ODYSSEY Newsmagazine, Volume 19, Issue 3

ODYSSEY

Volume 19 Issue 3 May/June 2022 $5.00

EMPOWERING 30 WOMEN IN SPORTS With a new competitive club and a Georgia High School Association sport to participate in, CCHS's addition of women's flag football and powerlifting is furthering female opportunities on a local level.

RETENTION RATE CRISIS 14

The efficacy of student learning and faculty performance is being hindered by high teacher turnover rates in the CCSD.

May/June 2022

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VIEWPOINTS 5-12 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MO KNOWS Once used as a motivational tool, the "that girl" trend on TikTok has become a toxic fad that is causing discontent and hyperproductivity in young adults.

BY MOLLY HARWELL

FEATURES 14-17 RATE CRISIS 14 RETENTION The efficacy of student learning and faculty

Featured: DETECTING OBJECTIVITY: Chloe Sears is pictured working at her computer, with scales representing the balance of objectivity behind her. In order to make determining objectivity easier, journalism historian and University of California, San Diego Professor of Communication Daniel C. Hallin developed Hallin’s Sphere to contextualize media in three different categories: consensus, controversy and deviance. “It’s less about saying, 'You must be objective' and it’s more about recognizing, 'What perspectives do you bring to this? How might that be biasing how you’re reporting it or thinking about the story before you start reporting it?'” Director of the Carmical Sports Media Institute at the University of Georgia Vicki Michaelis said. Illustration by Antonio Starks

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performance is being hindered by the teacher turnover rates in the CCSD.

BY NICO WILLMAN AND SOFIA BALSAMO

NEWS 18-23

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JUNETEENTH IN ATHENS 20 Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz speaks about the local Juneteenth celebration planned for this national holiday and the impact it will have on Athens.

Featured: MISSING STUDENTS: Clarke Central High School English department teacher Robert Bramlett teaches to a mostly empty audience of students in Room 109 on April 19. Throughout the 2021-22 school year, teachers at CCHS have been experiencing fewer students attending their classes. "(Attendance is) way worse (this year than past years)," Bramlett said. "Obviously COVID has a huge part to play in that (and) what it's also done is created an expectation where I think for many students, especially seniors, that attendance is just sort of voluntary and compulsory. (It) was already sort of the case before COVID, but it's most certainly the case now." Photo by Aza Khan

BY AUDREY ST. ONGE

VARIETY 24-29 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT VOTING BY 26 5CHARLOTTE SOSEBEE, AS TOLD TO ANNA TENNER To prepare for the upcoming general primary election on May 24, here are five things to know about voting in Athens-Clarke County.

BY ANNA TENNER

SPORTs 30-39 PERNO'S PLAYBOOK 34 REVISITING From his first season in 2016, CCHS head

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Featured: ATTENTION GIRLS: Clarke Central High School girls varsity assistant basketball coach and physical education department teacher Cherrelle Pass is featured in a girls flag football interest meeting on April 20 in the Competition Gym Gallery. Through the meeting, Pass hoped to engage a wide variety of female students interested in the sport and begin building the roster for next year’s team. “(Flag football is) open to anybody who's willing to work, to be coached, to be disciplined, to be held accountable, the whole nine yards,” Pass said. “I just want girls who want to compete, want to win and want to have good sportsmanship.” Photo by Chloe Sears

varsity football coach David Perno has led the Gladiators with a career record of 49-24 and will coach his seventh consecutive season in the fall of 2022.

BY GRETCHEN HINGER Cover design by Chloe Sears

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odysseynewsmagazine.com REVISITING GAPS BETWEEN GLADS CCHS students and staff have brought to light concerns of gender-based equity issues in CCHS athletic facilities, and due to this discussion, CCSD and CCHS administration have been working to resolve the disparities.

BY GRETCHEN HINGER

HER GOAL: KICKING CANCER OUT CCHS assistant girls varsity soccer coach Ashley Wassel Still's resilience and love of soccer have persevered despite her trials with life-threatening cancer.

BY WYATT MEYER

THE PERIOD PROBLEM Providing free menstrual supplies in school restrooms would benefit students' mental health and academics.

BY MAYA SHRIVASTAV

CHICKEN TIME The CCHS FFA chapter adopted chickens this spring, which will benefit the program by educating students and raising money.

BY MAYA CLEMENT

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odysseynewsmagazine.com

Odyssey

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

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

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

The ODYSSEY staff is committed to reflect the mission statement set forth by Clarke Central High School. The goals of the staff are to provide fair, accurate news and commentaries, as well as to serve the interests of the school and Athens’ community.

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

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

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

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

Print Editor-in-Chief: Audrey Enghauser Digital Editor-in-Chief: Ireland McCage Print Managing Editor: Chloe Sears Digital Managing Editor: Natalie Schliekelman Viewpoints Editor: Molly Harwell News Editor: Nicolas Willman Variety Editor: Isaac Ramirez Sports Editor: Gretchen Hinger Editor-at-Large: Eva Orbock Business Manager: Isaac Ramirez Beat Editor: Maya Clement Menu Editor: Kalliope Samaltanos Webmaster: Anna Shaikun Photographers: Lucas Donnelly Aza Khan Luna Reichert Staff Members: Sofia Balsamo Lukas Cornish Emily Couch Olivia Hendershot Wyatt Meyer Jane Ripps Eleanor Robinson Cadence Schapker Maya Shrivastav Antonio Starks Audrey St.Onge Anna Tenner Isabella Westrich Adviser: David A. Ragsdale ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia 30605 (706) 357-5200 Ext. 17370

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DESENSITIZED TO DANGER

Our March/April 2022 issue featured a story about how CCHS students, faculty and administrators are dealing with new safety protocols.

>> VIEWPOINTS

>> NEWS

DIAGNOSED WITH IGNORANCE // Antonio Starks

DESENSITIZED TO DANGER // Audrey Enghauser & Emily Couch

I agree with the topic of the article. Mental disorders are commonly joked about by others, but there is also the issue of self-misdiagnosis for these disorders. The article does feel repetitive, but that helps drive the point home. Perhaps a better way of bringing awareness to mental disorders would be to better educate today's youth on what they really mean (i.e.: the definition of ADHD and how it affects people who have it).

This might help lower the jokes and self-misdiagnosis that is common today.

I thought the article was great. It was engaging and analytical (which is what I expect when reading newsy articles like this), but it was also giving voice to a critical point of view which was very interesting. As a student, I would have liked seeing more student voices because it feels to me like the teachers in the article are made to speak on behalf of the students. Everything is streamlined well, though I also think a counterpoint could have been interesting. Everybody seemed to agree with each other. Overall, I would absolutely read this article in ODYSSEY. Super cool stuff.

-- Thomas Jones, CCHS senior

-- Tripp Sandifer, CCHS senior

Corrections/Omissions March/April 2022 Page 7, in Boiling point, in the first column, “student’s” should be “students” Page 7, in Boiling point, in the third column, “Additionlly” should be “Additionally” Page 7, in Boiling point, in the caption, the second trend should be omitted Page 12, in What we see is what we know, in the first column, the release dates for “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”, “Home Alone” and “The Iron Giant” should be included Page 13, in Closing the curtain on performative activism, in the first column, the “#” should be omitted Page 14, in Uncovering the past to change the future, in the caption, “Above” should be “Featured” Page 15, in Uncovering the past to change the future, in the third and fifth paragraphs, “Lamar” should be “Haynes” Page 17, in Taking the U-Lead, in the first column, “Dr.” should come before “JoBeth Allen” Page 18, in Student voices in education, in the caption, the last sentence should not be cut off Page 18, in Student voices in education, in the pull quote, “(Rick)” should be omitted Page 20, in Desensitized to danger, in the first column, “(School)” should be inserted after “Columbine High” Page 23, in Desensitized to danger, in the caption, “teacher” should be “co-chair” Page 28, in Cultural Buzz, in the MrBeast Bar blurb, “cho- olate’s” should be “chocolate’s” Page 29, in Cultural Buzz, in the “Euphoria” review, in the byline, “Staffer” should be “Coordinator” Page 29, in Cultural Buzz, in the “Euphoria” review, in the last paragraph, “season two” should be “Season 2” Page 30, in Rooted in community, in the caption, “Stuart said” should be “Cofer said” Page 30, in Rooted in community, in the first column, the “with” before “seeds” should be omitted Page 31, in Rooted in community, in the third quote, “too, the employees” should be “too. The employees” Page 31, in Rooted in community, in the caption, “Stephen said” should be “Cofer said” Page 31, in Rooted in community, in the pull quote, the source attribution should be “Stuart Cofer, Cofer’s owner and CCHS Class of 1977 alumnus” Page 37, in Quest for Athens’ best: noodle soup showdown, “Decaur” should be “Decatur” Page 39, in Done with D1, in the second column, “are” should be “is” Page 39, in Done with D1, the caption should be one continuous paragraph Page 41, in Maiken’ connections, in the caption at the top, “Featured” should be “Left” Page 42, in Behind the teams, in the byline, the font sizes should be equalized Page 42, in Behind the teams, in the second column, “Dodson” should be “Kate” Page 42, in Behind the teams, in the second column, “Dodson’s” should be “Kate’s” Page 44, in Strengthening Central, in the pull quote, there should be a period instead of a comma after “stage” Page 44, in Strengthening Central, in the pull quote source attribution, “physical education department teacher” should be “CCHS strength and conditioning coordinator” Page 45, in Strengthening Central, in the second quote in the second column, “are, you’re” should be “are. You’re” Page 47, in 5 things to know about CCHS soccer, under 4. Positive coaching, “CCHS boys” should be inserted before “varsity soccer coach

>> SPORTS

”T

STRENGTHENING CENTRAL // GRETCHEN HINGER

he whole process was such a great opporunity for me to reflect on my time at Clarke Central.

Thank you all so much for your professionalism conducting the interviews, taking photos and helping make this experia memorable experi ence for my family.

I agree with the topic of the article. Weight training does, in fact, help with strengthening Clarke Central students' body, muscles and engagement in class. But there's also an obstacle that takes place. Weight training class is always seen to be a class of just working out and helping your body structure, which isn't the case. Weight training class does build students a healthy and better relationship in school, which I can relate to because I've had friends who've taken weight training and actually found the class to be an escape and confidence booster. Overall, I really think the weight training class has strengthened students at CCHS.

-- James Mack, CCHS sophomore

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-- Chris Aiken, CCHS boys varsity soccer coach, Associate Athletic Director and physical education department teacher Contact ODYSSEY Newsmagazine

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

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

Online: Message us on Instagram at @odysseynewsmag.

May/June 2022

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR CCHS senior Audrey Enghauser offers an open letter to future generations of ODYSSEY students about navigating the trials and tribulations of producing high-quality journalism and growing along the way.

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ear 2022-23 ODYSSEY students, my love affair with storytelling began when I first joined the ODYSSEY Media Group’s

BY AUDREY ENGHAUSER Journalism I class at 14.

Print Editor-in-Chief I was eager to get my hands on new stories, admiring the Editors-in-Chief from afar as they led their staff with great poise and expertise.

Inspired by their dedication, I knew I wanted to become that mature leader who thrived in the ODYSSEY room as their second home.

After three years of commitment, both on Zoom and in person, I finally realized this goal.

However, this position was riddled with challenges that no one could have anticipated. As we emerged together from the pandemic, it soon became clear that in order to get back to the grind we were used to, it would be like starting from scratch.

This spring, I spent weeks chipping away at the insurmountable task of producing accurate, high-impact journalism when sources became hard to reach and the data I sought was inaccessible.

My friends outside of ODYSSEY have often asked me why I do this work. Why would I commit so

much of my time to it? Sometimes, deep in the trenches, I have asked myself this question, too.

The answer is that I have been consistently motivated by the allure of storytelling and the impact I can have on my community.

Above all, I have been pushed to continue because of the extraordinary effect this program has had on so many young people in giving them a community and a place to develop their identity as a creator. I believe wholeheartedly that the mentorship cycle has been key to this program’s ability to have such a positive impact on so many.

Constantly being challenged to push the boundaries of my comfort zone has allowed me to become a consistently critical individual, an assertive reporter and a decisive leader.

I have become accustomed to resistance to this work and isolation from other groups due to a lack of understanding of our purpose.

However, I have always known that this work is right for me, even when I’ve been stressed out. I know that this work has grown me more than any other learning opportunities at Clarke Central High School.

I know the upcoming generation of ODYSSEY leaders to be a promising cohort of eager people.

I know I can count on you to continue applying your curious minds, critical eyes and strong voices to compelling coverage that I am hopeful will leave lasting impacts on our school community. I invite you to commit to the many opportunities you will be offered.

After the ODYSSEY Class of 2022 seniors graduate, I urge you to utilize ODYSSEY as a continuous oasis for your growth and transfer curiosity and love for storytelling to the generations who follow you.

As you weather the storms of storytelling and leadership, don’t let adults push you away. Keep digging for the information you need to make an impact on your community.

Don’t let peers who don’t share your passion get in the way of your success. Learn your goals and start grinding.

Use your frustration as inspiration, each others’ love as support and your passion as your fuel.

Teach yourself to be fearless. O

I have always known that this work is right for me, even when I’ve been stressed out.

Left: TAKING PRIDE IN HER WORK: Print Editor-in-Chief Audrey Enghauser takes pride in sharing her team's work with their community and staff. Although there was stress and hardship along the way, Enghauser encouraged her staff to seize their opportunities in the program to grow. "I know I can count on you to continue applying your curious minds, critical eyes and strong voices to compelling coverage that I am hopeful will leave lasting impacts on our school community," Enghauser wrote.

"I invite you to commit to the many opportunities you will be offered."

Illustration by Eva Orbock

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Viewpoints

BOILING POINT Can humans be objective? In 2022, it's more difficult than people think.

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n a world dominated by the media, the definition of objectivity varies. This poses the question: is it truly possible for humans to be objective?

The answer is

BY CHLOE SEARS fluid, but more on the Print Managing Editor side of no than yes.

Human experience alone makes ignoring one’s opinion incredibly difficult, but University of Chicago Laboratory Schools journalism teacher and department head Logan Aimone has eliminated the word from his vocabulary almost entirely.

“I define objectivity more in the context of neutrality and impartiality,” Aimone said. “I would rather see (journalists) treat sources and topics with fairness, with transparency (and) with accuracy, not this evolving and somewhat ambiguous term objectivity, which I think a lot of people have different definitions (of) depending on their perspective and experience.”

Bias is rooted in human opinion, making reactions difficult to filter. Thankfully, Hallin’s Sphere is a tool that can be used in order to clearly define coverage and make sure any bias has been filtered out.

Created by journalism historian and University

of California, San Diego Professor of Communication Daniel C. Hallin, Hallin’s Sphere was initially created to help explain journalistic coverage of the Vietnam War by separating it into three different spheres: consensus, controversy and deviance.

The use of this tool in modern-day journalism helps ensure that human opinion does not shadow the accuracy and truthfulness of a story.

“It’s most important that we recognize what our filters are and what kinds of experiences have layered into those things so that when we are reporting stories as journalists, we make sure that we don’t just look at it through that filter we look at it through,” Director of the Carmical Sports Media Institute at the University of Georgia Vicki Michaelis said.

malleable. Therefore, it is more important to be transparent and accurate. When it all comes down to it, a difference in opinions means that subjectivity is the foundation of objectivity.

“I think it’s less about saying, ‘You must be objective,' and it’s more about recognizing, ‘What perspectives do you bring to this and how might that be biasing how you’re reporting it or thinking about the story before reporting it?’” Michaelis said.

Consisting of upper-class white men, the dominant majority in the Age of Consensus neither includes many prevalent voices today, nor did it take into account the opinions of women, the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.

Today, that’s no longer the case.

According to Aimone, opinions that would have been seen as radical 20 years ago -- such as marriage equality or the legalization of marijuana -- have now been normalized depending on location.

“We have to help people see that redefining objectivity isn’t about losing neutrality and gaining or replacing it with opinion. It is providing context and choosing our language carefully,” Aimone said.

In 2022, reporting needs to look different in order to remain objective. Are the facts being reported correctly? Are they empty of prejudice and opinion?

If the answer is yes, then objectivity is clear. If the answer is no, then it’s time to rework things or turn to a different source.

When it all comes down to it, a difference in opinions means that subjectivity is the foundation of objectivity.

As society continues to modernize and progress, what was once the Age of Consensus in the 1950s has become ever-changing. Compared to the solidification of opinions that happened after the end of World War II, societal bias continues to change.

In a world dominated by social media, bias is

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Above: DETECTING OBJECTIVITY: Chloe Sears is pictured working at her computer, with scales representing the balance of objectivity behind her. In order to make determining objectivity easier, journalism historian and University of California, San Diego Professor of Communication Daniel C. Hallin developed Hallin’s Sphere to contextualize media in three different categories: consensus, controversy and deviance. “When it all comes down to it, a difference in opinions means that subjectivity is the foundation of objectivity,” Sears wrote. Illustration by Antonio Starks

Viewpoints

May/June 2022

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Luke Krohn

GRADES FOR GLADS CCHS senior Luke Krohn gives his report card on his four-year experience at CCHS. School Spirit: 94

School spirit is decently strong at Clarke Central High School, and for the most part, I believe that we are all proud to be Gladiators. There is a consistently good turnout to sports events, fine arts performances and club-organized events, which has contributed to creating a better picture of CCHS. Students and teachers are excited to support their peers and that has curated a more welcoming and encouraging atmosphere in the school.

Events: 92

School-directed events are consistently well-planned and engaging. Although they are very common at the beginning and end of the school year to make students excited, there should be more during the middle of the academic year. Pep rallies, guest speakers and other incentivizing programs would benefit students if they were more common during the year.

Impact of Education: 88

In my time at CCHS, I have learned many things about a plethora of different academic subjects. However, there has been a lack of instruction in life lessons. This is the fault of our curriculum. Teachers at CCHS are incredibly passionate about what they do. Unfortunately, the implications of what we are learning in the classroom into society is commonly neglected, leaving me and other students questioning the importance of our courses.

Facilities: 75

With only a limited number of bathrooms accessible to students, those that are “open” consistently lack sanitary supplies, such as toilet paper, hand soap and trash cans. The bathroom stalls have murals of graffiti and obscenities and the floors are flooded with trash.

Question of the month

What was your biggest success this year?

"I had a problem with procrastiation. I would always complain, but then I realized that I was just making up excuses, so I held myself accountable and stopped making excuses for myself."

-- ALLIYAH WYMBS, CCHS freshman

“I made a really good friend group that I can bond with. I’ve also become better at playing an instrument I have.

Overall, I had a lot of fun this year, and it was honestly much better than last year.”

-- DETAIZAE MOSES, CCHS sophomore

“I won the state Skills USA competition for graphic design. I will say that was probably my biggest success this year.”

-- OLIVIA DANIEL, CCHS junior

Preparedness for College: 67

There is preliminary encouragement from CCHS counselors and advisers on post-graduation plans, but a lack of follow through leaves many students clueless about what path they will take. Additionally, a large portion of the student body graduates academically unprepared. According to Niche, an informative website for school research, only 44% of the CCHS student body is proficient in reading and 34% is proficient in math, which means that the student body is all but ready for post-high school pathways. Many students are able to achieve highly, but unfortunately many are disserved. O

“I passed all my (Athens Community) Career Academy classes. It was really exhilarating because I was struggling a little bit, but seeing that I accomplished that made me really happy.”

--TANGIER NEAL, CCHS senior

“My biggest success this year was being able to transition smoothly to my new position here. I had to jump in really quickly, but the students were very welcoming and the staff was very helpful.”

-- JESSICA BRADBURY, CCHS English department teacher Above: MAKING THE GRADE: A report card sits on a table with inconsistent grades. Clarke Central High School senior Luke Krohn comments on his mixed feelings about his four-year experience at CCHS. “School spirit is decently strong at CCHS, and for the most part, I believe that we are all proud to be Gladiators,” Krohn wrote. Illustration by Eleanor Robinson

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Viewpoints

THUMBS

Maya Shrivastav

FRESH VOICE

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

Using deadnames in Infinite Campus has led gender queer students to feel invalidated.

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JUNETEENTH JUBILEE

WHO'S THAT GIRL?

Athens-Clarke County mayor Kelly Girtz explains the impact of the upcoming local Juneteenth celebration and why it is vital to ACC.

Social media trends such as the "that girl" trend create pressure to live up to certain unattainable expectations.

ACKNOWLEDGING GROWTH

IMPARTIAL OPINIONS

CCHS senior Lamar Haynes was the 2022 recepient of the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship, an award designated to reward student growth and maturity.

Due to the heavy media presence in our current society, it can be hard to know if the news, much less humans, can be objective.

SLAYING THE DAY

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Two new female sports programs will hit the ground running at CCHS during the 2022-23 school year: flag football and women's powerlifting.

With the Nov. 8 midterm elections approaching, there are ways for eligible students to get involved in the voting process.

LUCKY NUMBER 7

WHY O' WHY HAVE THE TEACHERS GONE?

Going into his seventh consecutive season, CCHS head varsity football coach David Perno cements his legacy.

Viewpoints

Student learning is being disrupted by the high rates of teacher turnover in the CCSD.

or transgender students, a name that reflects their gender can be an important part of their transition. Due to the fact that the name provided in Infinite Campus is used for almost everything, these Clarke Central High School students are often deadnamed.

“Deadnaming occurs when someone, intentionally or not, refers to a person who’s transgender by the name they used before they transitioned," as stated by Healthline.

The use of chosen names has positive effects on the mental health of LGBTQ youth, according to a study published by the Journal of Adolescent Health. Transgender people between the ages of 15 and 21 who could use their chosen name freely showed a 71% reduction in symptoms of depression and a 34% reduction in suicidal thoughts, as compared to people of the same ages who weren’t able to.

Some students may feel uncomfortable with letting their family see this information, but the process should be available for those who feel safe doing so.

“Whatever we can do to support the student and assist in bearing some of that stress and helping walk with students towards getting everything figured out as far as our (Infinite) Campus documentation and what they’re called in classes and referred to, as from an official perspective, would be a good thing,” CCHS Freshman Counselor Lawton Stephens said.

The use of chosen names is difficult in an environment where most official documents use legal names. While some argue that the use of these names on-screen may not be particularly significant to some students, a name is part of someone’s identity and deadnaming in Infinite Campus invalidates the identities of students at CCHS. If there is a process for changing names in the system, most students have not been given much information regarding this possibility.

“As a counselor, if (the process is) unclear to me, it’s probably unclear to the students as well,” Stephens said. “Being more transparent about what that means and how that is done would be a good thing for sure.”

With the information in Infinite Campus being used throughout the school, a process for changing names needs to be available to students. A survey about preferred names, administered to students at the beginning of each semester, could be one step to fix this issue. O

Above: MISREPRESENTED: A nonbinary student looks upset while walking down a school hallway surrounded by students identifying as female. Using deadnames in Infinite Campus has negative effects on mental health. “If there is a process for changing names in the system, most students have not been given much information regarding this possibility,” Shrivastav wrote. Illustration by Antonio Starks

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MO KNOWS Once used as a motivational tool, the “that girl” trend on TikTok has become a toxic fad that is causing discontent and hyperproductivity in young adults.

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he wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every morning and heads to the gym in her matching outfit. She pampers herself, then drinks an iced coffee and sits down to read a book with the natural sunlight streaming through the windows in her New York City apartment.

Her life is a Pinterest board.

This idealized way of living is known to many as the “that girl” trend. Though it has always been

BY MOLLY HARWELL around, the idea of being "that girl" rose in early Viewpoints Editor April 2021, according to an article published by Bustle, an online women's magazine, in August 2021. The hashtag “#thatgirl” had nearly 800 million views on Instagram and TikTok by August of the same year.

The trend began as a way to motivate young women to eat healthy, work out and live life to their full potential.

While this may not seem inherently harmful, it can cause young adults to develop unhealthy relationships with food.

It has also become a harmful instigator of toxic productivity and hustle culture.

An article by Global Health and Pharma stated that hustle culture is “the collective urge to work excessively; to be better than everyone else and work longer and harder to be at the top of our game.”

When caught in a cycle of hyperproductivity, it can be hard to rest under the pressure to keep working hard. The “that girl” trend can cause young adults to feel as if they are not living up to expectations if they take time to rest.

Because this trend only shows the high points of “that girl’s” life, it can be

easy to fall for the lies.

“The (trend) is harmful. Honestly, I've cut way back on Facebook because you just get bombarded with this (content) and you actually start to believe that everyone's life is perfect and yours isn't,” Clarke County School District school psychologist Dr. Marcia Page said.

Along with this, the “that girl” trend has also encouraged disordered eating and orthorexia, a term for the unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food, according to WebMD. “The 'that girl' aesthetic is comparable to the clean-eating, wellness gurus of the 2010s -- presenting extremely low-calorie, carb-lacking meals as aesthetically beautiful, all the while masking and spreading a fear of ‘unhealthy’ aka enjoyable, joyous food,” according to a July 2021 article by Refinery 29.

While the "that girl" trend has its faults, it isn’t entirely negative. Learning to look at this content in a different light can help change teenagers' perspectives.

“I think that if you yourself post things, you can kind of count your blessings,” Page said. “But it all has to be taken in with this lens. This isn't everything about this person's life, only what they want (viewers) to see.”

To combat the effects of the trend, consumers of social media can unfollow content creators who create “that girl” videos on TikTok or press the "Not Interested" button on Instagram.

There is nothing wrong with re-inventing one’s lifestyle or making healthier choices in order to live and function better, but that crosses a line when those ideals cause harm to others, even by accident.

While the “that girl” trend doesn’t need to completely die off, it does need to be re-invented to be more inclusive and create a safe, healthy environment for all. O

The “that girl” trend makes young adults feel as if they are not living up to expectations if they take time to rest.

Featured: BECOMING THAT GIRL: An illustration of Viewpoints Editor Molly Harwell, a sophomore, depicts her as “that girl”, surrounded by various elements that make up the trend.

The “that girl” trend, which was once used as an inspirational tool, has since become a promoter of disordered eating and hustle culture, causing unrealistic expectations in the lives of young people. "There is nothing wrong with re-inventing one's lifestyle or making healthier choices in order to live and function better, but that crosses a line when those ideals cause harm to others, even by accident," Harwell wrote. Illustration

by Eleanor Robinson

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Viewpoints

HOMING IN ON HOMELESSNESS While homelessness is a problem, many conflate homelessness and homeless people to both be problems to deal with.

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he negative ideas associated with homeless people by the majority of society are problematic.From a local

BY ANTONIO STARKS perspective, Athens Viewpoints Staffer has an immense homeless population, with the Athens Homeless Coalition having served 226 homeless families in 2020 and 2021 as of March 12, 2021.

Unlike common stereotypes, people who are homeless aren’t nuisances, bums or lazy by virtue of being homeless. The common prejudices held against them warp society’s perception of homeless people as being less than.

The Sparrow’s Nest, a local homeless shelter, helps clients receive proper documents, medical prescriptions and referrals to jobs and permanent housing options. According to Sparrow's Nest Administrative Assistant Hannah Wise, the struggles faced by the homeless population of Athens-Clarke County are under-recognized.

“We're dealing with a population that is underprivileged, underserved and that may have mental health issues (and) may have (an) addiction,” Wise said. “There's a multitude of things that could be going on."

When thinking or talking about homelessness, it is important to take into account all the factors that make a person homeless by listening to their stories or volunteering at a local shelter. When this doesn’t happen, homeless people can become dehumanized by society and the discrimination that occurs makes it difficult for homeless people to acquire proper care, thus furthering the problem of homelessness.

Additionally, the stereotypes society projects onto homeless people can affect laws by dispropor-

personal hygiene,” an article in the New York University Review on Law and Social Change stated.

According to Wise, conversing about and with homeless people requires more empathy.

“For some reason, (homeless people are) stigmatized, but I believe that's why we're here, to have these (conversations). We're able to look past that and look at the human being and where their heart is,” Wise said. “That’s something I'm able to see every day and that's what I encourage other people to do, as well.”

There are many practical ways for someone to help those who are homeless. Making care packages that have clothes, water and food, volunteering at or promoting local shelters or being an advocate for better treatment of homeless people are a few ways that contribute to homelessness relief.

When taking these steps, it is important to keep in mind that while it’s important to talk about homelessness, it’s equally important to take action.

Whether it be mental health issues, disabilities or unfair labor wages, there are many circumstances that create homelessness and not one of them deserves to be judged. Homeless people are simply people. They must be treated fairly and need to be accepted. O

There are many practical ways for someone to help those who are homeless. tionately discriminating against homeless people and essentially criminalizing the state of being homeless.

One such law is Austin, Texas’ Proposition B. According to austintexas.gov, this law makes it a criminal offense for anyone to sit, lie down or camp in public areas. It also prohibits the solicitation of money or other items of value at specific hours and locations.

“Anti-homeless policies target a range of activity related to homelessness, often interfering with vital activity like sleeping, eating and maintaining

Above: HARMFUL TOWARDS HOMELESS: A homeless person sits against a wall while being ridiculed as a social outcast due to their economic status. Conversing and volunteering with homeless people can sway negative biases toward said homeless people. “I think reaching out in the community and asking questions and having conversations, educating yourself and going in with an open mind and an open heart (is) the best way to (check negative one’s biases on homeless people)," Sparrow's Nest Administrative Assistant Hannah Wise said. Illustration by Antonio Starks

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OUR TAKE In order to improve CCHS students’ education, the CCSD Board of Education must make an effort to reduce teacher turnover by incentivizing teachers to stay.

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t’s the same every year. A teacher will come in, form relationships with the Clarke Central High School community and become a crucial part of many students' education, but by the start of the next school year, they’ve been replaced by another and the cycle starts anew.

This phenomenon of teachers leaving and being replaced is known as teacher turnover, and the inconsistency in staffing is undermining students’ education at CCHS. “One in four teachers were considering leaving their job by the end of the school year," RAND Corporation reported after conducting a nationwide survery in early 2021.

That rate was closer to one in six before the pandemic, showing dramatic growth in teacher turnover.

While that’s severe, the turnover rate is even worse in Georgia. According to a 2015 Georgia Professional Standards Commission report, 44% of teachers in the state leave within the first five years of employment.

This current turnover rate has a massive impact on students. With every teacher who leaves their school, dozens of student-teacher relationships are severed and with each one, students are set back a little bit more.

New teachers won’t be as familiar with the material and the school culture.

Additionally, a teacher who has worked for ten years will naturally know their

work place better than one who has worked less. When almost half of teachers in Georgia have taught for less than five years, students aren’t receiving the best educational experience for them.

To ensure that students are learning in a more consistent environment, the Clarke County School District must make teacher retainment a priority. Teaching isn’t an easy job and as such, the CCSD has to incentivize teachers to stay.

One way to do that is by increasing teachers’ salaries. Based on the 2021-22 CCSD teacher salary schedule, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and two or fewer years of teaching experience is paid just over $40,000 a year pre-tax. A substantial pay raise must be implemented in order to convince teachers to stay at CCSD schools.

Outside of pay, teachers in the CCSD with less than five years of teaching experience are only given three days of personal leave. Increasing that number would be another great way to convince teachers to stay in Clarke County.

Teachers do so much for the student body, but with little incentive given for them to stay, who can blame them for wanting to leave such a difficult profession in the trying times of a pandemic era?

It’s the CCSD's responsibility to give teachers a reason to stay, but the members of the board aren’t the ones being hurt by this teacher retention crisis.

It’s CCHS students who need teacher stability and the CCSD needs to find a way to keep teachers, lest students’ education is irrevocably harmed. O

With every teacher that leaves their school, dozens of student-teacher relationships are severed and with each one, students are set back a little bit more.

Above: SCHOOL TEACHER SWITCHING: An illustration depicts how quickly teachers are replaced in the Clarke County School District. The CCSD must incentivize teachers to stay through pay raises and other motivational methods in order to provide educational stabilization for students. "With every teacher who leaves their school, dozens of student-teacher relationships are severed and with each one, students are set back a little bit more."

Illustration by Antonio Starks

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Featured: INSPIRING CREATIVITY: Clarke Central High School freshman X'Zander Davis shows former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey a poem he wrote after the author's visit in the CCHS Media Center on April 21.

According to CCHS English department teacher Dillon Shelton, who teaches Davis in ninth grade Literature/ Composition, the visit was inspiring to students who were able to attend. "I've seen differences in motivation in the classroom," Shelton said. "It was all awesome to students to start with who were going to see it, but they came back even more committed, even more dedicated, wanting to do more work." Photo by Aza Khan

Featured: VACANT: Students stare at an empty teacher's desk as they wait for a substitute teacher to arrive. Former Clarke Central High School English department teacher Jake Reuse believes that retaining teachers is important in establishing a better education for students. “I think that we need to make (teaching) a desirable place for people to (work) because we want to be an educated country,” Reuse said. “We want kids going out and doing great things and inspiring the next generation is huge. I think that we have to collectively do a better job of approaching that.” Illustration by Eleanor Robinson

RETENTION RATE CRISIS

The efficacy of student learning and faculty performance is being hindered by high teacher turnover rates in the CCSD.

BY NICO WILLMAN BY SOFIA BALSAMO LAYOUT BY AUDREY ENGHAUSER News Editor News Staffer Print Editor-in-Chief

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LAYOUT BY CHLOE SEARS Print Managing Editor

tudent education is being impacted by rising teacher turnover rates, with an average of 14% of all Clarke County School District teachers departing annually.

According to the CCSD Human Resources department, the teacher turnover rate at Clarke Central High School rose from 10.74% to 14.15% between 2019 and 2021, resulting in negative effects on student achievement and teacher morale.

“It creates more challenges than most industries when a teacher leaves.

There’s the (loss of) institutional knowledge that happens. They know how to do something (and) they know how to do it really well,” CCSD Executive Director of Recruitment and Development Dan Swartz said. “They’ve navigated that work environment for many years and they’ve put systems and structures in place to do things efficiently. When they leave, sometimes those have to (be) recreated and a loss of efficiency happens.”

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As the CCHS math department co-chair, Heather Julian has witnessed the effects teacher turnover has had on long-term teacher development. “(Turnover) definitely affects the cohesiveness of planning teams, as well as what different people have been trained on. Every year, (students) learn a little bit more math and get better at math. (Professional learning) is the same way, so (teachers) get better at teaching or instructional strategies,” Julian said. “When there’s a lot of turnover, that means that the new people haven’t necessarily gotten that training, or (we’re) constantly trying to get them caught up and into the vision of what we do here at Clarke Central."

As of February 2022, the National Education Association reported that 55% of teachers nationwide considered leaving the profession earlier than planned, compared to the 37% in August 2021. According to CCHS Assistant Principal Dr. Summer Smith, this increases the shortage of hireable personnel and makes it more difficult to find experienced and skilled professionals.

“Teacher turnover affects everything,” Smith said. “All the training and support and resources that we pour into teachers, if they just stay for a year and

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employing teachers has become increasingly difficult, according to Swartz. “(With) recruiting excellent educators, there's a time and investment standpoint.

Those are dollars committed to not bolstering what we have, but trying to go out and recruit somebody (new),” Swartz said. “Then there is a challenge with finding excellent CCSD Chief Human Resources Officer teachers. There is a labor shortage in every industry (and) the workforce for educators is shrinking.”

Former CCHS English department teacher then leave, then you’re constantly doing that over and over again.”

Jake Reuse, who taught from 2011 to 2014, believes that a lack of teacher According to CCSD Chief Human Resource Officer Dr. Selena Blankenship, retention also leads to gaps in emotional connections with students. a former CCHS English department teacher, keeping teachers in the district “The kids need those bonds. They need people they can rely on,” Reuse is crucial for maintaining and increasing high student achievement. To foster said. “A lot of kids don’t have that at home, or they don’t have a teacher they retention, faculty members are offered professional development and growth necessarily go to (who) they trust or feel they can speak openly to. When you opportunities to maximize their students’ learning gains. lose somebody like that, that’s always going to be negative.”

“Top educators produce five to seven months more learning gains for Former CCHS science department chair Buddy Sims was an educator for students annually than ineffective teachers,” Blankenship said. “We want to over 30 years. Sims encountered several occasions in which he felt as though retain teachers so we can develop them (and) increase their effectiveness so teachers had been disregarded by administrative leadership. they can increase our students’ learning.” “(Demands) get chucked down the line and teachers end up at the end However, with a declining applicant pool both nationally and in the CCSD, of the food chain,” Sims said. “It would be hard for me to account for all the

"We want to retain teachers so we can develop them (and) increase their effectiveness so they can increase our students' learning.”

-- Dr. SeLena Blankenship,

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Photos by Lucas Donnelly

DR. SELENA BLANKENSHIP CCSD Chief Human Resource Officer

Photo by Audrey Enghauser

BUDDY SIMS

former CCHS science department chair

"(With) recruiting excellent educators, there's a time and investment standpoint. Those are dollars committed to not bolstering what we have, but trying to go out and recuit somebody (new)."

-- DAN SWARTZ,

CCSD Executive Director of Recruitment and Development

CHRISTOPHER PENDLEY

former CMS Principal and current CCSD Human Resource Director of Employee Development

time I felt was lost in unproductive meetings, time taken away because someone else decided that that time was more valuable to them than it was to me.”

Similar to CCHS, the Clarke Middle School community experienced a high turnover rate during the two years leading up to the pandemic, challenging remaining teachers and staff to re-establish cohesion within the school. CMS Assistant Principal Kristina Lerch-Batson and Blankenship both reported a total of between 60-62 and 65-72 teachers for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively.

“Our teacher turnover in the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 was about 20 staff members per year. The challenge to having so many new teachers was how to build continuity of our instructional goals year-to-year,” Lerch-Batson said. “We really had to start at the beginning of our work with instructional planning each year since our content teams had so much change. However, it was beneficial to have new voices in the process each year to help push us forward with our work.”

According to CMS Gifted Collaborator Chris Woodward, teacher turnover degenerates faculty culture, especially with losses of veteran teachers.

“We used to have a teacher who focused on Holocaust Remembrance Day, and they’d have (guest) speakers and a room where (students) could go and be solemn and reflective,” Woodward said. “These things we did were special, were done for a reason and were impactful. The new people you have are trying to tread water and understand how to be a teacher.”

Despite these challenges, former CMS Principal and current CCSD Human Resource Director of Employee Development Christopher Pendley implemented restorative practices among the CMS faculty and staff during his tenure in order to improve teacher retention. “(We had to) work closely together, communicate clearly and openly and support one another,” Pendley said. “That had the impact of helping to bring us together as a team. While we may have started the year with some anxiety, I think we finished the year with pretty high morale.”

Despite various incentives, Smith believes teacher turnover is

Above: UNOCCUPIED: A teacher stands in between the silhouettes of unfilled teaching positions. Clarke County School District Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Selena Blakenship noticed the profound impact teachers can have on their school community during her time as a Clarke Central High School teacher in the early 2000s. “Working in a school is different from working in some other kind of business because you're together. You're seeing each other all day long, sharing students, sharing joys and frustrations and ideas, and you're problem-solving together. You really bond through that experience,” Blankenship said. “When your colleagues leave for different opportunities or they're moving away, it does leave a gap. It leaves a void. You miss those people because you have bonded.” Illustration by Eleanor Robinson

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inevitable.

“Not all turnovers are bad. Some people leave because they’re growing, changing their job titles, or (for) personal reasons that can’t be helped,” Smith said. “Sometimes it is a bummer because we’re losing somebody that we really like, but that’s the nature of the beast.”

In order to mitigate the issue of teacher turnover and increase retention rates, the CCSD Human Resources staff is providing incentives to establish a more supportive atmosphere for teachers.

“We’re trying to create as best of a culture and environment for teachers to work in as possible,” Swartz said. “We’re trying to reward them financially, as well as in other tangible ways, to recognize their hard work and skill in the profession. We’re looking to grow them as individual(s) with their skills so that they can be even more successful in their jobs and potentially develop into other careers within education.” O

Above: MOVING ON: A teacher exits her classroom as she makes the decision to quit her job. In former Clarke Central High School science department chair Buddy Sims experience, a leading cause of why teachers consider leaving is a feeling of disenfranchisement. “One of the several reasons that are critical to teachers leaving the profession is that kind of sense of, ‘I don't have a voice. I'm not being respected (and) my opinions are not respected,’” Sims said. “I think every teacher has heard the, ‘If you don't like the way things are here, you can always go somewhere else,’ kind of an idea. And that's the wrong idea to come from an administrative position, rather than supporting teachers and saying that things are difficult.” Illustration by Eleanor Robinson Above: INCENTIVES: An infographic displays three ways the Clarke County School District works to retain its teachers. According to CCSD Chief Human Resource Officer Dr. Selena Blankenship, maintaining effective educators is crucial to the CCSD. “What we want to do is try to make sure that we're doing what we can to retain teachers, and to retain highly effective teachers,” Blankenship said. Infographic by Sofia Balsamo

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COMBATING ABSENCES

In response to poor attendance in classes, CCHS administrators have begun offering incentives for perfect attendance in order to motivate students.

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fter recognizing a steady decline in attendance in the past few months of the 2021-22 school year, the Clarke Central High School administrative team has implemented changes to motivate students to attend their classes.

To combat the rise in absences, the CCHS Positive Behavior Team, which consists of Assistant Principal Latinda Dean, Family Engagement and Academic Support Specialist Christian Barner and other CCHS teachers, created a weekly raffle in February. With the chance to win prizes, students with perfect attendance from the previous week are entered in the raffle and on Monday, one student from each grade level is drawn.

“Attendance has been something that we, and I think a lot of schools throughout the nation and possibly throughout the world, are probably dealing with right now after COVID. ( We’re looking) for another way to try to encourage students to be here," Barner said.

According to English department teacher Grace Crumpton, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

BY JANIE RIPPS Social Media Coordinator

are still heavily impacting CCHS, and this is showing in the classrooms.

“The pandemic creates a system where kids don't have to be in class to pass. They can turn in work whenever they want, and they know that their teachers care about their grades (and) they know that their teachers will go out of their way to try to catch them up, so they don't come to school and then they don't do the work,” Crumpton said.

According to Dean, other schools throughout the Clarke County School District have been experiencing an increase in student absences, leading to more permanent solutions being formulated at the district level.

“A firm policy that involves punitive measures for voluntary absences while at school (or) skipping class would be helpful. We are currently looking at and discussing successful policies and procedures that have garnered positive results in other districts,” Dean said. “At the school level, we are also looking at how we can leverage (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) to improve attendance.”

Mykolas Kumpis, a junior and winner of the March 28 raffle, thinks that offering incentives will help improve the attendance situation and serve as the extra push students need to come to class.

“People skip (class) pretty often, especially on quiz or test days,” Kumpis said. “(But) the raffle has to be helping. Everyone likes gift cards, especially to places like Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks, so it’s a motivator for sure.”

While the creation and implementation of these potential solutions are being prepared, Barner says the raffle has been a small step in the right direction for increasing the presence of students in classrooms.

“It's a raffle, so it's not a guarantee (that students will win), but hopefully it (gives) those students who are coming to school regularly a boost and some encouragement for a job well done and for pushing through a lot of the obstacles,” Barner said.

“Any way that we can further encourage students is great.” O

Above: MISSING STUDENTS: Clarke Central High School English department teacher Robert Bramlett teaches to six of his 16 first period students in Room 109 on April 19. Throughout the 2021-22 school year, teachers at CCHS have been experiencing fewer students attending their classes. "(Attendance is) way worse (this year than past years)," Bramlett said. "Obviously COVID has a huge part to play in that (and) what it's also done is created an expectation where I think for many students, especially seniors, that attendance is just sort of voluntary and compulsory. (It) was already sort of the case before COVID, but it's most certainly the case now." Photo by Aza Khan

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Awarding growth CCHS senior Lamar Haynes is the 2022 recepient of the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship because of his personal and academic turnaround from freshman to senior year.

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larke Central High School varsity basketball player Lamar Haynes, a senior, is the 2022 recipient of the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship.

Haynes was informed of this achievement by the scholarship chair, on behalf of the award committee, prior to CCHS Honors Night in Mell Auditorium on April 28.

“From what I saw from the nomination requirements, it makes sense to me that he earned it. I think he's a really hard worker -- he works hard in the classroom and on the court, and is a very dedicated student,” CCHS special education department collaborative teacher Brittany Carter, who teaches Haynes in Multicultural Literature, said.

Jordan was an Associate Principal for CCHS starting in 2000 until his death in 2007. The award was established to honor Jordan's legacy and work with students.

“The award is a very nice way to honor Dr. Jordan's memory and the work he did here. (The scholarship) was supposed to go to a student who

BY OLIVIA HENDERSHOT Journalism I student

was the type of student that Dr. Jordan often took under his wing,” CCHS counselor Heidi Nibbelink said. “There would be a big visible shift in how (students) approach school and life, and by the time they graduated you were happy to launch them out into the world because you already saw

“What I remember about him is what a warm and kind person he was. He was very soft-spoken, so he made people feel very comfortable in his presence,” Nibbelink said. “I would work with him like counselors do with principals about managing certain cases with students.”

"He works hard in the classroom and on the court, and is a very dedicated student."

-- BRITTANY CARTER

CCHS special education department collaborative teacher evidence that they could make a positive change in their life and move forward.”

The scholarship has been a tradition at CCHS since 2008. Nibbelink was a colleague of Jordan's and worked with him to help students succeed in school.

According to his coach, head boys varsity basketball coach Dr. Stefan Smith, Haynes’ growth throughout high school can be attributed to his developing focus on reaching his goals.

“He's just become a better young man as far as maturity. Of course, the natural maturity of becoming a freshman to a senior, but you can see the growth, his seriousness about his academics, him being a person that's being accountable and responsible and his overall performance, and everything he improved over the four years,” Smith said.

Carter has great expectations for Haynes' future after high school.

“I hope he is a star both on the court and off the court and is able to get the work done. (I hope he) is able to one day look back on his time at Clarke Central in college and see how much work he put into it and how that positively impacted him and where he is,” Carter said.

Haynes believes his journey from freshman to senior year would not have been successful without the help of the people around him. “(I would say) thank you, just thank you for just putting up with me, dealing with me. I know I'm a handful. (The people who have helped) keep me on the right path, keep me in school (and) just make me a better person,” Haynes said. O Left: FOUR-YEAR GROWTH: Clarke Central High School varsity basketball player Lamar Haynes, a senior, reads "The Poet X" by Elizabeth Acevedo in Room 234 at CCHS on April 28. Haynes was awarded the Dr. Miller Jordan Jr. Memorial Scholarship at Honors Night on April 28. “I think it’s nice and significant if you can get people to help make those decisions or make those awards that have that institutional memory and the memory of that person because you can go a little deeper than just the words on the page that described this scholarship,” CCHS counselor Heidi Nibbelink said. Photo by Lucas Donnelly

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Juneteenth in ATHENS Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz speaks about the local Juneteenth celebration being planned for this national holiday and the impact it will have on Athens.

STORY BY AUDREY ST. ONGE Variety Staffer LAYOUT BY AUDREY ENGHAUSER Print Editor-in-Chief

Variety Staffer Audrey St. Onge: Why does Juneteenth matter?

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz: In the United States, like in so many societies, you had people who were not just marginalized or under-resourced, but people who were enslaved, who were treated as subhuman. In today's language, there were severe human rights violations occurring on a daily basis. So if we pride ourselves on being open-minded and honest people, if we'd be honest about these past traumas, that leads to the opportunity to be open about today's traumas and for us to seek solutions to that.

AS: Why does Juneteenth matter specifically to the people in Athens?

KG: While we're really excited about having made some strides in Athens and in the nation, we also have to recognize that we still have strides to make around uniform availability of employment, uniform availability of housing, creation of wealth or deterrence from incarceration. There are a lot of elements of our community and society where we still see disparities between Black and white Americans and other minorities (and) people of color and so, by celebrating Juneteenth, what we're also doing is recognizing that we've made changes in the past that have been positive. If changes have been made in the past, we can continue to make changes for (the) mutual benefit of all in society.

Above: RECOGNIZING IMPACTS: Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz stands in front of the bus loop at Clarke Central High School on March 25. Girtz wants to recognized the importance of Juneteenth and highlight its impact. "I recognize that Juneteenth was probably an under-recognized celebration until recent years, when there's been a sort of burgeoning and broadcasting desire to highlight and recognize every step in our social and legal evolution. So, I'm glad that Juneteenth is becoming a much more recognized and much more celebrated date," Girtz said. Photo by Lucas Donnelly

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AS: What can you tell me about the past Juneteenth celebrations in AtheNS? KG: There has been a celebration for a couple of years, on Katherwood Drive in the Rolling Ridge community that I've been part of. Last year, there was a Juneteenth celebration in the East Athens community, in Vine and (the) Nellie B area. There also has been a celebration that involved a parade that (ran from) Ebenezer West Baptist Church off West Broad Street to City Hall (in Downtown Athens), and so my wife, sons and I marched in that.

AS: How do you want this to reach the Athens commuNITY? KG: Well, you hope that this, like any big, important event, is going to hit students, young people, working professionals, longtime Athenians and seniors. The goal of an event like this is to have everybody recognize its importance and have everybody recognize how, as I referenced earlier, we've made great strides in American life and we can use similar energy now to continue to make strides in terms of improvement for people's circumstances.

AS: What do you think bringing attention to these marginalized groups will helP ACHieve IN THE FUTURE? KG: Obviously, attention is just a piece of the puzzle. What you hope to see grow from attention are tangible gains in wealth creation, tangible group gains in viability of businesses, tangible gains in terms of people's access to health care, food resources or housing or other things.

AS: How do you see this affecting people of color specifically in the Athens community?

KG: It's no secret that people of color have been under-recognized.

By being overt and explicit in recognizing the accomplishments and needs of people of color, we create the foundation to take the steps necessary to greater homeownership, greater business ownership, greater educational success, fewer disparities in public (education) or in the criminal justice system and so many other things.

AS: I was looking into some of what you did with Linnentown. How do you think things like that are going to impact the future of Athens?

KG: One of the things I think has always been true is that in Athens, and in similar communities across the country, there are things that are right in front of us that are hidden in plain sight, (such as) events that might have happened not that far in the past in the grand scheme of history that people just have not been aware of, (but that) we should be aware of. I think as human beings and certainly, for institutions, we always have to be asking ourselves, ‘How can we do better? How can we do more? How can we act with broader knowledge?' To be involved with former Linnentown residents and those who have been advocates for them is to kind of open up that laboratory of how we could do a better job for everybody, particularly those people like Black Athenians who've been marginalized, including in recent times.

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Featured: LAST WAVE OF FREEDOM: A graphic shows an enslaved person gaining freedom.

According to History.com, the national holiday Juneteenth commemorates the last wave of the liberation of enslaved peoples since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed two and half years earlier. Graphic by Audrey Enghauser

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Featured: ZOOOOOM: Two competitors face off against each other on the Washington Street section of the 2022 Athens Orthopedic Clinic Women’s Pro Twilight 1/2/3 Criterium on April 30. AOC Twilight took place on both April 29 and April 30 and included bike races, parades and a five-kilometer race. “Beyond the economic impact, I think the event is meaningful because it caters to people of all ages and interests with things like the food expo, family fest and amateur cycling races,” Cedar Shoals High School social studies department teacher and AOC Twilight spectator Tommy Houseman said. “I was looking forward to hanging out with my friends and neighbors downtown. The people-watching on College Square is hard to beat.” Photo and story

by Lucas Donnelly

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CULTURAL BUZZ Rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers released “Unlimited Love”, a 17-song album, on April 1.

The album is consistent with their unique sound, although slower-paced songs are more common compared to previously-released albums.

With a pleasing bassline and a familiar guitar chord sequence, RHCP has kept their sound steady throughout their decorated career.

Each song has a slightly different vibe, so listeners can enjoy the whole album at once without worrying about repetition across tracks. While the band’s electric sound elevates the album, listeners should be warned that it does sound similar to past work at times.

Those who have enjoyed listening to RHCP and punk or alternative rock music in the past will enjoy this album. Although the lack of new qualities in “Unlimited Love” is disappointing, the unique sounds of the band are featured with small additions for listeners to hear.

-- Audrey St.Onge, Variety Staffer

The Icee Company, known for its sweet, frozen drinks that are frequently sold at gas stations and retail stores, has recently made a venture into the cookie industry.

The new créme-filled Icee cookies were released March 21 and are available exclusively at Kroger in two popular Icee flavors: cherry and blue raspberry.

Immediately out of the package, fans of the company will be struck with the familiar scent of artificial fruits, which adds to the experience of the cookie.

However, the taste of the cookie is not as pleasant as the smell. According to the packaging, in an attempt to replicate the “pop and fizz of a classic Icee,” the sweet treat will instead leave consumers with a perplexing, tingly feeling in their mouth that lingers long after the cookie.

These cookies are great for adventurous consumers or those looking to spice up their dessert palette, but everyone else would be better served sticking to a regular Icee.

British pop artist Charli XCX released her new album on March 18 and will have listeners’ hearts pumping with adrenaline.

Powerful instrumentals can be heard in tracks such as “Constant Repeat” and “Twice” thanks to the high quality production of the instrumentals.

The intense melodies evoke exhilarated feelings that simulate the sensations of a fast-paced car chase.

The album uses the electronic-pop 808 and tunes in unexpected twists and turns. Along with this, tracks are varied in terms of rhythms and timbre and can blend together if the listener isn’t paying close attention.

Overall, the album shows why Charli XCX is a popular artist and a British icon. “Crash” is recommended for those who like music that makes them dance and those who are looking for fresh vibrations along with varied moods in pop.

-- Antonio Starks, Viewpoints Staffer

-- Ireland McCage, Digital Editor-in-Chief

B.I.B.L.E

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merican rapper Fivio Foreign released his debut studio-produced album “B.I.B.L.E.” on April 8 to all major streaming platforms. The album’s title is an acronym for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” and stays true to the typical content in hip-hop and rap, although it does have some anomalous qualities.

As key aspects of this album, personality and eccentricity play a major role in the fusion of each track. Fivio constructed each song in an upbeat manner and contains unique characteristics in regards to beat, tone and segue between each track.

“B.I.B.L.E.” was inspired by rapper GZA’s track of the same name, featuring rapper Killah Priest. However, Fivio brought his own twist to the album by bringing in perspectives from featured artists A$AP Rocky, DJ Khaled, Quavo, Lil Yachty, Polo G, Alicia Keys and many more.

Thanks to rapper Kanye West’s executive production, the project has a grandiose, gospel-tinged vibe, giving it a melancholy feeling that reflects upon his personal life. This quality is shown in tracks such as “On God (feat. KayCyy)”, in which Fivio raps about the hardships he has faced throughout life, accomplishments such as being a Grammy nominee and having each other’s backs. Additionally, he describes the euphoric homage to his and Alicia Keys’ birthplace of New York City in the slow-paced duet “City of Gods (feat. Kanye West and Alicia Keys)”.

Fivio’s strong presence has created an album that listeners will be playing on repeat. His exceptional attempts to include his and other featured artists’ personalities through his music has elevated the album’s positive impact on fans. Overall, "B.I.B.L.E" has the potential to take Fivio to a higher level of public recognition and fame. O

BY AZA KHAN Photographer

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MAYA CLEMENT

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CULTURAL BUZZ Opening with a child’s voice saying, “C’mon, Harry, we wanna say good night to you,” Harry Styles’ new single “As It Was” is a nostalgic, fastpaced ode to metamorphosis and the loneliness of finding oneself again. Throughout the song, an upbeat tempo and sound contrast with bittersweet lyrics about loneliness and the past.

Specific details sprinkled throughout the song give it a personal, raw feel. The refrain of the chorus, “You know it’s not the same as it was,” repeated seven times throughout the song, makes the track feel as though it is weaving a memory. The bridge is a highlight, as well, with Styles singing, “Go home, get ahead, light-speed internet // I don’t want to talk about the way that it was,” in a fastpaced, rhythmic manner.

With its sentimental tone and evocative lyrics, the single will leave listeners excited to “come home” with the release of the rest of Styles’ third album, “Harry’s House,” on May 20.

Released on March 30 at Trader Joe’s stores, “When Life Gives You Lemons Make Ice Cream” provides an excellent eating experience with its unusual flavor and texture combination.

The ice cream has a perfect balance between the tartness of lemons and a sweet flavor, and contains a lemon swirl with shortbread cookie crumbles that, altogether, create a fusion that work perfectly together.

Using real lemon juice and zest in the ice cream adds a more natural flavor as opposed to some lemon desserts and candies that tend to taste more artificial and overly sweet. Although it has a very slight bitter aftertaste, it is not overpowering and actually creates a complex mixture of flavors that add to the ice cream.

Altogether, “When Life Gives You Lemons Make Ice Cream” provides a unique taste that won’t disappoint, even those who aren’t fans of lemon-flavored desserts.

-- Natalie Schliekelman, Digital Managing Editor

-- Maya Shrivastav, Journalism I student

The Dropout

Pocket Build+, released to Apple Arcade on April 1, is the perfect building game for extremely creative players. With no specified objective, users are free to do whatever they want with the world they create.

Unlike other building games such as Minecraft, users are able to control a variety of creatures while completing anything else from their own perspective.

This amount of freedom in a game is unique, but can be confusing to navigate. With little instruction given to users, it’s not easy to figure out what to do first and discover all of the opportunities available.

Additionally, the controls can be difficult to use on a smaller screen such as an iPhone.

While the game itself is free, it is only available through Apple Arcade, which requires a monthly subscription of $4.99 or an annual subscription of $49.99.

Overall, this customizable game has many opportunities for people who enjoy controlling characters and building towns, but those looking for a game with specific challenges and storylines are better off finding something else.

-- Maya Clement, Beat Editor

A

fter all eight episodes became available for streaming on Hulu as of April 7, “The Dropout” is the true-story drama series that will leave viewers eager to watch more. From the cast’s amazing acting to the unique filming techniques used in the show, “The Dropout” does not fail to impress.

After coming up with the idea for a machine that diagnoses health conditions with only a pin-prick of blood, the miniseries begins with Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) dropping out of Stanford University to pursue her invention. The show follows her until the moment her revolutionary company Theranos comes crashing down.

Sharing the stories of conspiracy and fraud that were occurring behind the scenes during the creation and operation of Theranos “The Dropout” allows viewers to not only watch Holmes become the youngest self-made billionaire in the world, but also how her hunger for power tears it all to the ground.

From the strange mannerisms to her unnerving acting, Seyfried manages to perfectly portray the compulsive liar that is Holmes. Displaying her versatility as she acts, Seyfried shows Holmes’ character progression from an ambitious college student whose invention could change the world to a businesswoman in over her head. This allows for moments of vulnerability from Holmes as she deals with the stress of her company, which may lead to emotional investment from viewers.

However, while Seyfried’s acting perfectly embodies the way viewers would expect an awkward CEO to behave, some may find that certain scenes seem out of place in the drama series.

Combining incredibly realistic acting with the true success story that turned bad, “The Dropout” is a rollercoaster of emotions for viewers. This miniseries is an entertaining and educational opportunity to revisit the story of Elizabeth Holmes.

BY JANIE RIPPS Social Media Coordinator

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MAYA CLEMENT

Variety

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5

1. Register

things to know about VOTING

BY CHARLOTTE SOSEBEE, AS TOLD TO ANNA TENNER Charlotte Sosebee, Director of Elections and Voter Registrations for Athens-Clarke County provides information for new voters in Athens.

If you're a first time voter in Georgia, you have to have some type of ID. It will be preferably a driver's license or Georgia ID. You can register to vote online. There is (the) My Voter Page (mvp.sos.ga.gov). If you have a driver's license or Georgia ID, all the information is captured from your driver's license. You can register at libraries. There are some government offices that are required to take voter registration like the (Georgia Division of Family and Children's Services) and places that offer government assistance. You can register by mail, you can come in the office and register to vote and you can register to vote with drives.

2. Do your research When the sample ballots are available, get those sample ballots and decide which ballot you're going to select. You (have to) select a Democratic or Republican ballot because that is required in the state of Georgia. Make phone calls to the candidates with questions that matter to you, whether it be about pollution, schools, prescription drugs (or) children's access to different studies in school and (use) whatever platform (candidates) have. Write the questions down and see if it's something that you want to vote for or against. Find out what it means if you say yes, or if you say no in a question.

3. Determining your polling district You can check the My Voter Page because not only can you just register to vote on My Voter Page, you can verify if you're registered to vote and get (your voter registration) information. You can also apply for an absentee ballot through the My Voter Page, and you can call our office and we can check and let you know what your districts are.

4. Polling location ( Visit) My Voter Page or call our office and then we send out voter registration cards in the mail for our new voters and when there is a change (for registered voters). So if you move, you get a new voter registration card within about three weeks. There's a census that is taken and based on the census and the population of the territory, there is a reapportionment process. People that were in a district last year may not be in that district this year because of the redrawing of the lines.

5. Vote and get involved You have to get involved in the process. It's not just voting.

I would encourage people to be poll workers. Learn the insides of elections. How do we secure votes? Get involved in the elections process, get involved in campaigns, work with candidates and run for election. When you turn 16 years old, you're eligible to be a poll worker and we'd love to have you. Get trained and it's paid. Right now it's $15 an hour. O

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Above: HOW TO VOTE: A student is puzzled by all of the different pieces of information expected of them before they vote. Director of Elections and Voter Registrations for Athens-Clarke County Charlotte Sosebee has helped first-time voters register and vote. "What thrills me the most about working in elections is it's like I'm working a new job all the time," Sosebee said. “There's always changes.” Illustration

by Antonio Starks

Variety

News

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Quest for Athens' Best: After sampling from different local barbeque restaurants, members of the Variety Staff conclude that Dawg Gone Good BBQ and Pulaski Heights BBQ offer the best barbeque sandwiches in Athens.

LAYOUT BY MAYA CLEMENT AND GRAPHICS BY ANTONIO STARKS

Above: DAWG GONE GREAT: Dawg Gone Good BBQ is located on West Hancock Avenue in Downtown Athens.

The local restaturant was declared the best barbeque restaurant in Athens at a delicious 8.8/10 exerience. Photo

by Chloe Sears

W

ith truly delicious and flavorful barbeque, Dawg Gone Good BBQ on West Hancock Avenue is a hidden gem waiting to be found. The restaurant features few delectable options for patrons, showing that quality takes precedence over quantity at this restaurant.

Customers can order a pulled pork sandwich and a side of mac and cheese for just under $8, providing an affordable meal.

Dawg Gone Good BBQ has a variety of sauces for patrons who enjoy different flavors, ranging from tangy to sweet. The pulled pork, itself, is flavorful, tender and cooked to perfection. The bun is fluffy and soft. While patrons may wish for a larger bun and more pork, the mac and cheese is warm and fulfilling, which compensates for the smaller sandwich.

The restaurant’s affordable pricing and delicious barbeque items will leave diners wanting more. Those who want to grab a quick and delicious bite to eat in Downtown Athens can't go wrong with Dawg Gone Good BBQ. O

BY ANNA TENNER Variety Staffer

Ingredients

10 Portion size

6

Price

10

Location Sauces

8 9

Mac n' cheese Above: SOUTHERN BBQ: Dawg Gone Good BBQ's pulled pork sandwich is pictured. The sweet sauce combined with the pork perfectly to create an appetizing sandwich. Photo by Isaac Ramirez, photo illustration by Maya Clement

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Overall Score

10

8.8/10 Variety

BARBEQUE BEATDOWN W

ith a homey feeling, Pulaski Heights BBQ provides a flavorful barbeque sandwich and a variety of tasty sauces, along with sides that add contrast to the rest of the meal.

The pork is delicious alone, as its variety of textures elevates the dish. However, due to the dryness of the bun, the meat loses some of its flavor. Pulaski Heights BBQ provides a simple solution seen in the four varieties of sauce offered: Korean style BBQ ssam, sweet tomato, Carolina gold mustard sauce and spicy vinegar, each containing their own twist.

The price of a pulled pork barbeque sandwich and two sides is $14.58. Although the meal is not as affordable as other restaurants, it presents a combination of flavors all ages can enjoy.

The sandwich is served on an open bun, encouraging diners to customize their food with add-ons such as the sweet homemade pickles and the large selection of sauces.

Overall, the classic taste of the barbeque helps make the meal even better, resulting in an enjoyable barbeque sandwich. O

BY AUDREY ST.ONGE Variety Staffer

Ingredients

9

8

Portion size Price

7 7

Location Sauces

9 9

Mac n' cheese

8.2/10 Variety

Above: PHENOMENAL PULASKI: Pulaski Heights BBQ is located on Pulaski Street. This restaurant was decalred the second place winner for the Barbeque Beatdown with a score of 8.2/10. Photo by Chloe Sears

Overall Score

Above: A barbeque sandwich from Pulaski Heights BBQ is shown. Its juicy, lightly salted meat paired with a slightly dry bun and a selection of mouthwatering sauces creates a flavorful barbeque sandwich. Photo by Chloe Sears, photo illustration by Maya Clement

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EMPOW

WOM

IN SPO With a new competitive club and a Georgia High School Association sport to participate in, CCHS's addition of women's flag football and powerlifting is furfur thering female opporoppor tunities on a local level.

30 odysseynewsmagazine.com

WERING

MEN

ORTS In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, womens' opportunities to advance their athletic careers is on the path to equalization.

BY CHLOE SEARS Print Managing Editor

ART BY EVA ORBOCK Editor-at-Large

LAYOUT BY AUDREY ENGHAUSER Print Editor-in-Chief

May/June 2022

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CENTRAL TAKES THE FLAG

The CCHS athletic department will be introducing Georgia High School Association girls flag football in the 2022-23 academic year.

T

he Georgia High School Association codified girls flag football as an official sport in 2020, making Georgia the fifth state to sanction the sport. According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, flag football has rapidly gained popularity with 91 schools adding flag football programs in 2020.

During the 2022-23 school year, Clarke Central High School will be introducing girls flag football as a GHSA sport coached by CCHS girls varsity assistant basketball coach and physical education department teacher Cherrelle Pass and CCHS boys varsity soccer goalkeeper coach Anne Schechter. “(Coach Pass) came to me and discussed (that) she would like to coach it and that's always one of the biggest steps in starting a new program,” CCHS Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward said. “Once we had a coach in place, we were excited about making the decision to have a team going into the (2022-23) school year.”

The flag football season will start in late September and end in early December, occurring between the fall and winter seasons. After determining the coaches and schedule, funding became the next area of focus.

“As far as the equipment and supplies that are needed, the athletic program, (Clarke Central Athletics), will fund that just as we fund all of our other sports,” Ward said.

In addition to the athletic department's funding, the start-up received $10,000 from the Rise Up! 159 program. Supported by the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the grant aims to help establish flag football teams across the 159 Georgia school districts. “We received $7,000 for basically any use that will help benefit our program for flag football and $3,000 for (custom Nike gear),” Pass said. “It's ground zero, starting from the bottom (and) I just thought, having head coaching experience, ‘What does it take to start a program?’”

CCHS junior varsity girls soccer player Bella Yelton, a freshman, has expressed interest in the developing program, but has concerns about how other teams will respond to the flag football team’s field occupancy.

“If we're taking up space on a field during (another sport’s) practice time, that could cause some irritation to (other teams),” Yelton said.

BY CADENCE SCHAPKER Sports Staffer

According to Ward, concerns regarding limited field space and practice times will be addressed in the ongoing development process. “(The athletic department will) just have to be smart with planning,” Ward said. “We've got limited fields here. We probably have the least amount of field space of any school that I know of, but we shouldn't let limited space keep us from having a sport, so people have to give and take and figure out the best way to make things happen.”

Pass looks forward to the program’s first season and the opportunity to build a brand for the female student body at CCHS.

“We received $7,000 for basically any use that will help benefit our program for flag football and $3,000 for (custom Nike gear)."

-- Cherrelle Pass, girls varsity assistant basketball coach

“I definitely want girls to have a standard of, ‘We watch what we do (and) we watch how we move because we are a reflection of Coach Pass and the Lady Gladiator flag football team,’” Pass said. “Would I like to go out and possibly compete for a state championship the first year? Why not try to hit a home run, but realistically, I would like us to go out here and compete and show some sportsmanship.” O

Above: A NEW ADDITION: An illustration of a female flag football athlete (left) and a depiction of Clarke Central High School girls flag football coach Cherrelle Pass (right). Pass proposed the addition of girls flag football to CCHS Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward. “I just took a shot, reached out to Coach Ward and asked, ‘Is this something that we could possibly do?’ And he was like, ‘Who will coach it?’ and I said, 'I will.' So from that point forward, we took the necessary steps to get started,” Pass said. Illustration by Antonio Starks

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lifting

W O MEN up Women's powerlifting will be reintroduced to CCHS as a club for the 2022-23 academic year to enable female student-athletes and support their athletic skills in a competitive setting.

T

he women’s powerlifting club will officially be reintroduced to Clarke Central High School during the 2022-23 academic year in order to empower and strengthen female student-athletes.

BY CHLOE SEARS At the beginning of quarantine in 2020, the CCHS men’s and Print Managing Editor women’s powerlifting teams were disbanded because of difficulties adhering to COVID-19 protocols in the weight room. Powerlifting is currently an informal activity taking place before school hours. CCHS varsity softball head coach William Lance has used the 2021-22 academic year to officially resurrect the female program as club sponsor.

“The goal was never to make (an official) powerlifting team. It was, ‘You want to lift weights, let's (lift) weights,’” Lance said. “Some of the girls talked about doing a competition and stuff like that. I was looking into it, but then it was past the deadlines, so I asked the girls, ‘If you want to do this next year, we can make it official.’”

The club will aim to help athletes improve physically and mentally while also helping them stay fit both on and off-season for their sports. CCHS varsity track and field team member and varsity volleyball player Lily Meyers, a senior, has experienced these benefits firsthand.

“My experience with powerlifting has been so uplifting and empowering. Working out with such a supportive group of girls is a lot of fun and encouraging. I have gained confidence and strength from lifting weights and it has improved my mood and state of mind,” Meyers said. “Even though it seems hard to wake up so early every day, once you get into a rhythm it feels easy and makes for a great start to your day.”

CCHS currently offers weight lifting as a class students can take. For the club, Lance has chosen to take an informal approach to coaching by letting students decide which direction to take, thus making the club not strictly competitive.

"It (would) be awesome if we went to a competition and every one of our girls won in each weight class, but that’s not what it is (about),” Lance said. “If they don’t want to do a competition then I’m fine with that. If you just want to lift and get strong and flex in the mirror, then I’m fine with that, too. I don’t care as long as you’re lifting and that’s what you want. That’s what matters to me.”

According to CCHS Assistant Principal Latinda Dean, the reintroduction of this club will help women’s sports become more prominent.

“I think this could cause people to be more open-minded about what the face of (powerlifting) should look like going forward,” Dean said. “It gives students something else that they can be involved in because maybe they haven't thought about it until now or maybe it will open the door for other sports to come into play here.” O

BY LUKAS CORNISH Sports Staffer

“My experience with powerlifting has been so uplifting and empowering.

Working out with such a supportive group of girls is a lot of fun and encouraging."

-- LIly Meyers,

varsity track and field team member and varsity volleyball player

Featured: PUMPING IRON: A strong female student-athlete is depicted lifting weights. According to Clarke Central HIgh School varsity softball player Peyton Aubrey, a freshman, lifting has become essential for her and allowed for improvement in her sport. “I want to be stronger for physical reasons. This is good for my sport and good for my physical health, and then also mental health goes into that. It's a good way to get your mind off anything,” Aubrey said. “I feel a lot better about myself when I’m weightlifting. It makes (me) feel stronger and like I’m doing better in a lot of aspects.” Photo by Aza Khan

Sports

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33

Revisiting perno's playbook After his start in 2016, CCHS head varsity football coach David Perno will coach his seventh-consecutive season with the Gladiators in the fall of 2022.

A

fter joining the Clarke Central High School AthAs a member of the 1985 state championship team coached by former CCHS letic Department in 2016, head varsity football head football coach Billy Henderson, Perno hoped to rejuvenate the program in coach David Perno completed his sixth-consecuhis first season as its coach 31 years later. tive football season with the Gladiators during the 2021-22 school year.

“I was obviously here through the time that we were one of the best football Perno’s team finished 10-3 with its third Georgia High School Association programs in the country,” Perno said. “I came back and the concept was to get 8-5A region championship and third quarter-final playoff finish in the last four them back, and of course things are tough. It’ll never be what it was, but I think years and he feels that it was one of his best seasons yet. we're making strides and we're building a very solid program.”

“This last season was pretty special Under Perno, the CCHS football just because of coming off the brink of team has posted an overall record of “Coach Perno has given our football program an op- 49-24 and has won at least eight games COVID and an undefeated region and keeping that streak alive,” Perno said. season since 2018. Former CCHS portunity to be relevant again in the state of Georgia each “We started 0-2 and were able to win quarterback and current walk-on for eight-in-a-row and hold it together, turn (and) we know there's a lot of really good programs the University of Southern California it around and keep things on track.” football team and CCHS Class of 2020 here."

Before being hired at CCHS, Perno alumnus, Isaac Ward, believes that held the position of University of Perno’s coaching style has paved the Georgia head baseball coach for 11 way for the Gladiator’s success.

CCHS varsity football defensive coordinator years before exiting in 2013, making his “I think his coaching is very last football experience his time on the honest. It (was) also progressive and CCHS football team in the mid-1980s. proactive,” Isaac said. “He wasn't super CCHS Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward believes that Perno instilled a new attitude regimented to a sense where he just (wore) the players out, but (he’d) always in the players both on the field and in the classroom during his tenure. have a good feel for the pace. He always was very good at pacing the season and “The non-tangible is the mindset and outlook of the program, and the apmaking sure that the team peaked at the right time.” proach that the young people who participate in football now understand the CCHS math department teacher Aaron Cavin was an assistant football coach set of expectations of how to perform on the field, but most importantly, off from 2006 to 2018. In that time, he worked under three different head coaches the field,” Jon said. “I know we have a storied football history here and that's and feels that Perno successfully combined the traits of many former coaches. the run we've been on the last four years.” “(Perno has) taken the traditions and the values that (Henderson) had, but

BY GRETCHEN HINGER Sports Editor

-- Justin Jones,

Above: POSITIVE PERNO: Clarke Central High School head varsity football coach David Perno stands in Billy Henderson Stadium on May 5. Before beginning his career as head coach, Perno found himself visiting CCHS in 2015 and felt as though the team was facing challenges. "I was on the last state championship team here in 1985 and my daughter was at school here. In fall of 2015, they invited anyone from the '85 team for the 30 year celebration of the last state championship and I came back," Perno said. "It was painful to see that this storied program with so much history didn't have a lot of players. There (were) about 30 players dressed out, not a lot of interest in the fan section and they weren't very good and I missed coaching." Photo by Luna Reichert

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Sports

at the same time, he's adapted them to where we're at now. (Perno is) down to individually, that he would like to restore within our community: people having earth. He's humble. He's laid back and willing to learn, willing to listen (and) pride in being a Clarke Central Gladiator. That's something he's definitely very approachable,” Cavin said. “A lot of times coaches can be unapproachable, done,” Jones said. “Having success as a collegiate (UGA baseball coach) and and that's not him at all. I think that's one of his appeals and why he could then coming back to be a high school coach speaks volumes of his character coach for as long as he wants to.” and his personality and it shows our athletes that Clarke Central is a quality For former CCHS wide receiver and current member of the University of place to be.”

North Carolina at Charlotte football team Jarius Mack, a CCHS Class of 2021 Jon sees Perno’s ability to help his players play in collegiate football as advanalumnus, one of Perno’s stand-out characteristics is his ability to bring the team tageous to the development of the program. together in key moments.

“We've been fortunate during his “I think we were playing against tenure. We’ve averaged with (previous) “Coach Perno has given our football program an op- senior classes, (about) nine seniors going Greenbrier (High School) my senior year. It wasn’t going our way at all. and having an opportunity to play the porunity to be relevant again in the state of Georgia on We were winning, but we weren't next year (in college). That's very, very winning like we were supposed to, (and) we know there's a lot of really good programs good in the context of schools our size,” a lot of points (in the game) where Jon said. “(Perno’s) able to communicate here." we could've scored,” Mack said. “At that to our players and their parents, and halftime, (Perno) took everybody to (the) results that we have with allowing so the side and (told) everybody to calm many of our football players (to) have the down and just do what we do, and CCHS varsity football defensive coordinator opportunity to play at the next level is a he even calmed down the coaches. direct result of that.”

He really showed how much of a Looking to the future, Perno hopes leader he is.” to lead his teams to a state championship similar to his own experience in the According to Perno, much of his success as head coach can be attributed to mid-80s. the coaching staff that he has built during his tenure.

“We need to break through the quarterfinals and see if we can get to a state “In football, you got to have a coaching staff and I've been blessed to have championship. That's always been the goal. It's been 36 years since 1985. the resources and fortunate to attract the type of assistant coaches that we We've only had one other in that time period. There have been a couple other have,” Perno said. chances, but we just haven't been able to win that coveted state championship While serving under Perno and former head varsity football coaches Leroy that you're searching for,” Perno said. “Hopefully, we just keep doing things the Ryals and Ahren Self, Cavin feels that one of the most important tasks of Perno’s right way and for the right reasons, and we'll break through that door.”

O hiring was working to create a supportive coaching staff.

“In my personal opinion, one of the things that's helped him the most is hiring (CCHS varisty football defensive coordinator Justin Jones),” Cavin said. “Coach Jones is one of the most incredible coaches I've ever met. He's the whole package. He's a disciplinarian, but at the same time, he's cool. He knows what he's talking about.

He has respect from everybody. Hiring him was one of the best moves Coach Perno made starting off.”

With Perno's support, Jones believes they have brought the CCHS football team back to the level of other Georgia high school teams.

“Coach Perno has given our football program an opportunity to be relevant again in the state of Georgia (and) we know there's a lot of really good programs here,” Jones said. “Getting our programs back to relevancy and then getting the right coaches here in place and setting the correct programs in place for our athletes to be successful.”

With spring football beginning in May, Jon feels Perno will continue to exceed standards set for him.

“There's no expectation that hasn't been fulfilled or goal that we need to realize. I think (as) the whole Gladiator family, we hope that we can figure out how to get beyond game 13,” Jon said. “Our program is at a place now where we hate to see seniors go but with the next group that's coming up, we get better. We're more competitive, and I think the 2022 team has (an) opportunity to be the team that breaks through and runs a little deeper in the state playoffs.”

Beyond the on-field success during Perno’s time Above: ON AND OFF THE FIELD: Clarke Central High School head varsity football coach David Perno coaches during a CCHS football game on at CCHS, Jones says the spirit surrounding CCHS foot- Oct. 16, 2019. Looking over his past six seasons, Perno feels that the team has been able to accomplish goals both on the field and academically.

“Since 2019, we've won 17-consecutive region games, so three region championships, beat Buford (High School) for one,” Perno said. “We've ball is a foundation of Perno’s legacy. done a lot of good and probably more importantly, I think what you see is academically, our kids are are doing much better than they were my first “I know the pride factor was something that he year we just didn't have a lot of kids qualify to get a football scholarship and since that point we're kind of averaging sending off seven, eight a year mentioned to us as the staff, (and) mentioned to me, to go play college football.” Photo courtesy of ODYSSEY Archives

-- Justin Jones,

Sports

May/June 2022

35

TAKING BACK CLASS The CCHS Athletic Department must work with the Georgia High School Association to schedule games in a way that keeps student-athletes in class.

W

ith every crack of the bat, crunching tackle and swing of the racket, Clarke Central High School student-athletes provide entertainment for the CCHS

BY WYATT MEYER community.

However, in Journalism I student giving fans the breathtaking plays they love, these athletes are forced to sacrifice their education.

The problem for student-athletes is that there isn’t anything protecting them from constantly leaving school early for their chosen sport. The Georgia High School Association Constitution and ByLaws offers some guidance as to when sporting events should be played, but no specific protections are afforded to student-athletes missing class.

For CCHS varsity tennis player Ethan Meskin, a senior, the absences start to add up.

“At least twice a week, we would have a match.

(They) would probably start at four, which means I basically missed fourth period every day,” Meskin

said. “I missed a lot of stuff that I then had to make up out of school.”

Over the course of the season, tennis players have missed more than one-third of their fourth-period class time. With 13 matches scheduled, varsity tennis players are encountering a massive problem with no forthcoming solution. “(Student-athletes missing class) really is an issue, but if you play athletics, there are certain things you're going to have to sacrifice and there's

material they need to succeed on the exam.

While the lion's share of the disadvantages are for students, teachers -- who already have so much on their plates -- are often called upon to do extra work, as well.

“They’re having a problem learning something because they're not here. If they want, they can set an appointment with me and I can give them one-on-one assistance,” CCHS foreign language department teacher Dr. Lynne Sparks said. “When I start seeing the failure coming in, I reach out to their parents directly.”

When student-athletes miss class, it’s hard for both them and their teachers.

Because of that added difficulty, it’s clear that something needs to be done in order to fix this problem.

Changing the game schedule by playing more evening and weekend games would be one way to make sure student-athletes are able to stay for the entire school day.

Regardless of the method, coaches must find a way to keep student-athletes in class. After all, they’re called student-athletes because they’re a student first and an athlete second.

The problem for student-athletes is that there isn't anything protecting them from constantly leaving school early for their chosen sport. certain things that are gonna be challengcs,” CCHS Athletic Director Jon Ward said.

Additionally, with Advanced Placement and Endof-Course exams taking place in early May, students are missing class at the worst possible time. If a student-athlete is consistently missing time in a course, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to learn the

O

Above: EDUCATIONAL EXIT: A student-athlete is forced to leave their class because of a sporting event. Due to early start times for sporting events, Clarke Central High School student-athletes have missed significant class time which has ultimately harmed their education. "Regardless of the method, coaches must find a way to keep student-athletes in class. After all, they're called student-athletes because they're a student first and an athlete second," Journalism I student Wyatt Meyer student wrote. Illustration by Antonio Starks

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The power of lifting News Staffer Emily Couch describes her experience participating in a CCHS women's powerlifting session.

T

he silence was loud, unbothered. Serene.

The intimidation and stagnance of the motionless air and uwntouched weight racks highlighted what was about to commence. Each of the four women in the weight room were ready to work towards a goal and allow aspiration to thrive.

Exercise and lifting are a must for me and have been for a long time. I have the ability to check out of reality and focus on myself, being unbothered. It’s an outlet that I prioritize and cherish.

The large, green turf patch invited each of us to warm up for the workout ahead.

Lining up, the silence between everyone was loud and the lack of conversation helped put me in the proper mindset.

With high hopes and anticipation that loomed, I was ready to work hard and prove myself.

Once the warm-up was checked off the list, each athlete took their place at one of the weight stations, gathering the needed equipment for the arms and legs exercises that CCHS head varsity softball coach William Lance had in store.

I could tell that everyone in the room was pushing themselves as the weight increased with each repetition.

As a woman, the high standards that society has placed upon the female body are exhausting. I’m not allowed to let my body breathe, grow or adapt to the environment around me. Instead, I must keep up, never change sizes and never break a routine.

Coach Lance continuously walked around, emphasizing the importance of keeping our legs properly bent and correctly located on the mat. I didn’t mind the constant comments because it reminded me that there is more to powerlifting than just increasing the weight on the bar.

I will use this time to grow. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Just listen and learn.

Glancing around the weight room, I was intrigued by the focus on every face. There was a personal work ethic and mental game in every mind, contributing to particular expectations set before the session started.

Once everyone, including myself, finished with the deadlift set, we made our way to the turf patch to prepare for the second exercise. With heavy legs and shaky breath, I picked up the weighted arm curl bar and got into the starting position with my arms bent. Arms at the ready, I felt excited about this next exercise, regardless of the exhaustion that was already building up in my shoulders and limbs.

Each individual lined up and mirrored each other’s movements and I pushed my own arms to curl the weight that I chose for the bar. The challenge grew more difficult, but fueled my motivation to keep going, a similar feeling I observed from the others based on their intense postures.

One more rep. One more set.

Nearing the end of the session, the anticipation for rest was increasing as everyone tirelessly finished the last set. After taking a moment to breathe, I walked off the exhaustion that was building in my arms and legs, a feeling I have always loved because it shows the progress I’m making.

Although I am lifting weights to grow stronger and achieve better endurance, I am also gaining the strength to break down society’s standards of how women and their bodies should look. Being able to experience this powerlifting session was a game-changer for me because I was around other women who were motivated by their passionate goals. O

BY EMILY COUCH News Staffer

Above: POWERLIFTING: News Staffer Emily Couch does bicep curls during a morning powerlifting session in the Clarke Central High School weight room on April 12. While going through the different movements during the session, Couch experienced the importance of exercise and how to properly lift weights. "I really started getting into weightlifting and powerlifting a couple of years ago and have really been enjoying learning more about it. I feel like it's a great way for people to work on themselves and have the ability to control how they live their lives," Couch said. Photo by Chloe Sears

Sports

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Star Players ODYSSEY Star Players TRACK AND FIELD

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

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

JERIAN BROWN

Photo by Lucas Donnelly

ARIANA ARAUJO-LEDEZMA Grade: 9 GPA: 3.2 Years of experience: 3 Game day ritual: We just hype each other up and be like, “It’s gonna be alright, we got it.”

Favorite memory: Our first win. The first game we won, it was a very good game. We were losing in the first half and then in the second half we gave it our all and we won.

Role Model: My mom, she’s a very hardworking woman. She works at night so she’s tired (but) she still tries to be with us and hang out with us.

What coaches say: She always brings a great smile to the team and when it’s hot or cold or wet or when we’re losing badly she has that smile that I think is very important because it’s very much of a human nature thing to be down and start complaining and when you get beat game after game and she never does that, early.

Grade: 12 GPA: 3.0 Years of experience: 6 Game day ritual: Every time we have a meet, I go to Chick-fil-A and have breakfast. So I guess you’d call it my ritual, but I don’t have anything other than stretching and my normal warm-ups, staying hydrated.

Favorite memory: In middle school, my seventh-grade year, my first year of track and field, leaving the state championship and going to Zaxby’s. It was a big celebration. The whole restaurant was turnt up.

It was really fun and it was a great way to end the season.

Role Model: I guess the people I saw doing it, I would say they inspired me. It’s no one specific, but it just looked like something that I might be interested in, so I just stuck with it all these years.

What coaches say: He kind of knows what we expect. He knows the type of work ethic it’s gonna take for us to be successful and that helps when you have an individual who’s already been there done that before.

-- Justin Jones, CCHS head track and field coach

Photo by Aza Khan

ODYSSEY Star Players GIRLS JV SOCCER

-- Alex Sams, CCHS JV girls soccer coach

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5

things to know about POle VAULTING

BY Catie Kiefer, as told to miles lawrence

1. Warm-ups required

Usually, when I get (to meets), I start (doing) warm-ups with the team and then I do my own warm-ups. After I finish those, they check everybody in and we start warmups like jumping onto the (pole-vaulting) mat. After that, we start the competition. People with the lowest heights go first. There's a starting height, which is usually six or seven feet, but you can pick your starting height.

2. DAily improvement

( What keeps me motivated is) probably (the idea of ) being better than (I was) yesterday. In meets, it isn't always about getting first or second, it's about beating your own personal record, being better than you were yesterday, and striving to achieve those goals so that maybe one day you will be like the best.

3. not as scary as it looks

Pole vault isn't as scary as it looks. I'm a senior so I'm graduating pretty soon and I hope that before I leave, I can teach other people to (pole vault) because this is the first time we've had (a female pole vaulter) in 15 years. I don't want it to end with me.

4. Practice practice practice

The first couple of meets (this year), I didn't do very well. I hadn't jumped in a while, (so) practicing a lot more (helped).

I would come on weekends and practice and I would stay later after practice just to make sure that I was in the right mindset and enough confidence in myself to jump the way that I wanted to jump. It definitely took a lot of work and I was very upset at the beginning of the season, but a lot of work and putting in some extra time definitely helped.

5. perseverance is key

You're not gonna be jumping where you want to be jumping in your first few weeks and even some weeks you'll get nowhere near where you want to. Then the next week, you'll get a record. You have to be able to push past obstacles and be prepared for how much work it's gonna take and how much work you're going to have to put into it. O

Sports

Above: GOING SOLO: Clarke Central High School varsity track and field athlete Catie Kiefer, a senior, vaults over a pole on the Billy Henderson Stadium track on April 20. Kiefer was the only pole vaulter on the CCHS track and field team this past season and despite being a solo athelete, she feels the season was enjoyable. "It's been a little bit hard, but I don't know, it's also kind of good (and) I enjoy it," Kiefer said. "It's really unique, and everyone's always kind of amazed by it, but it's just kind of normal for me." Photos by Aza Khan

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Variety

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