ReporterThe Northridge

September 21, 2010 • Volume 8, Issue 1 Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406

in brief

laine elliottbeat editor

Elizabeth Tiley and Kathleen Oatts organized a mentor program for the upcoming freshmen that took

place on Aug. 9 called the Jaguar Jumpstart. The program included 44 sophomores, juniors, and seniors as mentors who helped introduce the 220 freshman who attended to the school.

“The day was intended to help entering freshmen become familiar with high school, introduce them to teachers, have fun, and to meet other students,” Tiley, 9th grade counselor, said.

Jessica Procter, freshman, said, “I really enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends.”

Hannah Bell, one of the mentors and junior, said the day was productive.

“We showed them their classrooms and they met their teachers,” Bell said. “It

also helped them make the transition from middle school to high school.”

The mentors went to the school for two days over the summer for 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. training sessions. They did activities including trust falls, confidence exercises and rope courses.

“We wanted to make them feel more comfortable and give them something to remember for the rest of their high school careers,” Bell said.

Tiley said the idea came from a program for which she got a grant. She said that college freshmen often do this when they are entering college, so she wanted to do the same for freshmen entering high school.

Cammie Cook, junior and mentor, said she wish she had had Jaguar Jumpstart when she was a freshman.

“Freshman year can be really confusing and I was glad I could help these new kids,” Cook said.

New mentors welcome incoming freshmen

1) Kaitlyn Stuart, senior and mentor, and Anna Cassels, senior and mentor, lead their freshmen groups across the courtyard to go to lunch. 2) Grace Tant, senior and mentor, holds up team signs for freshmen at jaguar jumpstart on Aug. 9. “I really enjoyed working with the freshmen. It was a great opportunity for everyone, even the mentors,” Tant said. 3) Anna Cassels, mentor and senior, helps tie a bandana around Kayla Moore, freshman, during the ropes course.

photos by porfirio solaranzo2 3

1

JJaguar JJumpstartIgnition:

alexandra stewartstaff writer

As the new school year began, our school as well as many other schools and businesses were

affected by the economy.McCall Robinson, junior, like many other

students noticed that some teachers asked for donations and things such as Kleenex and hand sanitizer.

“For some teachers, I think it’s necessary because you don’t pay for their class, but some teachers that you do pay for, I don’t think it’s as necessary,” Robinson said. “I think it can be kind of aggravating not having enough money, if the teachers have lesson plans they can’t fulfill.”

Since teachers have less money, some find it harder to provide the full enrichment they would like to provide.

“Normally, teachers are given state funds to buy supplies, but this year as far as I know, we are not being given any state money,” Trina Busby, English teacher, said. “Students are being required to have more of their own materials and are asked to donate materials as well. If things get worse, it’s possible

that some projects students complete for enrichment will be eliminated because of a lack of money,” she said.

Rumors have been going around as to what has happened to the money and why it is more of a problem, than years in the past.

Isaac Espy, principal, said, “With the recent economic downturn, tax revenues for education have not been as robust as in previous years. The two main tax sources for education are sales tax and income tax. Teachers are typically provided fee money which is about $400 per year for classroom supplies.”

“Other areas that are funded include the library and professional development for teachers. In putting together a budget for education, lawmakers, working with AEA, must prioritize expenditures. Teacher positions are protected in the budget as a priority. This would account in part for the lack of funds in the state education budget for classroom

supplies,” he said. Along with donations from students,

many other efforts are being made to help with the loss of supply money.

“We try to use available local funds including PTA and Adopt-A-School partnerships to assist in providing supplies. We have an awesome PTA, and PTA President, Sena Stewart, helping us out this year, providing teachers with $50,” Espy said. “It will just help us with basics such as

dry erase markers,” he said.

Money crunchTeachers suffer from lack of classroom supply money, room supplies

Have you donated supplies

to your classroom?compiled by anu pandit 50 students polled

trent clantonart editor

Last year, the suspension policy landed someone with four suspensions in the su-perintendent’s office.

If there was another suspension, the stu-dent would be referred to the city’s District Attorney, who had the power to punish par-ents as well.

A new policy is now in place.Assistant Principal Andrew Maxey said

last year’s policy did very well, but the school board felt that taking care of the problems earlier would be more successful.

“Now, heavier consequences start at the second suspension,” Maxey said.

Connor Fridley, senior, said the new policy is better than the old one because students have fewer chances, therefore dis-couraging bad behavior.

New suspension policy implemented

renu pandit copy editor

Students watch as Beth Allaway, biology teacher, yanks a carrot out of the ground.

Allaway is growing biology gardens with her 2nd period class. She has been growing gardens with her students for about five years.

“[It] shows students how difficult it is to grow food. We will also use measurement and graphing skills, study the flowers the plants grow before the vegetables and test the soil for nutrients,” she said.

Kelly Burnham, freshman, is growing sunflowers, spearmint and cat grass.

“We went online and figured out how to grow the seeds,” she said.

Burnham said that they go outside and pull weeds.

“It can be difficult in the heat,” she said.Allaway said that growing these gardens

are a unique experience. “Out of a class of 36, only about three

have ever grown anything,” Allaway said.

Hands-on experience inspires, educates

Troll 2: “best” worst movie

page 4

page 8 Courtyard pep rally disappoints

page 12

yes no

$$$$$$

$$$$

30 20

$ equals 5

Pageant winner shines

photo by beth allawayAnna Lee Petitt, freshman, and Colby Goldstein, freshman, plant seeds in their biology garden on Aug. 19.

SEE POLL ON PAGE 5, EDITORIAL ON PAGE 2

opinion2 the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010

NSPA 5th Place Best of Show 2008 • NSPA 8th Place Best of Show 2008 • NSPA 9th Place Best of Show 2006 • CSPA Silver Medalist (2003, 2004) • CSPA Gold Medalist (2005 - 2009) • SIPA All-Southern (2003, 2005 – 2009) • ASPA All-Alabama (2003 – 2010) • All-American,

four Marks of Distinction (2004, 2008) • 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 Award for Feature Writing (2009)

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

Editorial Policy: The opinions in The Northridge Reporter are those of the students and not of the faculty or administration 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. All letters must be submitted to Mrs. Newell in room 109. The Northridge Reporter reserves the right to edit letters and verify allegations.

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 discrimination under any program, activity or employment.

*Denotes state, regional and national award winnersSusan Newell*

Editor-in-Chief:Entertainment Editor :Feature Editor:Opinion Editor:News Editor: Beat Editor:Sports Editors:Business Manager:Photographers:Copy Editors:Infographics Editor:Art Editors:

Anu PanditNick Pappas*

Alex HauserRaiha Naeem Bajwa*

Samuel Yang*Laine Ellliott

Brock Hartley, Regan WalkerRaiha Naeem Bajwa*

Brock Hartley, Nick Pappas*Renu Pandit, Maia Wade, Trent Clanton

Craig FirstMaia Wade, Zoey Simpson, Trent Clanton

Staff Writers:

Adviser:

Northridge High School2901 Northridge RoadTuscaloosa, AL 35406

(205) 759-3734 ext. 235

The NorthridgeReporter

Foster Beck, Elli Cauthen, Madison Fraser, Brooke Houston, Maddy Ingram, Justin Jackson, SaVanna McLaughlin, Claire Nicholson, James Roberts, Chelsea Shepard, Alexandra Stew-

art, Destiny Stewart, Sammi Story, MacKenzie Underwood,

our thoughts

The Tuscaloosa City School Board has moved up the possibility of parent jail-time from after the fourth suspension to after the second suspension.

Designed to prevent disruptive behavior, the policy has the power to punish both the offenders and their parents by referring them to the district attorney.

The policy essentially punishes the wrong person, a minor detail it is willing to overlook in favor of what it considers overwhelming benefits.

These benefits are clear in the prevention part of the policy. Logically, a parent would indeed enforce harsher discipline in order to keep themselves out of jail.

If the parent does go to jail, however, the policy loses its power.Theoretically, the parent would now fall back on their ultimate

punishment and the child would be embarrassed at having sent their parent to jail.

In reality, however, the parent may have already used their ultimate punishment in trying to stay out of jail (that was the point, right?) or may turn to methods the school board may have trouble approving.

Furthermore, discipline problems that stem from family troubles may worsen with the strain of a parent in jail. There is no alternative or substitute to even a bad parent. A struggling child needs their parent.

The policy depends far too much on the intensely personal reactions of extremely unpredictable people.

The Northridge Reporter feels the parents should not be put in jail for their child’s behavior.

SEE POLL ON PAGE 5, BRIEF ON PAGE 1

Parents should not be jailed

staff opinionagree (26) disagree (1)

anu panditeditor-in-chief

We live in the 21st century, where nothing is real and everything has superpowers. Even water.

While perusing the two aisles of my local supermarket devoted to promoting this miraculous beverage, I came upon the wildest incarnations of it imaginable: water from Fiji, water from Sweden, water from on top of a mountain, water from a valley, water with fizz, water with flavor, water that was smart, and water that had superpowers.

Yes, superpowers. Because now, water has

accomplished that which modern medicine can only dream of. It can make you a star athlete with its rare and amazing blends of vitamins, it can cleanse your system of all disease and scum, and it can even

prevent heart disease and cancer. Best of all, it’s now only ten

calories!Whilst standing there

with my mouth agape at the wonder of it all, I found myself in a fix. Where was the water?

You know, the plain old, regular water? The kind that comes out of a tap, not from some exotic locale? Ring a bell?

Confused, I asked a sales assistant, who, not understanding my request, led me to the health food section, which boasted water that combats viruses and infection, and water that buffs up your immune system.

Water is now a health food.

I began to feel faint at the prospect of not a single bottle of regular water in the store.

I headed towards the checkout area, which usually is supplied with mini-fridges full of various beverages. I

crossed my fingers and prayed for a bottle of Dasani.

God must have been busy.However, among the Diet

Coke, Monster and Fuze, I did find some Vitamin Water. Picking it up, I appraised it, thinking it could serve as a satisfactory

water substitute.Wow, a water

substitute. However, catching

sight of the 33 grams of sugar per bottle, I gagged and put it back. I didn’t fancy spending more than half my r e c o m m e n d e d daily intake of sugar on my water

bottle. This was too

much. Clutching the bag of celery sticks I had picked up, I decided to ignore my thirst and wait until I got home.

Then I saw something that restored my faith in humanity.

Thank God for water fountains.

Artificial culture frightens, irritates student

pandit

TALK TO USThe Northridge Reporter welcomes letters to the editor.

Bring yours to room 109.

the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010 3opinion

There is a subset of the student population who for years has steadfastly refused to comply with the TCS Dress Policy. As stated in the TCS Student/Parent Resource Guide: “student’s clothing, make-up and hair styles should reflect neatness, cleanliness and self-respect so that the school is a desirable place in which to promote learning and character development.”

Simply put, you have been asked for years to dress in a mature and responsible manner and to leave your “street attire” at home in your closets. Oddly enough, it is these same non-compliant students (for the most part) who have demonstrated an inability to thrive successfully in the adult academic setting they find themselves in. Therefore, there does seem to be a link between student dress and academic success (not to mention behavioral maturity).

It appears that the TCS central office and the TCS board of education have also discovered this relationship. Unable to

achieve compliance to dress code policies by merely stating them in the Resource Guide, the decision making bodies are closing in on a blanket school uniform policy that will affect all TCS students.

It is possible that this school uniform could be in affect by

January, 2011. It is a shame that even the successful students who always dress nicely for school must be subjected to a forced uniform policy, but as always, they will accept it and follow it in a mature and dutiful way.

As for those of you who, on a daily basis, refuse to dress appropriately for school even when reminded dozens of times each day, I hope you are happy with your new look. I can hardly wait to see you in nice shirts and long, khaki pants. Guess you should’ve listened!

C. S. Johnson

your thoughtsActions cause uniform policy

I would like to take a moment to express my condolences to members of the Northridge faculty and staff who have lost family members over the summer break.

We are a family, here at Northridge, and all of us feel the heartbreak when our fellow workers mourn the loss of someone close to them.

I would like for everyone to remember Mrs. Stallworth’s family, at the passing of her sister, Mrs. Abbey’s family, at the passing of her husband, Mr. Cain’s family, at the passing of his father-in-law, and last but not least, Mr. Stevenson’s family, for

the loss of his beloved wife.Life is not without rewards,

however. And, we have been rewarded lately with new additions to our family at Northridge. Proud new mothers include: Mrs. Canterbury, Mrs. Reed, and Mrs. Moore.

When we see these faculty members in our halls we should offer them a quick smile and remember that it takes a whole village to raise a child.

Richard Nowell

Teacher expresses condolences

Youth minister leaves, inspires studentalexandra stewartstaff writer

It was just an ordinary Sunday night at youth, everything was going great, and it was a great kick off to the year. As it got close to the end, however, things made a turn to the downside.

My youth minister, Patrick Laney, called everyone together in the dining hall downstairs. I thought we were just simply closing in prayer, but I was caught by surprise.

Patrick started it out saying there was a very important reason he had brought us downstairs. The minute he said this, I knew it was not going to turn out good.

He went on, reminding us of his favorite Bible story, which he used

so many times about Samuel and Eli. He said that in his case, he felt like Eli. He explained that he felt like God was calling him to work at Cynthiana Presbyterian Church in Kentucky, with 140 people.

I was in shock, I couldn’t form any words. I felt the warm rush of tears coming to my eyes and tried to blink them away. I looked around at every other person and all appeared to be tearing up.

Patrick meant a lot to me. He took the time to understand me and help me seek out my calling. He was an amazing person, because he really showed who he was and showed his imperfections.

I felt as if my heart had been torn into two. But everyone was

experiencing this loss together; we all cried together and exchanged hugs. That still did not change the loss we had to endure.

Patrick Laney was the best youth minister I could have ever wished for. As I watched the impact that he had on people and the faith that he had, it helped me to grow stronger in my faith, and brought me to the realization that I would like to be a youth minister one day.

As I write this, with sadness in my heart,, I am reminded still of how thankful I am. I am ever grateful for all the time and effort that Patrick put into his work.

Patrick Laney was the biggest inspiration to my faith, and he will always remain in my heart, for he has a special place. For that, I am grateful.

I hope one day, I can inspire others, the way he inspired me.

stewart

nowell

nick pappasentertainment editor

Last spring, an idea sprung up in the city schools to implement mandatory uniforms.

A survey was taken among all teachers in the 24 city schools which showed overwhelming support in favor of school uniforms.

But because more research needed to be done, it was agreed a decision couldn’t be made in time for the start of school.

Now, we have until January.And we get to vote! Exciting,

right?Well, no, not really.We don’t actually get to vote.

That is left up to the principals of the three high schools in the city.

However, my fellow classmates and I learned at our junior

assembly we vote daily with how well we follow the current dress code policy, leaving the ultimate decision to Espy.

Our principal went on to tell us a good way to decide if our wardrobe decisions in the morning are smart:

“Ask yourself, ‘What would Stallworth, [security guard,] do?”

I thought this over for a bit.

What would Stallworth do?

I’m not sure. I think I’d look a bit funny in

a blouse and heels.And I don’t think anyone should

wear green, except her.I talked to a friend about the

assembly afterwards. She was very excited to cast her vote in January. I don’t think everyone was fully clear with the hypothetical vote thing.

I guess we should just expect for Espy to vote ‘yes’ in the coming

election.After years of being faced

with multiple principals trying to prevent sagging or too-short skirts, I now just subconsciously untuck my shirt as soon as I’m free of the watchful eye of administrators.

This is simply because I think I look ridiculous when I tuck my T-shirt (black, with a funny picture reading: “You’re no ninja, you’re just a guy in a ninja suit!”) into my gray corduroy pants.

I’m color blind as it is. I don’t want anything else hampering my fashion capabilities.

I find it unrealistic for anyone to believe that more than a thousand, hormone-driven, rebellious teenagers will change the way they dress, even with the threat of uniforms.

I am not for school uniforms; it’s just that I can tell when a situation is hopeless.

Now, I’m just hoping I can still look sexy.

Junior gives up when it comes to uniforms

pappas

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samuel yangnews editor

Nothing gets us together like getting mad.

That’s why it’s so cathartic when the entire nation can collectively be furious. We’ve been fighting and yelling, but at last, we can all agree, even if we’re agreeing to be angry.

“You’re right!”“You’re wrong!”“Kanye West really

should not have taken that microphone from Taylor Swift.”

“Yeah.”Much more importantly, “Pastor”

Terry Jones and his church’s plan to burn Qurans on the anniversary of 9/11 has inspired collective fury.

I passed the Dove World Outreach Center (whose name alone should’ve denounced their actions) every day for nearly two years while I lived in Gainesville. It’s sad that I can’t think of anything they’ve done except for

their recent string of attacks. Nothing about their plan made

any sense – it wasn’t going to resolve conflicts and all the points it made were hateful and bigoted.

Before all else, I am a Christian and as a result of that, the outrage

I feel is rooted in the damage Jones has done.

Quran burning, apparently, fits into an awkward, ugly little space between free speech and freedom of religion. It does not, however, fit into the

Bible. Even the threat of Quran burning

has hurt Jesus’ mission of spreading salvation, and the idea of preventing someone from coming to know Jesus should terrify a Christian. Jesus’ own actions in a world that almost never agreed with Him were filled with compassion and respect.

There are some harsh truths in Christianity, but God’s plan of salvation is not a maze. God designed a simple plan of deliverance through

His son Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and triumph – an act that defined mercy, something the Dove World Outreach Center seems to be unwilling to extend alongside its judgment.

Christians should stand firmly for what they know is the truth, but they should always treat others – whether or not they agree – with respect and grace, the same kind they were shown.

Jones’ eventual retreat led him to New York, where he met with the imam behind the controversial Islamic community center a block from Ground Zero.

The higher road, whether we’re dealing with a bigoted pastor or an insensitive imam, is to acknowledge their right to hold their beliefs. Their higher road, though, is to not abuse the liberty they’re trying to protect.

Liberty has taken too much abuse lately, as has the environment. Speaking of which, aren’t the CEOs of BP awful people?

See? There’s something we can agree on.

“Burn a Quran Day” causes nothing but damage

johnson

yang

news4 the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010

samuel yangnews editor

As she had done for “so many years,” senior Mary Katherine Lake waited

expectantly in the Bama Theatre on a Sunday night. On Aug. 29, she was waiting with a crowd of almost 600 to hear the judges of Tuscaloosa County’s Junior Miss program announce the winner for 2010.

Lake had gone to the program ever since she was a young girl, but there was something crucially different this time around: Lake was on the stage with eight others waiting to see if her name would be called.

In that m o m e n t , Lake was thinking that she was not going to win.

“Whenever I looked at the judges, it seemed like they were looking for someone else,” she said.

That one moment was the result of months of work for those participating in the scholarship program.

“A lot of people think it’s a pageant,” Lake said. “It’s really a way for well-rounded young women to earn scholarship money.”

Tuscaloosa County Junior Miss Chairman Vickie Brown said the purpose of the program was to provide scholarships as “opportunities for continued development.”

“Our goal is to encourage these young ladies to continue their education,” she said.

Brown also has a parent’s perspective, as her three daughters participated in the program. Two were Junior Misses, and one was an alternate. She said the scholarship money paid for the freshman year of her daughters’ college educations.

“I’ve tried to continue and be involved because it’s such a great program,” she said.

The program “promotes transition,” she said, from high school to college to productive adult in the community.

Long before the night of the production, Brown and the Junior Miss board of directors, with the help of volunteers, worked to get sponsors for the program.

“We awarded $8000 in cash,” she said.

On a national level, the program awarded

$52 million in scholarships. The program has roots, though, in Alabama. It was started 53 years ago in Mobile, where the national program is still hosted.

It was Montgomery, though, that would be the first destination for the evening’s winner. In January, around 50 winners from county competitions will meet there, and a state winner will be selected to represent Alabama at the national level.

The afternoon before the local production, the girls had a standing interview with the judges – ten minutes of standing in a suit and

heels. S e n i o r

V i c t o r i a R u n g e , winner of the local

program’s Signature contest (most signatures on a Junior Miss signature page), said all the talking forced her out of her comfort zone.

“[That was] personally the best thing I got out of [the program], aside from meeting some great people,” she said. “Naturally, I am a very quiet person. Preparing for this helped me to overcome my fear of talking to a large group of people and people I didn’t know. I think that the interview aspect of it is great because as you get older, interviews are so important.”

That long day, though, was just part of a process that was already in motion at the end of May, when Lake began to practice her dance solo to “Stars and Stripes” for the talent portion of the competition.

“There was so much preparation,” she said. “A lot goes into the process.”

Runge, too, was already preparing at the beginning of

summer.“I had to fill out tons of forms

about myself,” she said. “I had to work with someone on my interview and onstage questions, I had to prepare a talent [a dance to “Imagine,” as sung by the cast of Glee], and I had to work out. The whole process is pretty stressful but at the same time really fun.”

By Lake’s count, the girls logged around 30 hours of rehearsal for the night’s dance numbers and fitness routine in addition to personal

practice and time spent w r i t i n g for a “Be Your Best Self” essay contest.

Runge said Junior Miss “really brings out” its motto, “Be Your Best Self,” in the girls who do the program.

“I believe [the program] had a great impact on the community because the girls who participated are great role models for younger girls in our community,” she said.

The program seeks to find well-rounded young women, a mission

clearly voiced in its new name Distinguished Young Women, effective next year.

B r o w n said the new name highlights t h e program’s emphasis

on talent and scholastics. “Every girl there wanted to

make a difference,” Lake said. “I want to be a role model for young girls. I always went when I was younger, and I really looked up to [the competitors].”

Lake, who is Vice-President of the civic organization Civinettes and the senior class, is a member of three honor societies and Ambassadors. She dances with Tuscaloosa Community Dance Centre Company and attends Trinity Presbyterian Church. She said her experience with the dance company helped her even outside of her talent showcase, giving her confidence on the stage where she stood waiting for the announcement of the winner.

Advancement to the state level would mean Lake would have to do the same things she had done over the summer to prepare for the county event.

Beyond that work, though, Lake said she wanted to start a project.

“Hopefully, [I can] do something to make a difference in the community,” she said.

Lake, who describes herself as a hard worker, said she “[doesn’t] do anything halfway.

A quality nearly 600 people witnessed as she stepped forward to accept her title as Tuscaloosa County’s 2010 Junior Miss.

County Junior Miss has ‘Ridge roots

$52 MILLION$8000$4000

amount awarded to participants on a national level

amount awarded to participants at the local program

amount awarded to Mary Katherine Lake, not including a $26,000 scholarship

to Troy University

photo by vict

oria ru

nge

Dancing Queens

madison frazerstaff writer

Thanks to a new I.D machine, students can get their I.D. picture the same day they get their picture made for them.

Marcia Irvin, librarian, purchased the machine from Laminex, in April of last school year.

“The old one was outdated and running slow, but the new machine is working great,” Irvin said.

Irvin said the only negative about the new machine is that the printing ribbon ran out while they still had students who needed their picture taken.

Senior James Prewitt was one of the students who took pictures on the new machine.

“To take a picture all you do is double click and that makes taking pictures much easier,” Prewitt said.

New I.D. machine purchased

trent clantonstaff writer

After this six weeks has ended, students will once again be partying.

Students who have made all A’s and B’s on their report cards enjoy a snack and a break from class to socialize. The first party for this year will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

Elizabeth Tiley, counselor, said that it is sponsored by the local Radiology Clinic and Capstone Bank. These sponsors provide money for the cookies and drinks, may send volunteers to distribute snacks and provide money for the prizes for JAG Award winners. SGA also helps.

“We [also] have to notify teachers which are invited, prepare tickets and go to Sam’s to buy the snacks,” Tiley said.

Tiley said that it motivates those who are not invited to make better grades.

“It gives students a chance to get out of class and visit with each other,” she said. “Students enjoy the snacks and the break is nice.”

Honors party planned

zoey simpsonstaff writer

A new curfew law was implemented in Tuscaloosa last May. Teens under the age of eighteen cannot be out in public places past ten on weekdays and eleven on weekends.

Senior Ashton Clark said she does not agree with the new law.

“I think it should be at least midnight,” Clark said.

The curfew law was passed to stop some crimes and have teens in a safe environment during the night.

“Underage children should be home at the same time,” Robert Darling, police officer, said.

Refusing to abide by the law can result in a citation and a fine up to $250 with the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

Curfew law discussed

Seniors Mary Katherine Lake and Victoria Runge pose backstage at the 2010 Tuscaloosa County Junior Miss program.

WINNING NUMBERS

in brief

“ ”Our goal is to encour-age these young ladies to continue their education .

~ Vickie Brown, chairman

“”

...the girls who partici-pate are great role models for young girls in our community .

~ Victoria Runge, senior

“ ”Every girl there wanted to make a difference .

~Mary Katherine Lake, senior

the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010 news 5

brooke houstonstaff writer

In January, the school board is going to vote on whether or not to incorporate school uniforms into the Tuscaloosa City Public School System.

Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said, “The uniform policy is a means of solving a problem.”

The Policy has risen to the attention of the school board after the excessive failure to follow the dress code.

Ashton Clark, senior, said that even more problems may arise from the possible policy. Clark said a uniform would not be a good idea because, “Not everyone may be able to afford a uniform. They are expensive!”

If students really want to violate the dress code, they will, even if that means sagging their uniforms or leaving their shirttails un-tucked.

“This issue has risen to the forefront, in all likelihood because of a handful of horrifying

habits that we see in this day and age. Sagging, for example, has

prompted state legislature to develop laws that target those behaviors,”

Espy said.To void having to switch over to

uniforms in the middle of the year, the students must comply with the dress code rules by not sagging, wearing a belt, tucking shirts in, and wearing skirts and dresses that are appropriate lengths.

“As we consider requiring students to wear a common selection of clothing” said Espy, “their desires will be evident in how they continue to either comply or fail to comply with our dress code. I believe that most students would rather make

a few adjustments than to face the requirement of a school uniform. We will

vote on the school uniforms every day and if the students want a vote of no then they must simply comply with our dress code policy. Guys, tuck your shirts in and pull your pants up, seriously!”

Board considers uniformsinfographic by sam yang and craig first

anu panditeditor-in-chief

High school students can earn up to a year of college credit.

An online program from the University of Alabama called Early College allows high school students to take college classes early.

Jacqueline Hudgins, counselor, has helped the roughly 30 students who have joined the program in the past.

“There are a variety of benefits, among which are tremendous tuition discounts, the ability to do coursework at home or during vacation, and being able to take care of entry level courses that are usually very large in class size,” she said.

Online courses are available year-round, 24/7, and can be taken anywhere with Internet access. On-campus classes are available over the summer.

“Any junior or senior with at least a 3.0 GPA and a signed recommendation from a counselor is applicable,” Hudgins said.

Classes offered include Anthropology, Art History, Japanese, Human Development and more.

“Students here are limited to certain courses due to Northridge’s course offerings,” she said.

Credits earned in the program are valid at The University of Alabama and are transferable to most colleges in the country. However, they are not averaged into high school GPA’s.

“Unless a student applies for a dual-enrollment credit, the courses at UA have no impact on the high school transcript. It’s a completely separate program,” Hudgins said.

Alyssa Guenther, junior, took Introduction to Anthropology over the summer.

“It was really easy to do. The classes are

s e p a r a t e d into modules, or sections of learning topics done in a certain order. [Learning techniques] include book reading, PowerPoint or video lectures provided by t h e professor and class discussions,” she said.

Guenther said the only drawback was the cost.

“My mom works for the university, so I got a 50% discount on my class fees. But I still had to pay a lot.

However, students who maintain [a certain] average get an automatic scholarship,” she said.

She said that overall, it was a very enriching experience.

“It’s great for people who want to get a feel for college classes. When you join the program, you actually become an official college student. You get a university campus ID and everything,” she said.

For those who continue with the program, living on-campus can be an option.

“Second-year Early College students can, if allowed by their parents, get a chance to actually live on campus. Although there are only a few classes you’re allowed to take on campus, it would be a great experience,” she said.

For more information about Early College, call 1-877-823-8759 or visit their Web site at uaearlycollege.ua.edu. Online Information Sessions are also available for those with Internet access.

Current juniors and seniors can now apply for Fall 2010 classes, and sophomores are eligible to apply in Spring 2011. The application deadline is Sept. 28.

Students start college onlineHEAD START

photo by gkelly17

School unites to help Miroff

destiny stewartstaff writer

History teacher Serge Miroff received a call on Aug. 20 stating his home was struck by lightning and burned down. Miroff and his wife suffered a complete loss, including all valuable possessions and a family dog.

The entire school responded within 24 hours by raising money. Emails were sent, announcements were made and the word spread.

“For the support I received, I was very grateful,” Miroff said.

Guidance counselor Jackie Hudgins said her immediate reaction was sadness.

“He’d lost his home, and everything in it,” she said.

“I was shocked,” Kearston Wells, sophomore, said. “I thought: ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?”

A week and a half later, on Aug. 26, at the school’s first pep rally, Miroff was presented with a check for $2,500. By Sept. 1, the amount of money has increased to $3,065.75.

“It was unbelievable,” Miroff said. “I was happily surprised. I had no expectations, and I was definitely shocked.

Miroff said the money given to him is

going towards necessities, like clothes.“Pretty much everything was gone. We’re

using it [the money] little by little. It was a huge relief,” Miroff said.

The event has made some students and teachers rethink their way of life.

“It’s made me want to talk to my insurance agent and inventory everything in my house if I ever want to replace it,” Richard Nowell, ceramics teachers, said.

“You realize that life’s not about stuff, but if that’s what you want to put your thought and time into, it can be taken away,” Hudgins said. “I know we’ve had teachers offer financial support and necessity items.”

Nowell said it “brought [students and teachers] together.”

“This is a second year teacher, but kids were motivated to help him out,” Nowell said.

Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said the event was “a terrible thing.”

“We felt very sad about the loss of his house. It was shocking news, but sometimes that’s life. Things happen, and they don’t ask first; they do not require permission. Mr. Miroff is a strong guy, and I admired the way he handled this adversity.”

Miroff said he was “overwhelmed.”“I give you my deepest gratitude from the

bottom of my heart,” he said. “Thank you.”

giving school spiritSGA sponsor Angela Shaw pres-ents history teacher Serge Miroff with a check to help him recover from a house fire.

photo by nick pappas

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feature6 the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010

april junemay

April 20 BP-licensed Transocean drilling rig, Deepwater Horizon explod-ed in the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven people were reported missing and seventeen injured.

April 22Deepwater Horizon sinks 5,000 feet. Five mile long oil slick is reported.

April 25US Coast Guard camer-as reports that the well is leaking 1,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd).

April 28A third leak is found, increasing estimates to 5,000 bpd.

May 5BP attaches a valve to the end of the broken drilling pipe hoping to stop the flow. It did not reduce the amount of oil coming out, so of-ficials conducted con-trolled burns to get rid of the oil.

May 7BP engineers used un-derwater robots to move a containment chamber over the two remainder leaks.

.May 8BP report blames the explosion on a methane bubble.

May 12Failure of a 4-story-high dome to draw out the oil results in BP lowering a five-foot-high dome to cover the leak.

.May 14BP plans to insert a 4 in. tube to place in the ruptured pipe to bring the oil to surface.

.May 20Experts estimate there is now 20,000 bpd.

May 26BP pumps thousands of barrels of mud into the well to plug the leak. It fails.

June 12Scientists double their estimates to 40,000 bpd.

alex hauserfeature editor

Pulling up to her family’s condo, Abby Hayes, sophomore, gets pumped for

yet another trip to the beach. But upon arriving, she was disappointed in the results of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“When I went to the beach, I couldn’t even get in the water. The water was all oily, and there were construction trucks everywhere,” Hayes said. “I only went twice this summer, and I usually go a lot more.”

Jared Lotfi, sophomore, said he tried not to let the oil spill damper his summer vacation.

“I tried to enjoy it, but it made my vacation less entertaining because you could smell the oil, and after swimming [in the Gulf of Mexico] for awhile a film-like substance stuck to your skin.”

Ria Evans, science teacher, explained the basics of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

“The oil rig started shooting out methane gas on April 20 and sunk on April 22. The deep water hole in the rig was not plugged until July 15. This is insane that the rig was gushing oil into the Gulf for three months,” Evans said.

A controversial subject is the cleanup of the oil. Many people don’t agree with the way it was handled, including Evans.

“This is the biggest marine oil disaster in the history of petroleum p r o d u c t s ,”

E v a n s said. “BP

and other companies saved

a lot of money by not having safety measures,

a workable emergency plan or even a shut-off valve on this

9-year-old rig.”Lotfi suggested BP should clean up their

mess and quickly.Evans said she doesn’t agree with some of

the solutions and is worried that it will harm the environment.

“Much of the cleanup effort was dumping chemicals onto the surface, with little or no attention to oil that was dispersing below the surface. Those chemicals do not just disappear; they become part of the environment,” Evans said.

Endangered sea turtles were released on Aug. 18 back into the wild after being rescued from the spill, according to an article on www.al.com.

“This makes me wonder how many turtles, birds and other marine life were not found and saved. We will never know how big this number might be,” Evans said.

Evans said the oil-infected waters weren’t the only thing killing the marine life but also the chemicals put in to clean-up the oil.

“It will take decades to know how all the marine life is being

affected by those

chemicals,” Evans said. “The impact on the local fishing industries—especially small businesses—has been devastating, and we have no way of knowing if or when it will bounce back.”

The oil spill has not been completely stopped. On Aug, 2, official estimates reported that 2,604,000 gallons of oil per day were being released from the oil rig.

“I think there will be devastating effects in the future that we cannot predict right now. The ‘cap’ or ‘plug’ has not stopped all the oil from c o m i n g out,” she said.

History

spill

oil

theof

Summer Cooking:

Oil spill disaster disrupts summer plans

the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010 7

augustjuly

anu panditeditor-in-chief

Jack Blankenship sat fishing with his father at the lake. It had been a long day, and

they hadn’t had any luck. Jack’s father turned to him and said “Son, it’s even too hot for the fish.”

Record-high temperatures, the third highest in state history, increased water temperatures at Lake Tuscaloosa, which, according to Blankenship, “made it difficult for us to really enjoy the water.”

Blankenship, senior, said that the lake got hot unusually fast.

“Usually it takes until the mid-week of July for the lake to get too hot to be comfortable in the water, but this year it was like bathwater near the end of June,” he said.

Blankenship said that one day at the lake, the heat was so bad that he and his friends sweated profusely.

“There was honestly more water on our bodies from sweat than from the swim we’d just taken,” he said.

Wesley Walker, senior, said that he went to the lake two or three times a week over the summer to go boating.

“You’d have to swim down twenty feet to get to the cool spots. Instead of swimming, which would have been useless, I would just get wet and then drive around in my truck so the wind would cool me off,” he said.

Kaitlin Krueger, senior, said that she frequented the Captain’s Cabin at the Northriver Yacht Club.

“I was laying out one day, and the heat made me feel dizzy and

light-headed. I tried to go for a swim to help me

cool off, but it felt like

there was a stove underneath the lake, heating up the water. It was hotter than Robert Pattinson,” she said.

Whit Chambers, junior, said that he and his friends used alternative methods to escape the heat.

“We’d keep the ceiling fans [on the boat dock] at full blast, and if we were feeling really hot we’d freeze a water bottle and pour it all over ourselves. It would keep us cool for about five minutes; then we’d just do it again,” he said.

Blankenship is what he calls a “regular” at the lake.

“It’s the place to be. Everyone goes there to hang out and swim and boat, and we weren’t going to stop because of the heat, even if it felt like swimming in coffee,” he said.

Water temperature ruins fun at lake

photo illustration by zoey simpson and alex hauser

laine elliottbeat editor

Temperatures were in the hundreds this summer, with a record-breaking

116 degrees on Aug. 3, making this summer the third hottest in Tuscaloosa’s history.

Students speculate it could have something to do with global warming.

Lynn Kyle, sophomore, said she enjoys walking her dogs and having picnics, but the heat got in the way.

“It was too hot every day; I didn’t really do anything. The heat made me feel lazy,” Kyle said.

Some students found it difficult to be outside, especially students who play sports.

Walter Hall, sophomore, and Paaras Agrawal, sophomore both played club soccer.

“My soccer coach made us bring a gallon of water with us, so we wouldn’t get dehydrated or get heat exhaustion,” Hall said.

“While we were practicing, more than once, people had to sit out because they got so light-headed and started throwing up,” Agrawal said.

Kristy Cooper, math teacher, said she also had problems with

the heat. “I wanted to take my baby to the pool, but

it was so hot, and I didn’t want her to get burned,” Cooper said.

O t h e r

summer days were in the high 90s and 100s. The highest temperatures were 106 degrees on June 14, and 109 on July 30.

“This summer was way hotter than previous summers,” Zoë Bakker, sophomore, said. “It most likely was caused by global warming.”

“I didn’t really think the heat had anything to do with global warming, but it may have caused all the other natural disasters that have been happening lately,” Hall said. “It’s always hot in Alabama.”

The natural disasters Hall is referring to are the recent floods in Brazil and Pakistan.

What some students might think of as global warming could logically be described as The Greenhouse Effect, Nerissa Deramus, science teacher, said.

“The heat is caused by too many emissions of carbon dioxide,” she said. This breaks up the ozone layer, so the sun shines more intensely, resulting in hotter weather.

Andrew Hubbard, junior, said he believes strongly that global warming is the cause of this weather.

“I went to Summer Snow to get a snow cone and before I could even eat it, it melted,” Hubbard said. “It made me very sad. It’s all global warming’s fault,” he said.

Carson Thweatt, junior, said she likes to hike and do outdoor activities but wasn’t able to participate in them.

“Whether it’s global warming or not, the heat affected me a lot this summer,” she said. “It was really awful.”

June 14Obama compares spill to 9/11.

June 23BP’s cap breaks causing oil to flow uninterrupted for several hours.

June 30Hurricane Alex disrupts clean-up

July 13BP installs a tighter cap on the ruptured well-head.

July 15BP completely stops the oil for the first time in 87 days.

July 23Tropical storm Bonnie suspends relief well drilling. It is revealed that the alarm systems were turned off the time of the explosion to allow the workers to sleep undisturbed.

August 2BP attempts to stem flow by pumping heavy drill-ing mud and cement into well.

August 4BP reports that the “stat-ic kill” was successful, though more mud will be pumped in it to close it permanently.

August 11The relief well drilling suspended to allow a tropical storm to pass.

Hot water

high

low avera

ge

Summer heat indexes

june

june

june

july

june

june

augu

st

augu

st

augu

st

106° 109°116°

75° 75° 76°

93.2 94.1 96

spill

Summer Cooking:oil, heat, recipe for disaster

information from www.guardian.co.uk

information com

piled by craig fi rstillustration by alex hauser Temperature soars

feature

enter tainment8 the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010

years that’s actually surprised me,” he said.Memento is rated R for violence,

language and some drug content. Not recommended for younger siblings.

photo by christophernolan.net

Nolan brother’s recent success reminds of past

you might also enjoy

nick pappasentertainment editor

With the release of The Dark Knight in 2008, and more recently Inception over the summer, Christopher and Jonathan Nolan have been the subject of critical acclaim.

Their film Memento, released in 2000, was a box office success, as well a popular hit with critics with its non-linear style showing the plot of the movie.

Andrew Maxey, assistant principal, said Memento was more impressive than recent, similar movies.

“A lot of movies now are not start to finish,” he said. “[Memento] gets outside the linear views of movies. [It] does it very well.”

Anondo Banerjee, senior, said Memento was “messed up.”

“It’s probably the first movie in ten

For fans of Inception

Construction delayed

photo by nick pappasThe amphitheater in construction across from The Tuscaloosa News. Originally expected to open this month, the theater is now slated for opening in March, 2011.

nick pappasentertainment editor

The City of Tuscaloosa Amphitheater being built near downtown Tuscaloosa was expected to open this month, but due to over 60 days of rain before June, the construction was set back.

Despite the delay, Walt Maddox, mayor, is looking forward to the amphitheater’s completion.

“I am excited, and it is going to be a great thing for Tuscaloosa,” he said. “I would [personally] love to see the Black Crowes, B.B. King and Sugarland [perform at the theater].”

Maddox said the amphitheater will be finished before the end of the year.

“The construction will be complete by December, and we will open in March 2011 for the Spring Concert Season,” he said.

Performances are already being lined up for the Spring season, Maddox said.

“Red Mountain Entertainment is currently putting together a concert series,” he said, “and [there should be] an

announcement by November.”Ryan Martin, junior, who said he was

ecstatic about the amphitheater in 2009, said he is still ecstatic.

“My dream concert: I would really love [to see] the alternative band Let’s Get it,” he said.

Walter Hall, sophomore, in 2009 said he didn’t expect the amphitheater to live up to expectations.

“I’m excited [about the theater] as long as they attract interesting and new artists,” he said. “I don’t think that will happen.”

Hall said the theater would be a nice addition to Tuscaloosa.

“[There’s] not much to do [in Tuscaloosa], and this would be one more thing,” he said. “It [will] be fun.”

Morgan Wilson, sophomore, said he does not expect much in the way of artists coming to Tuscaloosa.

“All we’ll get is country, country, and country,” he said. “[We’ll see] Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift and Nickelback.

screenshot from Troll 2Arnold (played by Darren Ewing) realizes the trolls are eating his friend, and once they finish, they will eat him. A video clip of this scene has millions of views on youtube.com

laine elliottbeat editor

Known as the “worst film ever made” by iMDB, Rotten Tomatoes and almost every other movie review Web site, Troll 2 definitely lives up to its reputation.

On Aug. 24, the Bama Theater showed The Best Worst Movie, which followed the Alabama dentist-turned-actor George Hardy and former child star of the film Michael Stephenson. They embarked on a journey to find the rest of the cast and discuss their experiences with Troll 2.

Since 1990 when the movie was released, these actors have tried to erase the memories of embarrassment Troll 2 has caused them but are now forced to laugh at themselves in this hilarious documentary.

Hardy, Stephenson and the whole documentary crew will be touring the country and screening Troll 2 to its cult followers. Tuscaloosa happened to be the first stop on the tour.

Following the documentary, they

showed the actual film. Don’t be fooled by the name. Troll 2 has

absolutely nothing to do with trolls. It’s all about goblins.

This cult classic horror story begins when a family of four goes on vacation to the quaint town of Nilbog (which, shockingly, is goblin spelled backwards).

The townspeople attempt to turn the family into goblins by making them eat suspicious green slime.

The only one who realizes the townspeople are evil is the son, Joshua, but he might have some psychological problems since he frequently talks to his dead grandfather.

Five minutes into the movie, I discovered it was already the cheesiest movie I’d ever seen, and it continued to make less and less sense as it progressed.

Screenwriting genius led to wonderfully out of place lines like, “Goblins! Are you on dope?”

The effects were awful, everything was covered in green slime and the goblin costumes looked like they were made by 5-year-olds.

This film was cinematic brilliance and the best unintentional comedy I have ever seen; I see now why it is such a phenomenon.

photo by moonstone

Bad movie, great funreview:

the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010 enter tainment 9

THE SONG FILE

I’m Doing Me: The right mix of old-school bounce and contemporary edge, but its chorus (with its spastic “I’m doing me”) never seems to totally melt into the slow-burning verses.

Bittersweet: A minor chart hit, and a safe, familiar surefire fallback. Fitting the video, where Fantasia plays an old-fashioned nightclub singer, it has a barely vintage thudding backing track with crashing vocals that ache with yearning. It’s not revolutionary, but it plays up to all the right places.

Collard Greens: Armed with a brilliant sample of Marvin and Tammi’s classic “Your Precious Love,” it moves in the right direction but something about it hasn’t been fully developed.

Trust Him: A slice of well-done old-fashioned production, but its effortless throwback vibe is hijacked by too-sweet-too-much-too-cheesy background vocals.

Falling in Love Tonight: A bit of a comeback, but it’s too late. It’s a strict dance hit that’s perfectly arranged over a crisp beat, handclaps, and auto-tuned male backup singers (though the extended instrumental section at the end is a little misleading). It’s a brilliant fast slow dance, but now it’s too late to really go old-school.

Even Angels: Even more of a safe hit than “Bittersweet,” and though it’s a little too sugary, it revisits the higher points of her past R&B hits.

Recommended (Live) Listening: Tributes to Aretha Franklin (Baby, I Love You; Rock Steady), Patti LaBelle (Somebody Loves You, Lady Marmalade); Pre-Grammy party duet with Chaka Khan (Summertime); I’m Here, performed on Oprah and at Tony’s.

photo illustration and font by nick pappas

the studio. Her wails, riffs and runs – some which

I’ve never heard anyone else do – are rarely captured on record.

When this album is good, it’s great. Its mix of classic and innovation is refreshing, but it misses a few chances towards the middle to really explore those connections. It doesn’t hurt my respect for Fantasia, but it makes me a little indignant for her.

It’s certainly not bad (it might be great, especially when lined up with what else is out), different from Fantasia and it has an artistic identity that she can build on.

The good news is, Fantasia’s young. She has plenty of chances to outgrow some of the lyrics on this album and to grow into whatever artistic identity she chooses. Once she chooses, I hope her producers give her the freedom to do what she wants.

In the meantime, Fantasia deserves any success she gets and also, support and encouragement. The recent attention paid to what may have been an affair with a married man turned ugly when she landed in the hospital after a “suicide attempt.”

So even if she doesn’t take them in musical form, I sincerely pray that Fantasia gets all the chances she needs to find herself – for real, this time. The album debuted at #2 on the Bill-board 200 and #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart.

hoops. She never gets to let loose and frankly, Cee-Lo Green’s part is slightly creepy.

“I know you’re twice my age,” she sings to him and he sounds every bit the part –not good when he’s singing to a 26 year old whose youth is part of her trademark.

The closing number is literally a closing number. “I’m Here” was Fantasia’s big anthem during her critically applauded

Broadway run in The Color Purple. Like Mary J. Blige’s “I Can See in Color,” it closes the album and does away with digital editing and exposing Fantasia’s glorious voice.

Live, the song focuses on her voice, backing it with piano or subtle strings. Here, it’s a little overdressed with its over-bearing strings; plus, it drags where she usually kicks into high gear. Her voice lacks its typical rawness, but it’s not the weak link here (or anywhere else).

Ultimately, Back to Me is probably closer to the real Fantasia than her studio

handlers have ever let her be (though I guess only Fantasia will ever really know how close). Still, her once-in-musical-history presence and voice often fail to show up in

samuel yangnews editor

Back to Me is right. If anybody has earned the right to demand that, it’s Fantasia.

She nailed everything from disco to country during her American Idol run and then sang with some of the biggest names in music. She’s practically the last great soul-singer on the radio.

That’s why it’s sad that she still seems to be at the mercy of her producers, singing whatever pop ditties (Free Yourself) or perceived urban hits (Fantasia) they throw at her.

The first 10 seconds of Back to Me are pretty encouraging that maybe Fantasia has finally found a groove. A menacing Usher-style effect is met by a thumping old-school piano line that comes in, only to be joined by a synth in the next few beats.

It sums up the artistic statement Back to Me seems to make: combining the old and new. The production, with help from samples, adds healthy doses of old-school soul to more current trends.

“Man of the House” is the album’s moment of genius. Over a whirling bed of vocals, synths and beats, Fantasia turns her street-smart singing into a stinging rebuke. “If you gon’ be the man/then be the man/’cause if you can’t/baby, I can,” she snaps (Ne-Yo’s

lyrics). My ego won’t appreciate it, but she has a point and she sounds pretty fine while doing it.

“Who’s Been Loving You” may feel like a genetically engineered R&B song with its flowing piano, steady beat, and swooping background vocals, but it’s done so perfectly that all but the snobbiest listeners will feel something.

I appreciate the brilliance of “Man of the House,” but “Who’s Been Loving You” is my instinctive favorite – say it’s the chord progressions, but this one’s been on repeat.

Unfortunately, after a strong start, Back to Me goes downhill. “Teach Me” and “Move on Me” are misses. “Teach Me” has an awkward indecisiveness and “Move on Me” sounds like a Beyonce outtake with with horns thrown in.

I would never judge, but part of me hoped that a woman with Fantasia’s life experiences and roots (she’s never been shy about her faith) would have more wisdom to impart than the blatant come-on of “Move on Me.”

“The Thrill is Gone” goes in the right direction when it comes to a swampy, drum-based late-night groove, but it still has Fantasia jumping through sweet little R&B

photo by jyle dupuis

Fantasia Barrino after win-ning the third season of American Idol. Barrino’s latest album, Back to Me was released on Aug. 24.

goes back to herself

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sports10 the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010

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Serving it up

Volleyball experiences winning streak

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Burgess & Simpson221 Rice Mine Rd NE #A

1825 McFarland BLVD N #DTuscaloosa, AL 35406

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Wins LossesHillcrestCounty HighBryantSipsey ValleyBibb CountyCentralFayetteBessemerr

BrookwoodHoly Spirit

ellie cauthenstaff writer

The Volleyball team defeated Hillcrest High School in a home game on Aug. 31. They played two area games against Hillcrest and County High and defeated them both.

“It feels amazing that all of our hard work paid off,” Natalie Cignetti, freshman, said.

Sherri Shuttlesworth, varsity volleyball coach, said area games are the most important.

“Area games are the way we advance, so these are the games we must win,” Shuttlesworth said. “So it’s always sweet to win an area game.”

The jags won four out of five games against Hillcrest. The scores were 25-16, 19-25, 21-25, 25-21, and 15-7.

“It was our best game ever,” said Shuttlesworth.Ashlyn Sunseri led the jags with 14 kills, two aces, two

assists, one block, and 22 digs. Kenyatta Moffett also had five aces, 11 kills, and five digs.

“”

We do what we have to to get the ball over the net.

~ Ashlyn Sunseri

The Lady Jags have been undefeated this season except for games against Brookwood and Holy Spirit.

“Even when we were losing we got it together, came back and killed them,” Cignetti said.

Shirlyncia Moore, sophomore, is on the varsity team.“It upset us [if we lose], but we just shook it off,”

Moore said. “We use that loss to motivate us to do better next time.”

“I have had these girls for four years and consistency makes the difference. Plus the addition of Ashlyn Sunseri pulls our team together,” Shuttlesworth said.

Ashlyn Sunseri, junior, moved here from North Carolina last year and has been an important asset to the team.

“We do what we have to do to get the ball over the net,” Sunseri said. “It’s all about focus.”

Shuttlesworth said the team’s dedication is what drives them.

“Our team is really good about keeping the ball up; we have great communication and great leaders,” she said.

photo by beth allaway

photo by beth allaway

photo by beth allaway

The volleyball team shakes hands with their opponents after defeating Central on Sept. 2. “Central wanted the game bad, but in the end we wanted it more,” Cook said.

Ashlyn Sunseri, junior, Lizzy McElwain, senior, and Car-ly Cignetti, senior celebrate their win against Central.

Varsity volleyball team members discuss the game on the bench.

11the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010 sports

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athlete to watchalison fridley

alexandra stewart staff writer

Alison Fridley, junior, picked up a tennis racket for the first time in 6th grade. “My mom and my friends really encouraged me to play,” she said. “Once I started playing, it was really fun. I loved playing in the tournaments and meeting new people,” she said.

Every year, Fridley has played on the tennis team.

Becci Hauser, tennis coach, said she has seen lots of improvement in her.

“She has some of the best skills at Northridge. She works hard to get better every day,” she said.

Fridley uses various outlets to enhance her game.

“I have a tennis coach in Birmingham, at Lake Shore, where I attend a clinic four times a week,” she said.

Fridley not only plays on the tennis team for Northridge, but she plays in tennis tournaments every weekend. She plays in tournaments from South Carolina to Arkansas.

“I have like no time anymore. I’m starting to think home schooling would be better,” she said. “I have one this weekend, and if I advance, then I could have to stay until Monday, and I have one in Mobile next weekend. I have to check out Friday, Sept. 17, and that one could go to Monday, too,” she said.

Hauser said that the tournaments help Fridley to become a better player.

“She plays a variety of different people that have different strengths and weaknesses. She has never played them before, so she has to figure out how they play on the court,” she said, “I think it’s how she gets better; she’s played a lot of tough competition,” she said.

As much time as the tournaments take up, she said she still really enjoys every aspect of them.

“I love the tournaments, basically because I am really competitive, and I meet a lot of new people,” she said. “My first big tournament, I played on stadium court, first round, with a seated line judge against a girl who became one of my best friends,” she said.

regan walkerassistant sports editor

Anyone looking for Darryl Jones would find him practicing for one of three sports: football, track or basketball.

“Track [is my favorite sport],” Jones said. “I started in the seventh grade; Coach Giddeon saw me at P.E. and asked me to join.”

Jones said track is his favorite because it’s where he excels; however, he said he has to work more in basketball.

“[Basketball] doesn’t always come naturally to me. I have to work harder at it,” Jones said.

Jeff Sparks, track coach, said that Jones is a diligent athlete.

“[Jones] contributes a hard work ethic and a positive outlook to the team,” Sparks said.

However, Jones said he sometimes has trouble keeping up with his class work because of his sports.

“I’m here [at school practicing] all day,” Jones said. “[Sports] are everything to me.”

Jones said his best memory in sports happened last season.

“I found out I was second in the nation for sophomores in triple jump,” he said. “I was so excited.”

Jones said he sees sports as a definite link to his future.

“I want to get a scholarship to college, maybe in the S.E.C. and eventually find a job that involves sports,” he said.

brock hartleysports editor

The football team won their first game of the season against Minor on Sept. 10 at Northridge.

The ending score was 35-24. Twenty-eight points were scored by Bo Scarbrough, freshman. The other touchdown was scored by James Cox, sophomore.

Bo said that on his third touchdown the play almost didn’t go as planned.

“I dove in the end zone and that was not in the play at all,” Bo said.

The other touchdown was a 24 yard pass delivered from quarterback Brooks Burns to wide receiver James Cox.

Brooks said it felt great to have a

touchdown pass, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“The play went perfect. James did an amazing job in reading the play and getting the Jags some more points on the board,” Brooks said.

James was scared at first that he might not catch the throw but ended up making the play happen.

“For awhile I didn’t think I was going to catch it because it was thrown a little inside, but I pulled through and caught it,” James said.

Jackson Blankenship, senior, grew his beard out until the team’s first win.

“It was exhilarating and heart-thumping [getting to shave my beard off],” he said. “I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my wrist as the razor cut my [beard].”

Football team wins first gameFreshman Scarbrough leads scores

Jones balances three sports

photo by meredith horn

photos by meredith horn

Brooks Burns, quarterback, does a running play for a first down in the game against Minor on Sept. 10.

Left, the football team bursts through the banner before their game against Minor.Right, Andrew Maxey, assistant principal, supervises the pep rally on Sept. 10.

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Tennis player loves competing

photo by kimberly van hornDarryl Jones, junior, practices for foot ball after school on Sept. 15.

the northridge reporterseptember 21, 2010 12the beat

Seniors burst through their sign that read “Forgot the other classes...they’re all done, we’re the class of double one!”

Courtyard pep rally gets mixed reviewsclaire nicholsonstaff writer

The first pep rally of the year was held on Aug. 26 in the courtyard in preparation for the game against Walker.

In the past, pep rallies have been held in the gym.

Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said, “We had some concern about space limitations in the gym.”

Students had different opinions on the pep rally in the courtyard.

Courtney Plott, junior, said, “I couldn’t see what was going on. I don’t think freshmen got the full experience. It was basically people standing around looking lost and confused.”

Haley Foster, junior, said she liked the pep rally, but it could have been better.

“We should’ve had it in the gym and had more music,” she said.

Espy said he was happy with the behavior at the pep rally.

“I thought we had a nice time,” he said. “I didn’t have any complaints; we’ll call that a success.”

At the beginning of the pep rally, the senior class ripped through their sign.

Ashton Clark, senior, got part of her toenail ripped off during the run through.

“After we ripped the sign, someone stepped on my toe while we were running, and it ripped the middle of my toe nail off. My toe was bleeding for the rest of the pep rally,” Clark said.

The pep rally featured cheers, the dance line, words from the football coach, the football team walking in, the band and the colorguard.

Espy said future pep rallies are expected to be in the gym, stadium or back in the courtyard.

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Jack Blankenship, senior flag boy, runs with the flag. He let his beard grow until the team’s first win.

Dance line girls and cheerleaders raise school spirit.

Students sway to the music played by the band.

photo by beth allaway

photo by beth allaway

photo by beth allawayphoto by nick pappas