ahead. The tutoring program at our school promises to be of great benefit to all students who participate.

See page 1 for more about the tutoring program.

Art by Mychi Tran

AGREE 20 DISAGREE 0

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JORDAN HUTCHINSON • SPORTS eDITOR

It seems that the way to get away with murder of black males is to claim that they were a threat to you.

Ferguson verdict just another reminder of racism’s survival

erguson is the biggest mess about unarmed black teenagers since Trayvon Martin. The story of Martin is a story about a Floridian black teenager who was shot and killed while walking down the street, unarmed, minding his own business. George Zimmerman, the man responsible for his death, was found not guilty of the murder. He claimed he was threatened. As a member of the African-American community, I was outraged. My community thought if it were a Caucasian boy, the verdict would be different. Everything had settled down after about a year or two of acceptance about how the judicial system had screwed up. Then another black teenager

was killed in Jacksonville, Florida in 2012 because he was in a SUV with some other teenagers (also black) who did not want to turn their speakers down. Jordan Davis, who was in the SUV at the time, was killed by Michael Dunn, a white man who also claimed that he was threatened. Now Michael Brown, a black teenager, has been killed by a white police officer Darren Wilson. The biggest issue with the Ferguson case is that Brown was killed by a white police officer who claimed Brown was a threat to him. Notice the pattern of the men who were not convicted of murder. They all claimed they were threatened. It seems that the way to get away with murder of black males is to claim that they were a threat to you. How can an unarmed teenager harm an armed

police officer? While Brown did cause it is “uncomfortable.” hit the police officer, Brown ran Think of how I as an Afriand stopped down the street, ac- can-American felt when in school cording to CNN, and turned I learned about the enslavement around and stood there while and the mistreatment of my peoWilson shot him several more ple. times, aiming to kill. Some things that are uncomWas it necessary fortable to talk about to kill him? Probneed to be said to ably not. He was uncover the truth. armed with pepper To the dismay spray, according of many, blacks to USA Today. He and whites are not could have obviequal. Yes, we have ously used it to arthe same rights, and rest Brown, but he black people can decided to reach do everything that for his gun instead. white people can do, Art by Mychi Tran but there are certain If this was a black officer killing a white boy doing social aspects that have still not the same exact thing, would that changed. officer be arrested for murder? I was walking with two of This is a truth that some people my friends who are also African do not want to talk about race be- American in a shopping center

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Journalist of the Year 2013 • Bailey Thomson Award for Editorial Writing 2013 • Rick Bragg Feature Writing Award 2009 • Pacemaker Finalist 2014 • 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 2005-2013 • SIPA All-Southern 2003, 2005–2012 • ASPA All-Alabama 2003–2013 • NSPA All-American 2004, 2008, 2011 • Best SIPA Newspaper in Alabama 2003–2007 • NSPA News Story of the Year 2005, 2014 • NSPA Cartoon of the Year 2014 • SIPA First Place News Story 2007• SIPA First Place Review 2009

The student voice of Northridge High School

Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295 Editor-in-Chief *James Niiler Managing Editor *Rebecca Griesbach Feature Editor *Rebecca Griesbach News Editors Destiny Hodges Mychi Tran

when an older white lady walks out of a store. We were having a normal conversation and minding our own business, when the lady grabbed her purse and clutched it tightly as we walked by. She was genuinely afraid of us and thought we were going to rob her. In certain states, going into a gas station store is irritating because I will be stared down by the owner, as soon he suspects I will steal something based on my skin color. Racism is not gone. It is close to being gone, but it isn’t, and everyone needs to realize that “yes, there are black criminals, but there are also white, Hispanic, and Asian criminals as well.” There is no reason that white men should be able to murder black teenagers just because they ‘felt threatened.’

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The Northridge Reporter December 12, 2014

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opinion

Should not all strive to be “an extremist in love,” as King put it, rather than an extremist in hate and fear?

JAMES NIILER• eDITOR IN CHIEF

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Racial tensions make justice impossible, columnist says I feel sorrow for his family: his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. I feel sorrow for his friends. I feel sorrow for the black community of Ferguson, many of whom for too long have been underprivileged and stuck in a cycle of poverty. I feel sorrow for Officer Wilson, whose life has probably been ruined forever by a horrible act. I feel sorrow for all who have been divided by this tragedy, a community torn asunder. Black against white, rich against poor: these terrible conflicts must stop. The looting and violence, born of a justified anger, is terribly destructive and must not be allowed to occur. The cruel indifference many of my own race have felt towards this situation must cease. All of these acts, whether physical or not, are not only destructive to the wider

BERT MCLELLAND • OPINION eDITOR

world but the individual. Hatred and violence should not have place in anyone’s life. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” declared Martin Luther King, Jr. in his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” “Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” How true these words are in the context of today, when according to the Pew Research Center, black men are incarcerated at many times the rate of their white peers, and neighborhoods and schools are still separated by race and class statuses. How distrustful we are of each other—should all not strive to be “an extremist in love,” as King put it, rather than an extremist in hate and fear? The killing of Brown as well as other black males including Trayvon Martin,

Eric Garner and Tamir Rice has brought deep issues to the fore of America’s consciousness that must be addressed, and these issues must be addressed soon. Staff members of The Northridge Reporter hope to help break down barriers and give rise to understanding when it participates in the student exchange with Central and Bryant High Schools next semester. Becoming friends of those who are different—is this not the perfect antidote to the flames, both literal and not, that have consumed Ferguson and our world at late? “Let justice flow down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream,” quoted King from Amos 5:24. If it is impossible for justice to be administered in Ferguson, then let us at least show a little more righteousness towards each other.

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Refuse to hate.

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he decision of the grand jury on the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, should come as no surprise. In a community torn by looting, police overreaction and racial strife, can justice honestly be administered? No one really knows what happened that fateful afternoon of Aug. 9. The justifications for and against his shooting by Officer Darren Wilson will doubtless be argued for years to come. Yet one thing is certain: a life was lost. Not just any life—a young black man’s life; too many have been lost in this country. Being white, I can’t even begin to imagine all the suffering black Americans have endured since 1619, when the first slave was brought to our shores. But I can at least sympathize and feel sorrow.

Ferguson grand jury investigation no substitute for a trial or it may not have been; either way its effect was to surround the investigation and the authorities with an air of suspicion from the get-go, an air that stinks of a centuries-old pattern of police corruption and unaccountability. The first signs of malpractice were evident from the onset of the investigation, when, to give one absurd example, the St. Louis County medical examiner said he couldn’t take any pictures of the scene because the batteries in his camera had died. But convenient little gaffes like these were just the start. The real blow came when the St. Louis district attorney, Bob McCulloch, was assigned to prosecute Darren Wilson before the grand jury. Normally, when a district attorney is faced with the prosecution of one of his own policemen in a controversy he steps aside and requests an independent third party be invited to prosecute in his place. On this occasion, however, McCulloch is not compromised only by his police connections. As reported by the BBC and a score of other papers, McCulloch’s own father was a policeman, killed in the line of duty in 1964, by a black man. Considering all this McCulloch cannot be considered a neutral party, so (as a petition of twenty six thousand signatures and numerous individuals requested),

he should have stepped aside. Such action would have done much to ease concerns of corruption. Mr. McCulloch not only failed to withdraw but when asked flatly refused to do so. He then conducted what many (including NAACP litigation director Christina Swarns, Professor Susan McGraw of the St. Louis University School of Law and Michael Brown’s mother) now feel was an extremely half-hearted prosecution, in which he neglected to call several key witnesses, question the defendant’s testimony or even reference the fact that Brown was unarmed. Not only did McCulloch lack vigor, he explicitly requested that the grand jury consider all sides of all evidence available, instead of a brief overview of the evidence as presented by the prosecutor. The purpose of a grand jury is to determine whether there is conceivable grounds for a prosecution, not whether the defendant is innocent or guilty. They are actually supposed to be so favorable to the prosecution

that is it often said that one could ‘indict a ham sandwich’ without effort. Now McCulloch may very well believe that his officer was innocent, but it was his duty as prosecutor to build a case against him. If it went against his conscience to do so, he should have stepped aside, and allowed one of the millions of attorneys unconnected with the case to take his place. Just as the court must presume a defendant innocent, so the prosecution must believe him guilty, which prompts me to say that none of this makes Wilson guilty. Having read the witness testimony, I personally believe that Wilson used unnecessary force resulting in Brown’s unnecessary death. But after this slapdash investigation, I really don’t know. For all I know, Wilson may have been in fear of his life, and Brown may have been an absolute thug. Wilson is innocent until proven guilty, but as yet no one has tried to prove him guilty.

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This shadow trial has left confusion everywhere, and in confusion hatred has flourished.

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he decision last month of a grand jury not to indict the Ferguson officer who shot Michael Brown was a tragic mistake that can (and has) lead only to more violence and less understanding. Reactions to the decision have varied wildly from person to person, similar only in their almost universal levels of passion. Many see Michael Brown as an innocent black youth, brutally gunned down while trying to surrender to an unfeeling white cop. Others see a thuggish thief killed in his attack on an honest police officer. The truth is that I, like most, am almost entirely ignorant of the character of these men or of the circumstances surrounding their altercation. I have tried at length to discover the facts, reading article after article and report after report. What I have found is a quagmire of contradiction, in which every ‘fact’ belies another and every account is infused with opinion. But this is no surprise. In the aftermath of the shooting, the Ferguson police department drew a veil around the entire issue, selectively releasing fragments of information while withholding the greater facts from view. This may have been done out of a genuine concern for public order,

This shadow trial has left confusion everywhere, and in confusion hatred has flourished. A real trial might have given that community some catharsis, but now they have none. None of us here can solve this problem, but I believe we can make a difference, if only for one another. So in the interests of understanding, I would like to share a suggestion my preacher made to me. If you are someone who thinks Michael Brown was brutally murdered by a callous police corps, I ask you to pray for Darren Wilson every night for a week. Pray for him and his family, and for every police family who now feel like outcasts. If you think this whole affair was just a moment seized by opportunists to loot and burn in the guise of protesters, I ask you to pray for Mrs. Brown, every night for a week. Pray for her, and for that boy’s whole family, and for every AfricanAmerican who now feels afraid to walk the open streets. Not all of you are religious, but for those of you who are surely you can believe that if we pray for our enemies we can heal ourselves, and maybe even discover we have more friends than we thought. If you can’t believe that then at least pretend it, and for five minutes each night, in the presence of God, refuse to hate.

news

The Northridge Reporter December 12, 2014

in brief

Bracelets sold help Nicaraguans BERT McLELLAND OPINION EDITOR

The Spanish Honor Society and Spanish Club sold Central American bracelets to students between Dec. 1 - 12. The bracelets, called “Pulseras,” are made by impoverished children and families in Nicaragua, and then distributed to clubs like the Spanish Honor Society for sale in the United States. Spanish Club president Lainey Hatfield said Pulseras are a primary source of income for many families. “If it weren’t for their selling these, [Nicaraguans] would have to work for ten cents an hour and basically be used as slaves,” Hatfield said. Spanish Honor Society vice president Anna Dahlbäck said they sold a $100 worth of Pulseras in the first week and hope to sell more in the second. The bracelets cost $5 each, and all profits go directly to the Nicaraguan makers.

Field trips difficult to organize

Jordan Hutchinson Sports Editor

Field trips allow teachers to teach their students a lesson that is not possible on campus. Teachers must go through a long process to go on a field trip. “First you have to give the roll to the nurse to check for medical issues, and if there are any you have to pay to have a nurse go with you. Then you have to get a form to order a bus, the principal and nurse sign the authorization form, Ms. Freeman then has to book the buses, etc.,” science teacher Beth Allaway said. The central office has to be involved in planning. “You have to send a lesson plan to the central office, they have to approve it, you must make a permission slip, have parents sign it and bring money to pay for the trip, and then you’re ready to go,” Allaway said. Julie Jackson, junior, said field trips were hard to plan. “We have not gone on many field trips this year because of how hard it is to organize a field trip,” she said. Allaway said she likes to take her students on field trips. “I usually like to start the planning procedure a month and a half before I want to go,” she said.

Clothing drive held

MAYCI HARTLEY STAFF WRITER

The French and Spanish clubs held a winter clothing drive from Dec. 5 – 10. Kelilah Anders, French club sponsor, said the groups decided to do a clothes drive because they “thought it would be a good way to donate.” Anders said the clubs will accept anything. “It doesn’t matter if it has holes in it,” she said. Anders said the clothes are not going to a donation center. “We are looking for families in the community who are in need,” she said. Laney Hatfield, Spanish Club president, said students and teachers came up with a clothing drive because it is winter.

Photos by Patrica Fuller

Follow the leader FBLA students attend a leadership conference at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Complex (BJCC). Students heard speakers, authors and entrepenuers give advice on careers. Sophmore Nick Smith said he thinks the conference helped him advance in FBLA. “There was a lot of stuff about leadership and important life qualities to help with FBLA,” he said. Bryant and Central students also attended.

FBLA students gather at conference DESTINY HODGES NEWS EDITOR Business marketing departments from Bryant, Central and Northridge met at the Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy (TCTA) on Nov. 19, and traveled to Birmingham for The Joint Leadership Development Conference. Students from across the state in JROTC programs, the Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates programs and career technical organizations (FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA etc.) attended the conference at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Complex. More than 30 leadership workshops, interactive activities and professional speakers were there. A trade show with over 100 state and national industries was set up.

Native Alabamians shared their stories and gave career advice, including Winston Groom, author of the best-selling novel Forrest Gump; Kent Julian, author and speaker, and Tom McNeal, human resource professional and national competitor in motorcycle and bicycle action sports. Patricia Fuller, FBLA advisor, said she was looking forward to taking new students to the conference. “It gives them a sense of purpose for my class [Career Preparedness],” Fuller said. “It gets them motivated to succeed in a career and see why high school is so important.” Junior and treasurer Maria Barajas said speaker Kent Julian taught her how to change her outcomes in life. “I learned E [events you can’t control] + R [your response] = O [outcomes],” Barajas

said. “When you put the “R” in it, it doesn’t have to be E=O. You can change [your outcomes].” Barajas plans to attend the conference next year. Kizzie Jackson, freshman, said the conference was “memorable.” “I kinda want to become an engineer, and I think the conference pushed me in that direction. I learned how to weld parts together and see the process,” Jackson said. Sophomore and parliamentarian Nick Smith said the conference was “definitely fun” because you got to see careers that weren’t typical careers. “The trade show was the most fun,” Smith said. “You got to walk around and see different jobs and what different people in Alabama do.”

Schedule changes made for various reasons

MYCHI TRAN NEWS EDITOR Reasons for schedule changes during the middle of the school year vary from student to student. Assistant Principal Jennifer Box said that some students request to move back a level in a certain class. “We have some students who find the pace of high school different from that of middle school,” she said. Box said another reason for schedule changes is when the classes are unbalanced. “It’s to be fair to the teachers and students,” she said. “This allows students equal opportunity to learn.” Kenneth Smothers, ninth grade counselor, said class changes are to help students graduate, pass core classes and be successful. “You have to look at the big picture,” he said. Smothers said when students change

classes, they have to make adjustments. “It’s my responsibility to teach [the new “They have to acclimate to the new students],” Tillman said. “I make sure they teacher’s teaching method,” he said. have a smooth transition, so they don’t fall Twelfth grade counselor Kathleen Brad- behind.” ford said changing classes right now is disadWhitney Wilson, sophomore, said her vantageous to students. schedule was changed. “No teachers are on “My new class the same timeline,” she moves easier and faster said. [than the previous],” Bradford said before she said. they make a decision, Raven Hill, sophthey need to think omore, said schedule things through. changes give people “Students really need “the chance of getting to think on the positive out of a class [when] and negative of changthey’re not doing ing classes before they well.” make the decision of Photo by Destiny Hodges Hill said she changed changing classes,” she sonia blunt and gotTi scott her schedule at the beginning of school. said. “I was in a class I wasn’t supposed to be English teacher Lakesha Tillman said she just has to accept schedule changes and in,” she said. “Now it’s better because I’m in a class I’m interested in.” doesn’t ask for the reasons behind them.

news

The Northridge Reporter December 12, 2014

study for success Study hall required for referred students MYCHI TRAN NEWS EDITOR

Photos by Camri Mason

Sing it Contestants perform in the annual Northridge High School Talent Show. Garret Nichols and Lorri Harrell sing “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum (upper left). Jennifer Sudduth performs “Arabella” by Arctic Monkeys (upper right). Natalie Jacks sings “This Isn’t the End” by Owl City (left).

Winner of talent show sings ‘This Isn’t the End’ CARTER LOVE PHOTOGRAPHER Sophomore Natalie Jacks won the talent show on Dec. 4, and the prize was $100. There were fifteen acts consisting of fourteen vocalists and one comedy routine. Jacks sang “This Isn’t the End” by Owl City. “I feel happy and confused [about winning],” Jacks said, “I had a panic attack and nearly had a breakdown on stage.” The single comedy act was performed by seniors Charles Lane and Billy Luu. The act was a scripted scene they wrote last year for an acting competition. Lane

said he felt great about being in the show because he doesn’t have any other comedy competition, only vocalists. Lane and Luu came up with the idea together. “We sat down at a table and said, ‘Let’s write about astronauts and space’,” Lane said. He said they practiced a lot last year and a little this year. Vocalist Margaret Crowe, junior, said she feels good about her performance. She sang “O Holy Night.” Crowe has auditioned for American Idol and competed in other talent shows for money. “I’ve been performing since I was like three, so I’m not very nervous,” she said.

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Study hall will be a requirement for those who refuse to do their work in class. Principle Kyle Ferguson said this is mandatory for students who have been referred by their teachers. “Sometimes you deal with students who are not motivated to succeed,” he said. Ferguson said study hall allows students to make up what they fail to do in class. “It’s an opportunity to recover zeros and failing grades,” he said. Ferguson said that with ISI, you don’t have direct instructions from a teacher. “Study hall is different,” he said, “You will have a teacher there to teach you.” Lakesha Tillman, English teacher, said it’s a great idea to hold the student accountable for their actions. “It’s a consequence for their defiance in class but not as harsh being in ISI,” she said.

History teacher John Wiley Edwards said it will provide the students extra opportunity to get help in class. “It will give students an incentive to do their work because if they don’t want to do their work during school, I’m sure they won’t want to stay after school to do it,” he said. Edwards said he doesn’t mind staying after school an extra hour. “I don’t believe it would be too troublesome,” he said. Desmond Love, sophomore, said that he prefers study hall over ISI. “I think it’s dumb because student should have done their work in class,” he said, “but study hall is only an hour compared to ISI which is the whole day.” Ferguson said sometimes students are not motivated to succeed. “Our goal is to get everyone college or career ready,” he said. See page 1 for a related story on tutoring. prepping Brenda Gibson’s Career Prepardness studetns participate in a leadership activity. Students set goals for entrepeneurs as Tommie Syx, member of the University of Alabama Center for Community-Based Partnerships Center for Buisness and Economic Research, gave a presentation on entrepeneurship. Gibson said her class preps students for the future. “It gets them college and career ready,” Gibson said.

Photo by Brenda Gibson

Class equips students for life Jacob Martin Copy editor

Ways to prepare for a career and college are available to students, both inside and outside the classroom. Brenda Gibson, career prep teacher, said the career prep class covers “essential” knowledge. “This course helps prepare students with the required knowledge for the workplace,” Gibson said. The class utilizes various forms of instruction and has guest speakers. “Our different instruction strategies vary from group project, mocks, role playing and computer based activities,” Gibson said. Daryl Wilson, career coach, spoke as one of the guest speakers to the career prep class. “So far, this year we’ve done financial literacy, workforce essentials, and we’ve also done a systematic approach for decision making,” Wilson said. Wilson said career related knowledge is

“extremely important” “I really wish I had someone to do things for me what I do for students now,” she said. Wilson said there are ways to prepare for outside of school, such as job shadowing. “Job shadowing is super important. [It] looks good on a resume,” she said. “Any type of extracurricular can build up your resume, and part time jobs always help.” Rebecca Han, freshman, said she hasn’t done anything outside of school to prepare for college but thinks career prep is important. “I think it’s pretty important because you don’t learn that type of stuff in any other class, and it’s important for when you’re looking for jobs after high school,” Han said. Han said that the topics covered in career prep class are relevant to her, even though she is going to attend college after high school. “We looked at college tuition and creating college resumes,” she said.

6 Wash ya hands feature

The Northridge Reporter December 12, 2014

Ferguson’s ‘campaign,’ viral video promote health consciousness in students, faculty BRIANNA DUNN & REBECCA GRIESBACH STAFF WRITER & MANAGING EDITOR

Through his hand-washing “campaign,” Principal Kyle Ferguson promotes healthy habits of students and faculty during the cold and flu season. “We’ve instructed the teachers to disinfect surfaces and be aware of sicknesses and contagion,” Ferguson said. It is typical for schools to experience some type of virus annually, but Ferguson said each school is different regarding the type of virus it houses. “This year I’ve seen pink eye, and last year at Thomasville I saw pink eye. Some-

Catching

times we see it, and sometimes we don’t,” Ferguson said. Deda Donaldson, nurse, said they have seen the “usual” cases: colds, pink eye, vomiting and flu. “All are handled differently; we follow school policy [to treat sick students],” nurse Lasiandra Bias said. Bias said Ferguson’s campaign is beneficial to students’ health. “Washing hands always helps,” Bias said. “It’s one of the biggest preventative measures because you don’t pass it along that way.” Ferguson said the campaign was sparked by science teacher Beth Allaway and her

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Sleep deprivation harmful to student performance Jacob Martin COpy Editor A lack of sleep is negatively affecting students’ academic and athletic performance. Coach Don McNabb, health teacher, described the mental effects of getting too little sleep. “It takes a toll on your ability to stay awake; you have trouble staying awake at odd times,” he said. “It can lead to confusion and bad decision making, and it would definitely hurt focus. It changes your mood, and you can go through mood swings.” McNabb said the physical effects can be harsh as well. “When you don’t have enough sleep your body doesn’t have enough time to grow and repair which is crucial during the teenage years,” he said. McNabb said students can “get by” on five to seven hours of sleep, but he recommends seven to nine hours for athletes, since they need more sleep to allow their muscles to recover. “[Muscles] don’t recover nearly as fast [when an athlete is deprived of sleep],” McNabb said. McNabb said he doesn’t have a large problem with students sleeping in his class. “You can tell when someone hasn’t had enough sleep,” he said. “When I see someone sleeping I usually wake them up and ask about their sleep habits.” Spanish teacher Jennifer Canterbury said she has “a few” students who sleep in class. “Sometimes, it kinda depends on what day of the week, Mondays especially,” Canterbury said. She said she does not think the start time contributes to a lack of sleep, but that students have too many after school activities. “The start time is right where it should be,” she said. “Kids just have too much stuff going on after school, whether it be work or sports. I think we need to manage our time better. Unfortunately, I think it starts very young, overextending ourselves.” McNabb said he does not think the start

time is too early, but students have trouble managing time with all their extracurricular activities. Principal Kyle Ferguson said he thinks the start time is fine as it is. “I don’t want to start any later because I don’t want to keep kids here later,” Ferguson said. Junior Ke’Darrion Smith said he averages “about four hours of sleep a night,” much lower than the recommended amount. He said he wakes up in the night and has trouble falling back asleep. “I really don’t know [why I get so little sleep]. I go to bed at 10:00, but I end up waking up at 12:00 [a.m.],” Smith said. He said his lack of sleep affects his academics negatively. “I can’t really concentrate in class, like in Spanish I fall asleep,” Smith said, adding that he drinks caffeinated sodas to keep him awake. In regard to his athletic performance, Smith said his lack of sleep “does not really” negatively affect him. Smith said he is in favor of a later start time, as it would give him time to go back to sleep. Cristian Garcia, freshman, said he too would support a later start time, as he only gets five hours of sleep a night. “It’s not enough [sleep],” Garcia said. “I think school should start at a later hour, possibly 9:00 [a.m.].” Garcia said he doesn’t get enough sleep because he has “a lot of homework” and “too many thoughts about school” on his mind. Garcia said he falls asleep in history and bonus period “almost every day,” and when he is awake he is often “tired and in a bad mood.” “I sleep through [history] notes,” he said. McNabb said the largest danger is posed to students who drive without sleeping. “Operating any kind of machine [is dangerous without sleep],” he said. “I wouldn’t want to be riding in car with someone who only got two hours of sleep the last night.” Photo illustration by Rebecca Griesbach

bonus period class. “Allaway’s students were walking around the school, and they spotted me in my work room actually washing my hands,” Ferguson said, rubbing his hands together. “That’s how I do it every time.” Allaway and her students created a two minute video about cleanliness to share with the school during bonus periods. “I looked around on the Internet for something and saw that all the videos were boring, so I wanted us to make our own,” she said. Allaway said that she wrote the raps and her students took care of things like filming and editing.

“I think it came out well,” Allaway said. She said she heard people talking about the video all over the school. The video has received 4,854 views on The Northridge Reporter’s Facebook page. Junior Jessica Ballard thought the video was silly but well intentioned. “Maybe they should place more hand sanitizer around the school,” Ballard said. “Hand sanitizer isn’t that expensive, and it’s much more effective than a video.” As winter draws nearer, Ferguson said the threat of illness is eminent. “I need to make another announcement again because more people are starting to get the flu,” Ferguson said.

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feature

The Northridge Reporter december 12, 2014

Sick of stress Taxing schedules negatively affect students’ health REBECCA GRIESBACH MANAGING EDITOR

The chronic headaches she suffers from, in Daily life “Everyday annoyances... may have long- Millsaps said, correlate with the increased term effects, whereas stronger stressors workload. “Sometimes, if it’s a really bad week, I’ll even ombined stress from (like tornadoes or terrorist attacks) may get sick to my stomach,” she said. e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r s , produce less stress in the long run,” Cain During one of these “really bad weeks,” responsibilities at home said as she flipped through her notes. Millsaps said she sacrificed her health in order and the rigor of Advanced Along with taking Access, University to get everything done. Placement (AP), honors of Alabama Early College, AP and “It was one of those weeks where I could and college courses can be detrimental to a honors classes, Cain also belongs to three not eat or sleep because I had to do so student’s physical and mental health. instrumental groups: marching and concert much,” Millsaps said. “I had a ton (about ten “We talk about things like that all the band, Tuscaloosa Youth Orchestra and assignments per day) of [online] Spanish time in class. Tryouts, standardized tests First Wesleyan Church’s orchestra. In [homework and classwork], soccer tryouts and and relationships can all be very stressful,” conjunction with balancing her activities, a project or test in every class. When I didn’t health teacher David Akins said. Cain said she tends to get sick “halfway have soccer, I had meetings.” Health risks through the year,” around the time of How to deal General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), band’s Music Performance Assessment. Millsaps said she tries to balance out the Akins said, is a term used to describe “I don’t take days off because of things I negative effects of her busy schedule with the way “your body can’t miss,” Cain said. healthy coping mechanisms. changes in relation to “...So when I get when I get sick, “I try to exercise every day, not procrastinate stress.” sick, the symptoms the symptoms and spend time with friends,” she said. “One of the biggest are amplified by are amplified Akins said he encourages “getting away things we see is that stress.” from the stress;” students should try to stress breaks down Cain recalled a by stress. relax or listen to music. the immune system,” week in which she Julia Cain, Junior “Teenagers need eight hours of sleep,” Akins said. had church and Akins said. This happens band-related duties Cain said she combines two styles of during the third stage of GAS, the exhaus- after school for five consecutive days, all coping with stress and anxiety that she tion stage. Unlike the first two stages -the while fighting back illness. learned about in class. alarm and resistant stages- which Akins “I remember that week specifically,” Cain “Emotion-based coping means changing said “happen on a regular basis and are very said. “I had a really bad cold where I could the way you think about a situation. If normal,” the exhaustion stage occurs “when hardly breathe... but, you know, it happens. you have a fight with your friend, you things get serious.” Stress is like a never-ending cycle. Being can change your attitude by looking on “Sometimes you have to have external stressed out leads to getting sick, which the brighter side,” involvement,” Akins said. “When body leads to missing ...I could not eat Cain said. “Problemfunctions break down [during the exhaus- school, which leads based coping means tion stage], it might involve admission to to more stress of or sleep because I changing how you the hospital.” getting extra work had to do so much. physically react Extreme medical cases caused by stress done.” Terry Millsaps, to a situation. For are not especially common, but the buildup Cain’s fellow band Sophomore example, if you have of minor everyday stressors can take a toll member, junior on students, junior Julia Cain said. Authentic Sims, said that in addition to Early homework, you do it.” Cain said that her attitude towards a “Stress and anxiety is good to some College, honors classes and preparing for All stressor has a great deal of influence on her extent because without it, there’s no push State, he has responsibilities at home. overall stress level. to get anything done. When it gets to be “I have to babysit my little brother every day “I used to go to a lot of concerts that my too much, however, it has negative effects after school,” Sims said. “I stopped taking AP friends would stress for months about for on every aspect of your life - mental, classes because it was too stressful and timemy own enjoyment. The stress towards the emotional and physical,” Cain said. consuming. Stress makes me want to give up.” concert came out more as excitement because Cain, a psychology student, studied Junior Shelby Castellanos, AP student and I was doing it for fun,” Cain said. “Even “stress, coping, and well-being” in chapter soccer player, said her activities have negatively schoolwork in classes I enjoy doesn’t seem as 11 of her Access course this semester. She affected her health, according to her doctor at stressful even if there is a larger load as said background stressors, or “daily hassles,” University Medical Center. work in classes I don’t like.” can contribute to “increased hormonal “Apparently, I developed acid reflux Procrastination is the worst way to deal activities, psychophysiological disorders because of stress,” Castellanos said. with stress; Cain said she puts away her such as “high blood pressure, headaches Castellano’s teammate, sophomore Terry distractions and takes time to “figure out and backaches” as well as harmful behaviors Millsaps, is an active member of four clubs a plan.” like sleep and nutrition deprivation and and takes eight classes- two of which are “I get at my work and slay it,” she said. increased drug use. UA Early College and Access courses.

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Photo by Rebecca Griesbach

8 Entertainment

The Northridge Reporter DECEMber 12, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW

‘they’ll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you’

Mockingjay movie true to book

Snow’s scandals. These are only spoken of (and they’re almost in the background), but I’m sure this enhances the impact by he phenomenon of The Hunger leaving it to our imaginations to fill in the Games continues to catch fire gaps in his speech. worldwide with The Hunger Games: Also the film puts Peeta on the sideline, Mockingjay - Part 1. giving Katniss room to grow as a character Katniss Everdeen is found in District 13 which I especially liked since I’ve been after she destroys the games forever. Team Gale since day one. Under the direction of President The story centers on promoting Coin and the reliance on her the rebellion of the outlying trusted friends and family, Katniss districts against the cruelty of the fights to save Peeta and Panem. Capitol. The film is less about the The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - This is a all too common freedom-fighter Part 1 is better than its forerunners. shtick than it is about the leaders wellBut, it would be hard for someone of the opposing sides waging a who hasn’t seen the previous films crafted film propaganda war, using Katniss to understand. It drops the viewer intelligently to represent the rebels and Peeta into the story assuming the story divided at to do the same for the Capitol. It and setup are already known. builds personal tension between It makes sense though, since the perfect the two characters and leads to a it’s unlikely that anyone who is moment. cliffhanger ending. interested in seeing Mockingjay There is one thing I would like Part 1 isn’t already familiar with the addressed: the issue of how Philip story (like myself ). Seymour Hoffman’s death will Although I do feel that splitting be dealt with in the final entry. the third book into two films is Although I was aware of his a Harry Potter-inspired money passing, it pleasantly surprised me maker, this is not a two-hour that they dedicated the film to him. trailer for Part 2. This is a well-crafted film Mockingjay is rated PG-13 for intense intelligently divided at the perfect moment. violence and action and some disturbing This movie continued to develop the images (that made the entire theatre and darker elements of the books. It becomes I gasp). There were multiple moments of the propaganda that the two fighting sides concurrent chuckles and simultaneous in the film are creating. The “propos” are silent suspense. done well, especially in the scene where I highly recommend the movie to Finnick exposes a number of President Hunger Games fans. KATHRYN VERSACE INFOGRAPHICS EDITOR

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Which classic Christmas movie is your favorite?

Photo from MCT Campus

burn Jennifer Lawerence stars as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. She stands in front of a bombed hospital in District 8 as she addresses President Snow’s recent attack on hundreds of injured, innocent people. Just minutes before, Everdeen had visited the patients in the makeshift hospital and their deaths enraged her, provoking the powerful live footage of her reaction. “Fire is catching, and if we burn, you burn with us,” the Mockingjay screams at the cameras - and the Capitol.

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Entertainment

The Northridge Reporter DECEMber 12, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW ‘do not go gentle into that good night’

Mind-blowing blockbuster takes Niiler out of this world James Niiler Editor-in-Chief

o go farther than anyone has gone before. To explore the vast depths of space. To “rage against the dying of the light.” All of these themes are shown throughout Interstellar, one of the year’s best films from director Christopher Nolan. Interstellar follows the space-time adventure of pilot Cooper, his colleagues and his children. Set in the not-too-distant future, Earth in Interstellar has been reduced to a huge Dust Bowl, eerily reminiscent of the Great Plains in the 1930s. Most edible crops have been destroyed by blight and the only thing that grows is corn. Even the survival of corn, and thereby humanity, appears to be unlikely. When Cooper’s scientifically inclined daughter Murph claims a ‘ghost’ is trying to communicate with her, Cooper laughs her off, until a set of coordinates mysteriously appears on her bedroom floor, revealing the location of the remnants of NASA. There, Cooper is recruited with others by a Dr. Brand to scout out a new planet for Earth’s populace. To do so, they will have to enter another galaxy, via a wormhole near Saturn, to reach their destinations. Years before, it is revealed, a group of scientists led by a Dr. Mann had supposedly found potential homes for humanity through this wormhole, and some have sent signals back to Earth ever since. Cooper and his comrades must find if Mann and his colleagues are still alive and if any of the

discovered planets are viable for humanity, while having to deal with vast changes in time, space and separation from loved ones. While the scientists fly through space at the speed of light, Murph and her brother suffer at home. Years pass, and Murph begins work with Dr. Brand on how to solve the problem of gravity, in order to lift humanity off Earth in huge centrifuges to save it from extinction, a project known as ‘Plan A.’ (The other option for human survival developed by Brand, ‘Plan B,’ is the planned propagation of frozen embryos in Cooper’s spacecraft.) All the while, Murph must live with the terrible separation from her father, conflicts with her brother and the increasingly hostile climate on Earth. This is the gist of the movie’s plot. So much more is to be found within its two hours and fifty minutes, including but not limited to black holes, the fifth dimension and disturbingly large ocean waves. Though the ending is a mind-bender, this does not detract from the film at all—it only adds. All the acting is superb and the characters deeply interesting (my favorite being the peculiarly shaped, sarcastically witty and obnoxious robot TARS). Character conflicts are expertly employed, alternating between ‘man vs. man,’ ‘man vs. nature’ and ‘man vs. self ’ in equal measure. The pannedout shots of deep space are incredibly beautiful and the musical score (featuring an organ) is truly magnificent. “Love is the one thing that transcends time and space,” says Brand’s daughter on Cooper’s mission, and the scenes of

Photo by MCT Campus

IN another dimension Anne Hathaway plays Amelia Brand and Matthew McConaughey plays Cooper in the hit move Interstellar. love in this film are both beautiful and heartbreaking. Not just love, but jealousy, deception, anger, betrayal, cowardice and self-sacrifice in Interstellar make it an emotional melting pot that gives one much food for thought. Though Interstellar is far from scary, some moments in it are truly horrifying. Such an example is when Cooper and Brand’s daughter return to their spacecraft after exploring a planet for only three hours to find twenty-three years have passed for their fellow scientist on board. A curious theme of spirituality runs through the film, with references to the mysterious ‘they,’

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which provide aid to the protagonists. Yet those who attempt to find a deeper meaning to this will ultimately be disappointed. Nevertheless, the themes of love, sacrifice and human achievement should appeal to anyone’s personal ethics. Interstellar is indirectly based off the sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey, Nolan’s favorite film. I have never seen 2001, but am told the similarities are striking despite both of the movies’ uniqueness. This film is Nolan’s triumph and should be seen by all who not only love science but also a mind-blowing story.

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sports

The Northridge Reporter DECember 12, 2014

Senior trio signs to future college choices Stuart said they did not necessarily make the same college decision together. “We pushed each other to get there since Three seniors signed on Nov. 12 in the we’ve been friends for so long,” Stuart said. “People said it was ‘cool’ for us to go there.” school’s library. Seawell said he William Walker signed chose Samford because to University of Alabama it was close to home. at Birmingham to play “It’s close to home, golf for his future college. but it’s not in home,” “I committed in May,” Seawell said. “It’s also Walker said. “I knew I a smaller school, and was ready to sign,” he said. I feel like I would fit Walker said his parents in more at a smaller and golf coach David school.” Akins encouraged him to Sewell said he has sign to UAB. some goals he wants to “[University of accomplish regarding Alabama at Birmingham] school and golf. was a really good fit,” “[I hope] to be on Walker said. “I know a lot the starting five on of guys on the team from the golf team and to freshmen year.” maintain a 3.5 GPA or Kyle Stuart signed to higher,” Seawell said. Samford University to During the halftime play baseball. show on the Dec. “It’s a really good kyle stuart, senior 4 basketball game, school, and it’s not too far Stuart was granted the from home,” Stuart said. Scholar Athlete of the Stuart said it would be Year award. an exciting opportunity “I feel very blessed, to represent the school at and it’s a blessing from Samford University. “My parents were very supportive of me God,” Stuart said. Athletic Director David Akins said that going to Samford,” Stuart said. “It’s a very academic school, and the coaches were Stuart receiving the award was a great honor. “When you’re being recognized by an supportive too.” Jackson Seawell also committed to organization that recognizes students on academics as well as sports, it is a great Samford University to play golf. “I think it will be fun to go to college honor,” Akins said. “I think it’s great for together because we grew up together since our students to be able to play at the college we were about five-years-old,” Seawell said. level.” CAMRI MASON PHOTOGRAPHER

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I feel very blessed, and it’s a blessing from God.

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“Renewable waste to energy”

Photos by Camri Mason

MOVING ON UP Seniors Jackson

Seawell, Kyle Stuart and William Walker sign for their respective schools in the library on Nov. 12. Seawell and Stuart will attend Samford University; Walker will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Seawell and Walker will play golf for their schools; Stuart will play baseball. “It feels good to know where I’m going; it lifts a lot of weight off of my shoulders. Being on campus for the first time will be an eye opener for me. It will be a big change not coming here every day. I won’t know anyone except for my teammates,” Walker said. Following the signing, Stuart was awarded the Scholar Athlete of the Year award by My68 WABM Friday Night Rivals on Dec. 4 which included a $5,000 scholarship check.

sports

The Northridge Reporter December 12, 2014

Photo by Camri Mason

CAN’T TOUCH THIS Small forward Tommy Bryant (20), junior, drives forward during the Shelby County tournament in November. “It was a hard fought battle,” Bryant said. “We played better than last game, but we made a lot of mistakes.”

Varsity basketball starts season 6-3, recovers after tough year the game,” Brantley said. Graham Limbaugh, senior shooting guard, said the team did not capitalize on The boys varsity basketball team lost 48- Mountain Brook’s mistakes. The team’s 57 Tuesday, Dec. 2 to Mountain Brook. next game was against Briarwood, who This is the second time that they have lost they beat in their season opener 70-43 on to Mountain Brook this season. Nov. 10. Free throws were a problem as they “We are preparing as usual. There are no missed 13 free throws. easy games,” Brantley said before the game Bob Brantley, basketball coach, said it with Briarwood. was a tough fought game. The basketball team lost 51-50 to “We missed free throws and that lost us Briarwood Christian on Dec. 4. JORDAN HUTCHINSON SPORTS EDITOR

“We played a good Briarwood team but just came up short,” Brantley said. The team lost as Briarwood scored in the final 2.5 seconds of the second half. “They tried their hardest,” Brantley said. Junior center Ross Hardin said it felt good to win in the season opener after a tough season last year. After the Briarwood win, the varsity team equaled their win total from last season. Hardin scored eighteen points and got twelve rebounds.

“They’ve worked their butts off, and we have some great fans,” Brantley said. Brantley attributes some of the team’s success to the students that are part of the Jaguar Nation [cheer squad]. “That’s the reason we do so well because people care,” Brantley said. “They are motivated, and they will come out ready to play,” Brantley said The team pulled out a win in their next game which was against Sipsey Valley on Dec. 9. The score was 73-42.

jv boys scoreboard

Sports Column

vs. Mountain Brook • W • 53-46

Hester loses football hair bet

vs. Briarwood • W • 50-38 vs. Hillcrest • W • 50-45

Information compiled by Kathryn Versace Infographic designed by James Niiler

than I have ever been, at my favorite team going to overtime with an opponent you did not want to see any longer than you sat in Momma Goldberg’s Deli had to. Alabama pulled out the win 20-13 over with my church small group the Sunday before the LSU-Alabama LSU, and I was not looking forward to football game. Little did I know, what was ahead of me. Brad Almond along with I was a handshake away many other friends in my small from losing my thick mane group sent me annoying texts of beautiful hair. Judge Brad and obnoxious photos of hair Almond and I have a long clippers, taunting me. history of placing wagers on Then Sunday came around. the game every year, but this The day I was going to lose year, he raised the stakes. The my beautiful hair. As I sat in winner gets to give the loser church early that morning, the haircut of his choice. I received a text from Brad. As TJ Yeldon fumbled in the Expecting it to be a text telling red-zone with less than two Photo by Camri Mason me what time to arrive at his minutes in the fourth quarter HESTERhouse, I opened the message only to of a tie game, I was ecstatic. Sitting in my upper deck seat of Tiger Stadium be pleasantly surprised. Judge Almond had I began to contemplate just what haircut canceled the small group meeting. I had Judge Almond would be receiving when escaped the haircut. For now, my hair remains on my head as I returned to Tuscaloosa. Then everything we won’t have another small group meeting went awry… After a controversial 50 second drive until next semester. So until then, I will from Alabama, I looked on, more nervous have to make the most of it before it’s gone. NATE HESTER STAFF WRITER

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december 12, 2014 volume 12 issue 4

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the north ri d g e reporter

An apple a day

Photo illustration by James Niiler

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What social media do you use most often?

connected

peoples’ stories while browsing through the social app. “The only time I don’t like checking them is when I’m in the house, and I don’t have nothing to do, and they are turning up,” Williams said. London Bailey, junior, said she uses Snapchat to communicate with her friends that don’t live in Tuscaloosa. “I use it, so they can see me now instead of later,” Bailey said. “It’s like Facetime but with pictures, and we can see each other all the time. Snapchat is awesome.”

The Northridge Reporter december 12, 2014

Snapchat was a photo of seniors TreShawn Brown and Yara Akl. “TreShawn stitched his face into a family picture with Akl as his daughter saying ‘My beautiful family’,” Plott said. Alk said Brown likes to make a lot of jokes and make people laugh and one day started calling her his daughter. “He went around telling people that he found me in a Best Buy box when I was one-years-old and adopted me as his own,” Alk said. Tastevisha Williams, junior, said she loves checking other

oh, snap!

“It’s different,” Sanders said. “Like you can’t start an argument through Snapchat, like twitter and Facebook. It’s less drama,” she said. Dajah Benson, junior, said she feels special when people view her photos. “[It] makes you feel good about yourself that people want to view your everyday life,” Benson said. Demario Plott, senior, said he thinks Snapchat is funny and interesting and a good way for friends to communicate and keep in touch. One of the funniest things Plott said he saw on

danger,” Prince said. Smothers said he does not trust these things and is concerned. “At such a young age, females especially, you’re exposed to a lot of dangers,” Smothers said. Prince said she has made plenty of friends on the app. “They’re not all creeps,” she said. Smothers said it takes a while for him to consider someone a friend. “Friends are made through time and trust. Before calling someone your friend you should really get to know them,” Smothers said. Smothers said parents should be very concerned about not only Kik but all social media. “They should be very cautious and always pay close attention to who their kids are talking to online,” he said.

112 students polled Information compiled by John Mark McCleland Infographic designed by James Niiler

Snapchat gives students fun with photo sharing

CAMRI MASON PHOTOGRAPHER

hotos are now becoming temporary with the trending app, Snapchat, as people share pictures with friends that only last for a few seconds. When Snapchat first came out, Takera Sanders, junior, said she thought it was pointless. “I didn’t know how to use [Snapchat],” she said. Sanders said she now thinks that Snapchat is better than any other social media.

kik start

people,” she said. Guidance counselor Kenneth Smothers said it is s a good thing we can connect with people, but that does not mean you know them. “People can look just like you and me and not be as friendly as us. That’s the danger,” Smothers said. Freshman Kearsten Prince said recently a male user messaged her and when she did not respond after several hours, the user became enraged and continued to send her several messages. The user told her he would use her picture to create a fake account and trick people into thinking it was her. “My first response was to laugh and tell my friends about it. I didn’t feel like I was in any

New messaging app causes safety concerns BRIANNA DUNN STAFF WRITER

M obile application Kik and its add-on apps spark concern for students and adults and make teens more susceptible to online predators. Teens are finding it easier to make friends with complete strangers using the messaging application and its new add-ons. These add-ons allow people to submit pictures of themselves and have anyone from around the world respond in just seconds. Freshman Lillian Jackson said there are both good and bad things about the app. “It’s good for contacting people and keeping in touch, but there are a lot of dangerous and creepy