The Highlander May 2015 by The Highlander

the

highlander Volume LIX • Issue 6 • May 2015 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

STANDING UP TO CANCER

CONTENTS

6-7

40-41

FEATURES

NEWS 5 6-7 9

Club Updates

12-13

FCPS budget cuts hurt teachers Senior Soobin Wang wins Peace Award

10 New 2015-16

bell schedule

Sadie 11 First Hawkins

15 16 17

Highlander of the Issue: Matt Stalzer Benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle Senior performs with Chinese dance troupe 10 Qs with the librarians

McLean Make Your Day Twitter account

Prom dresses under $100

BeskenisHawkins 2016

dance

IN-DEPTH 24-27

Standing up to cancer: Student shares his story battling cancer

A&E 21

Highlander Highlights

Best places for going out

Laramie 23 The Project

To Pimp a Butterfly album review

Story 30 True and Little

Boy movie reviews

OPINIONS 31

Editorial: Kings Dominion law hurts students

SPORTS 37 Varsity baseball

optimistic

38-39 Desmond Curran

No-zero grading policy: bad idea

Sadie Hawkins satire

Highlander Time is not beneficial

43 Athlete of the

Free community college helps everyone

Finish 44 The Line

Police should wear body cameras

bounces back

boys 40-41 Senior play polo

Issue: Ellie Brewer

Dear Highlanders, It is a truth universally acknowledged, that every single issue of The Highlander in possession of important information, is in want of a letter.

highlander

the

Letter from the Editors

Volume LIX • Issue 6 • May 2015 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

Editors-in-Chief

Andrea Delgado & Hannah Menchel & Grace Murray Julia Al-Akkad & Nhi Nguyen & Maddy Witchey

Managing Editors

However little known the News or Opinions articles may be to the reader upon first opening the issue, this truth is so well fixed in our minds, that it is considered the rightful property of the Editors-inChief.

Design Editor Editor of Photography

We’ve enjoyed writing to you every month. Thank you for reading and for giving us your feedback. We have poured our hearts into these pages and value your words (and donations).

News Editors

Andrew Opem & Melanie Pincus

Opinions Editor

David Kagan & Bora Zaloshnja

Features Editors

Lucy Hopkins & Katie McGinn

A&E Editors

Ashwin Dasgupta & Sabrein Gharad

Sports Editors

Jake Barnett & Jessica Bulford

This issue, we are ecstatic to include four Letters to the Editor—in response to our March issue’s InDepth on rape culture and our editorial on sexeducation. This issue’s In-Depth discusses the impact of cancer on our community, and senior Andrew Katson shares his story of his fight against it. Also, take a look in the Opinions section for our first satire article of the year, shedding a comical light on stereotypical gender roles. For the last time, Sincerely, Hannah Menchel, Grace Murray & Andrea Delgado

Photographer

Mark Mizusawa James Carver Tanya Ajalli

Advertising Manager

Tara Blackwell

Cartoonist

Anna Marie Garland

Section Editors

Reporters Lisa Bears Anjalie Chauhan Christine Cheon Ethan Cherry John Corvari Michael Davis Lila Duvall Monique Ford Nora Hashem Elena Ifarraguerri

Veronica Kim Connor Koch Carlyn Kranking Brooke Lyons Sophie Mariam Dereck Marwa Ingrid Morse Sanskriti Neupane Eleanor Patrick Evan Rapson Adviser

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.

Leena Raza Young In Seo Sam Silverman Aisha Singh Jade Smith Esme Tabra Danielle Walker Jennifer Wang Catherine Zysk

Lindsay B. Benedict The Highlander is a public forum in which members of the school community can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. Printed by aPrintis. Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and InDepth report. 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. ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 NSPA First Class; ‘07 All-American; ‘06 Pacemaker Finalist; Hall of Fame

‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 CSPA Gold Medalist; ‘08 Silver Medalist

‘14 George H. Gallup Award

Cover photo illustration by James Carver & Mark Mizusawa

‘14 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 1st Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In response to the In-Depth in the March 2015 issue of The Highlander, “Asking for it: the reality of rape culture”

Dear Editor, Thank you for presenting the article titled “The Reality of Rape Culture” to McLean students. The discussion of this significant topic has long been overdue, so it is crucial that students become aware of it even before they graduate from high school. The article does a very good job in presenting the current views of what rape is and is not, what people do to perpetuate it and how it can be prevented. I agree that the most efficient way to decrease sexual acts and rape cases, especially at McLean, is to educate students about it. As is often the case, many students may rape somebody or be victims of rape without even knowing that it was rape. That is because the definition of rape is unknown to many. Therefore, education would shed some light on the issue. Thank you, Yasmin Dambo, junior Dear Editor, I have some thoughts regarding an article in The Highlander about rape culture. The article talked a lot about the misunderstandings of rape and what happens after rape. As a teenage girl, I focus on my safety which (theoretically) prevents rape. I think girls and boys should be taught how to not be in a situation that could lead to rape. We shouldn’t put ourselves in the situation where the lack of consent is questionable. I don’t think that the way a girl dresses or her state of intoxication is an excuse for rape. It’s never okay and everyone should be told at some point that rape is wrong. Rape is preventable in my opinion, however, I don’t believe that we should even have to prevent it. Rape culture shouldn’t be so prevalent. I think your article really backed that up. Sincerely, Sofia D’Ermes, freshman Dear Editor, Regarding the “Reality of Rape Culture” article in The Highlander, I just want to say thank you. So many people in our generation don’t fully understand the severity of rape. They think it’s not that serious and I feel as though this article should help to open their eyes. As well-written and informative as this was, I feel as though it could have been better at showing the emotional toll it takes on the victim. So many victims feel alone and hurt. They feel as though no one understands what it’s like and I think that this article should have given more ways that victims can receive help. Also I feel as though this article may not have gotten the response intended. I know some people still feel it’s the victim’s fault based off if they are wearing sexual or scandalous clothing or making bad choices, but that should not be the case and we should tell people that. Sincerely, Nyah Palmer, sophomore

In response to the article in the March 2015 issue of The Highlander, “Let’s talk about sex: FCPS should grant teachers more time to teach sex education” Dear Editor, In reading your editorial in the last issue of the Highlander magazine titled “We need better sexual education,” I found some discrepancies that I wanted to make you aware of. While your article does include information from the sciences department in regards to the curriculum covered in the biology classes, it does not include information from the Health and PE department. Family Life Education, also known as “FLE” is part of the 10th grade Health and PE curriculum in Fairfax County Public Schools. While Health and PE is required for all 9th and 10th grade students in order to graduate, parents may choose to “opt out” of the FCPS FLE unit. While “opt-outs” are rare, some parents choose to educate their students about sexual education in their own homes. The FLE portion of the FCPS Health and PE 10 curriculum is taught as part of the health quarter for all 10th grade students. The state approved curriculum is broken down into the following eight lessons, each running a minimum of 90 minutes: Health Awareness & Self-Examinations, Healthy Pregnancy & Birth, Abstinence, Contraception, An Unplanned Pregnancy, STIs (which includes HIV education), Human Sexuality, and Healthy Relationships During the 2012-2013 school year, McLean participated in the FCPS Youth Survey, a voluntary, questionnaire-based data collection. The McLean PTSA Health Wellness & Safety Committee has posted results from the Fairfax County Youth Survey which compiles data from the McLean High School pyramid from students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. One of the main topics of the survey is “Sexual Health.” Under this topic students were asked about the following sub-topics: students who have had sex, students who have had oral sex and students who use condoms. This data is specific to McLean High School and all of the schools that feed into it. The survey results were both shared in a PTSA presentation in February 2014 that included PTSA members and McLean High School teachers, administrators, guidance counselors and the school psychologist, and they are available on the McLean PTSA website. While I agree with you that this subject is of vital importance and should be awarded more time in the four years students attend high school, I do feel as though the Health and PE curriculum covers a substantial amount of information for teens. This FLE curriculum, combined with the PTSA’s Health, Wellness & Safety Committee, enables both students and parents to be aware of, and educated on, the sexual health of the McLean High School student population. Sincerely, Tzeitel Barcus Health & PE Department Chair

Highlander Patrons As a student-run program, The Highlander would like to thank all of our generous supporters who make it possible to print our newsmagazine. Listed below are this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contributors. We would also like to thank all of our anonymous supporters.

GOLD ($200+) The Barnett Family Juliana Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly Marc & Kay Menchel The Witchey Family

BRONZE ($50+) The Pincus Family Susie French Tom Rapson Irwin & Irene Menchel

The Walker Family Janet Rogers Lisa Waldow Cyndee Lord

If you would like to become a patron of The Highlander, please send a check to: The Highlander McLean High School 1633 Davidson Road McLean, VA 22101

NEWS

Debate This year, the McLean Debate Team placed second for overall wins in Public Forum Debate in the local league, which includes schools from DC, Maryland and Virginia. Juniors Susie Choi and Michelle Ma represented McLean at the VHSL State Championships last month and finished in third place. Seniors Andrea Delgado and Heather Pincus and juniors Peter Kim and Shivani Saboo will be

heading to Nationals later this year. The team is already making preparations for the next year and is hoping for another successful season. “We’re looking forward to expanding the team in terms of membership and in different fields of debate so everyone can find something that they’re interested in,” Choi said.

Gay-Straight Alliance The GSA recently participated in the Laramie Legacy Festival with the McLean Theatre Company. Club sponsor Tara Dwyer said this festival was the highlight of the year. “We have [also] been working on filling out the map of marriage equality, and it’s exciting when they get the chance to color another state,” Dwyer said. The GSA is currently meeting Tuesdays in B167 and plans on celebrating Pride Week in June.

Club Updates Carlyn Kranking & Aisha Singh Reporters

Science Olympiad The Science Olympiad team had a successful season competing in regional and state level competitions. “They worked all year up until the regional competition. In the regional competition we did really well—we got a third place trophy,” club sponsor Julia Murdock said. For the rest of the year, Science Olympiad’s plans include a frisbee party after AP exams.

Model UN The Model UN club ended its season with a conference at Thomas Edison High School on April 24 and 25. The team is currently planning an end-of-year party, and McLean will host its first conference in October.

Project Enlightenment McLean’s living history club, Project Enlightenment, has a packed schedule for the end of the year. Participants dress as 18th century characters and educate the public about that time period. Sophomore Lucy Zheng said she is most excited to perform, sing and share her knowledge at the club’s event at the German Embassy on May 9. “It’s just really cool to perform at a place that’s so renowned,” Zheng said. Project Enlightenment’s other upcoming events include providing entertainment at elementary schools’ Colonial Days and a performance at Rippon Lodge’s art festival on May 30. Watch and learn—Junior Ben Galdo performs an experiment at the Apothecary Shop in Alexandria. Project Enlightenment members taught audiences about 18th century science. (Photo courtesy of the Alexandria Gazette Packet, photo by Louise Krafft)

Page design by Carlyn Kranking & Aisha Singh

NEWS

National Honor Society With only two meetings left this school year, NHS students are busy wrapping up their required 25 annual community service hours. Honor society members volunteer at various elementary schools, as well as hospitals and shelters. NHS continues to run Lunch and Learning every Silver Day in the lecture hall for students who need help in a variety of subjects.

FCPS teachers express salary concerns As Board of Supervisors adopts budget, teachers’ worries about modest salaries remain

Ashwin Dasgupta & Melanie Pincus A&E Editor & News Editor s exam season rolls around, teachers are working hard to prepare students for AP tests, SOLs and finals, often wondering if they will be able to make up the class time lost to snow days. However, in Fairfax County, many teachers say they are not only worried about preparing their students, but also about making ends meet. To raise awareness about their concerns, 21 of McLean’s teachers and faculty members joined teachers from throughout the county to voice their opinions at the Board of Supervisors’ [BOS] Public Budget Hearings on April 7 and 8. “We organized [it], as a group of teachers —[physics teacher] Dean Howarth and [English teacher] John Horan were our leaders,” biology teacher Julia Murdock said. “They got us together, and we’ve been looking at budget details and talking together about how we felt.” According to the Virginia Department of Education, FCPS classroom teachers are currently budgeted to earn an average of $67,623 a year, an amount that is $13,107 over the state average, but $7,114 under the average salary budgeted for teachers in neighboring Arlington County. McLean teachers present at the hearings argued that their current salaries are insufficient to match the high cost of living near the schools at which they teach. “To survive in the county, I had to find other sources of income than my salary, which is in no way keeping up with inflation or the salaries of neighboring counties,” French teacher Isabelle Brazell said in her

speech at the BOS hearing. “I tutor nights and weekends, [and] now, in my 50s, I even have to take roommates.” According to a report from the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, the cost of living in the Washington metropolitan area is almost 40 percent higher than that of the average metropolitan area in the US, and the cost of housing is more than twice the metropolitan average. ESOL teacher Catherine Falknor said in her speech that she and her husband, a federal employee, are unable to afford a house in Fairfax County on their combined salaries. As a result, they have considered moving to an area with a lower cost of living and commuting to work. “To buy an affordable house that is next to public transportation, we are considering moving to West Virginia, where the [train] can get us to DC reliably,” Falknor said. Math teacher Mike Farmar also said that he and his wife have had to consider moving out of the area due to the high cost of living. He said that moving would limit his ability to interact with students outside the classroom, such as attending school events. “One of the things I most enjoy about being an educator is seeing my students outside the math classroom. My wife and I have rented a place around the corner from McLean High School purposely so we could come to see our students from a different light,” Farmar said. “Unfortunately, we can’t even afford to do this any more, and we are currently in the process of considering moving out of the area because we can’t afford to stay.”

$74,737

Arlington County’s average budgeted salary for classroom teachers

$67,623

Fairfax County’s average budgeted salary for classroom teachers

The cost of living in the Washington metropolitan area is nearly

40%

higher than that of the average metropolitan area nationwide

At a meeting about the future of McLean High School and Fairfax County on March 25, Principal Ellen Reilly and school board member Jane Strauss stressed the importance of good teachers to FCPS students. “In Fairfax County, the quality of the classroom is dependent on the quality of the teachers, period,” Strauss said. “And we cannot afford to let our salaries get as low as [they are].” Reilly said multiple teachers have told her they are moving away because they cannot afford to live and teach in the area. “I’ve never had this [many] leave,” Reilly said. “They’re just saying that they can’t do this any more, and it’s impacting us. It’s a huge impact.” English teacher Lori Wagoner said she has taught in Fairfax County for 11 years, but she can no longer afford to live in the area because the county has not followed through on step increases, and so she has decided to leave McLean next year. “My students have scored well above [the] national average on AP exams, [and] I have never had a student fail an SOL. I succeeded, but you have failed to honor your obligation,” Wagoner said to the BOS at the budget hearing. “You promised me security with which I could plan my life, but now you have breached that trust, and I have no trust fund.” In her statement at the hearing, German teacher Karen Wolpert said that FCPS used to be an attractive county for teachers, but its noncompetitive pay has caused its appeal to decline.

The cost of housing in the Washington metropolitan area is more than

double

the national metropolitan average

90%

Over of children in Fairfax County attend public school Facts obtained via Virginia Department of Education, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority & Fairfax County School Board

MAY

Investing in Fairfax—Mike Farmar, Mark Thompson, Isabelle Brazell, Wayne Smith, Lori Wagoner, Dean Howarth, Nicholas Nicolaides and Catherine Falknor were among the 21 McLean teachers and faculty members who attended the Board of Supervisors’ public budget hearings on April 7 and 8 to express their concerns over FCPS’s noncompetitive salaries. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli)

“Prospective new teachers would rather move to a county that respects them and rewards their hard work,” Wolpert said. Brian Schwenk, a student teacher at McLean and graduate of James Madison University, said that many of his college peers were unable to prioritize FCPS when applying for jobs because of the area’s high cost of living. “During my period of job search ... I found it disappointing to hear my friends discuss how they didn’t think they could apply to such a highly regarded district as Fairfax County simply because they know that they won’t be able to afford living up here,” Schwenk said. “In particular, the ever rising cost of living, combined with the lack of teacher raises in the last several years, is discouraging them from putting Fairfax County Public Schools as a priority on their applications list.” McLean’s high property values are in part caused by the county’s highly ranked public school system, which brings families into the area. By not offering salaries that will attract high-quality educators, however, some teachers said that Fairfax County may be jeopardizing this ranking. “[FCPS] is a place that attracts families who want the best education for their children, [so] we need to attract the brightest young teachers who are the ones

NEWS

that will make that happen,” Murdock said. “And we are not currently doing that.” In its April 28 adoption of Fairfax County’s budget for FY 2016, the BOS granted FCPS $7.6 million less than requested by the School Board. With the funds allotted, Superintendent Karen Garza said in a Keep in Touch email to parents that FCPS anticipates being able to provide full step increases to eligible teachers, along with a market scale adjustment of .62 percent. Even if FCPS had been fully funded, Strauss said that teacher raises are not nearly enough. “It will not put us where we need to be competitively with the surrounding districts,” Strauss said. “We need[ed] to fund this pay increase, and [then] the year after that and the year after that.” The Fairfax County budget for FY 2016 also includes $4.9 million dollars for later high school start times, $3.1 million to keep elementary school class sizes under 30 students and a pay increase to $95,000 a year for members of the BOS for the purposes of attracting qualified candidates to the position. Wagoner said that not raising teacher salaries drives away qualified educators. “While you’ve determined that you need to increase your salaries by $20,000 under the auspices of attracting good talent, by

failing to invest [in] and fund your teachers, you’re losing good talent in droves,” Wagoner said. “I’m a good educator. You can’t afford to lose me, but I can no longer afford to stay here.” To combat budget difficulties, McLean teachers proposed ways to increase the funds available to the county in their speeches at the BOS hearing. Wolpert suggested a meals tax, which would tax dining out in Fairfax County to contribute to the school system’s funding. “[FCPS] can increase revenue by adding a restaurant tax,” Wolpert said. “Please raise our taxes.” If teacher compensation in Fairfax County continues to follow its current trend, teachers said the consequences will be grave. Although board members often ensure teachers that they are trying their hardest to help, English teacher Jennifer Stark Beasley said that talk is no longer enough. “I feel very strongly about teaching as a profession, and about the value of teachers,” Beasley said in her speech. “And now it is more urgent than ever that this county goes beyond simply agreeing and saying that they value their teachers, and instead takes tangible actions to prove it.” Page design by Melanie Pincus & Ashwin Dasgupta

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Senior receives 2015 Student Peace Award Soobin Wang honored for her work with Teaching Peace Initiative Carlyn Kranking & Aisha Singh Reporters early one in three students reported being bullied in 2013, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. Since her sophomore year, senior Soobin Wang has been working to decrease this number by starting and running a local chapter of Teaching Peace Initiative (TPI), an organization that encourages children to peacefully resolve conflicts. Wang’s efforts succeeded in raising awareness for bullying, earning her a place in the 2015 Student Peace Awards. “[The Peace Awards] set about to honor and publicize the work of students engaged in activities to promote peace,” said Margaret Rogers, the co-founder of the Student Peace Awards. “We believe that working for peace is one of the most important things any person can do.” Since its founding 14 years ago, the awards program has expanded to recognize

“The positive feedback from all the kids made me see that I was actually making a difference.” -Senior Soobin Wang, Student Peace Award recipient

students from all Fairfax County high schools. The Student Peace Awards Board looks for candidates who strive to end conflict, address controversial issues, understand diverse situations and work to solve conflicts among students. TPI aims to teach elementary and middle school students about conflict resolution, non-violence and anti-bullying. Wang said she first learned about the organization during through a Facebook group during her sophomore year. Wang said she began her branch by

Praise for the peacemakers—Soobin Wang (center) poses for a photo with Student Peace Award recipients at an awards ceremony celebrating their achievements on March 15. The 2015 program included students from 23 different schools in Fairfax County. (Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Times)

recruiting close friends. By her junior year, the group had begun to visit elementary schools. “I definitely thought that it was an issue that was really important, and I wanted to bring [TPI] to our community,” Wang said. So far, Wang said she has educated students at both Westgate and Haycock Elementary Schools. Members of TPI follow guidelines from teachers and counselors at the schools where they volunteer, and they prepare 45-minute sessions filled with activities for students. “We’re really flexible with how we implement it,” she said. A popular activity is to let students create constitutions with values they believe countries should uphold. “We also do this thing with candy to explain how everyone’s different,” Wang said. “We say that everyone’s made of the same things on the inside. [Even] though we look different on the outside, we’re all the same candy.” Wang said she discovered that there

was a way she could be recognized for her achievements with TPI earlier this school year and entered, not expecting to actually receive the award. Nevertheless, Wang received a letter of congratulations in December and was honored at the ceremony on March 15, along with the 22 other recipients. “I was pretty surprised,” Wang said. “It seemed like my accomplishments kind of paled in comparison to what [others] have done.” Senior Meredith Harris, outreach chair for Wang’s chapter of TPI, said that Wang’s influence can be seen in many places. “I think it’s amazing that [Wang] has continued to make time for this despite all of the other activities and challenging classes that she’s taking,” Harris said. Wang said seeing the positive results of her work keeps her motivated. “The positive feedback from all the kids made me see that I was actually making a difference.”

Page design by Carlyn Kranking & Aisha Singh

NEWS

Red Day Warning bell 1st period Break Highlander Time 3rd period 5th period & lunches Break 7th period & news show

Time 8:05 8:10-9:35 9:35-9:45 9:45-10:15 10:20-11:15 11:10-1:15 1:15-1:25 1:25-2:55

Silver Day Warning bell 2nd period Break Highlander Time 3rd period 4th period & lunches Break 6th period & news show

McLean adopts new bell schedule

Schedule for 2015-16 school year adjusted for later start times, embeds third period

Melanie Pincus News Editor

o accommodate later start times, McLean will implement a new bell schedule next school year with several major changes. Third period classes will meet daily for a 50-minute block, and there will be an additional 10-minute break following lunch periods. Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery said the schedule was restructured to maintain normal lunch times. “If we just sort of structured our schedule the same way it is now and moved it back an hour to accommodate the later start time, some students would be eating lunch at 2 o’clock in the afternoon,” he said. “I think most people realized that probably wasn’t a good idea.” The schedule was approved by McLean’s Instructional Leadership Team on April 27, and considered student input from a survey sent to all freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Stansbery said that student responses had an impact on the team’s decision. “There were people, both teachers and students, who liked both of the options for different reasons, so there wasn’t really a clear consensus,” Stansbery said. “But it

was about a 60 percent vote for [the chosen option], both among students and among the teachers who ultimately made the decision.” Stansbery also said that this option will be optimal for academy students. “They don’t have to miss any class time as long as they’re in the a.m. or midday

“It was about a 60 percent vote for [the chosen option], both among students and among the teachers who ultimately made the decision.” - Director of Student Services Paul Stansbery blocks for academy,” he said. However, some students would prefer to not have later start times, and leave the schedule as it is. “I like the [schedule] we have now—I think spending that much money to redo it is kind of ridiculous when it’s only ... 50 minutes later. I’m not going to get anything

done in 50 minutes,” sophomore Jordan Schneier said. Others agree that the new bell schedule would not be very effective. “I’d rather have it as it is now because I’d rather get home earlier and then wake up earlier, because it’s not gonna change sleeping times very much,” freshman Carolina Brunner said. Sophomore Noah Huffman said that although the bell schedule will be different, students will adapt. “Different is something we can work with,” Huffman said. “It’s going to be weird at first, but it’s not going to be something that we can’t get used to.” Huffman also said that although he dislikes the start time change, the new bell schedule is necessary to compensate for it. “For those people who feel that we need a later start time, they can’t complain when there [need] to be modifications to the schedule to give them what they want,” Huffman said. “If this is the only way that a later start time can be achieved, then this is ... what has got to happen.” Stansbery said the chosen bell schedule considered a number of factors. “[We were] really just trying to look at what works best overall for our students,” Stansbery said. Page design by Melanie Pincus

MAY

McLean holds its first Sadie Hawkins dance Low attendance does not stop students from having fun Brooke Lyons Reporter

cLean held its first Sadie Hawkins dance on April 25, and despite initial enthusiasm, turnout was low. As opposed to a traditional school dance, the Sadie Hawkins dance encourages girls to ask boys instead of boys doing the asking. Many students said they were excited when they heard that McLean was holding another dance, and the askings quickly began. “I now know what it feels like for the guys during dance seasons,” senior SJ Sridhar said. “The fear of rejection is overwhelming, but it’s definitely an experience worth having.” Sridhar asked senior Mike Padmanabhan with a liter of Fanta, using the phrase “Wanta go to Sadies with me?” as a surprise right before he left for a tennis match on April 10.

Wadle-ing to Sadies—Freshman Kat Detter asks sophomore Jake Wadle to the Sadie Hawkins dance during crew practice on April 20. In the end, they went out to dinner instead of attending the dance. (Photo courtesy of Kat Detter)

Leadership students said they decided to start a tradition of having a Sadie Hawkins dance at McLean with the help of Leadership teachers Lori Wagoner and Erin Truesdell. Although the dance was held in the cafeteria, they said that more attention could be placed on the event if more students show interest. “I think it’s a fun informal dance, so we are always open to having a dance next year,” Truesdell said. “But of course we need to have interest in the actual dance part be shown, and also have the time and space for it.” Since this was the first year of holding the dance, Truesdell said interest is still growing. Leadership raised awareness for the dance the week before it occurred by planning a spirit week and a pep rally. “I think a Sadie Hawkins dance would be worth it next year if it’s advertised more,” senior Morgan Sadauskas said. “I didn’t even know if it was really happening until about a month before the dance.” Sadauskas said the low attendance at the dance made it less fun. “I know some of my friends didn’t come because they felt like they couldn’t come if they didn’t have a date,” Sadauskas said. “Maybe they could do a spring dance [next year], but not necessarily a Sadies.” Truesdell said that both girls and boys should be able to participate in askings. “I think the whole asking people to dances has become kinda crazy,” Truesdell said. “I understand the idea that the girls want to do the same over the top things [as boys], but this is 2015. They can ask a guy to Homecoming or Prom. We don’t need to have a dance that strictly says this is where the girls ask—if they want to do it, they should just go for it.” While many students participated in the askings, only 120 tickets were sold, and not everyone who bought a ticket went to the dance. “I went out to dinner with a bunch of friends, but we skipped the actual dance,” freshman Kat Detter said.

“Even with not that many people, it was surprisingly a lot of fun.” -Senior Karen Aroche Senior Jack Saunders, who was the DJ at the dance, said the most people in the room at one time was between 40 and 50. “There was a constant flux of people flowing in and out,” senior Karen Aroche said. “Even with not that many people, it was surprisingly a lot of fun.” Even though there was a small number of people at the dance, that did not stop students from enjoying Sadies. “There was hardly anyone at the dance, which for me was fine,” Blodgett said. “You didn’t have a bunch of people that you did not know pressing up against you, like at Homecoming. And you definitely had a lot of space if you wanted to pull a crazy dance move, which I tried and failed [to do] many times.” Blodgett said that being with his friends made the dance a good experience. “It definitely does not compare to Prom, but I still thought it was great, mainly because I was there with a lot of my friends,” Blodgett said. The dance was advertised with a cowboy theme, but there were no decorations other than the room being dark with a few disco lights. “Nothing was really set up at the dance. All we used was my DJ equipment and disco lights,” Saunder said. “However, we did this on purpose to give the dance a more club effect in an effort to make the cafeteria as dark as possible.” Despite these issues, students who attended said they were still glad to have gone to a Sadie Hawkins dance. “Not every school gets to have a Sadies, so I feel like the experience itself was cool,” senior Michael Zarpas said. Page design by Brooke Lyons

NEWS

FEATURES

FLUTIST MATT STALZER FINDS HIS

HIGHLANDER OF THE ISSUE Katie McGinn Features Editor

enior Matt Stalzer sits in front of his faded black music stand, practicing one of his flute solos for the upcoming concert. Sitting up straight, he concentrates deeply, trying

to master every single note with perfect precision. If he makes a mistake, he starts again. He does not give up. Ever.

Photos by James Carver Page design by Katie McGinn

MAY

Stalzer has been playing the flute for 14 years under his music tutor, Rebecca Collaris, who also taught music to Malia Obama, one of the president’s daughters. “I’ve known Matty since he was a little over 4 years old,” Collaris said. “I would come to Levine’s Virginia campus and teach him before he went to Kindergarten.” Because of Collaris’ connections to the Capitol, Stalzer has had a lot of opportunities to perform at various events in DC. “I’ve played at the State Department. I’ve done performances in front of the National Symphony Orchestra,” Stalzer said. “I’ve also performed for Michelle Obama twice. The first time was a luncheon with all the senators and their spouses. We were all in an atrium in the National Botanical Garden. It was me and five or six other people and we all sat there and played a little miniperformance. And the other time was the charity concert at the children’s hospital around Christmastime. They had us sitting there off in the corner and we played a few Christmas carols, and Michelle Obama was sitting on the other side, reading stories to the kids. That was fun.” Stalzer spends a significant amount of his time performing and practicing outside of school; however, he has also been very active in McLean band. Since his junior year, he has been first chair in the flute section and has become a mentor to many of the younger flutists. Freshman Jillian Pincus is one of the many flutists who regularly seek guidance from Stalzer. “He is really helpful within the flute department,” Pincus said. “Many times we would text him and ask, ‘How would we play this part?’ and he would text back and explain exactly how to do it.” Director of bands Chris Weise acknowledges Stalzer’s role in the band. “Matt has proven himself not only to be an outstanding musician, but also a great leader,” Weise said. “He leads by example, and younger students grow musically by having the opportunity to play alongside of him on a daily basis.” While Stalzer has brought a lot to the McLean band, he has also benefited from being a part of it. “Our program challenges me as an advanced musician to be better,” Stalzer said. “It is huge that I can go to not only my music school and be challenged, but I

FEATURES

can go to a public high school and still be challenged by their music programs and be taught by teachers who love to teach music.” Stalzer’s experiences with both the McLean band and Levine Music have strengthened his performance skills, made him a better musician and given him a chance to make a career out of his musical talents. Stalzer will be attending Shenandoah University Conservatory in Virginia next year. “The professor I will be studying with was the first chair for the London Symphony and the Royal Philharmonic,” Stalzer said. “Maybe junior and senior year I will be able to study abroad in London at Trinity College.” After college, the young musician aspires to take his passion to the professional stage. “The dream is to be in a symphonic orchestra even though it is a dying breed right now,” Stalzer said. “The job field is pretty scarce, but I would be happy teaching or doing administrative positions in music schools—anything that has to do with music. I don’t feel that I would be happy doing anything else.” Stalzer’s future career goals have not always involved pursuing music. For some time, his parents encouraged him to put his academic pursuits first. “There was a time in my life when I was really unsure about what I wanted to do,” Stalzer said. “My parents were not really on board with the music school. My mom wanted me to go to engineering school, because, you know, your parents want the best for you. It was a secure job and a secure future, but it was not one that I necessarily wanted.” Eventually his parents came around the to idea of pursuing music professionally, and Stalzer is now more determined than ever to follow his dreams. His long-time music tutor Collaris is certain that Stalzer has a successful future in front of him. “Matt is very versatile and has many interests musically,” Collaris said. “He learns very easily and picks up on things quickly—musically and in regular life. One of his strengths is his desire to learn more music and be part of different settings.”

Stalzer is equally convinced about the reality of his musical ambitions. His talent and his dedication to perfection are sure to make him achieve his goals. “The music industry is a risky business, but I think I want to take that risk,” Stalzer said. “I think that I am personally good enough. I hate to be cocky, but I feel confident in myself that I can take that risk without sacrificing too much.”

Why go vegetarian?

10 reasons people forgo meat According to a study done by The Vegetarian Times, 7.3

million Americans have chosen to cut meat out of their diets. US VegWeek, falling the same week as Earth Day every year, encourages Americans to take the seven-day VegPledge. The number of vegetarians in the world is rapidly rising, and some omnivores have a hard time understanding why vegetarians choose to keep the diets they do. People are drawn to plant-based diets by all sorts of motives—here are 10 reasons a person may chose to forgo meat:

Bora Zaloshnja Opinions Editor

paring animals. The conditions on commercial

farms are not great for animals and are even worse in slaughterhouses. “I chose to stop eating animal products because I learned a lot about the meat industry and dairy industry and learned that they are really inhumane,” junior Farnaz Shirazi said. Animals killed for meat have complex feelings and thoughts like any house pet, but they are slaughtered in grotesque ways.

osing weight. Some people want to shed a few

pounds and choose to do this by going vegetarian. While some praise diets heavy in meat for weight loss, others have found success in plant-based diets. A study conducted from 1986 to 1992 by Dean Ornish, MD, president and director of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, found that overweight people who followed a low-fat, vegetarian diet lost an average of 24 pounds in the first year and kept off that weight five years later.

educing global warming. A recent UN report

entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow” states that eating meat is “one of the ... most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.” In the same report, it was demonstrated that livestock farming generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. Some people choose to go vegetarian to reduce their carbon footprint

iving a healthier life. A study published by

Oxford in the British Journal of Medicine showed that, on average, vegetarians outlive meat eaters by six years. “When I was little my mom was going through a health craze and she made the whole house vegetarian, and I just never stopped being one,” sophomore Jenna Lebowitz said. Some people, like Lebowitz and her family, choose plant-based diets simply to eat healthier.

aving water. According to Waterfootprint.org,

while one in six people go each day without access to drinking water, 29 percent of the world’s fresh water is used for animal production. People who want to do what they can to live sustainably often choose to go vegetarian.

voiding risk of foodborne illnesses. Meat,

when not packaged in a sanitary way or refrigerated at the correct temperature and cooked properly, causes health risks such as food poisoning. The CDC found that the most common sources of fatal infections were meat and dairy. Non-organic meat can also contain harmful contaminants such as herbicides, pesticides and antibiotics. “Some of the things animals eat are really gross, and when you are eating an animal you’re eating the things they consumed as well,” said math teacher Kelly Bozzi, who has been a vegetarian since she was 13.

ighting world hunger. The Institute for Food

and Development Policy found that 40,000 children starve to death every day, while 760,000,000 tons of grain are fed to animals being raised for consumption each year. The massive amount of grain being fed to livestock could be better used to feed hungry people around the world.

educing the risk of cancer. “No chemical

carcinogen is nearly so important in causing human cancer as animal protein,” said Dr. T. Colin Campbell, one of the world’s foremost epidemiological scientists. Meat can contain harmful compounds such as heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are formed during the cooking process of meat and are believed to increase the risks of developing cancer.

educing the risk of heart disease. A study

done by Public Health Nutrition showed that vegetarians have a 24 percent lower chance of dying of heart disease. Additionally, it showed that meat consumption increased risk of heart disease by 50 percent among diabetics. People who are genetically predisposed to heart disease or have cholesterol issues sometimes choose to stop eating meat to avoid such health problems.

ncreasing energy levels. Too much fat in a person’s

diet can cause their arteries to not open up properly, causing their muscles to not get oxygenated sufficiently, leaving them feeling groggy and sluggish. Vegetarian diets are naturally very low in cholesterol and high in energizing complex carbohydrates. Page design by Bryan Chung

FEATURES

Discovery through dance

Senior performs variety of dances with Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe Jennifer Wang Reporter

pinning gracefully in the air, senior Samantha Lai carefully balances bright red handkerchiefs in each hand. Lai, an avid dancer, has been a member of the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe since third grade, and she is experienced in many forms of traditional Chinese dance, including the Chinese water fairy, handkerchief and long-sleeve dances. “I’m glad that Samantha gets to experience and learn about these different parts of our culture,” Lai’s mother Ching Shen said. Lai regularly performs with the troupe in concerts, showcase groups and solo dances. “I always envied the community that comes with working with a team and a sport, but also the cultural community,” senior Shalandra Rivera said. “[Lai and her team] always look like they’re having the most fun while they look graceful as a team,

rather than individually.” Lai has also been an active member of the McLean color guard. “[Knowing] dance basics makes guard easier,” Lai said. Between school, Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe and color guard, Lai is often very busy. She balances her schedule by sticking to one basic set of rules. “Don’t waste time and use every minute wisely,” Lai said. “Take a break when you’re done with things.” Lai began her dance career while living in Taiwan and took it up again when her Chinese school offered it. “I don’t get nervous when I do group performances because having friends on stage with me is comforting. Solos make me nervous but it all works out,” Lai said. “Even if I mess up in a solo, no one will know since I’m the only one on stage.” Annual events the troupe takes part in include the DC Cherry Blossom Festival, Dance Asia, DC Dance Festival and Fiesta

Asia, all of which feature ethnic dances. “It was very elegant and beautiful,” senior Jennifer Liu said of one performance. “I had never seen Chinese ribbon dancing like it before.” Performing with the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe has taken Lai to many stages in the area for annual celebrations. Lai has performed in a wide variety of venues, from Fair Oaks Mall to the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage. “Doing Chinese dance really influenced me to expand my horizons and also [helped] me develop a growing interest in all the other cultures and ethnic groups around me,” Lai said.

Colorful elegance—Senior Samantha Lai performs traditional ribbon dances with the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe at the Kennedy Center (above, pictured first from the left). Lai also performs the Chinese Handkerchief Dance, ‘Joyous Occasion,’ at a school Multicultural Night (right). (Photos courtesy of Samantha Lai)

Page design by Jennifer Wang

MAY

1 How long have you been a librarian? Joan McCarthy: I’ve been a librarian for eight years. Tina Ellerbee: I’ve been a librarian for two and a half years.

4 If you could write a book, what would it be about? McCarthy: I think mine would probably be a travel adventure in an exotic place in the world. Ellerbee: A murder mystery that takes place in a high school. It would be a teacher that did it.

2 How long have you been working at McLean? McCarthy: My first job as a librarian has been here at McLean, so eight years. Ellerbee: I’ve been a librarian for two.

3 What is your favorite book? Author?

McCarthy: That’s a tough one. I’d probably have to say my favorite is Jane Austen. I’ve read Pride and Prejudice 17 times. Ellerbee: My favorite book is The Book Thief, and my favorite author is probably Suzanne Collins.

10 Qs w/

Mrs. McCarthy & Mrs. Ellerbee (Librarians)

By Nora Hashem

5 Why did you become a librarian? McCarthy: I had been a teacher for 21 years and I always did research with my students, so I wanted to go on the other side and concentrate on research and teaching. Ellerbee: I had a business career before this, and I became a librarian because I love to read and wanted to share that with students.

6 When you were younger, what job did you want to have? McCarthy: An international skier, and I always thought I would climb up in the business world. Ellerbee: I wanted to be a psychologist, and I really think when you work in a library you can fill that role in a lot of ways because a lot of people come by that you can talk to.

What would you say you enjoy the most about working with each other? McCarthy: It is fun working with Mrs. Ellerbee, but it is also stimulating. She is extremely bright; I never stop learning. Ellerbee: Mrs. McCarthy has a great sense of humor and I like to laugh with her. 8 If you could be any character from a book, who would you be? McCarthy: In the book Hornet Flight, which is based off a true story about the Nazi occupation in Denmark, there are two teenagers who truly want to make a difference. It’s an incredible journey, and I would just want to be part of their incredible acts of resistance. Ellerbee: I would be Katniss Everdeen because when the zombie apocalypse comes I’d be ready for it.

9 Top library pet peeves? Ellerbee: I know that Mrs. McCarthy’s are eating in the library, coming in without a pass or a with a forged pass... and that’s probably it. Mine probably is if I ask people to quiet down and they don’t. I feel like such a bad guy asking them again and again.

10 What was the key to your success in the schoolwide March Madness bracket competition? Ellerbee: I was [at Duke] when all the great players were there and they won back-to-back. Once you’re infected with that, it’s a lifelong disease. I religiously follow Duke basketball. I always bet on Duke, and a lot of the time you end up winning. Photos by Nora Hashem

FEATURES

Go ahead, Make My Day

Twitter page allows students to anonymously compliment other Highlanders Ingrid Morse & Sophie Mariam Advertising Manager & Reporter

he bell rings and students rush out of classrooms, pulling out their phones after a long day at school. They check Twitter to see what’s going on—and of course to find out if anyone has sent in an anonymous compliment about them or a friend on McLean Make Your Day. The Make Your Day Twitter account has been blowing up recently, and Highlanders have been eagerly sending in positive messages about each other. This up-andcoming Twitter account encourages a more supportive environment at McLean. “I figured it would be cool to run the account because so many people enjoy posting to it and reading compliments about themselves,” said the current administrator of the account, who requested to remain anonymous. The account is becoming a common conversation topic with students. “[McLean] definitely talks about MMYD a lot,” the account administrator said. “You’ll hear people giggling about it in the halls and at lunch. People think it’s funny when they send in compliments, and it definitely puts a smile on the faces of people who [are complimented].” The Twitter account has had quite a journey, as it has changed administrators multiple times. It was originally created by junior Jade Smith, who also founded the Facebook account. However, eventually Smith had to pass on both accounts to peers

as the workload increased. “It just makes people feel good ... ‘cause it’s so nice and out of the blue to get acknowledged [in such a positive way],” Smith said. Students like freshman Dylan Laufman, who was recently complimented in a tweet, are pleasantly surprised to be featured on the page. “It was kind of weird because I had no idea who it was, but it was nice to know people say nice things like that about me,” Laufman said. Another bonus is the anonymity of the account as it lets people be truthful and sweet without any fear of embarrassment. While this is usually beneficial, there are some faults to the system of anonymous compliments. “[It] probably does put some people down when there are not any compliments about themselves,” the owner of the new account said. “I think the more popular kids post too much stuff about all their friends and I’d really like for more lesspopular people to send in compliments about others.” With hundreds of posts being submitted to ask.fm, which is used to send them to the administrator each week, running this account requires a lot of time and effort. “I usually try to post anything that is sent in within 24 hours of when it is [sent] to me.” Next time a Highlander does something especially great, make sure to send in a compliment to McLean Make Your Day.

Highlanders hit Twitter—Students are following and posting comments to McLean Make your Day, an anonymous compliment-based page.

Page design by Ingrid Morse

MAY

PROM DRESSES UNDER $100 $78 Nordstrom Sequin heart embellished skater dress

$60 ASOS Body-con dress with high neck embellishment

$82 Nordstrom Sequin heart twopiece dress

$44 PromGirl Mock two-piece gown with sequin bodice

Is Prom breaking your bank?

$99 PromGirl Sleeveless dress with sequin & lace bodice

$65 Nordstrom Braided trim Grecian gown

The Fair Oaks Prom Dress Shop opened on May 1 and will run every other weekend for the month of May. This dress shop has been helping the financially challenged students of Fairfax County to find stylish yet affordable prom dresses for nine years. Donation of dresses, shoes, handbags and jewelry is encouraged. Any high school student around the area can shop there, but a valid student identification is required to enter the shop. Make sure to check out the store and donate any extra dresses or accessories.

Photos reproduced with permission from respective stores Page design by Lila Duvall & Jade Smith

A&E

Beskenis-Hawkins: first in your heart, last in the polls Teacher duo begins road to 2016 election

Jake Barnett Sports Editor cross the country, Americans are gearing up for what is predicted to be a heated 2016 presidential election. Highlanders should begin gearing up too, because McLean teachers have decided to join the race to the Oval Office. English teacher Lisa Beskenis and her running mate, social studies teacher Cynthia “Uncle Hawk” Hawkins, are set to take McLean by storm, led by their campaign manager, junior Megan Leimkuhler. “I am going to play the quirky Uncle Joe figure, and I’m going to make borderline inappropriate comments while Beskenis does the real work,” Hawkins said. “Is that even quotable?” While Hawkins’ role is relatively limited, Leimkuhler and Beskenis will do some heavy lifting. Leimkuhler started the campaign by designing the bumper sticker for the campaign: a hawk holding a cat. “The inspiration for the logo came from [Beskenis’] love for cats, a mutual interest that we share, and Hawkins’ name literally has the word hawk in it,” Leimkuhler said. “So I thought a logo that combined the two candidates would strike fear into the opposition, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.” Leimkuhler does not always start presidential campaigns for her teachers,

but when she does, she chooses two of her favorites. “What makes Mrs. Beskenis and Mrs. Hawkins great teachers is their passion for what they teach,” Leimkuhler said, “Mrs. Hawkins is so energetic and enthusiastic about history that if you didn’t like the subject in the first place, you would grow to love it. Mrs. Beskenis loves English, and her interest with Gatsby definitely rubbed off on me. I am now much more intrigued by literature than I ever have been.” As teachers, Beskenis and Hawkins have unique perspectives on the world. “I can teach factual information all day long, but what I’ve learned over my 13-year career is that I know tons of stuff but not that much,” Hawkins said. “I have learned how to take something that most people don’t find interesting and find a way to hopefully make people care about it, or see why it’s relevant.” While the campaign is a lighthearted joke, it sheds light on two of McLean’s finest teachers. Teachers, like the majority of the staff at McLean, are underappreciated by students. If that is not already clear, the final piece of evidence is what Hawkins describes as the one thing she wishes she could teach everyone: to just be nice. After all, who wouldn’t want a leader with a philosophy of just being nice to everyone?

Six questions with presidential candidate Lisa Beskenis What inspired you to run for president? My devoted Twitter following gave me the courage I needed to pursue this path. #BeskenisHawkins2016 #Classof2016 #I’mNotSureIReallyUnderstandHashtags #Istherepunctuationinhashtags? #WhatAboutCapitalization What issue is your campaign founded upon? Hawkins and I are committed to creating as many future humanities majors as possible, thereby helping America see that the liberal arts can provide our economy with the boost it needs by creating higher demand for private sector jobs such as baristas, underpaid adjunct professors and discontented lawyers. Raising teacher pay is also central to our campaign. #obviously #fundfcps #GettingTheHangOfThis What would you like to warn the competition about? The Hawk is ready to go on the attack. Which candidates are you the most intimidated by? #ClintonKnope2016. Hillary Clinton and Leslie Knope make a formidable hypothetical team, but Hawkins and I have them beat in terms of intellect, as indicated by Mrs. Hawkins’ glasses and our brown hair. What is Mrs. Hawkins’ role in the campaign? She has all of the past presidents memorized, so that’s helpful. She will also play a central role in invading the personal space of any White House guests on whom we want to inflict an awkward feeling of discomfort.

Looking toward greatness—Junior Megan Leimkuhler, English teacher Lisa Beskenis, and social studies teacher Cynthia Hawkins pose for their official campaign portrait. Leimkuhler’s respect and affinity for the teachers inspired her to start a mock presidential campaign. (Photo by Jake Barnett)

What is your favorite part of the bumper sticker? I love the Greek font #HouseBeskenis. Also, Eliot the cat [one of Beskenis’ pets] appreciates the logo, though he would like me to point out that he could take down a hawk any day. Page design by Jake Barnett

MAY

A&E

Things to watch, read and listen to this season Andrea Delgado & Hannah Menchel Editors-in-Chief

ALBUMS

Avengers: Age of MOVIES Ultron, May 1

Wilder Mind: Mumford & Sons, May 4

This is the third studio album for the British folk-rock band. Three singles have already been released off the album: “Believe”, “The Wolf”, and “Snake Eyes.”

This sequel to Joss Whedon’s popular blockbuster The Avengers follows the superhero team as they band together to defeat Ultron, an artificial intelligence that Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) created to protect the human race, but ends up bent on its destruction.

True Colors: Zedd, May 19

True Colors is the second studio album for EDM musician Zedd. Influences for his album range from dubstep to classical music.

Hot Pursuit, May 8

Starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, Hot Pursuit is about an inexperienced cop, Cooper (Witherspoon), who is tasked with protecting the key witness in a case against a drug cartel, Daniella (Vergara). Hilarity ensues.

Pitch Perfect 2, May 15

Three years later, the Barden Bellas are back. After being disqualified from competing when Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) accidentally exposes herself on stage, the Bellas are determined to regain their status and right to compete by winning a worldwide a cappella competition.

Walt Disney Studios

Mad Men: AMC, May 17

The final episode of the popular series airs May 17. The show, set in the 60s and 70s, follows Don Draper (Jon Hamm) who works at the Sterling Cooper ad agency in New York. To catch up on all seven seasons, episodes are available on Amazon Prime.

The Late Show With David Letterman: CBS, May 20

After 31 years of hosting The Late Show, David Letterman is signing off for good. His last episode, which will air May 20, is a must-see for any viewer who has tuned in over the years. Stephen Colbert will take over in the fall.

MasterChef: Fox, May 20

The popular cooking competition is back for its sixth season. Judge Joe Bastianich has left the show. Christina Tosi, pastry chef at Momofuku Milk Bar, is his replacement, joining judges Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot. AMC Studios

A&E

HarperCollins

BOOKS

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, July 14

Go Set a Watchman, which Harper Lee actually wrote before her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, picks up 20 years after the events of that book, with an adult Scout Finch visting her father Atticus in Maycomb, Alabama. This is sure to be the best-seller of the summer.

Finders Keepers: A Novel by Stephen King, June 2

The second book in a trilogy centered on Detective Bill Hodges follows the murder of John Rothstein, a writer who shies away from the public eye. Be sure to start with the first book, Mr. Mercedes.

Page design by Hannah Menchel, Andrea Delgado & Mark Mizusawa

Tysons Corner Center

Mosaic District

Reston Town Center

La Sandia, Coastal Flats, Gordon Biersch, Seasons 52, Brio: Located on the first floor of the mall, all of these places tend to be crowded and fill up quickly. That, combined with the dim mall lighting and the overpriced options, makes this the least desirable place to eat.

Matchbox, True Food Kitchen, Four Sisters, Ted’s Bulletin: Situated in the visually pleasant Mosaic District, these restaurants are all great for both brunch and dinner. However, there are not quite as many places to choose from as Tysons and Reston.

Uncle Julio’s, PassionFish, Mon Ami Gabi, The Counter: Whether you want Mexican, French, Asian or American, Reston Town Center has something to please everyone. With outdoor seating at many places, Reston is a great place for lunch with friends

Yogen Früz, Cold Stone Creamery, Cinnabon: There are plenty of options for sweets at Tysons but most of the options are chains that offer goods that are overwhelmingly sweet, especially the sugary cinnamon rolls at Cinnabon.

Dolcezza Gelato, Angelica Cafe, Artisan Confections: Dolcezza Gelato is by far the best place here. However, options are limited, and both serving sizes and space are small, leaving customers feeling shortchanged and claustrophobic.

Pitango Gelato, Red Velvet Cupcakery, Ben & Jerry’s: Reston Town Center offers many options for satisfying a sweet tooth. The Pitango gelato is heavenly, while the cupcakes are perfect, with a great frosting to cake ratio.

SHOPPING

Barnes & Noble, Amercan Eagle, H&M, Nordstrom: Of the three options, Tysons has the biggest variety and number of shopping places. Tysons is also the only place entirely indoors, so the air conditioning is a godsend on brutal summer days.

Target, Anthropologie, South Moon Under: Other than Target, most of the stores here offer little variety and are overpriced; tank tops in South Moon Under are ridiculously expensive. Target is great, however, and worth a trip by itself.

J Crew, Francesca’s, Sephora, L’Occitane: The shopping experience is made more pleasant at Reston by the fact that it is outdoors. In the summer, the fountain creates an overall lovely atmosphere. Additionally, the options are more varied than Mosaic.

ENTERTAINMENT

BATTLE OF THE HANG-OUTS

AMC Theatres, Skating Rink: In terms of variety, AMC Theatres has the other two options beat. With 16 auditoriums, including several that have IMAX, AMC is able to show the greatest number of films at any one time. The snacks, while nothing special, are old standbys.

Angelika Film Center, Spark Yoga, Mint Nail Lounge: The Angelika Film Center is the best movie theater of the bunch. The building’s modern design adds to its visual appeal and the snacks are superior. The theater shows a lot of indie films that aren’t availible in major theaters.

Bow Tie Cinemas, Ice Skating Pavilion: In the winter, there is a wonderful outdoors skating pavilion where kids and adults alike can go have fun. Additionally, there is grassy seating and a fountain in the summer which make Reston a nice place to hang.

Mosaic’s standout feature is its movie theater. Angelika offers the best experience around—it’s cleaner, nicer and has better snacks. However, the shopping here is disappointing and, while the food is good, it pales in comparison to Reston.

In almost every category, Reston comes out on top. Yes, its entertainment options are somewhat lacking, but it has great shopping options, a wonderful atmosphere and is the best place for food, whether it’s lunch, dinner or a sweet snack.

FINAL VERDICT

SWEETS & TREATS

DINING

1961 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean

Overall, Tysons is kind of...boring. It has the best shopping options, but the food options are tired and nothing special. AMC is still a great movie theater, especially for things like midnight premieres, but it is nowhere near as nice as Angelika.

2910 District Ave., Fairfax

11900 Market St., Reston

Page design & reporting by Andrea Delgado & Hannah Menchel

MAY

The Laramie Project fights prejudice McLean Theater production raises awareness against hate crimes Scene of the crime—Senior Farris Assadi and junior Ray Clardy play Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, the men accused of killing Matthew Shepard. Both would be found guilty and serve life in prison. (Photo by Lisa Bears) Lisa Bears Reporter he McLean Theatre Company put on The Laramie Project from April 9–12, a play based on the 1998 murder of a young gay man named Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. After the murder, writer Moises Kaufman and volunteers formed the Tectonic Theatre Project and traveled from New York to Wyoming to interview the Laramie populace in order to document their reactions to Shepard’s Death. “The acting in the play is very unique in that is a docu-drama and it’s using the dialogue in candid moments,” theater teacher and director Amy Poe said. Shepard, a University of Wyoming student, had left a bar when he was followed by two men. He was tied to a cattle fence, beaten in the head and robbed. Although he was found alive by a biker, he would die six days later in the hospital. “[The Laramie Project] was really intense [and] powerful—it really made me stop and think about things,” senior Madeline Dorr said. The production follows the events of the murder and the controversy over his death. The play is meant to expose hate crime and prejudice in its rawest form. “I chose [The Laramie Project] because

I wanted to do this play for a really long time, and mainly because of the social issues surrounding the play,” Poe said. “I have noticed some homophobic and derogatory comments and actions in the school this year that haven’t been prevalent in previous years to my knowledge, and I wanted to address this head-on for our student population that does encounter these prejudices on a daily basis.”

I wanted to address [homophobic and derogatory comments] head-on for our student population that does encounter these prejudices on a daily basis.” -Theater teacher Amy Poe The set for The Laramie Project guided the audience fluidly across the stage from one interview to the next. A piece of a wooden fence remained in the center of it all as a reminder of what brought these individuals together. As the actors moved between takes, videos of news reports on the actual case were projected onto large white letters that spelled out “Laramie.” Senior Matt Lucero played both the cab driver who drove Shepard to the bar and a Baptist minister who openly preaches

against homosexuality. “It brings these issues more close to home,” Lucero said. “I hope that people take away that these issues are still going [on]. This crime happened in the 90s— it’s been awhile—and, sure, we’re more progressive now, but these hate crimes are still happening.” The McLean Theatre Company chose the play because its message remains relevant even 20 years after Shepard’s death. The play is a reminder of the discrimination the LGBT community still face today. The play did not go on without adversities. Reportedly, signs advertising The Laramie Project were splattered with paint. On April 9 and 10, Highlanders showed their support by having spirit days in order to raise awareness on the hardships faced by those judged by their sexual orientation. On Thursday students wore rainbow color combinations and on Friday students wore purple. Theater students decorated the cafeteria and played music and games to advertise the play. During the play itself, booths were set up with information, flags and buttons in order to further erase hate. “It has been fun and scary and new and cathartic,” Poe said. “It’s what we call a ‘grow show,’ where people are growing with the material.” Page design by Lisa Bears

A&E

IN-DEPTH

Standing up to cancer Julia Al-Akkad, Nhi Nguyen & Maddy Witchey

Managing Editors

ancer is prevalent in the lives of many McLean students, whether it be a personal experience such as senior Andrew Katson’s fight to overcome Uterine Sarcoma or a student-run community event benefiting cancer research. Those who have been affected have united and responded in powerful ways.

One student’s story

“I couldn’t run past a certain speed or stretch,” Katson said. “If I tried to sprint, I would just fall on my face. I … wasn’t eating at all. I was turning very pale.” Katson spent months reporting the pain to the doctors, eager for an explanation. However, the doctors were insistent on their belief that his physical health was fine. “Every doctor just kept telling me that nothing was wrong and that I just had a torn tendon and that I should just go home,” Katson said. “But, there was some first-year right out of medical school resident doctor who … got really upset because he said, ‘You’re

extremely pale. They’re wrong. If I can prove it, I’m going to have you admitted.’” Despite the potential consequences, the resident doctor continued to contact Katson’s father, advising Katson to admit himself into the emergency room in the event that he experienced a certain list of symptoms. “He said, ‘If you have any of these symptoms, come into the emergency room, get admitted and beg them for an MRI or blood test,”’ Katson said. “One day, I felt kind of nauseous, so I went in to the emergency room.” Upon request, Katson was able to undergo the blood tests, which showed significant inflammation. However, the pediatric doctor was insistent on his belief that Katson was not sick. He believed the inflammation was due to a torn tendon. The resident doctor disagreed. He instructed Katson to go to the emergency room to get an MRI. “The doctors both came in the next morning after I got an MRI in the middle of the night and they said, ‘You’re leaving today. There is nothing wrong with you. [The resident doctor] is going to get in a ton of trouble,’” Katson said. “Then, the MRI came in less than an hour later and they [said], ‘You have a massive tumor in your hip.’ They completely missed it. And they both came in three hours later, [saying], ‘It could have happened to anybody. It wasn’t our fault.’ I

MAY

Road to recovery—(Clockwise from left) Senior Andrew Katson celebrates his 17th birthday after returning home from the hospital. Katson undergoes surgery. Katson’s brother Michael talks him through oxygen treatment. Katson begins to walk after his sixth surgery. Katson poses with his physical therapy team. Despite his cancer, Katson learns how to drive. (Photos courtesy of Angela Katson) never saw them again after that.” Katson was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma in October of 2012 at age 15. “When I first found out, I was like, ‘OK, I got to deal with it and see where this takes us.’ And that’s kind of all I felt. I wasn’t extremely sad or anything,” Katson said. Katson’s parents, however, felt a different set of emotions upon finding out their son had cancer. “Devastated, sick to my stomach, completely lost,” his mother Angela Katson said. “As if the world had come to a screeching halt. In shock and disbelief, wishing it were not true.” Soon after the diagnosis, Katson began the intensive treatment process. Over the course of three months, Katson was in the hospital for almost two weeks every month receiving chemotherapy. The chemotherapy was followed by multiple surgeries and six more months of chemotherapy. “Chemotherapy is not what everyone thinks it is,” Katson said. “Everyone thinks that it hurts or burns, but it really just makes you nauseous and tired. It’s like eating bad food all the time.” Chemotherapy drugs have a powerful impact on the body; while they are killing rapidly growing cancer cells, they can also harm healthy cells. This results in both physical and emotional side

IN-DEPTH

effects, including a weaker sense of well-being, changing moods and difficulties getting along with others. “It’s hard to not be cynical when you have that much happen,” Katson said. “If I lash out at someone, I don’t mean anything by it. But they don’t recognize that. People get really upset. Before I had cancer, I had no idea how to say ‘I’m sorry.’ And so I had to kind of learn how to do that. I still have my moments where I get big mood swings, but in general I’d say I’m a lot better than I used to be at not getting so upset about everything.” Katson’s social life was also affected as a result of his strenuous schedule. “It’s hard to deal with someone who’s really sick,” Katson said. “I had maybe five or six really close friends and, at the end of the cancer, only one or two stuck around. Everyone at school forgets about you. And then, slowly, all your close friends. They can’t deal with it any more.” Senior Alex Giagtzis is one of the few friends who were able to support Katson throughout the entire process. Giagtzis and Katson’s strong friendship provided a support system for Katson. However, it was a difficult experience for Giagtzis as well.

“When he’s got mood swings, that affects me. When he’s sad, that affects me. So I was feeling what he was feeling, but to a lesser degree since it wasn’t happening to me,” Giagtzis said. “My heart was with him all the time that he was in the hospital. I wished that many times … it were me in that hospital instead of him. If I could switch places with him, I would.” The emotional extremity was no different for Katson’s parents. “[It was] the most difficult process any parent should ever have to experience,” his father Peter Katson said. “It was humbling, exhausting, unpredictable and very scary.” Katson credits a strong support system that helped him cope with the difficulties of the treatment process. “The people that surround you, they always tell you how great you are and how much you should keep going,” Katson said. “It was moments like that where you meet people and you have an impression on their life and they enjoy talking to you. You recognize that you still have a lot to offer. I recognize that I have worth and value and that keeps me going.” Those who surround and support Katson have gained valuable insight on the impact of cancer. “You got to learn perseverance. You got to learn determination. To get through everything that’s put in front of you because there’s no use living if you don’t try,” Giagtzis said. “Every life has value. Every life is worth living.” Katson’s family was able to re-affirm their strong ties. “It brought us closer together, knowing that Andrew was suffering, could die and needed our complete support,” Peter Katson said. “His younger brothers stepped

up to the plate and took on adult roles without complaining. It made each of us not only realize but truly understand that you cannot take life for granted.” Katson underwent several surgeries due to infections in the cancerous area. The doctors attempted to use bone, concrete and metal, which all failed. The majority of the surgeries were each within three weeks of each other, and they made Katson somewhat numb to the situation. However, the last surgery came unexpectedly for Katson. It took place eight months after his previous surgery and two months after his chemotherapy had ended. “They brought me in and [told me I] got infected again. And I was like, ‘Really? It’s been so much already. And now I have another infection?’” Katson said. “That was really tough for me because I was [supposed to] go back to school [that] year, but now I [couldn’t].” Katson was forced to remain in his bed for six months after that. “I had to get changed, I had to get dressed, I had to get washed, I had to eat all in one bed. I couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t even stick my feet off the side of my bed because it would pull my scar apart,” Katson said. “That’s how bad it was.” During the time of the last surgery, it became challenging for Katson’s friends to keep visiting the hospital. “It was hardest [during the last surgery] because not only were my friends dropping off the face of the earth, but also I had to get dragged right back into doing another surgery and doing rehab all over again,” Katson said. Despite the hardships, Katson’s experience has instilled in him a new set of values.

From a survey of 120 McLean students... “Do you know someone with cancer?” 15 105 said said no yes

“How many people do you know with cancer?” none 1-2 3-5 6 or more

15 60 have lost someone to cancer

“I’ve learned that you should try to not take a lot of things for granted—even things you don’t like—because I’ve never liked running, but I wish I could run and I can’t do that anymore,” Katson said. “I also learned that you have to be very comfortable with yourself. I spent a lot of time just sitting in the hospital by myself not talking to anybody. And you have to learn to be okay with just sitting there in complete silence and thinking. That was weird for me because I’ve never done that before—just sit and not talk to anybody at all.” Katson’s parents have noticed the changes in their son since he took on the emotional and physical challenges of overcoming cancer. “Andrew has become more determined, more mature and more compassionate towards others,” Angela Katson said. “He did not allow the prolonged hospitalization, constant infusions [and] blood work or physical weakness stop him from completing and excelling academically in both 10th and 11th grades.” Due to both the physical and mental demands of the cancer, Katson chose to continue his education through online schooling while undergoing his treatment. “It varied widely in its time frame,” Katson said. “Sophomore year, I finished three months late so I worked all through summer to finish my work, whereas junior year, I finished three months early. I was still on track, but it made everything shift around in a weird way.” When reflecting on his past experiences, Katson has found ways to best deal with the strains of the cancer.

“Have you ever participated in an event benefitting cancer research?”

57 63 said said no yes

“Now that I think back on it, it’s been like three years since I was first diagnosed, and it feels like no time at all has passed,” Katson said. “But when I first got cancer, it felt like every week was this horrible, horrible thing I had to get over. But the second I started thinking of [how much time had passed], I started being able to drift through my cancer without having to take the brunt of every single experience. Look back at how much you’ve experienced, and you’ll see that you’ve weathered so much that you shouldn’t let any of your new experiences get you down.” Katson currently visits the doctor once a month, which will eventually become once every three months, once every six months and then once every year for the rest of his life. Katson is estimated to be on crutches for two more years. Although Katson is still recovering from the exhaustion of the experience, he is feeling better than before. “I have a lot more energy than I used to,” Katson said. “I’m still pretty tired most of the time, but I have a lot more energy. I just try to enjoy what I do have. I try to have fun.” Katson still requires a certain level of support—doctors’ visits, physical therapy, etc. However, despite missing two years of school, Andrew plans to attend the College of William & Mary after graduation.

The community unites

The McLean-Langley community is responsive to the struggles that accompany a cancer diagnosis, and community members have been dedicated to their role in helping to find a cure and in supporting families like the Katsons. On March 23, the McLean baseball team hosted a pediatric cancer benefit game for Kyle’s Kamp Organization. “A local coach at Westfield High School, Rob Hahne, started the Kyle’s Kamp Organization after his son had cancer, and he started it as an avenue to raise funds for pediatric cancer and awareness through the local baseball community,” varsity baseball coach John Dowling said. “He reaches out to all of the local coaches each year. Coach Healy from Langley and I thought it would be cool if we co-hosted it every year.” This year, 4-year-old cancer survivor Sabrina Premy threw the ceremonial first

First pitch—Pediatric cancer survivor Sabrina Premy gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch with assistance of varsity baseball coach John Dowling. McLean baseball hosted the pediatric benefit game on March 23. (Photo courtesy of Anne Bielamowicz) pitch. “She had neuroblastoma when she was very young and she’s starting t-ball this year,” Dowling said. “She was very excited that she got to come out and throw the first pitch. Both the McLean and Langley teams gave her a hat and a signed ball, and she got a big standing ovation from everybody that was out there.” Through the effort, they were able to raise over $1,200 for Kyle’s Kamp Organization. This year also marks the second year McLean has teamed up with Langley High School to organize a Relay for Life event. Relay for Life is a 12-hour event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Participants form teams and raise money toward cancer research. From May 16 to May 17, McLean and Langley students and staff will walk around the track at Cooper Middle School in order to show their support for individuals impacted by cancer. Planning committees from both high schools have been working hard since the beginning of the school year to ensure the success of the event. Katie Sue Van Valkenburg, who is a Relay for Life community manager, has been working closely with the LangleyMcLean committee. “I am just so impressed with the students who are in charge of it—they really give their heart and soul to it. I can go to them for any request, and they will live it out,”

Van Valkenburg said. “If I give them a challenge, they will probably go above and beyond that. Last week, we had an online challenge. I asked them to raise $1,500— you guys raised $4,000 in one day alone.” This year, the goal is to raise $120,000. Throughout the year, the committee has held car washes, covered School Resource Officer Scott Davis’ police cruiser with Relay Post-It notes and held benefit nights in order to reach the goal and to raise awareness about the event. Events like Relay for Life and the pediatric cancer benefit baseball game bring attention to the prevalence of cancer in the lives of many McLean students. “I started to realize how much cancer is in everyone’s lives. Even though it hasn’t impacted me dramatically, my grandma did have cancer, and my dad had a little scare last year,” said junior Emma Chamberlayne, who is the special events chair for Relay for Life. “I’m just so happy to be a part of [Relay for Life] for me, for other people and for the cure in general.” Although participants of Relay for Life have differing reasons for their involvement in the fight against cancer, they all share the same goal. “I hope that all of these lovely students walk away with the feeling of accomplishment and the fact that they really made a difference towards the fight against cancer,” Van Valkenburg said.

Infographic by Mark Mizusawa Page design by Julia Al-Akkad, Nhi Nguyen & Maddy Witchey

IN-DEPTH

Website:

Kendrick Lamar speaks on the black experience To Pimp a Butterfly artfully tackles social issues Dereck Marwa Reporter

n 2012, when Kendrick Lamar’s wildly successful major label debut Good Kid, M.A.A.D City was released, few expected the amount of praise it would receive. Three years later, it is hailed as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of the decade. On the album, Lamar craftily recorded a few radio-friendly singles that held quite powerful messages underneath their seemingly superficial and generic lyrics. These singles served as an entry point for mainstream audiences while maintaining their appeal to hardcore hip-hop fans. Across his entire discography, Lamar has appealed to mainstream and underground audiences equally. However, as Lamar has grown as an artist, he has drifted further and further away from the typical conventions of mainstream hip-hop. Lamar’s latest release, To Pimp a Butterfly, marks not just a simple progression, but the culmination of a very well thought out plan by Lamar and his label Top Dawg to establish a platform on which he can express his uncensored message to a wide audience. To Pimp a Butterfly is Lamar in his purest form yet. Lamar’s gradual artistic liberation is exemplified in the very free-flowing and soulful sonic direction of this album. Complementing the themes of black empowerment and unity, there are heavy influences from styles of music such as jazz, R&B, soul and funk. “For Free” hearkens back to the roots of rap, as a spoken word piece delivered over a jazz track arranged by Terrace Martin. On “u,” Taz Arnold, WhoAreI and Sounwave create a dark, turbulent and spiraling soundscape to convey the equally dark downward spiral of Lamar’s struggle with depression and anxiety. “Alright” presents a stark contrast to “u” as Lamar enlists Pharrell Williams help to make an uplifting, radio-friendly, trap-influenced anthem that matches the song’s message well. This song also marks a shift in focus to the world around Lamar in the present day, and the production reflects that. Tracks like “Momma,” “Hood Politics” and “The Blacker the Berry” also feature the more hard hitting, bass-heavy sound prevalent in modern rap. Over the last three years, Lamar has

Overly Dedicated (2010) Peak chart position: 72

Section.80 (2011) Peak chart position: 21

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012) Peak chart position: 1

To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) Peak chart position: 1

retained every bit of the superb technical rapping ability and powerful lyricism that he is known for. He also continues to use his personal feelings and experiences as a medium for social commentary. On “u,” Lamar raps from the perspective of his own inner voice in order to not only convey his own depression, but also the deep-seated self-hatred in the black community. Self-hatred is also discussed on “Complexion (A Zulu Love),” which tackles colorism in the black community with the help of a standout verse from underground female rapper Rapsody. However, “The Blacker the Berry” remains the most powerful track on this record. Written in the aftermath of the protests in Ferguson last year and released the day after Lamar won two Grammy Awards for the funky and upbeat lead single “i,” “The Blacker the Berry” presents a stark contrast to “i.” Lamar uses a very aggressive flow over a booming yet slightly eerie drum-driven production from Boi1da to convey his thoughts on the racially charged events of this past year. Beginning each verse with “I’m the biggest hypocrite of 2015,” he outlines many sources of black anger and conveys his frustration with living in America as a black man while defiantly declaring his pride in his heritage. At the end of the track, he condemns gang violence and points out the hypocrisy present in the anger of many of the protesters. Many of Lamar’s words on this album have made people both inside and outside of the black community very uncomfortable, but in times of high racial tensions, an artist like Lamar can be a catalyst for a time of change, peace and understanding. Kendrick Lamar has turned back the clock to a time when rappers were musical reporters—when their lyrical content reflected where they came from and the lives of the people they loved most. On To Pimp a Butterfly, hip-hop’s new ruler lays down the laws of his new kingdom. Rest assured, his rule will be glorious. All hail King Kendrick. Photos courtesy of Top Dawg Page design by Dereck Marwa

A&E

MOVIE REVIEWS

Hill and Franco make True Story truly entrancing Sabrein Gharad A&E Editor

y immediate expectation for a film co-starring the hilarious duo of James Franco and Jonah Hill was a problematic comedy much like their other recent movies. True Story, directed by Rupert Goold, however, did a masterful job of presenting Franco’s and Hill’s serious sides. Based on the 2006 memoir True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel, the movie follows New York Times journalist Michael Finkel (Hill), who has recently been fired for fabricating a frontpage exposé. Meanwhile, Christian Longo (Franco) has been captured by the FBI for the alleged murders of his wife and three children. As Longo awaits his trial, Finkel learns that Longo had been using his name as a pseudonym while hiding in Mexico. Finkel, intrigued by this, starts to visit Longo regularly and begins to write a novel based on Longo’s life story. The lack of diversity in locations throughout the film was disappointing and

it made the storyline dull at times. The film would have been far more engaging if there were a change in scenery every now and then along with a larger and more diverse cast. The cast of the film was essentially three people—Franco, Hill and Felicity Jones. In a film like this, there is strength in numbers. A larger cast with additional anecdotal stories sprinkled throughout the film, specifically from Longo’s family life, would have given more substance to the main characters. Goold takes creative liberty in bending aspects of the story in order to satisfy viewers’ desire for added cinematic drama and does a phenomenal job in his alterations. This film is not for the faint of heart. Although there is no on-screen violence, the imagery presented during the testimony and entire trial are sure to make stomachs turn. Despite its slightly lengthy preface, the film is exceptionally well-made and Goold masterfully extracts a refreshingly raw performance from Franco and Hill. The entirety of the film leads viewers to

Regency Enterprises

believe that Finkel will eventually decipher the mystery that is Longo and his unspeakable crime. However, and disappointingly so, viewers and Finkel are left right where they started: with infinite questions and no answers. In spite of that, True Story is worth watching.

Little Boy does little to impress Esme Tabra Online A&E Editor ittle Boy is an American war comedydrama set near the end of World War II. The film follows 7-year-old Pepper Flint Busbee (Jakob Salvati), who is willing to go to any lengths to bring his father (Michael Rapaport) home from war. Aimed at Christian viewers, Little Boy incorporates many Christian values and themes. In the midst of the struggles that Pepper’s family is going through with their father away at war, Pepper is encouraged by Father Oliver (Tom Wilkinson) to befriend the town outcast, a Japanese-American named Hashimoto (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). Pepper develops a mentorstudent relationship with him which provides a secondary storyline in addition

to Pepper’s mission to save his father. Overall, the film definitely captures the young boy’s emotions and struggles well. The cast, which includes David Henrie, Kevin James and Emily Watson, is packed with talent but still fails to show the appropriate respect and solemnity necessary for scenes like when Pepper walks through an open space filled with ash, ruins and corpses, as well as the entire World War II vibe. Viewers might leave the theater feeling inspired and spiritual, given Little Boy’s general Christian feel. However, some might view the film as offensive, especially when the townspeople cheer when the news of the bombing of Hiroshima arrives, and it is particularly distasteful to mention that the bomb’s nickname was “Little Boy.”

Open Road Films

Page design by Sabrein Gharad & Esme Tabra

MAY

OPINIONS

Kings Dominion law hurts students

FCPS should start school before Labor Day The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

he end of August is a time for many students to settle back into their academic routines. In Fairfax County, however, the school year begins later in September because of a Virginia law that prohibits public school districts from starting before Labor Day, called the Kings Dominion law. The Kings Dominion law was enacted in 1986 to boost tourism in Virginia. Supporters of the law often argue that the state would lose an important source of revenue without it. However, they only need to look to states like Delaware and Florida that still have booming tourism industries despite their policies allowing schools to start before Labor Day. While it may be marginally beneficial to the state’s economy, the harms to students caused

by this law do not outweigh its advantages. Preventing students from returning to school earlier so that amusement parks can profit from the labor of their teenage employees and sell a few more tickets simply does not make sense. “I’d like for it to be overturned,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “The state needs to start putting kids’ needs first.” Although this one-week difference may seem unimportant, it can be extremely critical for teachers to have this time to prepare their students for AP exams and SOLs that take place in May, regardless of a school’s start date. “It’s definitely a disadvantage, especially since AP exams are comparing you to the rest of the country and a lot of the rest of the country starts earlier,” senior Michelle Vaccaro said. Students are hurt by the late start because teachers often have less time to spend on important lessons. “This fall, because we’re losing a week of school before winter break ... I ended up taking out a full day of instruction and a quiz day, where they would be able to get some formative feedback on how they’re doing,” math teacher

“The state needs to start putting kids’ needs first.”

-Principal Ellen Reilly

Crissie Ricketts said. “I’m going to ask them to power through because we have a week less.” Rushing through the curriculum also puts more pressure on students to learn the material quickly. “It’s certainly materially impacted their stress levels,” Ricketts said. Additionally, the late start means that there is another month of school after these exams when many students are not productive. By unnecessarily keeping students in school weeks after testing, the state is squandering tax money by essentially paying for students to spend time watching movies in their classes. “It’s like summer camp,” Vaccaro said “You just hang out and don’t do anything.” Virginia grants some school districts that often experience inclement weather an exception to the Kings Dominion law. Both Loudon and Prince William counties have a waiver for the 2015-2016 school year. However, Fairfax County only had 10 snow days this year, one short of the 11 snow days needed to gain an exemption. “Other states that did not have as many snow days are getting more time to prepare for these finals and AP exams,” Reilly said. “It’s not equitable.”

Cartoon by Anna Marie Garland Page design by Andrea Delgado

OPINIONS

No-zero grading policy fails to help students

Deputy Superintendent Steven Lockard’s proposal hurts students in the long run Catherine Zysk Reporter

n March 17, Deputy Superintendent Steven Lockard sent an email to thousands of Fairfax County teachers proposing several changes to the countywide grading policy. Of these changes, the most notable is “limiting the ‘zeros’ in the 100-point marking system.” This proposal, which suggests that replacing a zero with a grade of 53 percent allows struggling students to pass, will inevitably lead students to believe that they can be complacent with failure. “If someone is slacking, they are just going to be encouraged to slack more,” sophomore Nicole Woolridge said. At McLean, students juggle a heavy course load along with multiple extracurriculars and activities. Therefore, many take any possible shortcut to lessen time spent on school work. Under this new proposition, not only does the value of homework assignments decrease, but the possibility of failing an assignment also becomes less likely. Without these incentives to complete assignments on time and well, students will lose their motivation to succeed. “You’re letting kids know ... that they have to do the bare minimum to achieve a passing grade,” public policy correspondent Whitney Neal said in a Fox News interview. In addition to the negative public response, McLean students and teachers question the benefits of the proposed policy. “[People who work hard] would feel like their work isn’t as important,” sophomore Prateek Gouindaraj said. Students like Gouindaraj worry that their hard work will no longer be valued. “Their reward isn’t as high as it used to be,” Gouindaraj said. Teachers also raise concerns about the value of a 53. “There are some students that actually work hard to get a 53 percent,” math teacher Emily Fifer said. Although the policy has not yet been implemented county-wide, several Fairfax

County schools have already eliminated zeros from their grading policies. Madison High School, for example, implemented the no-zero policy in 2013. Since then, however, dropout rates due to achievement problems at Madison are still higher than those at McLean, which has not yet adopted the new policy. According to a statistical report released by FCPS in 2013, Madison High School had a .66 percent increase in dropout rates from the previous school year despite the use of the new grading policy. Statistics like these highlight the ineffectiveness of such major shifts in grading regulations. “Even though it may help you a little bit, you are still failing,” sophomore Kate Covington said. Furthermore, the grading policy fails to adhere to the philosophy on which it was based. Ken O’Conner’s grading philosophy, the basis for the proposed grading plan, is centered on three main points— consistency, meaningfulness and support of learning. The proposed plan, however, only succeeds in consistency. The most glaring omission is the lack of meaningfulness. “It’s not preparing us for college,” freshman Emily Lachow said. “We won’t know how to manage our own lives and our own assignments [if the policy is implemented].” It is foolish to assume that there will always be a grading policy to help students succeed once they leave high school. “If a student doesn’t show up to [make up] the work, then they deserve the zero,” Fifer said. Lockard’s proposal also fails to support learning for the long term. “It’s going to get a lot easier to do things,” Woolridge said. “But [people] are just going to think, ‘I don’t need to do this because I don’t have to.’” The McLean community still has an opportunity to stop the new policy from coming to fruition. By voicing concerns about Lockard’s plan, students can keep the proposal from being implemented.

THE NO-ZERO GRADING POLICY BY THE NUMBERS

the value to replace the zero in the proposed grading policy

0.66%

Madison High School’s dropout rate, which is 0.42% higher than McLean’s; Madison implemented the nozero policy in 2013

28.68%

percentage of FCPS high school dropouts attributed to achievement problems

148

number of dropouts due to achievement problems in FCPS high schools

Statistics from FCPS 2012-2013 Report of Dropouts Page design by Catherine Zysk

MAY

Dance the rights away

SATIRE

Sadie Hawkins dance is evidence of a conspiracy to strip men of their rights Sam Silverman Reporter

t has been happening all around us, even on an international scale. The threat goes unacknowledged except by an intrepid few, and before long it will be too late. Now, for the first time, McLean High School is taking the initial step towards the new and menacing world order that is emerging. Open your eyes, people. Men are being stripped of their rights faster than we know. Discrimination has always been out there, and our nation has had a dark past of discriminatory practices and shameful acts of bigotry. However, that’s all behind us now. As Fox News contributor Ann Coulter said, “Unfortunately for liberals, there is no more racism in America.” In addition to racism, the U.S. has also had a history of sexism, where women have been disproportionately disenfranchised. But, like racism, it’s all behind us. Now, with a level playing field, the fires of discrimination are heating up again. This time, the target is men. The fact that such measures are taking place at a local level is disturbing. The

latest attack against men is McLean’s Sadie Hawkins dance, which is similar to your average Homecoming or Prom with a sinister twist: the girls are supposed to ask the boys to go instead of the other way around. This is blatant infringement on the rights of high school boys to ask girls to dances. Now, you might be asking, “How on earth is the Sadie Hawkins dance infringing on men’s rights?” First, don’t interrupt me when I’m talking. Second, I’m glad you

“I’m worried, quite honestly. I feel like they’re coming for me.”

-Sophomore Pat Riarchy

asked. Your question reveals the true folly of men: we let ourselves be lulled into a false sense of superiority, and then, before we can return to the couch with the cheese balls during a commercial break, we’ve lost our rights.

The dance has drawn concern from many boys at the high school. “I’m worried, quite honestly. I feel like they’re coming for me,” sophomore Pat Riarchy said while looking over his shoulder nervously. “It’s awful to be the subject of such discrimination. I constantly feel threatened. Wait! I have to go...” Moments later, Riarchy was asked to the Sadie Hawkins dance. And you think you’re safe. This local instance is merely a thread in an XL T-shirt of blatant attacks. Take, for instance, the current discussion on women’s reproductive rights. According to The Huffington Post, in 2013, eight Congressmen deliberated about restricting women’s abortion rights without a single woman on the panel. The backlash was monstrous. Many women spoke out, calling the hearing an “assault on women,” according to ABC News. This is scary, people. Our fundamental rights are being restricted and insulted. I’m speaking of course of men’s rights to discuss women’s issues without any actual women’s opinions being heard. We need these rights! They represent who we are, and the outcries against men are sickening and bigoted. The dance may seem like a trifling event that means nothing in the scheme of things, but, if we are willing to allow this level of discrimination, then what happens next could be even worse. Imagine, a school where rape seminars are given to boys, telling them not to rape, instead of being given to girls, telling them not to get raped. There might even come a day when it is considered acceptable for girls to ask boys to events we once considered safe, like Homecoming or Prom. Imagine a world where women might even be able to earn an equal paycheck as men. It’s frightening. Men cannot sit idly by and let this happen. I hope that the future will see this point in history as a scar, a scar where discrimination and prejudice threatened our way of life. The Sadie Hawkins dance is just one small step for women, but one giant leap in the wrong direction. Comic by Nhi Nguyen Page design by Sam Silverman

OPINIONS

Scheduled Highlander Time prevents intended benefits Lack of freedom prevents remedial help opportunity Connor Koch Reporter

ighlander Time offers teachers and students time to review class content, practice a new concept or even just get that last bit of homework done before class. One of the most important aspects of Highlander Time is that students can make up quizzes, tests and classwork. The scheduled Highlander Time keeps students from being able to go to the classes in which they really need to make up work or those they just need more help with. Highlander Time as it is right now goes through an eight-day rotation. Periods 1 through 7 get a Highlander Time slot, and on the eighth day, there is a free period during which students are allowed to go to whichever class they want. This allows students to go to each of their classes for Highlander Time less than once a week.

Highlander Time pass problems—The Highlander Time passes to get to a different class require signatures from both teachers. These can be hard to get when a student has not planned ahead and is not allowed to leave class.

Students are required to be present for each session. Failure to show up to Highlander Time results in an unexcused absence. The only official way for students to go to a different class than the one assigned for Highlander Time is to get a permission slip from the teacher of the class they are scheduled to attend. Students must then get it signed by the teacher whose class they want to go to. This schedule prevents students from using Highlander Time to its full potential. Students cannot go to the classes that they actually need to go to for extra help or to make up work without getting both teachers to sign off on the Highlander Time pass ahead of time. “It is hard to make up quizzes with the rotation. By the time I’m able to get to a class for Highlander Time after I miss a quiz, we have usually moved on in class and I am not nearly as fresh on the subject,” senior Jenny Kim said. If a student misses a day and has to make up a quiz for their first period, they could end up waiting for over a week for Highlander Time to cycle around again to first period or their free period. “It is getting away from the original point. It was supposed to be a time for remediation for students in the classes that they needed it in, but now it is just an extension of class time,” economics teacher Jennifer Johnson said. It is a pain for students to have to schedule and fill out passes for the classes they want to attend for Highlander Time in advance. It makes students less inclined to go to the classes they really need help in and just attend whichever Highlander Time is scheduled for that day. As of the beginning of fourth quarter, students are no longer even allowed to schedule different classes for Highlander Time in preparation for SOL and AP testing. Near the end of the year is one of the most important times for students to make up work they miss. Students have no choice but to wait for the Highlander Times to cycle through to the class that they need to make up work in or sacrifice after-school responsibilities or class time.

Instead of discouraging students from getting extra help by locking them down in scheduled classrooms, they should be given the freedom to attend the classes they are struggling in or have recently been absent for. For the most part, teachers just tell students to treat their Highlander Time as a study hall and do whatever work they want to from other classes anyway. “I can’t remember the last time I have actually had to do work for a teacher during Highlander Time. I just study for other classes. I could be going to the teacher that I am actually studying for,” senior Andrew Katson said. When Highlander Time used to be during the first hour of school on Wednesday mornings, students were only required to attend if they were not maintaining a C or better in all of their classes. Students who held their grades up to that standard were able to get an extra hour of sleep. This is one way the administration could handle Highlander Time instead of the mandatory rotation. Similar to the Highlander Time of two years ago, students should only be limited to classes if their grades show that they need more work or time in that class. If students hold all of their grades to a certain universal standard, they should be allowed to choose which classes they want to attend during Highlander Time or if they just want to use it as a study hall. The advantages of this system include rewarding students who are doing well in all of their classes, offering students more opportunity to focus on classes that they need to focus on and helping students who are behind in a class succeed by giving them more time with the teacher. If Highlander Time continues to confine students to certain classes every day, students will continue to be forced to stay after school to retake quizzes and get makeup assignments. Instead, this could easily be completed during Highlander Time if students were allowed to go where they need to go. Page design by Connor Koch

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Free community college helps everyone America will be positively affected by Obama’s plan for free higher education Elena Ifarraguerri Social Media Manager

n January of 2015, President Barack Obama proposed that by 2020 the US will have the highest amount of college graduates in the world. In order to meet this goal, he said that he wants to make community college free for anyone who is willing to work for it.

be costly, but it will allow Americans to get the training and education necessary to start their careers. This change will boost economic growth and help reduce the country’s growing wealth gap. “Public high school is not sufficient enough to prepare people for the careers they are going to want to have for their lifetime,” career center specialist Dawn Allison said. Students need the option to advance their education without jeopardizing their

“Our population is becoming less traditional, and ways of getting education are going to become less traditional.” -Dawn Allison, Career Center Specialist This program is crucial to broaden education for the next generation. It will give people the chance to advance their education after high school without having to pay tuition. It will allow universities to work with community colleges to expand course offerings and also to promote transference of credits between institutions. Remedial and adult education programs will be improved, which could expand the integration of developmental classes into vocational and academic classes. According to the White House, if all 50 states choose to implement Obama’s community college proposal, it could save a full-time community college student an average of $3,800 in tuition per year. The plan could help roughly nine million students each year. Students eligible for this program must earn a salary lower than $70,000 a year, maintain a C+ average and show progress towards finishing their degree. Under this new proposal, students would be able to earn an associate’s degree or earn technical skills essential for the workforce—all at no cost to them. The process of integrating this plan will

financial situation. “Obama’s plan makes a foothold to step up to a bachelor’s degree. With that comes more opportunities,” junior Camila Gonzalez said. In order to survive in a competitive job market, it is important to receive higher education. Students should be able to obtain the knowledge and skills they need without piling on decades worth of student debt.

“I think that the best thing we could be doing for this country for the next generation is [giving] broader access to higher education,” counselor Barrett Kashdan said. Is it a feasible plan to make community college free? Although the program won’t be in action by next year, some programs are going in the right direction for free higher education. Programs like AP classes can give students college credit for free. Another program is called MOOCs, or massive open online classes. At the moment, colleges are not accepting college credit for this, but it’s another way to receive more education at no cost. “The concept of a traditional, fouryear on-campus university education is changing. Our population is becoming less traditional, and ways of getting education are going to become less traditional,” Allison said. “We want the best for the next generation, so let’s give them the best,” sophomore Gigi Iyob said. Students have the option for a free public high school education. Now, they need an inexpensive way to further their education. This plan will help future generations by giving them a chance to advance their education no matter their financial situation.

Cartoon by Nhi Nguyen Page design byr Elena Ifarraguerri

OPINIONS

Body cameras are the way forward for the police Recent confrontations shed light on larger issue Rustin Abedi Reporter

nother one bites the dust. Another unarmed civilian is on the ground at the hands of an officer and like many other cases with contrasting testimonies from eyewitnesses, the true culprit in the confrontation is never fully identified. With any trial of due process, there will always be doubt in identifying the catalyst of a conflict between a police officer and a civilian, but with the power of film, the truth can be revealed. In light of the recent incidents of civilian deaths due to police confrontations, the debate over whether or not police should carry body cameras has begun. Most incidents between civilians and police officials are brought to trial, but despite all the evidence, outcomes of the proceedings often leave some uncertainty. Cameras should be considered a solution to this ongoing problem. With video, there is an accessible source in determining how a confrontation played out. With this unbiased evidence, the innocence of any individual involved in the death of another person can be determined. For example, a phone camera determined the wrongdoing of North Charleston Officer Michael Slager on April 11. In a video taken by Feidin Santana, Slager can be seen shooting the unarmed suspect Walter Scott while he was running away and placing a taser next to the victim’s body. Because of this video, Slager’s place in the altercation is clear. Scott’s death is just

one example of how body cameras can assist law enforcement in determining police officers’ conduct during incidents. “You don’t shoot a fleeing felon in the back,” McLean’s School Resource Officer Scott Davis said. “[Police officers] are not trained to do that … he’s got to have a weapon,” The video proved Slager tampered with evidence by placing his taser next to Scott’s body after shooting him. In the official police report, Slager claimed CPR was immediately conducted on Scott’s body, but the video showed this was not the case. “[Police departments] are trying to build a good relationship [with civilians],” Davis said. “[Planting evidence] doesn’t do a whole lot to help us as a community.” With body cameras, civilians can also be held accountable. On April 16, in New Richmond, Ohio, a civilian charged Officer Jesse Kidder. Kidder was wearing a body camera that his family gave to him in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, according to KCCI News. The video shows Kidder displaying restraint in refusing to shoot the charging civilian and the suspect eventually surrendering himself. Cameras can also provide the evidence to uphold the reputations of officers like Kidder. “[Body cameras] ensure that [civilians and policemen] are not doing anything they shouldn’t be doing,” freshman Brett Richardson said. Another potential impact of body cameras on police officers will be improving the behavior of civilians that officers encounter. In a study done by the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology,

researchers found that when civilians were aware that officers were wearing body cameras, they had more “self-awareness” during police interactions. When discussing the behavior of civilians in a conflict, Davis stressed the importance of both parties’ compliance. “[I have] never had to hit anyone who followed [my] orders,” he said. Body cameras can prove exactly which party did not comply. Many people believe that body cameras may cost too much money. Cost is always on the table when discussing anything, but the truth is priceless. Eyewitness testimony by itself is not sufficient in determining guilt or innocence because of the risk of bias. People also wonder how efficient the cameras will be on officers, but most law enforcement officers, including Davis, don’t think that it is an issue. “I have no problem with wearing a body camera,” Davis said. “The cameras on the [dashboard] have actually helped me more than anything else I’ve ever had.” In order to ensure that the truth behind conflicts between police officials and civilians is revealed, body cameras should be on law enforcement officers in all police departments across the US. When officers approach a subject, they can turn on the body cameras to record the encounter. In those situations, suspects being approached will be informed that they are being videotaped, making it more likely that they will obey the officer’s orders, and, according to Davis, this will almost certainly lead to a peaceful outcome. Therefore, the number of crimes due to these incidents will decrease.

After implementing police body cameras in Rialto, California...

v v

percent reduction in officer use of force

Statistics from the Implementing a Body-Worn Camera Program, created by the U.S. Department of Justice.

percent reduction in number of citizen complaints

Page design by Bora Zaloshnja, Bryan Chung & Rustin Abedi

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SPORTS

Baseball gets into the swing of things

Team builds on good start with sturdy defense and improving offense John Corvari Reporter fter starting the season off with a win, the varsity baseball team struggled to maintain a consistent winning streak. However, the team has come back, winning its past six games. Despite a close loss against Fairfax, McLean now holds an impressive 11-5 record as of April 28.

remainder of the season, the coaches and players are on the same page. “Our goal is to make it to states again and hopefully win it,” junior Jon Clines said. Head coach John Dowling says the key is a strong offense, which may be the vital difference between this year sand last. “We hit just enough [to get to states],”

Swing for the fence—Junior Tom Shue bats during the April 28 game against Washington-Lee, which McLean won 6-3. The team has picked up its play in recent games and is trying to reach the state championship for the second consecutive year. (Photo by James Carver) The team appears to be rounding into form at just the right time. Last year, McLean had a regular season record of 10-9, but their improved hitting and solid defense helped them make a state semifinal appearance. This year’s players have full confidence that they have the talent necessary to return. When it comes to their expectations for the

Dowling said. “The one thing that can be a difference maker for us is that I think we have the ability to be even better offensively.” Their 11 wins have included several impressive offensive performances, including a 13-0 win over Hayfield on April 24. The Highlanders have scored 10 or more runs four times, all of which resulted in victories.

That being said, the team has also had several low scoring losses. Their offense, while displaying potential to be dangerous to opposing teams, has also struggled with consistency. “In our games we win, we have hit the ball as well as any team in Virginia,” junior Matt Hanusik said. “But in our losses we struggled.” The Highlanders know that this is one of their biggest issues to resolve. “We need to make those adjustments so we can string hits together and push runs across the plate,” Hanusik said. Their offense has been crucial, but the catalyst for their success is their stifling defense and strong pitching staff. “We know that we have the best defense in the northern region, we know that we have the best pitching staff in the northern region,” Dowling said. “Our issue is scoring runs consistently.” Despite occasional hiccups on the offensive side of the ball, the team has gotten on the right track towards consistency in recent games. Dowling believes that the team has a favorable makeup for a potential return to the state championship due to the returning players’ experience. “I think that this year the formula is very similar,” Dowling said. “We have a very strong group of pitchers again, and we returned virtually every key part of our defense from last year’s run.” However, before they reach states, the team must first focus on the remaining regular season games, which are vital to their conference ranking. “We have to come together for these upcoming games,” Clines said. McLean now has a chance to show improvement before plunging into the playoffs. Last season’s success has instilled in players a confidence that they can reach an even higher level of play. “Recently we have started to play up to the level we knew we were capable of from the start,” Dowling said. “We are very excited.” Page design by John Corvari

SPORTS

Desmond Curran bounces back After a life-threatening head injury, varsity soccer captain returns to the field Jessica Bulford & Grace Murray Sports Editor & Editor-in-Chief

n March 23, 2014, senior varsity soccer player Desmond Curran was elbowed in the head while playing in a club soccer game in Delaware. After the initial hit, he remained on the field, playing through the pain and holding out for a substitution. When he finally made it to the sidelines, his parents and coach expected that the injury was a severe concussion and treated it as such. Not realizing the severity of the situation, they waited until they returned to Virginia to take him to the emergency room at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. A CT scan quickly revealed that this injury was more than just a concussion. Curran had a skull fracture with an epidural hematoma. In plain English, Desmond’s skull was fractured, leading to an accumulation of blood between his skull and his brain. Left untreated, epidural hematomas frequently lead to death. Curran went into the emergency surgery immediately. Fifty-two staples and seven days in the hospital later, the long road to recovery began. Originally, the doctors at INOVA told Curran he would only have to wait three to four months to play again. However, when he went to Georgetown Hospital for a second opinion that summer, the chief pediatric neurologist told Curran he would need to take a full year off from all contact sports. “We’ve learned that injuries from contact sports are something that parents of high school athletes should try to plan for,” said Charles Curran, Desmond’s father. “That includes ... thinking about the right kinds of cross-training that their student athlete can do to prevent unnecessary injury and any safety equipment that might help reduce risk.” After hearing that he would have to wait a year to play soccer again, Curran only pushed harder to make sure that he was

doing everything he could to return to the field as a stronger player. “Starting [in] September, I was lifting regularly and playing soccer in a noncontact way, like playing drills where I was passing and all of that. I was lucky enough to play with a team that practiced a lot and practiced well,” Curran said. “I really didn’t start putting myself into full contact play until the end of February and beginning of March, and that’s when I returned.” His hard work and dedication to the sport and his team eventually paid off. On March 16, 2015, Curran stepped back onto the McLean High School athletic field for the first time in a year. Although he had suffered a major physical setback, Curran demonstrated persistence and mental strength throughout the whole process. “If anything, he has come back stronger,” boys varsity soccer coach Ben Paris said. “Since he was out so long, you could tell that he wanted to be back on the field ASAP. He spent countless hours in the weight room with our assistant coach, Coach Beiro. He also spent a lot of time on the field working on his technical skills so he could be ready to hop back on the field when he was cleared.” Curran’s hard work and his ability to maintain his work ethic during an emotionally and physically painful experience was evident in his play and spoke volumes about his character. “Desmond has become a natural leader—we actually recently made him a captain,” Paris said. “A lot of the boys on the team feed off of his work rate and desire to play. It really is a privilege to have him back on the field.” One of the biggest struggles of returning to a sport after being gone for so long is maintaining the same level of confidence and skills. “He is definitely just as confident as he was before, which is necessary in order to play well. I knew it was hard for him to stay out of soccer for so long,” said senior Korey Blodgett, one of Curran’s teammates. “It definitely feels good to play with him again.

I’ve been teammates with him every year since seventh grade, so it’s great that my partner in defense is back on the field and playing with me again.” Even off the field, Curran was faced with difficulties regarding his injury. Not only did he miss a week of school, but the amount of work he was able to do during his recovery was limited, causing him to fall behind as AP exams and finals loomed ahead.

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“Thankfully my teachers were really understanding and very helpful, but I basically was out of regular commission for at least a month and unfortunately right as I got back it was time for the AP exam, but I was fine for those,” Curran said. “But for schoolwork I spent another month catching up on everything.” Curran’s attitude and resilience helped with his quick return to the field. “We admire how he turned his frustration about not being able to play for a year into positive energy that helped him train that much harder for when he had the opportunity to return to play for MHS soccer,” said Alice Curran, Desmond’s mother. “We feel incredibly fortunate and grateful that Desmond survived his head injury. It really has put in perspective what’s truly important and made us more relaxed about some of the typical worries of high school life.” Curran has helped lead the boys varsity soccer team to four victories so far this season, and he will continue to play for Vassar College next year. “It feels amazing to be back. I am so glad to be playing again. It’s like being separated from your family for a year,” Curran said. “I love soccer—it’s my passion—and being separated from doing that for a year was really hard for me to sit through, especially when I first heard that. But it feels so good to be back. It’s one of the best moments of the year so far to be able to finally step on a field and play again.”

“He turned his frustration about not being able to play for a year into positive energy that helped him train that much harder for when he had the opportunity to return to play for MHS.” -Alice Curran Desmond’s mother Portraits by James Carver Page design by Grace Murray

SPORTS

McLean saddles up Katie McGinn Features Editor

Horsing aroundâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Senior Sander Altman (above) hones his polo skills while senior Jon Bikoff (right) takes care of his horse. (Photos courtesy of Kent Arnold)

MAY

Senior polo players embrace unconventional sport M

cLean High School is filled with athletes. It is fair to say that we Highlanders cover a broad variety of sports. Sports like football and color guard. Sports like basketball and rowing. Even sports that require athletes to hit a ball while riding a horse at almost 40 miles per hour on a field that is nine times the size of a football field. Sports like polo. Senior Jon Bikoff was the first of his group of friends to start playing competitive polo. “I wanted to do a sport with a little bit more action,” Bikoff said. “I have tried hockey and other action sports, but I just stumbled on [polo] online and decided to try it.” His passion for polo quickly grew. Soon, he urged two of his friends, seniors Sander Altman and Alp Corekci, to try it out as well. “Jon was the first who started and then he got Alp and me to come play with him,” Altman said. “At first we were not really interested, but after a while we got really into it and since then we have been playing all the time.” During the season, the self-pronounced, unofficial McLean Polo Team practices three to four times a week at the Battlefield Park Polo Club in Gaynesville. “Our practice schedule has fluctuated a lot recently,” Altman said. “At practice, we usually spend 30 minutes getting horses and tacking them. We’d spend 20 to 30 minutes warming up and then about 30 minutes scrimmaging with some of the people there. Then after practice we’d spend about an hour doing work around the barn, like washing the horses, putting them in the right fields, making sure they have food and

water and cleaning the tack.” Dori Haller Burner, the owner of Battlefield Park and Polo Club, has been the boys’ coach ever since they started. She is pleased with their progress and confident about their future as polo players. “The boys work very hard at the sport to hone their skills and work summers for the polo club,” Burner said. “They are very dedicated to learning and playing polo indefinitely.” Last summer, Bikoff and Altman worked at the Virginia National Polo Club in Upperville. “It was one of the most exhausting jobs I have done,” Bikoff said. “We had to feed them all, groom them all, exercise them all. It was exhausting, but also a ton of fun.” While they were required to work long hours, the boys had ample time to play polo. They practiced six times a week and competed in various tournaments during their time there. “When we were working over the summer, Jon and I played at this youth t o u r n a m e n t ,” Altman said. “They have them all around the country. It’s a tournament to see the best players in the nation, and we got to play that and actually won that. In addition, when we were working there, the club owner played on a team in a tournament. She was gone one week, so she asked me to fill in to play for her. I got to play on a

team with a bunch of people way better than me. It was intimidating, but it was really awesome. It was really fast-paced and probably the most intense game I got to play in.” One of the benefits of playing an uncommon sport like polo is that even amateur athletes have a greater chance of playing with professionals. “The cool thing about polo is that you get to play with the highest level of professionals,” Bikoff said. “Even though I am an amateur, I get to play, for example, with international players.” The McLean Polo Club has had a lot of rare opportunities to blossom. “We have been playing just over a year, and we have already had sponsors for our team, we have gotten to play with professionals, we have played in big tournaments. We have gotten a lot of really cool experiences,” Altman said. “It’s kind of out of our league.” Bikoff and Altman are determined to continue their polo careers. Both will be attending Indiana University next fall and despite the school not having a polo team, they are already thinking about starting a team there.

Page design by Katie McGinn

SPORTS

Athlete of the Issue

Ellie Brewer Jake Barnett Sports Editor Do you plan on rowing in college? Yes, I’m super excited about rowing next year. I was recruited and will be going to MIT. What is your favorite memory from rowing at McLean? My favorite memory from going to McLean was while racing in the semifinals last year at nationals. We [pulled ahead of] the NCS boat, which they weren’t expecting at all, and I saw their coxswain’s mouth drop. How has crew at McLean made you a stronger person? Rowing is a sport that requires extreme mental toughness and dedication. I believe practicing that every day while rowing has improved my work ethic in all aspects of life. What does being a good teammate mean to you? I think one of the most important parts of being a good teammate is always being there for your team and always motivating the girls on your boat to push harder and go faster to help them perform at a higher level than they think possible. I think that’s what makes our boat so fast this year, because we are all there for each other and always motivating each other.

What is a short term goal you currently have for McLean crew? What are your long term goals for yourself a rower? We are a very competitive boat this year and we will have a great chance at winning states. I would also like to medal at Stotesbury this year and hopefully win as well as medal at nationals. I’m not sure what to expect at college next year, but my goal would be to get on MIT’s 1V boat by sophomore year and be a part of the team and get more competitive in its league. Who has had the biggest impact on your rowing career? I’ve had a different coach each season I’ve rowed, but each one of them has been crucial to my rowing career. Bianca has been an amazing coach this year. I am so glad she became our coach, and much of our success this season should be contributed to her. What motivated you to begin crew? I swam for nine years in Colorado and when I moved to Virginia I decided it was time to try something new. A swim coach had told me I looked like I was built to be a rower, so I decided to give it a try and I fell in love with the sport. It had the same drive-based reward system as swimming that I liked so much but incorporated more teamwork than swimming had, so it ended up being the perfect combo.

What is the most inspirational thing a coach has said to you? We had a race just last weekend which was our last race before states and we were going into the finals where we knew TC Williams was going to be big competition. Bianca told us if we trusted each other to pull as hard as we could, we would be unstoppable. I was pumped and I think the rest of the boat was too.

Stats & Facts NUMBER OF YEARS ROWING: 2 HOURS OF PRACTICE PER DAY: 2-3 GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Placing 17th at the Indoor World Rowing Championship 2K SPLIT TIME: 1:56.1

Photos courtesy of Ken Quail & the Brewer Family Page design by Jake Barnett

SPORTS

THE FINISH LINE

Julia Longo Softball Freshman

Miles Collins Lacrosse Sophomore

Friends

Friday Night Lights

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

House of Cards

Done

WOW

Stressful

Bittersweet

Save it

Go out for a night

Running shorts

I would go to a music festival

What is the last big word you used?

Superfluous

Extravagant

Encouraging

Punctilious

What has been your favorite album so far in 2015?

V - Maroon 5

What is the last show you binge watched? Describe your third quarter in one word. How would you spend $100?

Lydia Erickson Soccer Junior

To Pimp a Butterfly - Spring Break...Checkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kendrick Lamar Out - Luke Bryan

Mark Martinkov Tennis Senior

Adventure - Madeon

Photos by James Carver Page design by Jake Barnett

MAY