Out look Oakton
Volume 46 Issue 2
Oct. 20, 2011
feature Theater tech students explain what goes on behind the scenes of “Alice in Wonderland.�
news Local restaurants go with the health flow and begin to offer healthy alternatives to your favorite entrees.
Rules of the Road Expectations and etiquette for student drivers
indepth Students share their unique license plates, sweet rides and rules of the road in parking lots.
sports The volleyball team raises awareness and funds at the annual Dig Pink competition.
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Out look table of contents
news
A plethora of new restaurants begin to offer more healthy selections on their menus.
6
feature
Students share in their abundant school spirit at the pep rally and for spirit week.
10
indepth
A closer look at the coolest cars and license plates at Oakton.
14
opinions An examination of the loopholes in the FDA’s organic system.
19
sports
Students go all out to show school spirit and support at football games.
23
gianna sheffield
a&e There’s an app for that: a review of Apple’s latest apps.
28
3
contents oct. 20, 2011
letter from the editors
Outlook Staff Editors in Chief
the buzz in the news room...
“ “
gabriela driscoll:
Can I join Art Honor Society (13) if I’m not taking an Art class?
”
shannon ragan:
So yesterday, someone crashed into my car (17). I have a girl scout bumper sticker on my car; what kind of person hits a girl scout?!
““ “
” ” ”
kim gibbons:
Is that a lamp or a computer? daniel greene:
Don’t make fun of my drawing. Gosh, Kim, you’re such a bully (20). jackson lizardo:
Is deer meat organic (21)? Because Mr. Welch just gave me some, and I ate it.
”
Yours, Gabriela Driscoll Shannon Ragan
4
letter oct. 20, 2011
michelle chu
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 Kenton
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.
What’s In Your Pocket? It’s the last bastion of privacy and sanctity in an increasingly smaller and ever more public world. It protects your keys and your common currency yet you give it nary a second’s thought. As the onceesteemed pocket wanes in recognition, I took to the halls to get the real beat on the street behind the denim. Several members of Oakton’s learning community weighed in on this big question: What’s in your pockets?
“ “
”
Bottomless pits.
sean greeney, physics-defying astronomy teacher
In my pocket lies the world, a world of opportunity, where each of my actions, however small, can change the fabric of my reality… and I think some lint.
”
trenton robbins, effervescently profound senior
“ “ “ “ “
” ” ” ” ”
The ring of power.
konstyantyn proskuryakov, destructively ambitious sophomore
Ideas and lists.
vanessa gelinas, tersely methodical theatre teacher
Imagination.
marina fondin, quixotically fictive senior
Key to the TARDIS.
rebecca henelotter, bi-cardiovasculered senior
My hands.
mitch dollard, dexterously-inclined senior
reid perkins staff writer shannon ragan
5
news oct. 20, 2011
news 3. 1.
in brief
Best and brightest prepare for Senior Regional Orchestra
Senior Regional Orchestra (SRO) consists of the best musicians in the region. These musicians prepare for months for a rigorous audition process, this year’s beginning on Oct. 3. “I auditioned with about 160170 students who tried out for violin, but there are only 44 seats, so it’s very competitive,” said senior Rachel Kim. For the audition, students are required to prepare about three or four excerpts, numerous scales, and are asked to sight-read another excerpt. The audition itself lasts about five minutes. “I think SRO is a great experience for high school musicians,” said senior Mikey Lankenau. “The audition process can teach people how to control their nerves. It’s difficult because there are about a hundred musicians practicing at once before their audition.” The selected musicians will be meeting again in November to prepare for a concert. isabella kidane
Oakton Writing Center invites students to come for tutoring
The Writing Center is a facility that students can come to meet with a tutor to expand on their writing skills. Any students with writing assignments can take advantage of the center. “We have 60 tutors,” said Writing Center teacher, Beth Blankenship. “They are all a mix of seniors, juniors in AP Language and Composition, and there is one sophomore who is of very high caliber.” The Writing Center has also introduced new initiatives such as Traveling Tutors, who go to a specific Cougar Time upon request. The Writing Center was moved to room 133 this year, right across from the Burgundy Office, and is now open for students during lunch, Cougar Time and after school.
4.
Virginia students come together for Oakton Classic tradition
The Oakton Classic regional marching band competition took place on Oct. 15 at Oakton. High school marching bands from Northern Virginia and beyond participated in this tradition that brings together student musicians. “I like meeting a lot of new people, especially because they are from out of state,” sophomore Robert Miska said. “And the color guard gets to perform with us.” The Oakton Classic is run by volunteers of the Oakton Band Boosters, with the help of families and friends of the participants.
marissa hall
2.
Chorus celebrates childhood memories with Disney concert
Chorus is having a concert on Oct. 29, solely dedicated to classic Disney songs. Costumes will be worn throughout the night, and baskets of souvenirs will be sold. “My favorite song is ‘I’m not Going to Say I’m in Love’ from the movie ‘Hercules’,” said freshman chorus member Baldeep Kaur. The concert will consist of two shows; an afternoon show at 2:00 pm and an evening one at 7:00 pm. Tickets are being sold for $10 for adults, $7 for children and are free for toddlers.
6
news oct. 20, 2011
Diving to the political depths
Seniors immerse themselves in real world politics on Candidates Day
W
hile underclassmen busied themselves with a half day of standardized testing, seniors were treated to Candidates Day. Each year, Oakton government teachers appeal to local policymakers or political candidates to visit the school for a day to speak in front of the senior class. This year’s speakers were State Senator Chap Petersen and Virginia Delegates Mark Keam and Jim LeMunyon. Seniors were split into two groups, one in the auditorium and one in the main gym, and candidates cycled between the rooms. Each introduced himself, gave a brief speech and then spent the remainder of his hour answering questions prepared by the audience. courtesy of rebecca small
courtesy of rebecca small
Seniors Pratik Singh and Megan Cahill listen with rapt attention as State Senator Chap Petersen encourages students to take an active role in politics by volunteering for local candidates’ campaigns.
Rebecca Small AP Government teacher What is the purpose of Candidates Day?
Small: “For seniors to meet and get to know our elected officials and engage in dialogue with them. All of the officials [that were there] will be on the ballot next month. This will be relevant to seniors that were 18 and registered by Oct. 17.”
What role did government teachers play in this event? “Each teacher was responsible for calling an elected official and begging them to come. It’s a good way for candidates to get their name out, but these candidates have full-time jobs so it’s hard to get them to commit to a whole day.”
How did you prepare your students? “We prepared our students to ask well-researched questions. We want them to ask something that can’t be looked up on the Internet, something that only the candidate could answer.”
Senior Nathan Green inquires about Delegate Keam’s opinion on the under-funded Northern Virginia metro project. “It’s simply too expensive to be a major focus right now,” Keam says.
Students had this to say: ashley rowles, 12 “LeMunyon was good as far as government goes, but as for dealing with people, he’s out of touch.”
catherine reed, 12 “To be honest, it was pretty boring. It was like being lectured for three hours.”
dylan roche, 12
“I looked around while LeMunyon was speaking and nearly everyone looked angry...”
What is the best part about this event?
“It’s interesting to hear about votes [the candidates] have struggled with, and it’s interesting to hear them speak as human beings when it’s not clear to them what the right decision is. The beauty of democracy is that votes are transparent, so citizens can put their elected officials on the spot.”
katherine fu, 12 “Delegate Keam seemed to have no difficulty connecting with students, so they were more open to his ideas.”
7
news oct. 20, 2011
news E
alex belden news editor
Go out to get healthy
ach year more and more Americans are going out to eat. While the cost of eating out continues to rise, the obesity rates are also increasing. Popular restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and The Cheesecake Factory have created healthier options or modified items on their menus to offer selections which are both appetizing and nutritious.
Eat this...
Not this...
alex belden
Outback Steakhouse
Grilled Chicken on the Barbie with mixed veggies Calories: 401 Total fat: 8 grams Description: Seasoned and grilled chicken breast with BBQ sauce.
Eat this... Romano’s Macaroni Grill
alex belden
The Cheesecake Factory
Eat this...
8
news oct. 20, 2011
Not this...
Whole Wheat Fettuccini Calories: 860 Total fat: 0.5 grams Description: Whole wheat fettuccini noodles with chicken and broccolini.
alex belden
Skinnylicious Hamburger with garden salad Calories: 570 Total fat: 10 grams Description: Burger with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles served on a toasted bun.
Information from outbacksteakhouse.com alex belden
Alice Springs Chicken with aussie fries Calories:1172 Total fat: 68 grams Description: Grilled chicken covered with monterey jack and cheddar cheese.
Information from macaronigrill.com
alex belden
Not this...
alex belden
Pasta De La Mare Calories: 1320 Total fat: 0 grams Description: Spahetti noodles with scallops, mussels, shrimp, garlic and white wine. Information from fatsecret.com
Kobe Burger with french fries Calories: 990 Total Fat: 20 grams Description: Kobe beef with sauteed mushrooms and onions.
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OUTLOOK BAKE SALE November 5
4 to 7 p.m.
@ Greenbriar Giant
13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway
COOKIES MUFFINS Help support your BROWNIES school newsmagazine MORE! All proceeds go to the Oakton Outlook
Baked goods are donation price
feature
all photos courtesy of isabella kidane
Through the looking glass of set construction
W
elcome to the Wonderland of set construction. There is no question that the cast has spent countless hours rehearsing for its upcoming Reid Perkins, Caroline Werenskjold,Trenton Robbins and Hyun Ho Lee all came in production of “Alice in Wonderland,” but they’re not the only early on a Collaboration Wednesday to start building the walls that would become Wonderland. These students were dedicated to producing a fantastic set, and they ones preparing for the show. It’s the theater tech students’ took great pride in their work. contributions behind the scenes that provide the extra dose of magic and wonder that Alice’s Wonderland is known for. Reid Perkins, senior, is the head of set design and construction in the class. Quite the opposite of the Queen of Hearts, Perkins maintains a level head while he overlooks every aspect of brainstorming, planning and construction. “I started with the script over the summer, just kind of putting together some preliminary designs,” Perkins said. “Since then we’ve done a lot of revisions, what-ifs and alternate designs.” Theater tech class has a limited allowance of money available to them for each individual show, but they have never had a problem managing money and obtaining the correct supplies. Robbins embraced the nuts and bolts of the construction process, but he also looked “A lot of [supplies] we can reuse, and that’s a key thing we forward to seeing the finished product. “I enjoy my incredibly fulfilling work, especially when it comes to hammering,” Robbins said. “I like to see a fully constructed look for, ‘Can we reuse this?’” Perkins said. “Occasionally, set in all of its splendor, especially the parts that I made.” when we do need more supplies, we get them from Home Depot.” Caroline Werenskjold, junior, isn’t shy as she recounts her many responsibilities as stage manager. “I’m basically the boss of the backstage,” Werenskjold said. “I have a headset so I can talk with the lighting and sound people who are above the stage. I’m also the link between the director and the crew.” Werenskjold is also enrolled in theater tech, where she has many duties within the construction aspect of production. “I help out with the construction crew, because as stage manager, I have to know how to do everything,” Werenskjold said. “I don’t actually have to do it; I just tell people how to do it.” Lee understood the importance of set assembly, and chose to come in and help Although Madeline Paul, senior, is not enrolled in theater even though it was not a specific part of his job. “I love helping out the construction crew,” Lee said. “I feel like everyone should help out, no matter what crew they are tech, she is responsible for painting the finished set. Last on.” year, she painted the sets for Oakton’s “The Family Man” and “Oklahoma,” and this year she will be painting the set for “Alice in Wonderland,” where her work will no doubt be as eccentric and whimsical as the rawan elbaba Mad Hatter. “I will be staying after school staff writer for two to three hours at a time, madlin mekelburg about twice a week to work on feature editor painting the set,” Paul said.
Make sure to beat the White Rabbit and buy your ticket to come see “Alice in Wonderland” at Oakton on Nov 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m.
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feature oct. 20, 2011
Got spirit?
emma pfiefer
gianna sheffield
Students dress up and down for spirit week
Band kids go all out to show their spirit at the pep rally, and are joined by a lurking gorilla.
Homecoming court members viciously pop their balloons during the pep rally.
gianna sheffield
gianna sheffield
Laura Macaluso, senior, and Megan Cahill, senior, celebrate stars and stripes on “red, white and blue day.�
Members of the Homecoming court gather and applaud each other after making their separate entrances via wagon, bicycle, piggyback and seductive dance.
Homecoming restaurants Cheesecake Factory Macaroni Grill Olive Garden Luciano’s
= 5 student votes
gianna sheffield
Best places for pictures
The dance team energizes the crowd during the first pep rally in the renovated gym.
outside restaurant backyard staircase doorstep
gabriela driscoll editor in chief
=5
student votes
11
feature oct. 20, 2011
Seniors Sick of Senioritis
kari maharaj staff writer
The average senior is just biding time until college acceptances start rolling in. For some, the stress of AP classes and standardized testing is just a distant memory from junior year. Instead of struggling through AP Physics C, most seniors would rather have a free period. Seniors Mira Tanenbaum and Gabbey Tate break the mold of the average senior. Instead of trying to do as little as possible to get by, they do exactly the opposite.
Q: What AP classes are you in this year?
Tanenbaum: I am in five
AP classes this year. I’m in AP Government, AP Literature, AP Statistics, AP Biology and AP Spanish. kari maharaj
Tate: AP U.S. Government,
AP Comparative Government, and AP Literature. I am also in AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C.
Q: What keeps you from getting “senioritis”?
Tanenbaum: I am honestly really enthusiastic about
a lot of my classes because I find them interesting. I have never been comfortable taking regular classes and not challenging myself. I get frustrated when things move too slowly. I like working hard.
kari maharaj
Tate: I could either play on the computer all day or just do
my assignments. Also, I’d feel bad not doing my homework because I know that teachers put so much effort into creating the assignments.
Q: What motivates you to take such a challenging course load? Tanenbaum: Last year I took four [AP classes] and colleges like to see that you challenged yourself so I stepped it up this year and am taking five.The college I want to go to is very competitive and I want to get in so I work hard.
Tate: I’m motivated by college, I guess. Last year I took
five AP and honors classes, and colleges don’t like to see you regress from AP classes to regular classes. I want to go to Carnegie Mellon or maybe even Princeton.
Driven by responsibility
S
tudents have all heard their parents’ favorite instruction: be responsible. After hearing this for the hundreth time, the phrase seems to lose its importance. Contrary to students’ initial desire to ignore their parents’ advice, responsibility is an essential trait for students to consider. It’s relevant in just about every aspect of student life, whether it be home life, friendships, academics, athletics, a job or an extracurricular activity. Ron Hutchison, member of Oakton’s
security team, illuminates the essential factors of responsibility that students should understand.
Student responsibility at Oakton
“You have the rigid, super-responsible students and then you have the students who absolutely deny all culpability. Responsible students will talk to you and acknowledge what they’ve done wrong. I can usually let them off with a warning. It’s the ones who don’t catch on that get the consequences.”
Learning by mistakes
“Everyone makes mistakes, but people think that if they admit these mistakes, they’ll become less of a person. Not admitting your mistakes gives you no chance to correct yourself.”
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feature oct. 20, 2011
As a part of Oakton’s Character Education program, the Outlook will feature one of the four character traits in each of its next few issues.
Knowledge is power “Students say ‘I didn’t know,’ but it’s their responsibility to know. People plead innocent when we’ve insisted that they know these responsibilities. You need to know the rules, and it’s important to do that now because soon you’ll be adults. When you sign a contract you didn’t read and end up in court, you have no defense.”
Student driving responsibility
“Being a responsible driver isn’t just about avoiding fines or keeping your license. It’s about avoiding the possibility of hurting yourself or others.”
Personal responsibility
“If someone feels I’m not treating them appropriately, I want to know. It’s beneficial for me to hear from others because I know what I need to work on. It increases my ability to be responsible. Personal responsibility enables you to like yourself better.”
Fare-Wells
F
or 16 years Rick Wells has been a part of the Oakton staff teaching a variety of classes in the Physical Education department and coaching the offensive line for varsity football. But this coming February he is retiring from teaching and is “looking forward to a new period in [his] life.” In total, Wells has spent 30 years teaching at Fairfax County schools and 32 years in the state. His first job as a teacher was at Marshall High School, where he taught for 15 years before coming to Oakton in 1995. His first time as a football coach was at Fairfax High School where he coached their team for two years. Wells plans on joining his wife down at their riverside home near Smith Mountain Lake in Goodview,
Beloved teacher Mr. Wells will be retiring later this school year.
My best memory of Mr. Wells...
Virginia. “I plan on spending more time on the water,” Wells said, “participating in activities like fishing and boating.” His fondest memory while being at Oakton was winning the 2005 State Championship for football. “Not all coaches are able to experience winning a championship,” Wells said. “I was lucky to be able to reach that pinnacle in my coaching career.” At the end of the day, he is most proud of having the opportunity to work with the teachers of the P. E. department, for they are “hard workers and have characters that are a great example to students.”
karli gillespie
karli gillespie staff writer
New clubs at Oakton alana peters
“...was when my class was talking about who had it harder in society, boys or girls, and my class jumped straight to talking about sex. Wells said we jumped straight into the no pants romance dance.” Courtney Moody, 10 “...was when he took attendence everyday in gym class. When he came to my name on the list he would start singing the song ‘Mr. Crowley’ by Ozzy Osbourne because that was my last name. It was the funniest thing ever.” Mark Crowley, 11 “... was from back in Driver’s Ed. He told us one of his favorite stories about a student he had, who was reading aloud in class one day. The student came to the word ‘filet mignon’ and read it exactly how it looks, not like how it is pronounced in French. I guess the story is funnier when Wells tells it, but trust me, the whole driver’s ed class was cracking up.” Daniella Beck, 11
Animal Welfare Club (AWC): Lend A Helping Paw!
Cofounders: Jenna Reiden, Hailey Yook Interest Meeting: TBD, about 25 people signed up. Info: “We are planning on visiting animal shelters on the weekends,” said Reiden. “We’ll help out at adoption events, hold fundraisers and host drives at Oakton to will collect [supplies] for shelters like blankets, toys or dog food coupons.”
Stepping Stones: Helping the world, The Conspiracy Club had its interest meeting on Thursday, October 13 to discuss the most popular conspiracies of today. They wasted no time on formalities, and jumped right into debating the actual events of the first moon landing.
Conspiracy Club: Don’t believe everything you’re told.
one step at a time. Cofounders: Joanna Ro, Lyndy Quast Interest meeting: TBD, about 30 people signed up. Info: “Each year, we will pick an issue in the world to tackle.” said Ro. “This year we’re working on stopping human trafficking in the Fairfax area. Basically, we will fundraise and do little projects to raise awareness and volunteer with local organizations.”
Founder: Sara Yaseen Currently Meeting: Room 269 Info: Inspired by the debate team, the club is meant to teach others “not to believe in everything you’re told,” said Yaseen. “Believe in logic, but challenge it; think outside the box! Don’t you want to know what really goes on around you?”
alana peters staff writer
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feature oct. 20, 2011
indepth Learn how to be courteous in Oakton’s parking lot.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Driving
Steering students in the erin bennett wrong direction staff writer
1. DON’T
Park straight in a diagonal space. It’s like a coloring book; no one likes the kid who can’t stay in between the lines.
Priya Ganesh, 12
DO Watch for the poor pedestrians who are dodging the oncoming traffic as they trek across the parking lot.
2. DON’T
Turn left. It never works. You will never be able to see both directions of traffic, and will probably then get hit.
Austin Kendal, 11
DO
I
Try drifting in the gravel lot. That just gets gravel in your tires and makes you look like an idiot when it doesn’t work.
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indepth oct. 20, 2011
Emily George, 12
“The car we used was extremely hot and gross so I would say I felt like I was going to throw up. Therefore, my behind the wheel teacher would call me ‘throw-up girl’ to other students.”
The story of a student as they face the daunting reality of a car crash on Sutton Road.
3. DON’T
Be conscientious of where you park. Just because there aren’t lines guiding you doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to block people in.
“While with my behind the wheel teacher a car cut us off. He kept telling me, ‘hit his car, hit his car, hit his car!’ and continued to say ‘he laughs now, but he will cry in court.’”
Morgan Bayer, 12
“He made us a CD called the ‘Journey of Life’ that was about his mother. When my mom would call him out for never picking up his phone, he would say they were ‘best friends’ because she pointed out his flaws.”
Crashing into Senior Year
Watch for those who think it’s a good idea to blindly turn left into raging traffic; it’s better to be safe than right.
DO
“At the end of my session, my mom was outside cleaning my car. When my instructor and I pulled up, he rolled down the window and told her [she] had pretty eyes. He was basically hitting on my mom.”
Students experience unusual methods of teaching during their behind the wheel sessions.
lauren embroski
4. DON’T Think that you have the right of way. No matter if the imbecile coming around the corner is going 45 mph and hits you, technically, it’s your fault.
DO
lauren embroski staff writer
Be understanding toward those who have corner spaces or other awkward spaces in the cage. Be a good person; let them out.
t’s pouring outside and the only thing you can see is the rhythmic windshield wiper waving at your exhausted face. You see the light turn red and you glide to a stop but the car doesn’t obey. You hear a crash and a few seconds later you realize what just happened. Automobile accidents are the number one cause of death for American teens. In Vienna alone, there are about 150 crashes and 60 injuries, making Northern Virginia one of the highest crash-rating regions. October has the second highest monthly crash rate in Virginia with approximately 10,000 crashes last year, and Senior Adeeb Baiou became a victim of these statistics after his accident on Sutton Road in early October. “I was going up Sutton in the lane to turn left on to Blake Lane,” Baiou said. “Another student was turning left out of the senior lot exit and didn’t see me coming because of a car in the right lane of Sutton.” Although the other car flipped over into a ditch across from the senior parking lot, no one was injured. Despite his accident, Baiou still considers himself a good driver, just like the 65 percent of teens surveyed by
Newsweek. “I don’t text and drive,” Baiou said. This might not be believable, however, due to a daunting statistic. According to the All State Foundation, compared to the 82 percent of driving teens in Virginia who claim to use cell phones while driving. only 49 percent admit to being distracted by texting. Parents remain the number one driving advisors, with 81 percent of teen drivers indicating their parents have the most influence on their driving. But Baiou thinks differently. “My parents don’t really influence me. I kind of learn by trial and error.” Regardless of who keeps you in check, take the statistics to heart and keep the roads crash-free. christina lee staff writer
15
indepth oct. 20, 2011
GR8-PL8S
Students share the stories behind their personalized plates.
carly stonehouse staff writer
Dude, Where’s my car?
Whether they love or hate them, students share an emotional attachment with their cars. michelle lorusso indepth editor
Connor Sullivan, 12
“It was originally my mom’s plate. When my family got the minivan, we moved the license plate to my car. It represents the ship Discovery that landed at Jamestown, the space shuttle Discovery and my mom’s title which is ‘Project Discovery.’ I love having a unique license plate.”
Matt Knoche, 11
“The license plate originally meant the year of the car, 1969. But now, it has kind of become a phrase my friends and I jokingly use instead of ‘cool.’”
Maria Canales, 11
“I wanted to express my support for the Capitals in a way that was my own. My license plate means that I love the role of being a fan to the next level: being a fanatic. People driving know it’s me just by my license plate.”
CJ Reimann, 12
“For my birthday my dad said I could get a customized plate and after we narrowed it down from a few options, I decided on the license plate I have now. In football my number is five, and I try to always make plays when I’m on the field.”
lsabella kidane
Mira Tannenbaum, 12
“My dad decided to splurge on me instead of my brother and bought me the new Jeep. Its paint’s sparkly and looks black on some days and blue on others. My favorite part is the set of speakers that I can pull out from the top of the trunk for tailgating.”
courtesy of varsha vagava
Varsha Vargava, 11
“I got it from my parents as a surprise for my sixteenth birthday. I cried when I saw it and was even more excited when I found out it was stick shift because I’d always wanted to learn how to drive stick. The best part is how fast it goes; I love having the wind blow in my hair.”
Gianna Sheffield, 11 James Craig, 12 “It was originally my mom’s car. She chose the license plate because Virginia, California, and New York are all the places that she lived during her life.”
“It stands for ‘New England football fan.’ I got the license plate because I’m known as being a Patriot’s fan.”
Students Study Seat Belt Safety
On Oct. 18, Fairfax County Police Department collaborated with Oakton’s security office and held a number of activities to educate students on the joys of wearing seat belts. For a pop quiz on seat belt safety, students driving to school in the morning were pulled over to see who was wearing their seat belt. Whoever clicked it, got a “Think Safety” lollipop and a sticker. Throughout all four lunches, a “Seat Belt Convicer” was stationed outside the cafeteria, and a drunk goggle basket ball court was set up inside.
lsabella kidane
Max Harrison, 12 “One time, I raced a car going 35 mph; don’t worry, I always go the speed limit. Oh, and the guy I was racing, yeah, it was Alex Ovechkin. No really, it was on Route 7.”
michelle lorusso
Brad Ambrose, 11
“I really like the performance and handling of the car. The Quattro system gives it a great feel. The best memory I have with my car was when I first put it in sports mode and experienced its true speed on a twisty road.”
“This week is teen safety awareness week; its purpose is to make sure that everyone wears their seatbelts and knows the effects that alcohol can have on them while they’re driving. Safety should be the number one thing you should think about while you’re driving. We want students to be smart, obey the law, and not let people talk them into doing stupid things behind the wheel.”
Darrell Estes School Resource Officer
“I love the sticker and the lollipop that I got because I was wearing my seatbelt this morning. I was being a safe citizen. I got lucky because my parking spot was before the long line, so I wasn’t sitting in the traffic it caused.” Elise Bartakke, 12
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indepth oct. 20, 2011
madlin mekelburg feature editor
“I was driving to school when the police officer pulled me over to the side of the street. Then, people from leadership came over and gave me a lollipop and a sticker for wearing my seat-belt. It was exciting.” Kaylie Brown, 12
michelle lorusso indepth editor
lsabella kidane
Morgan Bayer, 12
“Its name is Dumbo because it looks like the elephant. I inherited it from my aunt and uncle for free, and it’s like my baby; I love it. It’s kind of annoying though, because whatever I want it to do, it doesn’t do.”
courtesy of mimi dabestani
Mimi Dabestani, 12
“People say my car is an old person car because it’s painted white, but I think that the white makes it classy. During the winter, I turn on the [seat] indepth warmer, turn up the heat and put my top oct. 20, 2011 down; it’s like a sauna in my car.”
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pinions
Students weigh in on controversial topcs in our daily lives
Many teen drivers lack the responsibility and maturity that is expected and required to be safe drivers It happens more often than you think. From big Allowing irresponsible drivers on the road is a safety crashes to fender benders, statistics show that teen drivers hazard for teen and adult drivers alike, as well as pedestrians. are more likely to get in collisions than adults. Alcohol and If a driver is not aware of his or her surroundings, all people distractions such as music and texting are prominent factors in the general vicinity are at risk. While many teen drivers in teen collisions, which raises the question: are teens mature think they are good at driving, most teens actually don’t have enough to obtain a driver’s license? enough experience to even be considered decent drivers. Most people may say “yes” at first. If high schoolers Parents should at least keep track of their teen’s driving habits did not possess the maturity that is necessary to be a in order to ensure maximum safety on the roads. responsible driver, the DMV would not let them get their Some parents are too trusting of their teens and licenses. However, there is no “maturity test” administered therefore do not keep a close watch on their driving habits. by the DMV. In order to obtain a license, a This lack of discipline on the part of the parents The Staff Editorial prospective driver must complete 45 hours of gives teens a sense of freedom and increases driving with a parent or guardian while they have is the official opinion recklessness due to lack of consequences. Again, of the Outlook their learner’s permit and in addition complete parents should have a stronger presence in the a behind-the-wheel program and a driving test monitoring of teen driving. administered by the DMV. After that, the parents of teens are While a “maturity test” administered by the DMV the only ones who stand between them and the road. is idealistic, it is not at all realistic and will probably never Teens are often subject to peer pressure and happen. No steps can really be taken by the DMV to keep therefore don’t always make thoughtful decisions. Texting irresponsible teen drivers off the road as long as they are able and driving, drinking and driving, or just not paying attention to pass the driving test, which leaves their fate in the hands while driving are all common issues among teen drivers. of their parents. As most parents don’t heavily monitor their While some teens are extremely accountable and are not likely children’s driving once they receive their license, only the to practice irresponsible driving, there is no distinct line that awareness of irresponsible driving can increase our safety on can be drawn between those who are accountable and those the roads. who are not.
chris graham
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opinions oct. 20, 2011
The anti-bullying frenzy has finally crossed the line express their feelings no matter how mean those feelings are, as long as it does not take place in school. Although schools absolutely have to enforce anti-bullying rules in order to promote a good learning experience, they should not be enforcing school rules outside of school. The most hyped form of bullying is certainly cyberbullying, which is due to all of the new technology that has been developed in the past decade. The internet has allowed people to communicate with the world or a specific person anytime and anywhere. Social networking, email and even texting are common tools for kids to attack one another. Anti-bullying laws have also brought the hammer down on the internet, which once again is the wrong thing to do. The internet is not school, and it should not be treated like school. The argument for laws that prohibit certain types of speech outside of school is that being bullied can affect your learning experience. If that’s the case, then pretty much anything can be considered bullying. If a coach benches a student, and that
student becomes so upset that he cannot focus in school, is the coach bullying the student? No, absolutely not. The government should focus on protecting the learning environment in school and leave everything else alone. Strict anti-bullying laws can also be very expensive. When a student is bullied, the school district can be sued by parents for not protecting students adequately enough. New Jersey schools are even required to train staff to deal with bullying. This can become a huge financial burden for counties. No matter what anybody does, there will always be bullying. Just because a law is passed does not mean that all of the sudden no one will pick on anyone just because they could get in trouble. We as a nation cannot overreact to bullying by allowing the government to intrude into people’s lives and regulate everything they say. What makes this country so great is that we have unalienable rights. It would not be right to enforce laws that intrude on the First alex xenos Amendment.
staff writer
Submitting homework online is a step in the right direction for both students and teachers
As technology continues to march forward, it seems no aspect of our life can be left the way it was. Even school has gotten with the times, and homework traditionally done with paper and pencil is not immune to change. Starting this year, a few teachers have began using SafeAssign, a program that much like digital drop box, allows students to turn in assignments through Blackboard. Instead of major assignments that are being turned in, SafeAssign is being used to turn in assignments more along the lines of a paragraph in length.
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opinions oct. 20, 2011
I look forward to these changes, for they make it easier for both the student and the teacher to do or grade the assignment. We are already at a computer so much these days that it only makes sense to do more of our work at a computer. Distractions aside, having a computer and the internet at your fingertips while doing an assignment makes it incredibly easy to research anything you might not know and in addition gives you the option to use a very useful feature that goes by the name of spell-check. Having the occasional extension due to a power outage never hurts either. For teachers the use of
rawan elbaba
O
ver the past decade, bullying has received an extravagant amount of attention for good reason. It seems no matter where you go for your news, there is a story about how bullying has affected schools and students. Even the nightly news often reports stories of bullying. In fact, just this month a teen named Jamey Rodemeyer committed suicide after being bullied, and it is getting a large amount of coverage by major news outlets such as Yahoo and ABC. All this attention has put pressure on legislators at the state and local level to get laws passed that crack down on bullies. Some states such as New Jersey even regulate what people say outside of school in their free time. But, are lawmakers going too far? The answer is definitely yes. Once the government starts deciding what someone can and cannot say outside of school, they are overstepping their boundaries. The first amendment protects the right to freedom of speech. Of course schools need to take action and some laws may even need to be passed, but we do have a constitution and this is America. People have the right to
SafeAssign means not only less papers but also papers that are easier to read (no messy handwriting) and much more portable since many can be easily stored on a flash drive or a computer. There will be a time when we do all our homework online, and this is a step in that direction. Turning assignments in online makes things easier, faster, and just makes sense considering all that we do on our computers and online.
oliver lopez-gomez staff writer
FDA’s faux-organic revolution
Organic food regulations do not pass FDA inspections There is a loophole in food labeling that allows non-organic food to be labeled as “organic” without the FDA’s logo. Since many consumers don’t look for this logo, they end up paying extra for food that isn’t actually organic; they get ripped off because they are paying more for the same product. The FDA has done nothing to stop this international scam. There are no laws stopping food manufacturers and they are making tons of money by advertising that they are part of a false organic revolution. Many people have tried to bring this to the public’s attention, but the news has been focused on recent political scandals and celebrity “news,” drawing the spotlight away from this extortion. Food related news almost never gets the attention it deserves unless it involves poisoning. Food regulation has definitely improved from its grimy disease-filled start, but the food industry still needs improvement.
kim gibbons
T
he rise of organic food has been so enormous and sudden that people have not realized it is mostly a giant scam. Most people believe that buying organic food is good for you, local farmers and the environment and that it is more expensive for a reason when it is not even organic food half of the time. Sometimes this it is actually organic, but much of the time manufacturers of so-called “organic” food do not meet FDA regulations for what is considered organic. In the late 90s, organic food became the new craze for consumers. The rise of organics was due to the release of conditions in which processed food was made and kept as well as the horrible treatment of animals. When this news hit, food manufacturers changed the way they made their food and really did improve the conditions in which the food was made. However after a while a few started slacking on their regulations. This downhill trend has led to flat out non-organic food being called “organic”.
daniel greene staff writer
High school seniors should take advantage of early decision college applications
W
ith all the craziness of college applications, many seniors find themselves contemplating which type of application they should submit to their respective colleges. Should they stress applications due before Thanksgiving or wait until winter break to finish? With how competitive college admittance has become, my parents and I have created different “game plans” to create an advantage against the countless northern Virginians applying to top universities, in state or out. It all begins with the November due date. When discussing it with my parents, we decided that my top choice school would definitely be my early decision school. Why stress so early in the school year? Why scramble to get all your test scores in the two test dates available before the application deadline? Well, because
schools are more willing to accept students that demonstrate a commitment to their school. My school is not as well known as the school that it is associated with, so they place a lot of emphasis on school loyalty. Most schools are like this because the more you want them, the more they want you. Now, early decision can only be used for one application, so seniors need to choose wisely which school will be lucky enough to receive it. Since most seniors have a top school choice, it is usually easy to decide which school will receive the application. Early action, on the other hand, can be sent to multiple schools, which offers students the opportunity to apply to many of their top schools, not just the one that they chose for decision for early decision. Although not as convincing as early decision, it definitely makes a stronger impression than regular
decision. It’s like a, “hey, I really like you,” compared to, “I think you’re interesting.” Now, regular decision is just a standard. It’s not bad at all, but students need to understand that they are being thrown into a pool consisting of applicants from all over the country. Some students are only doing regular decision, and it really confuses me that they are too lazy to send in an early application. Why risk not getting accepted to any schools? Let us think statistically. Compared to the couple thousand that may have gotten their acts together to send their application in early, regular decision consists of over ten times the amount. So seniors, keep your head in the game. It’s all about strategy, and this is a pretty easy one to follow.
cole neuffer news editor
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opinions oct. 20, 2011
Half day is not beneficial Underclassmen gain nothing from the PSAT
J
ust over a month into school, students are already counting down the days to winter vacation. Every rain day, holiday or half day in between has us thanking God for inclement weather, the pilgrims and Christopher Columbus for getting us the day off. On Oct. 12 we were given one more of those exalted half days. Maybe as a bribe, maybe as a reward, but whatever the reason, it was pointless. Freshmen took the ACT Explore, a supposed taste of the test that they take in three years. With more questions in the survey than the test itself, the Explore was more of a self-assessment than a real test of knowledge. With 20 minutes of class and two hours of testing, freshmen might as well have not come. If they really wanted to experience the ACT, there are many opportunities to take the actual exam outside of school. Sophomores took the PSAT, a preliminary look at the college assessment. The PSAT is primarily a search for the
National Merit Scholar Program. However, to qualify to be a National Merit Scholar, you must be a junior. Consequently, there was no point in sophomores taking the exam. If they wanted to practice taking standardized tests there are many practice exams available online and even given in the information booklet distributed by Oakton. The majority of sophomores spent the three hours apathetically bubbling in random answers anyway. Juniors also took the PSAT and are possibly the only ones that actually benefited from the day. Over 600 juniors had to sit for the exam, many of whom will never even have their test scored. Oakton charged a $17 fee for juniors who wanted to have the test scored but paid for sophomores to have their exam scored. Juniors who didn’t pay had no reason to be at school. Furthermore, only three percent of juniors nationwide that take the PSAT qualify for National Merit recognition, and less than one percent of students qualify
to become National Merit finalists. Many juniors just wasted their day taking yet another test. Seniors participated in Candidates Day, where State Senator Chap Petersen and Virginia Delegates Mark Keam and Jim LeMunyon spoke and had the seniors ask questions. While this was a great opportunity to get involved in politics, the majority of our seniors can’t even vote. The information given could have been found on the internet in the homes of interested students. Being at school was not necessary for them, either. The half day wasn’t bad; I was more than grateful to have a free afternoon. But if I have to wake up before the sun, I’d rather it be for something worthwhile. All these opportunities given by the school could also be taken advantage of at home on almost any Saturday afternoon, not at 7:20 a.m. on a rainy Wednesday jennifer prosser morning.
staff writer
Fairfax County’s Double-Edged Sword
F
airfax County is both a curse and a blessing as students are soon to discover the world outside the opulence. For the fiscal year of 2012, a $6.1 billion plan was approved for Fairfax County, providing $1.7 billion in disbursements to Fairfax County schools. In this 2012 Adopted Budget, the funds come directly from real estate taxes which Fairfax County is more than able to afford. A recent census provides that as the second wealthiest county in the United States, Fairfax County rakes in an average of $103,000 per household. This is only second to Loudoun County with a whopping average of nearly $120,000. What this means to you, the affluent offspring of this county, is that when you whine about how the collective “they” need to fix the vending machines that provide you with your daily dose of highfructose corn syrup, there might be more
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opinions oct. 20, 2011
pressing matters that “they” have to deal with, such as public safety and health and welfare. Concerning public safety, about $412 million goes toward fire and police departments, 911 and other deterrents of danger. Upon reading, questions you may pose regarding this information are “What do I gain from this?” and the ever-popular “What is the point?” Stop blathering and drill this through your skull: if this budget were not in place, your beloved football fields, tennis courts and yes, vending machines would cease to exist. As a product of the Fairfax County capitalist machine, you need to recognize and appreciate that most of you live in surplus, from the car you drive to the food you eat. Living near the nation’s capital, many take wealth of knowledge for granted, not to mention income. The focus of this argument stems from the utter lack of monetary maturity found throughout the
county as seen through vandalism, petty theft and other classic misdemeanors. Schools across America are not provided with near as much funding as is Fairfax County. For this, many residents can vouch; we live in excess and damn well know it. Classroom essentials we deem as basic as the SMART Board, we do not need in order to learn. Impoverished nations around the world still contribute to international business through their own form of learning. Learning should not take place only on campus, but in the air surrounding collaborative minds. The line in the sand between what is absolutely essential for a child’s education and what is best is determinate on the tax payers and in turn, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Dear reader, this is much bigger than you.
andy reed staff writer
sports in brief
1.
Volleyball Hopes to turn season around during districts
The volleyball team has had a little bit of a bumpy start to this season, beginning with a record of 9-11. The renovations to the main gym made it unusable for volleyball home games at the start of the season, making it difficult for the team to gain any real momentum. The team failed to turn the season around at its first home game during the Dig Pink event on Oct. 5, coming up just short of beating Madison. The team will compete in its District tournament beginning on Oct. 31, where it hopes to advance to the Regional tournament and repeat last year’s post season success despite its early season woes. The team will celebrate senior night on Oct. 27 vs. Robinson.
isabella kidane Volleyball team shakes hands at the conclusion of the Dig Pink Tournament on October 5.
3.
Cross Country runs over district opponents
4.
The cross country team has started its season well and hopes to continue to dominate. Both the boys and girls teams have produced top individual finishers and have placed highly in events as a team. The boys had three runners in the top 25 at the Great American meet in North Carolina on Oct. 1 and took the top five individual spots at the Concorde district’s first meet on Sept. 21 at Lake Fairfax when it placed first as a team. The girls team took first place at this meet, both as a team and with sophomore Robin Dixon’s impressive individual performance. The boys team placed fourth at the Oatlands Invitational on Sept. 17 where they competed against the 45 best teams in the state. The girls team placed fifteenth of 41 teams. Other meets where the teams placed highly include the Great Meadows Invitational and the Geraghty Invitational On Sept. 26 and 27, the golf team took at Mount Saint Mary’s University. part in the District championship tournaEach team will be competing in the ment at Twin Lakes Golf Course in ClifDistrict championship meet at the end of ton, where it finished third for the fourth year in a row, falling only five strokes short October. of advancing to the Regional tournament. play more difficult than usual. Although Lee, Lizardo and McGuinness all failed to advance However, dominating performances by senior captain Jackson Lizardo, junior cap- to the State tournament, Lee came up only one stroke short. tain John McGuinness and team number The Regional tournament marked the conone junior Ho Jae Lee allowed these three clusion of a successful season for the team, to advance as individuals to the Regional including a 3-1 record in District play and tournament. The Regional tournament took place on many top finishes in tournaments, including a second place finish in the Charger ChalOct.3 and 4 and was also played at Twin Lakes Golf Course. Wet and windy condi- lenge, a pre-season tournament sponsored by tions governed play, causing the course to Chantilly.
2.
Golf sends three players to regionals
Field Hockey coach set to leave during photo courtesy of grif barhight great season
After four years at Oakton, field hockey coach Kate Ruch announced on Oct. 13 that she will leave the school after the conclusion of this season. Ruch came to Oakton as head coach of the freshman team, but has coached varsity for the last three years. During that time she has led the team to a combined record of 33-25 and helped take the team to the regional semifinals last year. The announcement comes during the middle of the team’s best season since Ruch became head coach, as they have started off 13-3. The goal tending by senior Mira Tanenbaum this season has been phenomenal, as she has allowed only nine goals all season, including a tremendous streak of four straight shutouts. In addition to the excellent goalie play there have been other standout contributors such as senior forward Kara Leonard, who leads the team with eight goals scored thus far. After a 1-0 loss to McLean, the team rebounded with back-to-back wins over Fairfax and Centreville. While the start has been good, field hockey’s real test will come during Ruch’s last two regular season games against Centreville and Herndon. jackson lizardo staff writer
callum kelton staff writer
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sports oct. 20, 2011
Oakton fans have typically been known for their crazy antics and ridiculous chants and this year is no exception. The senior class has taken charge and organized school wide tailgates and themes with events like the grove street tailgate, to ramp up the atmosphere and keep the game charged. But themed tailgates are just one of the eccentric events planned by the student body. Aside from the typical body paint and glitter; some fans went above and beyond and dressed in full blown costumes. “Being a senior fan, you have obligations. The responsibility is on you to pump everyone up,” said Sam Buck, senior fan. At the Outback Bowl Sam unveiled his golden trashcan held on to his body by suspenders that he bangs with drumsticks in full body paint, helmet and aviators. Sam is only one of many fans with a unique costume, senior Mason Hauser
Excentric Fan Section Boosts Game Atmosphere
wore a king’s cape, hat and gold body paint. “Home games we have truly upped the insanity” said Buck, explaining the electrified crowd present at home games, fans are also starting to work their way into away games, becoming a force to be reckoned with such as at the Woodson game, where many students dressed as shirtless Batman characters for the blackout despite the weather. “I’m going to continue not wearing a shirt for the entire season, even when it gets cold” said Connor Howell, senior fan. That kind of dedication and fanatical energy is to be expected from the Oakton student section in the upcoming Concorde District games. spencer conley sports co-editor
Fans to Watch
1.
1. “I started basically because of the senior class last year. They were great. The tradition passed down, so I decided to go above and beyond the call of duty”...”This is our last year for high school football so we’ve got to go all out” said Buck.
3.
mimi dabestani
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sports oct. 20, 2011
2.
2. “ I decided on Tigger because of the alini suyama jungle theme, and well I’m a wild animal so I might as well dress like one”... “ I picked it up on my way to the game at a stop light from my friend’s trunk” said senior Max Harrison. 3. “I do it to distract the other team, and pretty much because it’s awesome. I don’t really ever plan anything, it’s a new outfit every game. It just haplizzy preising pens.” said senior Pat Goulding
allie berube
for breast cancer awareness
Volleyball players The annual Dig Pink volleyball match between Oakton and Bob Hekl Madison has traditionally been held to raise both money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. This year, Oakton hosted Dig Pink in the brand new gymnasium on Oct. 5. Not only was the match the first home game for the Lady Cougars, but it also had a deeper more personal meaning for the team, as many of the players have personal ties to the fight against cancer. “It’s very emotional because of how strongly my family has been affected by cancer,” said junior Emma Olson. “In a sense, I am playing for those in my family who have had cancer.” Dig Pink is not only special to the play-
ers, but Freshman Volleyball Coach Rick Dunetz also has extremely personal ties to the event. During his coaching tenure at West Springfield his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. His struggling team turned around its record and became an inspiration for Dunetz’s mother’s fight against breast cancer. Due to his mother’s condition, in 2004, Dunetz started the Side-Out Foundation, which raises money for breast cancer research through volleyball and Dig Pink events. “His mom died from breast cancer last year and he kept coaching us and taught us to be strong no matter what,” said sophomore Melisa Ozcan. Similar to Dunetz, many of the players used their own stories of cancer awareness and those loved ones affected by cancer as motivation. “It makes us play harder knowing we are playing for a good cause,” Ozcan said. Due to the importance of Dig Pink in the community and within Oakton’s coaching staff, some of the players felt the
Abby Mills Junior Varsity Volleyball What does Dig pink mean to you?
To me it means we are playing a volleyball game to raise money for people fighting for their live.
How does Dig Pink affect you as a bob hekl team?
It brings us all together to play for a good cause What makes Dig Pink special?
Someone very close to me has breast cancer so I play this game for her.
Do you feel more pressure during Dig Pink than you normally would?
Yes, because a lot of people come to watch us play
pressure to perform. “I feel a little more pressure because of the large crowd and because it’s a special night so you want to play your absolute best,” Olson said. Although the games were personal and forced all three volleyball teams to play their best, only the junior varsity team won 2-0, freshman lost 1-2 and varsity lost in a game that went to five sets 2-3. Although the varsity team has a record of 9-11, it will look to pull out key wins at the end of the regular season against Herndon, Centreville, Westfield, and Robinson in order to get into the playoffs.
christian forbes staff writer nathan lalande staff writer
Emily Beekman Sophomore JV Volleyball
isabella kidane
What does Dig Pink mean to you?
Dig Pink is a time for all the teams to come together and really support breast cancer in a fun way. How does Dig Pink affect you as a team?
Everyone on the team knows someone who is a survivor or has died from some sort of cancer and that really helps motivate us to do well. What makes Dig Pink special?
Our freshman coach last year was the founder of the Dig Pink organization so that really makes it that much more special to us. His mother also died last year from breast cancer so we really go all out for the Dig Pink games. Do you feel more pressure during Dig Pink than you normally would?
I do feel more pressure because more people are there to watch it and they all want us to win, but once I start playing the nerves go away.
isabella kidane
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sports oct. 20, 2011
Boom or Bust:
The Redksins’ Quest For Glory
PASSING PLAYER
Att
Comp
Yards
TD
Starting the season off with more wins than losses can put a lot of hype behind a team, but the thing that really counts is Rex Grossman 143 83 989 6 whether or not the team can live up to the hype. Since 2005, the Washington Redskins have started off four of their seasons, including this year, with a record of 3-1. A strong start to a season almost always guarantees one thing off the Att Yards PLAYER Avg TD field, the fans will be pumped. No matter what team you root for, witnessing your team Tim Hightower 67 233 3.5 1 start out with a winning record is always an exciting thing. The question that all fans have for the Redskins now is, if Ryan Torain 19 135 7.1 1 the playoffs are in the near future. Obviously the season has just started, and there is a lot of football left to be played, but that does not mean people can’t begin to have hope. Only six of each conference’s 16 teams will make the Att Yards Avg TD playoffs, and the NFC East Champion usually ends up bePLAYER ing one of the strongest teams in the NFC. However, not winning the NFC East doesn’t mean the Skins can’t make 15.5 1 Fred Davis 16 248 the playoffs; one must never count out those two magical wild card spots. If there is one thing that every sports fan 21 11.7 2 Santana Moss 246 knows it’s that anything can happen. No matter what sport or what season, the odds are Jabar Gaffney 17 238 14.0 1 always defied, upsets will occur, and the quest to become champion is open to anyone. Injuries and miracles, among other things, plague the field left and right, creating a detour into one’s plans for the season. While it may seem like a long shot to many, the Redskins could be on a detour that takes them to the NFL promise land, with a playoff berth. Until the playoffs though, conner dick Redskins fans can only do one thing: believe. staff writer
RUSHING
RECEIVING
Dominating the Concorde: Football proves their “real”
allie berube Tuck Masker punches into the endzone for the first score of the night on a five-yard run to tie the game up 7-7. Oakton ended up beating the Chargers 21-14 on Oct. 14.
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sports oct. 20, 2011
Oakton sent a message to the Northern Region in their 21-14 win over district rival Chantilly. Not only did the student section come out in full force, but the team was determined to put the pretenders discussion from around the region to rest. The Cougars managed to hang on for the win securing a 4-0 sweep of Chantilly for the seniors’ tenure at Oakton. “I was saying we’ve been waiting 12 years for this and now we got to prove it in four quarters and we did,” said senior quarterback Tuck Masker. The offense came out a little cold and failed to establish a consistent rhythm in the first half on two 3-and-outs and a fumble on their own 18 yard line. “[But] we’re a team where if you give us any air to breathe, one spark, we’re off,” Masker said. “We’re going to get confidence in ourselves and there’s no stopping us, so it all comes down to confidence.” Oakton ignited a wave of offensive pressure and began to move the chains in the second quarter. On the backs of the running backs and Masker, the offense drove the 54-yards to the end zone, and the QB punched it on a five-yard run and seven minutes later rushed for another TD. By the middle of the third quarter Masker connected with senior wide receiver Stephen Lambrides on a 36 yard pass. The biggest play from the defense came with
about 30 seconds on the clock with the score at 2114. On the Cougars’ nine-yard line, Chantilly QB Romine scrambled to his right and found a hole. Senior defensive back Michael Durst noticed the run, lined up and managed to strip the ball from Romine on the four-yard line and senior lineback CJ Reimann recovered the ball. “I thought we made some plays, gave up some plays too, but we tried to compensate for that by making plays when we had to,” Reimann said. In one of the Cougars most impressive wins to date, the atmosphere was some of the best football you’ll see in the Concorde. Oakton fans went out to prove they were not a lackluster student section and came out in a dominant white-out. And the team that was questioned on their ability and were labeled fourth in the Concorde, came out to prove something to the entire region. “All week there were critics out to get us, no one thought we could do it,” Masker said. “All that stuff that goes on outside of us puts no pressure on us, we put all the pressure on us because we know we can get em. We believe in ourselves so we put pressure on ourselves. Oakton’s real. That’s all I’m saying; Oakton’s real. We’re not a hoax.” allie berube sports co-editor
arts & entertainment Quick halloween costumes on a dime
H
aving trouble finding an affordable halloween costume? This year, instead of conforming to the usual stereotypes of provocative cat, seductive superhero or creeper around the corner try some of these DIY options to inspire fear in your friends. Let’s keep things G-rated kids.
Pumpkin head
Pencil walrus
Materials: a cheap jack-o-lantern and awesome photoshop skills Description: for those who are on the less creative side, this horrible excuse for a costume takes years of practice in the art of slacking off
Materials: two pencils resembling menacing tusks Description: a costume for an especially large and commanding figure. It takes an immense amounts of sass and attitude to pull this look off.
Scare Factor:
erin bennett emma mankin andy reed staff writers
Scare Factor:
emma mankin
emma mankin
Grocery bag ghost
Cardboard transformer
Scare Factor:
Scare Factor: Materials: any array of boxes to suit your fancy Description: a rectangular adventure, this intimidating outfit will be sure to frighten the yappy neighborhood terrier that ruined your best pair of Air Jordans
Materials: a high quality plastic bag from the nearest dumpster Description: an all-time classic with the abilities to scare any one from the cranky old man to the little kid across the street emma mankin
emma mankin
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a&e oct. 20, 2011
Rise of the underground music industry as profitable but he has sold out all of his shows on his latest tour “Websters Lab” compared to when he first started performing for only 10 people. In an interview on Youtube, he stated “the reason I don’t sign with a label is that I’ve started a business and I don’t want to be bought out by the local big chain.” It is undisputable that these rappers have met major success but they still haven’t come close to competing signed rappers who have advertising, sponsors and more artists to work with. These artists like Eminem and his net worth of $150 million along with 50 Cent’s $250 million (half of 50 Cent’s
courtesy of official website
I
n the last few years a shift has occurred in the genre of rap music allowing unsigned artists to gain notoriety. The internet has allowed unsigned artists to get their music out on download sharing websites, allowing millions of fans to discover them. In the past it was nearly impossible to get any momentum in their careers without going through a record label. The labels are trying to keep up with this new trend, but some artists are giving away their albums for free so new fans will download them. This makes it nearly impossible for labels to compensate and they are taking heavy losses. The most notable of these underground rappers are Mac Miller, Chris Webby and Wiz Khalifa. Miller has already made over 1.5 million dollars in his career but he recently signed with a label to go main stream. Webby’s success has not been nearly
money is from a $100 million deal with Coke for buying his self-started Vitamin Water) still have a huge advantage and a much bigger fan base that unsigned artists could only dream of achieving. Underground rappers use websites to get their music known. Typically they give it away for free so people will not hesitate to download it. The websites they tend to use include datpiff where people can download thousands of albums for free. Youtube is also used to post music videos, songs and interviews for publicity. Whether underground becomes the new mainstream or it just fades away, the change that has happened shows how big of an impact a single website can have on the music industry.
daniel greene staff writer
Joe Brooks: the next John Mayer courtesy of official website
F
or the past two years, British singer Joe Brooks has swept young teens off their feet with his charming ambiance, quirky lyrics and acoustic ballads. Brooks began his career in 2008 as an unsigned artist but soon got the attention of many record labels after selling out two concerts in the UK. He was recently dropped by Lava Records as he did not want to conform to the American standards of “good music.” Still unsigned, Brooks continues to release CDs and perform in concerts, abiding by his own rules and concept of what makes great music. On Oct. 2, Brooks performed at Jammin’ Java where he sang a few of his favorite songs off his first EP Constellation Me to
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the background noise of screaming girls. The night started off with Kevin Daniel and Langley High School alumni, Chelsea Lee, singing in amazingly on-beat chords. After the opening acts, Joe Brooks graced the stage with a low “hello” in his coveted British accent and the venue erupted in girlish screams and synchronized claps. Brooks began his performance with “Someday,” followed by several of his other songs and an occasional blend of his own music with other well known songs like Jessie J’s “Price Tag.” Although his fall tour is meant to promote his new EP A Reason to Swim, released on the first week of September, Brooks only sang one song from this album, focusing more on his widely-known songs from previous EPs. In an attempt to change the atmosphere, Brooks encouraged the audience to scream their lungs out as he sang his most well-known song “Superman.” While his songs were delivered with perfection, what really brought light to his performance was his interaction with his audience, as well as with his guitarist and pianist on stage. Their silly jokes and crazy expressions showed their personality and allowed the enthusiastic audience to relate
to these twenty-something year olds as they sang their hearts out and showered the room with incredible harmony. The night came to a conclusion with about 50 young girls lining up to meet and greet the heartthrob. At only 24 years old, Brooks has already been able to accomplish what many of us can only dream of. With such high ratings and an abundant amount of talent; the future of this British sensation seems to be very bright.
isabella kidane photo editor
Footloose brings more energy than expected A 1984 classic becomes something modern and angsty “Footloose,” an ‘80s classic, has recently been revamped into a film fit for this generation’s standards. The original, starring Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer, was a successful box office hit, but it is still too early to tell how well the new one compares in the box office. The new storyline begins with a fatal car crash that kills five teenagers who were going home from a party. As a result, a parent of one of the victims, a respected reverend in the fictional small town of Bomont, Georgia, sets a strict ban on music and public dancing. Although moving to a small town where dancing is outlawed is a bit outlandish, the new “Footloose” does a better job at making it believable while in the 1984 version it takes a while to set in. Three years later, Ren McCormack, played by Kenny Wormald, is in for some problems after he moves to Bomont from Boston when he sets up a reputation as a “troublemaker.” Luckily, he gains two helpful friends, Willard, played by Miles Teller and Woody, played by Ser’Darius Blain, who both add humor to the plot. The characters in the 2011 version are more likable and moments such as Willard’s inability to dance are some of the best parts in the movie, making him the star for a good portion. However, there is a greater emotional aspect in
vs.
the first movie that goes beyond the teen angst and fear. Both stories reveal the true character of Ariel, the preacher’s rebellious daughter, as she tries to deal with the strict rules imposed on her, but the new film adds the grief of her brother’s death, as well. Julianne Hough, who plays Ariel, is known for being on “Dancing With the Stars” and her country music career, although she only dances in the movie. The audience can be satisfied that the storyline has not changed drastically, although new scenes were added and others were taken away, courtesy of paramount pictures as was bound to happen. The new “Footloose” is a lot more vibrant, and scenes move at a quicker pace, preventing any boring or lengthy parts. Also, humor plays a larger role and what’s not to love about that? Although character development was not excellent, the remake was easier to get into and packed with a lot of energy that outdid the original. Also, for actors with not much acting experience, it held up for an enjoyable 113 minutes. So if you’re willing to watch it, watch it for Willard and Ren’s incredible dancing. “I can promise Footloose fans that I will be true to the spirit of the original film. But I still gotta put my own Southern grit into it and courtesy of paramount pictures kick it into 2011,” said Craig Brewer, writer melanie aguilar-rojas and director, in a recent interview.
Comparing two popular e-readers
Features kindle
none*
QWERTY
nook
none*
touchscreen
Features
WiFi at AT&T hotspots
kindle nook
includes free 3G access free access at B&N Stores
Battery life
2 0 1 1
staff writer
Color
LCD Screen
1 9 8 4
Mp3 capability
Holds
Free books available
Storage
Text-tospeech
Price
Keyboard
Weight
60 days
3,500 books
4GB
$139
8.7 oz
60 days
1,500 books
2GB
$139
11.6 oz
*Kindle Keyboard 3G used for review
courtesy of amazon and barnes and noble
Amazon has announced that “Kindle Fire” with color will be available on Nov. 15, 2011. “NookColor” is already available.
caroline hipwell melanie aguilar-rojas staff writers
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Taste Questing: Northern VA’s....
Best Supermarket Sushi
Genji Brown Rice Spicy Shrimp Tempura Rolls ($7.99 / 7.0 oz package)
Media Mix
While this variety stands out for its unique ingredients such as shellfish eggs, the brown rice is a bit too dry. Although the product is labeled as “spicy,” the actual spiciness is barely noticeable, if there is any at all. Nevertheless, those who prefer more savory flavors such as that in soy sauce should consider purchasing a package. These rolls contain a reasonable total of 410 calories. com
ns. gma
we
marilyn yang
Cooked Spicy Shrimp Rolls ($5.99 / 5.5 oz package) Although the smallest in individual size, these are the most flavorful. The relatively thin rice layer highlights the mildly spicy sauce which is counterbalanced by fresh cucumber bits. The eye-pleasing modern packaging also deserves to be noted. Not only is the product visually appealing, but its ingredients also taste fresh which is a pleasant surprise for supermarket sushi. In addition, this selection is quite healthy with only 280 calories per package.
Fujisan Chipotle Surimi Rolls ($2.99 / 4.5 oz package)
maril
yn ya
The cheapest and least conventional of the three, these surimi rolls were unexpectedly delicious. With an innovative blend of Latin American and Asian tastes, these rolls might even be able to impress those who do not particularly enjoy sushi. The only downside is that these rolls are made with “imitation crab meat,” which is a mixture of fish including flounder, rather than genuine fresh crab meat. A package of four has only 200 calories and can serve as a healthier substitute for similarly flavored tacos or burritos. marilyn yang copy editor
New Blink-182: well worth the wait
hoods,” which courageously ventures in the same direction as Blink’s 2003 self-titled album. It’s mature and stunningly progressive. Travis Barker, one of the most prolific drummers of our time, is consistently astounding on every track. Guitarist Tom DeLonge has grown immensely as a proficient songwriter, as demonstrated in the tracks “Ghost on the Dance Floor,” “Snake Charmer” and “Wishing Well.” Last but not least, Mark Hoppus, bassist, brings They made a name for themselves as something different to the table: the dark uncouth heroes of pop-punk and potty style of lyricism that distinguishes the past humor, they were the soundtrack for a gen- two Blink albums from the rest. The three eration of hooligans, they toured the world, of them come together in an extraordinary they built an astronomic fan base and they display of musicianship. broke countless hearts when they split up At some points, it’s pretty obvious that in 2005. Now, after an agonizing eight-year the album was recorded disjointedly with hiatus, Blink-182 is finally back with an different members in different studios like unconventional new album, “Neighborduring the songs “Kaleidoscope” and single
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ng
MUSIC all images from official websites
“Up All Night.” Instead of clashing, however, the distinct characteristics harmonize in a uniquely Blink-ish way, and those songs are some of the best of the record. While some nostalgic fans had hoped for an album reminiscent of old-school Blink, the band’s new approach is still energetic and angsty, and anyone who’s been to a concert recently can confirm that the guys have not let up on the sophomoric poop jokes. Also, the tracks “Wishing Well” and “MH 4.18.2011” are pop-punk masterpieces that any fan can enjoy. I’m left with only one question: have I been singing “Snake Charmer” obnoxiously in the shower and playing the whole album on repeat for a month because I’m just a total dork about this band? Or is it just that good? Probably both. sofia crutchfield staff writer
5
apps of the month
1. Band of the Day Band of the Day is unique and user friendly app that introduces the user to a new musical artist or band every day. It allows access to bios, reviews, videos, and ready-to-listen tracks from the band. This is definitely the app for avid downloaders in search of the next big thing. Price: FREE
3. Couch to 5k Although lacking steroidinduced-looking muscles and a thick Austrian accent, this app is just as motivating as your own personal trainer. Beginning with a series of simple workouts anywhere from 20-30 minutes, the application promises that you will be able to run a 5k run without stopping. For those attempting to stay fit in preperation of the oncoming pumpkin pie and gingerbread cookies. Price: $2.99
2. SAT Vocab This is the perfect app for those Juniors and Seniors taking the upcoming SATs. This app is your own personal digital stack of flash cards. Brush up on your vocab and expand your lexicon in preparation for the standardized tests that could define your life. *Note: If you don’t know what lexicon means, get this app. Price: FREE
4. Jenga Tap- Tap Revenge is fun and we’ve all played our fair share of Words with Friends, but what about the classics? This app takes the family-favorite game
and turns it into a touch screen success. For those unfamiliar with the original Jenga, the objective of the game is to remove a single wooden block from a tower of blocks while trying to maintain the balance of the tower. In the app the virtual tower will sway to-and-fro indicating where the next block should be picked. This app is the perfect boredom breaker; a high school student’s must-have. Price: $0.99
5. Fandango The Fandango app is for anyone who enjoys a typical Saturday night at the movies. The app allows you to view trailers, see movie times in your local theatres, read reviews written by recent viewers, and purchase tickets right from your phone. The new version of the app even allows for reserved seating so you can choose where you want to sit back and enjoy the show. Price: FREE emma mankin a&e editor
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ATTENTION
SENIORS KNOW A SENIOR?
JOHN
JOHNSON
Dear John, Watching you grow has been the best experience of my life. I am so proud of the man you have become. You should always know that you’re father and I are here for you for the rest of our lives. We can’t wait to see the amazing things you’re going to do in college. Love you forever, Mom + Dad
WANT TO PUT BABY PICTURES OF THEM IN THE YEARBOOK?
BUY A BABY AD FORMS TO PURCHASE AN AD ARE AVAILABLE IN ROOM 196 AND ON THE OAKTON HS WEBSITE
BUY YOUR AD SOON OMG AS SPACE IS RUNNING OUT
oakton media group
ADS START AT 1 UNIT FOR ONLY $51 AND ARE SOLD IN 1 UNIT, 2 UNITS, 3 UNITS, 4 UNITS, HALF PAGE (6 UNITS) OR A FULL PAGE (12 UNITS)