December 14, 2012 • Volume 10 • Issue 4 Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Al• 35406northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Traffic lady returns

Kitty Craze Swimmingpage 7

Page 3

Page 6

Alex HauserEditor-in-Chief

After seven and a half hours of school, several more hours of homework and having to wake up at the break of dawn to get to school by 8:00 a. m, students suffer from a lack of sleep.

But students who ride buses, lose another hour, the bus often picks them up as early as 7:00 a.m.

KeAmbria Washington, senior, said she is picked up around 6:52 a.m. and gets to school around 7:07 a.m.

“We have to stay on the bus until 7:15,” she said. “We are al-ways the first bus, and it’s very empty in the lunchroom when we’re [allowed in],” she said.

Jimmy Boone, the Director of Transportation, said there is not a law on the time buses can drop off students.

“We do have local policies,” he said. “As a rule we try not to drop off high school students before 7:15 a.m. Since all students begin breakfast at 7:30 a.m., students only have up to 15 minutes to wait before they can go to breakfast.”

Senior DeAnthony Mays, who rides bus 27, said his bus is over-crowded.

“You have a hard time trying to find a seat when there are so many people,” he said. “And then you have that person that is sav-ing a seat for someone or just wants to sit by themselves.”

Mays said many people that ride his bus could drive and that is part of the overcrowding problem.

“If you are a licensed driver and have a car, please drive to school, it will open up seats for the people who don’t have that option,” he said.

The bus routes are created using a computer program called Edulog. During the summer a complete listing of the students are placed on a map, and the transportation department assigns each student a bus.

“We try to make a distance of no more than four blocks to a stop for high school students. We examine how the students get to the stops for safety issues. For example, no crossing of four lane roads [or] railroad tracks,” Boone said.

The process of creating bus routes is “very difficult” because not every student rides a bus, but each one eligible is assigned.

“This year we hope to begin a process of including a request to ride a bus as a part of spring registration. If we can only identify students who want transportation, it will help us do a better job of creating routes,” he said.

The transportation system transports over 5,000 students with 93 buses, 73 of them running double routes.

Charles Anthony, assistant principal, said, for the size, the bus system is very effective.

“The drivers do a tremendous job in transporting students to and from school on a daily basis. They communicate problems they are experiencing on the bus to me, and we work together to try to correct the problem,” he said. “Mr. Boone often sends emails and will sometimes stop by the school to see if there are any problems with the buses and find out from us what they can do to better serve our needs here at Northridge.”

Anthony said the only time the buses arrive late is when there are a number of drivers out on a given day, and the transportation de-partment always informs the school when they are going to be late.

“Some days, there are just not enough substitute drivers to cover all of the routes where drivers are absent,” he said.

Boone said they are currently recruiting substitute drivers.“On occasion we have to bring in other buses to assist with

routes because of a shortage of drivers. We regret having to do this but strive to complete the routes,” he said.

Synteria Pearson, senior, said her bus driver really cares about the students on his bus.

“He talks to you when you get on and off the bus, and he knows all of his students by name. He’ll also wait a couple of minutes for you when you’re late,” she said.

Boone said the transportation department is a “vital component to education.”

“If students cannot get to school, they cannot get an education. Without the bus, many students would not be able to get to school,” he said. “A year ago I received a phone call from a young lady who had been in a lot trouble in high school, and nearly dropped out. After working on the problems with the bus, she started attending school every day. She called me to tell me she had just graduated from the Univer-sity of Alabama, and told me she would not have been there without the school bus,” he said.

Rabisa KhanCopy Editor

The board is considering implementation of tablets in place of textbooks next year.

Chris Jenks, Coordinator of Instruction-al Technology, said the board is currently evaluating various options to transition toward more digital learning opportuni-ties.

“At the direction of Superintendent Dr. Paul McKendrick, we are investigating on how to implement a ‘one-to-one’ initiative [which would give] one device [to each] student,” Jenks said.

He said that the devices the board imple-ments do not necessarily need to be tablets.

“The critical part to remember is that the focus should not be on the device but on the students’ needs,” Jenks said.

He said tablets will be most promising for consuming reading content, notes and enhancing an educational environment. In-

tensive writing assignments, such as essays, would not be suitable for such devices.

Elizabeth Tiley, guidance counselor, said she is not aware of the tablet idea but thinks it has many positive and negative effects.

“It might be beneficial for students in this fast pace modern world and better

prepare them for what’s coming up in college,” she said.

Tiley said stu-dents could down-load many programs and software for learning purposes but many students will most likely play games such as solitaire instead of

working in class.“Every student would most likely re-

ceive a tablet, but we could run into the same problem as this year,” Tiley said.

“Many textbooks won’t be returned at the end of the year, and we would run short of devices,” she said.

Mary Margaret Murdock, sophomore, was one of seven students selected from

the tenth grade to be part of a meeting with the board members.

“[The board] talked about replacing text-books with tablets, but I just don’t think that’s a good idea at all.”

Murdock said she thinks it is stupid be-cause the school is not even meeting AYP, and people are more worried about getting tablets.

Katherine McCray, sophomore, said she also prefers textbooks.

“I like to have something tangible in my hands, something I can shove papers into,” McCray said.

McCray said she is also worried about the financial aspect of this venture.

“If we can’t even afford textbooks for ev-ery student, how are we supposed to fund eBooks for every student?” McCray said.

Jenks said the school board has posi-tioned the school system on sound finan-cial footing.

“If the board decides this plan is the cor-rect direction, local funds will be available to make it a reality,” he said.

Additionally, McCray said she believes there are too many complications and vari-ables that would obstruct the success of

wheelstheon thebus

roundgo

andround

Buses key to some students’ success

Tablets become option to replace textbooks next year

tablets in the classroom.“Tablets could be lost or stolen, and they

require charging,” McCray said. “People could easily get away with doing nothing.”

If done properly with focus on profes-sional teacher development, network and infrastructure preparation and curriculum, Jenks said, “a device deployment like this could be transformative.”

Art by: Kanjalla Dancer

Is your bus overcrowded?Yes:38 No:14

Does you bus arrive before 7:15?Yes:12 No:36

Plugged in:Tyesha Pinnock, sopho-more, uses her iPad during class. “I use it to research topics in class and to help with school work or home-work,” she said.

I like to have something tangible in my hands, something I can shove papers into.

Katherine McCray, sophomore

Photo by: Alex Hauser

Compiled by: Kelly Burnham

2 The Northridge ReporterDecember 14, 2012Opinion

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Gold Medalist (2005-2011) • SIPA All-Southern (2003, 2005–2011) • ASPA All-Alabama (2003–2011) • NSPA All-American (2004, 2008, 2011) • Best SIPA Newspaper in Alabama (2003–2007) • NSPA News Story of the Year (2005) •

SIPA First Place News Story (2007) • SIPA First Place Review (2009) • Rick Bragg Feature Writing Award (2009)

Our ThoughtsCommon Core causes change in curriculum

agree (19) disagree (0)

Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 • (205) 759-3734 ext. 295

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Editorial Policy: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or ad-ministration of Northridge High School or the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. It is the policy of The Northridge Reporter to publish all non-obscene, non-libelous, signed letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion expressed in them. Letters must be submitted to Susan Newell in room 109 or emailed to northridgereporter@gmail.com.

Editor-in-Chief *Alex HauserManaging Editor*Raiha Bajwa Feature Editor*Renu PanditNews Editor*Sarah Katherine Barnes

Entertainment Editor*Raiha BajwaSports Editor*Alex HauserOpinion Editor*Raiha Bajwa Beat EditorMorgan DeWitt

Copy EditorKelly Burnham, Rabisa Khan, Jared LotfiInfographics EditorJakailah CooperArt EditorKanJalla DancerArtistsCheQuita Burrell, Katie Poore

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The Common Core Curriculum was adopted by Alabama as an attempt to get students on the same level playing field as other

states. Part of the change included making adjustments to current standards

and the academic level students are expected to be at. One of the adjustments that is expected to be made is the removal of

Advanced or Honors English classes as an attempt to raise the bar for students and get everyone to the same benchmark.

Now students will only have the opportunity to enroll in Regular or Pre-AP classes, with no option for those who may fall in between the two levels.

While in theory it may sound like a good idea to push most students to AP level classes and allow others who are not as up to par to stay in Regular classes, the plan does not tend to every students’ needs.

The two levels of English that will be offered fall at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Having no bridge between the two could create an academic gap for students.

Students at the Honors level will either be forced to take a class where they are ahead of the curriculum and have a higher level of un-derstanding than their classmates, or be in a class where they struggle to keep up. For these students the Advanced classes are essential to challenge them just enough but not have them drown in a class too advanced for them.

Another concern with the change is the idea that Pre-AP classes will be watered down to meet the needs of the students who can’t keep up, thus taking the place of the Honors courses but then not serving their real purpose.

While we understand the goal of the changes and wish for the same results of raising the academic standards of our students, The Northridge Reporter believes this is not the way to go about it.

An ideal educational system is designed to meet the needs of every student and help them succeed at their level, and eliminating Honors English classes does not serve that purpose.

Web MasterVictoria LoveAdviser*Susan Newell

Art by: Katie Poore

Alle

n

Katie PooreStaff Writer

People who are able to get released from class to go to the bathroom should get a medal.

There is positively nothing more annoying and tire-some than finally—finally—being re-leased from class to go to the bathroom and having to lap the entire school in order to locate an available one.

Nothing.Really. I’m serious.The exception being, perhaps,

the interrogation that often en-sues once one returns to class, having successfully located a restroom, “What took you so long? Where have you been? You have five minutes between classes to go!”

Okay, yes, fine, we have five minutes between classes to go.

The problem with this simple solution is, unfortunately, five minutes doesn’t cut it. Not when one needs to set a lot of time aside to simply find a bathroom.

And, to complicate things fur-ther, convincing teachers to let one out of the classroom is a ter-rific feat in itself.

Not to mention that reading the graffiti that covers any flat surface of the restrooms is just so pleasant. It’s just awesome having to read students’ mun-dane, inappropriate, and profane thoughts.

Year after year, students have had to repeatedly

cope with less-than-functional bathrooms. Stalls don’t have locks. Soap is always miss-ing, and only a hand-

ful of the bathrooms are actually unlocked. Toilet

paper is only sporadically avail-able. Paper towels are a rarity.

Once, a mysterious black, sticky substance completely coated the tiles, and this was soon tracked through the hall-ways, transported on the bottom of people’s shoes.

Last year, the bathrooms were in the same situation, with rest-rooms staying consistently filthy and students becoming increas-ingly frustrated.

One would think with a nearly eight-hour school day, it would be possible to set aside a few minutes to replenish the soap and toilet paper in the stalls.

Evidently, this is not the case. The bathrooms tend to remain in a constant state of neglect despite students’ complaints.

It’s an inconvenience. and it’s frustrating, and the fact that it never changes is discouraging. It is time something actually be done to maintain the bathrooms.

Oh, and to the person who had the presence of mind to write on the wall in order to remind people of the differences between “there, their and they’re…”Thanks.

Po

ore

lock

ed

openYou’re tardy.

pass?

Art by: CheQuita Burrell

Lack of functioning bathrooms disturbs student

Rabisa KhanCopy Editor

For me, the most troubling thing is to see my loved ones suffering.

I may get the smallest little burn or cut and ponder about it leav-ing a scar and worry about it for days. But once I think about it, my trivial injury is incomparable to the health issues many people have. A minor burn is something a person with cancer would choose any day.

My aunt suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis and has been faced with many health problems.

She has to go to dialysis where they replenish her body with new blood for her kidneys Monday,

Wednesday and Friday. She was di-vorced after her husband’s family found out about her arthritis, and she has been single now for almost 18 years.

The pain and loneliness she lives with every day is something I

hope no one ever has to go through, but I know many other people deal with a similar situation.

To complain about our little worries in life is some-

thing we are all guilty of. I will be stressed for days if I hap-

pen to sprain my foot. The thought of limping for the next couple of days will be the biggest challenge for me during that week.

Although every time I see my aunt, I appreciate everything I have and wish I could do something to return the happiness in her life.

Kha

n

Aunt’s pain makes student think

See story on page 6

3EntertainmentThe Northridge ReporterDecember 14, 2012

Web MasterVictoria LoveAdviser*Susan Newell

Abby AllenStaff Writer

After each passing year, the recurring words “new year, new me” pop into my mind, followed by some sort of New Year’s resolu-tion, those cute little prom-

ises I make to myself at the beginning of each new year,

a n d those crazy goals that I make, like becoming a professional fortune cookie writer.

I have far-fetched dreams that I promise to fulfill, like studying every night in order to make a 36 on the ACT this time around.

I make these promises, and I swear to stick by them. Then a week goes by, and then two weeks.

All those days of eating Chinese food and study-ing fortunes are ultimately a waste of time because then I decide that giving the message to a hungry teenage girl that “you will die alone and poorly dressed” via fortune cookie is a bit too depressing.

And then I realize that studying for the ACT sucks, and colleges will accept us even if our ACT scores aren’t perfect. Then it’s over. Done. Termi-nado. Finito. I just give it up. The New Year’s reso-lution is broken.

But lo and behold, I kept one. Well, almost.I was getting sick of breaking all of these prom-

ises to myself, so I made two New Year’s resolu-tions in 2012. I made one promise to start eating healthy and working out daily and end up looking like Hope Solo, and another promise to actually keep my first one.

One week passed, then two weeks passed and now nearly a year has passed, and I have kept my New Year’s resolution. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I look like Hope Solo (IN MY DREAMS), but I have definitely made changes I’m proud of.

All of these years I have never thought it was possible for me to finish something I started, but it is. Here’s to the New Year.

Alle

n

Kelly Caroline BurnhamCopy Editor

Merely by taking a scan of YouTube’s front page, the common Internet lurker will most likely discover that a new funny cat video has begun to make its way around the Inter-net. Many famous felines have strolled into the spotlight simply from being discovered through the Internet.

Maru, a tabby who finds amusement by sliding into boxes that are too small for his size, currently holds the record for ‘most-watched cat on YouTube.’ Sparta, the star of “The Mean Kitty Song” and his adopted brother Loki have gained popularity from simply being filmed by their owner Cory Williams.

‘Keyboard Cat’ and the pixelated .gif referred to as ‘Nyan Cat’ have taken over YouTube, gaining mil-lions of views and swiping the heart of the public.

Bradley Vaughn, junior, has a theory behind the instant success.

“Because cats in general are so easy to film, it’s almost for-mulaic; you don’t have to put much thought into [a video] for it to be successful.”

Websites such as ‘I Can Haz Cheezburger?’ are dedicated to exposing the hilarity of the world’s cats. Users are able to

upload a photograph, place a caption and let the Internet dis-cover the image’s humor.

“Just film [or photograph] a cat and people start laughing,” Vaughn said.

YouTube is one of the Internet’s main sources of felines, simply known as ‘funny cat videos.’ Many people say watch-ing cat antics is very entertaining. There are countless videos

o f cats being uploading to YouTube and other streaming websites each day.

Lauren Curtner-Smith, junior, said she loves funny cat videos.

“When I find that I have had a very stressful day, sometimes I need something

really elementary to make me laugh. I just go on YouTube and search

[for] funny cat videos.” Curtner-Smith owns a cat

named Raspberry, but has never filmed his behavior,

even when he climbs Christ-mas trees and walks on the

piano in her house. There appears to be a pattern

that correlates between owning a cat and en joy ing cat-related media.

Savannah Morgan, a junior who owns multiple cats, said she believes students who have cats as pets seem to enjoy viewing other cats on the Internet.

“I guess they’re taking over the Internet because the man-nerisms they have make people laugh, which makes them more popular, and it spreads cats over the Internet,” she said.

Katie PooreStaff Writer

With the Christmas season upon us and the abundance of presents already crowd-ing underneath the tree, there comes a moment where one simply wants to sit down, relax and find a good holiday movie.

However, the task is not easy. One has to sort through the deluge of cheesy movies with poor acting and cliché lines in order to find one really worth watching.

And these movies, few and far between, can make the season so much better. How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are the standard classics, but two other movies are slightly more unique.

Elf and Home Alone remain two of the best Christmas mov-ies to date.

Not only is Elf one of the funniest movies of all time, but it never gets old, and it still manages to convey those classic Christmas morals without being overwhelmingly cheesy like other Christmas specials. It is consistently funny and sweet, and it is almost impossible not to smile while watching it. Bud-dy the Elf’s blind dedication to Christmas and all the festivities and meanings behind it is refreshing. Add to that the light-hearted jokes, Buddy’s irrepressible spirit, and his con-stant, inexplicable happiness, and the movie becomes a winner.

Home Alone is just as good. Even though it was made before any of students at school were even born, it is just as loved and known as any movie made this year. Kevin, the main character, starts out as the typical misunderstood kid, but once he is left home alone while his family is on a va-cation in France, he becomes clever, smart and selfless. The movie flawlessly con-veys deeper meaning through Kevin’s words, and, in the end, his actions.

Both movies are wonderful and perfect representations of what Christmas should actually en-tail. They manage to be both entertaining and inspiring without seeming to try too hard. The lines aren’t corny, and the actors are good. The message is better. Without these movies, Christmas would not be the same.

OpinionNew year, new resolutions

Sarah Katherine BarnesNews Editor

“Christmas time is here, we’ll be drawing near, oh, that we could always see such spirit though the

year…” If you can’t put a tune to those lyrics, you haven’t

listened to enough Christmas music this year!The familiar songs that stream from Birmingham’s

Magic 96.5 radio station in December could arguably be the best part of the Holidays.

Whether or not you celebrate the Christmas holiday, those songs just put you in a good mood, and how could they not?

Pick any song on the radio, and the lyrics say the most wonderful things!

They talk about sitting around a fire, all cozy, or getting together with loved ones, going outside and building snow-m e n , or hosting elegant parties.

It just makes you feel happy, especially when you know the words; what’s even better is singing along.

Even Adam Sandler’s “Happy Ha-nukkah” brings a smile to my face, and

I’m not even Jewish.The only problem with Magic 96.5 is that I haven’t heard

“Christmas in Dixie” once this year. I love that song.

And I also can’t stand Christmas music be-ing played before Thanksgiving.

That’s the worst.

Christmas Time

Funny cat pictures, videos take over Internet

Classic Christmas movies delight

Christmas means holiday music

Jakailah CooperStaff Writer

Students lose a lot of information learned over the school year and at an alarming rate. To students who do not take in information or put in effort to learn, exemptions are invaluable.

Dr. Paul McKendrick, superintendent, said, the exemption policy is unwise because colleges do not exempt their finals.

Kayla Moore, junior, said she would prefer mid-terms over end of the year exams.

“Personally, I would forget what I learned in Au-gust on a test that’s in May,” Moore said. “I like midterms because they focus on material from one semester.”

Elizabeth Tiley, counselor, said several academic courses will have state designed exams at the end of the year.

“Midterms are scheduled this year due to the half credits that will be awarded for courses. Some courses are only half credit, and the midterms will count as final exams,” Tiley said.

Other exams will be developed by teachers. “The midterm schedule was approved by the

board of education,” Tiley said. “The end of year exams will be cumulative and will cover material learned throughout the course.”

Kiana Little, sophomore, said she does not un-derstand the point of midterms.

“I honestly don’t think we should have midterms if we are going to have end of the year exams,” Little said.

“Midterms for students taking Pre-AP or AP classes might have a toll on their hands,” she said.

NewsStudents prepare for midterms

Art by: Kanjalla Dancer

Can you keep it?

Art by: Kelly Burnham

4 The Northridge ReporterDecember 14, 2012Feature

Renu Pandit Feature Editor

The end is near—or is it? Perceptions of the world’s impending

doom are varied, and so are preparation techniques.

Morgan Wilson, senior, said Dec. 21, the alleged end of the world, will consist of “Jesus coming down from the heavens to set a plague upon us that will transform us into zombies.”

Wilson, who said he has been getting ready for the apocalypse his “entire life,” looks to his Zombie Survival Guide in or-der to properly prepare for it.

He said he plans to “live off the land.” “I have a location, my farm, where my

family and friends are going to go,” Wil-son said. “We have an arsenal of guns and weapons, and I plan on battling the zombies with katanas, which are samurai swords.”

Stephen Black, Spanish teacher, said he has a storm shelter stocked with plenty of clothes, bottled water and canned foods.

“Dec. 21 is the winter solstice after all, and the changing of seasons is an astro-nomical indicator of the end of the world as we know it,” Black said.

Black said he likes to imagine the world ending in a zombie apocalypse but sees it as a bit farfetched.

“However, if it did end that way, I feel like I would be well prepared. I’m a good

delegator and an accurate marksman. I feel like I could lead a group of survivors,” Black said. “I also don’t let my emotions get in the way of my actions, which is handy if your family members are zom-bies.”

He said he hopes the experience makes people more “globally connected and com-munity oriented.”

“It will definitely be a signal of the changing of time,” Black said.

Charles Durham, pastor at First Presby-terian Church, said he believes that the pro-nouncements made about the world ending on Dec. 21 are “usually made by Christians who believe they can use ‘signs’ of the cur-rent times that correspond with Biblical ‘signs’ of the end.”

“Jesus said very clearly, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come,’” Durham said. “I believe what Jesus said is true. No one knows. Not even those who think it will be Dec 21.”

Durham said that during the colonial pe-riod, the legislature was meeting in Mas-sachusetts when a total eclipse of the sun brought sudden darkness.

“People began screaming that the end of the world had come. A legislator stood up and declared, ‘If it is the end of the world, I

for one would want to be found at my duty. I move that candles be brought in, and we continue our work,’” Durham said. “They did… and the world did not end.”

Maia Wade, senior, said she’s “89% sure the world is not ending on Dec. 21.”

“The rational part of me says no, but there’s still a little part of me that says ‘what if?”’ Wade said.

Wade said she sees many possibilities for the world ending.

“The sun could explode and engulf the whole world, or it could just be brought on by natural disasters—basically just chaos,” Wade said. “The thing that scares me the most is just the thought of people turning on each other to survive.”

Wade said she thinks the apocalypse is a “good marketing scheme.”

“I’m not judging the people who are thoroughly preparing for it, since part of me still thinks it could happen, but I think they’re just feeding into consumer culture,” Wade said.

Sophie Fairbairn, junior, does not think the end of the world will occur any time soon.

“The media is really feeding into this apocalypse thing; and it’s causing a lot of people to overreact,” Fairbairn said.

Fairbairn said that when the world ends, she will be prepared.

“I’m just going to live my life to the full-est, so I don’t have any regrets when the time comes,” Fairbairn said.

Morgan DeWittBeat EditorJulia HocuttStaff Writer

Some believe the world will end on Dec. 21 and some do not. Those who do not believe in the impending apoca-lypse claim that the only reason it is not coming is because “there isn’t any proof.” But is there proof?

There is lots of speculation that the end of the world will follow a chain of natural disasters and catastrophes that will leave parts of the world in peril, desperately trying to recover.

Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, the earth-quake in Japan, the April tornados, the Colorado wildfires and, the most recent Hurricane Sandy are all natural di-sasters that have happened in the last eight years. Could this support some people’s theories of a natural disaster chain?

The Mayan civilizations had many theories about what would happen in the months leading up to the end of the world.

Stephen Black, Spanish teacher, said people are afraid of the world ending on Dec. 21 because this date is the day the Mayan calendar ends, but rather than the world ending after a chain of natural disasters, the Mayans suggest the world will end with a chain of natural disasters.

“In our western cultures we see time as being linear with a beginning and an end. In the Mayan culture, they see time as cyclical. It moves in cycles, and there’s no set end or beginning, just a continuing of life cycle after life cycle. There are five life cycles; we are the fifth. The first four were destroyed with fire, floods, etc. We will have to wait and see how the Mayan gods plan to destroy us. There has been a history of natural disasters being the end of the other life cycles,” Black said.

People in the field of science have their own opinions concerning the natural disasters that are occurring.

Paige Spencer, chemistry teacher, said she does not believe that the world will end on Dec. 21.

“More natural disasters are happening because of the effects that evolving humans are having on our world,” Spencer said.

She said climate change is happening all over the world, which is changing the world’s weather patterns.

“The earthquakes in Haiti, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, even our local weather is …

not normal. People like to talk and make big predictions, but people present false data,” Spencer said.

Different religions have their own theories about the end of the world.

Dr. Stevens Jacobs, Rabbi at Temple Emmanuel, said Ju-daism does not address the end of the world in very specific terms.

“[Regarding] natural disasters, I don’t think any reli-gious community has really addressed this question to any significant degree,” Jacobs said.

The natural disaster prophecy has shown up in the movies.

Junior Omar Elsoukkary said the movie 2012 has a scene that builds to the end of the world which has also happened in reality.

“In the movie, New York City floods in Oc-tober, and this past October, N e w

Yes No

209 students polled. Information compiled by Jakailah Cooper. Image drawn by KanJalla Dancer.

Designed by Renu Pandit.

York City was flooded by Hurricane Sandy,” Elsoukkary said.

Natural disasters may foretell impending doom

Do you believe the world will end on Dec. 21?

The countdown nears endFormation of varied survival preparations ensue

The CountdownMarch 1997:

Members of a cult called Heaven’s Gates be-

lieved that the comet Hale-Bopp signaled the end of the Earth.

Most of the members com-mitted suicide so their souls

could board the ship they believed was trailing the

comet. 38 bodies were found.

Sep. 27, 1994: Harold Camping, head of

Oakland’s Family Radio, said this was

the “Last Day” for Earth.

1993: 100 follow-ers of the Branch

Davidians barri-caded themselves

in a ranch to await the end of the

world. They were surrounded by FBI in a 51 day siege that was ended by a fire which killed 76 people.

1969: Charles Ma-son believed that simmering racial tensions in the U.S. would erupt into an Apocalyptic race war called “Helter Skelter”

=10

9

200

5FeatureThe Northridge ReporterDecember 14, 2012

Jared LotfiCopy Editor

Economic collapse, nuclear war, cosmic disas-ter, the end of civilization and the world as it is known continually edges its way into human

thinking despite efforts to concentrate on the more tan-gible elements of life like burgers, popcorn, pizza, enchi-ladas, sports, The Office and Nicki Minaj.

Stagnant employment numbers and prolonged re-cession are not exactly the stuff of children’s night-mares, but they could give way to very real visions of destruction and violence as could the ever present threat of nuclear attack from ter-rorist organizations.

Kyle Anderson, senior, said he doesn’t see peace being maintained into the near future.

“A major world war will probably flare up within the next 20 years; economically, we’re either headed toward utopia or the ultimate goal of Fight Club, which means a return to the hunter-gatherer existence led by our ances-tors over a millennium ago,” he said.

Foreign relations in decades to come should be a large element of concern for the future, sophomore Carlton Doss said.

“Our government could offend an-other country, particularly one in the Muslim world and ignite a world con-flict that would be sure to suck us in. I’d give it twenty to thirty years,” he said.

Kaitlyn Duren, junior, said that concern is not a constant presence in her life but a feeling that creeps in from time to time.

“It worries me in the way that it doesn’t [worry me],” she said. “The fear doesn’t consume my life; it just catches me off guard sometimes.”

The root of the problem, math teacher Scott Johnson said, is the desire for an easy way out of everything among young people.

“Everyone is looking for things to be given to them or to just fall in their lap. We’re heading toward the current state of Western Europe which came about simply because the government had to roll back entitlements. Take away something people have become so reliant upon, and they’ll take to the streets.”

What will happen when people do take to the streets, senior Morgan Wil-son said, is an eventual end to modern life as we know it.

“Our generation in general would not survive.” he said, “We’re so used

to iPhones, Twitter, Facebook, Xbox, Netflix, TV and news that we’d freak out and collapse under our own help-lessness.”

Hunter Smith, senior, said he does not have much faith in the survival know-how of the current generation.

“Nearly everyone is way too dependent on electricity,” he said. “Few know the impor-tance of outdoor skills, which are vital if someone hopes to make it in an apocalyptic set-ting.”

Smith said that teenagers ought to take as many chances as possible to camp, hunt, fish and plant crops.

Eleven of 45 students said they had been camping in the past year.

Spencer Patton, sophomore, who said he had gone camping twice, spent a few years with the Boy Scouts and

has worked on his family farm fairly often.“I really wish I was able spend more time out at the farm. It’s great to get out of the city every

now and then,” he said.Boy Scouts helped impart critical survival skills on freshman Brad

Bean. He said his knowledge of the great outdoors is almost

wholly due to his partici-pation in his troop.

“I will survive [the apocalypse],”

he said.

What happens when all of the lights switch off

Economically, we’re either headed toward utopia or the ul-timate goal of Fight Club, which means a return to the hunter-gatherer existence led by our an-cestors over a millennium ago.

Kyle Anderson, senior

The EndEvaluating

Natural disasters may foretell impending doom The fear doesn’t consume my life, it just catches me off guard sometimes.

Kaitlyn Duren, junior

The Countdown

“I definitely don’t think the world will end on Dec. 21. I’ve got too many things to do before the world ends, like graduate! I was in Tikal, Guate-mala this summer where there is a national park for preserved Mayan temples. The Mayans there all talked about how everyone has blown the Mayan calendar “end of the world” thing way out of proportion, and that Dec. 21 is only an end of a cycle, whatever that means. Based on my faith, I don’t believe anyone knows or will ever know when the world is supposed to end. I can’t imagine what it will be like when it comes, but I hope it will be peaceful.”

-Charlie Gross, senior

Gross

“I don’t think we can predict the end of the world. The scientific evidence so far hasn’t been proven true. I think it’ll be more spontaneous. I picture complete anarchy, nuclear bombs and people accidentally kill-ing themselves. We’re too powerful for our own good.”

-Anna Schwartz, science teacher Schwartz

”People are just going to go buck wild.”

-Rebecca Perkins, junior

Perkins

Agrawal

“The world isn’t going to end on Dec. 21; there’s no evidence. It’s just a hoax. If the world did end, there isn’t much we could do about it. If it were end-ing, I think an asteroid would smash into us and kill us all.”

-Paraas Agrawal, senior

Moore

“I don’t think the world is going to end on Dec. 21. If the world were to end, maybe the sun wouldn’t come up, and we’d all freeze in a long suf-fering process.”

-Mary Ruffin Moore, English teacher

Photos by Morgan DeWitt. Information compiled by Morgan DeWitt.

Jan. 1, 2000: The Year 2000 Problem, or Y2K, is when there was paranoia over whether or not computers

would continue to function as time changed from 1999 to 2000.

2003: Theories ran rampant about how Planet X, sup-

posedly the eleventh planet in our solar

system, would reen-ter the inner regions

of the solar system and wreak havoc

on Earth in the form of hurricanes, tornados and other

natural disasters.

Dec. 21, 2012: End of the Mayan calendar, and the alleged end of the world. It falls on the Winter Solstice, which is believed to be sig-nificant to numer-ous cultures. The Mayan calendar predicted several other disasters, which is why some believe it has credibility.

Nation ill-equipped for apocalypse

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6 The Northridge ReporterDecember 14, 2012News

Physicians:Raymond Poore, M.D.

Ingrum Bankston, M.D.Omar Smith, M.D.

John W. Duffy III, M.D.Gregory Broughton, M.D.

Nurse Practitioners:

Sharon Allen, CRNPJohn Chambers, CRNP

1780 McFarland Blvd. N.Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-5:00p.m.

Phone: (205)345-7351 (205)487-4405

Fax: (205)345-8476

Tuscaloosa Urology Center

Kayla PateStaff Writer

The class of 2013 has 28 members on the All-Academic Team. Nearly 10 percent of the senior class has made at least a 30 on the ACT.

Isaac Espy, All-Aca-demic Team advisor, said he thinks the Class of 2013

Kayla PateStaff Writer

For Scott Johnson, collecting cans comes as easy as offering his kids a day without math.

Johnson’s fourth period collect-ed 216 cans of the 571 cans col-lected for the West Alabama Food Bank. The canned food drive was

“rules” because of this. “[This is] a school record

by far. And they are not fin-ished,” Espy said.

Paaras Agrawal, senior, is on the All-Academic Team.

“I am proud to be a part of such a great group of students. This shows we are the best [students] ever,” Agrawal said.

He said it is possible, but

Nov. 5-16. His class won a pizza party on Nov. 30 for collecting the most cans. Kathleen Oatts, Student Government Association (SGA) advisor oversaw the drive.

“I think the food drive is im-portant because there are many people and families in our com-munity that are in need of the ba-sics such as food. It is important

Senior class beats school ACT record

Johnson’s fourth period wins pizza party; gets day off

Sarah Katherine BarnesNews Editor

At Verner Elementary, next door, the city appointed traffic director, Pam Middlebrooks, was absent from Oct. 22 to Nov.12.

“We’ve all been worried about her,” Verner’s secretary book-keeper Sharon Pilsch said. “It’s not the same with a cop directing traffic.”

Although the carpool lane at the front of the school is thoroughly manned by staff and safety pa-trol officers, the roads beyond the carpool lane have lost the face of traffic they have come to know and love since Middlebrooks started directing traffic in front of the school six years ago.

“I believe Mrs. Pam has had a stroke. We had a policeman filling in for her a few times, and Mrs. [Beth] Curtis [Principal at Verner] has been out there lately directing traffic herself,” Pilsch said.

“I don’t mind filling in for Mrs. Pam,” Curtis said. “I know if she could be out there in the mornings she would be. She takes her job very seriously.”

Middlebrooks said she has made a full recovery from the stroke, which her doctor described as a “freak thing.”

“I don’t have a history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or anything. I was healthy, and then I just had a stroke,” she said. “But I’m better now. I’m back on Northridge road.”

highly unlikely, that another class will beat their record.

Caris Deschner, senior, is on the All-Academic Team, and does not think their re-cord will be broken.

“I feel good. One, three we are the best,” Deschner said.

She credits Dr. Espy for their motivation to make 30’s on the ACT.

Traffic guard recovers from stroke

Photos by: Morgan DeWitt and Sarah Katherine Barnes

Raiha BajwaManaging Editor

Currently, there are three levels of English available to students: Pre-AP English, Ad-vanced Honors English and regular English. Starting next year the school system is consid-ering dropping Honors English to only offer Pre-AP and regular level classes.

Elizabeth Tiley, Guidance Counselor, said the change has to do with the Core Curricu-lum.

“We haven’t heard officially, but we’ll find out for sure in a month or two,” she said. “But that’s what the Central Office is telling us.”

The goal is to increase students’ academic performances.

“You can’t fix education by lowering the bar, so they’re trying to raise the bar and get everyone to the same benchmark,” Tiley said.

“We’re trying to up the rigor of our aca-demic classes, and so they’re saying to do

to help these people, especially when many of us are fortunate to have these items in excess,” Oatts said.

SGA member Patra Stallworth, sophomore, said she thinks the canned food drive helps needy families.

The competition used “is a good way to get students motivated to

collect cans,” Stallworth said.Mya Montrella, sophomore, is

in Johnson’s winning class. She helped by bringing cans.

“I was motivated because I wanted a pizza party and a no geometry day. I’m glad we had a chance to collect cans and give them to people that really need them,” Montrella said.

that there’s no need for three levels of English classes,” she said. “It should increase the rigor of the classes we currently have right now; it should not change the quality of the Pre-AP classes.”

Tiley said placement decisions for students will be made more carefully.

“We are going to make decisions based more on students’ Plan ACT scores instead of teacher recommendations or what their parents want them to take,” she said. “Some parents don’t want their kids in regular classes even if that’s where they should be.”

Traci Watson, English teacher, said the change is not a good idea.

“There is a difference in the level of rigor; it could create a gap in the level of understand-ing,” she said.

Watson said she thinks all levels are needed.“All students are not going to fit into two

categories of classes,” she said. “Some stu-dents still need the advanced level classes.”

Billy Lu, sophomore, takes Advanced Hon-ors English.

“I thought Pre-AP would be too hard for me, and [Advanced English] is a good level for me, and I’d like to stay in it,” Luu said. “I’m afraid that next year I’m either going to be in a room full of people I’m way ahead of or struggle in the class.”

Sophie Fairbairn, junior, said she is afraid the rigor of Pre-AP classes will decrease.

“Since they won’t have an Honors English class as a bridge, I feel like the Pre-AP classes will drop to the Honors level, and some of the students won’t get the instruction they need,” she said.

Tiley said if the change is enacted it will take time to get used to.

“It’s going to take a lot of adjustment on the teachers’ and students’ part. Some of that is based on the deficiency some of our students have entering high school,” she said.

Core Curriculum may change standards of classes

Leveling the playing field

Walter Hall Kyle Anderson Colin Reinwald

See editorial on page 2

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OB/GYNOf West Alabama

7SportsThe Northridge ReporterDecember 14, 2012

Jared LotfiCopy Editor

The wrestling team began its season in a showdown with County High and Vestavia on Nov. 27.

Hillcrest was defeated 36-24 while Vestavia came out on top with a score of 68-20. County High slid by with a score of 48-20.

Coach Don McNabb said the team is ex-perienced as it has ever been.

Savren NelsonStaff Writer

For the average high school athlete, run-ning on the field and lifting weights is an everyday thing; but with added pressure from the media to have a six pack and bulg-ing muscles, boys are starting to take risks in the weight room to meet expectations.

Coach Kristy Cooper, girls track and vol-leyball coach, said boys push themselves the most in the workout room.

“[Athletes] lift heavier than they should, and they are showing off, or they are doing the wrong technique,” she said.

Cooper said when you start feeling fa-tigued, “you should take a break or go a little lighter.”

“When you start feeling drained during a workout, you need to stop and take a break and then try again the next day,” she said.

When approaching an athlete about their technique or their workout regimen, Coo-

Jordan HutchinsonStaff Writer

Boys varsity basketball coach Bob Brantley said he is not happy after a 30-50 Bryant loss.

“We are inexperienced, and we are not playing as a team,” Brantley said.

The varsity boys won their season opener at Brookwood on Nov.15.

“We won handily, and it was a good start to the season,” Brantley said.

The win over Brookwood was in part because of junior power forward C’yontai Lewis. Lewis helped lead the team to a 45-29 victory by scoring 18 points.

“They did what they were supposed to do, and we got the result we deserved,” Brantley said.

On Oct.15, the freshmen boys basketball

team was moved out of the gym, so that the varsity players could practice there from 5:45 to 8:45 on Monday mornings.

“We’re inexperienced, but we will grow and get better throughout the season,” Brantley said.

The team encountered a setback when senior and starting point guard Montell Dent dislocated his shoulder. His injury resulted in him missing the Brookwood

game. Brantley said that even with this set-back, the team will practice as usual. Dent is now playing in a brace until his shoulder completely heals.

“Anyone else but Montell would not play because they would not be tough enough,” Brantley said.

The team will be competing in several tournaments after Christmas which Brant-ley said he feels good about.

Jordan HutchinsonStaff Writer

After the meet on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the swim team became the 23rd best swim program out of 76 teams in Alabama.

“I am very proud of the team’s performance at the state meet. They are very talented,” Allaway said. “I think next year is going to be even better.”

Two swimmers placed in state instead of one like last year, swim team coach Beth Allaway said.

Allaway said the two best swim-mers are in the eighth and tenth grade and are amazing at their age. They placed in the top 16 in the state.

Jewels Harris, eighth grader at Tuscaloosa Magnet School, placed 2nd in the 200m butterfly and 6th in the 500m freestyle.

Thompson Schille, sophomore, placed 12th in the 500m free style and 15th in the 200 IM.

“I feel like I could have done much better, but I’m still pleased,” Schille said. “My brother inspired me to swim when he took swim-ming lessons,” Schille said. “I wanted to be just like my brother, so I took lessons the next year.”

Two swimmers place at state

Basketball teams inexperienced; growing as season continues

“Most of the athletes have been a part of the team for four years,” he said, “We have seven seniors that include three sectional qualifiers from last year. I’m not worried about team losses early on, so long as the individual athletes are getting more and more prepared to be successful at section-als.”

Seniors Vyt Puzinauskas, Hayden Buett-ner and Clint Hydrick are the three remain-ing qualifiers from the 2011 season and serve as this year’s team captains. Each

lost the opportunity to compete in the 2011 state finals by one match.

“We’ve been working hard since sum-mer and were lucky enough to be allowed to use the facilities at Headhunter’s for no charge,” Puzinauskas said.

Headhunter’s is a local MMA (mixed martial arts) gym owned and run by Mike Taylor.

“There’s really been no chance for us to use the school gym,” Buettner said, “we cater to everyone else.”

Coach McNabb said that despite location limitations, preseason training had gone exceptionally well but a tough schedule lies ahead. He commended the work and leadership of new assistant coach Cody Cammack and the team’s captains.

A home match will be held on Dec. 11 against American Christian Academy and Hillcrest.

“It’s senior year, and we plan on making it to state for our last season,” Puzinauskas said, “It’s gonna be big.”

per said one needs to “approach the athlete with concern.”

“Just go up to them and say, ‘hey, I’ve been watching you; I’m afraid you might hurt yourself,’” Cooper said. “You have to go up to them with concern for them and their health.”

When it comes to health Cooper said, “you can use supplements, as long as it’s in moderation, approved and all natural.”

Thompson Schille, sophomore, swims competitively.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Schille swims before school from 6-7 a.m. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Schille swims from 5-7 p.m. He also has practice on the weekends, where he swims from 7-9:30 a.m.

Having to work hard for long periods of time, Schille said athletes need to get nutri-ents from “natural sources.”

“I believe that athletes should be able to get necessary nutrients from natural sourc-

es such as fruit.”When it comes to coaches pushing ath-

letes too far, Schille said “coaches are just doing what is necessary.”

Even with his work out schedule, he said he does not feel the pressure of looking fit.

Sophomore Heather Benjamin, a level eight gymnast, goes to the gym Monday through Thursday from 4-8 p.m. On Fri-days she practices from 4-7 a.m.

“I sometimes push myself a little too hard,” she said.

Gymnastics season lasts from January to March, and Benjamin goes to a meet every weekend.

“During conditioning, you have to work even harder. The coaches are watching, and you want to stand out,” she said.

When it comes to steroids, Benjamin said she views them as “cheating.”

“I don’t like them. If you stop using them, you become weak. You really didn’t do the work- you cheated,” she said.

Students lift weights to get edge in athletics

Wrestling team has tough season ahead; work hard in preseason

Pumping Iron: Demetrius Jones, senior, and Donovan Gee, senior, lift weights in strength training. “I like lifting weights be-cause it motivates me. I like to be in shape,” Jones said.

Photos by: Abby Allen

Decem

ber 14, 2012

Volume 10

Issue 4

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

8B

eatThe Northridge ReporterDecem

ber 14, 2012

Former football star becom

es new graduation coach

Jordan Hutchinson

Staff W

riter

He m

ay be in his first year as gradu-ation coach at the school, but he is not new

to the school system. G

oing into his 19th year in the school system

, Anthony

Harris, graduation coach, know

s his way

around Tuscaloosa City Schools.

He w

as an ISS monitor, athletic director

and football coach at Central; the school

that he played football at as a student. He

graduated from C

entral in 1987 and went

on to play at Southern Mississippi.

While

at Southern

Mississippi

he played football w

ith Brett Favre.

“He is a great leader and athlete,” H

ar-ris said.

He talked to B

rett Favre at the 100 year anniversary of Southern M

ississippi foot-ball and got an autographed football from

Brett. In 1991, he caught the w

inning touch-dow

n pass from B

rett Favre to beat the A

uburn Tigers to go to a bowl gam

e.“It feels great to m

ake a play like that,” H

arris said.A

s a graduation coach at school, his job is to m

ake sure no student falls through the cracks. H

e also has to make sure

that students are in the right classes, so they can graduate w

ith the diploma they

want. H

arris said that he loves Northridge

because of its diversity. “W

e have kids from all sides of the

spectrum,” he said.

Harris said the student body has a lot of

school spirit.“It w

as incredible when the students

stayed after school to work on the floats,”

Harris said.

Senior James C

ox said, “He is alw

ays up tem

po and upbeat.”“H

e is a good guy and a great motiva-

tional speaker,” Cox said.

Jackson creates artistic portrayal of the April 20

11 tornado

You’ve Got a Friend in M

e: Anthony

Harris, graduation coach, speaks w

ith senior Jam

es Cox in the cafeteria. “I’ve

really enjoyed working w

ith him. H

e’s very organized and has a great rela-tionship w

ith the students.” Elizabeth Tiley, freshm

an counselor, said.

Photos by Emm

a Jackson, shot in August 20

12 of damage that still rem

ains

“I love [taking] pictures and especial-ly [of] dam

age and reconstruction. I choose angles that tell stories of their ow

n, and I pick buildings people will

know the location of and the story.”

Emm

a Jackson, junior“M

y life history is centered around the event as a before and after the tornado because of m

y house being destroyed and rebuilt. W

e should never forget [the tornado] because ... m

any people died and lost their hom

e in the city.”

Jameson H

ubbard, senior

Put Me In, Coach