Tattoos express feelings, beliefs
page 3
Vitamin Water: Healthy or Waste?
The Northridge
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February 24, 2011 • Volume 8, Issue 5
page 7 Athletes sign to colleges page 8 Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406
State of Change
roving reporter
Superintendent resigns after eight-year term anu pandit editor-in-chief
challenges associated with it. Dr. Levey faced those challenges, and the t the Tuscaloosa City School Board school system as a whole meeting on Jan. 25, Dr. Joyce had success in some areas, Levey announced her resignation and did not meet with the from her position as superintendent. success that she pursued in Her resignation is effective at the end of other areas,” he said. her contract, which is May 31. However, As Dr. Levey resigned starting Feb 1, she was absent on paid leave, before the end of her with an interim superintendent acting in her contract, there was a place. necessity to find an interim Dr. Levey occupied the seat of to take her place until the superintendent for eight years. end of her term. Dan Meissner, president of the board of On Feb . 1, the board education, said that Dr. Levey worked “long of education named and hard” during her eight year tenure. Dorothy Richardson Levey “She worked for the students of our acting superintendent. She previously system as served as Assistant The superintendent’s position superintendent Superintendent for is very important. Anytime and during General Administration. her other prior “The board is there is a shift in this posipositions. I beginning the process of tion, there can be be a subappreciate her the selection of a new stantial impact on the climate dedication superintendent [to replace of the school system. and wish her Levey], and it will be the all the best in decision of the board as a ~ Isaac Espy, principal the future,” he whole,” he said. said. “Whether [Dr. Levey’s] resignation Meissner said that there were no probable was beneficial or detrimental cannot candidates as of yet. be determined at this time, but will be “I am sure that the board members will determined by whatever changes come in have individual ideas that we will discuss the future.” together,” he said. Isaac Espy, principal, said Dr. Levey was Isaac Espy, principal, said that there very influential during her term, not only to is a potential for major change with this the system but also to him personally. transition. “She took part in many positive changes, “The superintendent’s position is very one of the most important to me being the important. Anytime there is a shift in this simple fact that she recommended me as position, there can be a substantial impact on principal of this school. The position of the climate of the school system,” he said. superintendent has many, many, many Espy said that although the superintendent
A
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C
oretta Scott King award-winning author Nikki Grimes visited Northridge on Wednesday, Jan. 26 and discussed both her novels and childhood with English classes in the auditorium between 12:45 and 2:00 p.m. Prior to Grimes’s arrival, the book club read her novel Bronx Masquerade, which contains stories and poems written by different teenage characters who hide behind fake personas in order to hide their true personalities. The book won a Coretta Scott King Award for Grimes. According to her website, Grimes began writing as a child and had her first works published while she was in high school. photo by kate davis Her autobiography A Dime a Dozen Grimes speaks to English classes in contains poems and other works that she the auditorium on Jan. 26. began writing as a young child.
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He or she needs to be able to help all students, not just the patrons to the system. -Andrew Lattner, junior
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He or she must be a strong leader, but humble, and should have good communication skills. -Jackie Hudgins, counselor
photo by eddie mcclinton
would change, the main goal would not. “A new superintendent will bring a personal set of ventures, initiatives and priorities. But all of these will certainly have the academic success of students at the forefront,” he said. Nick Motz, sophomore, said the transition gives him little hope for the future. “Although I didn’t agree with everything Dr. Levey did, she was a good superintendent. [The transition to a new superintendent] leaves a lot of uncertainty about what to expect. We don’t know what interests he or she would push, or what she’d be in favor of,” he said. Jesse Parker, junior, said that he feels that this may solve some of the problems the school system faces. “Dr. Levey was a great leader, but there was just too much stuff for her to cover. We need a new perspective to come in and see things in a different light. Maybe then we can get things done,” he said.
Author speaks of childhood, importance of reading jah’meka baxter staff writer
What qualities are important in an interim or superintendent?
Grimes also won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2003 for her novel Jazmin’s Notebook, a story about a young girl who writes despite moving between foster homes, a situation similar to Grimes’s own childhood. She said many of her stories were inspired by her childhood experiences in different cities in the state of New York. Grimes said her inspiration came from reading poetry and the themes it portrays. “I have always been fascinated with the power of words in poetry,” she said. Grimes said that aspiring authors should attempt to make their work known. “Start off by having your work published in literary journals and magazines,” she said. Shanquella Jones, senior, was inspired the most by Grimes’s novel Bronx Masquerade. “It opened up a new point of view towards the way you think and evaluate other people” she said.
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He or she should be open to change, encourage advancement, and should embrace the individuality of all students. -Meredith Horn, senior
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He or she should promote the school system as a whole, not just certain aspects of it. -Hamilton Cook, senior
SEE EDITORIAL ON PAGE 2.
in brief
Nurse schedule changes
jah’meka baxter staff writer
Nurse Deda Donaldson will now schedule her visits differently to ensure her ability to meet scheduled nursing procedures and dispense medications to students after 11:30 a.m. Donaldson also nurses students at Rock Quarry and Verner elementary schools. “As an RN, I am required to visit other schools where I meet with the LPN’s of the schools to help them,” Donaldson said. Erica Murray, senior, said she is not affected by the change in the nursing schedule. “The only time I notice [the nurse] is when I walk by the office, but she is there when I need her for my medication,” Murray said. Donaldson will leave her keys in her box for access and will sign out with her school destination listed. She will also use a radio to notify others that she is leaving campus and tell where she is going. If an emergency occurs, students can contact Debbie Freedman, secretary, in the main office.
2
opinion
the northridge reporter february 24, 2011
our thoughts
New school superintendent should possess these qualities
A
t the Tuscaloosa City School Board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25, Dr. Joyce Levey announced that she would be stepping down from her position as superintendent, effective May 31. However, she will be taking a paid leave of absence starting Feb. 1. The Northridge Reporter, though saddened by her leave, hopes that the board will be wise in choosing her successor. We feel that a suitable candidate should possess certain qualities in order to more effectively take up where Dr. Levey left off. First and foremost, the candidate should be resourceful. In this economic climate, with the monetary issues that our system faces, a superintendent that can utilize the resources we already possess and make wise investments in resources for the future would be invaluable. Secondly, the candidate should be responsible. The system needs someone who will take a stand for the necessary measures needed to advance our schools and make us more
nationally competitive, regardless of how unpopular or difficult it may seem. The new superintendent should be able to accept criticism, stand strong against adversity, and should never compromise the welfare of our schools to satisfy exterior motives. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, they have to believe in our potential. The Tuscaloosa City School System is capable of great things, and we need a leader who can visualize those dreams and make them a reality for our students. Our new superintendent needs to fight hard for the causes of all students, regardless of academic achievement or other factors. The Northridge Reporter wishes the school board well in their endeavors to fill the space that Dr. Levey has left. We hope they will choose with the interests of our system, and our community, in mind. Hopefully, our new superintendent will walk in with high expectations and will realize that we must fix our past mistakes in order to move ahead into the future.
SEE STORY ON FRONT PAGE.
staff opinion
agree (16) disagree (0) neutral (0)
TALK TO US
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Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 (205) 759-3734 ext. 235
NSPA 5th Place Best of Show 2008 • NSPA 8th Place Best of Show 2008 NSPA 9th Place Best of Show 2006 • CSPA Silver Medalist (2003, 2004) CSPA Gold Medalist (2005-2008) • SIPA All-Southern (2003, 2005–2009) ASPA All-Alabama (2003–2009) • All-American, four Marks of Distinction (2004, 2008) • 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) • Rick Bragg Award for Feature Writing (2009)
Editor-in-Chief: Entertainment Editor: Feature Editor: Opinion Editor: News Editor: Sports Editor: Business Manager: Photographers: Copy Editor: Infographics Editor: Art Editor:
Anu Pandit Kate Davis Anu Pandit Kate Davis Trent Clanton Foster Beck Anu Pandit Kate Davis, Trent Clanton, Anu Pandit, Foster Beck Anu Pandit, Trent Clanton Trent Clanton Trent Clanton
Adviser: Susan Newell*
*Denotes state, regional and national award winners
Find us on the web at http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com/news/ Become a fan of The Northridge Reporter on facebook Advertising and Subscriptions: Contact The Northridge Reporter Staff at (205) 759-3734 ext. 235 or snewell@tusc.k12.al.us to advertise in or subscribe to The Northridge Reporter. Editorial Policy: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or administration of Northridge High School or the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. It is the policy of The Northridge Reporter to publish all non-obscene, non-libelous, signed letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion expressed in them. All letters must be submitted to Mrs. Newell in room 109. The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations. Tuscaloosa City Board Policy: It is the official policy of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, age or creed, be excluded for participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subject to discrimination under any program, activity or employment.
artwork by Trent Clanton
your thoughts
Want to make AYP?
Try neighborhood schools Lately in our school, many measures have been instituted by the administration centering on the issue of Adequate Yearly Progress [AYP]. There is growing concern over our continual failure to meet the standards set forth by it. These failures, however, have been marginal, but still cast a bad light upon the school’s reputation overall. Perhaps, the deficiency is not with our school’s educational output but the attitudes of some students which are quite adverse to learning in general. One step the city board should
consider is not flooding Northridge with students from all over town as opposed to more localized zoning. Our school is overflowing while Bryant High, a school built for around twelve hundred students, has little more than nine hundred enrolled and Central runs a few hundred below its capacity. M a n y students live extremely short distances from these schools, yet are sent to Northridge. Why is this?
Is the fact that we cannot even fit our entire student body into our gymnasium not a large enough red flag? If Northridge were relieved of this insensible burden and possessed localized school zones like other schools, the margin of failure that keeps AYP out of our grasp would be dissolved.
lotfi
Freshman scoffs at Hollywood’s image of karate james roberts staff writer OK, yell “kee-ah!” if you have ever seen an unrealistic martial arts movie. You would be loud if you saw the original “Karate Kid,” or its just-releasedon-DVD remake because their martial arts moves sometimes aren’t realistic, and the directors fail to correctly portray martial artists. I know this because I participated in karate from first grade to sixth grade in South Carolina and have been taking Taekwondo since I moved to Tuscaloosa in seventh grade. I enjoyed both the 1984 blockbuster “The Karate Kid” and its 2010 remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan but both failed to correctly portray martial artists and tournaments. Both movies end with a tournament showing two competitors fighting in hand-to-hand combat. In real life, we have such competitions (which we call sparring) in classes, tournaments and belt rank tests -- but we always wear special protective gear. Look closely at both movies, and you’ll notice that everyone left theirs at home.
Many of the moves they make aren’t realistic, either. Remember the crane stance Daniel-san used to defeat his opponent in the end of the original? He did a real front kick, but the stance is a lie. We do similar things for forms but never while sparring. Also, in the stance, Daniel-san spreads his roberts hands out (as well as chambered his kick in a way that gave away his next move.) Who can tell me what’s wrong with this? Let me put it this way: in a fight, do you want your hands close in to block and/or quickly strike your opponent, or spread them far apart and basically tell your opponent, “Hey, I’m wide open for an attack!” (On another note, people in both versions rarely ever kept their guard up. And when they did, they never did it in true martial arts style.) While martial style is important, true thinking like a martial artist is more important. And both movies lacked the true spirit of martial arts. In the remake, bad guy Cheng roughly finished off his opponents. He once attacked an opponent who was bowing, which is like a gunfighter who shoots before the
count of 10. In tournaments, you would be harshly penalized for such cheating, yet Cheng kept getting away with it. The goal of a martial arts tournament is to win, but not by hurting your opponent. During the climatic match between Dre and Cheng, Dre was badly injured by Cheng’s overly aggressive kicks. Sorry, kid, but this isn’t Mortal Kombat. Yet Cheng got away with it. And it was shown on a big replay screen! Cheng also started fights. In scenes where he and his comrades ganged up on Dre, he used more street brawl moves than martial arts techniques. The creed of every martial art I’ve ever learned is that we use it as a last resort to self-defense, not to attack or intimidate others. At my Taekwondo academy, we end each training session by repeating our 10 tenets, “Honor! Courtesy! Integrity! Perseverance! Self-control! Courage! Community! Strength! Humility! Knowledge!” Except for strength, the “Karate Kid” movies’ bad guys show none of the other traits, and even the good guys don’t show many of those traits. Now, if the movies demonstrated such ideals, the directors would not have earned as much money, but selling out the true ideals of martial arts is not the way to go.
the northridge reporter february 24, 2011
Classic survives high school
there is no sign of it in the careful, masterful precision behind the words. The dialogue is crisp, the descriptions are brisk and the I don’t mean to pick on words are nuanced and soulful. Advanced English 11, but The story has real depth and there’s some kind of danger in real ache, a potent combination. letting an English class require If that sounds like praise for students to read good books. Toni Morrison, it’s a reminder It’s scary to imagine an entire that Hurston was the mother of generation writing off classic a genre. Her work was not some literature because they didn’t kind of unfinished “potential” like the class or teacher that that would be fully realized in went with the book. the future. And while The Great Gatsby Their Eyes Were Watching God was a tale of times, Their Eyes MCT Campus is the straight-up truth, as defined Were Watching God is a tale for the times. Zora Neale Hurston wrote the then and now. Here’s to the straight-up truth, book over only seven weeks in Haiti, but and its survival through even English class. samuel yang staff writer
entertainment
Which do you prefer?
rock
39
Rap
41 = 5 students compiled by kate davis
Genres of music influence pupils’ views justin jackson staff writer
Teenagers use tatoos to express themselves regan walker staff writer As painful as they may be, tattoos are a sensation among people. Jazemine McCool, junior, has two tattoos. “[I got my tattoo] because I thought it was pretty, and I’ve always wanted one,” McCool said. Unlike many others, McCool said her tattoos don’t have a real meaning. “[My tattoos just show] how much I love me and my mom and how much I like butterflies,” McCool said. McCool said her tattoos didn’t cost over $40. “[My tattoos] weren’t expensive because I knew the person who was doing them,” she said. McCool said she is going to get some more tattoos because she thinks they are cool. “[I’m going to get a tattoo] of my great grandma’s name because she means the world to me, and she’s my everything,” she said. Tevin Riddle, junior, has three tattoos.
“[I got my tattoos] because they mean something to me,” he said. “One represents the death of my grandfather and grandmother, and the other one is my initials.” Riddle said his tattoos cost him $35. “I knew the guy, and I only paid for one of them, and he said I can get something else simple for free,” Riddle said. Riddle said he is going to get some more tattoos. “All the tattoos that I get will mean something to me or symbolize something about me,” he said. LaDairus Stallworth, junior, has four tattoos. “[I got my tattoos] because I wanted to have a lot of tattoos for summer,” Stallworth said. Stallworth said his tattoos express something about him. “[My tattoos] represent my love for my mom and dad, and also my faith,” he said. Stallworth said his tattoos cost $100, and he wants to have a total of 12 tattoos. “[I want all my tattoos to] symbolize something about me or an important event in my life,” Stallworth said.
photo by kate davis photo by kate davis Chelsea Ryan, junior, chose a star Haley Foster, sophomore, has a butterfly tatoo on her right hand for her tatoo. “[I on her left shoulder. “I love butterflies. They are picked it] because I feel like a star,” my favorite,” Foster said. Ryan said.
MIKE MILLS BALFOUR COMPANY
hendrix
photo by A. Vente
cudi photo by Seher Sikandar
Some people prefer the party style of rock while others prefer the rhyming lyrics of a rap song. Though these two styles may be different, they both have strong influences over their listeners. James Williams, freshman, said his favorite thing about rap music was how it was creative and diverse. “My favorite rap artist is Eminem because he’s very lyrical and emotional,” Williams said. He said the music he listens to changes the way he views things because “other people’s opinion is very influential to him.” “Rock and rap are different because rock usually has guitars and singing, while rap does not,” Williams said. Williams said his favorite rap song is “Man on the Moon” by Kid Cudi because he relates to it the most, but he said he has other favorite music genres such as pop, rock and alternative. Parker Evans, freshman, said some songs change the way he views certain things such as religion and politics. Evans’ said his favorite rock band is Jimi Hendrix Experience because “Jimi was the best guitarist in the world.” Evans has other favorite genres such as folk music, blues and bluegrass. Evans said his favorite rock song is “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix.
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fallen from grace
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feature
the northridge reporter february 24, 2011
What a shame...
Celebrity “role models” fall short Houston
samuel yang staff writer
To hear junior Faith Lancaster talk, she
R.Kelly
were close friends and before he was accused of having illegal relations with an underage girl. “I was so disappointed when he raped that little girl,” Lancaster said with a sigh. She was disappointed with
Bryant
Kobe Lindsay Lohan
, too, when he divorced his wife, but R. Kelly – she rolled her eyes, threw her hands up and had no words. Similarly, junior Katie Plott expressed a personal disappointment with actress
Kristen Stewart
, speaking as if she was outraged over a friend’s actions. “It turned out she wasn’t perfect,” Plott said, noting her attitude and substance abuse. She said that there is no explanation for the personal connections people like her and Lancaster feel to celebrities, something she defines as “a person with a lot of money exposed to the press.” “It’s the question of the century,” she said. “We think we know them, but we don’t.” Less inexplicable to Plott are the frequent stumbles of pop culture idols. “They don’t have a taste of normal life,” she said. “We hold them to higher standards…but they’re normal people in a different city with a different paycheck.” Guidance counselor Jackie Hudgins said students often want to “dress like, talk like, [or] dance like” celebrities. “They want to be an athlete or a musician like a certain person,” she said. “Some people enjoy their artistic or athletic ability and go and do their own thing. It’s not everybody, but [celebrities] have a lot of influence.” Chris Johnson, senior, said certain things become associated with certain celebrities. “It becomes part of them,” he said. “The ones we remember are the ones that screw up.” Senior Jasmine Stewart looks to troubled
diva
as an example. “[She] will never be the same,” she said. “You will always think of crack [when you see her].” She said the public begins to expect things, especially negative things, from celebrities, a sentiment echoed by Plott, Lancaster and Johnson. “We’re not surprised anymore,” Plott said. Lancaster saw this in former child actor
Whitney
. “People say ‘That’s just Lindsay,” she said. “You expect things.” The legally challenged Lohan was one of a number of child stars to go through what Plott calls an “awkward maturity phase,” a phase that Lancaster said is not inevitable. “If they have good morals, good standards and are surrounded by good influences, they’ll be okay,” she said, citing young actor Jaden Smith as an example. “I don’t think Will [Smith] will let him go wrong.” The ones Stewart said succeed are the ones who are “honest and who they are from the start.” To her, pop singer
Cyrus
Miley
has gone from “daddy’s little girl to the pole,” referring to Cyrus’ infamous routine on stage at the American Music Awards. Plott said child stars like Drew Barrymore, the Olsen twins and now, Cyrus – who she said is “going through it right now” – struggle to break out and achieve maturity. “It takes a while to break out,” she said. “But maturity doesn’t always equal scandal.” Changing alongside the celebrities, she said, are the attitudes of the public. “We’re definitely criticizing more,” she said. “You stay out for one party past ten, and you’re a partier. It’s a thin line to walk on.” She said that most people “want to believe the worst.” “Yellow journalism blows stuff up,” she said. “Stuff will be exaggerated.” On the other hand, she said, some standards concerning drugs and alcohol in popular culture have also lowered. Hudgins said the standards were “in the eye of the beholder.” “It depends on who the judge is,” she said. “Sometimes, celebrities are able to
have stuff looked over, more so than people who aren’t as successful.” She said the public sometimes expects that “everything works out,” without considering all the perspectives involved. “[Not everybody thought about]
Tiger Woods
’s wife,” she said. “People expected the marriage to work out anyways without considering how humiliating it was for her and for her kids.”
REDEMPTION Lancaster said these standards have both gotten higher and lower at the same time. “We’re more accepting of certain things than we used to be,” she said. “But we’re more critical and quick to judge than before, too.” The problem, she said, is when the fame goes to the celebrities’ heads and creates arrogance. Plott calls it a “bubble that’s not real life.” “We’re not surprised anymore,” she said of disgraced celebrities. “It catches up with them. Nobody can escape the bad image. Mistakes add up.” Stewart said the standards for celebrities do not reflect reality. “A normal man cheats, but he’s not in the paper,” she said. “We’ve seen it so much [that we are desensitized].” Refusing to judge because “it’s not my place,” Plott said there are steps to a “comeback.” “When they realize their mistake, that’s a major milestone,” she said. “They need to get their priorities right. It’s a slow process – it takes a lot to win respect back.” Even then, the comeback is a risky thing. “You’re always wondering if they’re going back [to their mistakes],” Johnson said. Stewart said comebacks put the public “on edge.” “Some stuff you cannot come back from,” she said. Lancaster said the public has mixed feelings about a comeback. “We want them to comeback,” she said. “But at the same time, we want them to fail, so we have something to talk about.” Those fallen, it seems, can have some hope. Plott, after all, maintains that “everybody’s always up for redemption.”
Black Sheep
lohan Lindsay Lohan was arrested in 2007 after her alcohol monitor went off during a party. She was given the anklet after several DUI hearings.
kelly R.Kelly was arrested in June 2002 after being charged with 21 counts of child pornography. He was later taken into custody, but was never convicted.
bryant Kobe Bryant was arrested for an alleged sexual assault in July 2003. However, he was not charged, and was released on a $25,000 bond. compiled by anu pandit
feature
the northridge reporter february 24, 2011
The Hit List
MOST HATED CELEBRITY
1. Lindsay Lohan 2. Tiger Woods 3. Miley Cyrus 4. Kristen Stewart 5. R. Kelly 6. Kobe Bryant 7. Whitney Houston
-30 -28 -15 -6 -3 -2 -1 compiled by anu pandit 85 students polled
spotlight 7 things we dislike about you
Seven reasons why Cyrus fails as a positive role model
“She pole-danced at the Teen Choice awards.” Anondo Banerjee, senior
“She got caughton video-doing drugs.” Kyle Anderson, sophomore
“She had a lingerie photo shoot.” Martha Kate Mullins, freshman “She wears extremely scant or suggestive clothing.” Sara Shattuck, junior
“She broke her Disney contract.” Colt Smexii Wrobel, sophomore
..but all hope isn’t lost.
“Responsible, conscientious” celebrities provide inspiration anu pandit editor in chief
because even though she was a pin-up girl, she encourages everyone to be outgoing and doesn’t care what people think of her,” she His eyes opened wide and his mouth said. dropped open as Jesse Parker, junior, Colt Smexii Wrobel, sophomore, said watched a viral video of Miley Cyrus. that although certain celebrities can be In the video, Cyrus experimented with looked up to, the real role models are often drugs and experienced hallucinations. overlooked. “It’s insane how much [celebrities] “Teachers, policemen and even your local screw up their lives. There’s no one out postmen can be considered role models. there that’s famous and actually sets a They may not be famous, but I’d bet that good example. The smart celebrity is a they live more upstanding lives than most dying breed,” he said. celebrities,” he said. Parker shook his head at the thought of Wennetta Stallworth, security guard, said a good celebrity role model for kids. she agrees. “What role model?” he said with a “Not every role model has to be a celebrity. smirk. Kids should look Martha Kate up to the people A good role model Mullins, freshman, around them who has a different do good things,” has to stay in the opinion. she said. spotlight, but not for “A good role Wrobel said model has to stay that most celebrity the wrong reasons. in the spotlight, but “role models” are not for the wrong not as honorable as ~ Martha Kate Mullins, freshman reasons,” she said. one would think. She said that “They can’t in her opinion, be as perfect as Selena Gomez exemplifies a good role they seem. Everyone has skeletons in their model. closets, and they’re no exception,” he said. “Although she isn’t perfect, she’s Kyle Anderson, sophomore, said that most probably the best one out there. She’s people probably don’t look up to celebrities never done anything crazy,” she said. anyways. Mary Catherine Vail, junior, said “They’re just uncommonly pretty people a good celebrity role model has to with nice eyebrows. Some may be talented “set good standards, know how to act too, but they’re really nothing special,” he properly in public and not partake in said. shady activities.” Elizabeth Tiley, counselor, said that “I have role models for each age celebrities need certain traits to be considered group. Dakota Fanning is good for a role model. younger children because she’s focused “They should be responsible, have and sweet. For older kids and young integrity, be hardworking, and should be adults, Kirsten Dunst is good because conscientious in what they do,” she said. she never shows up in bad publicity. For “Kids are often drawn to [celebrities] women in general, Julia Roberts is great because they are beautiful, rich, famous and because she’s funny, smart and talented. often quite powerful. Who doesn’t want to And for everyone, Betty White [is good] be like that?”
“
”
Goody Goody
“She drank at a nightclub in France while she was underage.” Jesse Parker, junior
5
“She flashed her panties on a Thanksgiving Day Parade float.” Emma Jackson, freshman
compiled by anu pandit
Selena Gomez, former Barney star and current Disney star, is involved with multiple charitable organizations and is exploring new areas of her talent. She is lauded for her responsible, mature behavior. “ I’m glad to see that there’s at least one good celebrity role model: Selena Gomez. She’s sweet, talented and does a lot of charity work. She never gets into trouble.” Martha Kate Mullins, freshman
gomez compiled by anu pandit
6
news
the northridge reporter february 24, 2011
in brief
We are all special
Is Valentine’s Day commercialized?
Asperger’s doesn’t bother him
james roberts staff writer
I’m working on it, though,” he said. Lent was bullied during his middle school years. “[They] called me ‘Burgers,’ and ‘Burger King.’ It made me feel t least 1 in 250 to 10,000 people in the United States and Canada bad, but we’re in high school now, so they’ve wisened up. Besides, have Asperger’s syndrome, according to emidicine.com. you’re special just the way you are. You shouldn’t let it bother you Elizabeth Tiley, counselor, said Asperger’s can have mixed at all,” he said. effects on a student. Beth Holliman, Special Education Coordinator, said parents and “They can be very bright and focused on something that they teachers should “get to know [persons with Aspergers]. Understand are interested in, but they they’ll act different from everyone can tune out if they have no else, but it’s who they are. Too ...you’re special just the way you are. You many times, people try to change interest in what is going on and their social skills are shouldn’t let it bother you at all. something about people, but with impaired,” Tiley said. Asperger’s, it’s okay.” ~Grayson Lent, freshman Grayson Lent, freshman, Holliman said, “[Students with has Aspergers. Asperger’s should] just accept it “I’ve known about this for and understand not everyone will three years. A therapist told me [I have Aspergers], but I didn’t understand why you do what you do.” think it was a big deal,” Lent said. Evan Corley, freshman and also an Asperger’s syndrome student, He said it doesn’t really affect his daily life or routine that gave advice for other Asperger’s syndrome students. much. “Notice your public behavior. If people point out awkward “I forget I have it all the time. [My social skills are] not too well. behavior in you, then try to focus on it,” Corley said.
A
“
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“Cheaters never win,” but they still cheat sami story staff writer Students on average get caught cheating three times a week. At least, that is how it is in history teacher Denton Bowling’s class. Bowling said he feels victorious that he gets to “reward lazy bums for their poor effort.” “It allows them to assume it’s acceptable to be a sorry, worthless, lazy individual and reap the reward of someone else’s hard work,” Bowling said.
What pickled this frog,
An anonymous freshman said she cheats because she doesn’t want to get a bad grade. “I used to write formulas on the bottom of my foot,” she said. Bowling said his students get punished by receiving a zero, no exceptions. “I find them cheating the most on tests, quizzes and research papers,” he said. An anonymous freshman said the work gets too complicated, and sometimes, she feels too lazy to do her work. “I know it’s bad, but sometimes it’s my last resort,” she said.
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mackenzie underwood staff writer It’s so much more than a bag of candy. Carson Thweatt, junior, said she thinks Valentine’s Day is over commercialized. Ramsey Eaton, junior, said that a “consumer culture” is to blame for this phenomenon. “People now days have become so fixated on gifts that they’ve forgotten the true meaning behind the holidays,” Eaton said. “Every year I get flowers and chocolate, but knowing that someone really loves me means a lot more to me than that,” Tweatt said. Erin Kendrick, junior, said that she feels that gifts do hold some importance. “People are always going to want gifts. The aim of all the holidays is not only to get people together, but to make people happy,” Kendrick said.
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the northridge reporter february 24, 2011
o n i f a You t n u th Fo
Vitamin water examined trent clanton news editor Vitamin water: a drink with vitamins in it. It may sound healthy, but is it as good for the body as its manufacturers claim it to be? Drew Hoagland, senior, said he doesn’t think vitamin water is as beneficial as its reputation suggests. “I thought it was healthy at first, but I looked it up, and it is just as bad as soft drinks,” Hoagland said. However, there are some people who think that there may be some health benefits from drinking vitamin water, like Cie Jay Blackwell, mathematics and interdisciplinary tutoring teacher. “There aren’t any calories or fats,” Blackwell said, looking at the Nutrition Facts panel on her bottle of vitamin water. She said she prefers the “Zero” version of Vitamin Water, which sports nothing but vitamins and one gram of sugar. McCall Robinson, junior, said she used to drink it. Robinson said she didn’t drink it for health reasons, rather just because it tasted good. “I do think vitamin water is good for you; I think there are some benefits [like the vitamins]. But it’s not as healthy as they claim it to be,” Robinson said. There are two major brands of vitamin water: Vitamin Water and SoBe Lifewater. They both offer vitamins like vitamin A, B-3, B-5, B-6, B-12, C and E, and minerals like calcium, zinc, magnesium and chromium. Marilyn Stephens, chemistry teacher, said these are usually of great importance to bodily functions. “Water-soluble vitamins, the ones that vitamin water contains, are necessary to help enzymes in the process of breaking down what we eat and drink,” Stephens said. “These vitamins can be obtained by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet,” she said. Many people take vitamin supplements to ensure they are healthy. Mallie Humber, history teacher, doesn’t waste her time on vitamin water. “It’s just empty calories. If the whole purpose is to get vitamins, you should just take them in a supplement,” Humber said.
The problem lies in the other contents of vitamin water. The levels of calories, sodium and carbohydrates (sugars) are high and close to those of soft drinks. “They can be unhealthy over time if they aren’t used in some kind of physical activity. Excess calories lead to fat and excess sodium can increase blood pressure,” Stephens said. Donald McNabb, health teacher and coach, said the body needs liquids. “First of all, replacing any fluid [into the body] is good, especially with the hot weather [during the summers here]. Some fluids are better than others, though,” McNabb said. He said, for the healthiest choices, what people eat and drink should depend on what they do and what they need, and knowing is half the battle. “You really need to research before you drink these ‘replacement liquids,’ though. For example, you should half Gatorade because it is too concentrated and has a lot of sugar. Nothing is better than [plain] water for rehydration. Research is the key,” McNabb said. The FDA makes the research McNabb refers to conveniently accessible by requiring a Nutrition Facts label on the back of every bottle, can, package, carton or box. It lists the quantity of calories, total fat, sodium, carbohydrates, sugars and proteins contained in a serving size and in the actual container. It also lists any vitamins or minerals and a scientific list of ingredients. So, is vitamin water all it’s cracked up to be? It really just depends on what kind it is. The normal Vitamin Water and SoBe Lifewater proves to be not that healthy after all, aside from the vitamins. “Vitamin water is healthier than a soft drink, but still not as healthy as Gatorade, or the even better normal water,” McNabb said. However, McNabb praised the kind of vitamin water Blackwell drinks. McNabb said the healthiest choice of vitamin water would be the variant with zero calories, sodium and carbohydrates. Both Vitamin Water and SoBe Lifewater offer these, the Zero Vitamin Water and SoBe Lifewater All Natural Zero Calories, respectively. They are just water and vitamins, without the unnecessary and unhealthy contents.
artwork by Trent Clanton
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New bonus period provides study hall kate davis opinion/ entertainment editor
Students who passed the graduation exam received a list of classes they could sign up for during the new 30 minute bonus period. One of those options was study hall. Students have different opinions on how they think the study hall is going. Parker Evans, freshman, said, “It doesn’t feel like it is enough time to get anything done.” However, Bennett Limbaugh, junior, said, “It is a good break from the normal schedule.” During this new period, the agenda is different for different students. “I do homework when I have it, but mostly I just hang out with friends,” Colt Wrobel, Photo by Trent Clanton sophomore, said. “I think it is Madison Frazer, freshman, a great idea. I love it!” Some students use this time works in study hall. “I like to read in study hall,” Frazto catch up on their sleep. “I sleep and act like I am not,” er said. Curtis Campbell, junior, said. Kyle Anderson, sophomore, said, “It is not helpful for me, but it is helpful for my friend, whose homework I do everyday,” Jesse Parker, junior, said he enjoys study hall. “I like it because I get all my homework done, so when I get home I can play W.o.W,” he said. Students are not the only ones in the school who have a new class added to their day. Teachers also have to cope with this new period. Scott Johnson, math teacher, said he doesn’t mind it.. “I have a good group of kids, and it hasn’t affected my day in a negative way,” Scott Johnson, math teacher, said about his ACT prep class. On the other hand, some faculty members are having a little more difficulty with adding the bonus peiod to their day. “It is a great deal of work added to my schedule. It takes a huge amount of planning and effort. I do, however, think it will be very beneficial for the students.” Busby, English teacher, said about her graduation exam class.
Coping with teenage stress james roberts staff writer
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ccording to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, more people are afraid of stress than they are of dying. Koya Moore, junior, said she works better under pressure. “I have to work harder and be more disciplined in my studies,” she said. However, she said stress makes her cranky and antisocial. “I also get pimples when I’m stressed,” she said. Moore said to follow a schedule to avoid stress. Hamilton Cook, senior, said that he has experienced the negative effects of stress. “It can affect my sleep and ruins my concentration,” he said. Arti Pandey, M.D., said that symptoms of too much stress can include anything from headaches and loss of sleep to breathing problems and diarrhea. “[Stressed students] look tired and jittery, and have dark circles under their eyes,” Pandey said. “I try to identify the source of the stress and get rid of it or get the patient to cope with the situation.” Pandey said she advises parents to not overly criticize their children. “[Parents should] reassure them, lend them a hand and listen to what their children have to say. Also they should make sure they’re getting adequate sleep and nutrition,” she said.
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the northridge reporter february 24, 2011
what I enjoy doing,” Sunseri said. Sunseri’s high school career provided the basis for his selection by the University. “I’ve won All Conference every year in high school and Defensive Player of the Year in North Carolina and Alabama,” Sunseri said. David Akins, athletic director, was proud of all three young men. “I’ve been doing this for twenty-seven years and every year the ability to see great players advance their career is an amazing thing. I really enjoy it,” Akins said. Sunseri didn’t take any of the credit for his success. “I give all the credit to my family. They’ve helped me through everything,” he said.
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want to coach football,” he said. “Either way, I’d still be doing what I love.” Sunseri said that his feelings on signing were “unlike anything he’d felt before.” “When I first started playing football I prayed to play in the SEC,” Sunseri said. “This is probably one of the happiest moments of my life. It’s like a dream come true. I feel unbelievable, invincible. It’s one of the best feelings.” Joey Hamilton, senior and middle linebacker, signed with East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi on Feb. 2 as well. Mike Smith, head football coach, said that this starts a new chapter in Joey’s life.
Sunseri, Hamilton sign scholarships foster beck sports editor He started playing football when his dad got him into it at age six. He now plays for the University of Alabama. Vinnie Sunseri, former senior linebacker for Northridge, received a scholarship to play football for Alabama. Sunseri and Trey DePriest, a linebacker from Springfield, Ohio, signed their scholarships on Feb. 2. “It’s awesome to get to sign with Trey. He’s like my best friend and like a brother, and I know he can’t go home to sign,” Sunseri said. DePriest and Sunseri are both already enrolled in the University,
important to all the players. “Everyone got to play in the game. It was Senior Night, so that made the game special,” he said. Brantley said the game was a good victory. “The team played very well, and it’ll make the boys feel confident going into the tournaphoto by blake benton ment,” Brantley said. Montell Dent, sophomore, The overall season record reaches for the ball during the was 17-13. Hamilton game on Feb. 5.
photos by andrew lattner
He said he wants to be involved “We picture this as a great up- 1) Mike Smith, head football taking classes and participating in side for Joey’s future, and I am coach, congratulates the pre-season training to prepare for in football in his future. “If I can, I want to play for the immensely proud of him,” he signers on Feb. 2. during a the spring season. signing ceremony in the li“It’s going to be intense, but it’s NFL. But if I can’t get into that, I said. brary. 2) Joey Hamilton, senior and middle linebacker, signs with East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi on Feb. 2. 3) Trey DePriest, linebacker from Springfield, Ohio, signs with the University of Alabama on Feb. 2. 4) Vinnie Sunseri, senior and linebacker, signs with the University of Alabama on Feb. 2.
The game was the last home game of the season.The team won the game against JacksonOlin 47-46. Kendall Shaw, senior, said this game was important to him and the team. “I’m happy that we won the last home game. It feels good to do great like that,” Shaw said. Bob Brantley, basketball coach, said that Senior Night is
3 4 2 Basketball team ends season with a win foster beck sports editor Senior Night for the Varsity basketball team was Saturday, Feb 5. The team congratulated and then said goodbye to the five seniors on the team: TJ Leatherwood, Kendall Shaw, Ricky Holt, Keith Jordan, and Dre Gaines.
February 24, 2011 · Volume 8, Issue 5 · Northridge High School ·Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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Players fight for the ball during the game against Livingston on Jan. 25.
photo by jonathan mcallister