Out ook Oakton
Volume 46 Issue 8
April 30, 2012
feature Certain classes with “easy A� reputations are busted for the challenging courses that they actually are
news Cultural Festival celebrates the ethnic diversity and racial history of the student body
opinion The American Experience is a pretentious, egotistical and repetitive assignment
sports Student athlete and genuine gym rat scopes out and rates local fitness hotspots
a&e From famous to little-known, music venues dot the NoVA area, beckoning a melodic spring
letter from the editors Disney-themed activities for the great outdoors
1. Break your fast with a Jamaican crab for a 2. paranoid supervisor Ride a magic carpet with a kleptomaniac monkey wearing a tiny fez
3.
Hitch a ride in a pumpkin, then sprint all the way home wearing only one shoe
4. down to business to defeat the Huns 5.Get and have the strength of a raging fire Hike until you can sing with all the 6.voices of the mountain (page 24) Run with a herd of wildebeests and 7. stampede over a lion Clean the home of several tiny men 8. aided by small woodland creatures Chase a white rabbit with a watch down a hole
We all know the days of going outside to play are over. School has ensured that we spend a majority of our time inside, pecking away at our piles of homework. Homework, with all the soul-sucking power of a dementor, eats away at our time. Show homework that it doesn’t own you; go outside and climb a mountain.
Yours, Gabriela Driscoll Shannon Ragan
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letter april 30, 2012
Outlook Staff Editors in Chief Gabriela Driscoll Shannon Ragan
News Editor
Sports Editor
Alex Belden Cole Neuffer
Allie Berube Spencer Conley
Business Manager
Feature Editor
Garrett Allen Ria Bhatia
Madlin Mekelburg Copy Editor
Opinions Editor
Marilyn Yang
Kim Gibbons
InDepth Editor
Online Editor Oliver Lopez-Gomez Photo Editor
Michelle Lorusso A&E Editor Emma Mankin
Isabella Kidane
Adviser Lauren Luna
Staff Melanie Aguilar Erin Bennett Sofia Crutchfield Reina Datta Conner Dick Rawan Elbaba Lauren Embroski Christian Forbes Karli Gillespie Daniel Greene Caroline Hipwell Callum Kelton
Christina Lee Nathan Lilande Jackson Lizardo Kari Maharaj Ramya Mukalla Reid Perkins Alana Peters Emma Pfeifer Jennifer Prosser Andy Reed Carly Stonehouse 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 shannon. ragan@oaktonoutlook.com or dropped off in Mrs. Luna’s box in the main office or in room 196. The Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and content provided the meaning remains unchanged. Cover Photo By Isabella Kidane
Out ook table of contents
news
Scrambling students neglect year-end necessities as summer excitement draws nearer
6
feature Sneaker-obsessed students share their fancy footwear collections
sports Girls sports display a solid year of triumphant and exceptional seasons
opinion
11
15
Schoolwork slips in legitimacy the minute AP exams and finals finish
indepth
22
Local hot spots for avid hikers looking for an escape into the great outdoors
a&e
24
Nicki Minaj’s new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, fails in originality.
isabella kidane
31
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news 1.
in brief “Footloose” wows Cappies
Oakton Drama’s “Footloose” production was reviewed by the National Capital Area Cappies on March 30. The cast and crew received outstanding reviews, with the only common complaint being that some harmonies were off. Leads Aidan Smith and Emma Mankin, seniors, were called a “power duo.” Aidan was called out for his “versatile vocals” while Mankin’s vocals “soared and echoed with emotion.” Secondary duo Henry Ragan and Hannah Berlin, seniors, were commended for their maturity and “incredibly truthful and moving” performances. Seniors Elise Bartakke, Alex Sommese and Sarah Smith, acting as Mankin’s posse, were called “explosive” and “simply a joy to watch.” Senior Reid Perkins’ and Trenton Robbins’ set design was called “incredibly versatile” and Hyun Jo Lee’s “creative use of projections... worked to eclipse a few spotlight errors.”
2.
3.
Orchestra and Chorus succeed at Disney
After weeks of preparation, Oakton’s two orchestras and chorus department competed in Festival Disney in Orlando, FL from April 18 to April 22. The Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras both received superior ratings, while Chamber additionally won “Best in Class” in the 4A division and the “Gold Award,” making Oakton Chamber the highest scoring orchestra at the festival. The orchestras performed three pieces at Hollywood Studios, where three judges evaluated the concert. Students were free to visit Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and MGM Studios, where they engaged in the ideal Disney experience with fireworks, roller coasters and jumbo turkey legs. “My favorite part of the Disney trip was hanging out with my friends, going on some fun rides like Space Mountain and the Tower of Terror, and most of all Tebowing in front of a thousand people when we were given a superior rating,” said senior Mikey Lankenau.
SGA elections approach
Class officer elections will be held on May 4, and students will be able to vote throughout the school day. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors will run for president, vice president, SGA, SAC and Executive Council. Juniors Clara Cooney, Jeff Gehring and Kristi Carrigan, sophomores Dilara Long and Elis Heijst and freshman Gillian Townsend are running for president of their respective classes. Juniors Sarah Kim, Brook Townsend and Allison Datoc, sophomore Katherine Dunwoody and freshman Kate Wilkinson are running for vice presidents of their respective classes. Juniors Dylan Hunzeker, Marcela Hawkins, Varsha Bhargava, Monica Mathieu, Annalise Capalbo, Joey Bartosic and Andie Pomponio, sophomores Bailey Uitz, Ali Eagan and Carly Stonehouse and freshmen Allie Klimkiewicz, Sydney Applegate and Maddie Pelgrim are running for Executive Council.
Announcement: There will be no more Collaboration Wednesdays for the remainder of the school year due to testing schedules.
stacy ham
Members of the Oakton Chamber Orchestra pose in front of the iconic castle in Magic Kingdom at Disney World after performing at Hollywood Studios.
Upcoming Events
April 30 - Oakton choral department’s Cougar Dinner Theater, 6 p.m., $10 May 5 - SAT Test, 7 a.m. at Oakton HS May 11-12 - “39 Steps” presented by Oakton Drama, 7 p.m. May 22 - Interims distributed May 24 - Percussion concert, 7 p.m. May 31 - Band concert, 7 p.m. June 1 - Prom, begins at 8 p.m.
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news april 30, 2012
Celebrating 42nd anniversary of Earth Day
W
hile 2011 was a year filled with “Going Green” spirit, April remains the center of all things environmentally friendly. The month of March was saluted with an hour sans electricity on the 31st as Earth Hour blanketed the world with darkness. Now, April brings a month of environmental advocacy with several events that support the “go green” notion. On April 22, the National Mall was flooded with supporters of the worldwide event where several people voiced their love for the planet and their anger with the government’s inaction. Local bands played at the event, bringing a little lightheartedness to the environmentally and politically stimulated day. Bringing it closer to home, Oakton was a bit lackluster in its Earth day festivities this year. Of course, with so many other events going on, such as the cultural festival and preparations for exams, it’s difficult to put Earth day first on the long list of priorities. “I would like Oakton to hold its own schoolwide Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration to plant and appreciate trees after the AP exams,” said Katherin Fu, senior. While Oakton is not a hundred percent green, it does not completely ignore its environmental obligations. “Like most organizations, we do a decent job, but could do better,” said Don Clark, sponsor of environmental club, OSSAGA, in regards to taking part in helping the environment. After listing things that Oakton could improve on, such as recycling paper, planting trees and so on, Clark said, “We have this incredibly rare jewel of a planet that supports life, let’s not screw it up.”
End of the Year
List
Make any last-minute schedule changes; students are usually barred from switching classes at the beginning of the school year Turn in parking applications to the Burgundy Office to guarantee a pass for the 2012-13 school year Check out the AP Exam schedule, as tests will run from May 7-18 Break out the grad caps and gowns - Graduation is 7:30 p.m. on June 19 at the GMU Patriot Center Pay junior and senior dues ($30 and $70 respectively) to Gold Office Buy a yearbook (forms due too Room 196) before May 5 to get it for 80 dollars
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news april 30, 2012
Student and staff opinions: “Earth day is about both raising awareness of human impact on the environment and general appreciation of the environment.” katherine fu, 12 “We only have one Earth, and the resources it provides are essential to our way of life. We should be minimizing our impact to ensure that today’s resources will still be available for generations to come.” jeanine musgrove, APES teacher “There is so much trash accumulating at the end of the day that we don’t really think about. Students should pay more attention when told to recycle.” jeni taskesen, 12
isabella kidane photo editor
With the end of the academic year approaching, students get into the groove of summer and forget about their end-of-school commitments.
Prepare for Prom - this year’s shebang happens on June 1 Register for All Night Grad (June 19, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) on the OHS PTSA website for 75 dollars Pay any outstanding library fees (printing, overdue books, etc.) Juniors: don’t wait to ask about teacher recommendations. The sooner you ask, the more willing your teacher will be Order your graduation DVD and commencement portraits Recruit parent volunteers for the All Night Grad celebration (more than 200 parent volunteers needed, and parents don’t need to have senior children) shannon ragan editor in chief
What’s up, DC?
alex belden news editor
A look into events happening in and around the DC area With Spring in full blossom, the DC area is offering many fun and entertaining events that are appealing to everyone. From music lovers to sports fans, there is not an event that students will not enjoy. While events in the NOVA area are fun, there are several events in the DC area that tend to be overlooked. You can get to the events suggested below within an hour on the Metro.
s l a stiv
sport
s e f Cinco de Mayo Nationals vs. Pirates what?
what?
Washington’s baseball team battles the Pittsburgh Pirates in a hot-dog filled game at Nationals Park.
A Latino celebration featuring music, family entertainment and arts and crafts.
when? May 16 at 7:05 pm
when?
where?
May 5 from 12-6 p.m.
Nationals Stadium
where?
The National Mall
c
s t r e onc
photo courtesy of washington.nationals.mlb.com
play
photo courtesy carolosqc.blogspot.com
Red Hot Chili Peppers
what?
An award winning rock band formed in 1983. Their music style consists of rock with emphasis on funk.
when?
s
1776
what?
This book-turned-play is a dramatized version of Philadelphia’s Second Continental Congress.
when?
Play shows until May 19
where?
May 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Ford’s Theatre
photo courtesy of fordstheatre.org
where? Verizon Center
photo courtesy of rollingstone.com
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news april 30, 2012
ultural
estival
isabella kidane
isabella kidane
“I care where I come from,” said senior Mimi Dabestani, “I really enjoy [Persian dancing], I dance all the time with my family.”
Senior Gaston Carreno rides his unicycle around the stage.
rawan elbaba staff writer
Oakton’s annual cultural festival was held on April 19 and 20 to celebrate and showcase students’ cultural backgrounds
E
very year, Oakton hosts a cultural festival celebrating the isabella kidane diverse culture and traditions of student backgrounds. This year was no different. A wide array of culturallyrich and colorful performances entertained Oakton’s students and staff on April 19 after school and 20 during second period. The show included performances by students with Korean, Chinese, Indian, Persian, Congolese, Dominican, Scottish, English and Irish backgrounds. The vibrant and sparkled costumes lit up the stage while students participated in several cheer-inducing performances. Hosted by senior Trenton Robbins, the show started off with a lively fashion show displaying traditional clothes from a variety of cultures. The show then opened up with a phenomenal bagpipe performance by senior Tom Braudaway. It continued with dance performances by students from all over the world. The Cultural Festival also included musical performances one of which was by the math department’s very own Malcolm Lee. As the show came to a close, the Middle Eastern South Asian Students represent the Black Cultural Awareness Club participating in (MESA) club performed a Bollywood dance routine that brought both the Cultural Festival fashion show and in a dance performance. the show to a dramatic, flashy finish. isabella kidane
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news april 30, 2012
“I am performing because I love the sound and the music the bagpipes produce,” said Tom Braudaway. “I also have family ties to Scotland and can trace them a couple of generations.” Braudaway also noted the importance of the Cultural Festival, “Its pretty important that we are all from different places and we all come together to create Oakton and respect one another from where we have come.”
gianna sheffield
Junior Shreya Dahal expressed her love for banghra, an Indian dance, and why she decided to participate in the Bollywood dance. “I love listening to the different kinds of music and watching the different styles of dances from places all over the world,” Dahal said. “The cultural festival is also a great way to make new friends and become closer to the ones working with you.”
isabella kidane
Juniors Nathan Chen and Sheila Zhu, senior Karen Qian and freshman John Wright participate in a Wushu performance.
isabella kidane
isabella kidane
Freshman Linden Ferrell performs a Chinese dance with ribbons.
Juniors Medina Aziz, Chi Ying Lau, Yao Chen and senior Qianni Wu, better known as “Fire of July,” performed a colorful dance from China. isabella kidane
isabella kidane
Sophomore Chris Graham performs a cover of Bruno Mars’ “Count On Me.” isabella kidane
Despite her Chinese background, senior Demi Chang participated in MESA’s Bollywood dance.“At Oakton it’s not as common to see mixing [of cultures],” Chang said. “But last year I decided Junior Medina Aziz performs a dance to ask about it and my friend told me there was an from Turkmenistan. opening in the Bollywood group so I did that.”
For more pictures and video, visit oaktonoutlook.com
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news april 30, 2012
feature
Students enter Fairfax County regional science fair
S
eniors Andrew Kubiak and Joe LeBerre won a first place award for their joint science fair project at the Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The pair won a first place award in the environmental analysis category. Each year the Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair has about 250 judges to evaluate almost 400 projects. “Our project was the correlation between muons and thunderstorms, it’s actually very simple,” Kubiak said. “It deals with cosmic rays, and what happens is deep space particles from our sun and other stars hit other particles in our upper atmosphere, and what happens from the collision is that they create cosmic rays that are very high energy and one of these cosmic rays are muons and they are constantly raining down on us.” The pair was inspired to study the correlation between muons and thunderstorms from their participation in MDRG or Muon Detection Research Group, a club sponsored by Roudebush. “Dr. Roudebush was our mentor for the project but she just really left us to our own accord,” Kubiak said. “At Regional’s we got invited to a banquet by the American Meteorological Society and so that was definitely a highlight.”
kari maharaj
Reflecting on their performance in the Fairfax Country Regional Science fair during their Science Investigation class, seniors Andrew Kubiak and Joe LeBerre felt that their overall experience in the science fair was a success.
Rumor has it
W
hile grades may be more important to some than others, they are undoubtedly one of the most common teenage concerns. From upperclassmen that have grown weary of challenging classes to underclassmen seeking less courtesy of microsoft clip art demanding classes to ease the transition to high school, easy A class myths that circulate the halls frequently dictate students’ class Jeanine Musgrove, AP Environ- selections. mental Science and Biology “I had a schedule conflict, so I decided to teacher, expresses her thoughts take AP Statistics,” said Julin Justin, junior. “I still wanted to take an AP class, and I knew Q: Why do you think students form misconceptions about class difficulties? that this class would not kill me.” Unfortunately, many of these myths do not A: It’s a combination between rumors and misinterpretations. Counsel- necessarily reveal the entire truth. ors will sometimes say that one class is “Some of the seniors last year told me easier than another, but students interthat [AP U.S. Government] was easy,” said pret it as one class being easy. Amanda Krage, senior. “But after the first Q: Why should students continue to week or two, I realized that there was a lot of commit to a class they may be strugvocab and work.” gling with? Myths about class content also have the A: Students should stay in the class potential to be misleading. as a lesson; if you make a decision, you “I thought that [AP Environmental Scihave to live with it. Also, students benefit ence] would involve a lot of writing,” said from working harder. Emily Yaremchukk, junior. “But there’s
An expert opinion
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feature april 30, 2012
kari maharaj staff writer
Students discuss the difficulty of rumored “easy A” classes actually a lot of regular science, like calculations, too.” At the same time, students do not always automatically accept these rumors as the truth. “I knew that [AP U.S. Government] wouldn’t be that easy because I never really had an interest in government,” Krage said. Also, unexpected content difficulty is not necessarily the cause of lower-than-expected grades. Sometimes it’s apathy that results in unsatisfactory grades. “A struggling student should work to change things,” said Jeanine Musgrove, AP Environmental Science and Biology teacher. “They should work with kids that are doing well and work harder.” Although some classes are revealed to be harder than expected, a genuine interest in class content helps students endure. “I feel like no matter how much I study, I can never get above a certain grade on tests,” Yaremchukk said. “Personally, I’m not used to that, but I still enjoy the subject [of environ- marilyn yang copy editor mental science].”
A
Sneaker mania
lthough an obsession with shoes is something usually associated with girls and high heels, several boys at Oakton, self-proclaimed ‘sneakerheads,’ have come out of the woodwork expressing their love of sneakers. Mehdi Fadli, senior, and Stephen Bushey, junior, are avid sneakerheads with impressive collections. Fadli has been a collector since the seventh grade, while Bushey just started last year. “My interest in sneakers started in seventh grade, but I didn’t really take it that seriously. I had an excess of money, and I was like hey, maybe I should just buy some shoes,” Fadli said. “I started out with just New Balances and Nike 6.0s, and then I started getting into Jordans [Nike Air Jordans] and SBs [Nike Skateboarding] around my sophomore year.” Bushey identified with the simplicity of sneaker collecting and was inspired by a friend. “Around last year, my friend was really into it,” Bushey said. “He invited me to the mall with him and I got some, and I went to random releases with him.” Both Fadli and Bushey have sought to enhance their sneaker collections by attending major events and releases, but it’s not always the most convenient option. “There are a couple of events throughout the year, like Sneakercon and DXC,” Fadli said. “I don’t go to events because they’re all pretty far away.” With the current size of Bushey’s and Fadli’s ever growing collections, they both have struggled to find space for all of their shoes. “My collection is really small compared to other people’s,” Bushey said. “But in my closet every empty space has been filled with a shoebox.” Fadli suffers from a similar dilemma, caused by his excessive collecting.
“
madlin mekelburg feature editor
“I had them all in my room on the floor, but it reached the point where you couldn’t walk, so I had to move them,” Fadli said. “I have a lot of shoes. Some shoes I don’t even wear, I see them as collector’s items. Sometimes I buy multiple pairs of the same shoe, one I keep in good condition and the other one I can wear whenever.” Although the public demand for each shoe is definitely a factor that collectors use when determining whether a shoe is good enough to be added to his or her collection, Bushey cares more about his personal tastes and opinions. “I like the way shoes look, so I buy them,” Bushey said. “There’s not much to it, you just buy what you like and then your collection just develops from there.” Fadli feels similarly, but also takes other factors into account when collecting. stephen bushey, junior “I look for the limited releases, I look for the material used and how much it’s in demand,” Fadli said. “But basically if I like the shoe I’ll get it. I don’t really care if other people hate them or not.” These brave sneakerheads have withstood a lot of criticism and ridicule for their odd collections, from friends and family alike. “My brother hates it and thinks I’m wasting money, while my parents have just given up,” Bushey said. “Most of my friends think it’s stupid, but then those who do it just treat it like a normal thing. It’s like people who play sports, or draw or play music; it’s just a hobby.” But these sneakerheads have not become discouraged. In fact, they are proud of their collections and their experiences collecting. “I believe that it isn’t necessarily about collecting shoes, but the knowledge that I’ve gained is definitely going to be a lifelong thing,” Fadli said. “Sooner or later I’m going to stop, but hopefully, I’ll be able to pass my collection on to my kids.”
It’s like people who play sports, or draw or play music; it’s just a hobby.
”
stephen bushey, junior
mehdi fadli, senior
# of pairs: over 20
# of pairs: over 70 “My favorite pair is this pair of Great Fives that I have. I don’t really know how to describe them, except that they’re purple. They’re really nice, and actually pretty expensive but I got a good deal on them.”
“My favorite pair that I own is one from 1985, Air Jordan 1s. I got them for a pretty cheap price off of eBay, and my friend is actually restoring them for me right now.”
gianna sheffield
madiln mekelburg
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feature april 30, 2012
My College Visit Checklist Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and the time for college visits is rapidly approaching. The college selection process is a daunting challenge to face, but never fear! If you do them right, college visits can be both valuable and fun. With that in mind, here’s a handy-dandy checklist. Before you go, do what you do best: creep on the website. Extensively. Don’t forget to check out the school’s Facebook page, too. On the way there, think about distance. Is this a drive you can handle every long weekend? Or do you want to be at least a train ride away from Oakton? During the information session of the tour, don’t even bother taking notes on anything you can find online. Pay attention when the admissions rep gives you hints and suggestions. Don’t forget to talk to your tour guides, they’re great resources. Ask about any ‘weird’ classes they’ve taken. Some schools actually offer Basket-weaving; it’s up to you if that’s a good sign or not. Look at bulletin boards as you pass them. What kind of events and clubs are people here involved in? Pick up a student newspaper and read it. Skip stories about renovation and new professors and other things you don’t care about. Read the opinions section and see the school through the eyes of the students. Stop a passing student if they don’t look too busy and ask where they’re headed. You’ll probably hear about a cool class, or maybe a good place to eat or relax. Whether or not they pepper-spray you will reveal a lot about campus-wide attitudes towards hospitality and/ or safety. Walk (quietly!) through the library. Read a book, do some homework. Experiment with different areas. Can you find somewhere that will work? Is it too loud or too quiet? Do they by any chance rent out earmuffs? Eat at a dining hall. Bring a stopwatch so as to accurately measure how long the post-clam chowder nausea lasts. If less than five minutes, you’ve found your dream school. Congrats! Listen to local radio stations. Ask yourself: could I deal with this for four years? Ask if there’s a Quidditch team. If the answer is yes, inquire further about broom regula- tions. If the answer is no, leave promptly. Your tour here is over. Good grief. The key to successful college touring is to do a lot of visits. You may not be ready to narrow anything down quite yet, but you’ll start noticing trends. You’ll start developing opinions on everything from campus size to quad greeness to male-to-female ratios to oceanography minor availability. Another thing to keep in mind: you are the master of your collegiate fate. They have to accept you, but you have to accept them too. So get out there and get touring! sofia crutchfield staffer
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feature april 30, 2012
Up all night
With tests, quizzes and homework plaguing an average student’s life, chances are that all nighters are a necessary predicament from time to time.
Tips & Tricks for making it through the night:
How do you do it?
1.Drink a lot of ice-cold water. While caffeine can keep you awake and focused for a small amount of time, ice-cold water keeps you up by requiring you to run to the bathroom frequently. The cold water wakes you up and you stay hydrated, unlike sugary, caffeinated drinks that make you crash.
2. Listen to music. Time to whip out all the loud, obnoxious music with incomprehensible lyrics! As long as you can’t sing along, music can be a good way to keep you up since your body isn’t used to sleeping with blaring music. Don’t forget the headphones, though. 3. Get enough rest in advance. If for some fortunate reason you know in advance that you’ll be pulling an all nighter, prepare yourself. Get as much sleep as you possibly can. Sleep well the night before, and take an afternoon nap if possible. 4. Move around a lot. Stretch whenever possible. Whenever you feel sleepy, crank out some push ups and do a few jumping jacks. This will improve your blood circulation, and keep you awake and focused.
5. Do not work on your bed, on a couch, or on the floor.
You will feel a strong urge to give in to your sleep needs. 6. Snack on high protein. While carbohydrates make you sleepy, high protein like cheese and dairy products fill you up but don’t make you tired. 7. Do not pull many all nighters in a row. This can have adverse affects on your health.
“When I do homework, I’m motivated by knowing that it needs to get done. Also, no one is online at that hour, so I don’t talk to anybody.” jacob markin, 9
“I actually just pulled one last night. I drink a lot of coffee. I just sit there with a pot of coffee. And I listen to loud music.” riva dhamala, 10
“I drink a lot of coffee. I tried energy drinks like monster but I feel like they’re too unhealthy. I procrastinate too much.” joanna ro, 11
ramya mukalla staff writer
Scholastic art and writing awards recognize Oakton talent
T
he Alliance for Young Artists and Writers awarded senior Nathan Ammons a Gold Key award on March 15 for his dramatic script “Walking in Water,” and Ammons has received national recognition in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2012. This year, nearly 200,000 works of art and writing were submitted, and the top 11 precent received a National Gold Key or a Silver Medal. “You first enter the region competition and if you win a Gold Key in the region you are automatically entered into the national competition,” Ammons said. “I was really surprised when I won because I think everyone has really great potential and talent, especially at this school.” The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers identifies talented and creative students by requiring students to submit their work under various categories, one of the categories being dramatic writing.
“I chose to submit a dramatic script because I want to do dramatic writing, and I have always been into movies, so naturally I would want to make movie scripts,” Ammons said. “My dramatic script, Walking in Water, is about a teenage boy who is stalking an old man in his town because he thinks the man is a character from one of his father’s bedtime stories.” Students who submitted dramatic scripts were judged on their creative abilities to produce an original piece of work that would be considered by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers as one of the most outstanding works in the nation. “I got my inspiration for the script from an old man who is always riding his bike around town that I’ve seen ever since I was a little kid,” Ammons said. “I would make up stories about the man who rode the bike around town and pretend that he was a river spirit.”
erin bennett Ammons also interned at Writopia lab, which is the regional sponsor for the Scholastic Art and Writing Award. “I helped them put together the Parenthetical, which is the online magazine for young writers, and I also helped tutor young writers who aspire to enter the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers contest.”
erin bennett staff writer
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feature april 30, 2012
sports 1.
in brief JV Softball
JV Softball pulled out an 8-3 preseason win against Washington and Lee after rallying back from a 3-0 deficit in the later innings. The first three innings stayed tied at 0-0, until Washington and Lee stole home and put themselves up 1-0. The Generals scored twice again in the fifth inning making the score 3-0. The fans were disappointed but their excitement grew as Oakton started coming back in the sixth inning when freshman Jordan Loria and junior Sydni Kelly scored, bringing the game within one. In the seventh inning, sophomore Jenna Sharer batted in freshman Danni Nichols and sophomore Emily Strangeby, closely followed with a run by sophomore Jessica Hirsch, letting the Cougars take the lead by two. In the eighth inning Kelly scored again off a bunt by freshman Taylor Fay, adding to Oakton’s lead. With a 6-3 lead at the beginning of the ninth inning, freshman Sami Bassett hit a home run. Later in the inning, freshman Camila Walter Pena worked her way through the bases before finally scoring the last point of the game. “I think the scrimmage went pretty well, it was exciting to be a part of the come back and I am looking forward to playing real games,” Nichols said.
abbey bonin Varsity-bound sophomores Marleigh Hall and Jaime Arbesfeld throw the ball during warm-ups at tryouts.
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sports april 30, 2012
2. JV Boys
Lacrosse JV Boys Lacrosse
abbey bonin Sophomore goalie Ellis Heijst saves a shot by sophomore Jordan Sherwin at practice.
notched an 8-7 win in their second game of the season against the Woodson Cavaliers. “We started off really well, but the game came really close towards the end,” said Will Smith, sophomore. “It was a tough game.” Shane Brummond, freshman, scored the first goal from the X position, giving Oakton an early lead. Woodson then got possession from the face off, and after several saves by goalie McCarley Rouse, Woodson finally scored, tying up the game. After Woodson had two slashes on Oakton players, Oakton was two men up. Sophomore Nathan Lalande scored on the advantage from an assist by sophomore DJ Smith, putting them back in the lead. Woodson scored two more times, but Oakton used their man up offense to regain the lead. Brummond and Lalande worked off each other, and tallied six more goals to get the win.
abbey bonin Sophomore Ryan Frantz takes on freshman Marcel Stanton in a scrimmage at practice.
3.
JV Boys Soccer
JV Boys Soccer was hunting for road win at Robert E. Lee, three games into the season. The Cougars got off to a quick start when freshman Armand Jeffris stripped the ball at kick off and dribbled through Lee’s defense with a shot just wide of the post. In the rest of the half the teams looked even until sophomore Alex Morgan crossed the ball over Lee’s defense, dropping it behind their back line. Jeffris saw his chance for redemption and sprinted full speed ahead striving to get the ball before Lee’s defenders could. He broke clear at the top of the box where he shot and scored, making the score Oakton 1 Lee 0. As the game progressed Lee began to come back. Lee’s possession play kept the ball deep in Oakton territory until a Lancer’s forward scored on a breakaway evening the score at 1-1. Despite an Oakton resurgence in the second half, the 35 minutes were scoreless and the game ended 1-1. “We should have won, we were clearly the better team,” Chris Holland said after the game. “But we still have an entire season left to look forward too.”
abbey bonin, shweta dixit, erin preaskorn journalism 1 students
Oakton girls dominate
jennifer prosser staff writer
Boys can’t match Lady Cougar’s athletic success
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oys are better.” It’s the age-old adage that female athletes have heard since elementary school. But this year, Oakton girls’ sports are out to change that. In the winter, it was the Girls Swim team and the Girls Basketball team who won state titles. Boys Swim came close, pulling out second place at the state meet, but it was the girls who blew everyone else out of the water. Literally. Girls Basketball went 31-0 and was much more successful than the boys who ended up with a 7-15 season and lost in the first round of Districts in a grudge match against Centreville. “We have a lot of talent and firepower in the senior class,” said Katherine and Caroline Coyer, basketball senior captains and soccer players. “There’s a lot of experience in all of the girls sports.” Girls and Boys Soccer are close at a competitive level; both brought home District titles last year and both were knocked out of tournament play in the second round. However, the boys graduated eight seniors last year, including two All-District and AllRegion midfielders, while the girls lost three and only two of them starters. Although the boys are successful at 8-1-1 with a #3 All-Met ranking, the girls still beat them out with a #2 All-Met ranking. Oakton Boys Lacrosse is highly touted, and there is no doubt that Coach Grif Barhight has great plans for the team. But in reality, the relationship between boys and girls lacrosse is similar to that of Boys and Girls Soccer. Girls Lacrosse has a seasoned team with 12 seniors, five of whom were on varsity as freshmen. Boys Lacrosse also
7-1-2
janet krall
The GSOC starting 11 lines up before a 1-0 win over the reigning state champions, McLean.
has a talented group of seniors, but injuries www.oaktonathletics.org and disconnect have plagued the team who started the season 0-3 and is now 7-5. Conversely, Girls Lacrosse began 3-0 and is now 7-2 with a #10 All-Met ranking. Girls and Boys Lacrosse have alternated success over the past ten years, both earning District, Region and State titles. However, in recent years it has been the girls with more wins and State final appearances. Last After an undefeated season year they were State runner-ups to crossculminating with a State title, girls town rival Madison, while boys went out basketball poses in front of a sold out crowd. in the second round of Regionals in a 7-11 www.oaktonathletics.org loss to Langley. All around, the Oakton 2012 senior class boasts a level of athleticism unparalleled by any other school in the region. Seventeen seniors are playing in college and 14 of those are playing Division I. Of the 14, 12 are girls. Girls basketball will send the Coyers to Villanova. Girls soccer has Danielle Fitzgerald, Lexie Krall, Alex Meyers and Alex Weaver heading to Kentucky, UNC Wilmington and UNC Charlotte, respecThe boys basketball team posed tively. Girls lacrosse has Jackie Rupp, Alex before a season that was ultimately Revel and Carly Palmucci going to the Unia learning experience for the young squad. versity of Florida, James Madison University and the University of Connecticut, respecwww.oaktonpatch.com tively. None of their male counterparts are sending players to Division I schools. “The people going places are obviously going to contribute a lot to the program,” soccer cocaptain Weaver said. “But they also give the younger players someone to look up to and keep developing for the future.” All Oakton spring sports are looking to GLAX prepares in the huddle for advance last year’s records and achievetheir season opener against Lake ments, promising exciting district play and a Braddock, a 20-8 rout. competitive post-season to come.
31-0
7-15
7-2
8-1-1
elizabeth drake
All eyes on coach at halftime as boys soccer pulls out a 2-1 win over Washington and Lee.
7-5
daniel lohman
BLAX huddles up at halftime against Yorktown, a 10-5 win.
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sports april 30, 2012
COLLEGE PROSPECTS AR HE YEG T F O D E EN ES, COLLE KEAS THO CH IORS LOO APPR NA ES SEN BOU DTO THEIR FUTUR AHEADKatherine Coyer, Villanova
Caroline Coyer, VIllanova Alex Weaver, UNCC Alex Meyers, UNCC Evan Lalande, Birmingham Southern Lexie Krall, UNCW Danielle Fitzgerald, Kentucky Michael Terminello, Gettysburg CJ Reimann, William & Mary Andrew Lohmann, RPI Stephen Lambrides, Salisbury Josh Newman, York Michael Durst, Ursinus Connor Anderson, Shenandoah Ty Carroll, James Madison Eric Goins, Citadel Matt Dunwoody, Tampa Michael McNamee, Virginia Tech Jackie Rupp, Florida Alex Revel, James Madison Carly Palmucci, UConn “I think it will be an amazing experience. I feel like the competition will be a lot tougher.” katherine coyer, 12
ALUMNI ADVICE
Would the wallop the winning Wildcats? Every year towards the end of March Madness, the same question comes up. Can the best team in college basketball beat the worst team in the NBA? The conversation got rolling this year when former Maryland Terrapins basketball head coach, Gary Williams, said that the Kentucky Wildcats would beat the Washington Wizards in a basketball game played in Kentucky’s Rupp Arena. The Wildcats won the NCAA basketball championship this year and were clearly the best team all year. The Wizards are have an overall record of 11-38, third-to-last in the NBA. After hearing what Williams had to say, Orlando Magic head coach, Stan Van Gundy, told ESPN what he had to think about Williams’ proposed outcome of this game. “Look, it’s absurd,” said Van Gundy, “I mean, people will say, ‘Oh, Kentucky, you knows, got four NBA players.’ Yeah, well, the other team’s got 13.” Kentucky has a
staff writer
Nationals become playoff contenders for first time
Since moving to Washington from Montreal before the 2005 season the Nationals have never made the playoffs or even had a winning season. Prior to the beginning of this season there was reason for hope. The Nationals also have a strong core of young players, led by pitch“The advice I would give to ers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. In addition to the young talent any athlete is to be persistent already in the organization, the Nationals in your efforts to find the right had their busiest offseason since moving school, don’t just accept the to D.C. The Nationals filled out their rotation by signing pitcher Edwin Jackson and first offer that is given to you! trading four prospects to the Athletics for On top of that have a plan as all-star pitcher Gio Gonzalez. to where you want your talents Early on it seems that all of this posturing has paid off. The Nationals have won to take you and work on a part nine of their first twelve games, givof your game everyday, being Washington a very early lead in the cause when you’re not working National League East. A major contribuhard, someone else is, and they tor to the fast start has been Strasburg, who is beginning his first full season ever are coming for your spot.” with the team after missing much of last luke willis season due to Tommy John surgery. In his class of 2011 sports first three starts of the season Strasburg april 30, 2012
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projected five first-round draft picks for next year: Anthony Davis, Michael KiddGilchrist, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones. The problem Van Gundy brings up is that even though Kentucky has talented players, they could still only be considered NBA rookies. They don’t have the experience or depth that a professional team has, as only seven players on the Wildcats average 12 or more minutes per game. That being said, no matter how talented Kentucky may be right now, they simply don’t have it in them to beat an NBA team. Williams was brave enough to show his belief in the question that all basketball fans ask themselves every year, but unfortunately, the odds of him being right are slim. Kentucky would play a close game against either the Wizards or the Bobcats, especially on their home court, but it won’t be enough for them to come out victorious in the end. conner dick
combined to pitch 19 innings with 19 strikeouts while letting up just three runs. After the first two weeks of the season the Nationals pitching had amassed a 1.91 ERA, the best in the league. However, not everything has been great for Washington. The offense has scored just 46 runs, 17th in the league. The team has also batted just .253, with Ryan Zimmermann hitting a lowly .217 with only four RBIs and no homeruns. However, the Nationals are already dealing with a rash of injuries. Outfielder Michael Morse aggravated a muscle strain, and is out indefinitely. Closer Drew Storen underwent surgery to remove a bone fragment from his elbow and is not expected to be back until around the all-star break. Even with the early rash of injuries the Nationals seem to be on track for their best season in Washington. With the addition of a second wild card team this season, there’s no reason to believe the Nationals won’t be in the playoff hunt all season long. callum kelton staff writer
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Gym reviews by a gym rat
Pros and cons of local fitness centers
XPORT FITNESS
Xsport fitness is the perfect mix of recreation and hard-core training that attracts a very diverse audience of casual exercisers all the way to extreme meat heads. Xsport has a full basketball court with six recreational hoops for the casual basketball player looking to play an intense game of pick up or horse for the extra cardio workout. People looking for a better workout than a quick jog around the courts can find most of the space in the gym devoted to highly specialized and technologically advanced bikes, treadmills and stair machines. The gym has a full weight room with heavy Olympic weight capabilities from squat racks to bench presses, but it also has supplementary workout machines for the back and legs as well as a wide variety of dumbbells ranging from 5 lbs to 125 lbs. Xsport also has a full spa system with massages available as well as a lap pool, hot tub sauna and steam room for members’ convenience. The only down side to the Xsport experience is the crowd that hits the gym around 4 p.m. after work, causing a clog on all of the major machines. 8/10
WASHINGTON SPORTS CLUB
Washington Sports Club is conveniently located in a two floor complex in Fairfax Va., around 10 minutes away from Oakton. This club is part of a network of clubs throughout America called the Sports Club chain, so if you’re looking for a membership that you can take with you wherever you go the Washington Sports Club is the place for you. This conveniently located club is the cheapest membership starting at 30 dollars for one club access and 40 dollars for multiple club access. Although it is the cheapest, Washington Sports Club doesn’t come with all the classes the other clubs pride themselves on with only group and small group fitness classes with no specific themes. The Washington sports clubs focus is on cardio and machines with little emphasis on free weights and heavy lifting making it hard for the typical gym rat to get a good lift in. Overall Washington Sports Club is geared toward the full-time employee who wants to get a great cardio work out in rather than the cross training athlete or recreational athlete. 6/10
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sports april 30, 2012
spencer conley sports co-editor
LIFETIME FITNESS
Spring Athlete Spotlight
Athletes to look out for in the spring post-season
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Lifetime fitness has it all; from two floors of cardio vascular to a full floor of free weights with over five bench presses and 3 full racks of dumbbells, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Lifetime sports two full basketball courts, a full length lap pool, fitness studios, a full spa and hot tub , just about anything you would need to sculpt your “perfect body,” and have recreational facilities for the casual athlete. Lifetime fitness has enough floor space to do just about any exercise without running into anybody, whether that exercise is circuit training or Olympic lifting. This mountain of a gym offers just about any class you could need to get variety in your exercise as well as some of the most knowledgeable trainers in the area. Aside from fitness lifetime has its own café with healthy choices as well as a salon and professional spa treatment. Overall there are almost no negative sides to this gym other than the price tag with starting rates at 60 dollars per person with discounted family rates. 9.5/10
GOLDS GYM
Golds Gym at the clock tower in Herndon is an overall good mix of cardio and strength training. But where Gold excels over other gyms is its capability for cross training and out- ofthe- box exercising. This conveniently located gym for students around the Franklin Farms area focuses on body pump and body attack and other classes involving interval training for the casual athlete all the way to the extreme gym rat. Besides interval training and your typical weight and cardio equipment, Gold’s gym is your typical and functional gym with starting rates at just over 40 dollars. 7/10
photos by spencer conley or from official website
jackson lizardo nathan lalande staff writers
CARLY PALMUCCI glax senior, uconn recruit In third grade, my neighbor’s dad was a boys lacrosse coach. They got me into it so I decided to try it. My best memory playing at Oakton was over spring break when we beat a New Jersey team named South Brunswick. They only lost three games in the last three years and we beat them 22-7. I don’t know how, but we played the best game we ever have, at least since I have been here. Next year I am playing at the University of Connecticut. I chose to go there because the girls on the team were all very welcoming. It’s a great program and I will have a great experience and improve. I play for a club team named M&D that is one of the best in the nation. Me and Jackie Rupp both play for the team during the Oakton off-season. Playing for Oakton in the spring is completely different than playing for my club team. During the spring, it’s more to enjoy the sport. You know a lot more of the players and it’s more competitive in that way, where for the club team it’s more all about winning.”
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DANIELLE FITZGERALD gsoc senior, uk recruit I started playing soccer because it looked fun and everyone was starting to at the time. I committed about a year and a half ago to play at the University of Kentucky. I am really excited for the experience. I look forward to playing with people who I have never met before while I’m in college. When the team isn’t practicing, I usually go on one or two long runs a week so I know I am in the best shape I can be in. Soccer has made me much more of a team player and has taught me to work better together with people. My club team coach was very inspirational. He has motivated me to push my limits and overcome a lot of adversity. Winning the district title last year for the first time is my most memorable moment playing for Oakton.”
EVAN LALANDE blax senior, birminghan southern recruit When I was in third grade my father introduced me to the game and ever since then I have always played it. I always have looked up to Alex Smith [Midfielder from Delaware] because we play similar styles. I will be playing at Birmingham Southern. I stay in shape by working out with the team about two times a week plus from doing a lot of running during practice in drills. Coach Trigg of Blackwolf was an inspiring coach because he got me to play faster and alter my game to make it better. I have always like UVA because they are local. By coaching in the future and hopefully having a son that will play as well. I feel that I do a lot of the dirty work such as going after ground balls and my hard work on the field.”
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sports april 30, 2012
pinions
A
kim gibbons
Students should make time to go outdoors
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hat are you doing this weekend? Whether your plans nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, managing to get outdoors include sleeping, playing video games, going to a is next to impossible without some sacrifice. The value of this concert or doing homework, it is probable that they sacrifice, however, must be recognized. It’s important to try don’t involve any outdoor activities. Due to our busy schedules something new every now and then, and it may turn out that this and increasing reliance on technology, most of us either can’t new thing you make time for just once becomes a healthy habit seem to make time for things such as hiking and kayaking, are and hobby. too tired or lazy to partake in these activities or just don’t see the Outdoor activities often offer opportunities to meet new people value in such diversions. Whatever the reason, it’s important that as well as grow closer to your current friends, as hiking, kayaking, people begin to find ways around these setbacks, as it is essential rock climbing, biking and almost any other activity imaginable can that people connect with the outdoors. be done as a group and may actually be more fun in a group than Many of us spend hours a day on our phones, on the computer alone. Beyond just physical and mental benefits, getting outdoors or watching TV. It’s clear that this obsession with technology isn’t can be a wonderful social opportunity. Next time you make plans healthy, which makes it all the more important that citizens of the with someone to see a movie or go shopping, consider going for suburbs branch out and get outside. Taking a break a bike ride instead. The Staff Editorial Finally, let’s put things in perspective. Five or ten from constantly texting or checking Facebook may be a surprising relief, and you may find that you actually is the official years from now, what will matter more, your grade opinion prefer spending time in the outdoors to spending on tomorrow’s physics test or the fact that you led time waiting for your friends to message you back. of the Outlook a healthy lifestyle, possibly adding years to your life? The outdoors offers a plethora of leisurely and Studying and extracurricular activities are important, rigorous activities, from hiking to rock climbing to whitewater but most of them serve only one short-term purpose: to get us rafting. No matter where you stand with regards to physical into college. Staying active and getting outdoors, however, not fitness, you’re likely to find at least one outdoor activity that you only improves our lifestyle and increases our healthy habits, but are not only capable of doing, but that you enjoy doing. Whether opens doors to opportunities and experiences that we wouldn’t looking to fill up just an afternoon or an entire weekend, you’ll have otherwise. have many activities to choose from. Turn off the phone, log off the computer, drop the remote Busy schedules seem to be the biggest deterrent to partaking control. Put your books away for an hour or two. Dust off in outdoor activities. With homework, sports, extracurricular your bicycle that’s been sitting in the garage for ages or dig your activities and sleep dominating what seems to be every minute of sneakers out of the bottom of your closet. Take a step back from the day, we can’t get a second in otherwise for our own leisure. the constant time-consuming things thrown your way and relax in It’s undeniable that unless you find yourself sitting around with the great outdoors.
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opinion april 30, 2012
emily lewis
Students weigh in on controversial topics in our daily lives
Oakton students go a tweet too far
n excellent example of cyber bullying, the Twitter pages “Oakton TMZ,” “Oakton Memes,” and “Oakton Problems” are nothing but hurtful and suggestive comments littering the internet, crossing the fine line between poking fun and making fun. Not only are these comments and pictures wounding, the majority of them are lame and not amusing. The page Oakton TMZ has already been taken down once, only to be brought back up again by the unknown creator. It’s a shame the page came back, because its meaningless existence is taking up internet space. What’s so different about these Twitter pages and the Burn Book in “Mean Girls”? The creator may find them entertaining, but what if the comments were about you? If I ever went online and found a quote or picture that suggested insulting or embarrassing things about me, not only would I want it taken down, but I’d also
want to hide under a rock for the rest of the year. Even if some of the pages’ tweets weren’t insulting anyone in particular, they are still a waste of time. In fact, some students have tweeted responses to the pages, claiming that they are pathetic. I pity these Twitter page creators, because somewhere out there, they are holed up with their cats and a computer creating random tweets and twisting around random pictures for personal amusement. There’s no point to having an entire Twitter page for the sole purpose of publicly displaying your distasteful traits and your inability to find something productive to do with your time. What kinds of people make online pages that exist purely to embarrass their peers? The kinds who don’t have enough going on in their own lives to keep themselves entertained. If only they could find a way to harness alana peters their crude humor for staff writer something good.
Romney is not what Republicans need
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itt Romney has all but been nominated to become the 2012 Republican presidential candidate since Rick Santorum dropped out of the race on April 10. Nominating Romney is a mistake. Santorum is not only more conservative; he may be more electable. Santorum had been on the campaign trail emphasizing lower taxes, less regulations and a healthier economy. However, the only things the media seemed to take from Santorum’s speeches were social issues. For the most part, he had only spoken about social issues when he had been asked about them. Most candidates would avoid questions about social issues in the fear that they would turn off certain voters, and receive a barrage of attacks from the media. Santorum had clearly not avoided any topics or interviews. The former Pennsylvania senator should be applauded for his honesty and willingness to share his views on issues. Santorum was elected twice to the House of Representatives in a Democratic district and twice to the Senate. Santorum has proven he can win over Democrats without surrendering his principles. Romney, on the other hand, acted like a Democrat but
was still not popular enough to run for reelection as governor of Massachusetts. One argument might be that Romney has been very conservative in his speeches as of late. Another might be that Santorum has voted for bills that are contradicting to his message. Both of these statements are true but can be answered easily. No, Santorum was not the perfect candidate for this race. He voted for the “No Child Left Behind” bill and the Medicare Prescription Bill, which both expanded government. However, he has admitted that they were mistakes. Romney is acting conservative in order to win the nomination, but his record does not support the act. In the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, he said he was a “moderate” with “progressive” views. While state governor, he signed into law a health reform better known as “RomneyCare.” This bill, which President Obama claims was the basis for “ObamaCare,” (creating a vulnerability for Romney) mandates that all state citizens purchase health insurance, and also provides free health care for many. Instead of admitting that the bill was at the very least flawed, Romney has defended it repeatedly. Santorum was not even close to being
the perfect candidate for the Republican nomination, but he was better than the alternative. Romney has simply not acted as a conservative in the past. His nomination will not only demotivate the conservative base, but will hurt the credibility of the party. How will Romney attack Obama on health care, which may be the most crucial issue of the election, when he participated in constructing “RomneyCare?” It is unfortunate that Republicans supported Romney in the belief that he was more electable. Nonetheless, now that it is clear Romney will be the nominee, it is important for Republicans to support him. Hopefully, having a weaker candidate will not result in the reelection of Barrack Obama. That would be a disaster for America. If he does get reelected, it will result in extravagant government expansion that will be hard to reverse, essentially eliminating the Constitution. Therefore, Romney must be elected in order for constitutional republicanism to survive. Any one of the Republicans who campaigned for the presidency this year would make a far greater president than the one alex xenos staff writer currently in office.
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opinion april 30, 2012
“The American Experience” is overused
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emily yaremchuk
he American Experience. I bet it sounded awesome in their heads. I can practically see it: the eleventh grade team, tapping pencils, brainstorming curricula for the year. The American Experience: oh how it rolls off one’s tongue. It sounds like a seventh grade textbook or a tourist brochure one might pick up at Mt. Rushmore. But most of all, it sounds like the kind of quintessential bullpoop high school teachers come up with in hopes of creating something they see as unifying, creative and conceptual.
That’s all well and good, but we juniors have had enough. Conjoining two classes like English and History may seem, in theory, like a synergistic masterpiece, but honestly, it’s nothing short of redundancy. It’s repetitive. If, as a teacher, your goal is to engage admittedly low-attention spanned teenagers, repetition is really the wrong alley to be going down. Because here’s the deal. We labor over these major papers; our teachers make sure of that. Reams of drafts will pile up, revisions and edits aplenty. Hours of our young lives, spent in the glow of Microsoft Word, fly by. We work and develop and re-do, re-phrase, re-conceptualize. So by the time we hand in the final copy these teachers are expecting, we’ve got that godforsaken essay memorized. With that in mind, here’s a great idea, courtesy of our English teachers: let’s do the exact same thing again, except this time in a different format! With all due respect: are you kidding me? I thought this was a class that prides itself on creativity as well as intellect. Directly
quoting the College Board itself, we’re supposed to be learning to “compose for a variety of purposes.” Changing the medium from editorial to research paper doesn’t change our purpose. At the end of the day, all we’re really doing is becoming experts on analytical commentary on U.S. history. You’d think that’s what we should be doing in U.S. History class. But the American Experience doesn’t stop at being repetitive and irrelevant. We could deal with those two. No, the very notion of “the American Experience” is downright pretentious. For those of you who don’t know, we’re expected to come up with some overarching concept that applies to all of America and only America. The sheer conceit of it all is maddening enough, but being stuck with this topic for the entire year has badly re-imaged eleventh grade English as a whole. However, AP Lang has taken the greatest blow. It’s been demoted from “the class that’s really hard but it taught me a lot” to “that class where we do the same thing sofia crutchfield every day.” staff writer
Students need to put nutrition first
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reakfast is apparently the most important meal of the day, so why do most students neglect it? Instead of getting up a whopping five minutes earlier so they can choke down a granola bar, students decide to bypass the whole nourishing-your-body-and-stayingalive thing just so they can turn their hair to straw with a straightener or get a few extra minutes of sleep. Later on in the day, these students groan and gripe to their friends about how hungry they are, and these friends are expected to smile apologetically, nod and appear sympathetic. Students don’t seem to understand that breakfast is literally breaking a fast that everyone takes part in when they sleep at night. Think about it. Students sleep an average
What’s your opinion on...
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opinion april 30, 2012
of five or six hours at night, then go to school, mooch a few pretzels off a mildly annoyed friend and finally have lunch around noon. All in all, that’s more or less 12 hours without a proper meal, half a day. Not that this isn’t a super healthy eating routine, but there is a simple solution here: just eat breakfast. Of course, a lack of breakfast is not the only issue with student diets. Although the cafeteria offers several healthy choices, most students tend to avoid them. Since the cafeteria food ingredients are questionable to say the least, these students turn to the only other food sources in the school: friends and vending machines. Seeing as friends have a tendency to become irate when their food is repeatedly taken from
spending time outdoors? “I’m in boy scouts so I go outdoors a lot. I go camping and spend time with my friends, so I think it’s pretty important.” justin paes, 10
them, vending machines are the more popular choice. However, a lunch consisting of Cheez-its, Goldfish and Pop-tarts is hardly the ideal nutritional combo. Instead of packing themselves a nice sandwich, students insist on buying small bags that appear full to the brim with food. However, when opened, the bags consist of about 25 percent food and 75 percent air. Not only is this vending machine luncheon devoid of nutrition, but also of food in general. High school schedules are insanely full, I get it, but that doesn’t mean students should sacrifice food and health. Believe me, when it comes down to it, gabriela driscoll time can always be editor-in-chief made for food.
starting school after labor day? “It’s a bad idea because it forces AP classes to cram their syllabus into less time.” austin kendall, 11
Society should take action on Earth Day
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here’s a Cree Indian prophecy that states that “only when the last tree has been cut down, only when the last river has been poisoned, only when the last fish has been caught, only then will Man find that money cannot be eaten.” This prophecy reminds us that what we take for granted is what we ultimately need. For the past 40 decades, Earth Day has advocated friendliness toward our environmentally crumbling world. The “go green” movement has been hyped up for the past few years and has globally changed the way we treat our planet. With such an enthusiastic response to this environmentally friendly movement, we are closer to achieving the prospective goal of having a non-degraded planet. We know that the planet will never return to its initial, pristine condition, but not spiraling further into an abyss of pollution and global warming seems like the next plausible choice. Advocating this same assertion,
thousands of people gathered around our nation’s capitol this past Sunday on April 22 in hopes of raising awareness and rallying for government support on the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day happens once a year, but in order to have a continuous effect, the objective of such a day should be spread throughout the year. One of my favorite days that embodies the whole “save the planet” mantra is “Earth Hour,” where for a single hour, the world is asked to go without electricity. Monumental buildings worldwide, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State building, turn off all their lights in support of preserving energy. Despite its global influence, this day has a huge flaw. While major buildings take part in this event, most people do not due to the fact that it is not widely advertised. So, remember to turn off your lights every March 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., local time.
Bringing it closer to home, I am increasingly disappointed by the lack of environmental support from our own school. While Oakton has begun recycling this year, it has done little else to become an environmentally friendly school. With environmental science classes and clubs such as OSSAGA, Oakton should take an active role in bettering our community’s environmental conditions. Small changes and an increase in awareness is all it takes to send this movement in the right direction. The main objective of April as Earth month is to encourage people to become more involved in “going green.” Simple things, like recycling, preserving electricity, reducing greenhouse emissions, can go a long way in helping save Earth’s environmental health. So, let us learn from the past, take advantage of the present and promise to stay green in order to have a healthy Earth in the isabella kidane future. photo editor
Tourism industry takes education for granted
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f you’re an average student like me, you don’t see any point in attending school after AP Exams. The cram sessions are done, the stress from finals is starting to fade and teachers have finished their curriculums. So why are we still in school? Three words: Kings Dominion Law. The Kings Dominion Law is a piece
chris graham
of Virginian legislation that states that all school districts must start their calendars after Labor Day, unless they meet certain requirements. For a school district to start early, it must be plagued by severe weather, dependent on programs from other districts that start early, testing “experimental or innovative programs” or surrounded by districts that begin pre-Labor Day. This law was put in place for big businesses, Kings Dominion of course being among them, that get a large amount of money from the typical tourism of Labor Day weekend. Another concern is the fact that many students fill jobs at tourism industries, and if school starts they will not be able to work as long. This reasoning is very flawed. Having high schoolers put off their academic year solely to fill sub-par positions is unnecessary and unfair. According to WTOP, only one percent of VA sales tax revenues from Labor Day weekend go to Virginia schools. Basically,
teachers’ use of “the American Experience? “It’s kind of pointless, because we’re doing it for the third or fourth time this year. It’s become really boring.” caroline werenskjold, 11
students get shorted valuable instruction and test-prep time in exchange for pennies from the tourism industry. Virginia has had multiple opportunities to alter this law, all of which have failed. Most recently, the VA House of Representatives passed a repeal of the law. However, when the bill went to the VA Senate, it lost by a vote of 7-8. Currently, 77 of the 132 school districts in Virginia have waivers to start the year early. What is the point of a law that affects less than half of its constituents? Students, parents, faculty: SPEAK UP. Write a letter to the State Senate. Tell them that they need to sort out their priorities. Reclaim your two weeks of actual instruction. Save yourself, and the rest of the state, from post-AP exam days of boredom, wasted school funds and pointless activities. Stand up to big businesses and assert the importance shannon ragan of your education. editor-in-chief
students’ eating habits? “I’ve seen students buy something from the vending machine and that’s the only thing they eat for lunch. It’s kind of ridiculous.” jason ng, 9
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Escapeintothe Wild
Are you looking for a springtime adventure? If yes, try one of these local venues and landmarks to satisfy your craving for some sun.
TAKE A HIKE Big Schloss
Sky Medows
Old Rag
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ig Schloss contains amazing views of the incredibly visually appealing landscape of Northern Virginia. Its views are as intricate as an artist’s imagination, and it is free to hike. At the summit there is a 2,900 foot drop, testing your bravery the closer to the edge you get. There is overnight camping at its unique, fun camp grounds with rock like playgrounds. Big Schloss has only one established trail, but it is considered one of the best on the east coast, and is a mere two hours away. The only down sides are that very strong winds can come out of nowhere pounding against the mountain, as well as a lack of park rangers to prevent crime along the trail. Despite these cons, it is still definitely one of the best hikes in Virginia.
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part of the Occuquan Water Trail, Bull Run offers calm waters and scenic views and is therefore a great place for beginners. The stream has two areas for kayakers ---three miles above Route 28 that runs through Bull Run Regional Park and 8.5 miles from Route 28 to Yates Ford Road, which is adjacent to Hemlock Overlook Park. Bull Run Regional Park charges a three dollar entrance fee per car, but parking is free. While there’s no facilities along the stream, there’s heavily forested areas to the left for emergencies.
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his old civil war battlefield will always have lots of hikers, but for good reason, as it is a well kept and maintained park. They have very cool historic sites such as cannon lines, still holding the original cannons, as well as a memorial of “Stone Wall Jackson.” There are only easy trails to choose from that could take anywhere from one hour to all day, depending on your preferences. They do not allow overnight camping at all near the park, only day hiking. There is a three dollar entrance fee, but the trails, park guides and short 30 minute drive make it well worth the money. daniel greene *all photos courtesy of Hikingupward.com staff writer
Manassas Battlefield
Bull Run
Potomac River
ky Meadows will take your breath away with its immense fields and grand valleys between rolling hills. There are great pre-established camp grounds with many trail options of varying difficulty that are patrolled by very helpful park rangers. Sky Meadows can get crowded during the weekend and summer, but it is not too crowded in general. Sky Meadows is a solid hour drive away, but well worth it if you want to experience a few nights under the stars. f you are going to hike Old Rag prepare for hordes of other hikers. However, this is a small price to pay for the breath taking views off of the sheer cliffs. Only choose old Rag if you can handle very difficult navigation over rock scrambles and ledges that are sure to test your strength. The best views are present in the fall, when massive changes of the vegetation cause an immense variety of color. Old Rag is free to hike, but no overnight camping is permitted. Nearby designated areas for camping are not convenient, but are safe. The mountain is about an hour and a half drive from Oakton which may make camping a preferable choice.
RAPIDS AHEAD
andy reed staff writer michelle lorusso indepth editor
STAY THE NIGHT Shenandoah National Park
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ocated an hour and a half away in Luray, the Park contains plenty of off trail sites that are suited for experienced campers. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including a large population of black bears. Camping permits for the Park are free and can be picked up any time during the parks operating hours.
Prince William Forest National Park
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ess than half an hour away, Prince William provides an RV park as well as multiple campsites for both veteran and inexperienced campers. The park also holds numerous ponds, streams and even an abandoned mine. The park charges five dollars for a week long pass.
hile parts of the Potomac River can be dangerous, the section of the river close to Georgetown offers a chance to go kayaking at a somewhat difficult level. Jack’s Boat House, tucked underneath the Key Bridge on K Street, is a good location to launch from and rents kayaks for 20 dollars per two hours. Georgetown has a number of other attractions, such a shops and restaurants, so you can easily turn a kayaking trip into a full-day adventure.
Lake Accotink
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ake Accotink Park is located in Springfield and includes a 55 acre lake that permits sailboats under 15 feet, kayaks, canoes and paddle boats. The park charges a two dollar launch fee and rents canoes for six dollars per hour, paddle boats for ten per hour or six per half-hour, and row boats for six dollars per hour. Besides the lake, there’s fishing, hiking, miniature golf, a carousel, snack bar, tour boat rides, trails, picnic areas and playgrounds.
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Is the vending machine your diet’s worst enemy? It seems like nobody can get enough to eat these days, for in every class where a teacher permits it, the whole class is munching away on some sort of snack. Lucky for us, the school has numerous vending machines to meet our many cravings; but is it the right choice for a healthy body? Here is a run-down on vending machine choices - which ones to go for and which to avoid based on three factors: how good it tastes, how guilty you should feel when eating it, and price, all on a five point scale, five being the best and one the worst.
Nutrition Facts calories
100
total fat
2 grams
sodium
150 mg
dietary fiber 1 gram sugar
8 grams
protein
1 gram
Guilt 2/5 This is a relatively healthy snack, with a reasonable number of calories and not too much of anything unhealthy. Price 4/5 At $.50 it’s a fair price for what you get and does make getting two of these quite easy. What exactly do you get? Don’t let the size of the bag fool you; it’s mostly air. Only expect about 10 minutes of stomach relief. Taste 3/5 The chips have a nice crunchy flavor and an interesting taste that is a nice variation from the regular potato chip.
Nutrition Facts calories
160
total fat
0 grams
sodium
280 mg
dietary fiber 1 gram sugar
< 1 gram
protein
4 gram
Guilt 3/5 While better than regular oreos, the snack still has a lot of sugar for its 100 calories and doesn’t offer much in nutrients. Price 2/5 While $.55 is a low price, it’s one of those awkward amounts that requires nickels and dimes. It also doesn’t have that many little oreos in the bag. Taste 4/5 Even without the cream, these bite-sized oreos pack great taste!
Nutrition Facts calories
100
total fat
1.5 grams
sodium
115 mg
dietary fiber 2 grams sugar
2 grams
protein
2 grams
Guilt 4/5 With no fats but a reasonable amount of salt, it’s good for anyone who doesn’t mind saltiness. Price 5/5 Finding the sweet spot at $.50, it’s both very cheap and means either using two quarters or getting two back from a dollar. You get your money’s worth too, because it’s a very filling snack. Taste 4/5 A few can taste stale but most are a pleasant pretzel experience. Really, there are no qualms with eating these pretzels, unless you’re avoiding carbohydrates.
oliver lopez-gomez online editor
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Personal Trainer in your pocket Want to get healthy but don’t know where to start? These nutrition and fitness apps can help you get on the right track to a healthy lifestyle without lavish expenses.
reina datta staff writer
Eat This Not That
Daily Workouts
Workout Trainer
Restaurant Nutrition
“Eat This Not That” is an app based on the best-selling book by David Zinczenko that can help you swap out unhealthy foods for equally satisfying healthy ones. The app costs five dollars and lets you track what you are eating in a food log, makes simple food swaps and has a chart that tracks your progress and helps you shop smarter.
“Daily Workouts” provides workout routines that range from 5-30 minutes. The app costs four dollars and takes you through step-by-step exercises that you can do at home without exercise equipment. You can follow a set routine or customize a personal routine. They combine workouts for all parts of the body and are demonstrated by a certified trainer. The exercises can range anywhere from basic to advanced.
“Workout Trainer” will help you get fit with over 1000 workouts demonstrated by fitness experts, and all for free. They take you through step-by-step instructions on how to do the exercises and how many repetitions to do. The app is set up with a timer that will go in a sequence of exercises for a certain amount of time. You can keep track of your progress to make sure you reach your goal. The exercises can vary by difficulty, but you can set up a routine depending on your preference.
“Restaurant Nutrition” allows you to easily view nutritional information about restaurants in your area and track what you eat. You can make a profile and document your intake of food thorughout the day. The app can reveal nutritional facts you didn’t know about a certain meal that may change your mind about a restaurant you go to frequently. For example, type in the name of your favorite Chick-Fil-A sandwich, and the app will download all of the nutritional information plus reviews.
*photos courtesy of appstorm.com
Start your day off right
Beat the afternoon energy crash by starting your day with a heathy and filling breakfast. Studies from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health have shown that students who eat breakfast tend to perform significantly better in class than those who don’t, because breakfast is said to improve short term memory. Cereal with cut up fruit: Low sugar and high fiber cereals such as Cheerios are delicious but might not satisfy your morning sweet tooth. Adding cut up fruit can add a hint of sweetness without adding the calories or artificial sugars.
Eggs and whole wheat toast: Eggs are an excellent source of protein, and whole grain toast will give you the vitamins and grains that you need without making you feel slow throughout the day. Orange juice: OJ is known to contain a high percentage of vitamin C, which is helpful in boosting the immune system. You will be less likely to catch an illness.
reina datta
Yogurt with granola: You need calcium to help maintain the strength of your teeth and bones. Yogurt provides high levels of this and also provides a good amount of protein. Granola is also a big source of protein and fiber, which helps you digest your food.
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arts & entertainment warm weather suggestions
cole neuffer news editor
With the sudden change in weather, girls are storing away their boots and closeting their jackets. It’s now the time when less is better, and here are a couple of essentials to perfect your warm weather wardrobe.
crop tops
-A little midriff goes a long way when its 90 degrees out and the sun is flaming. - Don’t go too short, or you’ll get in trouble at school and make everyone else around you uncomfortable. -The looser, the better. -Looks great with shorts and flip flops
summer scarves
-Go for vibrant colors and interesting patterns. -Check out videos on all the different ways to tie scarves/ different knots work for different outfits. -Spices up a plain outfit
trendy sunglasses
-Always a staple. -Make sure they have UV ray protection. -Ray-Bans/aviators- in style -Gigantic sunglasses- out of style -Bright colored frames are great for summer. *all photos from official websites
aerie - $15.50 aerie- both $19.90
Forever 21 – $13.80
American Eagle – $14.99
urban outfitters- $14.00
Into the pit with Conrad’s Way Out
O Genre: Thrash Metal Chris Harper - Rhythm Guitar Mitch Hernandez - Bass Thomas Hinds - Vocals, Keyboards Mario Nardoni - Drums Sina Yazdi - Lead Guitar Influences: Megadeth, Metallica, Black Sabbath Find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/conradswayout
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n Friday, April 13, teeming masses of adolescents thronged the pit and wary parents crowded by the tables of the sparse, relaxed side areas of Springfield’s Empire (formerly Jaxx) Nightclub, hungry jackals to a tantalizing palatte of several local bands. Chief on the menu was up-and-coming thrashers Conrad’s Way Out, whose members include Oakton students Thomas Hinds and Mario Nardoni. The band tore through the night’s haunts with well-practiced musicianship and fluid energy, introducing attendees to impressive, frenetic originals such as “Million to One,” “Libra,” and “For Eternity,” as well as a sufficiently dragonslayable cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver.” If Conrad’s Way Out was a charging thrash rhinoceros, its thick hide would be the tight, formidable rhythm section of Nardoni and bassist Matt Alvarez (as of writing now replaced by Mitch Hernandez). The twin guitar attack of Sina Yazdi and Chris Harper acted as the galloping legs of the rhino, equally honed in and focused on their craft as the bassist and drummer. Just as every metal rhinoceros has a horn (for spearing poser gazelles, you know), Conrad’s
Way Out has front man, vocalist and keyboardist Thomas Hinds. Pacing the extent of the stage, Hinds exhibited his substantial range and sheer vocal energy as well as his showmanship, taking every opportunity to head bang, wind mill and inexplicably wrap himself in a microphone cable during set closer “Tensions.” Having been together since last June, Conrad’s Way Out seems to be forging a promising future, with an EP release slated for May, and, according to Hinds, “hopefully [getting] signed.” Still, as thrash metal is a style of music not exactly tailored for mass consumption, Hinds notes, there remains some obstacles, largely “apathy, people really just don’t care about the genre.” Despite smaller obstacles such as a small case of piano failure and being moved back two hours into the evening, the band felt good about the Friday the 13th show. Hinds remarked that it was “the best show so far… really happy [with it].”ww As evidenced by the satisfied metalheads and wonover new fans following the end of the band’s set, those in attendance were too. reid perkins staff writer
Music Hot Spots
carly stonehouse staff writer
The Top 6 Concert Venues in the D.C. Area
Verizon Center:
well as an affordable option to enjoy the local music of the This 22,000 seater in downtown Fairfax County area. Washington, D.C. includes not For the month of May, Jammin’ only concerts, but also family Java is holding an event every entertainment and sports. For night with multiple shows from the past few months, the Verizon local bands, and it also will be Center has been full of basketholding a concert on May 15 and ball games, but for the summer 16 for popular alternative band, season expect to see performanc- www.panicposters.com For more information on the One Never Shout Never. es from popular artists, Drake w/ J. Cole, Waka Flocka and Direction concert on May 24, go to patriotcenter.com Coldplay.
Jiffy Lube Live Pavilion:
www.hitcrave.com
For more information on the Drake concert on May 25, go to verizoncenter.com
This 25,000 seater, formerly known as Nissan Pavilion, is an outdoor live performance amphitheater located in Prince William County. In February 2011, Jiffy Lube posted to its website its newly enforced law of a notailgating rule for its parking lots before and after concerts due to concerns of safety. Just recently in January 2012, the venue posted that tailgating would be returning with a set of rules posted on their website.
Patriot Center:
This 10,000 seater located on the campus of George Mason University hosts some of today’s hottest events. In 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 7 nationwide and No. 12 worldwide according to ticket sales. Also in 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 8 nationwide and No. 18 worldwide according to top grossing venues. Currently it is under a $10 million renovation to complete a new hospitality area, new locker rooms and bathrooms and also new façade for entrances. For the month of May, The Avett Brothers and UFC on Fuel as well as boy band sensation One Direction will be performing.
www.consequencesofsound.com www.gaugemagazine.com
For more information on the Never Shout Never concert, go to jamminjava.com
For more information on Norah Jone’s concert, go to www. wolftrap.org
Meriweather Wolf Trap National Post Pavilion: This venue is an outdoor concert Park: Wolf Trap is known for holding concerts all year long as well as other programs both indoors and outdoors. The Filene Center is a 7,000 seater that also has an additional lawn space to enjoy the entertainment more comfortably. In addition, Wolf Trap holds a variety of education programs, artist master classes, special events and Holiday Sing-A-Longs.
www.freshcutcountry.com
For more information on the the Rascal Flatts concert, go to www. livenation.com
For the month of June, Jiffy will be holding The WMZQ fest, the Dave Matthews band and a concert with Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town and the Eli Young Band.
Jammin’ Java:
For the summer season at Wolf Trap, there are performances from Colbie Caillat featuring Gavin DeGraw, Martina McBride, Norah Jones, B-52’s and ABBA.
A local café located in Vienna is www.celebs101.com known for being one of the few For more information on the local music venues to catch an Colbie Calliat featuring Gavin DeGraw concert, go to wolftrap.org eclectic mix of live music, as
located within Symphony Woods, some land in the heart of the planned community of Columbia, Maryland. With easy access in and out of the venue, it eliminates much of the traffic nightmares that plague much of its East Coast population. This provides many opportunities for fans before and after the show, yet the Symphony Woods that surround the venue provide it with privacy. Originally, the venue was a summer home for the National Symphony Orchestra.The pavilion later became a venue for more popular music concerts. Upcoming events for the summer season include Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Foster the People w/ the Kooks and Kimbra, Sarah McLachlan and Jason Mraz w/ Christina Perri.
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Media Mix
Legend of Korra lives on
A
vatar: Legend of Korra” has been delayed countless times due to production snags, but the wait is over - and well worth every second. The animated series is a continuation of sorts from a show many of us grew up with. After the dramatic finale of “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the original characters we had come to love had lives of their own to fulfill, and a new generation took root. We now follow the next Avatar, Korra, 60 years after that finale, as she learns to bend her final element, air, and moves to a new
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Read online! LIGHTS The Macmiller concert on March 31 was an enjoyable success for new and old fans alike, with both classic and new songs.
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Pho Deluxe
9675 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax
photo courtesy of imdb.com
karli gillespie staff writer
city to do so from her teacher, the son of the last Avatar, and the world’s only living airbending master. She encounters people and places she never dreamed of while growing up, and learns of a dangerous movement taking place in the city she is coming to love. The city itself is gorgeous, a mix of the Jazz Age and Shanghai, to paraphrase the creators, and the animation and music reflect the changing world to a “T.” Don’t brush this off as being merely a cartoon - only two episodes in, and it looks to be tackling heavy subjects. High schoolers and early college students are actually the intended audience of this show, the kids who grew up after watching the original series. It’s refreshing to see a female lead written so well - Korra is brash, cocky, and spends her time duking it out at what are essentially
team boxing matches with bending, all while not being challenged for being a girl, while traditionally feminine characters are also free to go down a path they themselves choose. I admit that the show is already hinting at romance between her and two possible characters, but it’s done well, making her struggles to try and get accepted in a changing world the focus of the story, and not defining her by the stages of her love life, as I have seen happen within other series. This is a show you shouldn’t miss. If you didn’t catch the three episodes that have aired, they are online at Nickelodeon’s site, and if you’re caught up, continue to tune in at 11 a.m. on Saturday mornings to see more of what Korra will do next. emma pfiefer
staff writer
Visit www.oaktonoutlook.come to read about the following stories. in Oakton’s recent entertainment.
CAMERA
ACTION
Each year, 13 million kids are impacted by bullying. Read a review on Sundance’s new documentary “Bully” directed by Emmy award winning filmmaker Lee Hirsch.
Drama classes two, three, and four take the stage on Monday, April 30 in their annual “Dinner Theatre” production. Read about the preparation involved in these student directed one-acts.
melanie aguilar-rojas staff writer
Located in Fairfax Circle next to Bowl America, Pho Deluxe offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a clean, modern atmosphere enhanced with several booths. While waiting for your order, try their Vietnamese iced coffee or their freshly-squeezed lemonade; both are very sweet. Tasty appetizers to try are the crispy spring roll dish that comes with a mildly-sweet sauce for dipping and the summer rolls with shrimp, rice noodles and lettuce wrapped in rice paper with a peanut sauce on the side. As an entree, have the pho noodle soup, which generally consists of beef and rice noodles, but the menu has other options to try. The soup is not spicy, but a side of bean sprouts, green peppers and fresh basil are offered along with hot chili sauce and hoisin sauce, a popular condiment for pho.
Hidden away next to Amphora Bakery, Ya Hala offers Lebanese dishes at incredibly affordable prices. The restaurant opened on Jan. 7, and although it’s relatively small, the welcoming service leaves customers pleased with their dining experience. I ordered the chicken shawarma, which comes with juicy pieces of marinated chicken and a choice of two: rice, hummus, salad or yogurt. The combo kabab was a combination of tender chicken, kefta and a choice of lamb or beef skewers which were all flavored with many spices, yet none were spicy. For those who don’t know, kefta is typically ground beef or lamb mixed with a variety of rich spices. A rare Lebanese dessert to try is the Taj el Malek, which is a sweet cream covered in a mix of pistachio, sugar and rose water.
Sheba
melanie aguilar-rojas 3900 Pickett Rd., Fairfax
Ya Hala
409 Maple Ave. West,Vienna
L e b a n e s e
ence feel uneasy when witnessing a scene. The setting of the movie fits the Sparks classic, having a romance blossom in the beautiful American South, near the water, with a beautiful home-style plantation. But the plot was unexpectedly good for a movie of his. Usually Sparks thinks of any way humanly possible to tug at the heart strings of any girl to make them cry. This time however, Sparks went a little easy on us, and developed the perfect love story – one not requiring a box of tissues. If you only like exceptional, out of this world movies, don’t spend your money on it; the Hunger Games is one theatre down. But if you like a cute love story, or Efron’s body, you only hope that you can someday be the lucky one.
How to find international cuisine at reasonable prices Vietnamese
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f you have seen any other Nicholas Sparks based movie, you can usually expect two things: an overly sappy love story, and usually a main character that you grow to love – end up dying. But “The Lucky One” unexpectedly defied the two norms, and was a great movie. “High School Musical” star Zac Efron is all grown up – and his looks aren’t the only thing that proves it. He got into his role excellently, even training with the US Marines to further connect with his character, Logan Thibault, who had just finished three tours in Iraq. Other actors, like Taylor Schilling, who plays the love-interest of Efron, is on point and does not get overly emotional with their character. But the greatness stops short, for the chemistry between Efron and Schilling was awkward at times, making the audi-
Taste Quest: W rldly tastes close to home
E t h i o p i a n
The Unexpected One
Nicholas Sparks’ new novel, “The Lucky One,” hit movie screens and the hearts of hopeless romantics this past weekend, surprising all by its great story.
Opened in February, Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant creates a comfortable atmosphere that includes traditional Ethiopian basket tables and chairs. The service was extremely friendly, and it was easy to ask questions as a newcomer. Be aware that you will be eating with your hands, and that entrees are shared amongst a group. However, you can ask for your own entree that comes with a separate plate of injera, a flat sponge-like bread used to pick up the food. For groups, five vegetarian sides come in a 12-inch bowl along with extra injera. One entree I ordered was the Awaze Tibs, beef cooked in a spicy red awaze sauce, which was placed in the middle of the large plate as shown. A nice contrast was the Goden Tibs, crispy riblets seasoned with onions, garlic and rosemary served on a hot grill. See www.oaktonoutlook.com for more info.
Reloaded, Revived, but not Ready
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o sum up Nicki Minaj’s new album that was released April 4, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” just look at the album cover. The madness of paint splatters and the explosion of colors foreshadows what you might get from the album. “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” contains music of all different genres. It would be an understatement to classify Minaj as just a rapper. In her new album, Minaj demonstrates her abilities to both rap and sing with a pop and R&B feel to her songs. This album is a very long and polarized collection of songs. It has a song for every mood and features many profound artists like Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown. If you’re in the mood for a fast and upbeat song, “Starship,” “Pound the Alarm” or “Whip It,” are all lots of fun but start to have that irritating chipmunk tone after a while. One of her better slower songs is
“Right by My Side,” which has real vocals and a catchy chorus. Although Minaj’s album contains a mix of all different types of songs, what her album lacks is originality. Her songs resemble what would come from a combination of Lady Gaga and Missy Elliot. Her song “Roman Reloaded” opens with Minaj ranting in the voice of her “twin brother” alter ego, Roman Zolanski. The male alter ego trend was interesting when it was first done by Gaga; now it’s just old. In the same song, Minaj takes on the voice of Roman’s mother, Martha Zolanski, and the song becomes a creepy clash between the two with random break outs in biblical chant. Overall each song by itself on Minaj’s new album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” was pretty good and interesting, but the album as a whole was repetitive and unoriginal.
photo couresy of official website
lauren embroski staff writer
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BUY A YEARBOOK NOW. Before the Price Increases. Currently the price is $80 May 5th the price increases to $100 Order forms are in room 196 To use a credit card to order your yearbook call 1.866.287.3096 or go to www.yearbook.com and use order number 4770. If you choose to write a check for your purchase, please make your check out to Herff Jones, Inc. Mail your order form and your check to this address: Yearbook Order Cener PO Box 29 OMG Edwardsville, KS 66113-9029 oakton media group