October 2018 -- Silver Chips Print

silverchips A public forum for student expression since 1937 Montgomery Blair High School

October 17, 2018

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND

Blair mourns two student deaths

VOL. 81 NO. 1

EMBRACING CULTURE

By Mindy Burton and Miranda Rose Daly NEWS EDITORS

Two students have passed away since the end of the 2017-2018 school year. Rising junior Kevin Wilson II was severely injured in a shooting in Hyattsville on Aug. 6. He died in the hospital a few hours later. Senior Biruktayt Asfaw passed away on Sept. 10.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Wilson’s funeral described Wilson as “a terrific young man with both brains, and true athletic ability” who “touched all that he knew with his infectious personality and sense of humor”.

“Just the leadership that he had, the overall presence that he had, when he spoke people listened,” Wilson’s former coach Jarvis Thomas said to Fox 5.

According to a letter sent to parents by Principal Johnson, Asfaw enjoyed school and wanted to be an engineer. She was also a student at Thomas Edison and attended Montgomery College over the summer. Johnson provided a support group for grieving students.

“A support team of psychologists, counselors, and pupil personnel workers … will work with our staff members to provide counseling and support to students,” she said.

LUCY MARTIN

A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD A visitor of the Culture Fest at Westifeld Montgomery Mall stands in the Chinese culture exhibit. The display showcases cultures from El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, and Korea as a way to celebrate diversity.

Behind the scenes of the hardcore scene

By Teddy Beamer STAFF WRITER

Dozens of people gather tightly into a single room. A scream pierces through the air. The shrieking guitar comes in now, electric and acidic. The rumbling bass follows along with the fast and furious drums, cymbals and snare clashing to the beat. These are the sounds of D.C. hardcore punk.

Origins

COURTESY OF CHARLIE FLACK

ROCKIN’ THE NIGHT Loud Boyz, a punk rock band based in Washington, D.C. performed at Slash Run on Feb. 17.

The District of Columbia has a rich history in the punk music scene, and is home to some of the most influential hardcore artists of all time, such as Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Fugazi.

D.C. rock musicians wishing to make their own punk music got together and started forming bands that would later revolutionize the punk scene.

“At first it was a bunch of friends in bands. Super fun and exciting,” says Mark Sullivan, lead singer of the band Kingface and member of the D.C. hardcore community throughout the 1980s and 90s.

For many of the musicians in these punk bands, it was just about having fun and making music with your friends.

“I always like to emphasize that it was just a bunch of kids having fun for a long time… I think that’s one of the reasons it stayed so strong for so long.”

Soon, D.C. bands started to develop their own styles of punk and a following began to grow. The sound coming from D.C. was new, differing from the classic punk that everybody was used to hearing from New York and London.

“As it matured, it was like we were adding to the ongoing development

MCPS fights back against STI crisis AMY KRIMM

NEWS A2

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AVERY BROOKS

LA ESQUINA LATINA B1

El Mes de Herencia Hispana

Fall Play Coverage

Una mirada a los eventos que tuvieron lugar el mes pasado

A look behind the scenes of “Troy Story 3”

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AVERY BROOKS

OP/ED C1

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FEATURES D1

Blazers vs.

Warriors Girls’ varsity volleyball falls to Sherwood EMORY BROOKS

CULTURE E1

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By George Ashford and Ethan Park STAFF WRITERS

An inside look at the county executive and gubernatorial candidates on the ballot

With November fast approaching, local voters prepare to hit the polls, and candidates on the ballot for the Maryland gubernatorial and Montgomery County executive races are preparing for the final stages of their campaigns.

Two candidates are running for the gubernatorial seat and three are running for county executive. Polls open at 7 a.m. on Nov. 6, and polling locations can be found on the Maryland State Board of Elections Website.

see ELECTIONS page A2

see PUNK page E5

insidechips Blair to hand out condoms

Election season heats up in Maryland

Silver Chips Print @silver_chips @silver.chips Silver Chips Print

CHIPS CLIPS E4

SPORTS F1

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A2 News silverchips Montgomery Blair High School 51 University Boulevard East Silver Spring, MD 20901 Phone: (301) 649-2864 Winner of the 2015 National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Winner of the 2018 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown

Editors-in-Chief: William Donaldson Adenike Falade Managing News Editors: Mindy Burton Miranda Rose Daly Managing Op/Ed Editor: Lucy Gavin Managing Features Editors: Elise Cauton Marlena Tyldesley Managing Entertainment Editor: Arshiya Dutta Managing Sports Editor: Camden Roberts Ombudsman: Hannah Lee Page Editors: George Ashford Teddy Beamer Elias Chen Mira Diamond-Berman Kie Donovan Itamar Fiorino Prayag Gordy Uma Gupta Amanda Liu Ethan Park Khushboo Rathore Louis Rosenberg Sarah Schiffgens Paloma Williams Victoria Xin La Esquina Latina Editors-in-Chief: Amanda Hernández Jasmine Méndez-Paredes La Esquina Latina Editor: Lourdes Reyes Valenzuela La Esquina Latina Writers: Yesenia Cruz Jenny Granados-Villatoro Executive Business Directors: Siena Butters Olena Zelinsky Business Staff: Preston Beatty Liang Lin Alyssa Ma Ray Mizui Merete Oakes Jennifer Ren Suveena Sreenilayam Managing Photo Editor: Avery Brooks Photographers: Emory Brooks Dede Greenfield Maggie Lin Lucy Martin Elenora Rue Katherine Vakhromeeva Managing Media Coordinator: Aidan Lambiotte Managing Art Editors: Seoyoung Joo Sally Zhao Artists: Elaine Cheng Niamh Ducey Amy Krimm Kelley Li Kennedy Salamat Denny Tsitsiwu Katrina Warren Ivvone Zhou Managing Design Editor: Hannah Lee Puzzle Editor: Bennett Coukos-Wiley Copy Editors: Sara Kleine Ollie-Angel Nono Catherine Rodriguez Ruby Santana Luna Warren La Esquina Latina Advisors: Dianette Coombs Maria Eugenia Tanos Advisor: Jeremy Stelzner Silver Chips is a public forum for student expression. Student editors make all content decisions. Unsigned editorials represent the views of the editorial board and are not necessarily those of the school. Signed letters to the editor are encouraged. Submit your letter to Jeremy Stelzner’s mailbox in the main office or to silver.chips.print@gmail.com. Concerns about Silver Chips’ content should be directed to the Ombudsman, the public’s representative to the paper, at ombudsman.silverchips@gmail.com. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

October 17, 2018

Maryland candidates prepare for elections Candidates campaign for County Executive and Governor from ELECTIONS page A1

Marc Elrich

On July 9, 13 days after polls opened on June 26, Marc Elrich was announced as the Democratic nominee for the Montgomery County Executive race.

Elrich beat out businessman David Blair by a margin of 80 votes, according to the Washington Post.

He served on the Montgomery County Council for 12 years, having previously worked as a teacher at Rolling Terrace Elementary and as a Takoma Park City Council Member.

According to Elrich, his main priorities include working “to kill the achievement gap and … to try to deal with issues of inequity in a number of different ways.” Part of Elrich’s education platform includes improving skills training for high school students and making the vocational style of education offered at select schools widely available.

“There’s a lot of work that doesn’t require you to go to college,” he reasoned.

As for closing the opportunity gap, Elrich thinks that early education is an important aspect.

Delegates, according to his website.

He stated that his legislative track record in Montgomery County government qualifies him for the position.

“I will deliver for the people in Montgomery County because I delivered the two major changes in the Montgomery County government since the year 2000,” he said.

In 2006, Ficker passed a Charter Amendment to limit increases in property tax revenue to the rate of inflation.

In 2016, he succeeded in passing a Term Limits Charter Amendment to limit councilmembers to three consecutive four-year terms in office. These two victories, according to Ficker, are a reflection of the change he will bring to the county if elected.

According to his website, Ficker prioritizes increased quality of public schools, replacing the County sheriff, widening I-270 and opposing all tax increases. Despite being a Republican in what Gallup has determined to be the second most Democratic state in the country, Ficker is confident in his ability to win the election against both Elrich and independent candidate Nancy Floreen.

“I’m going to win one way or the

COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN

LARRY HOGAN Hogan is the Republican candidate running for Governor who wants to improve infrastructure and small businesses. dress our transportation challenges throughout the county.”

Her bid as an independent has

port, stated that a significant portion of this money has come from real estate and developing companies.

Ben Jealous

Ben Jealous won the Democratic nomination for the Maryland governor seat with around 35 percent of votes. Jealous studied at Columbia and Oxford and became the youngest president and CEO of the NAACP at 35 years old.

According to his website, Jealous is an advocate for universal pre-K, ending mass incarceration, tuition-free college, lowering health care cost and encouraging entrepreneurship. Jealous said that he has worked to reach out to all types of Marylanders during his campaign.

“We’ve travelled to all 24 counties multiple times and met with teachers, met with business leaders, met with activists [and] listened to them about what’s important,” he said.

Despite Republican candidate and incumbent Larry Hogan’s high approval ratings over the past four years, Jealous has remained confident in his campaign’s ability to win the election.

“We will win the campaign the same way we won the primary,” he said. “We defied every poll in the primary and then we won by 10 points.”

COURTESY OF THE NANCY FLOREEN CAMPAIGN

NANCY gomery

FLOREEN Floreen is County Executive seat

“If we could get kids into effective decent early childhood education programs we can make sure that these kids are on a level playing field,” he said.

According to his website, Elrich has drawn numerous endorsements from Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Jamie Raskin, and 33 more assorted political action committees and associations. Among them is the Montgomery County Education Association, which was described by the Maryland Politics Watch as “...the most powerful interest group in MoCo elections.”

Robin Ficker

Robin Ficker won the Republican nomination for Montgomery County Executive without opposition. Ficker has worked as an attorney, real estate broker, and a member on the Maryland House of

an Independent candidate running for the Montwho wants to increase economic development.

other,” he said.

Nancy Floreen

Nancy Floreen announced her independent candidacy in July after Marc Elrich was declared the Democratic nominee for the Montgomery County Executive seat. Despite her lack of a nomination from a major party, she garnered over 20,000 signatures in support of her run as an independent in the general election, according to Bethesda Magazine.

She is running as a moderate, business-friendly alternative to Elrich.

According to communication director Sarah Van De Weert, Floreen’s priorities are to “be a champion for economic development and job growth, to address our education system…[to] make sure we’re getting our fair share of state funding from Annapolis, and also ad-

been highly contested since she announced it. According to Montgomery County’s website, the county executive seat has only been won by a non-Democratic candidate once in history. Democrats outnumber Republicans 3 to 1 in Montgomery County, but one-fifth of voters have declared themselves undecided, as reported by The Washington Post.

Van De Weert said that it was Marc Elrich’s victory in the primary that prompted Floreen’s bid.

“If any other candidate had won in the primary, [Floreen] would have supported them,” she said.

“She feels that Marc Elrich is a threat to the progress that we’ve made to the county.”

Nancy Floreen raised over $340,000 after announcing her candidacy, outraising her opponents by over $100,000 in individual donations, according to a Maryland Board of Elections report quoted

by Bethesda Beat. This same re-

Larry Hogan

Larry Hogan is the Republican incumbent for the Maryland governorship, after having taken office in 2015. Despite being a Republican in a heavily Democratic state, Hogan has an approval rating of 69 percent, according to Goucher College. With a background as a small business owner, Hogan’s website cites his experience with “years of never-ending tax hikes and fee increases” as being one of his motives for entering politics.

According to his website, Hogan’s priorities include improving transportation infrastructure, helping small businesses, improving education, protecting the environment, maintaining quality healthcare, and reforming the justice system. Hogan’s website references Maryland’s long commute times as evidence of failing transportation infrastructure, and he believes in the success of the “historic $2 billion investment to build and repair roads and bridges in every corner of our state” during his past term as governor.

News A3

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October 17, 2018

Board of Education votes for free condoms in all high schools

By Sarah Schiffgens STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 11, The Board of Education unanimously voted to provide free condoms in all Montgomery County high schools, accessible to students through a visit with their school Health Technician. This change resulted from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that found Montgomery County’s rate of sexually transmitted infections to be twice the total Maryland average, particularly in people aged 15 to 29. Deemed a “public health crisis” by the county’s health officer, Montgomery County has been experiencing the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases seen in a decade, particularly in cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

A memo published on Aug. 28

by Board Member Jill OrtmanFouse and County Executive George Leventhal outlined their plans to implement free condom distribution in all of Montgomery County’s high schools and subsequently middle schools and Care

for Kids clients in elementary schools.

Effective as of Oct. 1, all Montgomery County high school students gained access to free condoms in their Health or Wellness Rooms and are expected to talk to the Health Technician or Nurse about their concerns. They will be counseled by the nurse and offered a paper bag with five latex condoms upon request.

Principal Renay Johnson shared that she is glad schools are offering condoms to students. “[Condoms] wouldn’t just be going grab-and-go, you’d be going and you’d have to talk to the nurse about why you want it and those kinds of things,” she said. A letter was sent to parents on Sept. 24, detailing the process of acquiring condoms at school.

Health nurses countywide are expected to educate students who request condoms on the consistent and proper usage of a condom, the STI protection condoms offer, and how to store a condom. Students will also be provided two resource documents on condom usage after their visit.

Montgomery County Board

AMY KRIMM

Member Jill Ortman-Fouse expressed high hopes for the county’s initiative. “Research shows that condom availability programs coupled with sexual health education reduced sexual activity among students and increased their use of protection,” she said.

Montgomery County Council Member George Leventhal also hopes the initiative can combat Maryland’s STI crisis. “[I] hope that it will lead to greater awareness and a decrease in the incidents of sexual transmitted infections, as well as continuing decreases in teen pregnancy,” he said.

Both Leventhal and OrtmanFouse have said they have received virtually no backlash from members of the community or concerned parents from the free condom program.

“I think at this point, most people have seen the research, which clearly shows that condom availability, coupled with sexual health education, helps keeps students safer,” Ortman-Fouse said, “Some people in the community are still under the myth that if you have condoms available in school, students will become more sexually active. There’s no data to support that.”

Junior Cecelia Dworak said she supports the initiative. “It’s better to promote safe sex than rely on abstinence,” she said, adding that her parents would also be in support of the county’s decision.

Despite the apparent lack of backlash from parents and students, Principal Johnson expressed concern with the potential effectiveness of the program. “I question if having to talk to the nurse would create a barrier for students,” she said, “At the end of the first year, we will talk to our health department staff, school nurse staff, high school principals, talk to student leaders and see if having to ask and be questioned about it is a barrier.

I believe it will be.” Health nurses are expected to maintain a count of how many high school students receive condoms and STI education throughout the year.

A Frequently Asked Questions document released by MCPS stated that schools will receive at least 20 brown paper bags each month, or a total of 100 condoms. The four high schools with Wellness Centers—Northwood, Watkins Mill, Gaithersburg, and Wheaton—will receive 40 bags. The county receives approximately 4,000 condoms a month from the Maryland Health Department, according to

Ortman-Fouse. “This wouldn’t come out of MCPS’ budget, because this whole initiative is under the Department of Health and Human Services,” said Ortman-Fouse.

The long-term consequences for untreated sexually transmitted infections can include pregnancy complications, cancer risks, HIV, AIDS, and more. “As many as these infections are asymptomatic, these students may not even know that they have them, so I really encourage that if [students] are sexually active, they get tested, and treated as soon as possible,” Ortman-Fouse said.

Just 1.423 condoms per student Check out the math

By Mindy Burton NEWS EDITOR

There are 45,335 high school students enrolled in MCPS, according to their statistics and demographics website. 46 percent of high school students and 62 percent of seniors nationwide have engaged in sexual intercourse, according to the Adolescent Sexual Behavior journal by Advocates for Youth.

With these rates, then approximately 28,107 MCPS students, on average, would be sexually active. If only 4,000 condoms are provided to MCPS each month, or 40,000 in a 10 month school period, then each sexually active student would receive 1.423 condoms on average per school year.

To be effective, a condom must be used every time a student engages in sexual acts. Therefore, if students relying on school-provided condoms want to have safe sex, then they can only do so 1.423 times per year. More pertinent to condom usage, a 2015 Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Protection study found that 11.5 percent of high school students reported having had at least four sexual partners.

To increase the amount of condoms offered, it would cost $87 for a set of 1,000 condoms, according to Ortman-Fouse, which would cause a shift in budget of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ortman-Fouse’s cited statistic deceivingly implies that the rate of STIs is increased in teenage high school students, when in reality, the increase is found in the age group up to 29 years old, which includes college age students and young adults. The rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea statewide are actually lower in high school age students (ages 15 to 19 years old) than in people ages 20 to 24.

Gov. Larry Hogan planning to replace PARCC Testing Maryland set to transition to new standardized testing next school

By Elias Chen STAFF WRITER

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) standardized exams are set to be phased out and replaced in the 2020-2021 school year. Led by Governor Larry Hogan and other Maryland officials, a newer, shorter state standardized test will be implemented The new assessment, set to be put in place by the 2020 school year, will be called the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program and lawmakers have pushed toward designing it to face the shortcomings faced by its predecessor, such as the consumption of class time. “Certainly we’ve heard those complaints,” says Bill Reinhard, Director of Communications for the Maryland State Department of Education, “but the State Superintendent has the same issues with the test.”

One major design change of the new test has been a focus on shortening the testing length. “Our desire is to make the test shorter,” says Reinhard, “so we don’t monopolize class time.”

The new test will feature Computer Adaptive Testing, a new addition that is designed to emphasize time-efficiency through a computer algorithm that provides questions closest to a student’s ability level, similar to the current style of Measures of Academic Progress tests.

These changes to the standardized testing reflected Hogan’s comments on widespread complaints from parents and teachers about

the PARCC tests. “Nearly everyone in Maryland, parents, teachers, students, and the Governor, want these tests to end,” Hogan said at the Public Works meeting.

Working with the MSDE, Hogan and Maryland Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon have outspokenly opposed the PARCC assessment and advocated for its replacement.

“We never want to see another one of these PARCC exams—ever,” Hogan said to WTOP in September. “[Maryland will] start from scratch and make [the test] Maryland based,” he said at a recent Maryland Board of Public Works meeting.

Despite the Governor’s harsh words, County officials have been less vocal in advocating for PARCC’s removal. “[PARCC]’s not the most important thing to

us,” says County Spokesman Derek Turner, “but it is a valuable tool for understanding student performance.”

The county has been additionally vocal in advocating for the basic foundations for a new test, regardless of what form it might take.

“We want to make sure the test is rigorous” says Turner, “and it has all the important components to combat things like cultural bias in testing, and is going to give an accurate reflection in testing of student achievement.”

The PARCC exam has been used annually since 2015 when Maryland first introduced the test on a statewide level, following two years of piloting for the test.

States are required by law to implement standardized tests under the Every Student Succeeds Act

HEWLETT FOUNDATION FOR ITS EDUCATION PROGRAM

(ESSA) of 2015 that was signed under the Obama administration and replaced the No Child Left Behind Act, according to the MSDE website.

The ESSA requires states to implement standardized testing, with Maryland opting into the PARCC Consortium, an association of states that use PARCC those federal test requirements.

Upon exiting the Consortium, Maryland is required to replace PARCC and implement a replacement before the following school year or risk losing $240 million of federal funding.

PARCC’s ending also results from the expiration of Maryland’s contract with the test vendor New Meridian at the end of this school year. New Meridian held a one year contract to distribute PARCC for

the final time in the 2018-19 school year and the expiration of their contract allows Maryland to distribute their own new version of standardized testing by the 2020 school year.

This change has made Maryland the most recent state nationwide to abandon PARCC testing. In 2010, the PARCC Consortium consisted of 26 states and Washington, D.C. Now, only Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, along with Washington, D.C., remain in the Consortium.

PARCC is currently distributed as the standardized test for children in grades 3-8 as well as in high schools for English Language Arts 10 and Algebra 1. These tests comprise the Maryland College and Career Standards, necessary test credits required to graduate, which Superintendent Salmon says “will remain unchanged.”

ELIAS CHEN

A4 News Newsbriefs Active shooter drills planned in MCPS Montgomery County is preparing new active shooter drills for all public schools. The county is hoping to commence these drills this school year.

The drills will focus on the principles of defend and deny: run away from the assailant and only fight as a last resort. The active shooter drills emphasize protection techniques for people in open areas during an attack, such as those in hallways, the SAC, or the media center, and build upon the lockdown drill.

As a response to the Maryland Safe to Learn Act, the county collaborated with the MCPD to develop specific defense strategies for each school and to train principals and staff.

Every student, from elementary to high school, will participate in the drills. However, the county plans to structure the information to fit each level of instruction.

Montgomery County equips all school buses with cameras All 1,350 MCPS school buses are expected to be equipped with interior and exterior cameras by the end of this school year.

Force Multiplier Solutions (FMS), the company supplying the cameras, will install three interior live cameras and three exterior cameras covering the rear, right side, and front of each bus. Also included are the real-time GPS and six-lane enforcement coverage features.

MCPS has been slowly integrating the cameras, with 25 attached to buses in 2014, 500 in 2016, and the rest expected by 2019.

The cameras were provided free of charge through a deal with FMS: in exchange for free cameras, Montgomery County would send all revenue from driving violations to FMS. In June, Montgomery County provided $4.7 million to reimburse the bus program, all of which was forwarded to FMS. Since 2016, over 50,000 citations have been issued by the cameras to drivers who failed to stop at bus stop signs. Additionally, interior cameras have aided in discipline for vandalism, resolution for bullying cases, and prosecution of criminal activity on buses.

Georgia Ave. realignment to relieve congestion in historic town Gov. Hogan announced the beginning of the Georgia Avenue Relocation Construction Project in Brookeville, a historic Montgomery County town, on September 25.

The intersection between Georgia Avenue and Randolph Road will be replaced with a tunnel that passes under Georgia Avenue. The avenue will also be expanded to include three lanes in either direction.

Construction is aimed at easing delay and traffic along Georgia Avenue, which, at the moment, is a two-lane road. Currently, Governor Hogan’s office estimates that nearly 11,400 drivers travel through this area daily.

Georgia Avenue’s new features are scheduled for opening in 2021.

Newsbriefs compiled by Victoria Xin

October 17, 2018

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Purple line connects Blair community

Opening of new rail line will give students more mobility

By Victoria Xin STAFF WRITER

The new Purple Line, a light rail system for public transportation, will officially open for use in 2022. The line is projected to extend from Bethesda to Prince George’s County and cut through south Silver Spring.

Currently, the Purple Line stations closest to Blair are Dale Drive, Long Branch Avenue, and Piney Branch Avenue. The Purple Line will connect to the Red, Green, and Orange Metro lines, as well as the MARC trains, the Amtrak trains, and local bus services. The 16.2 mile Purple Line track includes 21 stations.

Montgomery County, the Maryland state government, and the private sector are collaborating on both funding and construction for the line. The total estimated cost is approximately 2.2 billion dollars.

The county is funding several side projects that support the Purple Line, such as the Silver Spring Green Trail, extending the Capital Crescent Trail, and the Bethesda Metro station South Entrance. “We’re putting in about 60 million dollars to pay for the [Capital Crescent] trail,” Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Floreen said.

The Purple Line Transit Partners, a consortium of private companies, will manage the line once construction is completed.

“They will set the fares and make the operational decisions necessary to pay themselves back,” Floreen said.

The consortium is funded by a

private concessionaire comprised of the developers and equity investors Meridiam, Fluor, and Star America.

The consortium also includes construction and operation companies contracted by the concessionaire.

Several community centers have been affected by the construction for the line and its related projects.

Silver Spring International Middle

School and the Giant grocery store near Long Branch Library were significantly influenced by construction. “They’ve rerouted the [Silver Spring International] parking lot … and the traffic patterns,” Blair parent Joanna Slaney said.

“The [other store] that’s nearest to me is near Giant, so there’s a different route we have to take to get to there,” senior Brian Hufford said.

Students who live adjacent to rail paths or stations said they do

The Maryland Transit Administration sent out Community Advisory Teams to local schools and offices to inform the citizens on present and future construction and include a system to interact with and receive input from the community.

Starting from October 2017, several meetings have already been held in different areas along the Purple Line route. The next Silver Spring meeting will be at Sligo Creek Elementary School on October 25.

When completed, the Maryland Transit Administration under Maryland’s Department of Transportation estimates that ridership will be 69,000 individuals for a typical weekday in 2030. That number is expected to jump to 74,000 in 2040.

Although Blair is not located directly next to any Purple Line stations, students do live near the stations. “Certainly it’s going to run through neighborhoods where a lot of Montgomery Blair students live,” Floreen said.

Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer said that the line has potential to be a huge help to student travel, as it connects Blair’s community to the larger geographical area. “What you’re likely to see … is that students will have another great transportation option in their lives, whether it’s after school or on the weekends, as they graduate or go to College Park, … or if they work here,” he said.

The Purple Line is projected to positively affect housing prices in the overall area after construction is complete, according to real estate agent Catherine Inniss of Tristar Realty. “[Prices] will be steady [during construction] right now because the market is pretty stable,” she said, “In the future [the Purple Line] will help prices increase.”

However, Hufford thinks of the Purple Line completion as an event far into the future. “I’m probably going to be gone by the time it’s done,” he said,“I’m going through the suffering without the reward.”

Sophomore Jacob Warren views the Purple Line as helpful.

“It’ll help me get around, help me hang out with friends,” he said.

an AOPA course, they must attend a three-day professional development workshop, have at least five students enrolled in each AOPA class, have support from the school district and the school administration, and provide data regarding the school’s demographics.

Magruder was selected to use the curriculum along with many other high schools across the country. It is the only school in MCPS to offer the aviation program, one of three in the state, and one of 81 in the nation.

The program curriculum is made up of STEM classes with a focus on aviation. “This four-year curriculum integrates math and science into classes that are fun and engaging,” Tennyson said in an email. “At the same time students are learning about the physics of

flight, they’re also learning about the wide range of career opportunities available in aviation fields.”

The students have a wide range of projects. “We do a lot of projects learning about drag and the general rules of aviation,” Roger Jennings, another Magruder student in the aviation program, said.

Once the students reach the junior year of the program, they will be divided into three different pathways that focus on a specific aviation career—piloting, commercial drone operating, or aerospace engineering. “The pathways are split junior year. I’m going into the piloting part,” Jennings said.

The three pathways give them multiple options. “[I’m] probably going to do the pilot one, but I’m also looking at aerospace more because that one looks kind of inter-

esting,” Raker said.

Magruder’s program consists of 54 ninth grade students divided into two class periods and taught by one teacher. There is currently only one grade level because it is the first year of a four-year program, but the program will expand in the following years.

Seniors in the program will graduate high school prepared for their desired aviation careers.

“They’ll even be prepared to take one of two FAA written exams that are important first steps to a career as a pilot or commercial drone operator,” Tennyson said in an email.

Jennings expressed his excitement for the new opportunities at his school. “I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, so seeing the program opening up at my home high school was really nice,” he said.

not feel particularly disturbed by the construction during weekdays.

“They worked predominantly during the day, so it was not a distraction at night,” junior Kyndall Thorpe said. Over the weekends, construction occasionally prevented some students from sleeping in. “It wakes me up sometimes; it’s my alarm,” senior Abou Sow said.

VICTORIA XIN

Magruder pilots new aviation program

By Mira Diamond-Berman STAFF WRITER

Col. Zadok Magruder is piloting an aviation program for this school year. The four-year high school curriculum was created by the Aircrafts Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) that promotes aviation interests.

To combat the growing demand and lack of supply of pilots, the AOPA designed a four-year STEM curriculum aimed at preparing high school students for careers in piloting and drone operations.

AOPA started this program to increase the number of opportunities for students to pursue aviation careers. “This curriculum is opening the door to aviation careers for students in Maryland and nationwide,” Elizabeth Tennyson, Vice President of Aviation Program Operations for AOPA said in an email.

There is an increasing demand for aviation workers since the number of pilot certificates issued has decreased by more than 60 percent since 1980, according to the AOPA. Boeing’s Pilot and Technician Outlook, an industry forecast of personnel demand, predicted 790,000 new pilots will be needed in the next 20 years.

Matthew Raker, a freshman in Magruder’s aviation program, explained that while the need for commercial pilots is expanding, the number of people entering the Air Force has remained the same. “Pilots go to military and then they just go straight into commercial… the commercial aviation was expanding [but] the air force doesn’t really expand,” he said. “It just stays the same size and so the [commercial industry] experienced shortage in pilots.”

In order for a teacher to instruct

SEOYOUNG JOO

October 17, 2018

News A5

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Montgomery County Council considers banning smoking in outdoor eating areas

By Prayag Gordy STAFF WRITER

Montgomery County Councilmember Sidney Katz introduced Bill 35-18, a proposal to prohibit smoking and vaping by customers in restaurants’ outdoor eating and drinking spaces, on Oct. 2. This would extend the ban already imposed on smoking and vaping in corresponding indoor spaces with the stated goal of protecting the health of residents.

The bill lists the penalty for breaking the proposed law as not applicable, but Amanda Mihill, the Council’s legislative attorney who wrote the bill, corrected the error—an infraction falls under the $50 penalty for a Class C offense.

“That’s a typo,” she said. “It’s a Class C violation, and a Class C violation is a $50 fine.”

Under the introduced bill, the person in charge of the establishment must refuse to seat a smoking or vaping customer, request for them to stop, and should then ask for them to leave if they continue.

“The owner or person in control of a building or area covered by this Section must refuse to serve or seat any person who smokes or vapes where smoking or vaping is prohibited, and must ask the person to leave the building or area if the person continues to smoke or vape after proper warning,” the bill stated.

The ban would not apply if someone were walking past the eating space while smoking or vaping.

“A person must not smoke in or on any outdoor serving area, except while actively passing on the way to another destination,” Bill 35-18 said.

The County Council plans to hold a public hearing about Bill 3518 on Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m., where

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they will listen to the concerns of residents and business owners.

“We’re certainly always willing to hear people’s suggestions, whether they be in favor of, against, or anywhere in between,” Katz said.

Mihill said that research on the fiscal impact, economic impact, and a final evaluation were requested from the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Finance. The Council staff is re-

searching similar bills’ experience elsewhere and potential application within municipalities. “Every bill that the Council introduces, the Office of Management and Budget is responsible for doing a fiscal impact analysis of the bill, and the Department of Finance does an economic impact analysis of the bill,” she said. “‘To be researched’ is research that [Council staff will] conduct ourselves.”

Mihill was unable to give any update on the research from either the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Finance or from the Council staff. “There’s nothing I can share, and I can’t really tell you information that I’ve provided in confidence to council members,” she said.

Katz was the lead sponsor. The cosponsors were At-Large Councilmember and Council President

Hans Riemer, At-Large Councilmember Marc Elrich, and District 2 Councilmember Craig Rice.

Katz decided to introduce Bill 35-18 after speaking with constituents—his district includes Rockville and Gaithersburg, both of which have similar laws—about their desire to see all of Montgomery County regulated.

“I was approached by some residents who were advocates for it, and I knew prior to them being here and during the discussion with them that the cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg had both passed legislation similar to this,” Katz said.

“I represent both Gaithersburg and Rockville, so I felt it was appropriate that the entire county would be part of this discussion.”

Katz proposed this bill with the restaurant industry in mind and met with the restaurant association beforehand. “Before we actually introduced it, I met with the restaurant association to let them know that I was contemplating doing this, and we have heard from restaurants, both who were concerned and some who were in favor of it,” he said.

Katz said that the public hearing would lead to consensus on potential revisions to the bill. “[The public hearing process is] maybe when you’ll start to get some people [saying], ‘I think that’s a great idea,’ and some people [saying], ‘I think that’s a terrible idea,’” he said.

In Rockville, Ordinance Number 05-17, passed in May 2017, used almost exactly the same language in laying out the process restaurant owners should follow to enforce the law. Gaithersburg has a similar law, as do 489 municipalities across the country as of Oct. 1, 2018, according to the nonprofit American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation.

Up and Coming October 25 - November 1 General election early voting

November 6 General election day

November 7, 12, 13 Early release days

November 8 Troy Story 3 opening night

Student and Teacher Awards & Honors Seniors Vijay M. Balakrishnan, Avik Barua, Jonathan A. Berkowitz, Anson M. Berns, Allison R. Borton, Faith M. Burton, Ryan Y. Cho, Samantha R. Christenson, Bennett J. Coukos-Wiley, Laura L. Cui, Isabella Declue, Niles S. Egan, Elana E. Elman, Olivia W. Fan, David D. DFDFD Fang, Soumith R. Gadila, Haydn J. Gwyn, Justin Hudis, Patrick S. Kim, Lily A. Kirsch, Patrick M. Klees, Shwetha S. Kunnam, Cindy Liu, Abigail R. Lo, Noah L. Lovelady-Allen, Jenny S. Mei, Jonah A. Nan, Kristi Y. Ng, Tiara M. Oldfield, Reethi Padmanabhan, Ian Rackow, Priyanka Ravi, Catherine C. Rodriguez, Kennedy A. Salamat, Daniel E. Schaffer, Jacob E. Stavrianos, Alice E. Turnham, Katheryn G. Wang, William A. Wang, Megan C. Xiao, Sally W. Zhao, and Jeremy Z. Zhou were Blair’s 42 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

Senior Max Edminster qualified for the state golf tournament.

Senior Nyrene Monforte was a finalist in the Montgomery County Councilmember for a Day challenge.

Senior Luca Cannuscio and junior Leah Kannah were 15th and 14th, respectfully, at the Hood College Institutional on Sept. 15.

Alumnus Ben Miller and seniors Anson Berns and Ian Rackow were recognzied at Nationals Park for winning the 2018 It’s Academic competition.

A6 News

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Musical instruments now available for rent at Twinbrook Library New rental program could spread across the county

By Khushboo Rathore STAFF WRITER

Twenty-nine instruments—ranging from guitars to thumb pianos—and six amplifiers are now part of the Montgomery County Public Libraries inventory and available for community members to borrow. This initiative is a result of the launch of the Library of Things, a new program in Montgomery County, that also has locations in Sacramento, Calif. and Lexington, Mass. The program first launched on Sept. 22 at Twinbrook Library in Rockville.

Councilmember George Leventhal originally proposed the idea to the Montgomery County Library Board (MCLB). “They had been doing it at … other library systems across the United States, but it was brought to our attention by councilmember George Leventhal,” said MCLB administrative specialist Regina Holyfield-Jewett.

The program’s kickoff event at Twinbrook included a variety of instruments to borrow.

The collection includes hand-drums, guitars, ukuleles, basses, and thumb pianos. In addition to the instruments, there are three different types of amplifiers available and multiple accessories including capos, slides, and guitar picks. “The instruments are selected for ease of use, ability to maintain, ‘fun,’ cost, durability, and fit with library content on how to play musical instruments,” read the Library of Things website.

The instruments are available for free for anyone with a library card, but there are a few limitations. “Folks get to explore musical instruments for free, they can check it out for two weeks, you have to be fourteen or older to check an instrument out, and you can check out any instrument,” said Twinbrook branch manager Eric Carzon.

Along with the instruments, Carzon has started a monthly music discussion group run at Twinbrook that meets on the first

Monday of each month. During the meetings, they do many different things. “I start it with a little demonstration … then the second part, I asked folks if they had any questions or issues they were struggling with and anyone in the room who has advice on that can give advice...then we shared a little,” Carzon said.

However, there are some risks to the program. If an instrument gets seriously damaged, the borrower will be charged an amount specific to the instrument. In addition, lost pieces must be paid for, with no replacements allowed. Carzon said he hopes to keep the fines to a minimum and the prices are all given when instruments are checked out. “We try to keep that [fining] as limited as possible and … the cost of all the elements of the kit is on the tag,” Carzon said.

The program might begin to expand to other libraries with variation in the resources provided. “We’re not specifically sure we’re going to expand that particular Library of Things—which is music—to different branches … We are currently looking at other things that we might be able to loan and those would be based on the particular interests of the communities that the libraries are in,” Holyfield-Jewett said.

The MCLB plans to find information about the needs and wants of the community by utilizing the Library Advisory Committees (LACs) around the county. The LACs connect the community at each branch and find out what they would like at their library. This way, the MCLB can specifically tailor what they add to the Library of Things program at each branch, in accordance with Montgomery County guidelines. “[The items available for loan are] all based on the rules of the county, what we can and cannot put in our Library of Things,” Holyfield-Jewett said.

“But we have people that are researching and working on it and talking to the community members about things that they would like to see.”

So far, Holyfield-Jewett believes the program is receiving a positive response. “I was at the kickoff for the Library of Things music at Twinbrook on that Saturday and people were really interested in it,” Holyfield-Jewett said. “They were excited about it so we’re

feeling very positive.”

Meanwhile, Carzon seems to be pleased with the popularity of the instruments just weeks after the program launched. “Almost all the instruments are checked out right now.” Carzon said.

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La Esquina Latina

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Blair conmemora el Mes de la Herencia Hispana 2018 Por Jenny Granados-Villatoro y Jasmine Méndez-Paredes ESCRITORA Y EDITORA EN JEFE

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana 2018 comenzó en nuestra escuela con una calurosa bienvenida a los blazers por un cuarteto de mariachis talentosos. Los sonidos que salían de los instrumentos resonaron en la cafetería, dejando a estudiantes de distintos grupos étnicos hipnotizados y bailando al compás de la música. Llenos de alegría y muchas vibras positivas, los estudiantes comenzaron un nuevo día de aprendizaje.

Unas pocas semanas antes del evento, la Sra. Burgos-Ojeda, Sra. Carrillo, Sra. Young y un grupo de maestros organizaron con gran esfuerzo y dedicación una serie de actividades reconociendo la cultura hispana.

Algunos días después de la visita del cuarteto Mariachi el Rey, se llevó a cabo un panel de motivación llamado ¡Sí se puede! Numerosos estudiantes de habla hispana se hicieron presentes a este evento. En este panel había latinos exitosos compartiendo sus historias de cómo han superado obstáculos en su vida para lograr el éxito que están viviendo. Los panelistas fueron Tara Villanueva, Victor Santiago, Ada Villatoro, Sergio Rosario, Ofi-

AMANDA HERNÁNDEZ, JAEDYN TAYLOR, KATHERINE VAKOHROMEEVA

LATINOS CON TALENTO Celebrando las artes y la cultura hispana con diferentes eventos sucediendo en la escuela.

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Cambios sociales en Cuba abren nuevos camino para parejas La lucha por la igualdad de derechos está cambiando con los tiempos Por Amanda Hernández EDITORA EN JEFE

Establecido en 1965 por el infame Fidel Castro, el partido comunista de Cuba ha gobernado la isla durante los últimos 53 años.

Durante esos tiempos, los Estados Unidos y Cuba se han encontrado con momentos de agitación política y desconfianza. Las relaciones diplomáticas entre los dos países han cambiado. Además de este factor, la controversia sobre los derechos LGBTQ y el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo ha afectado a estos por años. Cuba se está moviendo para reconocer los matrimonios entre homosexuales en todo el país — algo que los Estados Unidos le falta hacer. Con este cambio en la administración de Cuba, una ola de apoyo a los derechos LGBTQ y aceptación se ha posado en los ojos del nuevo presidente, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Con el objetivo de eliminar toda la discriminación en la sociedad cubana, Díaz-Canel declaró en una entrevista reciente que, “[Cuba] está pasando por una evolución masiva de pensamientos y se han roto muchos tabúes.”

El movimiento de reforma empezó cuando Mariela Castro, hija de Raúl Castro, el ex-presidente de Cuba, fue nombrada directora de Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual (CENESEX) lo cual causó un cambio radical durante los años 2000. A raíz de su trabajo y de sus iniciativas, el gobierno ha financiado campañas para combatir homofobia y transfobia. Encima de eso, Mariel Castro también ha trabajado en programas educativos dirigidos a la prevención de VIH y el SIDA. En apoyo de las iniciativas de igualdad de Castro, Díaz-Canel declaró, “[Yo] defiendo

Mariela Castro presionó para que el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo se legalice en la nueva constitución en julio, lo que llevó a su aprobación por los legisladores en la Asamblea Nacional. Aunque aquellos en contra del matrimonio gay y los de-

miembros de la comunidad LGBTQ se sintieran bienvenidos. Después de la revolución, aquellos en la comunidad LGBTQ se enfrentaron a una sociedad llena de sentimientos de machismo y anti-gay. El odio y el disgusto hacia la comunidad LGBTQ se

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rechos LGBTQ continúan proyectando su desacuerdo, el gobierno cubano ha expresado su apoyo a la comunidad marginada.

Cuba opera bajo su carta nacional de 1976, que define el matrimonio como una “unión voluntaria de un hombre y una mujer.” En la constitución propuesta, se agregó un nuevo lenguaje para definir el matrimonio como una unión entre “dos personas.”

Los ciudadanos de cubanos podrán votar sobre la nueva constitución y los nuevos cambios en febrero de 2019.

Antes de la revolución de Cuba, dirigida por Fidel Castro y las iniciativas de Mariel Castro había pocas áreas en las que los

manifestaron en ataques brutales y años de violencia.

Por casi cinco décadas, y a causa de la homofobia, se vieron marginados los homosexuales en Cuba y a muchos se les envió a campos de trabajo militar-agrícola, acusándolos de ser contrarrevolucionarios. No fue sino hasta mediados de la década de 1970 cuando surgió la tolerancia hacia este estilo de vida tabú y comenzó a influir en las creencias del público.

Cuba despenalizó la homosexualidad en 1979 y en 2010, Fidel Castro, quien dirigió Cuba desde 1959 hasta 2008, se disculpó formalmente por su participación en el en-

carcelamiento de cubanos homosexuales en los llamados “campos de reeducación”.

Tras el colapso de la Unión Soviética en 1991, Cuba cayó en una recesión económica que fue precedida por reformas sociales, económicas y políticas. Esta reforma a su vez transformó al país en lo que lentamente se está convirtiendo ahora.

En la cultura latina, es común encontrar sesgos y estigmas implícitos detrás de los derechos para la comunidad LGBTQ. Apenas se habla de los derechos LGBTQ y mucho menos se reconocen. Esto se debe a menudo a c r e e n - cias religiosas y políticas estrictas. Sin embargo, en las últimas décadas, un surgimiento de apoyo hacia a los derechos LGBTQ ha consumido a gran parte de los jóvenes de hoy.

Jorge Gómez, un estudiante en el décimo grado, compartió sus ideas, “Aunque el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo es controvertido, más países deberían optar por fomentar la igualdad y la libertad para su gente.”

María Flores, una alumna en el noveno grado, expresó su preocupación por el futuro de los derechos de LGBTQ. “Es genial que Cuba se esté moviendo hacia la revolución social. [Espero] que esto marque una nueva era y que más países legalicen el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo,” dijo Flores.

A medida que más y más países latinoamericanos eligen dejar atrás sus creencias intolerantes contra la comunidad LGBTQ, nosotros, como comunidad unida de latinos, debemos defenderlos y continuar apoyando a los afectados. Independientemente de la oposición religiosa, es importante apoyar a otros latinos en la búsqueda de libertad e igualdad.

Además, vivimos en un país donde la igualdad y la libertad son derechos fundamentales de todos los seres humanos. Hace sentido que pongamos fin a la discriminación y facilitemos

silverchips B2 español 17 de octubre, de 2018 Estudiantes latinos de Blair dan la bienvenida a una variedad de actividades y eventos de entretenimiento viene de HERENCIA página B1 -cial Joseph, Oficial Mota, y Sagrario Ortiz.

La mayoría de los panelistas aconsejaron a los estudiantes latinos a no poner límites a sus sueños. Al final del evento, los estudiantes captaron el mensaje de que es posible alcanzar sus aspiraciones a pesar de los obstáculos y dificultades.

Durante la segunda semana de la celebración, el club One Blair, patrocinó un foro para que los estudiantes latinos conversarán sobre sus experiencias al empezar de nuevo en un país extranjero y al estar en Blair.

Con el propósito de unir la comunidad de Blair, el club extraerá información del diálogo para formar resoluciones de las sugerencias que hicieron los estudiantes. Jessenia Miranda, una estudiante del décimo grado mencionó acerca del foro, “Pienso que es muy importante incluir más la comunidad de inmigrantes de otros países porque hay muchos de ellos y hay que asegurarse que se sientan incluidos ya que [no] se deben sentir excluidos por hablar otro idioma y por ser de otro país”. El supervisor de One Blair, el Sr. Shindel, comentó acerca de las actividades que se hicieron este mes, “Espero que con los eventos de este mes, la comunidad latina de Blair se sienta más incluida aunque hay muchos problemas sistémicos, y muchos de ellos no tendrán confianza por lo que han pasado, pero espero que con estos eventos se sientan un poquito más cómodos”.

Durante esa misma semana, hubo una exhibición de arte sobre el artista Salvador Dalí en la biblioteca. Dalí es sumamente conocido por su estilo surrealista. En sus obras hay yuxtaposición y también imágenes dobles para crear dos cosas en un solo objeto en sus pinturas. Varios estudiantes de diversas

clases incluyendo las clases de español estudiaron y analizaron la biografía y el estilo surrealista de Dalí. Los estudiantes completaron una serie de actividades relacionadas al tema y este año, en favor a los estudiantes de ESOL, hubo la opción de escoger hacer el trabajo en español.

Uno de los eventos más espectaculares fue Fiesta Blair. Los estudiantes inundaron el auditorio y fue una noche llena de bailes, poemas inspiradores y cánticos de personas latinas. Es la primera vez en que la comunidad de Blair hace un evento de esta magnitud para celebrar la herencia hispana. El evento que fue organizado en tres semanas fue una noche alegre y de mucho éxito. Emely Guevara, una estudiante en el onceavo grado quien fue unas de las presentadoras de este evento dijo, “Doy gracias que por fin la comunidad Latina esté siendo reconocida en un evento como este, donde todos nos representamos unos a otros.

También, fue muy divertido y la comida estaba muy sabrosa”.

Finalmente, la celebración cultural concluyó con una asamblea con un invitado, especial, el conocido Ernie G. Este comediante Ernie G ha ganado muchos premios por inspirar a los jóvenes a seguir sus sueños basándose en sus experiencias personales.

Ernie visitó a Blair con el propósito de llegar a los corazones de los jóvenes con comedia. Afortunadamente, la comunidad de Blair lo recibió con los brazos abierta.

Al igual que la comunidad de Blair, los Estados Unidos celebra el Mes de la Herencia Hispana. A causa de la numerosa cantidad de latinos viviendo en los Estados Unidos, latinos en los Estados Unidos, el presidente Lyndon B. Johnson decidió en 1968 dar a conocer la cultura hispana.

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Hoy en día hay estimadamente 55 millones de latinos, lo cual es el 17 por ciento de la población Americana. En Blair, después del inglés, el idioma más utilizado es el español.

Esto también aplica para los Estados Unidos, donde el Mes de la Herencia Hispana se lleva a cabo del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre. Hay alrededor de siete países latinoamericanos que celebran sus independencias en el mes de septiembre. Estos países incluyen, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, México y Chile.

Es necesario reconocer que esta celebración cultural no es solamente para los latinos, sino es una oportunidad increíble para que diversas personas de diferentes culturas

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se unan a la celebración y aprenden sobre la cultura hispana.

Este Mes de la Herencia Hispana 2018 ha sido uno de los más memorables en la historia de Blair. Celebramos muchos eventos que promueven la inclusión de los latinos. De igual manera, este año celebramos el primer evento de Fiesta Blair y esperamos que se convierta en una tradición anual. Confiamos que con estos eventos, la comunidad latina se sienta bienvenida, apreciada, y representada en los pasillos de Blair. Como una institución unida, tenemos que abrir más puertas tales como estos actividades, para que todos nosotros como latinos, inmigrantes o no, nos sintamos como una sola familia.

Trump reclama falsamente el número de muertos en PR Luchando por justicia para más de 3,000 personas sin voz Por Amanda Hernández y Jasmine Méndez-Paredes EDITORAS EN JEFE Una Opinion

Una vez más el presidente Trump ha descuidado e insultado al pueblo de Puerto Rico. El mes pasado, Trump publicó una serie de tweets en su página personal de Twitter, acusando a los demócratas de inflar el número de muertos en Puerto Rico luego de que el huracán María lo azotara el año pasado. El informe que fue conducido y publicado por la Universidad de George Washington estima que aproximadamente 3,000 personas murieron debido a la falta de atención médica y otros suministros necesarios después del huracán.

Luego del huracán María, miles de puertorriqueños se quedaron sin hogar, sin electricidad y sin acceso a alimentos ni agua.

Organizaciones como FEMA dejaron la isla en malas condiciones solo días antes de que comenzara la temporada de huracanes, dejando a la gente defendiéndose por sí mismas. Con casi ninguna ayuda del gobierno de los Estados Unidos, los puertorriqueños tuvieron que arreglárselas solos y tratar de reconstruir todo mientras la temporada de huracanes estaba en marcha.

Un año después, el presidente Trump continúa menospreciando a la gente de Puerto Rico y a los que intentan mostrar la verdad. Como mencionado, la Universidad de George Washington publicó un informe que estima que el número de muertos en Puerto Rico es de aproximadamente 3.000 personas. Según un artículo publicado por el New York Times, “Al menos otros cinco análisis independientes - utilizando una serie de metodologías y examinando las distintas cantidades de tiempo transcurridas desde que el huracán tocó tierra- establecen el número de 1,000 o más ...” Así que, es obvio que el número de muertos en Puerto

Rico ha aumentado desde que se publicaron los informes iniciales el año pasado.

Trump, por otro lado, utilizó Twitter para decir que la cifra de muertos era de entre 6 y 18 personas. El presidente no solo dió información desactualizada, sino que usa su poder para influenciar a otros para que crean lo mismo.

Otro experto, John Mutter, un profesor en la Universidad de Colombia que se enfoca en mortalidades por desastres, compartió su opinión sobre el tweet. “Ningún académico serio que estudia este tema pensó que [la baja tasa

contragolpe de ambos partidos políticos. En caso que no se ha dado cuenta, Puerto Rico todavía está reconstruyendo e intentando restaurar recursos en la isla. El huracán María causó daños por más de 100 mil millones de dólares y muchos están esperando más fondos gubernamentales que nunca llegarán.

En el pasado mes, la Oficina de Rendición de Cuentas del Gobierno (GAO) publicó un informe lo cual reveló que FEMA se había visto tan abrumado por las tormentas cuando el huracán María golpeó a Puerto Rico, que más de la mitad de los trabajado-

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de mortalidad] era plausible. Era increíblemente baja,” dijo Mutter.

Obviamente inseguro y preocupado por su lugar en el mundo, Trump también declaró en su serie de tweets que los demócratas están tratando de, “hacer que se vea lo peor posible cuando [él] estaba recaudando con éxito miles de millones de dólares para ayudar a reconstruir Puerto Rico.” Desde el lanzamiento de estos tweets, Trump ha recibido un fuerte

res que fueron desplegados no estaban calificados. Esto no solo muestra la falta de organización del gobierno de los Estados Unidos y FEMA, sino que también muestra que le dieron pocos recursos, dedicación y tiempo a los afectados en la isla.

Además de la falta de recursos y ayuda, Trump ilustró muy claramente sus tendencias intolerantes en otra serie de tweets el mes pasado. Justo cuando el huracán Floren-

ce estaba a punto de golpear a las Carolinas, Trump se puso inmediatamente a Twitter para desgastar a la gente del Norte y Sur de Carolina de los peligros que puede traer el huracán algo que apenas hizo para Puerto Rico.

Según el censo de los Estados Unidos, Carolina del Norte tiene una población caucásica de aproximadamente el 70.8 por ciento y Carolina del Sur tiene una población de 68.5 por ciento. Como lo demuestran los resultados de las elecciones de 2016, tanto Carolina del Norte como del Sur se inclinan al lado derecho o “republicano” en términos políticos. No nos sorprende que dos años después, las tasas de aprobación de Trump en ambos estados sean relativamente altas en comparación con otros estados.

En contraste, Puerto Rico está compuesto por una variedad de grupos étnicos y con una población que tiene opiniones primordialmente demócratas. ¿Hay una correlación? Te dejaremos decidir.

A medida de que Trump sigue haciendo comentarios para justificar sus acciones, debemos reconocer su incapacidad para preocuparse por otros que no sean como él y/o sus partidarios. Como jefe del estado, el presidente debe procurarse de la protección, seguridad y la representación del pueblo. Sin embargo, las siguientes cosas son responsabilidades que Trump nunca ha cumplido y probablemente no lo hará. En lugar de preocuparse por el bienestar de las personas que siguen afectadas por el huracán María, él se preocupa por mantener su imagen y opta por mentir sobre el ‘éxito’ que fue Puerto Rico.

En esta administración hay un problema, y es necesario tocar este tema. Ya es hora de que los puertorriqueños que fallecieron durante y después de huracán María reciban la justicia que merecen. Esto solo ocurrirá una vez que todos de los Estados Unidos se den cuenta de las injusticias sociales y políticas que han plagado a este país, desde antes de su establecimiento.

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¿Debemos celebrar el Día de las Brujas?

NO:

SÍ:

Más allá de los disfraces

No es tan malo como piensan Sonidos de risa llenan el aire otoñal mientras multitudes de niños y adolescentes inundan las calles disfrazados en sus personajes favoritos.

Las multitudes se convierten en líneas mientras los niños buscan las casas que ofrecen los mejores dulces. Para aquellos familiarizados con el Día de las Brujas, esa escena puede sonar una camAMANDA HERNÁNDEZ pana en sus memorias. Es más Por Yesenia Cruz comúnmente ESCRITORA referido como “ir de truco o trato” y es la actividad más popular durante la noche del Día de las Brujas. Además no es necesario salir a buscar dulces, sino que también puedes quedarte en casa y regalar dulces. Muchos critican esta celebración por razones de peligro, o otras razones adicionales, sin embargo este día no tiene que ser peligroso si se toman las medidas correctas, si no que es un día lleno de diversión.

El Día de las Brujas es una noche llena de recuerdos inolvidables para las personas de todas edades. Es el único día en lo cual uno puede recibir varios dulces deliciosos sin pagar un centavo. Este día brinda una oportunidad para que las familia se diviertan juntas. Desde fiestas hasta juegos, este día no falla en traer la felicidad para todos.

Como una de las tradiciones más celebradas y reconocidas en los Estados Unidos, el Día de las Brujas es un elemento básico de la infancia de casi todos los niños. Los orígenes del Día de las Brujas se remontan al antiguo festival celta de Samhain, cuando la gente encendía hogueras y usaba disfraces para protegerse de los fantasmas. El festival se remonta a hace aproximadamente 2,000 años en el área que ahora es Irlanda, el Reino Unido y el norte de Francia. Con tiempo, el Día de las Brujas se convirtió en un día de actividades como, tallar calabazas, irse a fiestas, ponerse disfraces, y satisfacer sus deseos por dulces. La celebración se extendió a través de muchas diferentes partes del mundo y finalmente llegó a los Estados Unidos y siempre se celebra el 31 de octubre.

Una tradición esencial para este día es cuando los niños salen con sus padres o amigos a ir truco o trato. Desde tiempo el Día de las Brujas ha sido el día favorito de muchos niños porque les da una oportunidad de poder convertirse en quienes quieran. Es el único día donde los niños pueden utilizar su creatividad, tener la libertad de ser quienes quieran y las posibilidades son infinitas.

El celebrar el Día de las Brujas permite a los niños se expresarse por medio de los disfraces. Los disfraces que se ven en este dia son fascinantes y chistosos. En el tiempo que los niños están pequeños ellos tiene una imaginación inimaginable, por eso este día es una buena oportunidad para que ellos suelten

todas sus idea increíbles.

A los niños les encanta este día no sólo porque se pueden disfrazar de cualquier manera, si no porque también pueden pasar tiempo con sus seres queridos. La socialización para los niños en estas etapas de sus vidas es fundamental para su crecimiento y actitud en el mundo real. Según la terapeuta familiar, Vivian Fernández, “enseñarles a los niños como hablar y actuar con los demás, les ayuda increíblemente para sus futuros porque les enseña cómo [actuar] con los demás.” Incluso les enseña a incluso cómo hacer amistades y se vuelven menos tímidos y más seguros de sí mismos.

Cuando los niños pasan tiempo de calidad con sus padres y sus amigos, ellos crean memorias inolvidables. Estas memorias son importantes porque serán cosas que recordarán por siempre. Es importante que los niños tengan buenas memorias con la gente que quieren porque de ese modo ellos crecen llenos de felicidad. Si un niño crece lleno de felicidad en vez de crecer con memorias desagradables, hay más posibilidad de que crezcan a ser gente de bien. Sus corazones estarán llenos de amor y positividad y no

La brisa circula a través de la noche, mientras la pálida luna brilla intensamente.

Niños traviesos corren por sus vecindarios causando destrucción y buscando diversión.

Para muchos en los Estados Unidos, el Día de Brujas es visto como una noche de bromas. En algunos vecindarios se puede encontrar rollos de papel higiéAMANDA HERNÁNDEZ nico decorando árboles y huevos Por Lourdes Reyespodridos que Valenzuela repintan las paEDITORA redes de las casas. Aunque esta tradición de bromas parece una diversión inofensiva, los peligros aún prevalecen y representan un riesgo para los niños pequeños y otras personas vulnerables.

Al principio, este día se conmemoraba con

ELAINE CHENG

negatividad.

Aunque se han reportado numerosos incidentes de comportamiento delictivo, peligro infantil y secuestros de niños pequeños, hay varias cosas buenas del Día de las Brujas. Muchos piensan que el Día de las Brujas no debe ser celebrado por los peligros que pueden estar alrededor. Además, por estos peligros, nos da más razón para añadir y enforzar medidas de protección más estrictas. Es más, nunca es un buen idea dejar un nino menor de 13 años salir sin permiso o supervisión de sus padres o un adulto de confianza.

Independientemente del temor al peligro que puede ocurrir durante el Día de las Brujas, la celebración sirve como un día para que los niños pueden expresar sus identidades o intereses de forma libre en un ambiente divertido. Es el tiempo de expresarnos y tener las mentes abiertas para nuevas tradiciones que cada día harán este mundo mejor y más diverso.

desfiles, sin embargo al pasar los años se ha convertido en una festividad de disfraces, bromas pesadas y fiestas. De acuerdo con un artículo publicado por CNN, “Inmigrantes de Irlanda y Escocia trajeron el Día de Brujas a los Estados Unidos en los 1800. Inmigrantes haitianos y africanos trajeron creencias sobre el vudú tales como gatos negros, el fuego, y brujería”. La mezcla de estas culturas hicieron del Día de Brujas una fiesta pagana.

Por otra parte, el Día de Brujas es una tradición muy extendida en la cultura estadounidense. Sin embargo, es raro encontrar a devotos latinos religiosos que apoyan la festividad en su totalidad. Para algunos, las creencias religiosas estrictas restringen su participación en la tradición. Independientemente de sus preferencias religiosas, es crucial respetar la decisión de todos, ya sea que decidan o no participar en Halloween.

En las palabras de Odalys Zaldaña, una estudiante de undécimo grado, “Han de haber personas que no lo celebran debido a

su religión [y hay que respetar eso]”.

Hay que recordar que en la tradición del Día de Brujas en los Estados Unidos, los niños salen a las calles en la oscuridad y piden dulces de puerta a puerta en sus respectivos vecindarios. A veces los padres llevan a sus hijos o los mandan solos con confianza en ellos, pero no se dan cuenta que pueden haber más de un peligro en ellas.

Cabe mencionar que al ingerir los dulces se corre peligro, ya que hay veces que estos han caducado o que han sido contaminados con algún químico. Aunque esto es menos probable y ha disminuido en frecuencia, todavía es posible. Incluso si las golosinas no están envenenadas o drogadas, sigue siendo increíblemente importante verificar las fechas de vencimiento para reducir la posibilidad de intoxicación. Dicho esto, los padres con niños pequeños y niños mayores deben estar atentos.

Además, los accidentes de tráfico son otro factor que los padres deben tener presentes antes de dar permiso a sus hijos de salir a la calle. Según un artículo del Consejo Nacional de la Seguridad (NSC), “Es doblemente más probable que un niño sea golpeado por un vehículo motorizado el día de Halloween que otro día en el año.” Esta fuente demuestra cómo los niños corren peligro al pedir caramelos cada año. Con esta información, los padres y guardianes han de tener mucha certeza y vigilancia al momento de autorizar a sus infantes a celebrar este día.

Aparte del peligro que corren los niños de ser atropellados, puede darse un caso aún peor, de que los secuestren. Durante la noche del Día de Brujas hay personas que salen con el fin de robar a los niños. Estos se los llevan para sobornar a los padres con dinero o simplemente para tener posesión de ellos.

También, hay una probabilidad de que estas personas se lleven a los niños para abusarlos físicamente.

El Día de Brujas se presenta a la sociedad en diferentes formas, y la más popular es haciendo que los niños se adhieran a esta por medio de las golosinas y la oportunidad de vestirse con su disfraz favorito por una noche. El peligro que corren en este día es muy elevado y es mejor que el niño se sienta mal por no salir afuera con sus amigos a que le vaya a pasar algo lamentable. Como los niños no son totalmente conscientes de esto es responsabilidad de los padres dirigir a sus hijos por el camino correcto y continuar con las tradiciones y creencias de sus culturas.

Check out the translated Esquina Latina articles for yourself with this code! Scan the QR code to read in English.

La voz latina Jonathan Argueta onceavo grado

LUCY MARTIN

“Sí, hay que conmemorar este día porque uno se divierte con la familia y la comunidad”

Nayely Bonilla décimo grado

AMANDA HERNÁNDEZ

“Sí, pienso que debería de ser

celebrado porque uno puede expresarse de diferentes maneras.”

Bladimil Valdez doceavo grado

LUCY MARTIN

“No, este día no hay que celebrarlo porque hay personas que pueden hacer maldades a los niños.”

María Argueta onceavo grado

LUCY MARTIN

“Sí, se debe celebrar el Día de Brujas las porque es una tradición estadounidense para los niños.”

Reynel Carballo décimo grado

AMANDA HERNÁNDEZ

“Sí, ya que celebramos otras fiestas religiosas, no veo por qué no debemos celebrar ese día.”

C1 Op/Ed

silverchips

October 17, 2018

A glimpse at the brighter side of overcrowding in MCPS How overcrowding in MCPS signifies economic and local growth in Montgomery County

By Paloma Williams STAFF WRITER

According to a survey of school capacity conducted by MCPS, all five schools in the Downcounty Consortium are projected to be over capacity by the end of our current sixyear planning period. While it has resulted in a few short-term drawbacks, this exponential rise in enrollment ultimately bears great potential for the re-imagining and growth of school infrastructure in the area.

The projected total enrollment rate of Montgomery County by the 2020-2021 school year is 165,358 students. According to MCPS, that is more growth than that of Anne Arundel, Howard, Frederick and Baltimore County combined. “We’re looking at on average about 25,000 kids a year over the past ten years or so, and of course that impacts all of our schools,” said Adrienne Karamihas, Director of Capital Planning for MCPS. Overcrowding throughout MCPS can have many far-reaching effects on classroom environments, one of such being the overfilling of limited-capacity facilities. “We only have so many science rooms in the building and the more students that we have, it becomes harder to make sure that we have enough science rooms for all of the students,” said Peter Ostrander, Blair’s Magnet Coordinator. “More students [means] less time for individual attention. More papers to grade for English classes which means, given the time restraints, maybe the teachers not putting as many comments on each paper as they would if they had fewer students.”

Despite the admittedly negative implications of this problem, the long-term effects of increased enrollment rates include a plethora of new facilities and increased economic support from the county. Overcrowding is a necessary part of community growth, one which symbolizes the massive changes that are occurring in our community.

As housing prices skyrocket in Montgomery County, the suburbs of D.C. are gaining

MAGGIE LIN

A SEA OF STUDENTS Crowds of students fill the halls as they make their way to various classes. Hallway congestion is not an uncommon occurence. popularity. “When you look at the Washing- had closed schools, well now, a good number ton region, it’s one of the strongest econo- of the schools there are experiencing overmies in the country,” Montgomery County crowding.” In the larger picture, increased Councilmember Hans Riemer said. “People school enrollment is simply a sign of the popcome to the region for the opportunities.” ularity and desirability of our school system.

Overcrowding is typically a byproduct of “The county’s schools have a very strong repmassive economic growth. In fact, increased utation, so people move here. That’s just the enrollment in local schools in MCPS reveals nature of things,” Councilmember Riemer much about the local economy. “People are said. Realistically, the problem of overcrowdmore inclined to stay closer to DC, closer ing in schools is a sign of a blossoming local to where there’s more infrastructure, where economy. you have more transit options and you have Gradually, as Montgomery County grows more jobs, people want to live closer to where in population, local infrastructure will go they work and not have as long of a commute through various changes in efforts to accomand so more people, it seems, are moving or modate this growth. One of these changes is living in the Downcounty area,” said Jason a moratorium placed by MCPS that blocks Sartori, Special Programs Coordinator at the the approval of new housing development Montgomery County Planning Department. applications in the Blair area. The morato“These are areas where previously MCPS rium is just the beginning of the process of

accommodating local growth. “The purpose of [the moratorium] is to ensure that there is adequate infrastructure, in this case, school infrastructure, to accommodate growth that we want to see in the areas that we want to see it,” Sartori said. “So if we want to continue to grow Downcounty...we need to make sure that we have the infrastructure in place to accommodate that.”

Efforts enacted by the county, such as the moratorium, ensure that the problem of overcrowding will be processed and solved comprehensively. Overcrowding is not a random problem that is suddenly plaguing our county, rather, it is the result of an unexpected influx of growth and economic expansion. Various measures being enacted by the county thoroughly assure that the problem of overcrowding will not cause significant damage within our school system.

Additionally, there are many temporary fixes that are being enacted at a local level.

“Relocatable classrooms is one short-term option,” Karamihas explained. “The other one we do is planning-staff go out to schools to see if different spaces can be used differently in order to accommodate the students that are coming into the school.”

In the long run, the primary long-term result of overcrowding will be the allocation of funds from the county for the expansion and construction of new school facilities, and with the simple recognition that the problem of overcrowding ultimately stems from the positive influx of local economic growth, we can see this as an ultimately good thing.

To find out more about overcrowding, scan the following QR code

silverchips

October 17, 2018

Op/Ed C2

Should hate speech be considered free speech?

YES:

NO:

It is imperative to uphold American political values.

In August 2018, the online accounts of conservative pundit Alex Jones were suspended by several social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook, for violating their hate speech guidelines.

The platforms’ actions elicited praise and criticism alike. The content published

by Jones was construed as offensive AVERY BROOKS by people online prior to him being

By Kie Donovan banned, promptSTAFF WRITER ing many to call for an exception for hate speech in the First Amendment.

But distinguishing between hate speech and free speech could have dire consequences, and even work against everything we hope to achieve by excluding hate speech from the First Amendment in the first place.

A common misconception is that hate speech includes calls for violence, but in reality, they are distinct entities. Speech that “inflict[s] injury or tend[s] to incite an immediate breach of the peace,” as originally defined by the Supreme Court in the 1942 case, Chaplinsky v.

New Hampshire, falls into the category of “fighting words,” which can be restricted.

The difference is important to acknowledge. “Hate speech [is], by nature… derogatory [and] hurtful… but it often does not directly incite violence, and so it’s the difference between saying that a certain group or attribute makes someone inferior to... saying we need to kill or hurt all people in ‘X’ group,” said AP Government teacher, Alison Russell.

The explicit definition of hate speech, on the other hand, is much fuzzier. While “hate speech” describes speech that one finds offensive or bigoted, there is no real legal definition of hate speech; after all, “offensiveness” and “hatefulness” of speech are too subjective. The terms themselves are far too difficult to pin down to belong in a court of law, as demonstrated in the 1989 Supreme Court case Doe v. University of Michigan. The school’s hate speech policy prohibited “any behavior, verbal or physical, that stigmatizes or victimizes an individual on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, [and] creed,” among other attributes. The plaintiff, under the pseudonym John Doe, was a biopsychology student who wished to discuss biopsychological theories that might be considered “racist” or “sexist” on campus, but feared punishment from the university. He disputed the constitutionality of the university’s policy, and the court ruled in his favor on the grounds “that the University never articulated any principled way

Hate speech ranges beyond First Amendment protections.

to distinguish sanctionable from protected speech,” and the use of the words “stigmatizes” and “victimizes” in the code was “so vague” that it would even violate due process.

Doe v. University of Michigan demonstrates that attempts to restrict a category of speech as broad and subjective as hate speech is not only highly insensible, but unconstitutional. It would also seem, from the ruling on the Doe case, that Twitter and Facebook were acting unconstitutionally by banning Jones, but this is where constitutional power ends and private industry begins. Social media companies are private entities and are not bound by many of the limitations on free speech restriction that the government is. This is best exemplified in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which protects both users and providers of Internet services, like Twitter or Facebook, from legal liability for restricting content they deem “objectionable.”

Naturally, this clause and their private nature give social media com-

panies considerable freedom when it comes to restricting speech. “Because the First Amendment only applies to the government, companies like Twitter and Facebook can set their own policy and they could… say ‘you cannot mention the word ‘Nazi,’ or we’ll take it down,” said Russell.

However, the openness of the Internet and the discourse between users that takes place on social media has led many to argue that online speech cannot be controlled by these social media companies. “That’s where the idea of free speech bleeds into American political values, where there would be a huge outcry if certain words or ideas were banned [by] a social media company,” said Russell.

While social media companies can legally regulate what they view as hate speech, not considering hate speech to be free speech is insensible. Social media companies should remain mindful of the reasons that hate speech is free speech, as this idea is central to the political values of their American user base.

We live in a country where we pride ourselves on the values our nation was founded on, most notably freedom of speech. The idea that everybody has the right to say whatever they believe has spread across the globe.

However, there is one type of rhetoric that should not be considered free speech: AVERY BROOKS hate speech. Hate speech is unproBy Louis Rosenberg tected by the ConSTAFF WRITER stitution because it is used to incite violence, is a form of censorship itself, and any major platform that classifies it as free speech would be going against their terms of service agreement.

Last month, Twitter suspended the account of conspiracy theo-

KELLEY LI rist and Infowars host Alex Jones after he tweeted the link to a video that told supporters to get their “battle rifles” ready to use against the media. Jones argued that Twitter suspending his account was a violation of his First Amendment Rights, which is incorrect.

If someone’s words present a clear and present danger to the public, their speech can be censored. In the 1942 Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire Supreme Court case, the court unanimously ruled that the fighting words doctrine was constitutional. The doctrine limits certain types of speech from being protected by the First Amendment, including fighting words. Fighting words are defined by the Chaplinsky decision as being words that “by their very utterance, inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.

Hate speech has been used throughout history to incite violence, recently in Charlottesville last year. To make sure similar incidents never happen again we need to differentiate hate speech from free speech. The ignorant beliefs that fuel hate speech will always exist, but they should not have the same

protections to keep them in the mainstream and influence others who will commit violent acts out of hate.

Hate speech is a form of censorship itself and has been used to silence minority groups for centuries. When it is used to do this, it is unconstitutional because it violates the 14th Amendment which guarantees all people equal protection under the law.

Unlike the United States, Europe has had established hate speech laws for decades.

While some believe that these laws serve a political purpose to make it easier to censor the opposition, in countries such as the UK, political power has shifted equally between parties even though the country has laws on hate speech. The United States is an anomaly because there are no laws regarding hate speech.

In an op/ed published in the LA Times, Professor Laura Beth Nielsen, a sociology professor at Northwestern University, argued that the “negative physical effects and mental outcomes” that are associated with hate speech “mean that hate speech is not ‘just speech.’”

According to Nielsen, the US is alone compared to other “economically advanced democracies in the world” on hate speech and courts. State legislatures need to take steps to restrict hate speech.

The government’s ability to restrict hate speech is often lumped together with the ability of private platform’s to restrict hate speech. It is important to make the distinction between these two entities, as free speech is commonly mistaken as being guaranteed on social media.

An account can be suspended if it is deemed to have violated the terms of service agreement of the platform.

When Facebook and Google took steps to remove any accounts associated with Alex Jones, they were not stifling free speech. They have always reserved the right to terminate any account and remove any content that breaks their terms of service.

According to the Freedom Forum, a majority of legal scholars agree that some speech is unprotected. The Freedom Forum Institute lists nine categories of speech that fall outside of the First Amendment. Certain categories such as child pornography, blackmail, and perjury are already illegal crimes.

Defamation, slander, and obscenity, all things that are considered hate speech, are also included. The extent to which something is considered hate speech is a neverending debate, but there is no specific protection in the Constitution that would classify hate speech as being protected under the First Amendment.

If the Constitution is a reflection of our nation’s highest held values, it should have restrictions on hate speech in it. Tolerance hate speech being protected under the First Amendment is tolerance of fighting words, a form of censorship of minority groups, and ignores the fact that hate speech can be restricted in a functioning democracy.

voicebox Kimberly Docteur Senior

Danny Tran Ho Sophomore

Liam Jaehnigen Freshman

Mackenzie Tyler Junior

Julian Heppen-Ibanez Sophomore

“[Yes], I think it should be considered free speech unless you’re threatening someone...”

“[No] ... you’re saying [something] with the intent of hurting somebody else.”

“Yeah, because you’re entitled to your own opinion about everything.”

AVERY BROOKS “Yes... Everybody should be able to say their opinion.”

“No, because hate speech is actually just hurting other people... “

C3 Op/Ed

silverchips

October 17, 2018

Trash the phrase ‘white trash’ The epithet is offensive to those it labels and demeaning to people of color

By Amanda Liu AN OPINION

STAFF WRITER

Virtually all racial slurs have become taboo in modern society. The exception?

“White trash.”

The term is thrown around easily in everyday conversation, newspaper articles, television shows, and sometimes even jokingly used to describe one’s own lifestyle.

“White trash” is a derogatory term typically used to refer to poor white people, particularly those living in the southern United States. Partly due to pop culture influences such as the sitcom “Roseanne” and the reality television show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” the phrase has come to portray poor, rural whites through heavily negative stereotypes, often characterizing them as crass, ignorant, and racist.

The epithet is not only disparaging to those it labels, but also demeaning to racial minorities.

“White trash” is not a modern phrase. Its origins date back to 1820s Maryland, when it was used to demean poor whites who, having been denied land in the north, settled in southern states.

According to Matt Wray, a sociology professor at Temple University and author of several books about “white trash,” poor whites were seen near the bottom rung of the social ladder at the time. “It looks like African-Americans used [the term] to disparage poor whites. Probably either recently freed slaves or perhaps even higher status slaves recognized that the condition of these particular whites was… in many ways beneath their own social standing and status,” said Wray, “but it was elite whites who picked it up and ran with it.”

The term gained popularity through me-

moirs and novels. In an 1856 pamphlet titled The Poor Whites of the South, writer George Melville Weston warned that poor white people were “sinking deeper and more hopelessly into barbarism with every succeeding generation.”

Weston’s words represent the prejudice against poor whites at the time. The rest of the population was okay with this separate species not achieving the new nation’s promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; after all, they were practically “barbaric.” Poor white citizens were alienated from other “superior” white people, making their wants and needs seem invalid. Usage of “white trash” serves a similar purpose in modern-day society—rather than understanding these people’s political needs, it is easier to simply dismiss them.

As Wray says, the term’s hateful sentiments reflect the hostility of the current political climate.

“It’s really quite easy to… get [people] politically and socially mobilized around disgust, around contempt, around fear,” said Wray.

“We’re living in a moment right now where there’s a lot of political energy being stirred up through fear and division, and ‘white trash’ can absolutely work the same way.”

Today, the epithet continues to reduce lower-class white citizens to offensive two-dimensional stereotypes. Not only are these stereotypes over-generalizations, but they also depersonalize poor rural whites and marginalize them from the rest of America. Rather than being seen as thinking, feeling human beings, “white trash” becomes the punchline of jokes, the comedic relief. Repeated usage of this phrase in everyday speech and entertainment only further ingrains these stereotypes in society.

But perhaps the most problematic aspect of “white trash” is that the phrase itself actually cements the idea of white supremacy. As

soapbox Is it ever okay to say “white trash?”

“It’s never okay to use the term ‘white trash’ because it just promotes using offensive terms.”

— Aldo Martinez, junior

“‘White trash’ doesn’t have the history that the N-word does, and so it’s alright to use.”

— Larkin Kern, junior

Wray says, the term establishes white as the superior race.

By juxtaposing “white” with “trash,” the default white is defined as everything trash is not. Other races, however, do not need a modifier to be these things; after all, there is no “black trash,” “Asian trash,” “Latino trash,” or “Native-American trash.”

“The fact that it gets signaled out as ‘white trash’ seems to suggest that while non-whites could expect to behave in these trashy ways, we would not expect that of whites,” said Wray. “That’s a real expression of white supremacy, the idea that the behavioral codes of white people are somehow normally above reproach, yet here are some whites who are sinking to the level of almost non-whiteness.”

Although not reflective of his personal views, Magnet science teacher Erik Lodal believes that the endurance of this phrase has to do with the fact that Caucasians are the majority.

“It makes it okay because you’re discriminating against the majority instead of the minority,” Lodal said.

As Wray says, “white trash” would not have lasted so long if people did not find it particularly apt or humorous. However, whenever the term is used, even if for comedic effect, it is at the expense of people of color.

The words “white trash” do not elicit the same visceral reactions as other racial slurs.

Nonetheless, they put down minority groups and diminish them to nothing more than their race or social status.

Seeing as the phrase has persisted for almost two centuries, it is unlikely to be eradicated anytime soon. However, by understanding the historical context and social implications of such a phrase, we can censor the ways we use it and have a clearer understanding of the microaggressions it carries.

A fresh take on AP classes

Blair owes freshmen Advanced Placement opportunities

By Sarah Schiffgens STAFF WRITER

AN OPINION

Known for its high-achieving students and multitude of academic programs, Montgomery Blair High School has earned widespread recognition for its academic excellence; however, not all students are satisfied with the educational opportunities open to them at Blair. For high-achieving freshmen, Blair’s unique and arbitrary policy that bars freshmen from taking APs is not only inconvenient, but incredibly limiting for students capable of more challenging courses.

With over 900 students enrolled in the freshman class of 2022, there is no shortage of students who are interested in and capable of taking AP level courses, yet these students are not provided the opportunity to enroll in any APs because of an unfounded notion that freshmen cannot comprehend AP level concepts in the same way that sophomores or upperclassmen can.

Blair AP Coordinator Leslie Blaha argues that the policy is in place because freshmen students do not have the life experience to seriously take and understand an AP level course. “For a class like U.S. History as a freshman, Human Geography as a freshman, there’s just a lot more to learn as you grow up, I feel, relating to the background, and kind of the holistic idea of what history means, that I don’t think those courses are appropriate for a freshman,” she said. Principal Renay Johnson believes the policy is in a freshman’s

best interest. She argues that Blair should “let the material on an AP level. “Unfortunately, I ninth graders get acclimated to high school, didn’t even hear about those kinds of opporto the curriculum, and then they can start tunities at all, I mean I have a fascination with taking APs in tenth grade, and eleventh and history, I find it very interesting, but it’s a real twelfth.” shame I wasn’t able to, or I wasn’t aware, I wasn’t made aware of On the other hand, CAP the opportunities, sophomore Alex Koelike taking an hler argues that AP test for the administration is heck of it,” undermining he said. the capabiliFreshman ties of fresAnjali hmen.

Gupta “There feels is just that her such a courses variety of this year students are not out thechallenre, with a ging enouwhole rangh and that ge of different she would benecapabilities, and fit from taking an AP it’s not right to limit level course. “A lot of them needlessly, sensemy friends in my honors lessly, when there are sucourses actually, we have rely freshmen out there able discussed how we believe to do that,” Koehler said. that the course is a bit easy for Koehler was not aware that both of us,” she said. he could take AP tests on his own SARAH SCHIFFGINS At many high schools in the through some extra self-study alongside his current curriculum. As a bit of a his- county—for example, Springbrook and Paint tory fiend, it was frustrating to take a challen- Branch—students have access to courses such ging course like CAP U.S. History without as AP Computer Science A, AP Human even being presented the opportunity to take Geography, and AP U.S. History during fresthe AP exam, knowing he could understand hman year.

Gupta expressed her concerns with being able to achieve on the same level as her friends from other schools.

“A lot of my other friends are taking AP Gov., AP U.S. History, so it is difficult seeing other people already getting a head start on those type of things while I’m still stuck in honors,” she said.

AP classes play an essential role in helping students prepare for college as well as strengthening their transcript and impressing college admissions officers.

Many academically excelling students choose to put a variation of the ‘AP Scholar Award,’ which is awarded with different levels of merit, on their college applications.

In order to become applicable for this award students must pass a certain amount of AP exams with a certain score, however, Blair students may find themselves at a disadvantage, having lost an entire year of AP opportunity.

AP credits are also valuable in terms of money saved by getting a college credit out of the way in high school as opposed to paying thousands to take the same class at university.

If Blair truly aims to be the academically progressive school it claims to be, then it is time to start allowing students the opportunity to take courses that inspire and challenge them.

Blair’s current policies on APs are unnecessary and impeding, and one should hope the student body can anticipate a more opportunistic future.

October 17, 2018

silverchips

Op/Ed C4

Balancing controversy and contribution Reflecting upon the lives of controversial figures

By Itamar Fiorino STAFF WRITER

AN OPINION

The death of an idol can be excruciatingly difficult and life-changing. Having a celebrity who has surrounded you leave this world can make you feel empty, as if he were a character in the stage of your life that had simply vanished. But what if, while he may have been the protagonist of your life, he was the villain for others?

Sometimes called “chaotic neutrals,” some characters in our lives are hard to label for this exact reason. The recent deaths of John McCain and XXXTentacion are good examples of such characters. While they may have had positive traits, they might also have questionable legacies.

When a chaotic neutral dies, a predictable conflict often arises. Those who focus on negative aspects of a celebrity’s life will often interrupt fans’ grief, attempting to invalidate them by citing the figure’s controversial past.

Many times, the public is left thinking: how should these figures be remembered?

When McCain died, this conflict was more than evident. He served as a pilot and spent five years in a prisoner of war camp during the Vietnam War, notably resisting several offers for release.

After his service and a rise to the foreground of politics, McCain became what some consider a pillar of American democracy. At the time of his death, many Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, were devastated.

“People were shocked that this person that they’ve known for 30 plus years was gone; this bedrock of Washington really,” said junior Lintaro Donovan, a member of the Blair Young Republicans club. “In all of it, he

was a compromiser. He was ready and willing to compromise on anything. And that’s what underscores his entire career.”

But with every chaotic neutral comes a darker side. Blair students criticized McCain’s stances on political issues, which often leaned far right.

“He voted against bills that would give women more reproductive rights - and rights in general … so I do not consider him an American hero in any way,” said Sydney Acuff, a community activist and junior at Blair.

While Acuff’s statement is non-confrontational and productive, not all comments matched in eloquence. Where liberals looked at his impact on the U.S., conservatives saw comments as “visceral” and fought back with rhetoric of their own.

Jahseh Onfroy, known by most as XXXTentacion, was also a chaotic neutral. Onfroy, the once prominent hip hop artist, first came to the public eye through a brutal testimony of domestic abuse. Grim patterns of threats, psychological torture, and beatings left the hip hop community at odds with outsiders.

As Onfroy was released from jail and started to, according to fans, “mature,” he began to give back and contribute to charities that had once helped the young man.

His music evolved into a salvation for many listeners, representing a new genre of hip hop that tackled mental health.

“A lot of people were inspired by him… they really cared about him,” said junior Oscar Gonzalez, a fan of Onfroy’s music.

But not even the fans could deny the severity of his past. “The things he was accused of were awful things, no human should ever do that,” said Gonzalez.

Despite his shortcomings, Gonzalez uses Malcolm X to justify a positive outlook

on Onfroy’s legacy. Malcolm was a chaotic neutral. He was in jail at age 20. He was a hustler, a burglar. But time let him mature and become the civil rights activist he is known as today.

“You really don’t know until you give somebody full time to mature,” said Gonzalez.

Onfroy allegedly broke 30 hangers on his partner’s legs, and at the same time may have saved hundreds of lives with his music. Here, the wider perspective of things becomes clear. We are all complex characters. While you may never forgive someone for their actions, death is an opportunity to step back and reflect on the whole, not the half.

McCain and Onfroy’s deaths were vastly different cases. Where McCain’s was expected, Onfroy’s was sudden. While McCain was SALLY ZHAO a politician, Onfroy was an

entertainer. While McCain may have damaged millions, Onfroy’s abuse was channeled towards one.

But through these differences, a theme emerges—one of grief. People grieved for both of these men. That can never be mitigated, never be silenced, and never be argued away. We all have flaws, and we all have opinions that can be criticized. It is easy to only focus on one aspect of a figure’s life, but it is harder to look at the whole. And for that reason, it is crucial.

C5 Opinion

silverchips

October 17, 2018

My Blair: Personal Column How will colleges know who I am?

Editor’s Note: As seniors continue to work toward submitting their college applications, we sought out voices from the Class of 2019 to share their thoughts on the application process with us and our readership. The following column is a selection from a student explaining her thoughts on her applications and the difficulty of putting her whole personality into 650 words. If you or your class wants to submit a personal column, email silver.chips.print@gmail.com! The Editorial Board will read through all submissions and determine a selection.

CHAMINDA HANGILIPOLA

By Leul Abate

IN FIRST PERSON

AVERY BROOKS

By Samira Mudd GUEST WRITER

Deadlines. That’s how my life is split up now.

Deadlines for transcripts, supplements, essays, recommendations, and more. Submitting all of it costs an exceptional amount of money. And at the end of the process, there is still no certainty that you will get in where you want or with any financial assistance; because the final decision is made by people who have only met you on paper, and unfortunately 650 words and a transcript are not enough for anyone to sum up their character.

Those 650 words, which everyone stresses come in the form of a personal essay, are supposed to tell a story about you that is personal, revealing not only your interests and personality but also your skill set and important life experiences in a way that is not overwhelming to the admissions officer.

This is almost as ridiculous as the fact that you can spend hundreds of dollars to apply to schools which you might not attend, and which would cost you hundreds of thousands more in the long run if you did. Moreover, that decision, which can alter your life, is made by a handful of strangers who have no connection with you or any particular interest in the outcome of your life.

They want to read the most emotional and poised essays, they want to find a student who is responsible and intelligent

and neat and interesting and passionate and more.

They are searching for a perfect student that fits their mold—yet is unique—and they think they can determine this all with a few hundred words. It is unreasonable to expect someone to be able to “not overshare” while trying to fit their whole essence into a short essay.

Then, after the months of deadlines and waiting maybe you will be lucky enough to receive an acceptance letter. And then you have to decide if you should go or not because you are realizing you do not have the money or support if you move out. And you realize you barely know anything about the school.

Because even though you have seen the courses they offer and checked out diversity rates and professors and everything else available online, you have no idea what it will be like to live there or how you will fit in or if the education will be everything you were promised.

All of these challenges start before the applications even do. The first indicators of where you are even allowed to apply—based on acceptance rates—are determined by grades and test scores which do not necessarily reflect who you are as a student and certainly do not reflect who you are as a person.

Thus the college admissions process is in no way accurate or fair, but instead works students to the bone only for the outcome to be decided by chance, transcripts, or biased decisions.

What do you think?

Feel free to access our feedback survey to tell us what you think about Silver Chips!

Scan the code below with a QR reader app, or use the URL http://www.chipssurvey.com/

Corrections: June 2018

The drawing on E3 for “Stop pitting female recording artists against each other,” was incorrectly credited to Niamh Ducey, but it was drawn by Elaine Cheng.

The graphic on A2 for “MCPS postpones implementation of new curriculum“ should have read “Student work samples show that fewer than a third of students master their assignments in either ELA or math“ The gitls’ lacrosse image on F4 was incorrectly creditied to Sami Mallon, but Jedediah Grady took the photo.

The headline of the first newsbrief on A4 should have read “Hogan to sign bill to offer free college tuition.“

October 17, 2018

silverchips

Editorials C6

After 35 years, it is the same old story Party culture still fosters toxic masculinity and misogyny

As high school students, we are not always held up to rigorous moral standards.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his morally questionable activities during high school does not sound at all unfamiliar.

There were parties. There was drinking.

There was drug use. There was promiscuity.

The same that is true of the 1980s suburban Maryland high school party culture Kavanaugh described is true of 2010s suburban Maryland high school party culture.

That is why Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee also rings true—her characterization of the gathering she attended is eerily similar to contemporary parties.

We are first hand witnesses to the fact that when alcohol, drug use, and promiscuity are mixed together in a party setting, it can lead to disgusting, reprehensible, and preventable actions by some men. With the common spaces of a house filled with partying teenagers and darkened, empty rooms behind closed doors left unexplored, it is altogether too easy for an inebriated male friend to draw a female partygoer away from the crowd and force her into any one of these empty rooms.

We are first hand witnesses to the fact that party culture is still heavily dominated by male expression and desire. Men are often the ones leading the charge into the next drinking game, offering to supply refills for female friends who have not “drunk their share,” and making the first move once they become inebriated. A 2010 National Institutes of Health study, in summarizing other alcohol-related research, found that “alcohol intoxication has negative consequences,” including increased “sexual risk-taking”

and “aggressive behavior.” The same study notes that alcohol consumption can also impair certain cognitive processes such as, most important, memory. Dr. Ford’s claim

of sexual assault against Judge Kavanaugh is Moreover, we are first hand witnesses to not only credible based on her experiences the impact of the actions of inebriated men’s and based on our experiences, but based on actions at parties on the women at these scientific fact. gatherings. We have seen and heard of men groping women and making unwanted sexual advances. We can attest to the fact that Dr. Ford’s harrowing testimony is not only believable but reflects a deeper, more startling truth: male-dominated, misogynistic party culture in suburban Maryland has hardly changed since the 1980s.

There are still many more questions to be answered about Dr. Ford’s allegations.

It seems likely that some of those questions may never be answered. Even so, both Dr. Ford’s and Judge Kavanaugh’s contradictory testimony indicate one powerful and inescapable truth about our society, over 30 years later: a resounding cultural shift when it comes to partying, sexual activity, and rape culture has yet to take place.

Editorial Cartoon

If you or anyone you know has been sexually harassed, assaulted, or raped, report it to your local police department. In felony criminal cases for sexual abuse, Maryland law holds that there is no statute of limitations for an investigation. In misdemeanor criminal cases for sexual abuse, there is a one year statute of limitations.

Comments?

Questions?

Email silver.chips. print@gmail.com!

A public forum for student expression Taking a deeper look into the masthead Welcome or welcome back, Blazers!

The five months since we last met completely flew by, and I am more enthusiastic than ever before to not only hear your voices, but to also make sure they are heard throughout the course of the year.

For the freshmen reading this article or those who see an unfamiliar face when looking at my picture, my name is Hannah, the Ombudsman and design editor for Silver Chips.

My role as the Ombudsman involves relaying feedback from our readers to our staff in order to fulfill our duty and desire to represent the voices of the Blair community, whether it be through my columns or from my email, included at the end of this article.

I present this edition with great pride and confidence to assure you that our new junior writers, senior editors, photographers, artists, business staff, and Esquina Latina writers and editors worked their best efforts for this edition, and will continue to cater to what your voices are waiting for us to write about.

Any questions, concerns, pressing issues, or article ideas regarding the paper can be sent to my email or expressed to me in person if we run into each other at school. I say “can,” but actually mean “should.” Our articles serve the purpose of providing you with an influx of information, which can help you keep an eye out for what is going on in our community.

speak out. Some of the most influential and groundbreaking stories would not be possible without anonymous tips. As your safety is one of our greatest priorities, do not be afraid to speak out and certainly do not be afraid to spark a change.

To any freshmen and sophomores reading this, you are an essential aspect to the functioning of this school. You have the capability to shape the future years of your time here at Blair.

If you want to help represent the school, take journalism and apply to become a writer. And to any Blazer reading this, shoot me an email if you have any input or are looking for a new friend.

AVERY BROOKS

The paper values the expression on our masthead, “a public forum for student expression since 1937,” with the utmost importance.

Printed proudly at the top of our front page, the masthead represents the process of how we craft our articles, such as asking for story ideas from Blazers in the SAC, including student opinions at the bottom of the pro/con page, and selecting a column written by a non-staff writer. Although our

own writing represents your voices, we give plenty of outlets for you to present your own voice too.

While we strive to put our voices on our paper, we also aim to protect and value your views and opinions as well. Our paper being a public forum means inclusivity for all types of expression: political views, religion, fashion, educational views, and so much more.

A public forum does not necessarily mean attention is placed on those who decide to

To connect with Hannah, email her at ombudsmansilverchips@ gmail.com, message her on Twitter @ chipsombudsman, or fill out the Silver Chips reader survey at http://www.chipssurvey.com/

Features D1/D2

silverchips

October 17,2018

Under the Surface a dive into Blair’s undiscovered classes This kind of real-world application is a major principle of many of Blair’s specialized electives. Entomology, a one-semester in-depth study of insects, offers students a chance to observe and apply science as a physical phenomenon. “It’s an application class,” Duval says. “A lot of [class concepts] are theoretical, [where] you learn about them in the classroom but you don’t actually get to go do them, whereas this you get to do entomology firsthand and experience it firsthand.”

For the first few weeks of every school year, students must choose a balance between academic interests and academic rigor as they sign up for classes to benefit personal and career interests as well as strategically fulfill credits and boost GPAs. With this choice comes floods of students spilling from counselors’ offices, congesting Blair Boulevard with requests to change levels, drop classes, and organize schedules.

Behind each of these requests are students trying to maximize Blair’s diverse course offerings. Students of every grade scour through Blair’s rich layers of electives and specialty classes within each department in order to find those classes that best suit their interests.

But the vastness of these course offerings comes at a cost. While these electives offer unique experiences, featuring interactive learning in subjects outside traditional areas of education, many still remain overlooked, lying under the surface.

Lost at Sea

A Diverse Selection

Blair’s size and various programs allow the

COURTESY OF ELIZABETH DUVAL

EMORY BROOKS

school to offer a diverse course load in the form of specific Magnet sciences or numerous social studies and English electives. These classes allow students to find their own specific areas to flourish in.

Elizabeth Duval, who teaches Entomology, a Magnet elective at Blair, acknowledges how well Blair caters to student interests. “Blair is amazing because it’s so big that there are so many electives for kids to take,” Duval says. “[For] any area of interest that people have, there’s usually a class or two that kind of meets people’s interests.”

These electives also provide students opportunities to explore their futures within fields that lie outside the basic English or math classes. That kind of exposure is invaluable for students who are looking to connect to future career options. Senior Kayla Melendez, who is taking Child Development 2, uses the class in order to gain more hands-on interactions with kids.

“I want to be a teacher, so that’s one reason why I took this class,” Melendez says. “It’s one thing to learn about [children] through information ... but it’s another to be interacting with them physically. It’s a different experience.”

While the many classes offered at Blair are beneficial for students’ general education, they can cause these specialized electives to slip students’ attention.

Senior Nunyat Tefora, who is taking African American Literature, believes that the school does not have enough exposure to the class. “Considering how big a school Blair is and the population w e have, [there are] very few students who are, in fact, interested in taking this course,” Tefora says.

“More students should be aware and less students are.”

In deciding course listings, students are often driven to search for classes to beef up college applications or raise GPAs, missing out on EMORY BROOKS the many oppor-

tunities Blair offers to pursue personal passions. Junior Annie Hicks, who is taking Child and Adolescent Development 1, says this drive is a major factor in students overlooking certain electives. “A lot of people at Blair are caught up in trying to take classes that satisfy credits or that look good on college applications,” Hicks says.

Teachers try to prevent students from overlooking such classes by spreading the message of their classes throughout the school. “I’ve gone to other teachers and classrooms and talked about [entomology class] sometimes,” Duval says. “And every year people seem so surprised they’re like ‘there’s a what class now?’”

For Fine Arts resource teacher Jacqueline Armstead-Thomas, there is an even bigger problem facing the Fashion Illustration class: job security. “In the fine arts department we pretty much have to fight for our jobs every year,” she says.

“Enrollment is huge for us. If students don’t sign up for our classes, essentially that’s a teacher who could potentially lose their job... every year we’re fighting for our allocation and fighting for students to enroll in our classes.”

Strength in Numbers

The school’s size, which overshadows these electives, also allows them to prosper.

The Child Development class is able to utilize Blair’s

EMORY BROOKS

funding, allowing them to open the class to take care of younger children. “I don’t think that many schools have the space or the proper equipment to teach a child development class or to hold a preschool inside the school,” Hicks says.

Through funding, these classes have been given the opportunity to open doors to students and allow teachers to push for expanding their programs. “[Fashion Illustration] has been a pilot class for a few years and … next year all schools will be able to offer them,” Armstead-Thomas ,who is hopeful in looking to eventually offer additional fashion classes, says. “I think there would definitely be interest for it,” she says, hinting at a future of expanding it into an advanced Fashion Production class. “It would just take a couple of years for it to really build.”

Story by Design by Art by

Elias Chen Hannah Lee Sally Zhao

Features D1/D2

silverchips

October 17,2018

Under the Surface a dive into Blair’s undiscovered classes This kind of real-world application is a major principle of many of Blair’s specialized electives. Entomology, a one-semester in-depth study of insects, offers students a chance to observe and apply science as a physical phenomenon. “It’s an application class,” Duval says. “A lot of [class concepts] are theoretical, [where] you learn about them in the classroom but you don’t actually get to go do them, whereas this you get to do entomology firsthand and experience it firsthand.”

For the first few weeks of every school year, students must choose a balance between academic interests and academic rigor as they sign up for classes to benefit personal and career interests as well as strategically fulfill credits and boost GPAs. With this choice comes floods of students spilling from counselors’ offices, congesting Blair Boulevard with requests to change levels, drop classes, and organize schedules.

Behind each of these requests are students trying to maximize Blair’s diverse course offerings. Students of every grade scour through Blair’s rich layers of electives and specialty classes within each department in order to find those classes that best suit their interests.

But the vastness of these course offerings comes at a cost. While these electives offer unique experiences, featuring interactive learning in subjects outside traditional areas of education, many still remain overlooked, lying under the surface.

Lost at Sea

A Diverse Selection

Blair’s size and various programs allow the

COURTESY OF ELIZABETH DUVAL

EMORY BROOKS

school to offer a diverse course load in the form of specific Magnet sciences or numerous social studies and English electives. These classes allow students to find their own specific areas to flourish in.

Elizabeth Duval, who teaches Entomology, a Magnet elective at Blair, acknowledges how well Blair caters to student interests. “Blair is amazing because it’s so big that there are so many electives for kids to take,” Duval says. “[For] any area of interest that people have, there’s usually a class or two that kind of meets people’s interests.”

These electives also provide students opportunities to explore their futures within fields that lie outside the basic English or math classes. That kind of exposure is invaluable for students who are looking to connect to future career options. Senior Kayla Melendez, who is taking Child Development 2, uses the class in order to gain more hands-on interactions with kids.

“I want to be a teacher, so that’s one reason why I took this class,” Melendez says. “It’s one thing to learn about [children] through information ... but it’s another to be interacting with them physically. It’s a different experience.”

While the many classes offered at Blair are beneficial for students’ general education, they can cause these specialized electives to slip students’ attention.

Senior Nunyat Tefora, who is taking African American Literature, believes that the school does not have enough exposure to the class. “Considering how big a school Blair is and the population w e have, [there are] very few students who are, in fact, interested in taking this course,” Tefora says.

“More students should be aware and less students are.”

In deciding course listings, students are often driven to search for classes to beef up college applications or raise GPAs, missing out on EMORY BROOKS the many oppor-

tunities Blair offers to pursue personal passions. Junior Annie Hicks, who is taking Child and Adolescent Development 1, says this drive is a major factor in students overlooking certain electives. “A lot of people at Blair are caught up in trying to take classes that satisfy credits or that look good on college applications,” Hicks says.

Teachers try to prevent students from overlooking such classes by spreading the message of their classes throughout the school. “I’ve gone to other teachers and classrooms and talked about [entomology class] sometimes,” Duval says. “And every year people seem so surprised they’re like ‘there’s a what class now?’”

For Fine Arts resource teacher Jacqueline Armstead-Thomas, there is an even bigger problem facing the Fashion Illustration class: job security. “In the fine arts department we pretty much have to fight for our jobs every year,” she says.

“Enrollment is huge for us. If students don’t sign up for our classes, essentially that’s a teacher who could potentially lose their job... every year we’re fighting for our allocation and fighting for students to enroll in our classes.”

Strength in Numbers

The school’s size, which overshadows these electives, also allows them to prosper.

The Child Development class is able to utilize Blair’s

EMORY BROOKS

funding, allowing them to open the class to take care of younger children. “I don’t think that many schools have the space or the proper equipment to teach a child development class or to hold a preschool inside the school,” Hicks says.

Through funding, these classes have been given the opportunity to open doors to students and allow teachers to push for expanding their programs. “[Fashion Illustration] has been a pilot class for a few years and … next year all schools will be able to offer them,” Armstead-Thomas ,who is hopeful in looking to eventually offer additional fashion classes, says. “I think there would definitely be interest for it,” she says, hinting at a future of expanding it into an advanced Fashion Production class. “It would just take a couple of years for it to really build.”

Story by Design by Art by

Elias Chen Hannah Lee Sally Zhao

D3 Features

silverchips

October 17, 2018

More than just a pretty face

How pageant contestants are breaking free from stereotypes

By Amanda Liu

STAFF WRITER

“I was going in ready to fight,” admits senior Sophia Johnson about the 2018 National American Miss pageant in Maryland.

Not her fellow contestants, but the pageant industry itself.

Sophia, like many others, had negative preconceptions about pageants prior to competing in one herself.

“I definitely had a bias… I was like, ‘if there are any male judges, I’m going to call them out… if they ask me stupid questions,’” Sophia says.

Most beauty pageants include various categories, ranging from those focused on appearance to personality. Miss Maryland Teen USA, in particular, judges its contestants on three categories: evening gown, interview, and athletic wear, according to Bobbi Coffman, the pageant’s titleholders’ appearance director.

Though some may consider pageants a superficial pastime, three students have gained meaningful experiences through pageant participation.

Encouraging body-positivity

Critics argue that appearance-based ranking objectifies contestants and can cause body insecurity.

In response to these critics, the Miss America Organization announced in June that the swimsuit portion of Miss America would be eliminated and replaced with a more “substantive” category. Gretchen Carlson, Chairwoman of the Miss America Board of Directors, said in an interview on Good Morning America that these modifications represent an effort to shift the focus of what contestants are judged on.

Sophia was glad to find that, like Miss

America, National American Miss emphasizes non-physical qualities.

“I was pleasantly surprised that [National American Miss] wasn’t at all beauty-based,” Sophia says. “There were three required competitions: formal wear… a 30-second introduction… and an interview.”

National American Miss also included optional contests, such as the acting and academic achievement portions that Sophia participated in.

Blair graduate Moira Johnson, currently a freshman at the University of Missouri, competed in the 2017 Miss Maryland Teen USA pageant. Though Miss Maryland Teen USA takes physical appearance into account, Moira notes that the organization strongly encourages body-positivity among contestants.

“They want you to actually be healthy, [whatever] that means to you,” Moira says.

“If a girl is found out to have an eating disorder, she will get points taken off and… get referred to people who can help get [her] back to health.”

Moira believes that this system encourages contestants to care for their bodies.

“The people who are beginning to win are people who are telling young girls, ‘you can look however you want, [and] here’s how to take care of yourself,’”

- Moira Johnson,

Blair Alumna and 2017 Miss Maryland Teen USA competitor

Building professional skills

The skills that contestants gain from competing in pageants can be helpful to them later in life. Bobbi maintains that Miss Maryland strives to improve contestants’ self-confidence. “ The participants gain public speaking skills and their self-esteem gets a real boost,” she says. “It’s very uplifting.”

These public speaking skills and increased self-confidence can help contestants succeed in the professional world.

Junior Sky Bloomer, second runner-up in the 2018 Miss Pacific Asian American pageant, recalls that contestants were provided with workshops to hone skills necessary to find a job.

“They hosted these two-day workshops where we could develop our public-speaking,” Sky says. “They’re really just trying to develop you to be able to sell yourself in a business world.”

Sky believes that the workshops taught contestants how to market their best selves to judges, which can be applied to future employers.

“You need to know… however it is that you’re trying to sell yourself.” Sky says. “So if you’re a proud business-woman-type person, that’s the way you’re selling yourself… but if your charm is more friendly, warm, then pose like that.”

Contrary to pop culture portrayals of the contentious atmosphere among contestants, Sophia, Moira, and Sky had overwhelmingly positive experiences with their fellow contestants. Moira emphasizes that being surrounded by high-achieving young women was empowering.

“It’s kind of a big party with a bunch of other girls who are driven like me,” Moira says. “We get to work hard but play hard too.”

Representing a community

In addition to receiving benefits from pageants, contestants also pay it forward to their communities.

Though Sky, like Sophia, was at first concerned about the social stigma surrounding pageants, she ultimately decided to participate in order to represent her Cambodian roots, which are often underrepresented among Pacific Asian countries.

“We want to show that Cambodia is more than just the genocide and the Khmer Rouge,” Sky says. “We have beauty, we have elegance, we’re fun, we have culture.”

According to Sky, the winners of Miss Pacific Asian America go to local Asiancommunity events, further representing their Asian heritage.

Similarly, winners of the Miss Maryland Teen USA pageant attend and draw publicity to charity events of their choosing, according to Bobbi.

Through pageant participation, Moira strives to be a positive role model to young girls.

“The people who are beginning to win are people who are telling young girls, ‘you can look however you want, [and] here’s how to take care of yourself,’” Moira says.

Ultimately, Moira, Sky, and Sophia’s experiences can play a role in changing the negative stigma surrounding pageantry.

October 17, 2018

silverchips

Features D4

To the benefit of a commmunity and the school A look into the Blair building use and what comes out of it

By Prayag Gordy and Khushboo Rathore STAFF WRITERS

A reverend. A theater program. A school newspaper. A county debate league. A Saturday learning program. A robotics team.

After 3:20 p.m., Montgomery Blair—and almost every other school, library, and county-owned building—opens up to the public through an agency in the Montgomery County government known as the Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF).

A variety of people use Blair, from teenagers building robots to families praying in church to the members of Blair’s own theater program. They all receive a variety of benefits and support as a result of using CUPF to rent the buildings. How much each group pays varies.

mission of providing coordination between MCPS and the many public and private agencies, organizations, and groups who use the schools,” the study says.

Advantages of school activities

In 1978, the Montgomery County Council passed Bill 43-78, also known as the School Facilities Utilization Act of 1978.

Before the creation of this bill, the Board of Education was responsible for the community use of public schools. After the bill was passed, this power was transferred to the Interagency Coordinating Board, a nine-

Robotics, theater, and other school programs do not have to pay CUPF during the school week and even at some times during the weekend. “[The clubs] don’t have to pay [on weekdays] because the building is already open,” main office secretary Brandon Crabtree says.

If outside groups are actively using the building, Blair-sponsored groups do not pay, even on the weekends. This policy is known as piggybacking. “When there’s other groups using the school, we don’t get charged for keeping the school open,” says Robotics team president and senior Noah Gleason.

Not all groups—school-sponsored or otherwise—can take advantage of the existing piggybacking policy. “Robotics uses basically one classroom, and when you use an auditorium or a large space, those technically don’t fall under the piggyback guidelines,” Blair business administrator James Funk says.

Therefore, the theater program cannot piggyback on others but does not pay for all

member group from various county organizations.

The goal of the School Facilities Utilization Act, according to a 1982 County Council study into its implementation, was to open up school buildings to the public, which pays for the facilities through taxes. “The County Council’s legislative intent in establishing the School Facilities Utilization Act was to enable the citizens of the County to enjoy the use of Montgomery County Public Schools’ facilities without interference with educational programs and activities,” the Montgomery County Council Office of Legislative Oversight wrote in the study.

To fulfill this goal, the Council created the Interagency Coordinating Board (ICB) and the Community Use of Schools, which grew into the CUPF organization. The study claims that the relatively new program has helped the community and MCPS coordinate school usage. “The Community Use of Schools definitely accomplishes its essential

the time they use the auditorium because of CUPF policy. “We don’t get charged for a lot of the time that theater uses the auditorium,” Funk says.

The Blair theater program uses money from its own budget, which is comprised of the revenue that it earns from previous show tickets. That money is used for the majority of stage crew equipment and it is needed to pay for the auditorium and for the staff, such as building services, who are required to be there during and after performances.

“The ticket money, we reuse that,” O’Connor says. “So if a show does well, we have all this money to play with that pays for buying lumber and paint and any special equipment—and building use.”

Schools are reserved for MCPS use during the instructional day but are available after the school day ends. The school and school-sponsored events, such as clubs, however, still have priority when they want thebuilding. “We do create priorities as much

The formation of CUPF

as we can for our staff and our programs.

ICB works with us in most scenarios because they have access to multiple schools, so they can move some of their outside customers to different schools,” Funk explains.

Some school programs can even make last minute changes to their schedule, and they usually get preference. Common examples of this include booking time for playoff games and rescheduling due to weather. “[If] playoffs are going to be in the school and there are people using the gym, they will bump them and relocate them to different buildings,” Funk says.

Prioritizing taxpayer money

School clubs and events sometimes take place outside the normal hours allocated to the school day. If a club goes beyond the normal times—say, a debate meeting or a late robotics session—they have the choice to book through CUPF or through the school, according to a 2017 MCPS memorandum on scheduling workers.

According to Funk, building service workers are in schools until 11 p.m. and therefore, clubs only have to pay overtime for supporting staff.

On weekends—like for theater performances and robotics meets—the system

changes slightly. While the majority of clubs and events still book through Funk, they also have to pay the standard amount required for outside groups, along with any other money necessary for the scale of the event.

“If we have a large function, then we may have building service workers on top of that who are then paid,” Funk explains. One of the fundamental principles of the CUPF system is the separation between the taxpayers’ money and the charges to community groups for use of public facilities.

The hourly fees, according to CUPF’s core services manager Ron Maxson, are about all the users’ need to fully reimburse the school system for the use of the building.

“The school system can’t bear the expense of [community use] because their budget only covers education,” he says. “What we charge is to barely cover our expenses, to keep the building open outside of the school day.” CUPF, according to the Montgomery County government website, is independent

of taxpayer money, instead operating solely on their intake in fees.

CUPF then reimburses the school system for the community use like the church’s, essentially removing the entire burden from the taxpayer, according to Elizabeth Habermann, the financial administrator at CUPF. “As far as I can tell we are one of the few jurisdictions in the nation that has full cost recovery so that the school’s academic budget is only used for the school’s programs,” Habermann writes in an email. In fact, CUPF’s website claims that 65 percent of their annual $11.6 million budget is spent on reimbursement to the school system.

In an agreement formed between CUPF and MCPS through the ICB, MCPS is reimbursed annually for custodial supplies and maintenance, quarterly for staff coverage and equipment—like what Kelly O’Connor, Blair English teacher, uses in her theater produtions—and monthly for utilities, including lights, air conditioning, and sewage.

A million hours of community use

CUPF creates an easy and cheap way for the community to host events and create new organizations. “It provides vendors an

HANNAH LEE opportunity to come in and provide a service and a learning opportunity for students at a very, very low cost,” Maxson says.

The use of a school also provides adva tages that other homes or buildings may not have. “It’s always safe, it’s always ADA compliant,” Maxson says. All in all, the program has a large impact on the community. “We offer … 17,000 different facilities that community groups can rent. … We have about a million hours of use by these community groups,” he adds.

The theater, while not a community group, has an easily accessible place to rehearse. The robotics team has a shop room in the school where it can build 120-pound robots. The church has a place where it can worship. The George B. Thomas Learning Academy has a place to teach. CUPF and its impact resonate all through schools and communities in the county, and they continue to create and facilitate community involvement 40 years later.

D5 Features

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October 17, 2018

Low Frequency: The Power of Art and Community How a radio station gives local voices a platform for self-expression

By Paloma Williams STAFF WRITER

Behind a glass wall in a small storefront in downtown Takoma Park, seniors Ruby Santana and Adelaide Harris sit at a desk complete with various microphones and broadcasting equipment. Across the room from them, a handmade wooden shelf is home to roughly a dozen noise-canceling headphones.

Adjacent to this wall is a shelf complete from end to end with various CDs and stacks of books about music. A big schedule filled with handwritten times for various shows rests on the wall next to the desk. A two-year long tradition, every Tuesday night, Santana and Harris come to Takoma Radio to record their weekly show.

Takoma Radio is significantly different from other stations in the industry. “I’ve worked at quite a few different radio stations,” Steve Hoffman, the program director at Takoma Radio, says. “I’ve never worked at one that has such a small studio and such a small budget before … I like to think of ourselves as the little engine that could.”

In the world of radio, high school students hosting shows are generally uncommon - but at Takoma Radio, creative endeavors of such nature are readily encouraged. “Having the very diverse group of programmers is actually the whole point of the station,” Hoffman says. “Our argument was, when we applied to the FCC to get this special low-power FM license, that we were going to be a unique community radio station that offered things that aren’t heard elsewhere on the radio dial in the Washington D.C. area.”

Stations like Takoma Radio are few and far between. While many radio stations consist of repetitive cycles of the same genre of music, Takoma Radio has unique segments that pertain to the local community. “[There are stations] and all they do is news, you have sports talk stations all they do is talk … and that’s how radio is.” Hoffman explains.

“A station like ours is totally different than

that because every time you turn it on, a few hours later you’re probably going to hear something different. We have programs that are typically one or two hours long and each one is quite different.”

To set the station apart even more, it is entirely volunteer-run. “We have over 100 volunteer programmers. We have about 70 separate shows on the station,” Hoffman says.

Artists, creatives, and musicians all around gather at Takoma Park Radio. With the ability to reach no more than 200,000 listeners, Takoma Radio has something that most stations do not: community. Jansikwe Medina-Tayac is a junior at Blair who hosts a show on Takoma Radio. Her job at the show typically consists of selecting songs from a list of recommendations and introducing such songs on the show. She enjoys the tightknit atmosphere. “We like to invite different

people from the community to come watch our shows or be in the studio with us - usually younger people, our friends, or we’ll have guests, local artists, come on the show,” Medina-Tayac says. “It’s a really cool gathering space for community members, especially younger people from Blair.” The airing of her show, Block Period, occurs every Friday.

Takoma Radio frequently plays new music to expand the horizons of their listeners. “We’re always trying to kind of blow people’s minds with really cool music they wouldn’t’ve heard before,” Hoffman says.

When it comes to local music, Takoma Radio makes it a point to give local musicians a platform. “There isn’t really a chance for local musicians to get heard on the radio at all,” Hoffman says. “The local musicians are getting a shot they wouldn’t otherwise get.”

For youth-run shows, hosts are able to play a variety of different types of music.

“We have just a lot of freedom to put what we want on the radio and express our views and everything so it’s super chill and easy going,” Medina-Tayac says. Various hosts appreciate the freeform nature of the station. “The whole platform is based around listening,” Santana says. “It’s really nice to be able to feel listened to as a young person, as a woman, as a person of color...I just really really love that environment.”

Radio is a unique tool that can be used to express an assortment of ideas and opinions; and for those in Takoma Park, Takoma Radio does just that. “This is one medium that I love, but everyone can find their own version of radio,” Santana says. The atmosphere of Takoma Radio lends itself to being an accessible means of spreading culture and entertainment that enables a diverse assortment of people to channel their self-expression into art.

ELENORA RUE

SUGAR AND SPICE Seniors Ruby Santana and Adelaide Harris record their radio show at Takoma Park Radio Station on Tuesdays.

Risky Business: Buying and Selling Essays Contract cheating at the high school level

Worth the Risk?

Despite getting a good grade, Eugene says that buying an essay was not the best option.

“It’s just not a good thing to rely on in school and I personally wish I didn’t do it,” he says. “It’s so much better to plan your time out than to use one of these things.”

Similarly, though he was not concerned about punishment in the moment, Johnny advises students to think twice before turning to contract cheating. “It’s

LD

Today, contract cheating offers an easy way for these students to alleviate the burden of difficult assignments.

When Johnny fell behind in English class and had three essays due in a week, his friend offered to write them for a fee of 15 dollars.

While Eugene used an online service, Johnny opted for the familiarity of a friend to do his work. The demand for peer-written essays can turn into a business opportunity for students looking to make some extra money.

Jennifer, an African American student with a passion for essay writing, is one of the many entrepreneurs who has turned this into a source of income. She says that people feel safer buying from her than big online companies.

“Most of the people that I’ve worked with, they know me. They know who I am and when they find out… how I help them… it just doesn’t feel as scary or overwhelming,” Jennifer says.

Selling essays for anywhere up to 25 dollars, Jennifer works with many students struggling to complete essays. To her, it is more than just selling work.

“It’s actually pretty fun for me because I like to see how people write and I really like teaching English,” Jennifer says. “I will

NO

Lightening the Load

A Lucrative Business

AR

Eugene’s research paper was due in hours and nowhere near finished. By now, Eugene was so stressed out that he completely shut off.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Eugene stopped working. Instead, he found a website offering a simple solution to his dilemma. A few clicks and 30 dollars later, Eugene went to bed. He was no longer worried about completing his essay. After all, he had just bought it, and now, someone else was writing it for him.

In buying work and submitting it as his own, Eugene had engaged in contract cheating. In Montgomery County, contract cheating falls under the umbrella of plagiarism, meaning that infractions can end up on students’ permanent records and lead to suspension.

This form of plagiarism has seen significant growth over the past decade. To a large number of students, a break from the usual routine of essay writing is very appealing. A study conducted by the International Journal for Educational Integrity found that 50 percent of students would consider contract cheating, meaning that the number of contract cheaters could easily increase in the future.

not worth getting in trouble for… [because] that would go on your permanent record,” he says.

Students should talk to their teacher and ask for help and ask for more time if they think you need it.

For students feeling overwhelmed, Whitney says the best option is to ask trusted adults for help.

“Talk to the teacher, talk to [your] parents, talk about that stress level…. Stop and think about what the consequence might be,” Whitney says. “Having a talk with the teacher is always helpful.”

HI

Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identities of the sources.

talk to you and give you advice and tell you why I made [the] decisions that I did [while writing the essay].” Overall, Jennifer aims to improve the writing skills of her clients in the long run.

“I’ll bang out the essay and you’ll get the grade but you have to do some of the work because I want you to know how to do it in the future,” Jennifer said. To do so, Jennifer combines peer reviewing with essay writing.

Regardless of whether or not students have any work done prior to approaching her, Jennifer works with clients to make sure they learn how to outline, draft, and complete essays.

Although Jennifer does far more than just write essays for her peers, her and her clients are still engaging in contract cheating, which can result in severe consequences.

AS

STAFF WRITER

Worried about his grades, Johnny found it easy to say yes.

“I was really stressed out because my grade dropped a lot from not having [the essays] in and it was getting close to the end of the semester so I just thought I needed to do it,” Johnny says.

As with Johnny, a desire to succeed can be a catalyst for contract cheating. According to Donna Whitney, an English 11 and AP Language and Composition teacher, student competition is another reason for contract cheating.

“Wanting to compete with the “best of the best” [makes students] panic, [so] they feel as if they can’t compete other than by doing something that is illegal and ethically wrong,” Whitney says.

SH

By Uma Gupta

October 17, 2018

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Features D6

Taking education beyond the classroom

At Edison, Blair students are learning skills for life

By Kie Donovan STAFF WRITER

Every day, while Blair students are sitting in class, bent over history textbooks, review packets, or a biology quiz, a group of their own are on a bus to Thomas Edison High School of Technology. While these students also receive various packets and papers from their Edison teachers, the material covers topics outside the range of typical academic subjects: food safety, the piping process for house construction, and even personal beauty care, all of which are known as vocational education.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, vocational education, which provides people with the necessary training to take up a professional trade or craft, is dying. The number of vocational credits earned by public school graduates in the United States has decreased in recent decades, indicating that national interest in vocational education has waned. At Edison, however, vocational education continues to draw in students from all over Montgomery County.

The vocational programs at Edison are divided into five clusters: Automotive, Construction, Human and Consumer Services, Information Technology & Computer Science , and the Career Readiness Education Academy. Junior De’Andre Johnson enrolled this year in the Professional Restaurant Management Program in the Human and Consumer Services Cluster.

He finds that the Edison classes are a perfect way to bring his love of the kitchen and his career goals together. “I wanted to really… get a headstart on my culinary career, and [the Edison classes were] really… the best way… to do it,” he says. “Just [being] in the kitchen—you know, preparing food, cooking food, it doesn’t really matter as long

ETHAN PARK

as I’m in the kitchen, I’ll be fine.”

Johnson spends much of the day there learning about food safety, food preparation, and various other aspects of kitchen and restaurant management. “We usually sit down and get started on our assignments… [like] planning menus,” Johnson says. “[Then] we go to another class, [which] has waitresses and waiters, and we pair with them and we learn about kitchen safety, food temperatures… and we work really closely with [them in] that class, so we can run the restaurant later in the year.”

According to the section on the Human and Consumer Services Cluster on Edison’s website, the “restaurant” that Johnson refers

to is the student-run Café Edison, which opens in the spring. At Café Edison, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their hands-on mastery and understanding of the kitchen and food service.

Johnson’s love for the kitchen, as well as the experience he gets from Edison’s vocational classes, are not Edison’s only appeals.

For him, the ability to share the Edison experience with his classmates is a major highlight of the school’s vocational classes.

“You’ve got different kids from different schools coming to [Edison to] learn the same craft and the same art as you,” he says.

“There’s nothing better than sharing your craft with other kids… [Edison’s] just a won-

derful place to be.”

This sentiment is echoed by fellow junior Jorge Ventura, a first-year member of Edison’s Plumbing Program in the Construction Cluster. “[I like] how friendly it is,” he says. “[The people there] know what other students go through, and try to help them, too.”

Ventura spends his day at Edison completing bookwork, as well as learning to solder metal and work with PVC pipes. Much of this is in preparation for an inspection of his skills

by PEPCO and Washington Gas contractors later in the year. “We’re going to have contractors around April… come to see how we do [in class],” says Ventura.

These professionals will help him and his classmates in the process of refining their technical skills, preparing them for their National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Plumbing Certification, which indicates that an individual has the proper knowledge and safety training to work in the field, and preparing them for the culminating display of their abilities: building a whole house from scratch.

Ventura feels that the Edison classes will give him a monetary advantage after high school. “I mean, you know, folks carry on after high school, you know how some students work at Starbucks and make [minimum wage]. But instead, I [could] be making at least 25 dollars or 28 dollars an hour after high school,” he says.

Ventura plans to go on to college and study law, but he is still grateful for the opportunities given to him by his Edison classes. “You know when you’re a kid and you’re riding your bike, and your parents give you a boost? Yeah. That’s what Edison is trying to do,” he says.

One thing is for sure: Johnson’s and Ventura’s Edison educations are not only aimed at preparing them for success in the classroom, but in another domain—that of the working world.

E1 Culture

October 17, 2018

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Blazers of Note

“Troy Story 3”: a new intricacy for Blair theatre The original play gets revamped with new characters, large casts, and other novelties

By Itamar Fiorino STAFF WRITER

AVERY BROOKS

Karis Danner-McDonald Junior

In her freshman year, junior Karis Danner-McDonald decided to join the Maryland Exiles Rugby Club, a Division I, MidAtlantic Rugby team, and has been playing competitively for the past three years.

Despite the stigma around girls playing contact sports, Danner-McDonald says she is determined to prove that girls have a place in the rugby community. “As a girl that plays rugby, it immediately changes people’s perceptions of me when they hear that because they automatically think of me as being very aggressive... and that’s just not true,” she shares.

“Women can play sports, and women can play sports well, and we can be tough, we can be strong.” She finds her own inspiration within her all-girls team through the strong group dynamics that rugby emphasizes.

Danner-McDonald says the sport has pushed both her mental and physical boundaries, and she has gained life skills through the sport. For her, rugby “means resilience, and that’s because you learn how to get back up, you learn how to be with a community, you learn how to communicate, and you really learn how to just keep going, and that there’s always going to be another chance for another try.”

Blair’s fall production of “Troy Story 3” is resulting in mass confusion among the community. Blazers are unaware of what the story consists of and are probably wondering how they will get Buzz and Woody to fit inside of a wooden horse.

“Troy Story 3”, the third installment in a line of Greek myths after The Iliad, retells the story of Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare. The adaptation, written by Mr. John O’Connor, focuses on telling Troilus and Cressida’s story in a diverse high school setting.

Blair’s large student population and diversity make adapting a play to the school a challenging feat. Keeping the storyline fun and intriguing while maintaining the anti-war themes of Troilus is a balancing act on its own.

Blair plays have different priorities than Shakespeare’s, leading to differences in composition. They are generally shorter, have larger casts, and cater to a different audience.

All of these are considerations for the play’s adaptation and were kept in mind in the writing of “Troy Story 3.”

“Troy Story 3” has two undertones; one being Troilus and Cressida, and the other being what O’Connor has written in. The adaptation welcomes Greek gods (i.e. Zeus, Apollo) into the play, who narrate the conflict below and give insight into the characters. “We’re constantly meeting the gods who are arguing, picking fights, interfering in the war, discussing what’s going to happen next…

[They’re] brought back in as a way -- partly of adding a different direction, adding a bit of comedy here and there, but also a way of helping the audience to understand who is who,” says John O’Connor.

Adapting to a large number of speaking parts, the play has two casts of 66 actors in total, largely composed of new actors and freshmen. “Most of them have not done

Shakespeare before, [and] most of the major roles are played by new people,” according to John O’Connor.

A considerable amount of the roles in the play are also gender-flexible. With a largely female cast like Blair’s, cross-gendering is inevitable—older plays like Troilus and Cressida have few female roles. “The woman actors will fight, they play many of the hero roles, and it’s an interesting dynamic. It’s what professional theatres are doing,” says Blair Ensglish teacher Kelly O’Connor, the play’s director and John O’Connor’s wife.

“Troy Story 3” must also battle the monotonous nature of Troilus and Cressida. “[Troilus] is very, very long and, it’s full of long, to be honest, quite boring speeches,” says John O’Connor.

Despite its dreariness, Troilus and Cressida is, according to a Blair release, “one of

the most powerful anti-war statements in the language.” which will be maintained in “Troy Story 3.” Being set in the Trojan War, a petty war caused by Troy’s abduction of Princess Helena, lessons in Troilus and Cressida can be translated to any war; the soldiers in Troilus are aware that it is an aimless war, but they persist. By the end of the play, modern-day war is mentioned to reinforce these themes.

“They all know that this is a pointless war.

They all know that people are dying every day who don’t need to die. But they can’t find a way to stop it,” says John O’Connor, “it’s become a matter of honor… there will be a moment when we get to the end of the play, where a whole bunch of other wars, ancient and modern, are brought into the picture.”

Despite the obstacles in its creation, everyone involved is excited to wow the school.

“Troy Story 3” runs from Nov. 8 to Nov. 17.

AVERY BROOKS

FIGHTING FOR PERFECTION Students rehearse a fight scene in preparation for the final “Troy Story 3” performances starting Nov. 8.

Spending dollars, making change How thrift shopping can improve the environment and combat climate

By Uma Gupta STAFF WRITER

AVERY BROOKS

Daniel Griegg Junior

Junior Daniel Greigg, has taken his passion for cubing and video production to the next level with his YouTube channel, Lights Camera Cubing, which currently boasts over 4,000 subscribers.

Though Greigg learned how to solve Rubik’s Cubes in elementary school, he had not entered the competitive cubing community until middle school. It was during the spring of 2016 that he started uploading creative videos of himself cubing as well as cube reviews to his YouTube channel. Greigg has since been sponsored a speciality cube store, The Cubicle, and receives free cubes for reviews. “Having the ability to test for The Cubicle has given me a lot of opportunity to make new content and produce more and more videos which is a lot of fun,” he shares.

With videos that garner up to 29,000 views, Greigg has made a name for himself in the cubing community. “[When] I go to competitions, people will recognize me and they’ll be like ‘Hey, you’re Lights Camera Cubing!’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, I guess I am.’”

By Sarah Schiffgens

AN OPINION

Secondhand clothing shops have existed for hundreds of years, but the boom in the garment resale industry is fairly new. What started out as necessity-based shopping has turned into a popular and enjoyable activity for many students. Although it may seem like these new thrift shoppers are motivated solely by a desire for good deals, there is a more urgent reason behind their switch to secondhand. This generation wants to save the environment and the global community from the scourge of America’s textile industry.

Today, thrifters have the environment on their mind far more than past generations.

According to Forbes, young women who thrift are 2.5 times more likely than older shoppers to choose secondhand for environmental reasons. Amongst the environmental issues inspiring this new wave of shoppers is the high volume of waste created by the clothing industry. According to Edge Fashion, it takes 5,000 gallons of water to make a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Contributing to the exhaustion of natural resources is just one of many ways the textile industry worsens environmental threats.

Toxic emissions from clothing production have been linked to declining human health and environmental conditions. The National Resource Defense Council found that upwards of 20,000 toxic chemicals are poured into textiles, and their manufacturing process, according to the National Institutes of Health, can “cause or aggravate respiratory disease” when they land up in the air and water.

Tony Shumpert, Vice President of Recycling and Reuse at Value Village, says these numbers justify the need for thrift shopping.

“When you look at the resources it takes to actually manufacture new clothing it’s staggering,” Shumpert says. “The most sustainable piece of apparel that anyone of us has is

the one that we already own. So, the more we can augment our shopping habits with reuse, the more we each individually have the ability to make a direct impact on the planet.”

Junior Sadie Groberg has been thrift shopping since her freshman year. In addition to finding clothes she loves, Groberg feels better about shopping when it’s secondhand.

“If I go to a Forever 21 or an H&M and buy a lot of things I don’t feel good about that because the way that those clothes are produced is not ethical, and it’s just adding

“The most sustainable piece of apparel... is the one that we already own”

- Tony Shumpert,

Vice President of Recycling and Reuse for Value Village waste”, says Groberg. “But when you go to a thrift store you know that you’re making something better out of someone’s waste”.

Like Groberg, Shumpert agrees that there are multiple benefits to thrift shopping.

“When you [thrift shop] not only are you making an individual choice to spend your dollars in a way that has a positive impact on the planet, but if you take your time and you really look through what’s there you can find really unique items that you would not find somewhere else,” says Shumpert.

Regardless of these benefits, Shumpert, and frequent thrift shopper, junior Lana

Nguyen, agree that people still have many doubts about thrifting.

“People might look down on thrifting,” says Nguyen. She says that some believe the clothes to be old and dirty.

According to Shumpert, the idea that secondhand shops are unclean is a misconception.

“We literally open every single bag [of donations] and select the best of the best both in quality and condition to go onto our retail sales floor,” Shumpert says. “All retailers understand that they have to provide great quality, great selection, and great value and that’s what we do every day in our stores.”

Nguyen, who used to shop at thrift stores with her family out of necessity, reminds shoppers that it is important to maintain a respectful attitude toward everyone who shops second-hand.

“There’s nothing wrong with thrifting,” she says. “I think everyone should thrift and anyone can thrift, but it becomes an issue when people look down on others who do it out of necessity,” Nguyen says.

Like Nguyen, Groberg says that there should be no limits to who goes thrift shopping and why.

“If you find that thrifting works for you and that it’s more ethical, then everyone should participate even if you can afford more expensive clothes,” Groberg says.

Thrift shopping has the potential to help reduce waste and benefit the environment. If everyone chose to shop secondhand as Groberg and Nguyen suggest, each garment’s life would extend an extra 2.2 years, which would reduce global water and the carbon footprint by 73 percent, according to a ThredUp report. The same universal switch to thrift shopping could also save 13 trillion gallons of water, enough to last all of California for 14 years by ThredUp’s estimation.

For those in search of a unique experience and a clean consciousness, the local thrift shop might be the best place to find it.

October 17, 2018

Culture E2

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A voice in the industry

Why gay artists are essential to the rap game med album, The Low End Theory, many rappers conveyed homophobic messages in STAFF WRITER their music with little to no repercussions.

The idea of stereotypical masculinity was “Next line I’ll have ‘em like whoa/I’ve heavily perpetuated throughout hip-hop’s been kissin’ white boys since 2004,” raps evolution, completely isolating anyone who Tyler, the Creator on his fourth studio did not fit into the hyper-masculine image of album, Flower Boy. In-your-face, blunt a “gangster” or “thug.” one-liners and quips about sexuality from Although the blatantly anti-gay disposithe 27 year-old artist seem commonplace tion of many rappers has declined in recent by now, especially to those who have been years, it is clear that undertones of homolistening to his music for the past decade. phobia are still present today. One of the But with this particular line on Tyler’s fourth studio album, something is different. most well-known culprits is Eminem, who recently ran into trouble with his use of an The context of the album is much more anti-gay slur to target Tyler, the Creator, personal, with songs like “Garden Shed” according to XXL Magazine. possibly alluding to Tyler’s struggle with Eminem, who is commonly recognized coming out of the closet. As questions as one of the most successful rappers in the about Tyler’s sexuality arose following the game, has previously defended his use of release of Flower Boy, a broader question about sexuality and rap was brought into the the slur targeting LGBTQ+ people, “f----t,” as a “pejorative,” according to Billboard. limelight: Is there a place for gay rappers Eminem targeting Tyler’s transition to a in a genre with such hyper-masculine and homophobic roots?

The short answer to that question is yes.

Gay representation in any genre is as important as ever, and it is evident that LGBTQ+ artists are beginning to burst onto the “ scene with more and more support. Despite this, hip-hop has always been a step behind in this movement of gay acceptance.

Before we examine how this movement of gay rappers fits into hip-hop today, it is important to understand the history of homophobia in rap.

The genre of hip-hop has long been plagued with homophobia, as images of hyper-masculine gangsters helped to define hip-hop in its earliest stages. Whether it be 50 Cent’s offhand comment in a 2004 Playboy interview that “[he] doesn’t like gay people around [him],” or A Tribe Called Quest’s hateful song “Georgie Porgie” that was nearly included on their critically-acclaiBy Ethan Park

We’re in a new era right now, and [hip-hop] has become much more open to all these topics.

-Hanna Addis, Junior

softer, glitzier style of music on Flower Boy is an example of how many rappers are unable to accept emotional vulnerability through music.

Rather than ostracize rappers for being open about sexuality, however, this emotional vulnerability and openness about sexuality in rap should be celebrated as a sign of coming-of-age maturity and growth.

Hanna Addis, a junior at Blair and an avid listener of hip-hop and R&B, believes that the growth of Tyler’s sound is a step that more artists should be taking. “I feel like male rappers are really insecure about showing their soft side,” she said. “For instance, with Tyler, his music was really heavy and really deep with homophobic things.

But now, with Flower Boy, it’s a lot softer… and I like what he did with that. I think that other rappers should follow in his NIAMH DUCEY footsteps.”

Along with Tyler, the Creator, other rappers are fighting hyper-masculinity in the rap game today. Groups like self-proclaimed “boyband” Brockhampton have been making waves in the hip-hop scene

ever since their trilogy of Saturation albums released in 2017.

Brockhampton is a prime example of a group that attracts fans because they push both musical and social boundaries of hip-hop.

De facto frontman Kevin Abstract has been open about his sexuality since the group’s conception on a Kanye West fan forum.

Abstract consistently raps about his experience as a gay rapper.

For instance, on Brockhampton’s song JUNKY, Abstract raps, “Why you always rap about bein’ gay?/’Cause not enough n----s rap and be gay.” This unapologetically defiant declaration is an example of the acceptance that the rap industry needs today.

The industry must continue providing room for gay rappers to succeed, as their different sounds and messages can help push the genre beyond its homophobic past, reaching a new audience of LGBTQ+ youth that has been isolated for too long.

As hip-hop’s fanbase diversifies across the world, it is clear to fans like Addis that homophobia has no place in the rap game.

“We’re in a new era right now, and [hip-hop] has become much more open to all of these topics,” she said. “I think that [homophobic rappers] should just ditch the old trend and get with the new.”

International Newsbriefs German Bishops Apologize for Child Sex Abuse SEPTEMBER 25 - Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the head of the German Bishops Conference, expressed remorse over the numerous sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church.

Marx’s statements came a few hours after Pope Francis acknowledged that the scandals are driving people away from the church.

Marx’s words were also followed by the release of a report by the church, stating that between 1946 and 2014, at least 3,677 people were abused by at least 1,670 members of the clergy. The report found that half of the victims were 13 years old or younger, most were boys, and a sixth of the cases involved rape.

“I’m ashamed for so many [members of the church] looking away, not wanting to recognize what happened and not helping the victims,” said Marx.

Indian Launches National Healthcare Program SEPTEMBER 23 - A few months before India’s election season, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the world’s largest government healthcare system: Ayushman Bharat, dubbed ‘Modicare’ by the media.

Modicare sets to cover approximately 500 million poor Indians who would have otherwise been forced to pay unaffordable private hospital fees for treatment. For every eligible family, around the first seven thousand dollars in treatment will be on the Indian government.

Along with health insurance, there is a plan to shore up local community health centers to aid with administration and medicine.

Modi has only allocated $300 million, approximately .01 percent of India’s GDP, for the new health insurance scheme.

Telangana, Odisha, Kerala, Punjab, and Delhi have refused to participate, fearing problems involving funding, corruption, and infrastructure.

The West Accuses Russia of Global Cyber Espionage Attacks

October 17, 2018

silverchips

E3 Culture

Taking the World by Storm

An exploration into why Fortnite is so popular

By Victoria Xin STAFF WRITER

In just this past year, Fortnite has risen to become one of the most ubiquitous video games of our generation. The memes and dances are all over the internet, people play it at home, in school, or wherever they can access wifi.

Players spend large amounts of real money to decorate their ingame characters with the newest skin. With 125 million users and counting, Fortnite is set to become a permanent fixation of the gaming universe.

The game was announced in a 2011 at the Spike Video Game Awards as a zombie survival game.

Players would build fortresses and defend them from hordes of cartoon undead. Signups for the first round of testing began in April of 2014, according to Vox’s gaming network Polygon. The game was finally released on July 25, 2017, according to video game news website VG 24/7.

Although the game was initially advertised as a zombie survival game, Fortnite found popularity with its Battle Royale mode, where players drop into a large map with 100 others and fight to be the sole survivor.

The Battle Royale mode became free to play on September 26, 2018, according to the Fortnite Game Twitter account. The fact that Battle Royale comes free of charge is one of the main reasons it is so popular today. Blair freshman Chris LaFleur, who says he plays two hours a night, cites it as the only reason he thinks it’s so popular. “Because it’s free,” he says. “That’s it.”

Despite Fortnite being a free game, many Blair students have also spent significant amounts of money on in-game cosmetic items to decorate their characters. Spending among Blair Fortnite players ranges from senior Ashwin Ashok, who says he has spent around $20, to freshman Carter Disrud, who says his Fortnite spending is closer to $100.

Around 69 percent of Fortnite players spend money in the game, and the average amount spent within those players is 84.67 dollars, according to financial management

OCTOBER 4 - The Netherlands, U.K., and U.S. volleyed a myriad of cyber attack accusations against the GRU, Russia’s spy agency.

U.K. intelligence agencies released corroborating statements accusing Russia of attacks on Democratic National Committee server during the 2016 U.S. election season, Russian news agencies in 2017, and metro and airport operating systems in Ukraine.

Hours later, Dutch officials stated Russia attempted to hack the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 2018 By Arshiya Dutta and the agency investigating a fallen CULTURE EDITOR passenger jet over Ukraine in 2014.

On the same day, the U.S. Jus- Arshiya’s Aesthetic is a monthly tice Department indicted seven column where Culture editor suspected Russian agents for cyber attacks on anti-doping organiza- Arshiya Dutta expresses her opintions to undermine integrity in the ions on anything and everythingculture and entertainment.

Olympics and for attacks on the nuclear power company WestingTaylor Swift is a controversial house Electric. figure in more ways than one. From the time she feuded with Kim and Kanye West to the times where she sang about her ex-lovers, Swift Newsbriefs compiled by has always been in the limelight for Victoria Xin negative reasons.

company Lendedu. This spending has paid off in a real way for Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite, who made nearly 300 million dollars in April of 2018 alone, according to Forbes.

freshman Gerson Alvarado, and LaFleur, all of whom claim to play at least two hours a day, on average, say that most of their friends play Fortnite. Blazers report enjoying the

ganization added ‘Gaming Disorder’ to the International Classification of Diseases and defined it as “...characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities ... and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

Several Blair students think that they know people who are addicted. Junior Sky Bloomer, who has tried playing the game once or twice, says she has lots of friends who she considers addicted to Fortnite. “They need to get a life,” she says.

LaFleur, junior Max Worley, Ashok, and Disrud all express similar sentiments.

Ashok says that Fortnite distracts many of his friends from their schoolwork and other aspects of their lives.

Some people’s knowledge of the game comes primarily from internet memes and videos of people performing the dances that the characters do in the game. Bloomer disapproves of this aspect of Fortnite’s popularity.

“The dances need to stay in the game,” she says.

Bloomer, however, has only played a few times and describes it as a “lukewarm experience.”

Tona, who plays two hours a day, says he likes the memes.

Despite LaFleur’s emphasis on the price, there is a lot more to what makes people play the game.

Fortnite is available on almost any device that can run video games.

Whether you prefer to play video games on your computer, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or even your phone, the game is only a download away.

Whatever the reason, the game has caught on. Freshman Samuel Bush says that every time he plays he sees a lot of his friends logged on as well.

“I usually have like 40 people playing every time I go on,” he says. Disrud, senior Biruk Tona,

SALLY ZHAO

However, on Oct. 8, Swift did something out of character by posting about her political views on social media.

Her Instagram post endorsed two Democratic candidates from Tennessee, Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper, for Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively.

The post’s caption elaborated on how she does not believe Republican Marsha Blackburn is a good fit for the position, saying that Marsha “voted against equal pay for women…[Blackburn] voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act…[and she]

“They’re fun and funny,” he says.

The dances are a feature where players can make their in-game avatar do a short SEOYOUNG JOO dance move.

Some popular ones are the game for a va- floss, ‘Orange Justice,’ where the character swings its arms up, down, riety of reasons.

Alvarado says the game “... and to the side while bending its calms [him] and helps [him] fo- knees from side to side, and ‘Take cus,” while Tona likes that he is the L’ a dance where the avatar able to play with his friends. Senior holds it’s finger and thumb on its Ashwin Ashok says that he likes the forehead, to symbolize a loss, and kicks its legs out in a taunting way. frequent updates.

The most recent update include This dance is mostly used upon a few major changes to some parts eliminating another player.

Videos of people doing these of the map, and the addition of small cubes placed around the map dances in real life are very prevathat can turn players invisible for 45 lent on the internet, likely because seconds, according to PC Gamer. they’re silly and fairly easy to perFortnite’s spectacular popular- form.

While some, such as Bloomer, ity has led some to question if the find them annoying, many regular game is addictive.

In June, the World Health Or- Fortnite players enjoy them.

believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples.” But most of all, the post encourages all to register to vote in the upcoming election.

24 hours after the post, 65,000 new people registered to vote on Vote.org.

This was a spike considering that 190,178 people registered to vote in the entirety of September, according to Kamari Guthrie, the director of communications at Vote.org.

There was also a spike in Tennessee voting registration; according to Guthrie, Vote.org received 2,144 new voters within 36 hours of the post compared to the 2,811 voters in Tennessee in the whole month of September.

As expected, not many people were supportive of her voicing her political opinions.

Considering Kaepernick’s recent signing with Nike, the question of whether celebrities should partake in the political process is at the forefront of national dialogue.

Many people are also commenting on how long it has taken Swift to comment on these issues, and many dislike her political stances altogether. In reference to her dis-

approval of Marsha Blackburn, President Trump said “I like her music 25% less now.”

To me, this post was a step in the right direction to get her followers to be more politically active.

Celebrities have the obligation to use their platform for good, and it is important that young people cast their ballots to instigate change.

Young people are notorious for not voting, as only 50 percent of registered voters aged 18-29 voted in the 2016 election, according to a study

by Tufts University.

Swift has amassed 112 million followers on Instagram, most of them younger people. If she can use her platform to make her fans more politically active and aware, she absolutely should.

I am proud of Swift for abandoning her previous attitude about avoiding politics and addressing important issues in our country as a public figure.

However surprised I am about Swift finally being vocal in politics, I am glad she is.

Getting people to vote can only be a positive thing to improve our nation’s lack of political efficacy.

For once, I can stand behind Taylor Swift.

Chips Clips E4

silverchips

October 17, 2018

Roman(ce) Languages

by Bennett Coukos-Wiley Across 1. Channel with exclusive Olympic broadcast rights 4. _____ Mahal 7. Inlet 11. LCMs’ opposites: Var. 15. Harry’s date to the Yule Ball 17. ____ in the air (chilly weather) 18. “Artemis Fowl” author Colfer 19. Batman’s on-again-off-again adversary, on the clock 20. Like some privileges: Var. 22. São Borja airport, according to 42-across 23. Instruments in many jazz bands, on the clock 25. Chemical group found in rubbing alcohol 28. Internet personality _____ Willems 29. “_____ time now...”

30. Played some beats 32. Goes to a better place 36. With “The”, John Steinbeck’s last novel, on the clock 42. UN aviation grp.

42. Mr. Paul or Santa, e.g.

43. Artist Bob _____ 44. Head _____ 45. Counterpart of wdth.

46. “Keep it down!”

47. Manner of walking 49. Text from a concerned friend, maybe 50. Taiwan’s capital 52. Homeboy 53. Subjunctive yo form of obrar 54. Global scale game-changers, on the clock 58. Bug spray chemical 59. Surrounded by _____ 60. Place to buy a 37-down 61. Ask (for) 64. Chases relentlessly 67. Cargo carrier, on the clock

71. Pulitzer-winning playwright William 74. Navigate with map and compass 75. In-between level, on the clock 78. Alternative to degs.

79. Military organization in the Halo series (abbr.)

80. Influential painter of New Mexico

Sudoku (evil) COURTESY OF WEBSUDOKU

AVIATION TEST

81. Send out 82. “Hello,” in parseltongue 83. Homer’s neighborhood 84. Letters before Independence or Maine Down 1. RPG sidequest-givers 2. Pasture noises

3. Like a fresh apple 4. Bay area pig 5. _____ disadvantage 6. Hexlike 7. British comedian Jimmy 8. The team to beat 9. Creator of a show with four seasons?

10. Certain adhesive 11. Added to, as in punishment

12. Irish town that was the Titanic’s last port of call 13. Kili’s brother 14. Console that 40-down made games (abbr.)

16. Musical quiver 21. Boxing matchwinners, briefly 24. Like ‘90s movies, to the current generation 26. How many futures the Avengers won in 27. Fate-sealing, as a victory 31. Some H.S. teams 33. Succubi’s male counterparts 34. Implore 35. Feeds, as a fire 36. Drooping 37. Seven Summiter’s rule 38. Eensy-weensy robot 39. “My, my” 40. Nintendo legend Miyamoto 41. Army bed 46. One who may be dreading Nov. 6th 47. Activist whose methods inspired MLK 48. Pointy hand tool 51. Most similar to a crossword clue 52. “____ ever!” (“Yes!”) 53. Rust or tarnish 55. Stretches 56. Make clear, with upon 57. Neighbor of BRA and COL 62. “There’s no ____ team” 63. Roman in a Shakespeare title 65. When Labor Day takes place (abbr.)

66. Hot mess 67. Golfing cry 68. Method for approximating the area under a curve (abbr.)

69. “I saw,” to Caesar 70. Trajectories 72. Moving pictures 73. Old flames 76. Scrape (out) 77. Unamericanised letter

To see the answers to the crossword, scan this QR code or visit www.tinyurl.com/ Chips-x-Word-1

DENNY TSITSIWU

E5 Culture

silverchips

October 17, 2018

harD.C.ore

How punk music influenced the D.C. underground from PUNK page A1 of music, so there was a sense of purpose,” Sullivan says. During this time, bands tore up the underground and. pioneered the subgenre of hardcore punk.

Sullivan’s bandmate and longtime punk musician Andy Rapoport remembers the beginnings of Hardcore, how different it was from what he had heard before, and how exciting it was to be witnessing a new type of music being created right before his eyes.

“The band that everyone had to figure out and kind of get their minds around was the Bad Brains,” Rapoport reminisces, “which was also kind of spell-binding to us, because it was four black guys playing this shockingly fast music, which was just so weird, because for a kid that grew up like I did, on classic rock like The Beatles and The Stones, hearing anything played that fast was just mind boggling. And I think that it just spoke to so many teenagers at the time.”

Bad Brains blended punk rock with their reggae roots and set a standard of loud, choppy playing and energizing live performances. Another key characteristic introduced to the genre were their songs’ brevity--most songs did not last over two minutes.

These bands are also known for their merciless lyrics, taking firm stances against politics, the police, and normalized society. Songs like “Banned in D.C.” by Bad Brains and “Commie

na keep in touch/ Never want to use a crutch.”

MacKaye’s lyrics were not intended to preach or to convince others to follow in his footsteps, but this was not the case. Shortly after the release of the song, the Straight Edge movement took off. Over time, the standards and guidelines became a bit fuzzy, and strayed from MacKaye’s personal actions, and some sects of this movement include veganism and abstinence from promiscuity and sex.

Dischord records

COURTESY OF CHARLIE FLACK

BATTLE CRY D.C. hardcore band Black On Black Crimes performs at a hardcore show earlier this year along with fellow musicians Jarvis and Dissonance at Slash Run. further than the ground floor of 930 F St. NW, or Nightclub 9:30 (now the 9:30 Club). Hardcore shows were rare, so many took advantage

turned these concerts into saunas. “I remember walking in there and it was about 120 degrees inside... I just look over and these kids were diving off of the stage on top of the audience,” Rapoport says.

Other influential venues include D.C. Space, Hung Jury Pub, and the Back Alley Cafe. Some of the venues are still open today but many have closed, including the D.C. Space, which is now a Starbucks. Venues like this were not in it for the money and only existed to continue the legacy of the hardcore scene.

“That was the kind of club that... weren’t out there trying to make a fortune, they just wanted to support the scene the best they could,” comments Rapoport.

Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol were present at these shows for their intoxicating effect, which lead to something much bigger altogether.

Straight edge

COURTESY OF CHARLIE FLACK

PACKED HOUSE Fans crowd inside the Slash Run venue in February 2017 in Northwest Washington, D.C. for a hardcore festival presented by Domestic Terror.

Song” by Teen Idles appealed to the newer generation and spoke to their suppressed fury against the system.

Hardcore venues

A punk in D.C. searching to get their adrenaline rushing, blood-pumping fix looked no

To see footage from a Hardcore concert, scan the QR code!

of them when they were held. “There weren’t many shows for a long time, so the anticipation would build and the shows would release all that pent up energy,” Sullivan says.

Through the doors of this standing-room only venue were the best punk rockers D.C. had to offer, playing their music to moshers and stage divers alike. Seeing these bands in person was electrifying and inspired interested teens to join the scene.

The first punk show that Rapoport attended was inside the 9:30 club, and he remembers being intimidated.

“Even though they were all nice guys, they looked pretty f----- scary… they all have shaved heads and combat boots.”

The scary look of the punks was not the only first impression on him though. The heat of the small space, filled with wildly flailing limbs and bodies, practically

In 1981, Minor Threat released “Straight Edge,” a song written by Ian MacKaye that described why he denounced drug culture. The song speaks in favor of sobriety from drugs and alcohol through lyrics like “I’m a guy just like you/ But I’ve got better things to do/ Than sit around and f--- my head.” and “Laugh at the thought of eating ‘ludes/ Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue/ Always gon-

Dischord Records was founded by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson of The Teen Idles and Minor Threat in 1980.

This record company has remained a staple in the hardcore music scene, and has helped to shape the sounds that became so popular later on.

“The first wave of Dischord bands essentially laid the groundwork for the D.C. punk scene to follow,” Aidan Tydings-Lynch, a Blair alumnus and drummer in punk bands such as BustOff, Misled Youth and CDR, says.

Dischord has also produced some of the most popular hardcore bands from the D.C. area with an active list of bands still touring and making music.

“They aren’t a huge force in the current scene because they don’t have a lot of new bands on the label,” Tydings-Lynch says. But the impact is still felt. “Everyone in the punk scene currently was definitely hugely influenced by at least a few of the bands on the label.”

D.C. hardcore today Hardcore still has a large following and re-

mains popular in D.C.’s alternative community.

The scene continues to grow and the community remains friendly and open, despite some people’s intimidation from the music and punk “look”.

Concerts are now more frequent and are not limited to the stage of the 9:30 club. Kombat, Coke Bust, and Needle, all different hardcore bands based in D.C., play shows regularly at local venues such as the Black Cat, the Electric Maid, and Comet Ping Pong. Nevertheless, some bands have grown and their influence has spread.

“Red Death is one of the biggest for sure,” Tydings-Lynch says. In the past two months the band has played in tours across the country and across the globe.

The D.C. hardcore scene continues to inspire and influence the genre of punk and the citizens of D.C., but at heart still remains “just a bunch of kids having fun”.

IVVONE ZHOU

October 17, 2018

silverchips

Archives

E6 Culture

Edited by Camden Roberts, Avery Brooks, and Elise Cauton

In Silver Chips’ 81st year, we will be continuing the tradition of our dear predecessors by going through our archives and finding the best, most timely, and most local stories.

We, however, will be presenting them by section, not by year. Without further ado, our favorite hard-hitting, uncompromising news stories: (We would also like to thank alumnus Ben Miller for problem-solving for this page from 11 hours away.)

THREE FORMER BLAIR STUDENTS TO BE CALLED WITH GUARD Oct. 28, 1940 Those of us who have been sitting back calmly while war rages in Europe, telling ourselves that it’s too bad but really none of our business, may be surprised to learn that it is directly affecting the lives of several well-known Blairities.

The first effect to be felt at Blair is the loss of three students to the National Guard, which will be called up from this section in January. Donald Tabbutt, Blair’s most popular singer and star guard of last year’s basketball team, has already left school.

PUBLIC SEES METRO DURING FREE TOURS March 11, 1975 Free guided tours are being offered through the completed part of Metro, Washington’s long-awaited rapid transit system. The tours help give people a taste of what Metro will be like when the system is finally completed. The 90-minute excursion informs people about Metro’s construction and operation.People are required to sign a release before they are allowed to enter Metro. Everyone is given a white hard hat and troops to 7th a G Streets, where the tour begins. Along the cold fiveblock walk, many features of the transit system are pointed out.

The mezzanine area in the station, where the fare gate will be, is completely above the platform, making it very visible and crime-proof. Both the platform and mezzanine areas are very wide, tall, airy and don’t have any columns. This will help increase visibility too. Alternating bright-dim lights will flash in the 18-inch granite strip between the train and platform when the train is 20 seconds away.

No coin money will be used. Upon arrival in the station, the passenger can purchase a magnetic farecard. The card will range from 20 cents to 20 dollars in value, depending on the passenger’s needs.

Station attendants will answer any questions about fares but will not take money or validate farecards. This is expected to cut down the crime rate immeasurably.Approximately one-third of the 98 miles of Metro is on the railroad right of way, meaning Metro will use already existing track. Forty miles of track and 40 stations are under construction now. The entire operation will be running by 1981.

STUDENT CARJACKED: JUNIOR HELD UP AT GUNPOINT FOR HIS HONDA ACCORD April 21, 2010 Taking the keys, he got in the car, started the ignition and tried to put the car in reverse, but he was unable to make the car move backwards.

He then instructed Sterrett to put the car in reverse for him. “He made me get in the car.” Sterrett laughed.

“The guy didn’t even know how to put the car in reverse... and it’s an automatic!”

Once Sterrett has gotten out of the driver’s seat, the man jumped in and proceeded to hit the car behind him.

CHEERLEADERS PLAGUE ‘CHIPS’ Dec. 23, 1964 These forces which torture and destroy the creative minds of Silver Chips are commonly known as cheerleaders.

On certain occasions only, unusually the time when utmost concentration is required in the Chips office, the cheerleaders, in the name of practice, set up a cacophony of incomprehensible shrieking, stamping and otherwise obstreperous ear-splitting.

The auditory pummeling is so great that even they can’t hear the impassioned pleas for mercy from shellshocked prisoners of “C” building.

Recently expelled students are forced to pose as a group. Their respective offenses are not listed in the paper.

April 1, 1941

A homecoming float, from back when we as a school had a parade that required floats.

October, 1995

TI-83 BANDITS RIP OFF FELLOW BLAZERS March 14, 2002 Some thieves steal for the thrill of it.

Others steal to live. And some like Ben, a junior, don’t really know why they do it. “There is no point,“ he says, shrugging. He admits that he has stolen some seven graphing calculators since his freshman year.

CHRISTIAN GROUP SEEKS “EQUAL RIGHTS“ December 22, 1984 Students of a Christian fellowship at Blair are protesting to the county Board of Education, in the hope that they will to gain recognition as an official school club because they feel they deserve the same priviliges as other school sponsored clubs.

FELINE WANDERER FINDS A HOME December 23, 1964 Mr. Senior, a white cat with a blue right eye and a green left one, was recently discovered in the Senior Corner of the library, origin unknown.

The feline, whose new leather collar is a present of the senior class, resides with Mrs. C Weisiger outside of school hours.

Mr. Senior’s activities are not restricted to the library. Junior Rick Tavan tells of an incident when the cat paid a call on Miss Aud’s CPA trigonometry class, startling the math department head.

Marti Teitelbaum, one of the feline’s first acquaintances, gives this advice: “While Mr. Senior resides at Blair, step carefully in the library and inspect all chairs before sitting down”

MARY ANN RAGSDALE WED IN CHURCH CEREMONY June 11, 1947 The wedding of Mary Ann Ragsdale was held in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Saturday morning, May 31.

Mary Ann, the daughter of Mrs. Stanley R. DePue of Silver Spring, and Mr. John Nelson Ragsdale, Jr., of Danville, Va. exchanged marital vows with Mr. Herbert Francis Hodge, Jr., of Chevy Chase. The Reverend James H. Hogan officiated at the eleven o’clock ceremony.

The bride, escorted by her father, wore a gown of white satin. Her fulllength viel fell from a tiara of seed pearls and she carried a bridal bouquet of white roses.

The maid of honor, Doris Prunier of Silver Spring, also a senior of Blair, was gowned in yellow organdy. She carried sweet peas.

HER QUICK ACTION SAVED TWO LIVES Feb. 17 1950 The telephone operator answered the signal on the switchboard. “Number, please.” There was no answer. Then, from the other end of the line, came a barely audible sound. A low moan.

Nothing more.

Thinking and acting quickly, the operator called the Rescue Squad of a nearby town. She gave them the address where the telephone was located, asked them to hurry there.

When they arrived, they found a man and his wife nearly overcome by the fumes from a faulty furnace.

First aid was applied at once and the couple was revived. Later, these people wrote the telephone company thanking the girl who had probably saved their lives. In closing, they said “this girl at the switchboard has earned our everlasting gratitude.”

Cool in emergencies, competent, courteous -- these are some of the qualities of today’s telephone operator.

Small wonder that she has earned such a proud place on the American scene.

The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company.

F1 Sports

October 17, 2018

silverchips

Pitching ideas for the future

Should the Nationals try and keep Bryce Harper this year? Should he stay? would be a major failure on his part.

But it is not just about whether the Nats want him, does Harper even want to stay?

By Miranda Rose Daly NEWS EDITOR

Free Agen-see you later!

Should he stay, or should he go? It seems like Bryce Harper has thousands of reasons to leave the Washington Nationals, but he may have just as many reasons to stay.

I grew up as a Washington Nationals fan. I went to my first Nat’s game at the old RFK stadium when I was five, sparking my longtime hatred of the Phillies. I was a Ryan Zimmerman fan, and I loved Ian Desmond, but my whole life changed when they brought up Bryce Harper as the first draft pick in 2012. The swagger, the hair, the homers, the dazzling outfield assists, the excitement; I loved everything about Bryce Harper.

I got a chance to meet him in a Dave and Busters when I was twelve, and it was everything I hoped it would be - and more. He was so kind, and after I beat him in a game he gave me all of his tickets and helped me pick out a teddy bear. Since then, I have followed everything he has done, every catch, every at-bat, every home run, every stolen base, every injury, and even every rumor that he might leave the Nationals.

After the 2018 season, Harper will become a free agent, meaning he can sign with any team. And with all postseason contention lost, this is the most pressing issue the Nats need to address.

Catch

and

If he wants a championship ring, the Nationals have proven over and over again they are not the team to give it to him. They have yet to advance past the first round of the playoffs, losing in a Game 5 two years in a row. The Dodgers expressed interest in the superstar for the brief period that the Nationals put Harper up to be traded before the trade deadline, and also recently acquired longtime Oriole Manny Machado.

Harper would have a much better chance of receiving a ring with them than with the Nats. The Cubs are also a viable option for Harper. He can reunite with his old teammate Daniel Murphy and connect with old friend Kris Bryant, the Cubs’ star third baseman.

Bryant and Harper grew up playing baseball together in Las Vegas, and have trolled fans online posting about how exciting it would be to play on a team together.

Do not leave me HARP broken

Release

Harper’s 2019 contract will most likely be the biggest one in MLB history, with an ESPN projected $400 million deal, surpassing the record set by Giancarlo Stanton for $325 million back in 2015. That’s a lot of money—money that the Nats do not have.

The Nationals already have an expensive lineup of Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, and All-Star pitchers Max Scherzer, Sean Doolittle, and Stephen Strasburg, and have committed 111.4 million dollars in salaries.

They might have to drop someone if they are looking to dish out money to Harper this offseason. Earlier in the season, the Nats traded fan favorite second baseman Daniel Murphy to the Cubs as a move to secure more money for the Harper deal.

But the Nats have a cheaper option.

They have a plethora of outfielders with Rookie of the Year prospect Juan Soto quickly climbing the ranks to becoming the next Nationals phenom. He’s batting .292 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs while breaking records left and right. On July 27, he became the only teenager in MLB history to homer in three straight games. The Nats could easily have an outfield of Soto, fellow youngster Victor Robles, and Adam

COURTESY OF MIRANDA ROSE DALY

STARSTRUCK The author, age 12, poses with Bryce Harper, the Washington national right fielder, in a Dave and Busters in 2013. a measly .214. A regular occurrence was an 0-2 or 0-3 game, which led to the Nats circling .500 for most of the season. As he is expected to ask for almost $400 million dollars, some fans are questioning if he is still worth the price.

This should not be a BATtle

‘That’s a clown question, bro!’ What

lustrated when he was only 16, drafted when he was 19, and has been breaking records ever since. Harper is only 25, a Hall of Famer in his prime, and still at the peak of his career with many years of potential left. By September 4th, 41 games after winning the Home Run Derby—which was held in D.C. this year— Harper was hitting .319/.420/.574. He had

Although leaving the Nats gives Harper a better chance of winning the World Series, nothing is impossible. Sure, the Nats have not won a playoff series, but Trout, arguably the best player in baseball, has not even won a playoff game. The Nats have all the right pieces to the puzzle, and Harper knows it.

Harper has memories here, he has grown up here, he has won the NL East here, Werth has mentored him here, everything in his career has been here, so do not discount that.

Harper also makes it known that he loves D.C. Bryce, you do not have to leave us. There is value in a player staying with the same team their whole career; just look at Derek Jeter, the iconic Yankees shortstop. Or the Orioles’ “Iron Man” Cal Ripken Jr., heck even Zimmerman.

In a recent interview, Harper spoke wistfully about his plans for next season. He expressed how he would love to stay as a long-term National, but that he’s not sure if the club wants him back.

“I hope I’m in the plans,” Harper said. “I would be absolutely thrilled to be back …

They were the first team to give me my standing o … being able to run out to left field for the first time and getting a standing o as well, hitting my first walkoff, my first knock, my first big play in Nats Park. I mean those are all the things that I remember, because those are the things that stay close to me, and I mean there’s nothing greater than being part of an organization from that young till now.”

The Nationals have the chance to keep him—a hand-picked

soapbox Should the Nationals re-sign Bryce Harper?

“He is the best on the team, and gets lots of home runs” — Davin Le, freshman “He is the only player I know on the Nationals” — Rafael Calderon, sophomore “Not only is he a great outfielder, ... he is a great left-hand hitter, and has helped the Nats win many games.”

— James Dorr, freshman AVERY BROOKS

THE PARK A view of Nationals Park from the 400’s in August 2018.

Eaton with Andrew Stevenson and Michael A. Taylor as backups, for much less money.

And, with a cheaper outfield, the Nats could also have more available funds to explore the needs of other positions, like getting a new catcher or relief pitcher, which they desperately need. Before the All-Star break, Harper was in a career-worst slump. He was not even batting his weight, with his average at

fans have overlooked is Bryce Harper’s impact on D.C. as the face of the Nats franchise. He is one of the few players, among other legends like All-Star Angels outfielder Mike Trout and All-Star Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who have the name recognition to single handedly bring fans to games.

His identity is one with the Nationals. He is a player who was on the cover of Sports Il-

12 2B, 8 HR, 23 BB, 30 R and 33 RBIs. Currently, Harper has 34 home runs, and 100 RBI’s with an on base plus slugging (OPS) of .889 this season, and .900 overall—not bad for a slumping season.

Even Mike Rizzo, the Nationals General Manager, has expressed on multiple occasions his hopes to keep Bryce Harper on the team, and losing Harper

and specially developed superstar who actually wants to stay—and they need to act. Now! In an interview immediately after the last game of the season, a teary-eyed Harper professed his love for the team he has gotten to call home for the past 6 years.

The Nationals need to say it back, 400 million different times. Harper needs to go into the Hall of Fame wearing his Curly W.

October 17, 2018

Sports F2

silverchips

Playing hard, working harder

The lives of Blair’s nationally ranked athletes

By Mira Diamond-Berman STAFF WRITER

Blair has hundreds of athletes, but only a few have the talent and determination to be nationally ranked while juggling the student workload and an intense athletic schedule.

They have the skill and work ethic to represent themselves at the national level and hopefully, for some, to represent the United States internationally. At Blair, they appear to just be students, but out of school they are top-notch athletes.

Senior track captain Abou Sow is a double nationally ranking athlete in martial arts and track, which requires a lot of practice. “Track starts at 3:45 [and] I finish at around 5:30…

Then I have to go to martial arts from 6:45 to 9:00. Everyday. Monday through Friday,” Sow says, who totals to practicing four hours every weekday. Senior Courtney Wyche has been playing softball for nine years and was ranked 99th in her grade nationally by sophomore year. She plays for both Blair’s softball team and a competitive league team— Lady Lightning Gold out of North Carolina— so she practices nearly everyday. “We have practices every day after school,” she says.

“I also practice on my own by the weekends, practicing sometimes twice in one day.”

These athletes also have to make room in their schedule, busy with training, to finish their homework. Sophomore August Milliken who ranks sixteenth in the nation for cyclocross gets his homework done whenever he is not cycling. “The cycling, obviously, you can’t really do at 10:00 at night, but you can try to get your homework done then,” he says. Sow chooses to start his homework after all his practices. “When I get home at like 10:00 [I] do my homework until 12:00,” he says. Wyche understands the importance of prioritizing her homework. “I’ve just committed myself to staying on top my homework so

KATHERINE VAKHROMEEVA

MEDALING ceived in

Senior Abou Sow national competitions

shows off the medals he refor both track and martial arts.

I can continue to practice, workout and all that and nothing interferes,” she says.

Sometimes their sports schedules cause conflict with academics or other sports and they have to make sacrifices. Junior Justin Haddad who is ranked fifth in the country for fencing in the 16 and under age group has to miss school for fencing competitions. “Last year, I missed

20 school days because I had to travel nationally to compete to get to the high rankings,” Haddad says. For Sow, his two sports’ schedules sometimes compete with each other and he has to choose one over the other. “I have a black belt test this Saturday, so I can’t go to this track meet,” he says.

Despite the intense training, homework

interference, and schedule conflicts, these athletes genuinely enjoy their sports. “Pitching, playing, working out [and] going to the gym, all that, I love doing... so I wouldn’t rather do anything else,” Wyche says. For Haddad, being able to beat an opponent is what he likes most about his sport. “The fun thing about fencing is that if you’re focused you can beat anybody, and if you’re not you can lose to anybody,” he says.

Their talent can also open up athleticscholarship opportunities for them to continue playing the sports that they love beyond high school. Sow has an offer for a track scholarship from Morgan State University.

Wyche has a scholarship from the university that started her softball career. Her interest in softball sparked when her grandfather took her to a University of Maryland softball game,. and next year she will be the one on the same field inspiring other young girls. “Being a child, [in] about 3rd grade, [I] was just pretty much fascinated with the sport… and was like hey I want to try that,” she said. Now Wyche has committed to a full athletic scholarship to UMD. But her plans for the future have not ended after receiving a full ride. “My dream right now... is to win a women’s college world series championship,” Wyche says.

For some of these athletes, competing within the United States is not enough. Haddad is working to improve his fifth-place rank to third to compete internationally. “If you’re top three you make it to the world championships. You qualify for the U.S. team, so I am trying to get there by January,” he says. Sow currently places third in the nation for martial arts, but he wants to move up in the international rankings as well. “For martial arts, I want to make it to world championships,” he said. “Then probably place top three.”

There is no limit on what these nationally ranked can athletes can achieve and only their hard work and effort can determine what they will accomplish in the future.

F3 Sports

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October 17, 2018

Balling at new heights

A look back on the Washington Mystics’ run to the Finals

By Louis Rosenberg STAFF WRITER

As the Seattle Storm celebrated at half-court, the crowd at EagleBank Arena fell silent. The season was over, but the 2018 Mystics had done something no other Mystics team had done before. They had reached the WNBA finals, and until that point they had been the only WNBA team without a finals appearance.

The Mystics were founded in 1998 as the WNBA expanded from eight teams to ten in its second season. They have enjoyed periods of success, but for most of their history they have been one of the worst teams in the league, finishing above 500 only seven times in their twenty years of existence.

The few times they made the playoffs, they were eliminated quickly.

One of the problems that has dogged the Mystics for years is that although they have drafted their share of good players— Chamique Holdsclaw and Alana Beard, most notably— they have never had the opportunity to build around a superstar. That changed when the Mystics made a blockbuster trade in 2017 to acquire Chicago Sky allstar forward Elena Delle Donne.

In previous seasons, Washington may have had enough talent to make the playoffs, which was their

best case scenario. When they entered this season with a formidable roster, however, it made a noticeable difference. The starting lineup of Delle Donne, Kristi Toliver, LaToya Sanders, Natasha Cloud, and rookie Ariel Atkins was one of the best in the league. With one of the deepest rosters in the WNBA, coach Mike Thibault could turn to the bench and call on players like Monique Currie and Tierra RuffinPratt when needed.

The Mystics played their way into the third seed, clinching a first round bye. After winning their second round series against the Los Angeles Sparks, they faced the Atlanta Dream, a team who had eliminated them in their 2010 and 2013 playoff campaigns. Things went south quickly for the Mystics, who found themselves down 2-1 facing elimination heading into Game 4. To make things worse, Delle Donne had injured her knee during Game 2 and she was unable to play to her full potential.

The Mystics did what they had done all year— they refused to quit.

Delle Donne scored 15 points to even the series and the Mystics forced a Game 5, which they went on to win. For the first time in their entire history, the Mystics would be playing in the WNBA finals.

Facing the Mystics in the Finals were the Seattle Storm. The Storm were led by league MVP Breanna

Stewart and dynamic point guard Sue Bird. The level of talent on the Storm was apparent throughout the series, with the Storm dominating in Game 1 and holding on to win Game 2 despite a late Mystics come back.

The Mystics went into Game 3 looking to turn the series around, and for 32 minutes they battled in front of a passionate crowd. Their efforts were too little too late, and when the buzzer sounded, their season was over.

Next season will be different as the team’s new 5,000 seat arena will open for the first time. Although Washington is saying goodbye to Capital One Arena, the only home they have ever known, the success of 2018 made sure that their title window is not closing. “We don’t feel like we peaked and [that] this is it,” said Delle Donne in a press conference after Game 3. “This team made a lot of great strides,” said Toliver. “We know we can improve and so we will.”

The Mystics may have failed to win a championship, but they are in a great place as an organization.

With a talented roster led by a true superstar, an experienced coach, and a new arena, the future seems brighter than ever. It is not hard to believe they will reach the finals again, this time with a different end result. 2019 may easily be the year a title heads to D.C.

AVERY BROOKS

CHANGE OF SCENERY The Mystics faced the Storm on the home court of George Mason University, due to renovations at Capital One.

October 17, 2018

Sports F4

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Blazers vs. Warriors on the net Blair “Sherwood”ve liked to win

By Teddy Beamer STAFF WRITER

SHERWOOD, Oct. 11— Girls’ varsity volleyball (8-6) traveled to Sandy Spring this past Thursday for Sherwood’s annual “Dig Pink” breast cancer awareness game.

Blair entered the court looking strong with warm-ups of peppering and spiking, and began their game with a positive outlook, a prepared outlook and strong energy.

The Sherwood Warriors were a daunting team to face, their confidence boosted by home court advantage and an impressive record of 5 wins and 1 loss.

Their only loss came against the still-undefeated Magruder Colonels.

Despite the intimidation, Blair was up 3-0 within the first 3 minutes and going steady.

Strong serves from juniors Lucy Martin and Olivia Freer broke a 4-4 tie and allowed Blair to take the lead again.

After several aces—points scored right off the serve—Blair increased their lead to 14-7. “I think in the beginning we all played very well, we were really hyped and we always play better when we’re energetic,” said Freer.

This energy lead to a quick victory for Blair of 25-18 in the first set.

The Warriors took a swift lead in the next set.

The set began with another tie

“Camden’s Yard” is a monthly column where sports editor Camden Roberts expresses an opinion on current events in sports.

EMORY BROOKS

NEW HEIGHTS Junior Olivia Freer leaps to hit the ball as senior Maggie Lin and junior Lucy Martin watch attentively.

EMORY BROOKS

The drafting of athletes into professional leagues lends itself to savior narratives. Auston Matthews was tasked with dragging the Maple Leafs out of the slump they had been in for years. Karl-Anthony Towns was asked to buoy the failing Timberwolves.

However you want to spin it, professional drafts tend to put one prodigious player on a pathetic team and ask for them to lift an entire franchise on their backs. No team in recent memory has needed a savior quite as bad as the 2017-18 Cleveland Browns.

As of the beginning of this season, they had not won a game since Christmas Eve, 2016. Before that, they had not finished higher than last place in the AFC North since 2010, when they finished secondto-last. That was bad. To add insult to injury, in mid-August, the people behind Bud Lite looked at the suffering city of Cleveland and sent them beer.

The beers were padlocked in fridges, to be opened when they won a game. They were sent with instructions to change the beer every month, in case it became stale while they waited for the Browns to, uh, not suck. Unfortunately for Bud Lite, and fortunately for the people of Cleveland, the Browns only kind of suck. A large part of this season’s drastic improvement, (in their first six games they are 2-3-1, compared to last year’s dismal 0-6), has been its youth. Baker Mayfield, the most well-known of the team’s rookies, is the Browns’ recently named starting QB. Drafted first overall from the University of Oklahoma this summer, Mayfield’s first regular season appearance, Sep. 20 versus the New York Jets, brought with it the

Browns’ first win.

While Mayfield may not appear to be revolutionizing the Browns, it should be noted that a lot of his team’s recent problems are not his fault.

The Browns are 2-2 with him playing, and one of the losses (to the Raiders on Sept. 30), was acknowledged by the NFL as being partially due to bad officiating, and partially due to his teammates’ seeming inability to catch the ball.

He is already being referred to as a ‘franchise quarterback,’ earning comparisons to Hall of Famers Brett Favre and John Elway.

The best part is that it’s not just him. In the first five weeks of the season, the Browns had four Rookies of the Week.

The other two brought with them less fanfare. Cornerback Denzel Ward, drafted fourth overall out of Ohio State this summer, took home the honor in the first and fifth weeks of the season after consistently dominating performances.

Nick Chubb, a runningback from the University of Georgia, received it in the fourth week, after two touchdowns, 41 and 63 yards, respectively, in an overtime loss to the Raiders.

It may be an overgeneralization, but unfortunately these players are really all the team has. They are the future. Mayfield has acknowledged this. “We are building a franchise here,” he told ESPN. “And we are turning it around.” No matter the sport, a core of strong rookies is something to build a team around.

If nothing else, these players are an indicator that John Dorsey, the GM that the Browns hired last December, knows what he is doing, and that is, above all, what the team needs.

SERVING LOOKS Senior Catherine Rodriguez serves the ball against the Sherwood Warriors. at 4-4, but it was broken quickly after some questionable calls by the referee and some confusion among the Blair team and coaches.

The Blazers also repeatedly hit the volleyball with a little too much force, sending the ball out of bounds and Sherwood into winning the set by a margin of 15 points.

This staggering defeat seemed to have a definite impact on the performance of the team. “Once we lost the second set we started to feel a little down on ourselves,” said Freer.

After the disappointing second set, the teams remained neck and neck during the beginning of the third set, with ties recurring at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, and 9-9.

Thanks to some tough dives and close saves by senior captain Catherine Rodriguez, Blair was mostly able to keep up with Sherwood’s determined team, but eventually fell behind.

The third set ended with a close 25-23 victory for Sherwood, but the Blazers were not discouraged and quickly got back out onto the court.

The fourth set began with the same back and forth scores from

the third set, and the points slowly began to rise, almost equally.

Suddenly, Blair managed tp break away with a promising lead of 10-5.

This was mostly thanks to some quick thinking from libero, (defensive specialist) Maggie Lin and forceful returns to the other side of the net from seniors Megan Burke and Laicha Hayes.

Still, the Warriors seemed determined to win for their fans in the stands and for the sake of their record. They ferociously came at Blair with their all.

Despite this, the proud Blazers would not go down without a fight, and managed to catch up with ties at 12-12 and 17-17 before their eventual, disappointing loss of 25-21.

Girls’ volleyball still has a number of games left, including their senior night on Oct. 18 at 6pm, which will be against Northwest at home.

Their last two games are away, at Einstein on Oct. 23 and Churchill on Oct. 25.

After the regular season ends, they will enter playoffs, and, as of EMORY BROOKS now, are set to do so with a favorPECKING ORDER Junior Olivia Freer and senior Maggie Lin face off against a returning volley. able record.

F5 Sports

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Minor leagues, major fun!

October 17, 2018

Some of the best (and worst) minor league ballparks around

By Camden Roberts SPORTS EDITOR

There are few things in sports more endearing than the sheer ridiculousness that can only be achieved by minor league baseball teams, where up-and-coming, young talents hone their skills before (hopefully) moving up to Major League Baseball (MLB).

This summer, I—your intrepid new sports editor—took it upon myself to visit some of the country’s most stand-out, ridiculous teams.

From terrifying mascots to food items that barely make sense, each team received points based on how upsetting their mascot was and how much their ballpark entertained me.

Bowie Baysharks

The Bowie Baysox, of Bowie, Md., are the double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are also currently home to some of the top prospects in the Orioles organization, such as third baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Yusniel Diaz, among others.

For a franchise in such a terrible place in the standings as the Orioles, the prospects on their single and double-A teams reveal the team’s future potential.

I went to see the prospects in person, and also because it was “Margaritaville day” at the ballpark.

Upon arriving, I learned that not only was it Margaritaville day, but that the team was also calling themselves the “Bowie Baysharks” to raise money for shark conservation efforts.

The home team’s jerseys had

sharks on them, teeth bared, and the music in between innings seemed suspiciously Jaws-like.

Beyond this, the only noticeable commitment to the shark theme was the awkward, shark-pun-laced, over-the-loudspeaker flirting between the on-field announcer and the woman doing play-by-play in the press box.

For the Margaritaville theme, we were greeted outside the ballpark’s only entrance by a man in a Hawaiian shirt playing what I was assured was an island-inspired cover of Weezer. Most of the staff I saw were also wearing Hawaiian shirts, some Orioles themed.

The games played in between innings included sudden death trivia about Jimmy Buffett, and a game of musical chairs on the field, using inflatable chairs that may or may not actually have been pool floats, a hula-hooping contest, and an inflatable horse race for kids.

Mascot terror level: 1/5 The Baysox’s main mascot is a green animal named “Louie.” He has no identifiable characteristics besides fur color, and the team’s website lists no species for him.

The team’s second mascot is named “Rocko,” a cross between a Rockfish and an Oyster Toad Fish which are both native to the Chesapeake Bay. According to the team’s website, Rocko was introduced in 2012 as a part of a combined effort from the Baysox and the Chesapeake Bay Trust to support conservation efforts.

The only reason there are any points in this category is because Louie is just a large furry green ani-

COURTESY OF PATTI MALLIN

PECKING ORDER The author poses with Mittsy, the secondary mascot of the Rochester Red Wings (or, if you prefer, Plates).

inside SPORTS

Should Bryce Harper stay with the Nationals? see page F1

mal with no other traits and I personally believe that mascots should have a clear species.

Overall rating: 4/5 I would give them a 5/5 because the park is cute and homey-feeling, and they went all-in on both theme nights. Unfortunately, because they are an Orioles affiliate, they blew a one run lead in the fifth inning to eventually lose by four, and the crushing disappointment from that soured the rest of the experience.

I ate a Garbage Plate and did not hate it

The city of Rochester is home to the Rochester Red Wings, the triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.

As you may or may not know, upstate New York has a regional delicacy called the Garbage Plate, a dish with layers of meats and cheeses stacked several inches high.

The Garbage Plate originated in a Rochester restaurant before spreading throughout the region, where it became a beloved classic.

To honor the meal, players take the field every Thursday home game wearing Garbage Plate inspired jerseys, decorated with a drawing of the meal, and the name “Plates” in a mustard-yellow color.

Fortunately, I was able to attend the stadium on a Thursday for the full experience.

Arriving two hours late to what I didn’t realize was a double-header, I was welcomed to the stadium by a nervous looking boy staffing the concessions stand.

I had planned to purchase a Plate for the full Rochester experience, but instead ended up buying a “Trash Can,” basically a Plate stuffed inside a souvenir cup that was designed to look like a garbage bin.

Though the boy was unsure what was in a Trash Can, a Garbage Plate, or what the difference between the two was, his bewilderment only added to the city stadium’s small-town charm.

After receiving my Trash Can I went to my seat, surrounded by fans in Rochester Plates merchandise.

Based on my experiences in major league ballparks, with their half-hearted attempts at sticking to themes, this was a wildly enthusiastic show of support for a theme night, even for a recurring one.

The games played between innings were, in my professional opinion, far more entertaining than the actual game.

The best featured two men in hippo onesies. They were instructed to lay on their stomachs on scooters as their partners pushed them towards a pile of small balls.

As I realized what was happening, the announcer confirmed my suspicions, gleefully announcing that they were playing “Hungry Human Hippos.” It was exactly as upsetting to watch as it sounds.

Mascot terror level: 2/5 The team stayed true to their name when designing their mascots and the only truly terrifying part was the idea of having two adults dressed like giant birds. I took points off for the fact that the female bird, Mittsy, was wearing a pink hat when I saw her, while the male bird was wearing one actually in the team’s colors, which seemed like unnecessary gendering.

Also when I took a picture with Nationally ranked student athletes see page F2 SALLY ZHAO

COURTESY OF PATTI MALLIN

IT’S the

TRAINING DAY train conductor

The author poses with Pops, mascot of the Syracuse Chiefs.

her, Mittsy “pecked” my head and the person in the costume accidentally whacked me with their chin.

Overall rating: 4/5 The staff was friendly, the park was very homey and the novelty food only gave me brief heartburn.

Syracuse Chiefs

The triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals is the Syracuse Chiefs. Thanks to that, I went in familiar with some of the players who I hoped to see shine in the central New York spotlight.

Given that Syracuse is also home to their own regional delicacy, the team occasionally calls themselves the Salt Potatoes, complete with a logo of mashed potatoes with a fork in it.

I only saw a few pieces of Salt Potatoes merchandise, but it was not that theme night, so I cannot compare fan support to that of Rochester’s.

Instead it was Star Wars night, which meant even though I arrived two and a half hours before game time, the entry line was at least 50 people deep.

A contributing factor to the enthusiasm was the giveaway—“light swords” sponsored by the local electricians’ union.

Even after the giveaway, the team leaned into the theme, having people in costume as Boba Fett and other minor characters wandering around the stadium, throwing out the first pitch(es) and taking pictures with fans.

The players wore jerseys with an artist’s rendering of Han Solo.

Even the between inning games were thematic, with each one being announced as “Jedi training.”

The standout game involved contestants facing a partner who would pitch a water balloon to them as they swung at it with the light swords.

The entertainment value of the contestants missing the balloons was enough to convince me that

some version of this game should be a staple at every ballpark.

Not thematic, but still worth a mention, is the designation of a “Hoffman hitman.” Hoffman, a local sausage company, sponsors one home player so that if he gets a hit, a family in attendance goes home with free sausages.

This also means that when that night’s player got the hit, the scoreboard lights up with the words “Meat! Meat! Meat!”

As I learned from the man sitting next to me when I audibly questioned all the Mets gear in the stadium, the Nationals are ending their contract with the club after this year and the Mets have purchased it.

This is only notable because it means that they are finally abandoning the “Chiefs” name and branding.

Mascot terror level: 4/5 Syracuse has two mascots, both bringing vaguely ominous feelings with them. The first is Pops, who resembles Mr. Met in that he, too, has a baseball for a head. Unlike Mr. Met, Pops has been given a backstory by his organization. He is a railroad engineer, with a baseball head that is much more to scale with the rest of his body.

He has a gray mustache and giant glasses, which—along with his red overalls—give him a much more approachable vibe than Mr. Met. Unfortunately, the concept of a man with a baseball head is still creepy enough to be off-putting.

The other is an orange animal named “Scooch” who was unremarkable beyond the fact that his costume could have used a drycleaning.

Overall rating: 3/5 The team automatically loses points for still being outdated and racist enough to call themselves the Chiefs. Their novelty food, which is a hot dog topped with salt potatoes, did NOT seem like a threat for heartburn or clogged arteries, and there is no fun in that.

The Washington Mystics’ historic playoff run see page F3