MARCH 2020 Issue two page spread

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HORIZONS

the End of an era:

Principal Ralph Kitley retires

Read the story on page 2

Northwest Guilford High School Greensboro, NC Volume 56, Issue 3 March 2020

FRONT PAGE FEED

WHAT’S INSIDE

News 3-5

Op-Ed 6-9

Spread 10-11

Sports 12-14

Features 15-17

Arts & Entertainment 18-19

6

3 Impeachment creates controversy

Mental health affects students

10

13

Cheer team welcomes new member

16

Cycling Club fights for biker rights

16

Staff reflects on Kitley’s retirement

Principal Ralph Kitley says goodbye to Northwest

Kimberly Brown

Arts & entertainment editor

As of March 1, Ralph Kitley’s

tenure as principal came to an end.

As the school’s sixth principal,

Kitley worked tirelessly to improve

Northwest for 11 years.

His journey didn’t start in administration.

A graduate of Wake

Forest University, Kitley taught

social studies for many years in

Forsyth County. However, wanting

his influence to expand beyond

the four walls of a classroom, he

sought to move up in administration.

Kitley came to Northwest in August

1998 as an assistant principal.

In 2004, he left to become principal

of the Middle College at GTCC-High

Point and then he went on to serve

as Southeast High School’s principal.

He returned to Northwest as

principal in 2009.

“(I really wanted to work at the

high school level) because of the

connections you make with the

students,” Kitley said. “High school

students are really becoming more

and more independent. It’s a fun

level to work with because you get

to build relationships with students.”

Kitley has built these relationships

with students in a variety of

ways. From walking through the

hallways to greeting and joking

with students, Kitley has left his

mark on Northwest.

“I have never seen a principal

that gets along with the students,

that walks down the hallways looking

all happy and saying ‘hi’ to all

the students who walk by,” junior

Katya Luna said.

However, being a principal can

make it difficult to have a relationship

with most students.

“Now, as a principal, it’s a little

different (than being an assistant

principal). You don’t handle (students’

problems) as much. So you

have to really make an effort to

interact with students, and that’s

why I tried hard to be in the cafeteria

every day,” Kitley said.

His dedication to interacting

with students does not go unnoticed

by his colleagues.

“I think that people are intimidated

(by Kitley at first). (But)

he’s approachable, and he’s very

observant. He just has conversations

with kids,” assistant principal

Tanya Hiller said.

Assistant principal Kimberly

Gilyard agreed with this sentiment.

“Mr. Kitley has a great way of

building relationships, not only

with students, but also the staff as

well,” Gilyard said. “He’s straightforward

and honest. I love the fact

that he’s very visible. He has an

open-door policy. He invites whoever

needs to talk to come in.”

In January, Kitley announced

that his retirement. While this

transition means changes at Northwest,

staff will remember Kitley’s

impact on the culture of Northwest.

“I cried immediately. He will

have a lasting effect. He (was) a

leader here,” Hiller said.

As a leader, Kitley has helped

Northwest improve its achievement

and graduation rate each year he

has been principal, despite losing

teachers and resources due to

budget cuts.

“This (school) is a total team

effort,” Kitley said. “I think our students

here are just tremendous.”

In addition to being a leader,

while at Northwest, Kitley has also

made many great memories.

“Watching the girls (basketball

team) win the championship in

2017 after being so close so many

times (was very memorable),” Kitley

said. “That would be my most

memorable moment, especially

because my daughter (was on the

team).”

Hiller also said that she will

have many great memories of how

Kitley handled difficult situations.

“I think my favorite moments

with him are not things that students

typically see. I watch him

have difficult conversations with

students and have difficult conversations

with teachers that I would

not want to have,” Hiller said. “In

the middle of it, you realize, ‘Wow,

he made it okay.’”

However, many students are

still confused by his decision to

leave Northwest in March rather

Continued on page 16

Front page photo by Kaylen Ayres

2 www.northwesthorizons.com March 2020

Impeachment follow-up

The issue and what exactly happened

Jhenesis Hines, Val Orozco

staff writers

NEWS

On Dec. 18, 2019, Donald Trump,

the 45th President of the United

States of America, became the third

president to be impeached and the

first president to be impeached

while concurrently running for a

second term. He was charged for

Abuse of Power and Obstruction of

Congress.

“If you are president and you

obstruct justice, try to bribe a foreign

leader and threaten national

security, you’re going to get impeached.

End of story,” U.S. Representative

Susan Davis said during

the House debate.

The term “impeachment” is

the process by which a legislative

body charges against a government

official. Although Trump was

impeached, he will not be removed

from office. There are a number of

significant steps that lead to the

expulsion of a president--which has

never happened before.

The situation started with a

whistleblower who revealed that

Trump threatened to withhold military

aid to Ukraine via phone call on

July 25, 2019--unless Ukraine provided

information about Joe Biden,

one of Trump’s competitors in the

2020 presidential race. The whistleblower

did not take the stand.

“Technically, we will never know

who he is,” AP government teacher

Jim Jiles said.

The call between the President of

Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and

Trump was disclosed by the White

House last August, and its contents

enabled Speaker of the House Nancy

Pelosi to open the impeachment

inquiry.

After the Democratic-majority

House of Representatives--through

a 230-197 vote--opened the articles,

it went to the Senate for a trial. Because

the Senate is Republican-dominated,

it was assumed beforehand

that Trump would be acquitted, just

as Andrew Johnson (1868) and Bill

Clinton (1998) were before.

“

The

The second trial to convict or

acquit Trump began in the Senate

on Jan. 22. This trial was overseen

by Chief Justice John Roberts.

The second trial took two weeks,

during which the Senate voted 51-49

not to call witnesses in response to

the Republican concern that witnesses

would slow down the proceedings.

The trial entailed opening

and closing statements; there was

little to no cross-examination.

Republican Mitt Romney from

Utah was the only senator to break

from his party to vote to remove

Trump. All others voted along party

lines.

For Article I: Abuse of Power, 48

senators voted guilty; 52 voted not

guilty.

For Article II: Obstruction of

Justice, 47 senators voted guilty; 53

voted not guilty.

A 67-vote threshold was necessary

for Trump’s removal. The vote

took place Thursday, Feb. 6, and

ultimately, as predicted, Trump was

acquited.

hope (was) that we

wouldn’t use divisive

politics, that we would

stop seeing the opponent

as the enemy.

social studies teacher Jim Jiles

”

“The hope (was) that we wouldn’t

use divisive politics,” Jiles said, “that

we would stop seeing the opponent

as the enemy. This (divisiveness) has

been going on for decades.”

This divisiveness was seen on

both sides. Trump’s tweets during

the trial claimed that the media

used unreliable sources to slander

and misinform ballots.

“In the end here, nothing happened,”

Trump tweeted the day of

the impeachment. “We don’t approach

anything like the egregious

conduct that should be necessary before

a President should be removed

from office. I believe that a President

can’t be removed from office if there

is no reasonable possibility that the

Senate (won’t vote to remove him).”

However, others disagree, claiming

that the facts were incriminating.

Even if acquittal was inevitable,

Trump should still be held accountable.

“His actions are in defiance of the

vision of our founders—and the oath

of office that he takes—to preserve,

protect and defend the Constitution

of the United States,” Pelosi said

in her remarks on the articles of

impeachment in December.

Some at Northwest agree with

Pelosi.

“I believe that regardless of political

parties, our citizens, Congress

and the rest of the government

should keep the President accountable

for his actions,” civics and economics

teacher Autumn Martin said.

However, many at Northwest

found the impeachment proceedings

to be a waste of time and tax dollars

with its inevitable outcome.

“I believe that it is redundant to

(try to remove) a president when

his term will be over by the end of

this year,” senior Alidaycia Saunders

said.

With the conclusion of the third

presidential impeachment trial in

American history, the final judgment

will be in nine months when

voters cast their ballots for his

reelection.

“The brilliance of America is

that we compromise,” social studies

teacher William Satterfield said.

Drawings by Christy Ma

(From left to right) A phone, president Donald

Trump and a voter box. These are key

images of the impeachment issue where

the solution may lie in dialogue and voting.

March 2020

www.northwesthorizons.com 3

NEWS

Timeline of protest culture:

Autumn Dixon

spread editor

Boston Tea Party

The March On Washington for

1773

Organized by the Sons of Liberty. colonists in America

protested British taxes by throwing tea into the Boston

Harbor.

1963

Jobs and Freedom

An estimated 250,000 people attended the march from across the country.

It was the largest civil rights gathering of its time. The march, created

by A. Phillip Randolph, was focused on civil rights abuses against

people of color, employment discrimination and support for a Civil

Rights Act that the Kennedy Administration was attempting to pass

through Congress. This peaceful protest was where Martin Luther King

Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream Speech.” After the march, civil

rights leaders met with Kennedy and vice president Linden B. Johnson

to discuss the need for bipartisan support of civil rights legislation. The

Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 were passed.

1974

March for Life

Walking on Washington was the first March for Life that lobbied Congressional

leaders to find a legislative solution to the Supreme Court’s

decision of Roe v. Wade. After realizing the protection of the unborn was

not going to get any congressional support, the marches creator, Nellie

Gray, decided to hold a march every year until the Supreme Court

decision is overturned. The march’s mission is to end abortion so in the

future, “the beauty and dignity of every human life are valued and protected,”

according to its website.

1995

Million Man March

Aimed to unite the black community, the Million Man March was used

as a campaign to combating negative racial stereotypes in American

media and in popular culture. Organized by Louis Farrakhan, the march

had a varying number of attendees estimated to be around 400,000 to

one million people.

2017

Women’s March

On Jan. 21, following the inauguration of President Donald Trump,

people gathered in many large cities across the nation to protest

Trump’s inauguration and bring light to issues such as reproductive

rights, immigration and civil rights. It is currently the largest single-day

protest in United States history, estimated to have between 3,267,134

and 5,246,670 attendees.

now

Fridays for Future

Created by environmental activists Greta Thunberg after protesting in

front of the Swedish parliament for three weeks in order to change the

lack of action on the climate crisis. On Sept. 8, Thunberg vowed to protest

every Friday until a plan was created by the Swedish government

that would include a safe pathway well under the 2-degree celsius Paris

Agreement. Her protest spread across the world; students and adults

have also taken action to protest against climate change.

A few major protests in

United States history

1894

The March of Coxey’s Army

In 1894, a large group of unemployed Americans marched to Washington

D.C.; it was led by an Ohio businessman, Jacob S. Coxey. The

protest goal was to convince Congress to create a program for public

roadbuilding in order to provide jobs for the unemployed following an

economic collapse. The group received large amounts of publicity, but

the proposal had no impact on public policy. The protest inspired other

marches.

1965-69

Vietnam War Protest

Anti-war protests grew from small gatherings on college campuses to

large protests following the US bombing of North Vietnam. Critics began

questioning the government’s assertion of fighting other countries’

democratic war to liberate South Vietnam from communist aggression.

1982

Anti-Nuclear March

On June 12, 1982, an estimated one million people gathered in New York

City to demand the end of nuclear weapons. The march was planned

to line up with the United Nations Second Special Session on Disarmament.

Although the march’s main focus was to disarm nuclear weapons,

many attending the march believed nuclear weapons were also linked to

other social justice issues.

2003

Multiple marches took place across the United States in more than

600 cities to protest President George Bush’s decision to invade Iraq.

The largest protest took place in New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle.

This protest movement is known to be the largest in the world.

Iraq War Protest

2018

March for Our Lives

Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in

Parkland, Florida, students vowed to make sure the gun violence they

experienced would never happen again. At the first march organized

by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, millions

protested gun violence and political leaders’ inaction to gun violence.

The group toured the country to expand their knowledge on gun violence

while helping over 50,000 registers to vote.


NEWS

Custodian shortage affects school cleanliness

Sarah Arteaga

contributing writer

Teachers and students have had to deal with

a new issue within the past couple of months:

the shortage of custodians throughout the entire

school. More specifically, this shortage has affected

the New Building the most.

“It’s a big job. It’s a big campus and the buildings

are large,” Spanish teacher Gwen Stencler

said.

Since custodian Jan Carter left in November,

his vacancy has remained unfilled. The school

has had difficulty finding people to take the job

and have them stay in that position. Although

it has been difficult to find someone for this job,

those custodians who are currently working are

doing the best that they can in terms of cleaning

as much as possible in the time frame that they

are required to work.

“Our custodian gets our trash done every

day and is cleaning the hallways as well as the

bathrooms,” Stencler said. “Sometimes our rooms

don’t get swept, but I understand that because

it’s a time crunch and she is pulled away to other

areas of the campus to work.”

Custodians are designated specific areas, like

the top floor of the New Building, that they are

responsible for keeping it clean. However, their

job becomes more difficult when they are pulled

out of these designated areas into others. They

are responsible for getting both cleaned in the

time that they would normally clean one area

well.

“Whenever we’re missing a person, we have

to do all of theirs and all of ours. And if we are

missing another person, so we must do all of

theirs and the other man’s,” custodian Leroy

Prather said. “It’s kind of rough.”

The custodian shortages, along with being

assigned to more areas to clean than the usual

amount, explains why they sometimes cannot

clean every room every day or why the bathrooms

may not have soap.

In order to help maintain the school clean,

calculus teacher Rhonda Hudson and Stencler

award service opportunities to National Honor

Society members for cleaning the school grounds.

“I think we’ve had NHS try to help out cleaning

by dumping trash cans, cleaning rooms,

cleaning the stairwells and cleaning doors on

the New Building and the Old Building,” Hudson

said.

Recently, National Honor Society has been

focused on cleaning mostly inside the school

buildings in order to more directly provide aid to

the custodians.

“I use my NHS people to help me out and

clean my room and help her out as well,” Stencler

said.

The custodians appreciate any help that they

receive in an attempt to keep the school as clean

as possible.

“They are trying to cover spaces that they

didn’t have to before,” Hudson said. “Our custodian

who normally just cleans the downstairs of

the new building might have to go do something

over in the gym area or the cafeteria area, so it’s

not their fault.”

Photo by Sarah Arteaga

Custodian Leroy Prather sweeps a room. There is a

shortage of custodians at Northwest, which means each

custodian has to do more than he or she is supposed

to.

OCS track prepares for future readiness

Christy Ma

news editor

S

tudents who are a part of the

Occupational Course of Study track

can often be seen on recycling runs

for Northwest High. While their

work was always appreciated,

not everyone knows why they are

tasked with some custodial duties.

“The courses were picked for

me,” senior Kelsey Cheney said.

“I’m happy though because it’s a

great course to go through, and it

helps people like me to have a better

future.”

The students taking the Occupational

Course of Study prepare

for work after graduation instead

of preparing for continued studies.

There are opportunities--like

the Special Olympics, the Employability

Duel and regular job club

meetings--that OCS students get

to enjoy.

The students and staff in the OCS program

also give back to the community through fundraisers

and community service. The custodial

tasks--like sorting mail, organizing athletic

laundry, cleaning, recycling and managing

coffee sales--also help meet required in-school

work credits and develop job skills.

“No matter what type of job a person is doing,

hands-on training is one of the best ways

to gain practical skills,” exceptional children’s

teacher Kristin Skordahl said. “(It) teaches realworld

skills like responsibility, reliability and

care for your environment, (and) students get

March 2020

Photos contributed by Kristin Skordahl

Students and staff from the Occupational Course of Study track go bowling for team bonding.

The OCS track prepares students with the support and experience for life outside of school.

a feel for what the job would involve. It teaches

teenagers that giving back is important.”

Students agree about the importance of

hands-on experience.

“My favorite part (of the program) is that we

get to go out to work,” Cheney said. “My work

from the nursing home has taught me a great

deal about respect, especially for my elders and

my supervisors.”

To complete the course, students must complete

several content and educational credits

along with hours of training and paid employment.

Classes can be a mix of traditional Northwest

classes and preparational classes.

Students are also aided with creating

resumes, filling out applications and mock

interviews.

“Many students who have graduated

from the OCS program have a regular paycheck

from the job site they were placed at

in high school,” Skordahl said. “I love seeing

them graduate and go on

to be successful in full-time,

steady jobs.”

With the resources, support

and preparation of the

program, students are well

equipped for the real world.

“I feel supported and

prepared, thanks to the lessons

from my teachers and

the community,” Cheney said.

“Try to support these people

because they do a lot of work

every day; we do the coffee

runs, popcorn, and recycling.

Support the program and help

us out a little bit.”

Overall, the track and program is received

positively by students and staff.

“I wouldn’t change anything about the

program,” Skordahl said, “but I wish I could

change how people viewed it. There’s a stigma

among certain people who feel like the students

in the OCS program are different (in a bad way);

people refer to them as ‘those kids.’ Keep in

mind, ‘those kids’ still follow the general curriculum

and take the same final exams as their

peers on the Future Ready Course of Study; they

just have different goals after high school. All

students are students first.”


OPINION

Kitley leaves an impact as big as he

For 11 years, principal Ralph Kitley has been a highly respected head

of administration at Northwest. His support for the school and our Northwest

Horizons paper has helped us grow to new heights in journalism.

His dedication to the students, as well as the faculty, is unmatched and

greatly appreciated by all. Kitley’s retirement will not only be upsetting for

those at Northwest, but also alumni and the community.

With his experience in education as well as athletics, students were able to

rely on him in all aspects of their high school careers. He was also known for

making close relationships with students, especially since his daughter, Eliza-

beth Kitley, attended the school and participated in many athletic events and

activities around the school.

Being both an administrator and a parent allowed

him to

better understand the students’ needs and struggles,

which

Staff Editorial

he tended to on a daily basis.

In journalism, he was always available to us for interviews and enabled us

to write on difficult or taxing topics.

As a result of his unwavering support, he won the Southern Interscholastic

Press Association’s Administrator of the year award in 2017.

Being able to have a voice no matter how intense the topic is crucial for

any journalist, Kitley allowed us to espouse our First Amendment right to free

speech and supported us every step of the way.

He has touched the lives of many students and faculty members here at

Northwest and will continue to have a large impact, both through his height

and presence, on the school even after he is gone.

After such promising years as a Viking, we are sure he will continue to

inspire and influence people to be the best that they can be.

“Mr. Kitley gives teacher

autonomy in the classroom

and allows them room to

grow and develop leadership

skills.” --English teacher

Alex Wertz

“I have known Mr. Kitley for 18

years. He was assistant principal

when I was hired. I enjoyed

working with him and of course,

was excited to see him return to

Northwest as our principal.”

--Math teacher

Rhonda Hudson

“I will always be grateful

for all the time he has committed

to help new teachers, like

I was 15 years ago, become the

best they can be. (He) has always

made me want to be a better

teacher and advocate for

my students.” --History

teacher Kim Deyton

“Mr. Kitley constantly

reminded us as staff

members that the key to

getting kids to learn and be

successful in the classroom is

to build relationships with the

students.”

--History teacher

Dana Hilliard

Photos by Hinal Patel and Lily Hughes

Social media and youth: What age should you get verified?

Jhenesis Hines, Kelby Shouse

staff writers

Social media is an ever-changing way of sharing your life with

other people. On some apps such as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok,

when you reach a certain number of followers, you can become verified,

which makes users famous and more likely to be seen on the

explore page of those apps.

It can be conflicting when you add up the fact that young people

are still maturing, and often fame can lead to self-image issues.

“Especially in high school, you should be allowed to have social

media, but when you’re younger, like in middle school, it should be

regulated,” junior Savannah Lawson said. “When you’re younger, you

need to be able to make better decisions.”

More middle and high school age minors are verified on social

media apps per day.

6 www.northwesthorizons.com

“I don’t like that young people are verified because it puts a lot

of pressure on them, especially when they have to put up a facade

for social media of what everyone expects,” Lawson said.

That doesn’t mean that social media is bad and everyone should

delete it, because there are positive effects, too. The ability to build up

a profile is one of many positive effects.

“If young people become verified on social media, they can start to

build up their profile if they want to act or model,” sophomore Olivia

Dubas said. “It can help (young people) get the recognition they are

looking for.”

Many young people see social media as a pathway for their future.

It can be a breath of fresh air from the stagnance of everyday life.

“If you have a finsta (fake Instagram) or private Snapchat story,

it’s just for the fun of it, but if you have a lot of followers, it does

have an effect on self-image because you have to hide

all of your emotions and feelings,” Lawson said.

Photo by Melanie Huynh-Duc

Eight-year-old Timothy Huynh-Duc surfs social media on a phone.

`While he enjoys playing games, in reality, he is too young for Twitter.

Morgan DelFava

staff writer

Many high school seniors are turning

18 this year: but what are the benefits? They

don’t get more freedom, as the majority stay

with their parents until graduation, they

are not able to purchase alcohol or nicotine

products (which have been very popular in

the generation) nor are they even able to rent

a hotel or purchase a car at most reputable

places/dealers. Why is the adult age suddenly

becoming 21 in every aspect--except for serving

in the military?

Northwest alumni of 2019 Cielo Esquivel

shares that her boyfriend, Aidan Prendergast,

went to the military upon graduation. While

an honorable service and career path to follow,

she states her concerns regarding this age

problem.

“Many times when I travel to his base

to see him, I have to get a hotel through the

military or my mom has to get it, they won’t

let me stay even for a night because they

think I’m some kid trying to run away from

HEAD

when they suddenly raise the legal age to buy

tobacco products, it directly affects me because

I can’t suddenly just stop smoking,” Esquivel

said.

Even still, more responsibility is thrown

upon young adults as many times seniors are

balancing high school, a job, and college preparation.

Yet, the government and even private

sectors seem to be forgetting that people are

maturing much faster due to the society that

we are living in. A few months ago, after my

eighteenth birthday, I was attempting to test

drive a new car. Upon arrival, I learned that

the dealership was “unable to allow a minor

to test drive a vehicle,” yet being a young

adult is just that--an adult. The inability to

do something as simple as test drive a car

demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt the

distrust of 18-year-olds, and even up through

19 and 20-year-olds who have undergone

similar frustrations.

Young adults who experience this type

of distrust are left scrambling, as not all of

them are still with their parents or may have

circumstances that are not as fortunate as

“It’s ironic how the army

goes to high schools to recruit

18-year-olds to join

the army but they can’t buy

a pack of cigarettes,

Northwest alumna,

Cielo Esquivel

“

2

HEAD

When you turn 18, you can vote, go to

war and pay taxes. You can buy a house, go into

debt and enter legally binding contracts. You can

even buy a gun. However, you can’t drink alcohol

or smoke tobacco until age 21. Why is that?

The answer is that 18-year-olds were considered

too young to make the important decision of

whether or not to smoke and drink. The time we

should truly consider people as adults should be

21, despite the U.S. legal age of adulthood.

“Part of it is on what you are expected to do

as a 15-17 year old,” social studies teacher Scott

Bennett said. “Do you have a job? Do you have a

driver’s licsense? What kind of responsibilities do

you have? Because that is going to help you learn

how to function as an adult.”

Studies show that a human brain isn’t fully

developed until age 25. Adult and teen brains work

differently. Teenagers think with the two amygdalae

located on the side of their brain, and adults

think with the prefrontal cortex, which isn’t fully

developed until one had passed their teenage years.

“

HEAD TO HEAD

When are teenagers considered adults?

18 year olds are old

enough to be adults

Angela Lam

staff writer

Only 21 year olds are

developed enough to

be considered adults

Northwest junior,

Benjamin Ramsey

was lowered to 18. As a direct result of this act,

advocating for the voting age to be raised increased

significantly. “Old enough to fight, old enough to

vote” became a widespread slogan at this time.

States govern most of the age restriction laws.

After Prohibition, the legal drinking age was set

at 21, consistent to the voting age at the time. So,

when the voting age was changed to 18, the drinking

age was changed in turn.

In 1984, president Ronald Reagan began

advocating for states to raise their drinking age,

claiming that it contributed to the problem of

drinking and driving among teenagers. This

resulted in most states raising their legal drinking

age to 21 years.

“I think that if the age for being drafted into

the military is 18 then yes, people should have the

rights of adults,” Latin teacher Parker Jackson said.

“However, I do not think that 18 year olds are typically

ready to be adults mentally.”

You graduate from high school as an adult

at 18 years of age. However, some people might

feel that they are unprepared for adulthood, as

the complete 180 from rigid school schedules and

dependence on adults to the sudden independence

I feel like there are a lot of

things about adulthood and

life in general that I do not understand

because they do not

teach these things in school,

“

home; even though I’m 20,” Esquivel said, “I

also think it’s ironic how the army goes to

high schools to recruit 18-year-olds to join the

army but they can’t buy a pack of cigarettes; if

someone is old enough to join the army, they

should be able to buy tobacco products.”

If you are eligible to vote, go to a club at 1

in the morning and serve in the military, one

would think that you ought to be allowed to

rent a room from a hotel for a night or test

drive a car. This simply is not the case and is

completely backwards as our society does not

seem to realize that kids are growing up faster,

not slower.

“It’s so frustrating having to ask an ‘adult’

to book it for us, and it’s ironic because once

you’re 18 you are considered an adult--or at

least used to be,” Esquivel said.

The new law of having to be 21 years of

age to purchase nicotine/tobacco products has

directly affected many people in this age range

as well. Those who have been smoking for longer

periods of time (legally) yet are still under

21 are now expected to suddenly quit smoking,

as if it is as easy as switching off a light to a

room.

“I have been smoking for over a year, and

others. If one must provide for themselves but

cannot even purchase a vehicle--a necessity in

the society we live in today--where do they go

for support?

“Society expects so much from 18-yearolds

and up; they expect us to manage a

budget, go to high school or college, have a

part time job in order to pay bills and do all

these things but when we want to rent a hotel

or buy tobacco products we are denied it,”

Esquivel said.

Whether hotels, car dealerships, or even

the government with the new nicotine age

raise, entities seem to be forgetting that many

times students have busier lives than even

most adults and balance it much better. Why

are we trying to halt student success, their

achievements, or their adulthood as a whole?

“I think it’s absolutely disgusting that the

government has raised the legal age from 18

to 21 to purchase tobacco products yet they go

to high schools and talk to 18-year-olds about

joining the army,” Esquivel said, “It’s like ‘Oh,

you’re 18? You can’t buy cigarettes, but you

can join the army and kill people!’ It’s just not

right.”

The amygdala is most well-known for its

role in fear responses. It can send signals to the

hippocampus, which activates the ‘fight or flight’

response. It’s also important for forming memories

that are associated with both positive or negative

memories. It also has a role in arousal and hormonal

secretions.

The prefrontal cortex is most well-known

for its role in one’s executive functions. Executive

functions include the ability to focus, prediction

of consequences of actions, anticipation of events,

impulse control, planning for the future and

adjusting complex responses to stimuli. It also

contributes to personality development. It is the

last part of the brain to fully develop, maturing at

around 25 years old.

“If you look at it neuroscientifically, once you

reach the age of 25 you actually reach full maturity.

Your brain is still developing (at 18), so you’re

still going through a lot of changes,” junior Ysantis

McKenzie said. “Experience -- failure, relationships,

college-- and actual chemical changes in our

brain shape us into being adults.”

Originally, the voting and conscription age

was set at 21. Then in 1942, the conscription age

of adulthood and jobs is daunting.

“I think that is (because) a lot of times, they

are not the ones making their full decisions in

high school, and sometimes that’s a shock to them

when they go to college or choose a different path,

so I think that is stressful, especially if you haven’t

been trained for that,” Marshall said. “What would

help that was if parents and students would work

more collaboratively while they’re in high school to

make those decisions, with the student having the

ultimate choice, and the parents being hopefully

on board with that choice.

Eighteen might be the current legal adult

age, but 21 is by far the better choice. Twenty-one

in fact, used to be the legal adult age, but was

changed so that the government could draft

more people during wartime. Teens aren’t adults

right when they get out of high school, from a

psychological and physical standpoint. They should

be given more time to mature and develop after

high school.

“Personally, no (I’m not sure I’ll be an adult at

18) I feel like there are a lot of things about adulthood

and life in general that I do not understand

because they do not teach these things in school,”

Ramsey said.


OPINION

Is Northwest getting better or worse?

Sarah Teague, Morgan DelFava

op/ed editor, staff writer

Three teachers provide their perspective

Do you feel Northwest has changed over the years you’ve been here?

It’s definitely changed. The environment around school and the climate have all definitely changed.

It’s hard to explain what it was like when I started in ‘95. There were a handful of teachers here, Mr.

Parrish, Mrs. Little, but not many remain. I think I’m the third or fourth oldest teacher still here. I

didn’t have a working computer yet; there was no email for anyone. There was a different culture, and

you knew other teachers better across departments because the staff was smaller. There were a lot

more faculty meetings that would last a number of hours.

If you were principal/superintendent for the day, what would you change?

If anything, I would opt to give the schools more control over their policies and over their students.

Schools are very different, even from different parts of the county, they differ one from another. And

I think that administrations need to have more authority when it comes to control over the aspects of

day-to-day and the overall school.

How has the student body differed year to year?

We were a lot more rural in those days. In fact we still had remnants of some students that you needed

to look the other way when they would be out at certain times of the year. They’d be helping the family

bring in the crop. It sounds crazy but they would say, ‘I’m going to be out the next couple days because

it’s that time of year.

Do you feel that Northwest has changed to better or worse?

Better. I know that our scores have gone up, but I think that overall the principals have done a pretty

good job. Mr. Kitley has done a great job in terms of helping our schools improve not only their scores

but also the overall climate. There’s a lot of cohesion among students and teachers.

SKAGGS

Photo contributed by Julia Skaggs

COLEY

Photo contributed by Phil Coley


Somewhat. The staff has had a lot of changes. There are still staff who have been here a

long time, but there are a lot of new faces in the last few years.


I would have even later start times. Teenagers need more sleep than adults, and biologically

their rhythm is off from the current school schedule. I think it would help a lot

with attendance issues.


It is getting more diverse. While it still is not what it should be, I think overall we are

seeing more diversity. The fact that as a staff we are trying to address those changes and

make all students feel welcome is a really good thing.


Neither. With any school, it has its pluses and minuses, and I think we are very fortunate

as a school community to be where we are.


I think everything changes with the times. New attitudes, perspectives, styles. I think it’s a more

nurturing environment. There’s been more of an effort to make connections between teachers,

students and administration. You can really see that in the open house this year. It was a teambuild

as a department and brought the community out.


If I could change the day to day, I would figure out how to extend the lunch or add a study hall. I

feel that the student body has gotten busier and I think it would help with that.


I think you still have the same attitudes as far as apathy or when someone has something going

on at home; it’s just a part of growing up that is common to everyone.


Better. I think they’re working toward making it better, but just like in society, you’ll always have

people who push back or work against the system. Any good that we try will always have pushback.

I think as long as we’re trying to make the school a more welcoming place for everyone,

regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, we'll be fine.


JULIAN

Photo contributed by Andrea Julian

Teachers Phil Coley (upper right), Julia Skaggs (middle left)

and Andrea Julian (lower right) pose with former stduents.

These teachers have been at Northwest many years and have

a rich perspective about the progress of this school.

Sophia Carson

staff writer

With a new age of environmental

consciousness has come a spike in the

interest of veganism. From 2014 to 2017,

the number of vegans in America grew

by 600 percent from roughly 4 million to

19.6 million.

According to the Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change, approximately

a quarter of global greenhouse gas emission

come from food, with 58 percent

being solely from animal products.

Becoming vegan is a suitable choice

for some. They feel, rightly so, that they

are affecting the environment in a small,

but impactful way. Sophomore Lina

Aboghalyoun switched over to veganism

around eight months ago, and she feels

the choice, although difficult at times, is

worth it in the long run.

“It comes with its fair bit of challenges

like many other things that go ‘against

the norm,’” Aboghalyoun said. “My family

isn’t vegan, so I am constantly surrounded

by foods that I grew up eating

and loved at one point. Even to this day it

can be challenging for me because it’s so

disconnected from the animal. I just get

used to always choosing to do ‘the right

thing’—in my view—that daily temptations

(and) cravings aren’t worth it.”

Although making the choice to

become vegan is easy for some, this is

not an option for those in lower socioeconomic

classes. Imagine living paycheck

to paycheck, as many Americans are, and

having to turn down a meal because the

products used to make it aren’t vegan.

The main difference Aboghalyoun

made was in regards to cooking.

“The only drastic changes for me

were that I had to cook more often. Eating

out was less likely because most fast

food restaurants didn’t have substantial

vegan options,” Aboghalyoun said. “I did

end up (becoming) more informed about

nutrition. Learning to cook, while at the

start was a hassle, actually became a

creative outlet and something really fun

for me.”

Sophomore Maddie Galyon reflected

The growth of veganism

on her time being vegan for the first it onto others.

month of school, and came to a similar “I think there are good things to take

conclusion.

away from being vegan, there are still

“It was my dinners that I got the some vegan items that I use in my daily

most creative (with),” Galyon said. “It was life,” Galyon said. “But I also feel like people

obsess over being completely vegan,

actually sort of fun, but it was also hard

because I don’t have a very good concept that they’re making choices that aren’t as

of time. I didn’t realize how long some smart for the environment. Even though

of the meals would take. I wouldn’t start they aren’t using animal products, there

cooking until I was hungry, but it took a are some plants where harvesting them

long time to cook. I wouldn’t get hungry is really bad (for the environment). People

until six, but I wouldn’t be eating until need to take that into consideration and

eight.”

worry about the balance.”

The main difficulty these two shared When it comes down to it, there

was an increased amount of time dedicated

to preparing food. This may seem easy we make. To make the smartest choice for

needs to be balance in every choice that

for some, but for others working multiple ourselves, others, and our environment,

jobs, they don’t have the time to dedicate that takes time, and research. As opposed

to spending hours preparing meals for to changing your entire lifestyle, maybe

themselves, or their entire families. try implementing some aspects of veganism

into your life. Try meatless Mondays,

This is in no way an advocation for

everyone to become vegan, nor is this an or maybe just drink almond milk in your

argument the other way around. This is coffee. In order to come together to tackle

simply an attempt to try to see both sides climate change, we don’t need divisions,

of veganism. Because this lifestyle is not we need to unite and work together to

an option for everyone, we shouldn’t push make the smartest decisions we can.

Photo by Sophia Carson

Sophomores Garret Eichlin and Maddie Galyon are shown eating lunch together.

While a healthy choice, veganism can be isolating to communitites that

can’t afford the extra cost.

NORTHWEST HORIZONS STAFF

OPINION

Chicken Salad

Chick delivers

retro experience

to Greensboro

Sarah Teague

op/ed editor

Nestled between a sports bar

and a gym on Wendover Avenue,

Chicken Salad Chick supplies

Greensboro with good food and a

welcoming atmosphere. Pastel pink

and green line the walls and tables

of this restaurant, giving the place

a retro vibe with modern amenities.

While it’s only open from 8-3,

Chicken Salad Chick is the perfect

destination year round. An outdoor

patio makes it a great way to eat

during warm weather, placed in the

shade to shield you from the sun.

However, the environment isn’t

the only thing that draws customers

in.

Chicken Salad Chick offers a

wide and unique array of chicken

salads -- available in sandwich or

scoop form -- and pimento cheese.

Their jalapeno chicken salad

combines the sweet jalapeno flavor

without the overwhelming bite that

can sometimes accompany that kind

of spice. The chicken salad is also

delicious, a classic flavor without

the grapes and nuts that can ruin a

perfectly good sandwich.

Their sides also pair very nicely

with the main chicken salad --

soups, pimento cheese and pasta

salad are just a few of the options

available. Their potato soup comes

out piping hot and is a nice play on

the classic flavor.

Quick service, great meals and a

retro atmosphere are all things that

define Chicken Salad Chick and are

all things you will be able to enjoy

your next visit.

Editors in Chief

Megan Harkey

Nathan Vescio

News Editor

Christy Ma

Op/Ed Editor

Sarah Teague

Spread Editor

Autumn Dixon

Sports Editor

Kaylen Ayres

Features Editor

Madison Magyar

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Kimberly Brown

Webmaster

Nathan Vescio

Staff Writers

Adam Sasser, Jacob Teague, Morgan

DelFava, Lily Hughes, Val Orozco,

Kaitlyn Sumner, Kelby Shouse,

Laina McCoy, Mycheal Warner,

Sophia Carson, Ava Rickelton,

Jhenesis Hines, Angela Lam

Contributing Writers

Hinal Patel

Sarah Arteaga

Adviser

Melanie Huynh-Duc

Principal

Ralph Kitley

Northwest Horizons

@nwhorizons

@nw.horizons

@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.

March 2020


SPREAD

Mental health

in the modern world

Madison Magyar, Mycheal Warner because of my parents’ divorce,”

features editor, staff writer

senior Jason Ellington said. “(My

therapist) then recommended me

I

to see a psychiatrist who diagnosed

me.”

n recent years, mental health Bipolar disorder is characterized

by episodes of mood swings

has become a more prevalent topic

of conversation, especially among ranging from depressive lows to

students in high school and college.

An increase in stress and the “(Having) bipolar (disorder), I’m

manic highs.

amount expected has contributed not up and down. I'm not going to

to these developments. Whether be happy one second and throwing

having ADD or Bipolar disorder,

talk on mental illnesses has Skara said. “It's a controlled thing.”

books the next,” sophomore Rachel

become more open over the years. This can be achieved through

A lot of mental illnesses remain a variety of methods, some being

overlooked and unaccepted. Many therapy, medication and even a

students and people around you good support system.

struggle daily to overcome personal “I didn't change because it was

challenges they face.

something, I've dealt with for such

“It’s always been kind of a a long time that the only difference

stigma for people to be diagnosed was medication,” Ellington said. “I

with a mental disorder, but it have a tight group of friends that

seems that now the mold is being I share a lot with, and I have been

broken for people to make it more able to open up more to my family

understandable,” school nurse Livy recently.”

Shepherd-Gray said.

For many with this disorder,

Stress has existed longer than people tend to be judgmental and

humanity, whether being the assume things they have heard

process to form coal or in a mental from unreliable sources.

stasis of the mind. While stress is “You don’t have to dance around

well documented, many other mental

based disabilities are unrecog-

about mental health, 90 percent of

it. If you want to ask me anything

nized.

the time, I’ll be happy to answer

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder)

touched subject that you can't talk

it,” Skara said. “It’s not some un-

“It’s not considered an extreme about. We should be talking about

disability, so teachers forget or are it. We should be more open about

not told I have severe ADHD; it affects

my school work,” senior Catey OCD (obsessive compulsive

it.”

Engel said.

disorder)

ADHD, or attention deficit

“(When I first learned) I had

hyperactivity disorder, often arises OCD was a very confusing situation.

Not knowing anything about

at a young age. There are currently

more than three million cases in it whatsoever, I kind of went off

the United States.

when they told me, and then went

“When I don’t take my medicine,

I forget things,” Engel said. “I started to realize this is me; this

to look it up more,” Skara said. “I A girl shields her face to stop the release of her emotions. Many people with mental illnesses feel tra

fidget too much and ramble a lot.” is who I am,; I’m going to have to Depression and Anxiety (cause anxiety attacks); school

For many students, medication

as well as seeking help from a have to fight through it.”

recognized over the years, and it is School is considered a very

learn to live with it; I’m going to Depression has become more stresses me out.” anonymous said.

therapist regularly can help.

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive believed that 10 percent of young stressful place, as 1 in 5 college students

consider suicide as a result of

“I take a really heavy dose disorder, is characterized by people will experience a bout of

of medicine and rarely show up repeated unwanted thoughts or depression.

stress.

without it,” an student who wished sensations and compulsions.

“I probably would’ve ended up “I take medicine and go to

to remain anonymous said. “I do a “I get distracted easily through dealing with (depression) since counseling when needed,” another

lot of extra work in my classes and my OCD thoughts, so I bounce depression runs in my family,” anonymous student said. “I also try

have to work harder to keep up my around a lot,” Skara said. “I have to a student who wished to remain to focus on my breathing and do

grades.”

add in extra time for everything to anonymous said.

this thing to try and stay grounded

This being said, ADHD can be account for the ‘what could happen?’”

understood over the years and is ent things when I am anxious.”

Anxiety has also become more by finding and focusing on differ-

managed and doesn’t make them

less intelligent than any other studentreotypes

about OCD, everyone is than it affects men. Anxiety is that plague the mind, not all are

Although there are many ste-

twice as likely to affect women While there are many diseases

“It doesn’t define your intelligence

because I thought it did; “OCD does not mean I’m going in the US each year, or rather 18.1 taking time to be understood.

affected differently.

known to affect 40 million adults heavily recognized and are still

it just means you need to work a to sit there and line all my books percent of the population. Furthermore,

stress and anxiety have a nosis on almost anyone even if its

“You could probably find a diag-

little harder (than others),” anonymous

said.

hand sanitizer every five minutes,” direct link as anxiety is a reaction OCD or depression,” Shepherd-Gray

up in alphabetical order and use

Bipolar Disorder

Skara said. “I can live my life as a to stress.

said.

“At first, I was going to therapy person without it affecting me.” “Stressful situations like school


SPREAD

pped within their own mind.

Photo by Autumn Dixon

O

verwhelming schedules

can cause more than just mental

illness such as depression, anxiety

and obsessive-compulsive disorder

(OCD); it can cause physical ailments

such as dehydration,

fainting and even seizures.

With all of the stresses

of school, it is important

to stay hydrated especially

during the wintertime with

germs and illness crawling

around campus. Illnesses can

become easy to catch when

someone isn’t thinking about

their well being.

“I think there is a

population of students who are

performance driven, whether it

be academically or physically, and

take on more than they can handle,”

health science teacher Pattie

Bumpus said. “These students tend

to forget to eat, feel like they don't

A boy (left) is surrounded by words that others describe him as. Such insults

and labels can engulf someone’s every thought. Sophomore Lindsay Hash is

shown (right) labeled by the mental illnesses she possesses. “Most people just

think (having ADHD means) your bouncing off the walls when you really just

can’t focus,” Hash said. “When I don’t take my medication it’s bad for my grades

because I can’t focus and work like I’m supposed to.” Photos by Autumn Dixon

Academic pressure makes students overwork

Kaitlyn Sumner

staff writer

have enough time to eat or even

to take a water break. When you

have so much going on, it's easy to

forget.”

Bumpus thinks that there

might be too much emphasis on

academics and sports instead of

“

There is a population of

students who are performance

driven and take on more than

they can handle,

”

health science teacher

Pattie Bumpus

wellness. According to the US

National Library of Medicine, 46.4

percent of students are dehydrated,

and 59 percent have improper

hydration.

“If you are drinking water, not

fruit juices and other drinks high

in sugar, and keeping hydrated, it

keeps you alert, it keeps your blood

flowing, so you are not tired, and it

flushes germs out (of your body),”

Bumpus said.

Bumpus believes that having

a nurse on staff at Northwest

would help with the issue

of students passing out and

overworking themselves because

a nurse would provide

wellness checks to students

needing them.

“I definitely think that

having access to a nursing

staff (would help) because

Northwest only has a nurse

that circulates between

other schools,” Bumpus

said.

In addition to having more

nursing staff, Bumpus thinks that

having vending machines with

access to water would help those

students who forget their water

bottles.

Mental health facts

1/2

3/4

percent

of lifetime

mental illness

cases

begin by 24

50

March 2020

of lifetime mental illness

cases begin by 14

1 out of 5

children experience a

mental health condition

in a given year

percent of children 8-12 experience

a mental health condition

but do not receive treatment

Information sourced from web sources

On average,the delay between

the onset of symptoms

and intervention is 31

percent of

8-10 years

In survey taken in 2016,

13 percent

of teenagers reported

they had experienced

one major depressive

episode in the last year

high school

students

stopped

doing their

usual activities

after

feeling sad

or

hopeless

90%

75%

60%

45%

30%

15%

What stresses you the most?

In a poll of 40 students, the majority of students

said school stresses them out the most.

82.5%

7.5%

5.0% 5.0%

School Family Work Relationship


SPORTS

NCAA considers paying student athletes

Megan Harkey

After this step, on Oct. 29, 2019

editor in chief

the NCAA voted for the changes of

the act. Therefore, each national

One of the largest nonprofits

in the United States with a $1.1

Division (I, II, III) will have to make

their own rules for the act by 2021

billion-dollar annual revenue has

for it to be fully enacted.

never given a paycheck to their

“Obviously I was pretty excited,”

hardest workers. Since its founding,

senior Hayden Summers said. “The

the NCAA has had a strict rule that

NCAA is a billion-dollar industry,

amateur athletes cannot be paid

and they make a ton of money. For

outside of athletic scholarships.

athletes to not get paid is not right.”

Even though a scholarship can

Summers is committed to UNCbe

worth thousands of dollars,

Chapel Hill for baseball as a pitcher.

collegiate athletes believe that the

Even though this act has been

revenue they bring to their school is

well received by endorsers like NBA

worth more.

player Lebron James, many people

“I am for people being able to

are still not fond of the change in

make money in the United States of

the system. The original idea of not

America (because) we are a capitalistic

mixed economy, and if some-

paying athletes outside of scholarships

was to ensure a divide between

one is willing to give you money in

the rights of an amateur athlete and

exchange for whatever you’re able

a professional athlete; the Fair Pay to

to provide for them, you (should) be

Play Act shatters this wall.

able to get that money,” social studies

teacher Jim Thompson said.

“They’re already being paid so

much to play the sport, and that’s

Thompson played football for

why they’re there--to be paid in

one year at South Dakota State

tuition,” math teacher Jessica Estep

before realizing college football was

said.

not for him. Like others, he sees the

Estep played basketball at Iona

NCAA as a company that has used

College for four years on a full

the amateur athlete status to make

ride. As an athlete, she was given a

more money.

head start compared to the average

student. Athletes have gear, top

As of Sept. 30, 2019, the Fair Pay

to Play Act was passed by California

Gov Gavin Newsom; which was

meal plans, tutors, overseas trips

and other bonuses along with a paid

the first step towards the possible

education. This is all given because

rule change in the NCAA. It allowed

athletes devote all their time to their

athletes in California to profit from

sport and school.

their name, image and likeness, or

“People don’t appreciate that

more specifically, they can sign any

stuff enough, so throwing all these

kind of licensing contract that will

other things on top of these experiences

you get to have (is) pointless,”

allow them to earn money, and they

can hire an agent to assist them in

Estep said.

these processes.

11%

13%

76%


Graphics by Megan Harkey

On top of that, controversy could

arise out of this act. The difference

now between the athletic income of

a Division III sport and a Division I

sport, or a female and male sport is

already

seen

from

the

sidelines.

Division

I

schools

will

have

more

incentive

in

recruiting

since

they

can

give

more

money

on

top of a scholarship, unlike Division

III schools who cannot even give an

athletic scholarship.

“I feel like it could cause more

problems with recruiting, and it

could cause problems with team

chemistry if someone is getting an

extra paycheck and no one else is,”

Estep said.

Each athlete will most likely not

be getting the same amount of pay

from brands that may or may not

sponsor them, however this “unfairness”

can just be seen as the real

world.

“Capitalism isn’t fair, so it’s not

always going to be equitable, but

pro sports aren’t always equitable

(either), meaning the best players

make the most money,” Thompson

said. “That’s more of a discussion of

whether or not our capitalism is fair

more than if this particular thing is

fair.”

This inequality could benefit the

athletes by giving them a reason to

work harder for their team in order

to make more money, like any professional

athlete.

“I think it would be better to

have more money because (with it)

I would try to improve my craft and

my name would be out there more,

which means I would be getting better,”

Summers said.

Like in most businesses, the

motivation of the workers is money;

this is why professional athletes and

coaches can move from team to team

in order to capitalize on their salary.

The NCAA has always believed that

the motivation of the college athlete

should be the money going towards

their education and sports program.

The only reason athletes are there in

the first place is because their coach

chose them out of thousands and is

willing to work with them and the

team to create a name for the school.

“If your coaches (choose you)

and your team wasn’t there, and

everyone wasn’t working together,

then what are you?” Estep said. “The

program should get money because

your

coaches

found

you,

and

your

teammates

are

helping

you

get

better;

you

aren’t

the

only

one.”

Estep

believes

that

such

money from brand deals and even

jersey sales should go back to the

program that coached the athlete

to the top. Whether or not this act

is justified--it is in place for 2021.

The only thing left to change are the

rules surrounding it.

“(A rule that I would like to see is

for) athletes to not touch that money

before they graduate, so whether

you go to the draft or you graduate

there’s a chunk of money sitting

(there) for you,” Estep said.

This provides the opportunity

for the athlete to think about what

they can do with their money. For

example, they could use it for graduate

school or to fund their ability to

play professionally here or overseas.

A rule like this could also bring on

some controversy since professional

athletes don’t necessarily have to

wait for their money, so why should

college athletes have to?

“I don’t want to see any rules

whatsoever at all,” Thompson said.

“I think that the same rules about

paying non-athletes should be the

exact same as paying athletes.”

The power of the Fair Pay to

Play Act will be unknown until the

release of the rules for each Division.

Until then, athletes and schools can

only hope for the NCAA to be on

their side; whatever that may be.

“At the end of the day, it’s just

going to have to be something

everyone has to work on, like in the

professional leagues,” Summers said.

Infographics by Megan Harkey

The bar graph (top right) shows how many

hours per week the average student athlete

allots for each sport. These statistics are

from a study by Business Insider.The pie

graph (bottom left) illustrates the student

opinion on whether athletes should be paid

in college. The majority of the 87 students

surveyed agreed they should be.

March 2020

Kaylen Ayres

sports editor

F

SPORTS

Meet your MATCH: Freshman girl competes on wrestling team

or most female athletes,

there are plenty of sports

available to try at school:

field hockey, volleyball, soccer,

basketball, lacrosse—you

name it. However, for one

girl, she’s taking a nontraditional

route.

Freshman Lexi

Garrett is a member

of the junior

varsity wrestling

team. She moved

here from Ohio

where she started

wrestling in enth grade.

Garrett picked up

wrestling after competing

in other sports

like track, cross country,

gymnastics and boxing.

Wrestling was something

new she wanted to try.

However, not everyone

was welcoming back in

Ohio when she began

sevtraining.

“When I first

started, it was really

different. Everyone thought that

I wouldn’t be able to do this,

but I can,” Garrett said. “They

First male cheerleader makes school history

Ava Rickelton

lines and is now doing it with us.

looks fun to him.

fectly with everyone. We all

staff writer

He adds so much character to the

“My favorite thing about

love him.”

N

team and is just like any regular

cheer is all the friends I’ve

Photo by Ava Rickelton

orthwest cheer is now cheerleader,” Payne said.

made and definitely stunting,”

Logan said.

Sophomore Dylan Logan

cheering with a new member who Logan’s interest in cheerlead-

strikes a pose. Logan is the

is going against the gender gradient

of the sport and the school’s Although he is Northwest’s first

Logan has been enjoying

west history.

ing came from watching videos.

As the season goes on,

fi rst male cheerleader in North-

cheer history.

male cheerleader, cheerleading in

this new experience with his

Photo on page 2 by Wayne Phillips

Sophomore Dylan Logan was general often features many males

friends and hopes to continue

the cheer manager for the football as a main base for stunts

this after high school.

season this year, then he tried

“I’ve always wanted to do it

“I would totally do this in

out to cheer for the basketball from seeing it online,” Logan said.

college,” Logan said. “It is very

season and made Varsity. Being a “(The team) has welcomed me,

fun and you make lots of

male cheerleader--who has never (and) I have become friends with a

friends.”

cheered before--has proven difficult.

Senior varsity captain Layton

cheerleader

lot of them.”

Junior school

“It was a little difficult to learn Howard has enjoyed having Logan

Elizabeth

the cheers, but after you do it three on the team as well, she agrees on

George

or four times, you have them down. his positive influence on the team. talks

I got most of them down after the “He has definitely impacted our

about

third practice,” Logan said. team in a positive way. He always how

Sophomore and Varsity cheerleader

Avery Payne h as enjoyed positive attitude,” Howard said. “We gan

has a smile on his face and has a Lo-

having Logan on the team. always call our team a family, and is

“He started out as a manager he is definitely the little brother I always

for football season and was such a never had.”

delight to everyone. He’s made everyone

feel comfortable and taken can be very stressful when trying

Having multiple games a week

helpteam

and

care of,” Payne said. “He joined us ing to balance cheer and school, the

for basketball, and it’s almost like but Logan has stayed on top of his

he’s known how to cheer his whole responsibilities.

adding

life.” “I balance cheer and school so

new things

Payne talks about how much easily, probably because I haven’t to it.

Logan has learned from watching had much homework at all this

“He is

practices and games and how much year,” Logan said.

always learning

character he adds.

Right now, Logan is a main

new things to help

“He knows all of us and has base, but he would like to try being

the team,” George

watched us cheer from the side-

a flyer at some point because it

said. “He fits in per

thought I was going

to quit, but I didn’t.”

After the initial

surprise from

some of the

guys, they quickly adapted to having

her on the team.

“(Cole Vermilyea) just came

up to me and picked me up and

slammed me on the ground,” Garrett

said. “It was so funny. They’re

all really sweet.”

Head Coach Ron Bare has

developed a culture of acceptance

throughout his years of coaching,

which has made it a welcoming

program for Garrett.

“We’re trying to treat everyone

the same,” Bare said. “Everybody

that comes in our room gets

treated equally.”

Girls’ wrestling in high school

has been growing throughout

the past several years. According

to wbur.org, the girls’ sport has

grown 30 percent from last year

alone.

“There are a lot more ladies

wrestling,” Bare said. “There’s a

lot of girls’ only tournaments, so

she has more opportunities.”

Even though the sport has

been on the rise, some of Garrett’s

opponents have been more opposed

to it than others.

“Some guy forfeited because

he didn’t want to wrestle a girl;

it was really annoying,” Garrett

said. “One time, I pinned a guy,

and he started laying on the mat

and crying because he lost to a

girl.”

Despite the adversity, Garrett

hopes to continue getting better

along with the support of her

teammates.

“I love them all,” Garrett said.

“They’re like a side family now.”

Photos contributed by John Edwards

Freshman Lexi Garrett (wearing black)

wrestles an opponent. Garrett is a member

of the junior varsity wrestling team.

March 2020 www.northwesthorizons.com 13

SPORTS

March is MAD:

Hinal Patel

contributing writer

T

he NCAA men’s basketball

tournament is underway, as 68

teams are projected to compete to

see who this year’s national champion

will be. Many from all around

the country will be tuning in to

watch this crazed past time during

the month of March.

“I watch March Madness for

the hype, especially because games

are usually one and done, meaning,

once you lose, you’re done,” senior

Gabrielle Kim said.

Kim isn’t the only one around

school participating in the excitement.

“I like basketball and the overall

atmosphere,” sophomore Jed

Hampton said.

Students don’t just watch the

games; many prefer to participate

in brackets, making the tournament

more of a competition between

friends. Brackets are opportunities

for the viewers to interact

and create how they envision the

Sports profiles

National basketball tournament is underway

tournament going. Viewers from

everywhere in the United States

create brackets, but the chances of

correctly predicting 68 games are

extremely low.

“With how many people who do

it with the national bracket, you

don’t really have a high chance of

winning, but it’s still fun to see

how well you can do,” Hampton

said.

Every year, this tournament

produces wins and losses that

shock the nation. This year doesn’t

appear to be any different, but here

are some of the top predictions for

this year’s national championship:

Villanova: Currently second in

the Big East with an 18-6 overall

record, Villanova seems like a

contender for the coveted title of

National Champion.

“Villanova will win the championship

because of their talent and

past success,” Kim said.

Gonzaga: With a 25-1 overall

record and first in the West Coast,

Gonzaga is starting to be seen as

the team to beat.

“This year, I think Gonzaga will

win it due to their team depth and

overall talent,” junior Agustin Orozco

said. “The team is great from

top to bottom, and they know how

to win.”

University of North Carolina:

Despite a history of success, the Tar

Heels have faced a tough season

with an overall 10-14 record. Many

doubt UNC will even qualify for

the tournament, but some still

hope they will pull out a win and

emerge champions.

“The one I want to win, UNC,

is not doing too well this year,”

Hampton said. “I still like the

school, and I really like the coach.”

Logos taken from school websites

The logos shown right represent students’

top picks for the March Madness tournament.

Villanova (top) currently has an 18-6

record. Gonzaga (middle) currently has a

25-1 record, and UNC (bottom) currently

has a 10-14 record. These statistics were

last updated on Feb. 14.

Kaylen Ayres, Lily Hughes

sports editor, staff writer

Name: Anna Sechrist (below on left)

Grade: 10th

Sport: varsity swim

Position: breaststroke, 50 freestyle, and 100 freestyle

Hype song: “Motorsport” by Migos

Pregame ritual: “My friends and I either go to

Chick-fil-a or Salsaritas.”

After game: “My best friends’ and my families

go to eat somewhere, and we always have a fun

time together.”

Name: Sheldon Ulmer (left)

Grade: 9th

Sport: junior varsity basketball

Position: forward

Hype song: “Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill

Pregame ritual: “I listen to coach’s pregame speech,

stretch and pray right before I go out.”

After game: “I listen to coach’s after game speech, go

talk to everyone who came to watch, go out to dinner,

go home and do homework.”

Name: Shaena Riddles (right)

Grade: 11th

Sport: varsity girls’ basketball

Position: shooting guard

Hype song: “Toes” by DaBaby

Pregame ritual: “Reagan Kargo and I

stretch together.”

After game: “I go out to eat with my parents.”

Name: Devin Bradshaw (above)

Grade: 12th

Sport: varsity indoor track and field

Position: pole vault

Hype song: “Rockstar” by Nickelback

Pregame ritual: “I listen to music during stretches and

warm-ups.”

After game: “I get a burrito and a Twinkie from Sheetz.”

Photos contributed by Shaena Riddles, Devin Bradshaw, Anna Sechrist and Sheldon Ulmer


March 2020

FEATURES

Unveiling the value of censored materials

Literary works and student

publications have been

subject to censorship in the

past. Here is a brief history

and a current look at how

censorship is treated here at

Northwest and nationally.

Val Orozco, Kimberly Brown

staff writer, arts and entertainment editor

What crosses the line in

terms of appropriate literature in a

school environment?

For many years, the English department

at Northwest has grappled

with this question. Teachers

have used various genres and pieces

of literature to encourage students

to dive deep into a wide variety of

themes.

But what if those literary works

also contain controversial content?

1997- “The Color Purple” and

“Native Son”

In 1997, a parent raised the challenge

that Alice Walker’s “The Color

Purple” and Richard Wright’s “Native

Son” were inappropriate for her

son. Rather than accepting alternate

titles, she insisted that the literary

works be completely removed from

Northwest’s English core curriculum.

“Those were some tough times,”

retired Latin teacher Sarah Wright

recalled, who was Northwest’s

Teacher of the Year in 1997. “What a

headache.”

2012- “The Handmaid’s Tale”

In 2012, Grimsley and Page

High School parents presented a

petition with more than 2,000

signatures challenging Margaret

Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s

Tale.” The petition asked district

leaders to “make sure that our

school assignments do not denigrate

anyone’s religion” and to

“promote rather than tear down

traditional values.”

In each instance, the Guilford

County School Board upheld

the literary works, reminding

parents that they can always

request alternative titles for

their child.

HB 2044- Public Library Censorship

in Missouri

Meanwhile, in other parts of the

country, the ability to censor is being

put into law.

HB 2044, a bill introduced Jn. 15

by representative Ben Baker in souri, could potentially create a new

Mis-

precedent for how titles are chosen

to be in public libraries.

“The current bill notes in detail

how libraries receive state funding,

and it indicates where and how the

libraries shall work with the State

Librarian for further funding,” author

Kelly Jensen said.

HB 2044 provides for much

greater parental oversight of public

libraries. It creates restrictions for

sexual materials and any content

deemed inappropriate. Although it

has good intentions, the bill raises

concerns when it creates a parental

library review board as the ones

who decide what material stays and

what material goes.

This board’s selection of materials

directly affects the funding that

would go towards the library. It

raises the questions: What kinds of

people are going to be making these

executive decisions? What kind of

preparation and training will be

provided?

The answer is simple: the board

members will be chosen based on

parents’ ability to come to a meeting

rather than merit.

2018- “Perks of Being a Wallflower”

and “The Absolutely

True Diary of a Part-Time

Indian”

The most recent book to be challenged

at Northwest was “Perks

of Being a Wallflower.” Like many

other novels that are dissected and

analyzed in high school, “Perks

of Being a Wallflower” tackles the

heavy topic of rape, which can be

hard to digest for some students.

“The student and parent were very

religious and thought that some of

the content, including language and

sexual content, was blasphemous,”

English teacher Jason

Allred said.

This was an inde-

pendent reading

assignment, so

the student could change their book,

but there is a much larger issue

surrounding the negligence toward

reading certain materials; students

aren’t exposed to deeper topics.

Parents also recently voiced their

opinions about “The Absolutely

True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.”

Despite being a National Awardwinning

book, this memoir by Sherman

Alexie has been removed from

reading lists around the country.

The book was required as a summer

reading assignment in 2018,

put in place of “Sleeping Freshmen

Never Lie.” Although the challenge

never went as far as the school

board, Northwest parents still argued

that it be taken off the reading

list.

“It is vulgar, obscene, overly-sexual

and has no place in the curriculum,”

one parent wrote in an email

to the English teachers.

Despite their complaints, the book

remained on the summer reading

list, but with an alternative--the

previous summer reading novel,

“Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie.”

Ultimately, in 2019, summer reading

was canceled altogether by the

School Based Leadership Team as

part of a blanket decision to eliminate

all summer assignments.

Freedom of Speech in Public

Schools

Photo by Kaylen Ayres

Senior Zoe Simon has her mouth covered up by symbolic, censoring hands. Sometimes

in an effort to protect a student’s innocence, parents and authority fi gures overstep their

boundaries and end up limiting their access to valuable content.

Not all parents are against their

children being exposed to sial content.

“As I told my neighbor,

great literature tackles

the thorny, complex

issues of controver-

human-

ity,” a different Northwest parent

wrote in an email. “This is just the

kind of education I want for my

daughter.”

But what happens when students

“tackle thorny, complex issues” in

their own publications, such as tne

school newspaper or yearbook?

Public schools in the United States

are all protected under the First

Amendment as established by the

1969 Supreme Court Case Tinker v.

Des Moines to have freedom of expression

for students after a school

banned the students from wearing

black armbands to protest the

Vietnam War.

“The school has to prove that the

conduct or speech metrically and

substantially interferes with school

operations in order to justify the

ban,” the Supreme Court ruled.

However, sometimes this freedom

is contested by the school leadership

itself.

Northwest Horizons’ battle

with censorship in 2010

In 2010, a Northwest Horizons’

student wrote about a taboo topic

new to Northwest’s halls. The story

was titled, “True life: I had an abortion.”

The article throws the reader into

a personal account of what this

student went through. The writer

pours her emotions into the article;

she speaks about the conflicts

it brought between her and her

boyfriend, and the legal trouble she

endured in order to go through the

process without telling her parents.

She talks about her deepest regret

being when she walked into that

doctor’s office.

The staff felt that this was an important

article. Northwest Horizons

prides itself on being able to tell the

indidvidual stories of a diverse and

large population of students.

Understanding the gravity of

this topic, however, adviser Melanie

Huynh-Duc created a board of parents

and colleagues to provide their

thoughts on the article.

The board, comprised of different

political leanings and opinions

unanimously agreed the article

should be published.

However, after the article was

forwarded to the administration of

the Central Office, its publishing

was halted under the ruling that it

was deemed inappropriate.

This is the only example of blatant

censorship Northwest Horizons

has experienced.

Should students and teachers

have free reign when it comes to

language and controversy? Probably

not. However, censorship

potentially removes valuable voices

that could have a transformative

effect on whoever’s listening.

Perhaps the late author Pat

Conroy said it best in 2007 when he

confronted a West Virginia School

Board for censoring his own books.

“Book banners are invariably

idiots,” Conroy wrote. “They don’t

know how the world works--but

writers and English teachers do.”

March 2020


FEATURES

The Cycling Club takes on city council

Madison Magyar, Kaylen Ayres

features editor, sports editor

The Cycling Club is very wellknown

as a service-learning club

at Northwest. They sponsor many

service projects such as bike rodeos

and cycling events as well as other

fun activities.

A year before the Cycling Club

at Northwest started, there was a

mountain biking club which did

not do service learning and quickly

died out.

“I was 13 years old when I

started; I was quite late but when I

did start cycling, I got really into it

really fast,” senior Jesse Andrews,

president of the club said. “I started

cycling with local bike shops

through their weekly group rides;

after that, it just picked up.”

His interest in cycling is one

of the main reasons for starting

the club. Experiences with other

groups helped him with this decision,

as well.

“(In other groups) it was just

me and a bunch of older men and

women. There was no one I could

connect to; I mean this is an eighth

grader riding with a bunch of 30-

40-year olds,” Andrews said. “I was

like, well, it’s high school just start

a club.”

The Cycling Club has grown to

new heights doing many projects

with the help of many other organizations.

“With Bicycling in Greensboro, we

get service-learning opportunities

because we have a partnership with

them,” Andrews said. “They sponsor

the Ride of Silence, which is the

event that honors cyclists who have

been injured or killed throughout

each year.”

Andrews is the secretary of Bicycling

in Greensboro, an organization

that advocates for safer cycling

and better cycling infrastructure.

“This year we went to City Council

with Bicycling in Greensboro

and spoke to the council members

about safer streets,” Andrews said.

The proposal, called Safe Systems,

involves advocating for safer

roads to be built as well as adopting

practices to make cycling safer

on city streets.

“It’s basically to have an extra

voice when roads are created in

Greensboro,” Andrews said. “Right

now (the roads) don’t get approved

by the cyclists. The engineers are

creating these roads without having

a plan for cyclists.”

After speaking at the Greensboro

City Council meeting, the cycling

club will

have to

wait for

change.

“We’re

getting

kind of

shut out

of that

decisionmaking

process,”

Andrews

said. “We

feel that

for it to

be a safe

street,

it has to

have a

gutter,

sidewalk

and a bike lane.”

Although this may seem minor

to some, cycling is becoming

a popular and, in some cases, a

necessary form of transportation

for many.

“I think a lot of people don’t

realize that cycling is a way

of transportation, and a lot of

people don’t have the means,”

Andrews said. “Not everyone has

the ability to own a car, so cycling

for a lot of people becomes

their only way of transportation.”

Andrews hopes that after

he graduates the club will

continue to thrive and make

changes to better the community.

“I know that’s going to be hard

to pass down (the club) to someone

else, but I’m going try my hardest

to get the next leader to be able

to do exactly what I’ve been doing

with the same outreach opportunities

to Greensboro and the Department

of Transportation,” Andrews

said.

Junior Ethan Dales, a member

of the club for three years, hopes

to carry on the club after Andrews

graduates.

“Next year, a couple members

and I plan on continuing the

Cycling Club, and hopefully it’ll

continue for years after I graduate

high school,” Dales said.

His dedication as well as the help

of the community and other organizations

has allowed the Cycling

Club to flourish and have a lasting

impact at Northwest and Guilford

county as a whole.

“I am starting a cycling ambassadorship

program where we’re

going to get what we’ve done at

Northwest, and we’re basically going

to send our program to other

schools in the Triad,” Andrews

said. “We have a complete list of

what you need to do to have this

club at another school.”

The Cycling Club has made big

strides this year and hopes to continue

to in the years to come.

“We are a hardworking club,”

Dales said. “We are proud riders of

North Carolina. We want to do anything

we can to make it safer and

more fun for cyclists riding here.”

Photo contributed by Jesse Andrews

The Cycling Club goes to Greensboro City Council to propose the Safe System. The club has

been working on branching out in the community to make a positive and lasting impact.


Photos contributed by Ralph Kitley

Kitley and his wife Loretta (left) pose with the school

mascott. Kitley has been a principal at Northwest for

11 years. Kitley and a student (right) take a picture

at a Powerderpuff game. He has made strong connections

with many students over the years.

Kitley’s retirement, cont. from page 2

than in June after graduation.

“The main reason (I chose

March) is that once you retire,

you have to have been disengaged

or disconnected from

the school system for at least

six months,” Kitley said. “That

would put me coming back Sept.

1 in time (for the beginning of

the school year). And there are

a lot more opportunities Sept. 1

than January.”

Kitley looks forward to working

with Guilford County Schools

by providing guidance to other

principals and administrators as

a consultant.

For students and staff at

Northwest, Kitley will continue

to be a leader and a mentor.

“He makes you feel like you

have the confidence to carry

things out and be able to get

things done,” Hiller said.

Gilyard agreed.

“One thing I’ll take away from

his leadership is being visible,

being supportive and being honest,”

Gilyard said. “He really has

a great way of dealing with those

difficult conversations with staff.

He’s just a great guy.”

March 2020

Nathan Vescio

webmaster/co-editor in chief

Toward the end of the first quarter,

several Advanced Placement teachers received

new resources and books to use in the classroom.

The books came in conjunction with changes to

the curriculum in their courses. These new

resources came as a surprise to AP teachers;

however, Northwest did not explicitly request

them.

That is not to say the new books and

materials have been unappreciated by teachers,

though. AP Statistics teacher Catherine

Brown was pleased to receive the materials

for her class despite being initially taken

aback by the news of their arrival.

“We didn’t know we were getting new

books until they said ‘you’re getting new

books,’ and we didn’t know they were coming

until they did,” Brown said.

The books arrived in mid-October, after

many teachers had already made lesson

plans and prepared to teach the year with

their previous materials. The late arrival of

the materials can be attributed to the lateness

of the changes made by the College Board

to the core material of the classes. The changes

were first revealed late last spring, so new

books weren’t able to be ordered to reflect these

changes until the summer at the earliest.

Further complicating matters was the difficulty

of coordinating transportation of the resources

due to the sheer quantity of new items being

delivered.

“The coordination between the county office is

where some of the hold up happened,” curriculum

facilitator Susan Orr said.

This late arrival proved to be an obstacle in

immediate usage of the new materials. English

teacher Scott Walker, for example, has not yet

been able to take advantage of the books for his

AP Language class.

“While already balancing six classes, it’s hard

for me to read the texts,” Walker said. “It’s a good

resource; I just don’t know how to use it yet.”

Even though the absence of the book prevented

Walker from making use of his texts this year, he

does not bare resentment for the holdup saying

he “doesn’t blame the timing.” Walker also plans

on making use of his book in future years after he

has had time to study it and evaluate how to best

incorporate it into his teaching.

As for why the textbooks were received by

Northwest at all, the school has Guilford County

at large to thank. In the interest of distributing

the county’s resources fairly among all schools,

the county doesn’t exclude schools from receiving

requested materials just because that particular

school didn’t explicitly request them.

“County-wide, there was a need and a request,”

Orr said. “There needs to be equity in the county.”

A whole semester passed since receiving the

books; however, the question arises if the materials

have proven useful in the classroom. In some

ways, having a hard copy version of the textbook

as opposed to online materials already available

only saves on inconveniences.

FEATURES

Changes to curriculum gets teachers new textbooks

Photo by Megan Harkey

New textbooks were provided for some teachers of AP classes due

to College Board curriculum changes. Many teachers have not been

able to integrate them in their classes yet.

“I already had access to a teacher version, so

they were basically saving on copies,” Brown said.

Walker also notes that having an updated book

will be a boon to saving on copies. Saving on

having to photocopy extra materials alleviates

the physical workload of teachers, so it follows

that they would enjoy having the amount needed

reduced.

“I won’t have to make as many copies,”

Walker said. “They’re good for sustainability.”

In some ways, it wasn’t necessarily the

books themselves that proved to be the source

for positive change, but the teaching resources

developed alongside of them.

“Now we have additional teaching resources

like Powerpoint and more (math) problems,”

Brown said.

Brown’s statistics classes found themselves

in a particularly unusual scenario, as

the College Board originally only sent them

partial textbooks that had not yet reflected the

changes made. The reason for this decision being

that the books simply weren’t printed yet.

The need to send partial textbooks didn’t

interfere with the delivery of the rest of the

books, however. The resources Brown enjoyed

were updated efficiently once the books were

printed with the changes in mind.

“They were very good at making sure they

sent the the teachers’ resources twice,” Brown

said.

Additionally, the partial textbooks, which don’t

need to be sent back, proved useful as a means of

easing the makeup of work when students were

not in class.

“I’ve had a lot of kids out with the flu, so I’ve

been able to send them home with (the partial

textbooks) to stay caught up,” Brown said. “It’s

kind of like having a workbook.”

Regardless of whether the new classroom

resources have fulfilled their original intentions,

they have been positively received by teachers and

have been met with gratitude.

“We’ve wanted updated textbooks for a while,

and now we have them,” Orr said.

Northwest alumna survives biking accident

Kaylen Ayres

fractured vertebrae, broken clavicle, The cycling community has come Steve. Currently, she uses a speaking

valve on her trachea tube to

sports editor

broken jawbone, broken cheek together to help pay for Rebecca’s

H

bones, internal bleeding and more. medical and legal expenses through talk.

er life changed in the blink Ron Booker is part of a 20-to-30 a “GoFundMe” page organized

With a

long recovery to go,

of an eye.

person cycling group with Kefer and

by Monte Brackett. They are

the Kefer

family appreciates

Northwest alumna Rebecca Kefer her father, Steve. He heard about

nearing the goal of $20,000

everyone

who has supported

was hit by an oncoming car when the accident through another member

in the group.

page, Brackett posts updates

“Everyone has been

to help the family. On the

them.

she was cycling on Bunker Hill Road

on Dec. 22, 2019. Kefer graduated “Most drivers just don’t look at a from Steve on Rebecca’s condi-

so helpful and caring,”

three years ago and was a junior cyclist as someone’s father, daughter

or whatever they are,” Booker Train” to help the family through

on the GoFundMe page.

National Honor Society member said. “They’re just trying to get the rough time.

“It brings tears to my

and the president of the Interact around them, not paying that much

Rebecca has endured plenty of

eyes when I think about it.

Club.

attention to the fact that they’re struggles—multiple surgeries, feed-

Thanks so much for all the

Due to brain bleeding and many on the road. I think it’s something ing tubes, practicing walking and

prayers and support. We’ll

pain medications, Kefer does not all of us need to be—a little more swallowing again, doing arm and

get her through this.”

remember anything from Dec. 20 patient.”

hand exercises and intense pain—in

The GoFundMe page for

through Jan. 8 and is thankful for Kefer knows how important road the recovery process. However, she

the Kefer family can be

that.

safety is through her experience. is back home from the hospital and

found through this link:

“I feel fortunate to not remember “This has highlighted how much resting. She is still getting visits

https://www.gofundme.

the trauma,” Kefer said. “I believe power drivers have,” Rebecca said. from doctors including the ENT and

com/f/kefer-family.

I would have been completely “When you drive a car, you have orthopedics.

Photo contributed by Rebecca Kefer

tion. They also provided a “Meal

Steve said in a message

marshal, cross country member,

surprised by the car because I had tremendous power over others’ lives.

They are planning for her to un-

Kefer poses after winning fi rst

ridden that route so many times. It One driver has altered my life and drergo tracheotomy to allow her to

place at a biking event. She

was the middle of the day, and that the lives of my family so much, speak better. The procedure involves

was the number one girls’

road is usually very safe.”

almost taking my life. A traumatic creating an opening in the neck to

runner for Northwest crosscountry

in 2018.

Kefer was placed on a ventilator

for four days. She faced life-

does shake the confidence of me and the “most painful and scary” part

threatening injuries including three many cyclists in the area.”

of the recovery process according to

March 2020 www.northwesthorizons.com

event like what happened to me place a tube into the windpipe. It is

17

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Mycheal Warner

staff writer

ARTISTS AT NORTHWEST

Freshman Spencer Hiller Photographic design 1

What do you like about photography?

I just get to be free with the pictures I take

and get to learn more about the camera

than what I knew before.

What are your future plans with

photography?

I think it’s just going to be a part

time (hobby) for me, and as I learn

more I will take more pictures of

the world.

What goals do you have this

year in photography?

Pretty much just do the best I can

and learn to use my camera as

best I can.

What do you like about

theater?

(I like) being able to work

with a vast group of people

and having a good time

doing it.

What are your future

plans with theater?

A future plan is to go to a

(drama) school and get better

at acting and help teach

younger kids.

What goals do you have

this year in theater?

My goal is to be able to

jump a level (skip Theater

2) and get into Theater 3

and 4.

Sophomore Meghan Virost

Theatre

Junior Brody Hilton

Honors Vocal Ensemble

Photos by Mychael Warner

What do you like about

choir?

I love singing, and I love getting

to sing (different) parts. I

love getting to sing all kinds

of genres in music.

What are your future

plans with choir?

I plan to go to school for choral

music and composing.

What goals do you have

this year in choir?

I planned to audition for NC

Honor Chorus and Mars Hill

Choir, and I have already

made both of them.

Senior Emily Dunn Creative Writing 2

What do you like about creative

writing?

I get to express myself as a

writer.

What are your future plans

with creative writing?

I want to be a writer. I like

fiction a lot so like an action,

fantasy (or) adventure writer.

What goals do you have this

year in creative writing?

I want to get a concrete idea for

a book to write in college and

get better at writing.

Disney expands empire

Adam Sasser

staff writer

In 2009, Disney had an estimated net worth

of $63.12 billion; within 10 years, they managed

to triple that to a net worth of $193.98 billion.

It’s no secret that Disney has become one of the

most powerful companies in the entertainment

industry, and Disney+ is the cherry on top.

On March 20, 2019, Disney gained ownership

of 21st Century Fox for $71.3 billion, thereby

making it the biggest media center to ever

exist. With this acquisition Disney began to set

in motion the creation of their own streaming

service, even though since buying Fox they now

owned 60 percent of Hulu. For just $7 a month,

a person can have access to almost every piece of

media that Disney has to offer.

“I think it’s definitely a monopoly, and I

think the power has gone to their head a bit,”

senior Jaden Malley said.

This might seem like a stretch, but Disney

has already planned out its entire movie release

schedule until beginning of 2023. This hurts

every other entertainment company as no one is


brave enough to have their movie go up on the

same day as Disney’s.

Looking at Disney+, it’s easy to see that

they have become attuned to creating lucrative

media. When Baby Yoda was first revealed in

“The Mandalorian,” there was a huge demand

for plush toys and merchandise relating to the

character. Disney knows how to artificially generate

emotional media like “Avengers: Endgame”

or “The Mandalorian.”

“Disney+ is a brilliant move on Disney’s

part,” junior Mackenzie Milani-Kaufman said. “It

really solidifies the hold they have on the entertainment

business.”

It’s also very rare that any other production

company will stand up to “the Mouse.” That was

until August of last year when Sony managed

to strike a blow to the juggernaut in the shape

of Spider-Man. The issue arrived when Disney

wanted to renegotiate its deal with Sony over

the use of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic

Universe. The deal had been that Disney made 5

percent on all Sony Spider-Man movies and 100

percent of all Spider-Man merchandise.

But Disney wasn’t satisfied after “Spider-

Man: Far From Home” made more than a billion

dollars at the box office. Sony threatened to pull

Spider-Man from the MCU in response as they

own the movie rights to

the character. The issue

was eventually resolved

with a new deal,

but Sony was largely

labeled as the bad guy.

led to them getting a

25 percent share of the

box office of all future

Spider-Man movies.

“No company

should be able to

have that much control

over an industry,” Milani-Kaufman

said.

Drawing by Adam

Sasser

Mickey Mouse is portrayed as

a monopoly monster. Disney

has recently expanded its

dominance over the entertainment

industry.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Is modern art overrated?

Christy Ma and Kelby Shouse

news editor, staff writer

Asingular black dot, completely blank white

canvases, a banana taped to a wall: all of these

are famous pieces grouped under the umbrella of

modern and contemporary art.

Modern art is often argued as “overhyped”

and “overpriced” as it requires very little technical

skill, but there is also a long history and

many arguments for the merits of modern art.

Modern art began around the time of the Industrial

Revolution; with such drastic changes to

daily life, art started to mold around new depictions

of individuality. This contrasts the commissioned

paintings of previous years,

which were often centered around

religious ideas.

“I think modern art is the

expression of modern ideas,”

junior Abby Englishman said.

“It’s a different way to express a

different reality.”

Ideas of the subconscious,

dreams and symbolism became

even more prevalent,

and the idea of “making

it new” became

popular. Visual

interpretation

and creative

composition

took hold over realistic portrayals, and later,

postmodern and contemporary art wanted to

push these boundaries even further.

“Pieces (like the banana on a wall) are outliers

of contemporary pieces, but I love them,” art

teacher Beth Herrick said. “I think they’re fascinating.

It’s risky; it’s pushing the boundaries.”

Some people disagree, stating that those outliers

are pushing on the edge of what art is.

“Personally, I think that taping a banana to a

wall and calling it art is testing the limits of what

people will accept,” senior Austin Liebgott said.

“It requires absolutely no skill, so conventionally

calling it a piece of art seems questionable, but to

each his own.”

Others criticize the confusing or pretentious

themes--due to the emphasis on individual

perception--and extremely high prices.

“It’s very difficult for a viewer to understand

modern art just by looking at it,” junior Jeanette

Wei said. “Often times, only the artists themselves

know what their work is conveying. It’s

not a bad thing, but it tends to make things very

controversial.”

The tremendous price on gallery

pieces can be attributed to

several

factors: time, name and

audience. Because gallery

pieces are often

marketed towards art

curators and not

day-to-day people,

their prices can

be marked a lot

higher.

“Once an

artist sold

one of

their

works for a certain amount of money, it would

be to their detriment to then sell something

for less,” Herrick said. “So if they’re really well

known and well-liked, they can slowly increase

their price.”

During the dada era--an avant-garde movement

starting around World War I--pieces like

Marcel DuChamp’s “Fountain,” which was just

a urinal he found, sparked debate about artistic

representation. These pieces focused on concept

and used art to convey their ideas rather than

having an underlying concept with a focus on

the art; the technical simplicity is traded with

conceptual complexity.

“Modern art is supposed to be taken as is,”

sophomore Melissa Hooper said. “It’s not about

the skill. Don’t think about what you can do,

think about (and enjoy) the art in front of you. (It)

brings in a lot of new ideas to art as a whole.”

Modern and contemporary art has not only

been changing the dialogue, but also who has a

voice in the mainstream western art world. Older

western art mainly depicts upper class white

men as they were often the ones commissioning

pieces; however, contemporary pieces--like Kehinde

Wiley’s “Napoleon Leading the Army over

the Alps”--serves to paint a more inclusive

world.

“(Modern and contemporary art)

has led to inclusion,” senior Renad

Alsaid said. “A lot more people

have a voice and a platform, and

there’s so many more beautiful

artworks created by people of

minority groups finally (getting a

spotlight).”

Regardless of personal opinion

on the merits of modern art, it has

certainly shaped the way this world

perceives art and ideas as a whole.

“It’s made people ask more questions,”

Herrick said. “I think that’s a good

thing. Even with the banana on the wall,

people asked ‘what is that doing?’ Modern

art definitely inspires topic, and it brings out

strong opinions from everyone.”

Drawing by Christy Ma

(Left) -A digital rendering of the famous “Banana on the

Wall” art piece is shown above. Modern art has helped to

shape our society but poses the question, What is art?


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