The Highlander Issue 5

The

Highlander Volume LX • Issue 5 • March 2016• McLean High School thehighlandernews.com• @MHSHighlander

Riding Solo:

Unaccompanied Youth at McLean

CONTENTS NEWS

3 War on words 4-5 News in brief vote on Super 6 Highlanders Tuesday 7

New classes on the horizon

FEATURES

9 10

SAT vs. ACT Study abroad in Israel

11

English teacher gets published

12

France bans “super skinny” models

13

10 Qs with Mark Thompson

15

Money makers of McLean

16-17 18 19 21

Highlander of the Issue: Emily Robinson

Model U.N.’s model student Hidden places at McLean Relay for Life infographic

IN-DEPTH 22-25

Unaccompanied youth at McLean

OPINIONS 34

Editorial: Starting school in August

35

Social media

36

Students burdened by bad roads

13

37 Apple vs. the FBI Media 38-39 Crossfire: influence in politics

SPORTS 40

Girls soccer keeping up the momentum

41 42

Profile: Coach Ney

43

Athlete of the Issue: David McCarthy

44

38-39

Two-sport star Conor Grammes

The Finish Line

3

A&E 26-27 TheatreMcLean’s Cinderella 28 Movie review: Spotlight 29 Album review: The Life of Pablo English teachers’ film 30 recommendations 31 32 33

40

Book review: American Housewife Spring activities in D.C. Explore new genres with these albums

43

37

Greetings McLean, We hope you had a pleasant and relaxing spring break. Even as the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, here at The Highlander, we’re still working to produce the best possible newsmagazine we can. We hope you dig it, and remember, we always appreciate any comments, critiques or suggestions you have for us. Stop by the journalism room, R133, or email us at thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com to share with us your thoughts about topics covered in the magazine or things going on in the wider Highlander community.

Highlander

The

Letter from the Editors

Volume LX • Issue 5 • March 2016 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com• @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief

Jake Barnett, Ashwin Dasgupta, Melanie Pincus & Liam Zeya

Managing Editors Design Editor

Sabrein Gharad, Lucy Hopkins & David Kagan Bryan Chung

Photography Editor

Tanya Ajalli

Advertising Manager

Esme Tabra

Copy Editor

Henry Howe

Cartoonist

Anna Marie Garland

Section Editors News Editors

Carlyn Kranking, Sanskriti Neupane & Eleanor Patrick

Make sure to check out our In-Depth piece on the different socioeconomic situations of students at McLean. Did you know that some students at McLean have to financially support themselves? You won’t want to miss this.

Opinions Editors

Rustin Abedi, Veronica Kim & Bora Zaloshnja Ingrid Morse & Young In Seo Christine Cheon, Sri Medicherla & Leena Raza Ethan Cherry & John Corvari

Flip to our News section to see updates on a controversial book censorship bill going through the Virginia senate and regional Super Tuesday primary election results.

Editors-in-Chief

Our Opinions section examines the role of the media in politics and discuss the FBI-Apple controversy.

Eva Bhandary Anjalie Chauhan Debbie Daniel Jatin Dasgupta Kat Dolan Helena Doms Lila Duvall Colin Edson Monique Ford

Every issue, keep an eye out for our recurring pages: Highlander of the Issue, the Crossfire, the editorial, Athlete of the Issue and The Finish Line. Stay cool, McLean.

Warmly,

Jake Barnett, Liam Zeya, Ashwin Dasgupta & Melanie Pincus

Features Editors A&E Editors Sports Editors

Website Editors Sanskriti Neupane & Aisha Singh

Opinions Editor

Rustin Abedi

Sports Editor

Jackson Payne

A&E & Features Editor

Helen Bloom

Reporters

Graham Gibson Nora Hashem David Kagan Anurag Kandukuri Haru Kato Kyuree Kim Anjali Kumar Zoe Le Menestrel Annie Lu

Adviser

Brooke Lyons Sophie Mariam Robert Martine Amir McCormick Olivia Mooney Peter Morell John Roth Siddarth Shankar Alisha Smith

Khaled Soubra Ali Tanju Sarah Therriault Danielle Walker Ed Walters Caroline Watkins Conor Zeya Matthew Zwirb Catherine Zysk

Lindsay B. Benedict

Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions.

Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate.

To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133.

The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 First Class; Hall of Fame

Cover photo illustration by Young In Seo, Aisha Singh & Liam Zeya

‘15 Crown Finalist; ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15 CSPA Gold Medalist ‘15 International First Place; ‘14 George H. Gallup Award

‘14, ‘15 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

Printed by aPrintis

NEWS

Banned Book—Senior Danielle Walker reads Toni Morrison’s Beloved. This book, along with others of a sexually explicit nature, could be subject to censorship if Governor McAuliffe chooses to sign the HB516 into law. (Photo illustration by Lucy Hopkins)

War on words

VA Senate passes bill allowing parents to control which books their children can read

Lila Duvall & Lucy Hopkins Reporter & Managing Editor

O

n Tuesday, March 1, the Virginia Senate passed a bill (HB516) permitting parents to block their children from sexually explicit content in schools.

If this bill is signed into law, it would make Virginia the first state in the country to require teachers to inform parents about literature or other materials containing sexually explicit content.

This law allows parents to prevent their children from reading said explicit books. It also requires teachers to offer alternative assignments for students who have opted-out of reading certain content.

“Having to provide an alternative assignment for a student makes it much harder for the teacher,” English teacher Naima Chambliss said.

The bill has passed both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate. Whether or not the bill becomes law is up to Governor Terry McAuliffe, whose spokesman refused to indicate if the governor would veto it or not.

If McAuliffe signs the bill into law, the Virginia Board of Education would be tasked with writing specific guidelines instructing teachers on how to proceed in the introduction and assessment of such materials.

Additionally, the censorship abilities of parents would not be limited to materials in English classes, but would extend to

NEWS

every class in which material of a sexual nature is covered.

Opponents of the legislation believe that it is regressive, and could lead to the banning of pieces of literary merit in schools, including works like Atonement

by Ian McEwan and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

“There’s nothing in a book that older students have not seen before, heard before, or even done before.”

-English teacher Naima Chambliss

The movement was prompted by Fairfax County mother Laura Murphy, whose 12th grade son suffered nightmares after reading Beloved by Toni Morrison in an AP English class. The book, as with others

by Morrison, has been the topic of heated debate over many years due to scenes including rape, murder and bestiality.

“That’s [not] something to have a nightmare about. We can’t shield our kids from that,” Chambliss said. “It’s life; let kids experience it.”

Others against the bill argue that students of a certain grade level should

be permitted to read literature, even if it contains explicit material.

Many students have expressed concern over the idea that parental figures would have a say equal to that of professional educators over materials covered in class.

“The curriculum includes books that progress in maturity, and the school should regulate what they believe students should have access to in classes,” senior Ellie Thomas said.

Opponents of the bill assert that by allowing parents to decide which books their children will be exposed to, the school system is effectively permitting the sheltering of students.

“Teachers shouldn’t have to [alter assignments] for older students because they’re already exposed to so much,” Chambliss said. “There’s nothing in a book that older students have not seen before, heard before, or even done before.”

The adult themes introduced in high school classes will inevitably follow students into college courses. Some fear that allowing parents to alter the materials their children are exposed to could put students behind in college and other postgraduate paths of study.

“I’d rather read material that makes me uncomfortable and challenges me than stuff that repeats things I’ve heard before,” senior Rojeen Kamali said. “School should help you grow as a person, and it’s hard to do that when you’re not given new things to think about.”

Page design by Lucy Hopkins

3

News in brief

Check up on activities around McLean

Catherine Dolan, Carlyn Kranking & Eleanor Patrick Reporter & News Editors

Project Enlightenment Dressing up as 18th century scientists and visiting historical landmarks such as Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Castle, the German Embassy and the Apothecary Museum in Old Town, Alexandria, the Project Enlightenment club aims to educate and inform the public about science and medicine during the Enlightenment period.

Junior Liddy McCulla has been an active member of the club since freshman year because she finds it unique.

“What I like most about Project Enlightenment is that I get to explore the more obscure aspects of history that I find really interesting and share my love of history with other people,” McCulla said.

The group plans to attend the Herb and Craft sale at the Carlyle House in April and continue their lessons in 18th century science.

FanQuest On Friday, March 12, the McLean Highlanders’ FanQuest basketball team took Grant on Robinson’s FanQuest basketball team in a highly spirited match. McLean’s team Junior at — y r o t is ildren brought the win home by scoring 40 points to Robinson’s 38. The annual FanQuest Living H teaches ch m on rg eu game is a chance for McLean’s and Robinson’s special education students to show off Herzbe hecary Mus Kranking) t n o their basketball skills in a supportive setting with enthusiastic crowds. the Ap (Photo by Carly .

8 2 .

“Our strategy is to pass the ball and score,” freshman Ben Shue said before the game.

Feb Shue plays guard and forward for McLean’s team.

The team practiced every other Thursday for several months to learn to work together and hone their skills for the big game.

“FanQuest is a unique way to bring the community together for a great cause,” FanQuest committee member senior Azita Peters said. “I believe we should support our classmates both inside and outside the classroom. The students that are playing in FanQuest deserve the opportunity to make their family, school and community proud.”

Relay for Life

Recruitin g Rel aye and H ugh C rs—Seniors E ollins r mma C Middle aise hambe Schoo Cham r l. (Photo money at L berlay ongfell layne courte ne) sy of E o w mm

4

a

As spring approaches, so does the overnight Relay for Life walk-a-thon, which will take place from May 14 at 6 p.m. to May 15 at 6 a.m. McLean High School’s program joined with Langley High School’s program in order to raise as much money as possible, aiming to earn $151,475. “[This will] provide five cancer patients and their families with free lodging for a year in one of the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodges,” said senior Emma Chamberlayne, Relay for Life’s Student Director for McLean.

Each participant is aiming to raise at least $100 in order to stay overnight. Teams are also encouraging people to raise extra money through emails to family and friends, social media posts, door-to-door campaigning or collaborating with their teams to set up individual fundraisers.

“Joining Relay and raising money has an incredible impact on the fight against cancer,” Chamberlayne said. “We want the McLean community to know that.”

For more information on Relay for Life, see page 21.

Page design by Carlyn Kranking & Eleanor Patrick

MARCH

McDance-A-Thon On Saturday, April 2, McDance-A-Thon will be held in the lower gym from 4 p.m. to midnight. This event aims to raise money for the Children’s National Hospital in D.C. “We have a lot of Miracle Kids come, who are actually from the hospital, and they all tell their story and sing for us and dance with us,” McDance-A-Thon Executive senior Gabby Creeser said.

Students create an individual Donor Drive page in order to raise money for the charity. Participants use email, Facebook and other social media platforms to gain exposure for their page. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.

When the program began in 2014, the group raised $9,316. In 2015, they saw a 144 percent increase, raising $22,703. This year, their end goal is to raise $30,000.

Mindfulness Yoga

second way—At the Dance the Night A ar, la -A-Thon st ye annual McDance with es ov m s st Zeya bu m Lia or ni -ju en th ill once pril 2, students w A n O . ds en fri s hi e and gether to danc again come to in hopes e us ca r a good fo ey on m ise ra ng goal year’s fundraisi is th g in in ta at of n Atak) to courtesy of Eri of $30,000. (Pho

Amid the endless rush from class to class, looming piles of homework and demanding activities outside school, it’s easy for students to forget to take time for themselves. That’s why the new Yoga Mindfulness program takes place every Friday during Highlander Time and seeks to provide an environment where students can de-stress.

“The goal of the class is to provide a place in the school where students can relax, recenter, and refocus,” school psychologist Beth Werfel said.

Any student can attend at any time, without having to sign up beforehand or make any commitment to come back again. The classes focus on “mindfulness” yoga, or being aware of one’s surroundings, as opposed to balance and strength poses.

“In a post-class survey [of underclassmen that participated in the mindfulness yoga during their gym classes], students indicated that before the class, 60 percent felt stressed and/or upset. After experiencing the yoga and mindfulness training, over 86 percent said they felt more calm and focused,” yoga teacher Lisa Danahy said. “77 percent said they felt that they could use what they learned to help them regulate their stress.”

New SAT For the first time, students took the new Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) on March 5 with mixed reactions. Some, like junior Josie Nolan, found it hard to know what to expect.

“The new exam was difficult to prepare for because this was the first time it was administered,” Nolan said.

Despite having studied hard for the exam, testing was a stressful experience for many as they navigated the new types of questions in the reformed test. Still, many students were optimistic as they left the test.

“It was definitely a bit nerve-wracking not knowing much about the test and being the first to take it,” junior Zoë Chandra said. “I definitely had moments where I felt unprepared... but overall I think it went pretty well.”

Laugh More, Stress Less Week

Stress Less Yog a—Active Minds offere yoga at High d lander Time, as they have in past Stress Less weeks, to decrease academic p re ssure. (Photo Werfel) courte

sy of Beth

In an effort to help McLean students “Laugh More, Stress Less,” the Active Minds club will hold another Stress Less week from April 25 to 29.

The club is planning various lunchtime and Highlander Time activities, creating opportunities to try to get those third quarter stressors out.

“In the spring, students tend to become very stressed due to AP testing and upcoming finals,” club president junior Olivia Jessar said.

The club plans to pass out hot chocolate, paper maché flowers with positive notes attached and possibly even snow cones in the warmer months approaching the end of the school year in order to keep on reinforcing positive thoughts and trying to remind students to relax and take a deep breath.

5

Highlanders vote on Super Tuesday Students cast their first ballots

Ashwin Dasgupta Editor-in-Chief uesdays are typically associated with the drudgery of being less than halfway through the school week. However, Tuesday, March 1 was different, and not just because there was no school. Once every four years the first Tuesday of March is known as “Super Tuesday,” when 11 states cast their votes in the presidential primary elections. Virginia is among the 11, and many McLean students were eligible to vote for the first time.

Eligible McLean seniors had the option to register to vote through their government class in a program run by the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

“I think the process is great,” AP Government teacher Karen McNamara said. “It’s the [easiest]... and most effective way to get you registered quickly.”

Based on exit poll data, youth participation in the Virginia primaries was higher than the historic turnout in the 2008 election, and many students from McLean contributed to this statistic.

This change can be attributed to the youth appeal of candidates like Bernie Sanders, who received an estimated 70 percent of the youth vote in Virginia’s Democratic primary, and the intensity of the Republican primary as a whole. Regardless of party affiliation, McLean students were

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happy to have the opportunity to put their money where their politically active mouths are.

“After spending so much time arguing about politics, it’s really thrilling to actually force people to listen to my opinion,” senior Emily Robinson said.

Although American citizens have to be 18 to vote, people who are not yet legal adults are allowed to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the actual election. This rule enfranchised many McLean students on March 1.

“I turn 18 in July,” senior Jordan Blum said, “but luckily I was still allowed to vote for the primary on Super Tuesday.”

Although this year’s numbers were higher than usual, voter turnout among

young people in Virginia was still estimated to be only 18 percent. Reasons young people refrain from voting include not registering, not caring or simply not liking any of the candidates.

“I didn’t vote because all the candidates were trash,” senior Abdel Hammad said.

Previously, FCPS students only had two hour delays on Super Tuesday, but a proposal to close school for the full day arose, and Superintendent Karen Garza agreed to make the change. Although the decision to close schools entirely was made largely due to concerns over parking and other logistics, it had the added benefit of freeing up time for McLean students to cast their votes.

How Fairfax County Voted

Republican Rubio: 40% Trump: 25% Kasich: 18%

Democratic Clinton: 63% Sanders: 36%

Photo & page design by Ashwin Dasgupta

MARCH

New classes on the horizon Three new courses to join McLean’s class line-up in 2016-17

Sarah Therriault Reporter

AP Human Geography AP Human Geography is the newest of the many AP courses being offered at McLean.

According to the College Board, AP Human Geography students will “employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences.” A major focus of the course is how the earth affects those who live in it.

“I think it’ll be a really interesting course for people who might be interested in international studies,” social studies department head Maggie Tran said.

APHuG, as Tran affectionately refers to it, will be a year-long course with a large focus on vocabulary and similar in rigor to AP U.S. Government. Tran hopes the class is more approachable for students who are not already taking AP courses. As of now, there is no set teacher for the class.

Astronomy Although Astronomy is not an entirely new class at McLean, next year will be the first time it has been offered since the late 1990s. The course is aimed at juniors and seniors and will act as a fourth credit science class, similar to Human Anatomy. Astronomy will take advantage of McLean’s observatory, which can also be used during the day to view the sun and examine sunspots. “[The class] is supposed to be more interesting than rigorous,” physics teacher Dean Howarth said.

Howarth and Jeffrey Brocketti, another physics teacher involved in the new Astronomy class, do not want to create another overly challenging course at McLean; rather, they aim to pique students’ interest and curiosity about science in a relaxed manner.

Chinese Mandarin Chinese has always been offered as a class at the Marshall Academy. Next year for the first time, McLean students who want to study the language will no longer have to take a bus to another school. Instead, McLean will be offering its own class. According to Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery, the class has no teacher yet, so details are sparse, but the course is likely going to run similarly to that of Marshall Academy’s class.

“I’m ecstatic that it’ll be offered at McLean next year. It will definitely make my life a whole lot easier,” junior Renee Zhang said.

Zhang, who is currently in Chinese 3, is glad that the time it takes to travel to Marshall, which cut into both her lunch period and class time, will be eliminated. She hopes that more time for in-class instruction will lead to less homework.

Page design by Leena Raza Images obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons License

NEWS

7

Which test is best?

FEATURES

College-bound students must decide between taking the SAT, ACT, or both Colin Edson & Conor Zeya Reporters

✓ Aptitude test

✓ High school achievement test

✓ Designed for critical thinkers

✓ Designed for more ✓ Accepted by all straightforward thinkers colleges in the U.S.

✓ Direct knowledge questions ✓ Essay is optional

based on facts rather than

critical thinking ✓ Feature student- produced response

✓ Tutors and courses are less

questions

necessary; paying attention

in school is very important ✓ Math sections

include geometry, ✓ 2 hours 55 minutes allotted algebra, arithmetic and trigonometry ✓ 0-36 scoring scale

✓ Complex questions

✓ 2 sections: Reading/Writing, and Math ✓ Best way to study is tutoring and

courses

✓ 3 hours allotted ✓ 0-1600 scoring scale

✓ Formulas given for math section

✓ No math formulas provided W. Walter Tinsley, sAT/ACT tutor, author of The Underdog’s Guide

Dawn Allison, College & Career Counselor:

“If you are more of a straightforward thinker and a good student who studies in class, you’re more prepared for the ACT. If you’re a more critical thinker, then you’ll like the SAT better.”

to the SAT:

“Both tests are equally acceptable. If you get a good score in one, there is absolutely no reason to take the other. About a third of students, historically, have done better on one test than in the other and about a third did the same.”

“There’s a rollout problem, there’s a college acceptance problem, there’s a lack of study material problem...I really think would make it dangerous to take this new SAT, especially in this first couple of years.”

“[The ACT] has been more directly aligned with high school curriculum than the SAT, which is why the SAT was redesigned—they want to gain back some of that market share. Now they are making the test closer to what you are actually learning in high school.”

“[Courses and tutors] are not as relevant for the ACT because it is a lot more straightforward. You can just pick up the study manual, study on your own, and do very well.”

average time per question

New SAT

“Both of these tests are good indicators on how well a person might do in college, but they are measuring different things.”

$43

+$11.50 with essay

ACT NEWS

“The SAT, in abstract terms, is trying to measure how clever and resourceful you are. The ACT, by comparison, is trying to measure what kind of high school education you got.”

Writing Section Reading Section Math Section

with $29+$14.00 essay

FACT: Since the 1980s, more than 850 colleges and universities in the U.S. have become test-optional, meaning that applicants do not have to provide standardized test scores in order to be admitted.

Page design by Colin Edson & Conor Zeya

9

Students study abroad in Israel

Highlanders travel to Israel to enjoy religious and cultural experiences Anjali Kumar, Sophie Mariam & Ingrid Morse Reporters & Features Editor

T

he daily grind of McLean students can become routine and sometimes a little boring—the same drive to school, block schedule and after school activities. Students who want to break free of the status quo at McLean venture to new locations to pursue their education, such as Israel.

Hannah Moss

Some Highlanders of Jewish heritage pursue an educational, cultural and religious experience through study abroad programs in Israel. These programs allow students to gain a deeper understanding of their heritage and Israeli culture.

Last year, junior Hannah Moss decided to study abroad with the Northern Federation for Temple Youth and Eisendrath International Experience programs for the second semester of her sophomore year.

She did so to learn more about her own connection to Israel and the current conflict plaguing the country.

“My favorite part was being able to participate in the culture of Israel,” Moss said. “As a Jew it’s important to me to learn more about the country and the conflict so that I am able to be more influential, and I can better understand what’s going on.”

The program is rigorous but grants students time to engage in the culture of Israel.

“We took about nine classes and the school day was very long, but we went on at least two field trips a week,” Moss said.

In addition to continuing her studies, Moss also had the opportunity to experience day-to-day life in Israel. Several aspects of integration include participating in basic training programs with the Israeli army in Jerusalem. In Israel there is a mandatory draft of all citizens when they turn 18.

Along with the training experience, Moss was able to explore the country itself.

“I went on a five day hike across Israel as well as being able to be on our own and hang out around Israel,” Moss said.

Wild Ride—Junior Hannah Moss (left) rides a camel in April 2015. Moss was in the north of Israel staying at a Bedouin camp. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Moss)

Mountain Climber—Sophomore Havi Carrillo-Klein hikes on Mount Yeroham In Negev, Israel. The hike in February was part of her current study abroad trip (Photo courtesy of Havi Carrillo-Klein)

Havi Carrillo-Klein

Sophomore Havi Carrillo-Klein is currently studying abroad with the Alexander-Muss High School in Israel for the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year.

With this study abroad experience, she plans on connecting to her Jewish heritage and deeply immersing herself in Israeli culture.

“It’s a program centered around learning Jewish history,” Carrillo-Klein said. “We have Tiyuls (field trips) three or four times a week where we go to places we’re learning about and learn there. Sometimes they’re overnight and sometimes just one day.”

Carrillo-Klein has enjoyed the refreshing social and cultural atmosphere that her trip abroad has provided. The variations in subjects she is learning as well as the unconventional classroom environment of Alexander-Muss High School have allowed Carrillo-Klein to enjoy experiences she will hold dear for a lifetime.

“The country is our classroom. The most emphasized class is learned in spots where the history happened,” Carrillo-Klein said.

“We’re learning the story of the Jewish people right where it took place as opposed to being in a classroom every day. Overall, I get more freedom to choose what I want to do and I’m learning how to live independently.”

Study abroad programs allow students to take an unconventional approach to high school while allowing them to benefit from exposure to new cultures, ideas and people.

Page design by Anjali Kumar, Sophie Mariam & Ingrid Morse Topographical map of Israel obtained via Creative Commons

MARCH

English teacher’s novel to hit shelves Aaron Even shares his publication journey Danielle Walker & Leena Raza Reporter & A&E Editor aron Even, a new English teacher at McLean, is a former professor at Columbia College in Chicago, a former independent deocumentary maker and a former National Geographic employee.

Even started working at National Geographic in 2002 as a researcher for the organization’s television productions. “[My job] was basically reviewing scripts and making sure that they were both accurate and [abiding] by the standards of practices,” Even said, “which means that they were fair and that they included several sides of the story.”

After five years researching for National Geographic, Even transitioned into writing scripts for independent documentaries. This changed marked the beginning of a new career—one in filmmaking.

“I left National Geographic because to write, I had to go off as an independent,” Even said. “I think I’ve written about a dozen documentaries.”

In addition to writing scripts, Even occasionally played extra roles in documentaries.

“Regulations for film crews were very strict so we just suddenly couldn’t have extras, so I ended up throwing on a uniform that was like seven sizes too big

for me and...being an extra,” Even said.

The first draft of Even’s novel, He Comes in Fire, went out to publishers in 2008.

“I remember that because it was the same year as the market crash,” Even said. “We pulled my book because there was no use for a book to go out at that time. I was also really nervous because I thought I’d picked the completely wrong time to try a career change.”

At the same time, Even Book Talk—English teacher Aaron Even went into teaching because smiles as he discusses his upcoming there were fewer opportunities book. The book comes out in August/ for him as a script writer.

September. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli) “TV was just changing so much that it was getting harder these fires resurfaced. After the shooting to get steady work,” Even said. “[The in Charleston, there were a few church emergence and popularity of] reality TV burnings and a lot of the same questions did not help writers.” people has in the 90s were resurrected.

In spite of his career change, Even has “My desire was to raise more questions not entirely left the film industry. He and to show the complexity of the worked on documentaries with a local phenomenon,” Even said. producer last year while he was still a partDuring the writing process for He time teacher.

Comes in Fire, Even researched how After Even pulled He Comes in Fire in investigations like these work and went 2008, he continued making adjustments as far as contacting the Bureau of Alcohol, to it until this year, when he resubmitted Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to it for publishing. The book is a fictional do additional research. account of actual church burnings that “[The ATF] set houses on fire, and [I occurred in the late watched] the way the fires moved and 90s. Churches in many spread. I got a real inside view,” Even said. of the southern states He Comes in Fire is in the process of mysteriously caught fire, being published. Even expects it to be and a disproportionately released in August or September of this high number of them year. were African American The cover is currently being created. churches.

After this long 10-year process, Even is “The main guy, Lucas, happy to be so close to the final destination is back to his hometown. on his long road to publishing.

He’s been away for a “This was a lesson in how long the couple of years and the publishing process takes,” Even said. “[The same day he comes back book] is much better now than it was back a church burns down,” then. [It was a] long, painful process and Even said. “He’s an odd a lot of rejections by a lot of different individual and it’s easy publishers, [but] I’m glad the book that I Behind the Scenes—Aaron Even stands on the set of to suspect him.” have now is being published and not the a documentary in Tokyo in 2010 while working Last summer, many one that I had before.” with National Geographic. (Photo courtesy of Aaron of the conspiracies and Even) phenomena relating to

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FEATURES

Page design by Lucy Hopkins

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France bans “super skinny” models Legislation limiting models’ physiques passes, stirring controversy Khaled Soubra Reporter s Fashion Month comes to an end, people in the fashion industry can finally find the time to look back and reflect on the season’s collections and the influence they can generate.

The models’ weight always seems to be a prominent issue at the bi-annual event.

While many countries are debating what should be done to combat the unrealistic beauty and health standards the models impose on their audience, France has taken action on the issue.

The country recently imposed a ban on “super skinny models,” which has generated expected opposition from much of the fashion world. Designers and brands have long been exploiting models in order to perpetuate an impractical and extremely unhealthy version of what the female body should look like.

With the passing of this bill, France became the first major country to catalyze a long overdue revolution that aims to put an end to the “glorification of anorexia.”

The first draft of the bill suggested that models would have to be above a certain Body Mass Index (BMI), which is based on weight in relation to height, to be able to work as model. Some felt as though a person’s BMI was not very indicative of

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believe that the models portrayed in media and ads have an effect on how people view themselves and their bodies.

the person’s health and can be the result of many different factors, so the bill was later amended to include a more comprehensive list of standards.

The amendment to the bill forces models to get a certificate from a doctor that certifies they are of a “healthy weight” before they are able to work in the fashion industry. It also forces brands to label Photoshopped or altered images as “touched-up.” This law works efficiently to prevent brands from promoting a forcefully malnourished and inconceivable version of the ideal man or woman.

Fashion runways and ads have long influenced the way people view their own bodies, and endorsing unhealthy standards can work to the detriment of an audience.

Since 1995, the prevalence of eating disorders has doubled among both males and females, and these disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent earlier on in adolescence and even childhood.

Anorexia Nervosa disproportionately affects the young female population more than any other group.

The media’s portrayal of an anorexic standard of perfection has only bolstered the rise in eating disorders.

School psychologist Beth Werfel insists that this topic should be approached with

believe that young children and teens are part of the age group most affected by unrealistic standards set by the media 83 students surveyed

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care. Werfel believes the country should start moving towards a healthier body image standards.

“I hope that in American culture the media would want to promote healthy body size,” Werfel said.

This issue is especially important for senior Alex Fan, who hopes to pursue a career in fashion.

“Regulation of model requirements is very important for fashion. Not only does this promote a hierarchy of health over fashion, but it also sets a precedent that discourages women from becoming anorexic in order to model,” Fan said.

With so many brands promoting unhealthily skinny models through their ad campaigns, it has become ingrained in our culture that this is how a normal girl or guy should look.

“Instead of glorifying anorexic young women modeling, there will be a surge of healthier looking models to pursue health as a priority,” Fan said.

This new law not only benefits the consumers, it also keeps models from getting exploited and essentially starved by their modeling agencies.

Many models’ bodies are not naturally so skinny, but in order to keep their jobs and get better campaign offers, their modeling agencies pressure and demand that their models stay below a certain weight.

Following the passing of this law, if modeling agencies continue these practices or sponsor any unhealthy underweight models, they will face a very hefty fine or a prison sentence.

Although France has implemented these laws, no comparable legislation has been passed in any other countries of this scale. The U.S. along with some other countries leading in fashion including Great Britain and Italy could consider a law to the same effect in the future.

This legislation intends to regulate the industry’s prevalent eating disorders, support the models abused by the industry and promote healthy body image standards.

Page design by Khaled Soubra

MARCH

10 Qs with

Mark Thompson

(Special Education Teacher & Special Olympics Basketball Coach) Interview by Graham Gibson & Amir McCormick Page design by Amir McCormick, Graham Gibson & Bryan Chung Photos by Amir McCormick

What do you most enjoy about McLean?

I have really enjoyed the students and the staff. I feel very welcomed and I love the strong sense of school pride.

It makes teaching here much more enjoyable.

What has been the most impactful thing you’ve experienced?

Fanquest, the basketball game put on by Special Olympics; 1,500 fans came to support the two teams that were playing about five years ago.

Can you tell us a little bit about the Special Olympics Basketball game at McLean?

We have one rule: we have to have fun.

We practice to win, but we play to have fun. It’s just about giving the kids the opportunity to compete because they can’t normally compete on the regular teams here.

What made you want to go into the special education department?

I actually got into the special education department by mistake.

When I was working at a special needs camp, I fell in love with the kids and staff I was working with.

The teachers that are around these kids are really neat and interesting people, and I’ve been doing this for 30 years now. I do enjoy the kids, but I really think it’s the staff that keeps me coming back from day to day.

What strategies and techniques have you used to help your students?

We have an incredible team of educators in the department I am the chair of. We make sure that each educator is focused not only on the strengths and weaknesses of the kids, but... also on building honest relationships.

Is there any particular student that really stands out in your mind?

Kevin Pfeil. He’s well known and he’s really done a nice job maturing.

He’s just a breath of fresh air to everybody who interacts with him.

What do you like best about the community within McLean High School?

The kids and the staff are very welcoming of having kids in the general ed classrooms. There is a [high] level of respect for these special needs kids—[McLean] is just a really nice community of acceptance and inclusion.

What do you want McLean students and staff to know about the special education department and the students within?

Having disabilities doesn’t mean you can’t do something; you’re just going to do it different, and being different is okay because we are all different.

What is your favorite quote?

“A boat is safe in a harbor, but boats aren’t supposed to be in harbors.” You have to go out there and challenge yourself.

What does teamwork mean to you as a special education teacher?

We have to do this together. We definitely work together so that we can reinforce skills taught from class to class, but more importantly the teamwork is being able to take those skills out into the environment. It really is a team process. The kids have so many different needs that impact their learning that we need all of the team in order to make progress.

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Money makers of McLean share their stories Seniors with deep pockets share their wealth of knowledge Alisha Smith & Caroline Watkins Reporters

Evelyn Basham Job: Administrative Assistant Description: Copying, scanning and filing for a local law firm. Basham also works on the firm’s social media and website platforms.

Pay (hourly): $15 Pro: “I really like the environment. My coworkers are super helpful and interesting people to be around.”

Con: “The only con is that I work Friday evenings, which means that I can’t hang out until late.”

Gillian Wright Job: Lab Technician Description: Collects and run strep tests, urine tests, stool tests and blood tests, as well as performing administrative duties.

Pay (hourly): $9 Pro: “Getting to work with the children. I love kids and working in a pediatric office. I see babies that are just a few days old up through teenagers and young adults. The kids are so much fun to be around and always brighten my day.”

Con: “It can be pretty stressful. Most kids hate getting strep tests and getting blood drawn, and if any of the lab techs make a mistake, we all get in trouble because health care is taken very seriously. Everything we do determines children’s diagnoses and medications, so there is a lot of pressure not to make mistakes.”

Glenn Feit Job: President of an IT Consulting Business, IT Project Manager and Technology Program Leader Description: Feit hires, manages and leads a web development and IT team. In his spare time, Feit volunteers to refurbish and distribute computers for low-income families.

Pay (hourly): $110 (for his main job as president) Pro: Feit said he enjoys having the freedom of managing his own IT consulting business and is passionate about the industry.

Con: Despite making good money, Feit said he is not as interested in web development, which is necessary for being an IT Project Manager. In terms of volunteering, the unpredictability of the work and availability of volunteers serve as negative aspects of the job.

Sydney Winn Job: YouTube Creator—channel: shoppingglovee1 Description: Creates lifestyle, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube.

Pay (hourly): “I signed a contract that said I wasn’t allowed to give away information about what I’ve specifically been earning, but I can tell you that each view is a set certain amount of cents, so it all adds up.” According to Penna Powers, a marketing agency, content creators with paid advertisements average around $18 per 1,000 views.

Pro: “After all of the editing, filming and planning, the final product of the video is such an accomplishment after all the hard work.”

Con: “A con would have to be the ‘hate’ or negative comments. One hate comment can definitely override those positive comments and can just be a huge downer sometimes.”

Photos by Caroline Watkins Page design by Alisha Smith & Caroline Watkins

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Highlander of the Issue

Senior fights to #SaveFCPS

Emily Robinson brings attention to FCPS budget issues

Fighting for Teachers—Emily Robinson speaks at an Invest in Kids rally at the Fairfax County Government Center on Feb. 17. This is one of many budget meetings where Robinson has spoken. (Photo courtesy of Emily Robinson) Sabrein Gharad & Esme Tabra Managing Editor & Ad Manager he use of hashtags on social media websites like Twitter can help advocates bring awareness to social and political issues that affect the lives of many. Senior Emily Robinson recognizes the power of social media and decided to utilize it last year in an effort to address a problem dear to her heart.

Robinson created the #SaveFCPS hashtag to kickstart a more inclusive conversation concerning Fairfax County budget reform. The budget crisis Fairfax County Public Schools is facing has affected teachers’ salaries along with the quality of education and opportunities provided to students.

Robinson became invested in the issue last year when one of her favorite teachers, Lori Wagoner, announced that she would be leaving FCPS after 11 years. In a speech to the Board of Supervisors, Wagoner

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revealed that she was forced to leave Fairfax because of the county’s failure to grant teachers promised pay increases.

Robinson said she was enraged by the preventable loss of such a talented teacher.

“Losing Ms. Wagoner last year was a real blow to not just me, but the school at large,” Robinson said. “That such a passionate teacher with such marked success couldn’t afford to live in the county she taught in seemed nothing less than criminal.”

After Wagoner left, Robinson was motivated to look further into the FCPS budget.

“Uncovering more and more about the utter mismanagement of the FCPS and Fairfax County budget on behalf of the School Board and the Board of Supervisors was just more impetus to get out there and hold people accountable for their destruction of our schools,” she said.

Robinson felt she had an obligation

to make her voice heard and show her support for the teachers she so highly esteems and appreciates.

“I created the hashtag on April 24, and since then [I] have been to plenty of school board meetings,” Robinson said. “I’ve been to meetings with Dranesville Supervisor John Foust and spoken at rallies.”

Robinson’s German teacher Karen Wolpert said she is proud of Robinson’s advocacy and not surprised by her spearheading of this movement.

“She is a natural leader... her passion and ability to take initiative never cease to inspire those around her,” Wolpert said.

“Her zeal and enthusiasm is a major part of what has allowed her to accomplish such great things for [the #SaveFCPS] movement and fight for various causes with such dedication.”

Robinson’s accomplishments and advocacy for the #SaveFCPS movement are recognized by many of her peers and

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teachers.

“Emily really paved the way for the movement and FCPS still hasn’t given her the credit she deserves,” said senior Farnaz Shirazi, who works with Robinson as co-president of the Feminist Club.

Robinson has traveled and lived all over the world, from Morocco to England, because of her dad’s job with the State Department. Robinson credits her travels as the molders of her view of the world and a major catalyst in her involvement and interest in journalism, politics and public service.

“Living overseas has meant that my world view has been constantly challenged and, for that same reason, strengthened.

For the most part, living overseas has made me hyper-aware of injustice, both on the macro and micro scale, and has given me a strong sense of idealism even in the face of absolute tragedy,” Robinson said.

Robinson has been using Twitter and other forms of social media as platforms for promoting activism in a wide array of issues, garnering her a lot of attention and allowing her to network with many prominent writers and activists.

“I’ve become close with a litany of journalists who have provided not only mentoring, but also friendship. Through Twitter I’ve been able to become friendly with editors of publications like Jacobin magazine, columnists at The Guardian, Rolling Stone and The Daily Beast,” Robinson

said. “[Additionally, through Twitter] I’ve been able to cultivate my voice.”

Robinson believes that social media is an extremely powerful platform and that students should take advantage of the opportunities it provides. She advocates for youths to use it to evoke change and facilitate a necessary discourse on issues facing young people and society as a whole.

“I think that students, especially in such a privileged place as McLean, can have more of an impact on the world around them than they realize. With the advent of social media and with the emphasis on individualism that modern teenagers are surrounded by, we don’t realize the social hegemony we have,” Robinson said.

Robinson hopes to continue her activism and interests in politics and public service through college and beyond.

“I’m going to [university] in the capital city of Scotland, where the Scottish independence movement is in full swing. I often joke that the minute the plane touches down I’ll be in the Scottish National Party’s offices, ready to volunteer,” Robinson said. “I’m going to be studying history and politics... Learning the histories of different peoples and cultures and the trends of the politics that guide them is, I think, one of the most important parts of being an advocate.”

Robinson also plans on furthering her involvement and interest in journalism.

“I’d like to write professionally...

Born Activist—A young Emily Robinson speaks to BBC News reporters about the 2008 presidential election. Robinson was living in London at the time. (Photo courtesy of Emily Robinson)

Speaking Up—“When we educate ourselves and speak out, we are far more powerful than when we sit by, complicit in injustice,” Robinson said. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli) at a publication on the cutting edge of investigative, dissenting journalism, like The Intercept. One day, I’d like to work as a chief-of-staff for a politician with strong principles, so if Elizabeth Warren’s interested in hiring a 17-year-old, I’m her gal,” Robinson said.

Robinson ardently believes that students have the power and the agency to effectively advocate for movements they believe in, just as she did with the #SaveFCPS movement. She encourages everyone to use the resources available to them to bring attention to issues they find important and not stand by the wayside, waiting for society to move its gaze towards issues being pushed under the rug.

“Don’t wait for someone to spell out every step for you—carve out your own route to advocacy. Find an issue you’re truly passionate about, do some thorough research, and take to the streets,” Robinson said. “Getting out there is the hardest part, but once you’re out there, even minor victories feel like your own personal Waterloo.”

Page design by Sabrein Gharad, Esme Tabra & Young In Seo

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Model delegate leads the way

Alex Brunner takes McLean’s Model United Nations team to new heights John Corvari Sports Editor

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cLean students have long been dominant in countless academic extracurricular activities in every field.

This year, junior Alex Brunner has set a new standard for achievement, atypical even of McLean’s prestigious reputation for success.

Brunner is Under-Secretary-General of McLean Model United Nations (MUN), and after five events this year he has established himself as a dynamic and impressive leader of the team.

“This year I’ve done five conferences, [and] I’ve taken first place in every single conference... I think that’s the best record in Northern Virginia,” Brunner said.

Displaying such incredible achievement is no easy task, and the preparation to compete in MUN is taxing, including writing a position paper about a given country and topic.

“It will usually take me around 16 hours of research and reading all the background guides, and then also speech prepping so that I’m ready to take down my opponents when we start competing,” Brunner said.

Alexander the Great—Alex Brunner competes during a Model UN conference at Gar-Field High School on Jan. 15. Brunner has competed in five conferences this year and won a gavel in every one. (Photo courtesy of Azam Chaudry)

Brunner became interested in participating in Model UN five years ago and never looked back, quickly improving and becoming one of the best members of McLean’s team.

“In 7th grade I started with [Longfellow English teacher Erin Hughey],” Brunner said. “When I went there I just fell in love with international politics.”

One of Brunner’s most important contributions to the team comes not in the form of individual awards, but in his willingness to help other, less experienced members of the team.

“He has a seven-gavel streak reaching into last year,” freshman Jeremy Siegel said. “That alone is pretty impressive, but he also knows how to lead.”

Sophomore Smritee Thapa, who joined the team as a freshman, believes that Brunner’s help to underclassmen is vital to McLean MUN’s success.

United as One—Alex Brunner and the McLean “He genuinely wants us Model UN team display their awards. Many to do well at conferences and of Brunner’s teammates have praised his become better delegates,” leadership of less experienced members.

Thapa said. “He offers help (Photo courtesy of Laura Xu) before conferences to anyone

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who needs it.”

Brunner’s leadership in MUN has often carried over into other aspects of his life, especially athletics.

“With sports such as crew and cross country I have to lead other people all the time,” Brunner said.

On crew, Brunner’s experience in speaking has galvanized his teammates at times.

“Brunner is very good at rallying the troops,” senior David McCarthy said.

McCarthy is a captain on the McLean crew team, which Brunner has been a part of for three years.

“He does try to step up,” McCarthy said. “He puts himself out there.”

In cross country, Brunner is a varsity runner and has grown into one of the team’s top leaders.

“He commands others with his big personality, and just inspires others to be great,” senior Nick Maynard said.

Maynard, one of McLean’s cross country captains, also said that he believes Brunner will be selected as a captain next year.

Brunner’s incredible consistency and knack for leadership has propelled him to the forefront of McLean Model UN. Now, with several conferences remaining this season, Brunner has his eyes set on bigger and better things.

Page design by John Corvari

MARCH

START

McLean’s engineer, Mark Eggers, is in charge of maintenance for both of the school’s boiler rooms. A common misconception is that the larger of the two boiler rooms is a bomb shelter, but security assistant Paul O’Neill confirmed that McLean has no bomb shelter.

marks the spot

Uncovering hidden places in McLean High School

The observatory’s main feauture is a 13-inch diameter telescope that can provide 500 times magnification.

“That’s 10 times more than Galileo had with his best telescope,” physics teacher Dean Howarth said. An Astronomy Club was rebooted this year, and Howarth and Jeffrey Brocketti are set to teach an astronomy class next year.

(Photos by Jeffrey Brocketti)

Hidden from the elements of the outdoors, with only intermittent rays of sunshine piercing through, this staircase leads to the exterior of the boiler room.

Lower yourself through a trap door and traverse across rubble while ducking under low-hanging pipes and you’ve arrived at the crawl space. Students have been known to go here to skip class, but its original purpose was to provide ventilation.

FEATURES

Article, page design & photos by Brooke Lyons & Zoe Le Menestrel

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Nationwide

Since Janurary, 2016

has ILLION

For Life

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Riding solo

Senior Elden Mandy works 30 hours a week at Balducci’s.

Unaccompanied youth at McLean

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Helen Bloom, Helena Doms & Ingrid Morse Reporters & Features Editor

enior Elden Mandy hurries to class as the bell rings, not wanting to be late for his first period test.

Mandy knows that with his 30-hour-a-week work schedule, he’s unprepared to take it. It’s Friday, and while Mandy’s peers eagerly await the sweet sound of the bell, signaling the start of the weekend, he prepares for an afternoon at work.

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“I used to be in [a] similar situation [to] the wealthier community here,” Mandy said. “Now, I have to pay for my own food, sacrifice my homework and spend less time with my friends.”

According to 2015 employment data from the United States Census Bureau, the household income per capita in McLean is $90,445, which is 222 percent higher than the national average. Additionally, the median household income in McLean is $179,066, almost 238 percent higher than the national average.

Those statistics contribute to McLean’s affluent reputation, and the idea that the majority of Highlanders live comfortably.

While many do, McLean is not completely void of economic hardship. Last year 9.24 percent of McLean students received free or reduced lunch. Most students who qualify for free or reduced lunch come from households whose incomes are less than 85 percent above the national poverty line. Fairfax County also extends eligibility to all registered unaccompanied youth.

Mandy is an unaccompanied youth, and therefore part of the 9.24 percent. A student can be defined as an unaccompanied youth if they are not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian while under the age of 21.

According to Marly Jerome-Featherson, McLean High School’s social worker, Mandy is not the only unaccompanied youth at McLean. Last year, there were 12.

Jerome-Featherson said that many of the students who struggle with money tell her that they often feel isolated from the general McLean community.

“I think McLean students have a different view on what the economics are in this area. People will make comments towards these students. There are insensitivities. Their paths don’t cross with the average McLean student,” Jerome-Featherson said.

Goldstein said she notices a lack of awareness among McLean students for less privileged economic situations.

“I hear people...say something that to me make them sound spoiled or entitled, but I don’t think they see it that way,” she said. “I would vent to my dad and tell

him how I hate ‘these people’ and he said it wasn’t right for me to say that because just because they couldn’t understand me because they didn’t go have to go through what I went through doesn’t make them bad people.”

McLean is an extremely difficult area to live in due to its proximity to D.C., which makes property costs higher. JeromeFeatherson said that this environment often skews McLean students’ perception of wealth.

“McLean is a high-functioning school.

It’s a wealthy environment. I think the students here take a lot for granted,” Jerome-Featherson said. “They don’t realize there are students struggling to make ends meet.”

Students on their own

As a registered unaccompanied youth, Mandy is the only one responsible for managing his busy schedule.

“I have to get up early to do any homework at all. By the end of the day I’m so exhausted, I have no energy to get my school work done,” Mandy said. “I also play soccer, so it takes up a couple days.”

Danielle Goldstein, an 18-year-old senior at McLean, is also registered as unaccompanied.

“When I moved here [from Las Vegas], I was so mad at the ‘rich kids’ and how sheltered they seemed,” Goldstein said.

“Especially when...I heard how McLean kids talked about people different from them, it really upset me... I was never used to that kind of segregation.”

IN-DEPTH

Senior Danielle Goldstein works at Starbucks, making $10/hour.

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Goldstein has worked at Starbucks for the past two years, making $10 an hour.

“My dad never handed anything to me.

I had to get a job and applied the work ethic I grew up with,” she said. “Now I know the value of a dollar because I’ve had to work for it.”

Although her efforts enable her to somewhat support herself, McLean offers Goldstein and other students on free or reduced lunch financial support and counseling.

“I know from personal experience that when I found myself in a position where I truly was in need of something, the moment I reached out to a teacher or the administration I felt that they moved mountains to meet my needs,” she said.

or Unaccompanied Youth (HUY) program, and FCPS estimates that there are currently around 1,500 homeless students enrolled in Fairfax County schools. Many of these youths are “older teenagers who may have been denied housing by their parents or who may have chosen to leave home,” according to the 2012 FCPS Unaccompanied Youth Report. Most were high school seniors over the age of 18 who had left their homes for reasons including “lifestyle differences, abuse, mental health issues, or being asked to leave by parents,” according to the report. Roughly 50 percent of these unaccompanied youths were planning on graduating high school and attending institutions of higher learning.

“Imagine having to fit in homework [in that schedule].”

Looking ahead

Economic hardships can inhibit students’ educational aspirations in high school and beyond.

“We have some students who don’t want to finish high school [and go on to college] because they know they can’t afford or legally attend it,” JeromeFeatherson said.

Despite dealing with their own financial struggles, Mandy and Goldstein have college plans.

Goldstein hopes to receive financial aid and grants to attend Old Dominion

“McLean is a high-functioning school. It’s a wealthy environment. I think the students here take a lot for granted.

They don’t realize there are students struggling to make ends meet.”

-Marly Jerome-Featherson, McLean social worker Despite her daily financial struggles, Goldstein said she is not ashamed of her situation, nor is she put down by what other people may think.

“Coming from a city where education is an underfunded joke to being privileged enough to end up at one of the highest ranked public schools in the country is something I recognize and am grateful for, and it’s a shame how many people take it for granted because this is all they know,” Goldstein said.

Like Mandy and Goldstein, senior Raina Amirghaffari is a registered unaccompanied youth.

“I try not to allow myself to feel bad or awkward about anything because I know I am doing my best, and in the end I have learned a lot more because I am less fortunate than the average student in this area,” Amirghaffari said.

FCPS efforts

FCPS has a student population of over 186,000. As recently as 2012, 407 students were enrolled in FCPS’s Homeless

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The Fairfax County Department of Special Services offers a variety of services to struggling or unaccompanied students.

They offer suggestions on how to get free or low-cost food resources, medical services, housing and legal help from different aid organizations in the area.

On their unaccompanied youth brochure, FCPS guarantees that youth who fit the homeless or unaccompanied definitions “can receive free lunch, transportation and school supplies.” “[The school has] been kind enough to provide me with free lunch and free [healthcare]. It’s amazing,” Mandy said.

“They’re really supportive, they do what they can and they welcome you with open arms.”

Among other services, FCPS’s homeless liaison program provides students with gift cards, typically from grocery and department stores. McLean offers similar resources.

“I have students who work 40 hours just for groceries, and we’ll try to help them out by providing them with Giant gift cards,” Jerome-Featherson said.

University and pursue a career in social work.

“I want to change someone’s life in an underprivileged area, because counseling is something those kids don’t really know much about and wouldn’t think to [get] themselves,” Goldstein said. “This way, I can pull troubled kids out and build a foundation of trust with them and just show them what they can get out of their environment.”

Amirghaffari plans on going to college out of state.

“I want to work with special needs children [in Applied Behavior Analysis] Therapy and hopefully later become a teacher for elementary school,” she said.

These students will not allow their financial difficulties to limit their options in higher education.

“My future is still up in the air. But I plan on going to NOVA for two years, then transferring to another university,” Mandy said. “I have no idea what I want to pursue, but my economic situation won’t stop me from doing what I want with my life.”

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Fa Je

FCPS’s definition of an “unaccompanied youth” :

Youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, including:

-Young people who have run away from home.

-Young people who have been forced to leave their homes.

Their possible living situations include: - Living with friends (couch surfing).

- Living in shelters.

- Living in cars, in abandoned buildings or on the street.

Facts obtained via U.S. Census Bureau, Niche.com, Economic Policy Institute, Marly Jerome-Featherson and FCPS Homeless Information and Resources

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Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Jake Barnett, Ashwin Dasgupta, Melanie Pincus & Liam Zeya

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Dramatic Reading—Junior Diana Suk (Madame), junior George Stifel (Sebastian) and senior Christophe Jelinski (Prince Topher) rehearse after school March 8. TheatreMcLean’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella will run on April 8, 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. and April 9 at 2 p.m. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli)

TheatreMcLean prepares to enchant Cinderella to open April 8 for five performances Melanie Pincus Editor-in-Chief n an increasingly disillusioned world, TheatreMcLean’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella seeks to provide audience members with an opportunity to briefly return to innocence.

“It’s a fairy tale, it’s about true love, and that’s a thing we don’t see anymore,” said theatre teacher Phil Reid, the director of the show. “It’s just sweet, young romance, and that’s so gone now... it’s all disconnect, and this show is not disconnect at all. It’s all about the connection and all about the [earnestness] and sweetness of what love can be.”

The company selected the show in December after holding auditions.

“We had a talent pool audition at which we discovered that we were very short on tenors, which is usually the singing range of the male lead, so that immediately eliminated a ton of shows,” said theatre teacher Chip Rome, the show’s producer.

After gaining limited licensing rights

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to the Broadway version of Cinderella in December, the company began the complex process of preparing the show.

“The most complicated thing is, as in any musical, [there are] so many moving parts. We start by teaching the music, and then comes learning the dance and then comes the staging,” Rome said. “It’s also a very, very collaborative process. You can sometimes solve a singing problem with a costume solution.”

The more fantastical components of the show require ambitious behind-thescenes work.

“The idea of Cinderella is that it’s supposed to be magical, and... [the] biggest magic moments [are Cinderella’s] transformations,” Reid said. “She transforms from rags to riches in a blink of an eye... And there’s a moment where her dress is ripped and torn, and the pieces of the ripped dress have to fly in the air and then attach to her. It’s simple to read it on a page, and exponentially harder to make it happen onstage.”

The costume crew chief, junior Jess Scarano, said that her crew, which consists of over 20 members, is working hard to make the quick changes possible.

“Figuring out how to do [the costume changes] has been a lot of trial and error, and we’re almost there,” she said.

Scarano said working on costumes requires a high level of collaboration.

“Costumes is really big in color palette, so I coordinate with lighting, set and props all about that, and makeup, of course,” she said. “Constant communication is very important.”

Freshman Syd Kirk will be playing Cinderella, or Ella, as she’s known in the Broadway version of the show. Kirk said the transformations will enhance the show.

“There are two dress transformations that I am so excited for, and they really add that special something to the show,” Kirk said.

In rehearsal, Kirk is working to develop Ella’s character.

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“What I enjoy most about my role TheatreMcLean’s Cappies performance is Ella’s ability to really see the best in will be April 15. The Cappies Gala, held everything,” Kirk said. “I love getting to at the end of each school year, honors bring out my inner Ella on stage, and I exceptional high school theater in the look forward to learning more about her metropolitan area. Last year, McLean’s character every day.” production of Big Fish received the Best Kirk said the audience can look forward Musical award. Reid said the company to seeing a new spin on the classic fairytale. works to make each show Cappies-level.

“While [the Broadway version] does “I don’t put any pressure on the kids keep some of the beauty from the original, or myself with it being Cappies,” he said. there are just so many new fun songs and “Competition’s not my main goal—my characters I think the audience will grow main goal is to tell the story.” to love as well,” she said.

Reid said the show can provide an Rome said these new aspects include a escape from modern cynicism. kind stepsister and political corruption.

“There is such a pure element, and “In our version one of the stepsisters I think that’s what we need especially is evil and the other’s good and has a boyfriend that’s a rebel and wants to change the way that the... prince is really being ruled by his advisor, who’s not doing a very fair job,” Rome said.

The familiarity of the show paired with some twists gives the show a broad appeal.

“Cinderella really is for all ages,” Kirk April 8, 14, 15 & 16 @ 7 said. “Everyone can find something in it to April 8, with 14,them 15 even & 16 @ 7 p.m. really hold onto and keep after the show is over.”

April 9 @ 2 p.m.

Dates:

because... there is too much cynicism in our life for us to deal with,” Reid said.

“Let’s keep it sweet for a little bit, and I think that’s what Cinderella is, even if it’s just for five performances.”

Ultimately, Rome said the show acts as an upbeat reminder that following one’s dreams is worthwhile.

“The show is lively and fun, it’s got great music, the cast we’ve got is super,” Rome said. “Everyone’s going to walk out feeling good about themselves and being reminded that it’s worth pursuing even the impossible.”

TTickets:

$12 theatremclean.org $15 door

Rags to Riches—Freshman Syd Kirk (Ella) and senior Christophe Jelinski (Prince Topher) pose in a promotional photo for TheatreMcLean’s Cinderella. The Broadway version of the show includes political corruption and a kind stepsister. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Reid)

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Graphics by Bryan Chung Page design by Melanie Pincus

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Spotlight: spot on!

Tom McCarthy nails his first Oscar win David Kagan & Peter Morell Managing Editor & Reporter

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he horns have sounded, the red carpet has been rolled up, the little golden men given out, and the dust that arose from the fan wars of awards season has begun to settle.

Spotlight, directed by Tom McCarthy, left the Oscars a victor; it was awarded the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ prestigious Best Picture award.

Based on a true story, Spotlight follows a team of investigative journalists from The Boston Globe who attempt to tell the true story behind allegations of sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests in Boston.

Digging through a sea of lies and deceit, the Spotlight team eventually uncovers a prolonged, systemic and intentionally hidden pattern of child sex abuse within the Catholic Church.

The team’s search for truth becomes a crusade for justice as the members of the Spotlight team come into contact with dozens upon dozens of survivors. It is revealed that such sex abuse coverups have been occurring not just in Boston, but across the U.S. and around the world.

While the movie has superior attention to detail, one of Spotlight’s greatest achievements undoubtedly belongs to its talented cast of actors. Michael Keaton delivers an unbelievable performance as Spotlight team leader Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson; in fact, Keaton’s performance was so good that Robinson joked, “My persona has been hijacked. If Michael Keaton robbed a bank, the police would quickly have me in handcuffs.”

Stanley Tucci and Rachel McAdams also deliver incredible performances in supporting roles, but perhaps the film’s best performance belongs to Mark Ruffalo.

As Spotlight team member Michael Rezendes, Ruffalo delivers a passionate and emotional performance, nabbing an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. All in all, the cast does a remarkable job of bringing these real life characters to the big screen in a big way.

While Spotlight stands as a gripping

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and suspenseful film, the true genius lies in its ability to capture the raw emotion of the reporters and victims alike. Time and time again, we watch these Spotlight reporters sit at coffee shop tables and in law offices, prying for the painful details of these disgusting violations; and yet, every individual story hits home with great pathos, forcing the viewer to feel the pain and shame of every victim the movie focuses on.

In addition to the the emotion of the victims, Spotlight also focuses on the emotion of the reporters. Each reporter on The Globe’s Spotlight team has a different background and family that struggles with the work being done on the story.

From the discovery of a “recovery home” just down the block from a reporter with young children, to another reporter reading the final product of the article with her devout Catholic grandmother, the film captures emotion in a manner that has been unparalleled in recent years. Emotion is the heart of art. This film found the perfect balance between emotion and enjoyment.

For us, this film held a special bit of reality and significance. As reporters, we know the struggle and difficulty behind in-depth reporting. A lot of blood, sweat and tears go into a truly great piece such as the piece that Spotlight follows.

There’s no doubt that it’s difficult to capture the time and effort that it takes to write a piece like this real, deep reporting, and Spotlight’s ability to take the incredibly difficult task of in-depth reporting and bring it to life with the passion and persistence of real reporting is outstanding.

Journalism is often perceived as a boring endeavor that is used more to smear public institutions than to do good for the community. However, Spotlight sheds a light on the crucial importance of good reporting, and it emphasizes the emotion that goes into every piece that gets published.

In one of the final scenes of Spotlight, the Spotlight team sits around their editor’s office inside The Boston Globe’s

Open Road Films

office building. Their conversation revolves around one basic question: how could something so bad be allowed to continue for so long?

It is this basic question that allowed Spotlight to stir its audiences and take home the grand prize at this year’s Academy Awards. On top of being a generally enjoyable film, Spotlight serves as a scathing attack on the human instinct to do the task that’s been assigned, even when doing so seems morally reprehensible.

Not every movie that wins the title of Best Motion Picture from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences can be said to have truly deserved it, but Spotlight undoubtedly did. It will be remembered for years to come as a movie that did more than just entertain audiences, and it accomplished more than just winning awards—the film was more of an open letter to the American public than a thank you note to The Boston Globe. It delivered a powerful message that will touch the hearts of audiences for years to come.

Page design by David Kagan

MARCH

Kanye’s The Life of Pablo fails to live up to hype

GOOD Music

Ashwin Dasgupta Editor-in-Chief

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anye West has become a cultural figure that transcends the many mediums he pursues, that much is clear.

Reviews of his work quickly degenerate into bizarre think pieces—one critic will bring up his maniacal Twitter rants and another will bring up his famous MTV awards show stunt, both coming to some grand conclusion about our generation.

Maybe it’s frivolous, but if anything, it’s a testament to just how inseparable the sides of the artist, celebrity and living meme are from each other. As someone with a clichéd distaste for celebrities, and a waning fascination with memes, I will try my best to focus on the music.

Two things become apparent after listening to The Life of Pablo for the first time. One is that the song structures don’t resemble conventional hip-hop at all. The esoteric anatomy of most of the tracks hardly resembles a typical versechorus-verse structure. Linked to that is the second aspect: how little of the project centers around Kanye’s rapping ability.

This project is filled to the brim with highend and faux high-end (I’m looking at you, Desiigner) features that make this album really shine. These two observations come together in the amount of tracks that are structured in a way where Ye spits a verse then hands off most of the rest of the song to a featured artist. Whether it’s Chance the Rapper, The Weeknd or Chris Brown, West’s input is almost always blown out

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of the water by his guest. Despite this, Kanye’s presence on his album is certainly constant even when he is not at the mic, putting together abstract sonic puzzles using pieces ranging from a 4-year-old’s energetic prayer to an infectious Rihanna melody.

A prime example of this puzzle coming together beautifully is on “Father Stretch My Hands Parts 1&2” (referred to as such for convenience). The song opens with a looped gospel sample that persists as rumbling synths begin to ooze over it.

The gospel is then isolated for one last time and suddenly quick steps of a drum machine enter with the catchiest vocals of the entire albums delivered by none other than ex-G.O.O.D. Music artist Kid Cudi.

A similar moment occurs on “Part 2” as a verse from Desiigner’s track “Panda” comes out of nowhere as Kanye finishes one of his better verses on the project.

West is working with an abundance of simply gorgeous puzzle pieces on this album. On “Ultralight Beam,” fellow Chicago-native Chance the Rapper manages to deliver the strongest bars on the entire project, an equal testament to Chance’s talent and Ye’s lyrical shortcomings. Another standout of the LP is “FML,” in which the Weeknd’s crooning earworm is matched by West, who delivers one of the most gripping verses on the LP that makes listeners reminisce about the times when a good Kanye album required good bars from the man himself. The track also ends with an eerie, overly distorted voice sample that feels like something out of an Aphex Twin track. These moments of experimental ingenuity are when the album is at its most interesting, and most enjoyable; however, these moments are far from constant.

The occasional impressive Ye verse is, as previously mentioned, reminiscent of an earlier time because, by in large, his verses are not good on this project. Even the project’s best song, “Father Stretch My Hands,” is instantly, but thankfully temporarily, soiled when Ye opens his verse with one of his most cringe-inducing bars in recent memory (which, if you’ve listened to the project, you know I can’t include in this publication). By and

large, the verses on this project could be trumped by the average Sway in the Morning freestyle (I guess it’s no surprise that Kanye’s was terrible). The bars that have been deemed “memorable” by critics and fans have been given that title more for their cultural relevance and meme potential than anything else. Even on tracks like “Feedback,” which features two straight minutes of Ye’s elusive bars, the Chicago emcee does little in terms of lyricism to raise eyebrows.

Surprisingly, the best non-guest verse is probably found at the beginning of the bonus track “30 Hours,” in which Kanye lays down some engaging autobiographical lyrics over a soothing beat with a mellow distorted voice loop. Although the verse is a welcome addition to the project, it leaves a sour taste in the listener’s mouth, as if making a statement that better lyrics could’ve been written for the main project if they really wanted. All that being said, the fact that this is by no means a conventional hip-hop album means that the lack of lyrical ingenuity is heavily diluted, making an otherwise glaring flaw innocuous for most of the project.

The Life of Pablo takes listeners on a rollercoaster of belief. At its peak, it will have listeners on their knees praying to Lord Yeezus (or just emphatically nodding their heads, if they’ve reached the base maturity level necessary to recognize when a meme is taken too far); at its lowest point, it will turn listeners into Facebook dads who exclusively listen to Metallica and one Radiohead album and talk about how Kanye is a hack who is ruining rap. Unfortunately for West, such an even balance between great and bad is significantly below his standards.

Ten years from now, The Life of Pablo will remain both a solid album and a blemish in the discography of a man who will go down as one of the greatest rappers of all time.

Key Tracks: “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” and “Pt.2,” “FML,” “Ultralight Beam”

Page design by Ashwin Dasgupta

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Faculty shares underrated film choices English teachers recommend some movies worth watching

Henry Howe & Anurag Kandukuri Reporters he film industry has produced spectacular movies, but as with all forms of art, a few gems go under the radar. Whether it’s because people overlook them or have never heard of them, these movies are not given a chance to shine. Here are a few films that need to steal the spotlight, according to McLean English teachers.

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kira Kurosawa is one of the best directors ever to come from Japan. Some of his work like The Seven Samurai and the Hidden Fortress might ring a bell. Yojimbo—set at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate—is one of them.

“It’s set up very much like a Western, but with samurais fighting with swords,” English teacher Aaron Even said. “There’s a lot of action conventions that are in the movie that are straight out of Western movies.

It’s kind of cool to see them and to see

Smoke Signals Tara Dwyer’s Rec

how similar they are.”

So, why recommend works by such a well-known director as Kurosawa on a list of overlooked films?

“There are two genres that are really popular: western action movies and modern urban cop action movies,” Even said. “We don’t usually look to Japan for those types of movies, and we don’t usually look back to the 1960s for [them].”

Yojimbo is a perfect introduction to the master director that is Kurosawa.

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hris Eyre’s 1998 Smoke Signals is an independent comedic drama based on the short story, “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona,” by Sherman Alexie.

The main character is a Coeur d’Alene Indian boy named Victor who is angry because his father left him and his mother. Years later, Victor learns that his father passed away and goes to Arizona to collect his remains.

The film explores many themes, such as friendship, resentment and forgiveness.

Victor learns the importance of friendship when he takes his funny and garrulous storytelling friend Thomas with him on his journey. Needless to say, Victor’s journey changes his short-tempered character to a

Miramax Films

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ebel Without a Cause is a 1950s classic, one which your parents are likely to remember.

“It was very, very ‘edge’ back in the day,” English teacher John Behm said.

The film provides a sympathetic portrayal of restless, misunderstood middle class youth through the lens of rebellious teen Jim Stark played by the legendary James Dean.

Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo round out the star-studded cast in this film tribute to teen angst. In addition to exploring themes such as the moral

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decay of American youth and the stark generational divide of the ‘50s, Rebel Without a Cause is action-packed. Knife fights with greasers, a drag race, a police standoff, automobile-related death, rebelling against parents: this movie has it all.

The brutal deaths within the movie underscore the situational irony of James Dean’s untimely demise in a reckless driving crash. If the action and drama don’t appeal to you, see it in tribute to Dean, teen heart-throb immortalized.

Yojimbo

Aaron Even’s Rec

Toho Studios

friendly, understanding one.

Thanks to Brian Capener and his fantastic cinematography, the audience gets to experience landscapes and long trailing shots. Another positive aspect of the movie is its unique use of chronology, leaping from the past to the present with ease. Although everyone in the cast does an amazing job portraying their characters, there are a few moments of cringe-worthy acting.

“It’s a really good movie, but not a lot of people have seen it,” English teacher Tara Dwyer said.

Cheesy moments aside, the cast and crew successfully bring together a masterpiece of a movie.

Rebel Without a Cause John Behm’s Rec

Warner Bros.

Page design by Henry Howe & Anurag Kandukuri

MARCH

American Housewife gives feminism many faces

Helen Ellis provides a new female voice in her collection of short stories housewife has faded into obscurity. In American Housewife, Ellis puts a spotlight on the housewife of the modern era—the woman who “stallion-walks to the toaster” as she preps for her party and “drinks Dr. Pepper through a Twizzler.”

Ellis provides insight into the minds of women who have been stigmatized as unintelligent, foolish and superficial. She reveals their boredom, their rage, their cleverness and their heart.

Through the collection, we are introduced to the many different faces of the complacent housewife: both the gentle, maternal side and the vicious, hyperaggressive nut job side.

In “What I Do All Day,” Ellis suggests that love, to a housewife, is sometimes as simple as “vacuuming all the glitter.”

Doubleday/Penguin Random House In “Dead Doorman,” Ellis Catherine Zysk tells the tale of a woman Reporter who will stop at nothing to get the ring, elen Ellis’s collection of short stories the apartment and the money—and in her book American Housewife, eventually to get the whole apartment to sheds new light on the intricacies of the herself. The cleverness of the women and their innate drive for self-preservation is lives of stay-at-home women.

Whether Ellis is portraying a heated especially showcased here. What others debate between two neighbors about perceive as superficiality is actually a paneling or revealing the hidden meaning calculated persona created by these behind phrases used by typical “Southern women to protect their hearts and secure ladies,” she expertly injects vivacity into their futures.

These women have all the class a pair of the seemingly mundane lives of these Spanx and a tight-lipped smile can contain, individuals while also satirizing the and I love it. These are the women who’d shallow aspects of their existence. call someone “the nicest person,” when These stories make it impossible to they really think that person’s as “boring perceive a Southern lady as nothing more as pound cake.”

They make breakfast, than an empty smile and a “bless your clean the dishes and tie their husband’s heart.” In Ellis’ world of book clubs, bra ties, while simulataneously plotting their fittings and dinner parties, housewives murders. are made to be much more than pretty Before reading Ellis’ collection, I faces. Housewives hide teeth behind their believed that the housewife was a dying perfectly shaded lips and wage wars in breed.

Through American Housewife, I their book club meetings. discovered that these women are not only In the midst of this decade’s social around, but stronger than they were in the and cultural revolution, the American

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past. Ellis made me not only want to meet these women and witness their “killer” looks, but also admire and even aspire to be them.

There is so much more heart in American Housewife than I ever thought possible in this collection of short stories.

Ellis made me laugh with her scathing criticisms of the gold-digging housewife, but she also forced me to acknowledge the pain, hardship and perseverance evident in simple, everyday housewives’ lives.

Ellis submits that there is more to the housewife than meets the eye; a Playboy bunny can be effervescent and lighthearted but simultaneously deeply concerned for her sister. A gossiping head of a book club can be both cruel in her remarks about her fellow members’ ticking biological clocks, while also offering, with utter sincerity, to blackmail their cruel or adulterous husbands.

Ellis reveals a community to the reader that gives them a new sense of what it means to be a strong and independent woman. A woman is multifaceted, and she need not limit herself to any one persona; each day offers the housewife a chance to try on new personality. If it doesn’t suit her, she can send it off to the tailor and try it on again later. Ellis reveals a new kind of feminism—one which includes the less than perfect person in all of us.

Rating

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The Wainscoting War Hello! Welcome to the Book Club Dead Doorman

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Dumpster Diving with the Stars How to be a Grown-Ass Lady Take it from the Cats Graphic obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons License Page design by Catherine Zysk

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Spring into spring

Festivals, exhibits and other events to check out in D.C.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Dates: March 20-April 17; Parade April 16 Location: Constitution Avenue (7th-17th Streets NW) Cost: $20 for grandstand seating at the parade, free for everyone between 9th and 15th Streets.

For additional Cherry Blossom fun, check out the Blossom Kite Festival on April 2 from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Photo obtained via ramsays4 on Pixabay under a Creative Commons License

Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival Date: April 9 Time: 1-9 p.m.; Fireworks display 8:30 p.m.

Location: 600 Water Street, SW to the Waterfront Park and Titanic Memorial Cost: Free “I went to the festival last year and it was awesome—it felt like winter was finally over and time to enjoy the cool nights!”

- junior Young Jeong Lee

Restaurants Crumbs & Whiskers Bringing together the best things in life: friends, coffee and shelter cats 3211 O St. NW Good Stuff Eatery 303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE

Jazz Appreciation Month Dates: April 1-30 Location: The Smithsonian Museum of American History Cost: $25 for Standard Single Seating for Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra performances

International Pillow Fight Day Date: April 2 Time: 2 p.m.

Location: National Mall, Washington Monument Grounds Cost: Free, just bring your pillows with you (no down pillows allowed)

Capital Chicken & Waffles Food Truck Various locations around D.C.

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Reporting & page design by Christine Cheon & Kyuree Kim

MARCH

Drop these beats Music to get you into a new genre

Young In Seo & Aisha Singh Features Editor & Web Editor-in-Chief

wildfire rachel platten

Columbia Records

GOOD Music

Melophobia means “fear of music.” This ironically named album is mellow in nature, combining a variety of new music styles. Cage the Elephant really stepped out of their musical comfort zone with Melophobia. This is the kind of album you’d listen to while driving along the beach and relaxing.

Rachel Platten’s Wildfire has tracks that range from upbeat to soulful that emulate a true pop album. Platten’s most well-known song, “Fight Song,” is reminiscent of hit songs like “Roar” by Katy Perry. Other songs on the album give off a strong Taylor Swift vibe. Platten’s versatility is sure to impress the listener.

Yeezus Kanye West

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What are your favorite genres of music to listen to?

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Drones Muse

Drones, the Grammywinning rock album of 2016, is Muse’s greatest musical success to date.

The album has a narrative format, telling the story of someone battling with hope and demons, and eventually overcoming them. The tracks have fiery lyrics laced with passion.

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Warner Bros.

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survey of 108 students

Relentless

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Kanye West adds expressively tough lyrics as well as important social and political commentary to his 2013 album. Kanye’s spontaneity and erratic nature shines through his songs, which make for an extremely interesting and thought-provoking album that you can still jam out to.

POLL:

Melophobia Cage the Elephant

Alt

POP

RAP

POP

ALT

EDM

Page design by Young In Seo & Aisha Singh

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OPINIONS

Making up for lost time

School board fails to apply for King’s Dominion law waiver The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

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fter snow days, voting days and a bomb threat day, many classes are scrambling to finish on time. Every day missed is a day of lost standardized test preparation for McLean students.

Buried inside the Code of Virginia, under Title 22.1, Chapter 7, is section 22.1-79.1, known to many as the Kings Dominion law. Passed in 1986, 22.1-79.1 stipulates that “Each local school board shall set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school shall be after Labor Day.” The Kings Dominion law has become a major impediment for FCPS and its students, particularly students taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes.

However, there is hope for counties like FCPS who want to be able to start school before Labor Day. The Kings Dominion law gives exceptions in the form of a waiver to “A school division [that] has been closed an average of eight days per year during any five of the last 10 years because of severe weather conditions, energy shortages, power failures or other emergency situations.”

FCPS only needed to have five such days this school year in order to meet the eligibility for the waiver, and thanks to the historic ‘Snowzilla storm’ the number of days needed was exceeded. Thus FCPS had qualified for the theoretically sought after waiver but in a stunning decision the FCPS School board voted not to start school before Labor Day in 2016-17.

“We are already getting a lot of [feedback] from parents of elementary and middle school [students] who have already put money down for vacations, camps, what have you for Labor Day. We know that high school families tend to be back by Labor Day, because band and a lot of athletic activities have already begun,” said Jane Strauss, Dranesville District Member to Fairfax County’s School Board.

AP tests take place in early May nationally, regardless of when a given

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county begins the school year. Thus, FCPS students who start weeks later than their peers outside of Virginia are not playing on a level field. To make matters worse, AP tests are essentially scored on a curve amongst all test-takers nationally, making the situation even more adverse.

“I hope to finish [teaching material]

by April 29, but right now I’m looking at the calendar and I’m four days behind, so I would finish the day before the Macroeconomics test,” said AP Economics and world history teacher Kiernan Sweeney.

Teachers are not the only ones who feel the time crunch due to FCPS starting after Labor Day. Students hoping to do well on AP exams and earn college credit share the same frustration.

“AP students miss out on an entire month of instruction, which puts them at a disadvantage during the AP exams,” senior Iris Gou said.

Teachers preparing for SOLs also face deadlines.

“I’m not putting as much pressure on them to learn material at home, so we are a little behind there,” Sweeney said. “What happens is we cut material that we don’t think will be on the SOL, which is a shame—I’d love them to know everything.”

The crunch for time results in

“teaching to the test,” and since the SOLs are supposed to represent a minimum standard, students don’t learn the full depth of material.

The school board plans to pursue an earlier start date for the 2017-2018 school year, but the same issue could arise then.

Since this was the year they could possibly qualify for a waiver, this year they could have advised parents to hold off scheduling vacations until the start date for next year was official.

The school board’s decision results in another year of teachers starting almost a month behind, unsure of whether or not they will be able to finish the material.

The ones paying the price are the students, like Gou, who are at a disadvantage for tests, and the teachers who have less time to prepare their students for AP and SOL tests. Those who pay the price are not the same as those who elect the school board, and that is why, unfortunately, FCPS will be opening after Labor Day again next year.

Changing the start date for next year at this time would undoubtedly be inconvenient, but the benefits of such an action far outweigh any costs. An adjusted schedule would allow teachers to convey material at a reasonable pace and students to be adequately prepared for exams.

Comic by Anna Marie Garland Reporting & page design by Olivia Mooney & Jake Barnett

MARCH

Students should be mindful on social media Social media can affect college and career plans Colin Edson & Rustin Abedi Reporter & Opinions Editor

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dmissions officers at Bowdoin College in Maine were considering applications for the school’s 2015 freshman class when they came across a high school senior who had attended a campus information session the previous year. On her Twitter profile, the school found obscene comments about the college. Although admissions officer Scott Meiklejohn said the student’s academic credentials were not competitive, he said a social media presence like hers could hold back even the most competitive of applicants.

Social media provides colleges and employers with an opportunity to gauge the behavior of their potential students and co-workers before accepting or hiring them. With technology becoming more prominent in the lives of teens, being cognizant of social media presence is more important than ever. Having a messy profile can have a number of consequences.

“Researching candidates via social media and other online sources has transformed from an emerging trend to a staple of online recruitment,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resource officer of employment services company CareerBuilder. “In a competitive job market, recruiters are looking for all the information they can find that might help them make decisions.”

If an individual omits something on an application that is visible on social media, it can yield negative consequences.

“If you make a mistake and then you are not truthful about that mistake, and it is found out because of something you posted on social media, then you [become] ineligible,” McLean Career Center Specialist Dawn Allison said.

In an interview with Mashable, Ryan Cohn, vice president of social and digital operations at What’s Next Marketing, said he always considers social media when making hiring decisions.

“Whenever I evaluate a potential

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f

65%

of employers checked out applicants' Facebook profiles

21%

admit they're looking for reasons not to hire the candidate

want to see what other people are posting about the candidate

37%

Facts obtained via CareerBuilder survey

employee, I always take a look at what is publicly visible on their Facebook profile,” Cohn said. “On two separate occasions, I have rejected entry level prospects for featuring firearms in their profile picture.

Both were qualified in terms of experience and otherwise would have been worthy of an interview.”

“I think that as we go forward, less of your life is private.”

-Career Center Specialist Dawn Allison

To avoid these consequences, students should take steps to erase any questionable posts on social media as part of their college applications. “[Students] should be conscious to what they are saying and... how they portray themselves on social media,” sophomore Marshall Pratt said. “Posting something from a party, doing something stupid... kids are more [likely] to brag than when they are adults.”

Students should keep profiles as professional as possible. According to an ABC News report, college counselors will make the effort to look back at when students first started using social media, even if it means that they have to look as far back as middle school.

Posting pictures that will affect one’s

image or future is preventable. One way to keep future problems from happening is to think about how families would react to posts. “[Students] should only post things that their parents and grandparents would be comfortable with seeing,” Allison said.

Students may also want to try looking themselves up on Google to make sure there are no controversial pictures or inappropriate comments.

“I think that as we go forward, less of your life is private, and the more you use social media, the more you will realize that what you do is out there for people to see,” Allison said.

The easiest way to avoid negative attention from college admissions officers and employers is to not post anything offensive in the first place. Competition between students and employees is increasing, and social media provides a filter that can make or break futures.

“Sometimes you might post something, and maybe the college isn’t a school that’s going out looking at what you have posted, but maybe another student or parent might notify the school’s admissions office,” Allison said. “Colleges follow up on that. Some students have lost their acceptance to the school because of social media.”

Awareness and smart decision-making when using social media may not always seem important, but with college on the horizon it is important to stay one step ahead and avoid costly mistakes.

Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Colin Edson & Rustin Abedi

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Getting to school shouldn’t be a hassle

Poor roads and congestion must be addressed for students and staff Rustin Abedi Opinions Editor

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nightmare that both students and faculty members must face every day lies in the paved roads leading to and surrounding the school.

Bad roads, congestion and other traffic problems in Fairfax County affect not only students in high school, but staff members as well.

On virginiaroads.org, state officials post annually monitored road conditions and score streets on a scale of zero to 100.

Streets of very poor quality generally have enough cracks, holes or bumps for a score of 49 or below, officials from the website said. Roads that have scores between 50 and 60 are also considered “deficient” and in need of repairs, according to state guidelines.

According to The Washington Post, state transportation officials estimate that nearly 80 percent of local streets are in “poor” or “very poor” condition, up from 70 percent in 2011 within Fairfax County, the state’s largest jurisdiction.

Many of the streets within the county’s older neighborhoods are full of potholes, crumbling asphalt and other obstacles that make driving difficult, according to local state officials.

It is important that road conditions remain decent in order to protect both experienced and inexperienced drivers.

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It is common for inexperienced drivers to make mistakes when it comes to estimating how their vehicle can handle non-ideal conditions, and one driver’s mistake can be detrimental to many. “[Teen drivers] might go too fast [on roads] or there might be a pothole,” sophomore Owen Ricketts said. “They will overlook [potholes] as something that won’t damage their car or [make] them lose control.”

Officials in Fairfax say the state should allocate more money to repairing streets in the county. They have dipped into county funds in recent years to make repairs that they say the state should finance.

“We have gotten ourselves in a position of having to do that because of the derelict actions on the part of the state,” Fairfax Supervisor Jeff McKay said.

In 2014 and 2015, the county used about $360,000 of its funds to fill potholes and resurface asphalt on local roads.

The state spent about $135 million in 2015 repaving Northern Virginia roads.

However, most of that money went to highway repair.

Jennifer McCord, a spokeswoman with the Virginia Department of Transportation, stated that local streets in Northern Virginia would be a high priority this upcoming year. The state has set aside about $86 million to deal with the objective.

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Virginia's average commute time to work in 2014

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of local streets are in “poor” or “very poor” condition.

“Expanding roadways is going to be difficult in Fairfax County. We have a lot of development that’s right up against our highways, so [public] transit is really going to be key to moving more people in the future,” said Tom Biesiadny, director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

Nasty weather also complicates the commutes of most teen drivers, who are generally less experienced than other people on the road.

“Most of the [congestion] can be attributed to traffic with people trying to get to work, and [students] are in the cluster of that.”

-Junior Ethan Clark

“[Bad] weather is a big deal because with inexperienced teen drivers it’s dangerous to get them out on the road in the morning when it’s snowing or raining,” Ricketts said.

Congestion is a big problem among students as well, so many have begun avoiding main roads and taking side routes to find the most time-efficient route to school.

“The traffic congestion is a big problem,” junior Ethan Clark said. “You have to take smarter routes and research.

You can’t always take the toll road.”

Although the congestion can be dealt with on an individual basis by being smarter and crafting out the best route, the actual state of the roads must be addressed. It is the state’s and the county’s responsibility to be more diligent in making repairs to roads in order to prevent delays and allow for maximum efficiency for drivers.

According to Virginia State Transportation Officials & Virginia.gov

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Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Rustin Abedi

MARCH

Big Brother returns

The federal government’s attack on Apple opens the door to surveillance Siddarth Shankar Reporter

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student’s school-issued computer turns on, its camera capturing everything its owner is doing. The user pops a few Mike and Ike candies in his mouth and begins his homework. Two weeks later, he is called into the school’s office and accused of taking illicit drugs.

Over the course of 15 days, 210 pictures of him and 218 pictures of his private, online conversations were taken and sent to school servers, all without him knowing.

These events actually happened. In October and November of 2009, officials at the Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania covertly tracked the online conversations and physical whereabouts of Blake J. Robbins, a sophomore. It’s clear that surveillance isn’t something straight out of dystopian novels. Even worse, instead of condemning actions of this nature, our government is working to FBI creates a backdoor—The FBI is currently suing Apple in an attempt to expand its surveillance abilities.

The FBI is currently investigating access the phone of a suspect in the San Berndardino terrorist attacks. the motives behind the San Bernardino Such a backdoor would threaten consumers’ privacy. (Illustration by Anjalie terrorist attacks this past December. As Chauhan &Siddarth Shankar) part of this investigation, the FBI is suing Apple. that Apple build surveillance software McNamara said.

“The FBI wants [Apple] to make a new to intercept your messages, access your The government’s attempt to create a version of the iPhone operating system, health records or financial data, track backdoor into iPhones is a clear violation circumventing several important security your location or even access your phone’s of these rights. features,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a microphone or camera without your “Even in cases where national security letter to customers. knowledge,” Cook said. has been utmost, unless there is clear The FBI’s demand that Apple create an If such software is built, government and present danger, the government entirely new system to override security access to our information may be the least can’t force people to reveal information,” features is simply a government overreach. of our worries.

McNamara said. “National security loses “The government should not be able “The precedent this case would set may out to individual freedoms in court cases.” to force a private company to create cause violations of privacy in the future FBI supporters say such software would entirely new software upon their request,” [by] hackers as well as governments of only apply to one iPhone. However, the said senior Glenn Feit, who runs a local other countries [requesting] to access the implications of the decision would be far technology company. data of users,” Feit said. broader.

The FBI’s case has the potential to Although some have accused Apple of “This matter... plays into the larger create a dangerous legal precedent that siding with terrorists by protesting the conversation the entire country has been could allow the government unrestricted FBI’s order, the actions the government having about privacy versus security,” access to personal technologies, such as is taking amount to an unprecedented Feit said. “This is [a] fight to support the cars, phones, computers and cameras. infringement of rights. privacy of [Apple’s] users.”

Such a precedent would give incidents like “The Constitution is meant to protect As this case moves through the courts, the one in Lower Merion School District the rights of the people from the it is imperative that the justice system the potential to become more common. government infringing on freedoms,” makes the right decision by ruling in favor “The government could... demand AP U.S. Government teacher Karen of Apple, thus protecting civilians’ privacy.

OPINIONS

Page design by Siddarth Shankar

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CROSSFIRE: Media influence positively impacts politics News coverage of races informs voters about necessary information Sanskriti Neupane Web Editor-in-Chief

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s election season begins, the entire country rushes into a frenzy. Debates are scheduled, primaries are held, parties select nominees, and only then does the general election occur. From the announcement of party nominees to the very end when the president is inaugurated, the media is there to cover every step.

Without the media, debates would not be live-streamed across the world as they are today, nor would they be as prominent. The coverage of the debates and supplemental interviews of the candidates allow voters to decide which candidate’s viewpoints best align with their own and who they believe would best lead the country.

“I think media is really good [for] informing... people about the candidates,” senior Lilly Lee said. “[Both] the overall qualities of the candidates as well as what the candidates value.”

Because practically every news network provides coverage of almost every step on the path to the presidential election, they provide potential voters with a chance to see the candidates from every angle. The debates, which are hosted by a wide range of media networks like NBC and Fox News, give voters the chance to get a sense of the different views of potential candidates.

Furthermore, the media brings issues which otherwise might not have been covered to the limelight and encourages candidates to discuss issues which they might have otherwise avoided.

Media coverage has led to Hillary Clinton being asked a series of questions on the Benghazi email scandal; the questions would have otherwise been avoided and covered up by Clinton and her

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aides.

“Journalism exists because the people need to know the truth,” social studies teacher Cynthia Hawkins said.

Technology has become a major fixture in the American household, and it is easy for most people to find access to a computer or television. It is not difficult for voters to turn on the TV or open up a news website if they need to find information about the candidates.

“Social media influences a lot of what the younger generations will see and the amount of media [attention] a candidate... gains can [lead] to a huge amount of support for their campaign,” senior Morgan Koerner said.

The media also provides a platform for the candidates to express their opinions and bring up issues which they believe are most important. When giving an interview or participating in a debate, potential nominees are aware that the general public is listening to their every word. For lesser known candidates, the media can provide a stage to showcase their opinions.

Before debates and interviews, a small percentage of Democratic voters

supported Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. As the debates continue, Sanders’ support base has grown steadily and he has became a serious contender for the Democratic nomination. The amount of airtime and media coverage given to the senator was integral to growing his support network.

“The media can provide a place for struggling candidates to bring their issues forward,” junior Mimi Comer said.

Although news outlets are often biased towards a potential candidate, the vast number of media networks available to voters makes it easy to receive information from differing sources, which lessens the influence of a specific news source on a voter’s choice.

“I think media gets people actually interested in politics,” junior Rebecca Bennett said.

Media coverage not only provides candidates with a platform to speak from but also encourages and informs potential voters. Election coverage has become vital to the democratic process and consequently to the fate of the nation.

MARCH

To what extent should the media impact politics?

Media influences politics too much Media influence is harming the current presidential race Anjalie Chauhan Reporter

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s the presidential primaries continue, media influence on voters and political strategies is becoming more evident.

The way many national and popular news sources convey information does not always prioritize important issues. On the path to the 2016 election, there has been more coverage of a fictional wall than there has of the issue of social security.

“Television stations that are forprofit, the newspapers that are for-profit, anything that is for-profit has to lure people in to watch or look at what they are doing,” social studies teacher Ian Howell said.

Because each private news source takes different stances and dedicates varying amounts of attention to different issues, voters are basing their opinions of candidates on a highly biased collection of ‘facts’ and frequently putting more weight into issues that matter less to the general public than the media makes them seem.

“Donald Trump is more well-known than other more qualified and capable

OPINIONS

candidates because of his controversial statements as shock value,” junior Rayyan Chami said.

The bias of news organizations would not prove to be so detrimental to the current political landscape if a majority of people did not base their opinions solely on a single station’s election coverage.

“Not many people seek out outside information and even if [they] do, [they’re] looking up articles that are usually news articles. So my decisions have been influenced by the media,” junior Laura Opsahl-Ong said.

In an ideal world, unbiased news sources would be the norm.

For example, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is funded through a license fee in which British taxpayers support the company while the government sets the level of the fee. This hands-off funding process ensures that the BBC remains unaffected by politics.

However, because most people rely on biased news media to get their information, moderate news organizations like the BBC are overshadowed by omnipresent and

overtly biased news sources like Fox and CNN. In their quest to draw audiences, news sources often exaggerate issues and polarize parties through contrived disputes. The information presented by many news sources highlights radical viewpoints on the issues.

“Because all these sites want to survive, they are desperate to have gotcha moments—they want someone to exaggerate the truth,” Howell said.

In the past, the two parties have had their differences, but a common ground between the two could be found. With the emergence of radical candidates and targeted coverage, this middle ground has ceased to exist and the concerns of moderate voters have been pushed to the wayside.

According to The Atlantic, over onethird of voters consider themselves moderates, but their viewpoints are no longer deemed newsworthy or flashy enough to address.

With the polarization of the two parties, candidates who previously would have been overlooked are now gaining more influence due to the media craze over their irrational opinions.

“The media focuses on things that will get more of a reaction from the public [since] their main concern is [their network] viewership,” Chami said.

Although this media interest in the presidential race may bring an increased voter turnout, those casting their votes in the booth have been directed by the biased media that influenced them to vote.

The media will show the viewers what they want to see, but it is up to the audience to demand and seek out substantial and straightforward coverage of political news.

Comics by Anna Marie Garland Page design by Anjalie Chauhan & Sanskriti Neupane

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SPORTS

Kickin’ and dreamin’

Girls varsity soccer team looks to repeat last year’s success “When we have fun, we play well,” Erickson said.

The team knows that working ast year, the girls varsity soccer team together allows them to handle went undefeated in the regular season, difficult situations better and going on to win the Liberty Conference alleviate the pressure on each and making it all the way to the second individual player. round of regionals, where they lost to “We set smaller goals because Battlefield High School. Despite being we don’t want to push ourselves disappointed by last season’s ending, the out there and say we need to win team is confident going into this season. a state championship,” Erickson “Our goal is to win the district and go said. farther [in the playoffs],” senior captain By setting achievable goals, Lydia Erickson said. the team is trying not to force Practice Makes Perfect—Junior Carline The team has a diverse roster with success unnaturally. The players Stockwell works to steal the ball from players from every grade. Although understand that success will come sophomore Elizabeth Zhou in practice meeting the higher level of play may if they work hard in games and on March 7. Last season the Highlanders be difficult for underclassmen, the practices. went undefeated, setting the bar high upperclassmen are working to ensure that Even though they do not put for the upcoming season. (Photo by Tanya the younger players fit in with the team. pressure and extreme expectations Ajalli) “Everyone is so nice... they’re all so on themselves, the players still take welcoming,” freshman Lindsay Blum said. each game seriously.

This supportive network the players “Each team will be competitive. up of upperclassmen. This year, however, have built enables them to focus their You get into trouble when you look beyond the team has seven freshmen. It is rare to energy on working cohesively rather than the next team you are playing,” head coach see this many underclassmen playing on individually. The team’s closeness and Robert Bouchard said. varsity. positivity allows the athletes to have fun Last year the team won 15 games, tied “I am looking for the underclassmen to both on and off the field. two and lost one. They beat Langley 3-0 contribute,” Bouchard said. and their only ties were with The freshmen will make up a major Oakton and South Lakes. This part of the team. In order to be successful, type of success is rare, especially they must keep the positive mindset that for teams that play more than 10 the upperclassmen on the team have. The games in the regular season. expectation of success is the same among The Highlanders will have the freshmen as it is with the rest of the to resist the temptation to look team. Freshmen can make as big of an ahead, as several of their most impact as any of the returning players. important games will come “I [see] myself as a leader. I talk a lot well into the season. The team’s on the field, directing [players]. Especially attitude of taking each game as a center-back, you have a good view as it comes will benefit them of everything. You can talk [to your as they make their long trek to teammates], tell them what to do [and] the playoffs. This year’s squad is where to go,” Blum said. led by seniors Rebecca Deitch, The team’s dedication and Fight to Save—Senior Lydia Erickson protects Meaghan O’ Reilly and Erickson. determination on the field will contribute the ball from sophomore Elizabeth “I am very vocal on and off the to their success. If they can continue Zhou in practice. The team has veteran field, and I like to keep our team putting forth high levels of effort, they experience, but is also welcoming seven chemistry good,” Erickson said. have the potential to win the Liberty freshmen to the squad. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli) Most varsity teams are made Conference and beyond.

Matthew Zwirb Reporter

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Page design by Matthew Zwirb

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MARCH

Reaching New Heights—Megan Ney demonstrates proper high jump technique to athletes during practice on

March 8. In addition to being the current outdoor record-holder for high jump and pole vault for McLean, Ney is now the track and field head coach. (Photo by Haru Kato)

Watch her Ney Ney

Megan Ney coaches track and field team after successful career as McLean athlete Haru Kato & Ed Walters Reporters n 2006, Megan Ney was setting records on McLean’s track and field team as a long jumper, high jumper and pole vaulter.

Ten years later she is the head coach of that same team. Many coaches express strong commitment to their team and sport, but no other coach has such an intense yearround schedule when it comes to sports.

Not only does she coach winter and spring track, but also cross country, which makes her a three-season coach.

“It’s nice because I get to know many of the kids earlier in the year, and by spring I know almost everyone’s name. It also ends up being a really long year but it really pays off when the kids are off to states in June,” Ney said.

Before she was the coach at McLean, Ney was an accomplished athlete herself.

One of her most significant achievements was setting the school girls outdoor high jump record at 5’4”, a record that still stands.

When she initially joined the coaching staff, she was the high jump coach.

However, she became the head coach of the track team when the job opened, and eventually began coaching cross country for the 2015 season.

“I was very confused when I first found out that our head coach of track was a high jump coach, but after a few practices I understood why she was chosen. She knew the importance of all aspects of track,” freshman long distance runner Jeremy

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Siegel said.

Despite setting records in several events, Ney was not always a track athlete.

“The reason why I started track, was during winter track when I was conditioning for soccer,” Ney said. “That was when I fell in love with the sport.”

Going from high jump coach to head coach meant Ney had to deal with the major change of coaching the whole team, rather than a handful of athletes, but she has earned the respect and the commitment of the team members, many whose age is not far from hers.

“I knew that she was younger than many other track coaches, but the way she commands and organizes the team makes her seem much more experienced than I initially thought,” sophomore cross country runner Bradley Kim said.

Keeping nearly a hundred high school students under her control is no easy task, but Ney handles it with ease.

“When practice ends, she never fails to tell us important information we need to know for the next few days,” Siegel said.

“She also made sure at the beginning of the season to get to know all of the kids.”

Ney’s composure plays into her ability to maintain an organized team.

“Instead of screaming her head off at everyone who does something wrong, she has an effective way of conveying her message without upsetting the athlete,” Kim said.

Many runners and field athletes have improved their times thanks to the

intensive training specialized for each type of runner or field athlete.

“When my time gets better, it makes me really happy because it really shows all the hard work and constant running I have done,” sophomore distance runner Gladys Usova said.

While many other coaches are finished for the day after practice, Ney stays to open the weight room for those wanting to increase their speed and power. There is a specific training regimen each day for each muscle group that is incorporated in running.

“At first I wasn’t inclined to do the workouts that she had planned, but after doing it for a couple weeks, my times started to improve,” Kim said. “Even after the season ended, not only do I practice my running, but I also continued the workout regimen she left for us.”

Ney believes that her record can be used to spur her athletes forward.

“It’s fun to motivate your kids with your own school record,” Ney said. “It’s also nice for them to know what is expected of them, and around the times and distances they should be running. ” As one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of the school, Ney hopes to help her runners establish their own legacy.

“My favorite part of coaching is when the kids get excited about doing well,” Ney said. “They work really hard and when it pays off it’s nice to see that they love the sport and they’re excited about it.”

Page design by Haru Kato & Ed Walters

SPORTS

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Senior pins down success in two sports

After winning his second state title in wrestling, Grammes excels on the diamond

Ethan Cherry & Rob Martine Sports Editor & Reporter or the four four-and-a-half-minute rounds of a wrestling match, a wrestler has just one goal in mind: defeat their opponent. This season, 52 wrestlers tried to defeat senior Conor Grammes, and 52 times, Grammes was in complete control, thwarting every competitor. Beneath the calm and collected persona that appears on both the mat and the baseball field is a fiery competitor.

This past winter, Grammes finished his final wrestling season with a perfect record of 52-0 and made his second state championship, leading the team to a fifth place finish alongside his brother and fellow state champion, Brendan Grammes.

Conor Grammes won his two state titles at 152 pounds and 160 pounds during his junior and senior years, respectively.

As a true marker of how far Grammes’ wrestling career has come, on Dec. 21 he broke McLean’s previous record of 142 wins by winning 186 matches and losing a mere 17.

A focus on the fundamentals has always been Grammes’ calling card.

“He is an artist out on the mat, painting a masterpiece. He uses technique and skill, not brute strength,” wrestling coach Kenneth Jackson said.

Grammes has been wrestling and playing baseball for the last 12 years.

This experience helped him develop the fundamentals necessary in making varsity in both sports as a freshman. His

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freshman year he finished seventh in the state in wrestling and received significant playing time on the baseball team. Since then he has focused on always improving in both sports.

“I’ve enjoyed wrestling my whole life; it is a very demanding sport and the discipline required for it has helped me in life and in baseball,” Grammes said.

Although this was his final wrestling season, Grammes has committed to play baseball at Xavier University next year.

Jackson is confident that the benefits of Grammes’ wrestling career will help him succeed in his future endeavors.

“A great man once said, ‘Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.’

[Grammes] has the mindset of a wrestler, the work ethic of a wrestler and the toughness of a wrestler,” Jackson said. “I am sure he will do well playing baseball at Xavier, especially with all the attributes he has gained from wrestling.”

Grammes credits his coaches, his family and his drive for his success in athletics.

“Both Coach Dowling and Coach Jackson have helped me tremendously; it takes a good coach to keep a team motivated,” Grammes said. “As an individual, my dad and having a brother so close in age to me, playing the same sports, has always kept me motivated.”

Coach John Dowling became varsity baseball’s head coach during Grammes’ sophomore year, and he watched Grammes develop into a key part of his program.

Grammes played almost every inning on

the team that advanced to the state semifinals in 2014.

“Conor is the best defensive shortstop I’ve ever coached. It’s not hyperbole—the consistency he has shown over the last two years playing one of the most demanding positions on the field is very impressive,” Dowling said. “Over the last two years he has committed a total of three errors, which is a staggeringly low number for a high school shortstop.”

His McLean teammates echo the sentiment that Grammes will excel at the college level. His passion for the game and his resilient spirit have made him a leader at McLean.

“Conor is a freak athlete—he can play any sport and be good at it. He doesn’t quit and you can figure that out by watching him wrestle,” senior pitcher Jon Clines said. “Playing with Conor makes me a better player. He competes better than anyone else I know, so when I’m on the field with him I know he will do anything to win the game.”

In 2015, Grammes was selected as the Dranesville District Champion of Character for his exemplification of sportsmanship and moral fiber.

Now, Grammes has his eyes set on his final high school season.

“I am excited for college ball, but I want to end things right,” Grammes said. “I’ve never liked losing, and I don’t plan on starting now.”

Page design by Ethan Cherry

Mat to the Diamond—Left: Conor Grammes swings at a pitch in a district semi-finals match against Fairfax.

Right: Grammes pins his opponent during state competition. Grammes has used his success in both sports to secure two state titles for wrestling and a spot on the Xavier baseball team for college. (Photos courtesy of Katie Grammes)

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MARCH

David McCarthy

Athlete of the Issue Photo courtesy of Kent Arnold

John Corvari Sports Editor Why did you start rowing?

I had already started lifting around 8th grade, so I was like, ‘I’m just going to look for a sport that I can do well.’ I played lacrosse, but I was kind of afraid I wouldn’t make the lacrosse team as a freshman because I did not have a lot of experience. So a bunch of my friends decided to do rowing.

How often do you practice and compete?

I don’t compete a lot during the winter season; it’s mostly just competition within the team. It’s really competitive at practice because you can see exactly how well you’re doing right on the monitor, and you’re all sitting right next to each other and you get really into it, so I feel like I compete every single day. There’s only about two or three competitions during the winter, but during the spring season we have a regatta about every single week.

SPORTS

In what ways do you try to gain an advantage over the people you are competing against?

A lot of it is the mentality. You have to kind of almost visualize yourself winning—visualize yourself winning when you’re practicing, visualize yourself winning when you’re in the middle of a race. You have to make it personal. You have to get really aggressive.

How has rowing affected other aspects of your life?

I’ve found that the rowing mentality carried over into my schoolwork too sometimes. It’s kind of weird but sometimes, especially for AP Psych, when I was taking the 100-question tests, I’d break them up into 25-question segments and be like, alright, this is the first 500 meters of my race.

Who is your favorite athlete?

It’s either between Mahé Drysdale, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. I’m not really into watching sports, but I really enjoy listening to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan talk about

their training and their work ethic, especially Kobe Bryant.

How important is teamwork in rowing?

I really love the rowing team mentality—just the emphasis it puts on teamwork; because you’re in a boat of eight guys, everyone is depending on the other person to not give up. When you’re in the middle of a rowing piece it’s very easy to give up—all you have to do is just stop, set the handle down. But when you’re racing in a boat of eight guys, or four guys especially, you can absolutely not give up. If there’s a flaw in your technique, you’re done. I’d say rowing races are probably the most painful experiences I’ve ever been through. Sorry, ladies, but giving birth probably doesn’t even compare to a 2,000-meter rowing race. It’s around a six-and-a-halfminute all out sprint.

How many bananas do you consume per day?

Six.

Page design by John Corvari

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Finish Line Reported by John Corvari & Ethan Cherry

Sarah Rice Freshman Lacrosse

Ethan Steel Sophomore Track

What’s your favorite TV show?

Jack Benson Senior Lacrosse

What combination of two animals are you?

Gossip Girl

Silkie Bantam and sloth

The Office

Lion and tiger

Game of Thrones

Turtle and hippo

South Park

Panda and shark

What did you do for spring break?

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Zoe Dobson Junior Softball

What

Who is your favorite president?

Went to Palm Beach

Abraham Lincoln

Went to Florida

F.D.R.

Traveled with McSoftball to Myrtle Beach for a tournament

Abraham Lincoln

Practiced my craft

Bill Clinton

Page design by Bryan Chung

MARCH

Tutoring Club of McLean is in Your Corner Since 2010, Tutoring Club of McLean has been helping your fellow Highlanders thrive.

Our award-winning, individualized instruction is guaranteed to help you keep your grades and study skills in peak performance.

We’ll help you create a custom plan that sets you up for academic success. From Statistics to Physics and AP History to Foreign Languages, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also help you ace your college entrance exams and applications, and prepare you for college and beyond. Stronger grades and higher scores open more doors, so call today to find out why so many students and parents refer their friends to Tutoring Club.

Call or email today to find out about our free COLLEGE 101 presentation for juniors in April (sophomores are also welcome if there is space), or about our COLLEGE APPLICATIONS SUMMER BOOTCAMP for rising seniors.