October 2017 issue

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News Magazine

A True Viking Student with dwarfism shares his story on page 2 Northwest Guilford High School

Greensboro, NC

Volume 54, Issue 1 October 2017

FRONT PAGE FEED

What’s Inside

News Op-Ed Spread

Sports Features Arts & Entertainment

3-5 6-9 10-11

18

12-14 15-17 18-19

12

Theatre students write their own play

Homecoming 2017

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Confederate Monuments: History or hate? 7

The condition of the school mobiles

Northwest Cross Country teams have success in the sport

A True Viking: Student with dwarfism shares his story Maddie Lawson news editor & layout editor

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ust like millions of other high school students, junior Matthew Proper goes to school, plays video games and watches sports. His favorite class is history, and he’s a dedicated student with dreams for the future. He’s just like everyone else. “When I was six months old, my parents thought something was wrong. We went to a doctor, and he said, ‘You need an MRI,’” Proper said. “Before I could get one done, I stopped breathing. My grandmother had to resuscitate me, and I went to the hospital.” They quickly discovered that Proper had compressed nerves, meaning that his nerves were being pinched by the narrowing of his skull which was not large enough for the spinal cord to easily pass through. Soon after, he had a surgery to alleviate the pressure. “They did a surgery to decompress my nerves, and unfortunately, I have right side hemiparesis [paralysis on the right side] due to the compression,” Proper said. “If it wasn't for that,

I would be normal, just with a height Paley could help me out with walking.” difference.” Proper missed much of his seventh Of the 200 types of dwarfism, Proper grade year because of three surgeries was born with the most common type on his upper and lower legs. Since these called Achondroplasia, which is why surgeries, he hasn't been able to walk he is smaller than the average person. like he used to. He's now mostly confined People with this type, like Proper, fre- to a scooter or wheelchair, but he doesn't quently have other health issues be- let it get him down. He knows that peocause of it. ple may look at him differently, but he At the age of 5, says that Proper had his legs it doesn't Going through the struggles he surgically straightbother has in the past year has made ened. Before that, him. him a stronger person with a he had other surI n geries that he eighth greater regard for life. doesn't remember grade, because he was so Proper senior Jillian Nawrocki young. and his At this point in his life, Proper could family began thinking about lengthwalk, just not long distances. ening his arms, but the surgery didn't “When I was at Colfax [Elementary] happen until his freshman year of high and Pearce [Elementary], I would be in school. He was out all that year endura wheelchair when we changed classes,” ing the process of lengthening, which Matthew said. “I also had a therapist entails twisting a screw into a rod in come to school [around] once a week; it his bone a couple times a day in order wasn't anything big.” to stretch the bones. During this proProper soon began middle school cedure, he also had his tendons transand then experienced severe back pain. ferred to improve mobility in his right “Sixth grade year, we saw Dr. Dror arm, which is his weaker side. Proper Paley in West Palm Beach, Florida be- said this was the more painful part of cause he's the number one surgeon in the surgery. the world to do this specific surgery By late sophomore year, Proper had which is lengthening or correcting,” to undergo back surgery. His spine was Proper said. “We thought that maybe Dr. very curved and his organs were being

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squished. The surgery took 11 hours. They had to put in 28 screws and two rods to straighten it out. “Pretty much, not to brag or anything, but when I was in the ICU, I never took pain medicine,” Proper said. “When the doctors came in every day to see how I was doing, they couldn’t believe I wasn’t taking any pain medication.” After this surgery, Proper went home two weeks early. This last surgery was extraordinarily expensive, and family-friend Kyle Finnie, who was a Northwest senior last year, helped raise money to support him and his family. His cousins, senior Jillian and junior Jaylynn Nawrocki helped to promote it. “To raise money for his last surgery, we advertised a Go Fund Me page [made by Finnie] on social media, which detailed Matt’s story and the obstacles he has and has yet to overcome,” Jillian said. All in all, Proper has had 16 surgeries to date, and he says he's not sure what the future holds. “I think Matthew’s surgeries have really made him appreciate life a lot more. Going through the struggles he has in the past year has made him a stronger person with a greater regard for life,” Jillian said.

October 2017

NEWS

Northwest’s Trailer Park: No end in sight for mobiles Aidan Bennett & Nathan Vescio co-editor-in-chief & staff writer

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rumbling paint, leaking ceilings and stinking carpets-the mobile units at Northwest High School, long used as classroom facilities, are in a state of disarray. Some students see their presence as a fact of life; others believe they mar the school by their very existence. The mobiles, in their current state, have lived at Northwest High School for more than 20 years. Originally, the mobile classrooms covered a wider swath of territory, reaching down to where the current senior lot now stands, and covering a wider branch near the CTE building. In the past few decades, the number of mobiles has dropped from 52 to 25. Built as a fix to expanding numbers at the school, the mobiles were effective in the years before the two-story building, now known as the New Building, was built. “We continued to grow; the main building was [originally] built for 750 students,” Principal Ralph Kitley said. Still, they were never intended to be a permanent fix, with a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Years of abuse are beginning to make their mark on all of the mobile classrooms, especially the oldest ones. “In a lot of them, the foundation is falling apart,” Kitley said. “There’s mildew, some of them are rotting away. The question is, how long will they last?” In 2002, the New Building was constructed, currently used for a variety of classes from world languages to mathematics. Construction on the New Building occurred after an influx of students overwhelmed facilities. Currently, Northwest is facing one of its largest school sizes ever, with a massive freshman class of 543. However, Northwest stands alone in this influx of new students. “[Enrollment] has been relatively flatline, or even going down a little over the last couple of years across the district as far as attendance is concerned,” Guilford County Commissioner Hank Henning said. “Northwest has a great reputation. I think that’s why there’s a disproportionate amount of growth.” Henning added that more and more students have chosen to attend charter schools lately, balancing out what would probably be a similar situation at other schools. Because of Northwest’s growth, some students wonder about the possibility of getting yet another new building. “There was discussion of a new twostory building, but that didn’t go too far,” Kitley said. The budget for a new facility couldn’t be secured, and talks were moved toward constructing an entirely new high school to relieve tension from Northwest. This proposed

MOBILES’ FAST FACTS: • Northwest’s main building was built in 1952 with an intended capacity of 750 students. October 2017

school, dubbed the “Airport Area High School,” came with great promise, but ultimately failed like the preceding construction ideas. “A couple things happened--problems at High Point Central,” Kitley said. High Point Central was facing an infrastructure crisis; constructed in 1926, much of the original structure was falling to pieces. Money was moved to fix the problems at HPC; thus, the idea of the Airport Area High School fizzled out, leaving Northwest to its mobiles. For all the mobile units’ problems, some teachers don’t see them as negative and instead celebrate their overall benefits. As fully furnished mobile units, each classroom comes equipped with a water fountain, bathroom and AC control. “I consider this a real classroom,” social studies teacher Greg Shue said. “There are [sanitation problems] from time to time, but [they] are always fixable.” Some students see the trailers in a different light. “They minimize the importance of social studies--they’re lesser quality classrooms for classes that are equally important as others,” senior Jason Williams said. Those looking for a quick fix to the mobile situation may be out of luck. Funding problems have plagued Guilford County for years, and problems such as classroom size have taken on a larger priority than facilities. “We’re trying to address [the budget],” Henning said, “but allocating those capital dollars is a challenge.” What Henning is referring to is the 70 percent of Guilford County Schools’ money that comes from the state of North Carolina, and how to potentially increase that amount. “Schools get roughly half the [county’s] budget, but just because the money comes to you, doesn’t mean you have the capacity to do anything [with it],” Henning said. The other half of the budget goes to funding necessary public services like emergency and sanitation services, so it’s not as though they can simply add another 10 percent of the budget to education and solve all the problems. This would apparently leave a large part of the future of the budget and the mobiles up to the State Legislators to decide whether they should allocate more or less of the state budget to Guilford County. “I honestly don’t know what state policy is going to be going forward on that,” Henning said. Though classrooms may not be in ideal condition, many believe that the physical structure is irrelevant, as long as those who occupy it make the best of their situation. “Despite [the mobiles], we keep doing great things, and our students continue to achieve at the highest level,” Kitley said.

• The New Building was constructed in 2002 to alleviate overcrowding. • As a result, the number of mobiles dropped from 52 to 25.

Photo by Aidan Bennett

Plans for a permanent building to supplant the 25 trailers at Northwest are not currently being considered. Northwest has had trailers on its campus for more than 20 years.

Photo by Aidan Bennett

A groundhog peeks out from under Trailer 231. It is not uncommon to see many rodents and pests come out of hiding before or after school.

Photo provided by Julia Skaggs

Social studies teacher Julia Skaggs uses this picture of mice in her trailer as a warning to her students. Skaggs does not allow food in her trailer because it can attract vermin.

• Mobiles’ intended life span is 10-12 years. • Currently, Northwest is facing its largest student population ever, with a freshman class of 543.

• There have been many attempts to build a new building or even a new school, but the current budget has prevented anything from happening. northwesthorizons.com

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NEWS

Northwest welcomes new staff members

Angela Seo & Logan James features editor & sports editor

Name: Meredith Kersting Position: biology, AP biology teacher Previous experience: Taught for six years at Southern Guilford High School Inspiration for becoming a teacher: “I think that education is a civil rights issue of our generation, and I think that teaching is the best way to make a lasting impact on the world.” Why NW: “I had a baby last fall, and I wanted to be closer to home, so I’m spending an hour and a half less in the car every week.” Hobbies: Baking, running (slowly), crafting, hanging out with husband and daughter Favorite holiday: Christmas

Name: Pat Midkiff Position: physical science, earth science and anatomy Previous experience: Taught science for two years in Davidson County Inspiration for becoming a teacher: “I’ve always enjoyed the learning experience and seeing kids get better and grow.” Why NW: “I live close by, it’s a great school and [Northwest] had a couple of openings… there’s a really good situation in the classroom, and I know Coach Wallace who helped me get a job coaching the football team, too.” Hobbies: Coaching and watching sports Favorite holiday: Christmas

Name: Kevin Wallace Position: physical education/ health teacher Previous experience: Two years teaching science and physical education at Glenn Inspiration for becoming a teacher: “My mom [was] a high school science teacher so I’ve been around it my entire life… I’ve always seen learning as an extremely important activity.” Why NW: “Traditionally there’s always been great administration and great support [at Northwest]. There are great facilities, too, and all of that stuff plays into the decision, and I think I’ve made the right one.” Hobbies: Watching and coaching football, working out, playing golf, going to the beach Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving

Name: Theresa Bobetich Position: Registrar Current Role: “Talking to the students and parents and making sure everyone feels comfortable and just kind of explaining what you need to bring to enroll or withdraw your students.” Why NW: “I’ve always subbed over at the middle school and I’ve just known a lot of the teachers for almost 11 years.” Hobbies: Reading, watching Adam Sandler movies, walking, biking, listening to Wham!, Nickelback and Creed Favorite holiday: Christmas

Name: Donnie Watkins Position: Assistant Principal Previous experience: Program Coordinator at Early College in Wilmington, director of Alternative School for Asheboro, high school dean at Triad Math and Science Academy, principal internship at Asheboro High School Inspiration for entering education: “I wanted to help with student growth, being able to support students as well as teachers has always been important to me.” Why NW: “I was able to work with Mr. Kitley and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him and his staff, I enjoyed seeing the great things at Northwest, and I always wanted to be a part of it.” Hobbies:Spending time with family, anything sports-related Favorite holiday: Christmas

Name: Taryn Vanderpoel Position: AP environmental science and honors earth science Previous experience: Student teaching in Wake County Inspiration for becoming a teacher: “In high school I enjoyed helping my friends with their work. That enjoyment coming from seeing someone succeed with something was a big influence.” Why NW: “[Northwest] reminds me of my old high school, and there seems to be a lot of support.” Hobbies: Playing video games, listening to music Favorite holiday: Christmas

Name: Kristina Burke Position: marine, earth environmental science teacher Previous experience: First year teaching Inspiration for becoming a teacher: “I’ve always just wanted to give back to kids. I love science, and to be able to share that with others and make a difference in one child’s life is an awesome opportunity.” Why NW: “Northwest, I think, is one of the greatest schools we have in the county, so it was an awesome opportunity that I was even asked to work here. I was glad to accept and I’m really happy to be here.” Hobbies: Playing piano, singing, drawing, going to the mall, watching movies Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving

Name: Will Satterfield Position: world history and American History I Previous experience: Substituting at Western and Northeast Inspiration for becoming a teacher: “My mother has been in education all my life; she still teaches today.” Why NW: “[Northwest] has a really good reputation, and I think that it is similar to where I grew up. It really was a no-brainer for me.” Hobbies: Watching sports Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving

Visit northwesthorizons.com to read more new staff members’ bios. Photos by Logan James & Angela Seo

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northwesthorizons.com

October 2017

NEWS

Teachers manage budget cuts again this year Savannah McCracken & Angela Seo staff writer & features editor

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he budget is suffering; classes are cut, resources are tight, copies are limited. This isn’t a surprising change from the last few years, as the amount of money schools recieve continues to decline. One way in which teachers cope is by asking for donations at the beginning of the school year. The Science Fund requests students enrolled in honors and AP science classes to donate money so that the science department can buy the necessary materials. “Teachers are doing everything they can to reduce the effects of the budget on students,” chemistry teacher Janet Wells said. “Things like the Science Fund and Donors Choose [a website where teachers can request classroom resources] are helping teachers and students to not be affected in a negative way,” Another place where Northwest feels

the tightening budget is in the media center. In 2000, the library had a staff of five people; now, there is only one-media center specialist, Natalie Strange. “When I started here in 2000, we had two full time librarians who had master’s degrees,” Strange said. “We [also] had two full time assistants and one technology assistant. Since then, positions and funding [have] been cut significantly.” Strange says it has also been harder to afford new books and technology, and the past few years, the library has been grateful for the donations they have received from parents and students. “I like to build relationships with my students,” social studies teacher Scott Bennett said. “I reach out to them and we talk… It’s how I make [my classroom] a safe place for students. I have three more desks this year, and three more students, and this makes it harder to build strong relationships with my students.” Another problem is the lack of copies. Every year, Guilford County allots a certain amount of copies to the school.

Last year, Northwest was allotted 3,790,800 copies for the year. Since all of Northwest’s copiers are leased, the school is charged per copy, regardless of the amount of paper used. “If we go over that number, the school gets charged, but if we stay under that amount, we get money back,” school treasurer Karen Grube said. Teachers are having to be more aware of the number of copies they are printing out for their classes. This has led to teachers thinking of ways to make sure the students get the right material for the class while staying within the copy limit at the same time. Many teachers, such as biology teacher Jessica Tidmore, have the students write their own notes to save copies. “As a biology teacher, I think I get a few more copies than a few of the other teachers because we are an EOC course,” Tidmore said. “[But students] have to print off at home if they want anything [extra], so it’s more of handwritten notes on the part of the student instead of me printing out and handing

Cut classes lead to online opportunities Vika Kotting staff writer

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nline classes proliferate at Northwest. Many Northwest students were devastated at the announcement that popular electives such as speech and debate, leadership and We the People were not available this school year. However, a tightening budget and growing student-body led to the necessary cuts. “We didn’t want to cut those programs, but [Principal Ralph] Kitley had to make some choices with the budget we have,” guidance counselor Stacy Garner said. To make up for the lack of availability of these electives, many students have discovered the benefit to taking online classes. Many of these courses are not available to take in-person at Northwest, such as French, Japanese and Chinese. Graduation coach Rob Ayres oversees the online students. “The course is between a student and online instructor,” Ayres said. Similar to classes at Northwest, the instructor can have many students participating in the course; however, it’s not a face-to-face class. To succeed at an online course, a student needs intrinsic motivation and an independent work ethic to stay focused and on top of the workload. “Time management is the way to go,” Ayres said. One student, senior Rylee Wilson, takes online classes fourth through sixth period in order to graduate early.

October 2017

Wilson also knows how to succeed in online courses. “Take notes that will help you with the quizzes,” Wilson said. While Northwest’s underclassmen felt the biggest effects of the course reductions this year, Garner assures most students have still been able to take the courses of their choice. “Students are still taking what they wanted, but underclassman aren’t taking as many APs like they used to,” Garner said.

Photo by Vika Kotting

Robert Ayres is the graduation coach at Northwest and oversees online classes. Many students take online classes this year because of the multiple cut classes from last year.

a copy [of the notes] to everyone.” Some teachers have been making better use of their websites and their calendars so that students are able to print out copies at home or in the school media center. “I use my website,” English teacher Scott Walker said. “I know that there are some classes where students won’t [visit the website], so I do have to make hard copies of a lot of stuff, but for an honors class or an AP class, students can access it there and I don’t need to make copies of it.” Teacher opinions on the copy limits are varied. Some teachers don’t see the copy limits as negative. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing because it’s preparing you for college,” math teacher Rhonda Hudson said. “They’re not going to hand you everything.” Overall, the budget affects everyone. “I don’t feel like I’m getting [the best education] I could, considering there are [broken] doors on the bathrooms and there’s mold on the ceiling,” sophomore Mackenna Meyers said. “I feel like we could definitely do better.”

IN MEMORIUM: DEZMOND WOODS

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Nov. 17, 2000- Oct. 1, 2017

unday, Oct. 1, Southwest ju- the school. Woods played an integral nior Dezmond “Dez” Woods part in the team winning last year’s (16) died in a car accident while 4-A State Championship. The school north-bound on I-85 around exit 94 in plans to retire his jersey, number 2. Lexington. Woods was in the passenA funeral service was held Oct. 7, ger seat while his friend, a Southwest at 11 a.m. at Life Community Church alumni, Brandon Lamberth drove the in Jamestown for classmates, coaches car. Woods was declared dead at the and family to celebrate his life. Each of scene; Lamberth, a student at Guilford Woods’ baketball coaches from middle College, received serious injuries but is school to high school shared memories expected to make a full recovery. of the player, and time was dedicated According to the accident report, for people to greet the family. there were no drugs or alcohol involved Woods is survived by his mother, in the crash, and both passengers were Candi Woods Jenkins; his father, Antwearing their seat ony Summers; his belts. stepfather, AnWoods attended thony Jenkins; his Northwest as a freshfour sisters and man and played on several other relthe Varsity boys’ atives. basketball team in A GoFundMe the 2015-2016 school has also been year. started for the “He was very outfamily to asgoing,” Northwest sist in coverbasketball coach ing the funeral Lee Reavis said. “I costs: https:// saw him every day, www.gofundme. whether it was basc o m / d e z ketball, or [him com-woods-memoing] by to say hello in rial. the morning.” “His smile As a key player on was contagious, the Southwest High and he brought School boys’ basketPhoto taken from GoFundMe energy to everyball team, Woods’ SWGHS junior Dez Woods shoots the ball thing he was dopassing is mourned during a basketball game from last season. ing,” Northwest by the Cowboys. A Woods passed away in a car accident Oct. Varsity boys’ vigil was held for 1. He will be remembered for his smile as basketball player him the evening of well as his talent and love for basketball. and junior Logan Tuesday, Oct. 3 at Thompson said.

northwesthorizons.com

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EDITORIAL

Are you following America on Twitter? STAFF EDITORIAL

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ake a look at the current political situation: people at each others’ throats, hanging on to each and every word the other says and trying to twist them to their own advantage. Now combine this with 140 characters, and what have you got? That’s right, Twitter in 2017. It is an undeniable truth that Twitter, and social media in general, has pervaded almost every aspect of the up-to-date citizen’s life, and this is especially true of the teenage population. After waking up, check Twitter. Between classes, check Twitter. Before bed, check Twitter. But it is important to note that the average teen isn’t the only one who is active on Twitter. As technology has grown even stronger and more widespread, one can find that all likes of people have taken to using social media outlets, including most politicians and news sources. As most Americans will note, President Donald Trump is no stranger to tweeting. His activity varies anywhere from tweeting about current politics like DACA to retweeting memes about his former electoral opponents. While many groan about the comments the president makes on Twitter, his and many other politicians’ activity there can be seen as a positive force in the nature of politics. Typically, speeches are thoroughly planned and thought out by a team of people; political statements are made with some thought about the consequences. However, when Twitter is brought into the picture, this completely changes, providing more visibility than ever before. One of Trump’s first tweets as president is a great example of this. “I am honered [sic] to serve you, the great American people, as your 45th President of the United States,” Trump wrote Jan. 21, 2017, just a day after his inauguration. This tweet stayed up for 12 hours, and it can be assumed that, had anyone bothered to proofread the tweet before it was sent, this misspelling of “hon-

ored” would have been quickly eradicated. While some may see this as nitpicky, there still remain many instances of Trump’s unfiltered opinions making their way to Twitter. Trump has tweeted about how he “love[s] Hispanics” on Cinco de Mayo and has commented hundreds of times about “the haters and losers.” He has had his fair share of ill-advised tweets, all of which seemingly represent his immediate reactions to all kinds of situations. They can contradict one another, but he is most definitely not the only one guilty of this questionable use of Twitter, he is just the most well-known example. Additionally, movements like Black Lives Matter have used the platform for years as a means to rally support and spread news relating to the movement, like police shootings

or upcoming demonstrations. In this aspect, Twitter has acted as a news outlet for teens and helped them form their own opinions about the current political atmosphere. Additionally, teens from not only the United States use twitter, opening Americans up to different world perspectives. As for news outlets, platforms like Twitter are perfect for plugging their articles and broadcasts. Fox News’ twitter posts about recent news updates and links videos and stories from their own website. If anything, this can be seen as another positive, as this gets people more involved with news, having it pop up on something many people check often and, oftentimes, habitually. This interference of the Internet in politics can be shown by a

2011 Politics Online report. Topix that found that about 68 percent of voters used the Internet as a primary source of information about candidates and political issue, beginning to rival the 78 percent who used television. But is having politics make its way into social media all sunshine and rainbows? No, not entirely. Twitter users have to be wary when it comes to the news they read, especially depending on the source from which it comes. Anything written on Twitter could be false, but it’s up to users to fact-check what happens on the site. Sadly, many users take what they see for truth automatically. It is also important to note that many people have used Twitter to express their own, oftentimes ill-informed views on politics. Some Twitter users put in the time and effort to make sure they are aware of the facts before they make a statement, but this type of user tends to not be the majority. What comes from this is even more separation in views and an inability to open one’s mind and see things from another political perspective, which is an unhealthy practice in regards to national unity. But, as a newspaper, the staff of Northwest Horizons understands the importance of Twitter. We use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to bring attention to our publications and website; we want everyone to be well-informed and want to be as honest as possible, and Twitter has provided an easy way to reach out to the student body. The world has grown with the technology that continues to envelop all aspects of life, including politics. The United States, always progressing to new means of sharing and creating, has become the land of the free and the home of the tweets. Graphic by Stephanie Mayer

President Donald Trump types a message on one of his favorite social media platforms--Twitter. Trump, @realdonaldtrump on Twitter, has been known to frequently send out Tweets that many deem questionable and haphazard.

NORTHWEST HORIZONS STAFF Editors in Chief Aidan Bennett, Stephanie Mayer

Layout Editor Maddie Lawson

Adviser Melanie Huynh-Duc

News Editor Maddie Lawson

Graphics Editor Stephanie Mayer

Principal Ralph Kitley

Op/Ed Editor Emma Fagerberg

Public Relations Manager Emma Fagerberg

Follow us on social media:

Spread Editor Montana Murphy

Webmaster Aidan Bennett

Northwest Horizons

Sports Editor Logan James

Contributing Writer Anna Yang

@nwhorizons

Features Editor Angela Seo

Staff Writers Madison Ayres, Ethan Bailey, Alex Cake, Autumn Dixon, Reece Gentry, Megan Harkey, Menna Ibrahim, Vika Kotting, Maggie Leybourne, Savannah McCracken, Kendal Quinlan, Sarah Teague, Sydney Thompson, Nathan Vescio, Emma Welsh

@nw.horizons

Arts & Entertainment Editor Stephanie Mayer Managing Editor Montana Murphy

6 www.northwesthorizons.com

@nwhorizons

Statement of Policy Serving as a primary printed and online forum for student opinion, Northwest Horizons publishes four times each year published by the staff at Northwest Guilford High School. The paper is supported through community advisers. Staff editorials are unsigned. The stance of each editorial is voted upon in staff meetings, but requires the approval of the majority of the editorial board. All members of the school community are encouraged to express their views. Letters to the editor must be signed when submitted.

October 2017

HEAD 2 HEAD

Monumental Decisions Confederate monuments: Hate or history? Tear ‘em down Emma Welsh staff writer

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efferson Davis. Robert E. Lee. Robert Hoke. Highways. Schools. Courthouses. North Carolina is riddled with these confederate references, but do we understand their significance? Confederate sophomore monuments are seen all across our state, and only recently has it become a controversial issue. Almost 1,000 people gathered to protest for the removal of “Silent Sam,” a statue of a Confederate soldier on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill on Aug. 22. Clearly, there is a problem. But the question is, where do we go from here? “We might as well take them down to avoid further fighting,” junior Rylee Petty said. An issue as public as this won’t be resolved by hoping it goes away. Groups like the ones protesting in Chapel Hill won’t stop until they see a resolution. “It doesn’t represent what we are today,” sophomore Nick Dewberry said. “We need to acknowledge that.” Dewberry proposed a live televised debate to solve the matter. Others have argued that a debate isn’t enough to change someone’s mind. People tend to stick to their opinions in the face of confrontation. But what do these statues really represent? Between all the fighting on the issue, it seems that there are only two sides: left and right, black and white. “The statues represent two different things to two different groups of people down here,” social studies teacher Jim Thompson said. “They represent Southern pride to a lot of people…and they also represent fighting for slavery to lots of other people.” Many people in North Carolina have grown up with stories of distant relatives who fought for the Confederacy. But others have been told a different past. A past of burning crosses and stepping away from sidewalks to let others go by. A darker past. And that past still follows people. “A lot of these monuments were not put up right after the Civil War,” social studies teacher Kim Deyton said. “A lot of them were put up during Jim Crow era to intimidate minorities. When you look at the intent, that’s really important when you decide what you should do…They should not be standing there intimi-

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dating people today.” A negative connotation is often more powerful than a positive one, and with a history as gruesome as seen in the United States during the Civil War and Jim Crow times, it’s an insult to leave statues like these standing. But then what should we do with them? On Sept. 9, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper proposed to move three Confederate monuments from old Capital grounds to a civil war memorial site nearby. Perhaps rather taking Nick Dewberry than down statues and discarding them like trash, they can be relocated to proper memorials. “I’ve seen [the statues] peacefully removed from certain cities,” Deyton said. “New Orleans did a pretty good job of just taking [them] down and moving it…They can be removed, but maybe not in such a violent way.” A statue of Robert E. Lee, along with three other monuments deemed “a public nuisance” by New Orleans City Council, was removed on May 19. This project was met with much protest and disapproval by groups fighting to preserve the statues, but was followed through regardless. Since then, protests from both opposing sides have stopped. Is it possible for North Carolina to do the same and be just as successful? “We have a tendency to over-glamorize and not look at the disgusting part,” Thompson said. “You have to admit what they were fighting for was distasteful.” So, maybe it makes more sense to leave history in museums, where we are meant to learn from the past.

It doesn’t represent what we are today. We need to acknowledge that.

October 2017

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Let’s talk about it

In Charlottesville, Virginia, white nationalists protested using Nazi signs and hateful speech. This protest is what inspired retaliation protests, like the one in Reece Gentry Durham. staff writer “It was hard not to hear about it,” social studies teacher Dana Hilliard said. “My first reaction was not really surprise ver the past few months, the fate because it seemed like protesting now is of hundreds of Confederate mon- kind of like a snowball thing anyway.” uments If a Confedacross the country erate monument has been called is going to be into question. Some taken down, the have been relocated decision should to museums, others go through due have been removed process so that entirely and a seit can be decided lect few have been on by the peoliterally kicked to ple we elect in the ground by prothe best interest testors. of our city, state The aror country. They APUSH teacher Ray Parrish gument preshould decide vails over what happens to whether the statue over these statues and monuments a civil discussion that voices everyone’s symbolize hate and discrimina- ideas about the monument and what it tion or stand as a reminder of stands for. No matter the verdict, we’ll our country’s history which know that the decision was made the we should not re- same way our country has made countless peat. hard decisions. “[It’s im“If you want to tear it down, that’s portant] to great, but have a good discussion over it have a calm first,” Parrish said. discussion Another option would be to place anabout an other statue next to it, which shows opi s s u e , posing values, such as Martin Luther r a t h e r King Jr. or Harriet Tubman, so that both than just go- sides are equally represented. If equality ing to tear it or prejudice is the reasoning behind these down, because removals, then this way neither side is unwhatever hap- satisfied. pens, that’s “The better thing for a young person fine, but you to do would be to go to a rest home and can have a really look after elderly people, go to a comgood discussion,” munity where they need families, go to a social studies poverty center,” Parrish said. “If you really teacher Ray Par- want to help society, go to organizations, rish said. “[Amer- go to churches- that’s what Martin Luther ica] was founded on King was all about- go to places and do free speech, and free great things, rather than just tear down speech did not mean a statue.” yelling at each other. We must learn from our history inFree speech meant stead of trying to cover it up or erase it. ‘let’s sit and have a Some of the statues, such as Robert E. Lee, discussion and try commemorate much more goodness than to work this out.’” one may realize. These monu“Toward the end of the war, Robert E. ments were first Lee was actually all about ending slavery erected nearly a cen- so that the slaves could become soldiers tury after the “blood- to fight,” Parrish said. “Also, by extendiest war in American ing the war, that led to the Emancipation history” came to Proclamation.” an end. They were Before we take matters into our own up during the Civil hands, we should realize how much more Rights era and ev- constitutional it would be to have elected ery controversial officials to decide what happens to these moment after. One controversial monuments. in Durham, North “If you’re going to start tearing down Carolina of a Confed- statues of imperfect people, you’re going erate soldier with a to end up tearing them all down.” Parrish quote under him that said. read: “In memory of Photo by Reece Gentry the boys who wear A monument commemorating “Our Confedthe gray,” was ripped down from where erate Dead” soldiers stands in Greensboro. it stood and then Many statues like this one have been taken down in recent years. kicked repeatedly.

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If you’re going to start tearing down statues of imperfect people, you’re going to end up tearing them all down.

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OPINION

DACA sacrificed without a real solution Aidan Bennett co-editor in chief & webmaster

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n a reversal of an Obama-era policy, President Trump’s promise to end DACA has worried some and excited others. Trump’s ardent political stance on immigration, including talk of a United States border wall, was a defining stance of his presidential run. Though Trump is under the impression that DACA and his wall are somehow

linked, he seems to be missing the point. DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, was enacted in 2012 through an executive order by former President Obama. DACA provides amnesty to people who entered the United States before they were 16 and before June 2017, haven’t committed a crime and have completed or are currently enrolled in school. This came after yet another Congressional failure in the passage of the DREAM Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation intended to resolve immigration policy issues.

Some have problems with the method in which the bill was passed. Executive orders have always been a touchy subject, deemed by some to be unconstitutional. “I agree with the decision [to reverse DACA],” junior Thomas Altmann said. “Obama overstepped his executive power. Executive power can’t determine immigration status.” While this is a valid concern, some context is necessary--the DREAM Act hadn’t failed just once-- it has been repeatedly brought up and shut down

since 2001. When much-needed policy stagnates on such an extreme level, it becomes necessary for action to occur, even if the means it’s brought about isn’t ideal. Obviously some sort of immigration policy ought to be enforced, but backing out of DACA after its effects have been enjoyed by many for the past five years is entirely unfair, bordering on cruel. The program has allowed young people to work, go to school and live without fear in the United States; rescinding this now, to be frank, has the potential to ruin lives. “This will tear families apart,” junior Sarah Long said. “People will be pulled out of school and lose their educational chances.” Such a sweeping decision is extremely damaging, and Trump is barking up the wrong tree here. Sure, tighten restrictions on illegal immigration, lock down the borders, do all those things; the problem is, DACA is completely unrelated. This policy is specifically designed to assist those who are already in the country, specifically those who arrived as children. Hardliners on immigration have nothing to worry about; the policy is only there for a specific group of people, children who arrived before 2007. There is no need to discuss encouraging more illegal immigration, whether or not they’re utilizing the education we provide, or whether or not they’re draining social welfare programs; the policy has answers to all of this, and as a temporary plan, it’s been greatly effective. All ending DACA does is put those who previously benefited from it in a tight spot without solving any of our other immigration concerns. If Trump is truly concerned with immigration, then he needs to pursue some other avenue of doing so. “I think [Trump] needs to take a different approach,” Long said. The most obvious solution to this problem would be to pass the DREAM Act--DACA exists solely because this legislation has always been stubbornly refused in the House of Representatives. If the symptom of the problem is removed, the temporary fix will go along with it. Bipartisan policy is the key to solving the immigration issue in the United States. Graphic by Stephanie Mayer

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A young man stands in Mexico, the country from which his parents immigrated to the United States, but knows nothing of the people nor the culture. The loss of DACA makes the illustration a possible reality for many children of illegal immigrants.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

here’s a problem at Northwest Guilford High, and it comes from the lack of a “common sense” class. You see, the majority of people know what they’re doing; it’s the minority that doesn’t understand. That’s usually the way things are, but when it comes to common sense, it shouldn’t be that way. One of the foremost things this class would offer is to teach the etiquette that one should have in the hallways of this prestigious school. The halls are not a place that allow you to get from class to class. No. The halls are a place to socialize. There isn’t a need to walk fast in the halls, in fact, the school system even has rules against running. So, having a class that teaches people it’s absolutely

okay to slow down in the hallways is just the remedy this school needs. Another major issue that should be tackled is teaching students how to properly use doors. Far too often I have seen kids using the right-hand side door! That’s an egregious offense that should not stand. Much of the school’s culture comes from the intermixing of people, and there is no easier way to do that than to cross the streams of people leaving and entering buildings. There are set rules that should not be broken when it comes to doors. If you can’t wait for the line that forms behind the left door and are tempted to use the empty right door, then maybe, just maybe, this highly prestigious school isn’t for you. Perhaps, you and your lack of patience

8 www.northwesthorizons.com

are what is wrong with the school. Satirical tirade aside, schools need to offer classes that teachers want to teach. One of the main reasons why CNAs and other high-stress employees “crack” and turn towards violence is that they are no longer satisfied with this job. Although being a teacher isn’t the same, both professions have to care for individuals that either don’t understand or aren’t capable of understanding [their jobs]. The main point is that passion flows. Having courses that teachers are excited to teach a is the hallmark of a good education. There is a reason colleges only hire teachers who are passionate about their subjects and are passionate about why they teach: this leads to a higher quality education.

From a student’s point of view, one of the most inspiring and awe-filling experiences you can have is sparking a teacher’s passion. It’s the ability to ask a simple question and to have that spark into a discussion about their passions and what they truly wanted to teach. This happens in all courses, whether it be English, math or social studies. The simple matter is that passion is needed to inspire students and when you cut courses that teachers enjoy teaching, it tends to lower the quality of education. Perhaps the reasoning for having a class should be considered, and money shouldn’t hold more precedent than, say, the true value one finds in the course. -Binay Rijal, 11th Grade

October 2017

OPINION

Is wearing hats in school disrepectful? Ethan Bailey staff writer

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any students wear hats inside Northwest every day. Hats can cover up a bad hair day or allow the student to express a personal belief. Whatever the reason, wearing hats while in the school building has been controversial for many years. “Wearing hats in school can be disrespectful,” junior Nick Nefe said. “[But] they express freedom of speech and, in some cases, freedom of religion. I don’t think they cause huge distractions in class; therefore, students should be allowed to wear them in school.” Hats have been around for hundreds of years, and they share the same purpose as they did back then. During the early days of the hat, it became tradition to take one’s hat off as he entered a building. This act was seen as a sign of respect to the owner of the building or to the person he is arriving to see. Meanwhile, failure to remove one’s hat showed great disrespect and rudeness, and it wasn’t tolerated. Today, we only see that tradition in a few areas. Most men remove their hats when entering a church to show their respect to God, or they remove their hats when in prayer. Americans also take their hats off during the National Anthem in respect to the country and the people who have died protecting it. In school, removing the hat is a sign of respect to the teacher and their classroom, although some teachers permit hat-wearing in class as long as it isn’t a distraction to the lesson. “It doesn’t bother me if a student is

Photo by Ethan Bailey

Junior Duncan McGuire wears a hat in the library to show off his personal style. Over the past few years, Northwest’s school policy on hats has changed to simply the preference of each teacher.

wearing a hat,” AP human geography teacher Dana Hilliard said. “I don’t see it as disrespectful as long as the student is still engaged with the class and not hiding earbuds underneath.” If a teacher asks that you remove your hat while in their class, it is obviously disrespectful and insubordinate to leave it on. While wearing a hat can

be an expression of the First Amendment, a class is not an appropriate time to express that belief or religion through wearing it. Hats help define, express and dress people. When worn inside the school, it can only be viewed as disrespectful if the person with authority deems it as so. Hats can create distractions to

others while in the classroom, but the wearer of the hat can help reduce it by keeping it still and leaving it alone. “I think we should be allowed to wear hats in the school because I don’t really see anything against it,” sophomore Dylan Streeter said. “You’re just wearing a hat. They aren’t distracting if you’re just wearing it on your head.”

Bagel shop bakes up new business Madison Ayres staff writer

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n what used to be the Taco Bell of the Cardinal Cross Shopping Center, My Bagels and More is a new bagel shop that is family-oriented and passionate about providing the best for their customers. Their extensive menu includes everything from bagels to hot dogs, and they specialize in bagels with many different spreads to put on them. The atmosphere in My Bagels and More is easy-going and friendly. The staff greets you with a smile and is happy to take your order. The experience that I had when I went to the bagel shop truly represented “service with a smile.” My Bagels and More is family-owned, which contributes to the authenticity of the business. The first item that I tried from the menu was a bacon, egg and cheese bagelwich. I ordered it on an asiago bagel which went well with the bacon. The bacon was crispy and the cheese oozed over the fried egg. I would order a breakfast bagelwich again because it was very filling and a good source of protein. On a sweeter note, the second bagel that I ordered was a chocolate chip

October 2017

bagel with one of the specialty cream cheeses, cookies and cream. The bagel tasted more like a dessert because of how sweet the cream cheese was, but I really liked the flavor of the spread. Another sweet specialty cream cheese that I have tried from My Bagels and More was the chocolate chip cream cheese. The chocolate chip variety is my favorite because the sweetness is not overpowering and it has a good texture. An often-overlooked aspect of My Bagels and More is the Bada Bing Café. Coffee and desserts are served in the café, which is a good study spot for students. There is free Wi-Fi and USB plugs at every table so customers can charge their phones. It is significantly quieter in the back corner of the shop compared to where you first enter it, so students would see the appeal in making My Bagels and More their new study area. The Bada Bing Café has a fair selection of drinks to choose from. I tried a mocha frappe and I was very pleased in the quality of the drink. The barista had experience and knew what he was doing, so my drink turned out quite well. “I really like My Bagels and More,” senior Emma Taney said. “The food is really good, and it’s a fun place to hang out with friends.”

Photos by Madison Ayres

My Bagels and More is a new restaurant and café that specializes in breakfast foods galore. The popular hangout opened up earlier this year in the area where Taco Bell used to sit in the Cardinal Cross Shoppping Center.

www.northwesthorizons.com

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SPREAD

SPREAD

“I know what you did last summer” Senior Elise Pigue

Senior Razvan Lazar

Senior Elise Pigue went to the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southern Montana to run a kids camp, helping combat the prevalence of alcoholism and poverty within reservations. She then went on a cross-country road trip with the company Teens’ Camping Tour of the West, along with 41 strangers. On the trip, Pigue went to 23 states in 21 days, camping and hiking in different national parks, including the Grand Canyon and the Grand Teton.

Senior Razvan Lazar went to Italy in July, going to Rome and Florence. He and his family then drove from Italy to Romania, stopping in Slavonia, Hungary and Croatia along the way. Lazar visited his grandparents in Romania for the first time in five years.

Junior Landon Clary

Information compiled by Anna Yang, Montana Murphy and Stephanie Mayer Photos contributed by featured students

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Senior Capri D’Souza

Junior Landon Clary went with his dad, various Northwest football players and former Northwest football coach Jared Rolfes to Guatemala with the non-profit group Caroline’s Promise. The group ran sports camps for the youth in Guatemala, playing basketball with them and teaching them American football. When not running camps, the group helped pack food for those in need and added a third floor to the school at which they were volunteering. October 2017

Senior Capri D’Souza attended the Governor’s School of North Carolina this summer for five and a half weeks. While there, she studied Spanish, going to classes daily. D’Souza stayed on the West Campus, residing at Salem College, where she was able to explore Winston-Salem and bond with other Governor’s School attendees. Following Governor’s School, D’Souza went with her family to Europe and Africa, visiting Amsterdam, Berlin, Florence and Ghana. While there, she spent time volunteering and sightseeing. October 2017

www.northwesthorizons.com 11

HoCo 2017 SPORTS

Logan James sports editor

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omecoming. Traditionally, it has been a football game where alumni and members of a school come together and reunite to cheer their school’s team towards victory. This year for Northwest, however, Homecoming had a slightly different meaning. Former football head coach Jared Rolfes, now the coach at Page High School, had to “come home.” Over the summer, Rolfes left his position as coach of Northwest to become the coach of Page after their coach left for Asheboro. Coincidentally, the Pirates were the Vikings’ adversary on Friday, Oct. 13: Northwest’s homecoming. Playing against their old coach brought a lot of emotions for football players who had been coached by Rolfes in the past. “It was definitely weird seeing

October 2017

him in Page’s outfit,” senior football player Adam Marshall said. “We always want to win, but it really amped those feelings [up] a lot more.” Additionally, the Vikings’ new

The best part [of “Homecoming] was

being a part in the two things I care about the most: football and Sydney. senior Chris Jenkins

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head coach Kevin Wallace, who was formerly Glenn High School’s offensive coordinator, saw the emotion that Northwest had in seeing Rolfes on the other side of the field. “The [players] wanted to play,”

Wallace said. “They wanted this game. We had talked about being composed and poised all week.” The Vikings played their best; however, they couldn’t pull out the win against Page’s formidable offense. The final score was 14-57. This game was one which Northwest knew would be a mental hurdle. At half-time, when the score 7-30, the Homecoming spirit was still alive as the court that had been elected by the student body of Northwest took the field. Each class at Northwest delegated girls of their grade level to go up at half-time and be announced, with a total of 12, and senior Sydney Branham was crowned Homecoming Queen. “[Homecoming] was a great experience,” senior football player and Branham’s escort Chris Jenkins said. “The best part was being a part in the two things I care about the most: football and Sydney.”

Photos by Emma Fagerberg & Maggie Leybourne Students cheer on the Vikings during the game versus Page. Senior Sydney Branham was crowned homecoming queen, and the final score was 14-57.

northwesthorizons.com 12

SPORTS

The Balancing Game: How athletes manage sports and school

Madison Ayres & Megan Harkey staff writers

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orthwest is known for academics as well as sports. Students who play multiple sports on top of school have a lot on their plates. Playing a sport that improves one’s mental and physical self, but academics will carry athletes further in life. Balancing the two isn’t always easy, but with time management, planning a schedule and staying positive, athletes can make room for everything. “I’m a little of a procrastinator, but I’m pretty good; when I get home after [basketball] practice, I get straight to my books,” senior Bria Gibbs said, a starter on the girls’ Varsity basketball team. Gibbs is one of the many student athletes who tries to make time for everything in her schedule. With a busy schedule, one cannot waste the precious resource that everyone takes for granted: time. Seniors Bizzy Baumeir and Thomas Smith also must take on balancing with their multiple sports. “I wanted to try new sports,” Baumeier, who plays on the Varsity softball team and field hockey team, said. “[I also wanted] to be active and not be bored anymore.” Smith, who plays on the Varsity boys’ baseball and basketball team, has a similar background. “My dad influenced me,” Smith said. “When I was younger, he put me in bas-

ketball and baseball, and they just stuck with me.” Student athletes must be on the lookout for schedule gaps for relaxation, studying and practice. “I take advantage of the little moments-- like car rides home, or resting for a second when I get home-- before I start my school work,” Gibbs said. Even in those few seconds, athletes can take a few breaths and think about what they need to do. “Like everything in life student athletes have to have a balance,” physical education teacher and coach Michael Everett said. “Nowadays, kids never have time off with school and sports to rest their body and mind,” Both coaches and teachers have high expectations for their student athletes. Many would agree with Everett because there is so little time to rest, so students tend to stay up late at night to get that Netflix or Instagram time. “After a game I get home at nine, so I’m up until 11 or 12 with homework,” sophomore David Cake, who is on the Varsity soccer team, said. One downside to being so busy is that students must make sacrifices, like skipping that party to get a project done or to get to practice on time. “Making sacrifices shows discipline; the workplace will hire athletes because they know they have discipline and will compete for the job,” Everett said. Although students may hate missing out at the time, being disciplined en-

Sports Profiles

sures success for the future. “At the end of the day, I know where I want to be in life, and to be there, I have to make sacrifices,” Gibbs said. Gibbs and other high school players often have the dream of playing a sport in college, for either the school team or intramurals. To get into a good college, however, the athlete needs the grades, too. “I will probably play intramural at NC State or Chapel Hill,” Smith said. While many students will pursue college athletics, the likelihood of playing in the pros is about one percent. “Don’t put your sport above your classes, because an education is what will help you more in the long run,” junior Kwadjo Osafo, who plays on the rugby team, said. With an unexpected injury, or not making a person’s dream team, the chance of playing in the pros will disappear, but one’s education will not. “The ball will stop bouncing for everybody someday,” Everett said. The number one thing a student athlete must do is stay positive. Athletes should remember that they are playing a sport to have fun, school should be the work. “Most athletes have developed a love for what they’re doing at a young age, when you get into high school sometimes it becomes a grind, and you have to love the grind as much as you love the sport,” Everett said. Gibbs agrees.

“If you don’t really want to play that sport, don’t waste your time and energy on it; put it towards something you love,” Gibbs said.

Photo by Megan Harkey

Senior Varsity Basketball player Bria Gibbs balances her books and basketball in her second home: the court. Gibbs has good time management skills as a student athlete and hopes to play in college.

Madison Ayres, Emma Fagerberg, Maddie Lawson staff writer, op/ed editor, news editor

Student: Brennan Berry Grade: sophomore Sport: volleyball Position: right side and middle Hype Song: “Humble” (Kendrick Lamar)

Student: Brooke Bobetich Grade: junior Sport: field hockey Position: midfield Hype Song: anything High School Musical

Name: Sydney Gregory Grade: freshman Sport: field hockey Position: goalie Hype Song: “Centuries” (Fall Out Boy)

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Student: Alex Cotton Grade: junior Sport: cross country Position: runner Hype Song: “Met Gala” (Gucci Mane)

Name: Emma Taney Grade: senior Sport: tennis Position: player Hype Song: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song

October 2017

SPORTS

Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls: Alex Cake staff writer

What athletes do when they need to pee

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magine the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you. Now double it. Professional football player, Jordan Gross couldn’t hold it in any longer. Gross, a member of the Carolina Panthers, was embarrassed walking to the locker room to pee. For junior cross-country runner, Nick Gray, peeing during a sport has never been an issue. “[I] have never peed myself,” Gray said. “However, I’m not going to say a tinkle hasn’t accidentally happened.” For the Northwest boys’ soccer team, after-dinner pees are never a problem. The famously named “Pee Tree” provides a convenient place for the team to urinate right before the game. It has become a tradition as the tree has a hole near the roots that captures the waterfalls. “[The tree represents] an iconic monument of all the past teams and players,” senior Preston Cost said. For the team, the tree represents a bond that they all share together. “It’s not that gross,” Cost said, “considering it rains and never smells.” Hydration is vital for an athlete to

Photo by Alex Cake

Senior Preston Cost poses in front of a tree on the soccer field. Cost, as well as many other soccer players, heads to this tree before every home game.

perform at top physical conditions. However, more water passes through an athlete’s digestive system when he or she is hydrated and the effect is a need to pee more frequently.

“[It is good] to hydrate because obviously if you’re dehydrated, you could pass out,” junior Chandler Whitson said. “If you drink too much water, it’s not going to be good for you, but if you’re a

little overhydrated, you’re not going to throw up.” Senior football player Chris Jenkins says that he has never had an issue with hydration, drinking an average of three water bottles every day. However, the amount of pads football players have to wear makes going to the bathroom a more time-consuming process. “The pants and the belt [make peeing difficult],” Jenkins said. Diets also have a big impact on bathroom needs. Depending on the meal, the athlete may have an easy trip. “It depends on the dinner,” Cost said. “For football, we have barbeque chicken, green beans, Caesar salad and cookies. For soccer, it’s usually something simple. It really depends on the sport.” Usually, athletes are big on high protein diets to build mass and muscle. Protein shakes and meats are the biggest sources of protein for athletes. “They’re good only if you’re working out,” Whitson said. “Protein is not going to do anything if you’re not doing anything.” If faced in the same situation as Jordan Gross, Cost seemed to have a plan whenever the need comes. “If it was dire need, I would just call my own sub and take care of my business elsewhere,” Cost said.

Northwest cross country teams run into success Montana Murphy spread editor & managing editor earts are pounding. Feet are jittery. “Runners, take your mark.” The gunshot rings. Watches are ticking. Feet hit the ground running. The race has begun. The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams of Northwest are no strangers to the scene of a cross country meet. And they are no strangers to the feeling of winning them. “I think [we’re successful] because Northwest cross country has always had a tradition of winning and because Northwest cross country has a good group of kids that do try to work hard and that do want to have some success,” head coach Paul Egleston said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the fastest, but from the first runner to the last runner, they always wanna work hard.” The Northwest cross country team is successful indeed. With the girls’ team having 16 consecutive conference championships under their belt, and the boys’ team following close behind with a consecutive 12 championships until last year’s loss to Southwest, the Northwest cross country teams know what it’s like to win. So does senior runner Rebecca Kefer. “I got third at the Guilford County Championships when I was a sophomore; I’ve placed a couple of times there,” Kefer said. “I won conference sophomore year, so I was the runner of the year, and I got third at conference last year. I’ve been all-conference every year.” Kefer attributes the teams’ successes to the number of runners the teams have. “[Our team is so successful] because we have so many people,” Kefer said.

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October 2017

Photos by Montana Murphy

(Left) Boys and girls from the Northwest cross country team run their usual warm-up. The Northwest cross country team has more than 100 runners, which contributes to their success. (Top-right) The boys’ cross country team does their chant at the end-of-practice. It is a tradition that the boys shout “hoo-raa.” (Bottom-right) The girls’ cross country team also does their end-of-practice chant. It is tradition for the girls to shout “Heart, soul, mind, Northwest.”

The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams combine to have more than 100 athletes. Not only have these athletes won conference championships, but they have won regional championships and have championed several invitational meets. Egleston thinks winning conference might present more of a challenge this year than ever before. “The first goal is be conference champs, which we’re gonna have a hard time doing because Grimsley’s got a good team,” Egleston said. “We got a new conference, and it’s a tougher conference. I don’t think it was easy last year, but now having Page, Grimsley,

High Point Central, Ragsdale and ourselves, some schools in that mix are pretty tough.” Egleston, who has coached the girls’ team for 21 years and the boys’ team for 18 years, plans on combating the challenge through effort. “I think the action that I have this year is that I want the runners to have more of an idea of what it takes to get better,” Egleston said. “My key word is ‘effort’ this year because I think that’s something important that we’ve missed in the past.” Egleston also tries to keep runners invested through change. “I try to keep it fun and make it different,” Egleston said. “I try to change

it up. I think changing it up gives it a little more flavor.” The variety and fun keeps runners like Kefer coming back each year. “[I love] pretty much everything about it,” Kefer said. “I love running, and having a team to run with is pretty great. It’s a good organization to be a part of since we’re such a good team.” For Egleston, it’s about giving runners something that will carry into their futures. “I’ve enjoyed coaching cross country,” Egleston said. “It’s one of the pleasures that I get out of coaching and teaching. I love having people that have run for me in the past have successes in running now.”

northwesthorizons.com 14

FEATURES

Faculty couples stride in unison at Northwest Anna Yang contributing writer

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lthough faculty couples can be rare and hard to find, and some school districts have set limitations to couples teaching together, Northwest High School hosts two married couples. Rice Strange is the honors and AP Physics teacher at Northwest, while his wife, Natalie Strange, is the media specialist. Michael Everett and Nancy Everett are both Physical Education teachers at Northwest. The Stranges first met when they both taught at Northwest during the school year of 2000-2001. “I taught at High Point Central the years before I started at Northwest,” Natalie said. “But Northwest was my first library.” Because the Stranges first worked together before getting married, they say that there are few things that surprise them as they work together now. “Because we met in this environment, I don’t think there were any surprises [because] we knew each others’ personalities as teachers,” Natalie said. “Since we met here, it comes very naturally.” The Stranges say that there really aren’t any negative results of working together. “We seem comfortable with both of us being in the same building at the same time,” Rice said. In fact, they very rarely get to interact during the school day. “She stays very busy in the Media Center, and I stay pretty busy in the Physics Department,” Rice said. “The day stays full for both of us [and] we regret that we never really get to visit each other.” However, the Stranges agree that there are some benefits to working in the same school. “The good parts are definitely that you have similar experiences during the day,” Natalie said. “When I worked at the elementary school, it was difficult for [Rice] to keep up with all the people I was interacting with.” However, the Stranges’ different schedules keep them from driving to school together. “On the way to school, one of us is dropping off our son, and on the way home, one us is picking up our son and the other one is on the way home to relieve the dog,” Rice said.

But Natalie says that when they first worked together at Northwest, they were able to see each other more often during the course of the day. “It used to be that we would have lunches together,” Natalie said. “Back in those days, I had more flexibility for lunch so we could meet up. But the school culture is different [now], and we don’t have time for that now the way the school day is structured.” For Michael and Nancy Everett, this is also not their first time working together at one school. “This is our second time; we worked together when we lived in Laurinburg, North Carolina at Scotland High School for six years,” Michael said. The Everetts first met in high school at Western Guilford. When the couple first moved back to Greensboro from their previous home in Laurinburg, Nancy worked at Guilford Middle School while Michael worked at Southeast. Because the couple now work in the same department, they say that working in the same school has many benefits. “We ride to school together most of the time, [but] sometimes with our coaching responsibilities we may drive separate,” Nancy said. But the benefits also extend to their classes. “From a teaching standpoint, if something happens and we need to take care of something, then we can cover each other’s classes if need be,” Michael said. However, Michael also points out that this does not exclusively apply to them, just because they are a faculty couple. “At our school, if an emergency happens at home, every department is good about covering for their fellow teachers,” Michael said. The Everetts also said that they see each other quite often during the day. “[We see each other] pretty much the whole day because except for planning; he has first period planning and I have second,” Nancy said. “We team teach together third through sixth.” Overall, the Everett’s say that working as a couple in the same school is not anything special. “It’s not a big deal for us, but we enjoy it,” Michael said. Nancy agrees. “We’re best friends and we rely on each other for everything,” Nancy said. “It’s just teamwork, working together and creating our strengths and weaknesses.”

Photo contributed by Rice and Natalie Strange

Rice and Natalie Strange pose for a picture from an inflatable raft. The Stranges took a vacation at Desolation Canyon on the Green River in Utah in 2002.

Photos contributed by Rice and Natalie Strange

(Left) Rice and Natalie Strange sit behind a campfire in Montana. The Stranges took a camping trip in 2002. (Right) The Stranges smile underneath a canopy of trees in Yellowstone National Park. They took a road trip to Yellowstone during the summer of 2017.

Photo contributed by Michael Everett

October 2017

Nancy and Michael Everett smile for a selfie at the Salem Red Sox Stadium in Virginia while watching their children play baseball. The Everetts, who both teach PE and health at Northwest, have been married for 27 years. They have worked together at Northwest for the past two years, and prior to that, at Scotland County High school for six years.

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FEATURES

Places to eat and explore Park it on Market: on West Market Street Kendal Quinlan staff writer

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re you and your friends always looking for something new and different? West Market Street is full of neat restaurants and various things to do. If you love Thai food, then Rearn Thai is the place for you. It is a locally owned restaurant serving authentic Thai cuisine since 1992. One taste of their shrimp dumpling or Thom Kha soup, and it's impossible not to get hooked. Featuring competitively priced lunch specials, scrumptious coconut ice cream, weekend-only Papaya salad and a welcoming, airy cafe atmosphere, there are many reasons to keep coming back. “It’s so amazing, and I absolutely love the secluded and cute vibe it offers,” senior Juliana Ganim said. Another option on Market is Vietnamese food. Binh Minh is owned by Chi Le and Nhon Pham—husband and wife. They moved to the United States because of their desire for a better life. Binh Minh Restaurant has good service as well as an appetizing menu. The menu offers something delicious for everyone, from meat-lovers to vegetarians. “There are so many different options on the menu,” junior Jacob John-

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Photos by Kendal Quinlan

1. Rearn Thai serves authentic Thai cusine. It can be found on 5120 W. Market St. 2. Many students say that Triad Yoga is the perfect place to relax and unwind because it offers many specialty yoga classes. It is located at 5940 W. Market St. 3. Binh Minh offers Vietnamese food. It is located at 5211 W. Market St. 4. Mythos Grill is a locally owned Greek restaurant. It is located at 3900 W. Market St.

son said. “I always try to get something new whenever I go.” Also, Greek food is another great choice. Mythos Grill is a locally owned and operated restaurant. Mythos Grill is proud to import its own extra virgin olive oil, wine, cheeses, olives, herbs and spices directly from Greece. They are known for their fresh and

healthy dishes, such as their famous Chicken Souvlaki. In the 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards, Mythos Grill won first place for the best Greek restaurant in Greensboro. “This is one of my go-to places for lunch or dinner,” senior Tener Starling said. “The staff is always so personable and friendly. They always

remember me and sometimes even my order.” “The food is amazing, and I am never disappointed,” Ganim added. After dining at so many incredible restaurants, you might want to find a place to exercise it off: Triad Yoga. Triad Yoga was established in 1999 by co-owners Terry Brown and Jerry Cunningham. They have come a long way since their first studio opened on South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro. In 2011, they moved their studio space to their present location on West Market Street. Triad Yoga’s upholds a philosophy of compassion. They offer a variety of classes for every student of yoga, from beginner to advanced. They also offer many specialty yoga classes: gentle, stretch, flow and therapeutics and exercise. “Every time I step in to yoga class, I feel relaxed,” freshman Grace Hammond said. “Triad Yoga helps calm and strengthen my body. My favorite yoga classes they offer are stretch and exercise.” West Market offers so many different new places and things to try. Next time you and your friends want to step out of the box, drive down to Market Street. “There is a lot of diversity brought to West Market Street by unique restaurants, stores and activities,” Ganim said.

October 2017

FEATURES

McMath the Matchmaker: band director watches his students find love Menna Ibrahim staff writer

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hen thinking of the one to marry, most people look for others with common interests and similar aspirations. Most tend to find a husband or a wife through the people they meet in college, but for a select few, their significant other is waiting for them just around the corner in Northwest’s halls. Oddly, it seems as though these chances of meeting each other in high school increase exponentially when looking at Northwest’s marching band. Giving credit where credit is due, students turn to one man when storming up a wedding guest list: Brian McMath. McMath has been the band director at Northwest for 14 years, and despite his strict rules about professionalism such as no PDA when students are “wearing [Northwest’s] colors” and same-sex seating on the buses, he has seen many of his students brought together over the years. “The reason they stay close is because they have those common experiences. Experiences of sweating, rehearsing for sometimes eight hours every week and reaching for a common goal,” McMath said. “Finding somebody that loves something just as much as you do is what I think we all look for. That common bond definitely keeps them together.” Watching his students stay together even after leaving the program is something McMath takes pride in and loves seeing, especially when he envisions the couple getting married. “It’s nice to know that they travel together, have these experiences, go to college, end up continuing their relationships then get married. It’s really cool,” McMath said. “I’ve per-

Photo contributed by Beth Rickerts

Shauna Smith (right) kisses Seth Rickerts (left) on the cheek in one of their many engagement photos. The couple married on Oct. 13, 2017.

formed one wedding and been to four or five where I knew both the bride and groom were former students of mine so there were several weddings I kind of expected.” McMath named former students Jessica and Tyler as one of the first of which he could remember marrying. “They dated all four years, and I kept thinking, ‘I hope they make it through college.’ They went to separate colleges, stayed together, and ended up getting married. I went to the wedding!” McMath said. However, the biggest turnaround is often the band couples who never dated in high school like former Northwest students Shauna Smith and Seth Rickerts. “Seth and I were acquaintances in high school, where we both partici-

pated in marching band. However, we would never have considered one another close friends,” Smith said on the couple’s wedding blog. Smith (26) and Rickerts (25) graduated in 2009 and 2010 respectively, from Northwest and later went on to go to college together at Appalachian State where Smith transferred during her junior year. “We never even really spoke in high school. We might’ve talked about video games or other nerdy [things] once or twice, but she was always this cool, beautiful girl way out of my league,” Rickerts said. “Typically you stay away from high school friends in college, but we weren’t exactly friends in high school, so it was easier to hang out and stay in touch.” According to the couple and Mc-

Math, the two stayed in touch through mutual friends before hanging out together on their own. “We both had classes we liked and would go to watch [my younger sister] Faith’s band performances and stuff, but we were both dating other people in high school that we thought ‘I’m going to marry this person,’ so I think our most common thread is making fun of ourselves for how bad those relationships would have been. High school was crazy,” Rickerts said. The couple’s wedding took place Oct. 13, 2017. “I got the invitation, but unfortunately, it [was] homecoming night so I [couldn’t] make it,” McMath said. Wishing all the couples that come out of his classes all the luck and happiness, McMath said that the most important thing to come out of band is the friendships formed, not just the relationships that remain. “The fun part is that it’s the friend thing. There’s a former student of mine that’s getting married this weekend and all his groomsmen are all of his friends in band. They’ve all stayed together for five or six years and still best friends even though they’ve all went their separate ways. They’ve made lifelong friendships,” McMath said. “I’ll get a text or a message from groups of kids once in a while that get together and they say, ‘Hey, we were just talking about what we did in ‘99 at a competition,’ and it’s like they’re still remembering, and I’m glad I can offer those fond memories for my kids.” Though, according to McMath, the band has many rough times due to how rigorous their schedule can get, he believes that the good times outweigh the bad. Regardless of relationship status, he is happy to know that band is like a “small family” of lifelong circles of friends.

A positive view on “common names”

Autumn Dixon staff writer

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housands upon thousands of people share the same first name; in classrooms, on sports teams and in workplaces. Sharing names can affect people in different ways, both positively and negatively. How does it affect students at Northwest in everyday life? Sophomore Hannah McFarland and junior Lauren Howard have dealt with having a “common name” for as long as they have been alive. This year, Howard deals with it in two class periods, and McFarland deals with it in one class; however, neither find it to be a serious issue. Howard thinks it is interesting to gain connections based off her name alone. They both agree their names fit who they are. “I don't think I would change my name at this point in my life; I am so used to it, but if I could go back in time I’d choose something more unique,” Howard said. Students’ common names have led to multiple nicknames that some students go by. McFarland says she gets the nicknames “Hannah Banana” and “Hannah Montana” a lot.

October 2017

“A nickname that I've received that I don't completely hate is Lex, which is what my coworkers call me,” junior Alexis Noland said. Like coworkers, teachers have their own ways of addressing people with the same name. Most commonly, teachers address students by their first names and specify to whom they are addressing if needed. Social studies teacher Phillip Coley takes a unique approach by addressing students by the initial of their first name and combining it with their last name. Other teachers, like art teacher Beth Herrick, addresses the students by their first name and initial of their last name. Herrick has four Hannahs in her fifth period AP art studio class. Name repeats are a common occurrence at Northwest; however, four name repeats in a single class period is a first for Herrick. When mistakes are made, it leads to a good laugh for all the girls. In addition to her AP studio art class, Herrick has four class periods where students’ names repeat and a class where many students have similar names. “If I have [a class period] with a Madleyn and Madison, I try to call them by [their full first names]; I think the

Photo by Autumn Dixon

Many students with common names forget to write his or her full names on assignments, leaving teachers in confusion. Teachers have come up with different ways to address students with similar names to get rid of the confusion.

students appreciate it,” Herrick said. In addition to her art classes, Herrick is the yearbook adviser. As a yearbook adviser, she gets the overlook of all students’ names. She deals with student’s legal names and what they wish to be called. “Sometimes in yearbook [legal names] get a little sticky, but I choose to go by what the student wishes to be called,” Herrick said. Students may approach her if they

wish to be called something other than their legal names in the yearbook. Names like Hannah, Jacob, William, Emma and Madison have been the top names in North Carolina especially during 1999-2004. These names statistics transfer over to Northwest. Some common name repeats at Northwest are Hannah, Max, Lauren, Alexis and Will. “I don’t think it’s a negative thing,” McFarland said. “You can view it as a positive thing, and I choose to.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Chorus teacher returns after four-year retirement Sarah Teague staff writer

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fter four years of retirement, chorus teacher Beverly Alt has returned to the cultural arts department to replace Trés Ward who left to teach a college chorus program in Georgia. Alt is known as a “legend” among Viking Voices directors, earning many awards and advancing all her students in the chorus program. During her four years away, she taught pre-k to eighth grade chorus at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, until she moved on to Northern Guilford, where she taught for one year. “We’re learning the ‘Star-Spangled Banner,’ ‘Oh Come My Love,’ stuff like that,” sophomore Keala Shaffer said. “She teaches different; she’s teaching different rhythms, music and sections.” Their fall concert was Oct. 16 in the auditorium. They have many additional events planned around that time, including the Summerfield Tree Lighting, Christmas Caroling in the Brighton Gardens and a pancake breakfast to raise money for the program. This year, Alt is part-time teaching classes zero period through third pe-

Walter changes tune: Maggie Leybourne staff writer

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isten to the beautiful sounds of the bow gliding along the perfectly tuned violin. Now listen to the harsh pressure exerted on an upright bass, older than your grandmother’s mother. That is the difference in skill between high school orchestra and middle school orchestra. The Northwest High School’s orchestras didn’t get there overnight, though; it came with practice and dedication. Donald Walter has been able to see these students transform over the years and watch them become the young men and women that they are today. Walter, Northwest Middle and Northwest High School’s orchestra teacher, travels back and forth between sixth graders and 12th graders. He watches the faces of young sixth graders grow old, and he sees them start applying to colleges, asking for letters of recommendation. He says it breaks his heart watching the kids leave Northwest, but he loves that he is able to watch them grow into adults. “You’ve got little sixth graders, who are cute and lovely and tiny, and you have to be super nice,” Walter said. “[Then] you have seniors, who are grizzled veterans, about to join the world.” Walter is able to maintain a professional student-teacher relationship, while still being in touch with his students’ feelings. Walter says he is extremely proud of all of his students at every level, and it shows through his relationships with the students. “My favorite part about Mr. Wal-

ter’s class were the dad puns [he] made throughout the year,” 2017 graduate Meet Patel said, “He really did treat us all like his own kids.” When Walter first started teaching at the high school, many of the students were worried about how his teaching style would be different from former teacher Rachael Watson’s. It turns out, Walter has been exceeding expectations with his students. “He gives us harder music, and I genuinely enjoy playing it,” senior Sade Ford said. Walter also understands that musicians aren’t going to always get it the first time. Patience is key when teaching a middle school orchestra. Even though Walter was Teacher of the Year for Arts for Guilford County Schools in 2015 and Teacher of the Year for the western half of North Carolina for orchestra, he maintains humility when helping sixth graders figure out how to play a simple scale. He knows that it’s important to build a strong foundation for students before continuing to the next level. “At the middle school, you’re teaching technique and you’re establishing the foundation, but at the high school, you’re getting to put all that stuff to practice,” Walter said. A small part of Walter’s day includes walking from the middle school to the high school, which is one of his favorite parts about his job. It could be a crazy day at the middle school and one of the calmest days for Northwest High, and only Walter would know. “The best part is being able to go back and forth and see what’s going on in both buildings,” Walter said. He says he loves to clear his mind and get the fresh air outside of North-

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riod, unlike last year when the class schedule was full. This comes as a result of pulled funding, making Alt rely solely on fundraising this year through The NWGHS Choral Boosters. And although she doesn’t have as many classes, she still plans on keeping all the concerts Ward did, and she is planning many more fundraisers than in previous years. “My goal is always to do the best job I can do for the students at Northwest,”

“My goal is always to

do the best job I can do for the students at Northwest.

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chorus teacher Beverly Alt Alt said. “I hope they enjoy the music as much as I do; I enjoy teaching here.” Many of her classes have ranked higly at competitive shows and have been featured in venues such as New York, Orlando and in Canada. In 2011, Alt won the title of NC State Choral Music Educator of the Year. For 12

years, Alt taught the AP Music Theory Class, which was continued by Ward but ended as funding and the schedule were cut. From 1998 to 2014, Mrs. Alt directed both All-County Chorus and Allstate Chorus Festivals. Alt has graduated from Brevard College and the UNCG and is nationally board certified in Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adult. Alt has also worked thoroughly with church music as well; she has been soloist or accompanist at her local churches most of her life and currently directs the Children’s Chorus at West Market Street Methodist Church. At this church, Alt is currently a member of the Chancel Chorus, Market BellRingers. She sits as chairwoman of the Music and Art Committee and is a staff member of the Summer Music Camp. “I loved Northwest; I loved teaching here,” Alt said. “[I’m most proud of] probably all the students who became teachers. I have students teaching all over. And they don’t just teach chorus; they teach everything.” Photo by Sarah Teague

Chorus teacher Beverly Alt instructs her students while they sing. Alt had worked at Northwest as a chorus teacher for many years before retiring four years ago.

Orchestra teacher works at both middle school and high school

Photo by Maggie Leybourne Orchestra teacher Donald Walter teaches one of his high school classes, which is a change in pace from teaching at the middle school. Walter’s teaching style has helped him maintain positive relationships with students of all ages.

west before stepping into a whole other level of orchestra. The middle school and the high school aren’t all that different from each other when it comes to the level of interest. Walter was surprised by the increase in the number of students who joined the different orchestras, he was astounded when children from the middle school kept joining orchestra even after classes started.

“The kids keep signing up,” Walter said, and the same thing happened at the high school. “We went from 72 kids last year, to 96 kids this year,” Walter said. No matter how many students join the different orchestras, Walter will always greet them with a kind smile and an attitude that’s ready to teach. “It’s kinda nice to see them go through all the changes,” Walter said.

October 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Theatre students leave their mark on the marquee Emma Fagerberg op/ed editor & public relations manager

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n 1969, Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross theorized there are five common stages of human grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Forty-eight years later, the Northwest High School Make-Believers are writing their own play that exemplifies all of these stages in great detail. The play, entitled “Beloved,” revolves around a couple who adopt a child and then begin having other kids until they have a total of seven daughters. “[Beloved] is kind of hypothetical autobiographical,” theatre teacher Abby Turner said. “Basically, the central character is sort of me, and it’s kind of like if my husband and I had met when we were younger and we had started having kids.” When all of the girls are in their developing and teenage years, the father dies, and the whole family becomes engulfed in grief and major conflicts arise

Photo by Emma Fagerberg Theatre students brainstorm ideas for their own play entitled “Beloved.” The students have been working in class to create this work which debuts on Oct. 26.

because everyone in the family is stuck in a different stage of grief. “You really get to see how, as a family, they aren’t aware that being in different stages of grief is okay,” Turner said. One character, based on a Northwest

alumnus, is the only one in the stage of acceptance, and her character is seen as vital in the play because she helps the rest of the family overcome the death. “[My character] cares about her family a lot,” junior Lonie Quick said. “She’s accepted it and she’s moved on and

nobody else has, and she kind of feels this responsibility to help the rest of the family get over it.” Though the central theme is grief, the theatre students claim to be having a lot of fun writing the play. Because they are writing their play from scratch, the students get total creative control when it comes to each of their characters. “Despite the theme, it’s very exciting writing my own character because I get to decide exactly how I think she should be,” Quick said. Though the characters in the play may act a completely different way than their writers, the students get to personalize their characters and add their own twists on their personality and tone. Overall, Turner hopes not only to create a play that her students are directly involved in the making of, but also to normalize the powerful emotions we all may feel from time to time. “It’s important and normal to go through the different feelings of being angry, questioning a deity, wondering what you could’ve done, so I think that’s what makes it [an important story to tell],” Turner said.

Cosplay Club gives top 9 tips for Halloween costumes junior Erin head of the Cosplay Club said.

Sydney Thompson staff writer

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alloween is coming soon, and that means it’s time to make your costume. For a challenge, make your Halloween costume better with cosplay. Cosplay is defined as the making of a costume from a character in media. To the Cosplay club, it’s so much more. “It’s a community of people who enjoy creating and sharing, and it’s really open to things,” senior Maggie McGill said. This is the Cosplay Club’s fourth year at Northwest High School, and the members have gained enough experience and knowledge to give the essential top 9 tips to improve your Halloween costume. 1. Research is your friend. “Go on YouTube, check for videos to use as references,” McGill said. “Google is your best friend; you can look up anything.” McGill also suggests references such as Cosplay.com and forums with other cosplayers. These can be used to get costume details of the character you want to cosplay, as well as to give tutorials on how to make or sew items. This can also prevent cultural insensitivities if you are portraying a character from a different culture or race than you. “Ask other people, you aren’t alone,”

October 2017

Jame s ,

2. There are many cheap ways to make a sturdy prop. James and McGill suggest using foam for props such as weaponry, and reinforcing the structure with cardboard, PVC pipe or wood, then using duct-tape to bind it together. “Wood is really cheap,” McGill said. “There’s a lumberyard near my house, and my dad can just drive by and bring some for a small project.” They also mentioned that if the prop is supposed to resemble weaponry, you should check the rules of the venue you will be wearing the costume in, since some venues do not accept even weapon replicas. 3. Buy a wig. “Don’t dye your hair for a temporary costume,” McGill said. “Do it if you like the color, but it’s not worth it for a costume.” It is recommended that if you are going to wear a wig, invest in an expensive one. Cheap wigs rarely look good and often will fall apart at the end of the day. The $30 wig will stay in its style, while a $15 wig will lose its shape. You should also research wig care, in order to keep the locks sharp and clean. Always check the cleaning instructions on the wig before you buy it, and never submerge your wig in water or you will ruin it. 4. Be careful when buying online. “Do your research,” McGill said. “If you’re on eBay or Amazon or something like that, scroll to the bottom of the

page. A reliable website. If it buy it.”

source will have a doesn’t have it, don’t

James further advised staying away from duplicates on eBay because all or none of the buye r s could be lying and trying to scam buyers. It is also difficult to return items via eBay. “[Don’t buy it] unless you c a n find the original buyer,” Ja m e s said. “In that case, find out w h o the dealer is and if they posted the item once or three t i m e s . Three times means it’s a scam.” McGill also warned that costumes ordered over the internet could have mistakes in measurement and to double-check everything you send to a dealer. 5. Don’t use shiny fabrics. In lieu of shiny materials, McGill and James recommended bedsheets, quilting fabric, and cheap muslin. They also recommended that if you’re looking for a spe- cific pattern, you could order a custom fabric online. “Lifted fabric really helps,” McGill said. “It made this Spiderman costume I saw on the internet look really good.” 6. Don’t use acrylic paint. “Please don’t paint yourselves with acrylics,” McGill said. “It will burn you. Use washable paints, Crayola, I don’t care, just please don’t use acrylics.” According to James and McGill, acrylic paint is only to be used for props, and it is not a good body paint

or makeup alternative. For wacky-colored cosplay makeup, use a water or alcohol-based makeup. You won’t find these paints in Sephora or Ulta, but rather the internet or Halloween stores. Brands like Snazaroo are reliable, safe body paints recommended by the experts. 7. If you wear glasses, wear a lanyard connected to them. “I once went to a convention, and I took off glasses for a picture,” McGill said. “I set them down somewhere, and I was looking around for them everywhere. I did not have a good time. Lesson, kids: wear a lanyard or string attached to your glasses.” 8. If you’re cosplaying in a group, stay coordinated. “Make sure your aesthetic matches, and that your fabrics are the same,” James said. She recommends going shopping together to make sure your group looks coordinated. She also recommends a group chat to stay in touch. 9. Cosplay is not consent. “This is our most important rule,” McGill said. It is simple. Do not touch or do anything with anyone without their explicit permission. This includes taking photographs. Just because someone is dressed a certain way does not mean it is acceptable to touch or say inappropriate things to them. Graphic by Stephanie Mayer

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October 2017