ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Volume 22 - Issue 1

ODYSSEY Volume 22 Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2024 $8.00

THE WEIGHT OF THE SCALE

From unhealthy weight loss to social media diets, beauty and body standards are negatively impacting CCHS’ female students.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Features THE WEIGHT OF THE SCALE

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Wth the rise of social media fitness trends and peer pressue, female students face a decision about their appearance: to conform or not to conform?

BY EMLYN MCKINNEY AND WYATT MEYER

News

Viewpoints ISA’S IDEALS

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CCHS teachers must be proactive leaders and create safe environments to allow students to thrive.

BY ISABELLA GRESHAM

LIGGIN’S LEADERSHIP

Variety 20

CCHS Assistant Principal Terry Liggin understands students better than most as his past experiences have shaped him into the mentor he is today.

NAILED IT

Sports 26

Chrysia Lane, JnaNailz owner and CCHS class of 2024 alumna, talks about her experience as a nail tech. and business owner.

BY CESIA MARTINEZ

BY LIZA LARSON

Cover photos by Wyatt Meyer

Cover design by Wyatt Meyer

BLAZING A TRAIL

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Robert Horace “Chuck” Kinnebrew, University of Georgia Class of 1975 alumnus and former defensive guard, describes his experience integrating the UGA football team as a groundbreaking member of “The Five.”

BY JOVI GRANTHAM

Feature photo by Wyatt Meyer Viewpoints illustration by Sam Harwell News photo by Wyatt Meyer Variety photo by Violet Cantarella Sports photo by Wyatt Meyer

Sept./Oct. 2024

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odysseynewsmagazine.net CAN WE BE SAFE? In the wake of the horrific shooting at Apalachee High School, Editor-in-Chief Wyatt Meyer doesn’t know where to look next.

BY WYATT MEYER

WORKING WITH WORK-BASED LEARNING The Work-Based Learning program gives CCHS students the opportunity to gain experience in various fields of the workforce while still earning course credits.

BY LEA D’ANGELO

PHOTO GALLERY: FALL MEDIA DAY The ODYSSEY Media Group hosted Fall Media Day for fall varsity athletes on Sept. 8 in the Competition Gym.

BY MA’KIYAH THRASHER AND GRADY DUNSTON

HOMEGROWN OLYMPIAN Graham Blanks, Harvard University distance runner, New Balance athlete and native Athenian, shares his journey as an athlete and his experience running at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

BY JANIE RIPPS

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ODYSSEY

he ODYSSEY is a student-produced news publication, published with the intent to inform, entertain and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community, as well as to educate student journalists.

Editor-in-Chief: Wyatt Meyer

Established in 2003, the ODYSSEY is published four times a year, and each issue is an open public forum for student expression under the guidance of a faculty adviser.

Viewpoints Editor: Isabella Gresham

Student journalists are provided with opportunities to investigate, inform, interpret and to evaluate: all traditionally accepted functions of the press in America. Published opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone other than the staff.

The ODYSSEY staff is committed to reflect the mission statement set forth by Clarke Central High School.

The goals of the staff are to provide fair, accurate news and commentaries, as well as to serve the interests of the school and Athens’ community.

Advertising must conform to the guidelines set forth for editorials. Publication of advertisements does not indicate an endorsement by CCHS or the ODYSSEY staff.

Students pictured in advertisements are not given monetary compensation. All advertising rates are available upon request from any ODYSSEY staff member.

The ODYSSEY is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Georgia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll Honor Society and Southern Interscholastic Press Association.

Corrections of errors and omissions will appear in the next issue.

Managing Editor: Janie Ripps Senior Copy Editor: Miles Lawrence

News Editor: Liza Larson Variety Editor: Adah Hamman Sports Editor: Cooper Jones Beat Editor: Andreas Dillies Business Manager: Merren Hines Social Media Coordinator: Liya Taylor Webmaster: Lea D’Angelo Staff Members: Violet Cantarella Jesse Dantzler Grady Dunston Brandon Frazier Jovi Grantham Sam Harwell Abigail Holloway Cesia Martinez Emlyn McKinney Mzee Pavlic Marcus Quarles Sylvia Robinson Lydia Rowell Kimberly Sanabria-Amaya Iliana Tejada Ma’Kiyah Thrasher Gillian Williams Adviser: David A. Ragsdale, CJE ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia 30605 (706)-357-5200 EXT. 17370

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR >> VIEWPOINTS

A VANISHING ACT

OUR TAKE // Staff The ODYSSEY’s Our Take article on Clarke County School District classrooms personally resonated with me. As a ‘Gifted’ first-generation Hispanic student, I’ve seen firsthand the educational disparities the piece highlights that often go unnoticed by many. I would like to see more of these articles because they highlight crucial issues and motivate the CCSD community to strive for equity and diversity in schools, which will extend into society as a whole. This piece has deepened my appreciation for The ODYSSEY, as it not only upholds their ‘Diversity and Representation’ statement but also fosters effective journalism.

Our April/May 2024 issue featured a stylized spotlight on CCHS drama club member La’Kyla Jones.

-- Kevin Capcha, CCHS senior

Corrections/Omissions April/May 2024 Page 6, in Letter From the Editor, in the pull quote, “whether you’ll miss CCHS or not,” should be omitted Page 8, in Fresh Voice, in the fourth paragraph, “School” should be “school” Page 11, in Break the Cycle, in the caption, “Above” should be “Left” Page 15, in The Unchanged Narrative, the second mention of “CCHS sophomore Zaara Bhuiyan” should be “Bhuiyan” Page 19, in A Vanishing Act, in the fourth paragraph, “fiveyear-old” should be “5-year-old” Page 24, in Quest for Athens Best, in the second caption, “gave” should be “gives” Page 29, in Dancefx, in the pull quote, “at studio” should be inserted after “a lot of times” Page 32, in Cultural Buzz, in the second review, in the third paragraph, “Cherry berry” should be “Cherry Berry” Page 34, in In Focus, in the caption, “schore” should be “score” Page 37, in Going pre-pro, all mentions of “Raul Navarro” should be “Raul Navarro Carmona” Page 45, the Eighth grade Gladiators, in the first caption, “and” should be inserted after “Clarke Middle School Eighth Graders”

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NEW AP OFFERINGS // Samaya Ellis

our story covering La’Kyla was wonderful.

You put together an amazing article. You captured her perfectly whilst highlighting last year’s shows.

La’Kyla was one of my best actors and we are feeling her absence.

This article was a great positive moment to hold on to and remember.

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-- Kayla Griffin, CCHS fine arts department teacher on “A Vanishing Act” by Isabella Westrich

Contact the ODYSSEY

Letters: Email us at editors@odysseynewsmagazine.net, or drop off in the Main Office, in care of the ODYSSEY. We ask that all letters be under 250 words and signed. We reserve the right to omit or edit any letters received. Insulting, unsigned or libelous statements will not be considered for publication. All letters may be edited for clarity and space.

Advertising: For ad rates, email us at business@odysseynewsmagazine.net.

Online: Message us on Instagram at @odysseynewsmag or respond to a specific article on the ODYSSEY website by writing a comment at the bottom of the story.

The article “New AP Offerings” focuses on the new AP African American studies class that is coming to CCHS, and all the opportunities it will give students. As a student who strives to take AP classes, seeing what this new opportunity has in store is so exciting. I felt like this article showed how much this class will be a step forward at Central. I liked hearing a few opinions about the class and its impact.

>> VARIETY

-- Scarlett Alston, CCHS freshman

QUEST FOR ATHENS’ BEST // The Variety Staff I really enjoyed the Quest for Athens’ Best: Cold Treat Clash because it is always able to give me good recommendations on where to eat and shop in Athens. The reviews are always well thought-out and are detailed enough to give you a good idea on what the place is about. The graphics are super simple to help not overwhelm you with too much information.

-- Finn Sleppy, CCHS junior

>> SPORTS MAKING MONEY MOVES // Cadence Schapker The ever-evolving financial landscape of college athletics has inevitably trickled down to the high school level and has certainly rocked the boat in the process. While name, image and likeness does pose a unique set of issues that athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators alike are having to navigate, continuing to artificially restrict the rights of athletes to profit from their skills is not only immoral – it is, and always has been, patently illegal.

-- Tyler Graves, CCHS social studies department teacher

Sept./Oct. 2024

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR In Georgia, the nation’s newest swing state, voters should be excited to go to the polls.

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our vote matters.

Wait, wait! Keep reading! Sure, it’s the cliche bandied about in seemingly every single political advertisement, poster and social media post for the past 50 years – it probably has about as much meaning as your phone’s Terms & Conditions.

Voters – especially Georgian voters – would be forgiven for passing the tired phrase by one

BY WYATT MEYER Editor-in-Chief more time.

But, alas, like most cliches, this one has merit.

Georgia, for the first time in decades, is now a true “purple” state – one not solidly voting Republican or Democrat – and that’s something to be proud of.

Data shows that the race for Georgia’s 16 electoral votes is tight: as of Sept.

16, polls from The Washington Post and The New York Times show that Vice President Kamala Harris (D) and former President Donald Trump (R) are within two percentage points of each other in Georgia. “(It’s) in the metro areas where most of the Democrats are, but I think in every county, even in rural counties like Oglethorpe County, (Democrats have)

about 30% of the vote,” Jane Kidd, the former Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party and current chairman of the Oglethorpe County Democrats, said.

ABC News’ FiveThirtyEight, the organization with the most predictive forecasts of the past four Presidential and Senate elections, has the race for Georgia even closer. As of Sept. 16, the model shows that Former President Trump leads by less than 0.5% in the state.

However, as most voters will remember, Georgia’s race hasn’t always been this close.

From the time Georgia was granted statehood in 1778 until 1964, Georgians didn’t vote for a Republican presidential candidate – making it the last state in the continental U.S. to do so. Since then, however, the state has only voted Democrat in four presidential elections, two of which were for Georgia native Jimmy Carter.

Drink it in, Georgians – no longer are your votes one of the two p’s: perfunctory or protest.

“We had not elected a Democratic president from the state since (President Bill Clinton in 1992), so (Georgia) was written off one way or the other,” Kidd said. “It didn’t matter that the people they didn’t agree with were going to win anyway and do what they wanted to do anyway.”

If nothing else, that ought to underscore the rarity of this year’s elections.

For the first time in years, Georgia is consistently being viewed by experts across the country as a true swing state – one that candidates appeal to, one in which every vote counts, one that could have a decisive impact on the election of America’s leader for the next four years.

So, drink it in, Georgians – no longer are your votes one of the two P’s: perfunctory or protest. No matter whether you’re a chicken farmer in Oglethorpe County, a grocery bagger in Downtown Atlanta or a Clarke Central High School senior, you have a tangible impact at the proverbial ballot box.

So, when you decide whether to vote or not, believe what you can’t help but remember: “Your vote counts.”

For real.

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Left: TOSS-UP PRIVILEGE: A newly “purple” Georgia is shown.

With both presidential candidates intensively campaigning in the state, Georgian voters ought to be excited about going to the ballot box. “No matter whether you’re a chicken farmer in Oglethorpe County, a grocery bagger in Downtown Atlanta or a Clarke Central High School senior, you have a tangible impact at the proverbial ballot box,” Editor-in-Chief Wyatt Meyer wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson

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BOILING POINT In a nation that prides itself on celebrating diverse perspectives and progressiveness, electing a powerful female president like Kamala Harris is long overdue.

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nergy buzzes throughout the stadium.

People of all races, socioeconomic backgrounds and sexualities unite in support of a candidate who shares the same beliefs of inclusivity and progressiveness. As attendees chant, “We’re not going back,” hope radiates from the stands.

Hope for the possibility of the first female

BY JANE RIPPS President of the United States.

Managing Editor On July 30, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris officially launched her campaign for the 2024 presidency in Atlanta. When sitting president Joe Biden stepped out of the race and endorsed Harris on July 21, the erstwhile outlandish idea of electing a female president became a much-needed possibility.

Since the establishment of the U.S. in 1776, there have been 46 presidents. However, as telegraphs have evolved to cell phones and horsedrawn carriages to self-driving cars, all 46 presidents have had one thing in common: they have all been men.

In a nation that prides itself on its “cultural diversity” and “acceptance of all people,” it is telling that outwardly, all but one of its leaders have been the opposite of diverse: white and male.

However, on Nov. 5, voters now have the chance to rewrite this narrative.

It is time for a new perspective in the Oval Office that has not been represented there before. It is time for a strong, capable woman. It is time for

Vice President Harris. “(Almost) every single advanced democracy has produced women in the highest echelons of power. (The U.S. is) an outlier in not having had a female leader,” Alice Kinman, Senior Lecturer in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and former Athens-Clarke County District Commissioner, said. “The day that Biden decided that he would not seek the nomination, and then turned around and endorsed Harris, I (thought), ‘The moment is here.’”

If Harris is elected into office, she will bring with her more than three decades of experience as a prosecutor, district attorney and California attorney general, all before becoming Vice President of the U.S. in 2020.

Not only does she carry with her the experiences of being a woman, but also what it means to be Black and Asian American in a country often dominated by others.

“The (presidency’s) glass ceiling has not been shattered,” Ross Barkan, journalist and contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine, said.

“There are still a lot of white men in the country, (and) that demographic is very well represented in government and politics. Harris, (however), is part of the newer America. The fact that she is biracial is increasingly common, (and) it's very much a part of her identity.”

As voters cast their ballots, they must remember that the future of the U.S. rests in their hands. This centuries-long norm needs to end here, as a new era of political feminism and diversity is due. Those who dare to defy the status quo should not be shoved to the back burner and told to wait for the future.

The future is here and the time is now.

It is time for a new perspective in the Oval Office that has not been represented there before.

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Above: A NEW PERSPECTIVE: Kamala Harris, United States Vice President and Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election, is featured in a graphic. Unlike former president Donald Trump, Harris’s Republican opponent in the 2024 presidential election, Harris speaks for minorities who often lack representation in government and politics. “Not only does she carry with her the experiences of being a woman, but also what it means to be Black and Asian American in a country often dominated by others,” Managing Editor Jane Ripps wrote. Graphic by Jane Ripps

Viewpoints

Sept./Oct. 2024

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Question of the month

Isabella Hammock

FRESH VOICE

Journalism I student Isabella Hammock discusses her interpretation of what it means to be Southern.

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ike many Athenians, I was born and raised in the South.

This sameness should have given me a sense of belonging through the years, right? Wrong. For most of my life, I never seemed to answer the constant question inside my head: what does coming from the South mean to me?

To most, the answer would be simple: political stereotypes, soul food or Southern disposition.

But I have never fully identified with any of those cultural staples; I am a constant monkey-in-the-middle: I live in Athens, a liberal town surrounded by conservative counties. I'm a child of parents with vastly different backgrounds – one, the daughter of Portuguese immigrants; the other, the son of Southerners.

Because of these differences, I'm often caught between worlds.

Nearly every aspect of my life has lent itself to this confusing mixture of cultures and beliefs, which more often than not leaves me stranded. I have never truly felt Southern – at least, not stereotypically – but I have never truly felt anything else.

However, the South is my home.

After years spent pondering my Southern identity, I realized I would have to accept it, and with time, I did. I gradually realized that all my contradictions are my very definition of the South.

I've found that my geographic and cultural differences often allow me to see both sides of the story. To me, it seems only natural to eat a Portuguese dish alongside freshly baked Southern biscuits because I’ve never known it any other way.

Discovering what the South means to me was never about finding solace from being stranded, but about finding a definition in my strandedness.

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What is the most important issue in the presidential election?

"The most important issue is probably inflation because prices are going up. (On) average, my mom spends $70 on groceries.”

-- MALCOLM MOORE, CCHS freshman

“Whether or not (the candidates are) being fair to what the people want, and if they actually mean what they are going to do.”

-- MARIA SUAREZ, CCHS sophomore

"Global warming as well as LGBTQ rights because Project 2025 plans on stripping people that are LGBTQ of their rights and global warming is not being dealt with.”

-- SHELBY MCDANIEL, CCHS junior

“(U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is) trying to bring equality amongst (citizens), and everybody should look into that instead of making derogatory comments.”

-- WAYNE SPENCER, CCHS senior

“I teach economics, and I think that the economy is vitally important. The (economic) decisions that are made in Congress (and) the presidency need to be addressed.”

Above: BELONGING: Journalism I student Isabella Hammock chooses between contradicting paths.

Hammock is a Portuguese-American student who has struggled with finding a sense of belonging in the American South. “I have never truly felt Southern—at least, not stereotypically—but I have never truly felt anything else,” Hammock wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson

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-- STEPHEN HARDWICK, CCHS social studies department teacher

Viewpoints

THUMBS

SAM HARWELL

A HARWELL HALLOWEEN

The ODYSSEY staff’s opinions on this month’s issues.

Viewpoints Staffer Sam Harwell recalls a spooky Halloween story from his childhood.

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DEPRESSING DIVERSITY

OPEN-DOOR LEADERS

Every president in the history of the United States has been a man – that trend must change in 2024.

When students need a safe space at CCHS, they usually have a place to go – making the entire building safe is the long-term goal.

FAST FASHION'S FLAWS Too much style? Companies like Shein, Zara and H&M are making unsustainable clothing that abuses cheap labor and hurts the environment.

DEFYING DYSMORPHIA Today’s beauty standards emphasize weight loss and conformity, ideals which harm young women’s body image and self-esteem.

WE DON'T SEE JV Junior varsity athletes put in the work to reach varsity level, but don’t get enough recognition for the journey to reach that stage.

LOVABLE LIGGIN Assistant Principal Terry Liggin is more than just an administrator – he’s a focused leader that understands students better than most.

DEVELOPMENTS IN DIVERSITY The ODYSSEY strives to accurately represent the CCHS and Athens communities throughout our coverage.

very superhero has an arch nemesis. Batman has The Joker. Thor has Loki. Captain America has the Red Skull.

But me? I have the lady who lives on the end of the street.

To show where it all began, we have to go back to Halloween, 2016, when I was seven.

I had just suited up as Spider-Man and opened the door to the refrigerator to grab the whipped cream. As I put the bottle in my sleeve and held the nozzle, whipped cream shot out of my sleeve as I hit a Spider-Man pose.

Basically, I was ready.

I got out onto the street and was having a great time trick or treating – until we reached the house at the end of the street. In front, a crinkly old lady sat on the porch with two bowls of candy: one full of big pieces, one of fun-size bits.

She held out the big candy bowl to my siblings.

“I love your costumes, sweeties. Both of you, take a piece of candy,” she said in a raspy voice.

My older sister and little brother took the proffered bowl of big candy happily, and stepped aside. Then, to my horror, the wicked woman turned her head toward me and stuck out the tiny candy bowl.

I stared at her in shock, unable to believe that anyone would do something so evil. She stared back, shaking the bowl.

I shook my head and pointed at the big candy bowl. She shook the bowl in her hand, trying to persuade me to settle for less.

We stared at each other for what felt like forever, until she sighed and held out the big candy bowl. I grabbed my candy gleefully and turned to leave as she muttered something under her breath.

Enraged, I turned around and looked at her, then down at my sleeve. And then, I stuck my hand out, struck a pose and sprayed half a can of whipped cream onto her porch.

I ran back to my friends and family, telling them to hurry to the next house because “they had great candy,” and until now, no one has known about my heroic exploits at the end of the street.

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POLITICALLY PURPLE Georgia is a true coin flip in this year’s presidential election, which makes it actually important to candidates. Prepare to be pandered to, Georgians.

Above: FIGHT OR FRIGHT: Viewpoints Staffer Sam Harwell fights the Green Goblin while dressed as SpiderMan. Harwell has had fun on Halloween over the years, with his neighborly showdown in 2016 being his favorite. “I grabbed my candy and turned to leave as she muttered something under her breath,” Harwell wrote. “Enraged, I turned around and looked at her, then down at my sleeve. And then, I stuck my hand out, struck a pose and sprayed half a can of whipped cream onto her porch.” Illustration by Sam Harwell

Viewpoints

Sept./Oct. 2024

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LEARNING SELF-LOVE Viewpoints Staffer Sylvia Robinson talks about experiencing body dysmorphia and how it affects teenagers’ lives.

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hen I was younger, I aspired to be famous. I wanted my face on billboards in Los Angeles and New York City, modeling for famous brands like Sephora or Victoria’s Secret.

But, as I grew up, the more I was consumed by social media and society, and the more I realized that I had flaws. I was too fat, my face wasn’t clear,

BY SYLVIA ROBINSON I wasn’t “pretty” enough to be on those billboards.

Viewpoints Staffer/Illustrator I’ve struggled with my appearance throughout my life, especially my body image. I felt like I wasn’t thin enough, and would often compare myself to the models in magazines or be frustrated that clothing websites didn’t carry my size.

Looking through Instagram posts of skinny girls posing or workouts that were ‘guaranteed’ to make me lose weight only made it worse.

I felt like if I didn’t change this part of me, I wouldn’t be accepted.

I know I’m not alone in experiencing this. According to the National Organization for Women, 53% of girls dislike their bodies by age 13, and this percentage increases to 78% by age 17.

For many teens, including myself, the pressure to conform to conventional beauty standards can result in poor mental health, or lead to body dysmorphia, a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about

flaws in their appearance, according to Britain’s National Health Service. This can then cause many other issues like eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

Our culture holds people to harmful standards that limit what is considered acceptable – staying a size 0 in pants, for example. If I lose weight, people will celebrate that loss whether it was healthy or not. As long as I look how I “should,” it’s fine.

According to the Market Research Blog, Americans spent $90 billion on the weight loss industry in 2023. Although spending to reach a healthy weight is one thing, the glamorazation of an ‘beautiful’ body type causes people to reach that standard by whatever means necessary.

We live in a world that punishes people whose bodies don’t fit a narrow standard of beauty and rewards us for fighting against our bodies just to be accepted. It doesn’t need to be that way – we all deserve to be happy, no matter what shape or size our bodies are.

Instead of trying to fit in, people with non-typical bodies like minme, should embrace their individuality. Defying social media’s ‘health influencers’ and being mindful of negative self-talk stops body dysmorphia at its root.

Like many teens, I struggle with these issues. I still do. We all do.

But, remember that me and people like me can be on those billboards and magazines in cities like Los Angeles or New York City, no matter what body type we have. Being myself is more than enough.

We all deserve to be happy, no matter what shape or size our bodies are.

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Above: COMBATTING COMPARISON: Viewpoints Staffer Sylvia Robinson hugs herself through her reflection, representing self-love. Throughout her life, Robinson has struggled to come to terms with her body image. “I felt like I wasn’t thin enough, and would often compare myself to the models in magazines or be frustrated that clothing websites didn’t carry my size,” Robinson wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson

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Viewpoints

ISA’S IDEALS CCHS teachers and staff must be proactive in creating safe environments that allow students to thrive.

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very day, students are left feeling like they are drowning.

With the seemingly never-ending sea of schoolwork, extracurriculars and activities, students are left swimming in open water trying to reach the sand. However, if teachers work proactively with students, it becomes less challenging for students to keep their heads afloat.

While some Clarke Central High School teachers

BY ISABELLA GRESHAM already exemplify this ideal, all CCHS teachers Viewpoints Editor should make proactivity a priority.

Proactive leadership in the classroom doesn’t mean waiting until a student is drowning to help them — it means having check-ins, fostering safe environments and motivating students.

According to an Education Resources Information Center article published in 2014, “Multiple studies have demonstrated when students were more engaged, aware, and comfortable with their environments they would become more active in their learning.”

Helping students begins with being there for them when they feel like a fish out of water. Whether that means literally having an open door or initiating check-ins with students, any action step can begin to create a safe learning environment – something CCHS Assistant Principal Terry Liggin excels at.

“If there’s something going on in your life and you want to talk, my door is open. You can come by,” Liggin said. “I’ve asked teachers to periodically give me kids that are really doing their job, and I’m going to make sure I do my best to (tell them) that I appreciate them doing a good job.”

In the hallways, Liggin will conduct meetings with students he needs to speak to about grades or behavior, speaking candidly but kindly. Initiating these conversations helps students feels safe enough to share.

CCHS senior Kimwell Jones, who takes English department teacher Grace Crumpton’s poetry class, has seen Crumpton create a nurturing classroom environment.

“Ms. Crumpton is very open to everything. If anything is going on, she’s gonna let you know. That itself inspires everybody else to speak,” Jones said. “Ms. Crumpton’s environment is pretty special. I feel like all teachers should work to be more like Ms. Crumpton. She’s just a one-of-a-kind type of teacher.”

Students know that teachers care and that they have different ways of showing it. However, it’s important that all teachers think actively about students’ sense of belonging in their environment – sometimes, a timely intervention can make all the difference for a student in need.

Student safety starts with CCHS faculty working to be proactive leaders and reaching out to create welcoming environments. No student should be left feeling as though they are drowning without help.

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Teachers should actively strive to create a positive space for students to feel comfortable enough to open up.

Above: OPEN SPACES: An teacher opens her door for students to come through. Viewpoints Editor Isabella Gresham stressed the importance of creating open classroom environments. “Teachers should actively strive to create a positive space for students to feel comfortable enough to open up. Initiating the conversations helps to ensure every student feels safe enough to share their experiences,” Gresham wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

Viewpoints

Sept./Oct. 2024

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OUR TAKE Diversity and representation are of crucial importance to modern-day media organizations, which is why the ODYSSEY has taken steps to ensure they are codified into our practices.

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edia coverage of diversity, equity and inclusion has skyrocketed in the past century.

Today, the media is a large part of what makes the acronym DEI universally known (and unfortunately, controversial). One needs only to type the three letters into the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or Associated Press websites to see a cascade of articles discussing the topic.

But while there are articles aplenty written by the media about DEI, rarely are there articles written about the media’s implementation of those ideas.

In fact, a February report from the Nieman Lab, a publication reporting on the future of journalism, showed that graduates of Ivy League universities were “wildly overrepresented” in the New York Times’ newsroom. This lack of equitable representation creates an obvious blindspot in the published content from the country’s largest media organization.

Moreover, there is little public information regarding the equitability of media organizations’ areas coverage – taking the New York Times as an example again, their diversity statement focuses on their already unrepresentative staff makeup far more than the areas they cover.

Put simply, more is needed from media organizations concerning representation within their work.

In that spirit, the ODYSSEY Media Group has recently updated and implemented new policies concerning DEI and representation. We did this so you, our readers, understand our coverage goals and the place we want to be as an organization.

Firstly, the ODYSSEY has developed our first Diversity Statement, which is complete with goals for not only our staff makeup, but for our stakeholders, coverage and recruitment. This document guides our reporting as we consider best practices for our coverage.

Secondly, the ODYSSEY has created a new position to ensure the accuracy and purpose of our stories. Peter Atchley is the ODYSSEY’s first-ever Diversity and Representation Editor, and he is tasked with overseeing our coverage to ensure it meets our outlined expectations.

We welcome feedback on our new policies and encourage you to read and understand them for yourselves – full versions can be found at odysseynewsmagazine.net under the About tab.

You can contact us for feedback at editors@ odysseynewsmagazine.net.

We understand that representation is an ongoing process that will never be perfect. However, we want to be fully transparent so you understand the purpose behind every story, every layout and every photo on the page.

More is needed from media organizations concerning representation within their work.

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Excerpts from the OMG Diversity and Representation Statement:

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Our coverage ought to shed light on important issues, give a platform to underrepresented figures and organizations and accurately reflect the diverse experiences of the communities we serve.

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When writing, we consider the impact the piece will have on our community, the interest our community will have in the piece and the sensitivity of the topic.

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In so many words, the OMG believes that diversity, equity and inclusion is crucial to the purpose of our work.

Above: A BALANCED APPROACH: A diverse staff is immensely important to a newsroom. As such, the ODYSSEY Media Group has worked to recruit a diverse group of individuals from our feeder middle schools. “Recruitment is an ongoing process for us, and as such, we are committed to continually creating a staff environment that is representative of all aspects of our school community,” the OMG’s Diversity and Representation Statement states.

Illustration by Sam Harwell

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Viewpoints

Sept./Oct. 2024

13

The weight

of the scale

From unhealthy weight loss to social media diets, beauty and body standards are negatively impacting CCHS’ female students.

K

yra Wade is a self-proclaimed “big girl,” and proud of it.

Wade, a Clarke Central High School senior, exudes confidence walking down the hallway to her fourth LAYOUT BY JANIE period literature class. Outfitted most days in an extra RIPPS large tank top and shorts, Wade is recognizable not only Managing Editor by her heavy-set stature but by her characteristic lack of STORY AND LAYOUT BY makeup and a wide, gap-toothed smile.

WYATT MEYER Wade’s body is an outlier in a society that prizes Editor-in-Chief conformity, but she doesn’t allow others to hold her back.

Instead, she projects positivity.

“I want to let other people (who are) this shape or look like me (know) that it's okay that you’re shaped and look that way. Just be you,” Wade said.

But it hasn’t always been easy for Wade, or the hundreds of other girls at CCHS, to accept their bodies. Beauty standards, cultural ideals used for STORY BY EMLYN MCKINNEY News Staffer

“I want to let other people (who are) this shape or (who) look like me (know) that it's okay that you're shaped and look that way. Just be you.”

-- Kyra Wade, CCHS senior

Above: SELF-LOVE AND GROWTH: Clarke Central High School senior Kyra Wade weighs herself on a scale outside the CCHS wrestling practice room on Sept. 10. When she was younger, Wade felt the need to change herself to fit in with her friend group, but started to find confidence in herself during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As I ventured out and grew away from them, I started to find myself and stuff I like to do, not just everything else other people like,” Wade said. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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thousands of years to measure a person’s attractiveness, are present today social media workouts, mascara-black eyelashes and body-con dresses.

Caught between individuality and popular culture, CCHS’ female students are wrestling with beauty standards, old and new, in the Digital Era. “Beauty standards are growing, especially with the world becoming more globalized and, not necessarily accepting, but seeing more women. For example, darker skin is becoming more beautiful, but other things such as being plus-sized or mid-sized (are) still very stigmatized,” CCHS junior Shelby McDaniel said.

When CCHS junior Noa Tatum scrolls through her TikTok For You page, most of the posts she sees are wellness videos or blogs. Although Tatum enjoys deriving inspiration from them, she feels they’re not always positive.

“Beauty standards are growing, especially with the world becoming more globalized.”

-- Shelby McDaniel,

CCHS junior

“(There are) some influencers on TikTok that are trying to help, (with videos) like, ‘What I eat in a day,’ or, ‘What I do to work out,’ but sometimes it doesn't always help (and) makes it worse, because then (viewers) think, ‘Oh, she looks so good. I should work on that.’ It might not end well,” Tatum said.

Many social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram, utilize filters and Artificial Intelligence to enhance or alter photos. Repeatedly seeing these can be dangerous, according to Alexis Lygoumenos, a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Georgia’s Institute of Women's Studies.

“When you get used to seeing skin through a filter, you think that’s what skin looks like, and it damages your perception (in) your everyday life. You’re setting yourself up for failure because you can’t achieve (the look of a filter). No one can achieve that, even those models and actors,” Lygoumenos said.

While social media plays a large role in the spread of beauty standards, peers can also promote them. When she was an elementary and middle schooler, Wade wanted to fit in, which she said pressured her to sometimes change her appearance.

“I (wanted) to be friends with (this group), so I (started) acting like them, hanging around them and they weren’t the best group of girls. I felt like I needed to do what they were doing,” Wade said. “If we were going to parties together, (and) they had on something, I’ll be like, ‘Oh, my outfit (is) a little ugly. Let me change and put something on like they got on.’”

When dual-enrolling at UGA, CCHS senior Caroline Goldman sees many female students with the stereotypical Pan-Hellenic look: blonde hair, Lululemon tank tops and tennis dresses. As Goldman sees these features repeated day after day, they influence how she presents herself.

“I find myself conforming to those items of clothing or what to look like. I just got my hair highlighted and everyone’s going bleach blonde. Everyone’s

Upper right: Clarke Central High School senior Kyra Wade scrolls through posts on her Instagram Search & Explore page on Sept. 10. When CCHS junior Noa Tatum is on social media platforms, she sees people she wants to look like, but knows this can have detrimental impacts on her health. “I try to figure out ways where I can look like (the people I see), but it doesn’t always lead on a good path. Sometimes it might lead to me overthinking about what I’m eating or (the) exercise that I’m (doing),” Tatum said. Photo by Wyatt Meyer Lower right: Clarke Central High School girls varsity tennis player Caroline Goldman, a senior, stands outside the CCHS tennis courts on Sept. 10. Goldman found herself becoming more aware of how she looked when University of Georgia students photographed the team during matches and practice, which distracted her from playing. “Having a thought in the back of my mind (saying), ‘Is my back straight? Do I look good? Is this angle right?’ (is) exhausting at some point,” Goldman said. “I should be focused on, ‘Okay, my serve needs to go in. The shot needs to go in. I gotta hit this backhand good,’ but half the time I find myself, if there’s a camera nearby, (posing) a little bit.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Sept./Oct. 2024

15

“Who you are is what identifies your beauty.”

-- Cherelle Pass,

CCHS head varsity flag football coach

trying to look the same so we fit in and we’re accepted. I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do because it takes away from people’s authentic selves,” Goldman said.

As a CCHS girls varsity tennis player, Goldman is also exposed to contradictory beauty standards directed toward female athletes. Goldman has observed her teammates doing their makeup and hair in ways that remain set during matches to make it seem as though they haven’t been on the court at all.

“I think athletes (are expected) to be muscular, competitive and fierce, but at the same time, female athletes have to look put together all the time,” Goldman said. “Even when they’re sweating, tired and exhausted, they still have to look pretty and presentable for the crowd.”

CCHS head varsity flag football coach Cherrelle Pass observes this double standard in some of her players, but she believes that beauty depends on character and integrity rather than superficial characteristics.

“Who you are is what identifies your beauty. I have players who wear lashes and wear their hair in particular ways for games, and then I have people who (are) like, ‘I woke up like this, and this is how I’m gonna be,’” Pass said. “At the end of the day, they (both) go out, compete and do what they need to do.”

When teaching her classes, CCHS physical education department teacher and assistant varsity tennis coach Evan Adams has had some students ask her about their health – a subject she approaches boldly. “(In my class) we do a health literacy assignment where students are taught

“I love to cheer on the kids. I want to make them feel good in their skin. With me being plus-sized and a health teacher, I feel like I get to practice what I preach.”

-- Evan Adams,

CCHS physical education department teacher and assistant varsity tennis coach

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where to get health information and where not to. I specifically talk about not (getting) health fads from TikTok, because anyone can say they’re a doctor or a nutritionist,” Adams said. “If (students) come up to me, personally, I don’t push diets. (Instead), I push being healthy and mindful.”

Adams was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and has undergone chemotherapy, changing her outward appearance. However, as a plus-size teacher and athlete, Adams chooses not to let outward beauty judgments about her hair loss or weight define her or her students.

“I love to cheer on the kids. I want to make them feel good in their skin.

With me being plus-sized and a health teacher, I feel like I get to practice what I preach,” Adams said. “I’m exercising, I’m active, but I still am technically overweight by beauty standards, and here I am rocking it out and feeling good.”

“Just be yourself and take it one step at a time, one piece of clothing at a time.”

-- Kyra Wade, CCHS senior

O

According to CCHS mental health counselor Dr. Meg Huntington, students can find support in the CCHS counseling department if they feel dissatisfied with their bodies. One thing that Huntington recommends to students is to be conscious of their self-perception.

“Instead of focusing on the problem, which is using other external sources for your sense of, ‘Is this right or wrong, healthy or not,’ check in with your own body. ‘How do I feel right now?’” Huntington said. “‘If I wear an outfit that is comfortable, expresses who I am and makes the statement I want, how do I feel’? versus if I wear an outfit that somebody else liked that I don’t feel comfortable in.”

Accepting her body and gaining confidence was a trial and error process for Wade, but she encourages others to take the time to do the same and explore who they are.

“It took me a long time to get comfortable in my own body and do what I wanted to do (and) wear what I wanted to wear. You’re not gonna know if you (going to) feel comfortable or uncomfortable if you don’t ever buy the clothes (or) try to wear them,” Wade said. “Just be yourself and take it one step at a time, one piece of clothing at a time.”

O

Opposite, upper left: TRUE BEAUTY: Clarke Central High School head varsity flag football coach Cherrelle Pass poses in the CCHS Competition Gym on Sept. 9. Throughout her three years as a a flag football coach, Pass has preached that beauty isn’t defined by physical enhancements. “Personally, I think beauty is from within and then it’ll radiate outward,” Pass said. “It’s not superficial. Beauty can be your character, your integrity, how you live and how you move. That’s my standard of beauty. Makeup, nails, hair is just icing and cherry on the cake.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer Opposite, lower left: UNDER PRESSURE: Clarke Central High School physical education department teacher and assistant varsity tennis coach Evan Adams poses in the CCHS Competition Gym on Sept. 12. As a teacher, Adams has seen students in her class be affected by beauty standards. “In my health class, we do a mental health unit, and that goes into a big part of (beauty standards),” Adams said. “Some of my students have written assignments where they’ve expressed (that) their family has beauty standards for them, or their culture or their community (do). I definitely feel like our students feel that (pressure).” Photo by Wyatt Meyer Left: UNDER PRESSURE: Clarke Central High School senior Kyra Wade poses on Clarke Central High School’s campus on Sept. 10. While Wade has found confidence in her body image, she has also discovered tension between her masculine dress sense and conventional gender norms. “I got my scarf, and then I went into my mama’s room to show her what I had on (and) to ask her (if) it (looked) right. She said, ‘Dang, you look like a boy,’ Wade said. “How (does) what I have on top of my head define me?” Photo by Wyatt Meyer

Features

Sept./Oct. 2024

17

On the issues: Kamala Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

Introduction After President Joe Biden ended his campaign for reelection on July 21, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee.

On Aug. 22, the final day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Harris accepted the nomination and began her march to the White House.

Immigration Harris, the daughter of two immigrants from India and Jamaica, has emphasized that America is a country of immigrants. Harris has said she plans to bring back a bipartisan border security bill that failed in the U.S. Senate earlier this year.

Climate change As a California senator, Harris was an early sponsor of the Green New Deal, a congressional resolution that plans to tackle climate change. During a speech at the DNC on Aug. 22, Harris equated fighting climate change to fighting for freedom.

Abortion

During her speech at the DNC, Harris spoke about abortion, saying that Trump and his allies are “out of their minds” for allegedly blocking reproductive rights.

Harris also said that as president, she would sign a bill that would “restore reproductive freedom.”

Economy In an Aug. 10 speech in Las Vegas, Harris revealed that to combat inflation, she plans to raise the federal minimum wage and remove taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers. Harris also plans to place a federal ban on price gouging of groceries in the first 100 days of her presidency.

Criminial justice During her 2024 campaign, Kamala has said little about criminal justice compared to Trump.

However, in her 2009 book, Harris described herself as being “tough on crime by being smart on crime.” Over time, her stance has changed and she has described herself as a “progressive prosecutor.”

Foreign affairs During her speech at the DNC, Harris said that she would stand by Ukraine and the allies of the U.S. in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Harris also said that she would always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself, but that she and Biden were working to end the suffering in Gaza.

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COMPILED BY MZEE PAVLIC News Staffer

LAYOUT BY JANIE RIPPS Managing Editor

News

Presidential election Former President Donald Trump is the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

Donald trump Introduction

On Nov. 15, 2022, former President Donald Trump became the first major presidential candidate to announce his 2024 campaign. Trump was elected for one term in 2016 but lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

Immigration In 2016, Trump campaigned on building a wall on the U.S. Southern border. In 2024, Trump has again made stopping illegal immigration a central part of his rhetoric. In his campaign platform, Trump has promised to “carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.”

Climate change During his first term, Trump’s administration removed over 100 environmental protection policies, including air and water pollution, drilling and wildlife policies.

In a June 27 rally in Virginia, Trump said that global warming is not an “existential threat.”

Abortion

In an interview with Time Magazine on Aug. 30, Trump said he does not believe in a federal abortion ban. Instead, abortion is an issue for states to decide.

During a debate with President Joe Biden on June 27, Trump said he believes in exceptions to abortion bans in cases of incest, rape and cases where the mother’s life is at stake, as well as access to abortion pills.

Economy As president, Trump has said he plans to implement a four-year plan so that the U.S. doesn’t have to “rely” on China for “essential medical and national security goods.” This plan will also ban Chinese ownership of “critical infrastructure” in the U.S.

Criminal justice Trump’s website claims he plans to revitalize police departments by increasing their funding and protections, such as strengthening qualified immunity and increasing penalties for assault on police officers. Trump also promises to “Stop the migrant crime epidemic… crush gang violence and lock up violent offenders.”

Foreign affairs Trump states that he will “Prevent World War Three, restore peace in Europe and in the Middle East.” Trump also claims that as president he will build a missile defense system called the “great iron dome” around the entire U.S.

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Sept./Oct. 2024

19

Liggin’s Leadership CCHS Assistant Principal Terry Liggin understands students better than most as his past experiences have shaped him into the mentor he is today.

W

hen Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Terry Liggin walks down the hallways of CCHS, he sees himself in every LAYOUT BY WYATT MEYER Editor-in-Chief student he passes.

He feels their stress to graduate, to perform well in sports and to foster relationships with peers.

He understands, because he was once one of them.

Liggin grew up in Norcross, Georgia, before moving to Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended Seneca High School. From playing football to having his first daughter as a high school student, Liggin has had a variety of experiences that have shaped who he is today.

STORY BY LIZA LARSON News Editor

“Life isn’t going to be handed to you.

Sometimes you got to go through difficult times, difficult situations.

-- TErry liggin,

CCHS Assistant Principal

“Life isn’t going to be handed to you. Sometimes you got to go through difficult times, difficult situations. Things aren’t always on the up and up,” Liggin said.

Not only did Liggin have to take on responsibility early in his life to raise his daughter, but he also worked to advance his athletic career at Eastern Kentucky University, where he earned a degree in special education. Balancing these obligations helped to guide his core values: hard work and dedication.

“My whole career has been (built) around helping people make really good

Right: CHECKING IN: Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Terry Liggin conducts a check-in with a student on the freshmen hallway on Sept. 16. Among students that he’s worked with, Liggin has developed a reputation for being both no-nonsense and kind. “I just love him. He’s a good guy,” CCHS sophomore Quizere Goodjoines said. “(Liggin is a) great principal, very strict. He does not play.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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decisions, because when I was young I made some decisions that forced me to grow up really fast. I had to make choices that I wasn’t prepared to take,” Liggin said.

Immediately following his graduation from college in 2004, Liggin began working in a variety of roles in education. Over his 20-year career, Liggin has worked in high schools across the South, from Kentucky to Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.

move forward and get older,” Liggin said. “I want to create an environment where kids feel comfortable.”

CCHS sophomore Roderick Mann has experienced this environment firsthand. When Mann was struggling during his freshman year, Liggin supported him first as the Behavioral Specialist and then as the Freshman Academy administrator.

“He tells the truth and he just keeps it real,” Mann said. “He

“He stands on what he stands on. If you’re in trouble, he makes sure you go to (In-School Suspension). (If) you’re doing a good thing, he makes sure to compliment you.”

-- Roderick Mann, CCHS sophomore

In 2023, he came to CCHS as the District Behavior Specialist before becoming Assistant Principal in February of 2024. Although these roles had different responsibilities, Liggin’s efforts have always been focused on inspiring students to go down the right path.

“That’s the whole goal for me, as a mentor, as a role model, as an educator, as somebody who’s in administration. (I want) to plant different seeds: (teach students) how to make wise decisions, and then talk about the decisions you’ll have to make as you

stands on what he stands on. If you’re in trouble, he makes sure you go to (In-School Suspension). (If ) you’re doing a good thing, he makes sure to compliment you.”

Quizere Goodjoines, also a CCHS sophomore, had a similar experience. He says Liggin encouraged him to start focusing on graduation earlier in his high school career in order to succeed after CCHS. “(He helped me) do better in classes. He helped me with a

Above: DIRECTING TRAFFIC: Then-Clarke County School District Behavioral Specialist Terry Liggin assists CCHS mental health counselor Dr. Meg Huntington during the first day of school on Aug. 1. Before becoming a member of the Clarke Central High School administrative team in February, Associate Principal of Operations Tamika Henson noticed Liggin’s proactive approach to leadership. “Working with him as a behavior specialist from the district, what I noticed is that he was highly energized to meet the needs of students, to connect with families and he is always looking for a solution.” Photo by Ma’Kiyah Thrasher

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whole bunch of stuff, (like) work whenever I needed help or support,” Goodjoines said. “He is serious about his job, trying to get (students) out of the building, trying to get them to pass all their classes, get all their credits.”

According to CCHS Associate Principal of Operations Tamika Henson, Liggin’s readiness to support students, from in and outside his third floor office, is what sets him apart from other educators.

“His environment for students and adults in the building is easily accessible. He is prompt to attend to the needs of others. It’s a very welcoming environment and is conducive to improvement,” Henson said.

“I get to directly impact kids and adults immediately. I can see the growth.”

-- Terry Liggin,

CCHS Assistant Principal

Liggin is motivated to create this open dialogue by the long-term effects his interventions yield.

“I get to directly impact kids and adults immediately. I can see the growth, because I’m in and out with teachers, and I’m talking about different techniques in terms of teaching and classroom management. That’s pivotal, being able to see real time change,” Liggin said.

CCHS security officer Chris Hood works with Liggin on student behavioral issues, particularly with freshmen. Hood feels Liggin’s understanding of student behavior and emphasis on communication are what make him a valuable resource to the administrative team.

“His personality is outstanding. He’s a people person. He loves to talk, to communicate, and he gets to know each individual that he comes in contact with,” Hood said. “The problems that a lot of the kids have, he’s able to get it out of them and help them understand the situation, to make them a better person.”

Ultimately, Liggin’s persona can be summed up by a small detail – his notebook. Meticulous, neat notes and to-do lists adorn its pages, which guide Liggin’s conferences with students throughout the school day.

Because of his dedication to this notebook, and by extension, CCHS students, Liggin is able to work toward providing the aid he wanted as a high school student to the next generation.

“To help others: that’s the mission,” Liggin said.

“I feel like I was put on this earth to help those who are less fortunate. That’s always been my goal.”

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Above: SPEAKING TO THE CROWD: Then-Clarke County School District Behavioral Specialist Terry Liggin speaks to an assembly of freshmen during the first day of school on Aug. 2, 2023. During his time as Behavioral Specialist, Liggin focused on working with freshmen struggling in their classes, like now-sophomore Roderick Mann. “He kept me out of trouble, and he just told me to do the right thing. He helped me stay on track with grades,” Mann said. Photo from the ODYSSEY archives

Above: SHOOTING IT STRAIGHT: Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Terry Liggin conducts a check-in with a student in his office on the third floor on Sept. 16. Throughout his time at CCHS, Liggin has kept a handwritten notebook to hold himself accountable. “I try to stand by if I told you I was gonna do something,” Liggin said. “(I have) learned to be a little bit more flexible over the years and understand that everybody grows up and has different values, so I respect those values, but I make sure to communicate with those in my circle what I hold dear.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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AUTHENTICALLY ADAH Shopping from brands like Shein, Zara and H&M has a negative impact on the people who work for them and the environment.

P

icture this: it’s 8:30 a.m., and Clarke Central High School students are milling about in the E.B. Mell Auditorium Lobby. Two girls sit at the foot of the staircase, looking at their phones and waiting for the bell to ring. Suddenly, one of them squeals. Her friend looks at her, raising her eyebrows. “What?”

“My SHEIN package just arrived.”

BY ADAH HAMMAN This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as buying Variety Editor from brands like SHEIN, Zara and H&M has become increasingly popular in the past decade, with marketing company Uniform Market estimating that the industry will be worth almost $300 billion by 2032.

However, the manufacturing and consumption of fast fashion, which, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, is a term describing the rapid production of inexpensive, lowquality clothing, has consequences for both the environment and employees.

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating waste and pollution, clothing utilization — which is the number of times that someone wears an item — has decreased by almost 40% from 2000 to 2015. Once a clothing article goes “out of style,” consumers throw it away and move on to the next thing, unaware of how they may be contributing to phenomena like climate change.

These discarded pieces of clothing end up in landfills, many of which are composed of synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon. They are then scheduled

for incineration and, when burned, release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

In addition to its detrimental environmental impact, the fast fashion industry also has social ramifications.

“I would say (that) one of the biggest impacts (of the fast fashion industry is) towards marginalized communities,” University of Georgia senior Harini Tirumala, the President of Fair Fashion, a student-run organization at UGA that aims to promote sustainable fashion consumption in the community, said. “A lot of the people who work in fast fashion industries are usually being paid very minimal wages. (They’re) subjected to abuses and labor standard laws, and it’s usually specifically women of color.”

Most people working in the fast fashion industry live in low-to-middleincome countries due to decreased labor costs that allow brands to maximize profit. According to a study from Oxfam, a non-governmental agency, 100% of garment workers in Bangladesh earn below the living wage as defined by the Global Living Wage Coalition.

Due to the harmful effects of the fast fashion industry, consumers should consider shopping outside it.

One option: thrift stores offer a wide variety of clothing and their prices are comparable to those of fast fashion brands, while purchases can be both stylish and environmentally friendly.

People who have an excess of clothing already should consider donating unneeded garments to charities like Habitat for Humanity or The Salvation Army, organizations that will ensure the clothes go to good use.

Unlike SHEIN’s clothes, sustainability never goes out of style.

Due to the harmful effects of the fast fashion industry, consumers should consider shopping elsewhere.

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Above:CUSTOMER CONFUSION: A teenage girl holds up a shirt with a tag that reads “made with blood, sweat and tears.” In recent years, buying from unsustainable brands like SHEIN has become common among younger generations, with 50% of U.S. fast-fashion sales going to the China-based retailer, according to data analytics site Bloomberg Second Measure. “The manufacturing and consumption of fast fashion, which, according to the Britannica Encyclopedia, is a term describing the rapid production of inexpensive, low-quality clothing, has consequences for both the environment and industry employees,” Variety Editor Adah Hamman wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson

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IN FOCUS

Featured: Performer Jasani Byrd, who goes by the stage name “Golden Entendre,” peforms at Hendershot’s Coffe’s monthly “Beats, Rhymes and LIFE” event on Sept. 11. Hosted by local hip hop artist Montu Miller, September’s event focused on suicide prevention, a personal subject for performer and Clarke Central High School Class of 2023 alumnus Malachi McNeill. “I still relapse, I still have my setbacks. I still sit there and feel like there’s nothing there,” McNeill said. “(Beats, Rhymes and LIFE) is what brings me back to the community, knowing that there’s people out here that care, that there’s people out here that will love me and hear me.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Sept./Oct. 2024

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Nailed it Chrysia Lane, JnaNailz owner and CCHS class of 2024 alumna, talks about her experience as a nail tech and business owner.

STORY BY CESIA MARTINEZ Variety Staffer LAYOUT BY JANE RIPPS Managing Editor

variety Staffer Cesia Martinez: who inspired you to start your own business?

JnaNailz owner and Clarke Central High School class of 2024 alumna Chrysia Lane: My mom's been doing hair all my life, so I've always been around this type of environment, but I (also) wanted to branch out and do my own thing. Both of my parents are hard-working, so that has really affected me as a person because I'm not a lazy person.

At first, (the process) was very discouraging because it was just me doing CM: what was the process CL: everything: promotion and building up the clientele. It was very hard, but as continued to build relationships with people and my clients, it started to of creating a business like? Ibecome easier.

Above: FROM THE BEGINNING: Chrysia Lane, JnaNailz owner and CCHS class of 2024 alumna, sits at her desk in her nail salon on Aug. 21. Lane began practicing doing nails during middle school, where her business took off. “I was scrolling on YouTube looking for art videos because at that time I really loved art. I came across a nail video and it was very intriguing, causing me to develop new interests and it blossomed from then,” Lane said.

Photo by Grady Dunston

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CM: what have you learned from being a nail tech?

CL: I used to be really shy. I didn’t know how to talk to people at all. Now, doing nails has created a community (for me). I feel like I have a sisterhood with a lot of my clients. (Also), I've learned how to manage my finances better because, with a job like this, you don't get paid weekly or bi-weekly like most people.

CM: how does being a part of BUILDING YOUR CLIENTS' CONFIDENCE impact you?

CL: It makes me feel great. I love being able to make other women feel good.

It's not even just nails. I build relationships with my clients so (that) when they come, we can talk about things. It's (also) a lot more than just the nail part, I would say. It builds confidence. Nails (are) part of self-care and (a) part of maintenance.

CM: What motivates you to keep doing nails?

CL: My clients, honestly. I get messages daily stating how much people love their nails (and) how they can't wait to come back. Doing it gets really tiring on my body, but seeing how I can make an impact (makes it worth it).

CM: What are your goals as a nail tech?

CL: My goal is to have a positive impact on everybody. I don't just want to do nails. I want to expand and really inspire other young girls (to think) that they can do whatever (they want to) because you can make a living off (of ) what you love if you do it right. I (also) want to start a franchise. I want to open up a few salons soon, and I want to work towards building a community and building an atmosphere where I have other workers. I love networking and being able to branch out and do more things.

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Top right: ALL ABOUT CONFIDENCE: A JnaNailz client models her nails for a picture. As the owner of Jna Nailz, Chrysia Lane has always made sure that her clients like their nails and feel confident in the set. “Nails can help with confidence extremely. A lot of people may not realizel but we all work with our hands,” Lane said. “When our hands are more presentable, it makes us feel more confident and ready to present ourself.”

Photo courtesy of Chrysia Lane Bottom right: FINDING PASSION: Chrysia Lane, JnaNailz owner and CCHS class of 2024 alumna, files a client's nails on Aug. 21. Lane has always had a passion for art, but becoming a nail tech has expanded her creative abilities. “(Doing nails is) an art. A lot of people don't think of it like that, but I draw a lot. I create, so it's art, and I love it,” Lane said. Photo by Grady Dunston

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Sept./Oct. 2024

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Quest for Athens' Best: After eating at several Asian restaurants around Athens, ODYSSEY staffers concluded that New Red Bowl offers the best beef lo mein.

LAYOUT BY ADAH HAMMAN Variety Editor

GRAPHICS BY SYLVIA ROBINSON Viewpoints Staffer/Illustrator

Above: FIRST PLACE: The front of New Red Bowl, an Asian restaurant located at 935 S. Barnett Shoals Rd, is shown.

New Red Bowl provided a pleasant dining experience and offered a variety of well-made dishes. “The beef lo mein costs $12.75 and has thinly sliced vegetables and flavorful beef mixed with a sweet umami sauce and tossed over chewy noodles,” Variety Staffer Violet Cantarella wrote. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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hen stepping into New Red Bowl, an Asian restaurant located at 935 S. Barnett Shoals Rd., customers are greeted with a modern environment: TV’s hang over a glossy bar and booths line the walls. A distinctly American setting that offers Asian food.

Luckily, that food is good.

The menu offers a wide variety of items both in and outside the Asian umbrella, from sushi to fried chicken. The beef lo mein costs $12.75, and has thinly sliced vegetables and flavorful beef mixed with a sweet umami sauce and tossed over chewy noodles. The portion sizes are generous, especially for the price, and quality is not sacrificed for quantity.

The restaurant also has options for those who are vegetarian or vegan, making it a good option for large groups with diverse preferences and dietary restrictions.

The restaurant's location, minutes from Cedar Shoals High School, might be a problem for students who live on the west side of Athens, but for those with cars, there is an abundance of available parking.

Overall, the restaurant offers an enjoyable experience both from a culinary and aesthetic standpoint.

BY VIOLET CANTARELLA Variety Staffer

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Flavor

9 Texture

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Price

9 Location

7 Atmosphere

9 Presentation Above: THE BEST BEEF: A bowl of beef lo mein from New Red Bowl, located at 935 S. Barnett Shoals Rd., is shown.The noodles were tasty and blended in well with the mix of vegetables, which landed New Red Bowl in first place in the Variety Staff’s rankings. “The portion sizes are generous, especially for the price, and quality is not sacrificed for quantity,” Variety Staffer Violet Cantarella wrote. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Overall Score

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9/10 Variety

LO MEIN LOWDOWN A

thens Wok, an Asian restaurant located at 493 E Clayton St., is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day and offers a variety of Asian cuisine, including an abundance of popular Chinese dishes.

Despite the restaurant’s modest exterior, the interior, and more importantly, its food, offer a delightful experience that will soothe any initial doubts that a customer may have.

Their beef lo mein, which costs $13.50, includes stir-fried cabbage, carrots, scallions and is topped with a brown onion sauce. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and savory, and the pieces of beef add a salty component to the mix.

As for the dining experience, though the space is small, the decor gives the dining area a cozy feel and large windows flood it with light, making it a great place to enjoy a meal. Additionally, the staff is very patient and happy to answer any questions that customers might have.

However, the restaurant’s location across the street from The Classic Center in Downtown could be a potential downside. For high school students who don’t own a car, eating there might not be an option.

Despite this, Athens Wok is still a great place to sit down and enjoy a meal that’s both tasty and affordable.

BY ADAH HAMMAN Variety Editor

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Flavor

Above: FULL OF FLAVOR: The sign for Asian restaurant Athens Wok, located at 493 E Clayton St, is shown.

Athens Wok’s beef lo mein scored second place because of its distinctive flavor. “It’s a perfect blend of sweet and savory, and the pieces of beef add a salty component to the mix,” Variety Editor Adah Hamman wrote. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

9 Texture

9 Price

8 Location

7 Atmosphere

8.5 9

presentation

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Overall Score

Above: FOOD WINS: A bowl of beef lo mein from Athens Wok, located at 493 E Clayton St, is shown. The outside of Athens Wok may not look like much, but the food more than compensated for the lack of ambiance. “Despite the restaurant’s modest exterior, its interior, and more importantly, its food, offer a delightful experience that will soothe any initial doubts that customers may have,” Variety Editor Adah Hamman wrote. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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C U LT U R A L B U Z Z The horror comedy “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” premiered in theaters on Sept. 6. Directed by gothic horror and fantasy director Tim Burton, the movie had a lot to live up to in regards to the original “Beetlejuice,” released in 1988. However, the sequel succeeded in the most spine-chilling way.

The original film centers around Lydia Deetz ( Winona Rider) and her encounters with the malicious spirit Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), whereas “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” focuses on Lydia’s daughter, Astrid ( Jenna Ortega), who accidentally opens another portal to the underworld.

For returning fans to the unsettling world of “Beetlejuice,” the film will exceed expectations. The unique visuals that characterized the original, such as face morphing and the sandworms, return in this sequel, paired with hilarious lines from the cast, each of whom contribute to its brilliance.

With a PG-13 rating, this movie isn’t for every fan of the creepy and paranormal, but is a must-watch this fall for fans of the original.

-- Peter Atchley, Diversity and Representation Editor

The newest book from New York Times bestselling author Dustin Thao, “When Haru was Here” was released Sept. 3 and is available for purchase at most book retailers.

The main character, Eric Ly, is a queer Vietnamese teenager who feels lost after the death of his boyfriend. The plot follows Eric’s life in the months after he meets a boy named Haru on a field trip in Japan.

Similarly to his previous bestseller, “You’ve Reached Sam,” Thao’s words will resonate with any reader who has lost a loved one and feels that they cannot find their way in the wake of that tragedy.

However, the book’s message feels repetitive after a certain point. Readers may feel beat over the head after 200 pages of grief no matter who powerful the message.

The book feels like the waiting room to the rest of the main character’s life. The growth of the main character is compelling and anyone who needs to take the next steps forward after a loss will take something from this book.

-- Violet Cantarella, Variety Staffer

Dunkin’ Donuts released the Dunkalatte, a latte made with espresso and coffee milk, on Aug. 28, along with the rest of their fall menu.

While the Dunkalatte may look basic and disappointing in appearance, the combination of espresso and coffee milk creates a rich and flavorful drink that will leave customers craving more.

The coffee milk, made of whole milk and coffee extract, makes the drink taste like a more bitter chocolate milk. Combined with the espresso, the drink is perfectly sweet without being overbearing and sips smoothly while still being especially creamy.

The drink also comes in a variety of sizes (small, medium and large) and is priced affordably, with prices ranging from $4.79 to $5.69.

Although it may not be a perfect fit for those who don’t enjoy sweeter coffees, the Dunkin’ Donuts Dunkalatte will leave customers satisfied with the richness and sweetness of the drink, regardless of its boring aesthetic.

-- Isabella Gresham, Viewpoints Editor

Short n' Sweet

S

abrina Carpenter released her latest album, "Short n’ Sweet,” on Aug. 23 to all streaming platforms. The album is 12 songs long and lasts for 36 minutes, featuring a variety of music genres, including pop, R&B and even country.

Carpenter, a former Disney Channel actress, lived relatively under the radar until 2021 when American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo released her lead single “drivers license,” a power ballad rumored to be about her former boyfriend Joshua Basset, whom Carpenter had allegedly begun dating. Carpenter’s clapback, “because i liked a boy,” was released in 2022 and launched her into a world of newfound stardom.

This summer, Carpenter found herself with a new smash hit: “Espresso,” which went viral on social media platforms like TikTok. Months later, “Short n’ Sweet,” Carpenter’s sixth album (and her best to date), was released. Filled with witty lyricisms and choruses that listeners just can’t seem to get enough of, it’s obvious that Carpenter has found her footing.

The first track “Taste” begins with Carpenter addressing her ex-boyfriend’s new partner, delivering biting remarks with a throaty purr. “I heard you’re back together and if that’s true / You’ll just have to taste me when he’s kissin’ you,” she drawls.

While the album contains various genres, it still feels cohesive and Carpenter’s voice blends in well with each set of instrumentals. Produced by John Ryan, Ian Kirkpatrick, Julian Bunetta and Jack Antonoff, each song has a distinct sound and none of them feel out of place.

However, even some of Carpenter’s more scandalous lyrics occasionally feel shallow and repetitive. Some of them are certainly low-hanging fruit, like in “Don’t Smile,” which is about the aftermath of a break up. “I stay in and when the girls come home / I want one of them to take my phone / Take my phone and lose your number,” Carpenter sings.

Despite this shortcoming, “Short n’ Sweet” is still a great album for the pop-minded listener and firmly establishes Carpenter as both a versatile singer and songwriter.

BY ADAH HAMMAN Variety Editor

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PHOTOS USED UNDER FAIR USE GUIDELINES

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ADAH HAMMAN Variety Editor

Variety

Variety

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EQUAL, NOT EQUITABLE The 2024 Paris Olympics reached a milestone for gender equality, but as a whole, athletics still have a ways to go to be truly equitable.

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he 2024 Paris Olympics: the perfect place to reach the numerical side of gender equality, but apparently not gender equity.

In late July, the International Olympic Committee announced that 28 out of 32 of this year’s athletic events had reached gender parity with roughly an equal number of male and female athletes competing.

BY LEA D’ANGELO However, gender equity – giving women the Webmaster means needed to succeed and recognizing that they aren’t at the same starting point as men – is one of the milestones left to achieve. This goes beyond ensuring that women and gender-diverse people are represented, but also that they’re respected.

Respect isn’t what Algerian and Tawianese boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting experienced when they faced scrutiny from fans based on their “masculine” features and strength.

Respect isn’t telling a Muslim woman she can’t wear a hijab while competing, the restriction placed on all French athletes.

Respect isn’t commentators calling women “housewives” at a tennis match or saying they have to go “fix their makeup” during a swimming event.

Despite the fact that 67 of Team U.S.A’s 126 medals were won by women,

according to National Public Radio, the road to get there required a fight that many men didn’t have to face. “( Women are) always asked about minimalist things and not the same things that the males are asked,” Evan Adams, a Clarke Central High School physical education department teacher and assistant varsity tennis coach said. “Women should get a pat on the back, because for a lot of (the comments), (they) stand up for themselves in interviews and kind of flip (the narrative). They shouldn’t have to, but they’ve learned how to cope with it.”

This isn’t only a Paris issue – it exists at CCHS. When Hannah Barnett, a former CCHS girls varsity soccer player and Class of 2022 alumna, brought a concern about the inequitable facilities between male and female sports at CCHS to the attention of the Clarke County School District Board of Education, CCHS’ female athletes had to advocate for themselves to be given a fair chance.

“We need to have an area that’s ours and for it to kind of just be brushed aside was disappointing,” CCHS varsity volleyball coach Stacey Scott said. “(It) also just felt like we were unseen and not really being heard. (It was) more like we were complaining and not asking for something that just kind of comes with the other sports, as in (revenue-making), male sports.”

While the 2024 Paris Olympics were numerically equal, gender equity is more than that. It’s women being given an fair chance to succeed, both on and off the field, even if it means bending the rules, allocating more funds or even simply recognizing a woman not for her gender, but for her talent.

While the 2024 Paris Olympics were numerically equal, gender equity is more than that.

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Above: EXPERIENCING EQUALITY. An illustration shows women struggling to peek through the Olympic rings. This year’s Olympic Games in Paris were the first in which there were an equal number of female and male athletes competing, but there were clear differences in how they were treated. “While the 2024 Paris Olympics were numerically equal, gender equity is more than that. It’s women being given an fair chance to succeed, both on and off the field,” Webmaster Lea D’Angelo wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

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IN FOCUS

Featured: Clarke Central High School senior Bella Yelton yells into a megaphone from the Billy Henderson Stadium stands during the varsity football team’s 37-36 comeback win over Oconee County High School on Aug. 23. Yelton was the leader of an all-red student section that cheered on the Gladiators during their comeback. “Gladiator Nation: this was a team effort and a team win, no individuals,” CCHS defensive coordinator Joshua Dawson said. “(That’s) the only way you can come back from that many points down.”

Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Blazing A trail

Robert Horace “Chuck” Kinnebrew, University of Georgia Class of 1975 alumnus and former defensive guard, describes his experience integrating the UGA football team as a groundbreaking member of “The Five.”

Sports Staffer Jovi Grantham: What was YOUR experience like as a first-year college student and a first-year football player?

University of Georgia Class of 1975 alumnus and former defensive guard Robert Horace “Chuck” Kinnebrew: It was interesting because it was the first time that a lot of the white guys ever played with Black football players. I think once they saw off the field that we were just (as) intelligent as they were, or even more, then they started to gain a newfound respect for us. From a football standpoint, it was good to be around other players that had the same skill level that you had. You had to work even harder to put yourself in a position to play.

JG: Did you and the other four Black players have a specific goal in integrating the UGA football team?

CK: Collectively, no. Individually, yes. I didn’t look at the trailblazing aspect of it (initially). I knew we were coming to school here as one of the first (Black football players at UGA), (but) that wasn’t that important to me. The most important thing to me was getting established and being able to play.

STORY BY JOVI GRANTHAM Sports Staffer LAYOUT BY WYATT MEYER Editor-in-Chief

Above: A TRUE STUDENT-ATHLETE: Robert Horace “Chuck” Kinnebrew, University of Georgia Class of 1975 alumnus and former defensive guard, poses next to a monument erected in his honor outside Sanford Stadium on Sept. 11. Even as Kinnebrew integrated the UGA football team with four Black teammates in the fall of 1971, academics presented another challenge he had to overcome. “Once school started, (I focused on) being able to successfully navigate the challenges that freshman can have going from high school to college academically, and I was able to do that, of course,” Kinnebrew said. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Sports

JG: did you have any future aspirations after UGA individually?

CK: My junior year, I just came to the realization that I doubted I was going to get drafted. So, my objective all along was to graduate and coach because they didn’t have any Black coaches in the (Southeastern Conference), and so that was a need that I felt compelled to address by virtue of participating in that process.

JG: When did you realize the significance of y’all being The first five?

CK: Thirty-five years later. We were annoyed that (former UGA football coach Vince) Dooley didn’t recognize the accomplishment after a 25-year break.

Then, after 35 (years), we decided to do something, and when I saw the impression that it had on other people, that’s when I realized that it was significant, it was important and it was something that we all should be proud of.

JG: looking back, what does your experience at UGA mean to you?

CK: I love (UGA). I’m extremely proud to be a graduate. I understand and appreciate the role that I played in being a pioneer here, being a positive role model and spokesperson for this university. I have an appreciation for that now. There’s a bust, a carving of us on the side of the stadium that will be here from now on. I think that type of recognition just supports the impact that we’ve had.

JG: what advice would you give Those who aspire to either go pro or stay in college football?

CK: It’s time for Black athletes to get in touch with the responsibility that they have to get something out of being (at UGA). I think they need to look at the opportunity that’s there in front of them, take advantage of it and give back so that other people can benefit from what they’ve done.

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Above: TIGHT-KNIT TEAMMATES: A monument honoring the five University of Georgia football players to inegrate the team stands outside Sanford Stadium. Robert Horace “Chuck” Kinnebrew, one of those five athletes, spent considerable time with his Black teammates during his time in Athens. “We were close. We stuck together. We hung out together,” Kinnebrew said. “Just by virtue of us being in the same suite, that allowed us to communicate (and) compare notes.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Above: TIGHT-KNIT TEAMMATES: Robert Horace “Chuck” Kinnebrew, University of Georgia Class of 1975 alumnus and former defensive guard, poses outside UGA’s Sanford Stadium on Sept. 11. Kinnebrew, a trailblazer in his own right, feels the responsibility to continue progress for Black athletes rests on the shoulders of athletes past and present. “I think (former and current Black students-athletes) should consider supporting (UGA) financially by giving back to the 1961 Club, giving back to the Black Endowment Fund, or giving back in (another) way,” Kinnebrew said. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Building a foundation

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Although athletic programs at CCHS organize their pre-varsity teams differently, all have a united purpose: developing athletes’ skills to prepare for varsity-level competition.

a

s the 2024-25 school year begins, Clarke Central High School's fall athletics are in full swing with varsity LAYOUT BY JANE RIPPS football, flag football, cheerleading, Managing Editor volleyball and softball programs striving to fill the stands at home games.

Look at football: while the varsity team draws students and community members to Billy Henderson Stadium on Friday nights – according to Associate Athletic Director Christopher Aiken, 875 GoFan tickets were sold for the CCHS vs. Oconee County High School varsity football game on Aug. 23.

STORY BY LYDIA ROWELL Sports Staffer

just need (time) to get better so that we can go on to varsity.”

Like Benavides, CCHS JV softball left fielder Izzy Evans, a freshman, views JV as a vital stepping stone before progressing to varsity.

“You get to watch varsity play as a JV player, and you get to see (how) they'll do this certain thing with their hand when they catch or (how) they’ll run a base a certain way,” Evans said. “Learning the roles at a lesser intensity than varsity will definitely help hone your skills and (allow you to) get a grasp of the game.”

Unlike in many other CCHS athletic programs, under the direction of head softball coach William Lance, both JV and varsity

“(JV is) a great developmental stage to help build champtionship-winning programs, because it all starts at the foundation.”

-- JACKSON BROOKS, CCHS freshman football team wide reciever However, on the Thursdays before, the stands are sparsely crowded. For the freshman football team's home game against OCHS on Sept. 5, only 100 GoFan tickets were sold.

Even though these teams may not receive the same attention, freshman and junior varsity programs are working behind the scenes to reach the big stage. At CCHS, nearly all sports have pre-varsity teams that act as the backbone of high school athletics, whether it be through JV or freshman programs.

Although the CCHS football program doesn’t have an official JV team, most freshmen are grouped together on the ninth-grade team to acclimate. For CCHS freshmen football team wide receiver Jackson Brooks, this preparation not only builds individual skills such as leadership and cooperation but also guarantees a smooth transition as players step into positions on varsity.

“JV allows you to really perfect your craft for when you get to varsity,” Brooks said. “(It’s) a great developmental stage to help build championship-winning programs, because it all starts at the foundation.”

Brooks, along with the rest of his freshmen teammates, will feed into the JV and varsity programs when they transitions into their sophomore year. In contrast, CCHS volleyball has clearly defined JV and varsity levels that rarely intermix.

“JV gives you a head start (to see) what varsity is gonna look like when you go on the team,” CCHS JV volleyball co-captain and libero Naomi Benavides, a sophomore, said. “I think it teaches a lesson for all of us, saying that even though we're not on varsity, we

practice together.

“To me, all JV is, is gaining experience, understanding the culture and being a part of something bigger than yourself.

Whereas everything varsity does, they're being judged on wins and losses,” Lance said. “You're building confidence, you're building on fundamentals, and it gives a chance for the girls to fail in a scenario where it doesn't matter in the sense of wins and losses.”

For players new to their chosen sports, JV lays down a foundation. For coaches, it’s an opportunity to plan the future of their varsity program in the long term.

“This would be our second year with the JV team, and I would say from year one to year two, we had a substantial amount of success from varsity. Adding the JV program added another layer of experience and fundamentals, and it allowed varsity be able to have teams to scrimmage against at practice,” CCHS flag football head coach Cherrelle Pass said. “Even this year, we've added a ninth grade team.”

Lance agrees that JV sports act as a pipeline, allowing athletes the opportunity to commit to a program early in their high school career without dealing with the added pressure of varsity-level competition.

“If you don't have JV, you're really handicapping yourself, because you're not having (players) develop at a younger age and learning the game, and they're not getting the valuable experience and reps,” Lance said. “They get the opportunity to try something that maybe they would have never tried.”

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Left: TURNING UP THE HEAT: (From left to right) Freshman football team wide receiver Jackson Brooks, JV volleyball libero Naomi Benavides, a sophomore, and JV softball team left fielder Izzy Evans, a freshman, pose in their athletic gear. On the freshman football team, the emphasis on amplifying individual performance in practice has allowed Brooks to further his skills. “(The freshman team is a) big transition of a (higher) intensity and physicality (from middle school). It's helped me get stronger, (and) I've gotten a lot more physical and built more confidence,” Brooks said. Photos by Ma’kiyah Thrasher

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5

things to know about the CCHS girls varsity cross country team

By Vivian Carabello, as told to Gillian Williams

1. one vs. the team

Everyone’s training schedule is different, which is a thing I like about cross country. Everyone’s journey with cross country is different. Everyone starts different places, and our goal is at the end of the year for us all to be at one much similar point, so we can all start together, train together, race together, all of it.

2. Team sisterhood For the girls team, it’s like a sisterhood. Especially (with) me being a senior, I feel like the mother. They call me grandma, but they’re sisters to me, and I can go to them for anything, whether it’s on the track or in the classroom.

3. Run as one There’s a quote that’s like, ‘We train together, we run as one, and then we finish together.’ Even though it’s technically an individual sport, you feel like you’re a unit running, especially running down Milledge (Avenue), running on the track (in practice). You feel so bonded. Anytime I’m struggling, which happens a lot, I’m able to help lean on them, and we are all there for each other. They’re kind of my escape.

4. lessons learned Running has helped me in more ways than I (know), but it’s taught me grit, integrity and just not stopping when I want to stop. ( When) it’s August, we’re running and it’s really hot, you just kind of have to (have) that mental side.

5. RUNS are an open door The best thing about being a cross country runner is probably the fact that you don’t have to try out. It doesn’t matter what level you are, you can be any level, but you can come out and these people are going to support you. We cheer probably louder for the last person than we do the first person.

Featured: INSPIRED TO RUN: Clarke Central High School girls varsity cross country team captain Vivian Carabello, a senior, poses on the track in Billy Henderson Stadium on Aug. 22. Carabello has run with the cross country team throughout her time in high school because of her love of the sport. “I just enjoy running. It’s such a beautiful time, especially being an athlete (and) being able to compete with my team,” Carabello said. Photo by Wyatt Meyer

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Star Players

ODYSSEY Star Players are selected based on their academic standing and commitment to teammates, their sports program and Clarke Central High School.

Star Players are written for each issue by the Sports Staff based on interviews with players and coaches.

ALEX OZUNA Grade: 11

GPA: 4.16

Years of experience: 9

Game day ritual: I like to put my wristband on right before we start playing instead of during warmups.

Role Model: My role model is my father. He taught me how to play softball and he’s coached me and my siblings.

Favorite memory: It was fun when we played in the rain last year, and I ended my season with a double.

Cheering on each other whenever we (make) good plays, (get) good hits, that’s always fun.

What coaches say: She is just an elite kid all around. As a coach, you pray that you can have someone half as good at softball as Alex, and you pray that you can have a student half as good as Alex, so she is 100% the total package.

-- Head varsity softball coach William Lance

Photo by Violet Cantarella

VARSITY SOFTBALL

ALEX OZUNA Photo by Wyatt Meyer

CELESTE FISCHETTI Grade: 10

GPA: 3.91

Years of experience: 2

Game day ritual: We usually have a pregame meal, and then we do our warm-ups, and, depending on how much time we have left before the game starts, we talk about our game plan.

Favorite memory: We were at an away game. It was my first year (playing), and we won two back-toback games. The ride home on the bus was just really fun (because) we were happy that we won.

Role Model: (CCHS varsity flag football player) Sadie Miller because she was (a) part of the inaugural team, and she’s (a) starting wide receiver, and she’s also my best friend.

What coaches say: Celeste is a standout athlete who has consistently displayed determination and perseverance in her academic and athletic pursuits over the past three years. I have had the honor of coaching her in basketball and flag football during this time.

-- Head junior varsity flag football coach Marie Peel

Sports

JV FLAG FOOTBALL

CELESTE FISCHETTI Sept./Oct. 2024

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