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October 29, 2012 • Volume 10 • Issue 2
Mock
Election
Results Breakdown of grades
9th Obama Romney
10th
11th
12th
=10%
Breakdown of ages
14 15 16
Romney Obama
17 18 Breakdown of ethnicity
Obama white black
Romney other 1 person=10%
And the winner is...
Barack Obama
Romney
31%
69%
639 students polled information compiled by: Alex Hauser Designed by: Alex Hauser Photos by: MCT Campus
In-school conditioning Page 7
College Prep
Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Al• 35406
As school year goes by, students start preparing for college year school, or for academic reasons didn’t meet the criteria to get into a four year school,” Hudgins said. “And it’s also for Whether it’s taking standardized tests the advanced academic, honors or AP student that or visiting just wanted schools, college to start in a preparation can “I definitely think it’s wise smaller setstart as early as ting that’s a freshmen year. to apply for college earlot less exJackie Hudpensive.” ly... don’t make applying gins, senior The local counselor, said for college stressful. It’s communistudents have ty college, to find the an exciting time.” Shelton “right fit” for ofthemselves Hannah Johnson, senior State, fers a sumwhen it comes mer scholto preparing a r s h i p for college. called S2. Some people The scholtake a year off arship alor a gap year, go to a two year school or a four year uni- lows students not eligible for Pell grants to take 12 hours of academic study free of versity. “Finding the right fit for you… charge the summer between graduation and is what we want to help you with,” the start of their freshman year in college. Paying for College she said. Students can receive money through fiGap Years Hudgins said gap years have nancial aid, standardized tests scores and been a rising trend and help students scholarships. Financial aid is available to every stutake time to figure out what to do and to dent, but has levels that only certain studecompress from high school. Special Education teacher Beth Hol- dents qualify for. Low-income students can liman’s daughter Maury took a gap year receive Pell grants, and any student is elito save up for a study abroad program gible for student loans and work study. “Fill out FAFSA (Free Application for before starting college. “Maury was a junior in high school Federal Student Aid). It doesn’t cost you when she started making college visits. anything to do. You never know what cirShe was very unsure of what she wanted cumstances could change. Something hapto do and where she wanted to go. She pens, and someone could suffer a job loss,” thought she might want to go into culi- Hudgins said. “[Also,] work study is a great nary arts,” she said. “I knew she would way to get your foot in the door.” Many organizations award scholarships eventually go to college, so I encouraged her to take a break and just work based on interest, test scores or essays. for a while… [During her senior year], Some colleges accept your college applishe pretty much decided she wanted to cation as the scholarship application, but take a year off, work and save all of her some places, like the University of Alabama, require students to fill that out sepamoney and use it to go on a big trip.” Holliman said taking a gap year has “tre- rately. “A scholarship is that investment of a mendous benefits.” “It gives [students] a year to take college or organization in you. And so, a break from academics, experience if they thought everybody was qualified, having a job, and, in my daugh- they would give everybody money. They ter’s case, a chance of a lifetime are looking for an investment to trip. She earned enough money to represent their travel to Europe [and visit] eight differ- organization,” 1. Search out ent countries. She was over there for 35 Hudgins said. admissions days and paid for every bit of it her- “They want requirements self, [and] even had money left over more than just 2. Send in applications to decorate her dorm room at UA,” the very, very 3. Send in transcripts smart student. she said. want Hudgins said students need to find a They Mrs. Hudgins’ 6 steps balance between having fun and remain- someone that will be ining focused. “[Students] really need to focus on pre- volved in their paring for what they are going to do the campuses.” The Common App next level,” she said. The Common Application is a resource Community Colleges Community colleges are resources for available to students planning to apply to anyone in the community and helpful for several schools. “We’ve had students in the past that have all students, according to Hudgins. “It’s for the student that maybe dropped applied to 10 different schools, and norout of high school and got their GED. It’s mally that would mean filling out 10 differfor the student that received special edu- ent forms and writing 10 different essays. cation services, and they exit high school Now with the Common App, they just have with a different type of certificate. It’s for to do it once,” she said. When turning in any application, Hudthe standard diploma student who, maybe for financial reasons, couldn’t afford a four gins said to remember deadlines. Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief
Exemption policy Page 6
“The deadlines are expected to be met. If they say the deadline is Dec. 1, they don’t want your stuff on Dec. 2,” she said. For any college, there’s a process; first, the application must be sent, then the transcript, and sometimes, a separate scholarship application. “Once you do those three things for the university, you’re pretty much done until you make a housing department and enrollment deposit, and they will talk to you more specifically about that later,” Hudgins said. Early deadlines for the University of Alabama are Dec. 1, and applying early can take away tension from senior year. “It helps to know that this is an option, or this is not an option, so students can go ahead to Plan B. Procrastinating brings on stress,” Hudgins said.
College Visits
When picking colleges, she said campus visits are one of the most important things to do. “You can feel very comfortable in a place or feel very out of your element. A college campus visit is where you can determine that,” Hudgins said. LaJessica Duncan, senior, visited UAB (University of Alabama in Birmingham) because she was interested in the medical program. “It’s not too far, but not too close either. Some of my family members go there. But I wanted to make sure it’s like people say it is, and that I like it and can imagine myself living there. Hannah Johnson, senior, visited Covenant College in Georgia. She said the campus visit was what made her sure about her college choice, and that it’s a necessary trip any senior should take. “It’s important to find a college you can imagine yourself living in. Covenant College was that for me. I liked that it was small and a Presbyterian college. To me, when you visit a college that you really like, you find little things that stand out to you,” Johnson said. “I wanted a school that had a pretty campus. Covenant looked like Hogwarts. And that’s definitely a plus.” Johnson said it was important to fill out the application when you have time to think about each answer. “Just elaboand test scores rating on a 4. Fill out certain volunscholarship teer event you applications 5. Wait for answers attended could 6. Make a decision impress the admissions ofge le l fice. Don’t be o c r o f to apply modest. This is your time to brag about your years in school,” she said. She said she’s glad she started applying early because now she can enjoy her senior year. “It takes so much stress away, knowing what my options are. And I loved Covenant so much, I’ll probably go there,” Johnson said. “I definitely think it’s wise to apply for college early. You never know what could happen, and how busy you will get later. Don’t make applying for college stressful. It’s an exciting time.”
Color Run Page 8
2 Opinion
The Northridge Reporter October 29, 2012
Our Thoughts
The seven period schedule: Who needs sleep?
Lack of Wi-Fi disrupts classrooms
T
he board of education shut off the WiFi with little warning on Oct. 3. This threw teachers off when they realized they could not effectively teach according to their lesson plans. Teacher’s often use videos and links to the Internet to enhance their lesson. Because of the lack of textbooks, students must use Wi-Fi to access resources and email teachers assignments. Some teachers also encourage students to use portable electronic devices to research because the shorter classes prevent brief trips to the computer lab. We understand the reason for cutting off the Wi-Fi and the board’s weariness for not having a filter, but more notification would have given teachers time to modify their lesson plans before it was shut off. We want to commend our teachers for making extra efforts during the dry spell, such as using 3G capable iPads and connecting them to the projectors, to make sure we get the quality education we deserve. The Northridge Reporter would like to thank the board for providing teachers with Wi-Fi access after objections were made, although students still need to access the Internet to make the most of their education.
See story on page 6
agree (18) disagree (0)
Art by: Kanjalla Dancer
Disabled brother gives student unique perspective Katie Poore Staff Writer
Po or
The stares are the worst part. My youngest brother, Hank, has cerebral palsy, a disability that impairs his speech and muscle control. Hank drives a battery-powered wheelchair and cannot drive through a crowded parking lot without re- e ceiving obvious stares from curious people. In a country where nearly 38.3 million people, or 12.6 percent of the population, were classified as having a severe disability in 2010 (statistics from http://www.census. gov/prod/2012pubs/p70-131.pdf) one would think that people would have a better understanding of what having a disability truly means. It does not mean that Hank, or any other disabled person, is any less intelligent than those who can walk or talk. It doesn’t mean he can’t hear the countless, blunt questions of, “What’s wrong with him?” or understand that while, yes, his voice may sound different from that of his friends and his body may not work entirely the same way, he is still a human being and deserves the exact same respect given to everybody else. We have grown up in a society that does not educate people on these things, a society where it is unacceptable to discriminate against race yet perfectly all right to judge someone based upon whether they look “normal” or not. This is not okay. Disabled people have just as much a right to a sense of
acceptance as those who are not handicapped. Many people confine disabilities to a group of people who are all the same. They are all in wheelchairs, or they can’t walk, or maybe they can’t see. Americans shouldn’t see these people as a group so different from the majority. They are a part of our culture—humans with flaws and individuality and strengths and dreams. Where strangers may look at Hank and see a child in a wheelchair that speaks and moves differently from themselves, I see someone with an incredible sense of humor, someone who has the ingenuity to realize that since it’s hard for him to use his fingers to type on a keyboard, maybe his toes will work better, and has mastered the art of using his smile to get what he wants. When he grows up, he wants to be a physical therapist. Hank is human, and though he may be fighting a different battle, his feelings are universal feelings. He experiences sadness, frustration, anger and happiness for the same reasons that others do. He hates math, loves sleeping late and can’t get enough macaroni and cheese. Hank is not defined by his disability and neither is anyone else. The ignorance that prevents these realizations is one that has become all too common. More often than not, people will encounter someone with special needs and not know what to do; however, there is no go-to action, no true way to behave. A physical disability does not determine personality. It doesn’t determine intelligence, and it certainly
does not determine one’s ability to achieve in something. Oscar Pistorius ran in the Olympics with a prosthetic leg, and Stephen Hawking, a man whose body is mostly paralyzed due to a disease known as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), is one of the smartest people of our time. Itzhak Perlman is one of the greatest violinists in the world and has had polio since the age of four. A disability shouldn’t serve as a barrier between two people. It shouldn’t prevent a stranger from introducing themselves or having the desire to learn more. The question shouldn’t be about what’s wrong, but about the story that person has to offer. I wish people would stop seeing the disability and start seeing the person behind it.
Photo by: Kathy Poore Picture please: Poore takes a picture with her brother Hank at a stopover on the way to Pennsylvania. Hank wanted to stop and take pictures at a scenic location.
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Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295 Editor-in-Chief *Alex Hauser Managing Editor *Raiha Bajwa Feature Editor *Renu Pandit News Editor *Sarah Katherine Barnes
Entertainment Editor *Raiha Bajwa Sports Editor Abby Allen Opinion Editor *Raiha Bajwa Beat Editor Morgan DeWitt
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. Letters must be submitted to Susan Newell in room 109 or emailed to northridgereporter@gmail.com.
Copy Editors Rabisa Khan, Jared Lotfi, Kelly Burnham Infographics Editor Jakailah Cooper Art Editor KanJalla Dancer Artists CheQuita Burrell, Katie Poore
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The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations. The newspaper is distributed monthly. 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.
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Entertainment
The Northridge Reporter October 29, 2012
Opinion
Abby Allen Sports Editor
All e
Schedule, too little time stresses sophomore
Avett Brothers returns to Tuscaloosa Katie Poore Staff Writer
n
H
igh school: the best years of your life, right? Wrong. Everybody said school would start getting stressful junior year. Freshman year I was repeatedly told “freshman and sophomore years are a joke; junior year is when it gets hard.” Clearly I was lied to, because sophomore year IS hard. All I ever do now is stress. I stress about absolutely everything. I cry and can’t focus, and I have to take pills to go to sleep. Oh, and let’s not forget about the constant migraines. Those are getting a bit out of hand. I always feel like there is something that has to get done, with seven classes a day and homework in almost every single one of them, plus soccer practice after school, and it definitely doesn’t help having a teacher that expects you to know exactly what you are doing, even though it is only your first month in her class. I can practically feel my pores erupting and gray hairs sprouting from all of this stress. It is my sophomore year; I should be picking out a car and hanging out with friends, all while maintaining good grades, b u t with a seven period day it’s almost impossible to stay calm because teachers are piling mounds of work on me. I t ’ s even harder when I do not understand at all what is going on in class. Forty-nine minute class periods barely give me any time to ask questions, and the teachers say “YouTube it,” but isn’t it their job to teach us? That’s what I thought. What about staying healthy? By the time I get done with all of my homework, it’s about 8 o’clock at night, and I have to eat dinner and get ready for bed. I definitely don’t have time before bed to get my thirty minutes of physical activity that doctors suggest to stay healthy. I can go ahead and kiss those glorious eight hours of sleep goodbye too, since I don’t have time to get exercise after school, I have to wake up at 5 o’clock in the morning to run and work out. Art by: Che’Quita Burrell
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Photo by: MCT Campus Strum it: Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers performs at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Saturday 8, 2009. The Avett Brothers performed in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 11.
The Avett Brothers gave a spectacular performance in the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Thursday, Oct. 11, where they performed almost 25 songs over a period of two and a half hours. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, the opening band, was slightly disappointing; she didn’t seem to deliver as much as she could have. Potter’s voice was great, but most of her songs were boring, and she seemed to play an abnormally long time for an opening band. She should have given up the stage in favor of the main act much sooner than she did. When the Avetts finally did take the stage, it was amazing. Joe Kwon, the cellist, managed to dance crazily and still make his instrument sound beautiful, and the way Seth Avett, one of the lead singers, plays guitar seems like it should be impossible. He plays the instrument inhumanly fast. Scott, his brother, is just as gifted with the banjo. When Paul DeFiglia, the stand-up bassist, performed a solo, the band gained even more respect. I know from playing in string orchestras that bassists don’t get nearly enough credit. When the brothers played “If It’s the Beaches” during their encore, I nearly lost it, screaming at the top my lungs and crying. Needless to say, it was the best song of the night. The Avett Brothers’ music always manages to bring on a load of memories for many of the fans. The way the Avetts sing is incredible—their voices complement each other perfectly, and it is evident that they truly feel the music. The only downside was the electric guitar that the band recently added. It didn’t seem to fit with the style of the music, where banjos and acoustic instruments dominate. It drowned out Scott and Seth at some points, and the performance would have been even better had it never been there. Regardless, the concert was phenomenal. Every song felt perfect and genuine, and the crowd sang along to nearly everything. If the Avetts return, don’t hesitate to buy tickets. Their concerts are better than anything someone could listen to on an iPod.
boo
Cliche plot lines leave audience unthrilled Morgan DeWitt Staff Writer
For starters, concepts like “splitting up,” “checking-out creepy sounds,” and the genius who calls out “Hello,” prior to hearing loud banging in an empty house are all terms in The Stupid Movie Writer’s Ideas Dictionary. Any of the previous events usually lead up to an element of a horror movie known as a “jump scare,” where something scary pops up at the audience. One of the most cliché jump scare ideas is the bathroom mirror jump scare.
A disease is spreading, targeting preteens, teenagers and young adults. This illness is characterized by progressive boredom in the movie theater, nights of restful sleep after a horror movie and fits of frustration when searching Netflix for a good scary movie. This disease is known as the “Non Original, Simpleminded and Cliché Remakes of Extremely Awful Movies” Epidemic, also known as NO SCREAM Disease. If you consider yourself a true “Horror Movie Junkie” then you have seen enough movies in your day to understand what’s cliché and what’s fresh. The following is a crashcourse into the cliché side of the horror movArt by: Che’Quita Burrell ie industry.
Washing your face in the middle of the night while paranormal activity is going on in your house sure does seem like a good plan. Oh, there’s a murderer behind you in the mirror when you look up to dry your face? Didn’t see that one coming. The locations that these characters choose to take their friends and family to for a camping trip or vacation also seem sketchy. Why is it that all fathers believe that taking their families on camping excursions to “Murder-and-Rape Creek” is a good idea?
Police on television can trace the residue from your soul from the doorknob in the victim’s bedroom, but police in horror movies decide to send the idiot cop with no peripheral vision to watch the house for the night. Inept police seem to be a virus in modern horror movies. The horror movie cast is always unnaturally diverse, with the jock and his trashy girlfriend, the quiet one who eventually goes insane and turns evil, the clumsy girl who runs from the killer and falls every four seconds, the minority who normally dies first (black guy, Indian guy, or British guy), and the plucky yet unlikely heroine who has all the bright ideas who eventually lives in the end. So, as the NO SCREAM Epidemic becomes increasingly fatal, I and other appreciators of good horror continue to live in the past and watch classic films, waiting for that one day that Hollywood starts churning out new stuff.
4 Unique job experience Feature
Kelly Caroline Burnham Copy Editor
In a world of students who toss on their uniforms and dash to fast food restaurants after the final bell rings, there are other students who pull out their drafting papers, run to the courthouse or set up a chemistry apparatus instead. Joey Stegall, junior, is employed at R.H. Smith & Associates, a group that offers engineering services. He drafts and creates layouts for nearly anything, utilizing a visualization program called AutoCAD. “I designed TCT’s plumbing system,” he said. Stegall also designed Delta Gamma’s air conditioning unit, the fume hood for The Crimson Café’s stove, and a slew of other mechanical engineering work. Stegall learned drafting and design from a class at TCT a few years ago, gaining knowledge of how to use AutoCAD and the intricacies of engineering. “I’m the youngest at R.H. Smith & Associates,” he said. “One of the most difficult projects was the plumbing for one of the sorority houses because it kept changing.” Stegall said his boss is impressed with his diligence, especially at such a young age. Before work can begin, the company or individual must contact the boss and allow time for the employees to survey the area for appropriate measurements. Then the drafting and designing elements kick in. Stegall said he is “not allowed to say” his salary. Alex Smith, senior, worked at a law firm with her father, Andrew Smith, over the summer as a secretary and a runner. “I wanted the experience of working in a formal law setting,” she said. “I answered phones, did [cabinet]
filing, made courthouse runs and did arraignments.” An arraignment is a law procedure that involves a formalized reading of a criminal complaint in order to inform the defendant of their charges. It consists of addressing the defendant by name, reading the details of the complaint aloud and formally asking the accused of their plea in response. “To see what goes into a divorce or child custody battle… it’s a lot more than you realize,” she said. “It has changed [her] life,” Smith’s father said. She said she found situations “kind of intimidating” when speaking to lawyers with a clear understanding of their practice. “It was interesting seeing my dad in an environment where he treated me like an employer instead of a daughter,” Smith said. Paaras Agrawal, senior, took a job at the University of Alabama as a mechanical engineering intern for Dr. Nitin Chopra. His interest in engineering caused him to apply for the position. “It was like chemistry labs every day with lots of research on my own. I put in about forty-five hours a week for a total of five weeks. I had to write a twenty page paper at the end of it but received five hundred dollars as payment,” he said. He said the job was not an easy one; it required a large amount of personal input during the summer. “Alongside my job, I also had to train for the regional soccer championship, so sometimes it was difficult to manage my time,” “Everyone should have a working experience before college because in retrospect it was a difficult experience, but I’m glad that I did it,” Agrawal said.
Leading Employers: Where do you work? 9
Number of Employed Students
Some students work at jobs beyond their years
The Northridge Reporter October 29, 2102
7 6 5 3
3
McDonald’s
Publix
Chick-fil-A
15 students polled. Information compiled by Abby Allen. Designed by Renu Pandit.
The
Destiny Peoples
Getting started: entering the work force
1. Evaluate yourself: 2. Prepare for the interview: 3. Create a resume: 4.
Make a list of interests: Explore job options. Take salary, hours and benefits into consideration. Research the companies; talk to current employees about their work experience.
What are your strong and weak points? Know what employers are looking for. Organization, technological abilities, communication skills and efficiency is vital. Ask yourself questions like, “Why do you want to work here?” and “Why should we hire you?” Also, consider what you would do in certain situations if you were hired, such as “How would you deal with an impatient customer?” Compile a list of your education, accomplishments, and interests, as well as contact information, in an easy-to-read, professional format. Proofread until perfection. Information compiled from www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Job. Designed by Renu Pandit.
Feature
The Northridge Reporter October 29, 2012
Balance
Working students struggle with schedule Savren Nelson Staff Writer
High school students struggle to balance time between school work, family time and work. David Peoples, junior, works as a cashier at Jack’s Hamburgers. “My job allows me to meet new people and gives me something to do; I also get paid,” Peoples said. Peoples goes to work after school and gets off at 10 p.m. “I’m really tired when I get home, so I have to suck it up and do my homework,” Peoples said. “Some days I want to quit because I’m just so tired all the time,” Peoples said, shaking his head. Even though he is tired at the end of the day, Peoples said he knew the risks in getting a job. This is his second job. Peoples wished he had done Co-Op because “It would have been a lot easier.” Peoples said that even though school work is a struggle at times, family time does not get interfered with. His sister, Destiny Peoples, junior, also has a job. “It’s hard to study sometimes though,” Destiny said.
Destiny said she works around school and her cross country meets. “I just have to ask, and they will understand,” she said. Destiny said she likes her job, partially because she gets free ice cream. “I wanted to feel independent, and I also wanted the money,” Destiny said. Destiny said she does not feel like her schedule is hectic, but she wished she had done Co-Op. “I’m not in Co-Op, but I really want to be. I didn’t know how to apply for it, and I was scared to ask,” Destiny said. Jordon Leopard, sophomore, wished she had done CoOp as well, but she forgot to ask about it. Leopard worked as a hostess at Pepito’s. “I really wanted the money,” Leopard said. Leopard said her job did not interfere with school but affected her family time. “I didn’t really hang out at my house anymore,” Leopard said. “I just quit. I didn’t like it there, and they didn’t know much English.” Though the staff at Pepito’s didn’t speak much English to Leopard, they were clear on her working hours. “They were pretty straight forward on when and when not to come to work,” Leopard said.
5
Do you have a job? Yes
No
Boys Girls Boys Girls
34 students polled. Information compiled by Katie Poore and Rabisa Khan. Designed by Renu Pandit. Images from MCT Campus.
Nick Fairbairn
Students try to juggle both work schedule and academics ing to sleep at around midnight on a good day.” Fairbairn has considered leaving his current job and getting one closer to his house. “I’ve been thinking about Publix since it’s nearby, but In addition to completing seven classes worth of homethe pay isn’t as good,” Fairbairn said. work per night, some students Although Fairbairn said he likes also have to incorporate a job working because of the experience into their daily schedule. It’s important for stu- it has given him, he acknowledges Nick Fairbairn, junior, that school is his top priority. works at Bebo’s Express Car dents who work to stay “I know that any job a good eduWash after school until 7 p.m. cation will get me will be worth three days a week. organized. Organized stu- much more than the job I have “My job mainly is to greet dents save 10 minutes a now,” Fairbairn said. customers, direct them into Laura Worley, junior, worked the wash and maintain wash day in wasted time. at Newk’s from May to August efficiency,” Fairbairn said. before she quit. Fairbairn, who started Elizabeth Tiley, counselor “After a month of school, I got working this year, said findtired of driving all the way across ing time to complete his schoolwork town to work one shift for minimum wage and not even is a struggle. earning enough to pay for a tank of gas,” Worley said. “Because of the new schedule I have a lot more homeShe said she stays up until 11 p.m. doing homework, work than I used to,” Fairbairn said. “I usually end up goRenu Pandit Feature Editor
and said she would have had to drop out of some of her AP classes if she had chosen to continue working. “School is the most important thing,” Worley said. “I can babysit to keep my tank full, but having a part time job is too much. I like not being tied to a million different schedules.” Elizabeth Tiley, counselor, said that an after school job is a good way for students “to learn the benefit of hard work, the value of a dollar, the importance of managing money and the confidence from emerging independence.” “It’s important for students who work to stay organized. Organized students save 10 minutes a day in wasted time,” Tiley said. She said students should take advantage of advisory time and time in class to complete assignments. “A job often cuts more into a student’s free time instead of study time,” Tiley said. “I have rarely—if ever—met a student who was performing poorly in class solely due to their after school job. If anything, a job teaches responsibility and time management,” she said.
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News Free access disabled, students and teachers handicapped The Northridge Reporter October 29, 2102
Sarah Katherine Barnes News Editor
Free access Wi-Fi was closed on Wednesday, Oct. 3, and teachers and students alike faced the effects of not having wireless Internet. An email sent by Andrea Gilbreath on Oct. 4 explained the situation vaguely, stating that due to complications with the network, the Tuscaloosa City School’s free access Wi-Fi had to be disconnected. In the email Gilbreath apologized on behalf of the board if the lack of Wi-Fi was an inconvenience. Librarian Marcie Irvin said the lack of Wi-Fi has really taken a toll on students. “Many of them with laptops, kindles, nooks and iPads can’t connect to a network to send classwork and notes to teachers,” Irvin said. Irvin said many teachers ask their students to use their smartphone or tablets to look up infor-
mation for reports and classwork. She said it’s easier to do that than to get the class in the computer lab and get them settled down. With the seven period schedule, there’s not a lot of time for that. “It’s had a huge effect on how teachers conduct their class,” she said. Superintendent Paul McKendrick said the reason for taking out free access wasn’t to inconvenience anyone. On the other hand, it was not created for what some people had been using it for. “We put a filter on the Internet connection to make sure no one was accessing any inappropriate sites a few years ago, and it apparently expired, but we didn’t realize it. All this time people have had access to any websites they wanted, and we couldn’t allow that in the schools. We’re having to take away the Wi-Fi because people were abusing the privilege of having unlimited access to the Internet,” McKendrick said.
A second email was sent on Oct. 8 by Andrea Gilbreath giving teachers and adults the password to use the Tuscaloosa City BOE Wi-Fi. The email gave teachers permission to give the password to select students on a limited basis, according to Irvin. She said this meant teachers should only give the password to students who ask and need it strictly for schoolwork. However, the password got out to more students than it was intended. Some teachers fear that if too many students begin using the Wi-Fi, the board of education could shut down all Wi-Fi access to everyone in the school. “People are going to use the Wi-Fi whether they know it could cause negative consequences or not,” Becca Tindol, junior, said. “Students don’t really care; they just want free Wi-Fi.” The Tuscaloosa City BOE WiFi blocks Facebook and Twitter
Sarah Katherine Barnes News Editor
“I don’t even feel like I need to come to class anymore if I have an ‘A.’ What kind of crap is that?” -Lorenzo Walcott, senior Walcott
Photos by: Sarah Katharine Barnes
New exemption policy has pros, cons Raiha Bajwa Managing Editor
The new exemption policy allows only seniors to exempt end of course exams second semester, and only if they have an A average in that class. Students who take AP courses are exempt from the exam for that class if they are taking the AP exam. Jennifer Box, assistant principal, said she thinks the new policy will affect students’ attendance. “There are pros and cons of both policies, but I do think there will be a difference in the absentee rate,” she said. “I like that students will have to prepare to take comprehensive tests, which better prepares them for college.” Lane Russell, senior, said she thinks the policy is fairer. “It’s good because we’ve been really spoiled in the past,” she said. “In college we have to take exams, so it prepares us better for that.” Alex Smith, senior, said she likes that the policy rewards academics over attendance.
probably due to fighting connected with the social networking sites. Senior Synteria Pearson said the Internet is being misused.
“People are posting things that get other people upset,” Pearson said. “And then they come to school and get in a fight about it. It happens every day.”
School does not meet AYP; consequences possible
“I think the exemption policy is totally ridiculous. What if you’re late one day? You’re screwed for the rest of the semester.” -Natalia Aranda, senior
Aranda
Photo by: Sarah Katharine Barnes Where’s the Wi-Fi? North Patterson, sophomore, uses his computer to take notes in Denton Bowling’s class.
“As a senior I think it rocks,” she said. “I feel like seniors are going to be absent more often, but that has always been the case.” Billy Luu, sophomore, said he doesn’t like the new policy. “Since I can’t exempt anything, I’m pretty mad about it,” he said. Luu said his attendance has already dropped. “I was already absent four times by the fourth week of school,” he said. “Before, I would try to have only three a semester.” Brittany Johnson, junior, said she thinks the policy will encourage students to sign up for more AP courses. “Not having to take an exam on top of the AP exam is a good incentive,” she said. Johnson said that while she wishes she could exempt, she can wait her turn. “It would be nice if others had exemptions too, but I understand that only seniors get it,” she said. “They’ve worked hard to get their seniority, and I’ll get my turn too.”
The school’s inability to make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), a measurement which requires states to create a report that measures its public schools’ yearly progress, has made more of a impact than in just morale. Forty percent of staff at Northridge is in danger of being moved to different city schools, and principal Isaac Espy could be fired. Northridge students as a whole scored in the 90 percentile on the graduation exam, but because a small fraction of students scored poorly, AYP was not reached (tuscaloosanews.com). Former president George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 prevents schools from making AYP if all students in the school don’t perform at the same level. Central and Bryant High
Schools didn’t make AYP either, but they did arrange a school improvement program after their third year failing, something Northridge hasn’t done. That qualified the two schools to be able to dodge some of the repercussions of failing a fourth time. “Because we didn’t do that program, we don’t have choices like the other schools,” librarian Marcie Irvin said, “and they got rid of the principal at Central for not making AYP a few years ago; they’ll get rid of Espy for it.” While the possible effects are upsetting, only a fraction of the students even realize what could be happening to the school because of the policy. “It’s not fair,” senior Emma Walsh said. “Dr. Espy doesn’t deserve this. He’s a really great principal, and it’s not his fault. His job shouldn’t be in question because of something he isn’t responsible for.”
Graduation exam results of the 2012 graduating class Reading
Math
Language
94%
95%
86%
Social Studies Biology
90%
98%
information from Superintendent Paul McKendrick’s PowerPoint
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Sports
The Northridge Reporter October 29, 2012
Stretch
7
Teams begin in-school conditioning Abby Allen Sports Editor Now that fall sports have begun, coaches and players are going hot and heavy with workouts and conditioning during school, but surprisingly, some are not. Jason Campbell, sophomore, and a member of the golf team said the golf team just started conditioning this year, and he “sort of” likes it. “I know it will pay off in the end. I think we are going to be really good,” Campbell said. He said David Akins, golf team coach, pushes them pretty hard during 7th period when they run and lift weights. Anna Scogin, senior, plays soccer. “We run twice a week and workout twice a week during 7th period; Wednesday is our rest day,” Scogin said. In previous years, the soccer team started conditioning when their season started during the spring. “The benefit (of conditioning) in the end will be worth it,” Scogin said. “It’s definitely getting us prepared for the season.” Some sports teams, like football and
softball, have always conditioned during first and second semesters. Sami Story, junior, plays on the softball team and joins in on the workouts every year. “I like the intensity, and I love Coach Bowling. I like spending extra time with my team during the last period of the day, knowing that it will make us stronger and better,” Story said. The softball team works out four days a week and runs once a week. “It’s hard work, but it makes me anxious for the season to start, so we can show that our hard work pays off,” Story said. Ben Wells, senior, has played tennis here for the past two years. The tennis team starts conditioning in the spring, just as they have done in the previous years. “I wish we conditioned during the fall, then I wouldn’t have to run cross country to stay in shape,” Wells said. He said the team needs conditioning to stay physically fit, or they will be “doomed” in the spring. “We won’t perform as well or work as hard when the season starts in the spring. We will be weak,” Wells said.
Bump it: Amanda Guarisco, (8), passes the ball to her a teammate during their game against Walker County. The team won three matches and lost one match. Photo by: Beth Allaway
Girls volleyball team hosts, wins area Katie Poore Staff Writer
The girls varsity volleyball team is having a very successful season according to new varsity head coach Vicky Miller. “I think it [the season] has gone really well. We started strong, and we’ve gotten stronger,” Miller said. The team became the area champs after the volleyball tournament they hosted on Oct. 18 to Oct. 20. Kathleen Kennedy, junior, said she thinks Anna Lee Petitt, junior, has contributed much to the team. “Anna Lee has moved positions a lot this season, and I definitely think she has been a big player,” Kennedy said. Miller said the senior players have also been essential, stepping up to the role they’ve been given and helping the juniors
grow as a team. However, she said the team still needs to work on growing together and being dependent upon one another to get things done. Kennedy said losses for the team can discourage the players, but only if they didn’t do their best. “If we played our best and worked hard, then we consider it a win,” she said. After the resignation of former volleyball coach Amanda Talantis, Miller became the head coach for the team, bringing the girls to a season filled with victories. Miller said when the team wins a game, it makes her feel “awesome, because it’s a lot of their hard work coming to fruition.” Kennedy said having a new coach has improved the team. “Honestly, we’ve gotten better,” she said. The team will play in the super-regionals on Friday, Oct. 26 in Huntsville.
Volleyball team and positions 1 Savannah Morgan 2 Kiana Johnson 3 Shirlyncia Moore 4 Taylor Weatherby 5 Kathleen Kennedy 7 D’Aja Patrick 8 Amanda Guarisco
Right Side Hitter Setter Middle Hitter Right Side Hitter Defensive Specialist Right Side Hitter Outside Hitter
Defensive Specialist 9 Katrina Stuthwolf 10 Alexie Blunt Outside Hitter Middle Hitter 12 Marla Parks 13 Mary Margaret Murdock Setter Libero 15 Denae Sisler Middle Hitter 17 Anna Brantley 27 Anna Lee Pettit Outside Hitter Information compiled by Alex Hauser
Student wins sportsmanship award Photo by: Abby Allen Work it! Abby Horn, senior, conditions during seventh period for soccer. “It’s a lot of work, but we’ll be in shape for soccer season,” she said.
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Julia Hocutt Staff Writer
Melanie Brown, junior, was named the Sportsmanship Award Winner at the August Southern Jr. Team Tennis Championships in Auburn, Alabama. The award is given to eight players who show a sportsmanlike attitude throughout
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the tennis tournament. Becci Hauser, girls tennis coach, said, “Winning matches is one thing, but being recognized for sportsmanship, in this day and age, is pretty special.” Brown said, “It felt good to win the award. I always try not to cross the line of being overly competitive. I just played the game the way I usually would.”
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The Northridge Reporter October 29, 2012
Photos by: Alex Hauser
it would be awesome to do it as a senior class for our last year,” Gross said. Gross said that the 20 seniors who signed up with the group raised about $700 for the charity. Abby Horn, senior, said she enjoyed herself. “The running was just what-
ever, but the after party with the colors was the good part,” she said. “It was really fun.” Melissa Wells, who ran with the group, participated on her birthday and said she did not expect it to be so fun. “I expected it to be just another 5k, but you didn’t need to train for it or anything,” she
Beat 8
said. “It was the best thing I could have done on my birthday.” “It was probably one of the most fun things I’ve done in a long time,” Gross said. “I would most definitely do it again in a heartbeat.”
Taste the rainbow: Cooper Bunch, senior, finishes the race. Seniors Sarah Dubay and Charlie Gross run at the beginning of the race. Seth Cunningham, freshman, gets hit by yellow paint at the second kilometer. “It really was the happiest 5k on the planet,” Maryam Azam, sophomore, said.
Students turn colors participating in 5k Raiha Bajwa Managing Editor
D
ubbed “The happiest 5k on the planet,” the Color Run made its way to Tuscaloosa on Oct. 6. Open to anyone, the run had a few simple rules: show up in a white T-shirt and be prepared to run, walk, jog, skip or dance your way from checkpoint to checkpoint where volunteers throw a designated color at you, up until the finish line. At the end all participants were invited to gather in a color throw, where everyone used their individual color packets to create an explosion of colors. The run supported the charity Read Alabama Read and helped raise money for books for libraries that were affected by the April 27 tornado. Charlie Gross, senior class president, recruited a group from the senior class to participate in the run together. “It seemed like something fun to do with a close group of people, so I thought
thing of the past. If there isn’t any interest in the yearbook, it will be dropped. “It’s sad because people aren’t buying them. It’s because of Facebook,” Newell said. Many students overlook the yearbook, but later find out that it is an important part of their school life. Junior Rebecca Perkins, a student who hasn’t purchased yearbooks in the past said, “That would suck” if the yearbook wasn’t coming out. Senior Hannah Johnson, who normally buys yearbooks, said it would be “really, really sad [not to get a yearbook].” The yearbook is just barely breaking even this year with the sale of senior and business ads. Due to the low rate of yearbook sales, the prices are higher. The
Yearbooks sold: 208 Total population: 1258
prices of the books could be lower if more yearbooks were purchased at the beginning of the year. Buying the current book and buying past books can help ensure a book next year. You can upload your pictures to the website Replay-It.com. It allows the yearbook to use your pictures. You can upload pictures from anywhere with the mobile upload feature. Looking back at a dusty bookshelf full of yearbooks could be a thing of the past. Instead of seeing that familiar 2013-2014 book, there might be just an empty space.
Yearbook could be axed due to lack of interest KanJalla Dancer Art editor
R
emember the story The Year without a Christmas from when you were a child? Now you’re in high school and instead of Christmas, it is your yearbook. Just like Christmas is important to the year, our yearbook is important to our school year. Without a yearbook, school will be different. Susan Newell, yearbook sponsor, said, “We were almost $4,000 behind [budget] last year, so I had to negotiate with [the publishing company] to lower the bill. We had to sell ads at the last second.” Next year, we might lose the yearbook completely, Newell said. With all the social media, the yearbook is becoming a
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October 29, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 2
Photo illustration by: Alex Hauser