An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
Abby Hyken

Abby Hyken, Editor in Chief

Abby Hyken is a senior and the comment section Editor in Chief. She is a fourth-year writer for the paper and is excited to write for the Southerner this year. When she’s not writing, she’s competing for Midtown’s Public Forum debate team and spending time with friends and family.

All content by Abby Hyken
FAFSA, created in 1992, was designed to replace previous federal financial aid forms, making it the only way for students to apply for financial aid from the federal government.

Head to Head: Are the changes to the FAFSA more beneficial for students and families?

Abby Hyken and Stella Maximuk
January 29, 2024
Bachrach enjoys reading Hamlet in her AP Literature class.

Clara Bachrach, senior

Abby Hyken
January 23, 2024
Atlanta restaurant Mujo received a MICHELIN Star following the announcement of the Atlanta restaurant guide.

Coveted MICHELIN restaurant guide expands to Atlanta

Shea Edwards, Abby Hyken, and Henry Moye
December 11, 2023
Brent Faiyaz performs his final song at One Music Fest. For the 50th year of hip-hop, Atlanta has taken measures to educate about hip-hop’s significance in the city and its influence on the urban landscape.

[Photo] 50 years of hip-hop shapes Atlanta’s culture, community

Connie Erdozain and Molly Thompson
December 6, 2023
The Classic Learning Test (CLT), created by the company Classic Learning Initiatives, is deemed a more “classic” approach to standardized testing and is backed by Christian and conservative values.

Florida’s use of Classic Learning Test shifts purpose of standardized testing

Abby Hyken
November 6, 2023
Rapper Lil Baby performs at Music Midtown on Sunday, Sept. 17.

Music Midtown returns after 2022 cancellation

Abby Hyken, Hannah Silver, and Lizzie Lyman
September 25, 2023
Senior Shawn Smith is excited to perform in an upcoming play, the “Trap” and “The Prom” the musical.

Shawn Smith, senior

Abby Hyken
October 17, 2023
Republican candidate Nikki Haley is the best alternative to Donald Trump as the Republican nominee due to her more down-to-earth approach to politics.

Republican debates show that Nikki Haley is best Republican nominee alternative to Trump

Abby Hyken
September 15, 2023
Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in 1951. Before her death, doctors removed cells from her tumor without her knowledge.

Henrietta Lacks settlement proves that we own our bodies

Abby Hyken
August 22, 2023
Gupta prepares to start his research project in AP Research.

Millan Gupta, senior

Abby Hyken
August 2, 2023
Dr. Danielle Battle will temporarily succeed the current superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, Dr. Lisa Herring. Herring may transition to a new position in late August, following a board meeting on Aug. 7.

District names Battle interim superintendent

Shalin Bhatia, Shea Edwards, and Abby Hyken
August 3, 2023
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, now 98 years old, established the Carter Center in 1982 after leaving the White House the year prior. The Center is financed by charitable donations and is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Former President Carter impacts the world, Midtown

Abby Hyken, Shea Edwards, and Lily Rachwalski
April 28, 2023
Overconsumption, the process of buying things that a consumer does not truly need, is harming our planet. An average American throws out 60-80 pounds of used clothing in a lifetime and fast fashion just further damages our environment.

Fast fashion is ruining our consumer culture

Abby Hyken
April 10, 2023
Junior JP Steiding enjoys playing left field on the Midtown Varsity soccer team.

JP Steiding, junior

Abby Hyken
March 15, 2023
About 30 states around the US have banned TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app, due to worries about the app's misuse of users' data.

TikTok ban in states hasty, too little information

Abby Hyken
February 22, 2023
The Majestic Diner has been serving “FOOD THAT PLEASES” since it opened in 1929. It is located in Briarcliff Plaza, off of Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Iconic Atlanta restaurants leave mark on community

Abby Hyken, Ally Bliss, and Shea Edwards
February 10, 2023
Senior Audrey Zeff poses with California Congressman Lou Correa during her internship on Capitol Hill.

Senior Audrey Zeff pursues passion in politics and advocacy

Abby Hyken
January 22, 2023
Representative George Santos for New York's 3rd congressional district "embellished" his resume, from a fake brain tumor to false statements of employment to a fabricated Jewish family history.

Rep. George Santos fakes Jewish heritage, lies harmful

Abby Hyken
January 18, 2023
China’s threat of invading Taiwan, its neighbor country, is growing increasingly more likely. Carnegie Endowment says an invasion could happen, “as soon as 2024.” If this were to occur, the U.S. needs to commit to helping defend Taiwan.

US needs to commit to defending Taiwan in case of Chinese attack

Abby Hyken
December 8, 2022
The Cardinal lot, commonly referred to as the upper lot on 10th street, is dangerous to exit from. Students and staff who park in the lot have to deal with the difficulty of exiting on the daily.

Exiting 10th street upper lot dangerous, needs addressing

Abby Hyken
December 3, 2022
Francie Quigley (left), Terrisa Winer (middle) and Mary Reed (right) came to support Brian Kemp at his election night party.

Kemp, Abrams hold election night watch parties

Abby Hyken
November 9, 2022
Kemp voters show their support for the governor. On Nov. 8, Kemp won reelection, defeating Democrat Stacey Abrams in a rematch of the 2022 contest.

Kemp defeats Abrams, wins reelection

Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Alannah Edwards, Shea Edwards, Abby Hyken, and Diana Jachman
November 8, 2022
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is rumored to be moving to mostly virtual news. However, digital news is inadequate compared to print paper.

Print newspapers in decline, still relevant

Abby Hyken
November 2, 2022

C Days on Mondays allow students to ease into week

Abby Hyken
October 7, 2022
School Resource Officer Derrick Hammond escorts students across 8th Street after school on Sep. 8.

Midtown, district work to strengthen security in schools

Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Shea Edwards, Abby Hyken, and Sierra Pape
September 26, 2022
Jack Huray, senior

Jack Huray, senior

Abby Hyken
August 24, 2022
Two students were shot on Saturday outside of a party attended by Midtown students.

Two teens shot after party for Midtown grad

Jamie Marlowe, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, and Abby Hyken
August 14, 2022
Matthews participates in a showcase at Catapult Acting Studios.

Sophomore Matthews acts in upcoming show, ‘Heaux Phase’

Abby Hyken
May 27, 2022
Student sleeps at desk after a long day of studying for finals and AP exams.

Students prepare for finals, AP exams

Abby Hyken
May 16, 2022
The main parking lot filled to capacity during school hours.

[Photo] Head to Head: Should the current student parking system be changed?

April 22, 2022

New system for parking needed, spots assigned at beginning of year

Abby Hyken
April 22, 2022
If the teaching of CRT is banned in schools, during the teaching of certain historical events, such as the slave trade, teachers will have to downplay the horrific events that took place in order to not be seen as promoting the idea that one race is responsible for acts of oppression committed to another race. However, this would be sugarcoating history and will leave future American children with a skewed vision of their country’s past.

Banning Critical Race Theory sugarcoats history

Abby Hyken
February 22, 2022
"Hamilton" is a hit show that turn history into rap music.

Fox Theatre welcomes visitors with new COVID-19 protocols

Abby Hyken, Writer
September 14, 2021

Schoology more functional than alternative platform

Abby Hyken
September 2, 2021
Seniors complete their work after their return to in-person learning.

Seniors return to school after a year online

Abby Hyken
September 1, 2021
This mural was painted by anyone in the neighborhood who wanted to volunteer. This activity helped bring the community together to paint Candler Park Market.

Candler Park Market serves as neighborhood gem

Abby Hyken
November 19, 2020
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Abby Hyken