c saci lmeh4000,o rev :A

ENOTEC

adica

citec

C

edixon

oMnobr

a

F

edyhedl

amronnit

ocie A

CINESR a

ainomm

ledaR

AT

September 30, 2013 • Volume 11 • Issue 1 Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Al• 35406northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Mumford and Sons Volleyball

Color RunPage 8

Page 7Page 3

Renu PanditEditor-in-Chief

Starting this semester, certain students will be subject to random drug tests.

Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, announced that three groups of students will be tested.

“This includes drivers, students who participate in extracur-ricular activities and students whose parents elect to include them in random testing,” Espy said. “All city high schools will test, and most middle schools will as well.”

Espy said schools cannot randomly test students from the general population without parental consent, and that they must have a legal objective.

“Testing students who drive on campus has a justifiable pur-pose, obviously, which is student safety,” he said.

Espy said he believes this is a good idea since people who ruin their lives though drug use get started in high school.

“We want to invest in promoting a clean and drug free lifestyle now. This is important to me personally,” Espy said. “Right now we fight drug use mainly through punishment. The damage is done by that time in many cases.”

“I brought this recommendation to the superintendent for a number of reasons, including input from our coaches,” Espy said. “We had concerns about drug use within our student body, and determined that it was time to move forward with a more proactive approach.”

He said he wants students to know that this issue is important, and that the drug tests give students a reason to walk away from drug use.

“We care about students living clean lives,” he said. “If a high school student can get it in Tuscaloosa, we will test for it. That is for sure. The tests are very accurate. They can tell if you ate a breath mint two weeks ago.”

Espy said the drug tests are being funded through the school system’s general fund and are scheduled to begin later this fall.

“I want our students in testing populations to have the opportunity to get clean. That is only fair. No

one will know when we will test,” Espy said. “Not even me.”

Espy said that although the school has not chosen a company to do the testing, most companies use a random selecting program

to choose students.“If we test four or five times per year, a

single student could actually be subject to testing multiple times. We also may have a student who is never selected,” Espy said. “We would like to test a

high percent of students in the three testing populations.”

Espy said a period of in-eligibility

to drive or participate in extracurricular activities would be our response for a positive test result.

“A second positive result would mean a lengthy dismissal. A third result would terminate a student’s eligibility,” Espy said. “Let me point out that this is not a code of conduct issue, and no disciplinary action will be taken, like suspension from school.”

Kathy Granberry, Senior Marketing Executive with LabCorp, said there are several different methods used to detect the pres-ence of drugs in the system, including urine drug tests, blood drug tests, hair drug tests, breath alcohol tests and saliva testing.

“Currently, the most common method is urine drug screening; however, we have seen an increase in saliva and hair drug test-ing requests,” Granberry said.

She said that there is a wide variety of drug presence in teens. “The most common drugs detected in teens are marijuana,

alcohol and prescription medications. There has also unfortu-nately been an increase in the presence of heroin in teens and young adults,” Granberry said.

Depending on what was taken and how much of it was con-sumed, drugs can stay in the human body for quite some time, Granberry said.

“Alcohol usually stays one to 12 hours and marijuana can stay up to a week or even a month depending on how often it’s used,” she said.

“My personal opinion is that drugs have a devastating effect on teens. There is currently research being done on drug abuse in teens and the affects to the brain,” Granberry said.

Anna Laura Killian, senior, is a student driver as well as an athlete.

“I play tennis, and I cheer,” Killian said. “I don’t really think the drug testing is a bad thing because I think it’s important for athletes to be healthy, and obviously, drugs are not good for you.”

She said she believes most people disagree with it because they see it as “an invasion of their privacy.”

“But if you’re not doing drugs, then it shouldn’t really be a problem,” Killian said.

Killian said she thinks drugs are a distraction from better things you could be doing with your time and are bad for your health.

“They just don’t appeal to me,” Killian said. Espy said this is not a particularly “innovative or aggressive

program.”“Many school systems have drug testing programs. If you are

a college athlete, there will be no question about it. Many em-ployers require random testing. Smart people don’t use drugs. There are too many other things out there that can turn you on. Try a sport or a hobby. I run marathons and even trail races up to 100 miles,” Espy said. “Hey, if nothing else, after you run a marathon you are probably going to be too tired to do drugs, or anything else for that matter. Ok, maybe that is a bad ex-ample. But seriously, look around. The happiest people I know

are clean. Think about it.”

Drug testing to ensure student safety

The Color RunPage 8

Is d

rug

test

ing

a go

od id

ea?

Yes

80N

o 20

Do

you

know

som

eone

who

sm

okes

?

Do

you

know

som

eone

who

doe

s dr

ugs?

Hav

e yo

u ev

er b

een

drug

test

ed?

Yes

29

Yes

66Yes

60

No

71

No

34

No

40

100 students polled. Information compiled by Sumona Gupta. Designed

by Renu Pandit.

Information from the American Lung

Association. Designed by Renu Pandit.

Sumona GuptaInfographics Editor

At the end of this month, the school’s updated security measures will be in effect. Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said that this new measure will be put in place to protect students. “This will help regulate individuals who enter the building,” Espy said.

Espy said the new barrier in front of the bus entrance is a storefront barrier.

Darrin Spence, Dean of Students, said it is soon to be the location of a new ID card scanner and a gate to “secure the campus.” In addition to the new barrier, the main entrance will be secured by a buzzer system not unlike the ones installed at some elementary schools in the district. “All entrances to the school must be secured,” Espy said. Visitors, as well as students, will have to provide identification before they are allowed inside the school. When the system comes into effect, the only entrance will be through the front door.

Espy said the system installation and the barrier construction should be completed “by the end of September.” “The new barrier is in response to nationwide improvements in security,” Espy said. “This could also be in response to the Connecticut shootings.” Kathryn Versace, sophomore, said she appreciates the extra security. “I like that we’re being more protected,” she said. Espy said he thinks that the students’ response to the upgraded security will be similar to Versace’s. “They do what’s expected of them, and I’m sure the community will appreciate the extra protection for students,” he said.

Security tightens

See editorial on Page 2

2 The Northridge ReporterSeptember 30, 2013Opinion

Our ThoughtsDrug testing beneficial

It’s time to come clean. Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, announced that drug testing

would be implemented beginning this fall. Students who are upset with this notion feel so primarily because they see it as

an invasion of their privacy, as a waste of time and as unfair. Privacy is sacred, but when one’s privacy could endanger either

oneself or others it should be invaded. The National Crime Preven-tion Council said that students who have friends that consume drugs are more likely to begin taking drugs as a result of peer pressure or the need to fit in. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association said that drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs possess a higher risk to other drivers than those who are clean.

Drug testing is beneficial to students because it stops drug abuse before it gets too serious, and thus ensures the safety of our students. The time spent to prevent students from abusing drugs is time well spent in the sense that preventive action takes less time than rehabili-tation. The implementation of the drug tests will serve as a positive motivator for students to stop consuming drugs. Students who enjoy driving and extracurricular privileges will not risk having them re-voked by the possibility of getting caught with drugs in their system.

For students who think it’s unfair, Dr. Espy has provided a two-month grace period for students to get clean. Also, if students are caught with drugs in their system no negative effects will take place on their academic reputation. They will not be expelled or suspended, simply reprimanded with regard to their extracurricular activity or driving privileges.

Any way it is looked at, the drug tests are advantageous to student’s safety and health, and should not be a problem to students unless they are taking drugs. It is a necessary and fair notion that will serve to protect and prevent drug abuse in the student body.

Art by: Lauren Curtner-Smith

Journalist of the Year 2013 • Bailey Thomson Award for Editorial Writing 2013 • Rick Bragg Feature Writing Award 2009 • NSPA 6th Place Best of Show 2013 • NSPA 5th Place Best of Show 2012 • NSPA 1st Place Best of Show 2011 • NSPA 5th Place Best of Show 2008 • NSPA 8th Place Best of Show 2008 • NSPA 9th Place

Best of Show 2006 • CSPA Gold Medalist 2005-2011 • SIPA All-Southern 2003, 2005–2012 • ASPA All-Ala-bama 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

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

*Denotes state, regional and national award winners

Editorial Policy: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or administra-tion 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 *Renu PanditFeature Editors*Renu Pandit, James NiilerNews EditorRebecca GriesbachOpinion EditorKeamBria Washington

Entertainment EditorKeamBria WashingtonSports EditorCamri MasonAsst. Sports Editor Keshaun ByrdBeat Editor*Renu Pandit

Copy EditorLauren Curtner-SmithInfographics EditorSumona GuptaArt EditorSophie FairbairnArtistsSumona Gupta, Rebecca Griesbach

Business ManagerJames NiilerPhotographersD’Aja Patrick,Camri MasonWeb MasterJames Niiler

School populationStudents: 1238Faculty and staff: 90

The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations. The newspaper is distributed monthly.

Tuscaloosa City Board Policy: It is the official policy of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, age or creed, be excluded for participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subject to discrimi-nation under any program, activity or employment.

Advertising & Subscriptions: Contact The Northridge Re-porter Staff at (205) 759-3734 ext. 235 or snewell@tusc.k12.al.us to advertise in or subscribe to The Northridge Reporter.

Twitter EditorLauren Curtner-SmithFacebook Editor*Renu PanditAdviser*Susan Newell

Dumb gum!

thereof for Common Core mostly seem to be drawn along conserva-

tive and liberal camps. As a political conser-vative, I am inclined

to agree more with the ‘b’ statement listed above, as I don’t think Com-mon Core advances

the notion of a small-er, less bureaucratic

government very well, and that it may actually make our edu-cation less advanced.

But neither am I an irrational, right-wing lunatic: I realize that Common Core’s supporters have some good points to offer in its defense. Only time will tell, though, whose opinions will be more valid. Common Core’s supporters cite the idea that a more unified education among our 50 states is a beneficial one, both for confor-mity’s sake, and saving students

moving from one state to another unneeded anxiety.

I certainly agree with this sen-timent, but the implications of implementing Common Core are dubious.

The Bill of Rights guarantees states certain powers not granted to the Federal Government, one of which is educational oversight.

Although not strictly mandat-ed, President Obama’s ‘Race to the Top’ program offers addition-al stipends to schools that imple-ment these standards.

I doubt that states will be co-erced to violate the Constitution and implement these standards against their will, but pressure from the Obama administration may come in subtle, albeit force-ful, means. Another aspect of Common Core that troubles me, and many others, is its emphasis on ‘practicality.’

A math teacher said the ‘en-hanced’ curriculum will put more

problems in math books that deal with ‘real-world’ situations, with decreased emphasis on more ab-stract concepts.

News reports say that in lan-guage classes ‘applicable’ texts such as court transcriptions will be favored above traditional literature.

While I have no problem with students learning things that will help them in a pragmatic way, everyone deserves a well-round-ed education, and the ability to think in abstract terms ought to be prized. Common Core’s em-phasis on the ‘practical’ may de-prive students of many chances to improve their intellects. Perhaps the greatest qualm I have against Common Core is not so much the standards themselves, but at the terrifically fast rate they have been adopted.

Since its inception by the Na-tional Association of Governors in 2010, Common Core already has been implemented in 45 states,

seemingly without second thought. No one in a position of power

has really stopped to consider what these standards really are and what their effects might be, and any objections to them have usually been ignored.

It would have been far better for a few willing school districts to test these standards of unknown quality, rather than the whole na-tion—and the Federal Govern-ment—jumping on the bandwag-on of ‘progressive’ education. No one, not even its most vocal supporters or detractors, knows what effects Common Core will have. Perhaps all of my fears, and a good portion of America’s, will be assuaged, and Common Core will be beneficial for our educational systems. But then, it may not.

All I know for certain is the die has been cast in regard to educating American minors, and we are the ones who will be made to bear what-ever changes Common Core brings.

Niil

er

James NiilerFeature Editor

The media has devoted much attention in recent months to the newly-ad-opted school standards known as ‘Common Core.’

This, naturally, has attracted nothing but con-troversy.

Americans either a) love and fawn over the new standards, believing that American educa-tion will be drastically improved, b) issue alarmist sentiments, that the new standards are evidence of more ‘big government,” and they will ‘dumb down’ American schools, or c) do not care either way, and are generally oblivious to the fact that the new standards may profoundly alter the state of education in the United States. Curiously (or perhaps not so much), the lines of support or lack

Common Core generates controversy, unknown effectsagree (10) disagree (0)

See drug story on Page 1

3EntertainmentThe Northridge ReporterSeptember 30, 2013

By Sophie FairbairnStaff Writer

Mumford and Sons, a cur-rent folk band from the

UK, played their first Alabama show at the Oak Mountain Am-phitheater in Pelham on Monday, Sept. 9.

The opening act was a band called The Vaccines. Though a different type of band from Mum-ford and Sons, The Vaccines were intriguing and entertaining. It was the first time they had come to Alabama, and yet they made the crowd want to bang their heads, stomp their feet and sing with imaginary microphones. They were just the band to get the crowd pumped for the main event.

Mumford and Sons did not fail to thrill throughout their entire concert. They were enthusiastic and connected with the crowd. It didn’t seem to matter which song they played, the crowd was always on their feet, waving their hands and jumping around in their seats.

The band played a reasonable amount of songs from their old album Sigh No More, just as well as they did from their recent al-bum, Babel. They were not able to fit all their songs into this one concert, but the songs they chose did not disappoint. Some songs were slow and intimate, like

“Ghost That We Knew,” making the crowd silent and respectful, while other songs were fast and exhilarating, like “Little Lion Man,” making the crowd rowdy and excited.

They played most of their well-known songs such as, “I Will Wait” and “The Cave,” which was no surprise. The most powerful song of the night was “Dust Bowl Dance.” It had a mix of hard core drums and strings, yet a gentle intensity of tender singing. Ev-ery instrument, whether banged, strummed or pressed, was played with astonishing technique.

For their encore, Mumford and Sons rocked the covers of, “I’m On Fire” by Bruce Springsteen, “Come Together” by The Beatles and “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The crowd gave enormous cheers and roars for their talented justice of the songs. Though each song was better than the last, the most memorable was “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford and Sons, sur-prisingly was not the lead for this song, instead, he pulled a random man up on stage to take his place. While Marcus beat the drums, and the rest of the band played, the, not so random, man busted out singing Alabama’s anthem as the crowd went wild.

Not only was the music as-tounding, but the view was as

well. Nothing was blocking any-one’s view of the stage and ev-ery band member was in perfect sight, playing for everyone to hear. A large digital screen behind the band flashed lights of differ-ent shapes, designs and colors according to the song. Strands of light bulbs streamed out from the sides of the stage and over the edges of the crowd. These light bulbs flashed and glowed differ-ent colors depending on the mu-sic.

It was no shocker that Mum-ford and Sons played even better live, than on a recording. This is the highest praise an artist can get and is what every artist should strive for. Though concerts can be a big show, Mumford and Son’s flashy lights, special guests, and witty accents are not what attract their fans’ attention; it is their mu-sic. It is the extraordinary talent, the meaningful lyrics and the gen-uine quality that puts Mumford and Sons at the top of everyone’s playlist.

The 2013 tour ended Friday, Sept. 20 in Bonner Springs Kan-sas. Though it has come to a close, I still recommend going to a Mumford and Sons concert in the future. The band will continue to create music for upcoming tours (tour dates not yet listed), but in the meantime, listen to some of the not so well-known songs; you could be jubilantly surprised.

The Pants Store is an outfitter of fashionable, social and outdoor lifestyles. We’ve got the hottest styles at the best prices.

2223 University Blvd.Tuscaloosa, AL 35401205-210-4012Mon. - Sat 10:00 - 6:00

- visit us at -

way more than just pants

pantsstore.com

Band finishes tour in the SouthGentlemen of the Road

Photos by: Sophie FairbairnRocking Out: 1. Mumford and Sons play on Sept. 9 at Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pel-ham. 2. Lead singer, Marcus Mumford converses with the crowd about touring Alabama for the first time. Mumford lat-er expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming turnout and the heartfelt welcome from the band’s fans. 3. The band huddles around the micro-phone to cover “I’m On Fire” by Bruce Springsteen.

1

2

3

Lauren Curtner-SmithCopy Editor

Katie Poore, junior, did not return to school this August like many of her peers. Instead she attends a program in Washington D.C. called the United States Senate Page Program, and she runs errands for Senator Richard Shelby.

Poore said she received this opportunity after Jackie Hudgins, former counselor, gave her name to the senator. Senator Shelby’s office then contacted her with a phone inter-view.

Her official title is “Page.” There are thirty other pages from thirty states across Amer-ica, though Poore is the only one from Alabama.

Poore said she is excited to meet new people from across our country. She said she gets to see and hear about many issues that normal people only “hear about from the T.V.”

“I basically deliver messages and notes to different people around the Senate and on Capitol Hill,” Poore said.

Poore said she will be gone for five months. She is withdrawn from Northridge and at-tends a school for pages only, which is in the basement of her dormitory in Washington, D.C.

“[School] generally starts at 6:15 a.m. every morning and ends at 9:45 a.m., so we can set up the Senate room before [the senators] convene. Sometimes they start earlier than 9:45 a.m., so school is cut short,” Katie said.

She said her schedule is “insanely busy.”Katie said she has made sacrifices by accepting this opportunity. She is not allowed a

cell phone or much Internet access. She had to stop taking violin lessons while in D.C. because her schedule is so strict.

“Unfortunately, they don’t offer any music programs in DC that I could realistically get involved in. I just won’t have enough time, but I am still taking my violin with me,” Katie said before she left. “Sacrificing violin will be one of the hardest things while I’m gone.” Poore said she will, however, be flying back to audition for All-State Orchestra in October. She said it is tough to leave her little brother Hank.

“Now that my two older brothers are gone, he won’t have anyone to torment him every day and will be bored out of his mind,” Poore said.

Poore said it is unlikely she will get homesick, but if she does it will be the first week or so. Her best friend and former Northridge student, Madi Stoutland, moved to the Phila-delphia area.

“We’ve already been talking about when I can visit,” Katie said. “Madi’s house is just a short train ride away.”

“I think [this opportunity] is going to be one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done. Everyone I’ve talked to has said it was one of the best decisions of their life, so that is encouraging,” Katie said.

She said the longest she has been away from home is a month, but she enjoys traveling. “I am completely obsessed with traveling and seeing new places, so this opportunity is

Poore takes on Washingtongoing to be amazing for me,” Poore said.

She said she will be separated from her parents for the entire five months except for holidays and her orchestra audition.

Kathy Poore, Poore’s mother, said daily life will be completely different without Katie. “She is such a big help to me around the house with meals and housework and a huge

help with Hank. She is always helping me with Hank, either feeding him, playing on the computer with him, or helping with his homework. I will also miss her companionship. She and I have always had a close relationship, and I will miss sharing my days with her,” she said.

“I plan on taking her and getting her settled into her dorm room and will drive up to pick her up in January. I’m not sure whether I will get to visit her in between or not, but I will definitely be happy to see her on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Kathy said before she left for Washington.

Kathy said she thinks her daughter is a good leader and will enjoy this experience. “She is smart but humble. She is a good listener and thinks before she speaks and acts

on something. She is rarely the most vocal one in the group, but I think when she does speak, people will listen to her,” Kathy said.

“I guess my advice to Katie would be to work hard, be determined to succeed, and to have fun with this unique experience. I will encourage her to keep in touch with her friends as best she can, to enjoy making new friends and soak in the experience in ev-ery way she can. I can imagine that she will have tough days, as it is a very demanding schedule, but I know that if she sets her mind to it, she will return to Tuscaloosa with new life-long friends, amazing experiences and having had an inside glimpse into something that very few have the opportunity to see,” Kathy said.

Katie’s friend, Morgan Dewitt, junior, said she is going to miss Katie. “I’m really proud of her for landing this opportunity because she’s always been one to

take advantage of these opportunities. Based on what I’ve heard about her schedule, it doesn’t sound like she will have a lot of free time. Any opportunity I have to be in contact with her, I will use it,” Dewitt said.

Morgan said she thinks Katie needs to manage her time and stay organized “because she has a lot on her plate this semester.”

“I’m super proud of her,” Dewitt said.Traci Watson, English teacher, was one of Katie’s academic teachers in Katie’s sopho-

more year. “Katie is an outstanding, hard-working and determined student. [She is] always striv-

ing for perfection,” Watson said. Watson said Katie will be a great leader because she “has drive, is focused and is able

to motivate those around her.”Watson said Katie should, “stay clear of any controversy, enjoy the history and the sur-

roundings and provide good advice to Senator Shelby and Sessions.”“And if Katie can, [I hope she will] bring home a national champion trophy number

fifteen to Tuscaloosa,” Watson added with a smile.

4 The Northridge ReporterSeptember 30, 1013Feature

Shake it: Katie Poore, junior, stands next to and shakes hands with Barack Obama, President of the United States, while participating in the United States Senate Page Program in Washington, D.C.

Photo by: U.S. Senate Photographer

Sumona GuptaInfographics Editor

Want to know a secret? Lisa Keyes, executive director of Tusca-loosa Sister Cities International, said that the sister cities program is Tuscaloosa’s “best kept secret.” Nick Fairbairn and Jack Hubner, seniors, agree. Both of them participated in the summer 2013 trip to Tuscaloosa’s sister city, Schorndorf, Germany. Keyes said the program, which ex-changes stu-dents from Tuscaloosa’s Northr idge, Paul W. Bry-ant, and Cen-tral High Schools with one of three sister cities, pro-vides new opportunities and learning expe-riences to students. Keyes said every year, students are given the opportunity to represent their school, city, and country on a trip to one of the three sister cities. The cities include Nara-shino, Japan, Schorndorf, Germany, and Sunyani-Techiman, Ghana. Fairbairn said the group spent two weeks total on the trip to Germany, with a half a week side trip to Paris, France. “In Germany, the main city visited was Schorndorf, where we stayed. Other cit-ies visited included Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Konstanz, and Ulm,” Fairbairn said. Hubner said the sites visited within the locations were extensive. “We saw the birthplace of Gottlieb

Daimler; he invented one of the first en-gines for cars and helped found Mercedes. We also visited the Parliament of Boden and Wardenberg,” Hubner said. Fairbairn said that his favorite site to visit was the famous statue, Imperia, in Konstanz.

“Also the Hohenzollern Castle [was a favorite],” Fairbairn said.

Hubner said they also learned a lot about German culture during their stay. “We learned how their parliament works,

that they eat bread all the time, and they like Nutella. They’re also big on meat. Their school

is structured dif-ferently. They have three types of school depend-ing on your ca-

reer path, and they can also go home for lunch,” Hubner said. Fairbairn said he decided to go on the Germany trip because of a previous Sister Cities experience. “I went to Japan the summer before and loved it, and I love traveling and taking pictures and landscapes,” Fairbairn said. Hubner said he went on the trip because of suggestions from friends. “I like travelling, and I have friends on the trip that recommended I go.” Fairbairn said he strongly encourages sophomores and juniors to participate in the 2014 trip. “People who like new things and leaving their comfort zone should definitely try it out,” Fairbairn said.

Bonjour, guten tagSister Cities tours France, Germany

5FeatureThe Northridge ReporterSeptember 30, 2013

A long climb up: Hohenzollern Castle (Burg Hohenzollern) sits atop a hill in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. “It’s south of Stuttgart,” Nick Fairbairn, senior, said. “My host partner, Simon, and I traveled to two places on our host-family weekends. We went to Hohenzollern Castle and Lake Constance.”

Say Cheese: Nick Fairbairn, senior, poses in front of the Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre). “We went there on our first day in Paris, and out of the U.S. After a long flight to Paris, from Atlanta, we trekked on to the Louvre, though we hadn’t had sleep in almost 30 hours! It was pouring rain as we entered the museum,” Fairbairn said.

Smile: Rebecca Perkins, senior, stands atop a spiral tower overlooking a park near Stuttgart, Höhenpark Killesberg, on one of her last days in Germany. “You could see the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museums from the tower, as well as the world’s first television tower, the Fernsehturm,” Nick Fairbairn, senior, said.

Photo by: Sophie Fairbairn

Photo by: Nick Fairbairn

Photo by: Nick Fairbairn

People who like new things and leaving their comfort zone should definitely try it out,

Nick Fairbairn, senior

The Northridge ReporterSeptember 30, 2013News6

4810 Harkey LaneTuscaloosa, AL 35406

Phone: (205)-344-6344Fax: (205)-344-6464

Alabama Heart Care, LLC

Dr. Arti Pandey, MD Internist

4810 Harkey LaneTuscaloosa, AL

(behind McDonald’s on Rice Mine Rd.,near Lake Tuscaloosa)

3301 Highway 69 SouthBeside McDonald’s

Hunter Cline told me he had some-thing to get off his chest and to come outside after volleyball. I went outside, and he handed me a rose and some chocolates. He then un-buttoned his shirt halfway and there was a sign that said ‘Homecoming?’

Shelley Parks, sophomore

I wanted to make this time memo-rable, so I wrote Laura Worley a homecoming themed poem. While we sat in my car, I pulled out the poem and read it aloud to her. She said ‘yes’ with a beautiful smile.

Christian Harless, senior

I put a note in water and froze it and left it on Maryam Azam’s door with another note that instructed, ‘Break Ice.’ Once broken, the note read, ‘Now that we’ve broken the ice, do you want to go to home-coming with me?’

Ben Davis, junior

“Homecoming?”

James NiilerStaff Writer

Hunter Gregory, new ninth grade math teacher, said he has high expectations for his students. “I want to see [my students] making an effort towards learning and having a desire to learn,” he said. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Hunter is in his first year of teaching. “I’ve enjoyed [Northridge],” he said. “There’s good school spirit and a good ninth grade class.” Meg Aurd, a freshman who has Gregory’s class, said she “explains things well.” Cody Hendley, a freshman who also has his class, said Gregory is not strict. “He lets us do a lot of stuff. He doesn’t give us as much work as a normal teacher,” Hendley said.

Sophie Fairbairn Staff Writer

From a swimmer playing in a band, to a prankster dreaming of flight, Michelle Price is the new AP Bio and Zoology teacher re-placing the recently retired Mari-lyn Stephens.

Kelly Burnham, a former stu-dent of Stephens, said, “[Stepehs] was a difficult but intelligent teacher,” and she hopes Price will “try just as hard to challenge her students with her own knowl-edge.”

Price’s knowledge goes all the way back to high school where she was a bit of a troublemaker. She loved pulling pranks on her classmates and on her teachers; pranks such as tying hair to chairs

Gregory said there’s more to being a teacher than is apparent. “I have definitely enjoyed [teaching], but there is more work to it than people know,” he said. Gregory is also an assistant baseball and football coach. A student athlete in high school, football was his favorite sport and baseball followed in a close second. Gregory said he “usually made pretty good grades.

“Math was always my favorite subject,” he said.

Gregory said he became a teacher because he “wanted to have an opportunity to influence young people in the right direction.”

“[I want to be] someone who cares and I want them to be successful,” he said.

during class. “I made some teachers cry and

that’s why some pranks probably shouldn’t be spoken of,” Price said.

When Price wasn’t running amock with her teachers, she was running cross country or swim-ming competitively for Poudre High School. Price even played the cello with the school orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

“We were terrible, but we played there,” Price said.

Though she did a variety of activities, what she aspired to be was a U.S. Pilot. In the ROTC, Price was able to join the Lead-ership Training Program at Fort Knox in Kentucky. There, she learned basic army training where she was prone to causing trouble as well.

Price becomes new AP Biology teacher“One time I got stuck on top of

a broken buffer and spun straight in front of all the drill sergeants,” Price said. “I was the only one to ever make the toughest drill ser-geant laugh,” Price said.

After one month of training, Price found her eyesight wasn’t up to code, and she was turned away. Price then found a new de-sire: biology.

“Science is awesome,” she said. With a few trial and errors of

“boring” research labs and medi-cal shadowing, Price found a way to combine her newly found pas-sions for biology and “working with others,” in teaching. Now Price’s goal is for her students to “work hard and eventually appre-ciate science,” just as much as she does. Michelle Price, new AP Biology teacher, instructs her class.

Photo by: D’Aja Patrick

Gregory begins first teaching job

Photo by: D’Aja Patrick

Hunter Gregory, new ninth grade math teacher, teaches a lesson.Harless and Worley

Cline and Parks

Davis and AzamPhotos by: Sophie Fairbairn

Look for more teacher sto-ries in the October paper.

Everyone’s got one question,

7The Northridge ReporterSeptember 30, 2013 Sports

Team plays to win despite loss of key players

Photo by: Camri MasonReady: Center Terrance Mays (66), gets ready to snap the ball during the Minor football game on Sept. 13. Guard Daryl Pham (70) blocks the play. Minor won the game 19 to 14.

1300 Martin Road EastNorthport, AL 35473

Amy Trice Owner

(205) 345-4939

A t t o r n e y s a t L a w

NewellHoldenand LLC

newell-law.com

2117 Jack Warner Parkway, Suite 5 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401205-343-0340

Rebecca GriesbachStaff Writer

The girls soccer team will be short seven seniors and a beloved coach when they kick off the season this February.

Annika Struthwolf, sophomore, and Lee Almond, junior, said they will miss Coach Kory Berry.

Almond said Berry was a very positive person.

“The whole girls team enjoyed having him as a coach. He was very encouraging, and he always taught us life lessons at the end of practice,” Struthwolf said.

With Berry and another assistant coach gone, Struthwolf said the team will be with head coach, Carter Hill more often.

Currently, there is no new coach to take Berry’s place, but Hill said they have hired Callie Pike, former player at Northridge and the University of Alabama, to help with the girls and Junior Varsity boys programs next semester.

Almond said a player to watch for is junior Isabella McVeagh, who is new to the team.

Hill said the season will not be affected.

“The girls play, not the coaches,” Hill said.

Soccer teamadjusts to loss of coach

Lauren Curtner-SmithCopy Editor

The girls volleyball team placed second in the Magic City Classic tournament on Sept. 14 held in Birmingham at the Bir-mingham Crossplex Arena.

Senior Anna Lee Petitt, left hitter, had 24 kills, 49 attempts, 6 tips, 67 passes and 1 block.

Senior Marla Parks, middle hitter, had 15 kills, 14 attempts, 4 tips, 28 passes, 8 blocks and 3 aces.

Senior Katrina Struthwolf, setter and captain, had 100 sets, 2 attempts, 1 tip, 9 passes and 4 aces.

Junior Denae Sisler, libero, had 7 kills, 18 attempts, 113 passes and 7 aces.

Vicki Miller, varsity coach, said that the team played confidently offensively and defensively.

“It’s a great platform leading us into the rest of the season,” Miller said.

Struthwolf said a cool fact about the Magic City tournament is that they beat McAdory High School, a team that they lost to in a previous tournament.

“I’m really proud of the way our team played. We worked hard to win all our games to put us into the championship. We lost to Minor and took second place,” Ka-trina said.

The girls volleyball team’s next tourna-ment will be the Area Tournament held on Oct. 22.

Volleyball team places in tournament

Volleyball Season Record: 14 and 2 as of Sept. 27.Oct. 7: Senior night, plays Bessemer City

Oct. 10: last home game, against Oak MountainThe team beat Hillcrest 25 to 17 in the first game, 15 to 12 in the

third game, and lost 25 to 22 in the second game. Beat Tuscaloosa County High Sept. 24.

Volleyball Quick Facts

Photo by: D’Aja PatrickHit It: Freshman setter Madison Darden (5), passes the ball for a hit during the JV Volleyball game against Holy Spirit on Sept. 19.

Keshaun ByrdStaff Writer

The football team expected this season to be a challenging one with the transfers of star running back Bo Scarborough and wide receiver Cyontai Lewis.

Although they lost a lot of tal-ent and are young on both sides of

the ball, the team does have some outstanding underclassmen.

Linebacker Joseph Haley, ju-nior, said taking on a leadership role is “more of my style.”

“The team has to execute better to close tight games,” he said.

Haley said defensive lineman Jalen Madden, linebacker Lee Wicks, and quarterback Tanner

Cline are key players. The team set many goals be-

fore the season like winning the 6A state championship; al-though the goal might be far out of reach, the attitude of the team is still the same, Haley said.

“[We have] a lot of hard work, belief and faith,” Haley said.

Terrance Mays, senior offen-

sive lineman, has started every game since his freshman year.

“This season means everything. We have to finish on a good note,” he said. “The difference in this year’s team is the new coaching staff and more focused players,” Mays said. “To win the state cham-pionship is my senior team goal.”

RN

RN

RN

September 30, 20

13 Volum

e 11 Issue 1

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

PAGE 8B

eatThe Northridge ReporterSeptem

ber 30, 2013

A COLORFUL CAMPAIGN R

unners, volunteers participate in ‘The Happiest 5k on the Planet’

Run: Key Club seniors K

aitlyn Duren, R

yan Peelor, M

ichael Gam

ble and Rebecca Per-

kins throw color into the air during the color

festival at The Color R

un, held on Sept. 7 at Sokol Park. G

o, go, go: Rebecca Perkins, senior, sm

iles as she volunteers at The C

olor Run.

Renu Pandit

Editor-in-Chief

Run around, throw

some color in the air,

and smile. W

elcome to The C

olor Run.

The Color R

un returned to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 7 surrounded by eager and enthusias-tic volunteers and runners.

Nick Fairbairn, senior and K

ey Club

Lieutenant Governor, organized K

ey Club

mem

bers to volunteer at the event. “W

e were looking for service opportuni-

ties within the com

munity that w

ould allow

large groups to volunteer,” he said. “When

I heard about the color run I knew it w

as perfect for us.”

He said K

ey Clubbers volunteered as

“Captains of Fun” and helped in num

erous w

ays.“W

e had to help direct foot-traffic and distribute The C

olor Run m

aterials. We

also had to help clean up, move signs and

take down tents,” Fairbairn said.

He said the experience w

as unforgetta-ble, w

ith the highlights including “having fun in color throw

s while cheering people

on and motivating the runners.”

Rabisa K

han, junior, was one of the K

ey C

lub volunteers.“I had alw

ays heard about the Color R

un

and wanted to participate in it, so w

hen this volunteer opportunity cam

e I was extrem

e-ly excited,” K

han said. K

han said the volunteer opportunity was

“a great way for the club to help and join in

on the fun.”“It w

as even better than I expected, and I loved the w

hole positive atmosphere w

ith all the colors and vibrant runners,” she said.

The Color R

un’s website states that al-

though they are a for-profit organization, they still choose a local charity in every city they visit to sponsor. R

eadBA

MA

Read,

co-founded by Donna B

enjamin, has been

their choice for the past two years.

Benjam

in said

ReadB

AM

AR

ead w

as created im

mediately after the tornado hit

Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011.

“We w

anted to do everything in our pow-

er to make a lasting im

pact on our city’s recovery and quickly realized the devasta-tion of local schools here,” B

enjamin said.

“We chose to focus on libraries due to the

fact that we firm

ly believe that literacy is the foundation on w

hich all learning takes place.”

She said The Color R

un heard about the cause through local people and im

mediate-

ly extended their help.“The C

olor Run is one of several exam

-

ples of ways people have com

e together to help us w

ith our mission of rebuilding col-

lections of hundreds of thousands of books that w

ere destroyed,” Benjam

in said. She estim

ated the total amount of m

oney donated by the The C

olor Run over the

span of two years to be around $10,000.

“Thanks to the generosity of organiza-tions such as The C

olor Run, w

e were able

to present checks for $5,000 to Holt El-

ementary and $25,000 to U

niversity Place Elem

entary earlier this year,” she said. K

atrina Struthwolf, senior, participated

by running in the event. “I volunteered at a color station last year

and was able to cover the runners w

ith blue pow

der as the came by. A

s much fun as that

was, I loved being on the other side this

year,” Struthwolf said.

“After running, w

e had a blast at the af-ter party, w

hen everyone throws packets of

color into the air,” she said.She said the only dow

nside was being

“unable to breathe for a good 20 seconds w

hen everyone throws the color,” but still

did it three times because it w

as so much

fun.“It really is the happiest 5k on the plan-et,” she said.

8

Photos by: Nick Fairbairn