1
FREE SPEECH
OBJECTIVE JOURNALISM
PRINT JOURNALISM
-DEC 2019
The Tattler?
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
2
THE DEATH OF JOURNALISM
dans
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Tattler Staff Editors-in-Chief:
Art Editors:
News Editors:
Style Editors:
Lilly Behbehani Josh Garber Emma Volkers
Yael Chiappori Grace Carter
Jason Grayer
Sol Gehring Frannie Rosen
Contributing Editors:
Business Managers:
Opinion Editors:
Backpage Editors:
Natalie Schwartz
Eli Glickman Sonali Hettipola Ethan Tiao
Juliana Blayney Jackson Hermes Karina Vasudeva
Rachel Auerbach Isabel Danzis Grace Harrington
Managing Editors:
Feature Editors:
Sports Editors:
Charlie Kannapell Dan Shapiro Alex Waterman
Juliana Capizzi Anna Hoover Mia Romano
Dylan Greenhouse Eli Davis
Cover by Yael Chiappori Inside Cover by Grace Carter Journalism Timeline by Dan Shapiro
The Changing Face of Journalism Here we are; December, 2019. We count down the final days of the month, the year, and the decade. A decade where we spent the majority of our childhoods. A decade of change, both good and bad. We rejoiced as our hometown teams, the Capitals and the Nationals, won their first Stanley Cup and World Series, respectively. We demanded change as mass shooting after mass shooting gripped the nation and led to intense debate about the best way to create a safer country. In this edition, we focus on one particular trend of the decade: the changing face of journalism. We as a staff value the role of journalism not only within our school but within our community as a whole. The Tattler continues to be a platform for debate and conversation, allowing students to communicate their opinions and keeping the student body informed on local issues. As we continue to change as a publication with the shift to magazine print and the new development of our website, we, along with other publications, strive to stay relevant and informative in a rapidly modernizing society. As we reflect on how we arrived here -- the turn of the decade -- and where we are headed, we also reflect on various memorable events that impacted our decade, both in the world of journalism and in other aspects of life. With the conclusion of the decade, we enter a new one in which we will experience a changing face of journalism fueled by the rise of technology alongside a changing face of life on a global scale, and only time will tell how these changes will shape the identity of journalism.
4
Print to Online Journalism
By Cora Hafer
12
B-CC: The Center of Urban Planning
By Evan Warner
16
Crew Recruitment: Rowing to College
18
A Baron Holiday Recipe
Can print journalism survive the rapid rise in technology seen in the past decade?
A look into the one-of-a-kind B-CC elective.
By Toby Berlinski and Tate Smyth
By Emma Volkers and Lilly Behbehani
MARCH, 2012 Administration pulls Tattler over a “controversial article,” later reverses their decision
For more stories, check out Tattlerextra.org
Three Barons have committed to participate in Division I athletics next year- check out where they’re headed.
See what Barons are cooking up this Holiday season, and try it out yourself!
JUNE, 2017 The Tattler publishes an article
SEPTEMBER, 2018 The Tattler changes to an all magazine format
4
BY CORA HAFER Picture this: It’s the fall of 1990 and you walk into your college cafeteria for breakfast. You pick up one of the hundreds of copies of your school’s newspaper and sit down at a table to eat with your friends. You all laugh over the comic section together and read over the stories while you eat. As you leave, you look back at all of the copies scattered across the cafeteria, covering the
as a news source in the US. According to Pew Research Center, 20% of Americans say that they get the majority of their news from social media, as opposed to the 16% who get it from printed media. The dominant source, with over 40% of Americans tuning in, is televised news.
today. Many colleges are cutting back on printed newspapers, or just going online altogether, but it’s not only colleges that are having problems. A sudden rise in digital news through social media and the Internet is causing printed journalism to fade -- and it’s fading fast. But is this even a problem we should be worried about? In recent years, many printed newspapers have closed their doors forever due to the rise in news from social media. Between 1970 and 2016, over 500 daily newspapers have gone out of business, and between January 2017 and April
that social media has only started being considered as a form of journalism in recent years, while print journalism has been around for centuries. As technology continues to advance and spread, we can only expect that social media will continue to grow as a reliable news source. Although it may seem like social media has a long way to go before taking down televised news, the percentage of Americans who get their news from television has dropped 8% since 2016. According to Pew Research Center, 36% of Americans from ages 18-29 get their news from social media, leaving television at 16%, and print at a mere 2%. Out of 20 teenagers asked by The Tattler, 12 said that they get their news from social media, while six get their news from television, and two from news websites. Interestingly, not one teenager said that they get their news from a printed newspaper or magazine. The recent spike in social media news, however, does raise some concerns. News from social media sources tends to be published quickly, without enough fact-checking, and by less informed people than traditional media journalists, causing (you guessed it) fake news. It’s no secret that fake news is much more commonly found in news spread by social media than more traditional sources, but as it turns out, some are not concerned about these unreliable tendencies. Catherine Bonnie, a sophomore at Holton-Arms
of the country’s largest newspapers. Even news
of millions of dollars in revenue. Paper routes are now, for the most part, a thing of the past, and the age of digital and often unreliable news is upon us. This decline of printed news is not an inexplicable occurrence. Instead of paying for a Washington Post subscription and waiting for it to arrive at your doorstep, many would prefer to quickly check Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or the Apple News app to learn the latest breaking news in a matter of seconds. B-CC sophomore Olivia Morgan said, “I feel that technology plays such a big role in our everyday lives that it allows social media news to be more convenient, as it is readily available and easily accessible.” Because of this, it is no surprise that social media now has a larger audience than print journalism
ILLUSTRATION BY DERYA TASPINAR
The Transformation from Print to Online Journalism
media and televised news, the 4% between social media and print seem very small. However, it is
what news is real and what news isn’t. The right answer is usually just a Google search away.” However, fake news is not the only problem with
May, 2010: HUNGARY organizations to sell to government loyalists. More recently, he succeeded in limiting the media’s check on his administration.
social media journalism. Studies have shown that when checking the news on social media, people are much less likely to read an entire article -- with the average time spent reading online This can cause readers to make premature judgments about an article and its contents. However, we cannot overlook the positive is making the youth of today more educated in the news. Before social media, many teenagers and kids would avoid reading the newspaper and most would prefer to watch television that wasn’t the nightly news. Now, teenagers are exposed to the news everyday without having to seek it out because of social media. If you simply open Twitter to search for something, the day’s top stories pop up, and you are exposed to the news. This heightened accessibility to current events for teenagers has created more passion and activism in the youth across the globe, something that has increased After learning this, the question must be asked; is print journalism even worth saving? Some say no, after all, it wastes paper in a time where being eco-friendly is more important than ever, and why use print when the Internet can do so much more? Others disagree and feel that printed journalism is necessary for older generations who do not have as much access to social media. There are pros and cons to both arguments, but whether it is necessary or not, print journalism is disappearing.
March, 2011: LIBYA Four American journalists, working for the New York Times, were beaten and held hostage by the Libyan military. The U.S. State Department played a critical role in securing their release.
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BY CHARLIE KANNAPELL, EMMA VOLKERS, AND ALEX WATERMAN As the world of journalism continues to transform with society, the most noticeable change has been in the way news is communicated. What started as pamphlets hand printed and posted on town bulletins has now developed into millions of digital sites, print magazines, and local publications. The University of Maryland student-run newspaper, The Diamondback, released its have a place on campus ever since. Starting as a daily publication, The Diamondback has seen 110 years of print, but has decided recently that the changing face of journalism is The Diamondback plans to go fully digital. Leah Brennan, the Editor-in-Chief of The Diamondback, said that the switch to digital to do with how the student body gets their news: “It’s a choice to get more in touch with our readership.” According to Brennan, The Diamondback print editions reach a maximum of 5,000 people upon each distribution, as that is the amount of copies they print each week. By contrast, The Diamondback’s online website reached a staggering 160,000 visitors. “You see people walking across campus and they’re not picking up the print edition, they’re looking on their phones, they’re looking at our twitter Not all on campus share the same viewpoint. Professor of Journalism Jay Goldman worries that a lack of physical news will, by contrast, reduce visibility. “I’m an old fashion traditionalist in terms of a professional journalist. I like a tangible publication. I like to feel it in my publication isn’t visible and tangible to me I probably am not going to pay as much attention or any attention to it,” said Goldman. He recalls University of Maryland, when The Diamondback published daily newspapers. “There were always big stacks sitting inside the front door of every building on campus,” Goldman said.
“You couldn’t miss it. Or whenever I would go in Mckeldin Library, there were always large stacks of the paper there. People would grab them as they were coming in or going out.” Junior and journalism major Aneeta Ashton, however, sees the change to digital journalism as a single page. With digital journalism comes multimedia journalism -- images with captions, videos with narration, and so much more.” In fact, The Diamondback plans to take advantage of multimedia as it makes its transition, starting with its podcast. Leah Brennan describes the podcast as “feature-like and fun.” The Diamondback also plans to take advantage of the school’s TV’s located around campus, where they will be showing multimedia segments that
“...If a publication isn’t visible and tangible to me I probably am not going to pay as much attention or any attention to it,”
will begin to come more frequently from the publication with its switch to the digital world. Professor Goldman has seen a dramatic change in the way Journalism is taught throughout his time at the University of Maryland. “What [teachers] were expected to basic news writing skills.” Today, the journalism curriculum has shifted to teach students an array of skills needed in an online venue. “Because of the shift,” Aneeta Ashton says, “we no longer see J-schools allowing students to go in wanting to be a print journalist and learning only that.” Now, Ashton says, she’s receiving a more “holistic education.” Along with learning the basics of journalism, Ashton says she’s learning other skills such as how to for multimedia journalism. She sees these new skills as a testament to how, “in order to be the best journalist, you need the whole picture.”
July 2014: IRAN Washington Post Tehran bureau chief Jason Rezaian was arrested by Iranian police and accused of spying for America. He was held in prison for 554 days.
GRAPHIC BY MOLLY BUSIS
UMD STUDENT PUBLICATION PLANS TO GO DIGITAL AFTER 110 YEARS OF PRINT JOURNALISM When the announcement about the paper’s the response was overwhelmingly positive, said Brennan. I remember waiting to look on said Brennan, “[but] even the most outspoken alumni were saying things like ‘oh well you know the kids will keep on doing good journalism, this isn’t gonna change anything.’” The change in vessel for the publication will not change either. “Every time I think it can’t get better, motivated and I just love it,” said Brennan. As The Diamondback prepares to make
it surprise me that The Diamondback is going to be all electronic in a few more months? Not at all,” said Professor Goldman. “I’m really saddened by it, but I certainly understand it.” “I mean, of course, I’m sad to see the print edition go,” said Brennan. “I vividly remember and [when] I saw it on print the next day I asked somebody ‘Hey can you take a picture of me with the front!’” That being said, Brennan’s eyes are on the bigger picture. “It’s been kind of cool to see how these decisions are coming into play at the collegiate level, [because] you see so many industry leaders out there professionally trying to do similar things [with their publications] right now, or just trying to innovate and get on top and it really is changing every day.”
the days of the Revolutionary War to today, we see how it has changed to stay relevant. This adaptive nature just goes to prove how valuable change to more digital sources is not at all a sign of decline in journalistic value or role, assures Ashton. “Contrary to what people like to say, free press is a cornerstone of democracy.”
February, 2015: ARGENTINA Argentinian cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich tore up two pages of the Clarín newspaper at a press conference in response to negative reporting on the government.
6
Black and White and Red All Over
OPINION
So print journalism is dying. Who cares? Coincidence or not, Along with print news, objective journalism is coming to an end. Americans often opt to read news from biased, polarized right and left wing media outlets that support their own ideals. Opinionated pieces appeal to those who agree with the source’s take on the topics, regardless of its reliability. This can lead to the consumption of fake news. With the increase of polarized media news outlets and strong polarization in politics today, more people have been found to consume news sources that reinforce their views. The idea of choosing to consume information that supports one’s preexisting beliefs and avoid that which contradicts them is selective exposure. It all starts with a shift from reading physical newspapers to the consumption of news online. People are blinded by the convenience of being able to access news through the Internet. Today, people are reading news sources whose ideas align with their own. Since human interactions are now largely based on communications online, selective exposure has evolved. Rather than surround one’s self with those who agree with their ideologies, media users follow one another to
GRAPHIC BY KELSEA PETERSEN
BY JULIANA CAPIZZI AND MIA ROMANO keep updated with each other’s lives and the news. Next, there is movement further and further away from printed news, as the use of surrounding myself with media that relates mainly to my own opinions,” said sophomore Gaby Karakcheyeva. “All my news comes from the same, [few] sources, unless I decide to go which she estimates to be about 10 percent of the time. Some think that selective exposure is due to a certain stubbornness that we have as a society. “News has become biased just because of our current culture and how headstrong we’ve become recently as a society,” said Karakcheyeva. On the other hand, some think that it is an unavoidable part of our nature as humans. “It’s inevitable to try to seek out things that support your own opinions,” said another sophomore Hannah Wilks. “Everyone seeks out information that supports what they want to hear, I think it’s a human thing. We want to hear something that validates our own opinions.” Then, without even knowing, people become trapped. They are stuck in a constant cycle of ideas that they already believe in. This is what many
refer to as the Echo Chamber. People should be aware that what they’re reading and viewing isn’t always reliable even if it’s what they want to hear. The media plays a central role in informing the public, and today a lot news does revolve around politics. But maybe politics is what needs to be spoken about. Hannah Wilks said, “Nearly everything in this day and age relates to politics at some point. So yes, news has become more politically centered, but I think that means that it’s focusing on ‘actual news.’” Journalism may always be politically motivated, but in the years to come it is certain that the downfall of some types of journalism is upon us, in this case: print.
Newseum Closes at Year’s End BY ANA CURIC
CLOSED
After
11
years
of
educating
the
D.C.
the history of journalism, the Newseum will be closing its doors on December 31, 2019. building to Johns Hopkins University, where they will house graduate degree programs. The Newseum has been a vital and popular Senior Vivianna Arnold visited the Newseum
between the Newseum and other traditional D.C. museums. Aside from being very interactive, senior Kate Lee noted that it was an eye-opening experience. “I was exposed to a new world and perspective that isn’t available in the ‘Bethesda bubble’ made up of a shelter and overprotective lifestyle,” said Lee. The Newseum is considered one of the most interactive museums in the world, with 15 galleries and 15 theaters. The most notable exhibits include the September 11th Gallery, Berlin Wall Gallery, and the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery. The Berlin Wall Gallery is one of the largest displays of the original wall outside Germany, and the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery features winners in every
April, 2018: RUSSIA Maksim Borodin fell to his death from the balcony of his apartment after reporting on the Kremlin’s covert operations in Syria
category dating back to 1942. With so many been able to educate visitors from all over the world and host a variety of B-CC classes, including Honors and A.P. History classes. On January 1st, the museum will begin to remove artifacts and installations. “The museum was a unique and iconic experience, and stepped outside the box of traditional museums,” said Kate Lee, “I am disappointed to see it go.” However, the museum will still retain a presence in D.C. “It will continue to work in places like the Hamilton Hotel and airports around the area. It will also partake in more dynamic storytelling online,” said Gavankar. “Artifacts will be moved to a state-of-theart facility where they will be housed and maintained,”according to the Newseum website. The artifacts will also be available for outgoing loans and educational programs. amazing educational message; we will all miss its positive impact on our community.
October 2018: TURKEY Jamal Khashoggi, a New York Times columnist who was critical of the Saudi royal regime, was killed by Saudi security forces in Istanbul.
GRAPHIC BY EMMA VOLKERS
in 10th grade with her AP U.S. History class. She fondly remembers that “the Newseum provided real world examples and context to what we learned in class.” Junior Rachel Lonker recalled that: “The green screen news broadcast, the 4D movie, and most importantly, the collection of headlines and articles from all points of time were my favorite part.”
OPINION
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Science and Journalism Need to Unite BY SAM MOMENI Survival of the fantastical is one way to describe the current state of science journalism. typically make it to the top, while the rest of the articles usually trickle down to the same recurring reader base. Titles claiming that scientists have strongly linked Genetically scientists have concluded that we do exist in an extra ten dimensions are undoubtedly going to gain attention, thus generating revenue, but at what cost does that come out for both the people doing the research and those viewing it? Sentiments of frustration and discontent have long been expressed by scientists towards journalists for misinterpreting or misconstruing their work. Research can be presented as incomplete or framed in a way that’s misleading to the general public, causing them to arrive at absurd conclusions or get confused by convoluted jargon-dropping. In a poll conducted by neuroscientist Kyle Jasmin, a research fellow at the University of London, out of a group of more than 4,600 respondents, 79% voted that scientists should be allowed to review journalists work before they publish it to avoid such miscommunication--with the majority of respondents also being scientists themselves. There is, however, resistance to the notion of scientists being allowed to review work before it’s published, with claims that doing that undermines journalistic integrity and policy. direct correspondence with scientists and also priority in its accessibility. In essence, cleaner, more understandable science journalism has is not as benign and simple as it might seem.
“In an age of open communication, anybody can publish or convince with apparent credibility, meaning we must ensure that scientists and journalists are collectively and accurately informing the public.”
To see why, take, for example, a movement such as the anti-vaccine (commonly written as anti-vaxx) movement. Most proponents of the anti-vaxx movement were subject at some point a response out of fear. That response--unlike other conspiracy theories--poses a very real threat. Being left unvaccinated not only leaves a child themselves vulnerable to disease, but also endangers those with weakened immune systems by compromising herd immunity. Knowing that, it’s clear why science journalism needs to try and produce understandable and would have easily been saved had their guardians been exposed to proper and real science through already massive media networks, but instead they slipped through the cracks. When headlines published by major news outlets are as sensational as they are, something like the anti-vaxx movement suddenly seems a lot more believable. Because that’s all already happening, science journalism no longer has the time to convey ridiculous and bizarre information. It must refocus on delivering content with precision to the masses, potentially preventing the malignant growth of something as dangerous as the anti-vaxx movement, while simultaneously better educating the public on founded science.
“Not all misinformation results in tragedy, but still important.” Certainly, not all the results of fake science spreading and real science not counteracting aren’t as extreme as something like the anti-vaxx movement, but promoting science among our own society--or better yet humanity--through media is still important. When science journalism is done correctly, people are enabled to learn about some of the most unifying topics in science. humans as a species, the unfathomable vastness of space, and the composition of all matter on the smallest level all put things into perspective for most people, allowing for better insight on the racial divisions and wars would grow to seem
June, 2018: MARYLAND Five journalists at the Maryland Capital Gazette newsroom were killed, because they published an article about the shooter’s harassment charges.
quite petty and meaningless when put in context. Through the same process collaboration with journalists, scientists can also start getting out what they think is substantial and moving enough in their research, meaning the actual germane news on progress in science and technology is brought out.
“Science communication isn’t limited to just journalism, but it’s a great place to start is likely the best place to start with the highestlevel promotion of science, but progress doesn’t have to be limited to just that. Although it doesn’t currently dominate American media, anything from popularized books such as A Brief History of Time by the now late Stephen Hawking may interest some, while professor Brian Greene of Columbia University making appearances on late light national TV may interest others, with massively popular shows such as Cosmos interesting the rest. All forms of accessible science have proven to have positive outcomes, with each having its own unique in, science promotion in the media is vital, so The possibilities are endless when scientists and journalists work together. Both sides must put aside any past judgments or assumptions of the other and attempt at working towards a common goal in educating the people. In the end, scientists, and a more understanding public.
2019: AMERICA The top 100 fake news stories were viewed over 150 million times, reaching each American voter at least once.
8 NEWS
*Asterisk Rumor Proves to Be False... BY IMAN KHOSRODAD Student concerns that MCPS will add an asterisk to their transcript when the Quarter 2 and Quarter 4 grades trend downward from Q1 and Q3 are unfounded. The rumors started with a story. A B-CC senior posted a picture of a page in the MCPS agenda book with the caption “It’s true, guys.” A B-CC TV segment joked about this so-called change in the grading system as well. Turns out, the asterisk on the grading-policy page of the Student
an indication to students, not colleges, about this change in the MCPS grading system. Before this new grading policy was enforced, a student who grade would determine whether they received a semester grade of a B or a C. Now, however, a student who receives an A in either quarter and a D in either quarter receives a B as the semester grade. will not appear on a student’s transcript.
...Winter Dance Rumor Proves to Be True BY GRIFFIN BOSWELL GRAPHIC BY YAEL CHIAPPORI
After more than three years of hibernation, this event has thawed from school-wide SGA President Hayden Renaghan, “All funds will be donated 1st in the gym. through the rest of the month. This dance is something that no student in this school has actually experienced, since any dances other than Prom and Homecoming were canceled right before the class of 2020’s freshman year. As a result, SGA has planned to make this event unique from Homecoming and Prom. This rave-styled dance won’t be one to miss.
Howard County Public Schools Redistricting for 2020-2021 School Year BY HAYDN CLINGHAM On January 24 of this year, The Howard County Board of Education initiated a “school boundary review” addressing the alleged issue that while some schools are becoming overcrowded, others are vastly underutilized. After presenting a proposal that will return a majority of schools to target utilization (<90%), “community input sessions” were held all throughout the month of July, and there were a number of public hearings held by the board. After a total of nine work sessions, the board on November 21. In a letter released by the superintendent of Howard County Public Schools, Michael J. Martirano, it is stated that this redistricting plan will take a step towards “fully clos[ing] opportunity gaps and enabl[ing] every student to graduate well prepared for a successful life.” It has been stated that there are a number of “Plans... already in place to support students who will move to a new school” in order to “ensur(e) a smooth transition”
Buses Recalled from MCPS BY JACOB HOTAKAINEN In November, over 53,000 buses nationwide were recalled from Of these buses, 800 were from Montgomery County Public Schools. The buses will be receiving safety upgrades before going back into use. The seats of these buses were created with styrene blocks which do not provide enough back support and impact absorption in certain areas around the steel seat frame. It would be more dangerous to be on one of these buses if a collision or accident were to occur. MCPS spokeswomen Gboyinde Onijala said that, “The needed repairs would be complete by the end of the school year,” and those 800 buses, “will be ready for use at the start of next school year.”
2020-2021 school year.
SEPTEMBER, 2017 Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands
NOVEMBER, 2016 Donald Trump gets elected JANUARY, 2017 First Women’s March
SEPTEMBER, 2019 Formal impeachment inquiry launched against President Trump
AUGUST, 2018 Senator John MaCain dies
DECEMBER, 2019 First Black Hole Photographed
9 9
Behind the Protests in Iran
//////////////////// //////////////////// //////////////////// //////////////////// //////////////////// BY ANONYMOUS
BY IMAN KHOSRODAD
been a massive uprising in Iran against the current regime’s actions. On November 15th, Iranian authorities decided to increase petrol prices in an U.S. sanctions put on the country’s economy. Two days prior to the increase in prices, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that the of its $45 million yearly budget. The decision for the raising of gas prices by almost 50 percent then followed, sparking protests in areas all across Iran, and ultimately grew to be demonstrations of tens of thousands of people taking part. As extensive government opposition became harder to put down in the streets of Iran, protesters nationwide Internet blackout was implemented, with not only the rest of the world but from each reported by the Human Rights Watch that over 100 people were killed, and an additional 1,000 people were arrested for taking part in protests. President Trump took to Twitter to respond to the recent events in Iran. Trump expressed his support of Iranian protesters, stating that “Iran has become so unstable that the regime has shut down their entire Internet System so that the Great Iranian people cannot talk about the tremendous violence taking place within the country.” Despite his willingness to support protests, Iran has responded, stating that President Trump’s advocacy is “hypocritical,” as the U.S. has only added to Iran’s economic struggles.
Limiting communication within a country has been used in the past when attempting to regain control of the population. In this case, Iran’s internet blackout was initiated in order to contain the demonstrations taken against the current regime. Bethesda-Chevy Chase senior Lilinaz Hakimi responded by explaining has found the protests exciting “because it was an exciting thing to see a movement come together and to see hope for change. It got very violent very quickly,” and to Hakimi, “the government has lost all of its legitimacy.” She continued by describing the fact that as a B-CC student, she “It did take up a large portion of my energy… about biology and cellular respiration was just so irrelevant to me because I knew that there was a large population of young kids my age from my country hitting the streets and doing something so much bigger than themselves and protesting and risking their lives. I think that the mentality when something like this happens is, ‘Oh, thank god I’m not there,’ but to me, as an Iranian, my mentality wasn’t “Oh thank god I’m not there it was more ‘I wish I were there.’” and concerns about the situation. “My overall thoughts are of fear. What’s happening is scary, even when I feel as if I am very removed or distant from it. As much as I would like to help, where to begin. The U.S. is reacting immaturely and needs to do more to address the situation.” Lewis goes on to describe that as a B-CC student she got very worried about her Iranian friends
who seemed to be connected to the situation. “I D.C. or trying to address the situation. I think I originally became aware when I also saw a lot of posts on Instagram condemning the situation and some updates on the news about people being able to reach out to people outside of Iran.” surrounding Bethesda community as a whole, an anonymous member of the Bethesda community explains her frustrations on both past and current issues involving Iran. “Once again, in over 40 years, the rights and voices of the people of Iran are being abused and silenced. With every unrest comes the loss of many things and many negative impacts on various generations from the right of people to pay the highest price of their lives.” They continue by explaining that the events currently taking place in Iran negatively the world as well. “Once again, it’s the young and innocent who have to pay the price either by being silenced from the rest of the world as they hope that social media will be their voice hope of being heard by the world and support in gaining their rights and independence for the simple things of life, but why at such high prices? It didn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be this way. But it is and will continue to be…why? inside the country have hasn’t been unheard but still needs to be heard by many, many, many
PHOTOS BY ANONYMOUS, ADAPATED BY YAEL CHIAPPORI
MAY, 2017 Hassan Rouhani is re-elected.
JULY, 2012 EU boycotts Iranian Oil Exports. JULY, 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal is signed.
MAY, 2018 Trump abandons the Iran Nuclear Deal.
10
HONORING SANDY HOOK VICTIMS AMIDST LEGAL BATTLES incident remains the second deadliest school shooting in United States history. Two years after the shooting, in late 2014, the families against Remington Arms Company. The families alleged that Remington targeted young, mentally unstable males in marketing. Now, they are The suit, Remington Arms v. Soto, cites product placement of the Bushmaster in violent video games like Call of Duty as dangerous marketing. It also mentions a few advertising campaigns,
states, and 22 members of the House of Representatives are among the parties that have signed legal briefs supporting Remington. The N.R.A. argued that the families’ challenge to the PLCAA could lead to other lawsuits, “out of business by unlimited and uncertain liability for criminal misuse of their products.” On November 12, 2019, the Supreme Court declared that it would not hear the appeal. This allows the lower court’s decision to stand and the lawsuit to proceed. The Cato Institute, a public policy research foundation, was part of a brief of amici curiae
down. You are single-handedly outnumbered,” An additional advertisement on the Bushmaster website includes the tagline “If it’s good enough for the military, it’s good enough for you.” The families say this type of marketing is dangerous because the targeting of mentally unstable young men can inspire and permit them to commit crimes with Remington weapons and because the implication that a man must buy and Remington argues that because of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), the lawsuit should not proceed. The PLCAA, signed by President George W. Bush dealers from liability in incidents where their products were involved in crimes. The act was
BY ANNA HOOVER On December 14, 2019, the B-CC for Gun Control club put up 20 silhouettes in front of the the 20 victims of the tragic Sandy Hook shooting that took place on the same day seven years prior. The silhouettes are meant to honor the children who died and display their personalities. Laura Barnard, a sophomore in the club, said that “it’s important to honor them because even though they were just kids, their lives were so important, and their lives were shortened too soon.” On that day, December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School with a Remington Bushmaster AR-15
for gun companies from lawsuits. At the time, President Bush said the law was necessary to protect gun makers from “frivolous lawsuits.” The law has several exceptions — including one allowing lawsuits against a gunmaker that knowingly violates state or federal laws regarding the marketing of the sale of a product. The Connecticut Supreme Court decided in a 4-3 ruling in March of 2019 that the PLCAA did not prevent the families from bringing on the lawsuit, based upon the fact that Remington violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by marketing a military-style weapon to citizens. Remington appealed this decision, arguing that the Connecticut court used a too broad interpretation of the exception. The gunmaker also argued that the state court’s interpretation of the marketing exemption is “intolerable given Congress’s intention to create national uniformity” with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. “Lawsuits like this one are precisely the kind the PLCAA was enacted to prevent,” Remington said.
is wrongly being attacked “for advertising themes that have long been central to American gun culture.” The lawsuit was intended to “constrict the right to bear arms and attack the Bill of Rights and attack the Constitution.” they added. They also said that this lawsuit and previous “suits against the industry associations assailed the freedom of speech.” the suit will put the industry out of business. The industry is important to the American economy, contributing more than $52 million in 2018, and generating almost $7 billion in federal and state taxes. The authorization of the suit to proceed changes the interpretation of the PLCAA and is likely to put into action other similar lawsuits. This lawsuit comes at a time of high passion regarding guns and gun control in the United States. The U.S. has experienced a succession of mass shootings in recent decades, many incidents have led to a mass increase of advocacy in the country for Congress to pass stronger laws regarding guns and the sale of guns. Many feel that this lawsuit is a step forward in the movement towards gun control. “The Remington lawsuit is the long-overdue proof that reckless gun manufacturers and sellers will be held responsible for the damages they may potentially cause,” said Eva Esposito, co-president of B-CC for Gun Control. “[The lawsuit and its successes] are an example of the impact the movement has had, of the growing consciousness of the United States’ gun violence epidemic and gun culture,” added Esposito. The question left standing for Remington is potentially encouraging other courts to follow Connecticut’s lead. Either way, Remington v. Soto is the beginning of new interpretations and developments in the law of gun liability
STONEMAN DOUGLAS FEB 14, 2018
SANDY HOOK DEC 14, 2012
200+ SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN THE PAST DECADE
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B-CC Alumni: Where are They Now? BY LILLY BEHBEHANI, ISABEL DANZIS, GRACE HARRINGTON AND EVAN WARNER
Tosin Aroyewun~ Class of 2017 appearances on B-CC TV, a member of a variety of sports teams, an SGA representative, and a chorale singer. After graduating in 2017, Aroyewun went to Robert Morris University before transferring to Salisbury, where he is majoring in Information Systems and minoring in Marketing and Sales. “B-CC taught the skills necessary to achieve success in college,” said Aroyewun. “Sometimes I think high school was harder than college [because of] how prepared I am.” At Salisbury, Aroyewun participates in many of the same activities he did at B-CC, like singing in the chorale and playing football. “I’ll be playing against Ryan [Dimmick]... he was my former quarterback and in high school and till this day still one of
Ryan Dimmick~ Class of 2016 up for success at Muhlenberg College, where he is majoring in Spanish and Education and playing on their NCAA Division III level football team. “B-CC taught me about becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable,” said Dimmick, “I have been able to make unbelievable connections with people and learn incredible things because of my comfort in pushing myself beyond what I thought possible.” At Muhlenberg, Dimmick is very involved in the community as
Maya Sterling~ Class of 2016 Maya Sterling graduated B-CC in 2016. At B-CC she was the publisher and business manager of The Tattler as well as an organizer of the yearly Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraiser. After graduating, she went to Vassar College, where she Hispanic Studies. Sterling was involved with the Vassar newspaper, The Miscellany News layout, wrote humor articles and was the paper distributor. Although she isn’t active with the paper anymore, she has parQuidditch and dancing with the Vassar tap dance ensemble. Sterling misses the sense of community that she felt at B-CC the
Matt Warner~ Class of 2015 After graduating from B-CC in 2015, Matt Warner continued his education at West Virginia University. There, he earned the cleats in order to give all of his time towards college and his future. But he still enjoys going to sports games against management.“I think the biggest thing I took away was how to manage my time,” said Warner. “B-CC [did] a great job of was to break into the sports industry, which he has started to accomplish with internships for two minor league baseball teams. Lately he has invested his time into various interviews with big name sports organizations. The thing he missed most about high school was being able to recognize most of his fellow students and the sense of comfort that came with it. He said how going from a school of around 2,500 students to over 30,000 students was a huge jump for him.
Nicolette Sweeney~ Class of 2012 In Nicolette Sweeney’s perspective, “[It] wasn’t about where I was going; it was about how I spent my time wherever I was.” Sweeney graduated from B-CC in 2012. After graduation, she went to teach English in Spain for a year before attending Santa Barbara City College. Sweeney then transferred to UCLA and began her professional acting Sweeney. “The director is the same director and creator of the Blair Witch Project and it was an incredible experience that reassured this profession was right for me.” Sweeney’s experiences have given her a newfound appreciation for B-CC. “[T]he electives and options were so intricate, and I didn’t even fully realize just how intricate until I feels that B-CC was able to prepare her academically and give her the skills to succeed in her professional life.
Mike Holland~ Class of 2012 After graduating from B-CC in 2012, Mike Holland started his freshman year in college while also working for Logic, a rapper. Holland met Logic, who is also from Maryland, while he was leaving for college. “I’d often skip classes and growing my career but also to not forget to have fun and enjoy the process,” said Holland. While at B-CC, Holland misses the diversity of B-CC. “The school wasn’t sheltering and once I started to travel the country I appreciated that more and more,” said Holland. Holland’s advice to current B-CC students is to take risks and remember that there is more to life than high school.“Remember to breathe. Try hard in school but nothing is life or death,” said Holland.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN DIMMICK, MIKE HOLLAND, MAYA STERLING, NICOLETTE SWEENEY AND EVAN WARNER
plays football. “I could not be more excited about the opportunity to play against my best friend and former teammate,
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B-CC: The Center of Urban Planning BY EVAN WARNER The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a and education that helps to create and sustain diverse communities around the globe. The organization’s principal objective is to publish related to local land-use policies across the and Europe, there are currently over 40,000 members. ULI works to bring together industry personnel like property owners, investors, developers, contractors, planners, students, and others to create a commitment of improving as well as following strong practices and morals. Margit Nahra, Director of UrbanPlan for ULI Washington and former government teacher at B-CC, has a strong passion for her job. “It combines all of these things I love -- law, government, teaching and shaping the built environment.” The UrbanPlan program at B-CC is one of the largest centers of the program. “[BCC teaches] UrbanPlan to over 200 students a year, [and by] comparison, our other three local high schools combined have only about 75 UrbanPlan students this year,” said Nahra. Nahra cites the biggest take away from the program is how all the intricate jobs and services work together to create the environment around us, how each aspect is important, and why we must understand them. “Our built environment doesn’t just happen by accident; it is a consequence of myriad decisions by all kinds of stakeholders, and the better we all understand the process and participate in it, the better our communities will be for all of us.” The UrbanPlan project started at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in the spring of 2002. Originally, it was included
B-CC but was switched to the National, state, and local (NSL) government course. “[It was] a great concluding activity for the ‘L’ of NSL,” said Mr. Zehner, a social studies teacher who has taught at B-CC for over 20 years. are made on [the] local level about the way their neighborhoods will look, with the Purple Line and all the major construction going on in [the community], kids can see the relevance of the programs.” The Purple Line, the new light rail line currently being constructed will cut through a large portion of the surrounding areas near Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Not only does UrbanPlan take what NSL has taught during the year and put it into teamwork and leadership skills. It is a handson activity that involves the community and demonstrates practicality and professionalism. Mr. Gilmore, another social studies teacher at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, spoke highly has begun to expand the program for students outside of NSL to allow them the opportunity to participate. “We did a week-long summer program last summer for 15 rising seniors that had not done the program in NSL,” said Gilmore. Evan Weisman, the Executive Vice President of Donohoe Development, manages a team working to construct new projects in the Washington, D.C. area. Weisman has been involved with ULI since 2005. “Even if the career is not of interest in the end, great life skills are learned, and everyone can participate in real estate projects as a local stakeholder with a newfound knowledge of the projects happening all around them.”
year is the timeframe in which it takes place. During the summer, it is much more condensed and allows other opportunities like site visits. “ULI’s goal is to reach as many participants as possible, and [the UrbanPlan summer program] is one way to do that,” said Weisman. The feedback from students who have participated in UrbanPlan has also been positive with an overall liking to UrbanPlan and what it has taught them. Ahmed Amari, a sophomore at B-CC, said that he had a great time working on the project and that with it, students were able to actively participate. “I got to learn new things and experience a career path I never thought of before. By physically working on the project and getting feedback from real professionals I got a deeper understanding,” said Amari. Another student who shared similar positive views of UrbanPlan was senior Allison Welch. “[There was] a good balance of learning and having fun.” Welch further added that by using legos, the students were able to enjoy themselves while maintaining a serious attitude. the fundamentals and functions of local government and the detailed work that goes into the planning of our communities. “I think that every government class should participate hands-on method of teaching an otherwise [less interesting] concept,” said junior Gabe Scheck. The project allows for an end of year summarization of what had been taught over the last several months, giving the opportunity for students to see what a real-world situation in this to not feel overwhelmed as most schoolwork does.
summer program and the one during the school
SEPTEMBER, 2013 MCPS Superintendent, Joshua Starr, asks for $75,000 to run concussion testing for students FEBRUARY, 2010 Music Department wins two Grammy Foundation Awards
SPRING, 2019 MCPS begins boundary study
OPINION
BY ETHAN TIAO Political polarization, the ever-growing ideological chasm between conservatives and liberals, has created a divisive atmosphere where the concept of “common ground” is merely a fantasy. This “fantasy,” the idea of actually agreeing with a “close-minded conservative” or a “liberal given the state of reporting today, it is easy to see why the vast majority of Americans choose to isolate themselves from those with opposing political views. It’s an easy lifestyle to fall into during an age when news and partisanship act in accordance with one another. To my own dismay, I often distance myself from opposing viewpoints -- choosing to listen to left-leaning political commentary and reading articles that serve The practice of selective exposure, albeit commonplace in today’s political climate, legislature and the tension and hate within our country are two clear examples of the to listen and understand the other side. Although the tension within our society makes engaging with someone from the “other side” daunting, extending a hand across the
time, you will identify more commonalities mutual respect. The burden falls on us to subvert the habit of closing your ears when someone you disagree with is speaking. Instead, we must empathize and try to understand where they are coming from. By actively listening, without an agenda, you will inevitably expand your understanding of an issue, and there will be an exchange of ideas that may even lead to an opinion change -- whether it’s yours or the opinion of the person you’re talking with. This year Eli Glickman and I, as co-editors in the opinion section, are engaging in pointcounterpoint: representing both sides of the political sphere on issues that divide our country. The idea of providing B-CC students greatly to us and has fostered enlightening conversations. Glickman, a conservative voice within the Tattler stated, “I’ve found that when talking to more liberal-minded people, I have been able to not only discuss my views with them but have at times, changed my own views and maybe have changed theirs by talking The youth of our generation have been labeled the generation of the future. Every day, we’re referred to as the leaders of tomorrow, spearheading movements for social change
accepting and harmonious future. Putting aside you’re able to clear your head of preconceived notions and sit down with someone who holds
and gun violence. Similar to these social
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To some, “social justice” is a beacon of hope, a necessity in their life. But to others, “social justice” is an alienation of their beliefs -- a set of radical changes that diametrically oppose their long-standing values. What good is social justice reform if half of the country hates the proposed change is achieved when you can mobilize a group of people that is diverse in all aspects: that includes racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, and ideological diversity. And if you aren’t consult with those who you don’t agree with in order to understand obstacles you may face. The only way that we can ensure our country moves in the right direction —representative of everyone’s beliefs and mutual understanding — of civic discourse throughout our policy-making bodies and communities. That starts with us. Take it upon yourself to discuss issues with people you may not agree with; join the Connecting Cultures discussions at B-CC; make an attempt to examine sources and stories that are found on with your opposing political party; most importantly, don’t dismiss the opinion of others. Being able to listen to others is a prerequisite for expanding your understanding of the world. In order to move forward and bridge the political divide that is tearing apart our country, it is imperative that we put an end to our hatefulness and start being mindful of others.
political divide needs to start with us as well.
Should the U.S. Give Aid to Human Rights Infringers? BY ELI GLICKMAN The United States is widely criticized for supporting autocratic states abroad including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Philippines. While the U.S. prides itself on its freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition, many of its foreign allies fail to meet the progressive humanitarian standards of the U.S. to support countries that fundamentally oppose our most important values? The state of the modern world answers this question. National security must come before concerns over hypocrisy. As ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq & the Levant) stands ready to resurge in the Middle East after the removal of American troops from Syria, and as the Houthi reign of United Arab Emirates. Russian encroachment in eastern Ukraine and the Caucuses proves that we must continue support for Turkey, even under Erdogan’s regime. Chinese aggression and expansion in the South China Sea requires that we maintain our military ties with the Philippines. America’s military strategy abroad projects democracy and has the end goal of uplifting the downtrodden. The U.S. spends millions every year on foreign aid to help in humanitarian
remain a strong symbol of freedom for the world, we cannot pick and choose our allies during times of great international volatility. National security must take precedence above our global image abroad. In order to maintain strategic parity with our enemies, we must not wince at moral repugnance if our enemies will be advantaged by it. The U.S. should not actively support autocratic oppression. However, the best way to encourage our maligned allies to better themselves is by working closely with them and attempting to relations with Taiwan and South Korea are excellent examples of this working. Under the remnants of the Kuomintang and Chiang Kai Shek’s reign, Taiwan was a repressive autocracy. However, with unwavering U.S. support and leveraging of reforms, Taiwan has become one of the most developed democracies in the world, South Korea. The same can be done with Saudi. However, without the United States in the picture, there will be no benevolent power softly leveraging autocracies into democracies. Russia has close ties with Syria, parallel to those we share with Saudi Arabia. We have condemned Saudi atrocities while simultaneously remaining allies. On the other hand, Russia has covered up the barbarity of the Assad regime, promulgating lies about chemical weapons attacks on the global stage. We must ask ourselves before we throw
away our alliances, would the world look better if Russia was working with Saudi Arabia or Turkey? As the world falls towards populism, autocracy, and isolationism, the U.S. cannot withdraw from the global stage over some misconceived notion of moral superiority. We must not abandon our allies in a time when they need us most. It may seem hypocritical, or even evil to support a country like Saudi Arabia, but if supporting these countries projects stability abroad and saves lives, it is an unavoidable necessity. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the U.A.E. have all helped in stamping out ISIL and must now work with us to prevent a resurgence. Before we abandon them, we must ask, at what cost? The words of Ronald Reagan serve as a is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” It is through strategic advantage that the U.S. projects democracy. We keep the people of Iraq free from ISIL only though regional hegemony. The U.S. cannot protect the world from existential threats to the most basic freedoms without global hegemony. Hegemony, is unattainable without strategic allies, no matter how repugnant they may seem.
DECEMBER, 2016 Aidan Smyth’s opinion article on antisemitism sparks conversation within the community
AUGUST, 2016 The Grinds My Gears segment on B-CC TV is introduced SEPTEMBER, 2018 The Washington Post publishes an anonymous op-ed on Trump
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SPORTS
The B-CC Distance King: Jake McCarthy PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAD YOUNG FROM BCCXCTF INSTAGRAM
BY TOBY BERLINSKI Class of 2021 runner Jake McCarty has done everything necessary in order to become the Eliud Kipchoge (the Kenyan runner who recently achieved the fastest ever marathon time) of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cross Country and Track. McCarty’s current personal record for a 5k is 16:28, which he ran at the Montgomery County Championship meet. He continued his success into the postseason, placing 16th at the Montgomery County Championship, 10th at the 4A West Regional Championship, and 35th at the 4A Maryland State Championship. After moving to Maryland from Connecticut in his sophomore year, Jake McCarty joined the B-CC cross country team. He has been passionate about running for a long time, but he turned that passion into grind this summer accumulating a total of 439 miles over 12 weeks (an average of 37 miles a week). McCarty has been running for as long as he can remember. His father has always been a runner and has stood as an inspiration to him. McCarty began running competitively in 6th grade and since then has worked hard to be an excellent runner. The McCarty family runs together, and even though the competition against his
2010 -Gymnastics wins States -Girls Soccer wins States
FEBRUARY, 2011 Poms wins Divisionals
2011 -Girls Team wins States for Indoor Track and Cross Country -Girls Tennis wins States
father has diminished as he has improved, he continues to train with him as much as possible. McCarty moved here from Groton, Connectifreshman he struggled with various injuries but eventually recovered and ran a 5K season record of 19:15. McCarty described the Connecticut cross country scene as inferior to the scene in Maryland. “Maryland is more competitive, not only in racing but also in the manner in which we train,” said McCarty. He also feels he is more cally citing runners such as Nico Altamer, Lewimpact on my running career,” said McCarty. McCarty is not only an exceptional runner in cross country but also a stand-out runner during the track seasons. As of right now he has an unter race. In his primary event, the 3200 meter race, he has a current personal record of 10:38. His goals for his track career include a top eight reer goal in the 3200 is 9:15. McCarty hopes to reach his goals and go on to run at a D1 program.
2012 Girls Team wins States for Outdoor and Indoor Track, and Cross Country
October, 2011 Cheer wins Divisionals
cross country career up to this point he looks back with a positive attitude. As the number one runner in the B-CC program, he describes that the pressure gets to him a little bit. “I mostly feel as if [the pressure] pushes me and is a positive Carty. As a runner, McCarty’s main goal every many runners struggle to do. He admits “I have yet to reach this goal, but in order to do so I focus on hitting each mile at the correct split and force myself all the way”. In addition to pushing himself, at races there are many distractions coming from the crowds which he manages to push through. He attributes this focus to hitting each stride perfectly. McCarty also sees underclassmen 10th grade rookie Gus Dupin, freshman prodigy Jeremy Simon, and current freshman Andrew Inman following in his footsteps. The B-CC distance program should look forward to running with McCarty for two more years, as he has presented the most important lesson of all to his team: trust the process.
2013 -Girls Team for Outdoor Track and Indoor Track win States -Bocce wins States
2012-2013 Charlie Banaszak wins States for Wrestling
2014 Nora McUmber wins States twice for Outdoor Track, once for Indoor Track, and once for Cross Country
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Mary Cain: Breaking the Silence in the RunningWorld
SPORTS OPINION
BY RACHEL AUERBACH On November 7th, professional American middle-distance runner Mary Cain came forward about the emotional and physical abuse she faced while training under Nike’s head coach Alberto Salazar. Cain, who won numerous state titles and two national titles in track distance events, worked with Salazar starting in 2013 as part of Nike’s Oregon Project. In an Op-Ed video produced by The New York Times, Cain alleged that during her training with Nike’s Oregon Project, Salazar and the rest of the Nike team would push her to lose an excessive amount of weight and publicly shame her if she didn’t maintain a certain racing weight. She was encouraged to use dangerous weight loss techniques, including abusing diuretics and birth control pills. Deprived of proper nutrition and subject to constant verbal abuse, Cain’s physical and mental health deteriorated rapidly. She ended up losing her menstrual cycle for three years, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Through the Op-Ed, Cain shed light on the
there is a festering misconception that being
FEBRUARY, 2015 Bocce wins States
prioritizes the weight of an athlete over their wellbeing, but empowered by Cain’s willingness to speak out for herself and talk about issues often ignored in the running community. Although my running experience in high school has involved nothing but a positive, accepting environment, wonderful coaches, and supportive friends and family, I still often found myself trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and insecurity regarding my body and my running, comparing
And he had it in his head that the skinnier you are, the faster you run,” said McUmber. This idea is obviously not rooted in a complete falsehood, as weighing less means having less mass to carry during a run, and thus requiring less energy to move at a certain speed. However, as Mary Cain explains in the OpEd, consuming a restrictive and low-calorie diet with the goal of weight loss will often result in things other than faster running times. “When young women are forced to push themselves beyond what they are capable of at their given age, they are at risk for developing RED-S Syndrome.” Cain said. RED-S, or Relative
“...systematic crisis in women's sports and at Nike, where young bodies are being being ruined by an emotionally and physically abusive system.”
a triad of symptoms including disordered eating, amenorrhea, and decreased mineral bone density. The prominence of these three symptoms in female athletes caused RED-S to addition, a preoccupation with weight and size can quickly lead to mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. McUmber did not truly recognize how harmful was until her senior year, when she noticed how decided to speak up to her coach. “I kinda took a step back and started doing my own research outside of [the program], and I was able to gain
It cannot be denied that your body type may realized, however, is that even if somehow changing your body does make you a better athlete, being a better athlete doesn’t mean you’re a happier person. Being the fastest on the course or the strongest in the weight room should not matter if your physical or mental health is one’s own health and happiness is unacceptable, regardless of the level of competition. Reading Cain’s article and hearing about the experiences of female runners made something extremely clear to me: being a runner has nothing to do with the size of your spandex or the number on your scale. Being a runner
change the program a little bit,” said McUmber. health and how you’re feeling. At the end of the day, these coaches aren’t in your head, they don’t know how you’re feeling. I wish I knew you know yourself and you know your body.” As a female runner who struggled with an eating disorder in the past, hearing about Cain’s experience made me feel both devastated and empowered: devastated over a system that
OCTOBER, 2015 girl on the varsity football team March, 2015 Boys Basketball goes to States, buzzer beater
myself to those around me and wondering how
uphill battle, and being perseverant in the face of those who might doubt your strength. Being a runner means being brave enough to push yourself out of your comfort zone and caring enough to forgive yourself when the outcome is unideal. Cain’s strength and bravery as a runner, a woman, and an activist should serve as an inspiration for all of us, whether an athlete or not.
AUGUST, 2016 B-CC’s Bill Guckeyson Memorial Field closes for construction
2016 Victoria Toth breaks School Record and Montgomery County Record for Pole Vault
GRAPHIC BY AVA SOLOMON
Nike where young bodies are being ruined by an emotionally and physically abusive system.” She stressed the need for more female psychologists, nutritionists, and coaches in all running programs across the country to help understand and support the unique developmental needs of young female athletes. After Cain made these allegations against Nike, other female runners came forward about their own experiences with Salazar’s team. U.S. Olympic distance runner Amy Yoder Begley claimed she was kicked out of Salazar’s group after placing sixth in the 2011 National Championship 10,000 meter race, and was told she was too fat and “had the biggest butt on the starting line.” Kara Goucher, another Olympic American long distance runner, corroborated Cain’s claims, describing the culture in Nike’s program as “unbearable.” She explained how after a race she ran six months postpartum, Salazar and a sports psychologist told her mother and her sister that she needed to lose her baby weight if she ever wanted to be fast again. The pressure on female runners to maintain a low weight is present in not only at the professional level but at the collegiate and high school level as well. In a high-intensity sport that relies strongly
leaner is always equivalent with being faster. B-CC alum Nora McUmber, 2014 Maryland State Cross Country Champion and former collegiate runner at Jacksonville University, can attest to the way weight and size are prioritized in many running programs. “I think that a lot of college programs are very similar to what I experienced, in that my coach, who had been coaching for a really long time,
NOVEMBER, 2017 Boys Team wins States for Indoor Track and Cross Country
FEBRUARY, 2017 Bocce wins States
NOVEMBER, 2017 Boys Soccer beats Severna Park; wins States
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SPORTS
Any Given Sunday: Rec Basketball Power Rankings BY ASHER RUBIN AND EMMETT SIEGEL
senior boys’ teams:
Clippers
Chevy Chase Landsharks
Bethesda Bullets
The Clippers enter the season as the favorites among B-CC teams, returning varsity point guard
The Sharks were a dominant force last year in their preseason scrimmages and during
The boys from B-Town have brought new talent to their roster with the addition of forward Cooper Clendenin. Clendenin’s speed and
division, which was the best out of all B-CC returning scorers as well as additions to their backcourt will likely push them over the edge this winter. Also, the return of previously injured star Chris Marcellino should provide a boost to the team’s morale and chemistry. Look out for the Clippers to do major damage this season.
Suter-Shannon leads the Sharks in three point shooting, an area the team excels in. Uri Guttman and Henry Smith hold down the backcourt for Coach Jon and company, but question marks this year center around their frontcourt after the loss of dominating center Alex Leichter. The Landsharks were clear No. 1’s last year, but may have increased competition this year.
Josh Garber look to elevate the squad to a new level. Not only do the Bullets have excellent guard play, but also bring back Nick Baker who is not one to shy away from contact. Last year’s Bullets had two disappointing losses, and look to bounce back to accomplish their third undefeated season remain about the squad’s strength of schedule.
Crew Recruitment: Rowing their Way to College BY TOBY BERLINSKI AND TATE SMYTH
Alec Walter have recently committed to top colleges, hoping to continue their academic and rowing progress. CHLOE PALMER, a four year crew team member, has committed to Boston University. Palmer notes that the recruiting process is schools and coaches. She also claims that the whole process is much longer than it is for other schools, Palmer herself started the process in the winter of her junior year. While some coaches did contact her, Palmer was “talking back and forth with many coaches,” and “had to reach out [herself] to some schools.” During the summer said, she had been talking to Boston University desires. Near the end of the process, she was able the real student athlete life at Boston University. That visit ended up being the convincing factor in her decision. Ultimately the school’s atmosphere and more possible majors is what led her to commit. Although she says “the recruiting
JAKE DANEGGER has been a member of the B-CC crew team for four years and has recently committed to Brown University. Danegger “never really felt like [he] was in a position to get so [his] experience was a lot more based around trying to form a good connection with just a couple of schools.” The interest that he received from Brown came as a surprise, and he was quick to accept “such an amazing opportunity.” To Danegger, Brown was a school with an amazing education and what he calls an “up-and-coming rowing program” to which he hopes to contribute. He cites the freedom to select classes for underclassmen as a part of their open curriculum policy also motivated his commitment to Brown. Danegger plans on continuing his academic excellence with the remainder of his time at B-CC as well as attempting to push the strong B-CC crew team with the little time he has left with the program. This year, Danegger feels that they “have a really strong team this year,” and is “focused on putting in all that [he] can.”
really trying to make that school like you”, being able to “experience what it [would be] like being an athlete at that school” was great for her.
2018 Boys and Girls Teams for Outdoor Track and Indoor Track win States
DECEMBER, 2018 Eli Guttentag wins a record number of 147 wrestling matches while at B-CC JUNE, 2018 Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup
ALEC WALTER has been rowing for B-CC since his sophomore year. His consistent dedication to led to his recent commit to Stanford University.
week of discussing the decision with his parents on the whole recruitment process as personally smooth. “Because of the early timeline, [he] only had to complete two applications: Stanford and the Naval Academy, because [he] knew that if either fell through, [he] could still have time to apply early or regular decision to other schools.” visits to examine the culture of the programs and the daily lives of student-athletes at those schools. He felt most content with Stanford, as “the environment of technological pioneering and culture of entrepreneurship stood out to [him].” Now as a commit, Walter claims he is focused on his academics and putting in hours to further his excellence at Stanford University. He plans to not only “preserve, but also build upon [his] athletic achievements.”
MARCH, 2019 Girls Basketball goes to States FEBRUARY, 2019 Girls Swim and Dive places second at States
SEPTEMBER, 2019 Bill Guckeyson Memorial Field Opens
OCTOBER, 2019 -Washington Nationals win the World Series -Washington Mystics win the WNBA
STYLE
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Stealing from Mickey BY GRIFFIN BOSWELL We came, we saw, we stole it without paying a dime. Sorry Disney, but ye be in pirate waters now. The highly anticipated release of Disney+’s exclusive new show The Mandalorian was reportedly pirated “within three hours” after going live on Disney+. Simon Trudelle, director NAGRA, warned that “all valuable content is at risk.” However, the Walt Disney Company’s net income of 2019 was 10.44 billion U.S.
expressing her disappointment, the fan noted that as someone who “supports her and her music, there was no care or sense of compassion for all the waiting and money spent.” she would be canceling the remaining dates of anxiety. Coincidentally, it ended up being her last tour, with Walker saying, “I’m just a regular person, nothing more.” Backlash is an understatement for the reaction she got. Many took to Twitter to bring up her past and question the legitimacy of her social anxiety. Summer Walker used to be a stripper, and some people claimed that it’s impossible to have social anxiety while being one. Others bring up the liveliness she has on Instagram and claim she can’t have anxiety while posting videos of
herself provocatively dancing for millions to see. What these critics fail to realize is that social media is only a glimpse of a person. And that while performing is their job, sympathy should still be given to performers because they are still human. Summer Walker is a prime example of someone in the spotlight who is expected to live up to people’s high standards and prioritize her fans’ need for entertainment over her own mental health. Many performers do not open up about their mental health and the fact that it can even impair them from performing. Walker’s decision to cancel her tour due to social anxiety brings light to what some other performers likely endure. In reality, performers
Emphasizing the normality of anxiety and mental health issues, she expressed her belief that other people are likely going through the same thing and spending time together can distract you. “I use an app that helps me to control my breathing. And I listen to music beforehand and always talk to others!” “Always take a deep breath. We do meditations and relaxation sessions. And don’t over- rehearse! That only makes you more nervous and wears devoted participant in the B-CC theatre program. Strickland says she experiences more of general
health. And this isn’t limited to just stage fright or typical nervousness. Whether one is performing at a school play or a sold-out arena, everyone is
Strickland also says that making sure her mind is clear before going onstage is vital and that being in everyone’s presence makes her want
Michelle Marlin, a senior in the B-CC chamber chorus, regularly experiences anxiety. This can create a challenge that stands in the way of her performing. “I haven’t auditioned for a solo in a long time because of it,” said Marlin. “I never skip a performance if it was planned but sometimes I won’t volunteer.” Regardless of how anxiety
energy rather than nervousness. Although social anxiety presents a challenge to some performers, the support of their fans, family and friends can help them overcome these obstacles and continue spreading their talent. .
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ISABEL DANZIS
BY MONIQUE BOATENG AND SEMHAL NEGUSSIE Summer Walker, an emerging R&B singer, found success following her song, “Girls Need Love.” After being named Apple Music’s Up Next Artist and collaborating with big names, it was clear that Walker was on the rise. But for Walker, with popularity comes trouble. After hosting a few meet and greets,
have an animated TV show in the form of Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- before Disney took over. Six whole seasons of content were released, and none of it was locked behind an exclusive paywall like Disney has done with The Mandalorian. Do I see that releasing content for free is throwing money down the drain? Of course, but their choice to put The Mandalorian exclusively in Disney+instead of a TV streaming service they already own like Hulu is a blatant sign of Disney’s familiar pattern of milking franchises for all the money they’re worth, shamelessly. One might say “well they’re ending the Star Wars saga with Rise of Skywalker right?” yeah I’ll see you in 2020 at “Star Wars: A New-er Hope”. Needless to say, Disney will eventually take over the world, it’s inevitable and we all know it’s going to happen. So for the time being, come join our merry band of content privateers, and save that money for the next time you cut class to go to Panera..
ILLUSTRATIONS BY MOLLY BUSIS
Pirated cuts of The Mandalorian have surfaced all over the web on video platforms, where pirated copies of movies and TV shows can be viewed for free until taken down. Navigating the murky waters of the site to avoid misleading ads and viruses can be troublesome, but if done correctly, you’ll be sailing under blue skies and watching your favorite TV show for free. While Disney has been quick to crack down on these illegal versions of their content, the “Robin Hoods” of the Internet have continued to distribute torrent links to the general populace. “Imagine giving money to giant mega corporations if you don’t need to, couldn’t be me,” said a digital privateer under the username The_Dark_Jedi_Knight. The user boasts that he has distributed torrented links (privately shared pirated media) of both episodes
one and two of The Mandalorian to people online, and plans to do the same with every following episode. I for one, believe this is a core piece of the Internet that no company, no matter how big, will ever be able to destroy. While students who pay for a subscription may disagree with the ethics behind digital piracy, I suspect their minds would change if those fees were coming out of their pockets rather than their parents. This trend of pirating new content is nothing new, but the mass distribution to the public is not something that typically occurs. Given that the act of piracy is illegal, distributing it online labels you an easy target, so that begs the question: why do it? I believe that the answer is this: the Star Wars community feels that they’ve been cheated by a greedy mega-corporation, and want to “rebel” - for lack of a better word. “I’m not gonna pay them more money for the only actually good Star Wars they’ve made,” said a Star Wars fan under the username VenkuSkirata. Star Wars used to
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A BARON HOLIDAY FAVORITE : MUDDY BUDDIES BY EMMA VOLKERS AND LILLY BEHBEHANI
went by many names- Christmas Crack, Puppy Chow, and Muddy Buddies- a chocolate and peanut butter seasoned chex cereal blend perfect for the holidays. We decided to make the recipe for ourselves to see if it really lived up to the hype- and it did.
Ingredients:
Directions:
One box of Chex brand cereal (we used the chocolate and vanilla kind)
1. In a microwave safe bowl microwave the chocolate, butter, and peanut butter together for 1 minute, remove to stir and then put it back in for another 30 seconds, or until the mixture is stirred smooth.
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ¼ cup butter
2. Remove and stir in vanilla (we may or may not have forgotten this step, but regardless, it tastes good).
½ cup smooth peanut butter (we used Skippy)
3. Pour over chex cereal and fold until all is evenly coated.
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
4.Put mixture in a gallon size plastic bag and add powdered sugar, shake until mixture is well coated.
1tsp vanilla
6. Spread mix onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to cool for about 5 minutes. 7. Enjoy!
A JEWISH CHRISTMAS ish community has sat on the sidelines as their Christian friends engaged in carols and gift-giving on the 25th of December of each year. However, what was once known as our most boring day of the year, since most facets of everyday life shut down, has evolved into a cherished ‘anti-holiday’ for much of the Jewish communieating Chinese food and watching a movie. Jewish people have been making the pilgrimage to Chinese restaurants on Christmas, with 1899. Over the last 40 years, the tradition has grown widespread, making a bite of Lo Mein or dumplings the Mecca of a perfect holiday season. forefathers, the families of B-CC’s Jewish students have turned Christmas into a time of celebration. “My grandpa’s birthday was on Christmas, and throughout his childhood, we
would eat Chinese food together as a family. It’s special because of the same reasons people it’s tradition,” said Abbie Bobeck, a sophomore. Evan Warner, a junior, reiterated this sentiment, stating, “During Christmas, my family and I go out to eat Chinese food and watch a movie. We go to ‘East Pearl’ and watch any movie that is playing. I have done this every year for my entire life, and it practically feels like part of [his] religion.” Uri Guttman, a senior, even went as far as to joke that “the Chinese restaurant that I go to each Christmas practically turns into my synagogue.” Aside from the proclaimed ‘holy duo’, Jewish families in the B-CC community have created their own distinct traditions to revel in Christmas Day every year to celebrate the holidays with my family,” said senior Eve London. The winter holiday season is often a weird
beautiful Christmas trees to dodging mobs of children taking pictures with Santa at the mall, it is fair to say that Jews have a reason to feel out of place on Christmas day. Nevertheless, they have resorted to less conventional methods of celebration, taking to the distant lands of East Asia and Hollywood to create traditions for the ages.
GRAPHIC BY YAEL CHIAPPORI
BY STEFFI LEWIS AND DAN SHAPIRO
STYLE
THROUGH THE DECADE...
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BY SOL GEHRING AND FRANNIE ROSEN
Here are some of the most notable pop culture moments from the 2010s.
2010
2012
2011
2016
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Royal Wedding; Game of Thrones begins; “Party Rock Anthem” is released
2015
2014
The whip and nae nae; Reports of “killer clowns” terrorize the nation; Vine dies; “Stranger Things” premiers
The Dress debate about “blue and black” or “white and gold”; Hamilton comes out; Left Shark entertains at the Super Bowl
2017 Beyoncé announces she’s pregnant with twins; Kendall Jenner botches a Pepsi ad
2013
“What does the fox say?” is Amazon “Alexa” comes out; released; Ice Bucket Challenge; Ebola outbreak begins; Miley Cyrus debuts her new style at the VMAs; Moco Snow is created; Frozen hits theaters; Apple Store; YouTube and Vine; Kim and Kanye get married Jennifer Lawrence fell at the Oscars
2018 TikTok debuts;
“Call Me Maybe” is released The world was supposed to end. It didn’t.
GRAPHICS BY YAEL CHIAPPORI AND DELILAH SEAMAN
Lady Gaga’s meat dress; “Whip My Hair” comes out; Victorious debuts; Katy Perry releases the “Teenage Dream” album
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Royal Wedding; “thank u, next” is released; Black Panther comes out; Beyoncé performs at Coachella; Tide Pod challenge
2019 The Jonas Brother get back together; The Nationals win the World Series; Euphoria premiers; “Old Town Road” is released; “OK, Boomer”
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Nothing Screams “The Holidays” Like… BY JULIANA BLAYNEY, JACKSON HERMES, AND KARINA VASUDEVA tler has conducted interviews with some of our fellow Barons about their holiday plans and traditions. What is your favorite thing about the holiday season? Charlie Skinner, ‘22: The politics. I absolutely adore sitting down for the meal and the conversation immediately darts to the recent Democratic debates. It was a great time being able to argue with my racist grandparents about Pete Buttigieg during Thanksgiving, and I can’t wait to continue the conversation Christmas dinner.
grows strong. Peter Haley, ‘21: This year, I asked for gift cards. I don’t know how easy it is to get them these days, but I hope all of my aunts and uncles can pull through. Target preferably, but I’m never one to turn down Dick’s Sporting Goods even though I quit soccer four years ago. Brian Gould, ‘20: I really hope I get something holiday-themed, so I can use it throughout the year and look like a nincompoop. Nothing beats sitting on a lawn chair in July sipping ice tea out of a Santa mug. Lastly, what’s your favorite family tradition this time of year?
when I’m trying to remember the name of that one cousin who I only ever see this time of year. Boris Johnson, ‘23: Every year I tell my youngest cousins about how the holidays are scams promoted by billion-dollar corporations and have lost all traditional and cultural value over the years. The joy and enlightenment I see on their faces just makes my day.
John Allen, ‘21: The yearly trip to the mall on December 21st. Mom takes one kid, Dad splits up with the other, and everybody hopes that they can think on their feet because oh boy we haven’t done any shopping yet. Jackson Hermes, ‘21: I can’t think of a better way to spend New Years than by summoning the spirit of Nostradamus. Dude really brings the house down when he prophesizes the coming year’s events.
What gifts do you hope to receive this year? Nick Davenhall, ‘22: Every year I ask for the same thing. Not a day passes when I don’t dream of tearing open that gift wrap, and inside I see the
These interviews are made up and purely for satirical purposes.
Sprinklergate BY JULIANA BLAYNEY, JACKSON HERMES, AND KARINA VASUDEVA On the eve of November 15th, the world was quiet, unready for the utter chaos that would ensue. But one fateful sixth period, it happened. The dreaded, unforgettable, disorderly: SprinklerGate. The world will not be the same since SprinklerGate. But what could have caused such a horrendous occurrence? The Rattler reached out to various B-CC members to hear there take on the situation. Here are the responses. What caused SprinklerGate? Anonymous AP Senior: A bean. No further comment. Anonymous IB Senior: I heard it was an IB Junior who received a B in IB Physics for the quarter. They stomped too loudly in entitlement and burst the pipe. Anonymous Teacher: A bunch of honors Pre-calc students set up prayer candles and conducted a séance before a big test.
before seventh period.
These interviews are made up and purely for satirical purposes.
May, 2016 Harambe, a gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, was shot and killed. Harambe then turned into a meme and took over the internet.
May, 2018 The Tattler piece called “You Too Can be a High School Journalist” August, 2016 “Baron On the Street” airs on B-CC TV