The Color Run
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Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Al• 35406
Drug testing to ensure student safety
Mumford and Sons Page 3
acid
At the end of this month, the school’s updated security measures will be in effect. Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said that this new measure will be put in place to protect students. “This will help regulate individuals who enter the building,” Espy said. Espy said the new barrier in front of the bus entrance is a storefront barrier. Darrin Spence, Dean of Students, said it is soon to be the location of a new ID card scanner and a gate to “secure the campus.” In addition to the new barrier, the main entrance will be secured by a buzzer system not unlike the ones installed at some elementary schools in the district. “All entrances to the school must be secured,” Espy said. Visitors, as well as students, will have to provide identification before they are allowed inside the school. When the system comes into effect, the only entrance will be through the front door. Espy said the system installation and the barrier construction should be completed “by the end of September.” “The new barrier is in response to nationwide improvements in security,” Espy said. “This could also be in response to the Connecticut shootings.” Kathryn Versace, sophomore, said she appreciates the extra security. “I like that we’re being more protected,” she said. Espy said he thinks that the students’ response to the upgraded security will be similar to Versace’s. “They do what’s expected of them, and I’m sure the community will appreciate the extra protection for students,” he said.
See editorial on Page 2
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Mo n ox
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No 71
Yes 29
Have you ever been drug tested?
Do you know someone who does drugs?
No 40
No 20
Is drug testing a good idea? Yes 60
Information from the American Lung Association. Designed by Renu Pandit.
Do you know someone who smokes? Yes 80
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Sumona Gupta Infographics Editor
100 students polled. Information compiled by Sumona Gupta. Designed by Renu Pandit.
i n o RS de EN IC am m
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tarting this semester, certain students will be subject to random drug tests. Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, announced that three groups of students will be tested. “This includes drivers, students who participate in extracurricular activities and students whose parents elect to include them in random testing,” Espy said. “All city high schools will test, and most middle schools will as well.” Espy said schools cannot randomly test students from the general population without parental consent, and that they must have a legal objective. “Testing students who drive on campus has a justifiable purpose, obviously, which is student safety,” he said. Espy said he believes this is a good idea since people who ruin their lives though drug use get started in high school. “We want to invest in promoting a clean and drug free lifestyle now. This is important to me personally,” Espy said. “Right now we fight drug use mainly through punishment. The damage is done by that time in many cases.” “I brought this recommendation to the superintendent for a number of reasons, including input from our coaches,” Espy said. “We had concerns about drug use within our student body, and determined that it was time to move forward with a more proactive approach.” He said he wants students to know that this issue is important, and that the drug tests give students a reason to walk away from drug use. “We care about students living clean lives,” he said. “If a high school student can get it in Tuscaloosa, we will test for it. That is for sure. The tests are very accurate. They can tell if you ate a breath mint two weeks ago.” Espy said the drug tests are being funded through the school system’s general fund and are scheduled to begin later this fall. “I want our students in testing populations to have the opportunity to get clean. That is only fair. No one will know when we will test,” Espy said. “Not even me.” Espy said that although the school has not chosen a company to do the testing, most companies use a random selecting program to choose students. “If we test four or five times per year, a single student could actually be subject to testing multiple times. We also may have a student who is never selected,” Espy said. “We would like to test a high percent of students in the three testing populations.” Espy said a period of ineligibility
to drive or participate in extracurricular activities would be our response for a positive test result. “A second positive result would mean a lengthy dismissal. A third result would terminate a student’s eligibility,” Espy said. “Let me point out that this is not a code of conduct issue, and no disciplinary action will be taken, like suspension from school.” Kathy Granberry, Senior Marketing Executive with LabCorp, said there are several different methods used to detect the presence of drugs in the system, including urine drug tests, blood drug tests, hair drug tests, breath alcohol tests and saliva testing. “Currently, the most common method is urine drug screening; however, we have seen an increase in saliva and hair drug testing requests,” Granberry said. She said that there is a wide variety of drug presence in teens. “The most common drugs detected in teens are marijuana, alcohol and prescription medications. There has also unfortunately been an increase in the presence of heroin in teens and young adults,” Granberry said. Depending on what was taken and how much of it was consumed, drugs can stay in the human body for quite some time, Granberry said. “Alcohol usually stays one to 12 hours and marijuana can stay up to a week or even a month depending on how often it’s used,” she said. “My personal opinion is that drugs have a devastating effect on teens. There is currently research being done on drug abuse in teens and the affects to the brain,” Granberry said. Anna Laura Killian, senior, is a student driver as well as an athlete. “I play tennis, and I cheer,” Killian said. “I don’t really think the drug testing is a bad thing because I think it’s important for athletes to be healthy, and obviously, drugs are not good for you.” She said she believes most people disagree with it because they see it as “an invasion of their privacy.” “But if you’re not doing drugs, then it shouldn’t really be a problem,” Killian said. Killian said she thinks drugs are a distraction from better things you could be doing with your time and are bad for your health. “They just don’t appeal to me,” Killian said. Espy said this is not a particularly “innovative or aggressive program.” “Many school systems have drug testing programs. If you are a college athlete, there will be no question about it. Many employers require random testing. Smart people don’t use drugs. There are too many other things out there that can turn you on. Try a sport or a hobby. I run marathons and even trail races up to 100 miles,” Espy said. “Hey, if nothing else, after you run a marathon you are probably going to be too tired to do drugs, or anything else for that matter. Ok, maybe that is a bad example. But seriously, look around. The happiest people I know are clean. Think about it.”
Yes 66
Renu Pandit Editor-in-Chief
Security tightens
a leTAR
September 30, 2013 • Volume 11 • Issue 1
2OurOpinion Thoughts
The Northridge Reporter September 30, 2013
Drug testing beneficial t’s time to come clean.
Dumb gum!
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Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, announced that drug testing would be implemented beginning this fall. Students who are upset with this notion feel so primarily because they see it as an invasion of their privacy, as a waste of time and as unfair. Privacy is sacred, but when one’s privacy could endanger either oneself or others it should be invaded. The National Crime Prevention Council said that students who have friends that consume drugs are more likely to begin taking drugs as a result of peer pressure or the need to fit in. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association said that drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs possess a higher risk to other drivers than those who are clean. Drug testing is beneficial to students because it stops drug abuse before it gets too serious, and thus ensures the safety of our students. The time spent to prevent students from abusing drugs is time well spent in the sense that preventive action takes less time than rehabilitation. The implementation of the drug tests will serve as a positive motivator for students to stop consuming drugs. Students who enjoy driving and extracurricular privileges will not risk having them revoked by the possibility of getting caught with drugs in their system. For students who think it’s unfair, Dr. Espy has provided a twomonth grace period for students to get clean. Also, if students are caught with drugs in their system no negative effects will take place on their academic reputation. They will not be expelled or suspended, simply reprimanded with regard to their extracurricular activity or driving privileges. Any way it is looked at, the drug tests are advantageous to student’s safety and health, and should not be a problem to students unless they are taking drugs. It is a necessary and fair notion that will serve to protect and prevent drug abuse in the student body. See drug story agree (10) disagree (0) on Page 1
Art by: Lauren Curtner-Smith
Common Core generates controversy, unknown effects James Niiler Feature Editor
Nii le
The media has devoted much attention in recent r months to the newly-adopted school standards known as ‘Common Core.’ This, naturally, has attracted nothing but controversy. Americans either a) love and fawn over the new standards, believing that American education will be drastically improved, b) issue alarmist sentiments, that the new standards are evidence of more ‘big government,” and they will ‘dumb down’ American schools, or c) do not care either way, and are generally oblivious to the fact that the new standards may profoundly alter the state of education in the United States. Curiously (or perhaps not so much), the lines of support or lack
thereof for Common Core mostly seem to be drawn along conservative and liberal camps. As a political conservative, I am inclined to agree more with the ‘b’ statement listed above, as I don’t think Common Core advances the notion of a smaller, less bureaucratic government very well, and that it may actually make our education less advanced. But neither am I an irrational, right-wing lunatic: I realize that Common Core’s supporters have some good points to offer in its defense. Only time will tell, though, whose opinions will be more valid. Common Core’s supporters cite the idea that a more unified education among our 50 states is a beneficial one, both for conformity’s sake, and saving students
moving from one state to another unneeded anxiety. I certainly agree with this sentiment, but the implications of implementing Common Core are dubious. The Bill of Rights guarantees states certain powers not granted to the Federal Government, one of which is educational oversight. Although not strictly mandated, President Obama’s ‘Race to the Top’ program offers additional stipends to schools that implement these standards. I doubt that states will be coerced to violate the Constitution and implement these standards against their will, but pressure from the Obama administration may come in subtle, albeit forceful, means. Another aspect of Common Core that troubles me, and many others, is its emphasis on ‘practicality.’ A math teacher said the ‘enhanced’ curriculum will put more
problems in math books that deal with ‘real-world’ situations, with decreased emphasis on more abstract concepts. News reports say that in language classes ‘applicable’ texts such as court transcriptions will be favored above traditional literature. While I have no problem with students learning things that will help them in a pragmatic way, everyone deserves a well-rounded education, and the ability to think in abstract terms ought to be prized. Common Core’s emphasis on the ‘practical’ may deprive students of many chances to improve their intellects. Perhaps the greatest qualm I have against Common Core is not so much the standards themselves, but at the terrifically fast rate they have been adopted. Since its inception by the National Association of Governors in 2010, Common Core already has been implemented in 45 states,
seemingly without second thought. No one in a position of power has really stopped to consider what these standards really are and what their effects might be, and any objections to them have usually been ignored. It would have been far better for a few willing school districts to test these standards of unknown quality, rather than the whole nation—and the Federal Government—jumping on the bandwagon of ‘progressive’ education. No one, not even its most vocal supporters or detractors, knows what effects Common Core will have. Perhaps all of my fears, and a good portion of America’s, will be assuaged, and Common Core will be beneficial for our educational systems. But then, it may not. All I know for certain is the die has been cast in regard to educating American minors, and we are the ones who will be made to bear whatever changes Common Core brings.
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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*Denotes state, regional and national award winners Entertainment Editor Copy Editor Business Manager Twitter Editor KeamBria Washington Lauren Curtner-Smith James Niiler Lauren Curtner-Smith Sports Editor Infographics Editor Photographers Facebook Editor Camri Mason Sumona Gupta D’Aja Patrick,Camri Mason *Renu Pandit Asst. Sports Editor Art Editor Web Master Adviser Keshaun Byrd Sophie Fairbairn James Niiler *Susan Newell Beat Editor Artists Sumona Gupta, Rebecca Griesbach *Renu Pandit 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.
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The Northridge Reporter September 30, 2013
Gentlemen of the Road
3
Entertainment
Band finishes tour in the South By Sophie Fairbairn Staff Writer
M
umford and Sons, a current folk band from the UK, played their first Alabama show at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham on Monday, Sept. 9. The opening act was a band called The Vaccines. Though a different type of band from Mumford and Sons, The Vaccines were intriguing and entertaining. It was the first time they had come to Alabama, and yet they made the crowd want to bang their heads, stomp their feet and sing with imaginary microphones. They were just the band to get the crowd pumped for the main event. Mumford and Sons did not fail to thrill throughout their entire concert. They were enthusiastic and connected with the crowd. It didn’t seem to matter which song they played, the crowd was always on their feet, waving their hands and jumping around in their seats. The band played a reasonable amount of songs from their old album Sigh No More, just as well as they did from their recent album, Babel. They were not able to fit all their songs into this one concert, but the songs they chose did not disappoint. Some songs were slow and intimate, like
“Ghost That We Knew,” making the crowd silent and respectful, while other songs were fast and exhilarating, like “Little Lion Man,” making the crowd rowdy and excited. They played most of their wellknown songs such as, “I Will Wait” and “The Cave,” which was no surprise. The most powerful song of the night was “Dust Bowl Dance.” It had a mix of hard core drums and strings, yet a gentle intensity of tender singing. Every instrument, whether banged, strummed or pressed, was played with astonishing technique. For their encore, Mumford and Sons rocked the covers of, “I’m On Fire” by Bruce Springsteen, “Come Together” by The Beatles and “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The crowd gave enormous cheers and roars for their talented justice of the songs. Though each song was better than the last, the most memorable was “Sweet Home Alabama.” Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford and Sons, surprisingly was not the lead for this song, instead, he pulled a random man up on stage to take his place. While Marcus beat the drums, and the rest of the band played, the, not so random, man busted out singing Alabama’s anthem as the crowd went wild. Not only was the music astounding, but the view was as
well. Nothing was blocking anyone’s view of the stage and every band member was in perfect sight, playing for everyone to hear. A large digital screen behind the band flashed lights of different shapes, designs and colors according to the song. Strands of light bulbs streamed out from the sides of the stage and over the edges of the crowd. These light bulbs flashed and glowed different colors depending on the music. It was no shocker that Mumford and Sons played even better live, than on a recording. This is the highest praise an artist can get and is what every artist should strive for. Though concerts can be a big show, Mumford and Son’s flashy lights, special guests, and witty accents are not what attract their fans’ attention; it is their music. It is the extraordinary talent, the meaningful lyrics and the genuine quality that puts Mumford and Sons at the top of everyone’s playlist. The 2013 tour ended Friday, Sept. 20 in Bonner Springs Kansas. Though it has come to a close, I still recommend going to a Mumford and Sons concert in the future. The band will continue to create music for upcoming tours (tour dates not yet listed), but in the meantime, listen to some of the not so well-known songs; you could be jubilantly surprised.
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3 Photos by: Sophie Fairbairn
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Rocking Out: 1. Mumford and Sons play on Sept. 9 at Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham. 2. Lead singer, Marcus Mumford converses with the crowd about touring Alabama for the first time. Mumford later expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming turnout and the heartfelt welcome from the band’s fans. 3. The band huddles around the microphone to cover “I’m On Fire” by Bruce Springsteen.
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Feature
The Northridge Reporter September 30, 1013
Poore takes on Washington
Lauren Curtner-Smith Copy Editor
Katie Poore, junior, did not return to school this August like many of her peers. Instead she attends a program in Washington D.C. called the United States Senate Page Program, and she runs errands for Senator Richard Shelby. Poore said she received this opportunity after Jackie Hudgins, former counselor, gave her name to the senator. Senator Shelby’s office then contacted her with a phone interview. Her official title is “Page.” There are thirty other pages from thirty states across America, though Poore is the only one from Alabama. Poore said she is excited to meet new people from across our country. She said she gets to see and hear about many issues that normal people only “hear about from the T.V.” “I basically deliver messages and notes to different people around the Senate and on Capitol Hill,” Poore said. Poore said she will be gone for five months. She is withdrawn from Northridge and attends a school for pages only, which is in the basement of her dormitory in Washington, D.C. “[School] generally starts at 6:15 a.m. every morning and ends at 9:45 a.m., so we can set up the Senate room before [the senators] convene. Sometimes they start earlier than 9:45 a.m., so school is cut short,” Katie said. She said her schedule is “insanely busy.” Katie said she has made sacrifices by accepting this opportunity. She is not allowed a cell phone or much Internet access. She had to stop taking violin lessons while in D.C. because her schedule is so strict. “Unfortunately, they don’t offer any music programs in DC that I could realistically get involved in. I just won’t have enough time, but I am still taking my violin with me,” Katie said before she left. “Sacrificing violin will be one of the hardest things while I’m gone.” Poore said she will, however, be flying back to audition for All-State Orchestra in October. She said it is tough to leave her little brother Hank. “Now that my two older brothers are gone, he won’t have anyone to torment him every day and will be bored out of his mind,” Poore said. Poore said it is unlikely she will get homesick, but if she does it will be the first week or so. Her best friend and former Northridge student, Madi Stoutland, moved to the Philadelphia area. “We’ve already been talking about when I can visit,” Katie said. “Madi’s house is just a short train ride away.” “I think [this opportunity] is going to be one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done. Everyone I’ve talked to has said it was one of the best decisions of their life, so that is encouraging,” Katie said. She said the longest she has been away from home is a month, but she enjoys traveling. “I am completely obsessed with traveling and seeing new places, so this opportunity is
going to be amazing for me,” Poore said. She said she will be separated from her parents for the entire five months except for holidays and her orchestra audition. Kathy Poore, Poore’s mother, said daily life will be completely different without Katie. “She is such a big help to me around the house with meals and housework and a huge help with Hank. She is always helping me with Hank, either feeding him, playing on the computer with him, or helping with his homework. I will also miss her companionship. She and I have always had a close relationship, and I will miss sharing my days with her,” she said. “I plan on taking her and getting her settled into her dorm room and will drive up to pick her up in January. I’m not sure whether I will get to visit her in between or not, but I will definitely be happy to see her on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Kathy said before she left for Washington. Kathy said she thinks her daughter is a good leader and will enjoy this experience. “She is smart but humble. She is a good listener and thinks before she speaks and acts on something. She is rarely the most vocal one in the group, but I think when she does speak, people will listen to her,” Kathy said. “I guess my advice to Katie would be to work hard, be determined to succeed, and to have fun with this unique experience. I will encourage her to keep in touch with her friends as best she can, to enjoy making new friends and soak in the experience in every way she can. I can imagine that she will have tough days, as it is a very demanding schedule, but I know that if she sets her mind to it, she will return to Tuscaloosa with new life-long friends, amazing experiences and having had an inside glimpse into something that very few have the opportunity to see,” Kathy said. Katie’s friend, Morgan Dewitt, junior, said she is going to miss Katie. “I’m really proud of her for landing this opportunity because she’s always been one to take advantage of these opportunities. Based on what I’ve heard about her schedule, it doesn’t sound like she will have a lot of free time. Any opportunity I have to be in contact with her, I will use it,” Dewitt said. Morgan said she thinks Katie needs to manage her time and stay organized “because she has a lot on her plate this semester.” “I’m super proud of her,” Dewitt said. Traci Watson, English teacher, was one of Katie’s academic teachers in Katie’s sophomore year. “Katie is an outstanding, hard-working and determined student. [She is] always striving for perfection,” Watson said. Watson said Katie will be a great leader because she “has drive, is focused and is able to motivate those around her.” Watson said Katie should, “stay clear of any controversy, enjoy the history and the surroundings and provide good advice to Senator Shelby and Sessions.” “And if Katie can, [I hope she will] bring home a national champion trophy number fifteen to Tuscaloosa,” Watson added with a smile.
Photo by: U.S. Senate Photographer
Shake it: Katie Poore, junior, stands next to and shakes hands with Barack Obama, President of the United States, while participating in the United States Senate Page Program in Washington, D.C.
Feature
The Northridge Reporter September 30, 2013
5
Photo by: Nick Fairbairn
A long climb up: Hohenzollern Castle (Burg Hohenzollern) sits atop a hill in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. “It’s south of Stuttgart,” Nick Fairbairn, senior, said. “My host partner, Simon, and I traveled to two places on our host-family weekends. We went to Hohenzollern Castle and Lake Constance.”
Bonjour, guten tag
Sister Cities tours France, Germany
Daimler; he invented one of the first engines for cars and helped found Mercedes. We also visited the Parliament of Boden and Wardenberg,” Hubner said. Want to know a secret? Lisa Keyes, executive director of Tusca- Fairbairn said that his favorite site to loosa Sister Cities International, said that visit was the famous statue, Imperia, in the sister cities program is Tuscaloosa’s Konstanz. “Also the Hohenzollern Castle [was a “best kept secret.” Nick Fairbairn and Jack Hubner, seniors, favorite],” Fairbairn said. Hubner said they also learned a lot about agree. Both of them participated in the summer 2013 trip to Tuscaloosa’s sister German culture during their stay. “We learned how their parliament works, city, Schorndorf, Germany. that they eat bread Keyes said all the time, and the program, which exPeople who like new things and they like Nutella. changes stuleaving their comfort zone should They’re also big on meat. Their school dents from definitely try it out, is structured difTuscaloosa’s ferently. They Northridge, Nick Fairbairn, senior have three types Paul W. Bryof school dependant, and Cening on your catral High Schools with one of three sister cities, pro- reer path, and they can also go home for vides new opportunities and learning expe- lunch,” Hubner said. Fairbairn said he decided to go on the riences to students. Keyes said every year, students are given Germany trip because of a previous Sister the opportunity to represent their school, Cities experience. city, and country on a trip to one of the “I went to Japan the summer before and three sister cities. The cities include Nara- loved it, and I love traveling and taking shino, Japan, Schorndorf, Germany, and pictures and landscapes,” Fairbairn said. Hubner said he went on the trip because Sunyani-Techiman, Ghana. Fairbairn said the group spent two weeks of suggestions from friends. total on the trip to Germany, with a half a “I like travelling, and I have friends on the trip that recommended I go.” week side trip to Paris, France. “In Germany, the main city visited was Fairbairn said he strongly encourages Schorndorf, where we stayed. Other cit- sophomores and juniors to participate in ies visited included Stuttgart, Heidelberg, the 2014 trip. “People who like new things and leaving Konstanz, and Ulm,” Fairbairn said. Hubner said the sites visited within the their comfort zone should definitely try it out,” Fairbairn said. locations were extensive. “We saw the birthplace of Gottlieb Sumona Gupta Infographics Editor
Photo by: Sophie Fairbairn
Say Cheese: Nick Fairbairn, senior, poses in front of the Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre). “We went there on our first day in Paris, and out of the U.S. After a long flight to Paris, from Atlanta, we trekked on to the Louvre, though we hadn’t had sleep in almost 30 hours! It was pouring rain as we entered the museum,” Fairbairn said.
Photo by: Nick Fairbairn
Smile: Rebecca Perkins, senior, stands atop a spiral tower overlooking a park near Stuttgart, Höhenpark Killesberg, on one of her last days in Germany. “You could see the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museums from the tower, as well as the world’s first television tower, the Fernsehturm,” Nick Fairbairn, senior, said.
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News
The Northridge Reporter September 30, 2013
Price becomes new AP Biology teacher Sophie Fairbairn Staff Writer
Photo by: D’Aja Patrick
Michelle Price, new AP Biology teacher, instructs her class.
From a swimmer playing in a band, to a prankster dreaming of flight, Michelle Price is the new AP Bio and Zoology teacher replacing the recently retired Marilyn Stephens. Kelly Burnham, a former student of Stephens, said, “[Stepehs] was a difficult but intelligent teacher,” and she hopes Price will “try just as hard to challenge her students with her own knowledge.” Price’s knowledge goes all the way back to high school where she was a bit of a troublemaker. She loved pulling pranks on her classmates and on her teachers; pranks such as tying hair to chairs
during class. “I made some teachers cry and that’s why some pranks probably shouldn’t be spoken of,” Price said. When Price wasn’t running amock with her teachers, she was running cross country or swimming competitively for Poudre High School. Price even played the cello with the school orchestra at Carnegie Hall. “We were terrible, but we played there,” Price said. Though she did a variety of activities, what she aspired to be was a U.S. Pilot. In the ROTC, Price was able to join the Leadership Training Program at Fort Knox in Kentucky. There, she learned basic army training where she was prone to causing trouble as well.
“One time I got stuck on top of a broken buffer and spun straight in front of all the drill sergeants,” Price said. “I was the only one to ever make the toughest drill sergeant laugh,” Price said. After one month of training, Price found her eyesight wasn’t up to code, and she was turned away. Price then found a new desire: biology. “Science is awesome,” she said. With a few trial and errors of “boring” research labs and medical shadowing, Price found a way to combine her newly found passions for biology and “working with others,” in teaching. Now Price’s goal is for her students to “work hard and eventually appreciate science,” just as much as she does.
Everyone’s got one question,
“Homecoming?”
Harless and Worley
I wanted to make this time memorable, so I wrote Laura Worley a homecoming themed poem. While we sat in my car, I pulled out the poem and read it aloud to her. She said ‘yes’ with a beautiful smile. Christian Harless, senior
Hunter Gregory, new ninth grade math teacher, teaches a lesson.
Gregory begins first teaching job James Niiler Staff Writer
Hunter Cline told me he had something to get off his chest and to come outside after volleyball. I went outside, and he handed me a rose and some chocolates. He then unbuttoned his shirt halfway and there was a sign that said ‘Homecoming?’ Shelley Parks, sophomore Cline and Parks
I put a note in water and froze it and left it on Maryam Azam’s door with another note that instructed, ‘Break Ice.’ Once broken, the note read, ‘Now that we’ve broken the ice, do you want to go to homecoming with me?’ Davis and Azam
Photo by: D’Aja Patrick
Ben Davis, junior
Photos by: Sophie Fairbairn
Hunter Gregory, new ninth grade math teacher, said he has high expectations for his students. “I want to see [my students] making an effort towards learning and having a desire to learn,” he said. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Hunter is in his first year of teaching. “I’ve enjoyed [Northridge],” he said. “There’s good school spirit and a good ninth grade class.” Meg Aurd, a freshman who has Gregory’s class, said she “explains things well.” Cody Hendley, a freshman who also has his class, said Gregory is not strict. “He lets us do a lot of stuff. He doesn’t give us as much work as a normal teacher,” Hendley said.
Gregory said there’s more to being a teacher than is apparent. “I have definitely enjoyed [teaching], but there is more work to it than people know,” he said. Gregory is also an assistant baseball and football coach. A student athlete in high school, football was his favorite sport and baseball followed in a close second. Gregory said he “usually made pretty good grades. “Math was always my favorite subject,” he said. Gregory said he became a teacher because he “wanted to have an opportunity to influence young people in the right direction.” “[I want to be] someone who cares and I want them to be successful,” he said.
Look for more teacher stories in the October paper.
Dr. Arti Pandey, MD Internist 4810 Harkey Lane Tuscaloosa, AL (behind McDonald’s on Rice Mine Rd., near Lake Tuscaloosa)
Alabama Heart Care, LLC 4810 Harkey Lane Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 Phone: (205)-344-6344 Fax: (205)-344-6464
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Sports
The Northridge Reporter September 30, 2013
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Soccer team adjusts to loss of coach Rebecca Griesbach Staff Writer
Ready: Center Terrance Mays (66), gets ready to snap the ball during the Minor football game on blocks the play. Minor won the game 19 to 14.
The girls soccer team will be short seven seniors and a beloved coach when they kick off the season this February. Annika Struthwolf, sophomore, and Lee Almond, junior, said they will miss Coach Kory Berry. Almond said Berry was a very positive person. “The whole girls team enjoyed having him as a coach. He was very encouraging, and he always taught us life lessons at the end of practice,” Struthwolf said. With Berry and another assistant coach gone, Struthwolf said the team will be with head coach, Photo by: Camri Mason Carter Hill more often. Sept. 13. Guard Daryl Pham (70) Currently, there is no new coach to take Berry’s place, but Hill said they have hired Callie Pike, former player at Northridge and sive lineman, has started every the University of Alabama, to help with the girls and Junior Varsity game since his freshman year. “This season means everything. boys programs next semester. Almond said a player to watch We have to finish on a good note,” he said. “The difference in this for is junior Isabella McVeagh, year’s team is the new coaching who is new to the team. Hill said the season will not be staff and more focused players,” Mays said. “To win the state cham- affected. “The girls play, not the coaches,” pionship is my senior team goal.” Hill said.
Team plays to win despite loss of key players Keshaun Byrd Staff Writer
The football team expected this season to be a challenging one with the transfers of star running back Bo Scarborough and wide receiver Cyontai Lewis. Although they lost a lot of talent and are young on both sides of
the ball, the team does have some outstanding underclassmen. Linebacker Joseph Haley, junior, said taking on a leadership role is “more of my style.” “The team has to execute better to close tight games,” he said. Haley said defensive lineman Jalen Madden, linebacker Lee Wicks, and quarterback Tanner
Cline are key players. The team set many goals before the season like winning the 6A state championship; although the goal might be far out of reach, the attitude of the team is still the same, Haley said. “[We have] a lot of hard work, belief and faith,” Haley said. Terrance Mays, senior offen-
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Hit It: Freshman setter Madison Darden (5), passes the ball for a hit during the JV Volleyball game against Holy Spirit on Sept. 19.
Volleyball team places in tournament Lauren Curtner-Smith Copy Editor The girls volleyball team placed second in the Magic City Classic tournament on Sept. 14 held in Birmingham at the Birmingham Crossplex Arena. Senior Anna Lee Petitt, left hitter, had 24 kills, 49 attempts, 6 tips, 67 passes and 1 block. Senior Marla Parks, middle hitter, had 15 kills, 14 attempts, 4 tips, 28 passes, 8 blocks and 3 aces. Senior Katrina Struthwolf, setter and captain, had 100 sets, 2 attempts, 1 tip, 9 passes and 4 aces. Junior Denae Sisler, libero, had 7 kills, 18 attempts, 113 passes and 7 aces.
Vicki Miller, varsity coach, said that the team played confidently offensively and defensively. “It’s a great platform leading us into the rest of the season,” Miller said. Struthwolf said a cool fact about the Magic City tournament is that they beat McAdory High School, a team that they lost to in a previous tournament. “I’m really proud of the way our team played. We worked hard to win all our games to put us into the championship. We lost to Minor and took second place,” Katrina said. The girls volleyball team’s next tournament will be the Area Tournament held on Oct. 22.
Volleyball Quick Facts Volleyball Season Record: 14 and 2 as of Sept. 27. Oct. 7: Senior night, plays Bessemer City Oct. 10: last home game, against Oak Mountain The team beat Hillcrest 25 to 17 in the first game, 15 to 12 in the third game, and lost 25 to 22 in the second game. Beat Tuscaloosa County High Sept. 24.
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A COLORFUL CAMPAIGN and wanted to participate in it, so when this volunteer opportunity came I was extremely excited,” Khan said. Khan said the volunteer opportunity was “a great way for the club to help and join in on the fun.” “It was even better than I expected, and I loved the whole positive atmosphere with all the colors and vibrant runners,” she said. The Color Run’s website states that although they are a for-profit organization, they still choose a local charity in every city they visit to sponsor. ReadBAMARead, co-founded by Donna Benjamin, has been their choice for the past two years. Benjamin said ReadBAMARead was created immediately after the tornado hit Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011. “We wanted to do everything in our power to make a lasting impact on our city’s recovery and quickly realized the devastation of local schools here,” Benjamin said. “We chose to focus on libraries due to the fact that we firmly believe that literacy is the foundation on which all learning takes place.” She said The Color Run heard about the cause through local people and immediately extended their help. “The Color Run is one of several examples of ways people have come together to help us with our mission of rebuilding collections of hundreds of thousands of books that were destroyed,” Benjamin said. She estimated the total amount of money donated by the The Color Run over the span of two years to be around $10,000. “Thanks to the generosity of organizations such as The Color Run, we were able to present checks for $5,000 to Holt Elementary and $25,000 to University Place Elementary earlier this year,” she said. Katrina Struthwolf, senior, participated by running in the event. “I volunteered at a color station last year and was able to cover the runners with blue powder as the came by. As much fun as that was, I loved being on the other side this year,” Struthwolf said. “After running, we had a blast at the after party, when everyone throws packets of color into the air,” she said. She said the only downside was being “unable to breathe for a good 20 seconds when everyone throws the color,” but still did it three times because it was so much fun. “It really is the happiest 5k on the planet,” she said.
Runners, volunteers participate in ‘The Happiest 5k on the Planet’
Renu Pandit Editor-in-Chief Run around, throw some color in the air, and smile. Welcome to The Color Run. The Color Run returned to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 7 surrounded by eager and enthusiastic volunteers and runners. Nick Fairbairn, senior and Key Club Lieutenant Governor, organized Key Club members to volunteer at the event. “We were looking for service opportunities within the community that would allow large groups to volunteer,” he said. “When I heard about the color run I knew it was perfect for us.” He said Key Clubbers volunteered as “Captains of Fun” and helped in numerous ways. “We had to help direct foot-traffic and distribute The Color Run materials. We also had to help clean up, move signs and take down tents,” Fairbairn said. He said the experience was unforgettable, with the highlights including “having fun in color throws while cheering people on and motivating the runners.” Rabisa Khan, junior, was one of the Key Club volunteers. “I had always heard about the Color Run
Photos by: Nick Fairbairn
Run: Key Club seniors Kaitlyn Duren, Ryan Peelor, Michael Gamble and Rebecca Perkins throw color into the air during the color festival at The Color Run, held on Sept. 7 at Sokol Park. Go, go, go: Rebecca Perkins, senior, smiles as she volunteers at The Color Run.
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September 30, 2013 Volume 11 Issue 1
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