Oakton Outlook 2012-2013 Issue 7 by Laura Murphy

Outlook oakton

vol. 51 | issue 7 | 4.24.13

Beyond the public eye Dedicated groups of backstage workers and event organizers take their turn in the spotlight by sharing the tricks of their trade

inside

spotlight

Take a look back at your favorite acts from this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cultural Festival

touchdown

As outdoor fields are drenched by rain, spring sports must adapt

snailmail from the editors

outlook staff adviser lauren luna editors in chief

ehind the scenes of the Oakton Outlook, an unseen world exists: the world of business. The Outlook is supported by studentrun fundraisers and advertisements, and the young lady behind these imperative operations is the lovely, the magnificent, the frugal Ria Bhatia. You might have caught a glimpse of her selling rather large donuts during Cougar Times. From bake sales to formalizing contracts with advertisers, Ria takes care of everything financial and businessrelated. “I like trying to figure out what the advertisers want and that I control my own section,” Ria said. “It’s nice to know that the money that I make is actually making a difference for the Outlook.” Ria isn’t the only behind the scenes star of the Outlook. Our very own Oliver Lopez-Gomez manages the Outlook’s online edition (oaktonoutlook.com), surging through any technical difficulties in order to constantly update cyberspace with the goingson at Oakton “It’s a lot of fun to run something that’s separate from the rest of the newspaper,” Oliver said. “It adds a sense of accomplishment when you build something up, especially after working on it for two years and watching the transformation of the website.” So remember the efforst of Oliver and Ria as you enjoy the pages to come. Their names may not be printed next to a story, but without them, the Outlook would not exist. Thanks guys, thanks again.

regards,

Gabriela Driscoll Michelle LoRusso

newsworthy editor erin bennett showtime editor carly stonehouse touchdown editor jennifer prosser viewpoint editors sofia crutchfield kim gibbons

spotlight editor karli gillespie indepth editor melanie aguilar online editor oliver lopez-gomez business manager ria bhatia copy editor reina datta photo editor

alana peters

staff writers sunni bean abbey bonin alex driscoll natalie eberhart lauren embroski kenneth hippe jacque groskaufmanis

Madlin Mekelburg Marilyn Yang

ori

mis

gabriela driscoll michelle lorusso madlin mekelburg marilyn yang

torri marquis ramya mukalla laura murphy anee nguyen erin preaskorn alex xenos

Editorial Policy The Outlook is an open forum for student expression. Unsigned editorials reflect the collective opinion of the Outlook staff. Signed editorials represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Outlook or Oakton High School. Reader opinions are important to the Outlook and contributions are welcome. Make your voice heard by sending us a line about what’s on your mind. Letters to the editor may be sent via email to marilyn.yang@ oaktonoutlook.com or dropped off in Mrs. Luna’s box in the main office or in room 135. The Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and content provided the meaning remains unchanged. cover photo by alana peters student body: 2138 circulation: 1300

snailmail 4.24.13

in this issue

gianna sheffield

courtesy of blogs.phillymag.com

carly stonehouse

vol. 51| issue 7 | 4.24.13

17 courtesy of dylan staniszewski

alana peters

27 showtime

newsworthy touchdown

spotlight

indepth

7 Okinawa Cultural

11 Lights, camera,

17 27 Standing from

Performance showcases centuries of tradition: A worldrenowned drum and dance group performed for Oakton students

will 25 What you run

for? Support a cause by running as marathon fever takes over the region

action: The cast of “Grease” held a promotional photo shoot, an Oakton first

the catwalk: The backstage crew of the Cultural Festival worked hard to make sure the show flowed smoothly

“April showers bring May flowers”: Take advantage of the spring weather by starting your own garden

contents 4.24.13

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newsbriefs 1

Best Buddies artists shines in the art gallery

The Oakton Art Gallery is filled with the work of Best Buddies student, Sean Minnick. The gallery currently holds forty-four of Sean’s pieces; which vary from detailed drawings of pirate ships to abstract sculptures of monsters. “I am inspired by pirate ships because I like the story of Treasure Island.” said Minnick. Sean displayed all different styles of art including pencil drawings, canvas paintings and clay sculptures. “I draw with sharpies, pencils and I paint with oil on canvas,” Minnick said. Sean won the 2013 Art Calendar Contest with his drawing “Shark Tank”. His picture is featured in the month of August in the calendar. Another one of Sean’s accomplishments is the award of “Creepiest” in the 2011 Senior Art Pumpkin Carving contest. Art is one of Sean’s greatest passions. “I spend hours drawing each day” Minnick said. Minnick plans to continue art after he graduates from Oakton in June.

A quick overview of the past month and a brief look at upcoming school events. Be sure to check out oaktonoutlook.com for more newsworthy stories.

Oakton DECA heads to Nationals

On April 24, Oakton DECA will bring 12 students to DECA Nationals, a four-day conference in Anaheim, California that draws students from all around the country and world to compete in categories such as sports marketing and sales roleplay. “Depending on the event, the students had to [first] compete at the district level,” said Annie Fiehrer, DECA sponsor. “They [then] all had to compete at the state level, and if they qualify, meaning they place top seven in the state, then they qualify to compete at the international level.” Senior Ryan Lucas is headed to DECA Nationals for the first time through his Marshall Academy class. “I’m doing travel and tourism team decision-making,” Lucas said, “which is an event where you and a partner are given a scenario in which you have to play a role. The scenarios vary, but they tend to be something like you are person x, and you’re trying to sell or promote y to person z.” DECA sponsors Michael Greene and Annie Fiehrer have put in extra effort to ensure that their students are ready for competition. “Ms. Fiehrer and I have mock run-throughs where, for instance, [we’ll] play the judge and then [the students] go through their presentation or their roleplay,” Greene said. “We’ll ask them questions and different things so they can sort of get a taste to help themselves prepare for what to expect.” Oakton DECA hopes to be successful in Anaheim this year and to bring even more students to next year’s competition.

Best Buddies hosts annual basketball tournament

On April 6, Best Buddies held its annual Best Buddies Basketball Tournament, inviting schools from all around the county to participate. “The tournament was played with the buddies and their peer buddies at Oakton,” said Haley Platt, sophomore and Best Buddies Treasurer. “It was a lot of fun, and they all did really well.” On April 19, Best Buddies hung up its “Spread the Word to End the Word” posters that members created at the March chapter meeting. “For our chapter meeting we made posters promoting respect at our school,” Platt said. “We’re going to have them up for a week or so in April so that everyone can see how we choose to respect our friends.” courtesy of michael greene

courtesy of sean minnick

torri marquis

newsworthy 4.24.13

Ms. Clark plans to retire after the end of the school year

After 27 years, AP Psychology teacher Sue Anna Clark is planning to retire from teaching after the end of the school year. Upon completing her degree in education, she taught at Hayfield Secondary School for about seven years before becoming a peer evaluator and then an Assistant Principal. “Along with Psychology, I have also taught Government, World Religions and Sociology,” Clark said. Clark transferred to Oakton 15 years ago, and she has taught here ever since. “My favorite part about teaching is seeing students making connections with the textbook and life experiences,” Clark said. Clark’s students know her well for being a great teacher and keeping lessons and learning fun. “One of my fondest memories of Oakton was a combined Social Studies field trip on Veteran’s Day to the National Mall when we went to the different war memorials,” Clark said. “Some of our stops were at the Arlington Cemetery, Vietnam War memorial, Korean War memorial and the WWI memorial. Teaching has been a great part of life, and it keeps me smart and makes my life rich.”

4.24.13

On Wednesday April 17, Oakton advanced placement biology students and teachers embarked on a school organized field trip to Wallop’s Island, a six square mile island off the coast of Virginia. At the island, the students were immersed in three days of biology that were jam-packed with fun activities and biological connections to the environment and the student’s course work. Senior Shreya Dahl, was among many who attended the trip and found her experience there to be more than she expected. “It was a lot of hands-on learning which was totally different than being in class,” said Dahl, “There was a lot of biology and being out there made it a lot easier to make connections to what we do in class. Recently, we just finished studying our ecology unit, so the trip to Wallop’s was really good clarification and helped me a lot with better understanding the material.” Also on the field trip was senior Shannon Carney who found her experiences on the island to be unforgettable. “I had a lot of fun because I felt I was actually learning something truly in a hands-on way,” said Carney. Upon arrival, students were given a tight schedule outlining all the activities they would take part in during the course of the next three days. “We were given a schedule for every day. Everything was already planned out for us. We had a set time for meals and everything,” Dahl said. The three days consisted of many exciting and educational activities that related to biology and educated the students at a hands-on level. “We would wake up, eat, and go to our first activity. My group went on the boat first where we measured pH. Then we would come back, have lunch, and go back to do another activity,” Dahl said. There were numerous activities for the students to take part in over the stay. “We went out on a boat in the bay, to the intertidal zone, a marsh, and the beach to catch, identify, and learn about organisms as well as the ecology of each area,” Carney said, “I had a lot of fun and I really liked learning something interesting and involved.” However, while a majority of the trip was spent learning about biology and the environment there was still time for fun. “Going out into the marsh mud was a blast. Everyone got stuck in the mud because it feels like quicksand and you can’t move unless you lay out. There was a lot of screaming and falling while we were in the mud,” Carney said. courtesy of jackie fernandez

kenneth hippe

newsworthy

AP Biology students study ecology while at Wallop’s Island

Okinawa Cultural Performance showcases centuries of tradition

World champion drum group and dancers travel from Japan in order to share their culture with students

n April 1, the Okinawa Cultural Performance group came to Oakton to display traditional Okinawan and Japanese dances and traditions. The performance was held during Cougar Time for mainly for students taking Japanese, but it was open to any other interested students as well. “We had a Japanese drum group come in from Okinawa, Japan, and they were here to perform at the Cherry Blossom Festival and also perform at this other act at the NOVA Ernst Cultural Center, but we also decided for them to perform at Oakton so they could expose [the students] to the Japanese culture and Okinawa culture because no one really knows that much about Okinawa because it is an island of Japan,” said senior Naomi Folta. The performance highlighted the unique and distinct Okinawa culture. “The Okinawan culture is more about unifying. Their culture hasn’t changed really at all since the country modernized. Okinawa’s culture is about unifying and more about brotherhood, sisterhood and being a family,” Naomi said. “I thought it was interesting how the Okinawan culture is all about unifying, and the performances really unified the crowds because [the students] went on stage. I thought that was really cool because that doesn’t happen every day. Everyone was on stage and having fun.” The Okinawan culture is quite different from that of the island’s mainland, Japan. “Most people don’t know that the Okinawan culture is more of a mix of Japanese and Chinese culture because they used to be occupied by the Chinese. Since it is like an island, it is the same thing that Hawaii is to America, so things are a lot different there. Most of the fashion trends, especially, don’t get to Okinawa as fast as they do to Japan,” said senior Nestor Folta. The performance was primarily to teach students taking a Japanese class more about culture. “It was really awesome to watch [the performers] because we don’t get very many opportunities to see anything technically ethnic here. Probably one of the coolest parts was when they were training with their weapons. They didn’t actually get to do all the presentations that they planned, but what we did get to see was very cool,” said sophomore Alyssa Marcelino. The Okinawa performance group showcased many different types of traditional dances. “I liked all the performances because they are all dynamic, and they all have weapons and drumming. I liked the ShiShi doll the best, when there are two people under a dog [costume]. I wanted to do it, erin bennett but I never got the chance to learn,” Nestor said. newsworthy editor LEFT: The performance as a whole is known as eisa; a traditional folk dance that originated hundreds of years ago and incorporates different types of drumming and dancing. The women’s rhythmic dance is notable for its intricate hand movements.

all photos by gianna sheffield

CUTOUT: Kobudo refers to the traditional Okinawan martial arts that incorporates the use of weapons, such as the staff in the performer pictured above. The man is using a bō, which is a six foot long staff that is tapered at each end. LEFT AND RIGHT: Taiko, which means drum in Japanese, is a traditional style of Okinawa percussion that combines music and dance to create an entertaining experience. The wooden Taiko drums are struck with a bachi, which resembles a modern day drum stick.

newsworthy 4.24.13

Celebrate culture RIGHT: Linden Farrell, sophomore, composed and performed a Chinese ribbon dance for the second year in a row. “I choreographed it myself,” Ferrell said. “The moves are all real, but I put it all together, and I chose the song.” After dancing for 10 years, Farrell found the performance less nerve-racking this year and enjoyed being on stage. “[My favorite part was] just being able to see my friends in the crowd, hearing them a little bit, like ‘Oh I know that person.’”

sunni bean staff writer

madlin mekelburg editor in chief all photos by gianna sheffield

ABOVE: Malcolm Lee, math teacher and organizer of the Cultural Festival, found that the students who auditioned came from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. “When it comes to the acts, the sky is the limit,” Lee said. “I look at the acts and just see where we can go with them. [The Cultural Festival] gives students the opportunity to show their acts, their talent and their culture as well as being a lot of fun.” alana peters

RIGHT: Nirali Munshi, senior, performed for the third consecutive year in the Cultural Festival. This year, she performed by doing a modernized style of Punjabi dancing. “I started [choreographing] in December,” Munshi said. “Starting that early gave me time to tweak things, because I realized that there were some parts I didn’t like.” Performing solo can be a daunting task, but Munshi found it gave her an opportunity to express her own creativity. “I was able to do things that I wanted to do,” Munshi said. “I didn’t have to worry about synchronizing or anything like that, so it was a good experience.”

spotlight 4.24.13

Want more culture? Visit us at oaktonoutlook.com

LEFT: Nestor Folta, senior, showcased his talents in several different acts including the fashion show, Japanese drumming, karate and breakdancing. Despite the seemingly major time commitment, Folta began rehersing only two weeks before the festival, “I was really excited, so I wasn’t too nervous,” Folta said. “It was just really great to get out there.” Although his impressive participation this year may suggest otherwise, Folta has never performed at the Cultural Festival before.“I’m happy I did it because it’s my senior year, and I’ve always wanted to try it,” Folta said. “I never actually had the courage to go for it until this year, and it was a blast.”

LEFT: Saeed Speede, junior, performed a rendition of “Flashing Lights” originally by Kanye West. “I’d always gotten a lot of pressure from my friends over the past few years to perform,” Speede said. “Apparently no one knew I could rap.” Speede was not daunted by lack of recognition and decided to showcase his talents anyway. “I decided that I wanted to do something no one knew I could do, sort of as a personal boundary. I was pretty nervous when I was up on stage, but I was able to pump myself up.”

LEFT: Vien Nguyen, senior, preformed Frank Ocean’s “Thinking of You” while asking Noor Mufti, junior, to prom. “I had planned it for a few weeks,” Nguyen said. “She had heard rumors about it, but, you know, it all worked out.” Mufti, however, wasnt as prepared. “I was really surprised, because everyone was talking about it beforehand, but I didn’t know it was going to happen,” Mufti said. “So going up there was kind of scary because I didn’t know what was going on at first.” When Mufti had been asked however, it was Nguyen’s second preformance of the afternoon. “The first show was the worst part,” Nguyen said, “because the mike was messed up and the crowd wasn’t cheerful, but it got better.” Despite the grievances about the first show, the second show had a better atmosphere when the MC called Mufti up to the stage in front of the crowd. “The announcer said, ‘We need Noor Mufti to come on stage,’ and I was kind of confused, but they sat me down on a chair, and he sang to me,” Mufti said. “I knew he was singing, but I thought he was just going to ask me at the end. Instead he sang to me and brought me flowers and stuff.”

LEFT: Shreya Dahal, senior, danced and choreographed two of the three MESA dances this year. Dahal is co-president of MESA, or Middle-East South Asian club, and with this, Dahal took on the responsibility of putting the MESA preformance pieces of the show together. “I choreographed the dance, and I got the outfits and all,” said Dahal. After preforming all four years of high school, she introduced a team that involved some girls from outside of Oakton for one of the dances. ”The Nepali [dance] that I did was just my team,” Dahal said. Dahal enjoyed being able to break away from the routine this year by getting new people involved. “Definitely Bollywood [was my favorite part], because we had lots of freshmen and new people,” Dahal said.

LEFT: Nathan Chen, senior, performed in a Wushu act, a traditional Chinese martial art. Chen has been looking forward to performing in this year’s festival since last year, but started preparing only a few short months before the Cultural Festival. “I was really nervous, but also pretty excited,” Chen said. “It was really fun performing in front of so many people in the audience.”

spotlight

4.24.13

School by the numbers

It feels like a lifetime before the school year will be over, but freedom is here. This data proves that high school truly has earned its title of our “home away from home.”

1,472 class periods

5,888 in four years

184

days in school 736 in four years

1,281 557,152 hours in school

5,124 hours in four years

steps you will take

2,228,608 steps in four years

7 9

“It was only 99 cents”

hanks to the recent hit song by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, an old trend has emerged once again: thrift shopping. Thrift shopping is buying something from a store that sells second-hand clothes and other household items. With the appeal of cheaper, gently-used items and unique clothes, it’s no wonder thrift stores are a popular destination for students in need of a new look. Oakton thrift shoppers share why they choose to thrift shop and the things they find at these stores.

Savannah Hard, 10 “I don’t work, so thrift stores let me get some cute, cheap clothes. In the store you run across a lot of different styles that are less expensive [than a department store]. Since there are a wide variety of clothes, it makes it really fun to shop. I bought this multi-colored hippie dress, and I wear it all the time.”

Lauren Frautschi, 11 “Thrift stores have a lot of cheap clothes that are all really different and fun. Every piece is

home football games 28 games in four years

Outlook issues

36 issues in four years

spotlight 4.24.13

unique, nothing on the racks is the same and no one else has it. One time I got this really nice Ralph Lauren button-up polo that no one would have guessed was from a thrift store.”

alex driscoll staff writer

Grace Shamlian, 10 “It’s cheap; I work really hard to earn my money and don’t want to spend it all on the clothes I buy. Thrift stores give people the chance to get rid of clothes and for people to get new, cheaper ones. It’s a win-win.”

Nicasio Reid, 12 “I’ve been to some [thrift stores] a couple of times, and I got these really cool, retro sweaters. I like thrift shopping because everything is cheap. The stores are exciting, and you find great deals. Although it’s hard sometimes, you can find some pretty good stuff. I usually just get sweaters, but I bought a floral blazer before.” photos by alex driscoll, reina datta and karli gillespie

Lights, camera, action

GREASE Oakton’s Fine Arts Department held their first annual photo shoot as a way to advertise for their spring musical “Grease.”

karli gillespie spotlight editor lauren embroski staff writer

pening day is just weeks away for the Fine Arts Department’s annual musical. This year the department is performing the world renowned show “Grease,” and to build the anticipation for their show, the department heightened their marketing skills with a photo shoot. “We did the photo shoot to try and get the word out a month in advance [about the show] rather than a week in advance so we could start to get some excitement about it,” said Vanessa Gelinas, theatre teacher. “Since we had all the [characters’] costumes ready, and we figured out that Mr. Richards [the building supervisor] had [a 1955 Thunderbird] we could use, the opportunity just kind of came together.” The photo shoot brought together the Theatre, Choral and Art Departments of Oakton. Photographers Dylan Staniszewski, Ellie Hughes, Kelsey McClelland and Suzanne Ramirez from Susan Silva’s AP Photography class volunteered to take the photographs. Although this is the first time they have advertised a musical in such a way, this will certainly not be the last. “We’ve never done something this organized so it was a really good thing it all came together,” Gelinas said. “I’d like to continue [doing the photo shoot], I think it’s a good way to get things out and also through social media so that people know about it and get it on their calendar earlier.” Social media has helped them greatly in spreading word about all of their performances. “Every year [our advertising] has gotten a little bit better,” Gelinas said. “The last year to two years I’ve tried to use social media a little bit more. Facebook has helped a lot to get information out to people. I don’t have a twitter yet, so maybe that’s my next step. Prior to that we did posters in the community advertising at the middle schools depending on the show and if it was a show the elementary schools would like we would try to get advertising done there. We always [rely] on the community that feeds through our school.” Another benefit of the photo shoot was that it provided the cast and crew more than just the opportunity for their work to be publicized. “I think that for the cast it was a great chance for them to get in costume and begin to get the vibe for the show,” Gelinas said. “It gets people excited about the fact that it’s real. It gave the kids energy and faith in the show.” Advertisements that come from the photo shoot and the support of Oakton students will surely draw a large crowd for the show. Leave behind John Travolta and Olivia Newton John’s Danny and Sandy for a night, and see Oakton’s rising stars for yourself.

Save the date!

Grease the musical opens May 16, 17 and 18

all photos courtesy of dylan staniszewski and ellie hughes

spotlight

4.24.13

Never skip and tell The Perpetrator

Q A

Ferris Bueller* is a chronic school skipper

Why do you think you should be able to skip school or cut class? Being 18, I feel like I’m old enough to make decisions on when to go to class as a legal adult. School is a prison that [limits] free thinking. I followed the rules for long enough, and now I don’t have to, because I have enough of a buffer for my grades. I don’t care about my grades anymore. I wouldn’t skip this much if it was junior year, but now that I got into college, I don’t care anymore.

Q A

How do you get out of school and what do you do? I go to the “clinic” or I just leave. I just go to friends’ houses to watch movies and eat food. I skip alone and with people. You can compare me to the James Bond of skipping; I’m usually the get-away driver.

A look into the debate over student attendance

The Enforcer

Q A Q A

Q A

Have you ever been caught or had any close shaves? I’ve had a few break out runs from Hutch. Usually I find the closest girls’ bathroom, because he can’t go in there. But I got Saturday school once, because I was at IHOP and the cop came. I’ve only been caught once and I’ve skipped multiple times, so I don’t regret it. I usually get away with [skipping]. How often do you skip school or cut class? It depends on the day. I don’t go to school at all some days. I usually leave during the day, so I rarely spend the whole day at school. I skip every day. My friends are the people I usually skip with.

“

Ron “Hutch” Hutchison has had experience with students who skip

What are your thoughts on students who skip school or cut class? It’s not a good idea. I think it’s such a bad habit. It’s easy to develop a habit, but it’s really hard to break it. You have this attitude of there’s something I don’t want to face, and there’s something a lot more fun out there. You might do that when you get to college, or you might do that when you get to trade school, or you might do that when you get to work. How often do catch students skipping school or cutting class? It depends on when I can get out there. I think we’re a lot better at it now because of the cameras. If you’re 200 yards away from somebody, and they go off campus, how do you catch up with them? But we can use the cameras, we can identify them. You can find out whether they were legitimately leaving campus. But, there are four of us and so many students. Have you every chased anybody down in your golf cart? Yeah, I’ve slipped up next to people and said, “Hey, what’s going on? Where are you supposed to be?” Some [students] will try and con me. I think it goes a lot better if they say, “OK, I got caught. I broke a rule.” [Cutting class is] not a big thing, but it’s a bad habit. We have a responsibility to try and keep kids here because we have a legal liability issue. How do students try to escape getting caught? They’ll try to use an old pass. [They ] lie. I think lying, and not very creatively lying, is the worst way to go. I don’t see much creativity, [students] just go for it. Coming back on campus, I’ve seen people do things like pull in, see me, [drive] all the way out, then swing around, and then come back around the other side.

*student names changed to protect anonymity

percent of students polled have skipped a full day of school or cut class in high school

gabriela driscoll editor in chief

152 students of all grades were polled

“

School is basically glorified baby-sitting at this point. I have good grades, I’m going to college, so why should I be here? - senior skipper

”

Most of the classes do not matter, so skipping is fine. Depending on the teacher and the class, there is nothing we can learn in class that we cannot learn outside of class on our own. - independent senior

”

percent of students polled have skipped a full day of school or cut class due to boredom in high school

percent of students polled skip at least every week

“

Gym is pointless; I skipped it freshman year. - junior

percent of students poled have skipped a full day of school or cut class to hang out with friends

”“ “ ” Skipping is fine. You have the right to fail. - sophomore

I have never skipped before, and I do not plan to, because I enjoy my teachers and they enjoy me.

”

- law-abiding freshman

viewpoint

Oakton students share their opinions on controversial topics at Oakton and in our community marilyn yang

More than meets the eye

The stars behind the curtain also deserve appreciation

“L

ights, camera and action!” This iconic Hollywood as demonstrated by director James Cameron’s Oscarcatchphrase is practically synonymous with the winning “Avatar” and the subsequent boom in IMAX and entertainment industry. Car chases and sirens 3D. Meanwhile, Peter Jackson, the producer of the “Lord come rushing to mind, perhaps even a dramatic soliloquy or of the Rings” trilogy and the recent movie “The Hobbit: a proposal scene. Yet aside from the critical press or those An Unexpected Journey,” has become well-known in the directly involved with movie sets and production offices, rarely filmmaking industry for his extensive use of computer would an audience consider the camera, much less the lights. graphics to bring author J. J. Tolkien’s legendary Middle Earth However, Hollywood would be nothing without production to life. teams, lighting assistants or CGI techs. After all, these diligent In addition, while technological progress has shifted workers beyond the silver screen are the true magicians behind moviemaking increasingly toward post-production digital fire-breathing dragons and expansive, fantasy-like sets. editing, makeup and costume design have remained Hollywood It may be the nature of the industry, but it is a shame mainstays, even in CGI-heavy movies like “The Hobbit.” Tami that Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes workers are generally Lane, the prosthetics supervisor of the “Lord of the Rings” overlooked, particularly in contrast to the A-list actors that and now “The Hobbit,” has made her own mark on the industry headline movie posters. Those names and has since won an Oscar for her work as well The Staff Editorial is as received several other nominations. Makeup listed in the end credits provide a significant portion of the overall effort the official opinion of artistry not only enhances the final product, but to create and polish the final product, it also aids actors during filming. Actor Richard the Oakton Outlook Armitage, who plays dwarf leader Thorin whether it is a movie, play or musical. Of course, many of them chose their careers Oakenshield in “The Hobbit,” credits much for the very reason that they would be outside of the limelight of his character transformation to his daily two-hour-long and most importantly, away from the privacy-intruding prosthetics application process in the makeup chair. Robert paparazzi. Nevertheless, a smidge of additional audience Downey Jr. has similarly credited the makeup process for his appreciation is undoubtedly warranted, especially in the wake own starring role in the “Iron Man” movies. of digital production’s recent rise in demand and thus the Actors often spend 14-hour days on set while filming and growing importance of post-production editing and creation. generally deserve their accolades and renown. However, the In fact, some of the most important processes of modern next time you go to the movies, a play, a musical or even a movie production occur out of the general audience’s school dance, remember the cameraman, the director, the sight. Advancements in digital technology has transformed lighting assistant and the sound manager. Ultimately, almost both the filmmaking process and the viewing experience, any large-scale project is a team effort.

viewpoint

4.24.13

People for the Euthanization of Tons of Animals PETA’s reckless euthanizing of animals does not fit the organization’s image

hen people think of those who support animal rights and fight animal cruelty, one of the first things they think of is PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA has long been known as the forefront group fighting to save animals, but in reality they are something quite different. According to the data disclosed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), PETA has killed 92.4 percent of the dogs and cats that they have received through their shelters in the state of Virginia. This is no hoax; in fact, the Commonwealth of Virginia opened up an investigation into the matter, and after reviewing two months worth of records, they found that 84 percent of the animals obtained by PETA were killed within 24 hours. PETA claims that they are only putting down dogs that are injured or sick, but in 2007, two PETA employees were tried for animal abuse after being caught dumping dead cats and dogs into dumpsters. Evidence in the trial showed that the animals killed were not unadoptable as PETA claims. Veterinarian Dr. Patrick Proctor told reporters that he gave three cats to PETA. “This cat and two kittens I gave them last week were in good health and were very adoptable, especially the kittens,” Proctor told “The Virginia-Pilot.” “These were just kittens we were trying to find homes for. PETA said they would do that, but these cats never made it out of the county.” North Carolina’s WNCTTV News was informed by authorities that they had found more than 70 additional dead animals that may be connected to PETA. One of the defendants in this case stated that they were systematically euthanizing animals one at a time the day the crimes were committed. The slaughter of animals is not the only reason why people should stay away from PETA. The organization is a radical

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alex xenos staff writer

on that is filled with fanatics. PETA’s president Ingrid Newkirk has openly supported the Animal Liberation Front, which is involved in the destruction of property and arson. Newkirk herself was accused of participating in the arson of a Michigan State University lab. PETA has a long history of supporting radicals and criminals. Rodney Coronado, a man who has boasted about acts of arson and once fled an arrest warrant, has received grants from PETA. PETA has even paid for the defense of criminals like Roger Troen who was arrested for burglary and arson. Basic research reveals that PETA is a radical organization that does not actually use its money to help animals in need. In 2003, the organization launched a campaign called “Your Mommy Kills Animals” aimed at disturbing the minds of children by showing them graphic images of dead animals. The hypocrisy is almost too great to bear. The organization that murders 90 percent of their animals wants to lecture the population about how mothers are killing animals by buying fur coats. To put the irrationality of PETA in perspective, read what Newkirk told Vogue: “Even if animal tests produced a cure for AIDS, we’d be against it.” They even compared the use of animals as livestock to slavery and the Holocaust. There are plenty of local alternatives to PETA. The Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation (LDRF) is a non-profit animal rescue organization that works to save cats and dogs throughout Northern Virginia and tries to find loving homes for them. They do not euthanize and are willing to take care of abused and injured animals. Unlike PETA, all of LDRF’s contributions go directly to helping the animals in their care. These types of organizations do far more to help save animals than PETA does. People should think twice before supporting an organization like PETA and start thinking more about supporting foundations and organizations that are serious about taking care of animals.

The Midas touch?

jacque groskaufmanis staff writer

Our generation faces a tanning-related skin cancer epidemic; people must assess their priorities

t’s not uncommon to hear the term “healthy glow” when talking about tanned skin, but when it comes to tanning and excessive sunlight without adequate protection, there’s nothing “healthy” about it. Doctors and scientists are starting to refer to our generation’s obsession with tanning as an “epidemic.” To break it down into basic terms, tanning is your body’s protective mechanism against harmful UV rays. When you’re subject to sun exposure, your body produces a pigment called melanin, which acts as a shield to protect your skin cells and DNA. This increase in melanin is what gives your skin a darker color or a “tan.” However, melanin production can’t physically keep up with excessive UV exposure, and as a result your DNA goes unprotected and your cells could potentially go into overproduction, otherwise known as cancer. Health teachers lecture us about the dangers of tanning and cancerous threats, our parents constantly nag us about wearing sunscreen and trendy magazines such as Vogue have even joined the effort, endorsing expensive products with high levels of UV protection. The problem is, people already know the risks and still continue to ignore the scientific proof that tanning could literally kill you. Skin cancer is the leading cancer in the U.S., with more than 2 million people diagnosed each year. One in every five Americans is diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the National Skin

Cancer Foundation. With today’s technology, there’s no longer any question about whether unprotected tanning is bad for you; it’s simply a well known, proven fact. Is our generation so infatuated with self-image and a desire to be attractive that we risk our lives to be just a few shades tanner? How can people condone prioritizing beauty over health in such a drastic way? Granted, the harmful effects of tanning don’t ensue immediately, so it’s hard to grasp the severity of the consequences. Teenagers often have a sense of invincibility, but it’s important to understand that the tanning you do now could be a cause of skin cancer when you’re 50. A nice tan is admittedly attractive, but cancerous growths and chemo radiation treatments are not. In the end, the choice is yours, and it all comes down to where your priorities lie: longterm health or a temporary bronze. Do your future self a favor and replace tanning oil with SPF sun-tan lotion. Seasons come and go and tans eventually fade, but the irreversible damage you’re doing to your skin is permanent and superficial.

Health is wealth

To improve productivity and avoid unnecessary stress, go ahead and take a sick day

ll students have the luxury of being able to skip school because of sickness. Since they don’t have regular salaries, it does not affect anybody but themselves if they do not show up to school. Even though there will most likely be a lot of make-up work to do, it is completely worth it to stay home and take the day off. To begin with, it’s important to realize that being sick makes it

ramya mukalla staff writer

difficult to concentrate, so there is no point in coming to school. Also, if you have a contagious sickness, the responsible thing to do is stay home. Going to school when you are sick will decrease your productivity, stress you out, and get others sick as well. With all this said and done, the most important thing to know is that skipping school sets you back with days worth of makeup work, so if you are really not sick, you should go to school.

So why is it good to take a sick day? Catch up on your favorite music: Listening to music doesn’t tire you out, and it will also help you rest

Slip into some comfortable clothing: No need to look nice if you’re sick, right? Catch up on your favorite shows: With websites like Netflix and Hulu, you can take some time off and relax

De-stress: Drink some herbal tea and rejuvenate

Eat all the food that you could possibly want: There’s nothing more to add to that

Take care of yourself: The first step to recovery is being healthy and rested, not stressed out and hunched over a desk

viewpoint all photos by ramya mukalla and official websites

4.24.13

Hungry?

#donutday @oakton_outlook

Grab a donut for 1$ Wednesday, May 1st During Cougar Time in room 135

april GARDENING tips

“APRIL showers

With April coming to a close, nature enthusiasts begin to prepare for the prime gardening months. Use this guide to mark the arrival of spring in your own personal garden

bring may flowers”

Top Gardening Center in our area

3 9

Merrifield Garden Center

Located: 12101 Lee Hwy,

4 7

specifically planted in the spring or summertime. annuals Flowers The best time to start planting these beauties is in the early part of May. Dianthus: Requires full sun Petunia: Requires 1 White 6 (6+ hours) and semi-moist soil. full sun (6+ hours) and semimoist soil. Bloom time is in spring, summer and fall

Bloom time is in spring, summer and winter

and semi-moist soil. Bloom time is spring, summer and fall

and semi-moist soil. Bloom time is in the spring Snapdragon: Requires full sun (6+ hours) and a low amount of water once established. Tolerates frost. Bloom time is in spring, fall and winter

Margarita African Daisy: Calibrachoa: 2 MiniFamous 7 Requires full sun (6+ hours) Requires full sun (6+ hours)

3 Requires full sun (6+ hours) Astra African Daisy:

and semi-moist soil. Bloom time is in the spring

Lobelia: Requires 4 Magdai full sun (6+ hours) and semi-moist soil. Bloom time is in spring and summer

Requires full sun 5 Viola: (6+ hours) and semi-moist soil. Bloom time is in fall, winter and spring

Petunia: Requires full 9 Red sun (6+ hours) and semi-moist soil. Bloom time is in spring, summer and winter carly stonehouse showtime editor

Fairfax, VA 22030 Hours: Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Learn more: Watch Merrifield Garden’s show, Merrifield Gardening Advisor. The show airs on Channel 8 every Saturday morning at 8 a.m.

Gardening do’s and don’ts

DO: Test and prepare your soil before planting your flowers DON’T: Place fertilizers and sprays directly on the plant or seeds DO: Thin your plants when they are at least finger height DON’T: Work on your garden when plants or soil are wet

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4.24.13

Cherry blossoms celebrate Spring

laura murphy staff writer

This year, the Cherry Blossom Festival was from March 20 to April 14. The annual event is one of the nation’s largest spring festivals, and people from all over the country flocked to see the pink blooms. The three-and-a-half week celebration offered a host of interesting Japanese activities alongside the beautiful display of the cherry blossoms.

Ar t:

Tours:

In the spirit of cherry blossoms, numerous art galleries offered free admission during the festival. Galleries displayed traditional Japanese artwork from the Edo period as well as modern art and anime. In addition, several children’s workshops were held, including a lantern building activity and a balloon animal event.

The throngs of tourists at the capital had plenty of opportunities to see the cherry blossoms. A variety of tours were available, ranging from self-guided garden tours to boat tours to rickshaws alongside the Potomac River. Throughout the city the cherry blossoms were the front and center of all festivities.

es:

c Performan

During the festival, several traditional forms of Japanese music were performed. The lively Japanese “taiko” drums attracted several hundred people at a time. Many dancers were also present at the festival, engaging in traditional forms of Japanese dances to celebrate the coming of spring.

Food:

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A variety of Japanese cuisine was available through the Cherry Picks Restaurant program. From freshly prepared sushi to deep fried Japanese street foods, there were many different options to enjoy. An especially popular snack at the Sakura Matsuri was ice cream served inside of a pineapple. Several vendors branched outside of Japan and into other Eastern and South Eastern Asian cuisine; the result was an eclectic mix of delicious flavors.

All photos taken by Laura Murphy

More than just subtitles

If you are tired of the mainstream movie scene, foreign films can add some variety to your repertoire.

Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

“Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi” is a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The movie is better known by western audiences as “Spirited Away”, which is an English translation of the movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The film follows the story of 10-year-old Chihiro Ogino who finds herself trapped in a disturbing alternate world full of spirits after she and her parents explore an abandoned amusement park. After a witch turns Chihiro’s parents into pigs, she begins working in the witch’s bathhouse while she tries to figure out a way to save her parents and escape to the human world. Regardless of which version of the film you watch, you will be equally enticed by Chihiro’s bizarre journey. Although the film is 125 minutes long, the plot and animations are so peculiar that you won’t be able to stop watching.

Photo courtesy of imbd

Der Untergang

“Downfall”, or “Der Untergang”, is a German dramatic film written by Bernd Eichinger and based upon the books “Inside Hitler’s Bunker” by historian Joachim Fest, and “Until the Final Hour” by Traudl Junge and Melissa Müller. The film depicts the final ten days of Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) and his Nazi regime in 1945 through the eyes of Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara), the young personal secretary of Adolf Hitler. Nominated for the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, “Downfall” gives a different perspective on Adolf Hitler and the fall of Berlin than most western films permit. The film is rated R for strong violence and disturbing images, which isn’t surprising for a film centered on Germany in 1945. Although two hours and 30 minutes long, the film goes by quickly; furthermore, the fact that the story is historically accurate heightens the film’s allure.

Photo courtesy of imbd

María llena eres de gracia “Maria Full of Grace”, or “María llena eres de gracia”, is a joint Colombian-American dramatic film released in 2004 and written and directed by Joshua Marston. The film takes place in Bogotá, Columbia and follows the life of pregnant teenager Maria Alvarez (Catalina Sandino Moreno). After quitting her job in a flower plantation, Maria becomes a drug mule to make money to support her family; therefore, she swallows 62 wrapped pellets of heroine and flies to New York. This movie will not fail to move you, even if you need the subtitles to understand the dialogue. Rated R, the film sugarcoats nothing. Also, it does not try to further dramatize the story. For example, the drug dealers are not glamorized, as they sometimes are in mainstream films, and Maria becomes an enticing character solely through her normality. Overall, it’s a must see. Photo courtesy of imbd

Froyo Faceoff courtesy of Pinkberry

courtesy of Sweet Frog Based on a survey of 50 students

courtesy of Zinga

The top frozen yogurt shops in Northern Virginia are put to the test on our search to find the ultimate go-to frozen yogurt shop for the summer.

rozen yogurt has become the newest dessert trend among people of all ages. It is a cost-effective, delicious and healthy alternative to ice cream. There are endless options to choose from, and it seems like there is a frozen yogurt shop on every corner. Sweet Frog was voted the best frozen yogurt shop in Northern Virginia by Oakton students. Sweet Frog has endless flavors, including cake batter and cookies and cream. Although the yogurt is their main component, Sweet Frog takes the cake, or yogurt, with its array of toppings spanning from fruit to gummy worms and cookies.

natalie eberhart staff writer

showtime

4.24.13

sofia crutchfield

airfax’s very own Patriot Center was blessed on April 4 lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong roared, and that is where the by the presence of international pop-punk champions show really began. The rest of the show was a blend of AmeriGreen Day. After postponing the tour for lead singer can Idiot-era hits like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and oldBillie Joe Armstrong’s stint in rehab, the band is touring mostly school classics like “Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?” and “Basket around the northern U.S. The Patriot Center has a lower capacCase.” ity than Green Day’s previous D.C. conquests such as the VeriThe most memorable moment of the evening was probably the zon Center and Jiffy Lube Live, but Green Day had no trouble one Grammy-winning-international-rock-star Armstrong himamping up the crowd. self described as “the most memorable moment of [his] life.” The opening act, Best Coast, had a decent sound but a pitiful During one of the band’s signature stoner anthems, “Longview,” stage presence. I might never experience anything so awkward they decided to pull up a member of the audience to help sing as a band singing primarily about the glories of California life along. Armstrong chose a 12-year-old boy standing right next to a room full of unamused east coasters. The awkwardness was to me, whose father was lifting him up towards the stage Lion promptly diffused at the end of the set change, when Queen’s King style. He was a cute kid, and no one was quite sure if he classic Bohemian Rhapsody played over would be able to sing in front of the speakers, accompanied by the entire But he belted every word, That was the most memorable everyone. Patriot Center. It was then replaced by most of which were highly inappromoment of my life. the Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop, and Green priate, perfectly. Billie Joe sent him billie joe armstrong Day’s mascot, the giant, pink, drunk bunny, home with one of his guitars, and he waddled on stage and chugged beer to the was welcomed back into the pit with crowd’s cheers of “Hey, ho, let’s go!” lots of hair ruffling. With the lights low and the energy high Throughout everything, the stamina of already, Green Day and their supporting band ran on stage to drummer Tre Cool, bassist Mike Dirnt, guitarist Jason White raucous cheering. They kicked off with “99 Revolutions,” an and Armstrong was extraordinary, and it kept the audience upbeat track off of their 2012 album trilogy “Uno...Dos...Tre!” going at similar heights. In reviews of Green Day shows, the and namesake of the tour. Most of the beginning of the show word “energy” is often overused, but there is simply no other was dedicated to their newer songs, which were fun enough even way to describe the raw enthusiasm and physical effort extracted though most people didn’t know the words, as the trilogy was a from every person in the building, from we the megafans in the bit of a flop. third row to the chumps in the very back and very top of the But there was a major shift in the show after the docile “Oh nosebleed section. Armstrong is the definition of a showman; he Love” petered out and the grinding riff-of-a-generation that is demands noise and activity from the crowd, he goads them until the opening of “Holiday” drew goosebumps and incomparable he gets an uproarious enough response. He sprayed the pit mervigor from the stage and the cilessly with a hose. The result is a unique showtime sofia crutchfield crowd. “VIRGINIAAAAAAA,” and incredible experience of a show.

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viewpoint editor

satire

DIY Ergonomics:

the beginner’s guide to proper backpack health

April is widely regarded among students as the single most important month of the year, as it is officially National Backpack Safety Month. Did you celebrate the right way? Check yourself before you wreck yourself with this handy guide to personal backpack health.

One-strapping is so 1998

Proper backpack posture requires the use of both shoulder straps. Don’t just shoulder the weight: double shoulder it. Remember, your back loves you, so love your back back.

2. Don’t hide Wearing your backpack so low that it covers your butt should be an emergency move reserved for those who’ve had an accident. Adjust your shoulder straps so the weight of the pack is evenly distributed on your back and proves your cleanliness. It’s a twofer!

Pop it and lock it

Does your backpack have a waist strap? This ingredient is of utmost importance, so while you’re waiting for the new ergonomically acceptable backpack that you ordered two paragraphs ago to come in the mail, you can fashion a makeshift waist strap out of a bungee cord or an old sock. Don’t worry about it, you look fine.

Pro-tip: The best thing you can do for your back is avoid putting anything on it at all. The world’s most renowned chiropractors and backpackologists recommend a Vehicular Apparatus, otherwise known as a “rolling backpack.” Certain models have the optional feature of light-up wheels for added swag.

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4.24.13

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Softball stays focused on states

Despite the installment of new coach, Sam Newman, during the second week of the season, the softball team has stayed focused on winning and refuses to let the recent events shape the rest of their season. “When our coaching staff was replaced, we basically started an entirely new season,” said senior captain Mary Kate Mehegan. “We have put the recent coaching [change] behind us because we are here to play softball and here to win.” For the past two years the team has remained largely the same, so with new additions this year the team is adjusting to a different style of play. The cougars started the season 4-4 with a recent 12-3 victory over district rival Chantilly. Currently 2-0 in the district, softball is looking towards a district title and another dominant regional performance, hopefully with another state berth. “My expectations for this season haven’t changed.” Mehegan said. “If we put in the effort I think we can return to states again this year.”

April highlights of cougars on the prowl

Boys lacrosse enters district tournament

Boys lacrosse enters the district tournament this week at 7-3 overall and 1-3 in the Concorde District. The boys started the season strong going 7-0 before district play began where they dropped three straight to Centreville, Robinson and Chantilly. The loss to Centreville came in a 5-6 nail biter where Oakton stayed in front until Centreville scored the winning goal with 20 seconds left on the clock. “Our season had been going pretty well until Centreville,” said junior defender Miles Lindsey, “but we used it as motivation for going forward and doing well in the rest of the district.” The team has one more regular season game against Lake Braddock before moving into the district tournament on May 3 against Herndon at home. The Cougars will look to defend their district title and have a positive showing in regions and states. “Our first goal would be to go into the state and district play for full potential,” Lindsey said. “I know that we are capable.”

courtesy of jane davis

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Boys soccer is number one in the All-Met

When the recent Washington Post All-Met rankings came out, the boys varsity soccer team was happy to see themselves on top. With a 8-0-1 record, and outscoring their opponents 26 to 8, they look to continue their winning streak going into the district tournament. The lone tie was a 3-3 overtime draw against Lake Braddock, who knocked out Oakton in the Northern Regional semifinals last year and is currently the number two team in the region. Being ranked first in the region puts more pressure on the team to keep winning and live up to their ranking. However, all the boys have stepped up, with everyone contributing to the team’s success. Oakton will go into the district tournament as the first seed and begin tournament play at home on May 23. The boys will look to recapture the district title and are poised to claim Oakton boys soccer’s first ever region title and ultimately, state championship.

gianna sheffield

April showers bring muddy fields

alana peters photo editor

hen the sky grows dark and the clouds open up, Oakton’s sports run for cover and practice in the safety of the gym. Tarp-ing fields or raking the dirt can only do so much to prevent an unusable field, and practicing indoors forces athletes to change their schedules and accommodate their work out to fit in one of the gyms. So how do these different sports handle unfortunate weather conditions?

“To keep the field in good condition it needs to be repaired and dragged every day. Holes from the batters, catchers and pitchers need to be filled and pounded each day. It is not enough to just replace the dirt. It must be repacked to prevent the holes from getting deeper. Dragging the field each day helps to keep the top layer of the field smooth and loose. A smooth field minimizes bad hops by a hard hit ball as does loose dirt. When it does rain, using a nail drag or an iron rake (if the field is so wet it will not support the tractor) on the dirt helps tremendously. More often than not, it is the infield that is the problem when it rains. Generally the field crew will know if they can get a wet field up and running by game time, but the umpires have the final say on the matter.”

“For the baseball team, the playing surface is very important. We need to make sure our field is in good shape, so we will play in rain or light rain, but there comes a point that if it’s too wet, we need to stop. We are able to speed up the drying process in our ‘cut-outs’ or the dirt areas by using Turface. It’s a soil conditioner that dries dirt out. The baseball team has several options depending on weather during our practice time. If it’s not raining we go over to Nottoway, if it’s raining while we’re supposed to practice then we use the gym time we are allotted or go to an indoor batting facility.”

“In the event of inclement weather, we typically try to acquire space in the high school to do conditioning workouts. Playing on a wet court puts players at risk of slip and fall injuries. Matches are not played in wet conditions, however; sometimes, if there is merely a light drizzle, practice will continue. We have rollers to aid in drying the court surface when there is puddling occurring, but a completely soaking wet court is an unusable court, and only time and improved weather conditions can fix that problem. Wet courts typically require a rescheduling of the match, which is a cooperative effort on the part of both schools involved in the match.”

“We play in the rain if the fields are not soaked with puddles. That is where the danger comes in: lots of water where people will fall. If there has been a lot of rain, we look for wind and sun to dry it out. Sometimes on spots on the field they may put kitty litter to soak up one specific area. With bad weather, we usually practice indoors. Sometimes a turf field might open up, but it’s usually the aux gym for us. It’s a really small space for a whole team that is used to playing on a large field, but we make it work. I design different drills, and we use our time indoors well. We practice around 5 or 6 p.m., both indoors and out.”

justin janis | baseball coach

jane davis | softball parent

lauren patrizi | tennis coach

jean counts | lacrosse coach

“The only weather conditions that generally cause unsafe conditions are lighting, thunder or standing water from rain. The center referee has the ultimate discretion as to whether the field is playable or not. He may terminate a match if he finds that any weather conditions endanger the players. If a grass field is too wet, we play on a turf field because it is still playable in the rain. We play in the rain very often. Most lads find it refreshing. Some even play in the snow.” Zomorodi joked that Shamwow is a useful tool to “quickly and effectively dry up the wettest parts of the field.”

sepehr zomorodi | soccer captain

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4.24.13

What will you run for?

jennifer prosser touchdown editor

As spring moves into full swing, local races are popping up everywhere. From one-mile fun runs to hardcore half-marathons, there is something for everyone. So strap on your running shoes and ask yourself: what will you run for?

fun

The Color Run 5k Held on May 19 along three miles of the National Harbor, the “happiest race on the planet” is for runners, walkers, joggers, skippers and everything in between. thecolorrun.com/washington-dc

The Splatter Run 5k

Held on May 11 at Lake Fairfax, The Splatter Run is a local spinoff of the Color Run, promising fun for the whole family.

your mom

Mother’s Day 4-Miler

This local race on May 12 through Baron Cameron Park in Herndon is the perfect way to spend Mother’s Day. Not up for four miles? There is a one-mile fun run at the same time. Added bonus for both races: participating moms get free flowers. www.prraces.com/devotion

a cause

Sprint to the Line for LLS Run through the rolling hills of Prince William Forest Park on May 26 to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in either a half-marathon or a 5k race.

Stand Up for Our Warriors 5k On May 11 Robinson High School will host the second annual 5k and one-mile fun run on campus and in surrounding neighborhoods to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Komen Race for the Cure Coming to D.C. on May 11, the 5k race is committed to celebrating women and finding a cure for breast cancer.

Warrior Dash

pride

Coming to Mechanicsville, MD on May 18 and 19, the “world’s largest obstacle race” will challenge even the most confident runner. The 5k includes twelve obstacle stations involving heights, fire, water and, of course, mud. www.warriordash.com

or plan ahead...

Run For Your Lives is a zombieinfested 5k obstacle course coming to Baltimore Oct. 5 and selling out fast.

Ragnar Relay is an intense, 24-hour, 12-man relay race through 200 miles of the D.C. metro area Oct. 4 and 5.

all photos are courtesy of official race websites

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New to the school and new to the team A freshman finds his place on varsity soccer

torri marquis staff writer

he boys’ varsity soccer team has started off its season strong, winning its first five games and rising to the very top of the All-Met rankings. The team welcomed ten new members, but only one of these newcomers is a freshman: starting center defender Trey Lodge. “It’s an honor to be in the program,” Lodge said. “The guys have been very welcoming and cool about incorporating me into the games.” Lodge’s teammates have been happy to have him on the team because of how much he has contributed to their successful season. “He’s done great so far,” said senior captain Jay Bundren. “He stepped in at a tough position and has pretty much started the whole year. Even though he’s a freshman, he’s comfortable and confident.” Lodge is a serious player not only for Oakton, but also for other teams outside of school. His club team, Arlington Impact, won the State Cup this year. He also plays for the Olympic Development Program. Although Lodge has plans to play soccer after high school, right now he is only focused on his current season. “I would like to play in college, but hopefully this year we will win the district and the region,” Lodge said. Lodge, according to Bundren, has made a very positive impact on the team. “He’s been really useful for us,” Bundren said. “He stays calm and collected and is a good leader for us in the back.” Lodge and his team have their next game on April 25 at Robinson High School.

gianna sheffield

“[Lodge] is playing center defense, which is usually a position for bigger and older guys, so it’s been really impressive that he’s been able to step in there and play really well for us,” Bundren said.

The pay-off of training

Whether or not it is worth it to play

ports are a part of the everyday lives of nearly 1,000 Oakton student-athletes. With practices, workouts and games, a lot of time is dedicated to improving performance on the field, in the gym and on the track. But at what cost does participating for all the years have on the body and the mind? The obvious benefit of participating in a sport is the health and fitness aspect. By training ten to twenty hours a week, most athletes are in the best shape of their lives. But athletes also form life-long friendships with many of their teammates. Nothing pushes people together more than doing a workout together on a 90-degree day. In addition, sports require essential lifeskills such as leadership, dedication and persistence. However, downsides of intensive training can be both short and longterm. Practicing at a competitive level takes a lot of work and dedica-

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tion, meaning most athletes do not get home until the late evening. Furthermore, injuries can plague an athlete for the rest of their lives. The growing concussion epidemic also begs awareness that athletes are putting their brains and future at risk, with the immediate possibility of falling behind in school. Despite the pros and cons, studies indicate that sports a generally positive. A study conducted by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union found that both mental and physical health was better in those who participated in a sport rather than those who did not. Other areas such as life satisfaction, civic engagement and even employment and finances were found to be higher for those who did participate versus those who did not, even 20 years down the line. In the end though, it is all up to the athlete to know whether or not it is worth it to participate and to push him or herself to the line.

oliver lopez-gomez online editor

what oakton athletes think

Positive 88%

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Negative 12%

what the experts think

Doing a sport is a positive as it starts lifelong learning [and] the desire to be healthy, fit and become leaders.

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paul rupp | athletic trainer

Playing sports helps you develop a mental toughness that can not only be applied to athletics but also any [other] part of your life.

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eric goins | college athlete

indepth

Go behind the scenes and see who really runs the school

Take an exclusive look at the masterminds behind Prom

rom is not just a party. It’s an event, or more sentimentally called, a ritual, where students come together to celebrate each other and appreciate the big, happy family that has been created at Oakton. Prom is made for the students, by the students. This is the slogan of the Prom Committee, the group of students that fashion the entire event from start to finish. Their main goal is to make every student feel joy and assurance about their place at Oakton during Prom, because students are what make Oakton the diverse yet close, special and tight-knit community that it is. The president of the committee, junior Ellis Heijst, is in charge of everything that goes into making Prom an enjoyable experience. “I want students to feel excitement and

like they are involved in their school,” Heijst said. Along with attempting to make the students happy, the committee also needs to consider how to make Prom a memorable experience. The committee gets most of its ideas and themes from students. They plan to poll students on popular music and other trends. Music sets the scene for the whole event. “It is incredibly important that the right kind of music is there and plays in the right kind of order, which then calls for a D.J. with a decent reputation,” Heijst said. The students also get the opportunity to elect their Prom court. “I like having the students choose because they nominate people that represent the student body in their own unique, special way,” Heijst said. “Also

Standing from the catwalk

abbey bonin staff writer no one wants to go to their special Prom and have the whole night dictated. People want to see what they dream Prom to be.” At the end of the night and year, people won’t remember what dresses were worn, who went with who or the trivial gossip, but they will remember the memories that are made with friends that define the Oakton experience. Enjoy the magic of Prom. carly stonehouse

“When planning Prom we have to consider the budget, aesthetics, quality, venue and the reputation of suppliers,” Heijst said.

anee nguyen staff writer

Behind the curtains, the backstage crew of the Cultural Festival works to keep the show on the move all photos by alana peters

“[My favorite part], other than being able to skip class, is seeing the shows,” said Danny Nguyen, senior, at left. This is Nguyen’s second year working the lights for the Cultural Festival.

Grace Yoder, junior, high fives Jon Wright, sophomore, after the end of the show in the Lecture Hall, which was used as a room to rehearse and change costumes during the show. “It’s really a team effort,” Yoder said. “We all work together.”

A view of the empty catwalk that runs over the stage. “The Cultural Festival celebrates students’ heritages,” said Malcolm Lee, math teacher.

he Cultural Festival is where students can celebrate their own heritage. On stage, there are vibrant colors from different dances and acts that Oakton students put on for their peers. However, backstage offers a whole different angle to the show. “What people don’t see is[that] it is pretty chaotic backstage because we have to keep the show going,” said Malcolm Lee, math teacher. Lee, as this year’s cultural festival organizer, worked with the backstage crew to make sure the show ran as planned. This year’s backstage crew consisted of nine people with separate responsibilities, such as setting up and taking down the stage, lighting, sound control and management of the acts. “They’re like the production team, and I’m more like the director,” Lee said. In addition to a director, the

backstage crew also had a stage manager, who helped organize the show. “I make sure everyone is calm and ready to go,” said Grace Yoder, junior. “I also do all the cues for lights and sound, as well as raise the curtain.” The stage manager is also in charge of directing the performers into their designated places and helping with the general flow of the show. “My favorite part is working with everyone and seeing all the cultures on stage,” Yoder said. While the cultural festival plays out on the stage, the crew members work tirelessly to ensure the best possible performance behind the curtain. “I think without the [backstage] cast, we wouldn’t be able to have a show,” Lee said.

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Take a behindthe-scenes look at the production of Grease melanie aguilar erin preaskorn indepth editor staff writer erin preaskorn

erin preaskorn

When: May 16, 17, 18 Time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $8.00 pre-sale $10.00 at the door Where: Auditorium erin preaskorn

“My job is to take care of lighting equipment,” said Hyun Ho Lee., senior “There’s a board in the booth where I program and design everything. Lights are pretty important: no lights, no show.” erin preaskorn

“In props, we basically make sure the actors have what they need, and the sets have everything they need,” said Ann Sperow, junior.

Whose car is it anyway?

“We do a lot of research and look for anything to influence the set, lights, costumes, makeup [and] anything [else],” said Caroline Werenskjold, senior. “Once we read the script, we go scene by scene to see what we will need to do, what to build, what props to get and how we’re going to do scene change.”

car from the 50s isn’t always easy to find. Luckily for the theater department, building supervisor, Jeff Richards, generously offered to let them borrow his 1955 Ford Thunderbird. “Mrs. Gelinas sent out an email asking if anyone had a 50s car,” Richards said. “After a while [when] no one had replied, I wanted to help, so I volunteered mine.” Richards inherited the vehicle from his father. “I just remember Mom and Dad taking the car out,” Richards said. “Mom would wear a scarf, kind of similar to the

ones in the musical. My brother and I would go too, and we’d just drive around.” Richards still uses his car regularly. “We take [the Thunderbird] to antique shows, parades and just out driving on the weekends,” Richard said. “We’ve always had a great time with it.” The Ford Thunderbird isn’t the only antique car he has. Richards is also the proud owner of a 1939 Ford Coupe. “Collecting antique cars is a neat hobby,” Richards said. “[It’s] expensive, but neat.”

“We spend a lot of time preparing, especially for musicals, mostly in class and after school,” said Theatre Arts teacher Vanessa Gelinas. “We also do Cougar Times and sometimes teacher work days.” From left to right: Eric Hynes, Ann Sperow, Jess Farhan, Grace Yoder, Pauline Henenlotter, Sheridan Johnson, Valerie Daniels, Hyun Ho Lee, Danny Nguyen, Christian Wells, N’alex Ingalls

“In the costume department, we will pull works for productions. Sometimes costumes are picked by students and sometimes by teachers,” said Molly Walker, junior. “Mrs. Baker, a parent volunteer, sews most of the costumes.”

madlin mekelburg

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Student Elections 2013:

kim gibbons viewpoint editor

Planning for next school year is in full swing

hile fourth quarter has just begun, students are already preparing for the next school year, beginning with the election of next year’s class and SGA officers. In May, students will have the opportunity to elect the President, Vice President and Executive Council for each class, as well as a school-wide student government composed of a President, Vice President, Executive Council and Advisory Council. However, much planning goes into these elections before most students even know who is running. “The students will submit an application with their letter of intent to run for a particular position,” said John Masters, SGA Sponsor. “Once they go through and submit their letter of intent, they will then submit

a three-paragraph essay as to why they would be a good candidate for [the position].” After the preliminary steps of declaring their intent to run for class office, students must also get teacher recommendations confirming that they would be good representatives of the school. Finally, the campaigns officially kick off about two weeks before the actual election. “The kids put a lot of hard work into [the election], and some of them are really passionate about it, so we encourage everybody to get out and vote,” Masters said. “[The officers] do come up with some really good ideas, and I think the student body is pretty appreciative of some of the things that they do institute.”

carly stonehouse

May 1: Election Day! Dates to Wednesday, (Leadership room- Room 174) know: Friday, May 3: Winners announced

carly stonehouse

10 things you need to know before you TA Oakton seniors get a glimpse of what it takes to be a teacher

“I help out when needed.”

Make sure you like the teacher you will be helping.

“Being a TA is really fun because you get to be in a class where you don’t actually have to learn.”

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“You have to have done pretty well in the class.” doesn’t 4 “Itcount as course credit.”

definitely get more of an inside 5 “You look into what teachers are doing.”

“Oftentimes I am grading or filling out things or reading FRQs.”

“I loved Psychology so much that I kind of wanted to relive the class.”

you have a lot of home8 Ifwork, and you tell your

teacher in advance, they might let you take a break. Lyndy Quast Cole Testoni TA for Brandon McCulla World Civilizations 1 HN 1st Period

melanie aguilar indepth editor

TA for Sue Anna Clark AP Psychology 7th Period

“You have to show that you’re a determined, confident student that can be relied on.”

BUY YOUR YEARBOOK NOW! The price will increase to $100 cash on May 5!

Buy your yearbook at: yearbookordercenter.com Order Code: 4770 Beginning May 5, you cannot order online. Follow us on Twitter @oaktonyearbook

What in the world?

VERO BEACH: A woman was arrested for attacking her ex-boyfriend with papayas and repeatedly baring her buttocks, instructing him to, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kiss my buttâ&#x20AC;? (Huff Post).

Do current events make you yawn? Does the thought of reading one more article about the economy bring you to tears? Fear no more! Featured below are a handful of truly bizarre news stories from around the world that are sure to strike your fancy. madlin mekelburg editor in chief

PHILADELPHIA: On Friday, April 5, a man attempted to pay his $8 taxi-fare with marijuana. He was charged with possession by the officers standing a few feet away from the cab (HuffPost).

BERLIN: On Monday, April 8, thieves made off with five tons of Nutella, with an estimated value of $20,700 (HuffPost).

BUENOS AIRES: Salesmen have been accused of passing off ferrets, given steroids since birth, as toy poodles. They have been sold for upwards of $150 (HuffPost).

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