Volume 94 Issue 6
February 26, 2016
An open Forum for Student Expression
Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic Page 14
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 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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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
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
Volume 94 Issue 6 February 26, 2016
News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 by Julia Lin
Bachelor Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 by Quinn Sullivan and Alex Ferry
Get to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Whitewashed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
On This Day in History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Twolander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Social Justice, Social Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 by Bella Rowland-Reid
The Foodstagram Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
by Bronwen Street
Kehinde Wiley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
by Susana Davidson by Flora Taagen
An Incredible Improvement . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
by Emma Cooper by Sydney Santos by Daniel Levy by Alex Ferry
Step Ahead or Step Behind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by Aidin Montefisher
Senioritis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Club Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 by Hannah Tacke
White Privilege On White Privilege . . . . . . .15 by Hera Ford
by Izzi Olive
You Can’t Sit With Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 by Claire Boudour
Keep The Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Spring Sports Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
by Hannah Tacke
by Messenger Staff
by Elena Orlando
by Keenan Simpson
If You’re Readig This It’s Not Too Late . . . .10
Where Did Hockey Go? . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . 17 Full(er) of Hunger . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The College Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
by Emma Cooper
by Julia Robaidek
A Player’s Coach Or A Coach’s Player? . . . . 18
Life Advice With Doctors Robaidek, Braman & Mulligan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
by Bella Rowland-Reid
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 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 Eli Wilson
More Than An Obsession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Cover by Cora Anderson-Bicknell
Whitewashed pg. 13
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news
Get to Know: Spencer Mitchell
By Susana Davidson Freshman Spencer Mitchell has earned the unusual reputation of resident balloon artist here at Garfield High School. He twists and sculpts balloons into animals, crowns, swords and a variety of other forms including some original designs. “At this point I’ll walk down the hallway and [other students will] be like: ‘it’s the balloon guy!’” Mitchell said. What began as a hobby has grown into a full fledged business opportunity. In fact, Mitchell has recently applied for a Seattle business license and work permit to sell his creations in the city. “I just brought Photo by Maggie Emerton my balloons to school one day because I was going somewhere and I needed to have them with me. I made one for somebody and was asked how much they were.” Mitchell explains that cost depends on the complexity of the design. For instance, a balloon animal like a monkey, teddy bear-puppet or dog costs 50 cents, but if you are looking for a more extravagant sculpture like a crown, the cost increases to 75 cents or a dollar. Although the history of balloon modeling is uncertain, Henry J. Maar, “The Sultan of Balloons,” is considered one of the originators of the art form. As the story goes, Maar, a 1930’s vaudeville performer, lost his props before a show and had to rely on balloon twisting to entertain his audience. A modern-day sultan, Spencer Mitchell, carries on the tradition. “Come find me,” says Mitchell. “I wear a funky red hat and have a black messenger bag on my hip.”
This Day in History
News Briefs By julia lin Zika Scare
The Zika scare has become increasingly prominent as the virus has made its way north from Brazil and is now reported to be in active transmission in Mexico. The main concern for this outbreak is the defects it is believed to cause in babies. Zika is spread via mosquitoes and comes with symptoms such as fever and rash, which can last up to a week. It is also causing questions as the 2016 Olympics come closer. Officially declared a national emergency by the World Health Organization, athletes and tourists must decide whether or not to risk traveling to Rio.
Caucus Conclusions and Scalia's Death
The next election is over 8 months away, but the politics are already heating up as the campaign season is underway. At the February 1st Iowa Caucus, republican Ted Cruz and democrat Hillary Clinton came out on top, although Hillary only led the Democratic Party by 0.3 percent with Bernie Sanders close behind in second place. A week later, the New Hampshire primary yielded different results with Donald Trump leading the Republican side and Bernie Sanders claiming almost two thirds of the democratic votes. The most recent polls show Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump leading their parties, while republican Jeb Bush has withdrawn from the race. As the campaign continues, both parties are seeking to take advantage of the opening on the Supreme Court caused by the recent death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.
Massacre in michigan
In Kalamazoo, Michigan a seemingly ordinary Uber driver killed 6 people and injured 2 more in a shooting spree that was driven by no clear motive. The man picked up passengers throughout the 7 hour crime which took place on February 20th. This case involving Jason Brian Dalton, the suspect, brings up questions about the security of Uber’s background checks. Recent lawsuits have uncovered that some Uber drivers have records of sex offenses, burglary and even murder. In addition to the possibility of a dangerous driver, Uber also refuses to be held liable for anything that occurs during a ride (from injury in a car crash to rape). The main takeaway from this tragedy is that Uber passengers must keep their safety in mind when calling for a ride.
It's a Jungle
Just after Mayor Ed Murray increased efforts to find a temporary solution for the homelessness crisis in Seattle, a fatal shooting occurred at The Jungle (a homeless encampment). Three teenagers, 13,16, and 17, have been arrested for the drug related crime, which claimed the lives of 2 residents and injured 3 others. Murray has been working to decrease the homelessness rate, which is relatively high in Seattle, by instituting “Safe Lots” where people can temporarily park their cars and stay.
As told by Johnny Cash’s symbolic songs and lyrics.
By Flora Taagen Today, February 26th, may appear to be an average Friday, but in fact it holds local, nationwide, and even global significance. The date itself does not have the same connotation that accompanies December 25th or July 4th, but nonetheless it is of interesting historical importance, in its own right. The songs and lyrics in bold below, written by Johnny Cash, symbolize each respective historical event, as well as commemorate his birthday and work. ~ February 26th was a date of local astronomical significance. 37 years ago, in 1979, the moon passed completely between the earth and sun, blocking all direct sunlight. This eclipse was solely visible in the Pacific Northwest, attracting countless visitors due to its rare occurrence in the United States. “That Lucky Old Sun” ~Today is nationally significant, as in
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1919 Congress passed the act that established the Grand Canyon National Park in the state of Arizona. The Grand Canyon is one of North America’s greatest natural wonders and attractions. It is by far one of the most popular destinations in the U.S., attracting nearly five million visitors annually. It is known both for its beauty and preservation of a wondrous aspect of nature. “Girl From the Canyon” ~Globally, today is momentous, as it is the date upon which the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, declared to the public that Great Britain had developed its own atomic bomb. Anytime a powerful nation declares nuclear progress, it receives global attention. This declaration on February 26th 1952, did, and will continue to go down in history for its worldly importance. “I went out walking under an atomic sky”
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
For all that February 26th signifies in history, it must be no coincidence that the late Johnny Cash was born on this day in 1932. These song titles and lyrics provide a small example of the many pieces that Johnny Cash performed during his time. The Man in Black, as he was known, was one of America’s most accomplished singers and songwriters. His song titles and lyrics, so widely known and loved, suit this day, his birthday, perfectly. “I go out on a party” - Johnny Cash
Art by Danny Levy
News
Social Media, Social Justice
Using social networking to expose racists.
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By Bella Rowland-Reid
ll eyes are currently on Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona, after a photograph of six female students with shirts spelling out a racial slur went viral on Twitter. “It was extremely offensive,” says Desert Vista student Deja Brightly in a video released by the Arizona Central News Network. “They thought it would be funny to spell out that word, something that is offensive to African Americans and students at Desert Vista.” Mere hours after the photo went viral and was tweeted by ABC News (with the students’ faces blurred out), Twitter user @sylivialove tweeted ABC, reminding them that they “didn’t include [the offending students’] names” and that she’d be “happy to help”, adding the names of the six students photographed. This prompted multiple calls to the school reporting the students, and a Change.org petition to expell the students and fire the principal, Christine Barela. While neither Desert Vista nor Barela replied to a request for comment, public apologies were made and the students
were allowed back to school after a fiveday suspension. However, this is not the first instance racists have been exposed and punished for their comments over social media. From the Desert Vista girls to former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s anti-black quotes leaking over the Internet, a new trend has emerged of targeting racists over the internet and exposing their names in hopes of getting them expelled from school or fired from jobs. “I’m glad people are actually being caught and punished,” says Garfield sophomore Zuberi Wilson about the new trend. “[Racist posts] really aren’t necessary, and [they] don’t contribute anything.” Back in 2014, Garfield saw its own form of racist tweets from Issaquah High School. A group of students, posting under the Twitter name @ISSYBROS, went on a multi-tweet rant, spewing racist slurs at Garfield basketball players and students. The Issaquah students were prompted after their team was handed their first loss of the season by Garfield.
The trend has also started an internet justice community, known as Social Justice Blogs, or SJBs. Usually titled “Racists Getting Fired” or “Exposing Racists”, the community aims to eliminate bigoted posts on social media and show the consequences of hate speech in the modern world. These instances usually start with a prejudiced tweet, photo, or post. Then, members of the SJB community work to make the post viral and find the name of the Original Poster [OP]. The OP, once identified, is then found on Facebook, where their work and/or school information is released by SJBs, urging followers to contact these establishments and report their behavior. While owners of these blogs have received death and legal threats, many are grateful for the contribution these blogs have made across the internet, one Twitter user posting, “I’m so glad [SJB Twitter] @YesYoureRacist is cleaning up the Internet!!” As of now, the six girls at Desert Vista high school have not faced serious conse-
quences from the school. However, two of the girls are avid soccer players, and the incident may have weakened their prospects of playing collegiate sports. “None of the individuals involved in the incident have received an athletic scholarship and they aren’t going to be on any athletics team on [Northern Arizona University],” said Cindy Brown, head of public relations for Northern Arizona University, a popular nearby school, in a statement to Arizona Central Newspaper. While cleaning up the bigotry across the Web may be an ambitious mission, SJBs across the nation are devoted to making the Internet a safer place for everyone involved. Even in places high schools, where there are said to be no tolerance on bullying and bigotry, instances like the Desert Vista photo and Issaquah basketball scandal have shown the dangers of recklessly adding racist opinions on social media. As for potential posters out there, be warned -- your tweets and ‘grams won’t be taken lightly.
An Incredible Improvement
New Light Rail stations set to make Seattle transportation better. By Bronwen Street First opened in 2006, Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail is one of Seattle’s vital public transportation systems, currently running from SeaTac Airport to Westlake Center downtown. Our ever-growing city demands that this system reach other expanding areas in and around Seattle, and for the past six years, Sound Transit’s biggest project has been extending the Light Rail track from Downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill and the University District. A 3.1 mile extension, this addition will add two stations: one on Broadway in Capitol Hill and the other at the UW football stadium. These stations are set to open March 19th. “We look at where growth is headed, where congestion is the worst, where people are taking transit today and where people live and work. From there, we plan for the best ways to connect these areas with high capacity transit like light rail,” explains Sarah Miller, Transit Safety Program Specialist and class of 1990 Garfield alum. These observations and plans are what went into this Light Rail project, an elaborate and lengthy process. The long wait for these two stations will be well worth it, as they will provide quicker and more reliable transport to the Central and University districts. “Today, getting to Capitol Hill can have a lot of uncertainties such as long bus travel times that are often unreliable,” says Miller. Driving also adds other pressures like cost and parking availability. Parking on Capitol Hill is anyone’s worst nightmare: forever elusive and seeming to cost more every year. According to SDOT, Capitol Hill parking costs on average $3 an hour from 5 to 8 PM.
Courtesy of Sound Transit
“For a lot of people, this sort of uncertainty, cost and extra time can be a tipping point against taking that step to keep going to school or come back to school to start a new career. With the train, you’ve got a fast, reliable trip every time, no matter what traffic is like and you don’t have to worry about parking,” says Miller. These added stops will help citizens from all over the city get to their destinations faster, including Garfield students. “What once may have been a long bus ride with multiple transfers could now be cut in half,” explains Miller. According to Sound Transit, it can take a half hour or more for buses to get from the UW to downtown. When the new station by the UW opens, it will supposedly take eight minutes, something Miller calls “An incredible improvement.” Sound Transit has a number of projects in the works, with several new lines planned outside of Seattle. This is thanks to the successful 2008 vote by the. Sound Transit board. “There are new lines under construction or in design phases to Northgate, Lynnwood, Mercer Island, Bellevue and the Microsoft/Overlake area. The line to Northgate is set to open 2021, and the other lines by 2023. In November 2016, the Sound Transit Board will consider another plan for Light Rail expansion, including a proposal for new lines to Ballard and West Seattle. In the coming years, Sound Transit will enable most Seattleites to get around our expanding city and beyond without too much trouble.
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features
Step ahead or step Behind?
Cheating in today’s world.
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By Aidin Montefisher
heating is one of the most simple and straightforward concepts in the world. Yet to many students, “cheating” only becomes cheating if they get caught. And with students a majority of the time being able to get away with it, what does the school do? Or perhaps, what do the students need to do According to a study done by a Louisville professor, two-thirds of students engage in some type of cheating at any academic level. The study also says that high school is the place where cheating habits for the rest of a student’s life are formed. The reason for cheating seems to be a simple answer. One senior who requested to be anonymous said, “Students cheat to get good grades.” With such a huge emphasis on grades, especially in high school for college applications, students are willing to do whatever it takes to raise their GPA. “In high school the whole system is built upon getting good grades,” the same senior said. “I’d rather not really learn anything now and get into a good college, than to get bad grades and not get into
good colleges and never learn it.” With the expansion of the use of technology in education today, the Internet (while by design or accident) has fueled student’s ability to cheat. Say a student doesn’t know what to write a Shakespeare essay on- if they Google “Shakespeare essay”, thousands of people’s works are suddenly at their fingertips. Many colleges and universities have a honor code students agree to follow. Typically these pledges are a promise to not plagiarize, collaborate on work, or copy other’s work. The key to these honor codes is that they are fully self-regulated, meaning that it’s up to the
students to decide whether to enforce it or not. If a college student gets caught breaking their honor code, there is usually a judicial committee run by a mix of students and faculty who determines whether they were guilty. Similar to the court system, if found guilty the student gets a punishment in line with the severity of their act. At Garfield, and many othArt by Urpi Ruiz Angeles er high schools across the country, there is no honor code to dictate student efforts. There’s a section in the student handbook that says plagiarizing is against school rules, and will lead to multiple consequences. These include receiv-
ing a zero on the assignment, an administrator meeting, and/or suspension. “I always want to assume the best in my students, but I know the temptation is very strong,” says Rachel Petrik-Finley, AP Environmental Science teacher. “I try to stop the things I see, but I know 99% of it probably goes uncatched.” Teachers continue to lead the fight against cheating however. There’s the classic desk divider strategy, or the multiple test versions approach. A common site used by most teachers is turnitin.com, a website that checks student submitted work for originality, and highlights anything that is online. Stopping cheating is a huge uphill battle. “Society tells us the best person will get the most of whatever, so I feel like I’m fighting against social norms, and culture,” says Petrik-Finley. It ultimately comes down to the individuals deciding whether to cheat or not.
of this comes from inconsistency in how teachers enforce the policy. “Teachers need to hold each other accountable in order for this to work,” says Westering. The school still issues phone calls home to inform parents or guardians that their student was tardy or absent. While some students may dread the 6PM call home, knowing that the call will lead to consequences, others may have a different understanding with their family regarding attendance. Phong Huynh and Oscar Burney, both voted for the senior superlative of “Worst Senioritis,” shared their perceptions of how the attendance policy works in effect. To these seniors, the only serious consequence of skipping class or being tardy is that of missing instructional time. “As of lately, I haven’t seen any consequences from the administration or teachers for students being late or skipping class,” says Huynh. “Being penalized or criticized aren’t really motivators. The only thing that would matter would be missing something important in class,” he says. Huynh adds that
he doesn’t skip class. Burney feels similarly, citing the loss of instructional time as the most serious damage as a result of missing class. Once a student reaches a certain number of “truant days,” the school district will intervene. However, in order for a student to be counted as truant, they must have unexcused absences for over half of a school day. This does little to motivate against skipping up to three class periods in a day. At Garfield, students’ counselors and administrators receive data about tardies and missed classes from Lopez in the attendance office. Nevertheless, the general basis of the current system relies on students’ self-motivation or their parents’ expectations rather than the external consequences of detention or Saturday school as in years past. “If students think they’ll be fine in terms of their grades, they’ll skip. I don’t really see students who skip a lot being punished,” says Huynh.
How Ghs policies enable absenteeism They don’t want us to come to school.
By Izzi Olive At the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, a major change was implemented in Garfield High School’s attendance policy: due to a lack of funding, Garfield removed after-school detention as a possible consequence for accumulating 3 tardies to a given class. Out of Garfield’s current student body, only seniors will remember the days when three tardies to a single class resulted in an hour spent in silence, along with fellow tardy students, in room 105 with Mr. Joe Bland. Seniors are now feeling the effects of “senioritis,” a universal phenomenon known to worsen at the onset of second semester of one’s senior year. However, the approach that Garfield has taken in recent years with regard to attendance may be doing little to combat students’ waning motivation to get to class. The current attendance policy takes a different tact than the punishment-based system of previous years. Now, sign-in sheets at the entrance of each classroom allow teachers to monitor their students’ punctuality, and accumulating absences or tardies has little disciplinary consequence. Assistant principal Brad Wester-
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ing explains the current policy, saying that once a student is late five times to a single class, then the administration comes in. Administration was concerned that students were unmotivated by the potential consequences for tardies or skipping. Westering says, “the after-school detention turned out to not be a deterrent for many students. We had the same group of students showing up all the time.” Rather than reporting to class and signing in with the teacher, students would first report to the attendance office, where they would stand in line to obtain a late slip. Attendance secretary Dorothy Lopez says “there was a group of teachers who did not want their students waiting in a ten minute line before going to class. They wished to take care of the discipline process themselves.” Hence the current attendance policy. “It’s more relaxed. The system with the sign-in sheet allows teachers to collect data on their students,” says Westering. However, in certain classes there seems to be a disconnect between a student signing their name on a tardy sheet and receiving consequences for their actions. Part
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
features
You can't sit with us
The problem with Garfield’s clique culture.
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By Claire Boudour
alking through the Garfield halls at lunch, it’s easy to see the separate groups. Every clique has their designated place to eat, place to go during break, and spot where they meet up at the end of the day. But these divides have become so severe that they’ve practically become a part of school policy. Recent sophomore transfer student Julia Olson commented, “When I came to Garfield I didn’t think it was very cliquey until a few days in, when I started to realize who the different groups were. People talk to each other in classes, but outside of class people don’t mix outside of their friend groups.” It seems like nobody really knows why cliques get so intense. According to Dr. Patricia Broderick in her book The Life Span: Human Development for Helping Professionals, “Two major forces are at work: first, the need to establish an identity, and second, the need for acceptance and belonging.”
KJ Miller, a Garfield sophomore, says that, “I think groups are usually formed around who everyone went to middle school with, or people you’ve been friends with for a long time. I would also kind of say that they’re segregated by race.” It can be hard to know where you fit in if you didn’t go to a larger middle school. “I came from a tiny all-girls middle school, Seattle Girls School, and that it made it pretty hard for me to come in as a freshman since I didn’t know a ton of people and I wasn’t in any specific group,” says Miller. Olson adds that, “When I came here the only friends I had were from elementary school, so I sort of blended into their group. It was weird because basically the first week I came I was already part of a clique. That wouldn’t have happened at [my old school].” Garfield’s harshly separated academic tracks certainly foster the growth of racially-segregated cliques. According to Broderick, “the practice of putting stu-
keep the pressure
dents on particular tracks based on their apparent academic prowess often has the side effect of segregating students according to race.” Garfield senior Sean Devenney shares, “I’ve been in the APP program since first grade at . Not every school has the resources to offer AP courses or APP style education, and that’s why we have the whole “feeder school” system. It really doesn’t help that we’ve all been going to school together for so long.” Along with the academic tracks that students are placed in as early as first grade, a research paper by Stanford professor Daniel McFarland explains that “schools that offer students more choice – more elective courses, more ways to complete requirements, a bigger range of potential friends, more freedom to select seats in a classroom – are more likely to be rank-ordered, cliquish and segregated by race, age, gender and social status.” While having a close-knit group of friends isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a
problem arises when one group has more power and comes out “on top” of another. “I would say that you can definitely tell just by looking at the [sophomore] social scene which groups are more popular. I guess you could call it a hierarchy; it’s like in movies,” adds Miller. This creates a power imbalance between the different groups. “When you look at the groups, the more popular people have more power socially. They’re the ones who throw parties and stuff,” explains Olson. Garfield is a divided school in countless ways. People are aware of the problem, but can be reluctant to bring about change. As students, and members of the Garfield community, it is our job to branch out and break down walls between these segregated groups. If Mean Girls has taught us anything, it’s that cliques don’t make anyone happy.
Seattle in protest against legislature withholding funds for education. By Hannah Tacke On Thursday, February 18th, Garfield teachers held a “walk in” to protest against the Washington Legislation for insufficiently funding public schools. For the last three years, the legislature has been in violation of a Supreme Court ruling stating that public schools in Washington will be fully funded, and a required amount of funds was to be set aside for education. The protest has become a trend across the country, as schools press for public education funding as well as the deprivatization of schools. The idea started in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has caught on as communities state their demands. Since August of 2015, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Washington State legislature has been in contempt of court, being fined $100,000 every day the legislature fails to delegate funds to public schools. “Funding is not being provided to basic education, but the Washington Constitution clearly states that adequately funding public education is the primary duty of the legislation, and right now, they just aren’t doing it,” says language arts teacher Kit McCormick. Instead, billions of dollars have been poured into corporations like Boeing in attempts to ground their position in Washington state. In fact, over the course of the last eight years, 11 billion dollars in tax breaks has been given to Boeing, and as a result the Supreme Court ruling has
been neglected. McCormick says, “The people who aren’t getting the funding are people without power -- people who don’t even vote. They’re children. They’re taking the children’s money.”
to fund education.” “[The legislature] is not on track to even approach what the mandate asked for which is a completion date of 2015,” says Kit McCormick. “In fact we’ve just been getting less and less funding and
Local activist Rachael DeCruz speaking at Thursday’s Walk-In
Photo by Carson Jones
Jesse Hagopian, a world history teacher at Garfield, is at the forefront of the community’s protest against the legislation. “The law makers are the lawbreakers in this case, and we highlighted that here at our rally,” Hagopian says. “It’s outrageous that they can find money to give elsewhere and they can’t find the money
that’s problematic to say the least.” Despite being one of the wealthiest states in America, Washington is 43rd in the nation for per-pupil spending and 47th in the nation for class size. “We have Boeing, Amazon and Microsoft, yet we don’t even have enough money to give students a full schedule anymore,” says Mc-
Cormick. “Last year we had a number of freshmen that didn’t even have five classes in their schedule.” Luckily for Garfield, the PTSA has been consistent in providing each teacher at GHS with $300 at the beginning of each school year to use for classroom supplies. But on a broader scale, the resources the school needs to serve every student sufficiently aren’t being provided. Last year at Garfield, a walk out was held to protest a potential teacher displacement that would have caused schedule issues for a number of students. Because of budget cuts, classrooms are overcrowded, and there is a lacking number of essential teachers in mathematics and foreign language. A shortage of counselorss has caused each to be responsible for 400 students. Homeless students may need more support from Garfield faculty. Hagopian raises the question: “In a school with over 125 homeless students, how are the counselors going to give the emotional and social support that all of our students need when they have over 400 students?” In order to receive the funds that has been lawfully given to Washington public education, sustained efforts from anyone in public education is crucial in pressuring the legislature. McCormick says, “We need to take the steps to reach across the aisle and get the thing solved.”
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Opinion
The College Board
A monopoly, not a non-profit. By Julia Robaidek
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ith the season of college applications and financial aid forms coming to a close, the College Board is in the back of most seniors’ minds. From SATs to APs to the CSS/financial aid PROFILE, it is next to impossible to avoid paying the College Board for something before you graduate. But just where does that money go? Despite being classified as a nonprofit, and enjoying all the perks and tax breaks associated with that label, about $1.3 million of the money went to the CEO of the College Board in 2009, the last year any of their financial information was available. At this salary, the compensation-torevenue ratio of the CEO exceeds the average of nonprofits in the US by 443%. That same year, each of its nineteen executives earn about $300,000 in salary. These numbers are wildly disproportional to other nonprofit organizations, making it questionable whether or not the College Board deserves its taxexempt status. If a student takes three AP tests, and the SAT twice, they will have paid the College Board $354, just for the tests, by the end of their junior year. To send those scores off to five colleges, they’ll pay an additional $89 for their SAT score reports, along with $75 for their AP score reports. If they also fill out the CSS/financial aid PROFILE, the College Board’s financial aid form, and send it to those same schools, they’ll shell out another $89, making PROFILE the only financial aid application with a fee attached. This all comes to a total of $607
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before they have graduated high school. If half the student body of Garfield follows this exact plan, the College Board will take in $129,000 on this year’s senior class alone. Even ignoring profit margins of the College Board, having an AP curriculum changes the dynamic of a learning environment in a school. Over the last few years, Kit McCormick, an AP English teacher here at Garfield, as well as an advocate against standardized tests like the MAP, has watched the shift towards higher AP enrollment and the change in mindset t h a t c a m e with it. “ M y experience used to be that students
were lots of alternatives,” says McCormick. Our system funnels students through the AP system, without consideration of if it is actually what is best for them. McCormick believes that most students take far too many APs at a time. “It [...] impedes their ability to be a well rounded person, to do sports and to socialize or have a job. It’s way too intense,” she says. Kris McBride, the testing coordinator at Garfield, says something similar, stressing students’ tendency to overwork themselves by taking too many APs. “We see the fallout from that when kids get burned out,” she says. “We’re pushing kids so hard to have all these things on their transcript and on their resume that in the end, for some kids, could be more harmful.” “Is that what you want out of your public education?” McBride goes on to ask. The College Board has a clear motivation for
Art by Urpi Ruiz Angeles
who took my class […] took it because they loved English and they wanted to challenge themselves in that area. Students who take my class now, I believe that 90% of them are in my class because they feel like that have to take AP English to get into a top college,” she says. These days schools are considered successful based on how many students are enrolled in AP classes, rather than how well students do on the tests. This system encourages schools to increase the number of students in an AP class, but does not reward them for teaching them well. As a result, enrollment in AP courses has increased by around 60% since 2009 in the US. “My opinion has evolved lately because when I started scoring APs about fifteen years ago, it was completely voluntary, some students took it, some didn’t. There
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
encouraging the large enrollment. “They’re raising the bar all across the country without having laid the groundwork for that, and I can’t help but think they’re raising the bar to make a profit,” says McCormick.
A lot of students take APs to get college credit, but with more and more colleges refusing to dole out credit for the exams, or expecting higher and higher scores on them, it may not be the most effective way of achieving that goal. Some school districts are investing in dual-enrollment courses, which give students high school and college credit for the same class. A few of these programs are available to Garfield students. Through Running Start, students can potentially earn their Associate degree by the time they graduate high school. However, in most cases, these classes are less rigorous than their AP counterparts. If a student is looking for the rigor of an AP class, without buying into the AP system, they also may take UW in the High School (UWHS) classes, which offer UW credit for high school classes. But because there are only three such classes at Garfield, they are not a feasible alternative for most students here. Despite dual-enrollment courses, the College Board still has a strong hold on our education system. If the district wants to loosen the grasp the College Board has on its students, they will need to increase funding on programs like UWHS and Running Start. Students also can do what they can to avoid the College Board by participating in these alternative programs, or taking AP classes, but not AP tests. “You don’t have to have fourteen AP exams under your belt to go to a good school and get a good education,” says McBride.
opinion
Life Advice
Professional advice from unprofessional sources. By Kate Mulligan, Julia Robaidek & Sami Braman There’s someone who I think might ask me to Prom, but I don’t really want to go with him. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, is there a delicate way to avoid it happening? Sincerely, Prom-posterous JR: There is one simple step to solve this problem: say no. It’s not your responsibility to spare his feelings at the cost of your enjoyment. It’s his responsibility to be able to take a minor rejection like a decent human being. Moreover, dealing with rejection like a decent human being is a skill he will need to develop, since he will most likely deal with much larger rejections in his life than this, so instead of feeling bad about hurting him, you should feel good about giving him such a valuable learning opportunity. I was studying Oedipus Rex for my Taylor final, and realized something weird. The Oedipus complex is about being attracted to your mother and killing your father, but I’ve recently become extremely attracted to my dad and the blood from my mother is still fresh on my hands. Should I write my own story, or is one tragic analogy enough for the world? Sincerely, Xersup Ideo SB: Though many may view you as a creepo, incestuous, dangerous, homewrecking freak, I see your deep literary passions as a blank canvas for a brilliant opportunity. You, Xersup Ideo, must write your own fan fiction. Your story sounds extremely unique and enticing--I’d love to hear more about.
I am 18 and my hairline is receding. SOS help me, I can’t do bald! Sincerely, Baldilocks KM: First of all, remember that the hair doesn’t make the (wo)man. Attractiveness has nothing to do with the amount of hair on your head, but rather with the amount of love in your heart. *tear* If you do decide you want to change the appearance of your cranium, there are several things you can try. Although many products on the market promise to restore all that you’ve lost, I wouldn’t trust them. Instead, go for a cheaper option-find a sharpie (preferably the color of your hair) and fill in that line. Alternatively, buy a few cheap wigs. Trust me, people will be jealous of your ability to change your hairstyle on a whim. How many milks are in a cheese? What’s the conversion rate? Sincerely, Lactose-Unintelligible SB: This is quite advanced math you are asking me to do. But I’ll try and explain it to you as best as I can for now. Before you decipher how many milks are in a cheese, you must first know how many cows are in a single milk. Typically, 1/18th of a cow is in a single milk, but it varies and the exact number can easily be determined using the simple math equation: number of teats on the udder+number of blades of grass eaten by the cow per year multiplied by the rate of mating. With that, you will be able to identify how many cows are in a single milk. With that number, you can then square it and divide it by the number of cheese nuggets in a single serving. Then, you’ve got your number!
Two of my closest friends basically hate each other and are constantly at odds. They never purposely try to use me in their fights, but I still get caught in the middle via complaining or whatnot. How can I make it stop? Sincerely, Three Muske-tears
Wednesday and the other can take you Thursday through Sunday?
KM: This sounds exactly like a problem I read about back in the day in my American Girl book Smart Girl’s Guide: Friendship Troubles. In other words, your friends are acting with the maturity of eight year old children. It’s time for you to be honest with them; let them know that their fighting is infringing on your friendships with each of them. It’s possible they don’t realize just how much this is impacting you. They don’t have to like each other but they also certainly don’t have to make the situation uncomfortable for you. If things don’t change after you’ve talked to them about it it may be time to take a divide and conquer approach. Maybe one friend can have you Monday through
JR: Frequent sleeping and lack of energy are often symptoms or depression. I would consider seeing a professional therapist, especially if you have other symptoms. If you can’t afford one, at least go talk to someone in the Teen Health Center. If it really is just sleep issues, try drinking less caffeine, exercising more, and keeping a more regular sleep schedule. Do what you can to take care of yourself.
I’m tired constantly, no matter how much I sleep. Is there a way to solve this? Sincerely, Wiped Out
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
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If You’re Reading This It’s Not Microagressions and Racial Stereotypes at Garfield Although collectively the human race has made large steps in making this world a more equal place, seeing people differently based on their race has become inherent in human nature. We aren’t born with racial preferences but along the way, influenced by our parents, the media, and the people we surround ourselves with, we categorize and reduce individuals to stereotypes. Regardless of our intentions, the words we choose and how we deliver them can negatively impact others, and can be classified as microaggressions. Defined as “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or un-
intentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color,” microaggressions hint at just how deeply racism has been embedded in society and the work that still needs to be done within all of us. These interviews are meant to give people of color at Garfield a chance to let white people know that their words hold meaning, and they need to need to choose whether they want them to reflect understanding and mindfulness, or ignorance and insensitivity.
FEMALE AFRICAN AMERICAN JUNIOR The following student feels that her race impacts the way she sees the world and how people of other races see her. “Growing up black you kind of get a whole different perspective on things that’s different from what I’ve heard about when I’ve talked to white people about how they grew up. You go into a situation thinking about the fact that you’re black, and how you have to act a certain way to prove and show that you’re worth something.” She says that most of the stereotyping occurs within AP classes, where she has to work harder to prove that the stereotype of black people being lazy doesn’t remotely apply to her. On the effect of people making assumptions based on her race, she says “I feel limited by the stereotyping, because it makes me have to do things by myself, but it also feels empowering because I know I can do things on my own.” This student thinks that judging people solely on the color of their skin makes you un-
aware of a person’s capability, and every positive thing they do therefore becomes shocking and an exception to the stereotypes you have accepted. On a specific instance when she was stereotyped, this student recalls being “...in Kate Spade, looking at a purse, and the lady that worked there came over and said she didn’t think I would like the purse. I asked her why, because it was a really nice purse, and she said it cost too much and I wouldn’t be able to afford it.” Within Garfield, other students regularly use microaggressions against her. “It’s really a hair thing. A lot of the time I wear my hair in a mini afro, and if I’m placed at the front of the class, people say they can’t see because my big hair is in the way, or it’s poofy. The teacher then just moves me to the back of the classroom.”
MALE ASIAN AMERICAN SENIOR
MALE HISTORY TEACHER
This student says that most of the stereotypes he receives are not malicious, but when people assume he is really smart and great at math, he feels a lot of pressure to measure up. “If they think I’m super smart I have to act a certain way and I have to be the person they see me as, because otherwise they’ll be like, ‘Why aren’t you like every other Asian?’ I do end up conforming to other people’s stereotypes a little bit.” When people stereotype him, he chooses not to confront them because he does not want to generate conflicts. “I don’t want to be mean when people aren’t intentionally trying to be hurtful, so I don’t usually call them out on it. I usually just laugh, and assume that they had good intentions, and take it as they were just trying to make a joke.” For the stereotyping to end, he thinks minorities need more attention that presents them authentically and truthfully, not in a way that standardizes their race. “There needs to be more representation in the media. I don’t really see many Asian people when I watch movies or TV shows and if there is an Asian person, they are usually a side character or stereotypically Asian.” At Garfield he thinks “people need to make themselves vulnerable, and try to get to know new people. They need to stop thinking things like, oh they’re all black, I don’t think I’d mesh well with them. Or they’re all Asian, I don’t think I’d understand them. I think that’s how everyone feels about each other, and that’s what creates the segregation. We all just need to accept that we are all different, but everyone is pretty awesome on the inside.” These conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they are imperative to helping us understand the people around us, and recognize the impact our words can have. “People of other races won’t understand why something is hurtful to you. Let’s just say, if someone calls me a chink or something, to someone else, that might just be a normal name for an Asian person to them, but to me it means a lot more.” Microaggressions are a representation of how racism has largely become less overt, but still plagues the human race. “[Microaggressions] show that racism is really hidden, and if people think they can get away with it, it means that our culture thinks it’s acceptable.”
History teacher Jeremy Lugo has noticed the culture of separation between different races at Garfield, and thinks discussions on race within the classroom are an important step to ending racial stereotyping and the use of microaggressions at Garfield. Lugo thinks that “Once students start speaking about their individual experiences, that’s when it is very illuminating to students who would otherwise make assumptions, and use them long term.” He thinks that all races can be stereotyped against, and sees stereotypes come up in the discussions he holds within his classroom. “[Racial stereotypes] usually come up when we talk about specifically race related or privilege related things, that’s when I see them come out a lot. It usually happens pretty naturally just because the discussion falls into a way where we see some differences in opinions. I don’t think it ever goes too far, I think it goes to the point where people are just a little bit uncomfortable, or just a little bit unsure, which I think this a good thing. You learn a lot more when you are a little bit uncomfortable.” Lugo says he has also noticed microaggressions within his classroom, although they are harder to pin-point and call out. “A microaggression could be as simple as calling someone by the wrong name, or calling someone by the name of another student who is maybe of the same race or ethnic group... Also, simply discounting or not talking someone’s opinion seriously based on what group they belong to.” He says that microaggressions are revealed through “Attitude shifts...and you can see them just from the way people look or are engaged in the conversation.” Lugo thinks that for students to become less ignorant about racial issues we need to have discussions on race in more places than BSU and on Cultural Relations retreats. “ Often times some of these groups can become like an echo chamber, where everyone agrees. When these conversations are held in classrooms, students don’t really have as much of a choice to opt out. If I have a discussion on race in my government class, I am going to hit people who may have avoided discussions on race.”
ou y , w o “W speak ” ! l l e w so
Too Late
Article by Elena Orlando Art by Urpi Ruiz-Angeles
FEMALE MEXICAN AMERICAN SOPHOMORE Another student says she often has people asking if she is an immigrant, and wondering if she is able to speak English. On the importance of a person’s race, she says “My race is how people view me, and why I try to be proud of who I am. I think a lot of people of color struggle with that, especially because of the media and how people of color are portrayed.” She thinks that most students at Garfield have no idea that their words can be offensive, and she understands that the majority of people who stereotype her are not trying to make assumptions about her, but are ignorant of how racist their questions can be. In our school, she thinks white people need to make more of an effort to be informed. “There are clubs like BSU, Razas Unidas, and ASU, that are trying to reduce racism, but you see non people of color doing nothing. I think it’s almost always people of color trying, and even if non people of color are trying, you don’t see it that much here.” She thinks students need to be aware of the different cultures within Garfield, even though the separation of races within the school may make this hard to do. She remembers a time when someone was unaware of her culture, and she struggled to speak up and inform her. “I was talking to this girl, and it was near Halloween, and she said she was going to dress up as a Dia De Los Muertos skull. I didn’t say anything, like ‘that’s an actual tradition, to celebrate those who have passed away, and it’s not appropriate to dress up that way.’ Instead I said, ‘That’s really cool.’” She says that is how she often responds when people make stereotypes about her, but she is working on being more vocal when people are culturally insensitive. “Later I realized that I should have spoken up. It can be difficult to speak up without being seen as dramatic or trying to make everything about your race. Though she may not let others know how harmful their words can be, she is trying to speak up and thinks non people of color need to make an effort too. “When my friends accidently slip, I do confront them about it because I am comfortable with them, but when it happens with people I don’t know, I say that’s okay, but I think they need to try to be more aware.”
“You’re not REALLY Asian”
“If you work hard enough, you can succeed like everyone else”
When you share 99.9% of your DNA with the person next to you, discrimination based on race means failing to realize how similar you are to them and that your words and actions can settle beneath their skin. We need to realize that racism is not natural. Treating people differently because of their skin color is a product society, not a facet of human nature. When you talk with people of a different race, remember that what sounds like a compliment to your ear, may sound like an insult to someone else’s. Regardless of your intentions, the words you choose can mean something different to a person whose culture and struggles you have no experience with. When talking to people of a different race than you, be conscious and think about the impact your words can have.
a&e
Who Gets the Rose? The Bachelor - sweet...
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espite the ignorance of critics, The Bachelor is both glorious and inspirational. For 20 splendid seasons, this reality television series has captivated thousands of fans. Why? Because stupidity is entertainment and this show will teach you lessons you will never forget. Let’s be real, TV is all about holding your audience. Whether you provide information, education, or pure entertainment, something’s got to attract your viewers. The Bachelor offers all three. Splashed with golden tans, wavy locks, and spark-tacular outfits, 25 women scratch and claw their way to one beautiful male specimen. As this dramatic batch stumbles through their journey, girls gang together and the battles begin. Most of us have broadcasted our hate for drama at some point. However, most would also agree that watching someone else’s brawls and meltdowns is completely enjoyable. When it’s not you, it’s ok! The bottom line is that over the top stupidity is comedic. It might be a little bit sad and most definitely sounds mean, but these girls chose to join this manipulative game show and expose themselves. While The Bachelor won’t be winning any Emmy awards, it’s popularity is certainly soaring. The 8.8 million viewers are a testament to how many of us find pleasure in the dramatic women and their extremely polyamorous boyfriend. More importantly, as an avid supporter, you can learn more than you ever imagO n e word to describe The Bachelor: TRASH. The Bachelor is a brain extinguisher. It is a time sucking unavailing show for people who are too lazy to find an interesting life of their own. I’m not saying people who watch it are losers, but you are a loser if you watch it and do not accept that you are watching bullsh*t.
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Art by Elliot Hoppe
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2015
ined. The truth is that The Bachelor is one of the best resources for learning about love. Batting their eyes and locking hands tightly, Sean and Catherine, the final couple of season 17, model romance at it’s finest. Married and happy, this pair is expecting their first child sometime this summer. Tell me, can there be a better fairytale ending? Although not all seasons end in such harmony, love advice is always plentiful. The women teach you how to look your best, make small talk with your boyfriend’s ladies, and hardest of all, be vulnerable. The show also illustrates how to read people, how to interpret their body language and tone. Some of these handy tips may be completely irrelevant to your own life, but that just makes it all the more funny. The fact is, a lot of this information teaches you how not to act in real life. Bachelor education also comes in the form of “do nots.” For example: do not play dumb to appear as wife material. Do not be petty. Do not lie. Do not be overly confident. And do not sign up for a polyamorous show and cry every time the man kisses one of his other gals. This show is all in good fun. Easily classified as hilarious, wild, and over the top dramatic, The Bachelor is a T h e thing about The Bachelor that aggravates me most is that it is a complete set up. You would think that a TV show under the category of “reality TV” would be realistic, being that the key word is “reality.” However, this is not the case with The Bachelor, or most TV shows claiming to be “reality.” So what’s the real reality of it? That it’s a setup of women most likely looking for some free booze and a vacation pretending to like a good looking white man. From the very first episode of every Bachelor season, it is clear to an intelligent eye that the show is full of useless drama and stupidity. Each woman starts off the show by making an introduction to the man of the season. Afterwards, a cocktail party is hosted, where the woman are not allowed water, solely alcohol to drink the entire night. You could imagine how that turns out. Next, The Bachelor chooses one woman to give a “first impression” rose to. This rose is given within the very first night, and The Bachelor has probably done nothing more than looked the girl he chooses for this rose. It is based purely on her appearance and maybe a few conversational words at best. Some could argue that most of them end in a happy proposal and all of the sickening drama is worth it in the end. This is just yet another deceiving part of The Bachelor. Starting from season 1, statistics show that 17 /19 Bachelor seasons have ended in proposal. Wow that’s so cute, The Bachelor really does work! Think again. Only 1 out of those 17 couples still remain standing.
great way to spend your time. If you haven’t been filling your Monday nights with Bachelor festivities, you have been depriving yourself of laugher. It may be an odd way to entertain oneself, but guilty pleasures are what make the world go ‘round. Whoever bashes The Bachelor has been sadly misinformed. They simply lack the courage to invest in these sweet love stories. Although it may not be your average entertainment, branch out and try something new. The Bachelor is worth your time because it is time you will enjoy spending. Trust me, I don’t tend to like reality shows, but this one’s a keeper. - Quinn Sullivan
No one watching it realizes this, because once the show presents the fairytale ending, no one thinks twice about it. The reality is, only Sean and Catherine remain happily married, and people watching are continue to be deceived by unrealistic romantic endings. Not only is The Bachelor incredibly impractical, but it also encourages several social stereotypes. One being the assumption that women are gossipy, unathletic, materialistic and drama creators. It encourages humanities appeal to physically good looking people in society, and it re-emphasizes the normality of opposite sex couples and encourages white supremacy. But hey, if you’re looking to watch a satisfying unrealistic relationship with two attractive heterosexual white people, The Bachelor is for you! People claim that The Bachelor is all in good fun and it’s only for entertainment purposes, but the people that succumb to this appalling consumer advertising are the very people that are wasting their time in this world. They claim that it’s just a time to cool down and watch stupid stuff, but why not read, or sleep, or go out into nature? Our society has become a grossly entertainment driven humanity. If watching The Bachelor sounds like a good way to spend your free time, I recommend you take a step back and realize what you have given in to. - Alex Ferry
...or sour?
A&E
Whitewashed Can we stop pretending that white is the only kind of beautiful? By Emma Cooper
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ho remembers Beyonce’s Superbowl performance? The one where she totally slayed (per usual) and also expressed black power through references to the civil rights movement? The one where her black dancers wore their hair natural and donned costumes reminiscent of the Black Panthers? The one that made her a target for hate and labeled her as “antiwhite” for promoting black beauty and strength? These negative responses to an expression of self-love make it clear that America prefers whitewashed versions of people of color, versions that conform to being white in order to be appreciated by white audiences. “Whitewashing” is a term used to describe when a person of color is physically made to look white, mainly through artificially straightened hair and lightened skin. The products used to achieve this effect are often hazardous, and certain skin lighteners have been linked to deaths by mercury poisoning. “When you watch TV, you’ll see African American women here and there, but when you do, they wear makeup to make themselves look lighter,” says sophomore Feven Yared. Many people of color have been whitewashed, whether digitally or physically. Take Kerry Washington, an actress who posed for the cover of Instyle last spring.
Twolander
When the issue was released, many readers were shocked to see a whitened version of Washington. Instyle denied that her photos had been edited, instead blaming it on the lighting of the photo shoot. This incident was not isolated. Lupita Nyong’o was lightened in her Vanity Fair shoot, Gabby Sidibe was lightened in her shoot for Elle magazine, and the same for Neil Degrasse Tyson in his shoot for the Mental Floss. “I think it damages the idea of a woman of color role model, because it presents the idea that the only way to be pretty is to be lighter,” says junior Rheana Dale on lightening. “It waters down
their message,” adds Yared. Another part of the issue is that cameras were originally designed to photograph white people, meaning that the
chemicals used to create the colors only processed lighter skin tones. While companies have worked to be more colorinclusive, there are still remnants of the original chemical structures used to develop film and skin tones of people of color are often slightly lightened and inaccurate. Whitewashing can also refer to when the roles of people of color are played by white people or when black culture is made to appeal to white audiences. An example of this was found in the 2015 drama Stonewall, which was based off the historic Stonewall Riots led by the LGBTQ community in 1969. The riots were originally led by a trans Art by Danny Levy woman of color, Marsha P. Johnson, who was replaced with a gay white male in the movie adaptation. Seals weighs in saying, “Not seeing yourself everyday can make
you very depressed, and can also make people feel like they’re less than their worth. I feel like it’s really cultural washing, because clearly that’s not who we are or what we look like.” Whitewashing sends a definite message. “The lighter you are, the more beautiful,” says sophomore Ifrah Mohamed of this message. “I feel very offended, because beauty is not restricted to one skin color or shade.” Whitewashing damages the self esteem of people of color by doing exactly that- creating the idea that the only kind of beauty is white beauty. This pressures people of color, women in particular, to conform to these white ideals. “Women of color are always trying to assimilate into Eurocentric culture,” says Dale. “There’s so many things I used to do, because I wanted to be white,” Dale continues. “I used to ask my mom to let me bleach my skin. My mom would buy me black Barbie dolls, and I would rip their heads off and only keep the white ones.” “I used to straighten my hair, because people were always saying I had a ‘lion’s mane’,” says junior Amira Abdel-Fattah. “I know some of my friends have [used hair relaxers], because they felt forced to put themselves into society’s box of what beauty is,” says Seals. “It’s deep. It hurts our race, it hurts women,” says Dale.
What happened to the world’s hottest male model. By Sydney Santos On February 12th, after a miserable, long, and truly dull 15-year drought of no really, really ridiculously good-looking male models starring in Hollywood films, Zoolander 2 arrived in theaters nationwide. In the sequel, Derek Zoolander, once the hottest model in the fashion industry, comes out of his reclusive life after 15 years in order to stop a notorious plot to kill beautiful celebrities that may possess the legendary Fountain of Youth. This movie, while highly anticipated, was essentially the average Hollywood sequel and unfortunately incomparable to the original 2001 success. As all sequels tend to do, Zoolander 2 tried too hard to reproduce the popular features that made the original so special. However, it thoroughly captured the idiotic essence that made the Zoolander insanely popular and featured the ideal cast for the sequel to the comedy hit.
When the Zoolander 2 trailer exposed a slightly shorter and much wrinklier Ben Stiller, the public was filled with the hope of quenching their thirst for short men with defined cheekbones and spiky black hair. However while this thirst was satisfied, it left a bad aftertaste. The original Zoolander perfected a plotline that was simultaneously interesting and easy to follow yet senseless and completely random. In an attempt to create more laughs, the movie accentuated the latter aspects, creating a nonsensical plot line that can only be described as an insider’s look into a very strange drug-induced trip. The movie’s plot also moved very quickly and had a lot of loose ends, resulting in confusion and making it harder to enjoy the comedic moments. However, Zoolander 2 was not an entire disappointment. The sequel certainly provided the same stupid laughs as the origi-
nal, continuing to use Derek Zoolander’s stereotypical dumb model demeanour as a source of entertainment. The arrogant cluelessness allowed for plenty of new jokes to be made in the sequel, leaving the audience snorting with laughter every five minutes. Another successful aspect of the new movie was the cast. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson reprise their iconic roles of Derek Zoolander and Hansel, perfectly embodying their simple-minded characters despite the fact that they originally portrayed them fifteen long years ago. Another returning figure is the menacing designer villain Mugatu, aka Will Ferrell in a Miley Cyrus-meets-poodle wig and corset. Some new eccentric characters highlighted the sequel, including a very sexualized fashion police officer played by Penelope Cruz, an eleven year old with Fred Armisen’s head photoshopped on
it, and Benedict Cumberbatch as an eyebrowless, gender-fluid supermodel. Of course, no Zoolander movie is complete without cameos. The new sequel was chock-full of famous celebrities from all industries and ages, including Sting, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Kate Moss, MC Hammer, Katy Perry and, yes, Justin Bieber. Overall, if you are a fan of the original Zoolander, visit your local theater and pay the fifteen dollar admission to see more of what you love, however brace yourself for some slight disappointment. Everyone else, I suggest waiting until it shows up on your Netflix queue.
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2015
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a&e The Foodstagram Movement Garfield foodies share what they eat. By Danny Levy s portable social media continues to skyrocket in popularity among the millennial generation, it allows for everyone to share so much more of their lives. One of the most popular apps/social media platforms among young adults is Instagram. Instagram allows anyone to snap photos with a clever caption, and in turn receive likes, comments, and a feeling of acceptance. While many students have instagram accounts documenting their social lives, Senior Audrey Stocker and Junior Riley Connor have put the app to use with a much “tastier” approach. Stocker and Connor have joined the Food Instagram, or Foodstagram, craze. While both have accounts for photos of friends and the sort, they also have separate accounts, which are not only full of mouthwatering dishes, but are visually stunning as well. Stocker and Connor’s accounts are enough to make anyone’s stomach rumble, but they each take very different directions. Stocker’s profile showcases not
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food she has “cheffed up”, but various plates and treats from restaurants around the Seattle Area. Anyone can DM (Direct Message) her a photo of something delicious, and if given the Stocker stamp of approval, the picture will be posted. When asked about her selective process, Stocker has a few considerations that go into what she posts. “I look for new restaurants that I haven’t posted before. [I also post] different types of food, like I won’t post a burger if I just posted one a few days ago,” says Stocker. “I had taken a ton of photos from restaurants across the city and didn’t really know what to do with them, but I followed a couple accounts, like @newforkcity, and thought why can’t I do that?” Connor, while he also uploads pictures of delicious food, makes everything himself. After being questioned about what inspired him to create his account, Connor had a very respectable answer. “I was inspired to create my Instagram account after watching a youtube video where a professional food photographer shared
her techniques,” explains Connor. “I had always loved to cook for myself, but I had never documented what I was making, and I wanted girls to know I was good at cooking.” When asked if maintaining these accounts made either Stocker or Connor consider a career in the culinary arts, both had already thought about an answer. Similar to what she is doing now, Stocker would like to turn photos and short captions into full reviews and more. “I’d love to work for an online food/ travel blog,” she remarks. However, Connor does not see food in his future. While he loves working in the kitchen, there isn’t enough spontane-
ity in being a restaurateur- “I don’t plan to get into the restaurant business, due to lack of experimentation/creativity that most chef jobs consist of,” he explains. Connor and Stocker don’t just enjoy documenting food, they love to consume it as well (duh!). After reading about it in a recent book, Connor loves “Delancey” in Ballard. “Now that I have ate there, it is probably one of my favorite restaurants,” he says. Stocker enjoys brunch at The Wandering Goose, Capitol Hill’s southern comfort food hotspot, and Glo’s, an all day breakfast diner on E Olive St. “There are a ton of others too,” quotes Stocker, establishing that they both love too many restaurants to list. Be sure to follow both Stocker (@sweetnseattle) and Connor (@r_foodieboi) to stay up to date on the Emerald City’s most delectable cuisine.
Art by Danny Levy
Kehinde Wiley
The SAM’s latest addition. By Alex Ferry raised by a single mother who got him to attend art school from a young age. He went on to pursue art at Yale University, moving to New York to continue working shortly afterwards. In a live interview at the Seattle Art Museum, Wiley explains that what drives him to continue his passion for art Photos by Keenan Simpson is the ability it gives him to share his ideas with the world. “Painting allows us to create entire worlds, self contained, however you want it to be. That’s yours, that’s something that you hold onto,” says Wiley. Not only does he believe in his own Kehinde Wiley’s paintings leave a sense of ambuguity ability to share his opinions, but he encourings that represent people of color world- ages others to use art as a mechanism to wide. His paintings are known for his ex- do the same. “Every single one of you art students pression of African American power, but they also speak to all different cultures, in this room have the capability to use races, and sexualities. Wiley leaves a sense your art to pass into culture so that other of ambiguity in order to let the confusion people can pick it up where you started,” and purpose of his art develop differently he says. From the very beginning of his art cain each viewer. Kehinde Wiley grew up in Los Angeles, reer, Wiley knew he wanted to share his The Kehinde Wiley exhibit “A New Republic” opened at the Seattle Art Museum this month, and people gathered on opening day to see both his work and to see him speak live about himself and his collection. Wiley is known for his intricate paint-
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The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
passion with the world. “It’s something I’ve spent my life doing. Before I knew all of this was gonna happen, I was ready to do and find a day job and figure it out. I was just in love with this idea of scratching this itch,” he says. In order to broaden his perspectives and paint the different cultures he comes across in his collection The World Stage, he has traveled to places such as Brazil, Nigeria, India, and China. Wiley’s portraits are a blend between traditional and contemporary styles. He takes famous European art, and he inserts his own subjects in order to critique traditional paintings while inputting his own unique style. Wiley explains that his work “Sort of exists in this gap between ‘I’m really mad at traditional british culture’ and ‘I can’t stop trying copy traditional british culture.’” He feels that this gap he lies in is the best place he can be in order to express the complexity of his work. “The gap is the sweet spot. It’s confusion, it’s the trickster. It’s all of that stuff that perhaps has nothing to do with teaching anyone a lesson, but holding up a mirror to what it feels like to be insecure,” says Wiley. For the aspiring young artists at Garfield, Wiley says to you “If you’re an artist of color or an artist who’s queer or an artist who’s male or an artist who’s a white
male, take some time to think about others’ identity–something that doesn’t belong to you. Try your best to empathize with the identity of another, and then try to relate back to yourself through it. That’s all I do. Cause that’s all I can do. That’s the state of being black in America.” For anyone interested in seeing Kehinde exhibit for themselves, it will be open at the SAM until May 8th.
The Kehinde Wiley Exhibit will be open unitl May 8th
a&e
White Privilege on White Privilege Macklemore & Ryan Lewis release a song titled “White Privilege II.” By Hera Ford
M
acklemore and Ryan Lewis, “The Great White Hope(s)” of rap, are known for their attempts at addressing social and political issues in their music. The song, “Same Love” released in 2012, was critically hailed as the “anthem” for marriage equality, to the disappointment of many LGBTQ activists as well as fans, who felt the song, written by two white, cis, heterosexual men, capitalized on their struggle for equal rights. In 2014, the duo went on to ignite further controversy when they won four Grammys in 2014 for Best New Artist, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance over black artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and JayZ. The appropriation of black music by white artists, often times for major profit, fame and mainstream critical attention is a tired cultural trope and the backlash from the (black) hip hop community was immediate. Fast forward to January of 2016 when the Grammy award winning pop-rap duo released a single titled, “White Privilege II,” a sequel to the 2005 song “White Privilege.” Pause. Once again, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, two paragons of privilege, are using their platform to educate the rest of us, this time, on white privilege? I’ll be honest, as a young black woman, when I first heard the eight-minute track, I dismissed it with an eye-roll and kept it moving. I mean, wouldn’t it legitimize white privilege to applaud white, cisgender, straight men for repeating the same message black and brown activists have been preaching for decades? It wasn’t until I saw Seattle area, African-American spoken-word artist and activist Nikkita Oliver perform “White Privilege II,” along with singer Jamila Woods and poet Danez Smith on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, that
I understood the potential impact of “White Privilege II”. After seeing the live performance, the framing for this article shifted from a critical rant to an investigation of the intentions, however imperfect, of the song. Oliver, who’s been active in the Black Lives Matter movement as well as a mentor for the Black Student Union here at Garfield, says that the non-indictment of Darren Wilson - the police officer who murdered 18 year-old Michael Brown in
power’.” explained Oliver. She further elaborated that the idea of the song came up within these conversations. In an exclusive interview with Macklemore, he expressed that, “We are currently living in an incredibly important political and social moment and...part of what we’re trying to address, part of what we’re trying to push against, is remaining silent.” The song, White Privilege, is a compilation of thoughts, feelings and concerns,
2014 - sparked multiple conversations about institutionalized racism, white supremacy and white privilege with Macklemore and his company (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis LLC). Macklemore & Co went on to take an Undoing Racism workshop hosted by the People’s Institute Northwest, an organization that works to help people understand racism and how it can be “undone.” “I said ‘If you’re going to work on this song everyone in your company needs to be developing their analysis of racism and white supremacy and white privilege and
that explore Macklemore’s experiences with allyship, cultural appropriation, and white supremacy. The song begins with a choir and jazz band that create a slow, soulful melody while Macklemore expresses his insecurities about his role at a Black Lives Matter protest. He says, “They’re chanting out, “Black Lives Matter,”/ but I don’t say it back/ Is it okay for me to say?/ … In front of a line of police that looks the same as me/ Only separated by a badge, a baton, a can of Mace, a mask, a shield, a gun with gloves and hands that give an alibi/ In case some-
March A&E calender
Tuesday
Wednesday
1st: 7-9:30 Orchestra at Benaroya Tsutakawa 30 Years
2nd: 3-5 Garfield Slam Poetry Youth Speaks
8th: 3rd Period ACLU- Students and the Police
9th: 3-5 Garfield Slam Poetry Youth Speaks
body dies behind a bullet that flies out of the 9/ Takes another child’s life on sight.” A gunshot follows and the choir sings, “Blood in the streets, no justice no peace/ No racist beliefs, not rest til’ we’re free.” The song has received criticism from the black community and multiple media outlets that critique Macklemore for profiting from social justice movements and issues by making songs about them. Oliver admits, “it’s problematic that he has the power and privilege to write a song like this. It’s an inherently flawed piece of work because it stems out of white supremacy [but] how many white artists do you know that are actually trying to talk to their fan base about these kinds of issues? Katy Perry’s not. Iggy Azalea’s not. I’m not saying he’s doing it right but I think he does have a responsibility to talk to his white fans about this.” Macklemore understands these critiques and responded by saying, “My intentions should be questioned. At the end of the day, the question I come back to is ‘what am I doing to create a more equitable society?’” “Making a song isn’t the only thing I can do, but it is one of the most direct ways that I can interact and engage with my fan base,” he says. There’s debate around whether Macklemore’s song displays a good example of allyship. Oliver says that it’s not the responsibility of black people to help white people figure out their allyship but one of the first steps should be to “dig into their whiteness [and ask themselves] how they protect whiteness and act anti-black. And then just try. If [they] mess up and someone has something to say about it, sit back and listen and humbly take the critique and if there’s something [they] need to change then change it.” What do you think Garfield?
Thursday
10-11th: 3-5 Dramatic Paws Black box
Coming up: Vocal Music Concert @ Quincy Jones 7-9, Mar. 24th Hot Java Cool Jazz @ The Paramount 7-10, Mar. 25th
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
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Art by Elliott Hoppe
sports
Spring Sports Preview By The Messenger Staff
Baseball
Coming into the 2015 season, Garfield baseball’s talent level was a mystery. The Bulldogs pieced together a great season however, as Garfield won their first playoff game in 20-plus years, and came one win away from a state tournament berth. This year, success is less of a goal and more of an expectation. Despite the loss of seven seniors, the foundation of the team returns. Senior captain Eli Wilson, named a Seattle Times Spring All-Star last year, will try to replicate his .356 batting average, while fellow senior and captain Aidan Miller (1.39 ERA in 2015) will lead the pitching staff. “Last season gave our program something to build off of and legitimacy in Metro,” Miller says, adding on that he hopes the Bulldogs will “build off that momentum”. Other key contributors include captain Caleb Stocker (the only returning starter in the outfield from last season), junior Alex Gregory (.303 batting average in 2015), and sophomore Kepler Swanson, who started multiple games at 3 different positions last year as a freshman. J’raan Brooks, known for his prowess on the basketball court, also will be trying out for the team after transferring from Seattle Prep last year, and could excel as an additional arm to add to a solid rotation.
Co-Ed Track and Field
As grizzly bears in remote Canada come out of their winter dens for the first time in months, runners from all corners of Garfield similarly come out of their hibernation holes, grab their neglected tennis shoes, and set off for the red rubber track. The track team starts training on February 29th to prepare for the upcoming spring season, and aims to continue the historical legacy of Garfield track and field. “[Last season] was really successful, we had a really big team [...] and we sent a lot of people to state. It was our first year in 3A and I think we represented Garfield well,”
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The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2016
said junior captain Will Laird. Some of the team’s highlights at the 2015 state meet included senior Izzi Olive placing 2nd in the 800 meter run in 2:10.66 minutes, Will Laird placing 13th in the 800 meter run in 1:58.40 minutes, and the girls 4x200 meter relay finishing 3rd in 1:43.28 minutes. As for this season, coach Kwajalein Griffin, known as Coach Kwad to her athletes, believes that “[Garfield] will be a force to be reckoned with. If everyone comes out and supports track and field […] I think we can really be strong.” The sport is no-cut, so Kwad encourages anyone interested in track or field events to come out and join the team.
Annette and new assistant coach Erika Barnes. Fellow captain Brad Huffaker hopes to team up with Burney and reach the State championships this season. The girls were awarded the State Championship in 2013, and junior captains Sakura Kishiro and Alex Ferry hope to lead the girls to another great season. The team has been readily gearing up for the season, with consistent captains’ practices every week. Never before has the tennis team been so dedicated and hard at work. Get ready to see a whole new team of Bulldogs this season. “New year, new me,” says Huffaker. The Bulldogs hope to carry this motto in to the season and surprise their rivals with a new level of play.
Boy’s Soccer
Photo by Carson Jones
Co-Ed Tennis
The 2016 Bulldogs will have large shoes to fill from last season, losing three star players. Last year, Bulldogs tennis placed second in Metros and sent two players to state. They are looking forward to another great year. “We got so close last year,” says captain and 2014 state champion Oscar Burney. “We will work very hard this season and we’ll give it our all to win the league.” Head coach Ira Moss hopes to continue the program’s success, along with assistant coach Jacqueline
The soccer team is coming off one of the best seasons in Garfield history, where they placed second in state and upset many top ranked teams along the way. With nine seniors graduating last year, the team will lose some leadership. However, captains Sten Tolgu, Tommy Renehan, and Aidan Chestnut will look to revive a championship work ethic in the team and inspire the underclassmen. This year’s team is going to look for sophomores and juniors to fill the roles left by seniors starters last year. “If this team wants to be successful, the returning seniors will have to obviously step up in the big games, but we will also have to work well with the underclassmen to build a strong team environment,” says senior goalie and captain Sten Tolgu. The team’s goal is to finish as a top 3 team in metro, as well as making a run at state to at least the second round. With a taste of success from last year, the team will no doubt do whatever it takes to give themselves a chance at a championship. Tolgu says, “We have a very solid squad that is motivated by last year’s success in state.”
Sports
Full(er) of hunger
Freshman phenomenon dominates. By Emma Cooper
A
ll eyes are on our beloved basketball team, as they fight to win the state championship once more. The pressure is on and now that they’re playing in regionals, losing would mean elimination from the race to state. But Garfield has a new weapon, a 6’3 freshman with a hunger to win named P.J. Fuller. “I remember at the beginning of the year,” recalls basketball coach Ed Haskins. “We were standing out in the hallway in the gym. He looked at the state championships from the last couple of years and he said, ‘Coach, I want to win four for you.’ His desire to be the best is really high for a kid his age.” P.J. Fuller was born into basketball. “Everybody in my family played basketball- my mom, my dad, all my siblings, my grandparents,” says Fuller. “It all comes so naturally.” His path to the hardwood floor began at the age of three. “I was carrying around a basketball at my parents’ wedding, just shooting it and throwing it at people,” says Fuller.
He joined the select team Rotary been practicing with them, and had been when he was in third grade, but was cut doing really well.” Tryouts dawned on November 18th. from the team in sixth grade. “My skill “It was definitely the hardlevel wasn’t as good as est thing I’ve ever done in it is now,” Fuller admits. Photo by Michael Ybarra my life,” Fuller says of the “There were other kids tryouts. “I’ve never ran so there who played better much. My stomach was and worked harder than upset after. I couldn’t feel me my legs. I couldn’t walk. Fuller accredits this But it all ended up being dismissal to the beginworth it.” ning of his love for the For Coach Haskins, it game. “It kind of made was this work ethic that me mad, and it made made him stand out. “He me want to get better,” just never stopped. He has says Fuller of being cut. a constant motor. Like “That’s when it all started coming together and Earl Thomas on the SeI started to get better attle Seahawks, he’s always and I started to love the around the ball,” Haskins game more.” says. PJ Fuller in action He began practicing As the token freshman with the Garfield team last summer in on the team, Fuller is the little brother order to get ready for tryouts. “I wasn’t of the basketball family. “It’s fun, I get to really nervous,” says Fuller. “I was sure I make mistakes as a freshman,” says Fuller. was going to make the team because I had “Right now, I’m kind of just learning from
my peers. They’re teaching me, they’re making me better during practice. “We play all day, we have fun, but we also have our serious moments and we get in trouble together too.” Teammate Terrell Brown says, “Being a big brother to him, I’ll show him the ropes and try to set a legacy for him that he can pass on to another freshman.” When asked what he brings to the team, Fuller responds with, “Happiness. It’s just the person I am, it comes from the love of basketball and just seeing other people happy.” That and, of course, his mad basketball skills. Fuller believes his specialty is court vision and being able to strategically involve his teammates. Coach Haskins agrees, saying, “He absolutely sees the court, and he’s a willing passer. He’s not looking just to try and score himself. He’s looking to make the right play.”
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Sports
A Player's Coach, or a Coach's Player
A player's perspective on different coaching methods. By Eli Wilson
I
t’s no secret that coaches have an enormous impact on their players’ success. How they get to that success can come in a multitude of approaches. From the screamer, to the deathly silent starer, to the best friend- every athlete has dealt with different coaching styles. Each approach has it’s pros and cons, and to identify the “best” method to coaching is an impossible task. However, a wide range of opinions and experiences can help pin down a suitable style for any type of athlete. Most sports have a typical coaching type associated with that sport. NFL coaches are hard nosed, and usually throw their headset in anger at their players. Baseball skippers sit quietly on their bench, until a bad call is made and they argue with the umpire until their ejection. Soccer coaches seem to be peers with their athletes, and upon a goal for their team they display a dramatic celebration. Most coaches can be classified as either a player’s coach, or a strict coach. Garfield has coaches on both ends of the
spectrum, and has seen success with both styles. Garfield head soccer coach Carlos Enriquez, who lead the soccer team to a second place finish in state last year, emulates a perfect players coach, having confidence in his players on and off the field to make the right decisions. “Carlos is the best coach I’ve ever had, he gives you a lot of trust and expects you not to overuse that trust,” says sopho-
Art by Danny Levy
more defender Josh Chestnut. Garfield’s baseball coach Chris Moedritzer also exemplifies a players coach as well, and has been effective in creating a strong program in recent years. “He’s a laid back coach. He lets you do things on your own, but also steps in to help you work on things when you need it,” says junior baseball player Alex Gregory. While laid back coaching seems to be every athlete’s dream, strict coaches can be very effective in elevating an athlete’s skill. Gregory has dealt with coaches on the opposite end of the spectrum from Moedritzer, and can speak to the benefits and drawbacks. “When I was younger [strict coaches] killed my morale, but also put a lot of pressure on me to get better and to try harder, and also to get out of my comfort zone,” says Gregory. Garfield wrestling coach Stuart Hamilton, while trusting in his wrestlers, runs very intense conditioning for his athletes
in the weight room and on the wrestling mats. Hamilton is most famously recognized for his stationary bike workouts where he makes his athletes sprint for two minutes intervals, while simultaneously screaming at them to push harder. “With coach Hamilton, the first hour of practice requires crazy physical endurance,” says senior wrestler Ryan Mendel. Wrestling practoces typically involve conditioning for the first hour, with form, and technique work for the rest of practice. While the pain is almost unbearable, Mendel sees the upside to a coach that pushes you to the limit, saying “He’s made me a lot stronger, and a lot more endurant… I’m not afraid to work up a sweat.” The positive qualities of both coaching methods are apparent in the variety of success Garfield athletes have seen. It’s no surprise new coaching methods have made it to the professional level, and Garfield students can continue to look forward to athletic success with a team of coaches who understand their athletes.
More Than an Obsession
The psychology behind why we hate star athletes. By Bella Rowland-Reid Right now, it seems like all eyes are on Cam Newton. The Panthers quarterback is not only one of the highest paid football players of the year, but also one of the most disliked. From sports page gossip to racist Twitter rants, people truly seem to hate Cam Newton. But this isn’t all that unique in the sports world. Before there was Cam Newton, there was Alex Rodriguez. Before Alex Rodriguez, there was Brett Favre. And Brian Bosworth. And Tonya Harding. And OJ Simpson. “In sports, you have your favorite teams and your least favorite,” says filmmaker Rory Karpf, director of the ESPN 30 for 30 special ‘I Hate Christian Laettner’, a documentary on the Duke basketball star who rose to infamy in the 1990s. “We want someone to root for and someone to root against.” “We don’t see athletes as humans,” agrees sports psychologist Joel Grossbard. “We see them as heroes and villains -- as who we love and who we hate.”
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This obsession, according to Grossbard, stems from the pedestals we put athletes on. “We essentially worship them,” says Grossbard. “People either love them or hate them, and it makes us feel good to loathe a common enemy.” A commonality between often hated stars is their fall from greatness. Tiger Woods was a beloved golfer, while Alex Rodriguez and Tanya Harding were rising young champions. “We often give the athletes we love a free pass when they do something wrong,” says Grossman. “[These athletes] are our idols and we want them to be perfect.” According to Grossman, we then turn to hate people like Michael Vick and Barry Bonds because they broke the rules. They fell from the pedestal we established for them. Karpf also believes athletes are usually made up of determining factors. These factors, including looks, race, and wealth, can affect how fans see players.
The Garfield Messenger 2/26/2015
“Most athletes have immense privilege,” says Karpf. “We hate the privilege. We hate that they can have everything they want.”
Art by Elliott Hoppe
Perhaps the sentiment is true. Lebron James made $24 million from playing alone last season, not to count his half a dozen endorsements. With two NBA championships, and the all the money, women, and power in the world, why wouldn’t we hate him? “We project what we hate about ourselves and our lives into these players,”
says Karpf. “We obsess over them, and we want them to lose because we want the bad people in our lives to lose.” In our eyes, Lance Armstrong is Darth Vader, and his bike is the Death Star. Additionally, the expansion of social media has contributed to how many fans see athletes. “When I watched sports, it was on a black and white television,” says Grossman. “With Instagram and Facebook, we now have access to whole portions of [these athlete’s] lives.” “On the Internet, there’s that instant gratification and the anonymity that comes with leaving a comment,” says Karpf. “It’s a projection of yourself; an excuse to act ugly.” Social media or no, the obsession many fans have with sports stars is often more than just a jab at their arrogance or bad attitude. So, next time you find yourself cursing at a Sportscenter interview with Tom Brady, ask yourself: what really is it that makes you hate him?
sports
Where is hockey? Hint: not Seattle.
I
By Keenan Simpson
f you’re anything like most hockey fanatics or avid NHL consumers, then you probably don’t live here. Quality hockey is defined by beers, chirps*, big time collisions and top shelf dingers. No one on the East Coast or up north lacks the fundamental experience of verbally abusing the Zamboni* driver for taking an extra lap. Ice hockey is a disappearing pastime in the Northwest region and unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a remedy. It’s no surprise that hockey has faded in our neck of the woods. With the lack of neighbourhood ODR’s*, this mild-tempered region is already a handicapped fan base and player pool. There just simply aren’t the right conditions for hockey to survive and get the youth as fired up about it as elsewhere. In regions where hockey thrives, it’s more than just a weekend warrior’s pastime. You live your position, on and off the ice. If you’re an enforcer* on the ice, you’re likely crushing kids into the lockers as if they were a set of boards in the local rink. Your ice time persona translates directly into who you are as a person. It’s no coincidence that the biggest Chirps: Trashtalk plug* on ODR: Outdoor rink the team Plug: Someone who can’t skate is also Beer league: Adult the one hockey league who takes Fourth line: worst players the most on a team snow to Enforcer: Fighter the face in the dressing room.
In the absence of youth leagues, beer leagues*, ODR*s and sanctioned arenas, the quality of spectator hockey in the Pacific Coast is struggling. Seattle provides a top notch fanbase for professional sports, including the NFL and MLB. There’s been a push to bring a NHL team to Seattle, except we have no venue. Sadly the city council has said that unless the cost of an arena could be split between an NBA team and an NHL team, it’s not a feasible investment. For now, unless you want to go up north and blow hundreds of dollars and spend six hours of driving to watch the Canucks get hammered by just about any team in the league, it looks like you’re out of luck. Sure you can go see the Seattle Thunderbirds, but that whole team might as well ride the bench and call themselves the fourth liners*. Don’t get me wrong, minor league hockey has some quality fights and can get seriously rowdy. There’s no better place to practice your chirps and trash talk the goalies. That being said, the Thunderbirds games don’t live up to the entertainment value of quality minors, and it certainly doesn’t compare to a team in the NHL like the Montreal Canadians who can start a riot by lowering the price of PBR at the concessions. The hockey gods have left the area and it doesn’t seem like the Thunderbirds are our silver lining. For now, the ice may be melting and the stoke may be gone, but in such dire times the future has potential promise. The good news is, a small number of leagues are hanging onto the sport and keeping the kids involved. You may have to drive absurd distances to games and practices alike, but a select few people are doing just that. For now this is only a bonus for the kid who’s getting ice time. Mom and Dad can certainly find other ways to entertain themselves besides driving their kid to Vancouver for a regular season game. Despite popular belief, even
minivan-driving hockey moms have lives outside their child’s sport. But it’s these hockey mom’s hockey fans can thank, because when these kids grow up, they’ll create more hockey players and that’s never an issue. Youth hockey is not for the fans. People don’t pay to watch 11 year-old’s attempt to raise the puck and then realize they were shooting on their own net. It’s to create fans, and develop awareness for the sport in Seattle and the area. At the end of the day, if we never get a NHL team and the sport stays underground, the youth hockey teams still won’t be at a loss. These kids are future beer league all stars, and that’s definitely something to brag about.
Photo by Keenan Simpson
Hockey player hitchhikes their way out of Seattle
Mess Guess
Eli Wilson
Aidin Montefisher
Alex Ferry
USA vs Colombia (Copa America)
USA
Colombia
Colombia
LAC @ OKC (NBA)
OKC
OKC
OKC
Clippers
OKC
UNC @ Duke (NCAAM)
Duke
UNC
Duke
UNC
Duke
Los Angeles @ Anaheim (NHL)
Los Angeles
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
Millwall vs Blackpool (British Soccer)
Blackpool
Millwall
Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool
0-0
0-0
0-0
Emma Cooper 0-1
Quinn Sullivan Colombia
Flora Taagen 0-0
Columbia
A new semester means a new season of Mess Guess. Two new additions to the league are sure to shake up the standings. Emma “Koopa Troopa” Cooper is looking to make a splash with her first Mess Guess appearance, however, I don’t think flexing her biceps is going to help anything. Flora “Or Fauna?” Taagen is a peasant amoung giants, but has a better chance of winning then Alex “Boat To The Island Of Misfit Toys” Ferry. No question Aidin “Last Semester Was Embarresing” Montefisher will look to go out on top, but he will have to overthrow reigning champ Eli “Sorry Quinn, I Just Don’t Have The Balls” Wilson.
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