WINTER EDITION 2020
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The Gallery
THE GALLERY Conversing on the matters of change: a debate DSA’s newsmagazine on gun laws 400 N. Duke Street Durham, NC 27701 dsagallery.com
STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Oyinda Ajasa ASSISTANT EDITOR Oliver Weaver WEBSITE EDITOR Stephany Guzman LEAD REPORTERS Sam Bartlett, Stella Domec, Jonathan Eller, Jess Foday, N’Saun Gentry, Ella Nuñez, Emily Parker, Srikar Kaligotla REPORTERS Violet DeWire, Xochitl GrandeVasquez, Kelsy Martinez-Morgan, Layla Niblock, Daniel Romaine, Samantha Schoppe, Marion Schroder, Hau Tung STAFF ADVISER Patrick Ritchie COVER ART & BACK PAGE Allison Brown, Christian Gomez, Niayla Hairston, Jenna Hawkins, Juan Ponce Rubio, Fiona Van Verth
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BY STEPHANY GUZMAN There is a frightening reality for today’s world. School shootings, along with heavy gun violence, are becoming more prevalent in society. Now into a sense of appealing normalcy for the generations affected by it. On November 8th, Durham School of the Arts participated in a student led debate at the Duke University School of Business. Behind it all, two students who went through their own traumatic experience of a school shooting, along with legislative educators, joined together to have an open conversation on the topic. Students from across the country gave their
ly agree with other students opinions. I knew there were some moments where I would just shake my head at another person’s response. But, I had to put aside my personal beliefs in order to understand everyone else’s,” Khori Talley, senior, commented. Sari Kufman and Casey Sherman, seniors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, were the main speakers who organized the event. Since they also suffered through their own tragedy, both have worked continuously to bring light to the issue of gun violence in America. “Sari and I have collaborated with the Constitutional Rights Foundation to create Empower the People, a non profit organization aimed to increase youth awareness and engagement in our government and community. We came to a realization that not a lot of our friends and people around us were aware or even educated on what’s happening in our local governments. So we created a space to help them and become better leaders of tomorrow,”Sherman said. Gun violence has always been an ongoing issue in the country. In order to make a change in terms of the problem, a variety of voices are needed to affect the outcome of any regulations put in place for these weapons. “It’s a lot of pressure when you think about it. PHOTO BY STEPHANY GUZMAN Us high school students Sari Kufman and Casey Sherman introduce the deare, in our generation, bate panel to students and legislative educators. the first ones to have first Since visiting the Duke School of Energy, they are on hand experience with their 6th Citizens debate. this sort of problem. And it all has to do with input via video call. whether or not we want those in a higher “My thoughts were mixed throughout power to enforce strict regulations all tothe whole thing. I wouldn’t necessari- gether,” Talley said.
Some people might believe that a ‘young person’ should not meddle in ‘adult’ business. This so called adult business has made today’s youth take a stand. “There have been so many moments where someone older than me has said: ‘How could you possibly know about all this?’ or ‘You’re just a kid. What does a kid know about real world issues?’. You don’t have to be an adult to understand the wrongs that are right in front of you. In most cases, the adults are the ones who take forever to make things right. We have to step up to the plate, otherwise, who will?” Sherman concluded.
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Gallery is an open forum for the free expression of student thought that fairly represents the voice of the students. Our mission is to inform the student body by exposing issues to the majority, allowing the minority a voice to be heard, and helping to connect to DSA’s community through the paper. The Gallery staff will determine the stories and material to be covered in an issue and reserve the right to accept or decline material for each issue. The decision for advertising relies on the discretion of the editorial staff of The Gallery. The Gallery staff will hold itself to the highest professional journalistic standard of honesty and integrity as guided by the Student Press Law Center. It is not the policy of this newsmagazine to downgrade or tarnish the reputation of an individual or group. The Gallery is a student edited and managed publication. The school assumes no responsibility for the content of The Gallery. The news magazine editorial staff urges all journalists to recognize that with student editorial control comes responsibility to follow journalism standards and ethics each school year. As a forum of free expression, The Gallery will welcome all letters submitted to the editor, provided they contain the writer’s name and grade. The Gallery does not accept anonymous letters, but will print letters using “name withheld,” provided the editor knows the author’s identity.
Winter Edition 2020
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Time to pay : Teachers rally in Durham
BY OLIVER WEAVER Downtown Durham glimmers as the night quickly vanquishes the remaining daylight. Christmas decorations add a warm touch to the air, in contrast to the cold temperatures moving in. This cold Wednesday night becomes special in a heartbeat as cheers and chants echo down the streets, drowning the sound of traffic and music. An army of teachers in red hold banners and signs while marching down East Main Street. Teachers of North Carolina want change, and they will go to any cost for that to happen. On Wednesday, November 20th, teachers and others from all over Durham gathered at the CCB Plaza downtown. This large group of people were gathered to protest the extremely low pay teachers in North Carolina were receiving. Considering the amount of work and time teachers put into work, the majority agrees that teachers deserve higher pay. Several rallies have taken place in other places within the state, mostly led by teachers, to continue drawing public attention to this huge issue “The purpose of this rally is to draw attention from the public to the fact that the General Assembly of North Carolina still has not passed a budget. The fact that they haven’t passed a budget means all school personnel are still being paid on last year’s pay scale and are not seeing even a steep increase, let alone a raise. The reason they haven’t passed a budget is the current gridlock in the state capitol
PHOTO BY JESS FODAY Rally speakers gather on the steps of the County Government Office. Students, teachers, and random passerbyers joined the march and listened. - the Senate will not pass the governor’s budget, which includes significant raises for all teachers as well as the expansion of Medicaid, which would provide healthcare to hundreds of thousands to North Carolinians,” Millie Rosen, middle school teacher at DSA who helped organize the rally, explained. The rally had significant turnout, with over 100 people crowding the center of downtown. Cars drove by slowly, honk-
ing occasionally in support. Different speakers took turns voicing concerns and facts about NC’s policies regarding education, which was met with shouts and cheers from the crowd. Millie Rosen and others had been planning the rally for quite some time, and made sure it would be a success. “We have conversations with teachers and parents, use social media to communicate, and have a system of building
captains so it’s easy to disseminate information between schools. The main obstacle to teacher organizing is how busy teachers are - we have so many more responsibilities than teachers had 20 years ago because of so many years of budget (and personnel) cuts, so everyone is doing lots of work before and after school and on weekends too, so everyone’s time is limited,” Michelle Burton, DAE president, said. North Carolina’s education standards have a lot of room for improvement. Increased funding and better pay are just a fraction of the things that teachers and educators want changed. “Providing state funding to guarantee a $15 minimum wage for all school personnel, and expanding Medicaid to improve the health of our students and families are our most relevant demands right now. We want the General Assembly to use the $300 million in corporate tax cuts to instead fund a five percent raise for ALL public school employees,” Rosen commented. Despite the bleak state of the current legislature, people are beginning to have hope that change for teachers is close. “I think more and more teachers will continue working together to speak out, and at the very least we will vote out the majority of legislators that don’t support public schools next November,” Rosen concluded.
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Laboosh documentary: local brand catches Durham’s eye BY JONATHAN ELLER Skateboards glide across the Durham skatepark as cameras follow close behind. Onlookers watch in anticipation as Cole Barbera gets ready to do a trick. After many takes, the crew is still trying to get the perfect shot they need for the documentary. In October, the School of Doc (a class in downtown Durham that creates documentaries) started working on a documentary about Laboosh. Laboosh is a skating company started by two brothers, Cole and Spencer Barbera, and their life-long friend Sergio Membreno. The documentary follows the three friends as they design and produce their clothes and talk about the origin of the company.
into a small company that prioritizes their merch over everything else. They didn’t start making clothes with the goal of becoming a big brand, it was always just a hobby for them and it slowly started growing from there. “We started making clothes when we first made shirts for our prank channel. We didn’t really think of it as starting a brand we just wanted to make clothes for what we do. The goal really is to just keep making stuff and if anything happens it happens.” Spencer Barbera said. The School of Doc created two documentaries relating to notable things around Durham using recommendations from the students at the school. The idea
Laboosh. My friend had introduced me to the brand and I liked the clothes they made so I came up with a pitch and my idea got selected.” Katie Hervey, filmmaker on the documentary crew, stated. The doc-
PHOTO COURTESY OF LABOOSH SKATE Laboosh creates clothing apparel that showcase their love of skating. The Laboosh brand is Durham-based clothing brand. The clothing brand was created by two brothers: Cole and Spencer Barbera along with their lifelong friend: Sergio Membreno. scripted.” Hervey added. umentary took a total of The documentary was a good step two months to complete to make for the company and could and consisted mostly of even potentially lead to more business interviews and skating clips in the future but for now, it doesn’t at the Durham skatepark seem to have done much. Known only downtown. The crew and in Durham, they still need a big break PHOTO COURTESY OF COLE BARBERAthe three friends got along if they want to grow any more, but the Cole Barbera skates around the emptied out pool at the Durham skatepark. Cole and his very well and had lots of future’s looking bright. brother go to the skatepark every week and have been skating since they were kids. fun throughout the whole “I think Laboosh will definitely grow filming process. larger and I could see it becoming a full “Working on the documentary was for a Laboosh documentary came to one “It was really fun to work with them, sized company one day, because Cole, fun, it was just interesting seeing what of the students attending the School of they’re all really laid back. There wasn’t Spencer, and Sergio put so much hard questions they would ask us and having Doc, Katie Hervey. much shyness from any of them, they work and effort into the brand. They are them watch us in our element.” Cole Bar“We were coming up with ideas to are all willing to show who they are and definitely dedicated and I think as more bera, creator of Laboosh, expressed. pitch for documentaries for the School of be open. I would describe them as very people are exposed to the brand it will Starting off with Youtube and creating Doc program, and I was trying to think of genuine people, it never felt like they grow.” Hervey commented. merch for their channel they slowly grew something to pitch when I remembered were hiding anything or anything was
Winter Edition 2020
Runaway in the spotlight
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BY VIOLET DEWIRE Rows of sweatshirts, t-shirts, and other Durham-themed apparel line the shelves of the Runaway holiday pop-up shop .The popular clothing brand has created a sense of pride in the city, stretching far beyond the reaches of its community and even the state. Gabriel Eng-Goetz is the founder and creative director of Runaway, a clothing and apparel brand based in Durham. He started the company in 2011, and since then it has made a profound impact on both the city of Durham and the greater artistic community. Even in the halls of DSA, you can find students representing Runaway’s clothing. “By buying their products, you feel like you’re showcasing Durham pride, which feels good. The knowledge that the business is part of the community makes it more approachable,” Lennox Goslin, freshman, commented. For the past few years, Eng-Goetz has been trying to push the creative scene in Durham. He has lots of experience in the
field and has been an artist for the majority of his life. In high school, he was pushed to pursue art by his teachers and took both AP and independent study art classes. After high school, Eng-Goetz was inspired by his teachers and artistic ability to attend Syracuse University, where he earned a BFA in Illustration. Once he graduated, he came back to Durham to pursue his artistic career. “I started doing art shows with like-minded artists, and then I realized that there wasn’t much of a platform here… so instead of being like, ‘Oh, I’m going to move to New York, LA, Atlanta or somewhere like that, why don’t we try to create what we want to see here?’,” EngGoetz stated. According to Eng-Goetz, Runaway was founded for the long-time residents of Durham. Eng-Goetz was born and raised in the city, and he believes that the brand is an important part of showcasing all that it has to offer. “What really sets us apart from other
brands is that we found our ‘niche’- It was basically art that represented the city, and it was always a very authentic message,” E n g Goetz reflected. In addition to founding a popular clothing brand,
PHOTO COURTESY OF NOLAN SMOCK, INDY WEEK Gabriel Eng-Goetz is the founder and creative director of Runaway. He started the company in 2011, which has been a successful and impactful part of Durham ever since.
Eng-Goetz has contributed to many local events and public art pieces around the city. He has designed products and posters for several establiments around Durham and beyond, including Ponysaurus, Lululemon, and the Durham Bulls baseball team. In addition, he designed a mural PHOTO BY VIOLET DEWIRE that is now displayed on A winged bull adorns a tote bag, representing the most recognizable symbol of Durham. the side of the new parking garages in downtown. EngThis is just one of the many unique designs that Runaway has showcased in its rotating Goetz believes that his work inventory. is in part a reflection of how
he sees his community. [Runaway’s] designs are so creative and unique, their clothes seemed to be made in the service of the individual, not just the public at large,” Goslin stated. In the early days of his company, EngGoetz was approached by young artists looking to start their own business or studio. He believes that the key to starting a successful business like Runaway is to make sure you are prepared and have had enough time to really think it through. “These things take a lot of time… the main thing now, while you are in school, is to focus on getting better, and when you’re ready to put [your art] out there, don’t be scared.” Eng-Goetz concluded.
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DSA PEP RA
PHOTOS BY SRIK
Winter Edition 2020
ALLY 2020
KAR KALIGOTLA
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2019: a year of changes BY SAM BARTLETT AND SRIKAR KALIGOTLA 2019 has been a year full of events and surprises for Durham School of the Arts and the whole world. Locally, 2019 has brought many changes around the city and in the school. Such events include the explosion at Kaffeinate, DSA’s one hundred dollar prank, and the excellent winter and spring showcases. So, as 2019 comes to a close, it is necessary to reflect upon the happenings of the year. “It was a year of ups and downs but overall it was good because I met new people and created close bonds,” Jalah Roper, junior, reflected. 2019 started off with an event that shook the whole city: the explosion at Kaffeinate. The dangers of DSA being so close to the scene of the disaster caused the school to be closed for several days, but the true impact was the community coming together to support the families of the victims. At DSA there were several student-run fundraisers and an artistic display organized by the guidance counselors of the school. “We all as a community contribut-
ed to comforting and helping the victims of Kaffeinate. People at DSA set up a Go Fund Me to give to the family of the owner of Kaffeinate,” Roper commented. While Kaffeinate was a serious tragedy, DSA also experienced many fun and less solemn events. Towards the beginning of the year, a group of students staged a prank that engrossed all of DSA: the one-hundred prank. Staged primarily by student Oliver Weaver, the prank first appeared as an Instagram account called DSA Missions. As this account gained more followers Weaver posted a picture of an envelope with one-hundred dollars in it. The caption said that this envelope was hidden somewhere in the school and that whoever found it would get the money. The prank was that Weaver had not actually hidden the envelope, so people were going crazy looking for something that didn’t exist. Eventually, Weaver gave the envelope to a student, Kevin Fernandez, who claimed he had found it, but soon everyone realized it was a prank and found the identity of the mastermind be-
The show was meant to end the year with one big display of what DSA is about before students leave for break. The showcase also allowed students a break from academics on their last day before the holidays and gave art classes an incentive to prepare a polished act or piece. “I really enjoyed all the other performances, it always makes me happy to see what other pathways dedicate their PHOTO BY SRIKAR KALIGOTLA time and passion to,” Karen DSA’s jazz band performs in the break between Gonzalez, a performer in the performances at the winter showcase. The band event and senior, expressed. includes a saxophone, a keyboard, and a trumAs a whole, 2019 was pet among other instruments. very eventful for DSA and hind it. brought many changes to in“People were going crazy trying to dividuals. The tragedies and surprises the find [the envelope] when it was all just a year had for us brought the community of prank,” Roper remarked. DSA closer together as well as the comTo wrap up the year, DSA had its munity of Durham. annual Winter Showcase. This event in“It was a year of a lot of ‘firsts’. They cluded performances from the school’s weren’t all good, but 2019 taught me a lot various art departments, including dance, regardless,” Gonzalez concluded. theatre, chorus, and many others.
More than an Educator: The Impact of Building Student/Teacher Relationships BY STEPHANY GUZMAN
From endless memories to repeatedly being in their class, students naturally seek out positive leaders and role models in their teachers as they grow throughout their years in high school. Developing positive relationships between students and teachers have become a fundamental aspect of quality teaching and student learning. Teachers have the ability to maximise learning potential for all students in their classes, as well as create a productive environment that benefits both parties. The importance of these relationships causes students to develop confidence, along with teachers being able to assist with motivation and goal setting for their potential futures. Although, it has not always been this way. “About 15 years ago, the big catch phrase in education was the three R’s. Which was ‘Rigour, Relevance and Relationship’. I made the argument of that point, although good, was in the
wrong order. It should be ‘Relationship, Relevance and Rigour’. If you don’t build a relationship with a student, you can’t be at the same level as that student,” Jackson Lowe, Minority Studies teacher, stated. Teachers such as Lowe, have taken steps outside of the classrooms to continue contact with old students, even after they graduate high school. Lauran Jones, DSA alumni (class of 2018) and current student at UNC Wilmington, is just one of many students that Lowe has kept in touch with. “As a college kid, I’m learning to become an adult. Mr. Lowe has been a great mentor to me. Since I graduated, he’s provided advice and a shoulder for me to lean on when I need it the most,” Jones commented. Whilst a majority of students have advantages when it comes to the efficacious outcomes of these connections, teachers also benefit as such.
“Kids actually care about the class... kids want to do well for you because they think that you genuinely know whether or not you do well. Unfortunately there are some teachers who have the mindset of ‘either they get it or they didn’t’. Kids tend to pick up on those things and turns a lot of them off,” Lowe said. As a result, there is hesitation by students. With lack of consideration by some teachers, it creates a negative environment in school. One begins to think and the thought that arises is questioning the American public education system. “On the one hand, teachers have jobs and if they don’t do those jobs the system will get someone else, on the other each student learns differently. I also come from this as a student who ‘got it’, but this ideology is completely unfair to students who don’t get it and until we do something about it, kids will continue to suffer,” Jones exclaimed.
Outside of home, it is only natural for youth to seek guidance in other people. As long as there’s a sense of a welcoming ambiance and community in or out of the classroom. It all revolves around two principles. “Friendship and mentorship are by far the most important factors within these connections between an educator and student,” Lowe confirmed.
PHOTO BY STEPHANY GUZMAN Jacson Lowe listens to student, Niayla Hairston, as they dicuss the differences between sex and gender.
Winter Edition 2020
The next step to success: My Galactic Experience
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BY SRIKAR KALIGOTLA
Countless people watch as group after group stands up and speak, anxiety and nervousness start to settle in. The competition is fierce and the tension in the room is intense. On November 22nd, 2019, in Denver, Colorado the annual ASGSR (American Society for Gravitational and Space Research)meeting was held for everyone to attend and learn about all the science available to the public and more opportunities. My team, Team Orion, learned about internships that are available to the public and the younger generation. Students that were attending from all over the county,along with people and scientists from other countries come to look at the many interesting projects on display. “The trip was great. It was an immense and unique experience to present at such a big conference. Loved staying in a fancy hotel too,” Finn Poulin, member of Team
Orion, said. Team Orion is a group of students consisting of Graham Shunk, Finn Poulin, Jamison Fuller, Graham Shunk, Xavier Gomez, and I. We all met at the Higher Orbits space camp at the Durham County Library. We won the competition and had our experiment launched on December 5th, 2018. Since the launch, the team has been working with scientists from Embry-Riddle University to look at our results for pro and cons in our project. Soon after, Michelle Lucas, founder of Higher Orbits, came to us and allowed us an opportunity of a lifetime to come and present in the ASGSR Conference. This was where scientists and astronauts would come and look at our presentations. On November 20th, 2019, we looked at the place and decided how our poster was going to be set up, along with deciding on
the presentation. We also talked about what we're trying to learn and decide what event or lectures we were going to attend to expand our knowledge of space. “I took away from this trip that you never really stop learning, that even when the project is all said and done there will always be more to do,” Graham Shunk, member of Team Orion, explained. In the conference, we presented oue experiment on radiotrophic fungi. Many people came to our booth and liked our project, but they also provided tips on some improvements that could be made. “Meeting new people has not only yearned my interest but showed me the genuine curiosity and brilliance within the space field and community,” Poulin stated. On the night of November 23, 2019, there was a banquet held with a keynote speaker, awards, and a small lesson about
our dwarf planet Pluto. We had the opportunity to meet new scientists from the company Blue Origin, Space Tango, and also ASGSR former alumni. This was a great way to make long-term connections. “I learned about a whole new realm of science that could be applied to the experiment. Just by talking to professionals in the field, I came away something of a professional myself,” Shunk exclaimed. My team's trip to Denver was a great experience. We learned a lot about the way things are in space, internships, and met new new people along the way. Most of all we had presented a project that could be examined much more and possibly solve a few problems of radiation. “I learned that a plethora of kids our age are also making big changes in the world of science,” Poulin added.
A coming-of-age story: Catholic School Girls makes its way through DSA BY OYINDA AJASA Nuns in tunic and schoolgirls in pantyhose and plaid skirts walk across the Blackbox stage. The laugh of the audience fills up the room, as they thoroughly enjoy every second of the play. The Durham School of the Arts Theatre Department will be performing Catholic School Girls, a play by Casey Kurtti on January 29th, through February 1st. The play follows the lives of four girls: Maria Theresa, Colleen, Elizabeth, and Wanda. The play depicts their lives as they progress through catholic school and through adolescence. Catholic School Girls (CSG) has four nuns and four girls. The actors are double cast and they switch each night as a girl and a nun. The nuns are Sister Mary Lucille, Mary Germaine, Mary Agnes, and Mary Thomasina. “I hope the audience leaves Catholic School Girls feeling happy. It’s a really sweet and emotional show, and I hope people just have fun and see themselves in these girls. I like how simple and honest the script is. It really feels like you’re reading a conversation between a group of children, which is exactly the goal
four teenage girls. The monologues focus on the secular ambitions of each of the teenage girls. “I think double casting is really an exercise in trusting yourself and going with your instincts, because you can’t let yourself copy the other person playing your role, or else you aren’t doing the character justice. Even though in professional PHOTO COURTESY OF VERONICA GILLIGANtheatre, double casting isn’t that common, it’s The four catholic school girls, Elizabeth, Colleen, Maria really useful practice Theresa, and Wanda rehearse their lines for the official production. Although the four girls are catholic school in case any of us in the cast were ever cast as an girls right now, they will switch roles and be nuns on understudy or alternate, another night. (From left to right: Ethelia Holt, Emily Ramsey, Veronica Gilligan, and Zoe Bestmannsmith) because you learn how to play the role in the of the play,” Veronica Gilligan, senior, way most true to yourself,” Gilligan said. stated. Catholic School Girls is special for Between the classroom scenes in many reasons, but one of the most Catholic School Girls there are monounique reasons is due to the all-female logues that go into the life of each of the production of the play. This has never
been done before in the history of DSA theatre. “This is our first all-female main stage show since I have been at DSA. Directed by a female, all-female cast, female stage management team, female assistant production manager, and many female designers. In a world where most theatre is predominantly directed, produced, and designed by men, I love being able to encourage these voices and seeing them thrive,” Kristin Winchester, director of Catholic School Girls, stated. The themes and motifs in Catholic School Girls are ones that everybody in the audience can relate to. As a comingof-age story, the experiences are ones that everyone in the audience has gone through at some point. “Many times the girl’s voices are stifled, whether it be because they are having too much, being too loud, not following the rules, or questioning choices made by adults. Each girl has a different relationship with the times, and the church. Every [one] in the audience should be able to relate,” Winchester concluded.
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Gun violence in Durham and why it matters BY JONATHAN ELLER
On Sunday, November 25th Jonathan Lamont Johnson’s family sat in the back seat of an ambulance filled with dread. Health officials rushed both Johnson and his friend to the hospital after a man shot them both while they were in their car, but unfortunately, it was too late for Johnson. Sadly, this is far from the only shooting in Durham recently. From October 28th to October 30th there was a spree of six gang-related shootings around downtown and northern Durham. On November 25th there were three separate shootings, including Johnson’s, all in downtown Durham. These recent shootings have struck fear into the hearts of everyone around Durham and are cause for much concern about the future of Durham as a crimefilled city. “It is alarming. I do find it interesting that inner city shootings have been a thing in Durham since I moved here in 1997, but they seem to be a bigger deal now that gentrification has become more normalized in the downtown area. I’m not sure why people weren't as concerned before those homes were going
for $500k,” Jacson Lowe, American History teacher at Durham School of the Arts, expressed. Durham citizens around the city are left wondering why this is happening out of nowhere for seemingly no reason, but the truth is this is an ongoing problem throughout the country and Durham has had a high rate of crime for a long time. “Illegal guns, gangs, and various criminal behavior are rooted in a system that has been in place to oppress a sector of people and then punish them to remove them from society. [A way to help fix this would be more] social programs and education to the general public about the systemic policies that have led people in high-crime areas to resort to violence in the first place,” Lowe said. Across America, people have different ideas for how they think the country should solve its gun violence problem. Many people say that stricter gun control policies are needed to make it harder for people to get guns, but Lowe and others alike believe there needs to be more education on the topic so that people don’t resort to gun violence as a solution to
their problems. “I don't think [gun control] policies will decrease the amount of shootings, unfortunately. I don't think the answer lies in gun control policies, though that will help. I think the answer to out of control gun crime lies in youth programs PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 11 that give teenagers purpose and teach The Durham Police Department releases crime statistics them skills to build every 90 days. The snapshot of January through Septemtheir self-esteem,” ber 2019 was an especially bloody one. Rory O’Bryan, a speech therapist at to change soon. Duke Regional hospital, stated. “I am far removed from what is actuNo matter the reason or solution, one ally happening that causes a person to thing is known. People across the nation choose shooting someone as an answer. are scared. Gun violence is getting worse, But I know that we imitate conflict resoespecially in Durham. Homicides are up lution that is modeled around us. The cy33% from September of last year and cle needs to stop and young people need aggravated assault charges are up 19%. to somehow have positive role models Something needs to change and it needs around them,” O’Bryan added.
BY EMILY PARKER The truck comes to a stop as the driver hears the top of the truck start to peel off. Many trucks have had the same fate, but what are they doing to fix this problem? The “Can Opener” is a bridge by Brightleaf Square that is too low for commercial or tall trucks. Even though there is a sign that says the height and tells taller trucks to turn, many go under anyways. “While the construction was going on we had 10 inch specialty pies for $11.80 until contructionwas finishes and after the prices goes to $12.40,” Kayla Bartelmey, a Peabody's Pizza employee, commented. Bartelmey has been an employee at Peabody Pizza for years. She has seen first hand how many trucks get stuck and she said that it normally takes hours to get them out. When talking about the specials she said that because the bridges old height was 11 ft 8 inches, the special costs $11.80. And since the new height is 12 ft 4 inches they made the new price $12.40. “I didn’t see much of an impact on the business. We may have lost a few customers who didn't want to deal with traf-
fic, but the construction workers were coming in and having lunch here,” Jamie, owner of Peabody Pizza, stated. After a hard days work, the construction workers came in, relaxed, and ate pizza; which was good for business because it gave Peabody Pizza new customers. They also put the word out about their construction specials using PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES social media like InstaThis bridge with a height of 11 ft 8 inches took the gram and Facebook. tops off of countless trucks because drivers thought “The traffic jam that they would fit. The bridge is located on Gregson ensured was enough for Street. me to alter my path to and from school. When they Jeanie Parker, a DSA parent, asserted. closed Gregson Street for the construc Many parents and students like tion, it caused huge delays all around the Parker had to take 10-20 minutes out of intersection of Gregson & W Main Streets their day to sit in traffic because construcso the only way to keep moving was to tion blocked their usual route. The road avoid that intersection which was hard was closed for many days, but with paconsidering it is right near the school,” tience and a new route, things started to
The Can Opener: closing the lid on a Durham hazard
get better. “I would have more signage notifying people the road was going to close AND I would add police to direct traffic in the newly affect detour areas. Like on the first day when you couldn't go any direction because the intersection was blocked...no one wanted to give up their spot and let you in and the detour took us out to where there was no light so then we had to fight to get back into traffic again,” Parker said. The City of Durham posted alternate routes but most people didn't see it until they were already stuck in traffic. People started to use roads like Morgan Street, Buchanan Boulevard, and Chapel Hill Street to get to their destinations. “I do think the construction was necessary. The low bridges in Durham have a history of causing accidents because truck drivers who are used to higher bridges just assumed they could make it under these bridges too. Should drivers have known better - Yes. But the history of the bridges has proven that won't happen,” Parker concluded.
Winter Edition 2020
A guide to the not so peachy impeachment process BY LAYLA NIBLOCK News coverage is constant in today’s world. We have access to the news no matter where we are, allowing us constant updates on many things, such as the current impeachment proceedings. Impeachment is defined as “a charge of misconduct against the holder of a public office,” and is a process used by the U.S. to check the power of any public servant. Currently, the Trump Administration is under an impeachment inquiry due to their contact with Ukraine over an, arguably, personal matter. Trump asked Ukraine’s president to “get dirt” on Joe Biden, a potential threat to him in the 2020 election, and threatened to withhold U.S. aid to Ukraine. Yet this important story changes every day and can be hard to follow, especially if someone does not know how the impeachment process works. “Impeachment is one of the most serious actions that can happen in government and that’s why it’s so rare in U.S. history. What we are seeing now in Washington is unique to many Americans, as they can’t remember the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton,”Amy Hollyfield, the senior deputy editor at the Tampa Bay Times, stated. Bill Clinton is one of only two presidents to have ever been impeached previously. This impeachment occurred in 1998 when Clinton was charged with an “obstruction of justice”, specifically for lying under oath. “Only two presidents have ever been impeached previously. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton have been impeached. Richard Nixon would have been impeached but he resigned,” Ms. Pruitt, AP U.S. History teacher, explained. So what is an impeachment? It is the power of the Congress to investigate the supposed wrongdoings of any official, with the goal of preventing corruption; not to get a controversial president out of office. “Impeachment is meant to represent a serious breach of office or illegal actions. There are a couple things outlined in the Constitution like bribery or high crimes and misdemeanors. It’s fairly vague in the Constitution though, but it is mostly meant to be for criminal elements or abuse of power,” Pruitt elaborated. The basic steps of impeachment are
also pretty broad and vague. Once there is suspicion of a crime the Congress can begin an investigation into the accused’s actions. The House of Representatives votes on the rules and charges of the impeachment. Then the Senate holds an inquiry or trial. “If an impeachment is issued by the Congress (and that is charging someone with a crime) the next step after that is a trial, and that is done by the Senate. So essentially, if we are kind of thinking of the equivalent in a criminal proceeding, when you are first brought to the court to hear your charges you plead innocent or guilty, that is your indictment, and then the actual trial that follows determines your guilt,” Pruitt added. That said, an impeachment does not mean that someone will be kicked out of office. An impeachment functions the way any trial would, with no guaranteed outcome. “So an impeachment itself is not saying that someone committed a crime. It is saying that there is enough evidence of a crime to proceed with investigating if you committed a crime,” Pruitt continued. Impeachments allow no one to be above the law, an idea that our country was founded on. It is a process that keeps our democracy working for the people. “This is our government, our democracy. Everyone should care to know the truth behind the actions of our leaders,” Hollyfield concluded. Impeachment don’t always mean that someone will be kicked out of office. An impeachment functions the way any trial would, with no guaranteed outcome. “So an impeachment itself is not saying that someone committed a crime. It is saying that there is enough evidence of a crime to proceed with investigating if you committed a crime,” Pruitt continued. Impeachments allow no one to be above the law, an idea that our country was founded on. It is a process that keeps our democracy working for the people. “This is our government, our democracy. Everyone should care to know the truth behind the actions of our leaders.” Hollyfield concluded.
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RUNDOWN OF EVENTS AT BLACKART DURHAM
Part I - 10am - DSA LMC - Young People Unite sponsors “Schools that Honor Black Lives: Opportunities and Challenges” Student leaders, staff members, and parents/family members will gather for a conversation that makes use of Restorative Practices protocols and offers space for some workshop and strategy building. Led by the students of Young People Unite, the meeting will focus on academic, extra/co-curricular activities, community connection, and student management practices. Part II - 11:30-12:30 - Working Lunch Attendees will eat lunch and hear short presentations from people involved in the morning session. Part III - 12:30 - 2:00 A Celebration of Black Excellence - Student Talent Presentations