Pitchfork, Issue 4, 2022-2023, Feb. 15, 2023

P ITCHFORK THE

‘Rescuing Hope’ in the digital age

Dylan Buehner Business Manager

The image of a human trafficker for most is a sketchy guy in a white van outside a middle school or daycare. But this is a surface-level profile of a tiny part of global trafficking rings. Only around three percent of worldwide cases of trafficking were by force. For that three percent of victims, the image of said white van is all too real.

For most victims, they were roped into human trafficking through seemingly innocent ways. Around 37 percent of victims are “recruited” through online means. An additional 23 percent of victims had pre-existing relationships with their traffickers.

Traffickers prey on the weakest in society. They go for the marginalized, ostracized, and isolated individuals all around the world. They pretend to be people they are not, luring vulnerable people into their traps and exploiting them for personal gain.

Most victims are first approached by a trafficker between the ages of 12-14. 91 percent of victims were enrolled in middle or highs chool during their abuse. Trafficking is a real problem in the US and numerous states, and spreading awareness of the causes and signs of trafficking is critical.

The Georgia government, along with organizations like Rescuing Hope, have used the HB287 bill to educate students on the topic.

Continue to pg. 4 for “HB287”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Recognizing Black Success in the Community

Zaria Byers Assistant Editor

The agenda for Black History Month activities began with an art gathering called ‘BHM Paint Night’ where students expressed creativity and painted Black history-themed pieces. The event was hosted by National Art Honors Society.

“It was a forum for new painters to get painting advice from experienced painters. It was a great experience,” Grace Mann (11) said.

Traditionally, Black History Month is introduced with the annual Soul Train atop the Grand Staircase; this year, a few changes have been made.

The itinerary for the majority of the activities began on Feb. 13 with Pizza

with Professionals and Spirit Week. Pizza with Professionals allows students to recieve insight from Black guest speakers in various career fields from real estate to healthcare, influencers to accounting and more. Lunch is provided and spaces are limited, so students are required to reserve their spots. Spirit Week is a 5-day event where students and staff are encouraged to dress according to the daily themes. The themes are ‘Represent Your Favorite HBCU Day,’ ‘Professional Drip Day,’ ‘Culturally Rich Day,’ ‘Decades Day,’ and ‘Pan-African Day.’

Throughout the month, a door decoration contest in the theme of

“Black Is More Than A Color, It’s A Culture” has been held. Participants decorate their classroom doors in honor of Black culture, and the winner will be announced during the Black History Program, which takes place on the final day of the month.

The Black History Month Program, which takes place in the MPAC, will feature performances from students of the arts and speakers. The traditional luncheon will be held that day as well.

Continue to pg. 6 for “Black Students Making History”

J’Kelyn Carroll: Madden NFL E-Sports State Champ

Icy McFall Business Manager

The E-Sports team competed in a series of gaming tournaments in December. Despite being a newly recognized sport, the team is already making history. J’Kelyn Carroll took the state champion title in Madden 21.

“I won best of three and I beat New Manchester High School,” Carroll said.

To prepare, Carroll watched videos of his opponent and took note of their strategies while building upon his own.

“I wanted to join the team because it is something I was always good at because I play in my free time,” Carroll said. “There’s no scheduled practice. I usually come after my baseball practice and play my match.”

The E-Sports team has provided a new opportunity for students to partake in a popular activity in a supportive, fun and competitive atmosphere. Additionally, there are more than thirty colleges in the

U.S. that offer scholarships for gamers and E-Sports-related activities.

“GHSA added E-Sports two years ago, and it’s an effort to try and get all the kids who participate in video games at home an opportunity to do activities at school,” Athletic Director Craig McKinney said.

“It provides both recognition and ability to compete to get the same recognition other sports do. There are also colleges giving scholarships for E-Sports and kids are making money.”

Since its start two years ago, the program has excelled and continues to do so, with plenty more room to grow and opportunities to bring forth. This is a triumph for the E-Sports team as the program builds upon itself.

If you’re interested in joining the team, spring season sign-ups will be held following the mid-winter break. The current games offered include League of Legends, Super Smash Bros, Madden 21, FIFA 21, and Rocket League.

Students creating art during the ‘BHM Paint Night’ event. The event marked the beginning of Black History Month celebrations. Photo by Zaria Byers

J’Kelyn Carroll competes in the second quarter of the E-Sports Madden State Championship. Students gathered in JHall to watch the live action on the big screen. Photo by Sydney Martinez

Editorial: Kindness goes a long way

February is a month of celebrations with Black History Month and Valentine’s Day leading the way. With the happiness and smiles that come from this month, it can also lead to sadness. There are so many factors that affect people during the winter months, whether it be seasonal depression, Valentine’s Day loneliness thoughts, or other outside factors. According to healthmatters.org January and February are the worst months that people are affected by seasonal depression. Hard hitting thoughts can take a toll on people and should be noticed. Being in high school on Valentine’s Day can lead to upsetting thoughts. It’s seen in the movies and in real life, all the things people look forward to when transitioning to high school, and a relationship is on the list for many people. Seeing couples in the hallways gift giving on Valentine’s Day can be sweet but also upsetting to watch. TikTok is filled with sad videos about Valentine’s Day, when the day can be special for everyone.

Kindness comes in and saves the day. The best way to lift a person’s spirits up is by being kind. There are so many ways to show kindness whether it be complimenting someone, buying someone something, or even sitting down with someone and talking about their feel-

Jaliyah Bunkley (9)

“I think showing kindness is about showing empathy and compassion to others and making people feel welcome and comfortable.”

Harper Mangine (11)

“I think I show kindness through acts of service. I go out of my way to help people especially with school work.”

ings. For example, on TikTok there was this video of a girl saying how another girl stopped her in the hallway to say how pretty she was, and the result of that compliment was the girl complimenting a bunch of other people to make their day just like the random girl made hers. People don’t realize how words can truly make a difference and change the way a person’s day is going.

How do you spread kindess?

Diamond Randolph (10)

“I love to give my friends words of affrimation because I love to see my friends with a positive attitude.”

Patrick Holton (12)

“I lend people money when they need it so they can have a better day. One way I do this is by giving people money for coffee cart.”

Followers will be chosen each issue to win a Zaxby’s gift card from @Zaxbys591SMP, This issue’s winner is James Addis (11).

Pitchfork is published by journalism students at Marietta High. It is free to the student body, staff and community. The views and opinions expressed in the Pitchfork are not necessarily those of the administration and faculty. Letters to the editor should be brought to room J208 or emailed to the staff: pitchfork@marietta-city.k12.ga.us

Mission Statement: Pitchfork is a student written and produced newspaper aimed at educating, enlightening, and entertaining Marietta High’s students. All content is determined by the staff in an attempt to be relevant and give voice to the student body.

This random act of kindness led to a trend of complimenting others in order to make them smile.

If you feel like being more active with spreading kindness, you can participate in creating a positivity wall. Different clubs at Marietta have participated in this act almost every year, and this year this act was taken to A.L. Burruss. The positivity wall is filled with sticky notes written with positive affirmations. A person takes one off the wall whether they are feeling down or even just to be used as a reminder. Acts of kindness don’t have to cost anything because it’s about the thought that counts. Since Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a special day for everyone, give gifts to your friends on Valentine’s Day. You can even buy small gifts and hand them out to anyone you see without one.

Taking your time out to spread kindness doesn’t only make other people feel better, but it should make yourself feel better knowing that you made an impact. You never know what people are dealing with on the inside so it’s important that we take the initiative to be kind. These small acts help the world to be a happier place for everyone.

Random Acts of Kindness Day

Scan here and spread kindness. Share someone you think is kind or share how has someone shown you kindness. Some will be shared on Good Morning Marietta and @mhspitchfork

Managing Editor

Etinosa Ogbomo

Editors-in-Chief

Alyssia Hamilton

Wes Harrison

Assistant Editor Zaria Byers

Business Managers

Dylan Buehner

Ada Chesney Adviser

Andrea Lyons

Staff Writers

Adalyn Law

Addison Moreland

Aidan Allegro

Alex Kelly

Amber Ryan

Amelia Jenkins

Icy McFall

Kaia Kirkpatrick

Lauren Kelley

Lily Konigsmark

Mae Bullington

Quinn Mulkey

Sydney Hernandez

Sydney Martinez

Trinity Seals

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop

Opinions

Can I ask you a question about IB?

Wesley Harrison Editor-in-Chief

Every year around the start of the second semester, sophomores are presented with options as to what they will do with the rest of their high school career. Students are presented with many options as to what class they can choose, but for advanced students, the most advocated choice is to partake in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

The IB program offers multiple different options to juniors and seniors as to what classes they can take. The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) requires seven IB classes, the IB Career-Related Programme (IBCP) requires three IB classes, and an IB Scholar is a student who chooses to take IB classes with their normal schedule.

IB encourages students to drive their own learning. Their open curriculum allows students to explore their own interests in a variety of topics while still reaching graduation requirements. Students in IB programmes also become more culturally aware of the world and it prepares them to be parts of advanced educational programmes world-wide.

IBDP has students graduate with a secondary world-renown diploma that exemplifies the rigor they’ve completed and highlights their search for further knowledge. IBCP gives students a certificate for their rigor and teaches them applicable life skills such as resume writing and public speaking.

Students report consistent stress due to the high expectations associated with the

program. A study by the University of South Florida reports that IB students react less favorably to high-pressure environments. This struggle leads their friendships and social skills to suffer.

The IB program both challenges students to critically think, with class like History of the Americas and Theory of Knowledge promoting deeper consideration of the world of around them, but it also increases students stress to an unmanageable place

This leaves me with this question: Is it really worth it to do the IB?

In my opinion, no, it’s not worth it. The high levels of stress are not worth the slight boost in GPA nor the potential college credit. In addition, due to the wider mark band for IB, students generally need to score higher on IB exams to receive the same credit as students that completed AP exams

However, I think that not taking any IB classes is a bad idea, they help prepare you to think critically overall. The best choice is IBCP, the program allows students to balance their schedule while also taking as much rigor as they want. The program also allows students to explore their chosen career options.

Students who are struggling with their IB classes or course load can seek help at the Marietta Student Life Center down on Lower B Hall. Their resources help to combat the stress associated with the more rigorous courses.

And finally, sophomores, when you choose your option for the rest of high school, make sure to consider all the opportunities available.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know on Instagram @mhspitchfork or email pitchfork@marietta-city.k12.ga.us. Also, see school news on p. 5 for more information.

A House Divide, Red Party Undecided

Dylan Buehner Staff Writer

The US House of Representatives has always been a divisive place. It is the melting pot of our political system. Many different types of people from all across the nation with contrasting viewpoints left, right, and center. Like many institutions in America, it has its fair share of flaws. The 2022 House Leader Election has put those flaws on full display.

Democrats lost nine seats in the House of Representatives during the 2022 midterms (a surprisingly low number compared to past midterm results). Republicans took the majority and the responsibility to elect a new house leader. Both sides get to nominate and vote on a house leader, but in most cases, the majority party easily elects their leader to the position. Things were different this time around. Twenty far-right Republicans bucked the process, holding up the election by nominating a series of different people.

The first vote was spread out among a variety of candidates, with nineteen republicans voting for five different people.

The second, third, and fourth votes had twenty dissenting Republicans line-up behind Jim Jordans, the leader of the freedom caucus, a far-right collective that’s a few bad tweets away from being a hate-speech union. During this time, Jim Jordans himself gave a speech saying not to vote for him, and to vote for McCarthy. They did not.

The fifth and sixth votes had only nineteen Republicans vote against McCarthy. But, this time they turned to a different member of the Freedom Caucus, Byron Donalds.

In the seventh vote, the dissenting representatives scattered their support. Seventeen reps were split between Bryan Donalds and Kevin Hern, another Freedom Caucus member. One vote was cast for former President Donald Trump, who as many pointed out, is not a member of the House of Representatives.

By the twelfth vote, the dissenting count was down to six. Finally, on the fifteenth vote, McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House.

This ordeal gave us a good look at the modern-day standings within the US House. There is a growing part of the Republican party that is willing to hold up Congress with

performative shenanigans just to get their way. They spent 5 whole days on nothing but voting, holding up the legislative process the entire time.

McCarthy gave up a lot of power to the 20 most extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress, making him a Speaker with little power.

Now, any solo member of the house can call a vote to oust the house leader.

In closed door deals, Freedom Caucus members traded their votes for committee seats and sometimes committee leadership positions including the House Rules Committee. The ethics committee was effectively disbanded by having it scope reduced to trivial matters.

In a gambit to reduce America’s debt, the Freedom Caucus forced McCarthy to use the nation’s debt ceiling as a hostage negotiation. Either the US reduces spending on entitlements, or the entire global economic order will be up-ended by the US defaulting on debt payments. Basically, the American’s credit card bill will not get paid because Republicans want to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare while continuing to lower taxes on the wealthiest Amiercans, all the while spending abhorrent large amounts on the military.

A host of other concessions were made to slow the House in carrying out its duties. What McCarth gave to the Freedom Caucus shows just how strong the far-right MAGA representatives truly are in today’s politics.

At the same time, Democrats held firm through all this. All 213 Democratic members of the House voted for Hakeem Jefferies over fifteen separate votes. They didn’t ask for concessions, nor vote for people who weren’t in the house. They stuck to their man through and through. One of the main reasons 20 Republicans were able to stall the election process was because the Democrats had a plurality within the House; They had more votes in eleven out of the fifteen votes.

Overall, this one-in-a-lifetime government event weakened our systems of power, all because radical republicans pitched a fit over not being allowed to control everything. But the worst thing is, they still got their way. And as the debt ceiling looms overhead, our government safety net is about to be given the old Elephant Squeeze as Republicans continue to cut, cut, cut…

Graphics by Sydney Martinez

A house undecided and divided

The 2023 House Speakership vote took a total of four days spanning from Jan. 3 to Jan. 7 with a total of 15 ballots making this speakership election one of the longest in history. The House of Representatives have elected a speaker 128 times since the year 1789. In the House there are a total of 435 voting members, all of who are at least 25 years of age and have been a United States citizen for seven years minimum. Representatives serve two year terms where they serve in committees, along with writing and voting on laws.

The house is primarily composed of Republicans and Democrats, as the largest parties. Currently the Republican party is in control of the house as the majority of members. Each party elects a member that they want to see elected into speakership. All present members will vote for the candidate of their choice, and whichever candidate receives the majority of the vote becomes the new elected speaker. It is typical to see whichever party is in control of the house to have their candidate chosen. The role of speaker is an important role as they are responsible for presiding over the house and maintaining order. They manage proceedings, declaring votes, appointing members to committees, and sending bills to committees. The Speaker is third in line to the presidency, which displays the importance of the position.

With the Democrats losing the majority after the 2022 elections for congress, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi retired from leadership meaning it was time for new candidates to step up. With a new leadership controversy began to spark up and coming to a majority with the vote for speakership became a difficult task. Republicans and Democrats could not come to an agreement to get a majority vote, what seems to be a simple task that can typically be done in a matter of minutes took multiple days to finally come to a conclusion.

One of the largest concerns of not having a speaker is the fact that the remaining members of the House cannot be sworn in

to duty until the leadership role is filled. For the beginning of 2023 the government had now members of congress as they were not able to be sworn in. This fact caused concern across the news as the legislative session, a very busy time of the year to write and pass laws, has not yet begun.

The main factor of why there was yet to be a final vote was due to Republicans not voting for their own party, and voting for opposing Candidate Hakeem Jefferies rather than their own Kevin McCarthy which sparked feelings of anger, annoyance, and betrayal. In order for one party‚representative to come out victorious numerous deals and solutions were suggested in committee, some even being put into place in order to convince the Republican party members who either didn't vote, or voted for the opposing party to vote for McCarthy to create the majority and end the vote.

"Those negotiations actually started back in Nov. of 2022. By the time we came in on Jan. 3 we had already changed the proposed rules a lot. There was only one item that changed during the speaker vote. It wasn’t as we were that far apart as the Republican conference, we had all come together and agreed on making significant changes, it was just a couple of minor things left," Congressman Loudermilk said.

The acknowledgement of the attempt to settle rising problems furthered the frustration behind the pacing of the elections. The disagreement created tension throughout the congress along with exhaustion as nights were spent in the chamber trying to conclude a vote. On the fifteenth ballot, after an agreement had been made between members and adjournment had been called off Representative McCarthy became the official Speaker of the House on Jan. 7. The rest of congress was sworn in that same day allowing the legislative session to officially begin.

Trinity Seals Staff Writer

The complete tally sheet from one of the senate leader votes. Senator Barry Loudermilk signed and provided this document. Photo by Trinity Seals

AP, IB, Dual Enrollment Programs garner interest

Etinosa Ogbomo Managing Editor

For years, there has been confusion amongst parents and students regarding the various academic programs offered at Marietta High. The International Baccalaureate CP and DP Programs, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment are all provided at Marietta High, but oftentimes prospective students for these programs are confused about which program to pursue.

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate program is a two year course of study that utilizes a globally standardized curriculum. IB offers two distinctive pathways that one could follow: the career-program and the diploma-program. The career program offers students the opportunity to take IB classes in conjunction with their chosen career pathway classes. The diploma program offers students a second, prestigious diploma in addition to their normal high school diploma.

“One piece of IB that you have to understand is the rigor,” full IB student, Aastha Amin (12), said. "Going through the process of writing all of the IB essays and engaging in IB classes helps to prepare students for the college process."

IB DP students are mandated to participate in community service and take classes such as "Theory of Knowledge" to broaden their understanding of philosophical principles.

Continue from page 1

Different students have different interests, passions, and goals, and the academic course that a student chooses should reflect what they hope to accomplish in their high school career. When making a final decision, it is important to consider course load, rigor, and personal circumstances. The varying programs have differing time commitments that may not accomodate all students.

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment is a program that allows students to procure college credit during high school by partially enrolling in a university. Dual Enrollment presents students with the unique chance to spend time on a college campus with college professors and students.

"I really enjoy Dual Enrollment," Caden Sexton (11) said. "I enjoy the new people that I get to meet and it's a great program because it gives students a head start when they get to college."

Marietta High Dual Enrollment students can partially enroll at either Kennesaw State University or Chattahoochee Technical School during their junior and senior years.

Due to participating students receiving college credit, they are typically able to finish college before their peers.

Advanced Placement

Though a less prevalent option, Marietta High offers students the choice to take AP classes, both in-person or online through the Georgia Virtual School platform. Advanced Placement classes are 1 or 2 semester classes that are geared towards preparing students for college. Most AP classes have an end-of-year test, and if students obtain a particular score, colleges often grant credit.

"AP Classes have been really beneficial in my opinion because it has helped me learn and develop my studying skills," Cauan Lucas (12) said. "In AP you have to know a lot of content for the test so good study habits are very helpful."

Unlike the International Baccalaureate Program, students who wish to participate in AP can decide which class they want to take without being mandated

"I would recommend IB DP for underclassmen who are highly motivated, who want to get into a really competitive university. I'd recommend CP for kids who want the extra rigor. But maybe that's better for kids who are balancing sports or a job or some serious family situations."

Beau Dominguez, IB History of the Americas teacher

"Dual Enrollment is ideal for students that are motivated, and that can balance their highschool work with college rigor."

Kelly Brangan, Counselor and Dual Enrollment Coordinator

"There are three important things that a student looking to take AP fulfills: completing necessary prerequisites without much difficulty, being interested in the particular subject you hope to take, and being willing to put in the work to be successful."

Laurie Sonshein, AP Statistics teacher

RESOURCES FOR THOSE IN NEED

House Bill 287 is a new piece of legislation introducing the implementation of K-12 learning surrounding vape products and human trafficking. This bill is an updated version of a previous Georgia house bill issued in 1991. The bill originally covers the prescription of mandatory instruction on alcohol and drugs to K-12 students. Most of the provisions of the bill surround the proper implementation of these alcohol and drug education measures. But in the revised HB 287, all that was added was the extra labels of tobacco and vape products along with a three line excerpt:

“The State Board of Education shall prescribe a course of study in human trafficking awareness for grades six through 12, which may be included as part of the health and physical education course of study…”

This prescribed course has yet to be implemented in MHS health course, but the school district has made efforts to promote this new educational area in the form of Rescuing Hope seminars among the middle and high school.

Rescuing Hope is a non-profit organization founded by Susan Norris in 2010. Mrs. Norris has been fighting against sex trafficking in Georgia since the early 2000s, working as a member of the Georgia State Human Trafficking Task Force before founding her organization.

Front and Center on the Rescuing Hope website is their mission statement; “To enlighten the public about sex trafficking in America, educate potential victims and first responders, and empower advocates and survivors.”

They try to reach these goals through member-lead talks across Georgia. Ms. Norris personally goes to different schools, workplaces and stations to discuss the topics of sex trafficking to a multitude of age groups, but each talk isn’t the same, as there are three types of talks Rescuing Hope provides:

Enlighten Programs, aimed at a younger, public audience, with the goal of spreading awareness of the causes, effects and overall dangers of sex trafficking.

Educate Programs, aimed at first responders and businesses, with the goal of training groups on how to prevent and respond to victims.

Empower Programs, aimed at young adults, with the goal of providing educational and volunteer opportunities in and around the field of public safety.

Marietta 6-12 students were treated to an Enlighten talk called “Play It Safe”.

This course aims to teach middle and high school students how to stay safe by sharing facts, stories and tips in the hopes of preventing dangerous situations while also empowering the youth to protect themselves and those around them. Ms. Norris gave the speeches to the four different ages levels within MHS, while a constituent gave similar talks to MMS students. She shared stories of former victims and how they, knowing or unknowingly, fell victim to sex trafficking.

She highlighted ways that traffickers get their victims: Force, the direct kidnapping/theft of a person off the street. Coercion, the manipulation of a victim into the trade via false claims/actions. Fraud, the manipulation of a victim into the trade via financial or emotional blackmail. She also gave tips on what practices could lead traffickers to their next victim, shaming inappropriate social media usage, and highlighting the importance of talking to parents before taking any actions with strangers. All of the resources provided and points from the presentation are important in spreading awareness, but students and staff alike were left with a fair share of questions after this first attempt at sex trafficking education.

MUST Ministries

770-427-9862

Shelter, Food, Clothing and more

Human Trafficking Hotline

866-363-484

Report Sex Trafficking of any age 24/7

Out of Darkness

404-941-6024

Adult Outreach, Safe Homes, Long-term Safety Programs

LifeSafe Resources

770-427-3390

Domestic Violence, Sexualt Assult & Elder Abuse Victim Service

Susan Norris speaking to the junior class.

Photo by Dylan Buehner

Rescuing Hope

House Bill 287

Zaria Byers Assistant Editor

Danielle Isom Shane Roach

Senior Danielle Isom is a Varsity sprinter for the track and field team. She runs the fast time for the 100, 200, and 400 races. Isom has earned the Lamp of Knowledge award for maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA for three consecutive years.

After high school, Isom plans to attend college to become an architect. She also plans to continue her track career through out college.

Isom gains inspiration from Tara Davis, a Black track athlete and long jumper that has placed 6th in the Tokyo Olympics.

“Not only is she an amazing person but she is an outstanding athlete. She inspires me because even though she had every reason to give up on track, she fought through her struggle with injuries and depression to make the Olympic team,” Danielle Isom (12) said.

Junior Shane Roach is a midfielder for the Varsity soccer team. He is also a member of the NPL Eastern Conference Champions. Roach won the Southeastern NPL title and reached national level in soccer.

After high school, Roach plans to attend Howard university with a major in Business and a specialty in Marketing. He intends to continue playing soccer during his college career.

A large source of his inspiration comes from Pelé, the Brazilian footballer who was widely recognized as a soccer legend.

“He was the first player to truly modernize and bring flare to the game. Pelé being a minority really helps me build a relation with him,” Shane Roach (11) said.

Graphics by Quinn Mulkey

Tara Davis

Pelé

Jaylah Bell Madison McKinley

Junior Jaylah Bell is an IB junior that is involved in the arts of chorus, musical theater, and dance. Bell is a Be Somebody orientation leader as well as a member of Blue Devil Sound.

After high school, Bell plans to attend Spelman College or another HBCU.

In the field of dance, Bell’s inspiration comes from Katherine Dunham, also known as “the matriarch and queen mother of black dance” who was one of the most successful African-American dancers.

“She’s a real trailblazer when it comes to combining African culture with moder dance. On top of all her dance accomplishments, she was also a civil rights activist,” Jaylah Bell (11) said.

Junior Madison McKinley is a lettered multi-sport student athlete, as well as Vice President of Model UN and film club. She has been a part of the AVTF program for three years.

McKinley films sporting events for the school, creates video content, and is a producer and anchor for Blue Devil News, Marietta High School’s morning program.

In the world of film, McKinley is greatly inspired by Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Oscar. The winning movie, ‘Gone With the Wind’, was also the longest movie to ever win an Oscar.

“She gave us a certain level of honor that had never been seen before, especially during a time of hatred and racism toward Black people,” Madison McKinley (11) said.

Katherine Dunham

Hattie McDaniel

Wrestling Basics 101

Addison Moreland Staff Writer

Wrestling, society's oldest and most foundational form of recreational combat, traces back to the dawn of civilization. Modern-day wrestling is a highly instinctive sport that requires strength, alertness, resiliency and, above all, agility and quickness.

Still, despite its history, many aren't aware of the rules of wrestling, creating a major hurdle. But most of all, understanding the criteria and scoring can be challenging, particularly when dealing with distinct styles, setups, and skills required to compete in such a demanding sport. Wrestling matches are not determined by the tallest, quickest, or strongest participant. But instead, the wrestler who puts in the hardest work will win.

“We've had a great season and a strong team. If they're in there, giving it their all and aiming to improve, they're bettering the team,” Coach Tommy Carthers said.

When wrestlers devote themselves to training and adopt a wrestling lifestyle, they experience an increase in self-resilience, self-discipline, and confidence. Wrestling promotes a positive mindset, but also teaches athletes the relevance of sportsmanship. And while it isn't as well-known compared to other sports, it teaches young athletes morals they will carry with them for the entirety of their lives.

“I feel like I have grown into a more independent person because there isn’t a team helping you out on the mat. I’m all by myself and it helped me to gain a lot of confidence on and off the mat,” Malachi Sanders (12) said.

To prevail at the highest levels of wrestling, a combination of physical strength, speed, technical skill, and mental fortitude is necessary, making it one of the most difficult sports to participate in.

Points

Takedown:You earn two points for taking your opponent to the ground and keeping them under your control.

Escape: If you manage to escape from being held down on the mat by your opponent or take up neutral position, you receive one point.

Reversal: You gain two points if your opponent has the advantage over you and you regain control of them.

Near Fall: When you virtually pin your opponent but fall short, you earn 2 to 3 points.

Penalty Points: If you partake in any of the following infractions, your opponent scores 1 to 2 points: illegal holds and technical violations.

"I hope that we can all get better as a team and push through any challenges that we can," Carthers said.

Athletes must be extremely focused in order to succeed in this sport. As a result, they can react quickly and make calculated movements on the mat, helping them to become both more mentally and physically strong. Wrestlers have the ability of accomplishing great things by utlizing these abilities. But to help understand the morals of wrestling, you first must know the rules.

Pin

Wrestling matches consist of three periods. These periods vary in length from one minute for younger age groups to 1.5 minutes for older or more seasoned athletes.

Either wrestler in a match can win at any time if they are able to pin their opponent or acquire a lead of at least 15 points. This is known as a technical fall.

Purpose

Wrestling is a sport in which the aim is to put your opponent on his back –in other words, to pin him. A pin takes place when you force your opponent on his or her back for two seconds with both shoulder blades in contact with the mat.

Once the opponent is pinned, the match is over and the winner is declared. However, if no one is pinned by the end of the third period, the opponent with the highest-end score is the victor.

Basketball developing from MSGA to MHS

Sydney Hernandez Staff Writer

Building a sixth grade through 12th grade sports program has its challenges. Head Basketball Coach Markus Hood stated that consistency is key to a winning program, not just in rings and records but in team chemistry. A lot goes into making a winning program. Bonds must be made between coaches and teammates. Without this, teams are unable to reach their full potential and get to the places they need to be.

“Chemistry with the team has really been a challenge because our school system at the high school level has been so transient with kids coming in and coming out. Talent is also important, but you must have chemistry within the talent,” Hood said.

The basketball program at the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy, MSGA, is changing.

“The sixth-grade program has always been here [in the school system through PALS], but it has just been folded up under us in this past year,” Hood said.

MSGA basketball was previously organized by the Police Athletic League, PALS, to help students develop basketball skills and consistency throughout the middle school and high school levels in the future. With being a part of PALS, it also helped young kids become a part of the Marietta community and become involved with the police.

The Marietta Board of Education has a policy stating the school system is responsible for facilitating athletic programs from grades six through twelve. A long time ago, this policy was not followed, which overall led to the sixth-grade program falling under the control of the Police Athletic League. As a result, this was noticed, and the program was developed over time.

Implementing the program as an official part of the school will make sure that the athletes are able to grow and reach their full potential. When following through with the entire program from middle school to high school, athletes are able to gain knowledge on how the the program is run and they become better at their sport in totality.

Deana Ham is a mother and an active member of the Marietta community. She coaches the middle school girls team and her son and daughter are part of the middle school program and started their journeys in basketball at MSGA.

“The work the middle school coaches have put into these kids has been extensive. They give p their personal time to workk with players and even run summer programs,” Ham said.

They will continue to grow throughout the next couple of years and be a part of the ongoing fight to build a winning program through high school and middle school.

Marietta has built many programs, not just in basketball, but in other sports. Programs need to be made for all sports in all grades because it is the duty of the school. Swim is currently adding at sixth garde and baseball has been discussed.

“We previously worked with the Police Athletic League, and they have helped us in so many different sports and with younger ages, but if we are going to do six-twelve athletic programs, it must be in all sports,” District Athletic Director Craig McKinney said.

When building the school-organized program, a new middle grades athletic director, Josh Hawk, has also been added to help with overall running of different sports.

"When running middle school sports at the same time as high school, not being able to be in two places at once is a challenge but, having somebody over there to help with organization and communication is very helpful and a good idea," McKinney said.

Coach Hood instructs the team to work together during a timeout. Despite the loss to Hillgrove, honorary captains from summer camp get to listen and learn on the bench. photo by Sydney Hernandez

With creating this program to be an official part of the school, Marietta took a multitude of steps and took many measures to make sure this was right for the school system and for upcoming athletes.

Marietta JV wrestler, Markeith Linen, gets two points for a takedown and attempts to pin a Denmark High wrestler in a close match. photo by Addison Moreland

Four years of game day cheer competition

Ada Chesney Business Manager

This is the fourth year that Marietta has had a Game Day Cheer team. The first year was the 2019-2020 season. This means that the seniors were on the inaugural team and the first group to be on the team for all four years.

“I feel super honored and proud of how far we have come from the beginning to now,” Tori Barnes (12) said.

Game Day Cheer is a competition that takes teams sideline cheerleading and tra-

ditions and puts them in the spotlight. Teams compete in categories that represent what they do on the sidelines in order to engage the crowd and display their school’s traditions.

There are four categories for teams to showcase their talent. The first is band chant, when teams generally perform an instrumental version of a well known song. They incorporate flags, poms, signs, yelling, and sometimes even mascots. The second is situational sideline, when the announcer gives the team an offensive or defensive situation that then blends into

the third category, crowd leading. Much like the band chant, teams incorporate signs, poms, and flags. The chants are easy to follow, and the signs help the crowd with the words. If stunts are used, they are used in order to advance the message, not just to entertain. The fourth one is a fight song, teams use their own schools fight song and the performance has sharp movements.

Teams are judged on execution, crowd effectiveness, energy, and overall performance.The total performance time cannot exceed three minutes. Between categories,

transitions need to be smooth, cheerleaders must have energy and spirit at all times, and the props must be placed properly. Each category is worth 20 points. Five points for appeal, material or situation, five points for crows effectiveness, five points for motion technique, and five for execution of skills. 20 points are also given for the overall impression. In total, the highest score a team can earn is 100 points. The Marietta Game Day Cheer team still has their state competition left in this season, on Feb. 24.

Additions to swim program make a splash

Aidan Allegro Staff Writer

The swim program is looking to add a sixth grade team next year, and the program has already made additions to the coaching staff at MMS and MHS to make a splash in growth.

Under the direction of Head Coach Kristen Slifko, the program added two, highly qualified former collegiate competitive swimmers turned coaches. MMS added Coach Madison Jacobi, former Florida State University swimmer, and MHS added Coach Victoria Hall, former Azusa Pacific University swimmer.

Hall coached a Junior Olympics team and has 10 years of experience coaching club teams and seven years of experience coaching highschool teams.

“Under her coaching, I have dropped time and the team as a whole has gotten so much better and faster,” Ryan Thomson (11) said.

The swimmers have adjusted to having additional coaching with Hall alongside Slifko.

“Hall was hard on us but fair, and at this point, because we put in the work she expects from us, she’s really been an excellent coach that gives great feedback,”

Nicolas Common (11) said. “I definitely think I’ve shown a lot of improvement.

I’ve dropped about 4 seconds in my 200 IM and I’ve dropped a good 7 seconds in my 100 butterfly so I really see the effects of Coach Hall pushing us at practice."

Seniors on the team, Darby Dryden, Sophia Ethridge, Jessica Harper, Beauman Iverster, and Jack Vega have adjusted to increased intensity and discipline as well.

“The new coach is definitely intense and is working us really hard this year but I think overall that she made our team stronger and brought some discipline to the team that we very much needed,” Sophia Etheredge (12) said.

The county swim meet took place on Jan. 21. Both teams had success, and the girls ended the meet in 21st place. Several team members also qualified for the recent state swim meet.

As a team, Dylan Buehner, Nicholas Common, Jack Vega, Darby Dryden, Sofia Etheridge, Jessica Harper, Grace Mann, and Julia Lloyd all qualified. Vega, Harper, and Dryden also qualified for individual races.

“It’s a really fun experience because everyone there is at the peak level, everyone is really focused and determined, it’s just a really competitive environment,” Ryan Thompson (11) said.

The boys did not place during the state meet but the girls placed 19th overall.

“It’s been a really fun season. I love the new coach and I’ve been taking her advice and it’s been going great,” Grace Mann (11) said.

Many of the swimmers have been on the team since freshman year and many of those seniors competed in their last state meet this year.

The team consistently qualifies for county with the swimmers placing top in their heat per event. The girls team usually places higher in state than the boys team.

The swim team expects several new swimmers next year from the middle school swim program.

Nick Common (11) swims butterfly on his last lap of the 200 individual medley. The 200 IM consists of four different strokes.

Emma Johnson (11) holds Sarah Kate Harris (12) in a shoulder stand in practice. Livie Hunter (9) and Addi Hancock (9) chosen for Gameday competition as freshman.

Livie Hunter (9) and Jenny Pham (12) hold Addi Hancock (9) in a thigh stand in practice. Toffy Siriveerawan (11) and Sarah Kate Harris (11) stand in an extension rooting for the devils. Photos by Ada Chesney

Jack Vega (12) prepares to swim in the 50 freestyle. It is the shortest race in a typical swim meet. Photos by Aidan Allegro

Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest brings attention to importance of AEDs

Alyssia Hamilton Editor-in-Chief

The thrill of sports comes with many joys whether as a fan or an athlete. The downside to sports is the unknown: the injuries or health defects that can change a person’s life.

Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin, suffered cardiac arrest during the ‘Monday Night Football’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The nation was left in shock on Jan. 2 as Hamlin collapsed after taking a hit to the chest with less than six minutes left of the first quarter.

“I was shocked because I saw the way that he tried to tackle the guy and he took a lot of force to his chest," Marietta Football Safety Coach, Michael Brown, said. "One thing I try to teach my safety is that any time a runner is low, you have to go lower. You can’t stand straight up because you’re taking all the weight. I knew it caused an impact to his chest, but I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Medical staff rushed to Hamlin’s side, used the AED and performed CPR as they waited for the ambulance. They transported him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Dr. Timothy A. Pritts confirmed that Hamlin died once he hit the ground, but the CPR performed by the Bills’ medical staff was a crucial part of his life being saved.

This event brought attention to the importance of having an AED and trained medical staff on site at all times.

“Having athletic trainers on site is critical for athletes’ safety. Athletic trainers are highly trained healthcare professionals who are capable of handling everything from minor first aid to major catastrophic injuries like sudden cardiac arrest. Having an athletic trainer on the sideline during a catastrophic injury, gives a better chance for a positive outcome because medical care is immediately started,” Marietta’s Head Athletic Trainer, Jeff Hopp said.

The 2010 Georgia law (HB-1031), requires each public high school in Georgia to have at least one AED on

campus and it should be available for school-wide access. According to head athletic trainer Jeff Hopp, Marietta High has 16 AEDs on campus.

According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation only 20 other states have AED requirement laws. Hamlin’s incident brought attention to the importance of AEDs, as his home state Pennsylvania passed the ‘Damar Law’ requiring schools to have AEDs on campus.

“I’m actually a little shocked and disappointed that only 20 states require schools to have an AED. In the event of a cardiac issue, chances of survival drop 10% every minute until an AED is applied. Given ambulance response time is typically 8-10 minutes, the chances of survival rate are very low if an AED is not on site,” Marietta’s Head Athletic Trainer, Jeff Hopp said.

The preparation for worst case scenarios has flourished and Marietta High has a program that reflects that. The Blue Devil Sports Medicine program operated by Jeff Hopp, Erika Davis, Alli Bird, and Emily Rivera, provides high quality healthcare and opportunities for high school students to gain real life experience as a training aides assistant.

“Being a part of sports medicine has given me handson experiences and skills I can use forever. It helped me decide what I want to do as my profession and provided me with long lasting relationships and friendships,” Sports Medicine training aide Faith Gillerson (12) said.

While Marietta High is thoroughly equipped, there are nearby schools that don’t have resources to promote the importance of sports medicine. South Cobb High School is an example of this problem.

“South Cobb does not currently have a permanent athletic trainer, but we do have coverage provided at Varsity events by PT Solutions,” South Cobb’s Athletic Trainer Amanda Burks said.

This means that Junior Varsity events are not covered by an athletic trainer. Injuries are very likely to happen in sports, and without an athletic trainer, kids aren’t able to get the proper treatment to properly heal. Funding to support sports medicine programs in high schools can help educate students to learn about the downside of sports.

“I think the biggest reason why it’s important for sports medicine to be taught at the high school level is for the awareness that the career exists. Most people don’t even know what athletic trainers are and they’re a huge part of the sports medicine team and first responders. With the Damar Hamlin case, if there weren’t athletic trainers there he wouldn’t have survived,” Athletic Trainer Erika Davis said.

During Hamlin’s hospital recovery time, people all over the world donated money towards his ‘Chasing M’s Toy Drive Foundation’. The original goal was $2,500 and has been surpassed with more than nine million dollars. He plans to partner with the ‘Giving Back Funds’ to help nonprofits use their giving to support the youth through education and sports. The overflowing support of Hamlin has led him to create the "#3forHeart CPR" challenge. There are three steps: Learn CPR, donate to the American Heart Association, and tag three friends on social media.

“Damar Hamlin's situation brought to light what athletic trainers are, what we do, and what we're capable of. They see us as waterboys when it comes to the NFL, not medical professionals. This sheds new light on the athletic trainer profession and that every athlete should have the access to a trainer no matter their performance level," Alli Bird said.

According to the National Safety Council 2021 report, basketball has the most injuries, but football is reported to be the most prone for injuries for people ages 15-24.

Graphic by Alyssia Hamilton

“Spreading kindness is an easy feat”

The theme song of “My Little Pony” hit the bullseye, sharing kindness is easy and beneficial

Wesley Harrison Editor-in-Chief

Kindness is scientifically proven to improve people’s emotional and mental health. Doing or witnessing acts produces oxytocin, which helps lower blood pressure and improves heart health. It increases energy and serotonin, which causes people to be happier and more active. Being kind helps balance hormones and makes people more healthy.

“If you’re someone who hasn’t practiced extending kindness, you sometimes feel even better when you’re the one being the kind one or extending the kindness, it;’s an easy, simple task that makes everyone around you feel better,” Ms. Marie Papini, Marietta High School counselor, said.

Kindness is easy to spread. The positive effects of it make everyone who witnesses it more likely to also engage in acts of kindness. It only takes one good act to inspire the people in the area to pay it forward and spread more kindness.

“I love spreading kindness because it makes me feel so happy that I can affect everyone else’s day in a positive way,” Annie Gehring (11) said.

A random act of kindness is as simple as it sounds, it’s when a person spreads kindness to another person for no reason. The Random Act of Kindness Foundation advocates for people to stop hate and make kindness the norm. The Random Acts of Kindness Activ

ists (RAKtivists) strive to encourage human connection and love between others. They organize an annual Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17 where they encourage people to do kind acts all day.

“Kindness helps to develop a community, it’s a speeding train that once it’s started, it will pick up everybody it goes past and they’ll be kind too,” Brett Woodham (9) said.

Although Random Acts of Kindness

“It’s really stressful this year, so kindness kind of helps bring my joy back to my life again and it helps me be more happy throughout the day,” Ryan Thompson (11) said.

Pitchfork didn’t stop there with spreading kindness though. After they had delivered the sticky notes to Marietta’s students, they took a trip to A.L. Burruss. Pitchfork staff members met with children at the A.L. Burruss afterschool program and wrote down their words to share with their peers.

They posted those sticky notes throughout the cafeteria for students to see and take as they needed. Students enjoyed this chance to make their classmates happier.

“If you don’t remind them that [you like them] then they’ll just forget and let it get in the way,” Rhea, a third grader at Burruss, said.

Pitchfork is continuing to spread kindness going into their Random Acts of Kindness Week which is Feb. 11-18. They began by handing out awards to select people who they believe exemplify a kind spirit on Monday, Feb. 11. Then they held an alumni connection meeting, where they got in touch with former staff members of the paper.

In 2023, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is asking people to spread kindness by encouraging others throughout the day. They also want people to engage with each other, reaching out to help encourage the spread of kindness.

Day is celebrated on Feb. 17, the Pitchfork staff has a whole week planned for it at Marietta. The staff posted sticky notes with kind words written on them under the grand staircase. Students were encouraged to take notes and pay that kindness forward.

Students can see the action that Pitchfork is taking to spread kindness on their Instagram, @mhspitchfork, and they encourage others to spread kindness throughout the rest of the week as well.

Pitchfork assistant editor, Zaria Byers (11), helps a student at A.L. Burruss write a kind note for her classmates. Pitchfork staff helped students “spread kindness like confetti.” photos by Wesley Harrison

Ali Gardenhire (12) writes a kindess sticky note to post across the window below the Grand Staircase. Pitchfork staff made and shared sticky notes to spread kindness to the student body.

After spending a week asking the students of Marietta High School what their fa vorite album of 2022 is, the result is finally in. The students have voted the album SOS by SZA as their most liked album of 2022. Released on Dec. 9, 2022, the album has held its place on the charts with her song, “Kill Bill,” in the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100. With her winning her first Grammy only in April 2022, she has surpassed expectations with this twenty three song album. But that’s not all, the album is staying strong with its seventh week in the number one spot on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.

Because it’s been five years since her last album, SZA fans were excited for the new album’s release. The leading singles of SOS, “Good Days,’’ “Shirt,” and “I Hate U” set the vibe for the R&B album.

The overall feel of the album is groovy and has simple beats that make the listener want to move to the beat. Each song flows into the next effortlessly making it easy to listen to and jam out to.

SOS is meant for people who enjoy modern R&B and love songs. The people who want to turn the volume all the way up to a song. Each song gives off a different emotion, going from songs about healing through a heartbreak and others that display the trials and tribulations of life. “Kill Bill” describes the singer’s feeling of betrayal by an ex after the break up and he moves on to another girl. SZA says, “I got a therapist to tell me there’s no other man I don’t want none, I just want you. If I can’t have you, no one should, I might, I might kill my ex.”

Although SOS was the student body’s favorite, I would say that Harry’s House is my personal choice. The album won Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards in Feb. 2022.

I became a major fan of Harry Styles’ in middle school and have been listening to his music ever since. I feel as if I can connect with his music through the lyrics and the way they flow with backing tracks.

The upbeat songs like “Music For a Sushi Restaurant” are just fun to dance to and make me feel happy whenever I listen to it. The lyrics are written cleverly to add to the whimsy of the song. Lyrics like, “Green eyes, fried rice, I could cook an egg on you,” are just some of the lyrics that make the song groovy.

Another song that gets me on my feet is “Late Night Talking”. I loved the song so much that I choreographed a dance to it for my dance studio’s fall show.

The constant flow of drums through the song keeps the steady beat which I really enjoy.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Harry’s House has some sorrowful ballads including “Boyfriends,” “Matilda,”and my favorite song on the album, “Love of My Life”. Because the song is heavy with a driving bassline through the song. I also love how the song showcases Styles’ vocal capabilities.

Each of these ballads made me cry on separate occasions. Before the album’s release, Styles performed at Coachella and sang “Boyfriends”. This performance brought me close to tears because of the downhearted lyrics in the song. This song, while it’s called, “Boyfriends” I interpret it as having a really close friend, but the friendship is becoming more unstable.

Overall, this album has carried me through the last few months with the ups and downs they have brought.

Trinity Seals Staff Writer

Ticketmaster is an unreliable ticket source that inevitably causes more harm and stress to fans than the joy and excitement a fan should experience. In recent times as many artists are beginning to host tours again after COVID-19, the reality of trying to purchase tickets has become a total nightmare. The company has been called out for releasing a surplus of promo-codes to fans allowings thousands of people to flood to the site in hopes to make their purchases, only to face the reality of the page constantly crashing as you wait in a queue of 5,000 plus fans. This process produces intense anxiety as you feel you’re fighting a real life war trying to buy just two overpriced concert tickets. One prime example of this was Taylor Swift: The Era’s Tour as Ticketmaster released more codes than they have leaving fans fighting one another to win seats that cost nearly around $600 leaving nothing left for those who have patiently waited in the queue just to get nothing. We have witnessed this platform fail fan bases and constantly give into this scheme for success as there are no other trustworthy enough sites to get tickets from. Getting to go to a concert should be a fun, lively experience but today’s world has turned into a monstrous reality that makes others and I question if concerts are even worth it anymore if we have to battle Ticketmaster.

SOS album cover Image by: Amber Ryan

The Top 10 Albums of 2022 according to over 250 MHS students surveyed