Vol 1. Issue 4

ISSUE4 ISSUE 4

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++ Music Music in in Suburbia Suburbia Pg. 21

FREE FREE // MARCH MARCH 2017 2017

PREFACE

Welcome to Issue Four of the Chariot magazine: the faith issue. In less than a month, we have successfully explored the religious atmosphere at Johns Creek High School. In order to accurately capture the diverse religious scene at school, we decided to feature five students and allow them to express their beliefs to editors Natalie Siegman and Katherine Shin.

In addition to showcasing different faiths, we dedicated a portion of this issue to music. Inside this carefully crafted magazine, you will find a spotlight on David Kim, a local jazz phenomenon, and our school’s very own versatile, unnamed rock band.

During the three weeks of actually creating our masterpiece, we strived to be cohesive in both content and color, along with an endgame of eluding the growing monotone coverage of political debate. However, if you are in the mood for that, Opinion Editor Reed Carlson debated the reasons we stand for the pledge on page 30.

Also, in an effort to maintain our faith theme, staff writer Nathan Gauthreaux composed an article about the role of religion in sports here at JCHS on page 12.

With the shortest production schedule yet this year, I can proudly say we have managed to deliver yet another stupendous magazine. Oh, and get ready for our last issue of the school year: the vice issue.

-Emma Brown, editor-in-chief

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CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS

SPORTS

4 Round Up

10 Soccer Feature

6 Bob Gray

11 Golf Feature

7 ALICE Drills

12 Religion in Sports

As part of our music cover features, we sat down with junior David Kim to discuss his passions and aspirations for a future in jazz. Page 22

8 Tablet Integration FEATURES

OPINION

14 Role of Religion

26 Social Media Face-Off

21 Music at JC

28 Surfaces

22 David Kim

29 Teacher Censorship

23 Masquerade Concert

31 Pledge Of Allegiance

24 Music/Culture

Seniors Drew Friedman, Jackson Rifkin and Nick Puente performed in a funk-rock band at the Masquerade in late February. Rachael Jones features the group, whose dynamic changes along with the flow of their music. Page 23

Does sharing one’s faith on social media harbor religious diversity, or is it more self-glorifying than evangelical? Staff writers Jamie Miller and Morayo Ogunbayo face-off on the issue. Page 26 ALL PHOTOS: MITCHELL ODENDAHL

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news

United Kingdom WikiLeaks, founded by Julian Assange, released thousands of allegedly classified documents pertaining to CIA hacking secrets. These documents suggest strategies used by the CIA to hack into smart televisions and encrypted applications like WhatsApp. Assange is currently taking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

United States

The “A Day Without Women” protest encouraged women to take the day off from work on International Women’s Day, March 8th. Two school districts in North Carolina took preliminary actions and canceled school for the day due to the predicted absence of female faculty members. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA MCLNTYRE

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North Korea

Four ballistic missiles were launched from North Korea, landing within 200 feet of Japan’s coast. Staterun media, Pyongyang, reported that the missiles were target practice on American military bases stationed in Japan.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RODONG SINMUM

Africa

Poachers in Kenya killed one of the 25 remaining “big tusker” rhinos in the world at Tsavo National Park. Satao II, a clear favorite among locals, died at age 50 with a poison arrow found in its carcass.

ROUND UP : IN THE NEWS EMMA BROWN, editor-in-chief

THE CHARIOT | 5

BOB GRAY

As Tom Price transitions into his new role as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Bob Gray, Johns Creek City Councilor, hopes to fill his shoes.

PHOTO ­­COURTESY OF BOB GRAY CAMPAIGN

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NEHA BHATIA, staff writer he once bare Georgia landscape is now covered with signs bearing the names of the political hopefuls seeking to occupy Tom Price’s now-vacant seat in Congress and represent Georgia’s Sixth Congressional district. One such contender is Johns Creek’s own Bob Gray. Gray, a city council member and technology executive from Johns Creek, announced his plans to seek a role as the next Republican to represent north Fulton, east Cobb and portions of Dekalb County earlier this year in January, and his signs were the first to appear around the city.

As a business executive, Gray has worked with and managed numerous Fortune 500 and private equity companies across a range of industries for 30 years. His responsibilities have taken him to over 30 countries all across the world, from South America to Africa, where he collaborated with the companies to demonstrate how to improve efficiency and reduce costs using technology.

“When you come from that background you know how to work with a wide range of people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences to identify problems, and you can develop solutions, implement them and ultimately deliver results, and that’s what the American people want. They want people who know how to deliver results,” said Gray.

While the remainder of the country will be voting for their respective Congressional

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candidates in November of 2018, the special election was ordered by Governor Nathan Deal on February 10, the day incumbent representative Tom Price was confirmed by the Senate to join the Trump Administration as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Gray is one of 18 candidates who qualified for the election, all but assuring a runoff between the top two contenders.

“It’s going to be an interesting race. There will be 18 people running, so we’ve really got what we call a ‘jungle primary,’ where you have so many people running that it’s sort of like a fight to the death. I think people should care because, oftentimes, as my students know, your congressman will, with the power of the incumbency, be your congressman for as many as 20 years. We don’t have an incumbent running, so this is a time when you really need to look [at the candidates] carefully,” said AP U.S. Government teacher Ms. Marybeth Atkins.

Gray describes his priorities as three-fold: growing the economy, controlling federal spending and ensuring national security. In order to grow the economy, Gray believes the key lies in tax reform and deregulation; to limit federal spending, his solution is reduction of the federal budget, federal bureaucracy and welfare. To ensure national security, Gray supports increased border patrol and more robust cybersecurity, a particular issue that he has become familiar with through his work in the technology sector, and an issue that he believes should become a mainstream part of our nation’s security conversation. In line with other issues central to Congressional debate at the moment, Gray is an opponent of the Affordable Care Act and large-scale federal spending programs, but a proponent of immigration legislation and private sector initiatives. However, political stances aside, Gray believes that the most important fact Americans need, Georgia’s divided District 6, especially, is a representative who can unite its constituents.

“I think that’s why you need somebody from business; when you’re in business, and you have to deliver results every day, that’s what you do. You work with people that don’t necessarily always agree; you have to listen and you have to establish a support for recommendations in the best interests of the overall team, and that’s exactly what I would intend to do if I were successful in being elected to Georgia’s Sixth District,” said Gray.

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A.L.I.C.E

A N e w E r a o f Sch o o l Secu ri ty

BRIAN SUI, news editor

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n April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Kleboid committed suicide after perpetrating a mass school shooting at a high school situated in Jefferson County, Colorado, leaving 13 dead and 21 severely injured.

Today, this notorious event is known as Columbine and incited a national scare surrounding children’s safety across innumerable schools.

Two years later, Greg Cane, a former Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officer, presented a potential solution by the name of A.L.I.C.E. to mollify the public wave of uneasiness in response to the influx of school shootings that occurred in the years prior. A.L.I.C.E. is a training institute that introduced a new approach to intruder drill protocol, and each letter represents an integral step in its specially designed procedure: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.

Instead of hiding in the narrow corners of a locked classroom, students and teachers are instructed to react actively in the midst of a shooter intrusion with such measures as barricading classroom entrances, throwing any nearby objects at the intruder and arranging classrooms to resemble a “minefield.” Crane and his team routinely visit schools around the nation to instruct students and faculty on these more assertive procedures, and during the past decade, over 300 educational institutions have already implemented A.L.I.C.E. In the vicinity of Johns Creek, school shootings are far from frequent, but earlier in August of the school year, Johns

Creek High School experienced a false intruder lock-down, which left many students and teachers questioning the effectiveness of current protocol, especially in the case of a real armed intrusion.

“You cannot be over-prepared for these things. If our efforts save but a single life, it will all be worth the time and effort. Johns Creek is a family. Protecting each and every student so they can be highly successful is our absolute mission,” said AP Computer Science teacher Commander Raymond Schenk.

Staff and students are encouraged to actively fight for their survival, rather than passively awaiting the police, who will likely not arrive on time.

Contrary to popular belief, A.L.I.C.E does not reinforce violence as a first resort, but rather aims to distract an armed intruder from making instant, lethal decisions.

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Device Diplomacy Students and faculty have mixed reations to personalized learning intiatives.

RAINA PARIKH, staff writer & NIKI DANI, staff writer n February 26, the school disseminated around 2,000 Microsoft Surface Pros to the masses after a weeks-long buildup of forms and OneNote practice.

They are a contentious issue at this school with just as many ardently opposed as supportive of the effort. The tablets are a part of the Personalized Learning Initiative (see Issue 2), promising to improve students’ learning through a data-driven system.

The tablets came with a series of contracts asking Johns Creek students to comply with a number of rules that come with receiving a tablet. Students are no longer able to keep their phones on student WiFi, as the number of tablets introduced requires a productive WiFi connection. Tablets are not to be used near food or drink due to risk of harm and students are financially responsible for any damages, just as they are for a textbook.

Some students have strong opinions against the tablets and have raised important issues.

“Well I really hate the tablets because I’ve been doing the same

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thing the same way for 12 years and now that I’m about to graduate they want to change it? What the heck? How could they do this to me? . This is ridiculous. Why do they want to change this?

I’m a senior. I’m graduating. I want textbooks. I want paper. I don’t want a tablet. What if I don’t have internet? What if the power goes out? What if I don’t have a charger? Am I not supposed to turn into my work?” said senior Jackson Stanhope.

There is also grumbling over the use of county funds. The devices were funded through the one cent SPLOST (special-purpose local option sales tax) enacted by referendum three times since 1997, and Fulton County has spent an estimated total of $28.3 million funding the devices for schools. Since the start of the 2015 school year, the county has handed out nearly 60,000 personalized devices.

“What do I think

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Student to Device Ratio

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ments from online assessments). Which one did I miss, how did I miss those, and that allows a greater platform for conversation about those topics,” said Mr. Jeffrey.

Students are also really warming up to the tablets with many using them in various capacities in different classes.

“My initial thoughts about the surfaces, as any new toy, is they are fun to use. I have actually used it for nearly every class already.

The devices are also very convenient for taking organized notes in class. The surfaces are especially helpful for visual learners like me because its programs, such as OneNote, and its ability to annotate the screen help learning become more hands-on and visual. This is easier, more efficient and more interactive than taking notes in a regular notebook,” said sophomore Olivia Logan.

Fulton County has reported that Johns Creek High School, a member of the Group 4 device roll-out, which occurs during the 2016-2017 school year, is at 50 percent for device readiness and at 88 percent overall readiness for personalized learning. Teachers have reported that promised gadgets like HDMI cables still have not been handed out and many are having trouble keeping students who would rather be doodling on Microsoft Paint focused in class. Although, others are hopeful.

“Life has changed. You can’t become so regimented . . . And the only real reason a lot of people don’t like it is because they fear it. So there’s gotta be more training on it. There’s gotta be way of teachers pioneering it and saying this is how I’m doing it. And I’m even looking forward to learning from other people,” said Mr. Jeffrey.

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about the new tablets? I wish I’d gotten a new textbook instead. It seems like there’s better ways our money could be spent,” said a student government member who wished to remain anonymous.

However, others, such as members of the Glad Tech Team, students and faculty who are involved in implementing the tablets in classrooms, disagree.

“There’s really no reason why you shouldn’t want one. It’s not affecting the way you do anything. You don’t have to use it 24/7.

You just basically use it in your classes. We will also be taking EOCs on the tablets, so that’s a big reason why we want people to have them, and we can also start getting rid of the computer labs because it makes more classroom space, and it’s cheaper for us to have personalized devices instead of keeping up with these big desktops,” said junior and Glad Tech member Maliya Lacuzong, who confirmed that the project will adapt based on the responses of the students and faculty of the school to the tablets.

Teacher uses of the tablet will be the main factor in deciding whether to use certain programs, and teachers are encouraged to use the tablets in some capacity.

Mr. Jeffrey, the Honors Biology and AP Biology teacher is an enthusiastic proponent of the initiative.

“I use Google classroom, so I push all of my resources out that way. All our assignments are completed on OneNote and then handed back in through Google classroom so there’s no exchanging of papers from student to teacher. The big drive right now is data, data, data. And so it would be a lot easier not just for me but for the students to get that instant feedback from online assess-

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THE CHARIOT | 9

KATHERINE SHIN

sports

Starting off on the right foot AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE JCHS SOCCER TEAM’S JOURNEY TO THE STATE PLAYOFFS MAURA MCLYNN, staff writer

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he JCHS soccer program has been emphasizing the importance of dedication and hard work to their players since the school opened. Under the leadership of head coaches Kelly Bowler and Mary Byrne, both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams have a common goal in mind: to make it to the state playoffs. Whether it means waking up before sunrise for practice or playing games lasting late into the night, the JCHS soccer teams are determined to maintain the successful Johns Creek soccer reputation.

The Lady Gladiators are focused on becoming one unit on the field by building strong relationships off of it. The team’s common goal of making it to the state playoffs is what brings the team together and allows them to focus on their primary objective while reaching milestones as a group along the way.

“Everyone on the team gets along really well. We hang out outside of practices and games all the time, having team dinners and sleepovers for bonding. Strong relationships lead to a strong team, and that’s really what we’re looking for this season,” said sophomore Malena Merino.

While the girls will face many new obstacles throughout this season, the rivals they have faced for years, Cambridge and Chattahoochee High Schools, remain high on their list of tasks to tackle. These rival games are essential for both morale and rank in the division, and it is another one of the team’s goals to defeat all of these region opponents. The players are giving everything they have to practices in order to guarantee their position on top of these competitors.

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“We just moved into a new region this year, so we’re facing a lot of new opponents that we don’t know too much about from previous experience.

It’ll definitely be interesting to see how we face all of these new teams, but I know with a lot of hard work and dedication, we can come out on top,” said Merino.

The boys’ Gladiator soccer team faces similar circumstances as the girls.

With a new region to face and the continuation of years’ old rivalries, the boys are driven for success this season. Having fallen just short of the playoffs in years past, it is their key objective that they make it into the tournament. It is their belief that once they are in, anything can happen from there.

“The best part of being on this team is the group of players and coaches this year. We have a really great group of guys with the potential to make this season one to remember. As long as we stay focused and keep up the intensity throughout practices and games, we can reach our goal of making it far into the state tournament,” said junior Matt Wozniak.

Both teams are ready for the season ahead of them, fully confident in their team dynamic and commitment to the game. With the preparations put in all preseason-long and the dedication the players have given to one another, success seems inevitable for these JCHS athletes.

“This year’s team works together much better than the team has in the past. There’s been some conflict in other seasons, but everyone gets along great. We all share a love of the game, and with us all focused on the same goal, we’re a stonger team because of it,” said junior Joe Yosanovich.

CLUBS & BALLS When four freshmen joined the Johns Creek Golf team, there weren’t many expectations. After last year’s unreal season of triumph, however, the bar has been raised, and they want to do it again.

SOPHIE BRANDEIS, sports editor

ohns Creek’s golf team closed out their 2016 season in the best possible way, with a state championship win.

Led by freshmen Nic Cassidy, Andy Mao and Calum Ross, JCHS golf swept away all competition with ease and unbelievably low scores. The addition of four extremely talented freshman to the team last year means that JC golf has a promising future as the players grow and improve their game. As the 2017 season is fast approaching, golf fans all across the 6A region excitedly await the return of the legacy that is JCHS golf.

With senior team members Jake DiBenedetto and Thomas Gerard and the now-sophomore prodigies, the team is confident that they will be able to defend the state title that they worked so hard for last year “Our goal this year is to win area and state like we did last year, and we feel we have a great chance because our top four are all returning from last year. Hopefully I can play as well as I did last year and make the all-state again, but, for me, it’s way more important to win state as a team,” said Cassidy.

Unlike most sports, golf is a game of finesse and technique. The objective is to get the ball in the hole with the fewest amount of hits possible. Last season, Cassidy was the “low individual” (the player with the least amount of hits) of the state tournament and Mao was the low individual of the region tournament. The goal for the 2017 season has been to reach this level of play again, and both Mao and Cassidy along – with the varsity team – have been putting in the work. The team practices several times a week after school at JC’s home courses, St. Ives and Country Club.

“We will usually practice individual types of the game like putting and hitting, and then we will go out and play nine holes after that. Individually, I practice everyday, but as a team we practice a couple times a week,” said Mao. High school golf works differently from the individual play the boys are used to. Instead of naming one winner with the lowest total score, the winning team of high school matches are determined by taking the scores of the top four golfers per team and adding them together. The team with the lowest sum wins. The JC golf team plays dual matches about once a week, and, on the weekends, they compete in tournaments with several teams.

“The tournaments are much more interesting than the matches because we get an opportunity to compare our team to several other schools before the state championship,” said Ross.

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have the same end goals.

Last year, the girls finished third in the region, third in sectionals and fourth in state. Just like the boys, they have been practicing diligently and working hard to improve their game. The only difference between boys’ and girls’ golf is the distance of the tee-off spot to the hole.

“Golf at Johns Creek is a ton of fun. We get to leave school early for matches and compete against other schools within the region. We also hang out with the boys’ team, which is always fun,” said sophomore Charli York.

Golf has played an instrumental role in all of the players’ lives. Most of the players say that they started playing golf before they can even remember. From toddler years to old age, golf is a timeless sport that brings all different types of people together.

“Golf at Johns creek is really fun. We have so many kids at JC who play golf pretty much every day, and it’s a place where people can become great friends on and off the

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course,” said Cassidy.

MITCHELL ODENDAHL

THE CHARIOT | 11

COVER STORY TIE-IN

Believe That We Will Win Some Johns creek athletes stay faithful on the track and fIELD, BUT WHAT’S THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN THE RELIGION OF SPORTS? NATHAN GAUTHREAUX, staff writer

pitcher takes a knee before the game to pray, a cross country team prays in a huddle before their meets, and a football team closes out their pep talks with a prayer. These are all religious displays seen in high school sporting events. The impact of religion in public high schools is often the subject of hot debate, whether it’s on the field, the court or the track.

Every student athlete has a different purpose for their various religious demonstrations.

“Praying before a sporting event helps everyone get their minds right and puts everyone at ease and helps them realize that it’s not just the game that matters but who you are playing for as well,” said senior baseball and football player Cole Neuber.

Johns Creek’s football, basketball, cross country and tennis teams all partake in some form of prayer before their competitions. Due to laws regarding the separation of church and state, prayers are never led by a coach

MITCHELL ODENDAHL

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or school representative, but a student athlete. Often used as a form of inspiration and motivation before games, it has become a ritual for most athletes.

However, for some students, it serves a more profound purpose that’s more deeply rooted in their religious beliefs.

Neuber has been entrusted with leading the football team in prayer after every game this past season.

“Praying after a game, I feel, is more for just praising the fact that no one was injured or just acknowledging that God was the one who put us all on the field together and put us in each others’ lives at the same times and just praising all that one sporting event can do. I’m honored and truly grateful that the coaches rely on me to pray after games,” said Neuber.

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“Religion is a powerful tool for inspiration and creation but equally destruction and exclusion; it’s more cautiously used on an individual level over a collective scale, a principle I believe is applicable when it comes to prayer circles at meets.”

Mostly prayers wish for successful outcomes for teams and continued health for the athletes. Even students with minimal religious ties are able to understand the influence of religion in certain student athletes’ lives.

“The prayers were typically non-denominational and held themes I felt everyone could relate to, so it was very inclusive and pumped everyone up before the race,” said senior cross country runner Dania Ibrahim.

While different sports have various rituals, the entire cross country team partakes in the prayer circle tradition before every race. Minutes before the race begins, the team gathers in a huddle, while somebody leads a prayer.

For every runner, these huddles serve a different role.

“Religion [can be] a powerful tool for [both] inspiration and creation but equally for destruction and exclusion; it’s more cautiously used on an individual level over a collective scale, a principle [that] I believe is applicable when it comes to prayer circles at

meets,” said junior cross country runner Allison Rothrock.

Finding the perfect situation where student athletes can practice religion in some form without violating a rule or someone’s comfort is nearly impossible. Every student believes there should be a different level of religious influence in school or sports. For athletes who do not have strong religious affiliations, religion in sports can oftentimes come off as exclusive. While student athletes who lead religious rituals may not see the potential harm it can bring, the broader effects can easily leave students feeling left out.

“Being an agnostic and having minimal ties to any religion, as such, I can respect the fulfillment that it brings to others, but personally I cannot empathize,” said Rothrock.

Whether you support religion in school sports or not, its magnitude is undeniably influential here in Johns Creek. Pre-game rituals and huddles involving prayer can provide athletes with a sense of comfort and can ease nerves, but mixing of high school sports and religion can lead to disagreement. The 2015-2016 cross country season ended in chaos when one of the top five finishers was disqualified for wearing a headband with a visible bible verse. However, the Georgia High School Association responded saying that the runner was disqualified because of writing on his headband and not particularly because of the Bible verse.

No matter your religious affiliation, it’s safe to say that controversy resulting from high school athletics and religion is inevitable.

THE CHARIOT | 13

NATALIE SIEGMAN, features editor & KATHERINE SHIN, photo editor Students today find themselves in the middle of a changing social dynamic where culture dominates nearly every facet of life. For many students, modern society and technology has created a platform to experience their faith (or lack thereof) in ways that evolve constantly.

he 21st century is one of revolutionary technology, outstanding innovators and progressive ideals; it is no understatement to say that this is the future. But with seemingly all aspects of society propelling forward, one might wonder where century-old practices and ideals established by religion fit into this modern-day puzzle.

The United States, despite touting a policy of “separation of church and state,” is both religiously nationalistic and nationally religious-- almost to the point of infamy. Contrary to the meaning implied by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “separation of church and state” eventually created an environment in which-- rather than being confined to state churches like most European countries-- a plethora of religious sects and denominations began competing against each other, resulting in prominent religious entrepreneurs, new traditions and religions brought in by immigrants and radio preachers and televangelists dominating the “marketplace,” so to speak. In this way, separation has allowed every conceivable religion to find a niche in America’s democratic society of religions. Thus, religion became an integral part of the American culture and seeped into politics as well, as evidenced by the constant barrage of politicians campaigning morally and religiously upstanding agendas.

“It’s hard for people to keep their religious beliefs out of politics, especially because a lot of politicians have so many religious constituents, which plays into the whole thing as well,” said senior Jackson Stanhope.

Today’s youth have been primed in such conditions that have created an immensely devoted and religious group of young adults, but more surpris14 8 ||

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MITCHELL ODENDAHL

Role of Religion

ingly, the religious fervor of previous generations seems to have waned in some cases when put to trial by the modern lifestyles and ideologies of the 21st century.

“I think religion has less of a role in society than it used to. I feel like people do not go to regular services as much, but they claim that they are religious, or they are just titled as [being a certain religion] but they are more like ‘I was raised [this way] but I don’t actually practice it’,” said Stanhope.

With this trend of passive faith, more open interpretations of religious texts and less-strict observance of religious traditions, modern religion may be seen as unorthodox or even hypocritical. Yet, many teenagers seem to accept these alterations to the old traditions of the past with some going as far as to say it is a progressive form of religion.

“People believe that faith is something that everyone has to follow to its fullest while in reality, there are very few people who do. For example, most Jews don’t keep Kosher, but that doesn’t make them not Jewish or a ‘fake’ Jew,” said junior Brandon Rubin.

However, the lack of necessity for religious traditions may also point to the significant nationwide drop in religious individuals. In 2015 alone, nearly a quarter of the American populace did not identify themselves with any set religion at all with an increasing number of atheists and agnostics.

“Religion has never really spoken to me, and being agnostic gives you the freedom to stand on the sidelines while everyone is fighting about their religions. You are not in the middle of the fight which makes it easier to observe what is happening logically, and I think it is very important to have this outsider viewpoint because I think religion can cloud your judgment since you are basing everything off of faith ... and things you hold in your heart,” said junior Stephanie Zhang.

As evidenced by the aforementioned fighting, religion plays an integral role in the development of morals and values for many. Not to say that those who are not religious are immoral, but a characteristic of “modern religion” is the idea that young people are using tenets of their faith to develop ideologies and values to sculpt their identity.

Especially with high political tensions and a fear of breaking down barriers, many of today’s religious youth find themselves frequently toeing the line between practicing their faith and maintaining mutual respect and relationships with their peers.

“I definitely don’t demonstrate my religion as much as I’d like to at school, but I definitely don’t hide it either. I try to bring friends to church if I can, but I try not to push too hard in case the other

A frequently photographed mural in Little Five Points reads, “Pray for ATL,” a ministry slogan and social commentary. The stoic paint-on-brick is symbolic to some and vandalism to others.

cover story

“I see religion as something that fuels a lot of people’s beliefs and political ideologies. It bleeds into people’s personal views, which could be a good or a bad thing.” person gets uncomfortable. I feel religion today is a lot harder to practice just because there are a lot more distractions in this world. In modern religion, people tend to talk big, but their actions frequently don’t match their words, so I think it requires more effort to strengthen your faith in today’s world,” said senior Eunice Min. Nonetheless, although it may hold some

truth that younger people tend to be more sporadic in attendance of religious gatherings, and many do not adhere to a strict observance of orthodox practices, young people are changing the face of modern-day religion. Some even say that today’s youth are more religiously active than ever. In fact, the youth are changing the definition of worship; stimulated by social encounters

and fellowship, young people are passionate about pursuing their religion through more contemporary practices, such as youth groups.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to attend religious services, but in terms of Christianity, it is vital to be surrounded by community of believers. Church also glorifies God in diversity that comes with church,” said senior Courtney Levit.

So while some may still find justification in attending regular services, other teens are looking to alternate ways to get involved in their faith. For example, many religious institutions plan fellowship events, such as youth groups, concerts and conferences to encourage young people to have an active faith life. Young people often turn to individual study, as well: meeting at local coffee shops or someone’s house to gather for study and discussion is becoming a popular means of spiritual growth and fellowship.

Furthermore, young people have found ways to get involved in their religions not only in the community but in school as well.

With multiple clubs with different religious affiliations, such as FCA, JSU and MSA, students at JCHS have an abundance of ways to practice their faith at school with other peers of the same religion. These clubs have the same goal -- to foster a community of faith and to provide an outlet for students to practice their religions.

The common assumption is that religion is dying and society is moving towards secularization because of political tension, nonreligious social figures or the modern ideals among younger generations. However, the definition of “being religious” is changing.

Religion is no longer a heavily starched shirt collar strangling the individuality and freedom out of the youth, religion is no longer a mangled web of ill-founded misconceptions about others’ beliefs to be recklessly wielded as a weapon of prejudice, and religion is no longer only to be for the adults. Rather, religion or the lack thereof in 2017 is offering millennials an opportunity to transform their religious beliefs and teachings into something that plays a role in their daily lives.

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Student Features

JAKE PELJOVICH

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ake Peljovich is junior at Johns Creek High School practicing Judaism.

What do you define as modern religion?

Modern religion could be your faith that guides your path in life and where you want to go and who you want to be.

Would you classify yourself as being someone who is faithful or religious?

I would say that I’m faithful, but not necessarily religious. I believe in a lot of the same beliefs that Judaism does, but I don’t necessarily follow it strictly. For example, I don’t go to Temple every Friday. Family has had a big impact on my personal faith journey just because being brought up in a Jewish family, it’s all I was exposed to. When you’re growing up in a Jewish household as a child, you think that some of the traditions or rules don’t really matter or don’t really apply to you, but as you get older it’s easier to connect some of the traditions to what you’re going through.

The longer you go through it, and by going through the process of a Bar Mitzvah, you start to understand the bigger aspects and the smaller aspects and the ones you can really relate to and the ones that don’t really speak to you. From there, you can start to build your own connection to the faith.

What kind of things do you do to be involved in your faith?

I regularly participate in my youth group. The youth group helps you connect with Jewish teens around the Atlanta. A lot of the BBYO programs, our youth group, encourages you to branch out and experience Judaism in a more modern way.

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ALL PHOTOS: MITCHELL ODENDAHL

JUDAISM

What sort of modern things does your youth group do to encourage young people to get involved in their faith?

It applies a lot of technology, games, or sports. They typically try to incorportae some Jewish value or tradition into the things we do. For example, when we program events, we try to make it so that it’s athletic but also make sure that maybe some sort of Jewish history can be connected to it. Sometimes if we all go to a Hawks game, we typically have a Shabbat service before we go or something like that. We try to mix tradition with different social events or culture.

They focus on making a good blend to keep the youth involved.

Nowadays there’s a trend that people are trying to fit their religion into a modern lifestyle, so are you open to how religion is changing even though religion is a very traditional concept?

Personally, I really enjoy how religion is changing with time. I think it’s adapting to what people personally need in their own religious journey. Some people may not be religious, but they also like to follow the values that a certain religion teaches. By adapting them to life now without having to physically be a part of the practice is a really good thing, especially for students. From my perspective, a lot of teens are not uber religious or super orthodox, but they have taken the values that mean a lot to them and have applied them to their own lives. It seems like a lot of religions have the same values, so it’s easy to connect with someone. Nowadays it’s not so much of “oh you’re Jewish, so I’m going to be friends with you”, it’s more of a “oh we share the same values and think the same” mindset. Based off that, I think you can see how religion is changing among our generation and how students incorporate their faiths in their lives.

Disclaimer: These interviews were edited for clarity. The views and opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Chariot staff.

ISLAM

C O V E R S T O R Y

arah Kredan is a senior at Johns Creek High School practicing Islam.

What religion do you practice?

I am Muslim.

What do you think is the most fundamental aspect(s) to your religion?

It’s living your life to the best of your ability. I know it sounds cheesy, but I mean good deeds, charity, and humbling yourself.

Have you always been Muslim?

I was born into a Muslim household, so I was raised Muslim. But around the beginning of high school, I did my research and decided that Islam was the religion I wanted to practice.

Did this help strengthen your faith?

Yeah, in the beginning of high school, there were parts that were difficult, and I had my mosque to turn to and people of faith to trust in.

Does religion still affect your everyday life?

Well, most people, when they go to mosque, they have to wear a hijab, and when we take a break, if I just leave the premises with [my hijab] still on, people look at me differently. There’s also praying five times a day. I’ll admit that I don’t do that as much as I should, but essentially the things that Muslims do definitely interrupt your day- not necessarily in a negative way- but in the sense that you’re supposed to remind yourself that God is there and to not just live life absently.

So does this play a role in the development of your social beliefs?

Not really. I’ve always gone out of my religion to determine whether I want to do something or not. I have my own will to determine things.

How has religion changed in recent years?

I think modern religion is a lot more passive. You can look at any religion; a lot of kids our age either stray from religion because it’s too constrictive or they practice it really passively, so it’s

very easy to claim a title of a religion but not know what your religion even teaches. A lot of people are blind believers. They believe just because they are told to believe, and not because of their own faith; they don’t go to the temple, they don’t go to church, they don’t go to the mosque. Religion doesn’t impact us as much.

So then what role does religion play in today’s society?

Religion still influences this country a lot; Christianity is a huge influence on America. Also, religion either brings people together or tears them apart, because there are a lot of extremists, and even though they have nothing to do with their religion itself, they take the idea of the religion and then people assume things.

Then with all these misconceptions, can religions coexist?

Absolutely. But I think that the issue isn’t really with religion as it is with people and ignorance. I think that religions have been taken out of context in a lot senses… People take phrases out of the Bible, or the Torah, or the Quran and they use it against each other. I know that a lot of people think that religion causes wars or whatever, but I think it’s just people. Religion is another reason for crazy people to do crazy things. You can look at the Taliban, or you can look at the KKK. It doesn’t mean that the religion itself is necessarily dangerous, but I think in order for us to coexist, we have to fix [these misconceptions] created by those people who are influencing people in negative ways, and I think we also have to reinstate our morals because human morale is declining.

S

SARAH KREDAN

THE CHARIOT | 17

C O V E R S T O R Y

A

nshul Tunsial is a senior at Johns Creek High School practicing Hinduism.

What religion do you practice?

I practice Hinduism. More specifically I’m a Vaishnava which means I follow Vishnu. There’s a lot of different types of Hinduism.

Are there a lot people practicing different types of Hinduism in Johns Creek?

In our area, most everyone is a Vaishnava, so most everyone here follows Vishnu.

In India, in the north especially, it’s more common to find Shivas who follow Shiva.

What do you think is the most fundamental aspect of your religion?

[Hinduism] doesn’t really give you a set of rules you have to follow, unlike other religions. There are a lot of religious texts, like the Vedas, that give you guidelines... like “this is the goal you should want to achieve.” With that, it leaves it up to you on how exactly you want to get there and you have a lot of freedom in that. I think that’s what is defining of Hinduism.

So do you have more independence from your religion?

Definitely. There’s more freedom to do what you want. For example, one of the goals that I had mentioned earlier is to live a healthy life. A guideline of Hinduism is that Hindus are not supposed to eat beef because the cow is sacred. We feel that the cow gives us so much, so why would you hurt it. Stemming from that, a lot of Hindus are vegetarian, but it’s not necessarily mandated. It’s just a path we choose to take individually.

ANSHUL TUSNIAL

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ALL PHOTOS: MITCHELL ODENDAHL

HINDUISM

Is there anything else that affects your daily life?

I pray a lot and try to go to Temple at least once a month, although there are not too many temples in this area. I also meditate a lot. I think dietary restrictions are the biggest thing, but there’s definitely a lot of other stuff.

When or how did you choose your faith?

I was born into my faith... my family has always practiced Hinduism.

How has your faith developed over the years?

As I’ve learned more about the “whys” of the religion, like why we do what we do in ceremonies, I feel that has helped me grow. For the longest time, I would just do whatever my dad did and had no idea why, but as I got older I started asking a lot of questions. As I’ve learned more about it, it’s helped me understand myself better.

Do you think most Hindus in Johns Creek are Hindu because of their family?

I do. Hinduism is not one of the religions that a lot of people know a lot about, even those who follow it; most people don’t really care that much to learn about it. Because there are so many traditions, if you don’t learn why you’re doing them it doesn’t really make sense... that is a concern for Hinduism.

What role does religion play today?

I think the role of religion has decreased. It’s not as big of a part in our lives anymore. Now, instead of it being a set of rules that everyone follows, it’s now more of a personal thing - household to household. It doesn’t really have that same sense of community that it once did-- at least for Hinduism.

Can religions coexist at our school?

I definitely think religion can coexist at our school. I haven’t experienced anything negative as a Hindu, nor have I heard of anything negative happening.

Hinduism, especially, is very tolerant of every religion. At Johns Creek, because it’s such an affluent area, people tend to be more tolerant, so they are willing to learn and keep their minds open.

CHRISTIANITY

Student Features

J

essica Maksimik is a senior at Johns Creek High School practicing Christianity (Catholicism).

What do you define as modern religion?

Modern religion is more of using your religious beliefs as a moral compass as opposed to a strict traditional practice.

It’s more about keeping God’s plan and your relationship with him in mind in everything you do.

Do you see the traditional foundations in the contemporary practices or do you think that religion among young people has just completely gotten rid of traditional practices?

I think young people now, and especially what I’ve experienced as being Catholic because it tends to be more traditional, keep the big traditions such as Mass and the sacraments. A lot people are taking things in a different light and trying to explain things in a different way. Now it’s a lot more common for people to go on retreats, mission trips or youth groups. Over time it seems like it’s harder to be religious. People have to be much more intentional in their own religion. They have to put in more effort because it’s not always there and you’re not always surrounded by it.

You mentioned that it’s harder nowadays to be active in your faith and to live out your faith because of how society has changed. Do you personally find it difficult or what challenges do you see either with yourself or your church that makes it hard to be religious?

It’s definitely difficult, but it’s easier than I was expecting it to be because I think that I’ve built up a good community of friends and faith. I have a really good group of people who hold me accountable. It’s hard to see a lot of people being intentional in their faith because everyone is not 100% of the time actively living out their faith, which is completely understandable and I’m guilty of it too, but it’s harder in the routine of things to always have my mind on my faith. There are

JESSICA MAKSIMIK

so many distractions that sometimes you have to take a step back and realize how much time has passed since the last time you really sat down and reflected on your faith.

Do you think that one way young people try to grow spiritually is by surrounding themselves with people who try to lift them up? Or do you think it’s easy for someone to be very religious in a very personal journey without the social aspects of religion?

I think that of course your personal relationship with God is one-on-one, but I think that living out your faith and being religious through your actions is by growing through the social dynamics of religion. I definitely think it’s a group effort in pursuing faith and to help everyone to do the best they can. I think an important value in Christianity is that no one is in this life alone so by having a good group of people that keep you accountable it makes it easier to be religious as a student.

Do you feel as though your understanding of Christianity has changed as you have gotten older?

Definitely. My religion has become less of something that my family does and more of something that I actively pursue on my own. By getting involved in my youth group and going through the confirmation process, I have really gotten to understand my beliefs so much more and in a much different way than I ever have. It’s taken an entirely new importance in my life than it was before high school. I now want to be an active participant in my faith.

THE CHARIOT | 19

Student Features

S

tephanie Zhang is a junior at Johns Creek High School.

What religion do you practice?

I’m personally not religious, but my dad is-- he was baptized and everything.

Do you think religion has changed since your parents’ generation?

Well, my parents were never really religious. But I do think [religion’s] a lot different for our parents’ generation. It’s more strict, so you take the values that are given to you at face value; you don’t allow them to change, but now, it’s a lot more fluid. Rather than taking religion at its face value, we adapt it to the current conditions of our society. It’s more progressive.

That’s interesting because usually, you don’t think of religion as being “progressive”.

Well, I think your religion and your personality and your personal ideas can influence each other very heavily, so I think it’s, “Where do you want to take from religion, and where do you want to take from your own independent thought and how can you combine those?” I think that’s a big aspect of progressive religion.

How else has religion changed in recent years?

I think religion has become a lot more progressive. I think a lot of our misconceptions about other religions that aren’t as predominant in the U.S. have been a lot more clear recently because we’ve had a new wave of immigrants here, and a lot of these misconceptions have been torn down. I think we’ve gotten to the point in the U.S. where… the stereotypes we’ve created need to be cleared up or else violence is going to occur…

STEPHANIE ZHANG

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ALL PHOTOS: MITCHELL ODENDAHL

AGNOSTICISM

So what role does religion play in today’s society?

I’m not really sure, like I’m not a very religious person obviously, but from my standpoint, religion is something that fuels a lot of people’s political beliefs toward society.

You said you aren’t really religious, but do you believe in God or another deity?

I guess I believe in a higher power, since something has to make [everything] happen.

So kind of like an agnostic?

Yeah, I guess. For me personally, it’s hard to believe in something I can’t see or that isn’t physically there.

Do you think that people at Johns Creek are religious?

I feel like definitely in this area, people are super religious, but I think it’s all relative.

How? Well, I come from a city, and no one’s really that religious in cities because it’s so diverse. Here, it’s pretty Christian.

What about the more diverse aspect of Johns Creek?

Well, there’s a pretty good mixture of diversity here, but at our core, JCHS is pretty Christian because of the area .

What role does religion play for us?

I think religion is a lot about guidance; if you’re having a hard time and you need life advice, you can turn to a higher power in religion.

Then who or what do you turn to?

The experiences of other people or I talk to friends who are going through similar situations. Sometimes, I want to have some guiding power and be reassured that everything will turn out okay… I know a lot of my Christian friends believe God has a plan for everyone, and I wish I had this. Not being religious, the way that you view the world comes from a place of reality, and that can be disheartening when you look at the world and see all the bad s*** that’s going on, it’s like, “What can I do? Is everything going to be okay?” You just never know and you lose a lot of security.

Boogie Nights Johns Creek plays host to countless musicians and artists within its diverse student body. The talent within these walls is represented by a myriad of students who use their skills to reach new creative heights, proving that even in the suburbs, culture remains an important influence. In this section of The Chariot’s fourth issue, we profile David Kim, aspiring jazz musician and accomplished guitar player, and explore a concert at the Masquerade courtesy of JCHS’ own band Changing Names.

Kick back, listen to this issue’s playlist, and take some time to appreciate the tunes that improve our lives.

THE CHARIOT | 21

unior David Kim is an unconventional man. His distinctly patterned style makes him hard to miss as he saunters through the halls of JCHS on a daily basis, seemingly acquainted with everyone he passes.

He possesses an eclectic personality that lures people in as if they are moths drawn to some invisible light emitted by his vintage sweaters.

Nevertheless, there is more to David Kim than meets the eye; outside the walls of school, he is quietly nurturing a career in jazz music. Earlier this year, he was even selected as the jazz guitarist for All-State Orchestra.

“I started teaching myself guitar in 6th grade because I wanted to imitate a famous finger-style guitarist, Sungha Jung, that I saw on YouTube. YouTube and guitar websites were basically my teachers then,” said junior David Kim. “I don’t think I had a lot of opportunities before this summer. The guys I met at GHP taught me so much about what it takes to succeed as a performing jazz musician. I learned that it’s all about the connections you make with people … putting yourself out there, and taking every opportunity you get,” said Kim. As of this year, however, he is a member of the Georgia State University Orchestra, playing in two groups: combo and big band. The weeknight drive downtown is merciless, but the high-caliber practice is necessary to keep his skills in shape and above the tense competition.

As he honed his expertise during the time away from school and practiced for All-State auditions, Kim quickly found himself performing at places in the locale such as the Johns Creek Arts Center. These gigs are an important outlet for exposure and help Kim share his talent with the world.

“I want to get into a good jazz school, somewhere up North because that’s where all the industry is, and hopefully perform with a bunch of cool cats. All the greatest musicians perform at open jam sessions every night [over] there, and you can learn so much from jamming with them or even just observing them,” said Kim.

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22 |

Rocking vintage sweaters, David Kim is a cool junior with a weird Instagram. Also a jazz guitarist and SoundCloud artist; however, there’s more eclecticism hidden underneath the Mondrianesque sweaters.

ALL THAT JAZZ JOSH GURIN, staff writer

MUSIC FEATURES

When “Changing Names,” a high school band based out of JCHS, performed at the Masquerade at the end of February, they did not have a final set-list of songs, a consistent singer or a steady practice schedudle. Nonetheless, they delivered a successful show that reflects the musical talents of many aspiring musicians in Johns Creek.

RACHAEL JONES, staff writer ading through dozens of high school students crowded around a small stage, I feel the energy buzzing around me.

This intensifies as several band members make their way to the stage. It’s 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night downtown at the Masquerade, and I’m trying to ignore the nagging thoughts in the back of my mind reminding me of my APES homework. However, for students like seniors Nick Puente, Drew Friedman and Jackson Rifkin, this is simply another average Wednesday night.

When not playing downtown or traveling across the country for shows, these students practice on a weekly basis and devote several hours a week to developing their own personal music skills.

“We try to practice once a week … Being a drummer we have to practice at my house because I can’t move all my stuff.

We’ll tell each other to have certain songs down by the next time we practice so we’ll practice those throughout the week.

I’ll usually spend 30 minutes a day practicing,” said Rifkin.

I was surprised to learn about the flexibility and casual nature of their music schedules instead of the rigid clique I had imagined. The show at the Masquerade featured several high school bands, and from what the three seniors told me, these bands change on a daily basis.

“It’s just something we play for fun. Sometimes we throw bands together because we all know each other, and we play

W

ALL PHOTOS: MITCHELL ODENDAHL

shows together with a band we manifested just for that reason … It’s more like us as musicians get the opportunity to play a show,” said Puente.

This casual, relaxed setting of playing music became evident in the show at the Masquerade. Each musician brought his own style to the stage, yet the sounds merged together to create an energizing beat that poured steady vibrations into the crowd. The room gradually filled in as the night went on with friends and peers of the players crowded near the stage and parents snapping pictures to the side.

As Puente discussed his love for performing music, his face immediately settled into the same passionate concentration I saw as he shredded his guitar or struck keys on a piano.

“Honestly there are few things better than being able to connect with people through a sound you can create... There’s something intimate about it. If I can play and connect with the people in the audience that means I have become much stronger at what I’m doing … It’s like that validation that you know you’re doing well,” said Puente.

These musicians were not just playing instruments or using their voices; rather they held a conversation between themselves and the audience that surpassed words. Friedman dominated the stage at times by playing toward the audience and engaging the audience in his performance. A four foot tall stage may create a barrier between the musicians and the audience, but that night these seniors broke that wall with the sounds they created and the passion they brought to the stage.

THE CHARIOT | 23

The lost boys of brockhampton CLAY VOYTEK, editor-in-chief

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PALACE CANNON I N FAT U AT I O N MICHIGAN BREAKFAST

Woozy and soulful, this groovy playlist begins with an unassuming Earl Sweatshirt intro and works its way through numerous sounds bound by hard-hitting bass. With an amorphous sound, above all, hypnotic basslines make this playlist a near religious experience.

*scan QR code for

1. HUEY / EARL SWEATSHIRT 2. some / steve lacy 3.

DREW BARRYMORE / SZA 4.

FRIEND ZONE / THUNDERCAT 5. cranes in the sky / solange 6. MISERABLE AMERICA / KEVIN ABSTRACT 7.

ONLY GIRL / KALI UCHIS 8. A CERTAIN ROMANCE / ARCTIC MONKEYS 9.

HAZE / HAUS 10. HEART DON’T STAND A CHANCE / ANDERSON .PAAK 11.

DENT JUSAY / MATT MARTIANS 12.

BREAKFAST / BROCKHAMPTON 13. SHAOLIN MONK MOTHERFUNK / HIATUS KAIYOTE 14. IT’LL ALL BE OVER / SUPREME JUBILEES 15.

MY OLD MAN / MAC DEMARCO 16.

REAL LOVE / BIG THIEF 17. SO MANY DETAILS / TORO Y MOI 18. SOUR MANGO / GABRIEL GARSON-MONTANO 19.

OVA DA WUDZ / OUTKAST 20.

FANGS / MATT CHAMPION 21.

Redbone / CHILDISH GAMBINO

album evolution

T

JAMIE MILLER, staff writer

he music industry is constantly redefining the next big thing. Today’s popular trend has come with the advent of the playlist, marking a change in how listeners stream music.

Statistics show that the digital era has created a society where people stream playlists more commonly than full length albums. Millions of people utilize companies such as Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora, which all create playlists that combine a variety of songs into one experience. Streaming songs through companies such as these has proven to be an essential factor in determining the popularity of music.

As a result, numerous artists credit their rapid rise to fame to the presence found through online streaming. This speedy outlet of music-sharing provides an explanation for how a relatively unknown artist can become popular within a day of releasing a single song onto an online playlist that has 500,000 followers.

Many artists have noticed the instant fame that can result from releasing songs through streaming sites. Among them is Drake, who recently revealed his “More Life” playlist project. This playlist will be a digital release, relying almost completely on users who stream their music.

Drake’s playlist concept is a mirroring image of the online approach that the music business is veering toward. This online streaming is revolutionizing the music industry by curating a business where playlists and singles are overcoming albums in both profit and popularity.

PHOTO COURTESY OF XXL

notable songs

he next One Direction-level boy band hails from Texas -- and it isn’t what you’d think. A fearless collective of rappers, producers, vocalists and even a pianist, who have disavowed masculinity and bravado, Brockhampton lets their music speak for them. On their debut mix tape All-American Trash, an eclectic soundscape comes together to form a pensive, intentional display of everything the group has to offer.

Like the Lost Boys of Neverland, Brockhampton is more of an artistic refuge than a vessel for commercialization. Part of the magic behind the gang’s sound is the environment in which it was created. All twelve of the members live and make music together, and the sense of brotherhood within the group is evident. Songs like “Home” and “Infatuation” are completely different, and would typically have no place on the same album, but present on each track of All-American Trash is an uncompromising devotion to artistry and self-expression. Choosing the moniker of boy band is more than an ironic joke; rather, it’s a signifier of how the collective views themselves and the world. Brockhampton’s twelve members have turned their backs on the nihilistic viewpoint of most young artists, instead recognizing a world where guitar riffs and 808’s can occupy the same space in harmony.

Over time, almost every member of Brockhampton has stepped forward and released solo material, and that is the truest display of what makes this group so unique. Kevin Abstract released a solo project last year called American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story. One of my favorites from 2016, the album has a narrative arc and a cinematic feel. In the context of the group, however, the album shows off exactly what Abstract brings to Brockhampton.

Matt Champion, Merlyn Wood and others all have an impressive, groovy catalogue of solo work as well.

Brockhampton has a compelling, intimate and ambitious first project under their belts, and, with just over 60,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and fewer Instagram followers than most girls at this school, Brockhampton is a group to watch as they continue to grow and make genuine, unique music.

W O K E access to Spotify playlist

music

S T A Y

Culture CLAY VOYTEK & EMMA BROWN, editors-in-chief

5 books to read NOW SAGA Graphic novels have seen a rise in popularity in the last year, and that surge in popularity has allowed indie publishers, like Image comics, to thrive in an industry dominated by Marvel and DC for years. Saga, the latest comic series from Brian K. Vaughan, is one example of the artistic expression that can be made as the medium shifts away from superheroes. An epic space opera/fantasy, Saga tells the story of a forbidden love between two extraterrestrials, who’s races have been at war for centuries.

CITIZEN With Citizen: An American Lyric, a national poet examines race in America, and the result is a provocative and timely meditation on prejudice. The cover features an unassuming hood, a symbol that took on new meaning after the murder of Trayvon Martin, which reignited the discussion of racism and police brutality in America. Claudia Rankine’s Citizen is more than a book of poetry, however. It is an immersive work, marked by a realistic assessment of where we are today.

ART INSTalLATIONS arnika dawkins

There has not been a work of prose more heartbreaking and eye opening than Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life in years. The novel tells the story of four recent college graduates, broke and adrift in New York City. As it progresses, however, Yanagihara’s lyrical prose pushes one of the young men to the forefront of the novel,and exposes the tragedy of his past.

Melodramatic and exaggerated, A Little Life is the novel we needed right now. It was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2015.

A LITTLE LIFE

4600 Cascade Rd, Atlanta, GA ON EXHIBIT: GORDON PARKS The Segregation Portfolio -Recruited initially by Life Magazine in 1957, Gordon Parks was tasked with capturing portraits of segregation in the South titled The Restraints: Open and Hidden. The portfolio has a total of 26 color photographs.

PHOTO BY GORDON PARKS

Jackson fine art

3115 E Shadowlawn Ave, Atlanta, GA SALLY GALL EXHIBIT: Ariela -Born in 1956, Sally Gall is mostly known for the use of nature in her mostly black-and-white creations.

Recently, she has begun incorporating color into her work.

lumiere gallery

LALLA ESSAYDI EXHIBIT: Bullets a -Moroccan artist, Lalla Essaydi, distinguishes her work by painting on Islamic calligraphy using henna. Her work is displayed in at least 9 different museums.

PHOTO BY RICHARD PARE

425 Peachtree Hills Ave, Atlanta, GA There is no award more prestigious in literature than the Pulitzer. Viet Than Nguyen’s sensational debut novel, The Sympathizer, won the Pulitzer for fiction in 2016. It is the type of work that sheds new light on an oversaturated topic. The Sympathizer tells the story of a communist double agent after the Vietnam War. Part thriller, part satire, the novel is written in beautiful prose that signifies a new voice in the literary pantheon.

THE SYMPATHIZER

RICHARD PARE EXHIBIT: The Lost Vanguard -Englishman Richard Pare’s newest collection, The Lost Vanguard, illustrates the flamboyant age of modernization of Russia following the October 1917 Revolution. Pare is currently studying the architecture of the Russian Avantgarde.

HIgh museum

1280 Peachtree St, Atlanta, GA

DANIEL ARSHAM EXHIBIT: Hourglass -American artist, Daniel Arshams, is continuing his project, Fictional Archaeologies, with his recent completion of Hourglass, a series of three pieces. Arsham takes everyday objects and recreates them in an abstract, fossilized form.

JACK LEIGH The Spirit of the Placea -This exhibit showcases the work of Jack Leigh, from Savannah, Georgia. He worked exclusively in black-and-white and devoted himself to capturing the landscape and atmosphere of his hometown.

THE CHARIOT | 25

Should people share their religious views on social media?

26 |

KATHERINE SHIN

opinion

YES:

MORAYO OGUNBAYO, staff writer

J

ohns Creek is a bubble, and one would think that the religious makeup would not be diverse. However, Johns Creek is home to a variety of different religious groups and backgrounds and, consequently, many religious programs. While these programs take many different forms, one that stays the same across all religious backgrounds and faith groups is a presence on social media.

From quirky photos taken at retreats to glamorous photos set in large weekend conferences, and everything in between, it is growing tremendously rare to scroll through your feed on a given night without suffering the FOMO of not being a follower of a certain faith or belief. The abundant religious presence on social media is important as it cultivates

the curiosity of those who are different and eventually will bring more people to understand the differences in our tremendously contrasted faiths.

Diversity is vital to a society in all aspects. Besides the curiosity it brings of different groups, diversity allows people in a community to grow out of their comfort zones and to broaden their cultural horizons. Diversity allows people to see that their differences are healthy and to grow to embrace them as they are. Religious diversity is no different, and with the religious makeup of Johns Creek, social media is ideal for fostering diversity.

As a result, a student who has never left their religious bubble can become interested in a completely new faith without having to spend a decade studying the

holy book aligned with it.

Religion on social media fosters pride for religious traditions. In areas like Johns Creek, many students feel isolated in their beliefs. Social media can bring these students together and allow them to see people who are like them.

Those who are made uncomfortable by religious sentiments on social media are showing hypersensitivity to those who have different faiths from them. Intolerance stems from this, which leads to a greater part of the problems a society faces. When religion is spread on social media, it is rarely with malicious intent.

Religion is put on social media to express one’s excitement about the faith of their choice, and it is integral to the diverse structure of any society.

to making faith seem less about the actual faith and more about trying to prove to others how faithfully driven you are in all aspects of your life. In reality, the number of religious posts someone shares is not necessarily a reflection of how religious the person may be. Living through faith is about the life you truly live, not what is portrayed on a profile. The purpose of worship is not centered around proving how faithful you are to those around you but to God, who definitely can’t be found on Instagram.

Posting is not a unique concept. Anyone connected to the Internet can create a profile and display just about any idea that they feel is important. It’s easy for a person to press send on a caption involving their religious values, even if it is not

a true representation of how they live. Social media is a form of expression that is easy to use for anyone, no matter if what they are displaying is not a true depiction of who they are. This simple fact diminishes the meaning behind religious posts and displays why it is not a good platform for showing religious beliefs.

However, some users authentically share their religious viewpoints because it is a true demonstration of who they are, not an inaccurate image they are trying to create. When doing it for the right reasons, social media can be a great outlet for sharing your religious views. However, the people who excessively commercialize their religion with the desire of creating a certain reputation have created somewhat of a cliche out of the idea.

NO:

JAMIE MILLER, staff writer

F

or years now, people have used social media to share intimate features of their lives with others. Recently, however, users have taken intimate to an entirely new level, sometimes even for the wrong reasons. Among these reasons is the creation of a certain social image. For some, posting about daily events while incorporating religious views has become more about their public appearance than simply sharing authentic aspects of their lives with their followers.

Putting religious views on display in order to create a certain social image is not what religion is about. Ironically, religion encompasses following a God and certain values, not followers and social media.

Pairing every Instagram and Facebook post with religious captions contributes

THE CHARIOT | 27

LEILA FARHAN

S

tudents at JCHS had been counting down the days until they could finally receive their very own device and kick off the much awaited shift to personalized learning. Finally the devices arrived, and the whole school rejoiced at the fact that students now had a new tool that would soon become the centerpiece of their learning. Since then, the totally durable and super useful Surfaces have been embraced by the entire student body. These devices are undoubtedly an incredible resource with virtually no flaws.

These new devices have really brought the presence of fine arts in education back to public school students across Fulton County and here at JCHS. Students now have a new platform to express their creativity during class and ignore lessons given by their teachers. Instead of wasting time on schoolwork and important assignments, students can instead draw beautiful doodles and designs. These devices open up an entirely new way for students to improve their artistic abilities with state-of-the-art programs, such as Microsoft Paint.

Not only do these new devices allow students express their creativity, but they are also environmentally friendly. Instead of wasting countless pieces of paper on doodles drawn during classes, students can just doodle on their tablets. Students no longer have to throw out their pointless worksheets and notes because they can simply close out of the page on their Surface, saving thousands of trees.

The Surfaces have also sparked innovation among the student body of 28 8 ||

under the surface RACHEL GROSSWALD, staff writer Johns Creek. Most apps and games that you could download onto the surface are blocked by Fulton County, and anything that you do download gets monitored. This setback has fostered the development of a new and creative solution. Students put games like Pokemon and Slenderman on flash drives and plug them into the devices so they can enjoy the fun of playing video games in school. This solution, and others like it, are constantly being driven by all of the restrictions on the Surfaces and are taking students to new heights of technological innovation.

Simply stated, the Surfaces are the best thing that ever happened to this school and although many people may hate on these new devices, they are truly a great addition to our school. And, if technology isn’t really your thing you can use your Surface for its literal purpose, a surface to put your stuff on.

When Johns Creek gave every student a Microsoft Surface Pro 3, many were annoyed with the spotty wifi and constant restarts, but the setbacks have made way for student innovation at JCHS.

opinion

Limit classroom expression, limit education egardless of one’s interest in government, it’s clear that everyone at least knows their basic First Amendment rights.

Every losing argument seems to be backed up with the emphatic and defensive claim that “It’s my opinion! You’re disrespecting my freedom of speech.” But, unfortunately, this right to uncensored speech isn’t as unconditional as one would think.

The classroom, for all its claims of equal and free thought, can be an oppressive environment for expression for both students and teachers. Many teachers are hesitant to suggest their own stances and consequently filter everything they say. While some teachers choose to limit what they say, for some, this censorship of teachers’ expression stifles potential opportunities for learning.

Not that these educational

R

“Teaching should be educating students to view life from a variety of different perspectives.

If you restrict my ability to do that, I’m only doing half of my job.“ -

Captain Daniel

moments should be the priority in the classroom. If teachers could just say what they want about their political or social views, they could hurt someone’s feelings or worse: influence our already opinionated teenagers to think about serious issues. If students aren’t bubble-wrapped and hidden from the scary realities off campus, they may be tempted to address controversy, and who would want that?

Better to leave those issues for when the students graduate to the “real” world. For now, even the quietest misspoken word by a teacher could shape or scar students for the rest of their lives. While these same topics may be discussed at home or crudely in the halls, the classroom should be left in the hands of outdated and cautiously worded textbooks.

What would we do if a teenager were to hear something offensive like government policies, the history of discrimination or worst of all... an expletive?

In all seriousness, the idea that students need to be sheltered from certain topics, which could enrich their learning, frankly underestimates the student’s ability for self-thought and limits teachable moments.

Aside from just their opinions, teachers are expected to watch their own words in order to keep an inoffensive and professional classroom atmosphere, meaning no exple-

tives, suggestive language or subtle student-bound barbs.

To a certain extent, there’s clear and justifiable reasoning behind this censorship, but it’s difficult for a controversy-charged classroom debate to reach its full potential if everyone is watching every comment for expletives. Most teenagers have already heard them all anyway, so it seems pointless to let this self-censorship hinder thought-provoking discussion.

Essentially, censoring classroom speech is a limit on knowledge, and the implications are clear. Keeping teachers in check and a classroom full of 17-year-olds PG is more important than discussing the significance of mounting racial, cultural, religious and political tensions outside the school walls.

This systematic restriction on the classroom is a dangerous move with the potential to breed an uninformed culture as a whole – and an ignorant generation to follow.

+

CAROLINE KWON, copy editor

THE CHARIOT | 29

OPINION

why we say the pledge Honoring those who have served our nation by respecting the tradition of pledging the flag

I

t was 1944 on a French beach when thousands of American soldiers put their lives on the line for freedom and democracy.

It was 1968 in Vietnam when Americans fought against a rising communist threat. It was 2011 when Americans infiltrated Bin Laden’s compound in Afghanistan.

Though, as recently as this morning, American students back at home again forgot why these sacrifices were made, disregarded the service of millions and chose to take a seat during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Despite this repugnant trend, it is wrong to solely blame the participating youth. Over the last year, celebrities with great influence have grown in their protest of reciting such creeds.

More well-known Americans, such as NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, began disrespecting the flag much earlier in the year, and it was our nation’s

fault for letting it slide.

It is clearly time to ask ourselves: does America need to fight another deadly war to justify the deference of our servicemen? Do those who regularly refuse to recite the Pledge need to fight on the front line just to realize why we say it in the first place?

At the core of our country’s DNA is a set of values that have sometimes become distorted with the current trends and pop culture.

The Pledge, on the other hand, has been around for longer than 150 years. Throughout this time, it has ensured that we all stand, as one, for a free, safe and equal democracy – something our country would be nothing without.

Let’s also not forget what exactly we are pledging when we stand up and put a hand over our hearts: liberty and justice for all. It can’t be that unreasonable. Ironically, the same values found in the Pledge are

the ones used to justify not saying it at all.

Unless you are visiting an army base on a regular basis to pay your respects, saying the Pledge is also an effective way to make known your appreciation and gratitude.

You say “thank you” when someone holds the door open, but you can’t show your respect to the servicemen of this country? Furthermore, citizens elected the Pledge as their method of showing deference to our country, the US flag and servicemen years ago; it’s not anyone’s place to choose whether it is worth reciting.

It is very important to understand the message these acts of defiance send out to the world. Times are changing without a doubt, but when it comes to the way we live as Americans, time was never meant to alter the core values we set in stone at the birth of this great nation. God Bless America.

Reed Carlson, opinion editor

30 |

MASTHEAD

masthead PUBLICATION

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

The Chariot is a student-run publication printed for and distributed to the Johns Creek community. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire staff or those of Johns Creek High School, its students, faculty, staff or administration. Content is edited and controlled by staff editors, in collaboration with the staff adviser and the administration. The staff will publish only legally protected speech, adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and the invasion of privacy.

Emma Brown

ADVERTISING The Chariot publishes ads with signed contracts provided that they are deemed appropriate by the staff for the intended audience. For more information about advertising with The Chariot, please contact the staff e-mail.

CONTACT US 470-254-2138 jchschariotmagazine@gmail.com 5575 State Bridge Road Johns Creek, GA 30022

COVER DESIGN Alex Levine Sophie Spiegal

STAFF WRITERS Neha Bhatia

Clay Voytek

Niki Dani

MANAGING EDITOR

Rachel Grosswald

Nathan Gauthreaux

Mitchell Odendahl

Josh Gurin

NEWS EDITOR

Maura Mclynn

Rachael Jones

Brian Sui

Jamie Miller

SPORTS EDITOR

Raina Parikh

Sophie Brandeis

FEATURES EDITOR

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Natalie Siegman

Alex Levine

OPINION EDITOR

ADVISER

Reed Carlson

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PHOTO EDITOR Katherine Shin

PRODUCTION EDITOR Maaha Rafique

DESIGN EDITOR Sophie Spiegel

COPY EDITOR Caroline Kwon

THE CHARIOT | 31

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