Vol 15 Issue 3 Feb 2018

Volume 15 Issue 3 Feb. 2018 $3.00

Clarke Central High School’s FFA program grows students and opportunity

Photo by Ana Aldridge

VIEWPOINTS

7

dealing with harrasment

COVER STORY <<

12

BY ana aldridge

Managing Editor Delia Adamson shares her personal experience with sexual harassment and the conversations surrounding it.

BY DELIA ADAMSON

NEWS and learning 14Twointerning Clarke Central High School seniors discuss their experiences with work-based learning and academic internship programs.

From Clarke Middle School to Clarke Central High School, the FFA program continues to blossom.

BY LUIS GARCIA

FEATURES

Photo by Emma Ramsay

18 good things grow in ffa

Clarke Central High School junior Jordan Butler has bloomed through her work with the CCHS FFA program.

BY MADDIE INGLE

REVIEWS

21 migos misses the mark

“Culture II”, the sequel to the Migos’ album “Culture”, didn’t live up to expectations.

Right: BUILDING HER BRAND: Lou Kregel sits in her studio with one of her two dogs. Kregel has been producing art for as long as she can remember and has built a name for herself through that art over the years. “I’m a self-supporting artist. I have been for about maybe 35 years. My first job in the art world was as a sign painter (when) I was 21, and it was awesome,” Kregel said.

26

BY CONNOR McCAGE

VARIETY straight to the top 24Variety staffer Everett Vereen picks five artists who are worthy of a listen in 2018.

BY EVERETT VEREEN

SPORTS back and better 32Clarke Central High School teacher and head JV football coach Stefan Smith discusses his return to CCHS from Cedar Shoals High School.

BY CAEDMON CHURCHWELL Cover by Suncana Pavlic Table of Contents by Elena Gilbertson Hall

Photo by Zoe Peterson

32

Left: KEEPIN’ THE DREAM: Clarke Central High School 2012 graduate Marquez Williams, a fullback for CCHS, stands in the Billy Henderson stadium in 2017. From the Jacksonville Jaguars, Williams was drafted as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns. “I have a new drive and new motivation for the game that I love, my dream of playing football. I train as hard as I did before I got drafted,” Williams said.

“The new drive and new fire in me to actually play a full NFL season and put that helmet back on again is my dream.”

>> VIEWPOINTS Left: AWKWARD CONVOS: Family Life and Sexual Health (FLASH) sexual education classes are taught at Clarke Central High School. Though this is positive, the conversations that take place can often feel awkward and uncomfortable due to lack of exposure to such topics in the classroom. Cartoon

by Paulina Hafer.

LUCIA

BERMUDEZ LETTER FROM THE EDITOR. Sexual education in the Clarke County School District has made strides, but there is still improvements to be made.

F

lash forward to 2018. Clarke Central High School students are now one year older, teachers are one year more advanced in their careers and coaches have one more year of experience in teaching the Family Life and Sexual Health (FLASH) sexual education curriculum.

FLASH lessons began at CCHS on Jan. 16 this year. The curriculum was adopted in 2008 by the Clarke County School District, and according to the FLASH official website it is a “widely used comprehensive sexuality education curriculum developed...and designed to prevent teen pregnancy, STDs and sexual violence.” There are 12 lessons, each allocated to a respective grade level.

Freshman learn about pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted infections during their Health and P.E. class. Sophomores cover healthy relationships, sexual violence prevention and online safety. Juniors learn about gender identity, gender stereotypes and sexual orientations. And lastly, seniors cover coercion, consent and communication.

Sexual education is essential.

It is necessary for all students, especially those in high school. Despite the fact that sex ed classes being taught at CCHS is a good thing, there is still much improvement to be made.

4 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

The conversation still feels awkward.

This isn’t purely because of the nature of the content, but rather the presentation of the content. Often, teahers assigned to deliver FLASH lessons warn students that the subject matter may be uncomfortable, or that some of the things are awkward or embarrassing to talk about.

The warning is appreciated, given that the content can be triggering for those who may have experienced sexual abuse or a form of trauma. However, the whole point of sexual education is for these conversations to stop being awkward -- for them to become normalized.

It’s understandable that these conversations are difficult for some students, and even for those delivering the lessons. However, we must get around the notion that it’s awkward to talk about sex and anything related to it.

Having sexual education begin at a younger age will help to normalize these conversations. There should be healthy discussions about relationships, consent, bodies, etc. that are comfortable, respectful, appropriate and not made to feel weird or awkward. This normalizes the concept and makes future conversations, and future actions, overall better.

FEBRUARY 2018

VIEWPOINTS <<

ANEESA

CONINE-NAKANO LETTER FROM THE EDITOR. Though social media has become a hub for political activism, the conversations -- or lack thereof -- that occur between users calls into question its effectiveness.

S

crolling through social media, whether it be Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, most users will see posts pertaining to politics. Whether they are mini-rants or calls-to-action, they are becoming more frequent and prominent, especially among young users.

There is no doubt that social media is an effective place to gain visibility. Movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too have been able to reach supporters and allies through a variety of platforms.

Social media is also a place where many people get their news and information. A Pew Research Center study says that over 67 percent of people get at least some news through social media.

However, when it comes to discussing disagreements and political differences, social media is often ineffective.

Another Pew Research Center study reports that 83 percent of people who read a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s post that they disagree with ignore it.

So while it seems people are advertising their views more

FEBRUARY 2018

freely, it does not mean more conversations are being opened up.

At times, not responding is difficult to criticize.

Though people are given a direct and quick way to interact with friends or even strangers, the interactions can be unproductive and pointless. Fifty-nine percent of people find their discussions frustrating and stressful.

Many cite this as a result of name-calling and hate speech. This is hardly surprising given that users can hide behind a screen name or choose to be anonymous and still engage with others.

Even if there is a respectful conversation, only 35 percent of users feel like their conversations with people of differing opinions are interesting or informative.

Though this disconnect is not isolated to social media, it is certainly heightened by it. The potential for how many people can be reached through different platforms is immense. However, this potential is wasted for people who want a place to discuss issues and engage with people who disagree.

Social media may be a great place to support a movement and bring attention to issues, but it is hardly a breeding ground for intellectual interactions between differing parties. If one is looking for that, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for people to change the way they communicate online or look elsewhere.

Left: ACT ON IT: People on social media can take a stance on important issues, but there is often more said than done in regards to taking action. Cartoon by Audrey Kennedy

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

|5

>> VIEWPOINTS

Odyssey

The ODYSSEY is a student-produced newsmagazine, 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 multiple 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.

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.

t is a common sentiment that school doesn’t prepare students for the “real world.” And certainly, a seven-day class schedule doesn’t necessarily reflect the experiences students will have following their graduation.

However, this sentiment doesn’t take into account all the opportunities presented to students at Clarke Central High School.

For those who seek an immediate immersion into the college environment, Move On When Ready is offered at a variety of institutions, including the University of Georgia, Athens Tech, the University of North Georgia and the Athens Community Career Academy.

And, for students who don’t want to follow this path so early, there are opportunities to immerse themselves in future careers.

The work-based learning internship allows students to find jobs that they can then attend during the school day. These can range from local businesses to occupations on the University of Georgia campus.

If students hope to engage in research instead, the Young Dawgs internship program connects qualified students to UGA professors in whatever academic area they choose. This gives students the unique chance to study subjects not offered at CCHS, and delve deep into the specifics of areas ranging from ethnomusicology to Latin American and Caribbean studies.

Co-Editors-in-Chief: Lucia Bermudez and Aneesa Conine-Nakano Managing Editor: Delia Adamson Senior Copy Editor: Jordan Rhym Senior Visuals Editor: Suncana Pavlic Viewpoints Editor: Valeria Garcia-Pozo News Editor: Jurnee Louder Variety Editor: Connor McCage Sports Editor: Hannah Gale

By giving us the chance to try unconventional opportunities inside and outside school, school can prepare us for the real world.

Junior Copy Editor: Ana Aldridge Business Manager: Gabriel Mantione-Holmes Broadcast Editor: Kelly Fulford

This effectively makes the school day an engaging, appealing way to get involved with whatever students want to do after graduation. This allows students to prepare for the “real world,” and gives them a stake in the game when they dive into their postsecondary field.

And, students don’t even have to go off-campus for some of these activities.

Within the school environment, clubs like FFA allow students to plant, garden and engage in agriculture hands-on. For those considering going into a field involving agriculture, these experiences can be invaluable.

Even if students decide these career options aren’t the ones they want to pursue after high school, having these experiences in areas of interest can help them choose what they want to do in the future. And, these chances are more frequent than students expect.

By giving us the chance to try unconventional opportunities inside and outside of the school environment, school can prepare us for the real world.

Director of Audience Engagement: Olivia Ripps Design Editor: Katie Grace Upchurch Staff Members: Mackenzie Caudill Caedmon Churchwell Owen Churchwell Emma Crane Edmund Davis Karla Dougan Bria Echols Luis Garcia Elena Gilbertson-Hall Kri Hair Madeleine Ingle Sam Mattern-Parkes Zoe Peterson Emma Ramsay Lily Bruce-Ritchie Alexander Robinson Dalace Thomas Everett Vereen

Below: OPPORTUNITY EVERYWHERE: There are several opportunities in and outside of Athens for high schoolers. Clarke Central High School students can dual enroll at the Athens Career Academy, Athens Technical College, The University of Georgia and the University of North Gerogia.

Illustration by Suncana Pavlic

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

I

Our Take

Adviser: David A. Ragsdale ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia 30605 Phone: (706) 357-5200 Ext. 17370

6 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

Question

VIEWPOINTS <<

of the month

how do you think black history month should be celebrated?

“More education, Black history wise. We did it a lot in elementary school, but now in high school it’s all about White history and what White people want.”

“By honoring everybody who has fought for Black people’s rights, and also celebrating people now for still fighting for rights.”

-- EMILY VARGAS, sophomore “Everybody (should) just sit back, chill, have fun, and have a little cookout, everybody come together (and) just be friends with everybody.”

-- ADORIAN WILLIAMS, senior “(Black History Month should be celebrated) with family and your ethnicity and race.”

-- CIANNEY JOHNSON, freshman

-- BILLY WADE, physical education teacher Compiled by Jamia Echols

FEBRUARY 2018

BOILING POINT Managing Editor Delia Adamson tells her story about dealing with sexual harassment and conversations that happen within the classroom.

I

-- MIKAH HARPER, junior

“With a program that’s gonna share knowledge, information and show the accomplishments of Black (people) who actually made things possible.”

DELIA ADAMSON

t’s January 2018 and I’m sitting in my AP English Literature class. I am an 18-year-old senior in high school being taught about consent and coercion as part of the Family Life And Sexual Health (FLASH) curriculums.

My peers sit around me as we read different fictional scenarios and are asked how we would react to them.

“Well, the girl could yell if the guy is holding her down, but what if she doesn’t want to draw attention to herself or the situation,” a classmate asks.

I find that my eyes are welling up with tears and my hands are beginning to shake without knowing it. I grit my teeth, stay out of the conversation and just listen.

In my mind, the classroom has now transformed into the outside of my former workplace. I am helping the father of a family load his daughter’s birthday presents into their car. I continue to ignore the leering looks and inappropriate comments he has been making toward me since he arrived.

But I can’t ignore him backing me up against a wall and not letting me go.

I stood there paralyzed and did nothing.

I remember driving away and knowing that I would never set foot into that place again. I sent an email resigning that same night.

Of course, I made excuses. I blamed my resignation on family matters and a school schedule that ate up too much of my time. I told none of my friends, or my parents at first.

I was going to deal with it alone, like the rest of my problems. I don’t like to be a burden on people.

However, the truth came out in a conversation with my mother a couple of weeks later. From then on, the resources made available to me were endless.

But I still did not want to talk to anyone.

I was a victim of sexual assault, and it’s still hard to admit it to myself.

It’s January 2018 and I am sitting in my AP English Literature class. The bell rings, everyone rushes out of the door and my questions are still unanswered.

What if the victim doesn’t want to draw attention to the situation? What if they are too afraid to yell and scream like they have been taught? How do they make the assault stop?

I did everything that I was taught to do. I did not lead him on, I disregarded every word and action made toward me that day.

So why did I still fall victim?

Left: WHAT TO DO?: Sexual assault can happen to anyone, anywhere. Victims often feel as if it is their fault, but only the abuser is responsible for inflicting the abuse. Graphic by Paulina Hafer.

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

|7

>> VIEWPOINTS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR KIDS WITH GUNS

Our December issue featured an investigative news piece by Jurnee Louder about young people, especially Clarke Central High School students, having access to guns.

>> VIEWPOINTS

>> FEATURES

FRESH VOICE // Anahi Delgado

KIDS WITH GUNS // Jurnee Louder

Anahi makes a good point on having good translation services. I also think that if Anahi was better or comfortable with translating to her mother, it should be allowed. There is a translator for deaf people at Clarke Central that I know of. When my grandad met a translator, one of the teachers who speaks sign language, they seemed to have a fluent conversation. I like this article because it addresses problems when it comes to parents and school relationships.

Stricter gun control is a common sentiment and a great way to get elected, but most of it is security theater. Senator Howard Metzenbaum (a Democrat and an advocate for strict gun control) states that, “If you don’t ban all [guns], you might as well ban none of them.” But this view is not common -- a very small minority of American voters support a nationwide ban on all guns. Is it fair for the United States government to confiscate hundreds of millions of guns when there are millions of instances of citizens using guns for self-defense per year?

-- Zi’Quasha Key, sophomore

>> NEWS son Hall

When you say, “Here’s a statue of an American who fought for what he believed in,” you have to ask yourself, what is this cause? Slavery. When it comes down to it, this is a monument that honors slavery and those who supported and fought for it.

Forcing humans into servitude isn’t the American Dream. I can’t help but wonder where the monuments are for Mary Turner, Recy Taylor or countless other Black women, men and children who lost their lives for speaking up, or just because of the color of their skin. The article also didn’t use any black students as a source, even though the minority enrollment in our school is 80 percent.

We are talking about a monument honoring those who fought to the death so Black people couldn’t go to school, or even be considered people, so one would think the voice of a Black student would be important in this article.

-- Flora Lechtreck, junior Corrections/Omissions December 2017 On page 15, the poll was conducted by Ana Aldridge, Sam Mattern-Parkes, Kelly Fulford, Everett Vereen, Luis Garcia, Elena Gilbertson Hall, Maddie Ingle and Jurnee Louder.

On page 24, it should say “Moms,” not “Mom’s.”

On page 25, it should say “Frappuccino,” not “Frappucino.”

On page 36, the cartoon is by Suncana Pavlic.

Contact

ODYSSEY Newsmagazine

“H

TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN // Katie e got that Grace Upchurch tattoo ‘cause it reminded him what he’s doing for Mello. He’ll keep his dreams >> SPORTS going for him.

DEFYING EXPECTATIONS // Hannah Gale

“

CONFRONTING HISTORY // Elena Gilbert-

>> VARIETY

-- Marcel Morgan, junior

-- Freshman Omarion Bell on senior Jarvis Clark’s tattoo, which was featured in the photo essay “Ink” by Zoe Peterson and Emma Ramsay.

I liked this review because it didn’t sugarcoat the fact that mental and physical illnesses are somewhat romanticized in John Green’s books. Although I have enjoyed reading John Green’s books in the past, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he takes both mental and physical illnesses and turns them into this fairytale-like story. I like the fact that Upchurch said what she wanted to say, but still ended on a positive note by stating that the book shows Green’s growth as an author.

-- Ginny Marbut, senior

The article was very moving. I think that (senior Kendarious Watson) is very inspirational because he never gave up on his dream, which was playing basketball. I love how he never gave up on what he believed in. Even when he lost his ability to do everything, he got back up and worked hard to get to where he is now. I hope that he will never stop chasing his dreams in the near future.

-- Aliyah Arnold, sophomore

Letters: E-mail us at editors@odysseynewsmagazine.net, or drop off in the Main Office, in care of the ODYSSEY. We ask that all letters be under 250 words and signed. We reserve the right to omit or edit any letters received. Insulting, unsigned or libelous statements will not be considered for publication. All letters may be edited for clarity and space. Advertising: For ad rates e-mail us at business@odysseynewsmagazine.net. Online: Comment online at our www.odysseynewsmagazine.net.

8 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

VIEWPOINTS <<

AUDREY KENNEDY

Fresh Voice

Mental illness is an issue that should be addressed.

M

any people dealing with mental illnesses don’t realize they are coping with an issue that needs to be addressed.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. They affect 18.1 percent of America’s adult population, which is 40 million people. Major depressive disorder --or MDD-- is the most common form of depression diagnosed in America. MDD affects 16.1 million Americans of varying ages, which is around 6.7 percent of the US population.

Some who suffer from depression or anxiety disorders tend to dismiss their own mental illness, and the majority of those with mental illnesses never acquire help.

This leaves many people coping with depression and/or anxiety disorders on their own without professional support or assistance. The ADAA also states that while 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders, only 36.9 percent of those diagnosed receive treatment.

While those dealing with depression and anxiety have no control over their disorders, feeling selfish, guilty or even as if they are taking advantage of their living situations is a common train of thought. Mental illnesses are not exclusive to people with difficult lives, despite the fact that tragedies and burdensome lifestyles do play into mental health.

The truth is, many factors play into whether a person can suffer from depression or anxiety.

Poor mental health isn’t ever the person’s fault, despite how it may feel.

Regardless of the cause, mental illness shouldn’t be something to put aside.

Those dealing with mental illnesses should seek professional help to recover, such as medication, therapy or alternate options.

Poor mental health isn’t ever the person’s fault, despite how it may feel. With the fact that some will not have the financial means to afford support, there are options available within Clarke Central High School. CCHS offers resources such as counseling and a school psychologist that students don’t have to pay to see.

Although recovery may seem far away, and certainly won’t happen immediately, the first step to recovering from struggling with mental illness is searching for help.

Below: YELLOW AND BLUE: A person who suffers from mental illness (center, blue) can sometimes feel isolated, even while surrounded by a group. Cartoon by Audrey Kennedy.

THUMBS

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

SWIMMING WITH THE BIG FISH For the first time in a while, eighth graders are joining the CCHS swim team.

CELEBRATING CULTURE The Black Culture Club is a student-led organizations aimed at promoting Black excellence and supporting the Black community at CCHS. ICE ICE BABY Lil Ice Cream Dude, a 13-year-old local enterpreneur, is set to open his first restaurant later this year.

FARMING TO THE FUTURE Since the arrival of agriculture teacher and adviser Jillian Gordon, the FFA program has grown substantially.

CONGRESS CANDIDATE Former CCHS parent Richard Winfield is hoping to take his ideas to the national level by running for Congress.

FEBRUARY 2018

TAKING NOTICE Oftentimes, people struggling with mental illnesses do not seek help.

A MISS FOR THE MIGOS The Migos may be establihsed as artists, but they hit a sour note with their new album “Culture II”.

FALLING VICTIM Sexual harrasment can be a difficult topic to address in discussion, but it’s even harder to deal with as a victim.

ANTISOCIAL Although social media connects us to one another faster than any other platform, interactions are usually plagued with fights and misunderstandings.

RUSHING AWAY Greek organizations can often have harmful consequences, which overshadow the benefits.

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

|9

>> VIEWPOINTS

celebrating culture Black Culture Club President Jurnee Louder shares her experiences with BCC and its importance for Clarke Central High School students.

F

or the majority of my life, I have lived a lie.

For as long as I can remember, I thought I was superior to everyone in my own race. I thought that I was smarter. More poised. More eloquent.

And frankly, I thought that I was more likely to lead a successful life than the Black people around me.

But for some reason, I truly thought that I was proud to be Black and strong in my sense of self.

It’s shocking, right? Not only is it shocking, but it’s tragic -- to see how someone can internalize racism so much, that they don’t even realize how twisted and vitriolic their identity is.

I don’t know how I got these ideas. It’s not like anyone ever directly said to me that I was “doing” Black better than anyone else. But as a young kid, I noticed how people, especially White people, reacted to me.

They seemed less tense and more trusting towards me. That was all the affirmation I needed.

I didn‘t realize then that the covert racism that I faced -- and instigated -- was their problem and not mine. I felt secure in my blackness and that’s all that mattered.

But, there is a difference between truly loving yourself and loving yourself because White people do.

After years of self-reflection, I came to understand that and have made efforts to fix it.

But, I know that there are many more Black people who are struggling on their journey of finding their identity.

Beauty in Black culture has many forms, but it will be a long, hard and often times lonely, road before every Black person arrives to that destination. However, I knew that I needed to do something about it. So, I, Serena Rhym, Kanyla Thomas and Zipporah Daniels started the Black Culture Club.

10 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

BY JURNEE LOUDER News Editor

I knew that Black kids needed an outlet to discuss their fears, their doubts, their desires, their goals, their dreams and everything in between with others who understood.

I understood how important healthy environments can be in forming one’s identity. I knew that Black kids needed an outlet to discuss their fears, their doubts, their desires, their goals, their dreams and everything in between with others who understood.

At Black Culture Club, black kids -- and anyone who would like to join -- discuss all aspects of Black Culture, work on SAT and ACT preparation, volunteer in our community and whatever else the members feel should happen. BCC is a space for everyone to carve their path.

BCC and Black Student Union are both needed at Clarke Central High School. In a world where kids who feel like I felt in the past is way too common, many people have to be willing to inspire the change.

Left: MAKING HISTORY: During the month of February, Black History is celebrated throughout the United States. At Clarke Central High School, Black history and culture is celebrated every day through a variety of clubs and student experiences. Illustration by Suncana Pavlic

FEBRUARY 2018

VIEWPOINTS <<

Don’t go greek Each year thousands of college students join fraternities and sororities, and while Greek life does have benefits, it also has its own world of risks.

G

reek life is a major part of hundreds of colleges across the country, including the University of Georgia. It lures in thousands of college students each year with promises of social and academic benefits.

However, Greek life culture has taken some hits recently. According to USA Today, major colleges across the country including Ohio State University, University of Michigan and Florida State University have all suspended Greek life in 2017 “for reasons ranging from hazing, to sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse.”

Despite this, Greek life has plenty of advocates and supporters.

According to the New Jersey Institute of Technology, there are 9 million Greek members in the United States.

Clarke Central High School 2011 graduate Fakari Jalen

BY SAM MATTERN-PARKES Viewpoints staffer

Gresham, now a graduate student at Georgia State University, is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Gresham believes Greek life has benefits that last far beyond college.

“I had the opportunity to just meet a lot of people who were in positions of power who could connect me to different jobs, internships, different people,” Gresham said. “It’s a lifetime investment, especially with Black Greek organizations. It stretches far behind college, the benefits.”

However, although Greek life may have some benefits, the negatives outweigh the positives.

Greek organizations are commonly elitist, so only a select few actually experience any of these positives. Sororities and fraternities are essentially exclusive clubs that provide benefits to their members just for being affluent socialites.

Furthermore, Greek life is not all fun and networking. Despite efforts at many universities to curb activities like hazing, it can still get dangerous.

The dangers are what get Greek life banned on campuses: hazing, sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse.

Since 2010, 33 people in Greek life have died in hazing related incidents, at least 16 of which were alcohol-related deaths. This is not surprising, given the high amount of alcohol use and abuse that goes on in Greek organizations, particularly fraternities.

A 2006 study in the Journal of American College Health found that 97 percent of fraternity members drank alcohol, 86 percent were binge drinkers and 64 percent were frequent binge drinkers.

A 2005 study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that fraternity men were more than three times as likely to commit sexual assault as non-fraternity students, while another study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol found that women in sororities were one and a half times more likely to be raped.

Dozens of studies note the correlation between alcohol use and sexual assault, and that Greek students use alcohol more than non-Greek students.

It’s just part of the culture.

Many Greek students claim enormous benefits, but those benefits come with risks and dangers.

If someone thinks about joining a fraternity or sorority, they should at least be aware of what they’re getting into, and the culture that they are supporting and continuing.

Left: GREEK DECEIT: Greek Life is often touted as having great social and professional benefits. However, those benefits come with harmful and dangerous risks and drawbacks. Cartoon by Suncana Pavlic

FEBRUARY 2018

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 11

>> NEWS Photos by Ana Aldridge

Growing FFA Clarke Central High School FFA members and their adviser have worked to grow the program since its start in the 2016-17 school year.

S

ince she was hired at the start of the 2016-17 school year, Clarke Central High School agriculture teacher and FFA adviser Jillian Gordon has been working to grow FFA as a part of the CCHS community.

“When I was hired it was under the pretense that I would be starting an FFA program,” Gordon said. “My vision was to provide a leadership opportunity for students who maybe weren’t tapped into something else that’s in the school.”

According to the National FFA Organization’s website, FFA is “an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership.”

BY ANA ALDRIDGE Junior Copy Editor

Above: CHICKENS ACROSS THE ROAD: Clarke Middle School agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor Debbie Mitchell holds a chicken after school on Jan. 29. Mitchell brought the chickens to campus and cares for them with the help of her FFA students. “Although (FFA) is very competition-oriented for the contests and things like that, it highlights different qualities that other activities don’t necessarily highlight, like speaking ability, knowledge of plants and animals, things like that,” Mitchell said. Below: ROOTED IN FFA: Clarke Central High School agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Jillian Gordon poses for a photo with her high school FFA jacket. “I was really involved as a student. I loved my (agriculture) classes, I really liked joining FFA, I did a lot of speaking contests and I loved my (agriculture) teacher,” Gordon said.

"Ms. Gordon as a teacher herself, she changed me. She keeps motivating me. She does stuff some of my other teachers may not do and she makes sure I keep on track and keeps me on the right path so I don't do wrong. (FFA) really changed me as a whole person.”

-- JATAVARIOUS PAYNE junior “To be in FFA, you need to be in my (agriculture) class, so it’s an intracurricular part of the class,” Gordon said. “We have something that we call the Three Circle Model: (agricultural) education, in combination with FFA, in combination with some sort of laboratory or supervised experience.”

As a high school student, Gordon herself was involved in FFA. She hopes to provide her students with a similar positive experience.

“When I was in ninth grade I was quiet. I was shy, like, I never would have expected myself to be a teacher and like talk in front of students or do anything like that,” Gordon said. “And just over the years of learning

12 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

NEWS << how to speak, of being given responsibility to plan events and programs and just really getting pushed out of my comfort zone, I hope I can provide the same thing to my students.”

Gordon sees an evident difference between when she started the program last year to present.

“Last year we were kinda just getting started helping familiarize students to like what even is FFA, and this year we really have a lot of momentum from the middle school and from students from last year who are coming in who were part of FFA who are actually in there making it legitimate and a pretty successful organization,” Gordon said.

While she has seen progress, Gordon still faces a struggle in building her FFA program.

“I know some students thought from having middle school (agriculture) that (agriculture) here would be easy. I’ve had lots of complaints that are like, ‘I thought this was gonna be easy and it’s not,’” Gordon said. “I’m still looking to get students who were involved in middle school or want that leadership development opportunity.”

Gordon has recruited many students enrolled in her agriculture class, including junior Jatavious Payne.

“Ms. Gordon was the first teacher to bring FFA to the classroom and she was telling me about it in class. I joined (because I) thought it would better me and help me out in school a lot more and keep me focused,” Payne said.

To continue to build the high school program, Gordon and Clarke Middle School agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Debbie Mitchell combined forces and took students to the National FFA Convention in October 2017.

“We went to Indianapolis, Indiana. I took eight students. Four were freshmen who actually won their trip from being at Clarke Middle and then four students were a little bit older and they were just there (to learn, not compete). I wanted to take students and see what it was about,” Gordon said. “It was just a really fun trip. As soon as we were on the way back, I had students like, ‘Are we going next year?’”

Mitchell, an experienced FFA adviser, believes the national convention experience is critical for student development. “(The convention) is run by high school students and they’re true leaders and they have these really heartfelt stories that they’re sharing,” Mitchell said. “I have never been to a convention where at some point a couple of my students start crying just because it really is touching, and I think those are the students that go on and think they wanna do this sort of thing.”

Payne feels that FFA has been a transformative experience for him.

“I like FFA because I get to meet different types of people,” Payne said. “Ms. Gordon as a teacher herself, she changed me. Like she keeps motivating me.

She does stuff some of my other teachers may not do and she makes sure I keep on track and keeps me on the right path so I don’t do wrong. (FFA) really changed me as a whole person.”

Looking forward, Gordon wants to see FFA become more established as part of the CCHS community.

“Something that I think a lot of the school doesn’t know about (is that) we’re not just playing in the greenhouse. We’re not just gonna go be farmers or anything,” Gordon said. “I really emphasize leadership development in my students, and I really am trying to create a better, more well-rounded student.”

Below: GOT GOATS?: Clarke Middle School seventh grader Nasya Yahudah feeds goats after school on Jan. 29. CMS agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor Debbie Mitchell brought the goats to campus, and incorporates them into the work of her FFA program. “(In a typical FFA meeting), the president kind of says the business, we talk about fundraising and we talk about events,” Mitchell said. “But we try to do that really fast, because what everybody really wants to do is we usually go out to the garden and pick something and then make some food with it and then we play with the animals after that.”

FEBRUARY 2018

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 13

>> NEWS

Hands-on learning

Neha Mohanty: Young Dawgs Program Intern

BY LUIS GARCIA News staffer

What is your internship?

I intern at the McPhaul Center, which is a child development lab, and I work with the infants.

Clarke Central High School seniors Dylan Gavron and Neha Mohanty talk about their experiences in the Work Based Learning Intership and The University of Georgia Young Dawgs Internship programs, respectively.

Why did you pick this internship?

I was a junior and I heard that you could get three credits and that it was really rigorous and it would stretch you. I knew that it would allow me to take a step into whatever field I wanted to pursue.

Photos by Kelly Fulford

How much room do you have choosing your own internship?

(English department teacher and Clarke Central High School Young Dawgs program coordinator David Ragsdale) and ( Young Dawgs program director Jim Geiser) did a really good job at talking to all of us, back in my junior year in May. They talked to me and they asked me to make a list of where I wanted to intern. It just helps if you have connections but even if you don’t, Mr. Geiser does a good job, especially if it’s within UGA, of finding people who you can work with. If you tell them what field you’re interested in, they do their best to put you somewhere that you’re interested.

What is an average day like for you at your internship?

I get there, I go in, and I wash my hands. Honestly, I just sit and play with the babies for about two hours a day. I help feed them, I help put them to sleep, I do everything that a teacher would, except we’re not allowed to change diapers for other legal reasons. There’s two teachers and there’s eight babies, so obviously there’s gonna always be something for me to do. If one teacher’s holding one baby, and another teacher’s holding another, and then one starts crying, that’s my job. I’m just kind of like a third teacher in there.

What do you gain from that environment that you wouldn’t gain from school?

At school, especially because there were three credits that I don’t really need, I would just take gym or psychology, or just a random elective. As fun as that would be, it really wouldn’t help me take a step forward. (The internship) looks really good on my resume and my college applications which puts me a step forward and really helps. I think that if anyone has the free time in their schedule it would be great. We also do precis every week and we do reflections and papers, and so it helps you get ready for college.

What are the pros and cons of your internship?

Above: PHAULING INTO SUCCESS: Clarke Central High School senior Neha Mohanty poses for a photo on Feb. 14. Mohanty is in the University of Georgia Young Dawgs internship and interns at the McPhaul Center. “This semester I chose to work at McPhaul because I know that I want to go into sports medicine but I don’t really know what age range I want to work with,” Mohanty said.

“At Athens Orthopedic, I worked with all people either my age or super elderly people. So I was like, ‘Let’s look at the other end of the spectrum.’” Opposite: WORKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE: Clarke Central High School senior Dylan Gavron works at University of Georgia’s Small Satellite research laboratory during his work-based internship. Gavron feels the experience has been rewarding. “Really the exposure is just really valuable,” Gavron said. “The stuff that I’m learning I can tell I am going to use, because Aerospace Engineering type stuff is what I want to do in college.”

14 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

The pros are, if you know what field you want to go into, like with sports medicine, you can definitely start early. I was the youngest one (at the internship), but they told me that what I was doing, they didn’t start doing until they were seniors in college. It gives me a really good boost into the field, and even if you don’t know what purpose you want to go into, it’ll help you.

(For cons,) it is a lot of work. It is pretty time consuming and strenuous but I think that at the end of the day, the benefits outweigh all the time and all the work that you have to put in.

FEBRUARY 2018

NEWS <<

DYLAN GAVRON:

Work Based Learning Program Intern

BY LUIS GARCIA News staffer

What you do at your internship?

I do work-based learning at the (University of Georgia’s Small Satellite) research laboratory. We are in the process of making two of what are called (Cube Satellites), which are tiny little satellites that we are planning to launch in the coming year or two. They are going up on a payload to the (International Space Station). They are going to be deployed from that payload and start orbiting the planet based on parameters that we have decided upon.

What does a regular day look like for you at your internship?

I’m on the mechanical department. I have two supervisors. I go in and, if I don’t have anything to do I’ll ask them if they have anything that they need, and if they do they’ll just tell me what to do, walk me through it.

It’s pretty much just like a computer lab. There are a lot different departments and people doing different things all around.

What do you think you gain from this internship that you wouldn’t get in a regular school experience?

The hands-on experience absolutely (helps). The main thing that I’ve been doing is learning how to 3D model, using Autodesk Inventor and Autocad, and that stuff really isn’t available in school. They are the same programs that professionals use. Also, just being in that environment and seeing how a lab operates and functions and how the different departments communicate with each other -- things like that have been really rewarding and something that definitely isn’t available in high school.

What would you say you enjoy most about having this internship?

The exposure is just really valuable. The stuff that I’m learning I can tell I am going to use, because aerospace engineering-type stuff is what I want to do in college. Also, just meeting people has been really rewarding. I have made some good friends and they’re all graduates, pretty much, and some of the advice that they have given me has been particularly helpful.

FEBRUARY 2018

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 15

>> NEWS Featured: TRYING FOR CHANGE: University of Georgia philosophy professor and 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Winfield sits outside his office. For Winfield, both career tracks compliment each other. “It’s not a question of there being a contradiction between the two, or having to abandon philosophical ideas. I think we needed to be guided by philosophy,” Winfield said. “That’s why I think that when we talk about improving our education, and our public education, in particular, we should have room for philosophy to be instructed.

If you think about what is involved in doing what’s right, you, in some respect, can only achieve what’s right if you make use of political power and the law.”

Photo by Zoe Peterson

fighting for the future

For University of Georgia philosophy professor, former Clarke Central High School parent and 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Dien Winfield, politics and philosophy have always been intertwined.

“H

ow many in this room feel like you’ve been called an impractical idealist?” 2016 Democratic Senate candidate Jim Barksdale said to a crowd at the East Athens Educational Dance Center on Jan. 13.

Several crowd members, while holding “Winfield for Congress.

Guaranteed jobs. Fair wages,” posters, raised their hands. 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Dien Winfield raised his hand with them.

Some laughed at their seemingly universal experience.

“My message to you Richard, and everyone here, is don’t believe it for a minute because we’re the practical realists,” Barksdale said.

One thing is for sure -- Winfield, father of Clarke Central High School alumni Kalindi, Manas and Rasik, doesn’t believe he is an impractical realist, as he has been called before.

“I think that if you look at how the Democratic Party has been losing ground, it’s because it’s failing to put forward a bold social rights agenda. It’s not offering real answers,” Winfield said. “That’s why someone like (President Donald Trump) has been able to woo large portions of the White, working class. That has to change. That involves a positive campaign. ” Winfield sees connections between the work of Civil Rights leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr., and his candidacy, which has its foundation in a promise of guaranteed jobs and fair wages. Winfield hopes to continue the work activists began and extend it further.

“The very triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement have shown that those political and civil freedoms are not enough,” Winfield said. “Despite those triumphs, we have become the most unequal society in the developed world. We have become the nation in the developed world with the least social mobility.”

Although Winfield sees social mobility as unattainable for a lot of Americans, it is something he has experience with. Born in Queens, New York, Winfield’s parents were children of impoverished immigrants, who managed to find financial stability.

“My father ended up going into business. He had worked himself up from being kind of a stock boy in a shoe store and became executive in some companies,” Winfield said. “My mother went back to school and became a high school science teacher. They were the only ones in their families who were able to buy a house in the suburbs.”

From a young age, Winfield understood the need for activism. Growing up in the ‘60s, an era dominated by social movements, Winfield saw the beginnings of revolution, and even joined in. While attending Roslin High School, he wrote controversial editorials for the school newspaper. He worked in Franklin, Louisiana with the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union.

At Yale University, he supported the efforts of striking campus workers.

“I was a part of the first class that had a majority of public school kids in it.

Yale was undergoing a lot of transformations,” Winfield said. “The students militated for coeducation and that actually took place while I was there. A lot was happening.”

At the same time, his love for philosophy started to bud, leading to some indecision about a career.

“I was considering where I would go next. Would I get involved in union activities, political activities, in terms of some kind of vocation, or would I end up studying philosophy,” Winfield said. “I had a certain degree of uncertainty about what was the true character of justice.”

In the front row, Pastor Charles Knox Jr. sat with Winfield during Barksdale’s introduction. Then, Knox gave his speech.

FEBRUARY 2018

BY JURNEE LOUDER News Editor

16 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

Photo courtesy of Richard Winfield

NEWS <<

Above: FAMILY FIRST: University of Georgia philosophy professor and 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Winfield poses with his wife, Sujata, and his children, Kalindi (left), Manas (middle) and Rasik (right). Winfield believes the idea of family transcends any social boundaries. “The family is also an institution of freedom. If we think of it as something that ought to be structured as an institution of freedom, you realize the roles of the family should not be dictated by things we haven’t chosen or been responsible for like our gender or age, let alone race,” Winfield said. Below: FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS: University of Georgia philosophy professor and 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Winfield stands outside his office at UGA. In his campaign, Winfield finds inspiration in Martin Luther King Jr.’s political views, especially as it relates to freedom, character and equality. “Martin Luther King says, ‘We should be judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.’ The character he is talking about is the self-determinant character -- the character we are responsible for because it’s something we form,” Winfield said. “If we allow ourselves to be determined by things we have not chosen, we in a sense are judging by the way fascists and white supremacists do. If we do that, we are ignoring freedom.”

Photo by Zoe Peterson

“Richard has always been a man of his word. That’s what we need. We need to get rid of the old and in with the new. ( We need to) get rid of the lies and in with the truth,” Knox said. “I see no better person to put in office than a humble man, a man who can listen and a man who can take time to explain to you the things that he feels in his heart. This is Richard.”

Winfield and his wife, lawyer Sujata Gupta Winfield, look on -- Winfield with a look of focus, Sujata with a look of pride.

At first, Winfield picked philosophy as his main career choice. After looking for a job for years, he was able to land one as a philosophy professor at the University of Georgia, where he has worked for 35 years. But, after seeing issues with the current political climate, Winfield decided to run for Congress.

“I had really worked out all my ideas over the years. My 21st book is coming out later this spring,” Winfield said. “Much of (my) work has to do with issues concerning justice. So, I felt like I knew what should be done in the grand scheme of things.”

Winfield announced his intention to run for Congress to his family around Thanksgiving in 2016.

“I think they weren’t expecting it. Maybe they were a little skeptical. But, I think they became more and more excited by the idea as time went on,” Winfield said. “They’re giving me tremendous support.”

Kalindi agrees with Winfield. Though at first she did not love the idea, she wanted to be supportive of he father.

“When he first told me he was running for Congress, I was terrified. I’m extremely possessive over my dad and I know how brutal this race can be,” Kalindi said. “But after he said he wanted it, I chose to support him.”

The crowd cheered as Winfield walked up. He was the man they came for.

He was the man on the posters, on the banners, in the articles.

He stood in front of a “Winfield for Congress” banner -- one that had an abstract illustration of himself. Winfield’s curly, white hair and glasses matched the illustration perfectly. That day, he wore a dark suit, a blue button-down shirt and his best election-winning smile.

“We need to bring to Washington a bold program of social rights, anchored in guaranteed jobs,” Winfield said. “The solution to our economic insecurity consists in a bold social rights agenda.”

According to the Hatch Act, state employees cannot run for national or state-level offices. So, as a UGA employee, Winfield went on unpaid leave on Jan. 2.

“For the average employee, if you’re going to run seriously, you need to do it full time, which means you need to take off work. You have no income, no benefits and in most cases, you can’t expect to get your job back,” Winfield said.

“I have no salary now. But, I have the one advantage -- I’m on unpaid leave, so if I lose, I can go back to my job. I’m not at the point now where I want to stop teaching.”

But, Winfield and his team are dedicated to sticking with the campaign regardless of setbacks or workloads.

“It’s a lot of work. It’s stressful at times, but it’s really fun and interesting,” Campaign Manager David Herald said. “It’s fulfilling like nothing else I’ve ever done before. There have been days when I worked for more than 12 hours. If it were any other job, I think I’d get burnt out but I don’t because the energy of what we’re trying to do here keeps me going.”

On Jan. 13 at the East Athens Educational Dance Center, Winfield held his campaign kickoff. For campaign volunteer Andrea Farnham, the event was a success.

“It was good energy,” Farnham said. “To me, just seeing people show up and seeing that people are interested in what he’s saying, that gives me hope that people like his message and want to get involved.”

Those who stayed a little longer once the campaign kickoff ended were in for some on-air time. Winfield wanted to film a promotional video and asked attendees to join him. Shortly thereafter, a crowd gathered behind Winfield with posters in hand.

The video took a few tries. The music had to be turned off. Winfield had to fix his position. But soon, Winfield delivered his last few lines of the event.

“My name is Richard Dien Winfield and I’m running for Congress in Georgia’s 10th district. Join me in giving everybody a guaranteed job starting at $20 an hour. Thank you.”

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 17

>> FEATURE Featured: BLOOMING PASSION: Clarke Central High School FFA President Jordan Butler waters plants in the CCHS greenhouse on Jan 9. Participating in FFA has helped Butler find her purpose, and she enjoys all the duties that come with being in the program. “FFA is my safe place. It’s somewhere where I can go get happy and just be me,” Butler said. Opposite: SIGH OF RELIEF: As Clarke Central High School FFA President Jordan Butler poses outside of CCHS on Feb 2., she recalls her first day in agriculture class during Aug 2016.

“The first day I walked into the classroom, I felt like I was at home,” Butler said. “I didn’t know anyone, but as soon as I walked in I felt a thousand pounds lifted off my shoulders.”

Photo by Zoe Peterson

18 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

FEATURE << Photo by Ana Aldridge

Finding her

HOME

Clarke Central High School FFA President Jordan Butler, a junior, shares her struggles with anxiety and the program that’s helped her overcome them.

O

n the first day of her sophomore year, Clarke Central High School FFA President Jordan Butler, currently a junior, sat in her Physical Conditioning class and immediately felt out of place -- a feeling that was all too familiar throughout her youth.

She previously played soccer, ran cross country and played the violin in orchestra. She constantly found herself in last place, with no motivation to improve and no confidence to try.

She tapped her foot, picked at her fingernails and fiddled with her hair while she uncomfortably sat in her Physical Conditioning class. Behind her beaming smile was a mountain of nerves and insecurities. The more she ignored them, the bigger they grew. Her anxiety would consume her thoughts, making it difficult to be focused, driven or happy.

It wouldn’t be until she switched out of Physical Conditioning and happened to be placed in a Basic Agriculture Science/Tech class that she’d find a comfortable place within the school.

BY MADDIE INGLE Viewpoints staffer

FEBRUARY 2018

Butler soon became invested in both the agriculture class and the FFA program, and as one of the founding members, she has helped shape the program into what it is today. Within a year, she was named president of the program, and she has since made efforts to increase student participation and advocate for CCHS’ FFA involvement in state and national conferences.

“I am the seed planted in this program that is going to bloom into a flower,” Butler said.

As Butler’s passion for agriculture grew, her anxiety faded. When she is in FFA, the mountain of nerves and insecurities which once consumed her is no bigger than an anthill.

If one looks closely, they still may notice Butler steadily tapping her foot as she enthusiastically gives composting tips.

Tap, tap, tap.

Butler’s anxiety hasn’t vanished, but FFA has given her an outlet to express herself and a community of people who support and encourage her.

“Within my passions, I’ve found a place I can call home,” Butler said.

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 19

>> VARIETY

Cultural Buzz Rider

scary hours

face mask

One of Ketchapp’s newest game releases, “Rider”, is at the top of the Apple Store charts for January. The free, fun, never-ending game is an addictive, one-touch mobile game for all ages.

As you progress, the game gets more difficult. If the player chooses “infinite mode”, more difficult obstacles will be randomly generated.

In “infinite mode”, players gain points by travelling distance and doing flips through obstacles.

Ketchapp created 48 levels to “Rider”. The levels are difficult to beat and very time consuming.

Additonally, Ketchapp added a set of 55 cars that one can either buy or win through challenges. This keeps the gamer involved for months instead of days. “Rider” is a fun, must-play game if one is in need of something to do.

Drake surprised fans-with his brand new project, “Scary Hours” on Jan. 20.

Under the single “Scary Hours” title, “God’s Plan” and “Diplomatic Immunity” mark Drake’s first releases since his well-received 22-song “playlist” “More Life,” which was released on March 18, 2017.

“God’s Plan” is a pretty average song. The beat is enjoyable, but nothing stellar. Combined with Drake’s characteristic lackluster delivery, it gets old after about a minute and a half.

“Diplomatic Immunity” takes a pretty significant drop in listenability. The lyrics are hard to follow and less catchy than “God’s Plan.” The production and grander structure are lazy and unappealing.

“Scary Hours” was a subpar project overall, but if Drake puts more enthusiasm into his future releases, he’s likely to strike platinum.

The CVS brand Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Clay Facial Mask is an inexpensive facial mask that claims to remove dirt and oil from users’ pores.

Upon first use, the most noticeable thing about the mask is its vibrant blue color, which is slightly off-putting given that it is advertised as a dead sea mask. It has a fresh, lightly-scented smell.

The instructions advise that users keep the mask on for five to 10 minutes. The mask leaves the skin slightly dry, but it is easily fixed by applying moisturizer. The most noticeable effect is it leaves the user’s skin smooth immediately after usage.

Over two weeks of use, the mask did not show any dramatic effects, but the skin was brighter and clearer. For its cheap cost at only $4, it is a great product if a customer wants an affordable and relaxing mask.

-- Caedmon Churchwell, Sports staffer

-- Everett Vereen, Variety staffer

T

-- Aneesa Conine-Nakano, Co-Editor in Chief

only the beginning

he new show “The End of the F***ing World” has set the bar high for all of Netflix’s 2018 releases.

The show follows outcasted high school students James (Alex Lawther, “Black Mirror”) and Alyssa ( Jessica Barden, “Hanna”) as they rebel against all expectations.

James is a budding psychopath, who after killing animals for numerous years, begins to plan hunting something human. After Alyssa approaches him in the lunch room, the two plan to run away together.

Since its release on Jan. 5, Netflix users have raved about how well-written and quirky the series is. “The End of the F***ing World” strays away from the classic award-winning dramas Netflix is known for. It is refreshing to see a little variety in the shows that Netflix produces and this show definitely provides that.

However, “The End of the F***ing World” can be overwhelming at times. It uses a dark sense of humor and language throughout, which could be offensive to some viewers. Regardless of the crude humor, “The End of the F***ing World” is extremely irresistible Throughout all eight episodes, viewers will be on the edge of their seats waiting for whatever drama comes next. This drama stems from Alyssa and James’ struggle to escape adolescence and become “adults”.

Overall, ‘“The End of the F***ing World” is one of the best shows on Netflix right now and viewers should expect an even more killer second season.

BY EMMA RAMSAY Variety staffer

Photos used under Fair Use guidelines. Photo illustrations by Emma Ramsay

20 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

VARIETY <<

Cultural Buzz Rotten

AHi hibachi & Poke

one day at a time

The documentary series “Rotten” was released on Netflix on Jan. 5. Part food documentary and part crime drama, “Rotten” investigates how a variety of foods are produced and the industry behind them.

Each hour-long episode focuses on a different food and the poor conditions it is being produced in. What “Rotten” tries to prove is the amount of corporate corruption and deception behind almost all of the food industry today.

With plenty of well credited evidence, it makes a convincing case that food production needs to be further regulated.

Overall, “Rotten” is a shocking exposé of the food industry. It delivers an important message on how the foods we eat every day are made, which is something we should all want to know.

Ahi Hibachi and Poke opened in Downtown Athens on 489 East Clayton Street in October. The Japanese restaurant provides Athens with a diverse selection of Japanese cuisine.

The restaurant is most known for its Poke bowls.

Poke bowls, essentially sushi in a bowl, allow eaters to be creative with their sushi. The restaurant also offers a Hibachi-style menu with a variety of options including steak, chicken, shrimp, vegetable and salmon.

In addition to their convenient Downtown location, prices are affordable.The restaurant offers a fairly cheap menu with appetizers ranging from $2.50 to $6.50 and poke bowls starting at $8.25.

With a variety of dishes at an affordable price in a popular location, Ahi Hibachi and Poke is a perfect place to eat in or eat out with friends.

The acclaimed Netflix series “One Day at a Time” returned on Jan. 26 for a 13-episode second season, and to say it lived up to the original would be an understatement.

Packed with the same joyful celebration of Hispanic culture as the first season, Season 2 follows the Alvarez family through slightly more serious issues, tackling racism, politics, and a very-special-episode season finale that will leave viewers in tears. The character development is commendable, and the show isn’t afraid to touch on hot-button topics.

The entire cast, particularly Rita Moreno’s abuelita Lydia and fiery feminist Elena (Isabella Gomez) shines with humor and heart. Although the show is a comedy, viewers will be hooked on the series for its representation and its relevance.

-- Olivia Ripps, Director of Audience Engagement

-- Valeria Garcia-Pozo, Viewpoints Editor

-- Sam Mattern-Parkes, Viewpoints staffer

DISAPPOINTING THE CULTURE

I

t has been a year since Atlanta rap trio Migos released “Culture”, their breakout album that cemented their place at the top of the mainstream rap scene. However, the sequel to “Culture”, aptly named “Culture 2”, shows that the Migos may not belong there.

“Culture 2” is not a bad album. It’s just not an exciting album in any way. Nothing much has changed since the first “Culture”. The ridiculousness of the Migos’ lyrics are still present with lines like, “I bet my back got scoliosis ‘cause I swerve the lane!” and “I got every drug that starts with a letter”. The drugged and iced out Migos are still here, but something feels like it’s missing.

The album feels a lot looser and more like a collection of ideas than a concise project. The albums tracklist has 24 songs and could use some trimming. The album is just missing hits.

Every song on “Culture” was infinitely replayable, whether it was “Kelly Price”, “Deadz”, or “Bad and Boujee”. There just simply aren’t those type of hits on “Culture 2”. Some decent tracks like “Notice Me”, “Stir-Fry”, or “Motorsport” stand out, but the rest of the album feels like fluff and is not memorable in any way.

After five albums and five mixtapes, Migos has begun to run out of different ways to brag about their four topics: jewelry, women, drugs and money.

Migos may be a one trick pony and often lack depth, but when Migos is making their best music, they are making songs that are tight, catchy and better trap music than anyone else on the charts. However, as it stands, “Culture 2” sounds like everything else on the charts.

BY CONNOR McCAGE Variety Editor

FEBRUARY 2018

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 21

>> VARIETY Photos by Ana Aldridge

Above: FAMILY MATTERS: Victor, Vicki, and Beau Shell (left to right) stand at what will be their new ice cream shop, “Lil Ice Cream Dude’s Cool World”. The shop is set to open in April and will carry a variety of options in addition to ice cream. “The original plan for the shop is to just have a timeless feel,” Beau said. “We are selling ice cream and vintage candy.”

KEEPING IT COOL Thirteen-year-old Athens entrepreneur Beau Shell and his family have grown from a small, custom-made ice cream cart to a budding local business all because of one birthday present.

I

t is hard to imagine a parents’ reaction when their eight year old son tells them that all he wants for his birthday is a $5,000 ice cream cart.

“For as long as we could, we ignored him. Then he kept asking. He didn’t want any presents or a birthday party, just this cart,” Athens Christian School teacher Vicki Shell said. “Our initial reaction was just kind of overwhelmed. We were like, ‘Where did this kid come from?’”

Vincent Shell -- who works as a technician at an electric motor facility -- and Vicky are the parents of 13-year-old Athens Christian School eighth grader Victor Beau Shell. After much negotiating, Vicki and Vincent came up with a plan that would get Beau a functional ice cream cart.

“We finally came up with a plan to get a small

BY CONNOR McCAGE Variety Editor

freezer and have a friend custom wield a frame so he could try and sell something,” Vincent said.

Although they didn’t know it at the time, that

would be the start of a successful catering business that is quickly growing into more. That business is “Lil Ice Cream Dude” and it is run by the Lil Ice

"No matter who it is, everyone has that one flavor of ice cream that they keep going back to that brings them back to a good time or a memory.”

22 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

-- BEAU SHELL, Athens entrepreneur

FEBRUARY 2018

VARIETY << Cream Dude himself, Beau. “‘The Popsicle’ is the name of the cart that I sell with,” Beau said. “‘The Popsicle’ made my sales pop.”

Beau has catered places ranging from the Fox Theater to the University of Georgia football stadium. Ever since 2012 when Beau first started his business, he and the “Lil Ice Cream Dude” brand have grown steadily to the point where they cater over 110 events a year, with a running total of over 450 events. Through the five years that Beau has been selling ice cream, he’s reached a variety of people.

“He came to the University of Georgia one day while I was working, and we ate ice cream with the Lil Ice Cream Dude,” UGA Young Dawgs program director Jim Geiser said.

After a meeting with Athens Area Chamber of Commerce head Doc Eldridge and an article featuring him in the Athens-Banner Herald, Beau’s business has seen unprecedented success.

“We knew it was getting serious when he started getting invites to cater events for Georgia football teams,” Vicki said. “Ever since that article was published, we have been booked almost every weekend since.”

By 2017, the business had outgrown the Shells’ garage and it was time to move on to bigger things, which came with a steeper price.

“Our Kickstarter goal was to raise $20,000, and with that money we are going to make the shop presentable and functionable,” Beau said.

Lil Ice Cream Dude’s Cool World is the next step for Beau’s business plan and is located at 1040 Gaines School Road, #218. Cool World is currently under construction and is scheduled to open sometime in April. The building was leased for free to the family on a one-year contract.

“I want to make ‘Cool World’ unique because it is one of the few true ice cream shops. It is also going to have true soft serve ice cream. We are going to make sure it has the best of all the ice cream,” Beau said.

The restaurant will sell a variety of ice cream related items such as ice cream cones and ice cream sandwiches, with a wide range of flavors. Cool World will also sell vintage candies such as “Mary Janes” and “Sugar Babies,” as suggested by Vicki Shell. In Beau’s eyes, Cool World is just the start of what could be a larger idea.

“I plan on franchising through the states and even out in Canada and down in Mexico,” Beau said. “It’s my cool world.”

Whatever the future holds for Lil Ice Cream Dude and his family, Beau knows that there will always be one thing that is forever.

“I think ice cream is kind of timeless,” Beau said.

“No matter who it is, everyone has that one flavor of ice cream that they keep going back to that brings them back to a good time or a memory.”

FEBRUARY 2018

Above: BUSINESS IS POPPIN’: Victor and Vicki Shell sit with their son Beau on his ice cream cart nicknamed “The Popsicle”. The cart has been used

by Beau to cater over 125 events in the past year and was the start of Beau’s ice cream business. “I call (my cart) the popsicle because it made my sales pop,” Beau said. Below: NEW BEGINNINGS: As Beau Shell and his family discuss their plans for “Lil Ice Cream Dude’s Cool World”, he reflects on how his ice cream business started five years ago. Beau started selling in 2013 and has catered from the Atlanta Falcons football team to events at the Georgia Theater. “My third event was selling at one of the local parks in Athens and I was able to make $308 and I haven’t looked back since,” Beau said.

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 23

5 >> VARIETY

ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2018 Learn more about five artists whose recent work showed listeners that they were worthy of a close eye in 2018 and beyond.

STORY AND LAYOUT BY EVERETT VEREEN Variety Staffer

Rex Orange County Easily one of 2017’s hardest artists to categorize, Alex O’Connor’s music combines a wide variety of genres and influence. It’s a whimsical blend of pop, alternative, jazz and sometimes even hip-hop.

That’s probably why it’s so infectious and relatable.

Under the name Rex Orange County -- Rex just being a name O’Connor likes and Orange County coming from his childhood nickname “The O.C.” O’Connor has released two predominantly selfproduced albums and five standalone singles.

O’Connor’s first album, “bcos u will never b free,” released September 2015 on Bandcamp, does a fantastic job of showcasing his musical abilities.

Consisting almost entirely of his voice and a guitar, it’s incredibly easy to connect with the lyrics and melodies present. O’Connor also often adopts

Billie Eilish Billie Eilish O’Connell (or just Billie Eilish on the stage) grew up in a household full of musicians, so it’s no surprise she’s travelled down the same road.

Working closely with her older brother, co-writer and producer Finneas O’Connell, the 16-year-old singer shook up the pop music scene in 2017.

Eilish’s music has an unmistakably dark and unsettling vibe that still manages to be infectiously catchy. Her lyrics are often very bleak. Her soft, sweet voice floats across melancholy and nocturnal instrumentals.

Eilish began releasing singles on Soundcloud in 2016. “Ocean Eyes,” which was released in November of that year, was her breakout hit. The song was later featured in the soundtrack of the movie “Everything, Everything,” featuring Amandla

a more sing-talking delivery reminiscent of Ed Sheeran’s earlier work.

O’Connor’s second album, “Apricot Princess,” which came out in April 2017, is sonically produced much fuller, which only enhances his distinct sound and songwriting. Also in 2017, O’Connor was featured on two songs -- “Foreword” and “Boredom” from Tyler, the Creator’s July album “Flower Boy.” According to an interview with BBC, O’Connor plans to tour with “Apricot Princess” as much as he can and spend 2018 working on a third album.

While the album may take some time, it’s quite likely it will be worth the wait.

Stenberg. Another one of Eilish’s earlier singles, “Bored,” was featured on the Netflix original “13 Reasons Why” soundtrack.

Eilish’s debut EP, “dont smile at me”, was written and produced entirely by her and her brother.

“Ocean Eyes” and “Bellyache” were among the singles released in anticipation of the project. A December 2017 rerelease of the EP added the bonus track “&burn,” featuring Vince Staples.

There’s no indication of a 2018 Eilish release so far, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing coming.

Being so young and able and having such immense success, it would be foolish not to push anything new this year.

24 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

Photo illustrations by Everett Vereen.

Photos used under Fair use guidlines.

FEBRUARY 2018

VARIETY <<

yaeji

If it isn’t already obvious from the lowercase aesthetic, yaeji is a very lowkey artist with a lowkey sound. Her minimal and dreamy house production pairs nicely with her uniquely sharp timbre and whispery vocal delivery as her lyrics transition from English to Korean to English again.

In her hometown of New York City, yaeji grew fascinated with electronic music and DJing scenes and began to produce her own music in 2016, releasing her first single “New York 93” in February of that year.

In March 2017, yaeji delivered her debut selftitled EP featuring songs like “Guap” and “Feel It Out” which kickstarted her music career and helped build momentum from “New York 93,” also featured on the EP.

Snail Mail

There’s something very pure about Snail Mail’s music. It oozes with strong emotion and strums all the right chords in listeners’ ears. Singer Lindsey Jordan’s raw and powerful voice excellently complements the band’s indie instrumentals.

Jordan was only 15 when Snail Mail formed, and was just about to turn 17 at the release of Snail Mail’s 2016 debut EP “Habit.” The band very quickly gained attention in the Baltimore music scene which propelled them to a SXSW 2017 feature.

“Habit,” which was released in July 2016 through Sister Polygon records, is only six songs long, but the songs are some of the best indie rock has had to offer over the past few years. All of the songs were written during Jordan’s sophomore and junior years of high school, and do an excellent job at capturing

Her follow-up “EP2,” released in November 2017, featured a rework of Drake’s “Passionfruit.”

One of the EP’s singles, “drink i’m sippin on,” received a music video with Asian music-media juggernaut 88rising, whose partnered artists include Rich Brian, Joji and the Higher Brothers.

Though a yaeji project for 2018 has yet to be announced or teased, a full-length debut is very probable in the near future, especially given her new connection to 88rising, which is rapidly gaining traction in the Asian-American popular music scene.

But, until anything’s determined, all that’s left to do is feel it out.

teenage inner monologues and emotions.

“Thinning,” off “Habit,” has been Snail Mail’s biggest hit so far. The song was written about a time when Jordan was bedridden by bronchitis and lost a lot of weight -- physically thinning out. Though the backstory may not be apparent on first listen to the song, the feeling and emotion are there.

Now signed to Matador Records, home of acts like Belle and Sebastian and Interpol, Jordan has stated in multiple interviews that she is almost finished writing a full-length debut album, set to release in 2018. If it ends up anything like Habit, it will definitely be worth the listen.

BROCKHAMPTON BROCKHAMPTON is a boyband, and they want to make sure you know that.

They are the definition of independent: over a dozen 20-something-year-olds -- rappers, singers, producers, designers, etc. -- living and working under one roof. It’s unconventional, but that is their intention. They want to make their mark.

BROCKHAMPTON began releasing music in 2015, seeing success with singles like “Bet I” and “Dirt”, leading to the release of their 2016 debut mixtape “All American Trash”.

Almost immediately, the boyband began working on their first full-length album, “SATURATION,” which was released in June 2017. From there, “SATURATION” evolved into a trilogy, with the second and third installments releasing October FEBRUARY 2018

and December 2017, respectively.

In 2017, BROCKHAMPTON also managed to self-release a 22-track b-side compilation, 13 music videos, two waves of merchandise, a 30-minute film and a two-and-a-half hour documentary covering the development of the “SATURATION” trilogy.

BROCKHAMPTON saturated the market, and it proved successful. “SATURATION III” peaked at 15 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and the boyband has already announced their fourth album “TEAM EFFORT,” set to release sometime in 2018.

BROCKHAMPTON proved in 2017 to be an unstoppable creative force. Being notoriously unpredictable, it is hard to say what their 2018 will look like, but it is bound to be exciting.

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 25

>> VARIETY

Above: REMINISCING: Lou Kregel sits in her studio with one of her two dogs. When Kregel was younger, people often doubted her aspirations to become an artist. “I think that people were not open to anything, especially for women. I loved to draw and I knew from first grade my career was going to be in art,” Kregel said.

Coloring outside the lines

Athens artist Lou Kregel is known for her chrysanthemum paintings located all over Athens, but more importantly how she has refused to conform to those around her.

F

or 57 years, Lou Kregel has refused to color within other people’s lines.

Kregel was born on June 23, 1960 in Denton, Texas and for the last 25 years she has lived in Athens as a local artist.

Kregel has wanted to be an artist as early as she can remember, but growing up in the late ‘60s made it hard to attain that dream.

“I think that people were not open to anything, especially for women. There were no options in the ‘60’s,” Kregel said. “In first grade we had these little workbooks and it was like, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ ‘Girls: mother, nurse, teacher.’ Those were the three options. I was just like, ‘Where do I check for artist?’”

Kregel’s sister, Leslie Kregel says that Lou has always showed a strong interest in art, regardless of what those around her thought.

“It was just in her DNA. Growing up, Lou was always happy just doing her own thing,” Kregel said. “I know a lot of times my parents would try to control Lou and get her to be a little bit more of a

BY EMMA RAMSAY Variety staffer

conformist, which was never her style.”

Not only did Kregel dare to pursue a career considered unattainable for women at the time, she was always one to rebel in her daily life. “(In school) we had to stand and put (our) hand

damn song,’” Kregel said. “I’m gonna sing what I wanna sing.’”

From then on, Kregel filled her time with drawing, painting and coloring as she was trying to figure out what art career path she would take.

"“I let fear be the conductor of my life when I was young and I wish I hadn’t. As soon as someone told me I couldn’t do something and I tried it, I realized I could do it.”

-- LOU KREGEL, Athens artist

on (our) hearts and sing the National Anthem, but I would sing Beatles songs, (such as ‘She Loves You’) quietly to myself. I was like, ‘I’m not singing that

26 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

It wasn’t until her final year of high school that she found the answer to that question.

“I don’t think I really knew until my high school FEBRUARY 2018

senior year. We were making potato stamp prints and I started printing and the negative space that I created in my print was a shape I hadn’t intended to create. It was like if you don’t know the combination (to a lock) and suddenly someone finally turns it to that right number and you feel yourself unlock,” Kregel said. “(That’s when I knew I was) a pattern designer.”

After graduating from high school, Kregel attended the University of North Texas and began studying textiles.

“My college experience was quite unusual. I took the same class over and over for four years so I had access to the facilities,” Kregel said. “I had a little line of scarfs I’d sell in Dallas and I would sneak in the (schools) window and I would print all night with my friends. My teacher had no idea that this building had a whole night life.”

Not only did Kregel apply the techniques she learned from printing, but also from her teacher Shigeko Spear and her tranquil methods of producing art.

“I had this incredible teacher and she had this work ethic that just knocked me out. I’d walk in the building and there wasn’t a single sound except her squeegee on her silkscreen. It was like a zen experience,” Kregel said. “A part of (her) personality really informed me about new ways to work instead of just clouding up your mind and your space with noise.”

After college, Kregel began implementing Spears’ methods into her daily life, while simultaneously trying to get as much real world experience in the art field as she could as she could.

“I lived for a while in Dallas and I was basically just getting experience. I didn’t really know what it was all gonna add up to, but I was just exploring opportunities that would come along,” Kregel said.

“I was just going with the flow. I ended up leaving Texas and moving to Florida and from there I moved to Athens.”

Once arriving to Athens, Kregel began trying to make a name for herself by selling her art in local venues. “( When I moved to Athens) I just made a point of having a show four or five times a year. It was almost always in restaurants and bars but that’s where people were going. I figured as long as I had work up, and I could sell one or two pieces then I could pay my rent,” Kregel said. “After a while I would meet people and they would be like ‘Oh, I know your work.’”

Once Kregel became a well known figure in the Athens community, she began to be approached by people interested in her art, thus the creation of The Chrysanthemum Project.

“When I was asked to paint that first one, (the owners of Big City Bread) didn’t say ‘Come paint a chrysanthemum.’ They said ‘Come paint some image that’s gonna improve the way people feel when they’re here.’,” Kregel said. “The idea of the chrysanthemums (is that) there are six auspicious flowers in feng shui, and one was the chrysanthemum and it’s supposed to invite happiness into FEBRUARY 2018

Photos by Emma Ramsay

VARIETY <<

Above: MAKING HER MARK: At the Jittery Joes Roaster off Barber Street sits one of the many chrysanthemum murals done by artist Lou Kregel around Athens. The mural is located on a shed that is within the main pavillion area. “I started noticing (the chrysanthemums) around town and I really loved the way her stamp was on everything,” Clarke Central High School Counselor Angelia Bruce said. Below: JACK OF ALL TRADES: On Feb. 4, Lou Kregel released new puzzles she licensed with her famous chrysanthemums and the Five Star Daily design. The release of her new puzzles are some of the other projects she is continually working on. “I think [the puzzles are] going to be a great gift. People can put them together, work the puzzle, tear it up and do it all again,” Kregel said.

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 27

>> VARIETY your home.”

Since the creation of the chrysanthemum 10 years ago, Kregel has painted hundreds flowers all over Athens and the United States.

“I put (the first one) up, and then I did another one, and then someone asked me to do another one, and then I thought, ‘Well, this will be fun, I’ll do a little free project and paint them for free all over town.’ About a month later, (I was like), ‘What am I thinking, I’ve gotta pay my bills,’ so I started asking like a hundred dollars and I got 30 people signed up,” Kregel said. “I got those done and a hundred dollars is not enough, so I doubled it and I still had people going, and I doubled it again.

Finally I’ve gotten to the point where it’s making enough money for me to survive on just painting chrysanthemums.”

As the chrysanthemums became more popular, Kregel made a stencil she could use to paint each one.

"It was just in her DNA. Growing up, Lou was always happy just doing her own thing. I know a lot of times my parents would try to control Lou and get her to be a little bit more of a conformist, which was never her style.”

-- LESLIE KREGEL, Lou Kregel’s sister

“I was going through my stuff and came across this little spool of ribbon and it had the very first chrysanthemum image on it,” Kregel said. “I took it down to Kinko’s and I blew it up and I painted it, and when I started getting more requests I realized I needed to be painting one that I had designed and not using someone else’s design if I was gonna accept money for it.”

While Kregel is very well known for the Chrysanthemum project, she also has other work that can be seen around Athens such as, the “Five Star Day” design, clothing, and puzzles. “( When I started out it was mostly) The Chrysanthemum Project, but now there’s clothing that my friend Irena did where she took my flower images (and put it on them), and there are puzzles I licensed my patterns for,” Kregel said.

Clarke Central High School arts department teacher Eunice Kang has built a friendship with Kregel through her art, as well as the community

28 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

VARIETY <<

Above: PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER: One of the two designs Kregel licenced was a collage with a variety of the classic chrysanthemum design. Kregel looks forward to licensing more of her designs in the future, as it is much easier than some of the other art she does. “My overall objective is to have products that I’m designing them but I’m not making them,” Kregel said. Opposite: STANDING TALL: Kregel stands outside of her studio which is located at the Chase Street Warehouses, next to Canopy Trapeze Studio. One of Kregels 2” by 2” chrysanthemums hangs next to the entry of the studio. “I’ve got a huge workshop at my house, (but I also have a) design studio where I meet with people and I sell my stuff,” Kregel said.

work she has done in Athens over the years.

“Lou is a very free spirit. She always has little secret projects going on, like she replaced all the flower beds at the Rocksprings Community Center,” Kang said. “She’ll find a random place in the neighborhood that anyone else would over, and try to clean it up.”

Kang is not the only member of the Clarke Central community who is familiar with Kregel’s work. CCHS counselor Angelia Bruce has a both a chrysanthemum in her office as well as home.

“I can’t tell you how much happiness (my chrysanthemums) bring me,” Bruce said.

“The Chrysanthemum Project, is just my favorite thing that she does. It’s beautified Athens so much.”

Kregel works to preserve the integrity of Athens as well.

“I’m a member of the Athens Arts Council. I did some work for my commissioner Melissa Link when she was running for office.

She’s a friend of mine and I really wanted her to be elected so I did a few murals for her,” Kregel said. “I really love doing public work because it’s really fun

and I think people need to have more fun. Everyone’s so serious, I want people to play more and if I can do a little more to facilitate that, I’ll do it.”

The amount of influence Kregel has had on the Athens community through her art was unintentional. However, the reason why she keeps painting is because she simply can’t stop.

If Kregel had listened to those who told her art was the wrong path to take, there would no chrysanthemums to spread joy. Her influence on Athens would be non-existent. But she didn’t listen, and now Kregel and her art have become staples to the Athens community.

“I let fear be the conductor of my life when I was young and I wish I hadn’t.

As soon as someone told me I couldn’t do something and I tried it, I realized I could do it.

I realized I had been listening to people all along and they had kept me from doing a lot of things,” Kregel said. “Don’t be afraid of fear.”

While over the course of her life, Lou Kregel has learned LOU KREGEL, many things about herself and Athens artist the artwork she creates, there is one lesson that she holds above all others: Do not let anyone tell you how to live your life.

“Not all my decisions have been the best or the brightest, but I have learned so much from them,” Kregel said. “Be in control of your own life because you know what’s best for you, you know what makes you happy.”

“I just don’t feel like I have any choice. It’s kinda like it’s a faucet (that) I either turn off or turn on, and if I turn it on, it feels great, and if I turn it off, it builds up and I feel wrong. (I keep creating art) because if I didn’t, I’d die.”

FEBRUARY 2018

--

“I just don’t feel like I have any choice. It’s kinda like it’s a faucet (that) I either turn off or turn on, and if I turn it on, it feels great, and if I turn it off, it builds up and I feel wrong,” Kregel said. “(I keep creating art) because if I didn’t, I’d die.”

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 29

ON THE RISE Clarke Central High School senior Jeffery Blakely, also known as Kxng Blanco, aims to take his rap career far into the future.

C

larke Central High School senior Jeffery Blakely prefers to keep to himself during the school day.

He has a couple of friends he talks to every day, but otherwise he lays low and shows up to simply do his job as a student. What many of his classmates and teachers may not know about him is how he spends his time outside of the halls of CCHS. Also known as Kxng Blanco, Blakely is a rising Athens rapper, who dedicates all of his free time to perfecting his craft. Writing lyrics in the worn composition notebook he carries with him everywhere, recording in the studio with his step-brother and uncle and performing at Downtown venues like the 40 Watt Club and The World Famous is what stimulates him.

“If I didn’t go home and write music or listen to my own music, I’d just be bored and unhappy,” Blakely said.

This is why he’s glad he took the chance to rap in the first place.

After freestyling for fun in middle school and the beginning of

BY ZOE PETERSON Visuals staffer

high school, Blakely realized he might have what it takes to further pursue rapping.

He began recording in his friend’s closet and practicing more and more on his voice and lyricism, until one day his father caught him rapping. A rapper himself back in the day, Blakely’s dad heard potential and urged him to start recording in a studio.

Less than two months later, Kxng Blanco was born.

Currently, he’s just released his second mixtape titled “Wave” to free music streaming site Spinrilla, where his first mixtape is available for listening.

With the support of his family behind him and a desire to grow as an artist, Blakely knows there’s only one competitor going forward: himself. *For more about Jeffery Blakely, check out our online story http:// bit.ly/2GmkJru

Featured: MAKING MOVES: Eighteen-year-old Clarke Central High School senior Jeffery Blakely, also known as Kxng Blanco, records a track in his studio on Nov. 12. Jeffery’s uncle works directly with him to produce and mix his tracks. “He mixes everything for me, makes the song sound good, and now that’s how all of my music come out,” Blakely said. Photo by Zoe Peterson.

>> SPORTS

S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; H T SMI Y R O T S

32 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

SPORTS <<

Clarke Central High School teacher and head JV football coach Stefan Smith talks about his return to CCHS after three years of coaching basketball at Cedar Shoals High School.

INTERVIEW BY CAEDMON CHURCHWELL Sports Writer

How did you find your way back to Clarke Central High School?

Layout by Hannah Gale and photos by Zoe Peterson

We probably had a five to six-year plan (for Cedar Shoals High School basketball) but a job opened up here. I always kinda planned on coming back here because this is where my heart is. I’m being honest with you, when I walked out to the state championship game and I saw the blue and orange all over the place and I grew up a Gladiator, I am still an adult, but I still got that part of me, and I was kinda like, “Why can’t we have this red and gold.

Why can’t we do that for us?” One of the reasons I did come back was CCHS Principal Marie Yuran, of course, the principal just my relationship with her.

And then when I heard that David Perno was coming to coach football. That kinda sent something through my spine because I remember watching him as a kid playing football, and when I was a young kid I saw him play when I was in the seventh grade and he was maybe a senior -- I’m assuming -- and when they won the state championship, they were in the stands so that kinda triggered some feelings too. It was like, “Hey, he’s back here,” and I never met him before in my life, I knew of him and we met. It kinda just went from there because knowing what he knows kinda triggered some interest in me.

what is the main difference between CCHS and CSHS? From a coaching standpoint, the culture is different because I guess both programs are competitive in nature, but I think at Cedar there was the bigger goal as to what we wanted to do state wise. We took on the state and we weren’t worried about northeast Georgia, we weren’t worried about the rivalry between CCHS and CSHS, and me and CSHS varsity basketball head coach Rico Thomas had a vision for what we wanted to do and it was more a state vision of what we wanted to do and the vision was a little bigger than what I had experienced here at CCHS.

What led up to your decision to work at CSHS? It was kinda a choice (to coach girls). I played for Billy Wade and I ended up coaching with Billy wade for a long time. He was let go in 2010. Anytime a new coach comes in they gotta kinda establish themselves, so I was apart of the Billy Wade regime, but I just kinda went with the girls for a year and we ended up winning the region. At that time, girls basketball wasn’t really my passion not from the standpoint of teaching basketball is teaching

basketball, but I was a little intense and you gotta kinda have people with that intensity. I think I kinda got that I got girls at home (and) a wife. I live with three women so intensity wise I think I coach with a little too much intensity sometimes.

What do you hope to accomplish in your return to CCHS? Making sure that those younger guys we get are trained properly. You know changing the culture is what we are trying to do with the football program.

We got a vision we got for the football program, so like this year we went 6-0-1 you know we are making progress. We won six, tied one with Buford (High School), and they are the program that’s the standard right now.

What are some of your future plans for basketball?

Right now, I am just working for the girls. As far as future plans for (CCHS) basketball, who knows what will happen? Right now, I am focused on ( JV ) football and helping the girls with basketball, but I still got a lot in me, a lot that I can render, just keep strutting along and see what happens. Hopefully we can try and get the girls back.

Left: FAMILY BUSINESS: Clarke Central High School teacher and JV football coach Stefan Smith reflects on his time spent at Cedar Shoals High School and his relationship with the coaches. “I, Coach Reed and Coach Thomas, we all grew up together, so we kind of had a pride relationship before this,” Smith said. “We kind of decided to come together. He’d been trying to get me to come over there ever since he got the job. He finally convinced me that we could do something special, and we did it.” Opposite: RETURN OF THE KING: Clarke Central High School teacher and JV football coach Stefan Smith stands in the Crawford Arena after eturning to CCHS from coaching for three years at Cedar Shoals High School.

“We probably had a five to six year plan but a job opened up here,” Smith said. “I always kinda planned on coming back here because this is where my heart is. One of the reasons I did come back was Marie Yuran. Then I heard that David Perno was coming to coach football and that kinda sent something through my spine because I remembered watching him as a kid playing football.”

FEBRUARY 2018

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 33

>> SPORTS Left: THE FANTASTIC FOUR: (Left to right) Eighth graders Louise McCormack, Kate Dodson, Gretchen Hinger and Ben Hiss pose for a photo at the Ramsey Student Center before a swim practice on Jan. 22. Head CCHS swim coach Emily Hulse says that middle schoolers have always been allowed to compete with her high school team, but haven’t taken full advantage of the opportunity in years past.

“I don’t know when it started,” Hulse said. “But whenever I’ve been involved with the program they’ve been allowed. We just haven’t always had people. There were a couple of years where we didn’t have anybody, but this year we have quite a few.”

Fresh strokes

Photo by Zoe Peterson

The CCHS swim program takes on a total of seven middle school swimmers to train for future seasons.

F

or many middle school athletes, the opportunity to compete on a high school C-team is not always promised. The Clarke Central High School baseball and football programs have such divisions, allowing seventh and eighth graders from nearby middle schools to practice their respective sports alongside high school students.

On the unofficial C-team affiliated with the CCHS swimming program, athletes are expected to focus on more long-term goals. Head CCHS swim coach and foreign language department teacher Emily Hulse says that their main objective is to stay fit and familiarize themselves with the norms of the program.

“The importance (of ) eighth graders being involved in the team is the chance for them, if they’re not already swimming with another program like a summer league or a year-long league, to start learning the strokes and get ahead before their ninth grade year.” Hulse said. “It’s not brand new to them by the time they get to ninth grade. They’ve already done it, they’ve already been around the program, they’ve already learned the strokes, they’re used to how we pracBY ALEXANDER ROBINSON Sports Staffer

tice (and) they’re used to the expectations. That’s the main goal for them, to start in eighth grade.”

Hulse sees the middle school team as an investment of sorts, one that will hopefully pay off in years to come. She believes that the program will serve as a filter that will help younger swimmers transition onto the high school team.

“It’s not as strict I guess. Attendance is not as strict, I’m more lenient with them,” Hulse said. “If

program now.

“Everyone gets split into two different swimming levels, advanced and moderate, and I still get to interact with the high schoolers often during practice,” Dodson said. “There are a fair amount of middle schoolers on the team. Sometimes it’s nerve racking, (but) you also get to meet people. It’s exciting too because you get to sometimes compete, just not all the time.”

CCHS junior Isabella DeMarco swims on both the CCHS varsity team and Athens Bulldogs Swim Club (ABSC), a non-profit USA-Swimming registered organization affiliated with the University of Georgia. She would like to see middle schoolers have an official C-team in the near -- KATE DODSON, future to contribute more, but cost as a potential Clarke Middle School eighth grader recognizes issue.

“As long as the middle schoolers can get themselves to (the Ramsey Student Center), they really take it seriously, then they make a lot of it would be nice to allow the eighth graders to progress, especially if they start in seventh grade.” compete,” DeMarco said. “Again, though, that’s just Kate Dodson, an eighth grader attending Clarke more money, but a lot of that money just comes Middle School, practices with the other freshmen from swimmer’s individual pockets. It would be on the CCHS swim team. She doesn’t feel as cool to create a C-team for eighth graders, giving though she’s on a separate team during practice, them an opportunity to swim (for points) before and believes that she’s more comfortable with the they enter high school.”

“Sometimes it’s nerve racking, (but) you also get to meet people. It’s exciting too because you get to sometimes compete, just not all the time.”

34 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

SPORTS <<

Featured: CROSS-TOWN RIVALS: On Jan. 20, the Clarke Central High School basketball program hosted cross-town rival Cedar Shoals High School for the annual basketball game. CSHS won the JV and varsity girls games, while CCHS won the boys JV and varsity games. “I think we could’ve played better, but you win some and lose some,” CCHS varsity basketball player Jayla Barnett, a senior, said.

“All we are focused about on is getting better and improving in our mistakes, for region and state.”

INFOCUS

| 35

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2018

>> SPORTS

QUEZ ON A QUEST Clarke Central High School 2012 graduate Marquez Williams, a fullback for CCHS, was drafted into the National Football League by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. Williams then suffered a concussion late preseason, but got a second chance with the Cleveland Browns.

What did it feel like like when you got drafted by the Jaguars?

BY AJ CARR Staff writer

The first day of the draft (I was) watching my teammates at University of Miami. The second day of the draft I came down with a fever. I am sitting there watching the second day of the draft with a fever, sweating and sick as ever. The third and last day of the draft I woke up that morning and I was feeling better. Later that day General Manager David Caldwell called me and said they were gonna draft me. I told him that I didn’t believe him until my name came across the TV screen. My friends and family were there and we all went crazy.

What is an NFL locker room like?

Strictly more business, it’s actually a job now. When you go to training camp it starts out with 90 people and they have to cut it down to 53. You can do the math and tell me how many people lose their jobs on all 32 teams and that’s a lot of jobs. You just come to work every day. I try to tell people the NFL is fun, you’re out there playing, making money but at the end of the day it’s a job. You have to put time in and invest in yourself and things to help you perform and ultimately compete for a job. It’s a love-hate thing.

What was going through your mind when you suffered a concussion?

I had one opportunity to live my dream, and it vanished at that time. I knew exactly what was gonna happen. Going through the preseason you

have four games to show what you can do and I got hurt the third preseason game and at the time the roster only having two fullbacks, I knew what was gonna happen. That night when I got hurt I called my momma and I cried on the phone. It was crazy to get drafted and live in the moment and it just felt like it all vanished.

did you think you would make an NFL franchise again When you got released from the Jaguars?

It was really the unknown. I got released and I was at home watching the games week after week. With some teams, fullbacks get hurt and you get a call to come join the team and suddenly things went ice cold. I would get a workout for a team here and there, kill the workout and they tell me that their

Left: COMING HOME: Former Clarke Central High School fullback Marquez Williams stands in Billy Henderson Stadium. Williams was recently signed to the Cleveland Browns at the end of the National Football League season.

“There is one goal for next season: to make the team and play,” Williams said. “I am a firm believer that God has a plan for me whatever it is Cleveland or another team to show I didn’t get my second opportunity for nothing. Most players only get one opportunity so I am not about to lose my second.”

36 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

FEBRUARY 2018

SPORTS << Do you have an idea of what you might do after your career is over?

not gonna sign me. That happened six or seven times. Maybe, if anything, I would have to wait till next season to really get a shot.

When you got signed to the Browns practice squad, did it give you more motivation to get onto the active roster?

What was it like playing in an NFL game against one of the most storied franchises in the Steelers?

Below: COMING HOME: Former Clarke Central High School fullback Marquez Williams stands in Billy Henderson Stadium. Williams was recently signed to the Cleveland Browns at the end of the National Football League season. “There is one goal for next season: to make the team and play,” Williams said. “I am a firm believer that God has a plan for me whatever it is Cleveland or another team to show I didn’t get my second opportunity for nothing. Most players only get one opportunity so I am not about to lose my second.”

Layout by Katie Grace Upchurch and photos by Hannah Gale

I have a new drive and new motivation for the game that I love, my dream of playing football. I train as hard as I did before I got drafted. I spent two days at the grocery store buying all the things I need for my body. I worked out last night, I woke up and worked out this morning, I worked out before I got here, I drank a protein smoothie while I was driving. I take it so much more serious even down to the type of body wash that I use. I use every little thing to help me achieve my dream. The new drive and new fire in me to actually play a full NFL season and put that helmet back on again is my dream.

Spend a little bit of my spare time making some investments and brainstorming some business ideas that I can get into now that don’t take up a ton of

my time, so I can make money while I’m playing football. Once I get done, I can jump into it full heartedly. My first goal is to do some speaking engagements doing some motivational speaking. To start a youth football camp would be the first thing I want to do for sure.

That week was kinda crazy. I got signed to the practice squad and there were no real intentions of me moving to the active roster. I flew into Cleveland on a Friday and I signed my contract on a Saturday for the practice squad. That Saturday, the team left to Chicago to go play the Bears. On Tuesday, they got back and the fullback pulled his groin. On Wednesday the coach told me I was playing. I was sitting in the film room going over everything and he said that I was playing this Sunday. I had to get my mind right and get ready to play. I studied all the film, and just as much as y’all study school work, I was studying the playbook and film. It was neat pulling up to Heinz field. It’s like six degrees and I didn’t wear sleeves that day and I had never played in that kinda weather before. During pregame I was out there with a T-shirt and a hand warmer, and my iPhone, listening to music just embracing it all. Just to see the stadium and to see all the people, it was awesome. It was my first NFL Sunday game and I was starting.

What are your hopes and goals going into next season?

There is one goal: to make the team. Make the team, stay on the team and play. It’s gonna happen.

I am also a firm believer that God has a plan for me.

Whatever it is, Cleveland or another team to show I didn’t get my second opportunity for nothing. Most players only get one opportunity, so I am not about to lose my second.

FEBRUARY 2018

odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 37

>> SPORTS

MIXED MESSAGES

Student athletes are required to be passing five out of seven classes to compete at the high school level, and coaches are not doing enough to support their players academically.

T

o be eligible to participate in high school sports in the state of Georgia, there are certain academic requirements students must meet.

According to the Georgia High School Association, students have to earn at least 2.5 units each year to be eligible to compete in high school sports. With a seven-period schedule, Clarke Central High School interprets that rule as athletes must be passing five out of seven classes to compete. All freshmen entering high school are automatically allowed to participate in high school sports until their mid-year reports come out.

Balancing seven classes, family commitments and extracurriculars can be hard for the average student, but imagine having training before school, practices after school and home and away games at least once a week. Depending on how far the away games are and how many teams are playing, athletes may not get home until a lot later, and they still have to eat dinner, shower and get to bed at a reasonable time for training the next morning.

The CCHS athletic department needs to support its student-athletes by enforcing a mandatory study hall for all sports teams. Out of the 17 varsity sports offered at CCHS, only two coaches responded to a survey saying that they hold a mandatory study hall for their athletes.

Though a mandatory study hall may mean student-athletes have to stay at school longer, it also means that by the time they get home, their homework

Above: DREAMING OF WORK: Clarke Central High School basketball player falls asleep in her jersey while doing homework late at night. When there are away games and student athletes don’t get home until 10 p.m, one may have to stay up past midnight to complete their homework. Cartoon by Suncana Pavlic

will already be completed.

As a four-year varsity athlete, coming home around 10 p.m. from away games at least once a week, practicing until 6 p.m every day and occasionally participating in weekend tournaments, I was exhausted. By the time I ate dinner, showered and finished homework, it was already 1 a.m. If I had the opportunity to work on, or even finish, my homework before I got home, I would have more time to spend with my family and go to bed at a reasonable hour.

If student-athletes are required to be passing five out of seven classes to be eligible to compete, their coaches need to create a support system that gives them time to focus on academics.

NELY MEDRANO

ODYSSEY Star Players

R

SOCCE

NELY MEDRANO ODYSSEY Star Players

LL

TBA E K S A B

JAIRUS MACK

Star Players0

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 selected each month by the Sports staff based on interviews with players and coaches.

HANNAH GALE Sports Editor

JAIRUS MACK

38 | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE | odysseynewsmagazine.net

GRADE: 12 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 9 GPA: 3.0 GAME DAY RITUAL: I start concentrating and begin to motivate myself.

FAVORITE GAME MEMORY: When me and my friends were singing all the way back from Jekyll Island and everyone on the bus was already tired of us singing.

ROLE MODEL: Rafael Marquez WHAT COACHES SAY: “Nely Medrano is one of the hardest working young women I have ever had the pleasure to coach. She is simply unwilling to give less than her best for her team. If you ask Nely Medrano to do something, she will get it done.” -- Chris Hulse

GRADE: 9 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 10 GPA: 4.0 GAME DAY RITUAL: I wake up, eat some breakfast and come to the school and sit in the locker room and listen to music.

FAVORITE GAME MEMORY: I played with the ninth grade team and we played against Cedar (Shoals High School) and we beat them pretty bad ROLE MODEL: Chris Paul WHAT COACHES SAY: “He is a very hard worker, he makes everyone around him so much better, he has all the ability in the world to take him very far in whatever he choose to do.” -- Markis Calihan

FEBRUARY 2018

SPORTS <<

INside vs. outside Warming up is easier inside because the ideal temperature for rock climbing outside for your skin is 40 degrees fahrenheit and for your climbing shoes, it’s 35 degrees. So basically you want to be at a pretty cold temperature when you’re climbing outside so that your fingers are cold, but it takes a long time to warm up so that you can climb. Also (outside there is) more skin damage because of the friction on the rock, and it’s easier to get injured because there are more rocks and not as good of a landing.

CLIMBING TO PERFECTION I normally go five or six times a week. There are different ways to practice. One way is projecting, where you work on something you haven’t done before. But then you also have to train strength and endurance so that you can do longer routes and not die.

FOR THE WIN (At) local competitions, everyone’s in a big room and there’s tons of people. It’s loud, it’s crowded. You can watch anyone climb, and you try to climb the climbs with the most points associated with them. Each climb you finish, you get a certain number of points and then your top five climbs count for your score. Regionals, divisionals and nationals are on-site, so you can’t look at the wall before you climb it. They walk you in (and) it’s like you’re being walked in a prison -- you can’t look up (and) you’re in single file lines. You sit with your back to the wall, and (then) they turn you around and you climb a climb. Normally it’s pretty hard. There are points assigned to each hold -- there’s a five point hold, a 10-point hold, a 15-point hold and 25 points for the finish, so you get points for the finish -- and your total points is your score. So those are a little more intense than locals, but they’re more fun too.

CLIPPED IN (Climbing is) like crawling, and then you invert it 90 degrees, like logical crawling.

For bouldering -- (climbing) without ropes -- you often just need climbing shoes and a chalk bag. Chalk is a white powder (that) dries your hands out so they don’t sweat in the holds, and climbing shoes are extremely tight. As soon as you start climbing you could never be a foot model. Yeah, they’re super tight and painful, but they help a lot.

EYES ON THE PRIZE

5

THINGS to know about

ROCK CLIMBING

Layout by Hannah Gale

FEBRUARY 2018

(To train) endurance, you basically climb a bunch of routes that are just below your limit -- so something that you may have had trouble with like a month ago, but it might not be hard anymore. You climb a bunch of those in a row and you get tired out.

For strength you mostly do either hard projecting, climbing with a weight vest or pull ups and push ups.

(We also do games.)

BY MAGGIE THOMPSON AS TOLD TO KATIE GRACE UPCHURCH odysseynewsmagazine.net | ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

| 39