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
Oliver Grosse

Oliver Grosse, Opinion Managing Editor

Oliver Grosse is a junior, and is on his second year writing for The Southerner. He also enjoys playing on Midtown’s lacrosse team.

All content by Oliver Grosse
CUT OUT: The recent gerrymandering dispute between California and Texas disrupts voters rights, wastes the government’s time and fosters political rivalries.

Texas, California gerrymandering feud unfair to voters

Oliver Grosse
September 17, 2025
National Guard troops in Washington D.C. in response to the Trump Administration declaring a Crime Emergency. Chicago is expected to be the next city to receive troops.

[Photo] Military troops next to check crime in Chicago

Erin Smearman
September 18, 2025
aps forward graphic

[Photo] District addresses solutions to overutilization of schools, public reacts

Brennan Fritts
September 13, 2025
DC TAKEOVER: President Donald Trump continues federal overreach by taking control of the DC police.

[Photo] Trump’s takeover of DC is legal, but rooted in untrue facts

Fairlie Mercer
August 18, 2025
FAILING FUNDS: The increasing popularity of private school vouchers in the U.S. have taken away necessary funds from public schools who serve the students who need it most.

[Photo] Private school vouchers detract from public education, fail to enact growth

Daniel Hyken
September 10, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s $500 million cut to mRNA vaccine production and research disables vulnerable Americans from protecting themselves from deadly viral infections.

[Photo] RFK Jr. cuts $500 million in vaccine production, jeopardizes public health and trust of experts

Alek Sibilsky
August 26, 2025
CONSUMER CRAZE: Fluffy dolls known as Labubus have taken over the internet, bringing about the next big consumerist trend that glamorizes frivolous spending and wasting money.

Labubu trend fuels consumerism, harms environment

Oliver Grosse
August 21, 2025
zoos h2h graphic

[Photo] Head to Head: Is it ethically justifiable to keep animals in zoos?

Mariam Darb and Daniel Hyken
August 13, 2025
Saudi Arabia and the United States are currently in normalization talks. President Trump must prioritize diplomatic relationships.

LOCKED UP: U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have sent deportees to the notorious CECOT prisons in El Salvador without due process, drastically overstepping the law.

El Salvador’s mega-prison is working, but America is abusing it

Oliver Grosse
May 4, 2025
AI DESTRUCTION: As students begin to rely more heavily on AI the negative environmental ramifications must be considered and addressed.

[Photo] Academic use of AI is destroying the environment

Lela Hart
April 17, 2025
ENTER AI: As artificial intelligence's capabilities advance, so does its potential role in the film industry. With that has come controversy concerning possible regulations and guidelines.

Head to Head: Should AI be allowed in the film industry?

Fairlie Mercer and Oliver Grosse
April 3, 2025
DEI: The United States Department of Education sent a memo to American colleges and universities threatening to cut their federal funding if they don't remove their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.

[Photo] Diversity, Equity, Inclusion programs under threat, community reacts

Brennan Fritts, Mariam Darb, and Zelda Lerner
March 28, 2025
INCREASED PRICES: As demand for medications like Ozempic continued to rise, the U.S. market for prescription weight reduction medications nearly doubled in 2023, from an estimated $5.1 billion in 2022 to $11.9 billion in 2023.

[Photo] Wellness industry prioritizes profit over customer well-being

Aerin Jones
March 13, 2025
PRISON CONVICTIONS: Georgia's average conviction far exceeds the national average, in order to combat this Georgia needs to look at the root of the problem.

Georgia’s prison conviction rates far exceed national average, requires change

Oliver Grosse
March 3, 2025
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[Photo] Head to Head: Should teachers offer tests or projects as finals?

Abby Ippen and Maya Rallu
January 7, 2025
IMG_0685

[Photo] Head to Head: Should presidential power be curbed in final months?

Henry Moye and Liam Geissler-Norseng
February 28, 2025
CAPPED OFF: Atlanta's urban center is currently divided by the downtown connector, but with plans to cover the highway, Atlanta's downtown could be transformed for the better.

Atlanta’s Stitch Project crucial for improving urban environment, integration

Oliver Grosse
February 26, 2025
IMG_0675

[Photo] Head to Head: What political factor should voters prioritize?

Henry Moye and Farris Duwayri
October 15, 2024
LIGHT RAIL: A light rail network along the already established Beltline would be extremely helpful for the people of Atlanta, as it would make navigating the city by public transportation much easier while also reducing car dependency.

Beltline light rail project would spur city growth, development

Oliver Grosse
February 4, 2025
Remote work cuts costs for employers and improved work-life balance for employees, creating a more positive working environment.

[Photo] Remote working lifestyle brings benefits to the working community

Aerin Jones
January 10, 2025
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: Currently, the Common App for college applications is antiquated and harms equity and schools ability to the pick strongest canidate.

[Photo] College essays unnecessary, falsely represent applicants

Daniel Hyken
December 18, 2024
Virginia Highland Elementary School served as a polling location for the Midtown cluster. This site has been a consistent location for voters for over 20 years.

Polling locations across Midtown calm on Election Day

Sierra Pape, Connie Erdozain, Brennan Fritts, Henry Moye, Penelope Keenan, and Ayan Amin
November 5, 2024
Junior Rajewski enjoys eating his lunch on the steps with his friends

Adam Rajewski, junior

Oliver Grosse
October 7, 2024
In front of the breezeway, the orchestra played on top of the steps, which served as their temporary stage

Midtown orchestra holds fall concert at lawn in front of school

Oliver Grosse
September 24, 2024
With more orchestra performances scheduled later in the year, parents and supporters have further opportunities to watch the orchestra perform

The concert gave the orchestra a chance to display the music they have been learning and practicing for the past months.

Parents gather on the lawn in front of the library to watch their children perform.

The cello section watches on as they wait to play their part in the performance.

The Strings on the Green performance doubles as the orchestra's official fall concert.

Orchestra director Krissi Davis, the 2019-2021 teacher of the year, leads the performance.

Midtown's orchestra swaps the traditional auditorium for an outdoor concert in front of the school's library

MARTA's existing rail network does not provide access to all of the areas where public transport is needed in Atlanta. An expansion of the rail lines is required to improve the system

MARTA outdated, deserves restoration and expansion

Oliver Grosse
September 10, 2024
Midtown’s schedule has been pushed forward by 15 minutes for the 2024-25 school year. This change greatly benefits students at Midtown and provides them with better opportunities.

Modified schedule provides students new opportunity

Oliver Grosse
August 21, 2024
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