Vol 3. Issue 2

ISSUE 2

Mental Illness

FREE/OCTOBER 2018

let t er from t he

EDITORS

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elcome to the second issue of The Chariot: the Mental Illness issue. For this cover story, Editor-in-Chief Maura McLynn and Managing Editor Dani Blank explore the taboo subject of mental health, and its widespread effects on our high school population.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), over half of mentally ill people will experience the first onset by the age of 14, and that percentage is only increasing. In the age of debilitating teenage depression and anxiety, mental health is finally being discussed, rather than buried under mounds of repression. “The Chariot” intended to contribute to this conversation through the lens of our high school microcosm.

Also included in this issue is a spotlight on many N.B.A. players’ candour when discussing their bouts with depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses, written by sports editor Matt Press, as well as an opinion piece by staff writer Jeffery Shen on growing prescription drug dependency and pharmaceutical companies’ role in the epidemic.

We’d like to thank our amazing design team for their diligent work, especially our photographer Sam Monckton, who took the amazing cover shots for this issue, and Erin Lee, whose Elon Musk portrait and artwork for the faceoff is well-deserving of much praise.

In this issue we covered a wide range of topics that fall under the umbrella of mental illness, as its widespread impacts permeate across our four sections of the magazine. Looking forward, our next cover story will cover the ins and outs of our education system, which applies to every single student at Johns Creek High School, yet the topic is shrouded in mystery and bureaucratic red tape, obscuring it to the common teenager. Stay tuned, we have a lot of content to showcase this year.

MAURA MCLYNN AND ROHAN LALLA 2 |COVER BY SAM MONCKTON

Edit ors -in-Chief

contents 04. news 4. ROUNDUP 6. MENTAL ILLNESS IN CRIME 7. HYPOCRISY OF ELON MUSK 8. STIGMA WEEK

Copy Editor Brooke Halak highlights “Stigma Week” which emphasizes the importance of understanding mental illness. Page 8

10. sport s 10. DEPRESSION IN THE NBA 12. BATTLE OF THE SEXES 13. DUMB PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

16. feature s 14. COVER STORY: MENTAL ILLNESS 19. MUSIC THERAPY

Sports Editor Matt Press explores the impact of depression on NBA players and their new openness regarding the subject. Page 10

20. TEACHER FRIENDSHIPS 22. IMPACT OF YOUTUBE 23. SHOE RELEASES 24. MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

26. opinion 26. FACE-OFF: CLASS PARTICIPATION 28. PRESCRIPTION ADDICTION 29. GENERATIONAL HUMOR 30. E-CIG EPIDEMIC

Staff writer Jeffery Shen discusses the role prescription drugs play in addiction and the growing usage of opioides. Page 28 THE CHARIOT | 3

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The bee population has been rapidly declining over the past few years, but the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, may have a solution. Amsterdam has implemented many policies to help promote the sustainability of the bee population. One of the actions the city has taken is a ban on most pesticides, which allows the bee population to flourish near pollen filled plants. If other countries follow suit, the bees may be able to repopulate in the near future.

With four straight days of rainfall and a total of 3 feet of rain, Hurricane Florence is ranked directly behind Harvey as the wettest storm in history. Meteorologists say that the likely reason for these occurence of these storms is global warming. As the atmosphere becomes warmer, its capacity to store water grows. As a result, category one hurricanes like Florence are able to ravage the east coast, which they would not be able to do a decade ago. Both Florence and Harvey indicate the devastating effects of global warming on our community, as people are still recovering from these storms.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Nicaragua since April 18 in what has become an uprising against the Central American country’s president, Daniel Ortega, and his government. This crisis began when a pro-government group violently suppressed a peaceful protest in Nicaragua’s capital city, Managua. Since then, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured as the protests have grown and attempts to censor them have intensified.

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The U.S. has recently imposed extensive sanctions on the Chinese government. As a result, they sent this messageremove the sanctions, or “bear the consequences�. The sanctions are due to the government purchasing several pieces of high powered equipment from Russia. According to the U.S., the purpose of these sanctions is to punish malicious acts of Russia, such as the gradual annexation of Crimea or meddling with the 2016 Presidential Election.

DNA fingerprinting has recently aided law enforcement teams in accusing three different ivory smuggling cartels. DNA fingerprinting is the process of determining the characteristics of a DNA sample and using them to track down the person who left it behind. The sample, found in the outskirts of Kenya, was comprised of residue from 38 different elephant tusks. Ivory smuggling cartels usually purchase tusks from untraceable poachers, and ship them around the world. This discovery could lead to the conviction of these cartels.

ROUNDUP ALEX GROSSWALD, staff writer

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Mental Health and School Shootings TESSA PAUL, staff writer

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he halls are empty, but reporters are lining up outside for the chance to report on the next big thing, to snap the picture that will go viral. The moment a school shooting occurs, the media scrambles to find a reasoning behind the event. Some media outlets choose to focus on the mental health of the shooter before an investigation has even begun, but the problem of using mental health as a scapegoat is that it stigmatizes others with a mental health issue and creates a misperception of the community.

The issue of mental health cannot be ruled out completely in regards to school shooters.

For example, Wendell Williamson was a law student who shot two people at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998.

He was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. However, examples like this pervade the minds of the media and others to make them quick to assume someone committing a horrible act must have a mental illness.

“It is important to remember that only a very small percentage of violent acts are committed by people who are diagnosed with, or in treatment for, mental illness,” said Jessica Henderson Daniel, the American Psychological Association President.

And yet, when a mass shooting occurs, the suspect’s mental health always 6 | SAM MONCKTON

comes into question, a topic which affects a large community of people with mental health disabilities and portrays them as people with violent tendencies.

“The normal reaction is to want an oversimplified master explanation so you can put it in this box and say, ‘Ah, it’s mental illness’,” says Jeffrey Swanson, a professor of psychiatry at Duke University.

The breaking point for school shooters is actually more complicated than the oversimplified box people try to force mental health in to, bringing in other factors such as family issues or side effects from psychiatric drugs.

Not every action is built around the same consequences, but the media often falls into the trap of using romanticized stories of high school stereotypes by depicting the perpetrator as the bullied outcast seeking revenge.

The automatic response after each school shooting is to turn it political, with each party choosing to focus on the issue of gun control or mental health. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pointed to mental health reforms as a solution following the Parkland shooting, while Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) believes the government can’t let the gun lobby get away with suggesting that mental health is the only problem. However, these debates continue on until the me-

dia directs its attention to the next big story, without either side coming to a conclusion.

“More importantly, it does not direct us to appropriate solutions to this public health crisis,” says Daniel.

A public health problem that has been overlooked to combat the crisis is school counseling. The public school system focuses solely on being an educational institution, resulting in the counseling services being unable to give adequate support. Counselors toe a thin line whether a family may take offense if they refer their child for further mental health counseling and therapy, and can’t offer treatment without risk of liability for the school.

According to research by Stagman & Cooper (2010), 75% of students struggling with mental illness do not receive mental health services. Some schools are focusing on providing basic counseling services where staff can be educated to identify signs and offer simplistic forms of therapy, such as practicing self-control and eliminating external factors that are causing irritation for the student.

Mental health is a very complicated issue with a diverse community. Using psychological disorders as the automatic response after a violent event, such as a school shooting, can be damaging to the reputation of the millions of people diagnosed with a mental illness.

The Hypocrisy of Elon Musk and its wide implications MAREN STEPHENS, managing editor at a different weight than an average company worker. The problem is governmental and corporate officials in the public eye are always representing their company or organization. This difference in responsibility often leads to misunderstandings and bad activity. Examples of this activity can be seen from low levels, such as a local principal being caught up in a cheating scandal, or as high as a Supreme Court Justice being investigated for sexual assault. The unprofessional, and occasionally illegal, actions of officials reflect poorly on their companies, and thus, are often more important to the business than those of low level employees. Despite this, the actions of CEOs and other executives are occasionally left unchecked or ignored, while lower level employees face the bulk of the punishment.

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ot long ago, former Tesla CEO Elon Musk took the internet by storm, lighting and smoking a blunt, or marijuana cigarette, in a publicized podcast video. This video was specifically problematic due to the nature of Tesla’s drug policy, in which employees are required to undergo drug testing, and often fired if under the influence while on the job (CNN). This situation, in addition to showcasing an intra-company conflict in one of the most well known corporations in the country, highlights the contrasting privileges of the elite and working classes.

Tesla’s former CEO is not the only person in power to be seemingly above the law. Recently, politicians, the wealthy and members of the Hollywood community, among others, have been exposed for their violations of both morals and the law. This privilege belongs to not only those traditionally considered elites. In fact, much of the injustice in the law today is tied to both race and economic class. Considering only drug crimes, black people are 12 times more likely to be wrongfully convicted than white people according to National Registry of Exonerations. This statistic has many contributing factors, but is primarily due to the imbalance of wealth in the United States.

Presently, many working-class Americans, especially people of color, are not wealthy enough to afford high quality lawyers, or do not have the privilege to negotiate contracts. Due to the imbalance of wealth and privilege in the United States, access to adequate defense attorneys is seriously lacking. Public defenders in many districts work up to 200 cases at a time, whereas private ones work, at max, of about 50. With drug cases, this problem is worsened. In fact, black defendants are twice as likely to be charged with the mandatory minimum sentence for drug possession than white people. The high number of cases handled by attorneys combined with the already present racial bias of American justice is partly cause for the high impact of drug legislation on majority latinx and black neighborhoods.

Elon Musk’s portrayal of this fact represents the other side of the problem, specifically of the different expectations and standards for the wealthy in America. In many situations, elites’ actions are looked over because of their perceived superiority. The action of a CEO, especially one as famous as Elon Musk, is often carried

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hey’re faking it.” “She is doing this for attention.” “Why doesn’t he just get over it?” As insignificant as these phrases sound, they are the reason that nearly half of all Americans who have a mental health disorder do not seek help. People experiencing mental health conditions often face rejection, bullying or discrimination for sharing their supposedly “toxic” condition. This leads to further problems like isolation or secrecy of their illness, preventing people with mental illnesses from seeking treatment. Instead they remain helpless towards improving their mental health. In some cases this may cause people to take their own life, with approximately 90% of suicide victims having a diagnosable mental health disorder.

This negative stigma, where someone negatively views another person just for having a mental illness, affects millions of Americans each year who face the harsh reality of living with mental health conditions. Most people are able to be successfully treated, yet less than half of adults who need treatment get the help they need to improve their lives.

With suicide being the second leading cause of death for people between the ages 15-24, this stigma contributes to this statistic due to the shame, fear and silence revolving around mental illness.

This widespread stigma is gathering opposition, specifically from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) who raises awareness on mental health and garner support to fight this stigma. To educate the public, NAMI emphasizes the importance of discussing these conditions in order to alleviate the problems which generate from mental illness. Each year NAMI’s movement expands across America reaching more people in their quest to remove this negative stigma. From October 7-13, NAMI and other mental health participants promote nationwide campaigns to battle against the stigma surrounding mental health disorders. This week is nationally recognized as Mental Illness Awareness Week and was established in 1990 by Congress to remove the long-established ignominy

and to stimulate awareness around mental health. #CureStigma is the campaign manifesto NAMI promotes. This year their theme will revolve around curing the mental health stigma which shames many people into silence, and prevents a tremendous amount of people from seeking help.

They aim to spread awareness during Mental Illness Awareness Week and encourage the public to reverse the ignominy people with mental health conditions face. NAMI and others will fosters empathy and understanding towards people who struggle with mental disorders. NAMI’s medical director, Ken Duckworth, emphasizes the importance of discussing the topic of mental illness, specifically after being directly harmed by this stigma and the negative impacts it has on people. Duckworth was enrolled in medical school when he found out from another family member that his mother had made a suicide attempt.

“Secrecy surrounds the topic [of mental illness and suicide], with shame as a common co-traveler. That’s why it’s an honor for me to be a small part of NAMI’s movement to make seeking help and support more acceptable,” says Duckworth.

Duckworth, alongside everyone in NAMI, believe in the significance of educating the public to #CureStigma. They want Americans to understand that there is no shame in sharing and discussing the topic of mental illness, despite the current stigma which silences almost 1 in 5 Americans who experience mental health disorders. With this support, the public’s perception on mental illness has moved in a more positive direction, yet there continues to be many people left in loneliness and isolation due to the unsupportive environment in which they are surrounded. NAMI’s vision will help people with mental illness and their families by providing the tools, resources and skills necessary to end this stigma. The more mental health is discussed, the more people can seek the help they need. Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It affects people of all races, ages and all religions. Society needs to make changes today to help erase the stigma for the next generations.

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SPORTS

Depression in the MATT PRESS, sports editor

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hough the National Basketball Association (NBA) maintains its facade of a hip culture consisting of music, popular clothing lines and overall opulence, numerous players in the league have opened up about their struggles with mental health while playing. A grueling eighty-two game schedule combined with traveling across the country every other week takes a physical toll many could never fathom; however, the pressure of performing in front of twenty thousand people week in and week out while knowing the entire world can see your mistakes is perhaps a consequence far worse.

There is a general consensus that professional athletes have “the life”. Two hundred thousand dollar sports cars, supermodel wives, connections with other celebrities, how could they ever be upset? Players in the league such as Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers and DeMar DeRozan of the San Antonio Spurs have opened up about their depression in an attempt to destigmatize how professional athletes are viewed.

Regarding his affliction with depression, DeRozan said, “It’s one of them things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we’re all human at the end of the day. We all got feelings ... all of that. Sometimes ... it gets the best of you… where everything in the whole world’s on top of you”.

Take J.R. Smith of the Cleveland Cavaliers for example. In game one of the 2018 NBA Finals, Smith grabbed the rebound of a missed free throw, and unbeknownst to him that the clock was about to expire, he took the ball back beyond the arc and evidently stood no chance of scoring the winning basket in regulation. The Golden State Warriors inevitably emerged victorious in overtime, and eventually swept the series. During

10 |SAM MONCKTON

the ensuing weeks, Smith was ridiculed mercilessly by other professional athletes, a plethora of celebrities, grumpy sixty year old men across social media and of course, notorious twitter troll Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. J.R. Smith endured the type of denigrations that no one should ever have to experience, and even if some of the criticism is “all in good fun”, this could potentially lead to an issue with mental health.

Depression is undoubtedly difficult to deal with, but at least these athletes have family and friends around them for support. Players from overseas are becoming increasingly popular in the NBA, and someone like Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder did not initially have his family around him in a foreign country where he knew no one. Adding this to the coping of his father’s death was a recipe for disaster, and Adams contemplated giving up basketball entirely and returning home to New Zealand.

“I did struggle with being alone again and it was hard not to relapse into the depression I had felt after Dad died.

I’d gotten used to having a tight-knit community around me, always willing to help out. For me, the trick to fighting thoughts of loneliness has always been to find a routine. I had a packed routine the whole time I was in Wellington and it had never given me the time to sink into self-pity” said Adams.

Prolonged periods of depression are tragically becoming more and more ubiquitous around the league, despite the perception of the aforementioned “rockstar lifestyle”. But by witnessing professional athletes open up about this struggle, the typical American who is not six foot seven with premier athleticism can acknowledge that everyone is human, and they can get through their struggles no matter how hard they become.

e N.B.A.

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The Gender Gap in Sports GRACIE KWON, staff writer

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hroughout the history of sports, gender discrimination has created many battles on and off of the playing field. These issues have recently gained greater notoriety given the media’s coverage of these incidents.

In the 2018 US Open Tennis Championships, Serena Williams and an umpire, Carlos Ramos, got into a heated argument after he gave a warning to her for receiving coaching. Later on in the match, Williams smashed a racket on the court and received a point penalty in accordance with the USTA rules.

However, she continued to fight back against the umpire for stealing a point from her. This fervent interaction ultimately led to a game penalty against Williams for verbal abuse.

“To lose a game for saying that, it’s not fair. How many other men do things? There’s a lot of men who have said things. It’s because I am a woman, and it’s not right,” said Williams to Ramos.

Another example of gender discrimination occurred on August 28th when Alize Cornet, a French tennis player, received a code violation for taking her shirt off while on the court. Due to the extreme heat, the players received a 10-minute break to cool down in between their second and third-sets. After she came back out, she realized that her shirt was backwards and moved to the side of the court where she proceeded to readjust her shirt. Soon after, a code violation was called. Although she was only given a warning by the umpire, viewers called the warning unfair for simply removing her top when male tennis players received no penalty in the past.

Not only are female tennis players treated unfairly but also within other leagues as well. A prominent example of inequality was two years ago when women on the national soccer team received 40 percent of what their male counterparts earned.

“While the U.S. women’s team won $2 million from the National Women’s Soccer League for winning the tournament in 2014, the German men’s team collected $35 million after they emerged victorious at the 2014 World Cup,” said CNN Money.

Not only is discrimination against female athletes manifest12 | SAM MONCKTON

ed within the major leagues, but it also affects young female athletes. Despite being encouraged to participate in the plethora of sports that schools offer, there is minimal female representation in many areas of athletics such as football teams.

“While football is the most popular high school sport and there are just over 1 million students who play on their school’s team, only about 2,000 are girls,” said USA Football.

Another popular sport, lacrosse, is very different for boys and girls due to the distinct gear and equipment. Girls wear a mouthpiece and a pair of goggles while guys suit up in a helmet, a pair of elbow pads and a chest protector in addition to the mouthpiece and pair of goggles. This gear affects the game and how it is played. Boys are allowed and even encouraged to play rough.

On the other hand, girls are issued a penalty if contact is made.

Similarly, in gymnastics, men and women are judged differently on their floor routines with different guidelines and requirements.

For men’s floor routines, USA Gymnastics requires that “the entire floor area [is] to be used during the exercise, which consists primarily of tumbling passes performed in different directions.

Acrobatic elements must be performed during the routine.”

On the other hand, the purpose of women’s floor routines is to “give gymnasts the chance to express their personalities through their music choice, facial expressions, and choreography” as stated in the USA Gymnastics requirements.

Clearly, as for floor routines, men are expected to show off their techniques while women develop their character to the judges. This demonstrates the immense disparity between the expectations of men and women in sports.

Ever since the 19th century, sports have made up a large portion of culture and society. Although the times have changed and new sports have been brought to the table, there is still room for improvement. In our everyday lives, gender equality has progressed and grown significantly. However, these improvements have yet to be seen in athletics.

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arbitrary proffesional sports HANNAH FRAZER, features editor

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veryone: it’s time to drop out of school, because anyone can become a professional athlete by playing a simple game of tag. That’s right, chasing another person has now become a professional sport. Physical activities such as tag, hide and seek and wife carrying need to change their current title of sports to a more suitable position like party activities.

From the playground to the major leagues, tag is now considered a professional sport. Kindergarteners are qualified as athletes while playing the game of tag at recess. World Chase Organization puts together an obstacle course for contenders to use. Jordie, a writer for Barstool Sports, claims anyone that is capable of becoming an athlete.

Most people think tag should not be considered a professional sport because it takes little to no effort to win.

Similarly, anyone who has the ability to crouch behind an object can now showcase that impeccable skill in professional hide-and-seek.

Get your tailgates ready; it is time to be amazed by the Hide-and-Seek World Championship. A typical child’s birthday game consisting of squatting behind a couch has transformed into a sport that is contending for a spot in the Olympics. Good luck with that.

In order to play the game, one player from each team has to hide in a sixty sec-

ond time limit, and the hiders have ten minutes to reach a target without being caught. During a report about hide-and-seek on ABC News, Kendis Gibson, an anchor, attempts to hide his laughter on the subject.

“These are grown people, no doubt sober, playing this game for points” said Gibson while reporting.

Many people believe an adult must be drunk in order to willingly participate in the game.

Interested in winning a vast amount of beer and money? In Finland, wife carrying is a sport played by many couples who want to achieve a grand prize of beer that weighs as much as the wife carried, along with a cash reward equating to five times the weight of the female. The objective of the game is for the male to carry his wife on his back through an obstacle course. Most people would argue that wife carrying is not a sport, but instead a method used to strengthen the couple. Blaise Bowler comment on the bond wife carrying develops.

“So much trust is required for this [sport]” wrote Bowler.

Trust in repaired by participating in the activity.

Evidently, tag, hide-andseek and wife carrying do not categorize as sports due to the goal of activity and the minimal amount of technique and skills requiredso leave the “professional sports” to the children.

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Mental Illn

MAURA MCLYNN, editor-in-chief and DANI BLANK,

14 | ALL COVER PHOTOS BY SAM MONCKTON

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, production manager

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ost high schoolers spend their days drowning in stress from homework assignments, exams or deadlines.

Some play sports or instruments, some have the added stress of parental pressure and many spend their days worrying about their GPA or SAT/ACT scores. One student may stay up through the night studying for AP classes while also being fully committed to theater. Another could have the stress of parents getting a divorce while trying to maintain a job and balance school work. The average high school student has a never-ending list of factors in their life that add to their growing daily stress level.

Some students, however, have a less common but more severe type of stress that may take form in a mental i l l ness.

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common of these illnesses that counselors encounter.

Unfortunately, there is an extremely fine line between normal stress and an actual illness, resulting in a large number of students who are confused as to what may be their correct diagnosis.

Many students feel that their current level of stress is damaging to their mental health, despite the fact that a doctor may consider their stress “healthy.� These students rarely have time to blink an eye between their clubs, tests and sports, and are constantly pressured by parents or teachers or even themselves to continue moving. They never stop for a moment of peace. They never consider their mental health. Many if not most students would consider this an accurate representation of their current state of mind. However, is it unhealthy or is it normal?

A major source of stress for teenagers is the arduous workload of school. On top of classes, students are pressured to apply and get into a decent college. This, along with added pressure from parents and societal expectations, lead to a tremendous amount of stress on students.

When students spend days working non-stop and are constantly studying, they are unfortunately forced into a habit of little sleep and time for themselves. Although this

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is common and even normal for most teenagers, it is actually extremely unhealthy — doctors stress the importance of avoiding this behavior.

Teenagers should get around 8 hours of sleep. Most students get less than 6 and many consistently get around 4 hours.

Bet ween sports practices, play rehearsals, or club meetings, there is never time for students to “take a break.” These habits as well are detrimental the young people’s health and the short weekend (usually equally busy) is not nearly enough to regain mental stability and catch up on sleep.

However, in some cases, the mental issues go beyond unwanted stress.

Mental illness is defined as a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Mental disorders are usually defined by a combination of how a person behaves, feels, perceives or thinks. Two common illnesses in high schoolers that fall into this category are anxiety and depression. For students with these circumstances, many might not even realize that they are ill. The counseling department at Johns Creek is constantly looking out for warning

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signs or anything that might push a student over the limit. This year especially, they have been trying to promote mental health and encourage students to exhibit moderation in workload.

“As counselors, we are all trained mental health professionals,” said Johns Creek counselor Daniel Hawes. To help students who show signs of mental illness, “one thing I do always think is important is hearing the students’ side of the story, hearing what is going on, getting a full picture of what is happening and then making a game plan from there. For some students it means just talking it out but others may need to get up and walk around the building to help relieve anxiety.”

The counseling department not only values student education but also makes sure to value student health.

“If a student comes in in a state of heightened crisis, it is first our job to help them through that moment of time. After that, we have to work to give them tools and real things that they can do to help. Some level of stress is okay but when that level of stress and anxiety is so high that the students can no longer function, that’s when it becomes a real problem. That’s why we give them tools to handle that and keep their stress at a level they can handle,” said Johns Creek counselor Jeanette Higgins.

These counselors value each student and their individual circumstances, no matter the severity of the

stress or its origin. There is a great discrepancy between nurture and nature, the two possible origins of mental illness. The first of these two factors, nature, is the hereditary component that can lead to mental illness. This is most commonly associated with mental illnesses like schizophrenia, but genetics can also be responsible for depression, anxiety and many other mental health problems.

“Typically in students with high levels of anxiety, there is a family history of anxiety as well,” said Hawes.

In many of the students who are genetically predisposed to mental illnesses, their situation is worsened by the environment in which they are placed. Divorce, for example, is increasingly common and can negatively affect the mental health of teenagers. The stress created by an uninviting home life translates into all aspects of their life and can cause issues with managing anger, depression and can create negative stress for these students.

“There are two kinds of stress: eustress and distress. Distress is typical, negative stress whereas eustress is a good type of stress. In a school setting it could be stress from an upcoming test. Feeling a little bit of stress can

make u s study or reach out for help, but when it gets past a certain threshold then it can become distress and become negative,” said Hawes.

Generally speaking, parental pressures often turn eustress into distress. Most students are aware that if they have a test, studying is the best way to ensure success. However, when a parent steps in and convinces the child that without a perfect grade on the test, they will not make it into their dream college, that is where stress becomes a problem.

Similarly, when a child has already taken a standardized test two or three times, they have likely plateaued and have earned the highest grade of which they are capable.

Despite this knowledge, many parents continue to sign their children up for these tests, con-

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vincing them they are more capable than they are and creating a sense of false ability that many students simply are incapable of reaching.

“In the education system, we talk a lot about reducing stress, however, the majority of the things we put in place are: bigger, greater, harder, so there’s some contradiction there. That is why it is our job as counselors to manage those expectations with students,” said Higgins.

If a student is simply unable to successfully perform in an AP environment, that is perfectly fine, but forcing this student to sit in a class for which they are ill-equipped can be detrimental to his or her health. It is now the mission of many schools around the nation to decrease pressures on students and emphasize the importance of challenging oneself only to what is within one’s capabilities.

This is not only applicable to school, but to all aspects of life. Challenging oneself in work, relationships and image can cause unnecessary stress and can lead to a lifetime of self-esteem issues and even depression. It is vital for students suffering from any form of mental illness to seek out help from friends, family and

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even trained professionals. The counselors at JCHS are here to help anyone suffering from stress and anxiety and have implemented new policies to ensure the ease and anonymity of the counseling process.

One of the relatively new policies at JCHS and at many schools around the nation is the elimination of class rank.

Competition can be healthy but when every student is within a hundredth of a point of one another, the rank they are given is more often that not an inaccurate reflection of their ability. This causes a student with a 3.9 GPA to fall far into the ranks simply because the hundreds of students ahead of them may have a 3.91. This can cause a plethora of unnecessary mental health problems that are easily avoidable with the elimination of this system.

The actions being taken by schools and mental health professionals are a step in the right direction for all of those suffering from mental health issues. It is vital for students to feel safe in their schools and to have adults they trust can help them with any problems they may encounter, which is exactly what JCHS is stressing to students.

“We are here for the students.

We are employed for you and we work for you,” said Higgins.

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usic is the perfect home remedy to alleviate any mental health problem.

Music is more than a form of art; it is a form of therapy. Along with the sense of relief that listening to one’s favorite song brings, it also has the capability to transport one into a state of euphoria. In today’s stressful classroom environments, high school students rely on music not only for entertainment, but for the physiological benefits of relaxation and stress relief.

Listening to music has a unique impact on individuals’ emotions by affecting their energy levels and feelings. While listening, music works on the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for controlling blood pressure and rate of one’s heart beat. As well, it controls the limbic system, which is responsible for feelings and emotions.

Music engages the neocortex of the brain to calm and reduce impulsivity, making it an extremely effective stress management tool. Therefore, teenagers who struggle with anxiety

for upcoming tests oftnetimes rely on music to calm their nerves. Because of the stress and anxiety relief music can provide, it helps to improve sleeping habits as well.

Not only is music a key factor in reducing stress levels, but it has additional psychological benefits. Music acts as a form of treatment for those 1 in 5 people living with mental illnesses. According to scientist Daniel Levitin, music stimulates the brain and impacts the release of hormones.

“Listening to a song we love acts on the pleasure center of our brain by releasing dopamine, a hormone that makes us feel good,” said Levitin.

Dopamine is the central chemical located in the brain that regulates how you perceive and experience happiness. Because listening to an upbeat and light hearted song stimulates the brain, it produces dopamine that helps to keep people motivated and transform their mood.

Artists are among the many individuals affected by mental illnesses, thus, they connect their music to

their personal struggles and emotions. Many of them are fighting to raise awareness about it, resulting in the large wave of mental health activism currently happening around the country. Demi Lovato is one of these artists extremely vocal about her mental health conditions. She voices her previous and current struggles with drug abuse, and bipolar and eating disorders through her music. She is one of the many advocates for mental health awareness able to show how people living with mental health conditions can have a positive impact on many lives.

Time after time, music has been a effective tool for stress and anxiety relief, a form of therapy for treating mental illnesses and for pure joy deriving solely from listening to songs. It is a universal tool everyone can relate to and connect with because of the variety of music styles. Today’s generation revolves around music, and there is no better way to reduce your stress levels than to listen to something you love.

THE CHARIOT | 19

FEATURES

Teacher Friendships ANNABELLE BUCHANAN, staff writer and CARLY BLANK, staff writer

In high school, everyone has their friend groups and cliques. But did you know the teachers have their own cliques as well? Teachers not only socialize at school, but also partake in numerous exciting activities together in and outside of school. Throughout Johns Creek High School, many teachers have made lifelong friendships with their colleagues. You may have seen Dr. Williams and Mr. Schultz, English teachers Mr. Hedden and Mr. Deis or history teachers Mrs. Smiley and Coach Bowler talking in the halls or eating lunch together, and as it turns out all of these teachers have a great story behind their friendships.

20 | SAM MONCKTON

Deis and Hedden English teachers, Mr. Deis and Mr. Hedden became friends back in the day when Mr. Deis, in his early 20s, had just started teaching at Northview High School.

“Hedden was the first teacher who showed me the ropes” said Deis.

They’ve known each other for over twelve years, and were even roommates for a period of time. Eventually, Hedden got married and booted Deis out of his house. Deis will always miss scraping illegal parking stickers off his Grand Am when he had to park in the street because Hedden’s car was in the driveway, or cleaning up on Sunday mornings after their other roommate, Mike. Despite Mr. Hedden’s wedding band and

change of living plans, the two have shared many more memories such as trips and spring breaks together. Deis’ most memorable adventure with Hedden was he recalls as a “hilarious trip to Savannah together.” Deis and Hedden have traveled farther than Savannah together, even travelling to Europe with one another. During their six week, overseas excursion in Europe, they saw Hedden’s favorite band “Pearl Jam”. As a result of living with each other and travelling across the world together, they have bonded over many experiences and shared many memories. Currently they teach the same classes, thus enabling them to exchange lesson plans and work together while growing closer as friends and colleagues.

Schultz and Doc If a student were to walk into room 322 on an average morning, chances are he or she would see Mr. Schultz and Dr. Williams, or ‘Doc’, sitting at her desk laughing at his jokes. Since Dr. Williams has moved to Johns Creek High School, the two friends have known each other for six years. A science teacher and a language arts teacher might not seem like the most obvious pairing, however, they became friends after they shared an office for TAG teachers for several years. Both teachers share a common interest in horror movies, so they often spend time together at the movie theater, and the mystery thriller, The Nun, is next up on their ‘to watch list’. Occasionally, when both of them have a

lot of school work to grade, they come to JCHS on Saturdays and finish it together as a team.

Along with watching movies with Doc, Mr. Schultz also finds pleasure in annoying Doc. Schultz achieves this goal by “try[ing] to say this one specific phrase over and over again… [he] use[s] it so much it starts to annoy her.”

On the other hand, Doc explained the humor she finds in Schultz by saying, “Sometimes he’ll draw funny things on my board that I don’t notice and my students will be shocked.”

Even with his loud, silly personality, Doc loves how Schultz can always make her laugh.

“There’s a lot of things he’ll do to aggravate me with but then I’ll go back and chuckle over them,” says Doc.

Smiley and Bowler Similar to Lewis and Clark, social studies teachers Coach Bowler and Mrs. Smiley have traveled across the country together. They journeyed to 5 different locations including San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York City, Washington DC, and Chicago. Along with traveling, the two friends also enjoy clowning around the classroom with their students. Bowler talks about how, “having fun with the kids in the hallway” and having an interest “history, especially US history” are some of their favorite things to do together. The pair not only enjoys joking with the kids, but also adores spending time with dogs. While Smiley claims Bowler is “always a lot of fun,” Bowler says Smiley is “always there for him if he’s hav-

ing a bad day,” and they both can vent to each other about their classroom stories. Bowler and Smiley have known each other for over 13 years, and with their rooms across from each other you can always catch them sharing US history answers or teasing the students in the hall.

Teachers have their friends just like teenagers.

After all, how else would they be able to survive the long school days? Some teachers have known each other since the start of Johns Creek or even before, and have shared many experiences with one another. Next time you walk through the Johns Creek halls, you may be more observant of these friendships and even catch them talking, laughing and potentially gossiping about their students.

THE CHARIOT | 21

FEATURES NEWS

the influence of

DREW PELJOVICH, staff writer

Y

ouTube has become a household brand in recent years and might very well be the most diverse website on the Internet. Kids and parents can find videos on anything ranging from how to speak another language to a Fortnight stream. According to Stageoflife.com, 65.3% of teens watch youtube daily for at least one hour. The general trend for the 2010s reveals a decreased amount of kids are watching TV and a growing number are watching online entertainment such as YouTube and Netflix.

One of the main reasons for this switch is the amount of free time students have.

Students each night have approximately two hours of homework, after school activities, and social life to maintain. On top of all this, around 30% of high school students have after-school jobs meaning that kids have very limited free time at home. The short length of Youtube videos is a key aspect to its growth and popularity among high school students.

An average YouTube video is around 4 minutes long, compared to the 30-60 minute runtimes of most shows. Shorter times mean students can watch several videos during brief study or working breaks. Portability is also a key factor.

Unlike TV, YouTube can be accessed from phones, tablets, and other portable electronics. This allows for kids to take their videos on the go, watching wherever and whenever they please.

Another reason for the demographic shift to YouTube is the greater interaction and personability kids have to YouTubers. Whereas older TV actors perform a 3 week pre recorded show behind a screen, YouTubers are generally much younger and address directly to the viewers. Sophomore Lauren Greenwald shares her views on YouTube benefits.

“I love watching YouTube because I 22 | MADHU RAVI

can relate to the YouTubers. I love commenting my thoughts and they respond to them”, says Lauren.

The comment section of YouTube creates an interactive space to immerse yourself in the viewing experience. Posting ideas and thoughts for the YouTuber to see allows for twoway communication with the YouTuber, which is very different than the one-sided experience of TV. Around 75% of teens seek advice on YouTube, proving most teens to feel a connection to YouTubers on a personal level. One popular genre of videos is the vlog, a daily video blog that follows one person’s life usually on a day to day basis. This type of media allows students to escape into someone else’s life and relate their own problems with someone else across the world.

Another aspect of Youtube that adds to its popularity is its variety of content and diverse selection of videos and people. The two most famous YouTuber channels, PewDiepie and Dude Perfect, publish drastically different content. Throughout the website, one can find videos on any and all hobbies and interests, including gaming tips, DIY projects, music videos, and even study help. Sophomore Jenna Schaffer talks about her video selection.

“I love watching YouTube because I can always find something interesting to watch. In addition to homework help, I can find videos on my favorite games and hobbies.”

For better or for worse, YouTube is drastically changing the media game.

No longer are TV’s and newspapers the main form of entertainment for many.

S

neaker releases are highly anticipated all months of the year, yet as the cold seasons approach, there tends to be a spike in seasonal themed shoes (for obvious reasons).

This includes a wave of new sneakers arriving in October and November in lue of Halloween and fall weather. Of these, the majority are black or are colored in some mixture of tan, orange, or green: common autumn colors. October is a lively month for this year, as limited numbers of Virgil Abloh’s Off White and Nike Collaboration are releasing in new colorways.

This line of shoe is commonly thought of as one of the best brand collaborations in the sneaker world, and the upcoming releases should further the gold standard of this collaboration.

The “All Hallows Eve” and the “Grim Reaper” Nike Blazers are the first set to release, yet Europe and Asia are expected to receive them before stores and sites in the US. The first of the two is primarily tan with orange accents, with many realizing its resemblance to a pumpkin, and the latter is almost fully black except for a white swoosh. Companion releases (those in which two similar shoes are released in the same timeframe) are common for Abloh, the CEO of Off-White and head fashion designer for Louis Vuitton Men’s. For example, the “Polar Opposites” pack recently released in the form of Nike Prestos. Next is a pair of Converse 70s that have a white and black striped outer sole and a white upper with orange accents. This pair is expected to sell out (as are the previous two) because it is only Abloh’s and Nike’s second collaboration with Converse.

Outside of this collaboration, October is ushering in quite a few pairs of bas-

ketball shoes and Jordans. The first of which is a pair of “Gold Splatter” Durant 11s, which are similar to many fall shoes in that they are primarily black, a color very common at this time of year.

The “Halloween” Kyrie 4s are supposed to do extremely well, as previous limited variations of the Kyries (including the “Cinnamon Toast Crunch”) sold out almost instantaneously. These are black with green highlights, including a green swoosh with color seemingly “dripping off” of it. Finally, two Lebrons are set to release, yet the latter pair is not projected to do well as its primary multicolor coloration does not blend well with the grey background. Apart from basketball shoes, a few Jordans are coming out in October too, including “Tinker” 6s, a tribute to the designer of the shoe, Tinker Hatfield Though these are not expected to succeed, the “South Beach” 8s are expected to succeed.

Not all shoes are geared toward the season, some of these being these Jordans and a few others including a line of highly anticipated Adidas Human Race and Billionaire Boys Club collaborations. One has a pink and blue striped colorway and the other is covered with solid stripes of red, yellow, blue, and white. Next is a black, neon green pair of “Mauve” Yeezy Boost 700s, which was leaked by Yeezy Mafia, a sneaker secrets Twitter account.

These are expected to do well as most Yeezys seem to. Finally comes another pair of Adidas Futurecraft 4ds. These sneakers come in a light green coloration. If resellers are willing to pay the hefty retail price they will almost certainly make a substantial profit, for these are expected to turn bif revenues in resale. These autumn releases provide for a sneaker-filled fall season.

EDWARD CHO

upcoming shoe releases

SAM BEAGLE, sports editor

THE CHARIOT | 23

FEATURES NEWS

music

Celebrity Deaths: mental illness in the music industry

Give Thanks Fall is the season of giving thanks to those you love. This season, be thankful for the cool weather, the ones you love and these beautiful tunes. In this latest issue, we present a collection of mellow, catchy songs with killer bass.

1. LIGHT ON maggie rogers

2. BAD BAD NEWS leon bridges

3. FREAKING OUT arizona

ETHAN MINGOIA, staff writer

I

n modern years, hundreds of millions of people have suffered from mental illness with world renowned musicians being no exception. These individuals often cope with their issues through abuse of drugs and alcohol. According to SAMHSA’s 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it is estimated that 43.6 million (18.1%) Americans older than 18 experienced some form of mental illness. In a one year period, 20.2 million adults (8.4%) had a substance use disorder. Of both of these measurements, 7.9 million people had both a mental disorder and substance use disorder, also known as co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.

The most recent famed victim to these cohering threats is Mac Miller. People such as Miller are idolized and admired as invincible through the eyes of fans.

“Our perception of celebrities in Hollywood is not the reality. The reality of our lives is so much like everyone else’s life. We have family members we love, everyone gets up in the morning, they have three meals a day and they go about their business” said actress Sissy Spacek commentating on celebrity relatedness to people’s lives .

24 |

4. SHALLOW The truth is that everyone can feel vulnerable and suffer from mental health problems, even celebrities, thus making it necessary that this not be overlooked as it may lead to substance abuse and possibly death.

Where there is vulnerability, there is the opportunity to inspire others to be their best selves.

Several struggling musicians created powerful messages about their experiences of returning from a low place in their lives. In one such instance, Demi Lovato launched her initiative, Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health. She is very open with her experiences combating depression and mental illness, and this year, she attended the Democratic National Convention and spoke about her journey.

“I stand here today as proof that you can live a normal and empowered life with mental illness,” Lovato said.

Musicians combating mental health problems focus on the realization that anyone can suffer from anxiety or depression, and that if you know of someone suffering from mental illness to not be afraid and speak up, and help that individual to better themselves in rehab.

lady gaga & bradley cooper

5. ALONE TIME lovelytheband

6. IS IT COLD IN THE WATER sophie

7. OH, WHAT A WORLD kacey musgraves

8. YOU & I colony house

9. RUN lany

10. LOVE YOU ANYMORE michael buble

11. FALL IN LOVE yuno

12. NEW YORK st. vincent

entertainment The Oscars’ New Category EMMA BUONI, staff writer

I

t’s no secret that the Academy Awards aren’t exactly a fair contest. Historically, The Academy is bribed with money and intimidation to persuade those in power to vote for certain films. However, The Academy is now hoping to change these unfair conditions.

On August 8th of this year, the Academy announced a new category of awards called the “Academy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film.” While it is not yet clear what the eligibility requirements are, it is implied to be an award for the most popular or critically acclaimed movie amongst common viewers.

Many of these movie-goers are not thrilled by this, saying it is targeting mainstream audiences and will not actually judge a film based on its content. Critics also claim that the award will actually hurt popular movies in their aim to get Best Picture, that it will discredit good movies with a more significant audience turnout. Nominees for Best Picture last year like

Get Out grossed hundreds of millions of dollars but this new category would strip them of their Best Picture nomination in favor of this new, arbitrary award.

There is also great indignation regarding race and its place in this new award. Black Panther was the highest grossing movie of 2018 and many argue that this category was simply a mechanism to keep this award-worthy film from winning the most prestigious of Oscars. It would be the first superhero movie and one of the few films with a primarily black cast to be nominated for Best Picture. This has driven many to fight against the implementation of this so-called “popularity contest” into one of the most esteemed competitions in the modern world.

In light of this criticism, The Academy committee acknowledged their mistake and eliminated the award from the 2019 Oscars. While this does not take with it the problems they created, it is a step in the right direction to correcting the Academy’s elitist ways.

Must-Watch

Netlix’s new binge-worthy original show

I

n the new Netflix original Maniac, we follow two protagonists, Owen and Annie, as they play experimental subjects meandering through the testing of a new drug that supposedly cures depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and virtually any mental illness you could imagine. Through the show’s dystopian display of consumerism and zany aesthetics, which seemingly mirror a video game from the 80’s, Maniac sharply commentates on society’s willful ignorance in regards to mental health, the pharmaceutical industry and contemporary therapy methods, all tightly wound together in a sardonic and idiosyncratic plot.

The two main characters of the show are vastly different - Owen is a reticent outcast from his family who displays schizophrenic

ROHAN LALLA, editor-in-chief tendencies, Annie is an iconoclastic and enigmatic woman who has fallen into the depths of drug addiction. The common thread that is wound between them is their traumatic past and familial insurgency. As the pair find themselves caught between drug-testing, reliving dark memories once pushed to the corners of their minds and their own mental health issues, they find solace in each other and respite in their company.

While Maniac provides topical criticism of large-scale pharmaceutical companies whose over-prescription magnifies the impact of opioid addiction and therapy methods whose intentions are ultimately profit-driven, the focus of the show are the people who are draped by their mental illnesses and their undeniable humanity.

THE CHARIOT | 25

OPINION

FACE O FF

Should students be required to participate in class?

26 |ERIN LEE

yes HARRISON BLANK, staff writer

H

igh schoolers deal with a lot of stress, and social anxiety is a major problem that many students face. Yet, social anxiety can be gradually overcome, and high school offers a great atmosphere to assist with these problems.

Recent high school graduates are startled at the amount of participation demanded by college or by their new jobs, therefore by participating in the classroom students will be prepared for the future.

Many aren’t used to having to be vocal in a classroom or work environment because their high school didn’t demand participation from the students. Majority of jobs require employees to collaborate, but when schools don’t require a student’s presence in class, new additions to the workforce aren’t able to be effective in their new jobs.

The purpose of education is to prepare children for their future jobs, which includes

teaching them how to communicate. If a high-school graduate cannot comfortably interact with others in a work environment, then the education system has failed.

Not only would students be more engaged with class material, but any teenager in high school would be grateful for any easy grade that could bring up their average.

Participation grades are weekly completion grades that depend on how much a student participates in class. These are simple grades that provide sometimes much needed help to students and their GPA. As well as acting as a much-needed grade booster, participation grades act as incentives for students to get involved with class discussions and for shy students to defeat their anxiety. When students are involved with the class, the level of learning is elevated. Teachers often find their classes quiet and unresponsive, but participation grades give

students a reason to be engaged in the class.

Even though social anxiety can paralyze some teenagers and prevent them from participating in class, high school is a safe, protected place for them to control their fear.

School is often the only place a teenager partakes in social interactions. In addition, it is essential for adolescents to be comfortable in social situations if they want to succeed in society. Participation in class teaches students how respectfully listen and debate topics with their classmates, which is essential.

When a student can leave high school feeling confident in their education and feeling comfortable taking part in conversation and situations with others, the school and its teachers have done their job. The requirement of verbal participation in school helps teenagers suffering from social anxiety and provides a chance for students to raise their grades.

to fear speaking in class, but instead are given the opportunity to focus without this constant sense of dread weighing on them.

Pear Deck and Nearpod are two products that allow the teacher to guide you through the lesson via technology. Teachers control the students’ screen through various informational slides, and then provide the student questions to answer. Students can go through a lesson at their own pace, and can see the questions they missed or the areas they need to work on. In addition, Pear Deck and Nearpod are completely free of cost, making these easy and cheap for our school to supply to students. This is the perfect way to allow every student to participate in class without stressing about facing the nerves of speaking in front of their peers.

Although, many people believe that verbal participation shows that the student is engaged and understands the material, students with anxiety often struggle with this

seemingly positive task. Some students worry every day about being forced to speak in front of their peers. They fear stuttering or saying the incorrect answer in front of the whole class. Additionally, with programs like Pear Deck and Nearpod, students can still be engaged in class. Teachers can also check students’ progress to see who needs additional help on the material versus who can move onto the next lesson. Ultimately, students can clearly continue to be engaged and perform well in any class through online programs such as Nearpod and Pear Deck.

Johns Creek High School has no excuse to compel students to speak aloud during class if they do not so desire. With a variety of virtual resources, students should have the option of how they wish to participate during class. It is important to remember the health of the students, and if utilizing these resources keeps students in better mental health, then it is imperative they be implemeted.

no

KOLIN BRANDEIS, guest writer

I

magine suffering from social anxiety, fearing judgment, public speaking, and being forced to talk in a class filled with your critical peers. One in every five teens suffers from some form of anxiety, and in some cases kids are being forced against their will to verbally participate. This can directly inflict lack of sleep, mental breakdowns, or even panic attacks. Students should not be faced with verbal participation grades in class, instead, they should have options of how they want to participate.

Thanks to technology, modern-day society offers many outlets that schools can utilize for participation purposes. This technology is the solution to distributing participation grades without the need to speak aloud. Students can participate through listening and writing questions on a variety of internet services. Technology such as Pear Deck and Nearpod give students a choice to participate silently. Students will no longer have

THE CHARIOT | 27

OPINION

the prescription drug

epidemic JEFFERY SHEN, staff writer

E

28 | SAM MONCKTON

very day, more than 115 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as the socioeconomic status of Americans. Healthcare providers are at the center of this problem, stemming from the trend of overprescription since the 1990s.

During the late 1990s, doctors followed a very liberal approach to prescribing drugs.

Erroneous studies in the past cited opioids as non-addictive and safe, incentivizing doctors to give their patients a much larger amount then needed.

Additionally, pharmaceutical companies further exacerbated the problem by following those championing long term opioid use for pain treatment, further exacerbating the problem. Combined, these factors have created an epidemic of overdoses in the U.S., causing the Trump administration to declare a national public health emergency under federal law, directing “...all executive agencies to use every appropriate emergency authority to fight the opioid crisis.”

This fracture became a complete fissure in the 2000s when the aggressive marketing of Oxycontin intersected with the trafficking of cheap heroin in cities across the

West and Midwest. Oxycontin was advertised as non addictive, and well-intentioned pharmacists and doctors then wrote liberal prescriptions for this new opioid. This ready supply of Oxycontin made the resale market, particularly from low-income patients on Medicaid or Medicare, attractive and easy. However, when addicts found Oxycontin rising in price, they sought an alternative: Black-tar heroin.

Traffickers created communities around their heroin, driving to meet buyers in safe locations and offering a low price, often giving free samples to encourage loyalty. The result? An alarming increase in heroin use across the country with a 137 percent increase in overdoses between 2000 and 2014.

The impacts of overprescription have been dire for the American population. More than 80 percent of all of the opioid prescriptions in the world are written by doctors in the U.S., and furthermore, 28000 people died last year from an overdose, with an happening every 18 minutes.

With such a high rate of daily overdoses, doctors should start prescribing less to ensure a healthier outcome. The lack of control has caused many users to start using heroin and other stronger drugs, leading to a national health emergency, which can be only remedied by solving the center of the issue: overprescription.

you’re not funny.

MORAYO OGUNBAYO, opinions editor

O

n January 24, 2013, the video sharing app Vine was launched by Twitter. While the app showed steady growth for the four years it was available, Vine’s popularity truly skyrocketed after January 17, 2017, the day it was discontinued. Compilation videos popped up all over Youtube, and every Instagram explore page was packed with videos mourning what the internet had lost. Vine’s departure had a ripple effect, as hundreds of the short clips posted on the site were immediately shot into “iconic” status, and it was unusual to go a full conversation without a quote from the site being mentioned. And at first, this was new. A Vine quote was all a person needed to electrify a conversation, and show those they were talking to their comedic sensibilities. But after a point, Vine quotes stopped being a unique part of a discussion, and just became part of the vernacular.

“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.” “I’m gonna give him an offer he can’t refuse.” “Houston, we have a problem.” At one point, these quotes were all new phrases that were definite laugh-getters for anyone who used them. But they slowly lost that edge, and just became ways to express a feeling, like any other phrase.

This did not curb their significance or make the movies they came from any less important, people just ac-

cepted that there was no rarity to their use. That is what many are doing with Vine phrases. However, others are not getting the memo.

One problem that has arose from the popularity of Vine-quoting is that people have decided to attach this to their personality. They still think of the quotes as these original ideas only they have thought to bring up, not realizing that at this point they are part of the common culture. Saying “yeah, I sure hope it does” after seeing a Road Work Ahead sign is no longer top comedy, but just a reaction to that experience. Screaming the “DIE FOR EACH OTHER” in Demi Lovato’s Cool for the Summer stopped being a funny outburst, but just the way the song is expected to be sung. There was a time when these were all delightful surprises, but they have lost that appropriation, and have become a customary part of American slang.

Slang is meant to mutate throughout the years, and new phrases are always welcome to enter the common culture. However, after they join the common culture, they lose their fresh appeal. This is a good thing. Slang must transform in order to move forward the culture. There is nothing wrong with quoting vines and using them often in conversation, but there is something wrong with seeing originality in using them. They are now part of the cemented culture.

THE CHARIOT | 29

OPINION

SEXUAL EDUCATION STASIS: the problem with abstinence ROHAN LALLA, editor-in-chief We were all split by sex and densely packed into a humid middle school classroom for a sleepy health teacher to proclaim the same mind-numbing mantra: do not have sex until you are married. Abstinence is the foundation of nearly all public schools’ sexual education curriculum; however its glaring impracticality has rendered it wholly ineffectual in delaying sexual activity in minors and reducing teen pregnancy. The justification behind the method’s widely-known inadequacy is in its righteousness; proponents of abstinence espouse that it instills moral integrity and ethics within impressionable youth. However, when coupled with curriculums which deleteriously lack any mention of consent, parochial abstinence-only ideologies spell a morally reprehensible framework for sexual education, the irony of which many fail to see.

The use of abstinence in sexual education is a vestige of America’s evangelical underpinnings, the method a fluid transaction between church and state. Abstinence-only sex ed gained steam in the 1980s, extolled by the Christian right due to its focus on marriage and chastity. Since then, funding of abstinence-only education has become more and more of a partisan issue, a testament to the polarity of contemporary politics.

President Bush increased federal funding which was reversed by the Obama administration, who emphasized comprehensive sexual education, which has again been reversed by President Trump, who recently proposed increasing spending on abstinence-only education. Despite the years of legislative tussling, fed-

eral block grants have been distributed to schools on the contingency that they teach abstinence since 1997, gridlocking them in this sexual education stasis and pumping out high schoolers who are unaware of the nuances of consent and forced to navigate the world of sexual activity with virtually no prior knowledge.

The sexual education system is not and should not be used as a scapegoat for cases of rape and sexual assault, but the lack of consent in traditional sexual education is a token of the American patriarchy and a contributor to today’s age of rampant sexual harassment in the workplace, movie industry and political sphere.

Nationwide, merely 8 states require consent to be mentioned in their sexual education curriculums, and Georgia has some of the most lax curriculum requirements in the country.

According to a CNN study, the Georgia Department of Education provides little detail on what the sex ed curriculum should look like and does not separate educational standards by age.

Consent should be an intrinsic part of any sexual education curriculum and its absence is a manifestation of rape culture in our high school microcosm and an evocative reminder of the male dominance that towers over the education system.

Ultimately, the sexual education predicament should bring America to question its values and ethical decision-making. In the battle between piety and practicality, which is more moral, teaching our kids abstinence or teaching them to not sexually assault another human being?

“

When coupled with curriculums which deleteriously lack any mention of consent, parochial abstinence-only ideologies spell a morally reprehensible framework for sexual education.

30 | MADHU RAVI

”

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