3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030 FHSRebelRoar@gmail.com
April 1, 2009 Volume LXXVI, Issue 8
Online confessions PostSecret revealed Point. Set . Match. Tennis team has high hopes
Hitting the road:
College Road Trip
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This month in
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drop due to Wii Senioritis epidemic spreads to administration
RebelNEWS News Briefs &
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Calendar Westboro Baptist Church protests at FHS Paying for college: Seniors earn scholarships Music Department performs at Disney World
RebelENTERTAINMENT Dress to impress with
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RebelSPORTS
CoverSTORY
RebelHUMOR Testosterone levels
12 & 13
18 & 19 20 22 23
Pack the van, it’s road trip time Visit colleges over spring break
Skateboarding v2.0: Longboarding
RebelCOMMENTARY To help or not to help,
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that is the question Not everyone loves Hannah Montana
RebelFEATURES Dolphin Olympics 2
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FHS Baseball supports breast cancer Tennis player Sidarth Balaji aims high Student v. Faculty basketball photospread
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Rebel TRA COVERAGE
achieves popularity in FHS Stand up for the earth, so buy a shirt
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A look back: Spring Pep Rally 2009
Spring fashion trends New school band: The Celestials
Photo courtesy of Harleen Sohi.
Staff 08-09 Editor in Chief James Lee Catherine Treyz
Managing Editor Andrew Dilworth
News Editor Dan Webster Kevin Poon
Commentary Editor Kevin Dowd
Entertainment Editor Michael Dadok Myriam Tchatchouang
Features Editor Anurag Bhatnagar Annelise Jensen
Sports Editor Jean DeOrnellas
Copy Editor Aditya Bhatnagar
Business Manager Jordan Sharpe Aneela Wadan
Photography Editor Lindesy Bush
Staff Writer
Noor Abughannam Brian Berenbaum Abdoul Bouarfa Jacob Fulmer Steven Kendall Eric Lesher Melissa Lin Caitlin Noone Wardah Rashid Allie Sawyer Zafar Shaw Emily Taylor Alex Woodill
Adviser
Lauren Millette
The Rebel Roar is published as a public forum of student expression. Letters to the Editor encouraged. Only signed letters are considered for publication. The editors reserve the right to edit all material in the interest of clarity and space. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the staff or school administration. The staff writes unsigned editorials
on a majority basis. The Rebel Roar accepts all advertisements deemed appropriate for a public forum meant for young adults and are subject to the discretion of the editors. Students are encouraged to take an active voice in the student publication. Questions, comments, and letters can be e-mailed to FHSRebelRoar@gmail. com.
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Dear Readers, April showers bring more than May flowers—they bring in a flood of college decision letters, too. For the past couple of months, seniors have been waiting constantly checking their e-mails and their mailboxes for their college decisions. For many of you seniors, decision day is near or it has, perhaps, already arrived. Congratulations to all of you who have been accepted to the colleges of your choice, but remember, the culmination of our four years of hard work is not entirely present in an e-mail or paper decision, but in the diploma we will receive on Graduation Day. With that being said, we on the Rebel Roar are always thinking of what’s ahead in the future for younger Rebels. This month, features editor Anurag Bhatnagar and staff writer Jake Fulmer have collected information on popular colleges that many juniors and sophomores are thinking about applying to in the next couple of years. Spring Break is a great time to go on college tours, and from experience, college tours were very valuable during the application process. And for those you who aren’t spending their Spring Break on college tours, we on the Rebel Roar wish you a relaxing vacation before we begin the final push of the school year.
Happy SB ‘09,
Photo courtesy of Harleen Sohi.
Humor
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Video games decrease in players’ masculinity Studies show lower levels of manliness associated with Wii
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intendo. It’s a household name in the United States, and those of us who grew up during the 90’s have firsthand experience with their consoles and their games. Many kids dedicated many hours every day to Super Mario, Super Smash Brothers, Pokémon, and other memorable titles. Continuing into the new millennium, many kids got GameCubes and continued to enjoy the playful, family-friendly titles that Nintendo put out. However, this was also the time when many kids split away from the Nintendo franchise for the first time, purchasing Microsoft’s Xbox and the Sony Playstation. The choices made at that moment created a gaming rift between kids that has lasted to this day, with rivalries between fanboys of the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii. These rivalries cause constant arguments between the three groups: the 360 fans claim to have better games, the PS3 fans claim to have better graphics, and the Wii fans claim to have the most fun games. More importantly, fans of each claim that the other systems have major faults. The attacks on systems criticize the Xbox 360’s graphics, the PS3’s price, and the Wii’s masculinity. Unfortunately for fans of the Wii, the arguments against their console have recently been statistically proven. A study published by Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Cornell Universities tested a group of over 10,000,000 males from the ages of 12-25 to test the effect of video game consoles on masculinity. The results of the study were shockingly conclusive, showing that 99% of males who played either the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3 featured more masculine physical traits and showed that others perceived them as masculine. The Nintendo Wii however, had severely different results: only 6.5% of males who played the Nintendo Wii were considered physically masculine. Even more surprising, of the 6.5% who were masculine Wii players, 88% of them frequently played one of the other two consoles. If you want to ensure the safety of your masculinity, the choice is clear. Sell the Wii and all of its space-
An average Xbox loses “manly” points by switching over to the Wii. Photo illustration by Dan Webster. consuming accessories. Spend the profits on a manlier system, or perhaps on none at all.
Dan Webster ‘10 News Editor
By the numbers...
99%
of 360 or PS3 players that are perceived to be more masculine than Wii players
of males Wii players who are perceived to be masculine
6.5%
88%
percentage of the 6.5% masculine Wii players who frequently play other consoles
Say goodbye to 12 AP tests in May F
airfax County has been hit hard by the economic downturn. In a last ditch effort to keep school running without severely draining the budget, Superintendent Dr. Jack D. Dale has signed off on the cancellation of select AP tests. Canceled AP tests include: US/VA History, Human Geography, Calculus AB, Music Composition, World History, Physics B and C, Biology, Spanish, German, Latin, and Chemistry. “I was both relieved and worried when I first heard about this. At first, I thought it was a joke, but I confirmed it with my teachers,” said junior Katie Choe. “I was happy that I no longer had to study as hard for my AP classes, but the drawback was that I would not receive the college credits for taking Advance Placement classes and passing the exams.” Instead of written exams, which can cost up to $27 per student, students will earn the
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extra 1.0 GPA bonus based on a merit system. The teacher will be allowed to reward the top half of their classes with the 1.0 but the bottom half will only receive a 0.5 GPA bonus. Students will also have a chance to earn the college credits by successfully completing an oral exam with their teacher. Teachers will read questions from a booklet to the student in an isolated room. Essays will now be short answers to be completed in front of a certified proctor. “I think the oral exams in place of the written paper test will help to save the school lots of money, considering the amount of people taking AP courses. For my AP World [History] short answer portion, I think I should brush up on my public speaking skills,” said sophomore Justin Lee. If you believed any word of this article, you probably Senior Christine Tran gets rid of her unnecessary AP test guide booklet. After hearing word of should not be in an AP class. the cancelled tests, “I just didn’t see the need to study and review the material,” she said.
Kevin Poon ‘10
Photo by Kevin Poon.
News Editor
Senioritis strikes more than just students F airfax principal, Dr. Scott Braband, Dr. Braband has recently been made a surprising announcement seen shuffling around in flip flops, this past Thursday when he changed wearing sweatpants, and sporting the school’s an “I-don’tofficial slogan care” hairstyle. I’ve been at this school from “The His attitude the same amount of time as Main Thing” and decline in the class of 2009, and I feel to, “I’ll get to it attendance has like I’m graduating, too. later, maybe.” gone mostly Fairfax has unnoticed by Senioritis has hit me, hard. been focused the student -Dr. Scott Brabrand on keeping body, which “the Main Thing the Main Thing” is usually asleep or discussing since 2005, when Dr. Braband was beach week plans. “I heard Dr. hired as principal. “I’ve been at this Brabrand might even come to school the same amount of time as Ocean City with us,” senior Cory the class of 2009, and I feel like I’m Apps said while hanging out in the graduating, too. Senioritis has hit parking lot during third period. me, hard,” he said with a yawn. Some parents are worried that
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Dr. Braband’s attitude might spread to the underclassmen. “I knew something was wrong when he asked us to call him ‘Doc’ at the last PTA meeting,” said a concerned parent. Although there is no known cure for senioritis other than graduation, county-wide school officials hope that when the seniors leave, so will Dr. Braband’s apathetic attitude. Superintendent Dr. Jack Dale said, “If he doesn’t change his attitude, I will not refrain from holding him back for another year. I’m fed up with him falling asleep during all of my meetings.”
Caitlin Noone ‘09 Staff Writer
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Students have a ‘bandload’ of fun on Spring Trip
O FHS students enjoy the sunny weather and scenes of Disney World during their music competition in Orlando, Florida. The musicians had a chance to take a well-deserved break from all the rehersals and performances with a free day in the park. Photos courtesy of Allie Bosco and Melissa Lin.
ver spring break, many students will relax and take a break from all the stressful schoolwork. Others will go on vacation with family and friends. Just a few days before break, the Music Department took a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The band, chorus, and orchestra students were accompanied by all the teachers from the music department on this fun filled field trip. The trip was not all fun and games. The students were required to compete against 16 to 20 other high schools. Band, chorus and orchestra all performed at Hollywood Studios in Disney World, but the Concert Symphonic Band also played at Saratoga Springs. Junior Allie Bosco said, “This was a great opportunity to get to know my orchestra friends and also crush the competition. The orchestra is like a big family and it’s not everyday that you get to go to Orlando without your parents. Let’s face it: it’s Disney World and that’s the highlight of the trip.” Many of the students started counting down the days until their departure on March 25, since February, but were dreading March 28, when they had to return. Although it was only a three-day trip and they were required to perform and compete, there was time for fun. Band director Ms. Meghan Benson explained that while on the trip, “Performing was our top priority, but all the other time when they were not competing, of course, was fun time.” Some students think band, chorus, and orchestra, are being overshadowed by other clubs or sports and wanted to make statement at the competition by placing. Sophomore David Robertson enthusiastically stated, “At Disney World, I wanted to make a statement to the ‘band’ world, that we are a force to be reckoned with. We all had worked way too hard to give anything but our best performance yet.” A few of the winners were: Advanced Orchestra which received a superior rating and the Chorus department which received a bronze medal in overall competition.
Aneela Wadan ‘11 Business Manager
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n Monday, March 30, members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) protested Fairfax High School, claiming on their website that FHS “is merely the face of doomed America” and that its students are “Rebels with no cause.” FHS Rebels, however, demonstrated one of their many causes on Monday: peace. In an effort to resist the hateful messages of WBC, members of the student body wore tie-dye shirts and Fairfax spirit wear to promote their message of peace and school unity. Sophomore Ember Ipek and her friends originally wanted to counter-protest, but then realized, with the help of the administration, that a counter-protest was exactly the type of attention WBC wants. “We decided to wear tie-dye t-shirts to show school spirit and how that Fairfax is about peace and we aren’t the rebel children WBC says we are,” said Ipek. “I think that our school is really open and that it’s great because everybody has the right to be who they are,” said junior Gabrielle Montagne.
During second period, Principal Dr. Brabrand congratulated students on the way they handled the protest by demonstrating their openness to accept others through peaceful means. He said, “We as Rebels are more united as a group as faculty and students.” WBC is based in Topeka, Kansas and has gained national notoriety for their protests against homosexuals, Catholics, and military funerals. After their protest at FHS, the WBC members picketed at George Mason University. At GMU, WBC was met with over 100 community members and students counter protesting. Shizrae Mallick, a 2005 FHS graduate, exercised her first amendment rights by supporting the efforts of the antiWBC movement. “I’m here to show love not hate,” she said. “We want to show them that we’re diverse and proud of it.”
Catherine Treyz ‘09 Editor in Chief
Senior Sara Evers comes to school dressed in tie-dye to show her solidarity with other students. Photo by Catherine Treyz.
Above right, WBC member Shirley Phelps Roper talks to NBC reporters while picketing at GMU. Above, counterprotesters cheer after a truck drive honks his horn in support of their message of love. Right, community members smile and remain non-violent in an effort to counter WBC’s hateful message of intolerance. Photos by James Lee.
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Student paintings create quite an impression
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n the Life Planning Classroom, taught by Kathy Lang and Catherine Edwards, the Special-Ed students worked on their impressionist art projects for nearly two months. Recently, their projects have been displayed in the Commons for about a week. The students studied impressionist artists like Monet, Degas, Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Renoir. They brought in nature photos that they liked and redrew them with crayons and pastel. Once they achieved perfection, they drew their finals with acrylic paints. “I am so proud of them that they accomplished such a huge task and followed the directions and guidelines so well,” said Ms. Lang. “Through the art I can communicate and understand their feelings.” Researched by Kevin Poon.
Park by Samuel Hollis
Photo by Kevin Poon.
Plan ahead for Career Day and your future
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his year Fairfax will be starting a new tradition by having a Career Day on April 23. During this time juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to go to different sessions on various careers There will be a total of 65 speakers who have volunteered to inform students about potential jobs. Although the faculty will try their best to match preferences, those who don’t get their top three choices should keep an open mind and listen to the advice that is given. There are many career groups under which the speakers have been classified such as Business Management and Government and Public Administration. One of the speakers in the Business Management category is a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, a private firm located in McLean, VA. Under the Government and Public Administration category there is a military and Pentagon official as well as a former Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteer. Freshmen and sophomores will rotate between 45 minute sessions to learn the importance of finding a career that they are passionate about and the importance of professional attire in the workplace. Career Day is an event that will help to integrate what students learn in the classroom with the workplace. It will be a fun time featuring interactive sessions and emphasize the importance of picking the right career.
Wardah Rashid ‘09 Staff Writer
Seniors secure scholarships at FHS
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etting good grades, doing extra-curricular activities, and writing numerous college essays can be considered easy, compared to what a select group of students do when it comes to applying for scholarships. In the 07-08 school year, FSH had a sufficient amount of students win scholarships adding up to $3.3 million. The total scholarships accepted by the class of 2008 totaled 1.9 million dollars. In 2008, Fairfax nominated 28 students for 23 different scholarships. Out of the 28 that were nominated, 10 students were awarded scholarships, totaling $33,000. The awards that the students received ranged from $500-10,000. So far in the 2008-2009 school year, seven FHS nomination-only scholarships are being examined. Two seniors have already been informed of and awarded their scholarships. Senior, Francesca Lee was awarded the $10,000 Harry F. Byrd Junior Leadership award. She applied in late December and was interviewed and told the same day that
she had received the award. Lee says, “I think it fit very well with me, because in order to receive the award you need to have good leadership skills, be president of the Key Club, and I had good grades. So overall I just thought it was very fit for me.” The other senior, who was honored with an award, was Emily Neal. She was awarded with the Northern Virginia Peace Award, and received $100. Other students, who are not nominated, have a different process when it comes to applying for scholarships, such as senior Frances Dowd. Dowd was awarded the $1000 National Elks Lodge Scholarship, which is given to the most valuable student. In order to receive this award she had to get a recommendation from the school and the community. She also had to write an essay explaining her work ethic and work habits that make her a valuable student.
Emily Taylor ‘11 Staff Writer
Fair
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Facts •
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The Fairfax Science Olympiad Team placed second in state competition on March 21 after Langley High School. Winners included Ahmed Roman, Alex Kuck, Debanjan Dasgupta, Joseph An, and Atif Javed. The team was awarded 11 gold medals overall.
a 3.5 GPA in all their classes in order to be inducted. Teacher of the Year Mr. Kinne was the guest speaker for the ceremony. The ceremony was organized by NHS sponsor and honors physics teacher, Mr. Chris Bird and NHS officers. • For the first time in school history, the FHS Music Department received a Blue Ribbon Award from the Virginia Education Association.
The proposed bell schedule for next year, which would have started school at 8:20 a.m., has been rejected by the Fairfax County School Board. On Monday, March 23 the C-SPAN Civics Bus and C-SPAN staff members visited the Fairfax Academy. to present Honorable Mention awards in the C-SPAN 2009 StudentCam competition to Fairfax Academy students Miko Borys, Jonathan Maiorana, and Eric Waldron. Seventy-two new members were inducted into the National Honor Society on March 24. Members had to complete eight service hours during the first semester and maintain
• Junior Stephanie Yoon was recently awarded a Gold Key in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition for her fictional short story entitled “Will Power.” Yoon’s award places her in the national competition. • Superintendent Dr. Jack Dale visited Ms. Campbell’s Spanish 4 Photo by James Lee. class on March 27 to try out the new language lab. The school is planning to install three more labs next year.
Calendar of Events
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- April Fools’ Day -FHS Family Night @ Fuddruckers sponsored by Crew
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-4th Qtr begins
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- Highest Honors Luncheon
Spring Break!
-Pat Laing Memo- Vulcan Materials rial Scholarship Company Foundation Scholarship nomina- and Fairfax Rotary Scholarship tion due application due
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-End of Third Quarter - Spring Break
- Senior Transition Program
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- Earth Day
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- Teacher Workday - Nominations for Laura A. Piper Scholarship due
- Third Qtr Report Card Mailed - Fashion Show
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- Career Day
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FHS hallways are runways for Spring fashion
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Entertainment
he weather is Trendy tops especially in finally getting light weight fabrics like chiffon nicer and our closets are also popular as the weather are looking a little odd warms up. Think vintage with all the winter blouses with ruffles in soft gray clothes. This naturally tones to pull off this look. Top means it’s time to go off this feminine look with a shopping. This year’s fitted blazer or slouchy jacket spring fashions will with the sleeves pushed-up. feature some trends Stick with neutral tones like and styles similar khaki or muted sea foam to from last year, but move this look from day to with a few changes. night when paired with a flower The key word for this season print dress. is “natural.” The following are As for shoes, boots are a must, the Rebel Roar’s suggestions for but remember to keep them on putting some spring into your the short side. Ankle boots in wardrobe. light shades of tan and gray can Natural colors such as nude, be paired with either skinny beige, or tan are in this season. jeans or a mini skirt. For the very Tropical colors like royal blue fashion forward, be adventurous are especially fashionable are and look for boots with Western also fashionable for spring time. style embellishments. Top off Whatever color you choose, your new spring fashions with A student models bright blue skinny pants look for bright shades that will the perfect accessories. Scarf and high-heeled shoes in the journalism make your outfit pop. belts, Jackie O style glasses, huge room. Photo by Lindsey Bush. When shopping for bottoms, chunky necklaces and chandelier look for exotic prints. They can earrings would complete perfect. range from polka dots or even parrot prints. Whatever Remember bold accessories should be used sparingly. print you choose, make sure the cut is either skinny Now that you have your spring fashion guidelines, or “harem” style. Don’t remember harem pants? Well, follow the Rebel Roar suggestions and you’ll be set for they used to be called MC Hammer pants, but don’t be this season. disgusted just yet. If you match these pants with a cute white blouse and a pair of toe-cut boots, the look is less Myriam Tchatchouang ‘09 90’s rapper and more runway. Entertainment Editor
The House of the Authentic Burrito! made from real fresh dough
10% off for all FHS students
Located behind the McDonalds and across from the Home Depot in Fairfax Circle
The only fresh dough in town!!!
Fashion Show
Preview The Fashion Marketing class are going way back for this years fashion show. Revolution Runway will showcase how history has impacted modern fashion. Witness the reoccurring fashion trends of the twentieth century. Watch how looks have transformed throughout the decades modeled by your classmates in DECA. Make sure your 8th period teacher signs your class up for it on April 17.
Heavenly tunes from the Celestials take students by storm
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he album “Happier Robotics” by The Celestials, which is now available on iTunes, produces a great energy from its indie songs that have a techno feel to it. Each song on the album features a consistent meaning behind the lyrics. Each song maintains the original and refreshing sounds while still sounding like a catchy song you may hear on the radio or on TV. Indeed, their songs are divine to the ear, but what’s more astonishing is the fact that they were created by two students attending Fairfax High School, sophomore Max Keena and junior Mike Elliot. “The name ‘The Celestials’ was chosen after the two of us went down to Asheville, NC, which is a mountain town in the south western tip of North Carolina,” Max explains. “My brother owns a recording studio that he built and maintains down there, Cover art for The Celestial’s debut album. Photo by Boa Thai. and immediately after getting there we felt some very odd spiritual, as well as cultural, vibes.” VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL The Celestials duo met at a party three years ago and UNIVERSITY have been playing music together since. Keena plays the guitar, keyboard and adds the vocals while Elliot completes their songs with the beat of the drums. Both members of the band have been absorbed in the art of performing music since they were in fifth grade. Each song’s process doesn’t occur in the same order. Their method of creating a song is varied. For example, one of their songs was influenced by one of Max’s old poems and another was ripped off one of Mike’s experimental pieces. Typically the lyrics are added last to the song. “The entire album has a consistent message about the flaws and limited space of society,” Max explains. “I PROGRAMS OFFERED really focused a lot lyrically on how close a city like this • MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) pushes me to the verge of sheer insanity.” Although his • MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) • BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA) songs have a negative aspect, his goal was to mold them • BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE into an overall bold and positive message by the end of • BUSINESS DIPLOMA PROGRAMS the album. • COMPUTER DIPLOMA PROGRAMS Both hope to continue their pursuit in spreading their • ORACLE DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS music to the world. “We hope, after high school, to tour • ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAMS (ESL) and promote our music as well as playing for fun,” Mike says. So go to their MySpace, or search their album on ONLINE AFFORDABLE SMALL SCHOLARSHIPS iTunes. Whether you purchase the album via mail or ACCREDITED CLASSES TUITION CLASSES AVAILABLE MEMBER electronically, you won’t be disappointed.
Boa Thai ‘12 Staff Writer
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hroughout your high school career, you are constantly reminded about how college is just around the corner, and when first quarter interims arrive junior year you realize that, in fact, college is literally just around the corner. With the vast number of options students have located here in Northern Virginia, we as students should use this to its utmost potential in facilitating the difficult and tedious process of looking for colleges. One of the most critical aspects of choosing which colleges to apply to is to actually physically visit them. By doing this, you
COLLEGE
By Jacob Fulmer, Anurag Bhatnagar, Aditya Bhatnagar, and Allie Sawyer.
AVERAGE FAIRFAX GPA
LOCATIO
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
3.99
LARGE TOWN
VIRGINA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
3.78
LARGE TOWN
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
3.40
SMAL CITY
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
3.28
SMAL CITY
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
3.69
LARGE TOWN
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
3.76
LARGE CITY
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND (COLLEGE PARK)
3.64
LARGE TOWN
NAVAL ACADEMY
3.70
LARGE TOWN
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can observe student life on campus and get an overall vibe of the college you’re interested in. A particularly convenient time to knock as many colleges off the visiting list is during Spring Break. Many students spend their breaks driving to visit in-state colleges such as Virginia Tech, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, Christopher Newport University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Naval Academy. Other schools that are relatively close but not in-state include George Washington and the University of Maryland.
STUDENT
GENDER
ENROLLMENT
TYPE
(♂:♀)
E N
15,920
PUBLIC
43:57
E N
21,330
PUBLIC
55:45
LL Y
4,827
PUBLIC
44:56
LL Y
21,952
PUBLIC
41:59
E N
15,620
PUBLIC
39:61
E Y
12,564
PRIVATE
43:57
E N
28,765
PUBLIC
53:47
E N
4,489
PUBLIC
80:20
ON
Photos courtesy of Harleen Sohi, Rae Duffy, Arlen Connolly, Nate Williams, vcu.edu, jmu.edu, umd.edu, and virginia.edu.
Commentary
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I
Not exactly Robin Hood...
n the midst of hard times, the government has begun to reach into the taxpayers wallets in order to stimulate a free falling economy. Handouts have been distributed to companies and deemed crucial to economic recovery and on the brink of collapse thanks to a stimulus package devised by the Obama administration. Still, some companies receiving bailout money choose to spend and distribute irresponsibly, such as American International Group (AIG). In September 2008, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was directed to open a credit-liquidity facility from which AIG would be able to draw up to $85 billion. In October the company received an additional $38 billion, and in November, the U.S. treasury purchased over $40 billion worth of AIG stock. Overall, $180 billion has come out of the taxpayer’s wallets to fund the insurance giant. The problem lies not only in the sheer amount of currency we have put into the company (as well as others, of course), but in the weight it bears on ours, our children’s, and quite possibly our grandchildren’s financial future. The problem Americans have with AIG is the seemingly careless allocation of money. Last month, AIG announced that they were paying out $165 million in executive bonuses, and reports that the bonuses could
reach up to $1.2 billion began to circulate. Public and bipartisan resentment emerged almost immediately, and for a very good reason. The insurance giant was attempting to retain the very personnel that helped to place the insurance giant in the precarious situation that it is currently in. So the question arises: why shouldn’t our government let them fall flat on their faces? Why must we keep them afloat when decisions made within the company continue to reflect a pattern of disregard for our money? Though factors that go into deciding who gets money and who doesnt are, of course, more complex, questions like this will remain It is never a good thing to see any sort of company or business fail, but its time we count our losses. Regardless, executives at AIG are reaping what they have sewn, and now that they aren’t throwing their own money away, they must answer to the government and the people. Illustration by Kevin Poon.
Kevin Dowd ‘10 Commentary Editor
Ask Kevin
Dear Kevin, Spring Break is approaching and I have no plans as of yet. During past Spring Breaks, I have found myself bored and doing nothing fun during my respite from school. Do you have any suggestions to spice up my Spring Break? While some such as me find themselves swamped with plans during Spring Break, others are indecisive or just not even trying. With free time in general, you sometimes just need to think outside the box to have some fun. Conventional wisdom would compel you to go outside, fly a kite, have a picnic, or something boring like that.Avoid these things by all means possible. If you would like to have a mediocre Spring Break, then go for it, but if you seek something better you may want to try something different. When I think of the perfect Spring Break, I reflect back on my trip to Alaska a few years back with Survivor Man’s Les Stroud. There’s nothing like some sub zero temperatures ring in the new season. Les helped me hone my survival skills and helped me aquire a taste for
15 charred squirrels and other cooked rodents. If, for some reason, you are not man (or woman) enough to handle Alaska, then some warm weather vacationing may be in order. Mexico, America’s beard, is always a nice vacation spot. I recommend taking a nice trip to the scenic and clean Mexico City. While the beach cities such as Cancun or Tijuana are always hotspots for spring break, there is fun to be had away form the shore. If a trip requiring a flight is out of the question, then try something closer to home. You need not go far to find things to do, especially in Fairfax. My personal favorite place to go for some good old fashioned fun is Chuck E. Cheese. It’s a great place to get in touch with today’s youth despite the alleged removal of the world famous ball pit. Whether you go to Alaska, Mexico City, or Chuck E. Cheese’s during your Spring Break is entirely up to you. But don’t be the kid at school whining about their disappointing break spent in the Caribbean or Cancun.
Kevin Dowd ‘10 Commentary Editor
Hannah haters unite
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s with every star there are fan bases and “I hate …” groups. Being a member of the latter, I took refuge in an “I hate Miley Cyrus” chat room only to discover something horrifying. Not only did I have to pay to join, but the website was plagued by fans defending her and discussing why she is a great role model for adolescents everywhere. For every bad comment written about the teen idol, two more were written by fans arguing the haters were wrong and immoral. Fellow Miley-haters, it is time for action! This teen starlet has had some mishaps that we, unlike her blind fans, refuse to overlook. During a Vanity Fair photo shoot she posed with only a sheet concealing her, which caused rumors of getting fired from Disney and losing her fans. Cyrus later said “I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be ‘artistic’ and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed.” Although she claims she is embarrassed about every photo released of her doing something
scandalous, she does nothing to change her behavior, later being caught smoking a cigarette and sneaking a boy into her room. Being seen with her 20 year old not-boyfriend, Justin Gaston, and spending all her time with people old enough to drink is not sending a good message and shows her determination to become the future Lindsay Lohan. Now, loyal fans, lets point out the similarities. First, both have had drama concerning things in Vanity Fair. Secondly they share a love of inappropriate behavior. Finally, both had fame before they hit puberty, which never ends well, for actors and actresses alike. Note my warning Cyrus-lovers, because pretty soon we will be seeing this starlet drinking, partying, and leaving everyone wondering what happened to the cute little kid on the Disney channel.
Alex Woodill ‘11 Staff Writer
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Don’t wait to go green
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Features
n the 80’s, having big hair was in. In the 90’s, being grungy was in. Now, going green is in. People across the world are doing more and more to give back to Earth. On March 28, the world joined together to reduce its carbon output. For one hour across the United States and other countries of the world, an election was held – between Earth and global warming. But instead of a ballot, people’s light switch was their vote. People of every kind were implored to turn off their lights, just for an hour. That one hour determined whether or not the government will take positive action against global warming. Even locally, tons of companies are doing fundraisers, doing community work, and being charitable. In Burke, a clothing store called Darke Graphics participates with a foundation called Tees 4 Trees™ by selling organic cotton and bamboo
t-shirts and donating a percentage of the funds to the Arbor Day Foundation™. The purpose of Tees 4 Trees is to promote environmental awareness by making tree-inspired shirts. The ink in these shirts meets the Global Organic Textile Standards and is environmentally beneficial. Stan Darke, the founder of Darke Graphics, is providing clothing items for the upcoming FHS fashion show. The fashion show is produced by senior Caitlin Noone, and is completely green in order to continue enhancing the importance of environment-friendly clothing. If you want to do more to contribute to the world, there are tons of options. In May, the farmers’ markets across Virginia will open, selling delicious, organically grown fruit. You can start recycling by keeping a small plastic bin in your
house where you can put paper, plastic, and aluminum. On nature. org, you can calculate your carbon footprint. By using that information, you can see what specific things you can do to reduce your carbon production. Just by reducing your garbage output and reusing things that don’t need to be thrown away, you can help to bring down the carbon levels in the world, even just a little bit. On April 22, the world will celebrate Earth Day, but you don’t have to wait until then to join the movement in promoting environmental awareness. On April 4, the annual Potomac Watershed Clean-up will take place at 276 sites along the Potomac River in the DC area. The National Zoo will hold a clean-up on April 18 from 8 am to 12 p.m.
Maddy Atteberry ‘12 Staff Writer
Darke Graphics in Burke, Virginia is a local clothing store that caters to the eco-friendly shopper. At Darke Graphics the prices are low and the items aren’t sold anywhere else. Photo by Catherine Treyz.
t e M r x? c o b l e i
ost of us don’t know that The ma American Rejects’ music r u o in y s video for “Dirty Little Secret” t a Wh is based on the website and books of PostSecret—a mail art project by Frank Warren. PostSecret is a project where people mail their secrets anonymously on a homemade postcard. The secrets have included: sexual misconduct, drug abuse, criminal activity, embarrassing habits, hopes and goals. Once you start reading one of these secrets you can’t get enough. That’s what happened with Fairfax sophomores Nadine Rousseau and Abby Royer. Rousseau admits to being dragged into the world of PostSecret. When Rousseau reads PostSecret it makes her realize that her problems aren’t as bad as others, but some secrets are funny and interesting, “I thinks it’s addictive because it’s like gossip, but it doesn’t hurt anybody’s feeling because they are talking about themselves,” says Rousseau “I think it makes people realize that we all have something in common and it helps people to sympathize.” Abby Royer is also hooked. “I like to read PostSecret
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17 because of the creative ways people submit their secrets,” she says. “It gives people a way to rant about their feelings without causing trouble,” said Royer. The things that people write are interesting to read, but the artwork behind the words are mind-boggling and, sometimes, a bit explicit. Royer’s favorite post secret is “I put boogers in my husband’s soup when we fight.” PostSecret has an online blog (www.postsecret.com) filled with peoples’ secrets that is updated every Sunday. If you can’t wait for the weekly updates on Sundays, PostSecret also has books: PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives, My Secret: A PostSecret Book, The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book, A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecret Book. PostSecret will also be coming out with a new book later this year titled, PostSecret Confessions on Life, Death and God. If you have a secret you’d like to release to the world then send it to 13345 Copper Ridge Road Germantown, Maryland 20874. Remember that you might not be the only one, and you could be helping someone else by letting them know they aren’t alone.
Paola Bauza ‘11 Staff Writer
Poon’s Playtime: Dolphin Olympics 2 L ook yonder in the sky! It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane! No, it’s a dolphin soaring through space! Dolphin Olympics 2, developed by Alan Rawkins, is this month’s hit game here at Fairfax. It has students, playing as a dolphin, diving, “starsliding”, “schooling” the fish, and even corkscrewing in their noble quest to reach the famed Diner at the end of the universe. Past the moon, past Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, U r a n u s , Neptune, Pluto, past
Photo by Aditya Bhatnagar.
some strange grey planet dubbed the Wizard’s Eye, lies the most wonderful sight a dolphin has ever laid eyes on – the Diner. It is at the Diner where only the most elite of the dolphin handlers convene to laugh at the dolphin handlers who cannot reach the Diner. It is at the Diner where champion dolphins live happily ever after. But it’s no easy task to reach the said Diner. You start off as a simple dolphin with a velocity of 0 meters/second. As he begins to gain speed by landing nice jumps, the dolphin becomes a bit more unwieldy. When you start to approach the required Diner speed, which is approximately a jillion meters/ second, a slight
mistake could send your dolphin careening into the sand. It’s the saddest thing in the Dolphin Olympics universe to see your dolphin soaring gallantly through the air, only to forget to level off your dolphin and see it being crushed into the hard sand way down below. The fetal position it remains in for a few seconds after making contact with the bottom of the ocean serves as a stern reminder that Dolphin Olympics is serious business and not to be taken lightly. My dolphin, affectionately named Herb, has reached the Diner multiple times. Other Fairfax champion Dolphin Olympians include: juniors Kevin Dowd, Andrew Dilworth, Brian Berenbaum, and Antwon Hundley. Help continue the Year of Champions by reaching the Diner yourself. Check it out at www. dolphinolympics.net.
Kevin Poon ‘10 News Editor
( long- boa noun (1950) 1 a: a board much longer, faster, and stronger
Howdy Ho Ranger Joe! Skateboarding has evolved into an extreme sport over many years since its subculture roots were planted in the 70’s in LA with the infamous group known as the Z-Boys. During this time, skateboarding experienced numerous changes, one being the invention of longboards. Longboarding is essentially transferring almost identical motions used for surfing
Article by: Jake Fulmer and Dan Webster Photos by: Dan Webster and Joe DeSantis
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than a regular streetboard; much better for smoother, faster rides
to a longboard. The decks used to longboard are unlike skateboard decks which range from about 36-38 inches long. Instead longboard decks can range anywhere from 35 inches for downhill slalom boards, to 60, even 80 inches for dancers. As of late, longboarding has become noticeably more popular at FHS with participation becoming more prominent. Remember to always wear a helmet!
Riders: Joe DeSantis, Jake Fulmer, and Peter Rosbach
Sports
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Fairfax High Sports News Spring sports are underway! Come out and watch the Rebel teams.
Congratulations to FHS athletes named to the Digital Sports All-Beltway teams, including senior Ellyn Baumgardner, swimming 1st team, and junior Jordan Yost, wrestling 2nd team.
Photo courtesy of Mary DeOrnellas.
The Rebel baseball team won the Battle for the Cure 5-3 over Briar Woods on March 17. Battle for the Cure was born out of the high school friendship between FHS coach Kevin Simmonds and Briar Woods coach Josh Mosser, who began a St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser for breast cancer research. The event is a home-and-home agreement set for this year and next year that doubles as a regular season game for both teams. Photos by James Lee.
The best finish of the still young spring season goes to the varsity boys soccer team in their March 23 game against Woodson. Senior Stephen Lam put away a penalty kick with no time left on the clock in the second overtime, prompting the celebration pictured at left.
Serving excellence for Fairfax
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Top ranked senior, Sidarth Balaji, gears up for another winning tennis season
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s the spring sports season starts, senior Sidarth Balaji begins his last year on the FHS tennis team. Balaji is a top ranked tennis player in the state of Virginia, ranked second in the MidAtlantic region, twenty seventh in the nation, and has been featured by the Washington Post as a high school player to watch. Balaji began playing tennis when he was four. His parents signed him up at an early age, and after playing for so many years Senior Sidarth Balaji has committed to he fell in love with it. For play tennis at Northwestern next year. Photo courtesy of 2009 FHS Sampler. the past twelve years, Balaji has been a competitive tennis player and has continued to set new standards for himself. Playing tennis has helped Balaji in many ways. He enjoys the traveling that comes with playing in many places, and he likes meeting new people. Balaji has been on the FHS tennis team since freshman year. “Sidarth exposes the entire team to a professional caliber level of tennis that most high school students never see,” said head coach David Bauer. Balaji plays a key role on the team also. Known as a silent leader, Balaji keeps to himself, but when he voices his opinion, it’s something everyone needs to hear. Balaji’s leadership is also expressed through his hard work and dedication. His serious love and commitment for the game goes beyond showing up to practice and working to get better. Two years ago, Balaji put off the Mid-Atlantic Championship to play against Oakton and advance his team to Regionals for the first time. The next year, Balaji led FHS to the Virginia State Semi-finals. Playing for FHS has had a positive impact on Balaji. “I usually play tennis by myself, but being on a team has been a different experience. It’s a good experience and it will help me get ready for next year,” he said. Next fall, he will be attending Northwestern University, where he received a scholarship to play tennis. Balaji choose Northwestern not
only for tennis, but also for academics. “Sidarth is purposefully putting himself into a situation where he will have to push himself to reach his full potential. He will do fine, athletically and academically,” says Coach Bauer. Sidarth Balaji is a stand out tennis player amongst other high school students. He has previously won the Boys 16 National Open Championship in 2007, was the state semifinalist in 2008, and is a five star recruit. As college draws closer, the opportunities will be endless for a young, emerging tennis player. Coach Bauer said, “Sidarth owes it to himself to continue to compete at the professional level.”
Jordan Sharpe ‘11 Business Manager
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Students triumph in All Night Grad fundraiser
The students overcame a long drought in the annual studentfaculty basketball game, finally coming away with a decisive win. All proceeds from the March 19 event will go to All Night Grad. Photos courtesy of Kelsey Wagner.
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e P p e i n m o Your Step S g n i t t u P
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Spring Pep Rally 08-09
HS leadership took a step in the right direction by giving Fairfax students something to be peppy about at the spring pep rally on Thursday, March 19. From varsity sports to Dancing with the Teachers finals and the male cheerleaders, there was something for everyone to be excited about.
Left,the mascot gets everyone pumped during the pep-rally. Below, Travis Lauri and Mrs. Pedersen dance to “Two Step.” Photos by Lindsey Bush and James Lee.
Above, Ian Davies, Andrew Pa, and Tue Nguyen show off their ability to motivate a crowd. Right, Mr. Bird and Victoria Sachs dance to “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” Below, Ms. Jackson and Danny Mejia dance to
“Low.”
Watch PTTV on April 17 to see the winner of DWTT.