CONTENTS NEWS 3
Honor Societies plan, adapt
5
FCPS implements ECC dual enrollment program
FEATURES 7
Gift guide: Don’t goof your gift-giving
8
What do your shoes say about you?
9
10 Questions with Wipawadi Nantabutr
10
Highlander of the Issue: Kiel Posner
IN-DEPTH 14-16
Enhancing the community: McLean students get involved
SPORTS 24
Boys varsity basketball team thirsty for buckets
25 26 27 28
McLean wrestling team aims for success
11
Players wait to play Athlete of the Issue: Jordan Blum The Finish Line
A&E 11
Albums of the Year
13
Podcasts to listen to
17
Holiday activities in D.C.
18
Star Wars: The Force awakens fan curiosity
19
Renwick Gallery reopens in D.C.
OPINIONS 20
Editorial: Students must speak on budget
21
Bond films represent Hollywood sexism
22
Crossfire: technology in the classroom
23
Satire: Starbucks serves up a mean cup of discrimination
24
19
5
Dearest McLean, Happy holidays! It’s been quite a furious three months of school, and here at The Highlander, we’re looking forward to taking a couple of well-deserved weeks off and enjoying our sparkly Virginia winter weather. According to Weather.com, the arrival of El Niño this season will give us a “snowier-than-average” winter; we’re keeping our fingers crossed that they’re right!
Highlander
The
Letter from the Editors
Volume LX • Issue 3 • December 2015 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com• @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief
Jake Barnett, Ashwin Dasgupta, Melanie Pincus & Liam Zeya
Managing Editors
Sabrein Gharad, Lucy Hopkins & David Kagan
Design Editor
Bryan Chung
Photography Editor
Tanya Ajalli
Advertising Manager
Esme Tabra
Section Editors News Editors
This issue, make sure to check out our News section for coverage of McLean’s honor societies and early childhood education program. Don’t miss an exciting 10 Questions with Wipawadi Nantabutr and a snarky ‘What Not to Give’ gift guide in our Features section. Turn to our A&E section for a detailed look at some of the best albums of the year, and our Sports section for previews of the upcoming wrestling and basketball seasons. And in the spirit of the season of giving, our InDepth piece this issue looks at how McLean students get involved and give back in different ways around the community. We wish you a safe and copacetic winter break! Many smiles, Melanie Pincus, Jake Barnett, Liam Zeya & Ashwin Dasgupta
Carlyn Kranking & Eleanor Patrick
Opinions Editors
Veronica Kim & Bora Zaloshnja
Features Editors
Ingrid Morse & Young In Seo
A&E Editors
Christine Cheon & Leena Raza
Sports Editors
Ethan Cherry & John Corvari
Website Editors Editors-in-Chief
Sanskriti Neupane & Aisha Singh
Opinions Editor
Rustin Abedi
Sports Editor
Jackson Payne
A&E & Features Editor
Helen Bloom
Reporters Eva Bhandary Anjalie Chauhan Debbie Daniel Jatin Dasgupta Helena Doms Lila Duvall Colin Edson Monique Ford Graham Gibson Nora Hashem Henry Howe David Kagan Anurag Kandukuri
Adviser
Haru Kato Kyuree Kim Anjali Kumar Zoe Le Menestrel Annie Lu Brooke Lyons Sophie Mariam Robert Martine Amir McCormick Sri Medicherla Olivia Mooney Peter Morell John Roth
Siddarth Shankar Alisha Smith Khaled Soubra Jonathan Sperling Ali Tanju Sarah Therriault Danielle Walker Ed Walters Caroline Watkins Matthew Zwirb Catherine Zysk
Lindsay B. Benedict
Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions. Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate. To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 First Class; Hall of Fame
Cover photo by Jake Barnett
‘15 Crown Finalist; ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15 CSPA Gold Medalist ‘15 International First Place; ‘14 George H. Gallup Award
‘14, ‘15 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award
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Honor societies plan, adapt
NEWS
Core subject honor societies grow and organize
Melanie Pincus & Leena Raza Editor-in-Chief & A&E Editor
O
NEHS
ver the past two years, McLean’s chapter of National English Honor Society has grown to include about 100 juniors and seniors under the leadership of English teachers Christina Shin and Lisa Beskenis. “We are amazed by how creative students are with service opportunities, and we have seen NEHS students bring about positive change to McLean,” Shin said. Senior Emma Chamberlayne, president of NEHS, said the Society’s work reflects the goals of the national organization. “NEHS...is really focused on service, so our main goal is just to give back to the community and raise awareness for literature and English,” Chamberlayne said. In recognition of their work last year, McLean’s chapter of NEHS received the Outstanding Chapter Award from the national organization. “We are so excited and proud to have received this honor, and what it really shows us is the dedication and drive of our students,” Beskenis said.
H
NHHS
istory teacher Lindsey Fisher, who is in her first year teaching at McLean, is restarting McLean’s chapter of National History Honor Society. Fisher said the society has numerous ideas for the year. “Some ideas we have for the rest of the year are to lay wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery for the holidays [on Dec. 12], translate primary source documents for Virginia Tech, plant trees in memoriam to Civil War battle deaths and go into D.C.,” Fisher said. Senior Sarah Siegel, president of the Society, also has new ideas for the future. “We also hope to have tutoring for APUSH students in the future,” Siegel said. “We want to do volunteer service around history.” Siegel said the Society has changed a lot from last year. “It was a thing last year but this year we are revamped,” Siegel said. “We have a new sponsor and [our ideas] didn’t overlap with last year’s group.” NHHS meets every other month in B179.
T
MAθ
his school year, McLean’s chapter of Mu-Alpha-Theta, a national math honor society, is working to expand its role in the McLean community. “Thursdays we’re going to have Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry [tutoring] held...in the math hallway and the thing that’s nice about this is the teachers know it’s always there—it’s going to be consistent,” said assistant principal Michael Zook, who serves as the Society’s adviser. Mu-Alpha-Theta member senior Matthew Steelberg said the group also hopes to contribute outside of McLean. “We’re also going to get in touch with local schools like Haycock, Longfellow, etc. to see if we can work with younger kids too,” Steelberg said. Zook said the society hopes to expand in years to come. “Once we have this embedded and the expectations from the students, the community and the teachers are there, then it becomes part of the culture and then we can start expanding it to different ideas,” Zook said. Page design by Leena Raza
NEWS
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FCPS implements dual enrollment program
Early Childhood Careers students receive college credits
Free play—Senior Breezy Johnson watches as McLean Munchkin Jack Roring completes a puzzle. The Munchkins are allowed a few minutes of free time before the daily lesson begins. (Photo by Caroline Watkins) Lila Duvall & Brooke Lyons Reporters tanding up straight with hands on their hearts, the McLean preschoolers, or “Munchkins,” begin reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the third period Early Childhood Careers (ECC) class. At the beginning of each lesson, the high school students use a “repeat after me” strategy to help the Munchkins memorize the Pledge and other learning material. McLean Munchkins Preschool director and family and consumer sciences teacher Linda Gore requires the high schoolers to come up with creative ways to engage the Munchkins and prepare them for entry into Kindergarten. “The high schoolers focus on math, science, social studies, art, music and movement, reading, writing and storytelling when creating their lesson plans,” Gore said. FCPS provides opportunities for students to earn college credit through dual enrollment courses with FCPS and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and this year, McLean began a dual enrollment program in ECC. Gore said she was eager to begin the dual enrollment program at McLean and teach the McLean and NOVA curricula simultaneously. “I was hired by NOVA as an adjunct
S
NEWS
professor in the spring of this year and immediately started the planning process for the 2015-16 school year,” Gore said. Now that McLean is partnering with NOVA, students who take the class can earn up to nine transferable college credits over the course of two years. “This is first year that [the dual enrollment program] is integrated with NOVA,” senior ECC student Alicia Draper said. “Now we have the opportunity to get the college credits with it, which is really cool.” The price for the ECC course through NOVA is a mere $10 per credit. Since FCPS provides the instructor and facility for the course, the price is significantly discounted compared to what a student would pay at the college itself. Dual enrollment programs have proven to benefit students due to their transferable credits and affordability. According to the NOVA website, “studies show that students who acquire college credits while in high school are more likely to graduate and continue their education beyond high school.” Draper said she was delighted to hear about McLean’s engagement in the dual enrollment program and the additional benefits it offers students. “We can go to the library on campus, get tutoring, go to concerts and free movies,
and we get a NOVA ID,” Draper said. These college credits can be transferred to a four-year college as either electives or toward a degree in education. “The amount of planning and problem solving required of the students to keep the preschool running aids them in developing skills desired by today’s employers,” Gore said. “Regardless of the desired career path they follow, I want them to develop leadership skills that will serve them well in their profession and in life.” Quick quotes from McLean Munchkins Camden Johnson
“My favorite [game] is the bike game because we ride bikes fast.”
“[I like] dolphins because they’re nice.”
Ella Candrain
Page design by Brooke Lyons & Lila Duvall
5
Don’t goof your gift-giving
FEATURES
You’ll have a horrid holiday season if you’re left to your own devices Lucy Hopkins Managing Editor
A
nnually, as we turn the corner into the holiday season, we are confronted with a fear. This fear is not based in the idea that our actions have all been monitored by a seemingly immortal hermit for the last year, nor is it based in the idea that he knows our deepest desires and makes us presents accordingly; it is based in the idea that we’ll have to buy presents for others. Let’s face it: buying people things sucks. Buying gifts is hard because the act separates you permanently from your money, and because you have to watch people struggle to mask their disappointment or—and perhaps worse—apathy as you hand your hard-earned money over to them in the form of the socks you were SO sure they wanted. If the intended recipient gives you a list, you should absolutely work off of that. Unfortunately, many people won’t tell you what they want because they’re not forward or sure
enough. Want to avoid disaster and save money when buying gifts this season? Let me help you.
Fa-la-la-la-lame
Candy
Do you know what everybody wants for Christmas? To fit into their clothing. Stop buying people candy as presents. Seriously. Nine times out of 10, the candy doesn’t even taste good; the aesthetic appeal of products is so important to companies in the holiday season that the quality of the product itself seems to go down as a result. Are you happy now, capitalist America? All of this market competition has ruined holiday chocolates, and you know it.
FEATURES
Secrets
Another great gift. Unless you’re paying your friend in a foreign currency, there is no way for you to screw this up. It sends two very important messages: “Your friendship is worth this much to me” and “I care so much about your freedom of choice that I decided to give you the ultimate freedom this holiday season: the ability to buy yourself what you want and not have to spend your own money on it.”
Money
Books
When buying presents, the real question you’re answering is whether you want the recipient to love you or whether you want to contribute to their stress. Unless this book is a special copy of one they love or something they’ve specifically said they want, don’t buy it, because it’ll just be another book in the neverending pile of must-reads they’ve accumulated over the years.
What? How could you give someone something immaterial for Christmas? Easily. In fact, it’ll save you money and bring you closer to your friend than anything money could buy would have. Maybe clue your friend into that insider trading scheme you’re a part of, or tell them about what you really did last summer. It doesn’t matter. By giving them a secret, you bind them to you forever. Nothing screams friendship like an eternally bonding guilt.
In all seriousness, this is one of the best gifts to receive. Whether you’re giving concert tickets, museum passes, hot yoga lessons or tickets to a theme park, your recipient is sure to be pleased. Not only does it set aside an entire day of fun in their future, it also says, “Hey, I think you’re a fun and unique individual who might enjoy this personalized and unique gift. Please accept it as a token of my gratitude for your continued friendship.”
Experiences
Clothing
Stop stop stop stop stop stop stop. Clothing is wonderful and necessary, but highly personal. The chances are that unless they specifically told you that they wanted it, the fashionable people in your life will appreciate the sentiment but hate the actual piece. Just hand them over some money (cold, hard cash) instead.
Elf-approved
Photo illustration by Caroline Watkins Page design by Lucy Hopkins
7
“I wear basketball shoes to school everyday so my athletics are a slam dunk,” senior David McCarthy said.
“When I wear them they make me feel really groovy. I feel like my true funky self in them—it makes me happy,” senior Josephine Oakley said.
What do your shoes say about you? Eleanor Patrick & Nora Hashem News Editor & Reporter
“I wear my combat boots because they’re very comfortable and can also be worn in any season,” freshman Delaney West said.
8
“My shoes say that I like to hike, bike, walk the dog and work in the yard. On the weekends, you can usually find me wearing my hiking shoes,” social studies teacher Rick Eyerly said.
Photos by Eleanor Patrick Page design by Eleanor Patrick & Nora Hashem
DECEMBER
10 Qs with
Wipawadi Nantabutr
(Cafeteria employee)
Interview by Helena Doms & Zoe Le Menestrel Page design by Bryan Chung Photos by Tanya Ajalli
How long have you worked at McLean? Let’s see... I moved to the United States from Thailand in 1984, and then started applying for jobs. I worked in another town for some years, and then eight years ago, I started here.
Do you prefer TV or movies?
What is the best meal you cook? My best meals are anything Thai food.
I love movies, especially action movies and Thai movies. Most of the ones I watch, Americans have never heard of.
What job did you want to have as a kid? I always wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid. I loved helping people and I knew doctors had many opportunities to do so.
Best and worst school lunch? The best school lunch is definitely the orange chicken we serve. And there is no ‘worst’ lunch. They’re all good!
What is your favorite part about your job? If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would probably travel to Paris, France. Then I’d also go to Thailand.
If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money? I would first pay off my debts. Then I think I would donate most of it. With the money that’s left, I would travel the world. That’s always been a dream of mine.
What do students do that annoys you the most?
Do you have any hobbies?
I get very annoyed when students steal the cafeteria food.
In my free time, I mostly like to sleep. I cook a lot, but I don’t have time for much else.
FEATURES
I like it all!
9
Highlander of the Issue
Senior sculpts his future Kiel Posner takes respite in the arts Tanya Ajalli & Esme Tabra
Photo Editor & Advertising Manager
T
he art in McLean’s hallways is captivating—it’s rare for anybody to walk past the display cases without glancing to see the work behind the glass. While some students identify with the emotions and ideas portrayed by the pieces, few find their identities in them. Senior Kiel Posner, an art student regularly featured in these displays, does. Posner credits art with fostering his growth and development as a person and student. “In second grade, I was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, so I had trouble paying attention,” Posner said. “My teacher told me to grab clay from the back of the room and just play with it, so from second grade to eighth grade, I had modeling clay with me everyday at school.” His familiarity with and appreciation for clay led Posner to develop an interest in ceramics. “When I started taking ceramics, everything came together and it was pretty intuitive,” Posner said. “Ceramics is more hands-on and I can just make crazy stuff that I can actually hold.” Posner said his love for art comes largely from what it has done to help him deal with the obstacles of adolesence,
most notably stress and pressure. Posner aims to share his art skills with the community by helping others find respite in the arts. “I’ll probably become an art therapist because clay was so therapeutic for me, so I want to spread that as much as possible,” Posner said. “Ceramics allows me to take whatever emotion I’m feeling and present that emotion in a physical form.” Posner, who is currently enrolled in AP Ceramics, is doing what he loves and helping other students on the side as he prepares his 20 piece portfolio for the end of the year. “[Posner] is super helpful to the younger students and gives them incredible critiques,” art teacher Christina Caroll said. “I can trust and depend on him for anything.” To some students, the fine arts are seen as accessory courses, unnecessary for their educational experiences. However, for Posner, art courses have allowed for a fuller and more immersive experience in school. Posner said art classes, escpecially ceramics, teach him to challenge himself and explore his boundaries and capabilities. “My compulsion to constantly fidget has given me an unbridled need to keep creating bigger, riskier and more experiential works of art,” Posner said.
Self sculpture—“This is a self portrait. I love the aesthetic of voodoo, so I cut off parts of it and made holes,” Posner said.
Conceptual art—“I’d love to be an artist
because I love taking concepts that are really hard to grasp and giving them a physical form for people to look at,” Posner said.
Double bubbles—”I think this is my favorite
piece just because I’ve always wanted to use bubbles, I think they’re so fun and beautiful, and I was so happy to finally capture them and use them in a piece,” Posner said.
Silent communication—“Sometimes Not just a hobby—“The first thing I ever created was a lump of yellow clay with a hole in the center. To the outside world, this lump was no different than any other, but for me it was the catalyst for finding inspiration in everyday life,” Posner said. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli)
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you can’t really express your feelings through words, so when you see that someone else has rendered it and made it an actual physical thing, it helps in more ways than just one,” Posner said. Photos courtesy of Kiel Posner
DECEMBER
Albums of the Year
A&E
according to Ashwin Dasgupta, Editor-in-Chief
2015
was a year that music enthusiasts were convinced would be one to remember. Despite a couple of anticipated projects getting postponed, fans of all genres of music had oceans of releases to explore. Although the sheer amount of music made available each year, especially with the advent of music streaming services, makes it dificult to narrow it down to a couple, here are the four albums that stood out the most this year.
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly
To Pimp a Butterfly will go down as one of the essential hip-hop albums of this generation. The Compton emcee’s trademark lyricism has reached a new level of excellence as Kendrick Lamar describes the plight of African Americans in this album. Introspective bars aside, Lamar’s project gets a huge assist from Brainfeeder’s dynamic duo Flying Lotus and Thundercat, who helped create the jazz and funk influenced instrumentals that made this project incredibly ambitious.
1 Top Dawg
Standout Tracks: “Wesley’s Theory,” “Momma,” “Complexion”
Everything Everything Get to Heaven
2 Sony RCA
This year’s music scene has been characterized in part by the persistent growth of the experimental pop music genre. Among many great releases, Get to Heaven stood out from the pack. The album is a roller coaster, and crisp modern synthesizers blend with old school glam rock influences to create something undeniably fun. However, beneath gloss lies lyrical depth, with topics ranging from ISIS to the UK Independence Party to mass shootings. The suprisingly potent lyrics make this record a perfect mix of brains and beauty. Standout Tracks: “To the Blade,” “Blast Doors”
Father John Misty I Love You, Honeybear
The music contained in I Love You, Honeybear is preceded by both its eccentric title and irreverent album art. Judging a book by its cover in this case wouldn’t be a bad idea. Father John Misty’s lyrics present a humorous and relatable critique of modern society and romance. Although his endearing vocals are definitely the centerpiece of the project, varying styles of instrumentals from layers of synths to a singular guitar make this album engaging throughout.
3 Sub Pop
Standout Tracks: “Chateau Lobby #4.” “Holy S***”
Blur The Magic Whip The Magic Whip is British rock band Blur’s first album in over a decade, and the group reinvents their sound accordingly. Although the album still features a few old school tracks laden with guitar riffs, where the album truly shines is in its more modern sounding songs. Damon Albarn’s captivating but distant vocals mesh beautifully with synth and short electric guitar loops. The album is compact but varied—at times dreary, at times celebratory and always interesting.
4 Warner Bros. Records
Standout Tracks: “New World Towers,” “Ice Cream Man” Page design by Ashwin Dasgupta
A&E
11
Happy Holidays from Tutoring Club! There’s no time more fitting than now to say Thank You to all of our McLean High School students. Thank you for your confidence and trust in Tutoring Club of McLean, and for allowing us to be a part of your lives. Wishing you every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year!
Listen up!
Check out these interesting podcasts Limetown
Ten years ago, over 300 residents of a fictional gated community went missing, never to be heard from again. Lia Haddock, a reporter, decided to investigate the unsolved disappearances and find out once and for all what happened to the people of Limetown. The mystery is engaging, and the narrative is gripping. Fans of horror need not look further to find a good podcast.
Serial
From the creators of This American Life, Serial is the story of the murder of Hae Min Lee and the prosecution and conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed. In the podcast, journalist Sarah Koenig covers every detail of the case, from witness testimonies to court statements. The podcast is an engaging and interesting true crime story, made better because Koenig never forgets the real humans behind the story she’s telling. Fans of Serial may also want to check out Undisclosed: The State v. Adnan Syed.
Welcome to Night Vale
Welcome to Night Vale tells the fictional story of a peculiar desert town in the American Southwest. Told in the style of a local radio show, Night Vale describes a town where instead of having to deal with snowstorms, the locals are plagued by ominous glowing clouds and fire-breathing dragons. The host treats the bizarre events of the town as mundane, creating a hilarious contrast of eldritch horrors and boring town meetings. Night Vale is charming, endearing and a must-listen for fans of horror-comedy.
Stuff You Missed in History Class
Ever wanted to know about the Great Molasses Flood or the Eggnog Riot? Do you often feel like history class could be a bit more comprehensive, and lament the things that get overlooked? Fear not, then, for this is the podcast for you. From the producers of Stuff You Should Know comes a delightful and informative podcast about people, places and events that history curricula often overlook.
Wolf 359
Wolf 359 chronicles the fantastical adventures of the USS Hephaestus, a station orbiting a star 7.5 light years away from Earth. The story is essentially a comedy, centering around a communications officer, Doug Eiffel, and his fellow officers. The series explores the complications of living in an isolated space station so far from any other living being. Although it starts off a bit too similar to Welcome to Night Vale, the series improves over time.
Article & page design by Sarah Therriault
A&E
13
Enhancing the community McLean students get involved Jake Barnett, Liam Zeya & John Corvari Editors-in-Chief & Sports Editor
D
ecember has arrived, and with it, Christmas music playing on the radio and Salvation Army bells ringing outside of Giant. This festive period represents something different to everyone, but it is almost universally described as the season of giving. Although McLean is an affluent area, there is no shortage of people in need. SHARE of McLean is a local organization that helps those individuals by providing food, furniture and services such as transportation to doctor’s appointments. “During the holidays, people feel more joyful and generous. This is a great thing, because this helps SHARE to be able to provide our clients with food and gifts so they can have a special holiday season, too,” said Randy Glantz, a member of SHARE of McLean’s board of directors.
is the part that ‘lights up’ when we give,” Krispin said. “We are actually hard-wired to be generous.” The number of donations made and hours of volunteer work done during the holidays is significant. In fact, some charities can sustain themselves for months off of holiday season donations. “The food drives will last the pantry through much of spring. We need people to remember to help SHARE in late spring and summer when the shelves are bare,” Glantz said. Obviously, charities appreciate the holiday season, when conditions are conducive to receiving donations. When someone donates their time or money to a worthy cause, Krispin said it is not only the recipient that feels good—those who carry out the service feel rewarded, too.
the rush of action during the holiday season, the spirit of giving does not need to be limited to one time of the year. Opportunities are endless in a diverse area like McLean, and while many people take their advantages for granted, some students use these opportunities to help others without the same advantages.
TAKING INITIATIVE
When senior Michelle Ma asked herself what she could do to help people in the community, the answer was simple. Ma has a passion for debate, which she has participated in during all four of her years at McLean. Therefore, while working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award in June 2014, Ma used her debate experience to start the Speak Up Initiative, a program that
“During the holidays, our mental focus shifts to gratitude and a sense of fulfillment. When we feel blessed, it creates a desire to share with others. What most people don’t realize is that the part of our brain that feels pleasure is the part that ‘lights up’ when we give.” - Andy Krispin, Jill’s House director of advancement operations Andy Krispin, the director of advancement operations for Jill’s House, an organization that helps care for children with intellectual disabilities, also notices the trend of increased charitable contributions during the holiday season. “During the holidays, our mental focus shifts to gratitude and a sense of fulfillment. When we feel blessed, it creates a desire to share with others. What most people don’t realize is that the part of our brain that feels pleasure
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“We are already focused on giving to family and friends, so it makes sense that this triggers your brain to want to give more,” Krispin said. “Unfortunately, this feeling dies down after the emotional high of Christmas wears off, and people go back to their normal routine. Many people remain charitable year-round, but the holidays bring a rush of seasonal volunteers and donors, whom we are grateful for.” While charities certainly welcome
aims to improve the public speaking and debate skills of young students. Even though Ma has already earned the award, she continues to educate students on public speaking and debate in the D.C. metropolitan area and has put more than 200 hours into the Speak Up Initiative. “We’re bringing public speaking services to middle schools in the area, so that’s basically coaching speech and debate,” Ma said. Ma has also worked with Stanton
DECEMBER
Speaking up—Former McLean student Jamie Starr (Class of 2015) works with elementary school students at Stanton Elementary School in D.C. for the Speak Up Initiative last year. Senior Michelle Ma founded the Speak Up Initiative in 2014 and has expanded it to 11 cities. (Photo by Caroline Watkins) Elementary school in D.C., where she goes once each month to hold public speaking workshops and mentor the students on speech and debate. The project has grown, and Ma now has representatives across the country in New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Houston. Senior Rose Saydahmat is involved in community service as well; she founded the Northern Virginia Uyghur Youth Organization in June 2014. Saydahmat’s program organizes and participates in canned food and clothing drives for children in East Turkistan. “I saw that the Uyghur community was divided between American-born Uyghurs and the ones who came to the U.S. and spoke Uyghur fluently,” Saydahmat said, “I also saw the potential that we had to aid the unfortunate in East Turkistan if we were able to come and work together.” Saydahmat started the organization at the end of her sophomore year in June 2014, and she has found the experience
IN-DEPTH
very rewarding. Saydahmat said seeing her efforts pay off and make a visible difference in the lives of people is part of the appeal of creating and running her own charitable program. “The thing that I really enjoy about it is the reaction that you get from the people that you’re helping,” Saydahmat said. “If you’re tutoring somebody and then they finally understand a concept and you can see that, that’s something that you know you’re making a difference.” Ma said she has had a similar experience with the Speak Up Initiative. “I go and I give people lessons and I give people books—something that’s real and tangible,” Ma said.
GETTING INVOLVED
Ma and Saydahmat create their own paths in terms of community service, a commendable feat. However, at a large and diverse school like McLean, starting one’s own charity is not the exclusive pathway to successful or meaningful volunteer
service. This November alone, students have entered more than 500 hours into McLean’s service hours database, and counselors have approved a total of more that 16,000 hours for McLean users. The vast majority of these students didn’t create their own organizations. Instead, they work with one or more of many available community involvement groups and participate in class-based service opportunities. For instance, students in oceanography classes volunteer once a quarter to do watershed cleanups. “[The cleanup] was very rewarding, and it made a lot of students realize how polluted our watersheds are,” senior Ryan Creeser said. Those students who are not interested in traversing the wilderness have plenty of options as well. McLean’s Best Buddies program involves establishing relationships with students with intellectual and developmental
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disabilities. Senior Maya Lezzam is the current vice president of the program. “My favorite part of Best Buddies is being able to create friendships with people I would not know otherwise,” Lezzam said. “It is the best feeling to be able to hang out with your buddy and see how much of an impact you are making on his or her life by being a reliable friend.” Some McLean clubs, like Adopt-aMission and Red Cross, facilitate and arrange numerous types of service opportunities in which their members can participate. Junior Maya Cherry is an Adopt-a-Mission officer.
“Adopt-a-Mission provides service to local organizations around the community including Alternative House, Columbia Baptist Church Food Pantry and Gardens, Chesterbrook Residences, Wheels to Africa and Martha’s Table,” Cherry said. “We try to provide a variety of service opportunities so that we fit the interests of the different volunteers that are affiliated with the club and give back to as many different parts of the community as possible.” With so many chances to make a mark on the community, students should not feel pressure to stand out with their
u
500 HRS
o
This month
r ap e l e c n u r co
pr
16,000 HRS oved
Class of 2015 Commmuity Service
117 HRS
ONLY
428
registered in x2VOL
Average Amount of Community Service Hours
83.5% completed 40+ Hours
McLean High School Class of 2015
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community service. The essence of giving back is not to be the best, but to do one’s part to give others a better life. Between class opportunities and the multitude of groups at McLean, students should have no problem finding service opportunities that are right for them. Like Ma, Saydahmat and others, they can also form their own organizations to fulfill some unmet need. In this season of giving, however, it is important to remember why students volunteer in the first place: to give back to and improve the community.
71% completed 50+ Hours DECEMBER
Holiday activities in D.C.
Photo obtained via Tony Austin on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
Downtown Holiday Market
Photo obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license
$
Zoolights $
F Street, Washington D.C. Nov. 27-Dec. 23 Price: Free Entrance
National Zoo Nov. 27-Jan. 2 Price: Free entrance
The Pathway of Peace $
President’s Park Dec. 3-22 Price: Free Entrance
A Christmas Carol $
Ford’s Theatre Nov. 19-Dec. 31 Price: $44-91
Photo obtained via violscraper on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
The Nutcracker $
Warner Theatre Dec. 3-27 Price: $15-130
Photo obtained via Tim Evanson on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
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FAVORITE
Photo obtained via Kurt Magoon on Flickr under a Creative Commons licence
THINGS TO DO OVER WINTER BREAK
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WHAT ARE YOUR
Bowling -Sophomore Alexander Vazquez
Making snow forts -Junior Torin Dunn
Lighting the fireplace -Sophomore Maria Liu
Ice skating in Tysons -Freshman Leah Horan
Contributing reporters: Alyssa Cuco, Alex Dutt, Kyuree Kim, Veronica Kim & Olivia Powell Page design by Bryan Chung
A&E
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The Force awakens fan curiosity What to expect from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Henry Howe & John Roth Reporters generation ago, in a movie theater perhaps not so far away, the last film of the original Star Wars trilogy arrived in theaters. Sixteen years later, the first film of the generally reviled prequel trilogy was released. On Dec. 18, 2015, the new trilogy will open in theaters. The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion on Oct. 30, 2012, and soon after started preproduction. Although the initial reaction to the announcement that a new set of films was mostly negative, the hype has been steadily building over the last few months. Because of his success directing the Star Trek movies, many believe that the series will be in good hands with director J.J. Abrams. “I think it will be the best so far, because of J.J. Abrams,” junior Jack Burke said. Although it would be hard to beat the original trilogy, this newest installment has the potential to at least be better than the prequels. “Everything has the potential to beat the prequels,” senior Richard Ohr said. Some worry that Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm will lead to the series losing its integrity, but most are simply happy that the series will be continued. “I thought it would be dead if Disney didn’t buy it, so I’m pretty happy that they did,” Burke said. As the release date approaches, fans have been scurrying to their computers and scouring the web, hoping to find information about the new movie. Many theories have been thrown about, and some are more popular than
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others. These fan theories are helped by the fact that tidbits of information and snippets of video have leaked to the Internet, leading to trailer analysis and dissertations on past characters. A theory that holds some weight is the “Darth Jar Jar” theory, which goes back a while (Robot Chicken referenced it in 2010) and was revitalized by a post on Reddit about a month ago. This theory has even spawned its own subreddit. “I think it’s right, because fan theories are always right,” Ohr said. That was sarcasm. A while ago, an anonymous user on 4chan released several potential spoilers of the movie, some of which support current fan theories. There is also an Imgur album devoted to some of the film’s leaked concept art. A widely accepted (and highly detailed) plot outline is available on makingstarwars.net. Many of the theories center around Snoke—a new villain in this trilogy—and his origins. Some theories even go so far as to suggest that Rey, the new female lead, is the daughter of Leia and Han Solo. Another common theory making its way around the Internet is that Luke Skywalker assumes the role and power of Yoda. In previous movies Yoda was the best Jedi, the master of Jedi Masters. Yoda
Disney/Lucasfilm
trained notable Jedi, including Count Dooku and most of the Jedi Council. Luke was the last pupil of Yoda before he died. After Yoda’s death, there is a power vacuum which is filled by Luke Skywalker, who then becomes the most powerful Jedi of his time—or so the theory states. So, what do people want from the new trilogy? “I want to see some solid storytelling,” Ohr said. “I want to see lots of gunfights and lots of action,” Burke said.
Which fan theories are the most plausible? 18%
21%
Other/Not Sure Darth Binks
28%
33% Rey is the daughter of Leia Skywalker and Han Solo
Luke Skywalker assumes Yoda-like powers
Poll of 33 McLean students
Infographic and page design by Henry Howe & John Roth
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DECEMBER
Renwick Gallery reopens in D.C.
Art gallery greets thousands after two-year renovation Khaled Soubra Reporter
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he Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., reopened Nov. 15 following a two-year redesign. Located near the White House, the gallery features a unique curation of art made using anomolous media including everything from index cards to marbles. The gallery asked contemporary artists, including Maya Lin, Gabriel Dawe and Janet Echelman, to construct and design installations in different parts of the gallery.
John Grade, Middle Fork, 2015
Tara Donovan, Untitled, 2014
My personal favorite exhibit was John Grade’s Middle Fork. Grade built the model out of scraps of reclaimed cedar from the cast of a 150-year-old tree from the Cascade Mountains of Seattle. The room’s lighting produced a contrast between light and shadows that worked to make this exhibit a stand-out piece. Middle Fork was especially intriguing for its integration of contemporary design with the preservation of natural elements. Maya Lin, Folding the Chesapeake, 2015
Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1, 2015 The most popular piece at the gallery was Gabriel Dawe’s Plexus A1. Dawe used thousands of strands of embroidery thread to produce a rainbow, creating a visual illusion that can be viewed from many different angles and adds another dimension to the piece. Photos & page design by Khaled Soubra
A&E
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OPINIONS
Students must voice budget concerns FCPS budget cut proposals necessitate a response The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board
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very day, the school board, teachers and administrators make important decisions that affect students across FCPS. But how much say do the students, whom these changes primarily impact, have in the decision-making process? Since these proposals directly change student life, it is important for students to be informed about such policies, promote discourse about them and use their voices to influence policy-making. Student involvement will do two things: influence policymakers to implement legislation that will benefit students, and educate students about issues that affect them. “I think that it’s always important to hear what the students have to say… we will listen to the students as we go forward,” FCPS School Board Dranesville District representative Janie Strauss said. In light of the recent budget cut proposals, it is now more essential than ever that students bring their concerns to the table. The proposed budget cuts, if enacted, will have profound effects on students. Two plans have been proposed, one totaling $50 million in cuts and the other totaling $75 million. Among the likely cuts are increased parking pass fees, larger classes, fees for participation in athletics as well as AP/IB testing and the elimination of freshman sports teams. “I think the…issue is going to be class size,” Strauss said, referring to the proposed addition of one student per class. “They’re too big now.” The class size increase is widely supported by the student population, yet administrators warn that the increase has incredible implications that may not be immediately apparent. “It sounds like, ‘Oh, it’s just one kid,’ [but for high school students] it’s five to seven kids in your classes because of scheduling,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. That means there could be nearly
40 students in any given classroom. The fact that students don’t realize this impact proves that educating students about reforms is key. However, it’s a twoway street. Students should make their opinions known, while representatives should provide information to students so they can make educated decisions. It is crucial that students speak proactively, because it is easier to inspire change before policy is implemented. One method that students can use to voice their opinions to the school board and Budget Task Force is the “Budget Proposal Tool” on the FCPS website. While representatives insist that the results of the “tool” are taken into account when making decisions, the “tool,” referred to by some as a game, seems to serve only to impress upon students the difficulties representatives face in managing and revising the budget, rather than as an outlet for students to influence policy. Using nothing more than a game to collect public opinion appears to downplay the severity of the budget, making the public less likely to contribute and be impactful. In fact, when asked about the role of the “Budget Proposal Tool” in decision-making, Strauss was unable to specify its impact. More effective methods exist for students to communicate with the board. “People can email the school board, they [can] email me directly... I read them all and I answer them all,” Strauss said. “I will be holding meetings…[and] I will do some budget town halls, so I’m willing to come and listen and meet with whoever wants to meet with me.” Because the school board insists that students are their main concern, its cooperation is definite as long as students make a loud enough case for considering their points of view. “I don’t think a lot of students are aware that they have that voice or they have that representative to contact,” said senior Michelle Ma, president of IDEAL Club. “All
Budget Task Force statistics via FY 2017 Budget Task Force
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the pieces of the puzzle are there—we just have to work on connecting them.” Reilly stressed that students are the driving force of administrative decisions. This is why it is imperative that the student body takes the initiative and strives to be involved in school board decisions. “There are a lot of people who are working diligently for the best interests of our students,” Reilly said. “When we do make decisions, students are at the forefront of what we decide.” To make this statement true, administration first needs to know what students’ concerns are, which can only happen when students make their voices heard.
Student opinions vs. Budget Task Force votes While 20% of students support increasing parking pass fees by $100, 100% of task force members on the $75 million plan support it.
While 40% of students support paying $200 for participation in athletics, about 90% of task force members support it.
These disparities illustrate the need for students to voice their opinions to the school board representatives because this is the only way students can effect change. *Poll of 75 students
Reporting & page design by Carlyn Kranking, Sri Medicherla & Ingrid Morse
DECEMBER
Bond films represent Hollywood sexism
Bond franchise symbolizes the ongoing problem of sexism in the movie industry Anjalie Chauhan Catherine Zysk Reporters
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ames Bond enters the barn with his classic “James Bond” swagger. As romantic music plays softly in the background, the great 007 proceeds to force himself onto his latest conquest. She fights back, but Bond is too strong. The screen fades to black as the so-called heroic spy “romances” the woman into submission. This scene from Goldfinger is one of the hundreds of scenes in which Bond forces his “charm” onto non-consenting women. The Bond movies represent the stillprevalent sexism in the movie industry. From the start of the series in 1962, Bond has reflected the ‘60s ideal man, complete with his suave subjugation of women. Although the new installment of the Bond franchise, Spectre, promised to ameliorate some of these past wrongs by portraying a new, more independent “Bond Girl,” the movie fell far short of today’s expectations. Even though they included several “stronger” women, these women were portrayed only in their relationship to Bond. In this sense, Spectre continues to embody the sexist ideals of a past generation. “Cult classics like Batman and James Bond only portray a woman as a sex symbol by their clothes, by their character [and] by their actions throughout the movie,” senior Isabelle Wyerman said. Beyond the Bond franchise, the media industry as a whole continues to promote sexism in all its forms. “By making sexist movies and [TV] shows, it teaches society to do the same,” junior Krishma Poudel said. “People look up to movies and actors as role models, and for them to portray something so unjust as sexism is just morally wrong for society.” Because of their massive influence, the media holds a tremendous responsibility toward today’s youth to portray women as the powerful entities they are.
OPINIONS
“I think that movies where there is a prominent, strong woman are not as popular just because men want to see women idolized or [sexualized] in that way,” Wyerman said. Progress has been made in some respects. The spotlight has spread beyond the superficial aspects of women to include emotional and intellectual depths. “Women aren’t always defined by their sex appeal or by their status or relationship to men,” English teacher Lisa Beskinis said. Women seem to be dominating the media world alongside men. The topgrossing movies and shows such as The Hunger Games and How to Get Away with Murder show strong women in challenging situations. What’s ironic about these depictions, however, is that the women in these films continue to be paid less than their male counterparts. “The undercurrents of sexism in our modern society and the media are so subtle that we don’t even notice them, but they are certainly there,” senior Grace Fabrycky said. Motion pictures are a prime example of the continuation of sexist ideals. On and off screen, actresses are treated as inferior to their male counterparts. For example, following the 2014 Sony hacks, when sensitive company data was released, actress Jennifer Lawrence discovered that she was paid two percent less than her male co-stars. “Sexism definitely exists in the entertainment industry,” junior Jake Waddle said. Despite the rise in popularity of the feminist movement which champions equality for women in both pay and representation, the Bond movies continue to portray the ideal man of the past. In order to fully adapt to this modern age, the entertainment industry must move past the prejudices of an archaic era. Movies must begin to portray women as strong, capable individuals, and the industry must value them as such.
Misogyny in the Bond series by the numbers sexual relations with women
61 24 in
films
9
women seen naked
without consent 5at thekilled hand of
4
our hero
of whom he had
romantic interactions
with
1RAPED woman
21st Bond Girl—Actress Halle Berry stars as a Bond Girl in the 21st installment of the Bond films, Die Another Day. Berry is one of many of Bond’s conquests throughout the franchise. (Image obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license)
Statistics obtained via Buzzfeed Page design by Anjalie Chauhan & Catherine Zysk
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CROSSFIRE:
Technology: friend or foe to Highlanders? Sanskriti Neupane & Aisha Singh Web Editors-in-Chief unior Rebecca Bennett looks up from her worksheet and glances around the silent classroom. The rest of the students are enthralled by the glow of their cell phone screens. The teacher has given the class 10 minutes to set up for their online classroom activity. She looks at the person next to her, who is scrolling through Twitter. The students’ phones are preventing them from participating in the assignment. “Technology gives the illusion of connectedness and students are not able to pay attention in class,” Bennett said. “A lot of class time is wasted because people are not paying attention to the lesson at hand.” Technology is detrimental to classroom learning because it creates a distracting environment in which students are unable to effectively complete their work. “Without a person even getting a cell phone out—if it’s in reach and it’s on, it’s already a distraction,” English teacher John Behm said. Computers are not necessary for note-taking and are even harmful to a student’s retention. According to Scientific American, when students write out their notes on paper, they gain a stronger conceptual understanding of the material and so are able to apply and integrate the information much better than laptop note-takers. Therefore, traditional note-taking better helps students to summarize and analyze information. “Although computer note-taking is faster, it is less effective than taking notes by hand because it doesn’t help you remember stuff as well as writing it out yourself,” junior Krishma Poudel said. Technology used inappropriately makes the learning environment less effective. If people have their phones or laptops out, they are more likely to be distracted and less likely to pay attention. Students are more motivated to learn in class if they don’t have the looming distraction of technology over them. Teachers should make students take notes, which will encourage them to pay attention. Teacherdirected technology use has the potential to be helpful in classrooms, but technology in general hinders more than it helps.
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Images obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license and via apple.com Page design by Sanskriti Neupane & Aisha Singh
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Sophie Mariam & Ingrid Morse Reporter & Features Editor
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tudents sit in class, listening to the same boring lecture-format lesson, their hands getting tired from taking tedious notes. They want to look up an answer to a question or further explore a topic on their phones, but their strict teacher won’t let them make any use of the smart technology they possess. Due to the growing influence and use of technology, students relate more to and are affected more by online and interactive activities than traditional assignments. Engaging online projects and activities can play to students’ infatuation with social networks such as Instagram and Twitter, capturing students’ attention and helping them learn information they would not comprehend as well by taking notes in a traditional manner. To test this theory, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt gave an interactive, digital version of an Algebra 1 textbook to students in California’s Riverside Unified School District. Students who used the digital textbook scored 20 percent higher on standardized tests than students who learned with traditional textbooks, showing a clear advantage to interactive online learning. McLean students said they find technology more accessible and easier to use than textbooks. “We should be able to use technology in class because most of our school resources can be reached easily with a handheld device rather than going to the library to check,” junior Amanda Laporte said. Technology-based instruction, when used correctly, can reduce the time students take to reach a learning objective by 30 to 80 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Training and Simulation Association. The world is transforming due to technology, and school systems should adjust by providing students with a progressive learning format that integrates technology.
DECEMBER
Starbucks serves up a mean cup of discrimination SATIRE ‘Tis the season to marginalize the colorblind Siddarth Shankar Haru Kato Reporters
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he arrival of cold weather and TV marathons has brought a renewed focus on the winter holidays. Major corporations are often forced to conform by creating seasonal advertising. On Nov. 3, the massive international coffee chain, Starbucks (alternately known as the savior of teenage girls and sleepdeprived office-workers everywhere), released their annual winter holidaythemed cups, which have been a staple at the coffee powerhouse since 1997. These cups sparked major controversy in the local community due to the lack of winter and Christmas-related symbols included in the cup design. According to Starbucks, this year’s holiday-themed cups are characterized by “a two-toned ombré design, with a bright poppy color on top that shades into a darker cranberry below.” In plain English, this simply means that the cups are just red, a stark contrast to previous year’s designs which included ornaments, snowflakes and reindeer. Starbucks adds that “the ombré creates a distinctive dimension, fluidity and weightedness.” Any logical art critic would agree that the design gets an F in the creativity category. However, it definitely gets an A in creating a distinctive dimension of discrimination. “This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories,” said Jeffrey Fields, Starbucks vice president of design and content. It’s clear, however, that Starbucks failed
2012
to welcome the stories of one pivotal and underrepresented group of people: the colorblind. “They always spell my name wrong and now on top of that they give me coffee in cups I can’t even appreciate. It’s a cruel joke,” said sophomore Sean Senft, who suffers from red-green colorblindness. These sentiments are not uncommon throughout the country. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 12.6 million men and 793,000 women in the U.S. suffer from colorblindness—a total of 4.2 percent of the population. Although Starbucks aims to “creat[e] a culture of belonging, inclusion and diversity,” the reality could not be further from the truth. Both Starbucks and our own school continue to perpetuate discriminatory attitudes against the colorblind. The 2018 class council recently held a Starbucks sale, selling coffee in red cups for $2. “We never meant it to be discriminatory,” 2018 council member Philena Sun said. Senft, however, can never forget the stress the sales gave him. “The discrimination is so intense. Serving coffee in these cups is a constant reminder of my condition,” he said. “McLean is failing at its responsibility to ensure a safe learning environment.” Sun expressed sympathy for Senft’s concerns. “There’s no such thing as a perfect design, but hopefully [next year] Starbucks can make something that is more inclusive,” Sun said. Starbucks, however, has shown no
2013
awareness of its mistake, even calling its design “a red cup that mimics a blank canvas.” For the colorblind, this mimicry is in fact a cruel and ironic reality. “The fact that Starbucks refuses to acknowledge how offensive and hurtful this design is...it simply appalls me,” Senft said. The discriminatory designs are not just limited to this year. For the past 18 years, Starbucks has created cups “in jewel tones of deeper reds [and] greens.” The selection of those two colors seems bent to discriminate against the colorblind, especially those with red-green colorblindness. “It’s a shame that it had to come to this point, but I am seriously considering boycotting Starbucks if they continue this routine pattern of discrimination against the colorblind,” Senft said. If Starbucks really wants to “become a place of sanctuary during the holidays,” as they claim, then they should begin by updating their cup design to 21st century norms. “I personally have had enough with companies who prey on the colorblind just to improve their bottom line. This type of behavior has no place in our modern discourse,” Senft said. Starbucks has oppressed the colorblind long enough. These people have trouble differentiating specific colors, and Starbucks chooses to rub that fact into their eyes. Senft’s experiences show that this behavior cannot be tolerated. Those who are concerned must fight for the cause by boycotting Starbucks until the design is changed.
2014
2015
Photos by Siddarth Shankar & used with permission of My F Opinion Page design by Bryan Chung, Haru Kato & Siddarth Shankar
OPINIONS
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SPORTS
Thirsty for buckets
Varsity boys basketball team prepares for a long winter season
Ethan Cherry & Liam Zeya Sports Editor & Editor-in-Chief ooking to improve from their lessthan-stellar 3-20 record last season, the boys varsity basketball team is preparing hard for its lengthy winter campaign. With nine returning players, the team seeks to blend a variety of students with different ages and positions to move towards the common goal of competing in the conference and regional playoffs. Part of achieving that goal will be uprooting and changing the mindset of the team from last year. “Culture-wise, I want to get out of the mentality that it’s ok to lose,” head coach Mike O’Brien said. “I want to get to the point where [the players] are as mad as I am when they lose.” The team seems to be responding well to this sentiment. “You can ask any player on the team, the energy is a lot different at practice already,” junior guard Robbie Denton said. “We’ve got some good leaders on the
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team that are really helping us out.” The team didn’t fare well in terms of wins last season, and they lost several talented senior leaders, including star guard Jack Ferguson, who is playing
“The culture is changing. We’re a lot tougher this year.” -Junior Robbie Denton college basketball at Salisbury University. However, with nine seniors and some younger returners, plenty of players are ready to step up and take leadership roles. “We have a lot of seniors on the roster, but not a lot of game experience from them,” O’Brien said. “When you mix in the younger underclassmen that we have, they bring some of the basketball talents that they have with them to go with the senior leadership that we have.”
Down to the wire—The boys varsity basketball team sits during a late timeout with four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a home game against Thomas Jefferson on Dec. 1. The team managed to handle a late run by TJ to win 53-50 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Cherry)
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Members of the team commonly cite senior and third-year returner Patrick Dolan and senior Matt Livingston as the vocal leaders on the floor. “Matt didn’t get a lot of playing time last year, but he’s kind of taken over the reigns at point guard,” senior forward Tom Shue said. A notable underclassman on the squad this year is freshman guard Matias Prock. Prock, who is 15 years old, has drawn praise from teammates and coaches. “Matias is a heck of a basketball player,” O’Brien said. “He understands the game and has a lot of offensive gifts that he can contribute.” Although he had a delayed start to the season due to an ankle injury, Prock has already experienced some of the highlevel competition he’ll be amongst this season. “[Varsity] is a lot more serious than [basketball in] 8th grade and below,” Prock said. “It’s a lot more intense. Everyone’s faster and stronger.” So far, the new leadership and diverse talent of the group seems to be gelling well. The team played well in its first two scrimmages against Park View and Falls Church. Senior Tristan Liu led the team in points in their last scrimmage against Falls Church with 15. “In the scrimmage, [Liu] was just feeling it,” senior point guard Matt Livingston said. “No one could really stop him.” The team started the regular season on a high note, beating Thomas Jefferson 53-50 at home. Led by a balanced attack and leading scorers Dolan and Zach Glissman, the team played strong from the get-go. After a fourth-quarter run by TJ sent the game in to overtime, McLean stayed aggressive. Clutch free-throws by Dolan and Livingston put the game away. This early success is a positive portent for the long winter ahead. “The culture is changing,” Denton said. “We’re a lot tougher this year. I think it’s going to be a way better season.” Page design by Liam Zeya
DECEMBER
An arm around the competition—Seniors Cochise Wanzer and Mack McCune practice grappling during a November practice. Wanzer and McCune return looking to build on their success from last season as state qualifiers. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli)
Wrestling aims to take down competition An introduction to the 2015 Highlander wrestling season Graham Gibson Reporter
experienced coaches, including head coach Kenneth Jackson and assistant coach reseason practices for the Highlander Mark Casstevans, winner of the 2014-15 wrestling team are over, and the regular Liberty District Coach of the Year award. season has begun. The Highlanders will The coaching staff as a whole is planning need leaders from last year’s team to step to follow up on last year’s impressive up, including an experienced coaching campaign. staff that has slowly brought the program “We look to repeat the success from last back to prominence. year by training harder than ever before,” Last year’s team was one of the best Grammes said. “We feel that we have a in recent memory, as the Highlanders really good team this year that can make not only won the Liberty Conference, some serious noise in the conference and but also sent five players to the state state when wrestling at our best.” championship. One star player that the The team has steadily been team will be counting on is senior Conor improving since winning the conference Grammes, a defending state champion. championship in 2013, the first for Grammes is aiming for the same success McLean wrestling in 35 years. in his final year at McLean High. “Our mindset this year is to place in the The coaching staff consists of six top five teams of the state. We have five returning state qualifiers, two of which were in the top two in the state last year. It will be hard work, but it is definitely an attainable goal to repeat as conference champions,” said senior Cochise Wanzer, returning starter from last year’s championship team. The returning wrestlers also include juniors Brendan Grammes and Gavin Legg, as well as senior Mack Sparring—State champion Conor Grammes spars McCune, winner of the with state runner-up Gavin Legg during practice. Outstanding Wrestler title at last year’s conferences. Both hope to return to states. (Photo by Tanya Ajalli)
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Coach Jackson has high expectations for the team. “Our mindset this year is to repeat [our success]. We will be working hard all year long in preparation for the post-season. We are not looking to just win the conference title, but the region and state titles as well,” Jackson said. The Highlanders are confident they will continue on as Liberty Conference champions, but a few important factors will be key to helping the Highlanders succeed in the future. “Mental toughness is one of the most important things to the team at this point,” Jackson said. “Things don’t always go your way, and we have to show the mental toughness to push through those times. We must continue to build this toughness through the year so we are mentally prepared at the end of the season as well as physically.” Jackson believes this will be one of the keys to repeating the success from last season. Despite losing many wrestlers who graduated last year, the Highlanders still have high expectations from both fans and coaches. Experience and leadership are most important to the Highlanders in continuing their success at competitions and living up to their expectations. The Highlanders have a long season ahead of them, and although anything can happen in the season to come, the coaches and players feel confident and prepared that this will be another successful season. Page design by Graham Gibson
SPORTS
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Game time—McLean’s varsity boys basketball team takes on Thomas Jefferson on Dec. 1. Many players watched from the bench and did not receive as much playing time as their teammates (Photo by Matthew Zwirb)
Players wait to play
Not all athletes receive equal playing time, but waiting comes with benefits
Mathew Zwirb Reporter cLean High School is home to many great athletes. However, not all of these athletes take the field or court more than a few times a season. Coaches want the best for their players and team, but they often decide to split playing time unequally amongst team members in order to give their team the best chance at winning. Here are their perspectives.
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COACHES:
PLAYERS:
Coaches have to make decisions that are for the best of the Any athlete would say that they want to be out on the field whole team, which often leads to reduced playing time for as much as possible during a game. Unfortunately, this cannot some players. always be the case. “It would be fantastic to be able to get everyone in every “It’s hard, but it’s part of the process,” varsity basketball game,” boys varsity basketball head coach Mike O’Brien said. player junior Robbie Denton said. “You have to know your Although some players don’t get into every game, they are place.” still important to the team. Although not playing can be hard, McLean athletes do not “Even if you are the 11th man let a lack of playing time affect their on the basketball roster, your role is physical and mental preparation. very important to help us in game “I try to prepare as [if] I am going situations,” O’Brien said. to play,” varsity football player senior Different players might be called Stephen Penn said. on in different situations. Players can This positive mental approach helps still see playing time if they can help athletes improve and have a chance to the team succeed in a situation that gain playing time later in the season. calls for a specific skill set. Those who spend extra hours in the One must also keep in mind that a weight room or work one-on-one after -Varsity boys basketball head coach coach’s job is to help athletes. practice may have an opportunity to Mike O’Brien become a starter down the road. “My role is to make them all better,” varsity girls basketball coach Younger athletes on varsity teams Jen Sobota said. may not see much playing time until they are juniors or seniors. More importantly, coaches can help athletes prepare for the Until then, having a positive attitude will help those players future, even when they are on the bench. find what it takes to get to the next level. “I try to express to them that what you are learning through “Coaches see hard work,” senior varsity girls basketball sports is what you are going to take with you into the real player Jessica Monroe said. “My freshman year I didn’t play a world,” O’Brien said. lot the first few weeks, and I ended up working my way to being Players can learn invaluable lessons that prepare them to seventh or eighth man off the bench”. step into the workplace. Successful people are those who learn Even athletes who are not playing can set an example of hard to thrive in a situation where they are not the star from the work and determination. By pushing themselves in practice, beginning. The same applies for sports. players can gain respect from not only the coaches, but from This means less experienced players will be more content their peers as well. with letting others shine. Learning how to do so now will make Being motivated to work hard can pay off. If players have them much happier people in the long run. This lesson is more the right attitude, those who play less during the game can still important than how many minutes one plays. succeed on the team.
“Even if you are the 11th man on the basketball roster, your role is very important to help us in game situations.”
Page design by Matthew Zwirb
26
DECEMBER
Athlete of the Issue
Bora Zaloshnja & Peter Morell Opinions Editor & Reporter Why did you start playing hockey? My father played Division 1 hockey at Michigan, so I was born into it. I started playing at 4 years old. Has playing on varsity since freshman year helped you grow as an athlete? McHockey has absolutely helped me grow as an athlete. I’m much more confident on the ice now, and a big reason for that is high school hockey. What are the pros and cons of not playing a school-sponsored sport? You don’t have to deal with the school and their rules. Everything is done within the team. We don’t have to follow nearly as many regulations and get way more freedom than other McLean sports teams. The unfortunate part is we don’t get publicized like the other sports, even though we are extremely good. How do you feel about the school team’s chances this year? We are very good this year. I expect us to win at least eight of our 10 regular season games and then make a run at the state championship.
Jordan Blum What do you fear most when you take the ice? What I fear most isn’t getting hit or anything physical. I fear failure—not meeting the goals I set for myself when I step onto the ice. What are the challenges of being a hockey team captain? The challenges of being a leader are simple—coaches and players set expectations for you, and meeting those expectations isn’t always easy. How has playing both club hockey and McLean hockey simultaneously helped you? Club hockey is a much more competitive environment where my presence isn’t as crucial as [it is on] McLean’s. The people around me are closer to my skill level [in club], therefore I’m not as important to the overall success of the team. In McLean I’m expected to score multiple goals every game, but in club the bar is lower for me. It’s a lower stress outlet for me to play competitive hockey without feeling the pressure I do in McLean.
STATS & FACTS
Position: Left Wing Assists: 7 Goals: 13 Years Playing: 13 Club Team: Reston Raiders
Photos & page design by Bora Zaloshnja
SPORTS
27
Finish Line Matias Prock Freshman Basketball
Jessica Cottros Sophomore Gymnastics
Who will win the Republican primary?
Anna Murphy Junior Basketball
Abdel Hammad Senior Shot Put
What should SIS stand for?
MP
Donald Trump
MP
School Is Safe
JC
Donald Trump
JC
Scholarly Information Supplier
AM
Ben Carson
AM
Shoot, I Suck
AH
Not Donald Trump
AH
Students Inevitably Screwed
What’s your go-to snow day activity?
sh
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
MP
Try to hang out with friends
MP
Money
JC
Netflix
JC
A trip to Hawaii
AM
Drinking lots of hot chocolate
AM
Justin Bieber tickets
AH
Sleeping
AH
A chain with my name in Arabic Page design by Bryan Chung
28
DECEMBER