Volume 94 Issue 7
March 18, 2016
An open Forum for Student Expression
Supporters of The Garfield Messenger Benefactors Beth Roberts and Keith Seinfeld Bridge Partners LLC Mou and John Ferry TJ Kraft/Norpac Fisheries Patrons Anonymous (x5) Annie and Dan Wilson Child Care Resources Cindy Monte and Kevin Fisher Ellen Chestnut Goss Family Laurel Rech and Sean Cryan Metro Dog Nancy Sapiro and Lincoln Miller Nicholas Cunetta Sheila Lukehart Friends Anonymous (x8) Alden Lumpkin Alicia and Jay Edgar Amy Barnett and Arthur Furukawa Britt Anderson Chia Wang Dan Hall & Michelle Marchent David Lundsgaard and Lori Lynn Phillips Elana Jassy Gina Anstey Gold Janet Gwilym and Bing Tso Jeanne and David Hoppe Julie Wroble and Rick Kolpa Kari & Brennan Connor Karin Brookes Kathryn Robinson and Tom Braman Kirk Wohlers Kristen Sycamore Photography Laura Gardner and Hiroshi Matsubara Leslie & Kenny Stocker Lisa Thomas and Elod Toth Maggie R. Fisher Marcos and Monica Jones-Borges Mary Sharp Mitzi Jarvis Philippa Webster and John Mulligan Poynter-Veal Family Prentice Family Robin Stern and Kim Harper Sarah Huffbauer & David True Shoshana Driver Sound Child Care Solutions Steve and Stephanie Jones Tanya and Chris Kamila Tracey Rowland and Larry Reid Trina Blake Ted Sullivan These contributions help make the production and publication of The Garfield Messenger possible. If you would like to support The Messenger, please contact us at garfieldmessenger@gmail.com Editorial and Letter Policy The purpose of The Garfield Messenger is to present student perspectives on issues and events related to the Garfield High School community. The Messenger’s editorial responsibility lies not in presenting a particular viewpoint or agenda, but in representing a variety of opinions. Views expressed in publications by The Messenger do not necessarily represent those of our staff, supporters, or the Garfield High School student body and faculty. The Garfield Messenger welcomes responses to our publications as well as opinions concerning issues relevant to Garfield. Please send editorials, opinion columns, or letters to the editor to garfieldmessenger@gmail.com
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The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
Contact The Garfield Messenger The Garfield Messenger Garfield High School 400 23rd Ave Seattle, WA 98122 Phone/Fax: (206) 252-2270 E-mail: garfieldmessenger@gmail.com
Volume 94 Issue 7 March 18, 2016
News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Comedy With A Kick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Get to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Thrift Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
by Sydney Santos by Flora Taagen
Willful Ignorance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 by Quinn Sullivan
About The Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 by Hera Ford
Teacher Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 by Julia Robaidek.
Be Fierce, Be Bold, Beyoncé . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 by Quinn Sullivan
by Bronwen Street
by Susana Davidson
Quest for the Best: Food Delivery . . . . . . . . 14 by Sydney Santos and Julia Lin
Where Have the Years Gone? . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 by Hannah Tacke
Top 15 Feminist Jams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 by Messenger Staff
Super Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by Elena Orlando
Choir Program Setbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by Caleb Stocker and Sydney Santos
Out With The Old? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 by Bella Rowland-Reid and Flora Taagen
The Noble Throne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 by Emma Cooper
So...What Even Is a Caucus? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 by Julia Lin
March Madness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
by Messenger Staff
Infiltrating The Cult . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . 17
by Emma Cooper
A Contract’s A Contract . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . 17
Too Cool For School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by Alex Ferry
Use Your Vote, Use Your Voice . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by Bella Rowland-Reid and Elena Orlando
Managing Editor Carson Jones Graphics Editor Michael Ybarra Section Editors Izzi Olive • Aidan Chestnut Aidin Montefisher Caleb Stocker • Hera Ford Business Executive Delaney Connor Backpage Artist Kate Mulligan Webmaster BriAnna Green Advisor Corey Allan Martin
Writers Alex Ferry • Bella Rowland-Reid Bronwen Street • Claire Boudour Danny Levy • Elena Orlando Eli Wilson • Emma Cooper Flora Taagen • Hannah Tacke Julia Lin • Julia Robaidek Kate Mulligan • Quinn Sullivan Sami Braman • Susana Davidson Sydney Santos Photographers Keenan Simpson • Maggie Emerton Illustrators Cora Anderson-Bicknell • Danny Levy Elliott Hoppe • Urpi Ruiz-Angeles Business Staff Anika Thomas-Toth • David Willner
by Aidin Montefisher and Aiden Chesnut
Le16acy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . 18
by Aidin Montefiher
Sports Illustrated: Sexist Edition . . . . . . . . . 19 by Claire Boudour
Cover by Hera Ford and Urpi Ruiz-Angeles
LE16ACY pg. 18
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news
News Briefs By sydney santos
Get to Know
Astronaut Returns From Space-Cation
Eugenia Montsaroff
Photo by Maggie Emerton Meet Eugenia Montsaroff, the turquoise-haired freshman writer, actress, playwright, and more. Montsaroff is no stranger to the spotlight -- in fact her career began when she was only eight years old. She has performed major lead roles such as E.K. Hornbeck, in Inherit the Wind, and Macduff, in Macbeth. Her playwriting credits include a statewide victory and national honorable mention awarded to her in the 2013 Young Playwrights For Change competition. From onstage to off, Montsaroff knows a thing or two about creativity and self expression through the arts. “I started acting [in] summer camps [...] and a lot of Shakespeare in the Park,” shares Montsaroff who was originally inspired to pursue this path by her ex-actor father. Taking after the family passion, Montsaroff has brought her performing skills with her to Garfield, stage managing the very first Dramatic Pause production this year and serving as a key member of the Drama Club. Despite her on-stage skills, Montsaroff feels that pursuing a writing career is a more plausible option. “I also wanted to be a writer and [...] as a career path [acting] would probably be a hobby.” Montsaroff ’s writing career is just as noteworthy as her acting, as she has numerous published poems in youth literary journals. Montsaroff has come far in the world of the arts for her age, and continues to grow in literary and artistic stature. The next time you’re experiencing writer’s block or are in an imagination slump, look to creative Eugenia Montsaroff for some artistic inspiration. -FT
willful ignorance By Quinn Sullivan I love my grandparents, but I’m afraid that they might be the epitome of willful ignorance. A willfully ignorant person is intentionally unaware about things they don’t want to have to admit. This often equates to the avoidance of topics like race, gender, environmental issues, and other controversies. There are many reasons for my grandparents’ ignorance. One of these is Fox News. Whether it be their astounding lack of truth, incredible racism, or ability to withhold all important information, this power media source has many avid fans. Oddly enough, a study at Fairleigh Dickinson University has shown that people who watch Fox News are less informed than people who don’t watch the news at all. We are all prone to societal stereotypes, but it’s those who challenge them that rise above such restrictions. It’s easy to ignore hard topics and give excuses for injustice, but it’s not right. When someone is willfully ignorant, they have a certain level of consciousness that they choose not to face. Global Warming is the perfect example. Despite the fact that at least 97 percent of scientists believe in this international crisis, some Americans continue to
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disregard the truth. This blows my mind. Willful ignorance comes from a place of laziness. There is no doubt that positive societal changes are difficult to tackle, but if we sit here idly while other people suffer, the world will break out into chaos. Giving people the benefit of the doubt is a slippery slope when it comes to issues of injustice. If we are too optimistic, we can deny that problems exist. Garfield students pride themselves in attending a diverse and accepting school. While this is generally true, it is also easy for some of us to ignore our issues. Our school struggles with cliques, racial stereotyping, microaggressions, sexism, and more. Even here at Garfield, people feel like social outcasts. That is something that a lot of us overlook. In order to improve our school as a whole, we have to educate ourselves and each other about the weaknesses that we have. Knowing about them, yet forcing them to the back of our minds and doing nothing is willful ignorance in a nutshell. Among the generation of our grandparents, willful ignorance is somewhat inevitable. However, at this point in our lives, and for dozens of years to come, we should maintain a conscious mindset.
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
After spending 340 days in space and travelling 144 million miles, 52-year old American astronaut Scott Kelly landed in remote Central Asia on March 1. His visit exceeded the previous American record, which was set at 215 days in 2006. The motive behind this trip was to see space travel’s long-term effects on the human body. NASA scientists will study Kelly’s health in order to gain information for a potential manned Mars mission.
more Threats From North Korea
On March 7, North Korea threatened a nuclear strike in response to the U.S.South Korean military exercises occurring in South Korea. Although North Korea is known to make similar threats during these annual joint drills, this announcement is taken more seriously. After the Asian state announced their successes in nuclear testing, tensions have been bigger between North Korea and the U.S., especially when the United Nations imposed several sanctions restricting North Korea’s experiments.
Apple vs. FBI
When the FBI requested for Apple’s assistance in early February to unlock a San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone, it sparked a major legal war. Now a month into the case, the government and tech companies’ battle has challenged the protection of cell phone users worldwide. Apple CEO Tim Cook initially refused to help, for Apple would have to produce a new software that would undermine the security rights of it’s customers and potentially create easy access to millions of people’s private data. However, the FBI argues that not hacking into an extremist phone compromises the safety of the public.
Disappointing Michigan Loss for Clinton
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders won the Michigan primary on March 8, beating Hillary Clinton and upsetting her expectations for an easy party nomination. Before the caucus, polls indicated that support for Clinton was much stronger in Michigan, making Sander’s win unexpected. While Clinton has maintained a 200-delegate lead over her competition, the loss indicates that Sanders could potentially be a bigger threat to Clinton’s campaign than the former first lady expected.
About the cover
This cover was made in tribute to the human beings as well as the animals who live on this planet, but are in danger of disappearing from the earth due to the exploitation of land and resources by large corporations and governments. Species of animals such as the White Bengal Tiger, Panda Bear, Polar Bear, Blue Throated Macaw and Snow Leopard are among the 16,000 species in danger of becoming extinct. The Naga people of Myanmar, the Tharu people of Nepal, the Ariaal people of Kenya, and the Quechua people of South America are among the twohundred and fifty million indigenous people left on the Earth who are in danger of vanishing forever. We give tribute to the beings whose lives, identities, cultures, and lands have been stolen, abused, colonized and continue to be exploited. We hope that you, the reader, honor the special human and animal beings who make up our earth, providing us with beauty and another way to see the world. Love, Urpi and Hera
Photos from: National Geographic August 1999, National Geographic September 2000, Endangered Cultures by Wolfe John Isaac, The Vanishing Tribes of Burma by Richard K. Diran
News Teacher Salaries
Changes imminent in school funding.
U
By Julia Robaidek
can be voted down, and result in an unequal distribution of funds, with school districts in higher-income areas able to raise more revenue. The decision stated that Washington should raise more dependable statewide taxes to go toward the education budget. The new requirements in funding must be met by 2018, meaning the impacts will come into effect over the next two school years. Recently, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill, SB-6195, creating a task force on teacher compensation in order to comply with the court’s decision. At Garfield, the average salary for a full time teacher is $63,000. With the United States ranking twelfth worldwide in terms of teacher pay, this salary is comparably high when weighed against the national average. Across the country, teachers make an average salary of $41,000 a year. Despite the higher pay locally, the cost of living in Seattle is 24% TEACHERS’ SALARIES in percent of GDP per capita higher than naStarting salary After 15 years Amount gained tional averages Korea 1.28 2.21 0.93 and is rapidly Germany 1.27 1.58 0.31 increasing. BeUSA 0.78 0.98 0.2 fore this year’s New Zealand 0.7 1.38 0.68 strike, Seattle’s
teachers had not reGraphics by Cora Andersen ceived a cost-of-living increase in six years, pushing teachers farther and farther out of the city to live, increasing their time commuting and their spending on transportation costs. These increased costs could push teachers into neighboring school districts, and more qualified teachers may leave the profession entirely for more lucrative job opportunities. Mary Cohan, a math Average teacher salary by state in the Northwest. teacher at Garfield, says the living expense in the area have been teachers in the district. It will also take too high for her, causing her to move back into account the restrictions of school in with her parents. levies and move to funding from state tax“I couldn’t spend half my paycheck on es. Within the task force’s budget is funds living, [...] so then I moved home,” she to hire a consultant on teacher salary. says. “A lot of times, people who would be reAfter the strike, teachers won a 14.3% ally qualified for the job shy away from it pay increase over three years. SB-6195 because of the pay,” says Cohan. “There’s could grant them further increases. The just a lot of things discouraging passionate task force will investigate cost of living in- people from this job, and it takes passion creases in Seattle in an attempt to retain to make a successful [...] teacher.”
nder Washington’s Constitution, the state’s paramount duty is to “make ample provisions” for education. In early 2012, the Washington Supreme Court found the state legislature in constitutional violation for underfunding education. In this ruling, the McCleary decision, the court began levying a $100,000 a day against the state until the funding problem is rectified starting August 13, 2015. The court’s ruling in McCleary v. State stated that “ample provisions” meant more that just meeting basic requirements. The McCleary decision means that state legislature must obtain billions of dollars in tax revenue in order to properly fund education. The courts also found that the state was relying too much on local levies, which are placed on a city as a result of a vote by that city’s citizens. Local levies are less reliable because they
Be Fierce, Be Bold, Beyoncé
Police officers boycott Beyoncé’s “Formation.” By Quinn Sullivan With the surprise release of her new song “Formation,” Beyoncé has outraged police officers across the country. Set in New Orleans, Louisiana, this controversial production has led cops to believe they are under attack. Through “Formation,” Beyoncé expresses a message of female empowerment and black pride. She also touches on the issue of police brutality. These themes are further evident in her explicit music video. Singing “okay, ladies, let’s get in formation,” Beyoncé calls for strong women to join together. In a similar fashion, she calls out “I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making.” This statement reflects upon Beyoncé’s confidence as a strong black woman. She also emphasizes her black southern pride with phrases like “I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros” and “I like
my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils.” These lines point towards the pride she has in being black, embracing her natural beauty. Beyoncé also slips in elements of police brutality. Although her lyrics do not specifically reference this concept, various images within the music video do. In the music video, a young black boy is shown dancing in front of a line of police who then raise their hands in a “hands up, don’t shoot” fashion. There is also a shot where graffiti reads “Stop shooting us.” The video ends as Beyoncé is pulled below the water while atop a sinking cop car.
Police first became alarmed by Beyoncé when she and her dance crew wore outfits to replicate the Black Panthers when performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. With a combination of this and the suggestive visuals during the video, some cops have claimed that they fear for their safety. The Guardian highlights a statement made by the Miami Fraternal Order of Police saying that Beyoncé is trying “to divide Americans by prompting the Black Art by Cora Andersen Panthers.” In the article, police officer Javier Ortiz says “I was one of the tens of thousands of law enforcement officers that didn’t watch the
Super Bowl halftime show out of respect for our profession.” Furthermore, cops in Miami have now decided to protest Beyoncé’s upcoming concert. Refusing to support what they see as an offensive message, the cops do not plan to provide security at her concert in Miami. The only officers there will be those that volunteer. These police officers have also made an effort to influence other departments. The Blue Lives Matter pro-police organization has spread the message that Beyoncé should not be supported. In Tampa, Florida, the police force has similar feelings, yet instead of fully boycotting the concert, they are protesting the purchase of Beyoncé’s music. Beyoncé’s Formation World Tour comes to Seattle on May 18th. It will be interesting to see if the Seattle cops decide to boycott.
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features
Out with the Old?
On the corner of gentrification and 23rd.
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he Central District has long been a vibrant Seattle neighborhood, with an extensive history in music and culture. The people of color, who have historically called this neighborhood home, are experiencing a rapid change as one culture displaces another. Over the past thirty years, the Central District has undergone an epic transformation from its historical roots. As moneyed families and upscale businesses move in, soaring rent is forcing residents of color out - whitewashing one of the most diverse Seattle communities n the city. In early February, Vulcan, a real estate and development company headed by Seattle Seahawks owner and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, purchased six acres along the block of 23rd and Jackson in the Central District for $30.9 million. These
master building on Union. Displaced by the hip convenience store and bar, Chuck’s Hop Shop, the business brings a new food truck hipster” demographic to the area. “The new development on 23rd & Union will bring great businesses and new dwellings, and it will drive up even further the cost of living in that area,” says Alex Kostelnik, a Central District resident of twenty years and owner of 20/20 Cycle, a neighborhood bike shop. “[But] it will also increase the property value of nearby housing.” Many long-time residents are being forced by new developments to move to South Seattle and beyond into suburbs like Renton and Kent. According to a study done by the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, every time Graphics by Urpi Ruiz-Angeles
blocks have been home to a variety of commercial and local businesses over the past decades. “The Promenade holds a lot of memories for me,” says Garfield senior Upendo Moore, who has spoken up about the Vulcan deal over social media. “A lot of cultural icons and staples are going to be gone or have already left.” The Promenade currently houses numerous chain businesses such as Walgreens and Taco Del Mar, but has been home to more local communal shops in the past. With a starting construction date of June 2017, Vulcan has far larger and more ambitious plans than tearing down one Red Apple to simply rebuild another. This action of transformation has been a recurring process in the Central District, seen in the closure of the long-standing Copy-
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median housing rent increases $100 in the Seattle area, the homeless population rises fifteen percent. “If you do not own a house or a business, or if you own a business that does not fit well with trends the newcomers want to patronize, it’s game over for you,” says Kostelnik. “You’ll have to leave.” The arrival of new businesses and condominiums, according to Moore, can also contribute to racial and historical erasure of the area. “There is a huge absence of acknowledgement of [the Central District’s] history,” says Moore. Last year, Moore’s employer, the popular Fat’s Chicken and Waffles, was reviewed in a Stranger article. The article, which praised the business, also called it out as an “example of gentrification done right.” However, Moore rejects the label,
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
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Every time the median housing rent increases $100 in the Seattle area, the homeless population rises fifteen percent.
believing that white-owned businesses like Fat’s are not always the culprit. “It’s a business that is black managed and run by people of color,” says Moore. “It’s very family oriented, and holds up [the Central District’s] vibes.” “It’s a blend of joy but also sorrow to be opening a new business right now in a new building that stands where [popular restaurant] Mrs. Helen’s Soul Food used to be,” shares Kostelnik, who has plans to open Electric Lady on the corner of 23rd and Union in the spring. While Kostelnick is a white business owner, he says he can empathize with the patrons and owners of color in the area. “[African Americans] were incarcer-
ated for selling marijuana on the corner of 23rd and Union,” says Kostelnick. “A white guy takes over and makes lot of money from what [African American people] were jailed for.” However, even as examples of gentrification can be seen throughout Seattle and along 23rd, Moore believes the area’s
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By Bella Rowland-Reid & Flora Taagen
whistory is not to be lost. “Keep talkingabout what’s been [in the Central District...] back to Ray Charles and Quincy Jones starting the jazz movement, to the 1980’s Garfield basketball teams, to the future,” says Moore. “We have to keep talking about it and be aware of things that are happening in the community in order to preserve the community.” Seattle has, and will always be, an everchanging city, full of diverse people, perspectives, and neigborhoods. As the city grows and expands as a mecca of culture, computers, and coffee, new history and legacy is being made every day. The key is not losing sight of what got it there.
features
The Noble Throne
Sam LeBlanc’s secret toilet
By Emma Cooper We’ve all had that moment. For some weird reason, you decided to drink a whole Starbucks venti frappuccino during class. You now have to pee. Badly. In fact, you’re 99% sure that you’re going to die if you don’t let it loose. By the end of class, the urge to pee is unrelenting and possibly deadly. When the bell rings, you speedwalk to the bathroom, trying to look casual while not letting loose. People part ways, eyeing you with caution. You break into a sprint, violently pushing innocent pedestrians out of the way. You whip into the bathroom, ready to let it go. Then, your heart stops because there are already ten people in line. You stand there with your numb crotch and lose all faith in the universe. It’s a sad tale that is all too common here at Garfield. But one man has managed to beat the system. During his sophomore year, now-senior Sam LeBlanc found a secret bathroom. That’s right. A student has torn down all societal barriers in this hell hole and discovered a higher power. Sam LeBlanc has become a god. Well, it’s not exactly a secret bathroom. It’s a bathroom within a custodial closet, located on the third floor. LeBlanc prefers to not disclose the exact location. LeBlanc first discovered the bathroom in the second quarter of his sophomore year, when he was out taking a gander in the halls (aka skipping class). “I was just wandering around,” LeBlanc recalls, “and was like, ‘Oh, I wonder what’s behind these doors.’ They were all locked, but one of them was open. It was pretty riveting.” LeBlanc entered the open door and was amazed to find a small room. “It’s kind of like a custodian’s closet.
There were brooms and stuff in it,” LeBlanc remembers thoughtfully. “But then there was another door,” he continues, “and I wanted to see what was behind that door, and there was just this single bathroom.” “It’s your basic, run-of-the-mill bathroom, except it was very clean,” LeBlanc explains. “Not a lot of wear, no
Photo by Addie Oblanas
Mourning the loss of his beloved throne, LeBlanc searches for inner tranquility
graffiti on the walls, unlike our other crappy bathrooms. It was plain, but perfect.” LeBlanc quickly became accustomed to hassle-free bathroom visits and estimates that he visited his secret toilet a couple times per week on average. “I’d go anytime I didn’t want to be in class. I mean, I wouldn’t hang out in the bathroom, but I would find an excuse to use the bathroom,” says LeBlanc. He was determined to keep his toilet a secret from the general riffraff of Garfield, and didn’t even reveal the location to his closest friends. LeBlanc would also be careful to not let anyone see him entering the bathroom. “I don’t believe [anyone knew I was using it],” says LeBlanc, “but I assume the custodians used the bathroom, which is probably how they figured out that I was using it. I must have left some… evidence.” On a fateful day towards the end of his school year, LeBlanc’s idyllic secret bathroom life came to a close. He tried the door to his beloved hideout, only to find that the door was locked. “Originally, I had hoped it was just locked for the day,” recalls LeBlanc with a barely concealed sniffle, “but as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, the sad truth swept over me. I had taken my last poo on my throne. Every now and then, I check the door, praying that it will allow me to enter. But alas, I am not worthy.” LeBlanc believes that students must find the bathroom themselves as a rite of passage. “I believe that it’s part of the quest,” says LeBlanc seriously. To the adventurers of Garfield: may you one day be worthy of the throne. For now, you’re stuck with the public toilets.
So… What Even is a Caucus?
Communities, conversations and candidates By Julia Lin Every 4 years, American voters gather in schools, gyms, and churches to decide which candidate will be their party’s nominee. Washington State Republicans, who held their caucuses in February, will select their delegates at a primary in May. With the Washington State Democratic Caucus just over a week away, voters prepare to participate in neighborhood precinct meetings that kick off the presidential election process. On March 26th, Seattle Democrats will congregate in various locations to caucus. Once they go in, they will separate into three groups: those who “Feel the Bern”, those who are “With Her”, and those who are undecided. The caucus chair will count the number of people for each side and if one of the candidates doesn’t receive 15% of the attendees they
are deemed not viable and are out of the running. From here, supporters of the remaining, viable candidates will try to persuade the undecided voters to choose their candidate. After the undecided choose, the Art by Julia Lin candidate with the most people wins that caucus. “[Caucuses are] kind of like a junior high dance” notes NPR’s Domenico Montenaro. Bernie supporters will go to one side of the meeting area, and Hillary supporters to the other, dividing by “clique.” Not unlike awkward school dances, caucuses are held in a gym, with two groups clustered on opposite sides,
and those who don’t fit into either group floating around the middle. According to Joshua Woods, a Language Arts teacher here at Garfield who attended the 2008 Democratic caucus, caucuses are a good way for citizens to have their voices heard. “People automatically default that the government is bad, that it’s inept, that it’s corrupt, that we don’t have any input. And yet, the caucus system is proof and evidence that we do have access to our government.” Precinct caucuses provide a forum for everyday citizens to share their opinions with neighbors and fellow voters. For people who feel that their one vote in the actual election does not give them enough say in who leads the country, caucuses give them
the power to sway other voters. “It’s the phase of the process where people really truly [...] have influence. It begins to be beyond their one vote.” said Woods. Students who will turn 18 by November 8th (Election Day) can actually participate in the caucus. Although most Garfield students are too young to vote, Jamal Raad, the Communications Director for the Washington State Democrats, still encourages youth to attend caucuses. “Opportunities like this are so rare where you get to meet with your neighbors and have a community conversation about something so important [...] I urge folks to get involved.”
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Opinion
Too Cool For School
Silencing the Debbie Downers of GHS. By Alex Ferry hether it's because we didn't get the class we wanted, or maybe we were mad when they decided to shade the Alder doors, most of us have been guilty of dissing our school at one point in time. However, in the midst of complaints, a lot of people have forgotten what a great school they go to. High school can be a very difficult time for a lot of teens, but it's going to be that way no matter the school. A lot of students at Garfield take their enrollment here for granted. There are students from all over Washington that would do anything just to go to this school, yet I still hear an abundance of complaints each day from students that don’t have everything exactly the way they want it. “I come here from West Seattle, and many people come from up north, super far away,” says senior and ASG president Maddy Kennard. “There are a lot of unique programs once you get here. If they were at other schools, that'd be great, but the fact that they're not kinda says something.” History teacher Richard Truax has worked at three different high schools and expresses that Garfield has many positive aspects to it that a lot of schools lack. “We offer a real diversity of classes, like Marine Science for example– students don't realize what a unique opportunity that is,” says Truax. So if Garfield’s so great why are students complaining about it? Senior Sivan Tratt vented her frustration with how the administration limits what she can do at Garfield. “I'm sick of having to jump through
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hoops with administration to do meaningful things outside the classroom. Administration is restricting experiences like Cultural Relations and field trips where I have learned the most real world skills,” says Tratt. “This sets me back for what the world outside the halls of the viper pit are really like.” A lot of the complaints I hear every day lack knowledgeable information. Is it really administration that’s restricting field trips? Or is it the district tell- Photo by Elliott Hoppe ing them what to do? The Garfieldthing is, none of the students really know, so we make up rumors to compensate for our misconceptions. Truax oversees a lot of the work the staff at Garfield does as head of the history department. He expresses his appreciation for the administration saying, “With the amount of hours it takes to get their job done and the amount of stress they're under, I'd say they're doing great.” Senior Bella Green shared a commonly heard complaint here at Garfield, the counseling office. “Dealing with the counseling office is
one of the biggest challenges of Garfield High School. Even those who are really good at what they do are stretched way too thin,” she says.
is it as bad as people say?
It is common to hear students at Garfield complain about the counseling office, but in reality, there are over 1,500 students at Garfield with only five counselors to fulfill everyone’s needs. Mr. Truax explains that “Counseling has always been a struggle, because we have different communities expecting different services from them. Overall it functions well considering the volume.” Despite the complaints, the staff at Garfield does much more behind the scenes work than students get to see. “Our teachers care a lot more than a lot
of other teachers do. They put in the time for the community events. It might seem like they're not always committed or they don't always want to come, but they do come through when we really need them,” Kennard says. Yes, Garfield has its weaknesses. There are many important existing problems at GHS that need to be addressed, such as racial targeting or the lack of accommodation to non-binary students. However, it’s unfair to the faculty and legacy of GHS to not appreciate the things we have pretty good. And it’s even worse to be complaining about things we don’t even have complete information on. “There are probably legitimate complaints about stuff, but that’s the reality of life. I vent all the time, but you got to find a way to challenge it; you can't expect everything to work the way you want it to work,” says Truax. It’s completely understandable that a lot of kids just hate high school in general for various reasons and don't connect here. But that would most likely be the case regardless the school they went to. But for the kids at Garfield that just think they’re too cool for school, Maddy Kennard says to you: “High school’s not fun all the time, and you don't have to pretend it’s fun. That’s not what being prideful of your school is,” she says. “There might be something that happens with administration that you don't like, and you’re like ‘Hahaha eff Garfield, this is the worst!’ But you have to look past that and realize, because you go to this school, you have a lot more opportunities than other places.”
Use your vote, use your voice By Elena Orlando & Bella Rowland-Reid What is the difference between a caucus and a primary? According to AP US History teacher, Mr. Truax, caucuses are “... are a very public process. Instead of sitting down at home and bubbling in a bunch of things and throwing it in the mail, the idea is that you sit and have a conversation about the candidates. It’s very public..in the state of Washington, you have to stand up and say, “‘I’m voting for Bernie Sanders.’” He says that in our state, “you have to have a high level of commitment to a party to participate, and as a result, very few voters end up participating. It eliminates whimsical voting.” Truax says that both primaries and caucuses help “[the Democratic Party and the Republican Party] to pick one candidate, and to send delegates to the national convention.”
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The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
Why should you vote? It’s no secret that people between the age of 18 and 24 are the least likely to vote. In 2012, only 16% of people in this age group casted a ballot. The more younger people that vote, the more that older, outdated views will dilute, prompting change and progression in American government. You can vote online, ballots arrive at your front doorstep, and your vote does matter. Why else would Hillary Clinton be worried that Bernie Sanders has such a large youth following? Mr. Truax thinks that “African Americans, women, young people, any demographic within a society needs to vote, because if you don’t vote, you’ll be taken for granted.”
In 2012, only 16% of 18-24 year-olds voted in the presidential election.
There are 3,094 seniors in Seattle Public Schools. Encourage your classmates and friends to vote!
March Madness By The Messenger Staff
Graphics by Carson Jones and Danny Levy You Got Schooled- Mr. Lee, Mr. Fell, Mr. Willis, Mr. Townsend, Mr. Williams (V) Dynasty. Winning the tournament last year, this team is without a doubt the team to beat. Leesanity will be back after hitting clutch shot after clutch shot last year, along with new signee Mr. Williams, who will count as a varsity player since he played at UW. With the size combo of Williams and Mr. Willis, this team will be very hard to beat. We will be shocked if they don’t make it to the Final Four. Super Humans + Jashaun- Jashaun Agosto (V), David Willner, Alex Ferry, Caroline Sharp, Isabel Durrie-Vierling There’s no real question who will be counted on to save this team. Yes, the “Super Humans” are solid athletes, but Agosto may have to score 30 or so for this team to win. We’re hoping for a few dunks as well. 3 Guys 1 Hoop- Caleb Stocker, Oscar Burney, Brad Huffaker 3 veteran senior boys- so much experience...they really know their way around the rack. With plenty of height and some quality rec basketball experience, these boys can easily tickle the twine. Elite Eight contender, and a possibility to pull off an upset of You Got Schooled. Freshmen 5- Josh Chestnut, Jasper Brannon, Costa Glass The Freshmen 5- clearly not your math wizzes, and its unconfirmed if they ever passed 9th grade. On the off chance they realize there is in fact only three of them, this team could be able to upset the staff team. Lots of height and athletic ability- but no common sense. G.O.A.T.’s- Cameron Houghton, Sam Chotzen, Nicolas Bishop, Aiden McCleary, Christopher Leonard It’s always fun to see freshmen teams sign up, and the look of hope on their smiling faces. While this team may not have much of a shot in the long run, they do boast some talent, with Chotzen and Leonard being adept ball handlers. Unfourtunatly for them, in this case size does matter. We will crown them automatic champions if they bring in live goats.
Fire D12 Prospects- Aidin Montefisher, Alphonso Anderson (V), Justin Leonard, Rocky Chen, Spencer Cook A “questionable” 1-seed last year, this team silenced any doubts by dominating several teams before their exit. Building on last year’s success, the team added varsity star Alphonso Anderson, making them a likely title contender. While Anderson will command the post, Chen and Cook are serious deep threats. Leonard will be the defensive presence they need, while Montefisher will be allowed one shot a game by the rest of the team. Watch out. #GodisGood- Klaus Bachuber, Jae Abrams, George Otis, Riley Connor #StupidName. The classic March Madness team. Falling last year in a shootout, this team will return to make a deep run. Bachuber will have to find his red-hot scoring touch from last year, while Connor and Otis will have to control the post. Jae “The Vacuum” Abrams hopefully will use his airtight defense to lead this team onwards and upwards. Crocka Flocka Flames- Chan Huynh, Mason Gong, Isaac Kim, Kaiji Obras, Calvin Chan While it’s unknown if they will play in Crocs, this team enters the tournament as a major question mark. Huynh’s screams will undoubtedly be heard echoing throughout the gym as the game wears on, and it remains to be seen if Obras can stop “eating good” to play at lunch. Needless to say, a team with four seniors could make a strong run, but it remains to be seen how far these boys can go.
Earth Nothing but Fnet- Will Ojemann, Brock Fenbert, Liam Conner, Alex Miller, Gabe Kaplan-Nelson Physically, these boys are somewhat athletic, and have enough math skills to give a little to the freshman 5. If Ojemann has improved his basketball skills from last summer, and Kaplan-Nelson can run the point, these boys are a solid underdog. The question will be how the rest of these ‘17 boys perform. The Clique- Claire Boudour, Sydney Santos, Maia Nelson, Julia Olson, Kepler Swanson It’s a mystery of how Swanson was flossed in to this clique, but he will be heavily relied upon to give this team any chance of winning. Santos has a strong basketball background apparently, but the rest of the supporting cast may encounter some shooting issues. Maybe they pull off a win and shock the world. F Holes- Sami Braman, Riley Calcagno, Leo Shannon, Sophie Boyd-Fleigel, Emma Chrisman These fiddlers have exchanged their instruments for basketballs, as they will face an intriguing matchup in the play-in game against the Matzah Ballers. Braman showed she’s a tough opponent last year as part of the Messenger Mamacitas, and Calcagno and Shannon complete the Onlies lineup. Worst case scenario, the bench plays some awesome music during the game. Matzo Ballers- Sivan Tratt, Gabe Curhan, Sally Witter, Micah Tratt You can watch for the legacy, but don’t watch for the basketball. The Matzo Ballers may be in a partial “rebuilding” stage this year. Regardless of their outcome on the court, the TrattAttack should be lethal. @_MoBeaver- Moet Beaver, Aidan Chestnut, Danny Levy In terms of entertainment, there may be no better team than this. With selfproclaimed “awesome defense player” Moet Beaver to lead the charge, Chestnut and Levy might not have to do much else- except score all the team’s points. Beaver has also pledged not to break a nail during the competition, so expect a lot of passing- A LOT. Messenger Mamacitas- Delaney Connor, Bronwen Street, Izzi Olive, Kate Mulligan, Anika Thomas-Toth After a disappointing first round exit by last year’s Mamacitas, these gals have put together a very strong team. Connor’s height, Olive’s speed, and Street’s street creds, these ladies could be ready to go pull of some upsets. And despite their lack of basketball skills, these girls are proven athletes ready to pounce on unfortunate teams. Asian Persuasion- Aiyu Chen, Joshua Wang, Andrew Chan, Allan Duong One of the best named teams, but this team will have to persuade it’s opponents to lose. Or pull off sneaky wins and create some havoc in the Fire Bracket. Either way, they have a good first round matchup against Crocka Flocka Flames, and should be a fun team to watch. Wet Ballerz Revival- Henry Hayes, Sten Tolgu, Thomas Tolgu, Luka Bedalov Wet Ballerz had a good run their last time on the floor, and they have brought in some youth in hopes of a lasting legacy. This team is in the running for making the most noise, and the intimidation factor may be too much to control for their opponent. SeXC Ladies- Emma Cooper, Flora Taagen, Lena Stern, Marte Borgmann, Lily Hayes While this team may be able to outrun anyone in the tournament, their lack of general basketball skills may be a bit of a challenge. Also with their entire team being under 5’6”, problems may emerge with bigger opponents. Kooper and Taagen will have some Mess Guess team chemistry, perhaps propelling them to a huge upset.
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
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Stinky Pete and the Boys- Eli Wilson, Henry Bates, Peter Walsh, Travis Weaver After losing in what was perhaps the greatest March Madness game ever last year, the trio of Wilson, Bates, and Walsh picked up the underrated Weaver to complete their squad. This team can do it all, combining pinpoint shooting with lockdown defense. Peter “Simple Pete” Walsh is a rec legend, and Wilson and Bates are superb wingmen. If Weaver can perform at a high level, another Final Four trip (and possibly a title) wait in their future. Babbages- Ariel Steinbach, Maddy Kennard, Cameron Dacey, Lucas Halloway, Terrell Brown (V) There’s no question this team has a solid core. With TB3 and Halloway both standout basketball players, and a strong bench of Steinbach, Kennard, and Dacey, Babbages has an opportunity to make the Elite Eight for sure. Multi-sport athletes have a long tradition of winning in March Madness, and this team is no different. BC Ballers- Ken Masumoto, Mikio Habu, Kyle Ting, Andrew Ni, Diallo Wilson One of the longest running team names in tournament history, the BC Ballers look ready to advance past the first round for the first time ever. With a solid mix of both size, speed, and height, these senior boys may have found a winning formula. While success past the 2nd round will determine their legacy, these boys will be making the math community proud just by stepping on the hardwood. Jarah MacFarlane Fan Club- Jack Graves, Quinn Tonelli, Jack Bryant, Aiden Siemann, Calvin Nilson Another competitive freshmen team. While their name leaves a few questions, the athletic ability of these young boys may get them a win or two. Bryant has JVC experience, while Siemann could be a breakout player. Not a lot else is known about this team, but anything could happen. Captain Crunch and the Cereal Killerz- Andrew Woodworth, Nelson Huffaker, Jonas Hyllseth, Evan DeTurk, Rogan Zangari Sophomore boys that are serious and ready to make a run; it’s the heart and soul
r e t a w We Are Geeked- Max Nall, Markele Lilly, Zubin Kopischke, Asante Seraile These boys form a very interesting team, built upon solid JV caliber depth. With three JV members (though Nall and Seraile left mid season), including Markele “Bobop” Lilly, this team has a serious shot of going deep into the tournament. Watch out for Kopischke- he will attempt to transfer his marginal baseball success onto the court. The Greats- Jordan Jackson, Will Marley, Romeo Johnson, Shedrick Johnson, Nikko Jordan Debatably the dark horse of March Madness, The Greats are quietly one of the strongest teams in the tournament, and are ready to put on a show. The football studs will take their chemistry on to the court, with Johnson a proven threat from the perimeter. Jackson has the size to work the post, and Marley is one of the quickest athletes in the tournament. A Sweet 16 lock for sure, definitely in the champion discussion. Rock Hards- Carson Jones, Keenan Simpson, Elliott Hoppe, Patty Walsh Avid rock climbers, this is one of the more entertaining teams you will see this year. Jones will push his Messenger responsibilities to the side in order to carry this team, while Walsh will hope to replicate his older brother’s success. While Hoppe may not have any hops, he will provide valuable minutes, and Simpson will bring his Canadian competitive spirit with him at all times. It’ll be interesting to see what these bahds are able to accomplish.
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The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2015
Wind of the March Madness tournament. But let’s be honest, is this team really going to make it past round two? Doubtful. This team has good height, but all of them put together probably weigh as much as one senior boy. If this team wants be successful they are going to need the Jonas brother to knock down some threes, and DeTurk to be DeBest JVC player ever. UbUmBallers- Jess Juanich, Isaiah Tensae, Serigne Diakhate One of the biggest question marks of the tournament. If any of these guys are secretly basketball superstars, then a Cinderella run is definitely within their grasp. Maybe Juanich has written a ukelele hype song that will be the key to their success. Project Bada**- Noah Podolske, Alex Lopez, Max Chinowsky, Henry Conner, Daniel Beard More junior boys, and more questions about what to expect from their performance. Pulling a tough first matchup, they have a chance to win if they can hit all their shots. But their team name suggests this project is still in the works. Cream Team- Conor Gormally, Declan Farr, Connor Steen, Sonja Borgmann, Kyra Keller This team gains points for a creative name, but it’s unknown where any actual points will come from. They do have some height, and a few athletes, but the last time any of them picked up a basketball is unknown. Longshot to upset Stinky Pete and the Boys. Lucy’s Team- Lucy Kolpa, Noelle Kim, Carlin Bills, Elise Morris, Kayla Whitsel These ladies could be ready to advance to the next round behind the abilities of Bills, who is better than half the players in this tournament. The rest of this girl’s soccer squad may not be the best basketball players, but their team chemistry could pull them to an upset over Ice Water. Ice Water- Evan Owens, Oscar Harding, Peyton Menti, Stephen Rothrock, Noah Neubauer We’re hoping their team name applies to their clutch ability, not that they are ice cold shooters. Noah “Orange Ice” Neubauer will be relied on heavily to lead this team, and will get marginal support from the rest of his sophomore crew. If they can advance past the first round, they could be in a good position to advance through the Ice Bracket. Mike Hawk- Spencer Mann, Kevin Nguyen, Miles Paddock, Atticus Pennylegion-Hurley The reincarnated Boat Shoe Ballers, what this team lacks in basketball skills they make up for in creativity. Paddock is a proven half court shot monster, so watch out for that. With a big first round game against many of their associates, an upset may be brewing in the Ice Bracket. QAKAS- Luke Levasseur, Ben Lindenburg, Kathy Proulx, Oscar Zahner, Zack Cohen If these guys can pull of a win, it would be a major shock. Sure, they have some height and muscle, but with limited basketball skills, it’d take a minor miracle for them to beat The Greats. Who knows, Proulx may be ready to unleash her basketball abilities on the world. Lovre’s Baddies- Bella Rowland-Reid, Sage Kalil, Barnaby Woods, Jamie Williams This team may learn reading about basketball only takes one so far. While the team definitely has a lot of potential, no proven basketball players may sink them quickly. Also, a severe lack of height (Mr. Lovre?). Perhaps a surprising Cinderella team.
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Thrift Tour
A first-hand guide to second-hand shopping.
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By Susana Davidson
magine you’re walking down the hallway and you spot a funky fresh shirt. You ask the person where they got the top and they say, “thrift store.” You are crushed. How will you ever find a shirt as funky and as fresh as that one? I’m here to tell you not to worry. Second hand stores are not as intimidating as you might think and there are certain steps you can take to maximize your shopping experience. Plan out a pre-game strategy. First, shop with a full stomach or snack on-thego. Consider different eateries close to your destination. Shopping hungry makes people more irritable and distracted. You might miss the outfit of a lifetime. Second, wear something simple. A lightweight t-shirt and jeans are a good foundation for any outfit. It is important to remember that thrift shopping takes time and patience. Thrift stores are organized differently than department stores. In department stores, you can see everything they have to offer at first glance: The t-shirt that mannequin is wearing? You can find 100 of them to the right. Thrift stores are a different story. Every item is one of a kind. “We get tons of cool and unique stuff every day,” says Amber Clark Girtch, manager of Red Light Vintage and Costume. That is why 11th grader, Zoë Russell prefers thrifting
to name brand shopping. “The clothes downtown and at malls are generally all the same style and are made for a certain
work your way back. Rather than scanning the racks for interesting pieces, get intimate. Step up to the merchandise and
Photo by Susana Davidson
Damn Red Light, back at it again with the 50% off! look, whereas there’s a larger variety at thrift stores and I can find clothes that match my specific style,” she says. OK, so you’ve made it to the store. If you have an item in mind, head to that section. If not, start from the front and
The real o'neals
flip through each item. If you see anything remotely appealing, grab it. You’ll have the chance to put things back later. Now is a good time to talk about thrift store etiquette. Girtch has a lot to say on the subject. “Don’t let yourself into a fit-
ting room or bring your friend or partner in with you. And putting your items back on the hanger inside out is the same thing as throwing your items on the floor,” says Girtch. She also reminds customers to be respectful of the space and their impact on it. In other words, don’t drip your frappachino on that vintage pair of Levi’s. After you’ve reduced your pile of findings into the items that you absolutely love and can afford, it’s time to get serious. Take a closer look at each item and inspect it for rips, stains and smudges. “I’ve found clothes I love just to discover holes in weird places or broken zippers,” says Russell. If there are rips, will you take the time to fix them? Is it machine washable? If not, are you prepared to wash it by hand? Finally, you are ready. You walk up to the register with your items in hand, prepared for rush of compliments you will receive. Thrifting has increased in popularity over the last ten years and has become a great alternative to name brand shopping. “Thrifting is a way to discover unique clothes that help you build a personal style that you can’t find anywhere else,” says Russell. “It is less expensive and more exciting. You never know what you might find.”
The latest of ABC's family sitcoms. By Bronwen Street For the past few years, ABC Family has been the host to a series of quirky family comedies, each one adding a new perspective to the nuclear unit: The Goldbergs, Modern Family, The Middle, Blackish. The Real O’Neals premiered March 2, featuring a seemingly- perfect Catholic family gets a serious reality check by a string of stunning revelations in the first episode. This show delves into darker issues than its fellow ABC sitcoms, but is presented in the same buoyant, cheery style. It’s a strange hybrid of tones that shouldn’t really work but somehow does. When it was first pitched, the show was supposed to be an autobiographical account about the adolescent years of the renowned activist and author Dan Savage, but has since adapted to be more loosely inspired by his growing years. Savage is
perhaps best known for his sex advice column “Savage Love,” which is published in The Stranger. The pilot episode centers mostly on the family’s golden boy Kenny, who is struggling to come out of the closet, a similar experience to the one Savage tells of his younger days. The calamities: The two parents announce their impending divorce as Kenny’s younger sister Shannon simultaneously confesses to being a kleptomaniac and that she is questioning her belief in god, whilst Kenny’s older brother Jimmy reveals that he has an eating disorder. However, the biggest revelation for the family was Kenny coming out. With Kenny at the head, The Real O’Neals explores the tensions that arise in a modern but religious family. This show lightly jokes about the paradoxes of reli-
gion, though not with the contempt that the Family Research Council claimed. According to The Huffington Post, The Family Research Council used this claim for the basis of their attack against the show, demanding that ABC cancel it before it even aired. However, the series isn’t offensive in the way that this reaction might suggest. The Real O’Neals is really about coming out as a teenager, and what happens when loved ones can’t integrate that with their religious beliefs. Similar to The Goldbergs or The Middle, the show is a upbeat comedy with occasional unrealistic and imaginative plot twists, but also like Black-ish in that it’s not afraid to address more sensitive issues in a humorous way. In each of the first few episodes, the plot line revolved around se-
rious issues: questioning the existence of God, anorexia, losing one’s virginity, and getting bullied. These conflicting themes may seem ill fitted, but this may in fact serve a deeper purpose.With each case, the matriarch of the family, Eileen tried to push these truths about her children away and put on a perfect facade for the public. Of course, something always goes wrong, and all the secrets she’s trying to conceal spill out -a result made more purposeful because of the mix of style and content. Next time you’re in the mood for a comedy with a kick, give The Real O’Neals a shot; you may be surprised at what it’s got to offer.
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2015
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a&e Quest For The Best: Food Delivery
An odyssey to find Seattle’s greatest delivery service.
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By Julia Lin & Sydney Santos
ou just got home after a long day at school. Throughout all six classes, you’ve been fantasizing about the snack you’ll devour when you get home.`But, when you open the fridge, nothing looks like it will satisfy your tenacious cravings. Plus, you just pulled on your comfiest Hello Kitty onesie and have some Pretty Little Liars to catch up on. If you’re ravenously hungry but don’t feel like moving from the couch...who you gonna call? Luckily for you, we’ve gone on a quest for the best food delivery services in the 206 so all famished bulldogs can efficiently satisfy their hunger. Read below to meet your new best friends! Grubhub (Ordered from La Cocina Oaxaquena on Pine) Timeliness: When I first ordered, the estimated delivery time was 55 minutes to my house in Capitol Hill. But, as I refreshed the delivery tracker, it ended up taking about 20 minutes longer than expected. The website was helpful because I could see in real time when my food was picked up and where the driver was. 3/5 Customer Service: The driver said “You’re welcome” after I thanked him. 4/5 How Easy it is to Use: The website is straightforward. I simply entered my address and they gave me a ton of local restaurants, with lots of filters so I could find the one that was right for me. All I had to do was select my items and order. 5/5 Restaurant Options: They gave me a list of 70 restaurants located from downtown to Capitol Hill. 4/5 Cost: The delivery cost was $2 with no order minimum. They even gave me a promo code for being a first time customer so I got $10 off! (this promotion lasts all month long) 5/5 Food: The Mexican food was still in tact when it arrived, but it was room temperature and slightly soggy. 3/5 Total: 24/30 Postmates (Ordered from Blue Moon Burgers on Broadway) Timeliness: The Blue Moon Burgers’ page on the Postmates website noted that it would take 30 minutes to deliver my order from the restaurant to my location in Montlake. I happily received my burger 30 minutes later, as promised. 5/5 Customer Service: The woman who delivered my order was very polite. 5/5 How Easy it is to Use: The website was very well organized and easy to navigate. There were boxes to designate any special requests for the order. I was also able to track my deliverer online as they biked my order to me. One downside was that I had to set up an account for the website, but now I can easily order food again without having to re-enter credit card or address information. Total: 4.5/5 Restaurant Options: The Postmates website had
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The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
around 45 restaurants of varying cuisines in the Seattle region for me to choose from. Total: 4/5 Cost: The cost for delivering my $20 meal for two was $5. Total: 4/5 Food: The fries were still warm when I received the meal, and the brioche bun of my build-your-own burger was nice and fluffy. Total: 5/5 Total: 28/30 Bite Squad (Ordered from Daawat Grill on Pike) Timeliness: At first, the estimated delivery time was 70 minutes. Once I actually placed the order the estimated time was 45, but it continued to fluctuate. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication and the restaurant I originally ordered from was closed. I received a call from Bite Squad apologizing and offering rushed delivery and a $15 dollar credit. With the rushed
Art by Danny Levy
delivery it took about 30 minutes. 4.5/5 Customer Service: I was extremely impressed with their customer service. The person who called me concerning the miscommunication was very friendly and I was able to use the website’s live chat function to place a new order. 5/5 How Easy it is to Use: The website was easy to use. I chose my food, entered my information, placed the order, and done! In addition, the delivery tracker includes a photo of your driver which is a good safety precaution. 4/5
Restaurant Options: Once I entered my address, the website generated a list of over 200 restaurants near me which I could filter through. It also provided Yelp reviews which helped me make sure I was picking a good restaurant. 5/5 Cost: They charged $4.99 for delivery. In addition, (for the humanitarian in you) Bite Squad makes their drivers employees, unlike many other delivery services, so there was an additional $5.67 charge. This compensates for the benefits that come with employing their drivers, such as health care, insurance and more. 4/5 Food: The curry arrived nice and hot thanks to the driver’s fun and functional insulated side bag. 5/5 Total: 27.5/30 Caviar (Ordered from Pinkaew Thai in Laurelhurst) Timeliness: The Caviar website gave an exact time for the delivery’s arrival, which was within an hour of placing my order. However, the deliverer showed up almost 20 minutes early with my food. 4.5/5 Customer Service: The deliverer was very friendly and thanked us after we got our meal. 5/5 How Easy it is to Use: The website was well laid-out and was accommodating to special diets. While I did have to set up an account before placing my order, I can easily continue using the delivery service using the default settings. I was also able to track the deliverer as they brought my food. 5/5 Restaurant Options: The website had more than 60 restaurants in the Seattle area to choose from. However some of the restaurants were out of my zone, and only after creating my order did the website inform me that I couldn’t place it. 3/5 Cost: Since the restaurant I chose was being promoted, delivery cost for my order was free! However, for most orders the cost can range from $2-7, depending on how far away the restaurant is from your location. 4/5 Food: My phad thai and pineapple fried rice were nice and hot thanks to my deliverers’ insulated bag. 5/5 Total: 26.5/30
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where have the years gone?
Tsutakawa celebrates 30 years directing the orchestra.
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By Hannah Tacke
efore the Side-by-Side concert with the Garfield High School orchestra, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray proclaimed Tuesday, March 1, 2016 “Marcus Tsutakawa Day” in honor his 30 years of teaching and service at Garfield High School. After a thirty year teaching career, Marcus Tsutakawa can count reinvigorating Garfield’s music program into one of the nation’s top high school music programs as one of his greatest achievements. Alongside Clarence Acox, Garfield’s jazz band director since 1979, the two built the program from the ground up and cultivated an immersive environment that surrounds young musicians in the resources needed to develop their skills. In 1985, Tsutakawa, known as “Tsut,” began teaching music lessons at Garfield High School. Coming in with a degree in music composition, Tsut was able to grow a program - one with little student involvement - into one that interested musicians at the school. “I had them playing a lot of great music that the kids found exciting,” says Tsut. “Kids liked it and wanted to join the program.” Starting with a small orchestra of little regard, Tsut was able to cultivate interest by exposing musicians to a new, more im-
mersive way of playing in a group. Tsut in- band, the orchestra helped transform the troduced musicians to real, difficult sym- high school into a nationally regarded muphonies and challenged students to set a sical powerhouse. higher standard for the orchestra’s expecWith the overwhelming number of tations. Garfield Senior and bass player, participating students, the orchestra Liya LaPierre has studied under Tsut and is separated into three distinct groups. the Seattle Youth Symphony since fresh- Through auditions, students are placed in men year. “You know he expects a lot out either Orchestra A or B with all incoming of you just Photo by Brandon Patoc freshmen in the way beginning in he deals Orchestra with failure. C. “A lot of He’s very people end calm and up doing collected really well but you also once they know he reach the wants you top orchesto succeed, tra because not for himthey’ve been self but for through you,” she these years says. of trainWith the Tsutakawa conducting during the Side-by-Side concert. ing,” says orchestra growing, the community took LaPierre. By nurturing students through notice when they began winning local specific placing, Tsut’s system allows stucompetitions and were annual victors of dents to accumulate skill and experience the Northwest Orchestra Festival. Soon, by working towards the final, and most middle schools sought the opportunity to prestigious, symphony. get into Garfield. “It’s an unofficial muAs well as conducting Garfield’s orsic magnet,” says Tsut. Alongside the jazz chestra, Tsutakawa directs the second Se-
attle Junior Symphony Ensemble and has been for the last fifteen years. “It’s been a lot of fun. The students are wonderful and they try hard so it’s a great job as opposed to grading stacks of essays,” says Tsut. By dedicating a sixth day of his week to work with the Seattle Youth Symphony, the impact of Tsutakawa’s dedication to teaching has raised a confidence in young musicians that is unique to its community. Brock Fenbert has been in the brass sections of Garfield’s music program through both the jazz band and the orchestra, and notes Tsutakawa’s unique presence in the band room. “He has a very calm disposition,” he says. Through his smooth composure, Tsut transmits a very subtle but firm sense of confidence in the talents of his musicians. A teacher is meant to educate, yes, but also to inspire excitement in students that is independent from high school routine. Too often does interest get lost in translation, but through mentors that fight against apathy and promote a work ethic in students, excitement is fostered. Thank you, Mr. Tsutakawa, for your thirty years dedicated to Garfield and for nurturing a love for music in generations of students.
top 15 feminist jams for women's history month By Susana Davidson & Emma Cooper
Art by Elliott Hoppe
1. Run The World (Girls) Beyonce “Who will buy it for themselves and get more money later.
6. World Princess Pt. II Grimes “Back at the first page, shut the game, for you, it ain’t.”
11. Can’t Get Enough Of Myself - Santigold ft. B.C. “Ain’t a gambler but honey I’d put money on myself.”
2. BO$$ Fifth Harmony “C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T. That’s me, I’m confident.”
7. Rebel Girl Bikini Kill “When she talks, I hear the revolution. In her hips, there’s revolutions.”
12. Bad Girls M.I.A. “Going up, b*tch. I’ll see it for a million. Accelerating fast I could do this in a second.”
3. Feeling Myself Nicki Minaj ft. Beyoncé “Cause we dope girls we flawless, we the poster girls for all this.”
8. Crimson Wave Tacocat “Sew a scarlet letter on my bathing suit, ‘cause I’ve got sharks in hot pursuit.”
13. U.N.I.T.Y Queen Latifah “Trying to make a sister feel low. You know all of that gots to go.”
4. Q.U.E.E.N Janelle Monáe “March to the streets ‘cause I’m willing and I’m able. Categorize me, I defy every label.”
9. Respect Aretha Franklin “Ooo, your kisses. Sweeter than honey. And guess what? So is my money.”
5. Piece of Me Britney Spears “And with a kid on my arm I’m still an exceptional earner. And you want a piece of me.”
10. Just A Girl No Doubt “The moment that I step outside. So many reasons for me to run and hide.”
14. None Of Your Business Salt N Peppa “How many rules am I to break before you understand. That your double-standards don’t mean sh*t to me?” 15. You Don’t Own Me Lesley Gore “You don’t own me. Don’t tie me down ‘cause I’d never stay.”
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
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A&E Super Women
Four Americans everyone should know. By Elena Orlando
ELLA BAKER (1903-1986) Inspired by her grandmother who had been born a slave, Ella Baker became an influential leader in the Civil Rights Movement by encouraging others to be courageous in their actions. Working alongside legendary people such as, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, Baker contributed to the movement in a significant though underappreciated way. She helped get young African Americans involved by helping to create the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (SNCC) in 1960, as well as the Southern Christian Leadership C o n f e re n c e . Baker focused o n bringing young people, both black and
white together to join in the fight for equality. She organized sit-ins, helped more African Americans utilize their right to vote, and tirelessly worked, earning the title of “the backbone of the Civil Rights movement.”
RACHEL CARSON (1907-1964) Rachel Carson mixed her love of the ocean with her talent in writing to become a trusted voice in America. When few women were studying marine biology and science in general, Carson pursued her passion and shared it with
YURI KOCHIYAMA (1921-2014) Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Yuri Kochiyama and her family were relocated to an internment camp for Japanese-Americans. During the three years she spent in the camp, Kochiyama had her first encounter with the Jim Crow Laws present in the South, and met her husband, who would later join her in fighting for equal rights. Kochiyama became directly involved in the Civil Rights movement when she met Malcolm X in 1963. Kochiyama challenged X on his opposition of integration, helping to influence his point of view. Kochiyama was a Nisei (second-generation
SONIA SOTOMAYOR (1954-present) Born the year of Brown v Board of Education, Sonia Sotomayor faced adversity throughout her life to become the first Latina/Latino Supreme Court Justice.
Art by Cora Andersen
the world through her books. In 1951, Carson published The Sea Around Us, a celebration of the oceans and the wonders contained within them. Carson’s most influential book, Silent Spring (1962), made her an important advocate for the environment. Silent Spring is an exposé on DDT, a chemical widely used following WWII. The government boasted of DDT’s benefits, neglecting to tell the public that it increased the risk of breast cancer and was significantly reducing the country’s bald eagle populations. Thanks to Silent Spring, the public became enraged, and Congress banned the use of DDT within the country.
Japanese-American) woman who defied stereotypes by being an outspoken activist, calling for better schools in Harlem, and pushing President Ronald Reagan to send a formal apology to Japanese-Americans in the 1980s.
The daughter of immigrants from Puerto Rico, Sotomayor grew up in a housing project in the Bronx. Sotomayor worked hard to be admitted to Princeton University, and fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a judge. Though she felt like an outsider at Princeton, where few students were Latina/Latino, Sotomayor bravely pressed the school to hire more Latino teachers and add courses on Latin American history. Sotomayor was President Obama’s choice for Supreme Court justice in 2009, and as well as being the first Latina/Latino justice, she became the third female justice in history.
Choir program setbacks
Garfield performing arts department dealt another blow. By Caleb Stocker & Sydney Santos After a tumultuous 2015, Garfield again does not have a choir or piano teacher. Dr. Timothy Black has left Garfield after spending the first semester at the long-term sub position. Dr. Black’s departure is due to his own decision to take a personal extended leave. Dr. Black’s absence has been felt not just inside the choral program; the responsibilities of Dr. Black went beyond teaching the piano and all the choir classes. “Traditionally, the musical director conducts and runs pit orchestra,” says senior Paul Lawrence. “Up until now I’ve been organizing the pit orchestra. We’re looking for a musical director because it’s a huge task to ask of a student.” Lawrence is also a lead in the upcoming musical, The Addams Family. It will be impossible for him to continue to organize pit orchestra and perform in his lead role.
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The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
Right now the substitute choir position is being filled by Mr. Bersick, who has also subbed for Mr. Sodano in the past. “Ideally it would be best to get a long term sub until they find a permanent teacher to give continuity to the students.” says Bersick. “Without some sense of continuity, it is very difficult for [the students] to gain any real benefit.” Bersick would be open to being a long term sub, but he is not experienced in conducting pit orchestra. The decision on Bersick will likely take a while. “The gears of government move slow,” he says. Seattle Public Schools is known for taking a long time to make these decisions, often because of the impact it can have. “Teachers are naturally held to a higher standard. Anyone responsible for the safety of your loved ones has to be held to that higher standard.
Tsutakawa is also actively looking for a consistent replacement. “I asked the district music supervisor Dr. Pam Ivezic, ‘Do you know of any good subs that will come to tide us over for the rest of the school year?’” Ivezic is aware of the obstacles that Garfield has faced, and is trying to find someone the students can work with. Another possibility is the return of beloved teacher Carol Burton. “Her lawyers asked me if I’d be able to testify and I said I would. I’d love to have Ms. Burton back but it’s totally up in the air,” says Tsutakawa. “She does a fantastic job.” Burton’s hearing for eligibility approaches the first week of April.
Sports
Infiltrating The Cult
Secrets to success in Garfield’s elite marching band.
O
By Emma Cooper
ur marching band embodies Garfield spirit and excellence. They’re at every basketball and football game without fail, and play their hearts out every time. When they play the opening bars of Waka Flocka’s Hard in the Paint, it’s often very difficult to not dance. Sometimes I even have to be physically retrained from break dancing to that song. The fact is, they are swagadelic and take many observers’ breaths away. Yet the fabulous marching band is mysteriously withdrawn. My theory: they are simply so cool that few dare to approach them. As your local sneaky reporter, I decided to dive into the strange and potentially cannibalistic culture of Garfield’s marching band to answer the question: How are they so amazing? One of the reasons that Garfield’s marching band is so strong is because of the Garfield legacy. “The alumni have very high expectations of this school,” explains director Tony Sodano. “Everyone expects the band to be good, and there are pros and cons to that. The pro is that they really want to support you when you’re doing well. At all the schools I’ve worked at, no crowd has been as passionate about their old high school as [former students of] Garfield.” Garfield also has a very unique sound. Sodano describes this as a combination of the styles of traditional school marching band and southern performance-based marching bands. “You go and listen to other bands play-
ing from the greater Seattle area, and nobody sounds like us,” says Sodano. “ We have such a powerful and borderline arrogant confidence. It’s a big sound, it’s aggressive. It’s more of a mature sound.” Another major characteristic of the marching band program is playing for the crowd.
dent section. If people are dancing, then I know it’s going to work. If people aren’t dancing, then I have to pass that song on. It’s not what the Garfield crowd wants.” Huffaker adds, “It’s more like a performance, we’re trying to entertain the crowd.” Part of playing for the crowd means
Photo by Carson Jones
Garfield Marching Band captivates the Tacoma Dome “In music school, the more complex something is, equals better. But that’s not necessarily true,” says Sodano. “It’s about how you reach the audience, how you can connect with people, and how you can affect the athletes on the court. It’s super important that the people on the court relate to us.” “For me,” Sodano continues, “If I write a new song, I test it by looking at the stu-
that the band doesn’t play your typical band music. “We don’t really play the traditional music,” says Huffaker. “We play more pop music. And there’s a lot of dancing that’s not as traditional.” In the past, the marching band’s musical lineup has included contemporary numbers such as “Get Low”, “Trap Queen”, and “Gold Digger”. As far as high school marching bands go, playing current
pop songs with explicit lyrics is pretty revolutionary. Band members are also able to choreograph their own dance moves. Junior band member Max Chinowsky describes his favorite move. “We invented it my freshman year,” Chinowsky wistfully recalls. “It was basically just humping very aggressively to the song ‘Funky Monks’.” “It’s a lot more fun, and also creates a kind of community,” says Huffaker on the marching band’s dance moves. “Everyone’s’ voice can be heard.” Like any proper cult, the marching band is very tightly knit. “We’re all friends,” says Chinowsky. “Nobody doesn’t like each other. There may be some feuds or some roasting, but everybody is friendly. It’s a great atmosphere.” One could almost say the marching band is...intimate. “There’s just kind of a family environment,” says Huffaker. And finally, the sheer love of blowing into a wind instrument is what drives many members of the marching band cult. “It’s the passion that we have,” says sophomore Morris. “Every single player is really into the marching band.” Marching band may be an incestual, pigeon sacrificing cult, but they have played a key role in Garfield’s sports success by inspiring the crowd and the players on the court. As a community, we are indebted to these elite horn-blowers. Viva the marching band!
A contract is a contract Don’t like it? Don’t sign. By Aidan & Aidin
The Seattle Seahawks’ offseason last year was bloated with news about Kam Chancellor and his contract, instead of the game of football. Chancellor wanted to rework his contract in the hopes of gettinwg more money. He was due to make $5.1 million in 2016 and $6.8 million in 2017 before becoming a free agent in 2018. Along with the $11.9 million to be made over the course of 2016 and 2017, he also could gain an extra $5.7 million in incentives. But why should a player have the leverage to do holdout? When Chancellor signed his 5 year $29.323 million contract, there wasn’t a clause that says “I can holdout whenever I think that the contract I
agreed on is not enough.” A contract is a contract, and if Chancellor didn’t like the terms of the contract originally, then he shouldn’t have signed it. Also, by the way, Chancellor’s contract was the first big contract the Seahawks gave out in a wave of large contracts given to the best players, most notably Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, K.J. Wright, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson. One could say that it ended up not mattering that Chancellor held out, because the Seahawks didn’t have to end up giving him money anyways, but this is not the case. When players holdout, their chances of getting injured increase because they aren’t properly strengthened
from training camp for the grueling NFL season. After missing the first two games of the season, Chancellor came back not as his usual havoc-reeking self. He seemed a step slow, and this even factored into critics questioning if the “Legion of Boom” still exists. Additionally, Chancellor’s contract holdout arguably factored into Seattle’s 0-2 start to the sea-
Art by Danny Levy
son. The Seahawks finished three games behind the Cardinals, and if the Seahawks had started 2-0, it would’ve been a whole different ballgame down the stretch towards the end of last season, and maybe, the Seahawks would’ve been more motivated to win the division, rather than simply settle for the wildcard seed. Plus after all of this, he still has no new contract, and his reputation has taken a major hit. Hope it was worth it, Kam.
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
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Sports Le16acy
By Adin Montefisher
2016 Bulldogs leave their mark in Garfield history
1,205 days ago, the 2012 varsity basketball team prepared for their first game against Beamer High School. On that day, the class of 2016 first began building the legacy that would end at the Tacoma Dome two weeks ago. While the Class of 2016 only had four seniors on the varsity roster, their impact stretches far beyond their performance between the lines. Four years, four state berths, and two state championships all have come during the Class of ‘16’s time at Garfield. On the court, the trio of Jashaun Agosto, Alphonso Anderson, and Terrell Brown were part of one of the most cohesive and fluid teams that will ever play at Garfield.
Jashaun Agosto #1
Even at eleven years old, Jashaun Agosto was taking the basketball world by storm. He appeared on The Ellen Show in 2008, and proceeded to show off his incredible ball-handling and jumpers that caught the world’s attention. He entered Garfield with high expectations, as he came into tryouts as a rare freshman vying for a varsity spot. Although he made the team, it wasn’t easy by any means. “Freshmen year was definitely a learning experience. Playing with guys three, four years older and dealing with time management, I really had to stay on top my stuff,” Agosto says. The following year, he averaged 7.8 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds as he began to gain minutes and the coaches’ trust on the way to Garfield’s 4A state title. “Coach Haskins always gave me the real, and with Garfield, it’s about the real,” Agosto says. “Nothing was ever sugarcoated, which got me to where I need to be.” “After winning the title, it feels like you’re on top of the world- for that moment,” Agosto says. “But the day after, it felt normal, it was time to get back in the gym, time to get another one.” And despite the switch to 3A, a much more competitive basketball level, “get another one” the Bulldogs did with a huge win over rival Rainier Beach in the championship game. “We came out and did what we needed to do- we didn’t let up, and did exactly what we practiced, and executed,” says Agosto. And during the final game in the final season, the state third place game against Kennedy, the only thought going through Agosto’s mind was to have fun. “I wanted to come out and have the most fun and say, well we lost to Beach, but the 3rd place game I had the most fun in my life,” Agosto says with his trademark grin. He leaves Garfield averaging 12 points a game, 7 assists, and 4 steals, and most importantly, won over 100 games. He wants people to remember him as a winner- ”I love to win, and stayed the same person I came in as,” Agosto says.
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Photos by Carson Jones
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2015
Alphsono Anderson #10
When Anderson arrived at Garfield his junior year, he stated his goal was “to lead the team to a ring.” After spending the first two years of high school at Wilson High School in Tacoma (who Garfield beat in Regionals this year), he transferred to Garfield in 2014. “Moving cities was definitely a hard experience, but as soon as I got to my first practice, I could feel the energy in the gym,” Anderson says. “We actually had to compete, run and play, a definite eye-opener.” Anderson came in and made an immediate impact, quickly assuming a starting role. Averaging 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals per game his junior year, Anderson was a key part of Garfield’s 3A championship run. While the pressure this year may not have had a part on Garfield’s performance during this year, Anderson believed it may have been a distraction at times. “If we had stayed a bit more focused and not worried about it, we may have been better off,” Anderson admits. After the devastating semifinal loss to Rainier Beach this year, Anderson described the mindset of having to play a consolation game the next day. “It was hard, my last Garfield game, so I wanted to go out and have fun,” Anderson says. “Never going to be able to put on a Garfield jersey again, so have fun with my guys.” And as the final seconds ticked down, the emotions were stirring up. “It hurt for sure- my first day at Wilson to my last at Garfield, it went by so fast, and just knowing it was all coming to an end, it was really bittersweet,” Anderson says. In the end, Garfield had a lasting impact on Anderson. “Garfield raised my level of play, and put me in a position where I’m ready to go to the next level now,” Anderson says, who committed to the University of Montana this fall. He also is grateful for the Garfield community for taking him in. “I love the fan support, people who catch ferries to Bainbridge for the game, it was crazy and cool to be loved by everyone.”
Terrell Brown #3
Of all the seniors, it may be Brown who is the greatest example of what Garfield basketball is all about. Working his way onto varsity by his sophomore year, Brown, or “TB3” as he’s known around Garfield, relied on his hustle and work ethic to become one of the unquestioned leaders on and off the court. It all started against Issaquah his sophomore year, where Brown had his first varsity moments. “I got a rebound, pushed it down the court, pulled up for a jump shot and hit it- I’ll never forget that moment.” After the 4A championship that year, Brown entered his junior year with a chance to start, and take over one of the leadership roles on the team that so often comes from the guard position. “I just wanted to add on to the legacy, keep building, and put the team first,” Brown says. “I knew that there was going to be a point in a time when I have to leave, and I gotta make sure my team still has the edge.” After the semifinal loss to state against Beach, Brown was focused on a single goal. “We wanted everyone to know they messed up. Putting us on the same side of the bracket, that’s bad. We also wanted to go out on a good note, for us seniors,” Brown says. “No regrets about anything. You can’t live your life like that, you have to push through it.” While he’s still undecided about where he will be going next year, he’s still dreaming about making it to the NBA. But in terms of Brown’s individual legacy, he has one wish for people to remember about TB3. “I gave it my all. I might not have had the best day at school, but no matter what I always gave 110%. I knew that playing basketball is my freedom, and me getting away from everyone else.”
sports Sports Illustrated: Sexist Edition Why is a female athlete nothing but a pretty face?
Y
By Claire Boudour
ou grab a magazine from the newsstand, its cover featuring a model with windswept hair and perfectly tan skin, in nothing but a bikini bottom. It’s Playboy, right? Wrong. Sports Illustrated, the nation’s most popular sports magazine, stops writing about sports for one issue a year and instead focuses on exploiting and sexualizing women. So far in 2016, Sports Illustrated has released thirteen issues of their magazine, only one of which featured women on its cover. These covers did not feature female athletes, such as Serena Williams kicking butt on the tennis courts or Abby Wambach scoring a seemingly impossible goal. No, the only time women have been deemed important enough to grace the magazine’s cover was the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Three different covers were released for the Swimsuit Edition, a popular marketing technique that convinces fans to purchase more than one copy in order to collect every version, easily increasing the profits. The three chosen women were champion UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and models Ashley Graham and Hailey Clauson. All of them were photographed in what was probably less than a square foot of fabric, if any at all. Rousey wasn’t even wearing a swimsuit, she was wearing body paint. And Clauson was wearing only the bottom half of a bikini, her breasts barely covered with one of her hands. Clearly, Sports Illustrated isn’t trying to feature the strength or successes of female athletes, and at this point they aren’t even trying to sell swimsuits. Instead, they’re just selling women’s bodies. This concept certainly isn’t new, and the magazine has been using it ever since the debut of the Swimsuit Edition in 1964. Sexu-
alizing women is a profitable business, as the issue brings in nearly ten percent of Sports Illustrated’s annual income. Women in sports are simply treated differently than men, whether it’s when they’re asked about love interests instead
Sports Illustrated Covers 2016
of strategy, or who they’re wearing instead of who they’re competing against. Take Ronda Rousey’s 2016 cover. The text paired with her painted and airbrushed body read, “the perfect body
painting.” Two weeks later, another UFC fighter, Conor McGregor, was on the cover. As one could guess, he was not pictured nude on a beach. The text on his cover was, “Puts the fight in fighting Irish...and the fear in the rest of the UFC.” This is just one example in a long history of female athletes not being taken seriously and not being seen as worthy of their male counterparts. In men’s sports, the highest pay and best sponsorships go to the top athletes. Last year, Roger Federer was the top ranked men’s tennis player, and therefore the highest paid. For women’s tennis in 2015, Maria Sharapova received the highest pay despite being ranked lower than topranked Serena Williams. Sharapova is a conventionally attractive white woman, which makes her fit better in mainstream advertising, and easier to sexualize. These superficial reasons, not at all related to athletic ability, contributed to Sharapova’s more lucrative sponsorships. On the Sports Illustrated website, there is a list of sports at the top of the page. Included in this list is the NBA, NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB, NHL, and even golf, followed by the link to the Swimsuit Edition. To see anything about actual women’s sports, one has to click “more”, where the WNBA is hidden among fantasy football and horse racing. Women in sports are paid significantly less, receive less attention from the press, and are seen more as sexual objects than the strong and capable professional athletes that they are. Sports Illustrated, as the most popular sports publication in the United States, has the power to change this. Instead the magazine chooses to publish the Swimsuit Edition, which promotes the harmful and dehumanizing concept that women are a product for male consumption.
Mess Guess
Eli Wilson
Aidin Montefisher
Alex Ferry
Trailblaers @ Pelicans (NBA)
Pelicans
Trailblazers
Trailblazers
Butler vs. Texas Tech (March Madness)
Butler
Texas Tech
Texas Tech
Butler
Butler
Does a one seed win March Madness?
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Wild @ Blackhawks
Blackhawks
Wild
Blackhawks
Wild
Blackhawks
Redsox @ Pirates (Spring Training)
Pirates
Redsox
Redsox
Redsox
Pirates
1-4
4-1
3-2
Emma Cooper 4-1
Flora Taagen 2-3
Quinn Sullivan Pelicans
Pelicans
It is clear this Mess Guess season did not start the way many expected. Emma “Writer? or Mario Character?” Kooper quicky took a shared lead of first place with Aidin “I’m Winning March Madness” Montefisher. Next in the power rankings, shockingly, is Alex “Attendance Isn’t Everything” Ferry, who has half as many wins as she does Messenger absences. Flora “Is 2-3 a Good Record?” Taagen had a rough start, but remains within striking distance. Eli “Epic Comeback Starts Right Now” Wilson has dug himself a hole, but if history is any indictor... Watch... Your... Back.
The Garfield Messenger 3/18/2016
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