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Add the Garfield Messenger on Snapchat! @ghsmessenger The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
Volume 94 Issue 4 December 18, 2015
News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Fake it ’Til You Make it? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Get to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Note Your Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Take Back Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Holiday Survival Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
So What’s the Drama with Drama?. . . . . . . . 5
Hungry for Holiday Sweets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Maui Wowie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Holiday To Dos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
The Showdown on Capitol Hill. . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Munchies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
by Aidan Miller
by Emma Cooper
by Bella Rowland-Reid by Claire Boudour by Hannah Tacke by Aidan Miller
by Alex Ferry
by Quinn Sullivan by Julia Robaidek
by Messenger Staff
by Keenan Simpson & Quinn Sullivan by Keenan Simpson & Quinn Sullivan
Purple, White, or Purple and White . . . . . . 10
by Bronwen Street
Senior Commits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by Eli Wilson
... And a Happy New Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Going Downhill Fast. . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
by Danny Levy
by Claire Boudour and Emma Cooper
Any Given Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Jump Off the Bandwagon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
by Elena Orlando
by Aidin Montefisher
Life Advice With Doctors Robaidek, Braman & Mulligan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 by Julia Robaidek, Sami Braman & Kate Mulligan
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 Aidan Miller • Alex Ferry Bella Rowland-Reid • Bronwen Street Claire Boudour • Danny Levy Elena Orlando • Eli Wilson Emma Cooper • Hannah Tacke Julia Robaidek • Kate Mulligan Kyle Ting • Quinn Sullivan Sami Braman Photographers Jeff Nyugen • Maddie Hazzard Maggie Emerton • Keenan Simpson Illustrators Danny Levy • Lucca Hagmayer Urpi Ruiz-Angeles Business Staff David Willner • Anika Thomas-Toth
Cover by Danny Levy
Holiday Survival Guide pg. 14
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News Briefs by Miller and Boudour
Justice For Hamza
Last Saturday a Somali-American teenager died after falling off of a roof in Seattle. Members of the Somali-American community are calling for the SPD to investigate his death as a possible hate crime. Hamza Warsame, a student at Seattle Central College (SCC), was in good mental health which is why people are concerned that he was pushed off the roof of a building near the SCCC campus. The police aren’t releasing his autopsy, cause of death or the details surrounding his death. Protests will continue until further information is released.
351, Make that 352
The 351st and 352nd mass shootings of 2015 took place in Colorado Springs and San Bernardino respectively. The shooting in Colorado Springs killed three and injured nine. The perpetrator of the shootings purposefully targeted a Planned Parenthood clinic in response to the program’s abortion services. During his arrest he allegedly muttered “baby parts” under his breath and during the trial he blurted out he was a “warrior for the babies.”
“What kind of police do you call on the police?”
Former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw was convicted this Thursday for the rape of thirteen women, all of whom are African American. In the trial, it was shown that Holtzclaw chose his victims based on their criminal histories, hoping that the women would be too afraid of retribution to come forward. One woman who testified in the trial stated that, “I didn’t think anyone would believe me. I’m a black female.” The jury unanimously agreed on a guilty verdict, recommending a 263-year sentence.
Big Changes to Climate Change
Last Saturday, representatives from almost 200 countries were present for a climate change summit in Paris. An agreement was reached that many had been working towards for years. The agreement lowers the maximum global temperature allowed and established ways to enforce the new regulations. Many praised the agreement such as President Obama who said, “I believe this moment can be a turning point for the world.” Others thought the new accord didn’t go far enough because countries are allowed to set their own goals for carbon emissions. Infographic by Maggie Emerton
Get to know: Berkeley patterson
Garfield has many hidden gems, but senior Berkeley Patterson is a hidden snowflake. A hardcore skier with plans of turning professional, he humbly conceals his plans for world domination from his oblivious peers.
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Photos by Carson Jones
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Patterson started skiing when he was three, at Snoqualmie Pass. “I was on the Powder Pig little kids’ ski team over there and just using the Magic Carpet,” says Patterson modestly. “Everyone tells me I loved it, but I don’t really remember it that much.” Now, after almost fifteen years of skiing, Patterson is far past the Magic Carpet. He recently qualified as an alternate on the United States Junior World Ski Championship team, through accumulating points by partaking in fierce competitions. “You can make points when you do competitions,” Patterson explains. “It adds up, and by the end of the year, they see who did the best. I was sixth in the U.S., for ages fifteen to eighteen.” Like the true ski champion he is, Patterson is sponsored by several ski brands, including Giro, Blizzard Tecnica, and Marker Apparel. “Usually at the beginning of a season, they send me a package of stuff and I try to promote the companies throughout the year,” says Patterson of his sponsors. “Free gear, I like it.” However, this senior boy is not as perfect as he outwardly appears. Patterson scandalously admits to the truth of getting nervous before competitions. “Yeah, like every single one,” he says, blushing. Yet Patterson is experienced in combating these nerves to achieve his dreams. “I just usually try to talk to everyone up there. Everyone’s got some nerves and people just try to have a good time and mess around before they drop into the ski venue,” says Patterson bashfully.
Pa t t e r s o n has not had a coach for several years, but will be moving to California to train with the Sugar Bowl Academy located on Donner Summit in the small town of Norden. “I got a scholarship to go train with the team down there for the next three months, [starting] the day after Christmas. It’s going to be big,” says Patterson. This training leads up to Patterson’s ultimate goal; to be on the world circuit for adults. “After this season, I could start doing qualifiers for it, but that’s a lot more serious,” says Patterson. “I would probably take a gap year for college and I’d be traveling around the U.S. and Europe. It’d be a big step.” We at the Messenger wish Berkeley luck in his world championship pursuit. -EC
Take Back Your Sleep
Next year’s 8:45 start time met with cheers, jeers.
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By Bella Rowland-Reid
n November 19, the Seattle School Board announced that all high schools in the Seattle Public School District will be starting at 8:45 AM next school year, almost an hour later than the current schedule. The Seattle School Board voted 6-1 in favor of the new start times, making Seattle one of the largest school districts in the country in which high schoolers start later than 8:30. “Teenagers’ biological clocks are much later than those of typical adults,” says Maida Chen, a sleep medicine physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. “It’s hard for them to wake up and function before 8:30.” Chen was pivotal in the passing of the new start times, assembling task forces that studied sleep patterns in teenagers, and talking to superintendents from districts that had already implemented the late starts. According to a University of Pennsylvania/National Public Radio study, sleep deprivation can cause loss in focus, memorization problems, and struggles with subjects like science and math. “Most students in an average high school are sleep deprived” says Chen, who adds she was “thrilled” when she learned of the vote. “It’s time we began focusing on the health of teenagers.” The new proposal was met with both support and skepticism from students, parents, and administrators. “I think [the School Board’s decision] was a good one,” says freshman Ada
Rosen, who wakes up at seven each morning. “I’m really bad at getting to bed early, and always end up really tired.” Many students share Rosen’s belief that a late start will increase their sleep time,helping to manage the late night schedule that teenagers are often programmed to. “I function a lot better in the nighttime, and always end up staying up really late,” says Rosen. “It will be nice to have that extra hour of sleep.” Additionally, teachers believe the late start will combat the early-morning grogginess that is apparent with many first periods. “On days when I have a class starting at 7:50, attendance and participation is always very low,” says Garfield science teacher Rachel Petrik-Finley. Finley, who doesn’t teach first period, often notices these effects on Thursdays, when her second period starts at 7:50.
“It takes a long time for everyone to get up to speed,” says Finley. “If we give them the time to sleep in an hour later [...] students will feel better and perform better and be more readily engaged in school.” However, along with the high praise for the initiative, there has also been a considerable amount of backlash, particularly for students with extracurricular activities. “I’m glad this is being implemented in my senior year, but I don’t think I would have liked it if it had been throughout my entire highschool career,” says junior Riley Connor. “I would have had less time to do sports, work, and homework, and might have ended up staying up later.” In addition, the later start times for elementary and middle schools could impact how parents and students care for younger siblings.
“[Some] students wouldn’t be able to attend after school events or tutoring programs,” says Finley. “Parents will also have to organize child care or pay for it, or it might impact their ability to get to work on time.” According to a report issued by Puget Sound Sage, Seattle childcare is some of the most expensive in the country. In addition, almost 12% of Garfield families fall below the national poverty line, meaning students and parents may have miss school and work in order to take care of younger children -- a big hit to student education and family income. Parents of younger children have also raised the issue of transportation to and from school. While younger kids may have to risk walking home in the dark during the winter, students who live far from school may run into traffic troubles. According to a study done by INRIX Traffic, Seattle ranks fourth in worst traffic in the country, experiencing most congestion between 3:45 and 7:30 PM, when students are usually coming home from school and extracurricular activities. While the vote has been met with both encouragement and anger, Chen hopes students and parents alike will look to the new ruling in a positive light, believing it’s one step closer in the fight for better sleep and healthier students. “Take back your sleep,” says Chen. “Take back your health.”
Art by Luca Hagmayer
So What's the Drama with Drama?
The Garfield drama club (technically) no longer exists. By Claire Boudour
Theater at Garfield has always brought in cash, and lots of it. Between main stage shows such as last year’s production of Rent, and smaller events like Dramatic Paws, the drama club successfully makes money year-round. But because the club is constantly spending and receiving money, it can be challenging to go through ASB for every financial transaction. “The biggest problem with being a club is that all of our money has to flow through ASB. We handle a lot of money,” says Garfield senior and drama club president Anya Meleshuk, “We spend and get a lot of money, and having to make that money flow through ASB would be a big pain.” So the solution they came to, first suggested by drama teacher Mr. Hawk, was
to no longer be a club. “We really felt that the way we were running things was really good. It was much more student-driven, and we thought that staying a club and running it through the school hindered our ability to do what we were doing,” says club treasurer, August Keller. Even before the group split from ASB, their funding system wasn’t the same as most other school clubs. “We have an external group called STaGe (Supporters of Theater at Garfield), it’s parent run and it’s run by a lot of donations. It’s what’s been running theater at Garfield a lot, it’s what runs all of the Mainstage productions,” adds Keller. Beause they aren’t a club, they didn’t want to call themselves the Drama Club. “We’re officially the Garfield Thespi-
ans, which is a little intimidating because a lot of people don’t know what the word thespian means. But we also rather enjoy being called the Garfield Drama Pals. It’s a friendly word for friendly people,” adds Keller. But this change in name is really the only alteration to the group’s day-to-day operations. Meleshuk says, “I don’t think it feels that different. Like, the community hasn’t changed that much, but we have to put more effort into getting the word out about things because we can’t have the privileges that clubs get. Where we put posters up is more limited, if we do announcements it’s not from the club, it has to be from the theater department. The way we do shows hasn’t changed, and the way we run meetings hasn’t changed.
The overall community of drama hasn’t changed.” The group is confident that this change was the right decision, “The club is still doing exactly what it has been. We’ve been in and out of quarrelling with ASB for a couple years now, so we’ve been kind of not a club for a while, but it was never official. The way we run things is the best way to get kids interested in and involved in drama, and that’s what the point of the group is,” says Keller.
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Maui Wowie
Marine biology trip to Hawaii cuts ties with Garfield. By Hannah Tacke
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ver the course of the last couple years, Garfield has had to make adjustments around field trips in order to keep them alive. This year, the Marine Biology trip to Hawaii has fallen victim to this developing trend, as the trip is now disassociated with the Seattle School District. Moving forward, the trip will be insured through the Chief Seattle Council, the Boy Scouts of America, Crew 2084. Since the late 70’s, Garfield marine bio students have gotten to journey to the breathtaking island of Hawaii in order to experience classroom content firsthand. The trip has been annually run by Jonathan Stever, the marine science teacher, who says, “The whole point is to get [marine students] excited about outdoor education, about seeing the world around.” The trip includes adventures of ocean exploration in snorkeling, and students have the option of getting a separate scuba certification for an extra $200-300. Students also get to participate in scenic hiking excursions to places like Haleakala Crater for sunrise and night walks around the island. Later in the trip, students travel to the windward side of the island where the lush tropical rainforest is located, and boat to an island for observing cetacea (whales, dolphins, etc.). Brownen Street, a senior and Hawaii trip alumna says, “It was the best two weeks of my life. It’s definitely more of a bonding time, and I think it creates a bond unlike anything else. It was definitely one of the best things I’ve ever done.” With the trip shifting to affiliation only with Boy Scouts, little will change in the way of a student’s experience, but this year all Garfield students are welcome to come. Upperclassmen are especially encouraged, as only junior and seniors will be able to receive college credit in the future. Street says, “Marine bio is a college course,
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The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
and I think upperclassmen should be taking it so I think it’s good that a lot of people will get this experience.” In past years, the Hawaii trip was only open to those taking the class. Stever says, “[on the trip] we are supplementing the info that we learned in class, and students that took the course are going to have a stronger background and can share with the new students.”
the kids on overnight field trips because it’s so gray as to what the rules are and how you can get into trouble. If something were to happen and someone were to sue me, I don’t feel that the district has my back.” For the time being, the legacy of the marine bio Hawaii trip at Garfield will thrive without Garfield’s name, as Stever hopes to preserve the right to journey to Paradise in years to come through this shift in affiliation. This of course begs a question of the impending expiration of all overnight field trips. Will their existence crumble in the tightening grasp of district scrutiny? Or will comfort be restored in Garfield faculty as the trend of strict examination of hands on education fades with time? Stever says, “I hate to say it but the district might be making it really difficult for people to run trips, so this might be a great thing for the district when people [take field trips] independently so they don’t have liability.”
Fast Facts Art by Danny Levy
Due to unfortunate incidents on various Garfield field trips, shifting the trip away from the district was purely a precautionary action. Stever says, “Right now, I know most teachers at Garfield don’t feel comfortable taking
• When: April 3rd-15th, 2016 • Where: Maui, HI • Who: Former, current, or future students taking Oceanography. • Why: To be with friends studying in one of the most beautiful places in the world! • Cost: $1700, excluding fundraising. • Scholarships? Yes! Half-scholarships available.
The Showdown on Capitol Hill
Neo-nazis vs. anti-fascists. By Aidan Miller
Photos by Kyle Ting
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roups of Anti-fascists gathered December 6 on Capitol Hill in response to a supposed demonstration of the Northwest Hammerskins, a racist skinhead group. A post on a white supremacist forum started all of the counter reactions, Stormfront, announcing that the Northwest Hammerskins would gather in Ballard for a “traditional cross burning” followed by performances of five white supremacist bands, including Iron Will and Beer Hall Putsch. The ad also stated that they would later march down to Capitol Hill to “show these liberals, anarchists[,] antifa (anti-fascist) and fags that we are here and here to stay.” Anti fascists organized a counterprotest to prevent the Neo-Nazis from demonstrating. Fascism is a type of government that is very nationalistic and authoritarian. Many Neo-Nazis support it because it was the type of government used by the Nazi party.
Counter protest organizers passed out flyers on Capitol Hill asking people to gather at Cal Anderson park on the 6th at 5 pm. The flyer said in small text, “Especially cis/hetero white folks.” According to David Neiwert, local SPLC correspondent, the Hammerskins held their annual rally on the 6th on Whidbey Island instead of following through with the supposed Capitol Hill
protest. They burned a cross, listened to some white power bands, and called it a day. Apparently the Hammerskins were never planning on staging a protest in Seattle. The whole planned protest in Seattle was just a ploy, according to one NeoNazi’s Facebook post. “Lol. Well I hope you nerds enjoyed the hoax played on you by us idiot boneheads. Our memorial went off with no problems yesterday. All you revolutionaries managed to do was to vandalize the city you say you where [sic] defending.” This threat of Neo-Nazi protest was taken seriously, as the group responsible for the post, the Northwest Hammerskins, have held these types of events around the Pacific Northwest previously and, according to the SPLC, are one of the more violent skinhead groups in the United States. Racist skinheads are whitesupremacists who are often the called the “shock troops” for race war. The threat of the Hammerskin march helped the antifascists gain significant support from the community and various political organizations. The event received support from twelve drastically different political organizations, ranging from an extreme women’s socialist group called the Radical Women, and a police watchdog group Seattle Cop Block. The event was headlined by Rose City Antifa, a self-described “secret militant group,” based out of Portland. In their ads they called for people to come wearing masks and bandanas to cover their face from photographers. Rose City also said in their advertisements, “we can’t guarantee your safety.” After much buildup, the Neo-Nazis and Anti-fascists were set to face off at 5pm on December 6th. By five o’clock
there were about 100-200 people gathered. While many people at the rally were affiliated with these anti-fascist groups many surprisingly were from a range different groups. One representative from the Buddhist Fellowship attended because, “Seattle is for peace and brotherhood and non-racism and [I wanted] to bear witness if there is anything that represents the dark side such as racism.” Most people were shocked that the Hammerskins would try something like this. This sentiment was summed up by one labor union representative. “I was a little shocked, I said what?! I thought that went away when I was a teenager, you know,” he said. While there was a large amount of diversity in terms of groups represented and age, there was little racial diversity. There were at most ten people of color. Despite this, there were signs that read “Black Lives Matter” and “Black Trans Lives Matter.” The protest grew more and more raucous as time went on -- one protester tried to start a chant of “peace” but was quickly drowned out by many others shouting “blood, blood, blood.” Several people were dressed in full paintball armour. Around 5:30 the group started to head to the streets to “hunt for Nazis” despite the fact that according to one SPD police officer, “there has been no activity of [Neo-Nazis] or that sort.” This meant that a potentially violent mob of people were searching for a group that didn’t exist. As they left Cal Anderson, fireworks were set off by one of the protesters, while others chanted “No Nazis, No KKK, No fascist USA.” Protesters marched north on Broadway, shut down the street, and forced cars to
turn around. This process was largely aided by several police cars that were blocking off streets. It was unclear whether the police were doing this to contain the protesters or to protect the bystanders. The protesters, about 600 strong at this point, moved through the Seattle Central Community College. As the night went on, bystanders reported several protesters tagging the Seattle Central campus.
As the protest passed one small corner business on Broadway, the owner quickly proceeded to board up his store at the sight of the large protest. This drew the comment of one protester who said, “we are not here to hurt small businesses.” The protest continued on into the night with reports of people throwing pipes and breaking windows -- including those of one KIRO 7 van, proving the exact point that the Neo-Nazis were trying to make. Neo-Nazis one, Anti-fascists zero.
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Opinion ...and a happy new year Christmastime as a Jew. By Aidan Chesnut, Danny Levy, and Aidan Miller
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o you’re telling me you’re out of eggrolls?” I say as I look around the packed restaurant, knowing full well that almost everyone here is also Jewish. Eating Chinese food is one of the common stereotypes of what Jews do on December 25th each year. Your token Messenger Jews are here to debunk or confirm your every idea.
“Why do you guys always eat Chinese on Christmas?” All: To people of the Tribe, Christmas is just another day, except everything is closed. Luckily this gives us another opportunity to complain about how annoying and hard life is. We don’t necessarily choose Chinese cuisine as tradition; it just so happens that Asian restaurants tend to be the only ones open. That, and steaming bowl of Hot and Sour Soup on a snowy winter’s day is downright delicious.
“So do you get eight times as many presents as me?” AM: Yes! That’s the exact reason why we chose to have eight days instead of one, but we spend the same amount of money as you Christians do but just over an eight day period. This great idea was developed in 1834 by the great Rabbi Sh’mo Mooney for Jewish kids to brag about how many presents they got to
their Christian friends in an attempt to increase the popularity of Judaism. But back to reality, the only reason us Jews even receive presents on Hanukkah is because everyone else does on Christmas. In Israel, Chanukah is not a very important holiday; it’s actually considered very minor! Families light some candles, sing some prayers, and eat fried foods. That’s about it. Presents are instead given during the High Holidays, which typically occur in early September. All Jewish Holidays are based on the lunar Jewish calendar.
“Why do all Jews go to the movies on Christmas?” AM & DL: I think it would be downright impossible to get ALL Jews to agree to one activity, but when all your gentile friends
are busy on the 25th, heading to see the latest flick can be a fun thing to do. One of our parents, incidentally, saw Schindler’s List in a movie theatre on Christmas in the 90’s. Now if that’s not a Jew-filled movie theater, I don’t know what is. Think that all these movies released in December are a coincidence? Think again. Every Jewish movie producer has a responsibility to create a film for us Jews to go see and watch on Christmas. If you don’t believe me, look it up in the Jewish contract we all sign when born or converted. However, all great secrets don’t stay hidden for long, and in recent years, Jews will agree that movie theaters have become more and more crowded. Thus, we encourage the new tradition of inviting over other latke-loving friends to avoid the crowds for a feast of Pad Thai and whatever is currently streaming on Netflix.
“Is the Hanukkah bush thing a myth?” AC: I actually have a Christmas tree in my living room, which we call a Hanukkah bush. We don’t put presents under it, because each year my family doesn’t give me eight little gifts; I usually get four medium gifts including one higher value gift. I personally don’t like having a Hanukkah bush, because it’s much more powerful to see a menorah glistening on the window sill than something that gives in too much to the norm.
“How do you know when Harry Hanukkah is at your house?” DL & AC: Knowing when Harry Hanukkah arrives is a lot like knowing when Santa has arrived. You don’t, because he doesn’t exist. But there are several theories. One is that fifty tons of latkes jams your chimney to block santa from coming in. The point of the latkes is to tell Santa that he has stumbled upon a Jewish household. Another theory is that Harry Hanukkah knows where the Jewish houses are because of the distant sounds of klezmer music, funny jokes, and guilt (gelt) tripping.
Any given sunday
What it’s like to be a sporadic church goer. By Elena Orlando
From baptism to second grade, I went to church every Sunday. Once a week in my nicest clothes, I sat in hard wooden pews half listening to the priest, hanging on to the hope that refreshments would follow the service. I wasn’t opposed to the concept of religion, but I didn’t know what God and being spiritual meant to me. I sang in the choir because I was told to, but I wasn’t sure if I believed in the words I was singing. At my First Communion, the priest showed us a painting, and he pointed at me and asked what I saw. In front of the whole church I responded “Jesus’s feet.”
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Yes, I knew that the painting was of Jesus and his disciples, but I didn’t take the ceremony seriously, so I took it literally, as all that was seen of Jesus were his feet in leather sandals. When life became more hectic, we started only going to church on Christian holidays. At the time, this adjustment didn’t have that much of an effect on me, but to my mom who was battling cancer, and my dad who is an Italian Roman Catholic, it was a big change. For a long time, those three masses a year would drag on as long as they always had for me, until I went to “Jesus camp.” I had always noticed that religious people,
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regardless of their faith, seemed to be overall much happier people and my fellow campers were no exception. Being at a camp where everyone had an unwavering faith in God or wanted to achieve the ultimate comfort that faith seems to bring made me reevaluate. When I go to church now, I do more self-reflecting to figure out what I believe and less trying to understand what is being preached. We aren’t born with a complete understanding of the world and our place in it; it’s something we formulate throughout life, and for some, religion can help clarify many questions. I know I
value spiritualism, but I am still unsure of how important religion is to my life, and for some people it may hold no worth at all. It can be hard to believe in a higher power when mourning and sorrow inhabit the hearts of so many, but trusting wholeheartedly that someone is watching out for you can help to ease the bad times. Regardless of whether you spend every Sunday inside a place of worship or have never been to one, spiritualism is something all of us can achieve if we seek it.
opinion
Life Advice
Professional advice from unprofessional sources. With Kate, Sami, and Julia I know winterball is a few months away, but how do I start working on someone to get them to ask me to the dance? Sincerely, Obsessed and Over-Prepared JR: Winterball is a classic example of an overinflated high school ritual. Chances are you will barely remembering going in a year or two, so firstly, I suggest you cool off a little. Winter Ball is a long way off and not worth spending nearly this much energy on. But how do you “work on” them? You don’t. At a date much much closer to the dance, you ask them. In the meantime, you could try hanging out and casually flirting. I think the line for the boy’s bathroom is too short. I envy the girls who are able to develop new friendships and have exciting conversations while waiting to use the bathroom. What do I do? Sincerely, Pooped KM: Urine luck! I know just what you should do. Render the facilities unusable through whatever methods you deem necessary, forcing people to wait to use the singular stall. Voila! You have created a longer line and, hopefully, even longer lasting friendships. For bonus points, ask a pal to cross streams to save some precious time in between classes. I am so sick of people of privilege trying to wiggle their way into supposedly safe spaces for oppressed groups. What’s a nice but firm way of telling them to leave us alone, or at the least not speak over us? Sincerely, Talked-Over JR: At Garfield, the policy is that clubs have to be open to all students, so you likely will have to accept the presence of people of privilege in your group(s). Instead of trying to keep them out, do your best to invite underprivileged people into the conversation as much as possible. The
best way to keep someone from being the dominant voice is to have many other vocal perspectives as well. What is the best way to recreate the feeling of the womb? Sincerely, Fetal Fiend SB: Though It’s been a long 17 years since I was in the womb, I do have some suggestions for how to recreate this cozy, warm, snuggly experience. The key is to build your womb-like space, (what I will refer to as your nest) in a very small, compact space. I’d suggest you take an old cardboard box (big enough for you to feel comfortable in the fetal position). Fill it with blankies and pillows, maybe pick reddish ones to recreate the color scheme going on within the human body! Bring a few of those hot water bottles to keep the nest nice and body-temperature. Put on some soft music a few feet from your nest so to simulate the sounds a fetus hears within the womb.Then, turn off the lights, climb in, curl up, and get cozy--for 9 months! There’s a girl I’m really into, but she’s currently dating someone else. I’m sure she likes me too, but I also don’t want to be a terrible person and try to break them up. Any advice? Sincerely, Wannabe Romeo KM: Yes. Hop off your high horse and leave this poor girl alone. How are you so sure she’s into you too? Are you a mind reader? If so, I’d love your help figuring out exactly what my dog really thinks of me. If she’s dating someone else, it’s safe to say that her love life is none of your business. If she really likes you, she’ll let you know on her own terms. You have absolutely no right to meddle in her relationship. My goldfish got hit by a car, will it be okay? Sincerely, Concerned Pet-Owner
mal after only a day of recovery. Unfortunately, I must let you know that in a battle between a massive car wheel and a delicate fish body, the massive car wheel often comes out victorious. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it’ll be a miracle if your goldfish makes it. But have hope. There are many skilled goldfish vets out there who specialize in rehabilitating goldfish after they’ve been mutilated by a fast-moving vehicle. If worse comes to worst, make sure to have a meaningful memorial service for the little guy, and don’t just flush him down the toilet! He deserves a proper burial. I saw mommy kissing Santa last year, should I tell dad? Sincerely, Santa’s on My Naughty List
tell your dad. You do not know the situation your mother is in. She may be doing the best she can to stay with your father until you and any siblings you might have get out of the house. She may have an arrangement with your dad that allows for the occasional Christmas trist. For all you know, Old Saint Nick is on your mother’s freebie list*. I recommend you don’t stir up trouble for your family without proper knowledge of the situation.
JR: Santa “the home-wrecker” Claus strikes again. Your mother should have been more discreet and made sure she did not reveal this to you. However, I would have to advocate that you do not
*From Urban Dictionary: “A list of five celebrities who, should the opportunity arise, one is allowed to sleep with without it being considered as cheating by your significant other.”
Sometimes we receive questions that merit professional attention. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anything relating to abuse, drug addiction, or sexual assault, please know you are not alone and help is available. You can talk to someone in the Teen Health Center or use any of the resources below: Suicide Prevention: Sexual Assault: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org www.rainn.org 1-800-273-TALK 800-656-HOPE Abuse: www.thehotline.org 1−800−799−7233
Drug Addiction: www.drugabuse.com 1-888-986-1780
SB: Trust me, I’d love to assure you that your little fishy will be back to nor-
Got a conundrum? Email us at messengeradvice@gmail.com or submit anonomously at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MY-6WZRD !
The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
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Purple, White, or Purple and White By Bronwen Street Photos By Keenan Simpson
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very year in December, the senior class meets to receive their graduation gown packets, advertising the usual class ring and tassels. Among the glossy brochures for “Senior Swag” merchandise is the paper that everyone fills out: the graduation gown order form. Among other personal information, this form asks for preferred gender. On graduation day, checking the “girl” box meant wearing a white gown, and checking the “boy” box means wearing a purple gown. For some students, choosing a gender isn’t possible. This is the non-binary population, or students who don’t identify with either gender. Historically at graduation, girls in white sit on one side and boys in purple sit on the other; a system that alienates the students who don’t identify under binary genders. Non binary student Chloe Madars attests to this. “I know people who feel dysphoric or really anxious when they’re misgendered, so having gendered robes would be a pretty big trigger for them,” says Madara. Gender neutralizing graduation was attempted for the first time about 10 years ago, with all seniors wearing purple at graduation. However, this only lasted for one year as many students didn’t like the change. Garfield went back to the traditional system. This issue was brought up for the second time last year, when ASG Vice President Hannah Farrell made it her mission to gender neutralize the class of 2016’s graduation ceremony. Last spring, Farrell joined Gay Straight Alliance because she felt that the LGBTQ community wasn’t fully represented at Garfield. “I felt that I could accomplish something as an ASG officer on behalf of them. On my first day, I asked GSA what I could do to make Garfield a more inclusive place for all. Their request was to gender neutralize graduation,” says Farrell. Last year, it was too late to implement this change, but Farrell made it her goal to make this year’s graduation gender neutral, and has been working on it ever since. While this change may seem like a simple one, deciding what gender neutralization would look like has been complicated. ASB’s original idea was to have everyone wear the same cap and gown color, presenting themselves as “One Garfield,” which aligns with other efforts by the administration to unify the school this year. Every Garfield student received a new shirt with the slogan “One Garfield emblazoned across the front, exactly the message ASB is trying to communicate. As Farrell explains, many people didn’t want this when she proposed the idea in early November. “When I presented this idea on the class Facebook pages, the feedback was split about 50-50. Some students were in favor of a gender-neutral, one-color system. Others wanted the choice between purple and white.” ASB tried to include as many views as they could in their decision, deciding that this year’s seniors would have the choice between a purple or white gown. However, when seniors received their graduation packets, they were told that there would be no choice between colors – everyone would wear purple. This surprised many, as everyone wearing one color wasn’t the decision most people were aware of. This is because the change back to the original plan hadn’t been decided on until the morning of the senior meeting, Farrell says. “The night before the senior meeting I posted
on the 2016 facebook class page telling people to decide which color they wanted. A few hours later several students posted that it would look ‘unorganized’ if people ordered unequal numbers of colors, and others agreed.” Complete with memes, this Facebook thread quickly turned accusatory with students upset that their feedback wasn’t being taken into account. In the end, the resolution Farrell made was that either the system would be regulated so that the same amount of purple and white gowns are ordered, or everyone wears purple. The next day the graduation gown company made it clear that ordering one color for everyone was not only possible, but easier. With the feedback from the facebook thread in mind, ASB decided to switch back to the original “One Garfield” plan. This decision was not well received by many in the senior class; during Farrell’s announcement students started booing. Soon after the senior meeting a petition started circulating to change gown color back to a choice, fueled by students who felt their voices had not been heard in the previous conversation. The petitioners argued that many seniors, including themselves weren’t involved in this discussion previously or the final decision, therefore making the outcome a misrepresentation of what the senior class wants. “I was never approached or heard about this change last year or anytime this year, says senior Jazmyn Samuels. “It’s not fair that me and others weren’t allowed to give feedback and help make the decision about what we wear for graduation.” These students weren’t protesting graduation being gender neutralized; that is not their concern. “We want everyone to feel comfortable no matter their race, religion or how they identify themselves,” says senior Zarea White. “I fully support gender neutralizing graduation. What I am concerned about is that not all of the senior class’s voices and views have been heard about what this means for the color of our robes.They definitely should be when a change like this affects all of us.” Most seniors who share these sentiments feel that everyone should be able to choose their gown color. “I definitely feel like this would be the best option and satisfy the most people. But this isn’t my point. My point is that more discussion should happen within the senior class before a decision for our gowns is made,” says White. However, Farrell cites many things she did last and this year to spread awareness and get support for gender neutralizing graduation: “I had conversations with many stakeholders. I went into ELL classrooms to get their opinions. I also had conversations with Chakundi Salisbury from the Black Alumni Association and got support from all of the club officers at our monthly ASB/club officer meetings. I posted on the 2016, 2017 and 2018 class Facebook pages to get feedback. Additionally, last year ASB members went to every senior LA classroom and discussed the issue, and 75.4% [the class of] 2015 was in favor of or had no opinion on a gender-neutral graduation,” she says. Despite this outreach, students like White claim to have no knowledge of this change and therefore feel as if their voice has not been heard. “It was not my intention to exclude anyone. I encouraged everyone I possibly could to give feedback, but obviously it wasn’t enough. In the future, ASB/ASG will work even harder to include every voice,” Farrell says. For the past few weeks, petition representatives met with ASB to discuss the conflict that comes with this change.
“The discussions between ASB and the petitioners have been valuable. I have learned to appreciate the perspectives of the opposition,” Farrell affirms. While the two sides have different solutions in mind, both ASB and the petitioners agree about what matters the most: that every senior feels comfortable and included at graduation. “We just see the manifestation of the ‘best thing’ in different ways. No one solution is going to make everyone happy,” states Farrell. After these discussions, ASB decided to stick with the one color plan for graduation because many things had to happen in order to figure out a different solution. “We have to order our robes soon. Coming up with various options, getting feedback from the senior class, and coordinating with the gown company doesn’t seem like something that can happen in a couple weeks,” asserts Farrell. The decision had been made, the senior class facebook page posted on, when Garfield Principal Ted Howard shed light on some new developments in the conflict. This compromised ASB’s decision. A number of parents had complained to Howard, claiming that to make a decision with this magnitude, ASB had to include all voices in the decision. ASG President Maddy Kennard says that parents were concerned about their children’s rights. “Many parents told Mr. Howard that their child’s right to vote had been taken from them.” Usually, school-wide votes are conducted by setting up a voting app like the ones in real elections. This ensures that all Garfield students can vote, even if they are in programs like running start. With the deadline for ordering gowns rapidly approaching, this method was not possible for the graduation gown decision because a voting app takes about a month to set up. However, Howard showed ASB that conducting a class wide vote in such a short time was possible with a different method. “The information that we got from Mr. Howard was that a paper ballot would be acceptable,” says Kennard. With this new information and the parent complaints in mind, ASB made the decision to conduct a vote earlier this week. “As a leadership group representing the students we felt that the final decision surrounding gowns fell to us, but students and parents didn’t feel that way. It [the complaints] had just reached a level that we felt it would be appropriate to address the issue with a vote,” says Kennard. This past Tuesday, ballots were issued to all senior Language Arts classes. Along with these ballots came pamphlets, explaining the reasoning behind the two choices available for graduation: everyone wearing a purple robe and white cap, or everyone having the choice between purple and white. The ballot asked each senior to choose one option. As of the publication of this paper, the results of the vote were not known. In the end, both options unify the senior class on this momentous occasion. The colors worn at graduation are a big deal to many, but gender neutralizing graduation has had a huge effect on the non binary population at Garfield in a different way. The gesture Garfield is making ultimately is a start to accepting their identities into this community, allowing them to feel comfortable at the climax of their high school career. Madara thinks this change will have a big impact. “I personally feel more accepted within Gar-
field with the work ASB has been doing, but I think more important is the general increase of visibility. I doubt most people in Garfield knew anything about non-binary people before, and now that it’s a more visible issue I think it’ll be easier for people to accept,” says Madara. Garfield is not the only high school that is adopting a gender neutral graduation this year. Other Seattle schools like Franklin, Cleveland and West Seattle are also changing to a gender neutral policy in which everyone wears the same color. Roosevelt high school’s graduates have always worn the same color cap and gown. Both Madara and Farrell are excited for the recognition non binary students have been receiving at Garfield, both expressing hopes that this is a good first step to implementing gender-neutral bathrooms at Garfield. This is is something that many other schools have done, including the Northwest School located several blocks away. “ASB is now trying to bring more genderneutral bathrooms to Garfield. People in Seattle are becoming increasingly more accepting of people who are different than themselves, and this change is a testament to that,” Farrell explains. Madara agrees completely. “I think that this push towards gender-neutral graduation robes and the recognition of gender issues at Garfield will be a good first step towards societal acceptance of non binary people,” says Madara. Whichever option becomes reality at graduation this year, the important thing about this change is that a minority community at Garfield is being recognized and welcomed. In the end, no matter their gender, all the seniors will be walking across the stage, grabbing their diploma and going out into the world to start their lives. Farrell just wants to get there, “We’re all gonna look fly at graduation, regardless of what color we’re wearing!”
Fake It Till You Make It The consequences of fake IDs.
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By Alex Ferry
eens buy fake IDs to purchase alcohol, get into bars, and be admitted to places that have age limits. This is no secret. People often overlook the consequences and the alternative reasons teens get them. There are many consequences to holding a fake identity if you’re caught, such as the loss of your driver’s license, possible jail time, and your record being damaged for the rest of your life. Some acknowledge this, but disregard it because they don’t realize the consequences it creates for other people than themselves. “Right now of course I’m not gonna say it’s a bad thing because I have one and I enjoy having one, but looking back when I’m older, I’m definitely gonna think it’s a bad thing because it’s just not a good thing to have a bunch of kids running around with fake IDs,” Junior *Greg Young says. Officer Benny shares his perspective on underage teens with fake identities, emphasizing that this creates not just an issue for them, but also for the people accepting them. “Not only are kids who have the IDs getting themselves into situations they can’t get themselves out of, but the person who’s dealing with that person can get in even more trouble,” he says. Eighteen year old Garfield student *Andy Clement went to a party that the
cops showed face.” Art by Danny Levy up to. He Having something like dropped his this on your record can not wallet on only affect mistakes made his way out, in the future, but also fuwhich conture opportunities. tained both Officer Benny gives his real and an example of how this fake ID. He could affect future job drove home opportunities. to his house “If I’m an employer, surrounded I’m going to look at your reby cop cars and cord and then say, ‘oh what police talking to his is this?’ parents. Why would I hire “They gave you when I can just me a warning, get someone who but now I’m doesn’t have that, even in their sysif you were way more qualitem, so if I did fied?” something again He explains that in society tothey could press charges,” day, people’s past mistakes are says Clement. Looking back at the situa- heavily affecting their futures. tion he explains that “a lot of people don’t “When I was coming through high really think about getting caught, I could school, a high school diploma was good have never seen that coming.” enough to get any job you wanted,” he Clement is now forced to be more cau- says. But times have changed since then, tious about what he does legally, and get- and now “they’re gonna do a background ting caught is the hard way to learn that. investigation on you for almost every job, “My case may have been a one percent and probably even when you’re applying chance, but I wouldn’t get another fake to get into college.” because if I were to get caught again, So if there are such serious consequencit just wouldn’t be worth the charges I’d es to having a fake ID, why do underage
people continue to pursue them? Part of it is the ability to buy alcohol, but it also gives them hierarchy over their peers. Having a fake spells out “I break the rules”, which is cool to most high schoolers. “I got it to buy alcohol, but I never would have gotten one if my friends hadn’t asked me to buy in with them,” says senior *Ashley Miller. Student *Emily Green explains that having a fake influenced her friends to all get one too. “When I was on vacation, my cousin left his wallet in our car with his fake id, and he said I could have it. I was really excited because I came back to Seattle with a new ID and none of my friends had one,” says Green. Fake IDs gain underage people access to alcohol and symbolize popularity, however they also have the potential to cause extreme consequences for adults and teens, creating long lasting negative effects. The last thing Officer Benny wants to see, or any adult for that matter, is for a teen to ruin their future at such an early age. “Let’s not let our actions from what we did today prevent us from being who we wanna be tomorrow,” he says. * Names changed to preserve anonymity
Note your thanks
The importance of handwritten thank you notes. By Quinn Sullivan
As the holiday season is now in full swing, there is one small purchase you cannot forget. On your next shopping expedition, pick up a pack or two of stationary. Although often thought of as trivial, thank you notes are extremely valuable. “It turns out that life works better when you [write thank you notes]. People like you more, people are happier to see you, and you get things from people when you need it. Everything works better,” says language arts teacher Mark Lovre, who requests thank you notes after giving a student recommendation. In this joyous time of gift giving, appreciation is key. The intent is simple: return the thoughtfulness that someone had towards you. “It’s important to write thank you notes because people put time and effort into getting you gifts and it’s nice to appreciate them,” says junior Mette Beierle. But the problem in today’s society, is
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that some of us question whether thank you notes are really necessary. Less and less people send cards in the mail because there are many alternative ways to say thank you. “If people got an email, they would still know that you appreciated their gift. Plus, receiving an online thank you note wouldn’t really change their perception of you,” says junior Gabe Curhan. To many, writing out thank you notes is too old-fashioned in this age of technology. “Thank you notes are outdated because it takes so much longer to send a thank you note over mail,” says Curhan. For teachers and students alike, life is busy. However, how much extra time does it really take to write out your thank yous? Is the value that they have not worth that extra minute? “It’s kind of nice to have a physical piece of evidence,” says Beierle.
The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
Handwritten thank yous have still endured in this time of computers and cell phones because they are special “It’s tangible, it’s personal, it feels sincere. It shows that the person writing them cares, means it, etc.,” says Lovre. Even Curhan partially agrees on this one.
Are handwritten thank you notes outdated? 20%
80% *Data collected from 100 Garfield Students
“I guess [a note] can feel better than an email because I know how much longer it took for them to write,” he says. Beierle acknowledges the warmth that these notes give off. “It’s just nice. It makes people feel good. It makes them feel appreciated and sticks with them a lot longer,” she says. So why are so few of us true to the tradition when it’s proven to be so important? “I saw some research that said people who write thank you notes have better lives, get along better, and go further,” says Lovre. Here is the challenge, Bulldogs: for every gift someone gives you this winter, return it with a thank you note. Emails are great, but think about how wonderful a handwritten card would feel in their hands. Happy holidays!
HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE
A how-to on surviving your family this holiday season.
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By Julia Robaidek Art By Urpi Ruiz-Angeles
he holidays have arrived and with them come your entire extended family. Compiled here are all the hardest to manage personality types you may have in your family, and my advice for how to stay sane and avoid bloodshed until blessed January arrives. The Politician: The politician will pick a fight with those they know have a position opposing their own. They have a unique ability to turn any conversation towards controversy. The politician’s goal is escalation, so the best defense is to learn a few de-escalation techniques. Keep your volume a notch lower than theirs and do your best to remain collected. Take note of attempts to pick a fight and do not reward those with your anger. Give non-answers like “that’s an interesting perspective,” or my personal favorite, a simply stated “huh.” Arguments with the politician are not to be won. You will not be able to change their mind. They already have firmly established their opinion, otherwise they would not have picked the fight with you. The Ultra-Vegan Health Nut: In the era of diet fads, most families have a health nut. The health nut cuts a
common food item out of their diet and may have a lecture ready on the evils of meat, gluten, dairy, processed sugar, etcetera. If they are the kind of health nut that takes it upon themselves to criticize other people’s diet choice, calmly let the meat/gluten/dairy/processed sugar drip down your chin with a big grin on your face. However, if you have invited the family health nut over for a meal, it is reasonable for them to expect you to accommodate their diet. Within reason. You should have one or two dishes they can eat, but you do not have to tailor your whole meal to suit them. Chances are they will bring something for themselves that meets their requirements.
From undercutting remarks to the art of the non-pliment, an insult tactfully disguised as a compliment, the holiday season is rife with passive aggression. Here’s the good news about passive aggression: it’s normally intended to fly just below the radar, so play dumb. Pretend the non-pliments are compliments and the undercutting remarks went straight over your head. The goal with passive aggression is to make you be the one to swing first, so don’t. Keep cool. Let your passive aggressor wear themselves out.
The Wild Child: There is little you can do to protect life and limb from the destructive younger cousin, aged five to eight. Your best bet is to hide your valuables and anything fragile. Anything that looks fun the wild child will pick up, hold for minute, and most likely throw across the room. Leave within reach only the boring and the indestructible. The Passive-Aggressor:
The Druncle: The drunk uncle can go one of two ways. One druncle is merely an entertainer. Sit back and watch. Someone with an impaired verbal filter can be just what a stuffy fam ily dinner needs. The other iteration of the drun
cle needs more management to make sure he does not swear in front of grandma or start a fight with grandpa. The druncle may also need to have his keys taken. The argument that he has driven much drunker than this before is neither acceptable nor reassuring. If you have a particularly raunchy druncle, try the method popularized by Freaks and Geeks and swap his beer out for the nonalcoholic variety. Same methods apply to the wine mom and the vodka aunt. The Talker: Every family has a chatty relative. Mine has two. And we’re not talking casual conversation dominators. We’re talking full blown, not a word in edgewise, run on for hours talkers. Often as well, the talker takes the form of a master complainer and can invent a full length rant on the most mundane of annoyances. In my family, there is an old saying about how to manage these relatives: “Don’t poke the bear.” To translate, don’t give them anything to run with. The talker is a master of stream of consciousness word-association games, so don’t add anything to the conversation and certainly do not ask any questions. Nod and smile. Then as soon as the opportunity presents itself, run.
HUNGRY FOR HOLIDAY SWEETS
The Messenger staff picks their holiday favorites. With the holiday season in full swing, homes across the country are filled with the sweet smells of cakes, cookies, and various other desserts. Got baking fever? Check out these Messenger-approved recipes. Buttermilk Chocolate Sheet Cake and Penuche Frosting 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter or margarine 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup water
For frosting: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup milk 3 1/2 cups sifted powder sugar 1. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan combine butter, cocoa powder, and water. Bring mixture to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add chocolate mixture to dry mixture and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until combined. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat for one minute and pour into prepared pan. 3. Bake in 350° oven for 35 minutes or
until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Penuche Frosting: 1. In saucepan melt butter; stir in brown sugar.Cook and stir until bubbly. 2. Remove from heat. Add milk, beat vigorously with wooden spoon until smooth. 3. Add powdered; beat by hand until it mixes spreading consistency. 4. Immediately frost cooled cake. -AC Portuguese Lemon Espiros 12 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup orange juice
1. Preheat oven to 250° and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 2. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, salt, orange juice and sugar. Use an electric mixer to beat the mixture until it is extremely thick. To test if the mixture is ready, shake the bowl. If the meringue barely moves, or doesn’t move at all, it is ready. If not, keep on mixing. If you’re feeling extra festive, beat in some food coloring. 3. Spoon evenly sized mounds of the meringue, about 1 tablespoon, onto the prepared baking sheets. 4. Bake 35-40 minutes, until edges are crispy all the way around. Let cool on paper for 10 minutes, then move to rack to finish cooling. -BRR
The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
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Holiday To Dos By Quinn Sullivan and Keenan Simpson Shows & Musicals: • “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,” performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet, is a thrilling performance of the classical Christmas tale. This holiday season, PNB transitions from their typical Sendak/Stowell version to that of Balanchine, a new children-filled adventure. Act fast as the ballet only runs until the 28th of December. • The beloved “Sound of Music” returns to the stage at 5th Avenue Theatre. Performances last through January 3rd and this family friendly event is great for a holiday outing. The movie is fantastic, but have you seen the musical?! • Pegged “the best musical of the century” by numerous reviewers, “The Book of Mormon” is showing at the Paramount Theatre from now until January 10th. This religious and satirical musical is one to attend if you have the time and money. • The largest community chorus in the United States, Seattle Men’s Chorus fills the stage at Benaroya Hall. Look online to select a concert date that is right for you. This holiday magic is a great way to make the most of your time this break!
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5th Ave theater at night by Caleb Stocker
The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
holiday lights by Keenan Simpson
snowshoeing on mount rainier by Keenan Simpson
Snow & Ice: • Head up to your favorite mountain trail and snowshoe! All it takes is a Northwest Forest Pass from the Washington Trails Association. These cost $20 for an individual go and $80 for the year. Get outside and hike in the snow! • Find a place to ski. Local ski hills include Alpental, Crystal, The Summit, and if you’re willing to put in a longer haul, there is Stevens Pass as well. Bring your own or rent some equipment at the hill. (Of course this goes for snowboarders as well!) • Sledding! Whether you head up to a mountain Grab your skates and head to the rink! It’s the perfect season for ice skating and for $7.50 you can join the public for morning, afternoon, and evening sessions at Highland Ice Arena. There is also a Winterfest ice rink at Seattle Center that lasts until the 6th of January and costs about $7 as well. Tear up the ice!
Skating at highland by Keenan Simpson
Lights and Events: • Woodland Park Zoo’s Wildlights shine from 5:30 to 8:30 until January 3rd. For $9.95 you can stroll the zoo while surrounded by dazzling lights. Don’t forget to wish the animals a happy holiday season! • Just North of U Village, Candy Cane Lane is a string of highly decorated houses with music, lights, and moving decorations. From now until December 31st, you can walk or drive through this circle of homes and admire the hard work of the residents inside. Go to N.E. Park Rd. and enjoy for free! • The Christmas Ships are back! These Argosy Cruise ships travel to different locations in Puget Sound and stop to perform for different neighborhoods on the shore. Filled with onboard choirs and twinkling lights, the boats fill up with passengers. However, you can also huddle around a bonfire on the shore. These last only until the 23rd of December so look online to find the specific locations and times. • With over half a million lights, the Bellevue Botanical Garden transforms their space into a sparkling light show. Garden d’Lights is open until January 2nd and goes from 4:30 to 9:30 every night. For only $5 you can amble through and admire the beauty. • Seattle Center runs its annual WinterFest. Including lights, entertainment, and holiday activities. This is a great place to take your family for a holiday outing. The celebration continues until December 31st. Don’t miss it!
The Munchies with Kyle Ting Quest for the Best: Pizza
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izza. Gooey, cheesy, melt-in-yourmouth, sinfully good pizza. Who can resist it? Everyone loves or has loved pizza at one point in their life. It is unique, customizable, portable, handheld, deluxe, cheap, filling, and so, so good. The Italians did the food world a service by inventing this culinary masterpiece, and since its birth it has been Americanized and crafted into a super scrumptious staple of the American diet. In honor of this plate, a dish cast down from the heavens and presented by the gods, I have searched far and wide to find the best of the best in Seattle. Of course, this is a difficult task. The consumption of pizza can be personal: do I like sauce, is there too much cheese, I don’t like crust, etc. For the purpose of finding the best pizza, a fairly ambiguous title, I have narrowed down the decision process to some foundational criteria. I have considered the combination of factors like price, taste, convenience and service to choose the best of the best, the slice of all slices. Kyle Ting
Big Mario’s Pizza on Pike St. Big Mario’s Donning pictures of a curly haired, mustachioed, big-bellied Italian man (probably Big Mario himself) this place is the image of a classic pizza joint. The restaurant is centrally located on the busy streets of Pike and 10th, doubling as a pub with a bar in the back for the barhoppers of Capitol Hill. Big Mario’s is known as a New York style pizza, characterized by a thin wide crust that is foldable (if you’re into that) with a small dose of tomato sauce, letting the slice consist mostly of the toppings and crust. I ordered their signature pepperoni pizza ($3.50), which offered a wide expanse
of cheese topped with a smattering of with interesting sigtoasted pepperoni slices. The service nature flavors like was quick so I didn’t have to wait too potato rosemary long in the noise polluted space that is in garlic ($3.25) and close proximity to the bar. The first wasabi pineapple bite of the slice was firm and the ($3.25). slice was not too resistant. The The unusual cheese and the crust tore wasabi pineright off and the top was apple slice takes dusted with ground cues from its Asian pepper accomsurroundings panying the and is a favorspice and ite of many crunch World Pizza of the employees. I pepbought a slice peroni. of the potato Art by Urpi Ruiz Angeles Overall, rosemary garlic that though, the slice was took me on a tour of fall flavors, underwhelming: the cheese was standard giving a sense of comfort through its and the sauce was too light. While the savory substance. The cheese was fresh pizza was not messy to eat, which was a and fluffy, a not too gooey or too firm but plus, it did not have the pizazz to define a melt in your mouth texture, and the roit as the slice of all slices. bust zestiness of the sauce complimented the toppings of potato and spices very Hot Mama’s nicely. The slice was filling and substanAlso a Capitol Hill restaurant, Hot Ma- tial for its price, the service was excellent ma’s is a hole-in-the-wall New York style and convenient, and overall the slice was pizza place with a grungy feel that comes the best of all. World Pizza is definitely a Kyle Ting from the workers that run the place, the pizza out of this world. Nirvana-type and punk metal music, and Kyle Ting the interior decor of various metal posters and a picture of some “hot mamas,” as autographed in the lower left hand corner. Hot Mama’s is very close to Seattle Central, just a block or two down the street on the corner of Pine and Boylston. Upon inquiry, the server told me that their signature slice is their pesto pizza ($2.70). The pesto was infused into the cheese, essentially turning the pie into a green pizza, with crumbled goat cheese to top it off. The first bite hit my tastebuds hard, and a savory siege of flavors danced across my tongue. But the second bite revealed more of the slice’s true characteristics: it had little to no sauce presence, and Hot Mama’s on Pine and Boylston. it was a little heavy on the cheese. However, the crust and the seasonings for the slice were excellent. The ratio of sauce to cheese to crust is a out of whack, but for its price and its convenience, Hot Mama’s is an outstanding snackery. But, upon further consideration, I have decided that this pizza parlor will not take the pie.
Miles Paddock, Grade 12:
“The best gift I’ve ever received was a pair of skis and the best gift I’ve ever given was a chastity belt which my brother Holden wears every day.”
What's the best you've ever given or received? Kaiji Obras Grade 12 “My car from my mom, a Honda Civic.”
Aziza Chappelle Grade 12 “I gave a fish to my sister. It’s still alive.”
Asante Seraile Grade 11 “I received life from my mother.”
Prices: $
World Pizza You would think it’s strange that one of the best pizza parlors in town would be in Chinatown. In the midst of a sea of Asian cuisine, World Pizza stands out on King and 7th. The slices are varied,
Munchies Big Mario’s: 4 /5 Hot Mama’s: 4/5 World Pizza: 5/5
The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
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Senior Commits Compiled by the Sports Staff
Alphonso Anderson - University of Montana Anderson was juggling a few Division One offers from Rice and Boise State before signing to the University of Montana in November. Anderson already has a state championship under his belt and is looking for another dominant season in the post as well as a newly developed outside shooting game. Bella Green and EJ Gardiner - University of California Berkley Both of these Bulldogs made their commitments this winter to the second best collegiate crew team in the nation. Garfield doesn’t have a school crew team so these athletes haven’t received the attention they deserve. But a scholarship to Berkeley proves these athletes to be two of Garfield’s best. Jocelyn Crawford- Claremont Crawford made her verbal commitment a little over a month ago. A top-three finish at state every year, and winning this year’s High School Swimmer of the Year Award landed Crawford a spot on one of DIII strongest programs. Along with Claremont’s strong academics, the swim team wins the SCIAC (Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) most years. this season. Dehana Kraft - Pepperdine University Kraft has dominated Metro volleyball for the past three seasons, and landed a spot to play for Pepperdine next winter. Kraft committed at the end of her junior year, and after a breakout year for the Volleydawgs, she has begun to get the recognition she deserves. Kraft led the team in kills, was the league MVP, and was an Under Armour Honorable Mention this season.
With the November signing period behind us, many Garfield, senior athletes have made their commitments to colleges all across the country. Garfield has athletes committed in almost every major sport, but also has athletes in sports that aren’t run through the WIAA, as well as sports that don’t get as much attention in the metro headlines. While some athletes are still making their college decisions, we chose to profile only the seniors who have made official or verbal commitments.
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Tasha Christ - Bowdoin College Christ committed in early October to Bowdoin College in Maine. Christ tends to fly under the radar due to not participating in the Garfield tennis program. However she is well deserving of recognition as Bowdoin is currently ranked 8th among Division III tennis programs and is a powerhouse in the NESCAC. Christ cracked the top 100 recruiting list on the Tennis Recruiting Network. Christ chose Bowdoin for its strong academics, and will look to add to the strong Bowdoin tennis program next year.
Oscar Burney - University of Massachusetts Amherst This reigning state champ made his commitment to the Amherst in early September. Amherst won the Division III national championship two years ago, and is a very established tennis program in the NESCAC (New England Small School Athletic Conference). Burney is a top-100 singles player in the country coming out of high school and will be one of the strongest freshman for Amherst next fall. Eli Wilson- University of Minnesota Eli Wilson has committed to the University of Minnesota to play baseball. Primarily a catcher, Wilson was named Garfield’s baseball player of the year and named to the Seattle Times’ all-area baseball team following his junior season. This summer, he competed on the Pacific Northwest’s regional team at the New Balance Area Code baseball tournament, which compiled 240 of the nation’s best high school baseball players.
Izzi Olive- Brown University Cross country and track runner Izzi Olive committed to Brown in October just before her XC postseason. Olive made 3 state appearances (did not run her freshman year) including a 3rd place finish in her senior season. Despite an impressive cross country career, Olive was recruited more for her track times. She placed second in the state for the 800 last year, and currently holds Garfield’s girls 800 record at 2:10.46. Marley Cross -Brown University Cross has put together a very im-
Roko Bedalov and Johnny Reynolds - Elon University
pressive high school resume including
Reynolds has flown under the radar at Garfield due to his playing
four state titles, and two Scholastic All
for Sounders Academy, which doesn’t allow its players to play for their
American awards in the past two sea-
high school team. Reynolds has received a full ride to Elon and will
sons. Brown’s swim program is division
accompany reigning Metro MVP Roko Bedalov. Bedalov struggled
one and is one of the top programs in
with injury early in his career, but in a fully healthy season last year he
the Ivy League. Brown’s academics are
displayed great talent and led the Bulldogs to a second place finish in
as good, or better, than any school in
the state. Elon is an elite D-1 soccer school in Northern Carolina and
the country-- a big factor in Cross’s de-
two of Washington’s finest will be sure to have an impact in the soccer
cision to commit.
program.
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Going Downhill Fast The best spots for having fun in the snow. By Claire Boudour and Emma Cooper
T
he air has chilled, with weather forecasts dipping their toes into the low thirties. Skiers and sledders alike anxiously await snowfall, their trash can lids, puffy coats, and ski goggles ready and waiting by the front door. Winter has come to Seattle, and our snow sport-enthusiasts are desperately hoping for snowfall after last year’s fiasco. Here are some local spots to have fun in the snow, if we finally get the chance. The Summit at Snoqualmie With its rolling hills, Snoqualmie tends to cater to the younger crowds who are not at advanced levels yet. “If you’re a beginner, it’s pretty good because the runs are short so you don’t have to make any big commitments,” says junior skier Maggie Rosen. “If you go up a chair and you can get down pretty quickly.” As one of the closer ski resorts, Snoqualmie boasts being just 45 minutes outside of Seattle. The Garfield winter ski bus program also transports students skiers to Snoqualmie. One more unfortunate aspect of Snoqualmie, is that it is located at a low elevation that receives a lot of rain that eventually freezes, creating pretty icy slopes. However, Snoqualmie is also fairly unpopular with more skilled skiers for the lack of difficulty. “Snoqualmie sucks. It’s a hill, not a mountain,” says skier and Garfield senior Miles Paddock. If you’re just starting your skiing career or looking for some chill runs, Snoqualmie may be the place for you. Alpental Alpental is an extension of Snoqualmie, but with only one beginner run, it’s definitely a much more advanced mountain. It has two bowls, the Edelweiss Bowl, which is purely black runs, and the back bowl, which is mostly black runs with a couple lower level runs. As one of the authors who got very stuck on an run there can attest, Alpental means business. Like Snoqualmie, Alpental can also be icy. “The snow isn’t that great, but the runs are good,” says skier Henry Hayes. For an experienced skier looking for a nearby challenge, Alpental is a good choice. Crystal Mountain Prepare to be enveloped in crystalline slopes and white ridges at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. Located near Mount Rainier, Crystal is farther away than Snoqualmie and Alpental with a driving time of about two hours from Seattle. However, its size and variety of runs make it accessible to all levels of skiers. “Crystal is bigger, so they just have more of everything. Its similar to Stevens Pass in that it has about 50% intermediate runs. But Crystal has more steep terrain than Stevens, and less beginner stuff,” says sophomore skier Aden Moree-Sanders. Crystal’s main bowl has a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs, while the back Northway Bowl has only advanced and expert runs.
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The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
Map by Emma Cooper
For those of us who don’t spend every waking winter moment hitting the slopes, a day of sledding and cocoa can really hit the spot. But where does one go for this rumored day of fun? These seven hills are Seattle’s best locations for everyone’s real favorite winter sport. Spokane Street The block of SW Spokane Street between 45th and 47th avenues is a prime West Seattle spot, with Madison Middle School’s football field mere footsteps away for a perfect snowball fight. The hill is steep enough for a fast ride, and because it spans two blocks instead of one, making the walk back to the top totally worth it. The thing that makes this hill unique are the jumps that local teens build out of packed snow, giving you a few seconds of open air in the middle of the hill. Beware of traffic at the bottom, your built up speed from this sick slope will make it hard to stop in time to avoid any oncoming cars that may be out braving the snow.
Golf Courses The city of Seattle owns two public golf courses, Jefferson and West Seattle. Because they are city-owned, these spots are free to use to your heart’s content, and give plenty of room to sled far from the danger of passing cars. The hills aren’t as steep as some streets, which may be a turn-off for the more extreme sledding enthusiasts. The Jefferson course’s hills are less impressive than those on the West Seattle course, which is steeper but also smaller. It can be hard to build up speed on hills as short as these, but for those with younger siblings they might have to entertain and watch over during these snowy days, Seattle’s golf courses are the perfect place. Roy Street In Capitol Hill, this steep slope is sure to guarantee a fun day (if there’s snow). Between 24th and 26th on Roy, there’s enough room to build up speed and keep it up, but it’s short enough to make the hike back up to the top worth your while. The street isn’t too busy, and is one of the few that could be safe even if the roads aren’t officially closed. At only two blocks it might not hit the sweet spot for distance, but it’s an overall enjoyable hill. Gasworks Park If you want to go fast, and aren’t afraid to crash full speed into oversized metal pipes, Gasworks Park is the spot for you. The downside of this park is that there’s really only one hill, and it’s a busy one. The slope is steep and decently long, which will allow for a good run, as long as you’re willing to shove small children out of your way to get to the front of the line. Because the hill in inside the park, there’s no risk of being hit by a car when you reach the bottom, but watch out or you might run straight into a metal fence. McClellan Street This four-block section of McClellan between Mount Baker and Beacon Hill is probably Seattle’s fastest sledding hill… and also the most dangerous. With the highest point of the hill on 23rd, and the lowest on Rainier, there’s a pretty high chance of being hit by a car from start to finish. But if we’re lucky enough this year for the roads to close, this slope is definitely one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of hill you can find without driving to Snoqualmie. It’s steep enough to build up impressive speed, and the smooth straight road is perfectly set up for the more competitive tobogganers who are itching for a race. Cherry Street On Cherry street, between 35th and 37th, this hidden gem is the perfect balance of steepness and length. The slope doesn’t cross any major roads, which allows for a smooth ride with no interruption from passing cars. Even so, make sure to check for traffic before making your way down. It’s a two block stretch that ends at the end of the road, so be sure you’re confident in your abilities to stop your descend before colliding at full speed with the hedge at the bottom.
Jump off the bandwagon
Fair-weather fans, this is for you. By Aidin Montefisher eattle has always been known for their fans. The Seahawks have had the 12th Man since their origin, and their reputation as the loudest fans in the world is well known. The Sounders have the best following in all of Major League Soccer, rivaling European clubs. The Mariners fans still come to games despite mediocrity on a consistent level, and are known for their appreciative nature. Yet in all of these fans, some of those people aren’t really fans at all. We all know the people who wear the baseball cap to school, since its the “style”. The people who go to watch a game solely for the party, the food, or the Instagram picture. The people who after a loss, immediately begin ranting about how bad we are. As a legitimate sports fan who spends way too much of my time watching, monitoring, talking and thinking about sports, it’s these people who irritate me the most. And I speak for all true fans out there when I say this. Fair-weather fans seem to be most visible in the Seahawks fanbase. When the Seahawks won the Super Bowl two years ago, it was an incredible moment- and also the moment we gained a huge amount of fake fans. Suddenly Seattle was full of proclaimed experts who believed that buying enough gear is all one needs to be a fan. Meanwhile, the Mariners that year were in playoff contention. I was at a majority of games, and as the Mariners continued to win, more and more people started showing up as “real” fans. Then this year, all of those
S
Mess Guess
“fans” suddenly disappeared, and all the talk about how the Mariners sucked started up again. Earlier this year, especially after consecutive losses to the Bengals and Panthers, an absurd amount of people were saying how this team was terrible. Russell Wilson was being seriously overpaid, the defense was falling apart, Marshawn Lynch needed to retire, etc. Now that we’ve pulled off two huge wins against potential playoff teams in Pittsburgh and Minnesota, those same people are saying how the Seahawks are still the best, blah blah blah. A perfect example is Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. If I was writing this article a month ago, after the Cowboys game for example, all the blame for the Seahawks slow start could be directed at him. After all, he’s the guy everyone decided to put at fault for the Super Bowl loss, and everything that’s ever went wrong with this team. Sure, he’s the offensive coach, which means he’s responsible- to a point. Why can’t Seattle fans accept the fact that Malcolm Butler made a great play? If Butler doesn’t pick that ball off, we would look back and say it was brilliant. The defense was expecting run, and Darrell Bevell would have been the hero. Or put some blame on the players themselves? Bad screen by Kearse, subpar effort by Lockette, poor execution by Wilson, there’s lot of options. Now, Darrell Bevell has been the main reason behind the Seahawks offensive resurgence- not Doug Baldwin, not Russell Wilson, not Tyler Lockett (who’s an absolute
beast by the way). If I had to choose an MVP for the Seahawks offense, my votes going for Darrell Bevell. All the fair-weather fans would say Russell Wilson has become a star these last few weeks, and all the wins are thanks to him. Sure, he’s playing great- and that’s because Bevell is producing some incredible gameplans. When Bevell is calling a well designed play, and Wilson executes it, the Seahawks are on the road to a win. It’s that simple. It’s just so frustrating to hear and see people change their fan angles week in and week out. If you’re planning on being a fan only when it’s convenient, why be a fan at all? Trust me, you’re not making yourself seem cooler by saying “oh man, the Seahawks are so good this year”. When I hear people say something like that, it’s so disappointing. What’s going to happen if the Seahawks suddenly lose all the rest of their games? Naturally they will face a lot of critique, which would be deserved. But people need to do their research on where blame is deserved, and not just have an ignorant opinion. If you’re going to critique a sport, know what you’re talking about. So the next time you or someone you know is spewing sports opinions, ask yourself: is it legitimate? And if it’s not, I truly sympathize for you.
Aidin Montefisher
Eli Wilson
Aidan Miller
Lousiville @ Kentucky (NCAAB)
Kentucky
Kentucky
Kentucky
Canadians @ Capitals (NHL)
Canadians
Capitals
Canadians
Canadians
Capitals
Raptors @ Heat (NBA)
Raptors
Heat
Heat
Raptors
Heat
Packers @ Cardinals (NFL)
Cardinals
Packers
Packers
Packers
Cardinals
FBS Playoff Winner (NCAA Football)
Oklahoma
Michigan State
Clemson
Michigan State
Alabama
7-8
10-5
9-6
Quinn Sullivan 10-5
Louisville Quinn Sullivan
Alex Ferry 6-9
Kentucky
Quinn is now co-leading in Mess Guess, so we have decided to disband. Thanks for reading.
The Garfield Messenger 12/18/2015
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