Michael Ahn

          Before I begin this article I would like to define what a cult is. I don’t actually know the formal definition, but for the sake of this article we’ll call it a group of people that partake in abnormal and bizarre activities. Here is a list of things that come to my mind when I hear the word “cult”: robes, virgin sacrifices, pentagrams, candles, and eerie chants.

          With that out of the way we can get on to the point of this article. I have been asked many questions during my time at NT: How many courses do you have? Why do people call you Eager? Why would you do such a terrible thing? However, the one question that always comes to mind regards the Stage Crew. Are we a cult? The simple answer to that is no. We are not a cult at all… I think. When I hear the words “stage crew” a very few select group of words come to mind: Awesome, Awesome, Awesome, and Sexy. This is clearly very different then the words that came to mind when thinking of a “cult”. The enigmatic nature of the stage crew dates way back when where people lived in the 70’s and stuff. By that I mean there are traditions and silly things that I don’t actually know how they originated but they still live on today. If anything, we are a family. The backstage area of the old school was a gathering place for people of all sorts of personalities. Sheltered Jewish girl? Accepted. Foreign Mauritian-Canadian guy? Accepted. Introverted angry gamer? Easily accepted. Borderline brain damaged sociopath? It’s that kind of guy that usually gets the leadership position. In all seriousness, this was the first time where I had seen people with such contrasting personalities learn to function as team. We were put into an environment where we had to put aside differences (whether they are cultural or personal) and learn to cope with each other and I can proudly say that the senior members of my stage crew are people I can trust without question. Despite the occasional quirky behavior some people might see out of the auditorium, it is usually out of their own free will (we’re definitely not a cult). We ensure the smooth running of assemblies and shows. We do not brainwash naïve niners and steal milk crates when we get the chance. We are a group of highly trained professionals. We are definitely not a cult.