ODYSSEY Volume 21, Issue 1 - October/November 2023

ODYSSEY

Volume Volume Volume 212121 Issue Issue Issue 11 1 Oct./Nov. Oct./Nov. Oct./Nov. 2023 2023 2023

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THIS ISSUE INCLUDES A STORY EXPLORING THE NEW ESPORTS PROGRAM AT CLARKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VIEWPOINTS 6 -13 MY WORD VS. YOURS 11 Viewpoints Staffers Ma’Kiyah Thrasher and Sam

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Harwell debate the pros and cons of CCSD’s new phone pouches and their impact on the school year.

Featured: STANDING STRONG: Knowa Johnson, co-founder, board member and Vice President of Marketing at the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, stands outside of the AADM pop-up in the Georgia Square Mall on Sept. 1. To further engage with the Athens community, the AADM offered workshops to Athens residents, including a youth program. “The youth program is a passion project of ours to engage in this community to make sure that they’re experiencing things outside of their community and outside of what their families can show them,” Johnson said. “It helps them learn how to use their voices so that, in their situations, in their lives and their jobs and their community, they can speak up.” Photo by Aza Khan

BY MA’KIYAH THRASHER AND SAM HARWELL

features 14 -17 OWLS TAKE FLIGHT 14 CMS Construction of Clarke Middle School’s new building is underway while the students have been phased into trailer classrooms.

BY CADENCE SCHAPKER

NEWS 18 - 21 MOVING UP 20 CCHS Assistant Principal Everett “Barten” Nealy came to CCHS in 2017 with the goal of helping students and has spread his in uence through his various positions.

BY ANGEL JARA

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Featured: ACCEPTANCE: Mother Lode Owner Lindsay Short smiles at the camera in Mother Lode located at 1005 Baxter St., on Sept. 5.

Short has used Mother Lode as an opportunity to support customers. “My husband and I don’t have kids, but I want to be able to offer (acceptance) to anyone who comes in, whether it be students or anyone else,” Short said.

“I wouldn’t be able to share the love that I was given (from my parents) with everyone else, so providing a space that’s inclusive and says ‘It’s okay to express yourself’ is what I want people to know (Mother Lode) for.” Photo by Daniel Cruz

variety 22 - 38 JANIE 23 JUDGE Various initiatives from the CCSD and

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Athens-Clarke County Government to promote artistic expression throughout the community are e tremely ene cial to students and community members.

BY JANIE RIPPS

SPORTs 39 - 47 TELL ME, WY 39 From the high school level all the way to the pros e ery le el of sports would ene t from increased coaching diversity.

BY WYATT MEYER

Featured: REGARDLESS OF GENDER: Clarke Central High School varsity softball head coach William Lance speaks to varsity softball players during practice on Sept. 1 on the CCHS soft all eld Throughout the 2023-24 softball season, Lance aimed to gain recognition for the team, not only among other girls’ sports but all sports at CCHS. y rst thought was (that) wanted ( arsity softball) to be the most prominent female sport at Clarke Central,” Lance said. “And then I started thinking that that shouldn’t be the goal. We want to be the most prominent team in Clarke Central period, regardless of gender.” Photo by Ciyana Ramos

Cover illustration by Sam Harwell Cover design by Molly Harwell

Oct./Nov. 2023

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odysseynewsmagazine.com REVIEW: “MOVIE OF THE WEEK” Folk-Americana artist Alejandro Rose-Garcia, known professionally as Shakey Graves, released his album “Movie of the Week” on Sept. 15.

BY ANNA SHAIKUN

LOOKING FORWARD As the CCHS’ football C-team approaches their last game of the season against Oconee County High School at home on Oct. 11 at p m they re ect on the progress they have made over the season.

BY ANGEL JARA

GALLERY: HISPANIC HERITAGE FESITVAL The CCHS Tri-M Music Honor Society held the Hispanic Heritage Festival on Oct. 4 in the CCHS bus loop from 5-7 p.m.

BY AZA KHAN

LIFELONG COMPANION Variety Staffer Abigail Holloway discusses how owning a tortoise as a pet impacts her life.

BY ABIGAIL HOLLOWAY

Odyssey

The ODYSSEY is a studentproduced 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.

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.

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 Quill and Scroll Honor Society, Georgia Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Southern Interscholastic Press Association.

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

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Editor-in-Chief: Molly Harwell Digital Editor-in-Chief: Anna Shaikun Managing Editor: Maya Clement Lead Copy Editor: Wyatt Meyer Viewpoints Editor: Peter Atchley News Editor: Isabella Westrich Variety Editor: Janie Ripps Sports Editor: Cadence Schapker Photography Editor: Aza Khan Business Manager: Audrey St. Onge Social Media Coordinator: Isabelle Duncan Webmaster: Luke Shannon Staff Members: Evan Cornish Daniel Cruz Jesse Dantzler Samaya Ellis Adah Hamman Sam Harwell Merren Hines Abigail Holloway Angel Jara Cooper Jones Ciyana Ramos Liya Taylor Angel Tejada Ma’Kiyah Thrasher Aliyah Wymbs Adviser: David A. Ragsdale, CJE ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia 30605 CSPA, GSPA, NSPA, SIPA, Quill and Scroll (706)-357-5200 EXT. 17370

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A FINAL SALUTE

Our May 2023 issue featured a story about former CCHS Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle retiring after instructing at CCHS for 16 years and the legacy he left behind.

>> FEATURES

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Oct./Nov. 2023

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR The banning of Advanced Placement African American Studies serves as a form of censorship in schools and takes away students’ academic freedom.

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t’s no secret that the history of the United States is complicated. As much as it’s built upon the ideals of liberty and justice, it has also been built upon racism, division and hatred.

Fortunately, students have long had the access to learn about the complexity of the country.

In present day, however, lawmakers are trying to limit that access.

In January, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and

BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief his administration rejected the College Board’s newest Advanced Placement pilot program, AP African American Studies, a course that “reaches into a variety of fields—literature, the arts and humanities, political science, geography and science—to explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans,” according to the College Board.

However, DeSantis stated that the course violates Florida state law and isn’t historically accurate, according to a Jan. 19 article published by the New York Times.

This decision came shortly after DeSantis signed the Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop WOKE Act, in April 2022 to restrict how the topic of race could be discussed in Florida’s schools and workplaces.

These two instances are major examples of an elected official trying to censor history for students and limit their cademic freedom.

While it’s easy to label these issues as only Florida problems, the Georgia State Senate already enacted anti-Critical Race Theory legislation in April 2022, as evident in Georgia House Bill 1084.

The bill, also known as the Protect Students First Act, will “prohibit the use of curricula that addresses the topics of slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation or racial discrimination,” without influence of personal beliefs, as outlined in Section 1, Article 6.

Sound familiar?

In the Clarke County School District, however, the course is being embraced, as many see the ban as an unfair burden on students.

“I view (the ban) as a form of censorship, and usually when society takes those action steps to mute people, it only motivates those who have a passion for the subject matter to see their voices, let their voices be heard,” Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Swade Huff said. “As a minority, I feel like it’s a form of whitewashing. It doesn’t work because the history is the history and the bottom line is, the story will get told.”

The AP African American Studies course at Cedar Shoals High School, taught by CSHS social studies department teacher Montu Miller, is open to students in 9-12 grades and counts as a social studies elective credit. Courses like this are vital for students, as they allow students to see themselves represented in a curriculum outside of a standard social studies class that only touches on Black history at the surface level.

“AP African American Studies is filling in a lot of the gaps that (a) U.S. history (class) doesn’t, so I think it impacts students because it just gives them a (greater) depth of knowledge, especially with most of my classes being African American,” Miller said.

While the implementation of AP African American Studies at CSHS feels like a win, the fact remains that many legislators’ priorities were to ensure students are kept in safe, sheltered bubbles instead of providing them with a comprehensive education. “(Some legislators) don’t want this knowledge to be taught to kids because it opens up to the kids to understand their legacy, and if they understand their legacy, then I feel like they push harder forward,” Miller said.

Trying to cover up and “protect” the complex history of the country is just giving way for issues like racism, homophobia and xenophobia to persist, especially within our own schools.

As a young American, I, along with my peers, deserve the right to learn about the history of our country, even if it may be uncomfortable at times.

We should have access to a complete education, one that teaches us how to never forget how we got to where we are today. Lawmakers must realize is that if we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it.

One thing that lawmakers must realize is that if we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it.

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Left: ILLUMINATED BY TRUTH: A group of students stand in the darkness, separated from a classroom illuminated in the light of knowledge. The Florida Board of Education moved to ban the College Board’s Advanced Placement African American Studies course, which Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell feels was an unfair censorship of American history. “While the implementation of the AP African American Studies course at Cedar Shoals feels like a win, the fact remains that many legislators’ priorities were to ensure students are kept in safe, sheltered bubbles instead of providing them with a comprehensive education,” Harwell wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

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Viewpoints

BOILING POINT Athens citizens must recognize the city’s history before it is completely gone.

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throughout the city such as through murals, fashion, local restaurants, businesses and music.

One example in Downtown Athens is Hot Corner, an African-American business district that has existed since the early 1900s. There Athenians can find places like the historic Morton Theatre and Wilson’s His and Hers Styling Shop which have been open for 113 years and 71 years, respectively.

To learn more about Athens history, there are several things that Clarke Central High School students can do.

One solution is to talk with older generations, either within families or at

BY MAYA CLEMENT Managing Editor community events such as the 60th Anniversary of Integration Event on Sept. 17, sponsored by the Athens branch record. Some of Athens’ past, of the Association for the Study of especially focusing on Black history, African American Life and History, has been erased from history, about the history they experienced. leaving these crucial memories to These events keep the unwritten be passed down from generation to past of Athens alive. generation by word of mouth.

Another option is attending For example, from 1962-66, community member visits hosted in dozens of Black families were the CCHS Media Center. Prominent displaced from their homes in a figures who have visited are Athens local neighborhood community called Linnentown due to an Urban Renewal Program. However, until recently artist Broderick Flanigan and Linnentown first descendents such as Hattie Linnentown wasn’t mentioned anywhere in documented Athens history, leaving Thomas Whitehead.

Lastly, in 2024, a Black History Center will be built to share more unknown only living residents to share their experience. parts of Athens history, a project overseen by Thomas Whitehead, which more In a town with a 24.6% Black population, the second greatest racial group in Athens according to the Athens-Clarke County website, the unacknowledged directly seeks to educate the community on Athens’ Black history.

Overall, locals and students should push themselves out of their comfort Black history of Athens is information that needs to be told. It is an injustice to zones and interact with people who want to share their stories. They need to try take away such a large part of the city and population’s past. to gain an understanding of the deep history that Athens holds and pass it along, Beyond communities, there have been changes in businesses throughout so that it will never be forgotten.

Athens. In June of 2021, local restaurant The Varsity, previously located at O 1000 W. Broad St., closed after nearly 60 years of service starting at that location in 1964.

As a lifelong Athens resident, Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Swade Huff has seen the effect of historical changes on the city.

“The word that comes to mind is surprised because you have certain communities that I’ve known since I was born that are no longer here. You have The Varsity, quarter of a mile away (from CCHS), maybe a half mile away behind Sheats Barber Shop, where I grew up because of my grandma. She still resides there and her neighbors are white,” Huff said. “For me to see the transformation, and I look back and compare when I was a kid to now, the diversity that I’m seeing in the city is different.”

If Athenians don’t recognize history, especially what is not written in history books, it will fade away until it is completely gone. Athens citizens should challenge themselves to learn about the history of the community around them and acknowledge the changes that have occurred.

This local history is represented in a variety of ways here is a layered history throughout the communities where people live, but this history is not always well-known.

In Athens, monuments, cultural landmarks and historical areas have been erased.

As a result, the city has drastically shifted and citizens have been displaced, leaving the city vastly different now than it used to be.

Yet, not all of this change is common knowledge that one can find in the historical

If Athenians don’t recognize history, especially what is not written in history books, it will fade away until it is completely gone.

Right: MIRRORED: How Athens appeared in the past (top) is compared to how Athens is currently presented (bottom). Athens has a rich history, from the Hot Corner Business District to Linnentown to local businesses, but some of this history has been erased from documentation. “Athens citizens should challenge themselves to learn about the history of the community around them and acknowledge the changes that have occurred,” Managing Editor Maya Clement wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

Viewpoints

Oct./Nov. 2023

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Lea D Angelo

FRESH VOICE

Question of the month hat is your fa orite fall memory

ournalism student Lea D Angelo re ects on the idea that e erything happens for a reason as someone who has een through a lot of change

really li e drin ing tea t s ust really nice Being co y ust ma es life a whole lot etter

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or some people, change is something their brain tells them to fear, that it will keep pushing them back when it’s already so hard to stay ahead. Unfortunately, I’m one of those people, but ironically, my life has been filled with more changes than I’d thought possible.

I’ve moved four times, lived in three different states and have gone to five different schools since kindergarten. New house, new school, new friends, new people, more anxiety.

The idea that change is “necessary” and “good” has always stood out to me in books I’ve read and conversations had with family members, and I’ve always wondered, “Why?” It’s a question I ask myself constantly, especially when I’ve spent the past four years fighting to stay in contact with my best friend in a world that seems determined to keep us apart at every turn. I had to watch her go through hard things and find ways to support her through a screen.

Maybe the “why” is that it’s made me incredibly loyal and realize how much I have to hold on to the people who matter. Maybe it was to make me more empathetic.

As a society, we’re expected to accept the idea that “everything happens for a reason” without actually asking what that reason is. As someone who’s heard this many times, I’ve started to see it as a statement of invalidation, one that’s made to make me feel like I’m causing myself more pain just because I’m questioning the things I’m going through.

Moving so much made me stronger and gave me opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise, but I still deserved to question that pain. Those moves weren’t meant to hurt me in any way, but they still had negative impacts.

As a society, we should feel comfortable questioning why we go through certain things and how they affect us without fear of invalidation from the people around us. We shouldn’t have to accept that certain changes are good simply because they made us a better person.

Change can hurt.

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LORA ALLE O LO A CCHS freshman

went to this Trun or Treat for a church a while ac when was (in) the fth grade They had a piñata competition to see if you could rea the pi ata the fastest and won all the candy CARL E HOL ES CCHS sophomore am a ig fan of Halloween ust once it starts getting cold and you can start eing a le to get a little spoo ier with it R LEY ARES CCHS junior

y fa orite fall memory is chilling with my family and my mom ecause really lo e hanging out with her SHAN A LOSSON CCHS senior

n elementary school we went to the fall festi als There were hayrides and ca e wal s and it was a time of togetherness fun laughter lo e t was a ery comforting time.”

Above: RO N A AY A collection of photos captures ournalism student Lea D Angelo on her rst day of school at arious points throughout her life D Angelo mo ed a lot as a child which has impacted the way she iews change As a society we re e pected to accept the idea that e erything happens for a reason without actually as ing what that reason is D Angelo said Photos y Ashli Truchon and amie D Angelo

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odysseynewsmaga ine com

TA KA HENSON CCHS Assistant Principal

iewpoints

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

OUR TAKE Now that Clar e iddle School has nally gotten its long-awaited rebuild, CMS students need to help maintain the new facilities.

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IN COMES THE NEW Clarke Middle School is undergoing a rebuilding to their outdated ammenities, which will create a great campus for future students and staff alike.

BUILDING A BETTER ATHENS The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement works to uplift minority voices in the Athens community.

SEEING STUDENTS SUCEED CCHS Assistant Principal Everett “Barten” Nealy has used his own experience as a student to help kids throughout his time in a variety of positions at CCHS. GAMER GOALS The CCHS varsity Esports team has logged into the world of CCHS sports, giving students uninterested in traditional sports a way to pursue an alternative option.

Viewpoints

STOP THE CENSORSHIP Many school districts have banned AP African American Studies, which, if not addressed, could mislead a generation of students about the complex history of the United States.

GOAL LINE TO SIDELINE Although much progress has been made with diversity in athletics, these efforts often exclude coaches and those working on the sidelines.

inally.

That’s the word that will be on the tongues of many in the Athens community after Clarke Middle School, the bane of many a pubescent Athenian’s existence, finally gets its long-awaited rebuild.

Construction of the school’s new building has commenced, with the facility scheduled to be finished before the start of the 2024-25 school year and students moving into designated trailers for the duration of the 2023-24 term.

Though the end of the “Roach Motel” may be sad to those devoted students that passed through its doors, alumni must realize that they’ve had their fun with the building, and it’s time for a new generation of Owls to spread their wings in a newer facility. “(The old CMS building) was pretty nice, but it was really old and there was a lot of problems with the bathrooms,” CMS seventh grader Jayda Mueller said.

“I’m excited that we get a new gym, and the (class)rooms will be bigger and nicer.”

However, the promise of a new building doesn’t come without one concern: can these Owls preserve the glisteny shine of their new nest?

Those concerned with what students can do to a brand new facility needn’t look further than Clarke Central High School’s $30 million renovation in 2016, which resized classrooms and generally revamped the school.

“We see some evidence now of things (at CCHS) that maybe aren’t being taken care of very carefully,” CCHS Instructional Coach Ginger Lehmann said.

“One place that always discourages me is the bathrooms. We paint them all the time and we can never keep up with the students.”

While the Gladiators have struggled with taking care of their facilities, the Owls have the chance to take up the call.

In order to maintain a positive learning environment, CMS students need to do what few of their predecessors could: keep their school clean, organized and insect-free.

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TEENAGE TV Teenage representation in popular media glori es topics such as drug use and violence, which has a profound negative impact on the impressionable youth it portrays.

WHERE HAS ATHENS GONE? Athens has undergone a number of changes over time, causing the cultural history of the city to slip away.

Above: FRESH AND CLEAN: A student walks down the halls of the new Clarke Middle School building on the left while seeing the state of disrepair of the old building on the right. After having a new facility developed for them ahead of the 2024-2025 school year, CMS students need to maintain their new home lest it fall into the disrepair that char characterized their old one. “In order to maintain a positive learning environment, CMS students need to do what very few middle schoolers have done before: keep their school clean, organized and insect-free.” Illustration by Sam Harwell

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ACTUALLY ATCHLEY Popular media portrays teenagers as oversexualized, drugged out, and lazy. This perception harms high schoolers and good representiontion is hard to nd

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here is not a thing on the planet Earth that compares to fentanyl.” That’s a real line spoken by 26-year-old actress Zendaya, who portrays 17-year-old Rue Bennett on the TV series “Euphoria.”

While lines like this may at first seem to be a harmless dramatization, the reality is that adult shows

BY PETER ATCHLEY Viewpoints Editor like “Euphoria” negatively impact kids and teenagers who consume the content nonetheless.

Other popular shows, like “Do Revenge,” “Ginny and Georgia” and “Riverdale” glamorize oversexualizing teenagers, committing crimes and using drugs with their one-dimensional characters.

“Stereotypes are being used to box teenagers in without offering depth: the jock that has feelings, the bad boy with a painful childhood, the goody-two-shoes virgin, the airhead cheerleader. These roles take away the complexity of a teenager, making their high school role their defining trait,” according to a May 2021 Seattle Times article.

These tropes are imprinted on kids through the use of older actors to portray younger characters, which creates unrealistic standards for what a teenager should look or act like at their age.

According to the Body Positivity Alliance, a student-led organization advocating for body inclusivity, the average age disparity between actors and

teenagers in popular media is eight years.

Along with this age difference comes different expectations and experiences, which can cause young adults to begin to compare themselves to popular figures in an unhealthy way.

Another prevalent case of oversexualization stemming from this age gap is in the hit television show “Riverdale.”

In the series, 16-year-old Betty Cooper – played by 20-year-old Lily Reinhardt – performs a strip show at a biker bar, while 15-year-old Archie Andrews – played by 19-year-old KJ Apa – has a relationship with one of his teachers.

The truth is, most high schoolers simply don’t engage in those kinds of activities, as they fluctuate between lots of identities during high school.

Many of these harmful ideas are forced upon teenagers in flashy, popular media, which pollutes this development process. “(In popular media), you must show the extreme and show the amazing, but I also like to show all the in-betweens. I don’t want to be all these amazing or terrible standards because people don’t always fit into those boxes,” Clarke Central High School freshman Callie Wallace said.

Teenagers deserve fair and positive representation.

Shows such as “Heartstopper,” “Moxie” and “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” all do a much better job of accurately representing the multifaceted nature of the teenage experience.

It’s the responsibility of media executives to put more thought into their characters and actors to know the effect they have in popular media.

If more TV shows and movies were honest about how high schoolers truly behave, younger generations would be seen more positively by peers – and themselves.

Many of these harmful ideas are forced upon teenagers in flashy, popular media, which pollutes this development process.

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Left: REPRESENTATION ROARS: Two teenagers stand together as various forms of negati e teenage representation oat around them. Popular media currently portrays high school students negatively, which had a predictably adverse impact on Gen Z. “It’s the responsibility of media executives to put more thought into their characters and actors to know the effect they have in popular media,” Atchley wrote. “If more TV shows and movies were honest about how high schoolers truly behave, younger generations would be seen more positively by peers – and themselves.” Illustration by Sam Harwell

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Viewpoints

MY WORD VS. YOURS Viewpoints Staffers Ma’Kiyah Thrasher and Sam Harwell debate the pros and cons of CCSD’s new phone pouches and its impact on the school year.

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he large classroom is filled with people, yet you can’t see anyone’s face.

They’re all looking down at their phones, addicted and distracted. No one’s paying attention, and no one’s getting work done.

This was the reality for many Clarke Central SAM HARWELL High School classrooms before the new cell Viewpoints Staffer phone policy, which states that students must turn in their phones to the teacher at the beginning of class and can only get them back when the period ends.

Obviously, students don’t like giving up their precious devices, but even the students who don’t like the policy are thriving in the classroom.

t the beginning of the school year, Clarke County School District gave all middle and high school teachers cell phone pouches.

Some teachers use these, and some use other phone collection methods.

After having a more lenient policy last year, the CCSD now requires middle and high MA’KIYAH THRASHER school students to place their phones in pouches Viewpoints Staffer throughout the duration of the period. “(Putting my phone in the pouches) is pointless and I would rather just keep my phone in my bookbag. Using it for music is helpful to focus,” Clarke Central High School sophomore Skyla Little said.

When there are emergencies in the school, phones should be used to contact parents so they can know what is going on.

Phones are the main distraction for students, but with them gone, they actually are focused for once.

Being without phones limits the amount of research students can do because some websites are blocked on CCSD-issued devices.

For example, when students research using “Internet Public Library,” they are unable to access it due to GoGuardian blocking it.

In addition to academic uses, phones also provide a means of communicating between students and families. When there are emergencies in the school, students should be allowed to use phones to contact parents and guardians so they can know what is going on.

“I get really bad anxiety when it’s a lockdown, fire drills or weather, so often I text my parents and let them know what’s going on,” CCHS senior Zailee Green said. “I just text them being like, ‘Hey, this is going on, I’m getting a little bit anxious.’ It just provides me with comfort.”

Additionally, listening to music in class can helps students focus.

“I think as far as listening to music while you work, sometimes that’s the only way to get things done because it just helps you focus,” Green said. “I personally listen to podcasts while I work and that has really helped me a lot doing classwork when my class is distracting.”

CCSD should go back to letting students keep their phones because they’re an extra resource for in-class work, provide contact with family in the event of emergencies and are a way to keep students focused throughout the day.

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“(The phone policy) is great,” CCHS Principal Dr. Swade Huff said.

“Teachers are getting more instruction done, students are learning more, we’re having less distractions in the hallways, there is less conflict with students and the overall climate is better.”

This new, positive impact of the phone policy is not just being felt in the hallways or by the student population, it has also been a saving grace for teachers in the classroom.

Phones are the main distraction for students, but with them gone, actually are focused for once.

“They have to put away their phones, (which) leads to less distractions,” CCHS math department teacher Miles Thomas said. “It’s easier to keep students on task and (I don’t) have to keep reminding them to do the work.”

Although some might be concerned about the safety of their students without the phones, there are a multitude of other ways to contact CCHS students.

The school sports an intercom system and each classroom has a phone used to call teachers, so it’s insanely easy to get in touch with students.

Whether or not students realize it, the phone policy is helping with every aspect of their day.

Like it or not, it’s necessary for the sake of students’ academic success, ability to focus and teachers’ ability to run a productive classroom.

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Above: POUCH PUNCH: Two illustrations show Viewpoints Staffers Ma’Kiyah Thrasher and Sam Harwell acting on their own beliefs on the Clarke County School District’s new phone pouch policy. Phones played a part in student distraction pre iosuly ut Harwell elie es the recent change was ene cial for students hether or not students reali e it the phone policy is helping with e ery aspect of their day Like it or not, it’s necessary for the sake of students’ academic success, ability to focus and teachers’ ability to run a productive classroom,” Harwell wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

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IN FOCUS

Featured: CELEBRATING CULTURE: Youth performers dance in the Clarke Central High School bus loop during Tri-M Music Honors Society’s Hispanic Heritage Festival on Oct. 4. CCHS senior Genesis Casas-Gaona was pleased with how the festival went and the presentation of Hispanic culture. “(My favorite part of the festival) has been the food, the culture and the music,” Casas-Gaona said. “It was just really surreal to see someone actually care about our culture and to bring it out and actually present it.” Photo by Aza Khan

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CMS OWLS TAKE FLIGHT Construction of Clarke Middle School’s new building is underway while the students have been phased into trailer classrooms.

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onstruction on Clarke Middle School kicked off with the issuance of the land disturbance permit LAYOUT BY MAYA CLEMENT from Athens-Clarke County in January 2023.

Managing Editor Since then, construction has been underway and students have been required to adapt to the hybrid building-trailer format.

According to John Gilbreath, Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) Director of Facility Planning and Construction, CMS was originally built in 1958 as Clarke Junior High School. The building then underwent four renovations and additions from 1963 to 2004, later using SPLOST 2 and 3 to fund minor updates to the building’s infrastructure from 2012 to 2022.

“Even though Clarke Middle had some renovations, they were kind of nearing STORY BY CADENCE SCHAPKER Sports Editor

the end of their life cycle on some of the equipment,” Gilbreath said. “(They were) also undersized from a space standpoint.”

Talks of renovations began amidst SPLOST 5, with $10 million allocated from July 2017 to June 2022 for construction. However, after deliberation and cost estimates made by the CMS Local Building Committee (LBC), renovation costs were 70 to 80% of complete rebuilding costs, prompting the decision to develop a new building instead of renovating the old one.

Construction commenced CCSD ESPLOST Project Manager with the demolition of two grade level hallways in the 2022-23 school year, while trailers were installed to make up for the lack of space and serve as the 2023-24 school year classrooms for sixth, seventh and eighth graders.

“The students have reacted pretty well to (the trailers),” CMS Instructional

"The reason (the school) got bigger wasn't just student population. It was all the extra teachers."

-- TROY BASSETT,

Above: LEADING THROUGH CHANGE: Clarke Middle School Principal Dr. Amanda Gorham stands outside of the CMS Administration trailer on Sept. 25. Following the start of construction on the new building in January 2023, CMS students transitioned into trailer classrooms for the 2023-24 school year. “We’re praying that the new building opens on time, but it’s coming up pretty quickly. It’s amazing to see the progress, so we’re optimistic,” Gorham said. Photo by Aza Khan

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Features

Coach Kathryn Brown said. “The pods are bigger than what they had in the building (and) they’re brand new, so a lot of the issues that they were having in the building, they’re not having out in the pods.”

To CMS eighth grader Edie Ash, the transition from the main building to the trailer classrooms has been a positive experience.

“They’re actually an upgrade from the building because the building is really rundown. The air conditioning in the trailers is a lot better and so are the bathrooms,” Ash said.

CMS Media Center Specialist Shawn Hinger has worked in the building for 21 years and despite the dispersion of the school’s students, the renovation has not impacted the daily operations of the CMS Media Center.

“I have not seen a whole lot of change in the way students visit our Media Center,” Hinger said. “We still have class visits each week and students are still able to visit on their own with passes to check out books or to have their Chromebooks repaired as usual.”

With the spread of students, security has expanded across both the main building and trailer classrooms.

However, the new security system, the name of which is not privy to the public, has assisted in monitoring traffic between the buildings.

“We are spread thin (but) I’ve been pretty impressed,” Brown said. “They have these camera doorbells on the trailers so the kids have to be buzzed in. So there’s not a lot of traffic in and out of the school.”

CMS parent Brian Ash has confidence in the security personnel and administration.

Above: OUT WITH THE OLD: Top left features the original Clarke Middle School entrance, to the right is the construction site for the new CMS building grade level hallways. Upon the start of construction and demolition of the old building, students were integrated into trailer classrooms and, so far, the new temporary buildings have been working well for CMS eighth grader Edie Ash. “They’re actually an upgrade from the building because the building is really rundown. The air conditioning in the trailers is a lot better and so are the bathrooms,” Ash said. Photo by Aza Khan Right: MASTER PLAN: The Clarke Middle School site master plan details the layout of the new CMS building. Due to the short time frame that construction must ta e place ef cient material sourcing has caused some dif culties according to ohn il reath Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) Director. “We like to call (issues in material sourcing) opportunities. So, mechanical units are still a long lead item, electrical components, switchgear, things like that. We did have to change the design of the main switch gear for the facility because the one that was originally designed, we couldn’t get for a year and a half and we needed it in a year,” Gilbreath said.

Photo by courtesy of the Clarke County School District

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Top and bottom: IN PROGRESS: Seen above is the construction site for the new Clarke Middle School building, below are the CMS trailer classrooms. Phase 1 of construction for the new CMS building will be concluded by the summer of the 2023-24 school year, with Phase 2 commencing in June and July of 2024, according to John Gilbreath, Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) Director. “When school’s out this coming summer, we’ll tear down the rest of the existing school and we’ll build the Phase 2 part, which is the rest of Administration, (the) Health Clinic and the gymnasium. So, in Phase 1, we’re able to build the kitchen cafeteria, special-(education) component (and) Media Center,” Gilbreath said. Photo by Aza Khan Middle: RO ABO E The front aerial rendering de eloped y Lindsay Pope Bray eld Associates (LPB) of the new Clar e iddle School building is featured. A local building committee composed of CCSD faculty, parents and students was established to assist in the design of the new CMS building, according to John Gilbreath, Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) Director. “We took a lot of their ideas and input and things that we knew that we had to do from an engineering (and) architecture standpoint (and) combined it together to come up with a plan for the site (that) we (felt) works best,” Gilbreath said. Photo courtesy of the Clarke County School District

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“I don’t worry about it too much,” Brian said. “(I) trust Dr. Gorham and the teachers and everybody involved. They’re doing the best they can to keep the kids safe from rain, (and) from outside people trying to come in on campus. Everybody’s doing their job.”

The final schematics for the new building were developed by Lindsay Pope Brayfield & Associates (LPB) while construction is being led by Grahl Construction. According to Gilbreath, the design process for the final building was collaborative, with input taken into consideration from school community members and the CMS LBC. “I was able to look at the blueprints and let them know what I need as far as storage and shelving, and I will get to meet with the furniture designer soon,” Hinger said. “It’s all so exciting and I cannot wait for our students to be able to use this new space.”

While the age of the building and its facilities were contributing factors to the decision to renovate, the size of the building also became a prominent issue.

With a rising student population – as seen in a 6.45% enrollment growth trend documented by CCSD from 2014 to 2020 – and the need to accommodate more instructors, a larger building was needed.

“The reason it got bigger wasn’t just student population. It was all the extra teachers,” CCSD ESPLOST Project Manager Troy Bassett said. “We have teacher planning rooms on every floor, they don’t have that at all now, we have teacher break rooms on every floor, they don’t have that now. There’s all of those extra things that (are) above and beyond just classrooms for kids.”

CMS Instructional Coach Mollie Schubach has an almost 30 year history with the building. From her father Dr. Ken Sherman’s time as an administrator

Features

from 1992 to 2009, to her own attendance from 2005 to 2008 and her hiring as a teacher in 2016, Schubach has seen the spacial concerns grow.

“Our gym has remained virtually unchanged since the building was first built in the 1950s,” Schubach said. “In fact, the gym is so small and outdated that it does not meet regulation size for volleyball games. The size constraints also pose challenges for assemblies and other gatherings.”

The new building will be ready in time for the 2024-25 school year, with Phase 2 of construction to commence over June and July of 2024.

“Next summer is going to be a challenge because we have two months to tear the rest of the school down and get part of the parking lot in for the parent-bus drop off,” Gilbreath said. “The main sewer line connection runs through the old building, so we have to get it down and out of the way and reconnected so we have a sewer line to be able to use the kitchen.”

As an eighth grader, Edie will not have the opportunity to attend CMS in its new building, but she still looks forward to the progress that’s being made.

“It is a little frustrating because we got the worst of it. We got the worst of

the building and then we had to be in trailers and we don’t even get the new building, but it’s okay,” Ash said. “I look forward to (the new building) because my siblings are gonna go there, so I’ll still get to see a little bit of it. I just wish I could be in it and go to school there.”

In anticipation of the new building, CMS Principal Dr. Amanda Gorham hopes to revive school culture in the new building. “(I’m looking forward to) being back in a space where I don’t have to go to three separate spaces to see my classrooms, even though I’ll get some steps in next year because there’ll be stairs,” Gorham said. “But really, (I’m) looking at bringing everybody back together. I think (that’s) the biggest thing.”

To long-time residents like Schubach, the leveling of the old building will be CMS Instructional Coach bittersweet, though long-awaited.

“The original building holds massive significance for countless individuals, myself included. That being said, the infrastructure of our current building is falling apart,” Schubach said. “I am thrilled that it is being completely demolished so that our CMS community can finally work and learn in a building that is beautiful, up-to-date and a place that all stakeholders can be proud to call their community school.”

"I am thrilled that it is being completely demolished so that our C S community can nally work and learn in a building that is beautiful, up-to-date and a place that all stakeholders can be proud to call their community school."

-- mollie schubach,

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Above: A NEW SPACE: Clarke Middle School Instructional Coach Mollie Schubach stands in front of the Clarke Middle School sign on Sept. 25. Schubach has an almost 30-year history with the building, prompting a bittersweet goodbye to the old building. “Our students and teachers deserve a space they are proud of, and one that meets all their working and learning needs. I am so excited for the new school and all of the opportunities it will provide for our community,” Shubach said. Photo by Aza Khan Left: COMING SOON: A graphic depicts the progress made on the new Clarke Middle School building. Brian Ash a parent of a C S eighth grader re ected on how his student would not ha e the opportunity to attend CMS in the new building. “There’s always gonna be a couple of classes of kids who aren’t gonna be able to enjoy the new building,” Ash said. “(But) they needed a change. They needed a new building and they’re moving forward with it and we just got to take the lumps.” Graphic by Cadence Schapker

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Featured: AN IRREFUTABLE IMPACT: Knowa Johnson, co-founder, board member and Vice President of Marketing at the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, sits at a desk at the AADM pop-up in the Georgia Square Mall on Sept. 1. Knowa discussed how the organization is primarily composed of volunteers and how that speaks to the movement’s purpose. “We have a lot more help (from volunteers) than (we did) in the beginning,” Johnson said. “It speaks to what our movement is about— bringing people together. (We’re) trying to focus and highlight the likenesses we have, rather than the differences.” Photo by Aza Khan

It all starts with community

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement was created as a means to elevate minority voices in 2015 and has since then become a staple in the Athens community.

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annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade. However, they didn’t stop there, and hen asked about what led to her began to conduct several other events within the community and advocate for initial decision to start the Athens AntiLAYOUT BY MOLLY HARWELL policy changes.

Discrimination Movement, Mokah Johnson, Editor-in-Chief “Our organization provides that on-the-ground support,” Denise Sunta, co-founder and president, remembered a time when AADM Programs Manager and she— along with many other Administrative Assistant said. “So, members of the community— felt helping people file discrimination unwelcome in Downtown Athens. complaints, paying bail (and) Mokah noticed the discrimination mentoring youth who are in the present Downtown in 2015 after criminal justice system. We also a bar formerly dubbed General advocate for larger policy change.

Beauregard’s named their drink after We’re actually trying to change a racial slur. the way that the systems work “This incident was an opportunity and try to reimagine them in ways to show the community and the that are more productive for our local government that there (was) AADM co-founder, board member, and Vice President of Marketing community and just better for our discrimination happening. There community (in general).” (were) things happening Downtown One person who has been on that (were) preventing other folks the receiving end of that support, from enjoying the community in particular, is Chaplain Cole Knapper, leader of AADM’s Teach the Truth the same way (as others),” Mokah said. “I didn’t see where the mayor and workshop and community member who was born and raised in Athens. commission did anything about it. The police department didn’t do anything “I first heard about the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement and Mokah about it. So, we decided to host our first rally and protest.”

Johnson, in particular, because they were highlighted in an HBO Vice After the success of the rally, the AADM decided that they would host an STORY BY ADAH HAMMAN News Staffer

“It speaks to what our movement is about— bringing people together. (We’re) trying to focus and highlight the likenesses we have, rather than the differences.”

-- knowa johnson,

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documentary back in 2018,” Cole Knapper said. “I realized that this woman was doing all of this really great (and) really important work in my hometown. I was like, ‘Oh, my God. I’ve got to find out more about her.’ And then, I found out more about the organization, and it was great.”

According to Sunta, a lot of work goes into ensuring that the organization remains up and running, but at the end of the day, the most essential component is teamwork.

“It (takes) a lot of communication, a lot of back and forth, and a lot of research,” Sunta said. “Mokah and I work really well as a team. That’s probably the most important aspect of AADM, being able to work as a team in a way that prioritizes the issues (at hand) but also keeps in mind your own mental health and mental well-being.”

The movement also emphasizes the importance of the community coming together in order to celebrate their differences.

“We have a lot more help (from volunteers) than (we did) in the beginning,” Knowa Johnson, AADM co-founder, board member and Vice President of Marketing, said. “It speaks to what our movement is about— bringing people together. ( We’re) trying to focus and highlight the likenesses we have, rather than the differences.”

“We’re actually trying to change the way that the systems work and try to reimagine them in ways that are more productive for our community and just better for our community (in general).”

-- denise sunta, AADM Programs Manager and Administrative Assistant Since the movement’s founding in 2015, Mokah believes that they have made a big impact— not only on those to whom they have provided relief— but on the community itself.

“I think we have definitely increased awareness around racial issues, racial injustices and kind of planted a seed of wokeness,” Mokah said.

“Before, when I used to go to the mayor and commission meetings, there was no one there. There was no one there that was going up to the podium and speaking. Now, it’s amazing, all the different people that come up because now they understand how to use their voice and where to use it.”

Staff members, such as Sunta, who works with incarcerated people, have been impacted by their everyday duties.

“I think having had that experience of working with (incarcerated people) and then working with these kids who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system, and seeing the ways that they flourish (by) going through our mentorship process, engaging in the workshops that we have (and) connecting with each other and with the mentors— that to me is one of the most rewarding things,” Sunta said.

Cole Knapper believes that the movement is important and has provided her with an opportunity to give back to the community.

“You can help make a difference in people’s lives. It’s not something that happens overnight. It’s something that takes work. It takes building better communities,” Cole Knapper said. “If (the) AADM didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to volunteer to help change these things.

That’s how it’s changed me— by giving me the opportunity to give back (to the community).”

Above: BROUGHT TO LIGHT: Mokah Johnson, co-founder and president of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, stands outside University of Georgia’s Baldwin Hall during the Athens Day of Jubilee on May 4th, 2021. Johnson had the idea to found the organization after a bar named their drink after a racial slur, which exposed some of the more covert racism present in Downtown Athens. “We felt, I would say, not as welcome (as others) Downtown trying to do business as Black business owners. Every time we tried to do different types of events or activities, the locals that were African American, they have all kinds of stories and reasons why they don’t go Downtown,” Johnson said. “I kind of wanted to move at the time because I was like, ‘Where do we live? What is this?’ And we were having a hard time establishing ourselves as entrepreneurs, but we decided to stay.” Photo by Luna Reichert Below: EARLY DAYS: A corner of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s pop-up in the Georgia Square Mall displays some of the AADM’s merchandise on Sept 1. Denise Sunta, the movement’s Programs Manager and Administrative Assistant, discussed how she joined the program during COVID-19 and how that affected their outreach attempts. “When I think about my early days (within the movement), I’m thinking about having our community meetings virtually, which made it really hard to connect with people in a meaningful way,” Sunta said. “Events are one of the biggest things that we do. (We’re) trying to foster diversity and inclusion, but that’s kind of hard to do when you’re sitting at home or staring at a computer.” Photo by Aza Khan

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Featured: POWER OF EMPATHY: Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Everett “Barten” Nealy sits in his of ce on Sept Nealy wor ed outside of CCHS for the majority of his career as an educator and believes that this time greatly ene ted him ( learned that) you have to be dogmatic. Not everybody’s gonna see things the way you see things. You have to be able to understand where they’re seeing from,” Nealy said.

“That’s a good lesson for life, whether you’re teaching or working in anything, because the way I view something’s gonna be different than yours.” Photo by Ciyana Ramos

MOVING UP

CCHS Assistant Principal Everett “Barten” Nealy came to CCHS in 2017 with the goal of helping students and has spread his in uence through his arious positions

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hirty five years ago, a star football player sat in a high school classroom, bored out of his mind and unable to pay attention. Today, this former struggling student works as an educator, helping students like himself to succeed.

In fact, these struggles were what motivated Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Everett "Barten" Nealy to go into education.

“School was horrible for me. It was boring. I wasn’t a very good student. I didn't feel like I was getting more than sports,” Nealy said. “I knew there were a lot of students who struggled, and I was really interested in (helping) students who have learning disabilities and other emotional issues.”

Nealy graduated in 1993 from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia with a major in emotional behavior disorders and learning disabilities and a minor

BY ANGEL JARA News Staffer

in psychology. Nealy’s educational background gave him the expertise to work with special education students, an area that Nealy has focused on for the majority of his career.

“Why people do what they do has always fascinated me and behavior is nothing more than communication,” Nealy said. “Therefore, people are acting a certain way because (they're) telling you something, and I've always been fascinated with what they're trying to tell me.”

Throughout his extensive career, Nealy has worked in a wide variety of positions, including stints as a CCHS Support Specialist coach, behavior specialist and now as an administrator— but no matter the position, his focus has always been on helping students.

“I love that age group, (teenagers), because that's the age you see them go from a kid to adult and it's amazing to see the difference in you when you

“He's just so genuine. He's even tempered (and) very, very creative as far as problem solving,"

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-- Michele burch,

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become a senior,” Nealy said.

Nealy’s first job as an educator was at the now-closed Rutland Academy in Athens from 2000 to 2007, then Athens Academy from 2008 to 2017 where he worked with now-CCHS math department teacher Neal Micheal Gunn. Nealy first met Gunn during his time as a student and football player in Redwood High School in Atlanta where Gunn was his teacher and football coach. “(Nealy is) a great teacher and a good motivator, and his kids liked playing for him (as a football coach). That was all important,” Gunn said.

After leaving Athens Academy, Nealy became a special education teacher and football coach at CCHS. Since arriving, Nealy has worked to improve the behavioral climate and overall atmosphere of the school through his work as an educator and administrator.

“I love seeing where we've come since I started here in 2017. If you would’ve seen the climate in 2017, you didn't feel safe walking around the halls,” Nealy said. “It was crazy, (there were) tons more fights, (there were) fights every day in the bus loop and all that kind of changed.”

Part of Nealy’s approach to improving the school’s behavior climate is his philosophy of connecting with students and developing a deeper relationship with them.

“Being open minded to what they have to say, listening to what they have to say,” Nealy said. “I really listen because a lot of people I deal with are angry in the moment, so I'm gonna ignore that (anger). My overall philosophy is, no matter what my emotional state is, I stay level.”

CCHS Support Specialist Michele Burch began working with Nealy in the special education department, and in her years working with Nealy, Burch has noticed how much Nealy’s ability to connect with people has helped him as an educator.

“He's just so genuine. He's even tempered (and) very, very creative as far as

problem solving, I think he’s pretty quick with that,” Burch said.

After two years at CCHS, Nealy transitioned to an administrative role as the behavior specialist. CCHS senior Cam’ron Bell began working with Nealy during his sophomore year and feels like Nealy’s influence has positively impacted him as a student.

“I’m not in the bathrooms all the time. I’m not in the hallways all the time like I used to. I’m not getting in trouble all the time like I used to. I really appreciate Mr. Nealy,” Bell said.

After two years of working as a behavior specialist, Nealy was promoted to Assistant Principal, a position where according to Nealy, he and the administrative team have made strides to make their leadership felt around the school.

“Our (approach to fixing the school) really is just, 'Hey, let's be more visible. Hey, let's be more consistent with the rules.' Like Dr. Hooker says at the end of the day, it's all about the kids,” Nealy said. “I think CCHS Assistant Principal as an administrative team, we've taken that approach to trying to make it that way. We're trying to really fix all these behavior issues so we can spend more time working with teachers on teaching developments, making classrooms more engaging.”

Nealy’s fellow administrator, CCHS Associate Principal Dr. Cindi Lowe feels like his attitude towards his job has been of great assistance in working towards making the school a better place.

“Mr. Nealy, he looks out for all of his students,” Lowe said. “One of the things that we (administrators) talked about is that he is a person that if you call him on the radio, he's not going to ask what you need. He’ll come to you, so I appreciate that a whole lot about him.”

“I knew there were a lot of students who struggled, and I was really interested in (helping) students who have learning disabilities and other emotional issues" -- Everett “barten” nealy,

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Featured: IMPROVING DAILY: Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Everett “Barten” Nealy sits in Room 231 on Aug. 29 during the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Fall Press Conference. Nealy had an overall positive experience at CCHS since arriving in 2017, largely due to the atmosphere and people surrounding him. “I love the (administrative) team we work with (and) the teachers I work with. I love the students. I love seeing where we’ve come since I started here in 2017,” Nealy said. “I’m very familiar with Athens (and its) people, so I like the fact that we have a very diverse student body.

We have a fairly diverse faculty and I love the fact that the school is improving.” Photo by Aza Khan

Judge

Janie

Various initiatives from the CCSD and Athens-Clarke County Government to promote artistic expression throughout the community are e tremely ene cial to students and community mem ers

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rom the Athens hip-hop community to the murals around the city, art reverberates in every street corner and home in Athens-Clarke County.

Every nook of the city is filled with culture and artistic sense – whether residents know it or not.

At Clarke Central High School, located in the

BY JANIE RIPPS heart of Athens at 350 S. Milledge Ave., every Variety Editor student deserves the opportunity to recognize and explore this culture, and express themselves in the process.

However, in a community with a poverty rate of 20.7% as of May 15 according to the ACC Unified Government website, students may find themselves without the resources to discover their passion or talent for the arts.

At CCHS though, there are 20 art courses available for all students.

Art knows no boundaries, and the promotion of artistic expression at CCHS and in the ACC community is extremely important and beneficial to the community.

CCHS fine arts department teacher Heather Garland sees the benefits of offering art classes everyday in her 3D Art, Sculpture and Ceramics classes, each new project helping students learn more about themselves and what their

Art knows no boundaries, and the promotion of artistic expression at CCHS and in the ACC community is extremely important. options are for the future.

“I’ve had a lot of students that have never colored anything or painted anything. I just think it’s so important to provide that opportunity so that they know there are other things that they can do with their lives that involve art, even if it doesn’t end up being a career choice,” Garland said.

The importance of art translates out of CCHS, as well. The ACC Government has commissioned various artists around Athens to create public works of art.

Broderick Flanigan, Executive Director of Economic Justice Coalition and Owner of Flanigan’s Portrait Studio, was commissioned alongside artist Elio Mercado by the Athens Cultural Affairs Commision to create the mural “Hot Corner: An Athens Legacy,” on 133 E. Washington St. in Downtown Athens.

According to Visit Athens, GA, the mural is a tribute to the rich history of African American entrepreneurship on Hot Corner, which was one of the most prosperous African American business districts in the South in the early 1900s.

Though Flanigan grew up with an unstable home life, support from the Clarke County School District during his childhood enabled Flanigan to pursue various projects today such as “Hot Corner.”

“Athens has (shaped my artistic sense) and had an impact on my arts and the community work that I do,” Flanigan said. “I had several teachers within the school district, like (retired Hilsman Middle School teacher Starr) Campbell and (former CCHS teacher Jeff) Barnett, who helped guide my artistic talents and career. I’m definitely grateful for them.”

Every student going through the CCSD has the opportunity to explore their artistic abilities and discover talents they didn’t know they had. Each art teacher at CCHS has the chance to provide students with the resources to find a healthy outlet and escape from outside stressors, just like Campbell and Barnett did for Flanigan.

In such an artistic community, filled with rich and diverse culture, offering these classes in school is a step in the right direction for opening the eyes of young students in the community.

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Left: EVERY PLACE, EVERY SPACE: There are various artistic opportunities offered at Clarke Central High School that enrich the culture and performance of the student body. At CCHS, there are 20 art courses offered to students including Ceramics, AP Art and Design and Photography. “Every student going through the CCSD has the opportunity to explore their artistic abilities and discover talents they didn’t know they had,” Variety Editor Janie Ripps wrote.

Illustration by Sam Harwell

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CULTURAL BUZZ Fenty Beauty by Rihanna released its latest product, the Shadowstix Longwear Eyeshadow Stick, on Sept. 7 to FentyBeauty.com and Sephora locations nationwide.

The stick costs $25 and comes in eight matte shades and eight with a shimmery finish. One of these swatches, “Sip and Sparkle,” is a pale cream color with glittery undertones. While the glitter is definitely a compelling element, the color is seriously lacking — pigment where?

As for the promise of “longwear,” well… let’s just say that one could consider this an extreme case of false advertising. After a grand total of two hours, the color was nowhere to be found.

Additionally, customers may think that considering the eyeshadow is a cream formula, it would be just a little bit easier to blend. So much for living up to expectations.

All in all, the eyeshadow fell short of expectations, with the exception of the sleek black and white packaging. Sorry, RiRi, but you might need to “Work” on that formula!

Originally released on Aug. 18, 2022, Limited Edition Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams Goldfish became re-available for purchase on Sept. 1. Selling in-store at locations such as Target and Kroger, the “cracker” is the opposite of what customers may expect.

When diving into the snack, customers will be greeted with the faint smell of cinnamon and nutmeg – classic fall flavors. The goldfish is pecan colored and unevenly coated with the orange “pumpkin spice.”

When taking a bite, the snack has a dense texture instead of the typical hollow cracker, resembling more of a cookie than cracker.

Sold at a retail price of $2.99 for a 6.6 oz bag, the classic Dunkin’ colors of pink and orange decorate the packaging, making it easily recognizable.

Although it doesn’t live up to its name, the Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams Goldfish is still a fall treat customers might enjoy.

-- Aliyah Wymbs, Variety Staffer

-- Adah Hamman, News Staffer

On Sept. 1, alternative rock band Slowdive released their fifth studio album, “everything is alive.”

Widely credited with having been a major influence in the creation of the “shoegaze” sound, a genre of music associated with dreamy vocals and ethereal guitar riffs, the band embraces their shoegaze roots throughout “everything is alive,” while also incorporating a more ambient, electronic based sound. “shanty” serves as a strong opening track with its sublime instrumental and co-vocalist/guitarist Rachel Goswells’ mellow, drowned-out singing combining to form a surreal listening experience.

The lyrics do a great job of handling themes of heartbreak and sorrow over the loss of a loved one, a widely prevalent topic that sets a solemn tone for the album.

Overall, “everything is alive” proves itself to be a mark of excellence in Slowdive’s influential discography of albums and is sure to attract new fans while pleasing old ones.

-- Angel Jara, News Staffer

“Saw X”

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fter releasing the first of ten “Saw” movies on Oct. 29, 2004, director James Wan released the newest installment of the series, “Saw X” on Sept. 29.

“Saw X” picks up right after the original “Saw” movie and serves as a prequel to “Saw II,” which was released on Oct. 28, 2005, with John Kramer (Tobin Bell), also known as The Jigsaw Killer, still trying to fight off his fatal brain tumor that only gives him a year to live.

Desperate, he contacts Dr. Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund) who claims to have the secret to curing his cancer. Kramer meets with Pederson’s team -- Mateo (Octavio Hinojosa), Gabriella (Renata Vaca) and Valentina (Paulette Hernadez) -- in Mexico City, Mexico to do the operation.

He discovers that they have scammed hundreds of cancer patients and, in revenge, he kidnaps them and gives them deadly tests to see if they learn from their mistakes.

Viewers can expect much gore in every scene of “Saw X.” The practical effects made physically instead of with computer imagery were very life-like and all of the shots conveyed the intensity of every trap shown. Additionally, the acting from Tobin Bell and the additional cast was incredible.

Its addition to the movie franchise is a little unnecessary, but it does help dive more into Kramer’s past to add more depth and character to Kramer other than just being a murderer.

For being the highest-rated “Saw” movie on Rotten Tomatoes since the original, earning a rating of 85% compared to the first movie’s rating of 50%, “Saw X” has undoubtedly revived the Saw franchise, and highlighted the prominence of the series in popular culture over the last two decades.

BY ANGEL TEJADA Variety Staffer

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

Variety

CULTURAL BUZZ “Starfield,” an action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, was released on Sept. 6 for Windows and Xbox Series X/S. The idea of “Starfield” is to unveil the mysteries of the galaxy. The different interactions with thoroughly-developed characters throughout the game open opportunities to ally players with many different factions, from adventurers to a loose alliance of freedom fighters, pirates to a corporation that dominates competing companies.

Upon opening the game, the first thing players will notice is its solid graphics. It may not compare to other AAA games produced by Bethesda, such as “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” and “Fallout 4,” but the new game’s stellar magnitude of exploration makes up for its gameplay deficiency.

Overall, “Starfield” is a beautiful art piece in the gaming industry, opening players to an in-depth campaign with an abundance of side quests to get lost in. Spending hundreds of hours in “Starfield” is no challenge as the game will consistently engross the player.

-- Evan Cornish, Sports Staffer

Netflix original “Surviving Summer” is back for a second season. Released on Sept. 15, the season follows the standard teen drama format of a love triangle.

“Surviving Summer” follows Summer Torres (Sky Katz) and her complicated love life with Ari Gibson (Kai Lewins), who she fell in love with in the first season, and Baxter Radic ( Josh Macqueen). Ari is also dating Wren Radic (Annabel Wolfe), Baxter’s sister.

One downfall of the show, however, is the plotlines. Spending so much time focused on Summer’s love life, you often lose sight of any other storylines in the show.

The main plot revolves around all the characters being on a competitive surf team in Australia, and when this is the sole focus, the show can be very interesting to watch.

“Surviving Summer” is perfect for those looking for a classic love triangle, but falls short with other storylines.

-- Abby Holloway, Variety Staffer

New York Times best-selling author William Krueger’s new novel, “The River We Remember” was released Sept. 5. The novel details small-town life in the fictional Jewel, Minnesota, and the intricacies that come with it.

On Memorial Day 1958, Jimmy Quinn’s corpse was found floating in the Alabaster River, so Sheriff Brody Dern is left to uncover the lies and secrets behind Quinn’s death. As the mystery is unraveled, allegations and deep scars are uncovered, tearing the small town apart.

The plot is multi-layered and provides an insightful look into human nature and the effect of racial stereotypes in the 1950s. However, despite the interesting storyline, the book is hard to follow at times due to the variety and complexity of the characters, which also contributes to a slow buildup to the secret’s reveal.

Overall, “The River We Remember” is an interesting commentary on an important and relevant topic, but it does not keep readers engaged.

-- Liza Larson, Journalism l student

"Guts"

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ith the relatableness throughout each track, the 20-year-old Filipina-American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo created a riveting mix of emotions in her new album “Guts,” released on Sept. 8.

From Rodrigo’s appearance on the Disney+ show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” to her first studio album “Sour” to now, her second album two years later, listeners have been able to see the young singer progress as a musician and mature as a person.

Within the span of 12 songs and 39 minutes, the album expresses the struggles Rodrigo has faced with a past relationship, but also the relatableness of adversities faced when growing up as a woman by describing her own experiences.

The full album is constructed of the balanced combination of heartfelt acoustic songs and the contrast of pop with rage in majority of the lyrics. With five out of 12 songs on the album already trending on TikTok, many listeners understand these lyrics just as much as Rodrigo does herself.

But with that relatableness, listeners may notice the compatibility of Rodrigo’s first album “Sour” to “Guts,” with the the majority of the lyrics referencing romance. Although many might find these lyrics inspiring, there is the down side of repetition throughout each album.

Throughout all of the pop songs such as “ballad of a homeschooled girl” and “get him back!,” the use of electric guitar provides a grunge vibe that listeners didn’t necessarily hear in “Sour.” This gives each upbeat song a style that hasn’t been used in popular music since the early 2000’s, which makes particular tracks sound nostalgic.

One of Rodrigo’s most popular songs on the album, “bad idea right?,” starts as a phone call between her and a man. Little details such as this are what makes this track of songs unique to anything a listener has heard of before.

From getting fame from a Disney show to releasing her first album at 18 years old, Rodrigo’s style of music continues to grow and leave its impact on the music industry.

BY ISABELLE DUNCAN Social Media Coordinator

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Variety

PHOTOS USED UNDER FAIR USE GUIDELINES

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

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Featured: BUILDING COMMUNITY: Mother Lode owner Lindsay Short stands in front of the vintage store Mother Lode located at 1005 Baxter St., on Sept. 5. After opening the store in Athens and realizing Mother Lode was located six minutes away from Clarke Central High School, Short strove to create a place where CCHS students felt welcome. “I was raised with a family who gave me so much love and was very accepting and supportive of me,” Short said. “I want to be able to offer that to anyone who comes (to Mother Lode) whether it be students or anyone else. I want to be able to share the love that I was given.” Photo by Daniel Cruz

MAKING Local business owner Lindsay Short opened vintage store Mother Lode in July as a safe space for customers in the Athens community.

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n July of 2023, Lindsay Short opened vintage store Mother Lode in Athens. Located at 1005 Baxter St., half a block from Clarke Central High School, set up in booth style format with different vendors in each booth, Mother Lode offers easy access for students and community members to buy vintage clothing and furniture, as well as art.

Short’s dream to create an inclusive company for all to be able to purchase art and antiques began at a young age, as she spent many hours around such items.

“Some of my earliest memories are at auctions with (my parents).

My mom would go out and buy during the week (and) my dad would take the stuff to auction, on Wednesdays usually, and sell them. Then, (I would) go and hang out while they were selling their stuff,” Short said. “About 15 years ago, I started an estate sale company in Atlanta called Bennett and Sudderth.”

BY ABIGAIL HOLLOWAY Variety Staffer

Following the creation of Bennett and Sudderth, a company where buyers walk around people’s houses to purchase items, Short opened vintage store Bennett and Sudderth Mother Lode in Atlanta on Oct. 2, 2021. The name was later changed to just Mother Lode.

“We were offering off-site sales in a warehouse in Atlanta and I found one that was large enough to encompass some vendors on one side and the estate sale services on the other,” Short said. “That’s kind of how we started it. I wanted all the business to go back to the estate sale company, but I think it just took on a life of its own.”

Due to an influx of vendors, Short looked to her past in Athens and the Mother Lode Owner connections she made while selling items at vintage store Agora, located at 279 E. Broad St. to open a second store. She then found Mother Lode’s current location, a building that had previously been Dollar Tree.

“We were looking for somewhere to expand. My husband and I both went to school (at the University of Georgia), and I had connections with a lot of the

“Some of my earliest memories are at auctions with (my parents). My mom would go out and buy during the week (and) my dad would take the stuff to auction.”

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-- Lindsay Short,

Variety

had before,” Romero-Heesacker said. “They have many cool and interesting vendors that are here from selling at Agora about 20 years ago,” Short said. “So I reached out to them and said, ‘Hey, would you be interested in doing this objects there. It’s just a blast to look around.”

With CCHS students coming to Mother Lode, Short hopes to teach them with us?’ And they said, ‘Yes.’” about the advantages of buying vintage.

For Mother Lode vintage clothing vendor Leah Goodwin, Mother Lode offers “We want to provide an environment where students can come here,” Short a second life to items that might otherwise get thrown away. said. “We live in a world that needs to buy and shop responsibly. I’m hoping “I think that it’s a great place to shop because I work in a thrift store, so I see how many pounds of clothes that (for) students that don’t already understand the value in that people don’t wear come shopping responsibly, we can in,” Goodwin said “I love that vintage gives all these clothes and teach them the value of that, and we can provide a safe space for homewares a whole nother life them as well.” with another generation. It’s just Overall, Short wants Mother really cool to see. Instead of going Lode to be a place where people into the landfill, people style it up their own way.” feel comfortable and everyone, including the merchandise, is safe.

While some art and vintage pieces are more expensive for Mother Lode vintage clothing vendor “We are an inclusive community. We’re very diverse. high school students, Mother We encourage expression of self,” Lode vendor Sierra Kirsche feels Short said. “I want this to be a place where everyone feels welcome, but I also like the store is a great place for students to be inspired to create.

“Vintage and art, in general, tend to have a price range that seems absurd for want it to be a place (where) folks respect furniture and things, (and) there’s no stealing. I just want to be a place that’s respected.” younger people,” Kirsche said. “I would recommend walking through (Mother O Lode) and seeing if they draw any inspiration from it, and hope they will (create) their own art as well.”

For CCHS freshman Guillermo Romero-Heesacker, wandering around the different stalls Mother Lode has to offer has been a unique experience.

“I think it’s a very interesting place, much better than the Dollar (Tree) we

“I love that vintage gives all these clothes and homewares a whole nother life with another generation.”

-- Leah Goodwin,

Above: VINTAGE CENTRAL: A Clarke Central High School basketball jersey from the 90s is shown on a rack in Mother Lode’s 1005 Baxter St., on Sept.

5. Throughout the process of opening Mother Lode, owner Lindsay Short gained more of an appreciation for clothing. “I get to have a lot of different insight into fashion. I love seeing how vendors like to curate their space and it makes me happy (to see) their appreciation for fashion that I didn’t appreciate beforehand,” Short said. Photo by Daniel Cruz Top right: GOLDEN: A golden mannequin is shown in Mother Lode located at 1005 Baxter St., on Sept. 5. Through opening Mother Lode, owner Lindsay Short learned more about how to run a business. “It teaches me how to be a business owner, it teaches me how to be understanding with everyone,” Short said. “I’m dealing with 50 different personalities who are creative and express themselves differently, so I have to be prepared to do that.” Photo

by Aza Khan Right: RADIANT RECORDS: A booth full of vinyl records is shown in Mother Lode located at 1005 Baxter St., on Sept. 5. When curating Mother Lode, owner Lindsay Short worked to diversify the products being sold in the store.

“I tried not to have too much of the same thing. We have someone who does Y2K, someone who does workwear, someone who does 70s-style clothing.

We have just a little bit of everything,” Short said. Photo by Daniel Cruz

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making the melody CCHS fine arts department teacher Shelynn Scott plans to build the Chorus Chorus,, Piano and Guitar program for students.

STORY BY ALIYAH WYMBS Variety Staffer LAYOUT BY JANIE RIPPS Variety Editor

Variety Staffer Aliyah Wymbs: What was the moment that you realized you wanted to pursue a career in fine arts?

Clarke Central High School fine arts department teacher Shelynn Scott: First day, sixth grade band, I had Mr. Ayers. He was our band director and I was enamored with the way that he helped us all get our instruments out and put them together. We all made a sound. It wasn’t the best, but it was a lot of fun and I was just really pumped up and energized about middle school band. I remember telling my parents I want to do what he just did.

SS: That’s my job to invoke that appreciation. I can’t make you like it,

but I gotta at least sell it. I gotta show you, “Hey, this is what I like about AW: AS THE NEW Cchs chorus it, this is what I find interesting about it and this is what I’ve taken from make me a better musician.” You might not be all that interested teacher, how will you encourage itintohistory, but this is how history can be connected to something else that you want to do. If you don’t know this and learn this, you can’t be students to appreciate all genres successful at what it is that you want to do. Everything’s a building block. of music?

Above HA N HAR ONY Clar e Central High School ne arts department teacher Shelynn Scott leads the chorus in a new song on Sept Scott a CCHS alumna returned home to ring chorus into a new light m an intro ert found ways to e successful within eing an intro ert t s not a disad antage n my classroom m more at home than am at my actual home ecause m doing what m passionate a out Scott said All these years e een a singer has helped me teach my ids and get through to them and uild relationships with them Photo y sa elle Duncan

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AW: Since you’ve taught chorus to a wide range of students from elementary to high school, why do you think enrollment drops in high school?

SS: There’s no chorus at the middle school, so you have music from kindergarten to fifth grade. Then, when they go to middle school, they can either do band or orchestra. So, when there’s not a presence and there’s not a chorus teacher there, cultivating those relationships and building those skills creates a deficit at the high school. So, I gotta go to middle schools and show that there’s an interest. There are kids at the middle school that want to sing in this county. I got to show that those kids want to be involved. Once I prove that and prove myself, then I will see the fruits of the labor here at the high school and we’ll have a booming program here.

AW: How do you plan to build up the chorus program while being here since that’s one of your goals?

SS: I have to go to the middle schools. Next semester, I unfortunately I have guitar, piano and music tech, so that means there’s no singing going on here.

So when I leave here, I’ll go to Clarke Middle (School) on Mondays and Wednesdays. I’ll go to Burney Harris on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ll put in an hour and a half, whatever it takes, to get that number base up. I will continue working with the kids that I’m establishing relationships with right now. We will have morning rehearsal, teach (during) my day and then I’ll go to the middle schools.

AW: How are you going to continue your legacy since your mom, Georgia Scott, taught in the math department here in the district?

SS: My mom had math tutoring when she got to CCHS. She taught all day. She ran the tutoring for the entire school. Then, (when) we got home, we (would) drive in the driveway, there’d be two cars sitting there for math tutoring.

She loved it thoroughly. She’s very passionate as she took her job very, very seriously. She took her responsibility teaching math very seriously. She thought it was just disrespectful not to come in 100% every day for students and teach them the way that they deserve to be taught, love on them the way that they deserve to be loved. So I got to remember that and stay focused and stay passionate about what I’m doing.

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Top, middle and bottom: PURSUE PASS ON Clar e Central High School ne arts department teacher Shelynn Scott plays piano in Room on Sept Scott taught across eorgia at multiple schools in the past including Oconee iddle School and Logan ille High School ut elie es that no matter the school teaching music rings her students together t s different different demographics But the music is always the e uali er the commonality Scott said Kids are ids no matter where you are and was a le to relate to middle schoolers was a le to relate to high schoolers ust go in lo e teach them e do what we gotta do Photos y sa elle Duncan

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Quest for ATHENS' Best: After trying biscuits from around Athens, ODYSSEY staffers conclude that The Flying Biscuit Cafe and Biscuit Basket offer the best biscuits in town.

LAYOUT BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

LAYOUT BY JANIE RIPPS Variety Editor

GRAPHICS BY SAM HARWELL Viewpoints Staffer and Illustrator

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he Flying Biscuit Café, founded in 1993 in Atlanta, was opened in Athens at 1180 Prince Ave., on March 29, 2021.

Since its opening, the restaurant has offered breakfast and lunch options, as well as an upbeat and colorful energy in its location that Athenians may enjoy for a weekend brunch.

Priced at a standard $3.99, The Flying Biscuit Café’s simple chicken biscuit is a good basic biscuit for customers, but it doesn’t bring anything unique to the table.

Sandwiched between a slightly dry and not-so-fluffy biscuit, the Café’s flavorful chicken was the star of the show. With the perfect balance of saltiness and a crunchy crust, the chicken was well seasoned and easy to love.

The biscuit, on the other hand, was quick to fall apart because of its dryness, making it harder to eat and enjoy.

Together, the two elements made a tasty but basic biscuit. Although it will satisfy cravings, the dry texture greatly affected the eating enjoyment.

BY ANGEL TEJADA Variety Staffer

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Above: FLYING BISCUIT: The Flying Biscuit Café is pictured above at its 1180 Prince Ave. location. The Flying Biscuit Caf iscuit had great a or ecause of the chic en ut the iscut fell apart easily gi ing it an o erall rating of 8.2. “Since its opening, the restaurant has offered breakfast and lunch options, as well as an upbeat and colorful energy in its location that Athenians may enjoy for a weekend brunch,” Variety Staffer Angel Tejada wrote. Photo by Aza Khan

FLAVOR

10 texture

7 Price

7 Location options

8.5

Portion size Above: CHICKEN BISCUIT: The Flying Biscuit Café’s chicken biscuit is shown at the restaurant’s 180 Prince Ave. location. The Flying Biscuit chicken biscuit was tasteful and satisfying enough for an afternoon bite, but created an average eating experience, earning it a rating of 8.2. “With a variety of biscuit options, The Flying Biscuit Café’s simple chicken biscuit is a good basic biscuit for customers, but it doesn’t bring anything unique to the table,” Variety Staffer Angel Tejada wrote. Photo by Aza Khan

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Overall Score

8.5

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8.2/10 Variety

BISCUIT BRAWL L

ocated at 723 Boulevard, local convenience store Biscuit Basket offers a fluffy and buttery biscuit in a quick fashion for its customers.

The Biscuit Basket exceeded expectations, performing better than many other biscuit locations around Athens.

At a very reasonable price of only 99 cents, Biscuit Basket gives customers a biscuit with an incredible homemade feel. The inside of the biscuit was warm and buttery, with no dryness, giving it an amazing texture for a stand-alone biscuit. Additionally, it had a perfect crispy golden exterior, giving each bite an incredible crunch to contrast the buttery flavor.

However, Biscuit Basket did not offer chicken biscuits, which left the original biscuit bland at times. Yet, with the large size of the biscuit, it makes a satisfying option for either a quick breakfast or a light snack.

One thing to keep in mind is that Biscuit Basket is not a restaurant, meaning customers will not have the sit-down experience offered at other locations. However, its over-the-counter process meant receiving the biscuit as soon as it was ordered.

Overall, though the biscuit lacked chicken, its generous size, perfect texture and rich, buttery flavor made it stand out from other competitors.

BY ANGEL TEJADA Variety Staffer

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Flavor

9

Above: BISCUIT BASKET: The Biscuit Basket, located on 723 Boulevard, is shown. The Biscuit Basket served a tasty biscuit at a very affordable price, earning it a rating of 8.5. “At a very reasonable price of only 99 cents, Biscuit Basket gives customers a biscuit with an incredible homemade feel. The inside of the biscuit was warm and buttery, with no dryness, giving it an amazing texture for a stand-alone biscuit,” Variety Staff Angel Tejada wrote. Photo by Aza Khan

Texture

9.5

Price

10

Location

8.5

options

5 9

Portion size

8.5/10 Variety

Overall Score

Above: FLUFFY BISCUIT: The Biscuit Basket’s plain biscuit is shown at the restaurant’s 723 Boulevard location.

Coming from a gas station, The Biscuit Basket plain biscuit was a shock for how delicious it was. “However, Biscuit Basket did not offer chicken biscuits, which left the original biscuit bland at times. Yet, with the large size of the biscuit, it makes a satisfying option for either a quick breakfast or a light snack,” Variety Staffer Angel Tejada wrote.

Photo by Aza Khan

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A r o u nd t h e C or ne r

2329 odysseynewsmagazine.com 4 W. Wa sh ingto n S t.

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Each of the many murals adding color to the Athens community present a unique message with different motivations and purposes.

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rom Washington Street in Downtown Athens to Broad barber Homer Wilson, owner of Wilson’s His and Hers Styling Shop.

Street, one of the truest forms of artistic expression Other murals, such as “Hope” by local artist David Hale at 294 W. has been painted over Athens for decades, and still Washington St., are to inspire. continues to add color to the community: murals.

Painted in October 2020, the mural is a wall of bright colors woven together.

Painted on walls sprinkled all over the city, every color, every design, every 25 swallows, which are birds that symbolize happiness and positivity, play pattern has a unique intention behind it. Every aesthetic and abstraction was throughout the work. left to leave minds thinking and eyes looking back over shoulders as one walks “I painted (the “Hope”) mural during COVID (as) a beacon of hope when so away, eager to see more. many people were feeling so hopeless Some murals, such as “Building during the lockdown. That’s what the Bridges” at restaurant Food for swallows are – symbols of hope,” Hale Soul at 1965 W. Broad St. and “Hot said.

Corner: An Athens Legacy” on 133 Hale, who has been painting on the E. Washington St., were painted to same wall between retail store Epiphany educate. and The Rook & Pawn since his time in In 2018, Broderick Flanigan, college, has recognized the community’s Athens-Clarke County Executive attachment to every single message he Director of the Economic Justice has painted on the wall.

Coalition and Owner of Flanigan’s “Even if it’s on a private building, (a Portrait Studio, collaborated with mural is) accessible. That accessibility Local Athens artist and creator of “Hope” mural on makes people feel a part of a place,” Hale University of Georgia Professor Dr. 294 W. Washington St. said. “I think that’s a really important Brian Williams’ First Year Odyssey Seminar class, “The Current State thing for humans to simply feel like they of Police-Community Relations: belong.”

Problems and Prospects.”

When Athens artist Marisa Mustard paints a mural, her goal is to evoke They created an intricate juxtaposition on the side of Food for Soul to happiness in the community and those who see it, a guiding principle at her represent police-community relations in the past, present and future. work at Nuçi’s Space at 396 Oconee St. “My involvement was really just bringing people together to show how to “I just wanted to help welcome people in and I wanted to keep that blue collaborate around a certain thing and create a piece of public art around that because I just love the color of this building,” Mustard said. “So I wanted to thing,” Flanigan said. “That was just one example of many community-based keep that dark blue base and make it kind of nurturing.” projects in which I use that similar model to engage different people from Each mural is a unique puzzle piece of the Athens community. different backgrounds or different organizations for a common project.”

Each artist is different, each meaning is different and each individual’s Flanigan also worked with Miami artist Elio Mercado to bring to life “Hot personal interpretation of the work leaves a different impact.

Corner: An Athens Legacy.” The project was funded by the Athens Cultural Painted on walls sprinkled all over the city, every color, every design, every Affairs Commissions in 2019 and is located near Hot Corner, one of the most pattern has an intention behind it. prosperous African American business districts in the South in the early 1900s.

Every aesthetic and abstraction was left to leave minds thinking and eyes The mural displays performers and entrepreneurs who shaped Hot Corner looking back over shoulders as one walks away. such as Monroe “Pink” Morton, the owner of the Morton Theatre, as well as Eager to see more.

STORY AND LAYOUT

BY JANIE RIPPS Variety Editor

“E ve n if i t’s o n a p ri v ate b u ildi ng, (a mu ra l i s) a ce ssib le .

T hat acce ssib ili ty ma ke s p e op le fe e l a p art of a p la ce . “ -- david hale,

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35 1 N H u l l St

19 6 5 W. B ro ad St. Photos by Aza Khan

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TELL ME, WY rom the high school le el all the way to the pros e ery le el of sports would ene t from increased coaching diversity.

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lmost everyone in America knows the story of Jackie Robinson, the inspirational Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman who broke the color barrier for Major League Baseball players in 1947, but who knows the story of Frank Robinson?

Like Jackie, Frank also broke a color barrier in Major League Baseball, this time as the league’s first nonwhite manager in 1975 with

BY WYATT MEYER the Cleveland Indians. But while students Lead Copy Editor mythologize Jackie’s heroic achievement, Frank’s accomplishment – no less great – has been consigned to the margins of history.

The first major diversity issue in America’s sports world was desegregation for athletes, but today, that battleground has shifted from the goal line to the sidelines, where diversity is still painfully lacking.

According to a 2020 article from the New York Times, every single one of five major American sports leagues – the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS and WNBA – had at least a 15% disparity between the percentage of coaches of color versus the percentage of players of color.

This lack of diversity is just as observable in regards at the high school level. According to hiring website Zippia, only 35% of all high school coaches nationwide are non-white, while a meager 33% are women.

It’s not as if these younger, minority coaches are any less successful. In fact, they often accomplish more than their counterparts.

Former NFL player Deion Sanders, who is Black, guided Jackson State

University to unprecedented back-to-back Southwestern Atlantic Conference titles in 2021 and 2022. Assistant baseball coach Alyssa Nakken, a woman, coached with the San Francisco Giants when they won the National League West in 2021. At only 36 years old, Sean McVay head coached the Los Angeles Rams to the 2022 Super Bowl.

Beyond that, the effects of a diverse coaching staff benefit athletes off the field. “( Younger coaches are) more relatable and more active. They can come in and do the drills with us and show us how it’s done,” Clarke Central High School varsity basketball player Jessica Hudson, a senior, said. “Women’s sports are being advertised more, so I feel like we should have younger coaches to help us stay at the top of our game.”

Admittedly, there are some rules to encourage diversity among professional coaching staff – the NFL’s Rooney Rule stipulates that all NFL teams must interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching positions.

However, the Rooney Rule clearly isn’t carrying out all that it promises – only three out of 30 NFL head coaches are Black in a league dominated by Black athletes.

Instead of focusing on token interviews like those required by the Rooney Rule, coaching diversity needs to start at the grassroots level and be built up.

Organizations like the Positive Coaching Alliance, which works to increase diversity among coaches at the youth level, need to be supported to enable them.

While not perfect, CCHS is certainly an example of a school that has empowered its coaches.

Three coaches under 40 – CCHS head varsity flag football coach Cherelle Pass, CCHS head varsity volleyball coach Stacey Scott and CCHS head varsity soccer coach Chris Aiken – have all achieved remarkable things at their respective programs, with Pass and Scott doing so as Black females as well.

Diversity shouldn’t just be something that’s practiced on the field. To truly do right by the country’s athletes, minority coaches need to be given the resources to succeed just as much in the dugout as on the diamond.

Coaching diversity needs to start at the grassroots level and be built up.

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Left: ON AND OFF THE FIELD: Coaches of a variety of races, ages and ethnicities are pictured. Although the sporting world has made an effort to become more diverse, these attempts focus on players rather than coaches, a disparity which is incredibly detrimental to athletes at all levels.

“Diversity shouldn’t just be something that’s practiced on the field. To truly do right by the country’s athletes, minority coaches need to be given the resources to succeed just as much in the dugout as on the diamond,” Lead Copy Editor Wyatt Meyer wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell

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Central levels up

The CCHS varsity Esports team was brought to CCHS at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and immediately received support from students, parents and faculty.

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our years after the Georgia High School Association sanctioned Esports, Clarke Central High School’s athletics department has established a varsity Esports LAYOUT BY CADENCE SCHAPKER team at CCHS, broadening the competitive opportunities Sports Editor for students.

In fall of 2019, GHSA officially sanctioned competitive gaming, known as Esports.

In 2017, GHSA partnered with PlayVS, founded in Los Angeles, California, whose main objective is to facilitate and promote Esports as a legitimate and organized sport within educational institutions. GHSA Esports competitions use PlayVS as a platform to connect high schools to play against each other during competitions.

STORY BY E AN CORN SH Sports Staffer

“(The athletics department is) trying to offer as many things as we can so that we can support the diverse needs of all of our students.”

-- Chris Aiken,

CCHS Associate Athletic Director

“(CCHS Career, Technical and Agricultural Education department chair Nestor) Domingo took on the challenge of starting our Esports team when the sport was first introduced to GHSA athletics (in 2018-19),” CCHS Associate Athletic Director Chris Aiken said. “Due to issues with the district network, we struggled all year to connect to the server for practices and games.”

When attempting to start an Esports team again towards the end of the 2022-23 school year, Aiken reached out to Clarke Middle School social studies department teacher Sean Simpson due to Simpson’s annual classroom themes, ranging from "Pokémon" to "Star Wars." By establishing the team, Aiken and the athletics department wanted to get students to participate in a wider variety of extracurricular activities.

Left: CENTRAL GAMING: Clarke Central High School’s inaugural Georgia High School Association varsity Esports team plays Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the CCHS Media Center on Sept. 6. CCHS Esports Commentator Aley Fathalla, a senior, predicted the team to have a slow start, but will grow over the following years O iously it s going to e the rst season we re going to e dipping our toes in many different things,” Fathalla said. “We’re probably going to get (beaten) a few times, but all in all, I think we’re going to come out of this season looking forward to the next.” Photo by Aza Khan

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Above: STAY TUNED: Clarke Central High School varsity Esports members Finley Gibbs (left) and Aley Fathalla (right), seniors, give game commentary on the CCHS vs. University of Georgia’s Esports team in the CCHS Media Center on Sept. 13. The Esports team played Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during their fall 2023 season, which Fathalla has enjoyed playing since its release on the Nintendo Switch in 2018. “Video games are a universal thing to enjoy,” Fathalla said. “Smash Bros. is (something) everybody around the world (can) enjoy and it (doesn’t) pertain to one culture.” Photo by Aza Khan

“(The athletics department is) trying to offer as many things as we can so that we can support the diverse needs of all of our students, whether it'd be traditional stick and ball type sports or console sports,” Aiken said.

Because Esports is an official sport at CCHS, they have an estimated $1500 in startup expenditures for Nintendo products and PlayVS passes for involved students. According to Aiken, if CCHS Esports expands its roster and its selection of games, the athletics department will upgrade to an unlimited package, allowing the team to compete in more competitions with an unlimited number of student players.

“If our Esports program continues to grow at the current (exponential) rate, we will likely purchase an unlimited package moving forward,” Aiken said.

“As an athletic department, we would be thrilled for the program to grow to the point where we need the unlimited package every season.”

As part of the unlimited package, GHSA Esport regulations include a broad variety of games with different adaptations of skills required for each. The regulations include award-winning games like Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However, CCHS Esports presently only

competes with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

“The (athletic) department and I decided we're gonna stick with one game this year (and) see how many students are interested,” Simpson said. “I expect that we will expand into not only Smash Brothers next year, but Rocket League, Mario Kart and maybe Madden (NFL 24).”

Aside from increasing overall student interest, Simpson's co-focus for the team is to develop and balance the gaming skill level among players. The Esports team has four positions: Commentators, Managers, Starters and Benches.

Commentators narrate the game, Managers help with practice sessions, Starters are the main players and Benches are substitutes for Starters during competitions.

Commentators and Managers do not participate in competitions.

“I want Starters to practice CCHS Esports Bench and senior against Benches of course with a healthy dose of Starters versus Starters. Iron sharpens iron,” Simpson said. “I want my Benches to become as good as my Starters (and) I want everyone to try to get equal playing time.”

Esport matches do not usually require travel to other high schools or designated competition sites, as the PlayVS platform allows for real-time,

“It’s nice we share the same interests in playing Esports because I don’t really play a lot of multiplayer games. Hanging out and playing video games with them is a different experience than I usually have.”

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-- River Fowells,

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remote participation. Students, parents and other interested community members are able to watch the Esports team’s progress online on Twitch with the username @CCHS_Gladiators.

“High schools sign up (for competitions) through (PlayVS) and set up teams,” Simpson said. “When I arrive (to CCHS), I hook up the switches to the Internet and go on PlayVS and I mark our team as ready. The (PlayVS) program matches us up with another high school that’s ready, (then) a chat window pops up and I put in our friend code (so) we’re able to game.”

Aside from building connections with other schools, according to the GHSA website, Esports opens new opportunities for students to bond and build a community within their school for those not interested or unable to participate in traditional sports. Inversely, the reaction of some students may say otherwise.

“I feel like it’s better off as a club,” CCHS sophomore Na’reeyah Williams said.

“Compared to the regular athletes, you're not putting (in) as much physical dedication and if you're good at it, just let it be a (hobby rather) than a sport.”

Despite similar perspectives, Simpson feels that Esports is more than just a hobby. It is an opportunity to impact students from different backgrounds and create a safe environment. To support this student participation, Simpson is working with parents to create a booster club.

“A lot of these students don't hang out with each other normally, but we have a wide variety of demographics with our team,” Simpson said “They really don't hang

out with anyone, (but) they're all down there having fun yelling and screaming, playing against each other. I love it. It makes me so happy.”

Esports Bench River Fowells, a senior, feels involving himself in the Esports community has impacted him in more ways than he initially thought.

“With (the) couple of people I have interacted with, it's been pretty cool (because I‘ve) started liking some people,” Fowells said. “It's nice we share the same interests in playing Esports because I don't really play a lot of multiplayer games. Hanging out and playing video games with them is a different experience than I usually have.”

CCHS Esports Commentator Aley Fathalla, a senior, believes Esports opens doors for college after high school.

“Big colleges are looking at Esports as a potential new big thing,” Fathalla said. “(Colleges are) going to be looking at CCHS varsity Esports head coach (the) pools of high schoolers (in) varsity Esports and it could potentially lead to life-changing scholarships.”

According to CCHS Esports Starter Todd Dow, a senior, Esports and consequential connections with teammates have allowed personal aspirations to grow.

“I'm looking forward to taking this experience and just having a good memory about it,” Dow said. “Playing games is cool, but if I can look back and be like, ‘Dang, that was pretty cool,’ a couple (of) years later down the line, that's all that matters to me.”

“They really don’t hang out with anyone, (but) they’re all down there having fun yelling and screaming, playing against each other. I love it. It makes me so happy.”

-- Sean Simpson,

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Below: IN THE GAME: Clarke Central High School varsity Esports player Jamari Hubbard, a junior, plays Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the CCHS Media Center on Sept. 13. CCHS varsity Esports head coach Sean Simpson created a goal to build a team that allows for new and experienced players alike to join and play together. “I just want to build it and have fun,” Simpson said. “I’d love a championship (title), but my goal right now is (for) all the kids to have fun and to be a part of (the team) for the 2023 school year. That’s my goal.” Photo by Aza Khan

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the diamond from the rough The CCHS varsity softball team broke school records in their 2023 season, reaching double digit ins for the first time in program history.

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fter years of going unrecognized, the 2023 varsity softball team’s work is paying off as they break school records with their winning season.

LAYOUT BY WYATT MEYER Lead Copy Editor In all of program history, the Gladiators have never reached 10 wins. However, this season, the team secured a best-ever 12-17 record that topped the program’s previous high of nine wins from the 2019 season.

That record cements CCHS head varsity softball coach William Lance’s place as the most successful softball coach in school history by win percentage, which sits at 26%, according to MaxPreps. The 2023 season also shows the program’s gradual growth from a three-win campaign in 2020, Lance’s inaugural season, to its 12-win season in 2023.

“I had a goal and a mission in mind when I took over the program and the girls getting recognized by the school, the community, their peers and other teams was part of it,” Lance said. “It’s just nice to know that all the hours mentally and physically spent for the last four years has paid off in this moment.”

STORY BY COOPER JONES Sports Staffer

“I had a goal and a mission in mind when I took over the program and the girls getting recognized by the school, the community, their peers and other teams was part of it.”

-- William Lance,

CCHS varsity softball head coach

The Gladiators have slowly increased their success under Lance, as evidenced by their eight-victory 2021 season and Lance’s first Region 8-AAAAA victory against Heritage High School in 2022. However, CCHS varsity softball center fielder Kaiden Bradford, a junior, feels that the team’s unity and attitude still let them down in previous seasons.

“There was not enough effort or enough dedication towards the team,” Bradford said. “It wasn’t really a team. It was just people playing with each other.

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There was no connection or bonding.”

The team says that changed in 2023. The Gladiators raced out to a 10-2 start, punctuated by another Region 8-AAAAA win against Heritage High School on Aug. 22. Varsity softball second baseman Alexandra Ozuna, a sophomore, owes that success to the team’s on-field connection.

“We’ve got each other’s backs and we can trust each other,” Ozuna said. “When someone else steps up on the plate, (we) can trust them to help out our team and during plays, we can rely on our fielders to get the outs.”

The team’s work on bonding was accompanied by more practices and offseason workouts, an increased time commitment which Lance feels paid off.

“I think the girls really bought into softball being more than just an August through October sport,” Lance said. “We got to put extra time in the offseason and they really bought into the next step and the desire (to work).”

The team’s performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by many in the school community “A lot of people that haven’t been following softball look at this like it just happened overnight, but this is three years in the making. This is the girls and I grinding for three years, and (we saw) all that hard work pay off this year,” Lance said.

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Featured: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Clarke Central High School varsity softball player Alexandra Ozuna, a junior, pitches during the team’s game against Heritage High School at the CCHS soft all eld on Sept The softball team improved gradually and saw their work pay off this season. “A lot of people that haven’t been following softball just look at this like it just happened o ernight ut this is three years in the ma ing CCHS varsity softball head coach William Lance said. “This is the girls and I grinding for three years, and we’re starting to see all that hard wor pay off this year Photo y Ciyana Ramos

According to Ozuna, the team is enthusiastic about their record-breaking accomplishments and looks forward to further success.

“It’s really exciting. All my teammates and coaches are really excited to see how our progress has been throughout the years and how we have worked our way up to where we are now with our wins,” Ozuna said. “That was our goal for the season, to beat our win record from last year, and now we’re just trying to have new goals and keep building.”

With only two graduating seniors on the team this season, Lance hopes to come back with a similar roster and maintain his team’s momentum in order to make more CCHS varsity softball history.

“I told the girls, you are what you believe you are. If you think you’re the best, then you can be the best, but if you don’t think you have a chance, you’ve already beaten yourself,” Lance said. “When we get to that point where we believe that we can do anything, (that’s) when you’ll see something special.”

Overall, Bradford feels that the varsity softball team’s achievement this season has given the program newfound recognition from the CCHS community. “(The softball team’s success) is going to be a lift towards our program,” Bradford said. “We’re going to get more recognition, actually get the respect that we deserve.”

“We’ve got each other’s backs and we can trust each other. When someone else steps up on the plate, you can trust them to help out our team and during plays, we can rely on our elders to get the outs -- alexandra ozuna, CCHS varsity softball second baseman

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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.

WAYLON VAUGHN Grade: 10 GPA: 4.09 Years of experience: 3 Game day ritual: I have these great pants, I really love them. They’re really sparkly and every meet, I wake up really early and I put those pants on and it just makes me feel real good. Starts my day off right.

Favorite memory: u t practicing and fini hing or out and the en e of togetherness you get when everyone’s hurting. You just really feel like a team. I love that.

Role Model: Both my parents. They work really hard and I think that’s really great and one day I wanna be able to live up to that.

What coaches say: “He is in it to win it. That is his thing. He’s working really hard for his team to make sure that we keep those scores low and make our way to the podium.”

ODYSSEY Star Players VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY

-- Erica Cascio, Clarke Central High School head varsity cross country coach

Photo by Daniel Cruz

MEKELLE EZEKIEL Grade: 11 GPA: 4.0 Years of experience: 5 Game day ritual: (I) do my hair and put my bow on. (I) get all of my stuff in my cheer bag including uniform, cheer shoes, bow and my pom poms. (I) also make sure to have a positive energy, positive vibes. (I) listen to music to get in the mood (and to) have great energy.

Favorite memory: My favorite memory is (from) the bus. We had a game closer to the Atlanta area, and the ride was so fun because we were all bonding, getting along and talking about school and our experiences. Everybody was having fun and being nice.

Role Model: My sister McKenna (Ezekiel, Class of 2023), did a lot at Clarke Central (High School). She was very involved in a lot of clubs and activities, and everybody saw her as a very nice person, so I would like to be known (for) that as well.

What coaches say: “She is a personal cheerleader. She cheers on her friends in school (and) outside of school. She’s an awesome team player (and she) always shows up to do and be her best. I think she’s making a name for herself.”

-- Sophia Campbell, CCHS head varsity football cheer coach

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Photo by Daniel Cruz

ODYSSEY Star Players VARSITY FOOTBALL CHEERLEADING

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Featured: SEVERAL SPORTS: Clarke Central High School arsity ag foot all wide recei er trac and eld long jumper, basketball power forward and soft all in elder Tacli ea TT rancois a sophomore, stands on the long jump runway in Billy Henderson Stadium with a ag foot all elt as et all and soft all glove on Sept. 12. Throughout her high school career as a multi-sport athlete, Francois has learned the importance having a positive mindset has had on her success. “Your attitude is really everything because if you have a bad outlook on everything, bad things are gonna come out of that,” Francois said. Photo by Daniel Cruz

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things to know about being a multi-sport athlete

by Taclivea “TT” Francois, as told to Liya Taylor

1. Cross-Sport Support Being around the wrong people will change you, so having friends on the team that uplift your spirits helps a lot. That inspiration they put into you is good. This one (softball) game, I didn’t catch any passes and I was feeling low and (in a) bad mood.

My friends, my teammates from my other teams cheered me up and then, the next play, I got a catch.

Also, my (Clarke Central High School girls head varsity) basketball coach (Carla Johnson) and (CCHS head varsity) flag football coach (Cherelle Pass) have been helping me with softball. Pass gave me her old glove and I caught my first out with that.

2. Staying consistent

It’s difficult to do everything at once, you have to find your balance. I found my balance. I make sure I grab a basketball, get some shots up because I’m still a basketball player. Then, (on) Sundays I go to flag (football), and all week is softball because I’m in season for softball. I feel if I could do one thing, I can do the other. I (just have) to balance my time.

3. Competitive spirit If someone tells me I can’t do it or I feel like it’s a challenge, I’m gonna want to do it. It’s gonna inspire me to do more and get better until I master it. I know what I need to work on and I want to fully master (each sport) by the time I get out of (CCHS), so that involves me putting in a lot of hard work.

4. Mentality shift

My mindset in softball is to make sure everybody (is) up here at the same level I am, so we can play a good game (and) get some good hits in. (In) flag football, (I) make sure they calm down (and are) not overthrowing the ball. (In) basketball, (it’s the) same way with softball.

5. The fifth sport

You have to know when to be an athlete and when to be a student. I lock-in like it’s a game throughout school, so everything I’m doing in class, I make sure that it’s done. Before I started playing flag football, I was a bad kid. Sports have really, really changed me. I get A’s and B’s now. I have a reason to be in class and stay on top of my stuff year-long.