The Highlander - Issue 3 - January 2017

the

highlander Volume LXI • Issue 3 • January 2017 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

Finding Refuge Refugees make McLean home

CONTENTS NEWS

OPINIONS

20-21 Editorial: AP Capstone

3

FCPS to start before Labor Day

4

Superintendent resigns

22-23

5

Science Olympiad update

24

7

Obama leaves the White House

FEATURES 9

Snow statistics

10

Highlander of the Issue: David Haas

11 13

10 Qs with Ginnie Ward 2016 Year in Review

Crossfire: Paying for college sports

Social media promotes antisocial habits

10

SPORTS 25

Basketball looks to bounce back

26

Gymnastics: vaulting to victory

27 28

10

Athlete of the Issue: Tim Dorje Wu The Finish Line

27

IN-DEPTH 14-17

Finding Refuge: Refugees make McLean home

A&E 18

The Undoing Project: book review

19

Frosty Fun on a budget

5

25

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Dear McLean,

As the end of the semester approaches, we hope this issue finds you well and can provide some relief from any end-ofquarter stress.

This issue, make sure to check out the News section for a summary of former Superintendent Karen Garza’s biggest contributions and for coverage of McLean’s Science Olympiad team.

Our Features section includes a profile of David Haas, a recap and review of 2016 and a full-page infographic about snow—here’s hoping this winter has some snow left in store.

Flip to Arts & Entertainment for a list of winter activities on a budget and a new book review.

Don’t miss our editorial, which discusses new developments in the AP curriculum.

Our In-Depth this issue discusses refugees here at McLean and the experiences of refugees trying to assimilate into America.

Follow us on Twitter, @MHSHighlander, and check out our website, thehighlandernews.com, to stay updated on all things McLean until our next issue.

As always, please come to us with any comments, questions or suggestions by stopping by R133 or emailing us at thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com.

highlander

the

Letter from the Editors

Volume LXI • Issue 3 • January 2017 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief

Carlyn Kranking, Ingrid Morse & Melanie Pincus

Design Editor-in-Chief

Bryan Chung

Managing Editors

Sri Medicherla, Sanskriti Neupane, Young In Seo & Aisha Singh

Photography Editor

Shanzeh Umerani

Website Editor-in-Chief

Sophie Mariam

Copy Editor

Imani McCormick

Advertising Manager

Seth Eshraghi

Cartoonists

Courtlan Grinder & Dasha Makarishcheva

Section Editors News Editors

Christine Cheon & Siddarth Shankar

Features Editors

Anjalie Chauhan & Olivia Mooney

A&E Editors

Alex Mandanas & Shanzeh Umerani

Opinions Editors

Rustin Abedi & Helen Bloom

Sports Editors

Colin Edson & Ed Walters

Reporters Jessie Friedman Tyler Grobman Miranda Johnson Jiwon Kim Justin Kim Kyuree Kim Maren Kranking Adviser

Anjali Kumar Amanda LaPorte Kon Matheoudakis Julia McElligott Anna Murphy Laura Opsahl-Ong Jackson Payne

Michael Redding John Roth Jack Stenzel Eva Zarpas Conor Zeya Catherine Zysk

Lindsay B. Benedict

Yours truly,

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.

Bryan Chung, Melanie Pincus, Carlyn Kranking & Ingrid Morse

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, ‘16 First Class; Hall of Fame

Cover photo by Shanzeh Umerani

‘14, ‘16 George H. Gallup Award; ‘15 International First Place ‘16 Crown Finalist; ‘15 Gold Crown Winner ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16 CSPA Gold Medalist

‘14, ‘15, ‘16 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

Printed by aPrintis

Summer cut short

NEWS

2017-18 calendar features pre-Labor Day start to school Siddarth Shankar News Editor

T

he School Board approved FCPS’s operating calendar for the 2017-2018 school year on Dec. 1. The new calendar schedules the first day of school before Labor Day, making summer break a week shorter than in previous years.

Students are scheduled to begin school on Aug. 28. Many educators foresee positive effects on students due to the earlier start.

“I think stress will be less,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “I would like to see it two weeks earlier [or even] three weeks before.”

In an FCPS email survey sent to staff members between March and April of 2016, 64 percent supported the measure, while 36 percent opposed. Approximately 14,000 staff members responded.

Proponents of the earlier start to school mention increased time to prepare for national exams, such as the Advanced Placement exams, which take place annually in May. “[If ] you’re taking an AP test, the rest of the nation does too, and they started two weeks, three weeks before we ever did,” Reilly said. “We should have the same fair shot.”

However, support for a pre-Labor Day start was mixed among parents according to the same FCPS email survey. Of the

approximately 40,000 parent respondents, 53 percent supported the earlier start, while 47 percent opposed it.

Starting before Labor Day is uncommon in Virginia due to the Kings Dominion Law. The 1986 law aims to increase economic activity in theme parks by extending summer through Labor Day weekend.

Reilly believes the law is a case of misplaced priorities.

“Students doing well in school is more important than making money off of tourism,” Reilly said. “Fairfax County should value education.”

Despite the requirements of the Kings Dominion Law, FCPS is able to start early next year after receiving a waiver from the Virginia Department of Education.

“We missed enough days [because of snow]...to exercise this waiver,” Dranesville District School Board Member Jane Strauss said. “A lot of us are very interested in trying it for three years.”

In order to make a final decision about starting before Labor Day, the School Board took into account both parent and staff opinion.

“I was willing to...[support] whatever the community wanted,” Strauss said. “I know the McLean community did [want an earlier start].”

FCPS did not survey students on their

Proposal 1 — APPROVED

Longer winter break School ends one day later Three-day Presidents Day weekend

opinions of the early start, but among the student body, sentiment is mixed.

“I don’t think it matters much. As long as the total number of school days are relatively the same, everything should be comparatively unchanged,” junior Austin Zhang said.

A sizable opposition to the early start also exists.

“Starting earlier is just going to ruin [the summer]… Cutting down summer break even by a week is just terrible,” junior Romy Boortalary said.

Although the early start is a major feature of the new calendar, the School Board regularly sought community input on other calendar changes.

FCPS sent another email survey to parents and staff in November 2016 seeking feedback on two calendar proposals shown below.

According to FCPS Public Information Officer John Torre, 68 percent of the total 16,000 respondents supported Proposal 1, which was ultimately approved.

Under the newly-approved calendar, the last day of school in 2018 is scheduled for June 15.

The calendar also features a two-week long winter break, from Dec. 18 to Jan. 1. “[It’s] an academic calendar that made sense,” Strauss said. “We are a place of learning, and...the calendar is based on what [students] need.”

Proposal 2 —

REJECTED

Winter break two days shorter

Summer starts one day earlier Four-day Presidents Day weekend

What do you think about starting school before Labor Day? Vote in the poll on thehighlandernews.com!

Page design by Siddarth Shankar

JANUARY

3

FCPS Superintendent Garza resigns

Garza leaves a legacy of reforms to the school system Siddarth Shankar, News Editor

F

CPS Superintendent Karen Garza recently surprised county residents after resigning three and a half years into office. Despite Garza’s short tenure, she implemented many reforms to public schools in Fairfax County.

“She’s probably one of the most impactful superintendents Fairfax County has ever had,” Principal Ellen Reilly said.

Her accomplishments include fighting for teacher pay amidst difficult FCPS budget cuts, school schedule changes and developing longterm strategic plans. “[Under Garza] we’ve definitely moved the needle in...provid[ing] the kind of opportunities students need for now and in the future,” Dranesville District School Board member Jane Strauss said.

Garza left the position of superintendent to become president of Battelle for Kids, an education nonprofit based in Ohio. FCPS currently has an interim superintendent, but a new superintendent is expected to be appointed by April or May. Here are three major reforms that Garza helped implement during her time in office.

Elimination of half-day Mondays

A

fter 40 years, FCPS eliminated half-day Mondays for elementary schoolers in 2014. This transition from half- to full-day Mondays allowed FCPS more flexibility to deal with cancellations due to inclement weather. This policy also held benefits for students and parents.

“With having school all day on Monday, the students are receiving more instruction [and] childcare is not an issue,” Haycock Elementary School Principal Jereme Donnelly said.

Teachers, however, have mixed feelings about the decision as it cut down on planning time.

“When half-day Mondays were in effect, administrators used that time to provide professional development...or staff were able to collaborate,” Donnelly said. “Now, much of this is done outside of contract hours.”

T

MONDAY

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Later start times for high schoolers

he debate over start times was finally resolved when FCPS made the official decision to start high schools at 8:10 a.m., beginning with the 2015-2016 year. FCPS consulted with sleep experts from Children’s National Medical Center while exploring the idea of later start times.

“I think that students like it...they have more time to get ready for school and come a little bit more prepared,” Reilly said.

According to Reilly, however, teachers preferred the earlier start times. Since many teachers live far from Fairfax County, they did not want to be caught in rush-hour traffic. “[It’s been] a mixed thing,” Reilly said. “It depends on which side of the fence you’re sitting on.”

Portrait of a Graduate

F

CPS developed its Portrait of a Graduate in 2014 to fully show the skills that FCPS students possess once they graduate.

“It describes the knowledge, the skills...that we want all of our kids to graduate with,” Strauss said.

According to Portrait of a Graduate, FCPS graduates are collaborators, communicators, ethical and global citizens, creative and critical thinkers and goal-directed and resilient individuals.

Portrait of a Graduate has united FCPS administrators and schools under one goal.

“Our whole central being is around Portrait of a Graduate...so there’s less of a disconnect between central office[s] and the schools,” Reilly said.

4

Graphics by Siddarth Shankar & Bryan Chung Page design by Siddarth Shankar

NEWS

Science Olympiad determined to win this year McLean’s team finishes 10th overall at invitationals Seth Eshraghi Advertising & Circulation Manager

M

cLean’s Science Olympiad team has regrouped for another season in hopes of qualifying for the Science Olympiad national tournament. On Jan. 7, the team participated in the Fairfax invitational competition, which served as a ‘trial run’ for the Fairfax regionals to be held on Feb. 25. “[Through invitationals], I got very familiar with the doings of Science Olympiad,” freshman Kevin Lu said.

The competition had several events organized into six sessions, each lasting around an hour long. The McLean team came in 10th place overall out of 26 schools at the invitational competition. “[McLean performed] pretty well. We are definitely excited with our results,” team sponsor Claire Anton said.

Despite the team’s accomplishments at the invitational, some members found their assigned events challenging.

“Astronomy [has been a difficult event] because it includes many applications of advanced physics subjects and proficient

understanding of complex terms,” freshman Sarp Taskintuna said.

The club assigns members to four general topics: physics, chemistry, geology and biology. These members are then assigned to more specific events, from engineering an electric vehicle to studying hydrogeology.

If the team performs well at the Fairfax regionals, they will advance to the state level tournament at the University of Virginia on March 25.

Club officer senior Lucy Zheng is working to set the bar higher than last year.

“Everyone in Science Olympiad can [do] better than they did in the past,” Zheng said.

As part of this goal, the club aspires to perform at a high level, as they did in 2002, when the McLean Science Olympiad team won the state tournament and advanced to the national level.

“We are going to aim high this year,” said senior William Kodama, president of the Science Olympiad team.

After the competing in the invitational, Anton believes there is room for improvement.

“We need to study more because we

competed against challenging schools like TJ, James Madison [and] Lake Braddock,” Anton said.

Another opponent appears to be Langley High School, which has been nationally ranked seven times since 2006.

Despite their opponents’ skill and experience on the national stage, the team maintains an optimistic mindset.

“I feel like people are stepping it up this year,” Zheng said.

However, with this optimism, members are aware of the difficulties they must overcome to raise the bar.

“Aiming high is always a challenge,” Lu said.

The team will continue to study and work hard to perform well for the upcoming competitive events.

“Practice definitely makes perfect.

Studying and preparation helps a lot,” Zheng said.

No matter what obstacles they confront at regionals, states, nationals or just in their own work, McLean’s Science Olympiad team is committed to putting in the work to be a success.

Intently Researching — Sophomores Maximilien Engel (center) and Jules LeMenestrel (right) peer at Andrew Do’s computer as they plan and do research for their Science Olympiad events. (Photo by Shanzeh Umerani) JANUARY

Page design by Seth Eshraghi

5

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Obama leaves the White House Students weigh in on Obama’s legacy

Anna Murphy Reporter

E

ight years ago, Barack Obama was elected the first African-American president of the United States. On Jan. 20, after serving two terms as the nation’s chief executive, he handed off the position to Donald Trump.

Beginning in 2009 when he took office, Congress passed several measures. Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which prohibited wage discrimination between men and women who perform the same jobs. He also ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a site created after 9/11 to imprison war criminals.

Although it was never actually closed due to a lack of congressional support, the number of inmates decreased during his term.

Later in 2009, Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy. The Nobel Peace Prize Committee specifically pointed to his arms control negotiations and constructive role in confronting global climate change.

“Due to the steps Obama has taken to protect the environment, I have greater confidence that the world our kids will inherit will be sustainable,” senior Olivia McAuliffe said. “It gives me hope for the future.”

In March 2010, Obama passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a law that put in place comprehensive health care reforms. The legislation sought to make health care more affordable, strengthen Medicare and provide coverage for young adults. Democrats have praised the rising number of individuals with health care since the act was implemented.

“I have friends and family who have needed extended health care coverage in the past couple of years,” senior Bethany Grocock said. “Obama ensured that they have it.”

However, Republicans have pointed out the new taxes and complications that have arisen as a result of the law.

“Obamacare has caused premiums to rise for many people, including my family,” senior Kate Covington said. “The American economy was founded on free enterprise and Obamacare is divergent from that vision because Medicaid has expanded.”

In May 2011, U.S. forces under Obama’s JANUARY

direction tracked down and killed Osama bin Laden, the founder of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. Bin Laden organized the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“For my family his death was definitely a relief and the turning of a new chapter in our fight against terrorism,” said senior Alexa Liquori, whose dad is in the Air Force. “We knew this would bring home many of our military friends safe and sound.”

by being the first sitting president in nearly 88 years to visit Cuba. Earlier in his term, he had announced plans to ease economic restrictions on Cuba.

Looking back over his term, many millennials believe that it was his ability to connect with the public that made him a successful president.

“You see pictures of him going to local restaurants or inviting all types of people to the Oval Office,” Grocock said. “As a citizen, it made me feel like the government was closer to the people. It instilled trust.”

Others, on the other hand, have noted that he did not follow through on a number of promises he made, such as promoting economic growth.

“He was the first president to never have above three percent economic growth,” senior Camryn Degraft said. “As a result, a lot of people had to take two part-time jobs and there wasn’t a huge increase in wages.”

In his farewell address, delivered on Jan. 10, Obama reflected on the mix of setbacks and successes that came throughout his term.

He also thanked those who had supported him and expressed hope for the future of America.

There is little doubt that Obama’s term in office will go down in the record books. How his legacy is written, on the other hand, still calls for debate.

“He showed that he is just an average guy and not above the public.”

-Senior Daniel Park Obama was also known for his liberal stances on social issues. He became the first president to publicly support same-sex marriage.

He was also the first president to publish a scientific paper, visit Hiroshima and appoint a Hispanic-American to the Supreme Court.

“He did things no other president has done,” senior Daniel Park said. “He showed that he is just an average guy and not above the public.”

In March 2016 Obama made history

2009-2017

Amount of renewable energy

Poverty rate up

National debt

Median household income

Unemployment rate

Approval rating

Number of uninsured

down

Number of U.S. troops deployed to war zones

Page design by Bryan Chung

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Let it snow

FEATURES

Maren Kranking & Julia McElligott, Reporters

FAIRFAX COUNTY HAS HAD AN AVERAGE OF

8.4

EACH WINTER, OVER 1 SEPTILLION ICE CRYSTALS FALL IN THE UNITED STATES

NUMBER OF SNOW DAYS DURING THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR

$82.7 MILLION

SNOW DAYS OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS

ARLINGTON COUNTY

SET ASIDE FOR SNOW REMOVAL IN VIRGINIA THIS SEASON

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FAIRFAX COUNTY

RECORD SNOWFALL IN 24 HOURS IN THE U.S. IS 75.8 INCHES IN SILVER LAKE, COLORADO

LOUDOUN COUNTY MONTGOMERY COUNTY

ON JANUARY 6, 2015, THE HASHTAG

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

#closeFCPS

= 2 snow days

OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS...

15.4 INCHES AVERAGE SNOWFALL IN MCLEAN

JANUARY

22.4 INCHES NATIONAL AVERAGE SNOWFALL

TRENDED WORLDWIDE ON TWITTER THIS WINTER SEASON IS PREDICTED TO HAVE

16-24 INCHES

OF SNOWFALL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Facts obtained via weatherdb.com, nbcwashington.com, fairfaxcounty.gov, mentalfloss.com, Fox5 News & washingtonpost.com Page design by Maren Kranking & Julia McElligott

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Highlander of the Issue

Senior Haas the skills to pay the bills

David Haas applies classroom material for real life purposes Hard At Work — Lead Programmer David Haas makes use of his downtime at a Botball Tournament in April

2016. McLean’s Robotics Club competes in Botball every year, where their robots score points by performing certain tasks. (Photo by John Roth) Jiwon Kim & John Roth Reporters iming to serve the high demand for proficient programmers and computer scientists in today’s job market, senior David Haas has taken advantage of McLean’s computer science curriculum. From creating text-to-speech software to making his own website, Haas has used computer science to pursue his ambitions in and out of school.

Haas fell in love with computer science and programming in his computer science class freshman year. The simultaneous simplicity and complexity of computer science appealed to him.

“I was hooked, I wanted to learn how to do more useful things with computer science,” Haas said. “I like problem solving, and that’s what [computer science] is in essence—it’s raw problem solving.”

When he was younger, Haas experimented with operating systems, robotics and programming. Haas said his parents and relatives played a big role in cultivating his interests in computer science through camps and equipment.

“At one point we bought him a Raspberry Pi that he used for developing robots and other computer tools,” Haas’s father, Robert Haas, said.

Raspberry Pis are small, single-board computers often used to teach basic computer science.

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In high school, Haas began to pursue projects that challenged his skills. He started to learn on his own, using free online education sources.

In Haas’s final Computer Systems research project, he and his partners created a multiplayer game that required lots of material outside of McLean’s curriculum to develop.

“For my Comp Sys project I made, with [partners], a multi-player platform game that [was] similar to Mario, from scratch. It was around 5,000 lines of code,” Haas said.

For his most recent project, Haas created a practical website for students. His website, Vocabpedia, or apvocab.com, pools thousands of definitions from Quizlet and searches them in an efficient manner. Haas said he believes this website is the most useful of his projects, with up to 2,330 people visiting the site on a weekly basis.

Haas pursued the next level of his computer science education at the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Institute over the summer.

Although at first Haas was hesitant, worrying that it would be too difficult, he soon found himself at home with like-minded individuals.

“I wanted to provide David with the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with other similarly focused students drawn from areas throughout this country as well as countries around the world,” Robert Haas said. “It was an opportunity to travel, make

connections and see, perhaps, that his future could be much larger than Virginia.”

While at Stanford, Haas familiarized himself with machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence that learns through trial and error. Machine learning algorithms are used in everyday programs such as Google and Siri.

“Machine learning on its own is pretty awesome. To think about how computers can learn is mind-blowing,” Haas said.

Haas’s experiences are an example of the real world applications of skills learned in high school. Haas’s accomplishments have made him a role model for other students. His sister, sophomore Kate Haas, is one student who has been inspired by her brother’s experiences.

“He inspires me to work hard and be happy,” Kate Haas said. “He always has a positive attitude towards everything he does and puts effort into all of his work.”

Next year, Haas hopes to continue pursuing his interest in computer science with more projects. Haas credits what he has learned at McLean for a large part of his success in computer science.

“I plan to do computer science in college, but I have no idea what specific field I want to study,” Haas said. “McLean was definitely my foundation for computer science.”

Page design by Jiwon Kim & John Roth

FEATURES

10 Qs with

Ginnie Ward (Math Teacher)

Interview by Aisha Singh Photos by Shanzeh Umerani Page design by Bryan Chung

Any fun quirks or hobbies?

What was the last picture/video you took?

My dog, wearing a cheerleader outfit that my mom bought her for Penn State because they were in the Rose Bowl.

What’s the weirdest test/quiz answer you’ve graded?

Oh man, I’ve had some good ones. There was one question on a geometry Quick Quiz that said “Draw a regular quadrilateral,” and I got a triangle.

What was the most memorable part of your wedding?

Well, sentimentally, my father passed away four years ago.

So, usually the father of the bride does the welcoming toast, so I did it in his place and was able to attribute to him a lot.

I’d say the most fun [part] was our entrance. My husband is a huge—this is probably dating me—he’s a huge Guns N’ Roses fan, so we came in to “Welcome to the Jungle.”

If you could be principal for a day, what would you do?

I’d say a day off! No, I guess I’d go around and peek into classrooms, not to do any kind of observation or intimidation, I’d just go around and say hi to everyone.

JANUARY

Describe math to someone who’s never taken a math class before?

Math is a way to explain pretty much anything on Earth, anything in the Milky Way and beyond. It’s a relationship between all matter on Earth—one thing affects another, affects another, affects another.

So it’s the relationship and the very large connections between all things that we know.

If you could influence one major event of the past what would it be?

I don’t want to get too political! So what I’m thinking is probably not the best answer. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll just say the Republican primaries.

I’m a huge sports fan—it was always football, like Hokie games and Steelers games, but ever since I met my husband, he’s a huge Caps fan, so those are really fun too.

What’s your favorite book/ movie character?

Harry Potter. That’s definitely my favorite series [too]. I mean, just everything about it—I think J.K. Rowling is a genius.

What would you be if you weren’t a teacher?

I always thought, growing up, that I’d want to be a doctor. Until—my mom had a very, very minor issue with her finger—and I couldn’t stand the sight of blood. And even taking my own pulse I get very light-headed.

What is the best part of teaching Multivariable Calculus?

[My Multivar students] are adults, and I get to really have fun with them and trust that they’re gonna do exactly what I ask them to do, and just have more fun with it. I love, love the highlevel math too.

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Year in review: Looking back on major events

6 0 2 1

ENTERTAINMENT *

MCLEAN NEWS

Brexit June 23 — Citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union this past June. The referendum, also known as Brexit, was passed 52 percent to 48 percent, with the majority voting to leave.

Olympics Aug. 5-21 — More than 11,000 athletes competed in 28 Olympic events at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Events took place at 18 venues in the four Olympic clusters: Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro and Maracanã.

U.S. Election Nov. 8 — Donald Trump received 306 electoral votes compared to Hillary Clinton’s 232, winning the presidental election. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th U.S. president on Jan. 20.

Blue Rock May 20 — During National Police Week, the Rock at McLean was painted blue in appreciation of law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

However, there was much controversy over the phrase, ‘Blue Lives Matter,’ which was painted by some students.

“Supporting police and acknowledging the systemic abuses that people of color go through when dealing with law enforcement are not mutually exclusive,” senior Alonso Flores-Saez said.

“Instead of having a civilized discussion, we chose to personally attack each other and divide ourselves.”

Columbia

Lemonade Beyoncé

DEATHS Alan Rickman Actor Age: 69

GOOD Music

Zika virus January — The Zika virus, an airborne virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes, first originated in Brazil in 2015 and spread to the rest of the Americas by September 2016. In response to the outbreak, the World Health Organization announced a state of emergency in October 2016.

David Bowie Musician Age: 69

The Life of Pablo Kanye West

WORLD NEWS

Bomb Threat Feb. 29 — When McLean High School received a bomb threat through email shortly after 8 a.m., the Fairfax County Police and Fire Departments investigated the school for any possible danger. Students were first evacuated to the football field and then released home after the school decided to cancel classes for the rest of the day. At 1:25 p.m., FCPS reported that the building was safe and no bomb was found.

“I was being dropped off [when] we saw a bunch of students being taken outside, evacuating the school,” junior Sheza Baig said. “The teachers told us that they didn’t know what was going on and that we should just go home.”

Albums

Movies

Harper Lee Author Age: 89 Prince Musician Age: 57 Muhammad Ali Boxer Age: 74

Warner Bros.

Walt Disney

Summit Ent.

Walt Disney

Walt Disney

A24

Elie Wiesel Author Age: 87 Carrie Fisher Actress Age: 60 Debbie Reynolds Actress Age: 84 *The Highlander staff’s picks of the year Graphics by Young In Seo Images obtained via Creative Commons Reporting & page design by Christine Cheon & Young In Seo

Finding

Refuge

Refugees make McLean home

Helen Bloom, Carlyn Kranking, Sanskriti Neupane & Aisha Singh Opinions Editor, Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editors

“The moment I crossed the border...with two other people that were not my family, they quickly got us in the canoe and took us across the river,” Marcos said. “And then they told us to walk.”

M

arcos*, a 17-year-old student at McLean, grew up in El Salvador, working to help pay for his education.

He left behind his home, his family and all of his possessions—except for a hat—to search for a better life.

Although many refugees attempt to enter the U.S. for a chance at a better life, few are able to complete the journey. During fiscal year 2016, more than 100,000 families were apprehended at the border, according to U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. The majority of them were from Central America. Refugees who are accepted by the U.S. often assimilate into American culture, hoping to learn, work and eventually raise children.

REFUGEES AT MCLEAN Marcos is not alone in the journey he has taken. Luis*, another student at McLean, arrived in the U.S. on Aug. 9, 2015, from El Salvador.

He still remembers the violence in El Salvador and the hardships that forced him to leave his home behind.

Although many immigrant students are not legally considered refugees, many cite violence as a reason for leaving their home countries. Under the United Nations’s definition, a refugee is “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence.” “[El Salvador is] very dangerous. There are a lot of gangs, and even if you work really hard you don’t get paid very well,” Luis said.

Marcos confronted similar hardships in El Salvador, which The Guardian calls the “homicide capital of the world.” Gang members sometimes came to his workplace asking for money. When gang members began pressuring him to join them, Marcos made the decision to leave for America and live with his uncle, a U.S. citizen who lives in the McLean area.

Miguel*, another student at McLean, decided to leave Honduras, his home country. In Honduras, Miguel was living alone, without his parents or siblings.

“Many people died because the gangsters, they think people have money, and they take the money from the people. There are some places that don’t have enough food, water, energy, things like that,” Miguel said.

For people like Marcos, Luis and Miguel, the journey to the U.S. can involve weeks of traveling with no guarantee that they will be able to cross the border.

“I was on a truck on my way here with a bunch of other people, and then something happened... the truck flipped over, and several people died,” Luis said.

After the incident, those who survived continued on foot, making it to Mexico and then finally across the border. Before he had made it far, Luis was intercepted by immigration officials and put in a detention center in Miami.

After about a month, he was allowed to come to McLean.

Marcos was also put in a detention center when he arrived, where he stayed for two months before being released.

“When we got [across the border], immigration grabbed me,” Marcos said. “But they let me stay...they called my parents and asked for my papers. I called my uncle and he came...but they kept me in a detention center for two months.”

At the detention center, Marcos spent time with eight other people and was allowed to take classes in English and math.

“At first, [the center] did feel like a prison. But I eventually got used to it,” Marcos said.

Miguel also faced harrowing conditions during his journey into the U.S. “A person almost killed me in Monterrey, [Mexico]...there were gangsters shooting each other. I was...sleeping in a little house...we had to spend the night there,” Miguel said. “When it was like nine o’clock, people started shooting, and I heard that. I went out and I said, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I was alone, in that moment, and that was all.”

*These names have been changed to protect these students’ anonymity due to the sensitive nature of their stories. Some quotes have been translated from Spanish by senior Laura Cintrón García.

15

BUILDING A NEW LIFE After surviving the journey across the border, Marcos, Luis and Miguel now face new challenges assimilating. The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program helps them transition and learn English as they begin their new lives.

Zamira Seyfulla, the ESOL Department Chair, works with many students in the program, teaching them English and helping them adjust to life at a new school. Many of the students with whom she works are refugees who have recently moved to the U.S. in search of a better life.

“

family in El Salvador every day.

“When [the refugee students] come here, they are 16, 17, and it’s very difficult for them to adapt not only to the country, [but] to the language, new school—everything is new.

Some of the kids have their parents still in their country but they come here,” Seyfulla said. “It happens—they don’t have friends, they don’t have family.”

Despite these challenges, students plan for their futures.

“What I want in this country is to get my diploma from high school and then go into the army,” Miguel said.

Like many other first-generation Americans, Gyatso is committed to his life in the U.S. while still maintaining a connection to Tibet.

“As a new generation, I’m very heavily invested in my life as an American,” Gyatso said. “[There’s] this sort of dichotomy of our identity when we simultaneously want to support and work to help the people in our country but we don’t necessarily feel as strongly an association to it as we might have a few decades ago.”

Sophomore and first-generation American Inaya Huric’s mother came to the U.S. as a

If we stop accepting people who are in need of a safe haven, then we’ve stopped standing for what America stands for.”

-Temple Rodef Shalom Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe

They work toward being fluent in English, eventually taking regular high school courses.

“It’s not very easy to be a refugee. You really have to put in the effort to learn English and surround yourself with people who speak English,” Luis said.

One of the most difficult things for these McLean students is fitting into their Englishbased classes.

“It’s a challenge for them when they are in biology classes or world history, and they sometimes feel shy together with the native speakers because their language is not good.

They don’t understand what is written in the textbooks,” Seyfulla said.

On top of the language barrier, refugees face obstacles outside of the school environment. In order to afford their lives in the U.S., most student refugees must work, taking jobs in addition to their schoolwork.

“They have to work—one of the students [wrote in a class assignment that] his mother doesn’t make enough money to provide for the whole week, so he has to work,” Seyfulla said.

High school refugees must also deal with the emotional trauma of being so far away from their families.

Marcos left his parents behind in El Salvador and now lives with his uncle, aunt and cousin, all U.S. citizens. He calls his 16

FIRST-GENERATION AMERICANS Although adjusting to life in the U.S. can be difficult, many refugees assimilate and build new relationships. Their children may preserve parts of the cultures that they left behind.

Senior Tashi Gyatso’s parents are both refugees from Tibet, which has been under Chinese occupation since 1950. Gyatso’s father escaped the country at the age of four in 1957. Gyatso’s mother was born in exile in Dharamsala, India—a city that is home to many Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama.

Gyatso’s parents came to the U.S. in the 1980s, where he was born and raised.

Even after years of living in a new country and adopting American culture, Gyatso’s parents are connected to their Tibetan origins.

Gyatso’s father works for Voice of America, a broadcasting corporation that spreads news to areas with limited press freedom.

“In Tibet it’s actually illegal to view some of these programs, but it’s...one of the few sources of media...that they have that’s truly uncensored by and unfiltered by the Chinese government,” Gyatso said.

Gyatso’s mother works for a nongovernmental organization called the International Campaign for Tibet, which lobbies and raises awareness for the Tibetan independence cause.

refugee from Bosnia, escaping the siege of Sarajevo in 1994. Her father remained in Sarajevo throughout the Bosnian War and came to the U.S. in 2001. Huric’s mother experienced many of the struggles that high school refugees experience today.

“For my mom, [assimilation] was difficult because she was a teenager,” Huric said. “It was a new country, a new environment...and the cultural differences were huge so she was very isolated. She spent a lot of time alone... in general, high school is a tough time for everyone, but [it was] especially for her.”

Eventually, though, after building a new life in a new country, these refugees become accustomed to their new society. Even while refugees’ deep cultural roots help preserve some ethnic values, as first-generation Americans begin to assimilate, aspects of their parents’ culture are often left behind.

“What sort of surprised me and saddened me actually is a lot of Tibetans in [Boston, California and New York]—not only do they not speak the language very well, but they were almost sort of surprised that I could,” Gyatso said.

AID EFFORTS In addition to large organizations like those Gyatso’s parents work for, many local groups work to help refugees and individuals IN-DEPTH

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still in difficult situations abroad.

“When I heard about [local refugees], I thought, ‘Do we have refugees in our area?

I don’t know where they are, how do I help them?’” said Donna Doll, president of the McLean Virginia Stake Relief Society.

Doll worked with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to organize a refugee volunteer fair last summer. Volunteers at the fair prepared 100 kits full of hygiene, cleaning and baby supplies to give to refugees who are settling into the area.

Similarly, volunteers from Temple Rodef Shalom have sponsored a refugee family from the Middle East. The family—a single mother and two boys—came to the McLean area this summer. The temple has been helping them adjust to their new environment by subsidizing apartment costs, getting each family member enrolled in school and applying for help from government assistance programs. Temple Rodef Shalom Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe played an instrumental role in establishing this refugee aid.

“I think that it’s eye-opening for the individuals that are [volunteering],” Saxe said. “It’s incredibly educational, and I think it’s fulfilling in a real way. Hopefully they’re inspiring other people to...find some way to help refugees or be a part of what we call in our faith Tikkun Olam, which is Hebrew for JANUARY

65.3M displaced people worldwide

Number of refugees from Syria at the end of 2015

4.9M

1M refugees 1M stateless

84,995

refugees accepted by the U.S. in fiscal year 2016

most refugees arriving in the Northern Virginia area are from Afghanistan and Iraq

refugees admitted into Virginia from Oct. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016 ‘repairing the world.’”

Dr. Mohammed Naji, president of the local chapter of the Syrian American Medical Society, worked with the McLean Islamic Center in their refugee aid efforts.

“We created a committee…to coordinate and communicate with the different people who work with the refugees,” Naji said.

In addition to the committee, the McLean Islamic Center has been working to help refugees who struggle to adjust to life in the U.S. “One family ran out of money, and they were going to be evicted...so the Islamic Center paid the rent for them so they can still stay in their apartment,” Naji said.

Organizations like these are essential to helping refugees get started in their new lives.

“Besides the language barrier and overcoming the trauma of what they’ve been through—the loneliness, perhaps, of being away from family and outside of their culture—there is an incredible amount of paperwork,” Saxe said. “And for somebody without any English language skills and perhaps any experience in working with the system in that way...it’s very hard.”

Refugees arrive in the U.S. from all corners of the world and need varying amounts of aid. In fiscal year 2016, the U.S. accepted nearly 85,000 refugees, according to the Refugee Processing Center.

In this way, America is a safe haven for refugees like Marcos, Luis and Miguel. But still, these students face many challenges not only during their journey but also during their assimilation process.

“This country [has a] different culture… [you] don’t have real friends. In this country, you have to study and work. That’s it,” Miguel said.

Student refugees do everything they can to learn English and overcome adversity.

“I didn’t know any English except for a couple words, but I went to Falls Church High School [before McLean] and the ESOL teachers there are very good and I managed to learn a lot very quickly,” Luis said.

For students like Luis, the voyage to the U.S. is only the beginning of a longer journey to find a home in this country.

Cultural assimilation and adapting to a new lifestyle are components of a more lasting struggle they must face. American history is full of stories of immigrants who have found a place here.

“America is a country of immigrants, and we need to remember that that’s who we are,” Saxe said. “If we stop accepting people who are in need of a safe haven, then we’ve stopped standing for what America stands for.”

Photo by Eva Zarpas Infographic & page design by Bryan Chung

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by Catherine Zysk, reporter

M

ichael Lewis’s newest release, The Undoing Project, sheds light on the incredible men behind the still-developing field of behavioral economics—as well as the fallibility of even the most brilliant men.

Whether Lewis is decoding the foreign tongues spoken by mathematicians, rabbis, doctors or Israeli paratroopers, he maintains the common language of us all: failure.

With the first chapter, Lewis reveals his own failure to acknowledge the true beginnings of the ideas he put forth in his earlier exposé, Moneyball. He admits that the seeds of discovery and statistical analysis began, not in the offices of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, but with two Israeli men whom he had never heard of: Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. It is with this admission that Lewis lays the foundation of a book centered entirely on the acceptance and acknowledgment of the faults in humankind.

Following his introduction to present-day statistics, Lewis goes back 40 years to tell a story of adversity and triumph, of brilliance waiting to be realized and of two men who seemed better suited for a fictional battlefield than the perceived ordinary and bland confines of non-fiction.

In the aptly titled second chapter, “The Outsider,” Lewis describes the early yet remarkable life of Daniel Kahneman, drawing the reader in with his eloquent and unobtrusive prose.

In these first 90 pages, I forgot I was reading at all. Instead, I was seamlessly transported into the unsteady footsteps of a Jewish boy escaping persecution within the Nazi regime, only to find a new kind 18

“Psychology was a noisy dinner party during which the guests walked past one another and changed the subject with bewildering frequency.”

-Michael Lewis, author

other non-fiction writers is his uncanny ability to make readers forget not only that they are reading a book, but that they are also reading non-fiction. In lending his voice to his characters, rather than himself, Lewis brings his subjects to the forefront of every page—an act that makes him all the more impressive as a writer.

Even as he delves into the often complex and nuanced language of statistical and mathematical theory, Lewis never once allows the reader to lose sight of his subject’s voice and the significance of their work.

And yet, he doesn’t lose his beautiful prose with phrases like “Psychology was a noisy dinner party during which the guests walked past one another and changed the subject with bewildering frequency.”

Beyond the intense focus on the human

Desig

of danger in the streets of Jerusalem. I was no longer conscious of the book in my lap or the feeling of my chair beneath my legs.

As I walked with Danny Kahneman, I was conscious of nothing else but the clear and steady voice of the subject himself.

This overwhelming voice is present once again in Lewis’s description of Amos Tversky.

Just as he had done in his description of Kahneman, Lewis pulled me closer and closer until I was standing at the edge of a pool watching as a young Amos jumped fearlessly from the tallest board, knowing full well that he didn’t know how to swim.

What sets Michael Lewis apart from

elch

Michael Lewis’ new book uncovers the heart within the origins of behavioral economics

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The Undoing Project reveals humanity behind brilliant discovery

Chris W

A&E

side of discovery, The Undoing Project also provides a clear and informative look at the work of Kahneman and Tversky, allowing the reader to leave with newfound understanding without having read the dense technical papers written by the duo.

Furthermore, each fact carries weight and purpose, without drifting into the confusing and overcomplicated diction that often clutters works of non-fiction. Lewis consistently writes to his audience and, in doing so, he gives even the “Average Joe” the gift of experiencing the brilliance evident in Tversky and Kahneman’s work.

Through all of the delightful and fascinating forays into Tversky and Kahneman’s research, Lewis weaves a tale of the kind of friendship, companionship and collaboration that we all long to attain. He reminds us that even the most brilliant man is incomplete without human connection and that sometimes, friendship and camaraderie are stronger and more significant than any award or title bestowed.

In this sense, The Undoing Project is more about love than about science. It teaches us that progress is irrevocably intertwined with friendship, that success is a symptom of joy, rather than its catalyst, and that the beauty of humankind is found in its imperfections.

Rating

Page design by Bryan Chung

A&E

Having frosty fun on a budget

Combat winter boredom with these cost-effective activities in D.C. Imani McCormick & Jack Stenzel Copy Editor & Reporter

Bubbleball D.C.

Rent bubbleballs for any event at http://www.bubbleballdc.com Fee: $239/hour for six bubbles Bubbleball D.C. brings inflatable balls right to your backyard. Groups can try a new take on existing sports or bounce into one another like a human game of pinball. “Bubble soccer evens the playing field for all different fitness levels and skills,” Bubbleball D.C. owner Ryan Schurman said.

EXTREME

Pev’s Paintball

39835 New Rd., Aldie, VA 20105 Hours: Hours vary seasonally Fee: $59 for a walk-on session Pev’s Paintball is an extreme activity located roughly 45 minutes away from McLean High School. The facility has 13 fields that offer paintball and airsoft gameplay. Plan the perfect field day by participating in a high-intensity activity. The activities at Pev’s are ideal for birthday parties and other group outings.

JANUARY

Photo obtained via Creative Commons Photo courtesy of Vertical Rock

Vertical Rock

10225 Nokesville Rd., Manassas, VA 20110 Hours: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fee: $20 for a day pass Vertical Rock is an indoor rock climbing center that offers various classes for those interested in developing indoor and outdoor climbing techniques. Embrace your inner adventurer by taking other classes including yoga, kick-boxing, Krav Maga and jiu jitsu.

Photo courtesy of Bubbleball DC

Jammin’ Java

227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna, VA 22180 Hours: Mon - Wed 3 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Thurs - Sun 9 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Fee: Prices vary Jammin’ Java is a music venue, cafe and bar. Up-and-coming artists perform live music every night, and there are kid-friendly shows every morning. For aspiring musicians, they offer music lessons and show bookings.

Photo courtesy of Pev’s Paintball

1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006 Hours: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Fee: Free Admission The Renwick Gallery is a contemporary branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Renwick is full of unique works created by artists who used nontraditional methods. The art ranges from the 19th to the 21st centuries with each exhibit more eccentric than those found in other Smithsonians.

Photo by Imani McCormick

Chill Renwick Gallery

Page design by Imani McCormick

19

OPINIONS

McLean should not imple

Program would exacerbate existi

The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

N

ext school year, McLean hopes to add AP Capstone to its curriculum options. The program is the College Board’s response to International Baccalaureate (IB), and will require that students pass four AP exams throughout high school as well as AP Seminar and AP Research, to be taken in eleventh and twelfth grades respectively. AP Seminar aims to give students the tools to conduct research, and AP Research is an opportunity for students to pursue a specific personal research project, which includes an extensive academic paper, presentations and an oral defense.

While the program may seem attractive at first glance and is an interesting opportunity for students, its implementation would exacerbate the most negative aspects of McLean’s unique culture and diminish some of its best. The manifestations of these consequences are twofold.

First, the institution of such a program would take focus away from non-AP electives, which have experienced cuts and decreased enrollment after the addition of new AP courses and other non-elective courses.

“Enrollment has been down in the last few years; two years ago we had 20 sections of art and four teachers…and now we’re down to 15 sections and three teachers,” Photography and Computer Graphics teacher Kenneth George said.

Because the program’s addition would lead to a decrease in non-AP electives, it would serve to perpetuate the academic stratification that pervades McLean. There is a disparity between the diversity of AP and non-AP classes; in arts electives, for example, people with different academic interests come together, providing a unifying and equalizing experience.

“Fine arts give you an ability to communicate with different kinds

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of people that you don’t get to [communicate] with in a regular classroom,” senior Emily Swett said.

In contrast, AP classes are often monochromes of high-achieving and competitive students. The variation that non-AP electives offer is too important to sacrifice because it adds a muchneeded layer to the McLean experience.

“The real value of the art community here is that the people who partake in these programs tend to be exemplary company,” senior Alan Thomas said. “It’s just a really nice place to be. The class itself is a different kind of interaction between people. There’s more unity,

“It’s so competitive that you always want to come out first. Especially if one person does it, it’s like a domino effect and everybody else has to do it just because they have to vie for that number one spot.”

-Junior Philena Sun

and also because of the nature of the class, there are more exchanges between students than just between a student and a teacher.”

In its second set of consequences, the AP Capstone program would create more opportunities for students to take AP classes for the wrong reasons.

“A lot of my friends took AP classes they really didn’t care about just so they could put it on a college application and get a more competitive GPA,” senior

Deirdre Klena said. “[Some] don’t even like science [but] took AP Physics or AP Bio just because they thought it would make them more competitive. I know I decided not to take a second Creative Writing class my junior year and opted for AP European History, which was interesting, but I mostly took it to bump up my GPA and be more competitive.”

Though the school often encourages students to lighten their course loads, it continues to introduce new AP classes, effectively pushing out their non-AP counterparts and normalizing schedules dominated by difficult classes.

This perpetuates a culture that obliges students to pack their schedules just for the sake of it.

The effects of the institution of the Advanced Studies Diploma, the coveted, more ‘respectable’ alternative to the Standard Diploma, have set a precedent that suggests the AP Diploma’s future status as a subconscious requirement for many students at McLean.

For example, a student hoping to earn the Advanced Studies Diploma must take four years of science even if their interests beyond high school lie in the humanities and even if three years of science classes were sufficient to give them basic skills in the subject.

Though the Advanced Studies Diploma has no long-term significance, many McLean students feel obligated to pursue it because everyone around them is and because they fear they won’t be competitive without it.

A similar obligation to pursue the AP Diploma will likely develop in the years after its institution merely because of the academic culture at McLean.

“It’s so competitive that you always want to come out first,” junior Philena Sun said. “Especially if one person does it, it’s like a domino effect and everybody else has to do it just because they have to vie for that number one spot.”

To address concerns of ‘schedule packing’ and the development of unhealthy competition, the AP Capstone program will be promoted OPINIONS

plement AP Capstone

sting issues

as a class for students who take few AP classes. The thought is that those students would be able to handle its intense workload, and would enroll for the right reason—that they are genuinely passionate about the subject they would explore in their research. However, given the nature of McLean’s student body, it is unlikely that the target student will be the actual student.

In a survey of 100 students, only 21 responded that they would be “very interested” in participating in the AP Capstone program, and 77 percent of those students are currently taking three or more AP classes. Students who responded “not at all interested” were 25 percent more likely to be taking two or fewer AP classes than more. In not reaching its target student, the AP Capstone program fails to mitigate possible harms.

Nonetheless, the program would offer valuable opportunities to students. “[Students] would be able to carry out research on their own and determine how it is applicable in the real world,” social studies teacher and AP Coordinator Cynthia Hawkins said. “[They would learn how to] debate, vet sources, put them together [and] present things in a small group and individually.”

However, arguments like those may not be unique. Students who have very specific personal interests often pursue them extracurricularly or through science fair projects, and McLean’s AP classes are especially writing-heavy. Even if classes at McLean had shortcomings that AP Capstone would address, a conscious effort could be made to increase research-based assignments and presentations in existing classes, avoiding the harms associated with Capstone.

Because it would negatively impact important non-AP electives, and would encourage students to pursue one more accolade for reasons that are less about genuine interest and more about a desire to get ahead and remain competitive, the administration should reconsider implementing AP Capstone at McLean.

JANUARY

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Reporting & page design by Sri Medicherla

21

tw

Students shouldn’t pay athletic fees on top of their tuition Rustin Abedi Opinions Editor

T

he stress and reality of rising tution has financially handcuffed more students than ever. Despite this, colleges have no problem adding to what students already pay for their education in the form of continually growing athletic fees.

University students who are not involved in athletics should not have any obligation to pay fees irrelevant to their academics. However, colleges across the nation are forcing their students to do just that. Colleges are worsening students’ financial difficulties and disregarding their actual needs and interests.

Rising tuition is already an obstacle for many who wish to attend college.

The increase in annual athletic fees only adds more bumps in the road. Although some say this increase in athletic fees is necessary for the expansion of students’ experience, it only inhibits their abilities to obtain a college experience.

“Since...I am not [going to be] involved in the athletic programs, I definitely won’t like the [athletic fees] because I am not really benefiting from that program,” junior Jillian Pincus said.

Some may argue that the commercial expansion of college athletics benefits all students and that fees themselves are insignificant in the grand scheme of tuition costs. However, the fiscal reward of college sports is exaggerated.

According to The Washington Post’s analysis of the NCAA’s 2014 financial

30,000

20,000

reports, revenue sources such as ticket sales, donations and conference distributions amounted to $4.49 billion. Expenditures totaled $4.4 billion, supposedly leaving $90 million unaccounted for. This statistic renders mandatory student athletic fees unacceptable.

“Since...I am not [going to be] involved in the athletic programs, I definitely won’t like the [athletic fees] because I am not really benefiting from that program. I’m paying for it, and that doesn’t make sense to me.”

-Junior Jillian Pincus The Washington Post’s examination of 52 public universities in the Power Five, five of the wealthiest athletic conferences, found that in 2014 students at 32 of these schools paid a combined $125.5 million for their institutions’ athletic departments.

While some may argue that the benefits of supporting college athletics cannot be reduced to fiscal terms, such an argument is impractical. The fact of the matter is that students are already struggling to afford the cost of college, and such athletic fees are only making everything more difficult. Moreover, the notion that

Free seats available for student body Rest of student body without free tickets

22

students are reaping the reward of their contributions to college athletics has been proven to be an illusion.

For example, Florida State provides free admittance to their football games for 16,000 members of their student body.

Unfortunately, that leaves the remainder of the 32,000 who attend the university out in the cold, and without any other compensation. The same situation occurs at Texas A&M’s football stadium, which holds 30,000 free student spots, although the university has 50,000 students.

“It’s unfair that people who aren’t involved in sports are paying for something they will never use or have no desire to use,” junior Emmanuel Steinerrobles said. “Not everybody is necessarily interested or wants to have that extra money charge.”

Students are struggling to keep up with these fees, according to Jeff Smith, a business professor at the University of South Carolina-Upstate. He estimates that students have borrowed over $4 billion to pay off these athletic department fees.

This, adding to a compounded problem of tuition-related debt, shows that the costs of college athletics may be too much to bear.

To maintain their athletic departments, colleges must reduce the financial pressures on students by withholding such fees. Instead, they should work around their other earned revenues and not look to expand while eating away at the mostly empty checkbooks of their student bodies.

In a decade, UVA has increased its student athletic fee from

$

$

$388 $657 OPINIONS

Athletics benefit all students, not just athletes Bryan Chung Design Editor-in-Chief

S

aturday night college football games excite fans from all over the country, as they gather to sit in front of the television for hours. However, the excitement is not limited to athletes—it impacts the rest of the student body too. To assert that the athletic fees which help schools maintain a large athletic budget are a burden on students is an unbased conclusion and factually incorrect, as fees ultimately benefit the whole student body.

Schools use athletic fees to support sporting events. College sports not only bring excitement to schools, but they also bring revenue through television networks, thereby providing tryout opportunities for aspiring athletes.

“Students that weren’t participating still got to be in that facility and use some of the other facilities that were for studentathletes.”

-Assistant athletic trainer Kendall Robinson “I think [games] really bring the student body together, making them cohesive,” said senior softball player Kate Covington, who will be continuing her softball career at the University of Virginia. “It creates [a] more enthusiastic student body.”

Critics of athletic fees are shortsighted and do not realize that the fees fund sports entertainment, which is a valuable part of the college community.

College athletes are not the only students who receive benefits from the athletics department. Ordinary JANUARY

Revenue of U.S. college football programs in 2011

$93.9M Univeristy of Texas Alabama $71.9M $70.8M Georgia $70.2M Penn State $68.8M LSU $68.7M Florida

Texas

According to Statista Inc.

0 20also have access 40 to university students athletic services.

“I didn’t do sports. However, I was an athletic training major and I benefited from the athletic side of school,” said Kendall Robinson, McLean’s assistant athletic trainer.

Robinson, who graduated from Chantilly High School, studied at both East Carolina University and William & Mary, both NCAA Division I schools.

“My classes were in [the main sports medicine building] as well. The kinesiology department was in [the main sports medicine building], so students that weren’t participating still got to be in that facility and use some of the other facilities that were for student-athletes,” Robinson said.

Athletic fees are also used to provide some scholarships for studentathletes. Although one may argue that scholarships for student-athletes take away an enormous amount of the college budget, it is not true.

According to the NCAA, across all the Division I and Division II schools, around $2.7 million of scholarships are given to student-athletes.

Considering the proportion of the

80of both divisions 100 money60 spent to the size and the variety of sports in each athletic program, $2.7 million is not a large sum. Only a small amount of funds are put toward the student-athletes and an even smaller portion of student-athletes receive such scholarships.

Furthermore, the NCAA does not allow Division III schools to grant scholarships. Thus, this eliminates the notion that schools with small athletic programs have their students pay larger athletic fees than Division I and II schools. The budget covering athletics only consists of a small amount of most universities’ yearly budget.

According to Stanford’s Budget Plan for 2015-2016, out its $774 million capital budget, one percent was allocated to the athletics/student activities programs.

Athletic fees are not a waste of money.

Schools generate revenues from their athletic programs and the base of the athletic program comes from athletic fees.

Also, they benefit not only the school but also the students themselves. The money raised from athletic fees is worth its use.

Infographics & page design by Bryan Chung Photos obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license

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Anti-social networks

Social media overuse distracts students from their real lives Jessie Friedman & Sophie Mariam Reporter & Web Editor-in-Chief

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ocial media may be fun for a bored student who needs an activity to occupy their time. However, when used in excess, seemingly harmless social media apps can become detrimental to the productivity and health of high school students.

“It is a frequent distraction when doing homework due to the constant urge to check it,” sophomore Isabella Swigart said. “People don’t want to feel left out.”

A Carnegie Mellon study found that people who were distracted by technology scored 20 percent lower on a standard cognition test than people who were not distracted.

Social media’s distracting capabilities are further reflected in a survey of 100 McLean students, in which 82 said that social media distracts them from school work and other responsibilities.

Social networks also prevent students from engaging in more meaningful real life social interactions.

“If you’re spending a lot of time connecting with people online, you’re not spending as much quality time with your family members [and friends] in the real 3D world,” McLean High School psychologist Beth Werfel said.

McLean students have experienced the shift from three- to two-dimensional communication, as students stare at their phones almost constantly, even when

spending time with friends.

“When it comes to people’s social lives, I do think that if you were having a really good time you wouldn’t be focused on capturing every moment on your Snapchat story,” junior Laith Samamreh said. “I would assume you would be in the moment enjoying it.”

“The more programmed we are to interact through our phones, the more uncomfortable we could become interacting faceto-face.”

-Beth Werfel, McLean High School psychologist Additionally, Werfel warned that overuse of social media can change the way students interact with others.

“People will start making less eye contact because it’s really personal when you [make contact] eye-to-eye or face-toface with someone,” Werfel said. “The more programmed we are to interact through our phones the more uncomfortable we could become interacting face-to-face.”

Serious mental health problems can stem

from the constant use of social media.

“Anxiety can come from overuse, just trying to keep up with all the social media and trying to compete with the fun activities that you see others doing on social media,” Werfel said.

Overuse of social media can also result in depression. Students may struggle with feelings of inadequacy as they constantly see what their peers are up to through their posts.

“If you’re seeing a lot of people posting all of the happy and exciting things going on in their lives, it can give you a false sense that everyone else’s life is better than yours,” Werfel said.

People who use social media feel less confident because they are always comparing themselves to their friends. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as “Facebook depression.” Werfel urges students to have a proper mindset when using social media.

“Keep social media in perspective. People are posting the good things in their lives— they’re not posting the day to day realities of how difficult life can be,” Werfel said.

Although there are many benefits to students having easy access to social media, such as being able to connect with long distance friends and staying updated on current events, it can also lead to the deterioration of students’ self-esteem and academic focus.

Students should be mindful of these issues and direct their focus to what truly matters to them, which often entails cutting back on social media.

Where do you use social media?

Does social media distract you from schoolwork/other responsibilities?

{ 18/82} NO

School 88 Spending time with family or friends 76 Extracurricular activiites 67 Work 30

YES

Survey of 100 McLean students Infographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Sophie Mariam & Jessie Friedman

24

OPINIONS

Boys basketball works to rebuild SPORTS Young players give team new hope Michael Redding Reporter t has been a tough season for the boys varsity basketball team, but the team has stayed determined despite losing their first 11 games, including the McLean-Langley game on Jan. 6.

The team lost many key players, including Tom Shue, Patrick Dolan and Zach Glissman (Class of 2016) this season. The loss of these players has proved to be an impediment to the team’s advancement as a group.

“I’m still adjusting to the transition from being the youngest player to now being a captain,” senior Robbie Denton said.

Last season, McLean finished 3-19 and this year’s roster is looking to move forward and revamp the team completely.

The current team is full of young, hungry talent that is determined to excel.

Sophomores Tucker Leggett, Brian Aka and Aaron Hale are new to the team. Although these young players do not have much experience, they are adjusting to the varsity level of play.

“Our young talent deserves to be playing on the varsity level and their experience will come,” Denton said.

Players from last year’s JV team have brought a winning charisma to the varsity level. Juniors Sean Senft and Andrew Lopez, two stand-out players who were on the JV team last year, try to set an example of how to transition to a much higher level of play.

“Even though this is my first year on the team, I want to be able to bring some success

I

Finding a Way — Senior Robbie Denton pulls up for a midrange jump shot against two Langley defenders during the home game Jan. 6. Denton’s efforts were not enough as McLean fell 60-46. (Photo by Imani McCormick) back to the program,” Lopez said.

Denton said the transition to varsity has been smooth for the new talent.

“All of the new players have adjusted to the learning curve really well,” Denton said.

The team acknowledges that they have a lot to work on and that is why head coach Michael O’Brien tries to make sure that each minute of practice counts.

“Offensive execution is still a work in progress...also transitioning from defense to offense along with situational switches,” O’Brien said.

The Hot Hand — Junior Sean Senft nails a jump shot against Langley

during the Jan. 6 home game. Senft went on to score eight points in the losing effort. (Photo by Imani McCormick) JANUARY

For O’Brien, practices are more than just a time to teach players how to improve their game.

“I try to teach them nothing is given...and that the effect of their actions have a bigger impact than they might think,” O’Brien said.

Unlike most other varsity teams, McLean lacks a center, limiting their ability to score in the paint and protect the rim.

“A true center would definitely help us get more rebounds, but it makes us have to work harder at each position and do the little things to make sure that we put ourselves in a better position,” Senft said.

When they walk onto the court, McLean is ready to perform with solid fundamental defense that has proven to create challenges for other teams.

“Whenever we execute our press well and we are able to get up and down the court, good things typically happen,” Denton said.

Right now, the team is looking toward winning at the district championship and establishing a winning tradition.

There are still a few division match-ups left in the season, with one being against rival Langley High School, a team McLean lost to earlier in the season. As the season comes to a close, the team hopes to show they haven’t quit working for the final few games.

Page design by Ed Walters

25

Vaulting to victory Behind the scenes with McLean gymnastics

Miranda Johnson Reporter eing one of McLean’s most successful athletic teams is not as easy as it seems. For members of McLean gymnastics, every hour spent in training is another step toward success. This season their meticulous preparation is expected to help them stick the landing.

Mastering the art of gymnastics goes beyond wearing leotards. One wrong move can shatter the foundation of an otherwise perfect routine.

“It’s really hard, and it takes a lot of time,” freshman Maggie Callsen said. “There are lots of rules, and it is a lot more complicated than people would think.”

Most gymnasts begin instruction at a young age. The best continue the sport and become members of both club and school teams.

“About half the team does club gymnastics through Arlington Aerials or the YMCA,” head coach Courtney Lesson said.

Between school and club practices, the majority of the team members practice about 10 hours every week. Participating at the club level helps refine the skills of the gymnasts and enhances the McLean gymnastics team.

“I go [to Dulles Gymnastics Academy] mainly to work on vault skills,” sophomore Samantha Wilson said.

Few sports require the degree of flexibility and control that is needed to be an active gymnast. “[The] hardest skills on this team [are] probably vault, a pike tsuk, bar release moves and a back tuck on beam... especially for new gymnasts, one of the scary things is jumping from the low bar to the high bar,” Lesson said.

Practices start with stretching,

B

26

conditioning, and basic tumbling. Then each gymnast eases into individual events. However, the individuality of the sport does not take away from team support.

“I believe that they can all be a leader,” Lesson said.“They can all step up and lead the team.”

The absence of a team captain gives upperclassmen the opportunity to use their experience to lead their younger teammates through obstacles. “[The older girls] talk to us, and tell us what we need to fix,” Wilson said. “[They also] demonstrate some moves for us when we don’t know how to do them.”

Gymnastics is a physically demanding sport that can pose a great risk to an athlete’s body.

Many of the gymnasts use braces on their ankles to give them support through all the wear and tear.

“The big injuries for gymnastics are like wrists and ankles, from all the pounding, from doing floor exercise and vault, and back injuries sometimes too,” Lesson said.

A typical competition consists of both team and individual events such as vault, beams, bars and floor.

“Compared to other teams

this year, I would say [we] are a stand-out team.”

-Courtney Lesson, gymnastics head coach

“[The judges] pick six people to compete on each event. There are certain skills that you have to do in order to compete, and then there are extra bonuses to get to extra points,” Callsen said.

During the judging process, each gymnast is given a score. If a gymnast makes any mistakes in any of the events, the judges deduct points.

“Easy deductions are flexed feet, bent knees, wobbles on beam, and missing your skill connections or jump combinations,” Lesson said.

The judges then calculate a cumulative score from the four highest scores of each event. The high school with the highest total wins the competition.

One thing that makes this sport stand out from most is that routines have to be memorized. It can take weeks and even months to remember a routine that lasts only a few minutes.

“Everyone can sometimes forget their routine. You memorize your routine by practicing it a lot. I think about the music, and doing the correct move on the right beat,” Wilson said.

Despite the constant challenges gymnasts face, the continued camaraderie within the team has made them optimistic about winning another title.

“This year they look really good. We usually have a pretty good team, and they’re very successful,” Lesson said. “Compared to other teams this year, I would say they are a stand-out team.”

Page design by Bryan Chung Photo of Sara Vavonese by Shanzeh Umerani

SPORTS

u W e j r o D Tim e u s s I e te of th

Athle

How hard is it to balance your commitments within the sport with your other activities and obligations?

It is pretty hard, but once it becomes part of your daily life you just kind of do it.

Who inspires you?

I know this sounds really cliché, but I really like how hard working my mom is. She always inspires me to be a better person, and to always try to be smarter, faster, stronger. I know that she always has my back whenever I swim.

How do you feel about your decision to commit to a sport for college?

I am really happy with my decision. Yale’s men’s swim team has a long history. They were the most successful college sports team under one of their former coaches, where they had a meet win record of 528 wins to 12 losses, so they were extremely dominant. It is just really cool to be a part of that history. It is [also something] that drew me to the school. I definitely wanted to go to Yale from the beginning, but I think that all the history...really just sealed the deal.

s: e d a l o Acc

enior Grade: S im Sport: Sw ststroke a re B troke: avorite S

F

When did you first take an interest in swimming?

I joined a summer team at the age of 11, which is actually [kind of ] late for most swimmers. Then that following fall I joined a club team, Nation’s Capital Swim Club, [NCAP, formerly Curl-Burke Swim Club]. I started right off of freshman year [with McLean’s swim team] along with Nation’s Capital.

What motivated you to pursue swimming?

At first, I thought of swim as something to do just for some exercise, but I think the main thing that has made me love the sport is actually the competition. Just going against other people and against myself, beating my own times. Your swim times are something that is quantifiable, that you can easily compare, but also winning against other people [motivates me].

Do you have any traditions before a big meet?

I am not really a superstitious person, but definitely think that hanging out with other people...and just being social, really helps with my swimming.

Holder, , ) d 6 r 1 o 0 c 2 ( e All-Met egion R ord Holder R m h a t r e o T t Firs ke 6A N IM Rec o r 0 t 0 s t 2 s a d n e 100 Br stroke a Reporting by Ingrid Morse t s a e r B 0 0 Page design by Bryan Chung 1 D S M Photo courtesy of Cathy Summers 27

Finish Line Tara Stewart Freshman Gymnastics

Ian Defay Sophomore Basketball

What do you want to achieve this year?

Get all As

Anna Sargent Junior Swim

Oscar Auza Senior Wrestling

If you could live in a movie, which would it be?

Stick It

An in-game dunk

Bee Movie

Be happy and not worry as much about my achievements

Harry Potter

Get into college

What would be the first thing you would buy with $1 million?

Final Destination 3

What is your dream job?

College

Cop

Lamborghini

Professional athlete

What are your favorite College tuition

Politician

Romantic novels

Figure skater Page design by Bryan Chung Reporting by Colin Edson & Ed Walters

28

SPORTS

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