Issue 2 by The Here and Now

The Here & Now

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart • Volume 56 Issue 2 • December 10, 2009

Adding to Afghanistan By Laura Kraisinger Student Interest Editor

resident Barack Obama has announced that he is increasing the force in Afghanistan by deploying 30,000 additional U.S. troops in early 2010. When the United States first got involved in Afghanistan, the government authorized actions against Al Qaeda and those who harbor them, namely the Taliban, with a vote of 98-0 in the senate 420-1 in the house. When the Taliban refused to comply, the United States invaded Afghanistan. While Obama recognizes that the United States has achieved “hard-earned milestones in Iraq,” Afghanistan did not receive the same level of attention, and Al Qaeda remains forceful in the country. By the end of 2011, Obama says that all troops will be removed from Iraq. However, troop levels in Afghanistan are only a fraction of those involved in Iraq. Obama notes that the troops and their families bear “the heaviest of all burdens.” Obama has considered multiple opinions on the issue, mentioning opponents to the increase in troops who call Afghanistan a “modern-day Vietnam,” those who think the current troop numbers are sufficient, and those who believe that the time frame needs modification. Taking these opinions into account, Obama responded, “I do not make this decision lightly, I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan… this is no hypothetical threat.” “Our overarching goal remains the same: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and to prevent its capacity to threaten America and our allies in the future.” In order to achieve this goal, Obama plans to get Afghanistan to the point where it can successfully lead itself by supporting leaders who combat the corruption that is cur-

Photo courtesy of flikr

Soldiers who will be sent overseas as a result of Obama’s decision

rently rampant. In response to Obama’s address, Senator John McCain states, “the president made the right decision to embrace a counter-insurgency strategy that is properly resourced…I believe the 30,000 troops, plus the

Power in the Hands of the Youth:

Red, White, and True Well, Sorta

Invisible Children’s battle to bring peace

A Reflection on An Eye-Opening Experience By Carolyn Ruocco Copy Editor In collaboration with Georgetown Prep’s The Little Hoya

The leaders of Invisible Children, Marie Salvador ‘10, Cynthia Betubiza ‘10, and Caitlin Barrett ‘10 (missing Catherine Mysliwiec ‘10), start a revolution here at Stone Ridge.

Photo courtesy of Alex Gangitano

By Alex Gangitano Editor- in- Chief

“W

ould you rather die than stay on Earth?” “Yes,” answered Jacob, a former child soldier. Jacob lives in fear of reabduction every day. The large turnout of Stone Ridge High Schoolers at the Invisible Children Benefit Dinner listened to this story, and many reacted in shock to Jacob’s statement. This shock is exactly what the Invisible Children Organization wants out of us; a shock that leads to initiative. And by “us,” I truly do mean the High School students at Stone Ridge. In this battle, students are the people making a difference. The founders of Invisible Children were three college students from Southern California who all made movies and collaboratively raised enough money to travel to Africa. In Uganda, they heard gunshots from the rebels, a sound they were told was very common. These “rebels” are the LRA, the party responsible for making Congo the most dangerous place in the world. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), lead by Joseph Kony, is fighting a war against the Government of Uganda, resulting in the largest running war in Africa. In the 24 years of the war’s

existence, 90% of Kony’s army has been composed of abducted children, also known as “invisible children.” These 30,000 children are “invisible” because there are no records kept of their names. The army denies their existence and advertises itself as merely a group of rebels. Therefore, no one knows whether these children live or die. The founder of Invisible Children contacted the LRA in an attempt to discuss peace, and continued to correspond with members through letters, videos, and phone calls. Upon returning back home, the founders made a documentary about Jacob and raised millions of dollars to build schools in Uganda that would educate future leaders of peace. They knocked on senators’ doors to ask what they would do for the children, and gained congressional support. Kony finally agreed to meet at his hideout and sign a peace agreement. On April 8th, 2008, the founders documented as “the peacemakers” waited for 5 days, and Kony never showed up. Upon leaving, the founders were given letters by the actual “invisible children” to give to their parents. One read, “Mama if there is

any way they can let us come back home, please help us.” The founders refuse to lose hope. The leaders of Invisible Children, seniors Cynthia Betubiza, Caitlin Barrett, Catherine Mysliwiec, and Marie Salvador arranged for the “roadies” to come to Stone Ridge on November 17, 2009 to show their video, “The Rescue.” Roadies John and Carly have been traveling since September 9, 2009, touring schools. John is a 22 year old from Little Rock, Arkansas, who pointed out that Betubiza worked extremely hard to make the benefit dinner possible. Carly, from Nashville, is taking a semester off from college to be on the road for Invisible Children. She tells the audience, “we appreciate such motivated people in High Schools and Colleges… this cause is our life.” Motivation amongst this country’s youth is Invisible Children’s method of bringing peace to Uganda. Invisible Children asks the youth of America to participate in “The Rescue.” On April 25, 2009, youth around the world will “abduct themselves” as an effort to push the Invisible Children Bill through Congress and end the longest running war in Africa.

wo weeks ago, the staff members of The Here and Now attended the National High School Journalism Conference in Washington D.C. Expecting to be shown up by what we thought would be superior journalistic skills of the nearly 6,300 other students from newspaper staffs across the country, we entered the Woodley Park Marriot feeling a little inexperienced. Luckily, we met up with the staff of Georgetown Prep’s The Little Hoya and were able to collaborate with them on a few new ideas for our papers. After attending a few informative break-out sessions, we all came to realize that every school paper has room for improvement. We weren’t at as much of a disadvantage as we originally thought; however, we became more aware of another obstacle that sets us apart from public school newspaper staffs. At the conference there was an entire session dedicated to informing students of their rights as journalists. After a few minutes we realized that the rights being discussed did not always apply to us. Our rights are sometimes limited by our choice to attend private Catholic schools. Private schools seem to promote the image of the “picture perfect” teenager with flawless appearances and conservative values that influence all aspects of his or her life. Not to say that these qualities are negative; in fact they are undeniably respectable and desirable. But this image, for the most part does not leave room for any type of internal distress. The Network of the Sacred Heart and the Society of Jesus at our schools are dedicated to social action outside our walls and recognize the need to overtly acknowledge social problems as a necessary prerequisite to solving them. While these external problems are being recognized and addressed, many of the internal struggles of our own community members, as evidenced by the relatively safe articles we publish in our papers, are not. This brings us to our role as student journalists. Our mission as reporters, as was emphasized at the conference, is to give a voice to all members of our communities - not just the leading

AFGHANISTAN continued page 3

In This Issue:

TRUE continued page 9

A Look at Our Sisters Page 4

Why are DC sports teams so bad?

Fantasy Christmas Gifts Page 7

Page 11 nationalsportsreview.com

“

There’s the implication throughout the video and the program that [assault] is normal. And I’m saying it shouldn’t be.

”

-Catherine Mysliwiec ‘10

For the story, see page 8

World News

Editorial:

Here and Now Issue 2

The Unfortunate Evolution of Literature

By Alex Gangitano Editor-in-chief

This past July, I was one of the

devoted fans in line for the 12:01 am showing of the new Harry Potter movie. And I am also guilty of staying cooped up with my friends on a Saturday night to finish the chapter of Twilight we had started. But I am proud to say that my favorite book is Catcher in the Rye, with To Kill a Mockingbird in close second. But what if these books weren’t assigned for us to read in English class? If we were never exposed to great literature, what would the “favorite books” section on our Facebooks say? I can confidently guess they would consist of Twilight, and when we were middle schoolers, The Clique series and The A- List series. Why are American teenagers so drawn to shallow novels? And yes, they are considerably shallow, in the sense that they lack any intellectual substance. But American teenagers haven’t always been this mindless. In 1557, Pope Paul IV established The Index of Prohibited Books to forbid Catholics from exposing themselves to controversial ideas. Hundreds of years later, the United States banned certain books from curriculums and libraries: Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Hucklebury Finn, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, George Orwell’s 1984, JD Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Today, these books are among the greatest of American literature and are studied in classrooms across the country. Clearly people didn’t sit back and accept the ban

on them. Teenagers fought for these books and insisted on reading them. Who would fight for The Clique series? Who would risk expulsion or incarceration for Twilight? Before our generation, novels by authors like Allen Ginsberg, Neal Cassady, and Jack Kerouac were on the nightstands and in dorm rooms of American teenagers. In the 1950s, when Ernest Hemingway’s plane crashed in Uganda, students refused to take off black armbands until news came that the author had survived. In 1980, Mark David Chapman told police that Catcher in the Rye led him to assassinate John Lennon. Who would protest for the author of The Gossip Girl series (assuming we figure out what her name is first)? What author would we wear armbands for? Which novel in our generation would cause the murder of one of the most influential rock-stars? The only effect of novels I see are a few more vampire shows on TV, and the Twilight movie stars on the covers of tabloids. Novels from previous generations caused a stir, interested the minds of teenagers, and effected their beliefs and passions. These days, novels cause gossip columns and new Halloween costumes. There is no emotional attachment; we don’t believe in the movement. It’s up to our generation to decide which novels are worth reading and worth loving.

desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars…” Stephenie Meyer has her character, Bella, tell the reader: “About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn’t know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.” I think we can all see the contrast here; the kind of people Kerouac is describing sound a lot more interesting to me than Edward Cullen. And this interest is provoked by Kerouac’s passion, genius, and the world into which he invites his reader to enter. Substance is the issue with our generation. What do our novels have to say? And more importantly, what are the readers getting out of them? What impact do they leave on our generation? Nothing of significance. Nothing to put these novels on shelves beside Eliot and Faulkner. So who will write the next great American novel? As you begin your rough drafts, consider an ending such as Salinger’s “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody” (a passage I can proudly say I have memorized) as opposed to Rowling’s “I’m going to have a lot of

My brother has a Jack Kerouac poster in his dorm room with this passage: “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved,

fun with Dudley this summer.”

Responses?

The Bystander Effect: The Science Behind Not Reacting By Alex Gangitano Editorin-Chief

By Caitlin Baschuck Sports Editor

“It has been a tough time for military soldiers and families” Afghanistan, the timing of this event could not have been worse. For many, this outbreak of violence brought back the fears of terrorism that resulted from September 11th, 2001. However, people were most

“Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody” -JD Salinger

Email a letter to the editor: agangitano@stoneridgeschool.org

Violence On American Home Ground n November 5, 2009 many Americans were filled with tears and disappointment after what President Obama claimed was a “horrific outburst of violence” at the Fort Hood Military Base in Texas. A Muslim army psychiatrist for the United States, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, shot and killed thirteen soldiers and wounded thirty others. Given the current state of stress and sadness for most people in the United States due to the recession, high unemployment rate, and conflict in

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Families grieve at a prayer vigil after the Fort Hood Shooting

shocked by this event not only because it happened on American soil, but because it occurred at a military base that was unable to adequately fight back. At the base, weapons are brought out solely during training exercises, and so when the shootings began, hardly anyone was prepared. It was reported that Major Hasan was not fully inspected before he was given the job as a psychiatrist. Hasan, a frequent member of a Virginia Mosque, was in contact with a radical Islamic Cleric named Anwar al-Awlaki, who was later found to be one of the biggest al-Qaeda recruiters. The reasons for the shootings have been unclear due to the fact that Hasan has been recovering from his gun wounds in the hospital, but government officials have found emails between Hasan and Awlaki that express that Hasan couldn’t “wait to join [Anwar al-Awlaki] in the afterlife.” These reports suggest that the event was a direct act of terrorism. But could this violence have

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

resulted simply from the fact that Hasan, like many other American soldiers, was scared and frustrated when he found out he was being deployed to Afghanistan? Or could it have been because other soldiers had been treating him poorly throughout the base because of his religion? Even though it is almost certain that this event was a direct act of terrorism against the U.S., Americans must remember to be accepting and kind towards all people no matter the circumstances. It has been a tough time for military soldiers and families, and as we have seen in past conflicts, a certain amount of violence witnessed by a solider takes a toll on his or her mind. It is our duty as American citizens to be there for our soldiers when they arrive home and offer help to their families so we can all get through this unfortunate period.

n the night of California’s Richmond High School’s homecoming, witnesses passed by the back alley of the high school gym as a 15- year- old student was sexually attacked by a group of men. Ten people where part of this “gang,” ten other people were witnesses to this crime, and zero people reported it. In 1999, California passed a law making it illegal to not report a crime against a child under the age of 14. Did witnesses not report, nor stop, the crime because the child was one year older than 14? Or was it a conscious choice to not step in, merely because people didn’t want to? The phenomenon of witnessing a crime but not reporting it is referred to as the bystander effect. While the lack of response to this event seems like an issue of courtesy and consideration, there is actually a psychological explanation to the witnesses’ “incivility.”10 people witnessed this crime, which actually made it more likely for no one to respond to it. If there are a fewer amount of other witnesses, they are more likely to take action. In a study done by psychological

researches Bibb Latane and John Darley, one person was placed alone in a room and two people were placed in another room. The people were told to fill out questionnaires and amidst their session as smoke began to fill the room. Out of the people placed alone in a room, 75% reported the smoke. Out of the people placed in a room with two other people, only 38% reported the smoke. Why are people more likely to report an issue when there are less people present? The bystander effect can be explained by two factors: diffusion of responsibility and the human desire to be socially accepted. The responsibility of reporting an issue is clearly diffused as the amount of witnesses increase. But the explanation that a desire to be socially accepted causes a lack of response is troubling. As people do not react, other witnesses find a reaction unnecessary or inappropriate. Therefore, due to this domino effect, it is likely that no one will interfere. If we all followed our own initiative and went out of our way to help a fellow citizen in need, imagine how may lives could be saved.

Out of the people placed in a room with two other people, only 38% reported the smoke.

Stone Ridge Dec. 10, 2009

World News

A Look at The Virginia Governor Elections The Facts

An Opinion By Kirsten Ruginski Design Lead

By Anna Dunlavey Metro Editor

lthough many places in the United States did not need to hold elections this year, the few places that did produced interesting and decisive outcomes, some expected, some unexpected. Either way, these results offer a look at the feelings of Americans about our country right now. One that occurred close to Stone Ridge was the race for Governor of Virginia. Republican Bob McDonnell beat Democrat Creigh Deeds, which is not surprising because McDonnell had led for many weeks prior to the election. Also, it usually happens that the Governor of Virginia is of a different party than the president in office. For example, Democrat Tim Kaine, the Virginia Governor whose term is ending, was in office at the same time as Republican President George Bush. In the race for Governor of New Jersey, incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine ran against Republican Chris Christie and Independent Chris Daggett, along with several candidates from other parties. Christie won the election by a fairly large margin. This was a significant election because, due to a constitutional amendment made the first day of Corzine’s term, it will be the first time New Jersey has a lieutenant governor. In 2001 and 2004, the governor of New Jersey stepped down to assume a different position. This prompted the New Jersey government to decide how the secession of governors would take place, which led to the decision on a lieutenant governor. The amendment outlines the new transition of power should the governor not finish his term. The lieutenant governor, Christie’s running mate, is Kim Guadagno. Two races with surprising outcomes both occurred in the state of New York. In New York City’s may-

oral election, incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg came surprisingly close to losing. Bloomberg, who switched from the Republican Party to the Independent Party but ran on both tickets, gained 50.6% of the votes, while McDonnel delivers an inspiring campaign speech his opponent, Democrat has been in office for almost a year; Bill Thompcould the outcomes of these elections son, won 46%. This does not bode have reflected our nation’s feelings well for Bloomberg. In New York’s towards the president? Polls have race for representative of the 23rd shown that in both Virginia and New Congressional District, a third party Jersey, people voted for the Repubtook the lead in the weeks before the lican candidate out of protest against election. Republican candidate DierObama. However, the White House dre Scozzafava took different stances is not recognizing this as a sign of its on some issues than conservative defeat. Although some believe that candidate Doug Hoffman, and these the outcomes of the elections show differences allowed Hoffman into the that the initial power the Democratic competition between Scozzafava and party held after Obama’s inauguration Democratic candidate Bill Owens. has diminished, his administration Eventually, his lead became so great does not see it this way. Others have that, on October 31st, Scozzafava chosen to use the Democratic victory decided to drop out of the race. In the in New York’s 23rd Congressional few days before the election began, District as proof that Obama’s popuit seemed as though Hoffman would larity has not faded, that even though win, which would would have meant more and more people are vocalizing that a new party would be influenctheir anger for Obama, there are still ing the decisions of the nation in the many who believe that what he is House of Representatives. All were doing is right. stunned when Owens won the seat, because of how far behind he had been only days before. President Barack Obama

cont from Page 1

Adding to Afghanastan additional from our NATO allies, will be really sufficient to get the job done.” However, McCain does oppose part of Obama’s plan as he goes on to say, “I do not agree with an arbitrary day for withdrawal.” In his address, Obama points out that the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan are those who are most effected by the extremism of the Taliban. One of Obama’s main objectives in the war is to provide stability to the people of those countries, as well as to the citizens of the United States. To do our part, Stone Ridge’s SCG Gator Aid (lead by Helen Hargan '12, see below) is organizing a school supply drive this December to benefit students in schools affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Because of the wars, the education of students in Iraq and Afghanistan has been disrupted. Many schools have been destroyed, and U.S. soldiers are helping to re-build them. However, they lack funding, so Gator Aid will donate all the generated school supplies to the USO, an organization in support of U.S. soldiers, which will in turn donate them to the schools. Co-leader of Gator Aid, Helen Hargan ’11 says, “We want to show that what the soldiers are doing truly does help the world, and not simply fight in the wars.” Gator Aid hopes that the school supplies will provide the children in these war-torn countries with some of the stability Obama hopes to achieve.

With the knowl-

edge that we would no longer be pestered with those obnoxious political adds, many of us gave a great sigh of relief when Virginia’s elections for governor finally ended. But how obscene were the ads really? As a young adult who is truly disenchanted and underwhelmed with the entire political system (as I’m sure many of us are), I have a few bones Photo Courtesy of Flickr to pick about the vexatious Virginia Governor ads that bombarded family homes in the DMV for what felt like months. First off, I strongly believe that the gross thousands maybe millions of dollars spent on the campaign advertising not only would have been better spent on the issues to be addressed once the elected governor was in office, but reflect a sad and selfish set of priorities for both candidates. (I would give you an exact amount of the campaign costs, but I cannot find the numbers from any consistent or reliable sources…a reflection of what the politicians don’t want us to know? Hmm…) Coinciding with the topic of selfish priorities, what kind of message, moreover social and moral ideals, does publicly slandering an opponent send the American people? Do we really need to suggest that in order to beat an opponent, one must publicly humiliate and speak ill of him? The Governor race between Cree Deeds

and Bob McDonald truly reminded me of two young children calling each other bad names in a schoolyard. I wish they had stooped to potty language; at least it would have been more entertaining. One of the most irritating aspects of the Virginia Governors race was that the ads frequented the televisions of people who were not even affected by the race. How would the ads have any effect if they are run in a state whose citizens can’t even vote for either candidate? Personally, I could not have cared less, and I know other Marylanders empathize. I understand there was probably no getting around this given that various cable providers serve the entire metro area, but in my eyes, they should have found a way. I would give anything to go back and be spared the monotonous, repetitive ads. Talk about a couple of broken records. What’s more is that traditional family programming was disrupted on several occasions by “Battleground Virginia: The Race for Governor” specials. Isn’t it enough that we were bombarded with these ads every 3 minutes? Why do they need to cancel regular and loved family shows like Jeopardy or It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown? Twice, my nightly viewing of Jeopardy with my Dad -one of the few bonding activities we do together -- was ruined because of VA Governor Campaigns. Furthermore, The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown -- my Mom’s favorite movie -was postponed to irregular broadcast hours because of “Battleground VA,” resulting in another family tradition forced to be skipped, and a disappointed Mrs. Ruginski. It’s one thing to tick off my dad and me, but when you make my Momma sad, it’s on.

Fast Facts By Jenn Ferrigno World News Editor

10 President Obama announced his new policy on December 1; it will send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, and reassess and begin to remove troops in July 2011.

5 Tai Shan, the panda brought to the National Zoo in 2005, is going back to China. 4 Michaele and Tareq Salahi crashed the White House dinner on

9 Harry Reid, the Majority Leader, is working towards passing the Health Care Bill in the Senate. 8 There have been fewer job loses in the month of November than in any other month this year. Obama agonizes over his executive decision

Courtesy of Flickr

An alternate perspective: a statement from a solider By Caroline Musslewhite Journalism Club

Helen Hargan’s brother-inlaw is involved with detainee operations in Afghanistan (unfortunately, he cannot be more specific about this in any manner). Q: How do I think the war is going? A: “The media reports a lot more of what goes on in Afghanistan now. My last tour, it seemed like it was the forgotten war because it was overshadowed by Iraq. It doesn’t seem any worse from when I was here before. We have a lot of international support here. On any given day I will see German, Australian, Estonian, Canadian, and even French soldiers working along side us to help

improve the condition of the country. The Taliban are an international problem. That problem has been proven to be recognized worldwide by the variety of international forces in the region. As Americans, we have a lot of support for this mission and we will succeed over time. However, what we set out to accomplish won’t be achieved instantaneously.” Q: Anything to say to SR? A: “Thank you for the support that you have given us. The show of support from home has been amazing and it is appreciated by all soldiers, sailors, and airmen operating in both Iraq and Afghanistan.”

7 The Bank of America will repay $45 million in tax payer aid, making it the first to reimburse tax payers. 6 enTourage Systems will release the eDGe in February, which will allow students to read, highlight, and annotate on a two screen liquid crystal dislay.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

The uninvited guests walk into the state dinner. Later the couple took pictures with Obama and Biden, among many other special guests.

November 24th but have claimed they were invited. 3 $300 million were spent to make the Avatar movie; to put this in perspective $200 million were spent on Titanic. 2 Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator, said that greenhouse gas emissions are a serious threat to public health before heading to the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Tai Shan, the beloved panda at the National Zoo, will be returning home to China soon.

1 Four American children in Japan were arrested for the attempted murder of a 23-year-old woman who has suffered serious head injuries.

Metro

Here and Now Issue 2

Singing for a Cause

Sacred Heart

A Heartfelt Group By Claire Hackett Journalism Club

Academy of the Sacred Heart: Bloomfield Hills, MI (near Detroit)

What Are Our

By Taylor Mauk Interactive Lead

Mascot : Gazelles- Mascot name for Middle School for Girls and Upper School athletics. Knights- Mascot name for Kensington Hall athletics. (boys) Team Colors: Blue and Gold What they do that we should do: Project Term - students gain hands-on learning experiences in various communities around the world like the Amazon and the Dominican Republic.

Stuart Country Day School: Princeton, NJ By Danielle Anane Style Editor

Mascot: Deer Team Colors: green and white. What they do that we should do: They have Upper School dance classes, including ballet, broadway-style, and modern. Photo Courtesy of Claire Hackett ‘10

The Stone Ridge A Capalla Group, Heartfelt: Clockwise from Top Left: Caroline Musslewhite ‘12, Colleen Zorc ‘11. Iana Kozelsky ‘12, Madeleine Ours ‘11, Claire Hackett ‘10 (leader), Madeleine Engler ‘13, Aryana Keshavarz ‘10, Sara Mardam- Bey ‘10, Susannah Spruill ‘10, Carly Cantilena ‘10 (leader), Katie O’Brien ‘12.

hen classes rolled around in August, the members of Heartfelt had no idea what this year would have in store for them. In the first month of school, the girls were surprised and excited to hear that they had been invited to sing at a benefit dinner for an organization called Save Our Aging Religious (SOAR). Co-leader Carly Cantilena ’10 had also booked Heartfelt to perform at another dinner that same weekend that would raise money for research for LAM, a rare lung disease. So by October, the thirteen singers already had a lot to look forward to. Aryana Keshavarz ’10 comments, “the best part about Heartfelt this year is how it’s expanded from just a bunch of girls who like to sing into a group of performers who use their talents for social action.” The organization SOAR invited Heartfelt to sing because it would be honoring Cokie Roberts (‘60), who had requested a singing group from Stone Ridge to perform for her and her husband, Steve. SOAR raises money for the aging religious, especially for elderly nuns. The organization honored Cokie and Steve Roberts because of their commitment to faith and social justice, and for this they received the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award. The other organization that Heartfelt sang for raises money for research for LAM, which stands for lymphangioleiomyomatosis. It is a rare, fatal, incurable lung disease that affects women of childbearing age. Since so few women have this disease, research for it has barely any funding. That night, the organization raised $28,000. So in the time period of just about a month, the thirteen students prepared Ysaye Barnwell’s “On Children” and John David’s “You Are The New Day.” Both of the songs express hope for the future, which supports themes relevant to the causes of both SOAR and the LAM foundation. The fateful weekend arrived, and the singers were nervous but well-prepared, thanks to much

practice and the help of Mr. Richardson. They performed for SOAR first on November 7 at the Grand Hyatt Washington (in extra-perfect Stone Ridge uniform). Before they sang, Archbishop Wuerl opened the event with a prayer, Mark Russel emceed and made the guests laugh with some Catholic jokes, and everyone ate their four-course (or was it five-course?) dinner. When their cue arrived, the singers confidently walked onstage and finally performed what they had worked so hard on. While concentrating on the music and the meaning of the lyrics, Heartfelt also made a great effort to smile and connect with the audience. Afterwards, Roberts commented in her acceptance speech that Heartfelt was “awfully good.” Such a fulfilling performance spurred confidence in the girls for their next event. The LAM dinner was hosted in a beautiful private home in McLean. Heartfelt was stationed in the backyard, where they ate pizza, looked after a puppy, and eventually roasted s’mores after they sang. The event became very intimate because not only did they perform in a small space, but the girls also sang directly to LAM patients and their family members. After the performance, the girls listened to speeches by the members of the foundation, and talked to a reporter from Washingtonian Magazine. Heartfelt is expected to be mentioned in the next issue, and has already been featured in The LAM Foundation Magazine. This eventful weekend excited the girls about what they would do for the rest of the year. Heartfelt’s plans at the moment are vague, but the group is definitely planning to perform for Feast Wishes, the Murmur, and its own co-curricular in April. Other potential performances include caroling, the Multi-Cultural Festival, a café gig, and other informal events. The recent performances have boosted the singers’ confidence in learning, performing, and in each other. They hope to continue singing frequently this year and over the years to come.

What other Gators are up to... Mia Feller ‘10, Katherine Black ‘10, Colleen Zorc ‘11 and Caroline Wiernicki ‘12 Attended the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City, MO, November 19- 21. Out of the 25,000 youths that attended, Stone Ridge is proud to be the only school who participated from the Archdiocese of Washington, DC.

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart : Seattle, WA By Margaret Crilley Photo Editor

Mascot: Ravens

Team Colors: Green, white, navy What they do that we should do: They have a Glee Club and dance classes.

Newton Country Day School: Boston, MA By Anna Dunlavey Metro Editor

Mascot: Falcon Colors: Blue and Silver What they do that we should do: Advent Angels: During Advent, students and faculty participate in anonymous gift exchanges known as Advent Angels. Participants make and bake gifts for their Advent Angel . At the traditional Christmas Sing (held the day before vacation), each Advent Angel presents a final gift and reveals herself.

Duchesne Academy: Houston, TX By Laura Kraisinger Student Interest Editor

Mascot: The Chargers Team Colors: Blue and Gold What they do that we should do: Very much like Stone Ridge’s Hamilton House, Duchesne Academy’s White House remains not only as a historic part of the school, but also as one of the two learning centers on campus.

What Are Our SC

S C G

COMPETITION WINNERS

Gator Spirit

Leaders: Maggie Tehan, Maria Ayers, and Caroline Lee

e’ve got spirit, yes we do! We’ve got spirit, how ‘bout you? Ever wonder who the loud girls on the bleachers are at sporting events or who gets everyone pumped up during slow weeks at school? We have your answer, it’s the girls in Gator Spirit. So far this year, Gator Spirit has planned spirit week, cheered at sporting events, ran the Gator Grill, made wands for the actresses in the fall play, and organized a big cheering section to go to It’s Academic! Next on our agenda is planning Round Two and also going to even more sports games and keeping up that Stone Ridge spirit!

Battle Brain Cancer Leader: Taylor Mauk

attle Brain Cancer (BBC) was initiated as a way to help my younger brother and other children fight against their pediatric brain cancers. The group’s mission is to raise awareness about brain cancers, especially pediatric, through inner school-related activities and by reaching out to the community. We are going to host a winter clothing drive for the clients at the Children’s Inn and a Race for Hope 5K run/walk group. BBC is also co-hosting, with Operation Smile, Stone Ridge’s first ever Battle of the Bands benefit concert in the spring. All of the proceeds raised will be donated to the National Brain Tumor Society and Operation Smile.

Metro

Stone Ridge Dec. 10, 2009

Don’t Worry, Taking a Look at the Man in Be Happy

Across America

Sisters Doing?

How To Relieve Midterm Stress

Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart: Miami, FL

By Margaret Crilley Photo Editor

By Alex Gangitano Edoitor-in-Chief

Mascot: Cyclones Colors: Blue and Gold What they do that we should do: Senior switch day (a senior from another school switches places for a day with a senior from their school) and cachecache (teachers hide and students try to find them).

Duchesne Academy: Omaha, NE By Jenn Ferrigno News Editor

Mascot: Cardinals Team Colors: Black and Red What they should do that we should do: They have a Homecoming and a Cheerleading team.

The Academy of the Sacred Heart for Girls: Chicago, IL Mascot: Falcons and Wildcats Colors: Red and white What they do that we should do: They have a brother school.

Villa Duchesne: St. Louis, MI By Carolyn Ruocco Copy Editor

Mascot: Saints Team Colors: Maroon and White

What they do that we should do: Their school is co-ed until 7th grade.

By Kirsten Ruginski Design Lead

Mascot: Tigers Team Colors: Blue and Red What they do that we should do: Trips to Disney World, boarders in grades 7 through 12, and a boys’ school they are closely affiliated with (St. John Berchmans “brothers of the Sacred Heart”).

Convent of the Sacred Heart: San Francisco, CA By Lindy Firstenberg Assistant Sports Editor

Mascot: Cubs Team Colors: Red and White What they do that we should do: It is a same-sex school in a coed community. They have a super tight partner school that is all-boys. They are constantly on each other’s campuses and have tons of events together

CG Groups Doing? This year in Operation Smile

we have promoted awareness by posting flip facts around the upper school. For the alumni packages we are giving chapstick and customizing it with “Stone Ridge Operation Smile” on the label. We are planning on making announcements during assembly in order to inform people about Operation Smile’s Mission and to excite them for the Stone RidgeLandon Faculty game this March. We will be be working closely with Landon to plan the basketball game and make it successful. Teachers that have played in the past are Mr. Duffy, Ms. Ciccone, Ms. Theide, Ms. Goldmier, and Coach Omar (the assistant Varsity Basketball Coach). Operation Smile hopes to get new teachers like Mr. Krakow to participate this year. In order to get the entire Stone Ridge student body excited for this

game we will be raffling off baskets a few weeks prior to the game. In the past we’ve had Movie Baskets, Gum Baskets, Starbucks Baskets, Hannah Montana Baskets, Disney Baskets, and Sports Baskets (including Wizards or Caps tickets). We’re also working hard to get a guest speaker to come for a Co-curricular similar to the inspirational speaker we had in 2008 who discussed his own personal mission with Operation Smile to Vietnam and other places all over the world. Operation Smile is also planning a new event along with Battle Brain Cancer. We hope to have a benefit concert this spring. We plan to have local bands perform and have snacks to sell along with Tshirts or wristbands. We have lots of things to plan for and look forward to an eventful year.

2. Get enough rest- It has been proven that getting a good night’s sleep, usually eight hours, is imperative for one’s health and allows for more focus and less anxiety. Although some people swear by cramming the night before, it will not help in the long run! 3. Learn Yoga- Our great Bethesda location has many facilities to get some exercise nearby, and Yoga is a great way to center yourself and de-stress. Down Dog Yoga (near Potbelly’s) has convenient times for Yoga classes, and great rates for students!

Grand Coteau, LA

Leaders: Gennie McCarthy and Ari Smith

t’s that time of year: 24-hour Christmas music on 97.1, holiday drink menus at Starbucks, and Christmas break right around the corner. However, in the midst of all this, Gators undergo what we think is one of the most stressful weeks of our lives: midterm exams. In order to survive the frenzy, we have all come to know as the month of December, it is imperative that we remain focused, prepared, and ready for the challenges that await us the week of December 14th. Here are some ways to destress, and remain productive: 1. Get organized- Utilize our planner’s calendar and write down everything you need to do, and when it needs to get done by! This allows you to see everything long term and plan ahead.

By Melissa Nemati Assistant Copy Editor

Operation Smile

Photos courtesy of sofie.org

Center City

Consortium

4. Eat a Good Breakfastl- Although eating breakfast at home may mean giving up some sleep, it allows the body to remain focused, whereas coffee will keep you anxious and may lead to a crash. Remember that tea is a great caffeinated, healthy alternative to coffee! 5. Think positively!- A good attitude is just as essential as a getting enough rest. If you are not ready emotionally, how will you ever be ready intellectually? A negative perspective going into a test never helps, so do things that keep you happy in the process of studying! Good Luck!

the Mirror Mass of St. Philippine Duschene

By Taylor Mauk Interactive Lead

tone Ridge celebrated the feast of Saint Philippine Duchesne with an all-school liturgy on Friday, November 20, 2009. This was the first all-school mass celebrated in honor of St. Philippine Duchesne. In the past, the Upper School has celebrated her feast day with a liturgy in Good Hall. The St. Philippine Duchesne mass had a different layout from the all-school masses in the past, one that catered to the goal of community building. Surrounded by beautiful plants, the altar was centered on a platform in the middle of the gym as opposed to the gym’s front wall. The positioning of the altar made the mass feel more intimate as the seats were facing toward the altar and were closer together.

Photo Courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

High Schoolers providing the musical accompaniment to the Man in the Mirror presentation

Father East, a favorite celebrant, filled the mass with his love as he blessed the youngest members of the community in the Blessing of the Children. Father East’s humorous suggestion for students to “friend Jesus on Facebook” made his homily more relatable and embraced by the Upper School student audience. The Upper School chorus, Heartfelt, and the Middle School Instrumental Ensemble sang Michael Jackson’s “The Man in the Mirror” while a multimedia presentation projected images of students doing community service. According to Claire Hackett, the leader of Heartfelt, the performance was a “great way to get different people involved.” The performance combined with Father East’s engaging homily truly made the St. Philippine Duchesne mass a great success!

Leaders: Alex Gangitano and Liz Kane

enter City Consortium (CCC) is committed to helping children in inner-city DC who attend one of the 8 CCC schools. Each CCC school provides a much better education for these underprivileged children than a DC public school would and strives to send each child to a religious high school in the area. Later in the year, we plan on visiting the school and providing for their suggested needs with perhaps a book or sports equipment drive. Students sitting on the stage in Gym 1, enjoying the Christmas Party

Photo Courtesy of Katie Suarez ‘10

Congratulations Core Group for Organizing a Wonderful Christmas Party on December 4th, 2009!

Style

Here and Now Issue 2

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful Personal but the Drinks are so Delightful… By Melissa Nematti Staff Writer

As each winter morning gets colder by the day, it’s time for your expensive, but oh-so worthwhile trip to Starbucks. Tired of ordering your usual Caramel Frap, but scared to try those foreign, holiday drink samples placed on the counter? Fear no more. I’ve gone out and tested the new festive drinks so you don’t have to.

Shopper Elf

By Taylor Mauk Interactive Lead

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

It’s an oldie, but a goodie, and you can’t help but order it when the first snow falls to get into that holiday mood. Classic creamy Starbucks hot chocolate is not too mild, yet not too sweet. The subtle peppermint twist kicks the drink up a notch, and provides a minty flavor. The whipped cream, optional chocolate sauce, and peppermint sprinkles are an added

Pumpkin Spice Frappacino

I was hesitant to try this one, but the waitress seemed desperate for people to take a sample. It’s new and different, but once you taste the Pumpkin Spice Frap, you’ll have no regrets. The drink really delivers, and the first sip you take is reminiscent of eating a warm slice of pumpkin pie with an added twist of whipped cream and caramel sauce.

Gingerbread Latté

From the first sip, this drink put me right into the holiday mood. The foam and nutmeg were a welcomed tasty barrier I had to get through before I got to drink the good stuff. It really tastes like you’re eating the gingerbread man from those fairytale stories you read as a little kid. Except this time, since he tastes so good, you don’t feel too bad for eating him.

Caramel Brulee Latte

Calling all caramel lovers! Stop counting the calories and indulge in its sweet taste. This was one of the sweetest drinks I tried. Think: Caramellos in liquid form. With pieces of caramel sprinkled on top of an enticing mound of whipped cream, the Caramel Brullee Latte is one of the most decorative drinks you’ll try this season.

t’s that time of year again, the Christmas season, and I’m back to share my tips for finding the trendiest and most affordable present ideas. Every year I find myself wondering what type of gift I should give my loved ones, since I want something personalized and memorable for each person on my list. Yet when I set out on my mission to find these gifts, I usually end up aimlessly wandering throughout the mall, confused about which store would possibly carry that portable Moon Bounce… Luckily, you don’t have to travel throughout the vast regions of the mall to find presents since I’ve already scouted out the trends. Due to the economy, the main focus of my hunt this year was to find unique gifts that wouldn’t break your bank. In order to do this, I made a sample budget plan so you can figure out how to stretch that dollar more efficiently. And even if you can’t quite squeeze the extra dough from your piggy bank, remember that the best gifts are usually the ones that don’t cost anything, but are thoughtful and personal. Please keep in mind that the following is an example of a budget plan, and therefore you can change your designated amounts accordingly. Happy Shopping! Sample Budget: $150 Mom: $45 Dad: $45 Siblings: $15 Friend: $20 (for 2 friends- $10 each) Boyfriend: $25

Have We All Gone Chris-ma-crazy?

bonus.

When is Too Early to Decorate for Christmas?

By Anna Dunlavey Metro Editor

n the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Nordstrom stands out in the Montgomery Mall, but not because of elaborate holiday decorations. In fact, there are none at all. Where Christmas trees and winter apparel usually stand are signs stating that Nordstrom will not be putting up any decorations for Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving, due to the fact that they enjoy celebrating one holiday at a time. Judging by the looks of the rest of the mall, the store is one of only few who takes this approach. Stores such as J. Crew, Brookstone, Ann Taylor, and Crate & Barrel had already began lightly decorating for Christmas and placing gift ideas in the windows. Smaller booths devoted specifically to Christmas had already been set up, and Santa was already taking pictures with children. However, Montgomery Mall is certainly not the first place in the area to begin its Christmas season; Bethesda’s Christmas trees and wreaths were lit on Halloween night! With the Christmas rush starting so early, people begin their hectic shopping trips and complaints of endless lines without even pausing for a holiday meant to give thanks for all the wonderful things in life. Why does Christmas begin so early? Despite what you might like to think, it’s not because store employees want to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Rather, they want to get everyone into the buying spirit. Especially in troubling economic

Photos Courtesy of Alison Bowden/flickr

times like these, it is important for retailers to sell as much as they can; the best way to maximize sales is to start advertising earlier, reminding people of the approaching holiday on which they are about to spend money. However, even if stores are ready for Christmas before Thanksgiving, many buyers are not. Although some begin shopping in the middle of November, the minute Santa comes to conclude the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is when the real frenzy begins. On the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, people begin to line up outside stores in the middle of the night; most stores open as early as 5 am. Last year, a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by early morning shoppers as they flooded the store. This has forced

Wal-Mart to implement new security policies on how to handle customers, which were designed by people who controlled crowds for the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Some stores stay open for twenty-four hours, while others close and then reopen early again on Saturday. Over the weekend after Thanksgiving, people buy Christmas trees and set up decorations around the house. With all of the rush that occurs in three days, it is surprising that there is still an entire month left before Christmas. What is even more surprising is how quickly Christmas ends. By 12:45 am on December 26, 97.1 FM is no longer playing Christmas music, and the Christmas Countdown widget on Mac computers proclaims, “Time to take down the

tree!” And people do take down their trees on this day. Most trees brought home the weekend after Thanksgiving have dried out. While some put away the stockings and wreaths in the last days of December and others use the after-Christmas sales to buy presents for the next year, most declare that the holidays that started so early are over too soon, which is surprising. After all, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a popular Christmas carol, one that is played often on 97.1. The twelve days that they sing of are the days from Christmas to the Epiphany on January 6th. However, there is

Bethesda’s Christmas trees and wreaths were lit on Halloween night hardly any talk of Christmas by January 6th. Everyone is back to school, back to work, back to the business of everyday life. A new year has begun. The magic that infused the month of

December is gone. Just as few people take the time to continue the peace of Thanksgiving once the day is over, few decide to bask in the joy of Christmas when the day is done. For both of these holidays, a period of postholiday reflection can prove a much more beneficial exercise than that of anticipating the days’ arrivals. Both holidays revolve around spending time with family, being grateful for all that you have, and embracing the joy of life that often escapes your notice on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, why should the joy and celebration of Christmas not extend to the days that follow it, if not longer?

Some houses still have pumpkins and scarecrows out on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Rock Creek Park Horse Center still has its Jack-O’-Lanterns from Halloween on display, and they don’t look out of place amongst the recently fallen leaves. Students, however, are looking to the future. Two six year-olds sang Christmas carols and expressed their excitement for presents during their riding lesson. The Christmas energy has escaped; whether you chose to turn it into pure joy for the season or pure frustration if things don’t go according to a plan is your choice.

Style

Stone Ridge Dec. 10, 2009

OUTS

INS Snow Days Christmas Decorations Super Mash Bros Tights “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” Plum polish Jake & Amir Pam & Jim (JAM) Taylor Swift & Taylor Lautner

Days Off Holiday Accessories Mash-Up Masters Winter Hygiene Vampire Obsession New Year, New Mails BFF Youtube Duoes “The Office” Couples Teen Couple

Sick Days Thanksgiving Leftovers Girl Talk Shaving “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” Black polish Miley & Mandy Andy & Angela Kristen Stewart & Rob Pattinson By Laura Kraisinger and Taylor Mauk

www.twilightdisorder.com

Fantasy Christmas Gift

squarelens.net

gossipteen.com

Photos courtesy of flickr

Dress For Less By Laura Kraisinger Student Interest Editor

By Margaret Crilley Photo Editor

What are you asking for this

year? Even with this economy, Santa may be able to splurge just for you. Neiman Marcus’ annual “Fantasy Gift List” lists nine presents that are far from realistic. However, according to Wall Street Journal writer Vanessa O’Connell, “for the first time in a decade, there isn’t a seven- or eightfigure price tag on the list.” With the cut in prices of these luxury goods, someone’s dreams may become a reality: 1. “His and Hers” Icon A5 Sports Aircraft: $250,000 § The most expensive item on the fantasy list takes off in air or on water, comes with training sessions and a trailer, and provides seating for two. 2. Algonquin Round Table Experience: $200,000 § Are you a bookworm? Christopher Buckley, George Stephanopoulos, Ali Wentworth and (Insert Your Name Here) are just a few of the guests attending an exclusive dinner at the Algonquin Hotel with New York’s “literary acclaimed.” Money received will go towards buying 10,000 books for children in the name of this gift’s lucky recipient. 3. 2010 Jaguar XJL (Limited Edition): $105,000 § Only 50 of these vehicles, with 470 horsepower, Neiman Marcus interior, and made with 85% recyclable materials, will be created. Includes a fivepiece set of navy Jaguar luggage. 4. World’s Fastest Electric Motorcycle: $73,000

§ Travels up to 150 mph. Includes training and is customized with Neiman Marcus plaques. 5. The Cupcake Car: $25,000 § This electric car moves at 7 mph and can be customized to resemble your cupcake of choice- Not streetlegal. 6. Hall Artisan Wine and Art Experience: $20,000 § Estate tour and viewing of Kathryn and Craig Hall’s art collection in Napa Valley. Includes stay at the Auberge Resorts Calistoga Ranch and private personalized wine blending session. 7. “Sustainable” Chandeliers: $12,000 § Go green with this five foot long, two foot wide decorative light fixture. Made with 366 washed, dried, and sanded plastic soda bottles taken from landfill. 8. Insect Artwork: $8,500 § Mike Libby’s creation, “The African Flower Beetle,” is assembled with antique, mechanical watch parts and real insect specimens. Preserved in glass. 9. Maker’s Mark Distiller Experience: $7,500 § Learn the process of making the “Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey” in Louisville, KY. Trip includes hotel stay and dinner, six bottles of whiskey and two bottles engraved with gift recipients name and dipped in 24-karat gold-flecked wax.

Photo courtesey of Laura Kraisinger

Figuring out a season’s trends

can be hard enough, and finding them for a good price is even harder. However, there are a few great places to check out for great affordable clothing. Forever 21 is a staple in many teenage girls’ wardrobes, and is a great place to go to get a good price on cute

clothes. Target has also recently launched an affordable line by designer Anna Sui, inspired by the fashions seen on Gossip Girl. If you are attached to designer clothing, but can’t seem to afford it at the moment, check out Loehmann’s or Marshall’s to find key pieces for less. Whichever store you decide to

go to, make sure to keep in mind the trends spotted at Fashion Week this fall. Biker influences seen in leather jackets, 80’s glitz in dresses, and neon anything are three great styles to add to your wardrobe this season. See how affordable fall fashions can really be.

Preen Line Shrunken leather biker jacket ($645) – net-aporter.com

Asymmetrical Motorcycle Jacket ($33) – charlotterusse. com

Brass Multi-Strand Necklace ($261) – brownsfashion. com

Jersey Strand Necklace ($25) – topshop.com

Lipsy Bustier Animal Print Dress ($78) – oli.co.uk

Zebra Tank Dress ($22) – wetseal.com

Multi-colored All Over Sequin Dress ($451) – debenhams.com

Sequin Criss-Cross Dress ($40) – desireclothing.co.uk

Andi Neon Ring ($120) – intermixonline.com

Pink Neon Cameo Ring ($16) – missselfridge.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs logo band bracelet (Price upon request) – couture.zappos.com

Asos ‘Love’ Acrylic Bangle ($13) – asos.com

Student Interest

Assault Should Not Be Normal An In-Depth Look Into SR’s Self-Defense Program By Carolyn Ruocco Copy Editor

When you initially heard about

the Self-Defense Co-curricular, you probably just brushed it off as just another program that would make you stay twenty-five minutes late after school on a Thursday. It wasn’t until a few days later that you received a thought-provoking email from Catherine Mysliwiec ’10 expressing her concern about the meaning behind the program. The Here and Now decided to get to the bottom of the “selfdefense controversy,” and we figured out that it’s not really a controversy at all. Although she did not create the program, school nurse Alana Pitcher is in full support of “any effort to give our students any additional education that has to do with awareness and being able to take care of themselves.” She does, however, believe that the “Just Yell Fire” film could be seen “in some ways as insulting” to our students because of the way it was made, the people who spoke, and its overall tone. It was clearly not well received, given that “there was a lot of chatter in Good Hall; it didn’t hold their interest.” Despite the questionable film, however, Mrs. Pitcher does agree that the program is important to have at Stone Ridge. She points out that “the world isn’t all Bethesda,” and our girls need to be more selfaware when they go off to college and into the workforce. Despite what you may think from reading her email, Catherine and those who support her views are not against the idea of learning smart techniques to stay safe. Catherine initially believed that the program

was a good idea, until she started talking with some fellow students about it: “A lot of my classmates were laughing, and I was wondering why they didn’t realize it was such a disturbing issue. Everyone just accepted it.” As a Stone Ridge lifer, Catherine ultimately “expected more” from the administration when it came to this issue.

“Just Yell Fire” While she does agree that “in the case of getting attacked on the street, it’s very useful how to know how to get away quickly,” she saw the program as “a superficial approach to this problem. It doesn’t address the deeper societal issue.” The ultimate question behind this issue deals not with the importance of self-defense skills and common sense, but with the deeper social problems that some, like Catherine, feel that Stone Ridge girls are not only responsible for tackling, but also capable of solving. Most people would agree with Mrs. Pitcher in the belief that “anyone that takes advantage or tries to hurt someone else, I consider him or her sick.” These sick men and women are an obvious problem in our society, and it seems that the world is presented with two options of how to deal with them. When someone is sick with a life-threatening disease, you not only give them the medication they need to get better, but you also go deeper into the root of the illness, searching for cures so that the disease never develops in anyone ever

again. It is clear that the Self-Defense Co-curricular and the Just Yell Fire program are effective methods of battling the disease as it arises, but, as Catherine says, “there’s also the implication throughout the video and the program that [assault] is normal. And I’m saying it shouldn’t be.” Catherine calls on the Stone Ridge community to dive deeper, as we have always been taught to do. Of course the men who assault women are sick, but what causes the illness? Catherine believes that the issue of assault is directly related to the overall “unhealthy” stereotypes that our society has about both women and men: “Unfortunately, these stereotypes are often fatal for women, but for men they are mentally destructive. Assault is clearly a result of men’s internal insecurities.”

“Where’s that program?” As Catherine sees it, insecurities are caused by levels of discomfort within society. Therefore, as society continues to “put predators out of business” by fighting back, it is further establishing itself as one that accepts the constant presence of those predators in the first place. The solution? Catherine says, “I’m waiting to see [boy’s schools] teach their boys how to have self-respect, respect for women, and how to not assault them. Where’s that program?”

Random Student Profiles

Uniforms Gone Too Far? The Clothing Controversy By Lindy Firstenberg Assistant Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of Alex Gangitano

Katie Suarez (‘10) and Caitlin Wornicki (‘10) show off their uniform styles.

r. Boman had often heard the rumor that the Stone Ridge mascot, the Gator, was inspired by the alligator on Lacoste polos, the fad of the time of its origin. Deciding to find out if this was fact or fiction, Boman asked alumna from the class of ’73 and found out that the rumor was true. The Stone Ridge mascot was taken from the logo of a brand name, yet students are constantly being reprimanded for wearing any polo but the one that says “Stone Ridge,” even if what they’d rather wear is plain white with a little polo horse, or even an alligator. What ever happened to school spirit? Some see the benefits of creating equality through this practice, while others find it hypocritical. Another major issue among students is that they are not allowed to wear Stone Ridge sweatshirts or varsity jackets during school hours. In a school that is not as spirited as it could be (in comparison to Georgetown Visitation’s gold vs. white

By Kirsten Ruginski Design Lead

Julia Schmitz

Erin O’Brien

DOB: April 14, 1993

DOB: December 18, 1994

Class: Junior

Class: Freshman

Favorite Holiday character: Rudolph

Favorite Upper School bathroom floor: 5th

Favorite color: Navy

Favorite color: Celeste

What comes to mind when I say “Porcupine:” Spiky

What comes to mind when I say “Porcupine:” Cactus animal

Fictional character crush: Harry Potter

Fictional character crush: Draco Malfoy

Photo courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

Maggie Tehan

Katie Tehan

DOB: October 16, 1992

DOB: December 17, 1994

Class: Senior

Class: Sophomore

Favorite Holiday character: Freezmeiser

Favorite Holiday character: Heatmeiser

Favorite Upper School bathroom floor: 5th

Favorite Upper School bathroom floor: 3rd

Favorite color: Toothpaste

Favorite color: Green

What comes to mind when I say “Porcupine:” Second grade

What comes to mind when I say “Porcupine:” Spiky

Fictional character crush: Jacob Black

Fictional character crush: Edward Cullen

Here and Now Issue 2

intense competitions or Georgetown Prep’s booster club) Stone Ridge needs to change something. By doing something different, it could possibly give us that edge we need to boost our team spirit. When walking down the street, we often see Georgetown Prep, Gonzaga, Holy Cross, and Visitation paraphernalia. Rarely do people see Stone Ridge sweatshirts or tee shirts. Why can’t the Gators wear their varsity jackets? One could argue that they are the opposite of equalizers; that, however, would be hypocritical. Showing success on the field or court is similar to displaying it in the classroom. Athletic success is just as important to athletes as a successful performance is to actors. In the past, actors and people on tech have been allowed to wear sweatshirts supporting their performances during tech week. Yet athletes are not allowed to do the same for their games. How could this be fair? We are allowed to wear the game day tee shirts, but that does not allow the varsity athletes to proudly show their accomplishments. According to Miss Dunn, Dean of Students, the fleeces were chosen over other options, including sweatshirts, based on “student interest.” However, she is open to new ideas about uniform policy and says that the process for a policy change starts with a student proposal and a meeting with either herself or Core Group. For example, blue polos were a product of a student’s proposal. Ms. Dunn adds that “we [the faculty] are not inclined to make the uniform easier when they [the students] are currently not respecting the uniform. Yet, so far this year has been looking better.”

Meet Mrs. Harris

By Alex Gangitano Editor-In-Chief

tone Ridge welcomes the new Algebra, Environmental, and Anatomy teacher, Mrs. Harris. Harris grew up in New Jersey, in a suburb of New York City, and majored in Biology at Loyola University in Baltimore. Growing up, she wanted to be a doctor and was voted as the “most unique” in eighth grade. During her Junior and Senior year, while not watching her favorite show, Little House on the Prairie, Harris worked between twenty and thirty hours per week at the Gap. She is now married with two children, Jackson (3) and Amelia (2). Prior to working at Stone Ridge, Mrs. Harris taught at Overly High School, the Barrie School, and Sidwell Friends.

Fun Facts About Mrs. Harris

Photo courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

Most played songs on your Ipod

1) Least ComplicatedIndigo Girls 2) PatienceGuns and Roses 3) Any Pearl Jam song

First concert ever attended

New Kids on the Block

Celebrity would like to switch places with

Angelina Jolie because she has a lot of kids, a lot of nannies, and Brad Pitt.

Stone Ridge Dec. 10, 2009

Gator Girl & Bulldog Boy For this issue, Prep’s advice

columnist, Bulldog Boy, received submissions from SR girls seeking advice about boys. Your questions and his answers are in The Here and Now, and Gator Girl’s answers to Prep boys questions are in The Little Hoya. Dear Bulldog Boy, My boyfriend is a year older than me and went to college this year. I always thought we would break up when he left, but now he wants to stay together. I really like him but I don’t think I like him enough to deal with the long distance relationship. How can I tell him without him completely shutting me out? Sincerely, Stuck in the Suburbs Dear Stuck in the Suburbs, Just be honest with him. While it is great that he still likes you enough to want to stay together in college, being in a long-distance relationship is probably keeping him from fully enjoying himself. Let him know that you care about him and think it would be best for both of you to see other people. He will eventually thank you for your consideration and maybe, when the time is right, you will get back together. Until then, enjoy yourself; don’t let a long-term, longdistance relationship keep you from fully enjoying your high school years. Sincerely, Bulldog Boy Dear Bulldog Boy, I have been in a steady relationship for seven months, and on the surface everything seems to be going great. My boyfriend and I have established a great connection. There’s just one problem. He has this “best friend,” who happens to be a girl. I have no problem with him having friends who are girls, but this is more than a casual friendship. It’s painful to watch them interact, because it’s obvious that their connection is just as real as ours. I feel as if I’m putting all my trust in him, while he is dividing his between his “best friend” and me. Her presence in his life has convinced me that I need my boyfriend more than he needs me. What should I do? Sincerely, Hurt and Confused

Student Interest Dear Hurt, The “best friend” problem is all too common. What you really need to consider is if they are just friends, or if the best friend is replacing you. If you believe your boyfriend when he says that you have nothing to worry about, it would be a lot to ask him to give up his friendship with someone so that you would feel less jealous. But if you get even a slight suspicion that there is a connection between them that makes you really uneasy (which I think you already have), then you should remove yourself from the relationship, no matter how much you care for him. If you don’t, you run the risk of feeling even more betrayed than you already do. Sincerely, Bulldog Boy Dear Bulldog Boy, I met this great guy recently, and I think there’s a potential connection between us. We talk occasionally, but it’s not clear to me whether he’s interested or if he’s just being friendly. Do you think it would be more obvious if he liked me? I’m really not sure if I like him or not, but I know that I’d be willing to give it a shot if he is. How can I figure out what hee’s thinking without being blatantly obvious or getting let down? Sincerely, Hopeful Dear Hopeful, This guy probably feels the same way about you as you do about him. Most guys aren’t very subtle, so if he didn’t like you at all, it would be pretty obvious. The fact that he has been friendly so far means that he likes you and wants to get to know you better, but since he hasn’t asked you out yet, it is possible that he is shy, worried that you don’t like him, or just wants to be friends. If you want to give him some reassurance, show that you are interested, but DON’T be pushy--that could have a reverse effect. Everything will resolve itself eventually; keep an open mind, and your feelings won’t be hurt. Sincerely, Bulldog Boy How To Anonymously Submit to Bulldog Boy: Log-in deargg@stoneridgeschool.org Password: advice Send questions to: bulldogboy@gmail.com

Spotlight

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Stars By Alex Gangitano Editor-In-Chief

have a lot of chemistry, but it’s not lovey-dovey.” Mardam- Bey adds, “we have such a strong friendship;

ara Mardam- Bey ‘10 and Wawa Hunja ’10 played Helena and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed November 13- 15, 2009. Throughout the play, Helena has an obsession with Demetrius and continually tries to win his love. Best friends Mardam- Bey and Hunja found it easier than they thought to play lovers. Hunja comments that “we

Sara Mardam-Bey takes the stage.

my character was so in love with her character so I would translate my love for her as a friend into my acting.” Hunja explains that she messed up

Middle school joins the upper school thesbians.

Middle School joins the upper school thesbians.

Hunja

Play within the play

The love battle, where Mardam- Bey I yell at everyone

Senior journalism staffers at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C.

a few times, but the audience didn’t seem to notice. On Thursday night, she sneezed during the play-withinthe-play, but everyone thought that she did so on purpose. On Friday night, Hunja was supposed to pull a bat out of a tree, but it got stuck. Between each performance, MardamBey says that they read notes on what they did wrong, but they try to keep it consistent. Both actresses agree that Friday night (November 14) was the cast’s best performance.

“we have a lot of chemistry”

Scene

Other character

Helena

Demetrius

Shakespeare Play

Wawa Hunja after her sneezing “accident.”

Night to perform

Costume

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Friday

Hamlet

Friday, it is the middle day and energy is pent up. We Iana’s (puck) are used to the audience but it is not the end of the road.

My tuxedo

Line of your character “Do I not in plainest truth tell you that I do not, nor I cannot, love you.” “Demetrius, I am your spaniel. The more you beat me, the more I will fawn on you.”

ctd. from Page 1

“Red, White, and True”

Photo Courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

-ing point scorer, star of the musical, and latest service project leader. We now realize that in our attempts to publish a non-inflammatory newspaper we too often fail to hear the voices of the members of the Georgetown Prep and Stone Ridge communities who do not “fit the mold.” Yet our mission as students of prestigious institutions is to represent our schools’ wholesome images and true achievements through our publications. We must uphold the sense of pride in our schools. That leaves us in somewhat of a predicament. There are stories that need to be told. Why are they so important? One speaker at the conference gave us a moving example. Her school’s newspaper published a piece about obesity on campus that featured one particular girl (after receiving consent from the girl and her parents). The day after publication the girl, often mocked for being overweight,

came to the moderator’s office in tears. She told the paper’s moderator that because of the article, members of the football team who had harassed her throughout the year apologized to her in the lunch line. The written word is a powerful tool, and journalists are blessed with the ability to wield it. Our occasional tendency to avoid writing about potentially sensitive issues can hurt the people that need us the most. And we are now determined to make that change by reaching out to them. We feel a deep sense of pride for our schools, and we respect wholeheartedly the teachings of the Jesuits and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Therefore, we recognize that there must be limits; however, we want to be true to our newfound cause. We encourage writers, students, and faculty to help us to give a face, a voice, and a helping hand to the people in the shadows of our communities.

Sports

Here and Now Issue 2

Me Anula” Athlete of the Season “Nada Local High School Soccer Star Goes Pro Swimming & Basketball

By Dainelle Anane Style Editor

By Caitlin Baschuk Sports Editor

KATIE KNAPP ‘10 Swimming

Photos Courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

atie Knapp ‘10 began swimming at age six for a summer league at Old Georgetown Club. When Stone Ridge school built a pool during Katie’s seventh grade year, she was overwhelmed with excitement and has since become a competitive swimmer for the Gators. Due to her

dedication to the sport, Katie made the Varsity team in her Freshman year. After three successful years on the teams, she has developed her desire to swim by sharing the position of team captain with fellow teammates Meghan Conley ‘10, Annabel Kleess ‘10, and Sophie White ‘10. Knapp’s specialties include the backstroke and the 200 meter Individual Medley. Katie hopes to participate on a club team when she goes off to college next year, but for now her goal is to try and “not be awkward while at meets with boys,” and of course, to have a great season. Support the swim team and Katie Knapp, who has recently been spotted wearing a one-of-a-kind cat swim suit, which she claims is her “fave.”

MATTIE VAGNONI ‘11 Basketball

For students, the future is often

In third grade, Matti Vagnoni

‘11 developed her love of basketball when she began playing at her elementary school, Blessed Sacrament. Matti came to Stone Ridge as a competitive Freshman guard and gained a starting position on the Varsity team. The following year, Matti caught a bad case of luck when she tore her meniscus in her left knee, which left her on the bench for the remainder of the season. This year, though, Vagnoni has started the season off with a bang, scoring fifteen points in the first two games. Vagnoni is excited for the rest of the season, particularly for the team’s home games where she gets pumped up while listening to “Forever” by Drake in the pre-game

Photos Courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

warm-ups. Vagnoni has been working hard for the gators while developing her skills in an outside AAU team, hoping to lead the team as a captain for the 2010 season. Until then, however, Vagnoni’s goal for the season is for the team to be successful and win the ISL tournament.

Running Tips By Taylor Mauk Interactive Lead

From One Runner to The Next: The “Chi Running” Technique

s a senior cross country runner, I’ve noticed over the years that many runners’ injuries (shin splits, sore and torn muscles, etc) are caused by bad posture while running. One might think that posture would not affect running to such a degree, but posture is a crucial element needed in order to be a successful runner. Developing good running form will not occur overnight or just after one try of running; it takes a lot of time and practice. Luckily, the “Chi Running” Technique seems to be a promising method for promoting strong posture and avoiding running injuries. “Chi Running” is a form of running influenced by T’ai Chi. It teaches runners how to relax their bodies so they don’t have to exert as much muscle power. “I’m basically showing runners how not to use their muscles,” said Danny Dryer, creator of Chi Running. He emphasizes the importance of having good posture and using one’s abs as his/her core muscles. This technique helps eliminate many injuries and health problems caused by running and/or exercising. Lori Cheung, NPR, says the perfect “chi running technique: the back is straight, lower abdominals are slightly crunched, which helps keep the pelvis level, and the upper body is

Matthew Arrington, Walt Whitman graduate, has gone pro! After signing with a team in Italy, he talks about his journey, the barriers he has overcome, and gives advice to all.

slightly forward. The idea is that every time your foot hits the ground, your shoulder, hip bones and ankle should be in a straight line. That way, your weight is supported by your frame, not your muscles.”

Photo Courtesy of chirunning.com press.

She continues to say, “The onelegged posture is the basis for chi running technique. The leg in the air should be relaxed from the knee down, with toe dropped.”

Photo Courtesy of chirunning.com press.

unclear, but we dream to have a career about which we are passionate. Not many have the opportunity to pursue their lifelong goals and ambitions, but stories of successes and failures are often sources of inspiration for students to do so. Even if the stories are completely unrelated to our vision of the future, we can find something that can relate back to our own lives. Matthew Arrington, a former soccer player at Walt Whitman High School is no different. He had a dream and kept working until it became a reality. From his story we can see how sports can be a possible career path even when others don’t believe so. What matters is how determined you are to shine beyond high school and college sports. Going pro might seem impossible, but with focus, determination, and hard work, the dream that might seem so far away can become a reality. If you’re looking for Matthew today you can find him in Rome, Italy playing for San Paolo Ostiense, a small club team in the lower division of Italian professional soccer. In addition to handling the pressure of being a rookie in the world of professional sports, Arrington has to also balance the strain of his career while attending the American University of Rome. So how does he balance school and training? “The hard times come during pre-season when you’re practicing and playing six or seven times a week”. However, relaxing is not an option this early in his career: “With all the complications that come with playing and class, it’s definitely not easy to find that relaxation time.” The real break comes during the playing season when the players are given two to three days a week off from soccer to rest before the games. Still, this doesn’t stop Arrington from continuing his rigorous training: “I am kind of obsessed with being fit and being at the top of my game, so the way I see it, each day everyone else takes off, is one day that I can gain on them.” Sacrifice is key to competing as a professional athlete. Matthew advises that as an athlete, “you’re only as good as you make yourself out to be.” If you are contemplating going professional after college, you must be aware that this level is different from college level sports. Matthew says the difference is that “the college game

is almost entirely based on players being super athletes versus being good soccer players.” At the professional level you must “learn how to run and move when [you] don’t have the ball,” and you must be willing to sacrifice personal goals for the good of the team. Arrington credits Emile Mbouh for installing in him the confidence he needed to get where he is today. Mbouh, Matthew’s coach and trainer from his former club team prepared him for the professional level. Mbouh motivated Matthew to “strive for more”. Arrington believes, “[con-

Play with the lion’s spirit fidence] is the most important trait for any athlete;” you must believe in yourself first before anyone else will have faith in you. Although he is playing for a smaller team now, his remains true to his dream of playing for one of the big European teams, or preferably his dream team FC Barcelona. Arrington typically does not like to talk about the future because he believes “it makes [him] lose focus on what [he] needs to accomplish now.” He does, however, see himself playing in the top division on in any of the top European countries. Throughout his journey, Arrington has worked with many coaches who have molded him into the player he is today. Another aspect of being able to go professional is taking advice and criticism from coaches and learn from them, since that is the only way you can become good enough to go pro. When he was younger, Arrington learned from his coach, Pete Wood, “how to work hard and to never give in to the opposition.” In high school, the Whitman varsity coach, Dave Greene, “taught [him] how to deal with the pressures of school and soccer,” which has made him an overall

Photo Courtesy of Matthew Arrington

stronger person. If the decision to even play in college is still undecided for you, make sure you are one hundred percent satisfied with the decision. Matthew advises that if you are “working to get to the college level, make sure you go somewhere that makes you happy. Really do your research about a team before you sign the dotted line.” Even after the college level, if you are trying get to the professional level, you have to be mentally and physically prepared at any time for tryouts. Arrington says, “It takes a lot of work to go pro, or even to get the chance. I consider myself extremely fortunate.” Make sure you stay true to your dream, because that is what will you keep you focused. Going pro is not easy but if you allow yourself to stay committed to your dream, before you know it you may get a fantastic opportunity. Matthew says it best when asked what keeps him focused, “My dreams keep me focused. Every single game I watch on TV keeps me focused. My parents, family, and friends keep me focused. My drive for perfection keeps me focused”. It is always important to have someone to look up to besides those you know; sometimes you can become inspired from other athletes. Matthew looks up to Diego, who plays for Juventus in Italy. Arrington describes him as a “short, stocky, Brazilian but he is incredible to watch”. The feeling people have when they watch Diego is the same feeling Matthew hopes people will feel when they watch him. Matthew shows that humbleness is a key factor in pursuing a professional career; if you are not willing to accept failure than you can not reach your full potential. He also believes his “burning desire to prove people wrong and to make something out of [his] life has contributed a ton” to where he is today. The best advice Matthew can give is what his former coach Emile Mbouh told him, “No matter where you go or whom you play for, never change who you are. Always play your game, your style, and do what you want to do. Always be confident in your decisions and never secondguess yourself. Play with the lion’s spirit.” As Diego Maradona once said during a game against Peru when his team was threatened by a defender,“Nada me anula,” which means, “Nothing can stop me.” This reminds Arrington that victory is possible even when other teams view your team as the underdog.

Stone Ridge Dec. 10, 2009

Going the Distance:

Sports

Heating Up the Court:

The girls who suffer the 500 free Gators Go Big on the Court By Kelly Seegers Journalism Club

ou are standing on the block, waiting for the starting horn. You are looking out on the still water, preparing yourself for the 500 free. Adrenaline is rushing through your body as you hear the beep and respond to it by diving into the cold water. Your first instinct is to launch into a sprint, but then you remember that you have twenty laps to swim, and you try to find the correct balance between maintaining your strength and giving all you’ve got. The 500 free is the longest, most dreaded high school swimming event. Most people swim this event at least once a season. At the Stone Ridge vs. Bullis meet, December 1, 2009, Erin Morgan ‘10, Virginia Coyne ‘11, and Annabel Kleess ‘10 Throughout the race, Annabel was battling it out

Swimmers to Watch... The Gazette said on December 4th, 2009 that the Gators to watch for the ‘09-’10 swimming season are: Natalie Kronfli ‘13 Bella Trujillo-Lederer ‘13 Haley Kameros ‘11 Sophie White ‘10 Annabel Kleess ‘10 Meghan Conley ‘10 Katie Knapp ‘10

for the first place position. In the end, she came in second with a time of 6:55:22. Virginia made a swift comeback towards the end of the race, and finished third, just three milliseconds later, with a time of 6:55:25. Next, Erin took fourth place, with a time of 8:26:71. All three girls did extremely well, and were able to walk away with the satisfaction of having completed the dreaded 500 free. Be sure to stop by one of the Gator’s meets to catch some of the action!

Photos Courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

By Laura Kraisinger Student Interest Editor

tone Ridge Varsity Basketball is off to a great start this season with four wins on their record. The Gators began their season with two scrimmage wins against Blair High School and Walter Johnson. Their first game against the National Cathedral School (NCS) was also another W for the record book, beating the Eagles 54-31. At a weekend tournament hosted by Paul VI, the Gators were again victorious against South Hampton Academy, winning 59-30. With the momentum building, the season ahead is sure to be filled with wins for the Gator record books. Seniors, and captains, Elizabeth Hyde, Danielle Dunston, and Charine Deausen will surely lead the team to push for a great season. Self-proclaimed “jock jammers”

Alexis Zillo ‘10 and Liz Kane ‘10, and the basketball boosters, will be sure to cheer them on, bringing the Stone Ridge spirit to future games. With support from the sidelines, it is shaping up to be an excellent season for varsity basketball.

11 In the Next Issue: SQUASH By Taylor Mauk Interactive Lead

What is squash? How do you play? We have a Squash team? Answers to these questions and many more in the next issue... Andrea Fiegal ‘10 and Bridget Darcey ‘10 fiercely competing against the Walt Whitman Squash Team.

Photos Courtesy of Laura Kraisinger

Ballers to Watch...

The Here and Now would add: Tish Hopewell ‘11 Matie Vagnoni ‘11 Elizabeth Hyde ‘10 Dani Dunston ‘10 Catherine Granville ‘12

Photos Courtesy of Taylor Mauk

A Struggle for Success

The question we all are wondering: Why are DC Sports Teams so Bad? By Jenn Ferrigno Metro Editor

We wake up Saturday morning,

dress up in our favorite sport team’s attire, head down to DC, walk all the way to our seats, and cheer for two hours while our local team plays, just to watch them lose. As we walk out of the stadium, we look around only to see disappointment and outrage flooding the surrounding area. We ask ourselves, “Why are our DC sports teams so…bad?” The truth is, there is not one conclusive answer to this question, but rather many problems that have been long-occurring that have resulted in DC’s failure to produce good sports teams. Often we find it tempting to blame

officials, players, and coaches, but many times the problems are more deeply rooted. For example, in the case of the Washington Redskins, blame is often placed on Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn because they are the faces we see; although both have failed to produce amazing stats thus far, Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, is more likely the cause of the Redskins problems. Most owners hire general managers who essentially run the team. General managers are responsible for hiring coaches, choosing players to sign, negotiating contracts, etc. However, because the Redskins do not have a general

manager, Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, Vice President for Football Operations for the Redskins, have made all the decisions a general manager would normally make. Although this setup might have worked well for another team, the lack of football knowledge and experience Daniel Snyder brings to the Redskins has really hurt the team as a whole. The Washington Nationals have also found it difficult to recover from management problems. Before moving to DC, the Nationals were a Canadian baseball team, but in Canada the league itself owned them, rather than a specific person. Since the league owned the Nationals, they received little funding to hire players, coaches, and managers. Because of this, when the Nationals moved to DC, they had a roster of players with less talent than many other teams in the league. Since coming to DC in 2005, the Nationals have hired new management and players, but are still recovering from their rough start. The Wizards have also struggled to produce a good team. After winning the NBA Championship in 1978, the manager of the Wizards began to draft players who could take the Wizards to the playoffs again, but never actually win a championship, in order to avoid a loss in profit. As a result, the Wizards were left with many once-great basketball players at the end of their careers, but no solid, young players who could give them the opportunity to win a championship. The Wizards are once again trying to build their team, but the major setbacks they have suffered make it difficult to succeed. Bad draft choices and trades have also made it difficult for DC sports teams to succeed. Drafts and trades are great opportunities for teams to

increase their talent level, and they make for better chemistry between the team itself. But when bad choices are made as to which new player to sign, the team suffers. For example, the Redskins signed Brandon Lloyd in 2006 who caught 23 passes for no touchdowns in his first season with the Redskins, and in 2007, caught two passes for 14 total yards, before being placed on the injured list. After two disappointing seasons, Lloyd was released in February of 2008. One of the biggest mistakes in draft choices by any Washington sports team was the Wizards’ choice of Kwame Brown. The Wizards drafted Brown, freshly out of high school, in 2001 as the number-one overall draft pick. However, Brown was a huge disappointment for the Wizards averaging only 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in his first season. Also, Brown negatively impacted team chemistry by disagreeing with both Gilbert Arenas and coach Eddie Jordan. In addition to poor draft choices, player injuries, especially when the player is an important member of the team, also contribute to Washington’s unsuccessful sports teams. For example, Clinton Portis, a running back for the Redskins, has been out for weeks as a result of a concussion, and the Redskins have had to play without one of their strongest players. Gilbert Arenas, point guard for the Wizards, is an even better example of the negative effects injury can have on a team. Arenas suffered a knee injury late in the 06-07 season, and played only a handful of games in both the 07-08 and 08-09 seasons. The Wizards found it difficult to adjust to playing without one of their star players, and had two horrible seasons as a result. Although injuries are common in

every sport for every team and will likely continue to be a problem for all Washington sports teams, bad management, focus on profit rather than team success, and bad draft choices are all avoidable problems that if solved could create great success for Washington sports teams. Maybe the Redskins, Nationals, and Wizards should take a few hints from Ted Leonsis, the Capitals’ majority owner, considering the recent success of the Capitals, who are currently ranked second in their league. Leonsis acknowledges that building a good team takes time, and even thanks fans for their loyalty when the Capitals struggled. By focusing on the team rather than profits and taking advantage of draft opportunities--drafting Alexander Ovechkin in 2004, who was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league MVP, in 2007 and 2009 along with numerous other awards--Leonsis is creating a very successful Washington Capitals hockey team.

STATS

Wins- Loses- Ties Redskins: 3-

9 Wizards: 7- 12 Nationals: 5- 16

Capitals: 19- 5- 6 Redskins v. Raiders Sun. December 134:05 pm ET @ Oakland Coliseum

Gator Bytes

Here and Now Issue 2

Guess Who When they were Young(er): Teacher Edition

“ I love her daily Grey’s Anatomy references, yet she knows about no other pop culture. Spending a week over the summer with her was da bomb” - Alexis Zillo ‘10

“I really want to meet his goats one day” - Caroline Lawler ‘10

“I like how he changed the first letter of my name” - Terry Flanagan ‘10

“I’ve started saying ‘cheddar’ because of her.” - Clarke Jamison ‘13

ANSWERS From left to right: Ms. Key, Dr. Cavey, Mr. Maczynski, Ms. Glynn- Sparrow

Christmas Word Search

Angel Bells Egg Nog Elves Gifts Gingerbread Jesus Manger

Reindeer Santa Sleigh Snowman Star Stocking Toys Tree

Did New Moon Live Up to the Hype? Journalism’s Christmas Playlist By Laura Kraisinger Student Interst Editor

hen “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” opened on November 11th at midnight, theatres were packed with Twilight fans and people who simply wanted to see what all of the hype was all about. From trailers at award shows to tabloid gossip about stars Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, and Rob Pattinson, New Moon was widely publicized, and fans across the world counted down the days until the film’s release. While the first of the movies in the Twilight saga had some negative feedback from internet fan-sites, the second movie was graced with a new director, Chris Weitz who offered fans some hope that New Moon would more accurately portray Twilight author Stephenie Meyer’s vision. With improved chemistry among the cast and high-tech special effects, New Moon was a huge improvement from the original. Grace Hamilton ’11 who attended a sneak-peak at the film says, “New Moon is my favorite movie ever. I sat in line for 5 hours for the premiere. Plus, they gave out free posters and Twilight trading cards.” Summit Entertainment was successful in hyping up the film, as New Moon grossed $26.27 million in midnight sales alone, breaking the record of the most recent Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ticket sales. blog.beliefnet.com

By Kirsten Ruginski Design Lead

Alex - Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC Kirsten – The Very First Christmas by Spongebob Squarepants Margaret – Wizards in Winter by Trans Siberian Orchestra Carolyn – Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by N*SYNC Taylor - Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee Laura - Last Christmas by Taylor Swift Anna – Another Christmas Song by Steve Colbert Jenn - Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town by Bruce Springsteen Danielle - 8 Days of Christmas by Destiny’s Child Melissa - Christmas Don’t be Late by Alvin & the Chipmunks Lindy – The Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler Caitlin – I’ll be Home for Christmas by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey

STAFF BOX Alex Gangitano ~ Editor in Chief Kirsten Ruginski ~ Design Lead Margaret Crilley ~ Photo Editor Carolyn Ruocco ~ Copy Editor Taylor Mauk ~ Interactive Lead Laura Kraisinger ~ Student Interest Editor Jenn Ferrigno ~ World News Editor Anna Dunlavey ~ Metro Editor Danielle Anane ~ Style Editor Melissa Nemati ~ Asst. Style Editor Caitlin Baschuk ~ Sports Editor Lindy Firstenberg ~ Asst. Sports Editor Mr. Sands ~ Faculty Advisor Ms. Doxey ~ Layout Assistance